Pokemon Virus Version Chapter 33: Freedom Isn't Free
Another chapter, another AN. What lies ahead for Seth and Chapel? And what's next for Yumi? Enjoy...
Yumi's POV
Earlier this morning(3 AM)...
The beginning of the end of my adventure started with a quiet knocking on a door. Hallway empty and everyone still sleeping, I figured it would be the perfect time to take my leave, but I did not want to go alone, so...
"Pheobe..." I whispered while quietly knocking on the door. "Pheobe, please answer."
The door opened, revealing a lavender bedhead who was still half asleep.
"Yumi?" Pheobe said very confused while rubbing her eye.
"Pheobe, I know this is all of a sudden, and I know we haven't always seen eye to eye. But I have a huge favor to ask you, and I would deeply appreciate it if you at least listen." I said.
With a growing depression explained, I convinced Pheobe to accompany me back home.
Two days later...
Pheobe and I were already a ways away from Bloomingvale, where I abandoned my dream of becoming a Pokemon Coordinator. We stopped near a river to rest and regain our energy. Only Eevee and Mismagius, a.k.a Missy remained outside their pokeballs, and they were refreshing themselves using the water from the river.
"Yumi?" Pheobe said concerned. "So why head back to Olivine now? Running away never solves anything, sweetheart."
"I just feel my time in the spotlight is running out." I repliedas I looked at the grassy ground.
"Hmm," Pheobe scratched her head, "I know you hate being alone, and I know I didn't plan on competing in the Bloomingvale Contest, but why ask ME to keep you company? And why leave so earyl in the morning, sweetheart?"
"Saying goodbye to the others to their faces would have been too sad..." I replied as I then looked at Pheobe with a serious expression. "Do you think this could be an opportunity for us to make up? I should be apologizing very much to you."
"Sweetheart..." Pheobe walked up to me and put her hands on my shoulders. "Yumi, I've looked back on how our friendship was strained in the first place, and I honestly have alot of apologizing as well." She took her hands off my shoulders, emotions guiding her towards her next words. "My father was kidnapped by 03, and I took my frustration out on you because I couldn't stop her (Chapter 14). But neither of us knew any better back then, and for that, I apologize." Pheobe crossed her arms, "It's been over a year since I've seen 03 OR my father. I thought traveling around Johto as a Pokemon Coordinator would provide me the perfect opportunity to search for clues and answers, but along the way, my concealed thoughts began to stress, and overtime I made a vow to find father and destroy 03, along with any other of Neo Snagem that gets in my way."
"Oh Pheobe," I said as I ran over and tried to hug Pheobe, but Pheobe immediately pulled away and stepped back. "Pheobe?"
I had a confusd look on my face.
"I've apologized to you, and you've forgiven me. And you've apologized to me, but I don't think I'm ready to forgive you yet..." Pheobe said as she looked away. "I guess the two of us are just different. I mean, it's all your fault I became what you call a 'jerk' in the first place. I'll take you to Olivine, but that's all we'll be, just traveling partners unitl you can prove you are the true friend of mine you once were."
(I believe this is the first time Pheobe doesn't use sweetheart in a sentence.)
I sighed as I put my head down and my shoulders drooped. I guess the sorceress had a point.
"It's about time we continued, sweetheart," Pheobe said as she picked up her bag and started walking. "Missy, we're going now."
The Mismagius remained close to Pheobe, while I held Eevee in my arms as we resumed our journey.
After hours of walking, a deep sunset shined upon us and we decided to set up camp in an open grass field for the night. Pheobe continued to distance herself from me, but that wasn't my biggest concern at this point. I stared at the light twilight sky as I thought about what Pheobe's true purpose was.
Whether or not Pheobe knew it, she shared a common goal with Seth AND Noah as far as defeating 03 of Neo Snagem was concerned. But of course, Neo Snagem members have already been eliminated, and soon that goal will be within reach. But I'm also worried about Pheobe. If she ever confronts 03, she'll have to fight that Salamance of hers and it STILL wouldn't guarantee if Pheobe would ever see he father again.
