Pokemon Virus Version Chapter 86: A Loving Foreshadowing
Yumi's POV
"Please Yumi. Take care of my brother, and promise me you'll never leave his side."
"I promise."
The words I swore on.
Have I really let myself break that promise? My thought dwelt on that question as I continued to run away from 'him'. What used to be a meadow of roses was now another hill blanketed by the white of the falling snow. The hill of snow was only one of many that I planned on passing by. But where was I going?
Away from her...I lost...It's over...
The tears on my face were cold and frozen. I was depressed. I was shivering. And because I've never seen snow before, I didn't know what to do while on the road.
I stopped and dropped to my knees as I reached Autumn Town's exit. My thigh high, black socks were being 'powdered' by the cold snow as I began to sulk.
"If he was here, we'd..." I know he wasn't at all affectionate an that he didn't do 'cuddly', but he always had a soft spot for those he cared for, like Chikorita. I'd probably get a little closer to him, and cuddle as we both warm up. I'd smile while he'd have a barely tolerant, indignant look on his face, "He cares about me, I finally know that. But now...now it's too late. I'm so lonely."
I really needed someone-anyone-here with me right now.
How about my pokemon? Braixen? No, she needs rest right now. Snivy? He and I have only been able to JUST tolerate each other. To this day, I still haven't used Gligar, so... How about someone warm?
"I need you." I was shivering as I released my baby, furry feline.
"Nya..." Espurr just stood there, looking at me wide eyed as the warmth of her fur melted the snow that fell on her body. She was complimented by this white and grey scenery about as much as Seth waI looked into Espurr's eyes. They were so wide, I could see my reflection in them. Eyes red from crying tears that were now frozen on my face, and my hair and clothes a mess from that embarrassing scuffle, I looked nothing short of miserable right now.
"Nya." Espurr cried out to me in concern as she took a step closer to me.
Without a word, I wrapped my shivering arms around er. Pulling her into a hug, I was immediately warming up. I hugged her slightly tighter as I began to slowly rock from left...to right...to left...and repeat.
"At least you're here with me," I whispered, "Here after the storm of Alice and I...I guess I can only dream on Seth and I from now on. Just think about it, my perfect dream world...Seth escorting me as I receive the title of Top Coordinator, him smiling and blushing for the very first time as he tells me how pretty I am...Do you think it's impossible to make that dream a reality now, Espurr?"
Sometimes I wondered if the baby could understand what I was saying. Whenever I would speak, she and those wide eyes would remain motionless. But now, all she did was let out a big Yawn. "Nyaaaaahhhhh..."
Was I reallly that boring?
"Aaaahhhhmmm..." Espurr's yawing was making me yawn...yawning and yawning, and eyes becoming heavy from the cold stillness of the snow, I was growing sleepy, but how?
"Nya..." Espurr cried.
Would it actually be a bad thing if I were to fall asleep right now? After everything that's happened, after pain and heartbreak, perhaps I could sleep away this depression of mine, and then wake up the next morning, putting the yesterday of today behind me as I say to myself 'today is a new day'. Who knows, maybe I'll dream of Seth and I as we live out our 'happily ever after' in the house of my dreams. I allowed for myself to slip deep within these dreams, but as I did, I noticed something strange, Espurr was following me.
"E-Espurr?" I called out.
"Are you sure this is what you want? Do you wish for your dreams to become your reality?"
My jaw dropped. Espurr TALKING?! Hmm...am I already dreaming? And was this cute little baby listening to me the whole time?
"Y-you're talking?"
"That I am, Mother," Espurr answered, those eyes still typically wide, "And because you're my mother, I want to help you. It...It makes me sad when you cry..."
So I was right, "But you're an odd one. I never see you smile, or frown. You never cheer, and you never cry..."
"There are many things you don't know about what lies beyond this face of mine...Right now, I can make your dearest dreams become your reality."
"But how?"
"It is about time for me to cheer up the both of us. Come..."
It disturbed me, what Espurr proceeded to do next. For the very first time, I saw what lied under those folded ears of hers: They looked like a second set of eyes, and those eyes began to glow a light blue color. I was completely unaware of whatever power Espurr had, but I guess anything was possible in a dream...In MY dream."
In MY dream, I found myself and Espurr in the snowy meadow once again. Espurr...
"W-what are you...?" I whispered. I was thinking of reaching for my powder blue Pokedex, but something happened, "Huh?!" I was bewildered when the very Pokedex I was thinking of suddenly materialized in my hand, "What the?"
"I can make your dreams come true, so long as you're here," The wide eyed baby said to me.
