Pokemon Virus Version Chapter 32: A Thought Provoking Confrontation
So, nothing much to say here, but enjoy the Chapter.
Seth's POV
With hours removed from Yumi's capture of Snivy, and Yumi's contest tommorow, I spent the early evening training my pokemon. Specifically a Gible who has failed to meet my expectations.
Rose and Missingno had surface from my heart, and were my only company, other than my pokemon. On the battlefields used earlier today, I decided to try a 'different' approach to train Gible, since practicing sparringly clearly hasn't worked to this point.
"Gi...bl..." Gible was starting to feel sore, having to defend against Chikorita, Elekid, AND Mawile upon my orders.
"Brother..." Rose grew worried ,"I believe Gible has had enough."
"Yeah, we all need to rest for the night." Missingno added.
I did not reply to my sister as I refused to take my attention off of my training.
"Elekid, use Brick Break on Gible," I said as Elekid neared Gible with what could be a finishing move considering Gible's lack of endurance. "Gible, dodge!"
An exhausted Gible struggled to return to it's battle stance as he narrowly dodged an incoming Elekid. "Mawile, use Power-Up Punch," I said as I turned to a Mawile who has exceeded expectations as 'leader' upon capture, considering she was caught on the same day I caught Gible (Chapter 12).
"Dodge!" I said to Gible.
Gible's transition from dodging Brick Break to dodging Power-Up Punch was too slow as Mawile sent Gible flying, taking little damage from Rough Skin.
"Chikorita, Energy Ball," in the middle of the evening, charging for Solarbeam would've been more trouble than it's worth.
Energy Ball sent an airborne Gible crashing into the ground. Gible remained on the ground, unable to move, but it was still conscious.
"Come on, get up!" I said annoyed.
"No more!" Rose and Missingno flew to Gible's aid, keeping me from continuing my training.
I stood there with an indifferent look on my face. The moon had finally set in and darkness was starting to creep into the moment. This was weeks worth of frustration toward Gible bubbling over; I need Gible strong enough to save the world, with me.
"It is happening again..." Rose said as she faced me with a worried expression. "Brother, I do not wish for you to adopt such a callous personality again."
"It's for the best," I said calmly.
"For the best?" Rose was growing upset. "Tell me what is so better about beating your pokemon half to death?"
"I'll get stronger no matter what it takes." I said.
"Listen to yourself. Do you not understand the feelings of Gible?" Rose asked.
I did not reply. I have been reminded numerous time about how I fail to understand other people's feelings. Yumi? Chapel? Rose?
"Brother, I have seen your memories. Did you ever check to see if Gible even wanted to join you in the first place?" Rose asked. "We should all be working together to defeat our common enemy. You, Gible, Missingno, and I should be working together to find out what our true purpose really is."
"True purpose?" I said confused. "Our true purpose is to defeat Zero, Atticus, and Team Neo Snagem."
"Or so we all delude ourselves to think..." Rose said, eyes narrowing as she calmed down.
"Huh?"
"Are you declaring war to save us, or is it just a thirst for vengeance? We throw ourselves at a growing Neo Snagem, without knowledge on whether the future beyond is certain. We also lack the knowledge of what makes Neo Snagem just that - Neo Snagem." Rose replied.
Why Neo Snagem exists?
"Why? Why does NeoSnagem exist?" I asked as I approached Rose, Missingno, and Gible; Chikorita, Elekid, and Mawile following me.
"We will talk about it once your pokemon get some rest and are healed." Rose replied as she a Missingno dissolved into my heart.
I recalled Gible without addressing the fact that he once again failed to meet my expectation. I headed to the Pokemon Center, leaving Chikorita, Elekid, and Mawile out to follow me within the moonlight here in Bloomingvale.
Our walk to the Pokemon Center was quite peaceful and uneventful, except for-
"Maw?" Mawile stopped in confusion as she looked in the murky sky. "Maw Mawile!"
A flock of Murkrow roamed the night sky, and capture the attention of Elekid and Cikorita as well.
"Hmm," I stared at the flock of Murkrow. "Something about those pokemon seem familiar."
I feel like I've forgotten something, something important. "Come on," I said to my pokemon as we continued to the Pokemon Center.
Location: Bloomingvale Town Pokemon Center
Yumi's POV
Alice's inflammatory remarks toward me earlier had taken their toll on me. I tried to go to bed earlier, before the sun even went down to sleep off this pain, but to no avail.
I held up my pokeball which contained my newly captured Snivy, and frowned. "All that progress...Maybe it was all for nothing. Of course, I haven't even won a contest yet.
"Yumi, are you still trying to fall asleep?" Chapel asked as she and her Chimecho entered the room. "Yumi, it's like I said earlier: Don't let Alice get to you."
"But everything she said about me was true." I said as I sat up. "About how I always depend on you and Seth, and how helpless I can be at times. I mean, you DO remember what Pheobe said earlier today, do you?"
Flashback- After Snivy's capture...
"Don't let that girl get to you," Chapel said.
"She underestimates you greatly," Mary-Elizabeth said.
"But you can't help but admit the sweetheart's right." A voice said as a familiar lavender haired girl approached us.
