Pokemon Virus Version Chapter 85: Snow
Flashback
Location: Nation Park-The Forest
Alice's POV
Out here in this forest all day was me, Seth, and his Mawile. We were out in the forest because Seth was participating in the Bug Catching Contest. There was such determination in his eyes throughout the entire day. Ah, those deep blue eyes...it was like they were pulling me in like a magnet. The fact that basically no progress was made in the Contest didn't annoy me, it only meant that Seth and I could spend more time together.
Being a traveling Pokemon Trainer, I knew better than to go anywhere without food. With me, was a basket full of fruit.
We've been in this forest all day, and we haven't had anything to eat. I don't care how 'tough' Seth seemed on the outside, I knew he would be hungry on the inside. He was looking around, noticing the increasing rarity of trainers compared to this morning.
I gulped. Now was my chance to make a move, "Um, Seth?" I called his name.
"Hm?" He answered as he turned around. What he saw was me holding out a small basket of fruit toward him, "Huh?" He was confused.
"We've been out here all day," I started, "I know I don't have to follow you around, but I can't imagine myself alone, in a dark forest at night. And if that's the case, I wouldn't want either of us to starve." My face...it was beginning to blush, but only slightly, "Come on, YOU'VE been out here all day too. The fruit could be ours to share for the night ahead...But only if you call me pretty!"
"Mawile?"
The setting sun crept it's way through the forest trees and onto Seth's eyes as he stared at me. Those deep blue eyes again...I wasn't sure what exactly they were saying to me at that moment. Typically, they have this look on indifference that everyone seems to remember. But now, they were wide and bright.
"W-what's wrong? Am I pretty?" Please...Pretty was the only thing I wanted for him to call me right now, but why was he standing there, frozen like a statue?
...His stomach started to rumble. It could be heard even though the cries of nocturnal bugs, as well as Hoothoot and Noctowl, could be heard in the distance.
Mawile looked at Seth with a chuckle, while Seth turned away and looked at the ground as he said, "I'm hungry."
I smile. There's no way he'd turn down a fruit basket on an empty stomach, "Well then, what's keeping you? Call me pretty. Or at least tell me how beautiful my eyes are."
"I..." Seth paused, "I just can't say any of those words. It's weird."
...Was something wrong with me? Maybe something was wrong with him...Hmm...He never smiles...He doesn't really show emotion, and he tells me he can't say I'm pretty. "Wow..." It took me a moment to piece everything together before it hit me: Seth may not know it, but he has a hard time opening up and expressing himself. That's why he put up with that 'peasant girl' back in Bloomingvale, without complaining about her abundance of energy even once.
"Hey." I said as I walked in front of Seth, "It's not hard, you know. Just open your heart."
Seth remained silent, "I can't..." Was he nervous? "I don't have a heart. I've spent this entire journey trying to search for one. I've learned a few things here and there, but it's still 'empty' inside."
"Then..." I had no idea what Seth was talking about, but I wasn't going to just scoff at the story. Maybe this was my chance to get to know him better. Using my free hand, I proceeded to hug the blue eyed trainer as I whispered in his ear, "Maybe your search has only just begun. In fact, I'll help you. Now answer me this..." I let go of Seth. He STILL wasn't smiling, but his eyes seemed less tense, and a little more at ease, "Do you think I'm pretty?"
"..."It was like opening his mouth was the hardest thing for him to do, but it was a huge step in the right direction when he slowly whispered, "Yes, very much."
My pink eyes glimmered under the glow of the setting sun's orange light. I did it...I DID it...I DID what could be considered among the impossible. Despite his lack of emotion, I was able to dig deep inside and get him to express himself, even if it was just a little...
Emd Flashback
Location: Autumn Town's Amy Angel Theatre
Yumi wasn't the only one who had her moments with the guy who left the theatre without warning. She still has the impression that I'm just some shallow girl who's relationship with Seth has no depth. The lowly peasant was right where she belonged: her face in the dirt, while I stood tall.
I had to catch up with Seth, which prompted me to abruptly end my scuffle with a downed Yumi. By the time I made it to the theatre's exit, Yumi was slowly helped to her feet by the surrounding crowd, and she began to follow me.
...
"Seth! Seth!" It didn't take long for me to find him and his Chikorita. There they were, making their way past the big pine tree that stood in the town's center. It was surrounded by nothing but a ground that was blanketed by many brown leaves during the end of this Autumn season.
"Chicori?" Chikorita was on Seth's shoulder.
"Hmph." He turned to face me with those deep blue eyes. There was an indignant look on his face, and the dark clouds really brought out his black hair and blond bang.
"Wait!"
I sighed. It just HAD to be 'her' catching up to me. Both Seth and I looked at an approaching Yumi. I smirked. Her hair was a mess, and her short furisode was all ripped...thanks to me.