Though Seth once scanned Espurr on his Pokedex, I needed at least SOME kind of reminder for me to get what Espurr was capable of.
The Pokedex read: The organ that emits it's intense psychic power is sheltered by it's ears to keep power from leaking out. It has enough energy to blast everything within 300 feet of itself, but it has no control over it's power.
Moves: Yawn, Scratch, Leer, Psychic
"Yawn..." My heart skipped a beat when realizing that what Espurr was doing was not just coincidence. Yawn was a sleep inducing move. So I'm sleeping...And this place, the one Espurr's been talking about, this really IS my dream. "I'm dreaming..." I repeated to myself.
"Correct."
A dream...this was exactly what I wished for. If I couldn't make my dreams come true in the real world, why not pretend?
Autumn colors have fallen, and I am cold and alone in Winter's beginning. I wished I could be somewhere warm, and I wished to love every girl's fantasy, but most of all, I wanted Seth to be here. I want to tell him everything.
I turned to Espurr once more, this time with a look of assurance. I was sure of what and where I wanted to be in this everlasting dream, "I want to be happy..." I answered to the magical feline.
"If you're happy, I'm happy too," Espurr answered, her eyes now starting to glow even stronger than before, "Your wish is my command."
It was then, all my wishes started to come together. Wishing brought to me, many white walls rising high and surrounding the both of us. The walls and ceilings were so pristine, as were the all white floors. The inside of the'castle of my dreams' was heavily decorated with crystal sculptures of Swanna, Milotic, and Meowstic. The entire manor was also decorated with Litwick that were lined up, lighting up and warming the atmosphere. Pokemon such as Gardevoir, Sneasel, Beartic, and a single Gothitelle roamed around the manor as if they were actual residents.
"Wow..." I whispered to myself. I smiled as I knew Espurr wasn't quite done with my dream world.
Next was my look, it began to change drastically. First of all, my long black hair was sleeker and more elegant than before, as well as my aqua blue bangs. My bangs stopped right on my chest. The aqua blue furisode I was wearing was changing, and as I wished, I was wearing an elegant, white, sleeveless dress that went how to just above my knees. On my legs were long black leggings, and on my arms were long black gloves. I wore no shoes, probably because I really felt at home here.
My wardrobe change wasn't last thing I would be receiving.
All of a sudden, coming into my all white dream room and stopping right at my foot, was an adorable pokemon I've wanted for the longest time.
"Teddi..." Since the night Chapel caught it's evolved form, I've wanted a Teddiursa of my own. Now I finally have one, even if it WAS just a dream. I picked up the teddy bear and gave him a big hug.
"Aw, you're so cute." I held on to my Teddiursa as I waited for one more person to join me, "You're finally here..."
Light made it's way into my room and lit up the roses decorating the walls. It felt very warm now, even with the winter clouds outside.
The double doors-my castle walls-opened up, revealing to me the silhouette of the one who recently got away. I kept my smile though, because this was MY dream after all.
His face was empty...His face was missing...I knew it would probably happen even in my dreams, but I tried to picture Seth with a smile on his face as he walked toward Espurr, Teddiursa, and I.
"In the real world, he hurt you," Espurr said, "But here..."
Okay, so I couldn't get him to smile, but I at least got him to hug me after I placed Teddiursa on the ground and wrapped my arms around his neck. He embraced me, and the both of us stood there, savoring this warm moment for as long as possible.
...Thinking about what happened between Alice and I made a single tear come down my face, because I couldn't see Seth and I embracing each other in reality. But while I remained in this dream world, I just HAD to ask Seth the question that recently surfaced in my mind, "Do you think I'm pretty?"
The reply of my dreams came out of the mouth of the black haired boy without hesitation. My heart fluttered at THOSE words, even if they were just a lie. Those words...they gave me the nerve to to tell him everything; from a 'loving foreshadowing' to how perfecting my dream world meant having to keep my promise of helping him defeat Neo Snagem.
"He is all you need for an everlasting smile..." Espurr finished.
Location: Autumn Town's 'Amy Angel' Theatre
Seth's POV
The moment Yumi fell to her knees in defeat, that was the first time I've felt this new emotion: concern. But why did I care? Was it the fact that she and Alice were fighting in my honor? I wasn't sure, because I certainly didn't feel anything when Justice and I fought in Yumi's honor back in Eggseter. It's just...ever since she saved me in Ecruteak, I've felt a need for her to be close by. I wonder where she is right now?
Alice and I returned to the theatre in Autumn Town. Of course, I wanted to proceed to Mahogany Town, but living on the shores of Sunnyshore all my life, I've never seen snow before. I wouldn't know what to do. Though maybe Alice would...