"Pheobe..." I said. "Why do you care? You're my rival too."
"I may tease at times, but at least I don't just straight up insult who you are as a person like she just did." Pheobe said as she and a sudden Mismagius approached us. "I gotta say, that sweetheart certainly made your flaws sound even worse."
"What do you mean by that?" Chapel asked.
"Yes, elaborate," Mary-Elizabeth said as she and Mienshao asserted themselves. (Pheobe and Mary-Elizabeth are still enemies) (Chapter 14).
"You use your dependence on Seth to get closer to him because you want him to return the feelings you have. And Alice is jealous." Pheobe said.
I looked at Seth. "Actually, we're past that chapter, and I don't like him anymore. Alice is just acting like a baby because she can't get what she wants."
"Well, jealous or not, if you wish to gain respect, win the contest tomorrow, sweetheart," Pheobe said as she started away from us. "If you lose, you'll only drive yourself further within the depths of your 'already bad' reputation."
...End Flashback
And so it hit me: the consequences of losing far outweighed the benefits of winning. I grew stressed at the thoughts, staring at the rooms ceiling as I grew oblivious to the fact that Chapel and Chime were still there.
"Uh Yumi. Yumi?" Chapel repeatedly called my name in attempt to attract my attention.
"Chime Chime!" Chime flew right in my face, startling me and snapping me out of my train of thought.
"Huh?" I said calmly as I faced Chapel. I then turned away once again. "Please don't talk to me right now..."
The moment's pace slowed. Chapel, with hesitation, disregarded my request and spoke again.
"Yumi," Chapel said quietly. "Don't let those words depress you."
"How would you know how I feel?" I asked, growing upset. "My journey. My dreams. My life. They're all falling out of my reach. You and Seth have both told me about past experiences, before AND during this journey, that have helped change and progress you two as characters. But what about me..." I said.
"But Yumi-" I interrupted Chapel.
"-I'm still the little girl who gets in everyone's way and brings more trouble along. Everyone hates me and all I do is make a fool out of myself. Maybe I should just quit right now and go home..." I said as I buried my head
"Do you even hear yourself thinking right now?!" Chapel yelled.
Chapel has always been one to ask that question, but I didn't let it get to me this time.
"Yes I do! And I finally see MY image through other people's point of view!" I said.
'Will she ever shut up?!'
'She's so annoying!'
'She's a choker AND a sore loser!'
Those labels have have stuck with me, and would only continue to do so as long as I was 'me'. If I went back to Olivine to live a normal life, it would be like turning time backwards, and I wouldn't have to sink deeper into the beginning of what appeared to be a great depression.
It took a long while, but deep sleep was eventually accomplished...
Location: Yumi's Dream
My dream world was inn the shape of a dimmed room. I looked around in observance of the familiar state of my mind. The dimmed room was heavily decorated with white, cream, rose, and pink colored furniture. The room was also decorated with gems such as diamonds, white sapphires, and quartz crystals. A dining table sat right next to a window that led to my endless imaginative setting. But all I did here, was rest. Resting upon a cream colored chair sitting on a rose colored carpet that stood across from a full mirror.
"Yes, this is my dream," I said to myself at the mirror. But what the mirror displayed, was everything... everything except my, who has disappeared to who knows where. "Yes, this is who I want to be - nobody."
I got up and walked up to the window. And endless grassy plateau was present. Along with a cloudless, but still white sky. The field was empty, because I needed to get away from everything right now.
I put my hand on the window, a split second passed by before I was asked a question.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" An illusionary Seth asked.
I looked down, refusing to make eye contact. "At this point, I just want to go home," I said. "I mean it's not like anyone would miss me."
"That's not true!" And illusionary Chapel said as I looked at her, hand off the window. "What about us? What about your pokemon? We're your friends, but you're just gonna throw all of us away?"
"You can come with me..." I said calmly. "But I can't come with you. This IS my journey after all. My story, and I'll end it the way I want."
"We can't." Seth replied. "There's simply too much on the line for me to stop now."
"Well, then-" I said.
"Yumi, just give yourself time to think things through," Chapel said.
I wanted to believe Chapel could convince me to stay, but I also hated it too.
"Eeveee Eevee!" an illusionary Eevee cried, in agreement with Chapel, along with Braixen.
"At least some of you care." I said as a tear fell down my face. "But the others..." I looked at a shadow Gligar and a Snivy who had never gotten along with me. Snivy turned it's head away while Gligar had an indifferent look on it's face.
"Yumi?" an illusionary Rose said. "So what will it be?"
I stood there for two seconds before giving my reply. "Just give me some time to think."
"So it's settled," an illusionary Seth said as he started fading.
"We will see you," an illusionary Rose said as she and Chapel started fading as well.
"Chapel looked down, and then back at me, "Yumi..."
The dim lit room was once again vacant as my pokemon faded away as well. It was quiet... I returned to the mirror to continue staring at my missing reflection, only to see the reflection of my bane, Alice, standing right next to me.
"A classy dream for such a lowly peasant. Amazing." Alice said.
"And it's only that - a dream. But don't worry, it'll all be over as soon as I wake up," I said.
