Pokemon Virus Version Chapter 49: Memories of Days Gone By
Okay readers, this chapter will feature the memories of Missingno that find their way in to Seth. It'll all come together now, why Neo Snagem exists, and whatever happened in the past to make them who they are.
The tension leading of to the demise of the family of Zero...
"Father!" Zero called to an Atticus who had just put a distance between himself and his 'former' family. "Father, please don't gp!"
"Hmph." Atticus crossed his arms as he stood on Sunnyshore's edge, without facing his son Zero. "Your mother gave up on me... and that 'Rosen' who calls himself your father, he wants for Flora to forget about me. And that 'Seth' kid...Who the hell is he? Why can't things go back to the way they used to?! Rosen and Seth...We must distance ourselves AND Flora from those two if we want any chance to ever change Flora's mind."
"But Seth..." Zero thought about Seth, and was torn between the two. "He's my younger brother."
"And it's probably because of HIM that Flora basically shows no emotion now. They both have that same indifferent look on their faces. Why Zero?! Why did she change?! I-"
"-She changed because of you, Father." Zero replied.
The reply prompted Atticus to face Zero with a worried expression. "Me?"
"When you disappeared ten years ago, she broke down." Zero started. "All she could think about was the thought of you returning. And whenever she did, she couldn't help but cry. Life was an endless depression for her, even with Lilligant and I by her side. After months of depression, she finally decided to walk off her troubles. Each day, she'd walk the shores of Sunnyshore alone. And with each passing day the walks would gradually become longer and longer. The walks not only suppressed her stress, but her other emotions as well. Her personality had become indifferent by the time she had met Rosen. It was just an average day When Rosen had wanted to say hello to the woman, because he would see Flora walking every single time he passed by the beach. Catching sight of a Roselia who accompanied Rosen, it was the start of Flora's fondness of roses, even to the name. Although she showed indifference on the outside, on the inside she had fallen in love with Rosen. The couple's marriage was the turning point in the lives of us all. The 'up and coming' trainer in Rosen had become the Champion of Sinnoh, and his future fortune would be a gift to us all. The beach side villa you were just in...Rosen had it built from the ground up just for Flora, who told him all about how the beach alone kept her up during her depression. Soon after we were all settled, they had a child. Flora obviously wanted to name the child Rose, only their child was boy...So Rosen went with the name 'Seth'. And, well, you know the rest of the story, Father."
"But...I still believe that by separating Flora from Rosen and Seth, I could win Flora back, and we could return to our old lives." Atticus held his hand out to Zero as he said. "Just you, Flora, and I. It's not too late to try."
"Father..." Zero slowly walked toward his Atticus as the two then exchanged a firm 'father to son' handshake. "It's good to have you back."
"And thus, a stable is revived...or should I say, a NEW stable is born. "The voice of someone approaching us sighed. "To save who we care about...Yes, Atticus and I DO have something in common."
"Wes?" Atticus motioned to Zero, before this stranger interrupted.
"From what I heard just now your name is Zero, and you've just joined our alliance to save who YOU care for" Flora," Wes said. "Zero, with the three of us working together, we'll spread our words, and make our desires a common goal for everyone. You'll return to your memories of the days passed, and be forever remembered as a founding member of an organization who's name will one day become household. "Wes held out his hand to me...
...
The three of us together...it was the beginning of the organization known as Team Neo Snagem. Day and night the three of us worked endlessly trying to increase this organization's numbers, but numbers were scarce early on. Or maybe we just didn't have enough incentive. That was until...
The passing of Rui...
It was just Wes and Rui, drifting along a dark meadowy path with only the moon's light keeping away the pitch blackness. The two were leaning next to each other, on a tree.
"Wes...It's been five years since our days in Orre. I feel that time is running out on me." Rui started.
"Huh?" Wes questioned. "No...it's not too late."
Rui had told Wes before about the shadow powers given to her by Missingno would soon fade, along with her entire existence as the virus inside her would eventually crash and attempt to erase itself.
"Remember what I told you before?" Rui closed her eyes and leaned on Wes' shoulder.
"The 'crash' hasn't happened yet. It probably never will." Wes explained.
"No, you underestimate the virus, Wes. And THIS-" Rui was talking about her leaning on Wes' shoulder. THIS is a goodbye hug..."
Wes made no reply, and Rui could not see his hiding face.
"Don't worry, I know your pride will never let you say how you feel in your heart. So I might as well try an guess." Rui started. "Dear Rui: It is happening, although I refuse to believe it; the passing of someone special. That special someone...red hair and blue eyes...and a smile that, until this moment, I have taken for granted." Rui place a hand on Wes and faced him toward her.
"As I look in to her eyes one last time, a warm smile is all I can return on the outside. While on the inside, in my heart, I mourn over that many words that have been left unsaid. She may not know it, but it feels as though a part of me will fade away along with her, and I will be left alone. Alone...why is she leaving me alone? I know why. I am the reason why..." Wes looked at a paused Rui, only to see tears coming from her eyes while sniffling and forcing herself to smile, Rui continued. "I do not wish to say goodbye, but..."