She and I were in the middle of what the people of Autumn Town called 'The Magic Of Winter'. She stood close to me, and I turned to her in order to ask her, "Hey, what town are you from?" If she wasn't from a coastal city, then maybe she could help me through the snow.
Alice paused, then opened her mouth, "Do you know of a place called Camphrier Town?"
I looked confused, as I was unfamiliar with such a name.
"It's in a faraway land called Kalos." Her voice was beginning to get lower. Alice sighed.
"And does it snow there?" I asked.
i waited for a reply to come from the mouth of the platinum haired girl, but nothing...Looking at her closely, her eyes narrowed as she stared at the ground.
She completely skipped my question, "You know, in a place like this, an ocean of strangers, it's easy to get lost. At times, I wish I could just stay lost, and never be able to find my way home. Well, only when I'm with you..." Alice stared at me with those pink eyes, a genuine smile on her face, "I make me forget everything I hate about back home."
"What do you hate about it?"
"Well first, there's the fact that they have no contests. I believe I've made that obvious." A moment passed before Alice spoke again, "Months ago, when I began my journey, I entered my first Contest in Olivine City. In the final round, it was me against that girl with the Mienshao. I'm sure you've met her, as I saw in Bloomingvale. The name of that 'perfectionist' was Mary-Elizabeth."
Alice was correct. I remember Mienshao being defeated in a failed attempt to capture the Snivy that now belongs to Yumi. The only reason I remember Mary so well is because she and Mienshao were on the receiving end of Snivy's Leech Seed and Wrap combination.
"'Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner: Olivine City's very own Mary-Elizabeth!" Alice was making her own impression of Lillian Meridian, "Even though I lost, I couldn't help but smile. For once, I wasn't 'just another one of Camphrier Town's Royal Riches'. I've lived a pretty sheltered life. I was babied, given everything I ever wanted. But when I HAD everything I wanted, what was left for me to gain? I was bored out of my mind. After thinking about it, I finally decided that I would travel Johto as a Coordinator. I wanted to make a name for myself."
...
Alice's last sentence made me pause...
"Uh, Seth?" Alice looked even closer into my eyes. She waved her hand in my face out of concern, "What's wrong?"
"You're goal, it reminds me of..."
...When I arrived in Ecruteak City that day, I was shown by Missingno the reason why Zero did what he did five years ago..."
"I'm sick of being known simply as 'Champion Rosen's son'. My pokemon journey, and my allegiance to Neo Snagem...It's all so I can make a name for myself..."
Hearing Zero's words gave me an idea. Alice has been traveling Johto too. Maybe she knows where any Commanders are, or even where Atticus is! Suddenly motivated, I grabbed Alice's hand and made my way toward the theatre's exit.
"Woah!" Alice chuckled, "What's gotten into you?"
I stopped just before exiting the theatre, as did a Chikorita walking beside me. I looked Alice in the eyes very passionately.
"Let's go together! Let's find Neo Snagem!"
I've been told numerous times that I tend to get obsessive or paranoid when it comes to Neo Snagem, but that's what kept me going toward my goal. The cities of Ecruteak, Marion, and Violet are under Neo Snagem's control, bur it'll be some time before I return to Johto's midwestern region. Perhaps Alice's knowledge could allow me to eliminate some commanders and get some sort of upper hand until then...
...
...Unfortunately, as soon as we made our way outside the theatre, my attention would have to shift from Team Neo Snagem...
Out here, the snow was starting to stick to the ground. I've never seen snow before, but that was the least of what peaked my interest.
Alice, Chikorita and I, as well as a few of Autumn Town's locals all looked in the deep distance. There, miles outside the snow filled Autumn Town, was a giant manor.
To Be Continued...
Okay, I'm gonna be honest with you guys, writing any sort of love or fluff is 'weird' to me. I guess it's because I'm a 'logic before emotions' guy. Though, THIS ship is an outlier. While Seth is emotionally detached, Yumi is just a very affectionate person. The two are opposites. I paint this image inside my head of Seth being cold hearted and independent, while Yumi persists on bringing some passion out of Seth. This has been consistent, even in the fic's earliest chapters...
Seth's Pokemon
In Party
Chikorita, Female-Overgrow
Murkrow, Male-Super Luck
Seviper(Shadow Pokemon), Female-Shed Skin
Chandelure, Male-Flame Body
Klefki(Shadow Pokemon), Female-Prankster
In Sunnyshore
Elekid, Male-Static
Gabite, Male-Rough Skin