Stopping, Yumi stared at the both of us for a moment while catching her breath.
"You know, that's a good look for you," I said. Yumi glared at me, but I wasn't moved, "What? If you're gonna get mad at anyone, why not try yourself? After all, you're the one who landed the first strike."
"So the two of you haven't finished yet..." I tried to start away from us again, but I wouldn't allow it as I grabbed his hand, stopping him in his tracks. He glared at me.
"Seth..." Yumi whispered to herself.
Yumi's POV
There they were again, holding hands! Er, Alice was just so frustrating! The two of them, together...it bothered me. I had to ask myself again: Was I jealous? Well, it was an emotion I could no longer deny, but I'm afraid, that wasn't the worst part. What bothered me was that Alice's attraction to Seth was ACTUALLY GENUINE. It led me to wonder whatever happened between those two.
Seth pulled away from Alice, and walked over to me, "We're wasting time here. We're going to Mahogany now."
"No!" I raised my voice.
Seth narrowed his eyes out of typical impatience. For now, he was just gonna have to deal with it.
I turned to Alice, my messy blue bangs covering my eyes, "What happened while I was away?"
Alice didn't even hesitate, "He called me pretty...VERY pretty."
My jaw dropped slightly as I stared ahead blankly. Alice...is she gaining too much ground on me? For Seth AND for Contests? Her being called pretty...It was all but confirmed at this point: I WAS jealous...Wandering in my mind, I was searching for any solution before I'd become desperate enough to do something I may greatly regret.
"Alice, I want to end this now..." With that, I closed my mouth and proceeded to grab a single Pokeball. To say this was risky would be an understatement, but I just had to, "One on one, I challenge you! It'll be for bragging rights, and for...you know who."
"Hmph, so you DO like him?" Alice smiled, "Betting everything on a single battle...What's wrong? Have you really become THIS desperate?"
My eyes narrowed.
"Alright then. It's not like a lowly peasant like you could beat me anyway, but I'll play your game." Swiftly, Alice reached for a single Pokeball and threw it.
"Al..." Appearing in front of me and on the leafy ground, was the blue headed Ralts from before. Ralts was calm, and Alice seemed sure of herself. I gulped. With my challenge accepted, there was no turning back now. This was the very first battle between Alice and I.
"Okay, it's time to take stage!" I said as I threw the Pokeball that contained one of my more powerful Pokemon.
"Zen!" Now standing across from Alice and Ralts, was a Braixen who immediately readied her wand-like stick.
At first glance, it looked as if Braixen clearly had the advantage, but I wasn't sure of what exactly Ralts was capable of.
"If I win this battle, I'll tell him how I feel..." I thought to myself.
"Seth, this one's for you!" Alice called to Seth with a smile. She then faced me with eyes that were just as determined as mine.
"Alice, let's end this."
"Agreed."
...
If there was anything I learned from Seth, it was that he rarely made the first move in a battle. This prompted me to wait for Alice to call something out to Ralts.
The wind blew, along with the falling brown leaves. Moments passed by as the clouds became a few shades darker. It appeared as though Alice was also waiting for the first move to be called.
She sighed, "And here I was, expecting someone as high sprung as you to just rush into battle. Fine then, I see how it is," Alice turned her attention toward Ralts, "Ralts, use Disarming Voice!"
"Disarming Voice?"
Ralts nodded, "Laaaaaaa..." At first, the voice of Ralts was actually quite pleasant. This Pokemon could really sing...or at least, that what I though until, "LAAAAAHHHHH!"
"Agh!" That voice, it was terrible! I found myself having to cover my ears as I winced in pain. Braixen was in even more pain than me. Her ears were sensitive, and she appeared to be taking damage even though she too covered her ears.
"Chico!" Chikorita also winced in pain. This Ralts was stronger than it looked...
Trying my best to fight through the Disarming Voice, I was able to refocus my attention on Braixen and yell, "Flamethrower NOW!"
"Ngh!" Also trying her best to fight through the pain while still wincing, Braixen blindly shot multiple Flamethrowers before finally nailing the Fairy type with a burn.
"Agh!" Ralts being sent to the ground by a single Flamethrower...It gave me the impression that it was a pretty frail Pokemon when it slowly got up with a near invisible hint of struggle. But now wasn't the time to get careless over my assumption, not with what I had on the line in this fight.
"Braixen, another Flamethrower!" There was no smile on my face as I threw my hand to the side, determined not give Ralts and Alice any time for a rebound.
"Bray!" Using her wand, the fire type prepared to gain total control of this fight as she launched yet another stream of fire in this cold weather.