"Please, stop..." A;though Wes seemed indifferent on the outside, he was sinking into a depression on the inside at the thought of never seeing Rui again.
At Wes' request, Rui stopped expressing Wes' heart to the two of them.
"Wes, before I go, I want you to know that you are the best friend I've ever had, and maybe something 'more'. Everyday I remember being rescued by you from the original Team Snagem in Orre, and I can't help but bring out a smile everytime I lay my eyes on the 'hero' in you. Not only are you Orre's hero, buy your MY hero too, no matter how much you try and deny it, which is why I leave you. I leave you, because it is my turn to save you. Once I'm gone, the virus won't be able to spread to you..." Rui said.
Wes could feel Rui starting to fade at this point.
All Rui could say was "Time's up..." as Wes tried his hardest to keep his cool.
Sniffling again, Rui got up and started walking forward while her teary eyes glistened in the moonlight. "Zero, Atticus...Oh, and Umbreon, and Espeon too.. I'll miss them all. Please let them know I said that..."
"..." Her goodbye was just too much. Wes could no longer remain calm. "Please, don't g-" Wes was rushing toward Rui, before being interrupted by the girl trying to distance herself from him.
"-Please don't follow me..." A fading Rui started. "All I want is for you to continue living you life, AND mine. You'll be my living flesh and blood, Wes...Oh, and one last thing: Please tell that Chapel girl that I'm really sorry for what we did to her mother, Chiyo. We had no right making that little girl suffer, in a way I am about to make you suffer; With the loss of a loved one. Wes, this...is my final goodbye..."
Wes couldn't help but put his head down and turn away from a fading Rui. With a light, dark, and infected viral auras completely surrounding and fading away along with the girl, Rui was gone, and Wes was all alone.
"So many things left unsaid..." Were the last words Wes said to the 'incomplete life' who's soul was probably on her way to a better place now. "Goodbye Rui..."
But even after his last goodbye, Wes refused to accept that Rui was lost forever, and this served as an incentive to devote his entire life to Neo Snagem. Around the clock, Wes worked to expand Neo Snagem, to better his chances at saving a lost Rui.
...
"You and I both have something in common, Atticus." Wes approached an Atticus who was accompanied by his son, Zero.
The three had taken the day off, and were at the western edge of Goldenrod City, where only the blue ocean lied ahead.
Having sunk into a depression, Wes was determined to increase his efforts to save Rui, and THAT started with those around him.
"The time is now, for us to become serious about saving the ones we hold dear to us." Wes' hands were in his pockets, and his eyes were closed.
"Do you mean that we're trying to save more than one person?" Zero asked.
"Neo Snagem was created for Flora, and her only, right?" Atticus questioned.
"No, it's Rui, she's..."
Wes felt as if he was talking to only himself as he explained Rui's passing to Zero and Atticus.
"It WAS her idea to form Neo Snagem in the first place. She had told me this idea of increasing our numbers, to better cover our search for a cure for the virus that was inside her." Wes winced. "But we were too late. At least, that's what she wanted me to believe. Preventing the virus from spreading to us, she gave her life in order to rescue us. And now, we must return the favor. I propose that from now on, we stop at absolutely nothing to save those who are dear to us."
An overwhelming success, Zero and Atticus were both changed by Wes' proposition alone.
...
As the three worked together 24/7, they also got to know more about each other. Maybe a little too much...
"These last ten years, it's as if a dark, shadowy fog has covered up my memories of the last decade. I can't remember a thing..." Words Atticus spoke of when Flora asked for his whereabouts over the last decade(Chapter 47).
That dark fog was certainly real, and the three soon found out when Atticus suddenly started emitting a dark aura one day.
"The darkness...it has spread..." Atticus whispered. "A-aargh!" Coughing and wincing in pain, Atticus' change was certainly visible. His hair becoming long and black, his eyes turning a dark purple...And that was only what changed outside. "This darkness, this power...I feel myself becoming stronger!"
Eventually, Wes and Zero had tried to intervene and calm Atticus, but Atticus refused to accept their help.
Once it appeared that the darkness had settled in, that dark power...Atticus started levitating as he smirked as Wes and Zero. "Through pain for power...THIS power, I want more..."
...
THAT newly found power, Atticus spent much time taming in the name of love, in order to one day win Flora back. Atticus' lust for love and power, combined with his new abilities were what Wes and Zero just couldn't compete with. And as the most powerful member of an 'on the rise' Neo Snagem organization, Atticus was granted the title of leader: Neo Snagem's first in command, Commander 01. But as time passed, and as the three learned about Atticus' power, they also learned about where those powers came from: Rui... It appeared that Rui wasn't able to prevent the virus from spreading after all, even if she gave her entire life in an attempt to do so. Rui's sacrifice...it was all for nothing!
At first, Wes was quite stressed by this conclusion, but he eventually thought of a theory about if the spreading virus contained and remnants of a Rui that Wes no longer considered gone, but simple missing. Eventually, Wes had proposed to Atticus and Zero that the three should set out on a quest to find the being that connect or disconnect the viruses and shadow auras from their hosts, and Celebi. But sadly, the proposition would fail to have it's starting point executed.