All these thoughts and we haven't even settled in for the night just yet...Unfortunately, settling in wouldn't come until later, because the shadow of a flying pokemon caught our attention.
Pheobe gasped at the flying pokemon, "No way... it's HER!"
As the shadow flew into the sunset, it's body was revealed to be a familiar blue with red wings. And after recognizing who the pokemon was carrying, a long silver haired woman with a grey jacket, Pheobe immediately responded by chasing the blue pokemon into the sunset.
"Yumi, come on!" Pheobe yelled as she started.
"No doubt about it," I said to myself ,"That was 03 and her Salamance."
I followed Pheobe in pursuit of the Salamance, running into the sunset with no clear goal as to where we were going at this point.
"Hey!" Pheobe yelled at 03 while running. "I finally found you. Wait up you, you-"
Salamance and 03 both looked behind at Pheobe, curious as to where the loud yelling was coming from.
"Hmph," 03 said as she turned back around. "Pay no attention to those 'children' Salamance. We must be at the manor as soon as possible."
Salamance faced forward as it hastened it's pace, leaving Pheobe further behind and out of breath. Hands on her knees, I caught up to her and stopped right behind.
"Pheobe, are you alright?" I asked worried. "I'm sorry she got away..."
The moment once again slowed, a light breeze present to cool our temporary hot pace. But out of irony, Pheobe looked up at me with a smile as soon as she captured her breath.
"I finally found her..." Pheobe said. "She may have got away, but I finally have a lead."
"A lead?" I said confused. "But she got away. What 'lead' are you talking about?"
"She said they had to be at a manor - a big house," Pheobe said, "So if a house is here, there must be a town nearby and we can simply ask people if they've seen a woman on a flying Salamance.
We continued walking and eventually stumbled across one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen, even compared to an Olivine sunset. A location surrounded by grassy plains, hills, and mountains covered by a vivid array of flowers of many bright colors complimented by the superb lighting given from the deep sunset. Both Pheobe and I stared in awe, and I couldn't believe Pheobe was able to use what she called 'inductive reasoning' to figure out there was a town nearby.
Upon looking around the scenery, I immediately found what the two of us have been looking for: a huge manor (or mansion) in the distance.
"A manor!" I said as I pointed in the mansion's direction.
"Come on, Yumi." Pheobe ran towards the manor without a second thought.
After a few minutes of running, we neared the big house. The grassy field and hills grew dark, as did the sky as the day finally came to an end. Night had surfaced, as well as a large moon that kept a ray of light beaming down upon the entire town.
"Wait!" A voice from behind called out to us, attempting to catch up. "Please stop!"
"Huh?" I said as Pheobe and I both turned around to see a Slowking calling out and running to us.
"A talking Slowking?!" Pheobe said shocked.
"A talking Slowking?" I said confused. "This is the Slowking Seth told me about (Chapter 11/12)."
Seth told me about a talking Slowking that had a trainer, but traveled around Johto alone, exploring it's many features.
The Slowking stopped right in front of us, panting for a few moments before regaining his posture.
"Seth?" The Slowking said. "So I guess you know of the boy who saved Dark Cave. Ah yes, I said to him that we'd cross paths again, whether he knows it or not."
"Uh, why are you here?" Pheobe said as she then turned to the manor. "And where are we? The town, I mean."
Our attention was fully on the Slowking, awaiting whatever he had to explain to us.
"First off, this rich meadowy town is simply known as Greenfield, a name that obviously stems from it's vivid green surrounding. One of, if not, the most beautiful of sights in Johto, this place was once a popular tourist destination... That was, until five years ago..." The Slowking explained.
"What happened back then?" I asked.
"In the last five years, this town developed a bad reputation, all because of THAT," Slowking said as he pointed toward the mansion. "The crystallization of the mansion and nearby land nearly isolated Greenfield and all who inhabit it. If it not been for the boy who defied all odds to become Pokemon Master, the isolation of this land would've been certain, even to this day. However, that mansion alone has been enough to discourage many trainers and tourists from passing through Greenfield- That, and the hidden powers that once lied behind it's closed doors."
