Pokemon Virus Version Chapter 119: The Dream Ends Now

Author's Note: I apologize for the slight wait fro this Chapter. Just know that I HAVEN'T hit Writer's Block. I'm purposely taking my time and putting forth a greater effort for this arc. I've had it planned for 3 and a half years now. This Chapter specifically is setting up for things to come, and as a result, is a 'slower' chapter. Hope you enjoy though...even with the intentional lack of speaking.

Location: Aomori Village

Seth's POV

In my dream, this village appeared small. My vision was correct.

Yumi, Chikorita and I journeyed the Icy Mountains. After making our way past several upward climbs respectfully lasting about half an hour, we travelled through a snowy forest full of naked trees, trunks and blue branches covered in snow. Many stone bridges, placed above streams of frozen flowing water, were crossed. Flowers encased in ice gradually became in abundance as we made our way closer to the village. We walked the last stretch, and made it to Aomori Village at long last.

"I'm tired," Yumi said. Her shoulders were drooped, and a drop of sweat was visible, even in the cold stillness of the snow.

Yumi was complaining, which somewhat annoyed me…Well, the complaining wasn't the problem; the problem was Yumi. From her constant 'Am I Pretty' question to her being the reason we were sent into that Icy Cavern by Avalugg, it all mounted to me not caring what she thought.

…Am I pretty?

I am upset when Yumi asks that question, but not when the mysterious woman from my visions inquires on the same subject. Why? I told Yumi that she wasn't pretty earlier. She hasn't really spoken to me since.

"You can rest if you want, but I'm not stopping." I answered Yumi.

Is this how I should be treating the girl who saved my life?

"Chico…" I looked down at Chikorita, looked at me with big eyes.

Chikorita was tired too…Should I take my own advice and rest myself? No, for some reason, the mysterious woman has an unspoken hypnotism which allures me.

"I mustn't stop…Ngh…" I was tired as well…

Have I really not noticed the amount of work climbing those Icy Mountain hills were? My feet were sore.

Yumi wants to rest, as does Chikorita. Yumi, no matter how angry I am with her right now, is the girl who saved my life. Chikorita…After what happened to Mawile in our last Gym Battle, I promised that I would take better care of my pokemon...all of them.

I was defeated, "Maybe…maybe we can find a place to rest." I answered.

….

Through Aomori Village, we ventured, to find a place to rest. This place...had a very old Japanese Mythological atmosphere to it. There were no other humans to speak of. I even questioned whether or not pokemon were present when becoming aware of a lack of sightings. Despite the rather desolate first impression it has given me, Aomori Village appeared well kempt. The decent sized pond located at the center of the village was frozen over, as was the waterwheel located at the pond's edge. This waterwheel neighbored a goshol house.

There was a path lined up along the pond. Yumi and I walked this path, Yumi's hand touching the wooden fence. We past more naked trees with blue trunks, before coming across a fork in the road. Two paths: One led to an old chapel located on the other side of the pond, while the other had a slope leading uphill.

Chikorita and Yumi allowed no words to escape as I looked at them. I savored the silence before the storm. The only sound that touched my ears was a slight breeze. Nothing was needed to be spoken, for they simply waited for me to make a move. It was as if Yumi was uttering to me, 'I'll go where you go'.

…Yumi always goes where I go. Is this fact a coincidence? Whether or not it is, people are right when they tease: We spend a lot of time around each other…

I took one step to the right, electing to follow the path leading uphill. Following me, was the sound of their footsteps.

Uphill, another goshol house stood, as well as a trio of houses. These houses were lined up in no particular pattern, and they resembled each other in no way, aside from the thin style of wood they were made from. By the standard of a village as small as Aomori, this was a complete neighborhood.

Where were we to stop and rest? After passing the small neighborhood, we stumbled upon a small plantation, or a farm…or what was left of the plantation…Covered in snow, every plant was dead…the plants were as dead as the last of any pokemon that may have inhabited this village decades ago…as dead as the village itself. We made a quick stop at a well. This well was of no significance, so why stop here? I thought about having a seat, resting my back against the well's stone wall. Chikorita hopped in my lap, and got comfortable as I closed my eyes.