"For the longest time, I have devoted my life to recover the one who has been lost to us, and to me." Wes started. "My knowledge from my journey in Orre, about Celebi's control of the virus and the dark auras...I believe that Celebi is the key to bringing back Rui's entire being. And so, I ask the both of you, Commander 01 and Commander 00, join me in my search for the purifier."
In an empty dim lit room, the three had nowhere else to stare at but each other, as Wes was staring expectantly.
"I-" Zero attempted to reply, before being interrupted.
"-You'll be doing no such thing. Neither will Zero, or myself." Atticus answered.
Wes' eyes went wide open. He did not expect his two closest comrades to decline his offer, like they just did for the very first time.
"But," Wes blinked ,"But why?"
"Wes, you and I built Team Neo Snagem from the ground up, but I guess...I guess some of us have changed more than others. From the moment I first obtained this dark power, I've only desired MORE power." Atticus explained.
"But don't you think that a thirst for power sounds a bit...antagonistic?" Wes questioned.
Atticus was becoming unaware of himself, and Wes couldn't hold back his sudden annoyance toward him.
"Listen to yourself talk, Atticus!" Wes NEVER let such trivial emotions overwhelm him like that. But a few seconds DID pass to allow Wes to recollect himself to ask Atticus another question. "Have you lost sight of why we created Neo Snagem in the first place?"
Atticus froze upon hearing that question, and then looked at the ground as Zero looked at HIM, then at me.
"You haven't forgotten about her,Flora...Do you still love her enough to try and win her back?" Wes asked.
"Father..."Zero was anxious for a reply.
"Let's go back there, to Sunnyshore." Atticus said.
"So the Atticus I've come to know has NOT been swallowed completely by the darkness." Wes said.
However, both Atticus and Zero had asked that Wes keep out of the 'family affair'. Atticus still declined Wes' proposal, prompting Wes to search for Celebi on his own, with the start of a 'collapsing' relationship lingering between the two leaders in the near future.
Location: Sunnyshore City
It was only Zero on the beach, on his way to the beachside villa. And as he passed by, he saw a very close, very familiar person standing at the edge of the beach and watch the warm, orange sunset and cool blue sea. The sunset was familiar to this person. This person had probably memorized the approximate time that the sun was ready to fall asleep each day. This familiar person was Zero's younger brother, Seth.
"You're back..." Without even facing his older brother, Seth knew that he had finally returned home after 'who knows how long?' "Where have you been? Why have you come back?"
"Seth..." Zero paused. "It's Mother, I need to see her."
Before Zero continued toward the beachside villa, he slowly walked up to a Seth who could clearly hear the footsteps on the sand, but remained in his fixed stance as he stared into the distance.
"How about a trip down memory lane?" Zero asked as he stood right next to his eight year old brother, replicating his gaze upon the descending sun. "Just like old times, right?"
"Father despises the 'old times'." Of course Rosen WOULD say something like that. A life where Rosen never met Flora at all? Seth wouldn't even exist. So him siding with Rosen would be no surprise. "He says that Atticus is a mad man."
Speaking out against Zero's real father...Seth didn't realize that his words alone were enough for Zero to abruptly end their time together.
"Rosen isn't my real father, Seth..." Zero said as he continued toward the villa, eyes on the sand. "Goodbye Seth."
This WASN'T goodbye, because Seth was closely following Zero, making HIS way back to the villa as well.
Slowly but surely, Zero was beginning to distance himself from Rosen, in favor of his real father, Atticus.
"When I became a Pokemon Trainer, my goal was not to be remembered as former champion Rosen's son, but to be remembered as Champion Zero. To create my own legacy without ever being compared to my stepfather...An endless sea of Rosen 'ass kissers' asking me- No, asking the champion's son, about how my success would add to his family legacy...But what about ME? What about Zero? I have a name! Apart of Team Neo Snagem, and with my real father, I actually have a name. My name is Zero, the name that will one day stand alone as my living legacy. And it ALL. STARTS. HERE."
What Zero didn't tell Seth that sunset, was how he planned to reach his goal: He was going to leave behind his old life of a child who was next in line, the life of a champion's son. Leaving everything and everyone he once knew...And it all started with Rosen, and Seth...
This is Team Neo Snagem: A journey for love, power, and identity...
To Be Continued...
I hope this story is starting to make sense now for you guys, because this may be among the last of Seth's flashbacks. And once again, this chapter is all of the memories of Missingno being shared to Seth, Chapel, and Rose. Originally this WAS supposed to be the first time in any point of the story that would be told through Zero's POV, but instead settled for Missngno's POV, although it was never labeled.
This is also the last chapter before Ecruteak City, or the Dominion of Shadows in this chapter. I mean, can you guys believe that I've been hyping Ecruteak for nearly THIRTY chapters. Well the wait is FINALLY over, and I promise I will deliver. Now I will say the 'Battle For Ecruteak City Arc' will be a bit lengthy, and it will be a MAJOR turning point for the story in terms of who is the main antagonist of the story, and if Johto can be saved by anyone. All the build up is here, and every OC's backstory has been explained. Please review and be ready for chapter 50. And I'll see you then.