"What kind of power?" I asked with a curious look.
The Slowking looked back and answered, "The Spell of the Unown."
"Could those 'hidden powers' be why 03 is here?" I asked as I turned to Pheobe.
"Probably," Pheobe replied as she crossed her arms.
"Well, come on!" I said as I grabbed Pheobe's arm and started dragging her, without concern of her distancing herself from me. "We need to see if she knows where your father is!"
"No!" Slowking yelled. "Don't go!"
"Ugh!" I said annoyed as I turned to Slowking, hands on my hips. "What now?!"
"That mansion is dangerous. I'll accompany you two but there won't be guarantee that we'll make it back outside alive should we enter the mansion." Slowking explained.
Pheobe and I both looked at each other and hesitated at Slowking's warning. So we then knew we were basically putting our freedom on the line in order to get Pheobe's father's freedom.
"Well, freedom isn't free..." I said.
Pheobe nodded in agreement.
"Those are clever words coming from such a young lady," Slowking said as he started toward the mansion. "Now, shall we continue?"
The rest of the walk had me thinking... Not only was there a chance of fighting 03 and Salamance, but there was also a chance of fighting that 'hidden power'- The spell of the Unown. I looked at Pheobe, whose facial expression wasn't too visible in the darkness of night. Pheobe was about as nervous as I was, but at the same time, she looked more determined that I. I don't blame her either; This IS her father she's trying to rescue.
Location: Inside the mansion
There is no POV at this time...
Inside the mansion lied many dark rooms and hallways that were dim lit. With daytime left behind, and the lack of vivid color, the mansion seemed lifeless as hours would usually pass before the action of travel was made.
Upstairs, a person was awake in a room. The room was the first on the right side of the quiet hallway, and the light that could be seen coming from under the door was indication that the mansion wasn't so lifeless after all.
Inside the room, was a nine year old girl enjoying laughter and merriment with her pokemon, Teddiursa. Quite the playful girl she was, but also powerful, she once was. And since that time of power, she has longed to search true reality for what she once acknowledged as her own reality: Entei.
A little girl within a world that is big or small, whatever she calls it. Speaking of calling, we call this girl Molly, Molly Hale.
Every night, Molly Hale tells the tale of her adventures with Entei, to Teddiursa.
"I will find the real Entei one day..." A nine year old Molly Hale said, looking out of the window to a bright full moon. She then picked up Teddiursa and started nuzzling it as she said "And you'll be there with me, along with Mama and Papa."
'Papa' was none other than Spencer Hale, a researcher who has experience the spell of the Unown once before.
Molly looked down with a curious face. "I wonder where Papa is? I haven't seen him since earlier today. I mean, his research isn't as time consuming as it used to b-" Molly's current speech halted as she heard a distant door open and close. It sounded like someone was entering the house's main front door.
"Intruders?" Molly said confused as she and Teddiusra looked at each other. "Or maybe Papa's back."
Molly and Teddiursa both felt a mix between anxious and excited, not knowing who exactly entered the mansion.
"Papa?" Molly said as she and Teddiursa raced downstairs. When arriving at the foyer, she called out for her father once more. "Papa, are you here?"
"Ted Tedi Ursa," Teddiursa cried out.
"I don't get it, where's Papa? And why would anyone else be here?" Molly turned around and looked out the foyer window with a worried expression. "Nobody ever comes here, because nobody likes us... but I don't care!" She looked at Teddiursa. "Why should I care? I have you, Papa, and Mama."
Molly thought about how isolated her world has been for the past five years, and how one day her world would expand when she'd travel the outside world. She neared the stairs and she prepared to return to her room and go to sleep for the night. However,, on the last door to her right, she heard noise- a conversation that involved at least more than one person. Molly did not want to intrude, so she simply put one ear to the door.
"I've already told you, the Unown have returned to their own dimension- Within their ruins." A man's voice said. Molly recognized that voice. It was the voice of her father, Spencer Hale.