...An abrupt ending to an abrupt start - A thought provoking confrontation...
Location: Seth's Heart
Seth's POV
"So have you been able to piece together these three hints?" I asked Rose.
Both Rose and I took a deep dive into the void of what was left of my heart. It was dark and peaceful with only the sight of drifting glass we had to dodge in order to avoid a second confrontation with Fear.
Rose just finished explaining the information that was given to her earlier on our journey. Both 23 and Fear knew something we didn't. Since 23 was already eliminated, all fingers pointed to Fear for answers. But like I said, a confrontation won't be happening anytime soon.
"Unfortunately, no." Rose replied while floating.
"How about Missingno?" I asked.
My sister shook her head.
"Hm," I looked at my hands. "Whatever cloned Zero, Mother, and Charizard lies within Missingno AND the shadow pokemon," I said, repeating hint 1. "-A darkness that's closest to you, it will keep you from feeling alone, until it surfaces." I repeated the second hint.
"Our common enemy; Find Wes," Missingno finished.
"HIM," I said.
"You have met him before Brother, did you not?" Rose asked as she dodged an incoming glass memory.
"He had control over Sunnyshore City within the palm of his hand (Chapter 9). Why would he just surrender after a lowly 25 and a worthless grunt were defeated?" I asked. "I mean, he has a fierce reputation that's put all of Johto on notice."
"Correct, but Wes did say there was a reason why he created Neo Snagem." Rose said. "One that differs heavily from Father's (Atticus) reasons."
"Rui?" I said.
"Oh!" Rose said. "Maybe Rui could know, or at least have some sort of connection with 'our' common enemy."
"But how do we enter the dream world, Utopia?" I asked.
"We may only enter Utopia through connections with Wes, unfortunately..." Rose said as she looked down.
I closed my eyes and addressed my sister once more. "Before I find Wes, I must train until I'm strong enough to defend myself against the elite trainer. And until then, I'll stick to my goal of destroying Zero, Atticus, and the entire Neo Snagem organization."
"Brother, I have seen your 'training' and noticed some of your stress has rubbed off on Gible." Rose said. "Why is Gible the only one who gets the tough treatment? I mean, you never treated Chikorita that way when she lost every battle."
"My standards for Chikorita back then were much lower than they were for Gible." I said. "I mean, if Gible continues to constantly fall short, I might as well let it go to save myself the wasted struggle."
"Brother..." Rose said. "So you would choose winning now over the 'never give up' attitude you displayed toward Chikorita?"
I started to float upward as Rose followed a few seconds behind. Rose's word were having an unusual effect on me. An effect that made me feel a rather unfamiliar emotion as I frowned. This emotion... this, is guilt. But guilt did not stop an honest reply from me. "Yes..."
"I see," Rose said as she closed her eyes. "Let us just hope improvement shows from here on out."
And from that moment, I descended into a deep sleep. Drifting and slowly fading away into a dream that was completely blank.
Location: Seth's Dream
But how was this dream blank? And how did I know I was dreaming in the first place?
"What is your true purpose?" I heard a distant voice whisper.
"Where am I?" I asked.
"This is a dream."
"But like all dreams, your dream will eventually end..." A distant, familiar voice said. "And thus, your nightmare begins..."
The blank dream then turned into a dimly lit room. This room would be all white if it was full lit.
"YOU..." An unusual angry emotion came from me as I clenched my fists.
"And when that time comes, you'll ask yourself: 'When will I wake up?' as the living nightmare sends whatever hope you had of defeating me crashing down around you." The voice approached me, and we stood side by side, refusing to make eye contact. "You will be at our mercy when your dream ends, little brother."
"You're not my brother," I said. "And I'll make sure that last thing you see is me avenging myself. You'll regret ever turning against me, Zero."
In reality, I have not seen Zero in five years, but this dream is a signal that our paths will cross soon.
"Ah, a thirst for vengeance is what we call it." Zero said. He then looked at me "You'll never defeat me."
A rather short dream it was, for I soon whited out.
Location: Bloomingvale Pokemon Center
I slowly came to and looked around my room only to see it was still dark. Chikorita was resting on my lap, while Mawile took the spare bed and Elekid slept on the floor cushioned with a spare pillow. I shifter my sight to my Pokegear which read 5:36 AM. I then laid back down in attempt to fall back asleep, only to be awoken by abrupt knocking on my room door, along with Chikorita, Mawile, and Elekid.
I slowly approached the door slowly and still half asleep. I opened the door and was confronted by a Chapel holding up a piece of paper with writing on it.
Without word, I grabbed the piece of paper and read it.
To my friends,
I bid you farewell... Things will be better off this way
,Yumi
To Be Continued...
So what lies next for our split group? Stayed to find out
And like I said I will now post the pokemon of Team Neo Snagem we have seen, but haven't been eliminated yet
Zero's Pokemon
Charizard- male, Blaze
Atticus' Pokemon
Heatran- no gender, ability unknown
Lucy's Pokemon
Ninjask (In Althaea's Party) - male, Speed Boost
24's Pokemon
Skarmory- male, Keen Eye
03's Pokemon
Salamance- female, Intimidate