Pokemon Virus Version Chapter 89: Sentiment
Location: Yumi's Dreamworld
Yumi's POV
On the shores of Sunnyshore…
I am alone, staring into the night sky. The waves of the water blew very gently, as did my white dress. The moon was the only source of light here in the stillness of the night. Why was the lighthouse not lit?
Everyone's missing…but why? How? This isn't what I want. This is supposed to be MY dream.
"It feels like I've been waiting forever…" It was never like me to stay in one play for a long period of time, even when I rolled my ankle and tried to walk even though the sprain was still very much visible. I'll never forget that day in Cherrygrove. I never told anyone, but Seth carrying me on his back that day may have been what caused me to have to feelings for him. Where IS he though?
He's just…he's missing right now…
At first, my dream world was perfect. But then I became aware of myself and the fact that no matter what happened here, this was STILL JUST a dream. I was losing touch with reality, and I was hurting myself as a result.
"You and Seth?" I said to my reflection in the Sunnyshore waters, "Sadly, I don't think that'll happen. You'll have to wake up and face reality sometime."
I was depressing myself. Has my dream turned into a nightmare? It's alone, and empty…
…
Espurr's POV
I returned to Mother Yumi's room, where I had also put my sister in Chikorita to sleep. It was quiet. The sound of my footsteps approaching the bed were nearly nonexistent. My way continued to be dim lit by the many Litwick lined up on the floor. I had just made it right in front of the bed before my name was called.
"Stop." The familiar voice called.
Though I didn't have to, I did as I was told, then I turned around to lay my wide eyes on 'her'.
Platinum blonde hair, pink eyes, a black dress that went down to her knees, and white gloves? Yes, it was the girl from before. Who was she? Although I'd never seen her before just earlier, I thought that being with Father Seth, this girl might be another source of Mother Yumi's sadness. While I watched as Mother Yumi cried in the snow earlier today, she mentioned no names other than Seth, but I had my suspicions. She could be the potential 'interest' of Seth that Mother Yumi was jealous of. Yes, I remember now…In Mother Yumi's unsaid thoughts, this girl's name was Alice.
Alice's POV
It was unnerving, watching those wide eyes stare at me without even blinking. For a moment, I actually thought I could see my reflection through those wide eyes. I forced myself to look elsewhere, like toward the bed…where Yumi was sleeping.
"Yumi," I said to myself.
She looked kind of different now. Her long, black hair was very sleek, as were her aqua blue bangs that were now longer. I hated giving credit to the lowly peasant, but the white dress she wore was very beautiful. She wore long, black gloves and long, black leggings that covered her feet because she wasn't wearing shoes.
"As she slipped into a deep sleep, I saw her memories," Espurr said as she looked at Yumi," The memories hurt her emotionally. Could I go as far as to call those memories 'nightmares'? These memories are recent…very recent. All of Mother Yumi's negativity seems to stem from you, Alice."
"Oh, you know my name?"
"Yes, now let me ask you; you consider Mother Yumi a rival, am I correct?" Espurr asked.
I paused. I probably haven't thought about that as much as Yumi has. The surface of the subject HAS been touched on more than one occasion though.
"'Alice and Yumi', a rivalry that means much more than just bragging rights…You DO like 'him', don't you?" Espurr asked, referring to Seth, "You and Mother both have feelings for him that are very genuine. So tell me, why do you aid Father Seth if it'll mean him and your biggest rival being reunited?"
Being asked this question, I was suddenly staring blankly ahead. It was one of those moments where I had no clue or care where I was looking because I was so deep within my thoughts.
I…I knew my reasons for helping Seth this whole time, right? I DID win a battle in his honor…RIGHT?!
"Did you not offer you help to Father because you thought something could develop between you two?" Espurr asked, "I can see it in your eyes, your disdain and jealousy toward Mother Yumi, despite the fact that you beat her in Father's honor."
"Well what abot you?!" I didn't want to admit that Espurr was right, so I opted desperately to change our conversation's central topic, "Why are you doing this?!"
The small Psychic type slowly closed her eyes, which was actually a first in my eyes. Her eyes opened again, and they were still calm when she proceeded to reply, "Seeing Mother Yumi upset made ME sad as well. I could not stand to see her as depressed as the reality she saw herself in, so I thought I'd take the situation into my own hands. Look at my creation. Mother Yumi now sleeps in the citadel of her dreams. This room? A dream. All the pokemon that reside here? Dreams. This is our escape reality; A place where Mother Yumi and I can rest happily for eternity."