"Papa..." Molly whispered.
"Nonsense!" A female voice yelled, with the sound of hands slamming on a table. "We've been to the Unown Ruins numerous times (Chapter 7), but we still haven't been able to piece together what the Unown have been trying to spell out. But you've been to the Unown's dimension once before..." Molly heard a light pacing that must have been the steps of the female voice. "They were able to spell out what your daughter desired through crystallized illusions, and thus the illusionary Entei came to existence."
"Please don't bring my daughter into this..." Spencer said calmly.
"If only we could get the Unown to spell out where any more of the shadow pokemon are..." The female voice said calmly. "If only we could use that power to discover what Neo Snagem's true purpose is. Spencer, we many not be considered the 'good guys', but Neo Snagem is desperately searching for an answer. We need you to find the Unown, and we'll get you to cooperate whether it be the easy way or the hard way."
"Papa?" Molly grew worried at the thought of whatever the 'hard way' meant. "Papa!" She and Teddiursa came bursting through the doors. She then ran to Spencer, acknowledging the long silver haired woman seconds later. "Go away! Leave us alone!"
"Molly?" Spencer said confused.
"Spencer!" The silver haired woman said, refusing to digress.
"Team Neo Snagem... You guys are bad people! You're just gonna use the Unown for bad things!" Molly yelled. "Why should we tell you what the Unown are?!"
"Spencer?!" The woman yelled as she looked as Spencer.
Spencer stared at the table without a reply. Molly and Teddiursa stepped up, threatening the woman to leave.
"I don't wanna fight..." Molly said softly. "But if it means protecting Papa-"
"The hard way, it is. So be it," The woman said as she took out a pokeball. "Go."
The pokeball released the woman's intimidating Salamance. Molly and Teddiursa were startled and each took a step back, eyes wide open and bodies shaking.
Molly opened her mouth, but the words wouldn't come out, the words that expressed how terrified she would be at the end result of a fight between the silver haired woman and herself.
"Teddiursa, use-" Teddiursa did not seem to be hearing Molly's voice at all. Was THIS what an Intimidate ability was?
"Spencer, I'm giving you one last chance," The woman said. "I do not wish to fight either, but if it means-"
Spencer nodded his head as the woman was finishing her sentence. "Alright."
"Huh?" Molly regained her focus and turned to her father. "But Papa, we don't know what she'll do once she gets to the Unown."
"Molly dear," Spencer said as he faced Molly. "I love you more than anything. The last thing I would want to do is endanger you because of MY decision..."
"Papa."
"I may go away again, but at least I'll know that yo'll be in bed safely, thinking about me every night before you go asleep." Spencer walked over to his daughter and put a hand on her chin.
A tear ran down Molly's face, "I knew it... You're going away again... You were gone all day and I could see it coming and-"
"I know it might be on short notice, and I know it's abit selfish from your perspective, but it's for your own good, dear." Spencer took his hand off Molly's chin as she ran into him, giving him a deep hug.
"But Papa, I don't want you to leave again..." Molly said.
"You're a big girl now. You need to stand up and be strong. I know your mother is always out at work, but we're both working in order for you to live a perfect life." Spencer knelt down to where he was eye level with the nine year old girl. "I know you'll be waiting for me when I come back..."
Returning to his normal stance, Spencer approached the waiting silver haired woman as she and Salamance were ready to depart.
Molly dropped to her knees with tears still in her eyes. "I'll be all alone and Papa could possibly throw his life away..." She rose back to her two feet. "No, I won't let that happen. PAPAAA!" She ran after the Salamance carrying Spencer and the woman, but when Molly closed in, it was too late. Salamance had taken off, and her father was gone. Molly was once again, alone...
To Be Continued...
So Molly and Spencer ARE canon characters. I've just decided to put my own touch on what I believe could be what happens after the Pokemon 3 Movie. And I thought the timing was right, I mean, Molly and Pheobe now have something in common. Anyway, I hope you enjoy and stay tuned for the next chapter