"Come on..." I was anxious for Braixen and I to become favored. I was so anxious in fact, that it was as if the stream of fire was moving in slow motion in my eyes. This was it! There was nothing Ralts could do! Until...
"Laaaahhh La!" I couldn't believe my eyes or ears. Ralts, at it twirled gracefully out of Flamethrower's path, was actually SINGING, singing as if it were in some sort of specific rhythm.
My jaw dropped, and Braixen's eyes widened as Flamethrower hit the ground. Alice smile confidently. "I WAS saving this specialized battle style of Ralt for Mahogany Town, but I guess now's a perfect rehearsal, given the importance... " Alice blushed as she gave Seth a genuine smile, which made me scowl, "Our rivalry aside, I REALLY like him, Yumi," and then her smile turned into a frown, "Is THAT what you hate most about me right now?!"
"Er, be quiet!"
"Maybe after I win, I'll finally get him to return some of my feeling...I can't lose! Not now! I WILL WIN! YOU HEAR ME?!"
We all gasped, Seth included. It was as if Alice performed some sort of battle cry that somehow got through to a frail Ralts that suddenly started glowing a bright light. Though it was in the middle of the day, this light illuminated the center of Autumn Town as Ralts began to change shape.
"...No...not now..." I whispered.
"Chico?" Chikorita asked.
"It's evolving." Seth answered.
I just couldn't catch a break right now. We all watch as the glowing form of the blue headed Ralts grew sleek legs. It's arms became longer, and when it stopped glowing, it slowly opened it's eyes and looked toward Braixen and I. We stood there, frozen. No...No no no no! I couldn't let an evolution keep me from telling Seth everything! I began to shake as I started to panic, a smile on the face of Alice.
"Braixen, Flamethrower!" The state of panic that was stirring up from inside me was making it;s way out, and all at once. I began to blindly call attacks.
"Lalaaaa! La! Lada ladada!" And to add insult to injury, the evolved Ralts-the Kirlia-was just casually singing and dancing her way around Braixen's attacks. It was frustrating, that smile on her face as I called for repeated Flamethrowers.
"Looks like the end is already here..." Alice said.
And with that, the singing Kirlia danced her way around the flames and closer to Braixen before landing the death nail in a critical hit-Shadow Ball that sent Braixen to the leafy ground.
I fell to my knees after recalling Braixen, lamenting in all that was on the line in this battle. I didn't dare to face Seth, unlike Alice and Kirlia.
"Seth?" After a pause that allowed for everyone to take in what had just happened, Alice called for who was now 'hers'...I heard the sound of footsteps as the crackled on the ground's leaves. The footsteps stopped right in front of Seth. "I did it. This battle, this conflict...it was all for you, Seth."
"Yumi?" Even after Alice won, and even when she was making the first move, he STILL called my name first. Did it even matter at this point? I lost...and may have also lost the nerve to tell him how I feel. "Yumi..." I heard his footsteps start toward me, but they stopped when...
...I sniffled, and tears were beginning to fall from the eyes of my heartbroken self, "So you DO care..." And that was what made it hurt so much. He cares for me, and I care for him, but I wasn't the only one. SHE is what separates 'us'. Him and I...the ship was closer than ever, yet it was further than ever at the same time.
I looked up, but not at Alice. What I saw for the first time, was a face of genuine concern on Seth as he looked into my teary eyes. This moment was as cold and empty to me as...as the background.
Behind him, behind 'us'...above us all was something I had never seen in person before. It fell on my face, and then rolled down, dripping onto the ground along with it's many white twins, metaphorically speaking.
It's snowing...
It was so depressing...EVERYTHING was depressing...This depressing scenery really complimented him and his black hair. Blonde bangs and cold eyes...being in his presence was too much. 'Us'... Throwing 'us' away, I couldn't help but take off running, away from Autumn Town, and away from Seth as I looked back at him with my teary eyes one last time, "I'm sorry..."
It all abruptly ends with a whisper.
To Be Continued...
Well, if you haven't noticed I really don't spoil chapters anymore by stating what happens in the Author's Note.
I apologize if the second half of this chapter seems 'rushed'. And about Yumi AND Seth having never seen snow in person, this is because they live in coastal cities. I live in a coastal city, and I've NEVER seen it snow here. In fact, there nothing but sunny weather 300 plus days a year. Don't let this fool you though, this ISN'T a self insert.
And now, the Pokemon of this Chapter's featured characters:
Yumi's Pokemon
Umbreon, Male-Sychronize
Braxien, Female-Blaze
Gligar(Shadow), Male-Immunity
Snivy, Male-Overgrow
Espurr, Female-Infiltrator
Alice's Pokemon
Dragonair,Male-Shed Skin
Swanna, Female-Hydration
Kirlia(Shiny), Female-Synchronize
Pumpkaboo, Female-Frisk