Yumi, on the other hand, had concocted a means to entertain herself. I looked at her as she stopped right next to me. She looked back at me, and appeared to force a smile on her face.

She still wasn't talking to me…None of us were talking. We were just letting gestures and nature run their course…

Yumi looked deep into the well, then pulled out a single coin from the black obi on her aqua blue, short skirted furisode. This coin, she gave a single kiss before tossing into the well. Seconds passed before the echo of a coin landing on hard ice could be heard.

No water in the well…

Yumi looked at me again, and smiled. In my mind, I questioned what throwing the coin into the well would accomplish. Yumi saw the intrigue written on my face, and told me about an old custom. It is said that one could make a wish when tossing a coin into a well.

What did Yumi wish for? Yumi would not tell. All she did was motion a single finger to her lips, letting me know that her lips were sealed.

…What would I wish for? I would want to meet the mysterious woman from my vision. I would like to know what happened to Mr. Pryce…I desire to satisfy my thirst for vengeance, and rid the world of the organization that grows by the day…I would wish to go within the organization, and say hello to my mother. It's been so long since I've seen her…I would also wish to know where my Father is.

I want to know what happiness feels like. It is an emotion that has alienated me from just about every person I meet. I would wish for all of my wishes to come together, so that Mother Flora, Father Rosen and I could live happily ever after…

Lastly, I would wish to genuinely smile for the first time in my life…

…

The three of us rested at the well for how long? At least half an hour? I was not sure. With no people, no pokemon, and no plants, time seemed to lack its essence here…but it was getting dark out. It has been a long day…

Chikorita was sound asleep in my lap. I picked her up, holding her with one arm as I rose to my feet.

Yumi, who was sitting next to me, looked up at me as I eyed one of the neighborhood houses we passed not too long ago. Yumi knew the routine: I knew where I wanted to go, and where I went, she followed.

We will rest in the house tonight. Once dawn hits, I'll be at one hundred percent when I find the mysterious woman.

The house was nothing but a small flat. The door was thin and had no lock. As a matter of fact, it slid open. Yumi and I entered the house before sliding the door shut again.

Yumi took her white ankle boots off, and took to wandering around. I sat Chikorita down, and sat down. It was so calm, so quaint in here. The old walls were so thin, I could hear Yumi's footsteps even though her stockings would otherwise minimize the sound. In fact, the wind outside was still audible as well. The wind, coupled with the fact that this old house probably had no electricity, made this the beginning of an ominous night.

After wandering the house, Yumi wandered back into the main room where I was. She took off her powder blue rucksack, and obtained from inside, a sleeping bag. Yumi was fortunate to have her sleeping bag and rucksack. She had practical items all at her convenience right now. Yumi looked at me, confused as to why I don't have my rucksack…Simple: as we left Mahogany Town, I let Rose borrow my rucksack in order to keep her newly acquired egg warm.

I was forced to bear the cold night alone…Unless…

I saw Yumi giving me a knowing smile concerning 'extra room in the sleeping bag'. Am she actually expecting to share the sleeping bag with me? Hmph. This is Yumi we're talking about; she's already shared just about every possession of hers with Rose and Chapel…I'm not desperate enough to accept her offer though. Why? We haven't talked to each other since I said she wasn't pretty. She has gotten in my way several times today. Sure, we've found ourselves in a few small scenes where she's smiled at me, and I've understood, but those scenes were far from nice. I have held a near nonexistent sense of hostility toward Yumi because I know she's the biggest obstacle standing between me and the mysterious woman. Yumi hasn't returned my state of mind, and the fact that she's trying to chip away at the hostility doesn't move me.

I never gave Yumi a vocal answer, but I never accepted her offer either. For the first time, I zipped up my black jacket, and I laid back as I attempted to fall asleep.

This eventful day has come to an end…

I began to dream.

Location: Dream-

'This is not a dream.'

That voice-the voice of the mysterious woman…She was talking to me? I stood in the middle of Aomori Village as I questioned why I was told this was not a dream.