"Wait, so she's asleep?"
"She's dreaming, and in her dream, anomalies happen, like her hair becoming longer. Her new white dress, and me being able to talk? Like I said: this is HER dream. Of course, if she wakes, everything will return to normal, allowing for reality to return…but that won't happen…I intend for THIS to be ou new reality."
I gasped. In the heat of her own words, Espurr was becoming excited as her eyes began to glow the typical blue aura that would belong to ANY Psychic type pokemon.
I backed away slightly, but tried to keep my cool now. This Espurr…her approach toward defending her trainer…her mind…she was psychotic. Powerful, but psychotic nevertheless. If she had the power to create an alternate reality from the dreams of Yumi, I didn't even want to think about what she was capable of in combat, not without Seth…
"I read the Pokedex entry," I said to an Espurr still preparing to use its psychic energy on me. I just had to keep calm though, "You have all this power, yet you've lost control of yourself. You're just like a little kid, having no sense of restraint."
"Well, I AM only a few days old." Espurr replied.
"If you're so aware of everything, maybe you'd where to start in learning to control yourself…" I suggested.
For a moment, Espurr stood down, though I still kept my guard up, "I…" Despite showing no expression of emotion on her face, I could tell that Espurr was thinking deeply to herself. A solid moment passed before Espurr swiftly picked her head up and began to emit the psychic aura again, "Wha" becomes of my character is not important, so long as it is my duty to serve Mother Yumi. You will not come in between us!"
My eyes widened as I watched Espurr suddenly launch a beam of Psychic energy at me. In my mind, the incoming beam was merely in slow motion. I swiftly moved out of the way, and narrowed my eyes at Espurr as I took out a Pokeball.
So this Espurr refuses to help herself control her power. Was she just being ignorant, or was she THIS passionate about defending Yumi? This whole thing is just a big misunderstanding on Espurr's part, and apparently words aren't getting through to her.
"I'll do it to make Seth care for me; I'll eliminate you right here and now, Espurr!" I yelled as I threw my Pokeball…
….
Fear's POV
With Gothitelle as my opponent and standing in between me and Yumi, I figured, why not let Fear hasten this battle? Seth and Fear…with their power, I SHOULD be able to make short work of this Gothitelle.
"Ki…" Surrounded by the typical dark aura of a Shadow Pokemon, the Shadow Klefki stared down the Gothitelle quite ominously. Gothitelle was losing some of her nerve.
"You…" Gothitelle said to me, "You're not the Seth that Espurr and I saw just moments ago…"
"Do you also know that I'm not the Seth who'll stop at just you defeat?" This is the first time in a while that the Fear in me was given even the slightest chance to surface. I was defeated badly in my last appearance, so now I'm thirsty for victory. I would've given my signature smirk, but the Seth in me wouldn't allow it.
Sticking around to have a little fun, the thought of that Yumi girl could've become a mere afterthought, but once again, Seth differed.
I almost began to pity the Gothitelle for the fate that was in store for her.
"Klefki, use Shadow Sky!"
"Kii!" This was certainly an unfamiliar move to many, including a Gothitelle who watched as the entire room started to become darker in shade. As the dark aura surrounding Klefki began to spread, it was like the flawless, white walls of this 'castle' were disappearing. Our new surrounding certainly complimented the many Litwick who were mere spectators watching from the room's corners.
"Hmph, and what exactly is this?" The Gothitelle asked with narrowed eyes. Apparently, my attempt to intimidate the Astral Body Pokemon fell flat…
"This?" I said as I looked around the dark realm surrounding us. I then glared at the Gothitelle with narrowed eyes of my own, "This is your worst nightmare."
"Oh my, I'm SO frightened. What is a helpless 'damsel' like me to do now?" Gothitelle proceeded to mock me. I couldn't believe it. I too was very amused, until the Gothitelle answered her own question by firing a stream of lightning at Klefki.
"Ki?!" Klefki was taken off guard, and even I didn't expect the Psychic type to have an electric type attack. "Kii!" Of course, there was no time for reaction as Thunderbolt made its way and struck Klefki. "Ki!" The key to lost souls WAS able to rebound quickly though.
"Er…" What? Were we all expecting for Klefki to be the only one to suffer? The Gothitelle was in slight pain despite not getting hit by an attack yet. She was breathing heavily, "What's happening to me…?" The Gothitelle asked herself.
"So finally, you start to feel the effects of Klefki's Shadow Sky." I said.
"…W-what are you talking about? Gothitelle struggled.
"These shadow powers…they're not just your ordinary attacks. As a subject to the key to lost sould, your health-your soul…you'll soon be overpowered by the surrounding darkness." I explained, "Now Klefki, use Foul Play!"
"Ki!"
The Gothitelle gasped as Klefki made its way toward her while cloaked in a black aura. "Woah!" She had a hard time keeping up with a Klefki who was swiftly maneuvering its way around her body. It was like she didn't even see Klefki knock her to the floor with a super effective hit.
With Shadow Sky still in effect, the Gothitelle struggled just to get to her knees, and at that moment, I decided to walk up to her, passing Klefki.
"I'm not the same Seth who couldn't care less about what becomes of his opposition," I repeated what I said at the start of the battle as I stopped in front of Gothitelle, who was breathing heavily. "But you're already aware of that, having said it yourself. Tell me, if it isn't me, who do you fear most right now?
"I…" Gothitelle paused, "I just want for Yumi to be happy…My biggest fear is that she won't be able to rest in peace because…because I am not able to defeat you…"
"Oh?" I stood down, and Klefki followed. The Fear in me wanted nothing more than to see the defeated Gothitelle drown in her sorrow, but something kept me from striking her while she was down.
It was the Seth in me. But why?
"I'm not her only dream, you know." Gothitelle was starting to regain her composure, "You should've seen the look on your face when she was greeted by a dream that looked so much like you. She was happy, Espurr was happy…I was happy…It felt like such a happy ending to me. But I guess fate had something else in store for me…THIS…This cliffhanger of a not-so-happy ending…"
This defeated Gothitelle spoke with such sentiment as the Shadow Sky had just about run its course, disappearing as we were once again surrounded by the white walls.
"Hmph…" I scoffed at the defeated Gothitelle, as well as the Seth inside me. Honestly, who would've thought that Seth of all people would develop a soft spot for ANYONE?! Perhaps it's just his way of City alive without her, but there's 'something else' between he and Seth. Could it be one of Seth's missing emotions? Perhaps my questions would be answered if I simply took a backseat for now…
Seth's POV
With the dark aura dissipating from around me, and my left eye returning to its normal deep blue color, I immediately recalled the Shadow Klefki into its Pokeball.
In front of me, I watched as the Gothitelle began to burn. A tear fell from her eye, while the 'Litwick purple' colored flames consumed her. The burning process was slow, and it ended with her entire presence fading away…
She was just a dream, Gothitelle was, but her sentiment had both Fear and I curious, and confused.
Yumi and I…I thought about us….
She saves me. I battle Justice in her honor, or so Justice says. She fights Alice in MY honor. Now I am saving her…
It's all about defeating Neo Snagem. I can't let myself get too vulnerable to Yumi…I don't want to experience being betrayed by someone who's close to me again. I…I sometimes wish I didn't have any emotions in the first place. They're just making things complicated right now.
Me and Yumi…
My thoughts aside, I must repay my debt to Yumi. With no more obstacles in my way, here I come.
To Be Continued…
As you can see toward the end of the chapter, I'm FINALLY getting comfortable writing about 'Seth and Yumi'. Seth's having these thoughts, and they confuse him. He's so confused, he still doesn't know that he cares very much for Yumi. Don't worry though.
Next chapter will be the longest chapter in this fic, and I will certainly be testing the boundaries of what is acceptable in the Pokemon universe.
More good news? Typing is FINALLY at my convenience again, which means I will be posting more consistently. You know, like the 2014 days, when this fic was first published.
One more AN: I really kind of hate myself for burying Gothitelle like I did. Here's the thing though, Anistar's Twilight is another fic I'm working on. It's gives me a chance to showcase Pokemon whom I don't plan on giving a role on Pokemon Virus Version. It' only on chapter 3 though, but like I said; with typing at my convenience, updates for Anistar's Twilight will be more consistent. Like, say, every other week.
Alice's Pokemon
Dragonair, Female-Shed Skin
Swanna, Female-Hydration
Kirlia(Shiny), Female-Synchronize
Pumpkaboo, Male-Frisk