I remember falling asleep, but I don't remember waking up. In the real world, the lack of people and pokemon gave off the illusion that time had no effect…but the wind would still blow, and the clouds would still move. But now, the wind and clouds were stagnant.

I WAS dreaming…was I?

'You think too much, boy.' The mysterious woman echoed. I could hear her voice. Like in my dreams during nights gone by, she felt close, yet far at the same time. I looked to my left. I looked to my right. Then I looked behind me. There she was; Her with her inhumanly pale skin, and hair as black as dark oblivion. 'I say 'this is not a dream' as a figure of speech. This is not a dream, but a foreshadowing.'

There was one question answered, but I had so much more to ask. Who was this woman? Why does she reside in such an old relic of a village? What happened to Pryce? There's so much I don't know about yet. I've journey this far, and for what? I don't even know my reason for committing myself to this quest. I guess I just found the woman from my vision…hypnotizing; her and her ice blue eyes.

'I see it in your face, you seek an abundance of answers from me.' The woman turned away from me. She walked a few steps toward a stone shaped like a cross protruding from the snowy ground. 'Wake up from your dream, and make your way to this symbol. Here, at the stroke of midnight, you will meet me in the flesh, at long last.'

This brief, will be the last dream I have…

Wake up, and uncover the truths you seek. The dream ends now.

My dream with the mysterious woman seemed so conclusive. After days of meeting her within my subconscious, I will finally be able to meet her. Maybe this will be the final dream I have of her…

I opened my eyes, and it took a minute to adjust to the darkness inside the house. Yumi was sound asleep in her sleeping bag, as was a Chikorita on the floor.

I was reminded of just how cold it was when I could see my breath whenever I opened my mouth. Even with my jacket zipped up, I was cold. I would be satisfied if Rose was utilizing my sleeping bag right now, because that would mean it would at least not go to waste in a cold night like this.

I was only going to get colder, that I knew. I rose to my feet and made it to the door. Chikorita and Yumi did not wake up, but even if they did, I was not going to stop. Right now, I am going to meet the mysterious woman. If I never see Yumi, Chikorita, and the others again, they'll be able to manage without me…

I made my way outside the house and into the neighborhood surrounding it. It was about as dark as the pelt of a Mightyena. If not for the white of the snow on the ground, I'm pretty sure I'd be blinded right now. The wind was slight, but still made Aomori Village cold enough for me to put my hands in my pockets.

To get to the cross-shaped stone protruding from the ground, I needed to make my way to the center of Aomori Village…That is what I did, as I made my way away from the neighborhood, and back down the hill into the main part of Aomori.

As I walked to the center of the village, I stood there for a moment. I thought to myself 'This reminds me of the visions I had of Pryce.' He was hypnotized to the mysterious voice just as I was. But…I saw the woman in another vision, and she kissed me, noting that I was 'hard to get'. Why did Pryce wander out here alone? If the cold is a bit much for someone like me, then surely it would've been enough to kill someone as frail and elderly as him. I'm getting somewhere in the naked forests, along the stone bridges and frozen rivers is where he passed away…

Wait…could THAT be what happened to Pryce? Yes, it must be. The answer is too obvious. And if the mysterious woman knew…maybe she carried him here, and buried him beneath this cross-shaped stone, where he may rest in peace. This cross-shaped stone, is a tombstone…

If I just solved my own question, was there a reason to still be outside? Could I finally go to sleep without having any strange visions? I'll go see. In the morning, Yumi, Chikorita and I will wake up, then we'll find Chapel and Rose before proceeding to the next town. "Our time in the Mahogany snow is over…"

"You think so?"

In the middle of this empty village…I picked my gaze from the tombstone, and found myself staring, at her. Her skin inhumanly pale, her long hair as black as the pelt of a Mightyena…Her bangs were an icy periwinkle, and they partially covered her ice blue eyes. Her hair blew in the wind, as did her white kimono and red obi.

Alone together, we stood. But how? All this time, I've pursued this woman as if I were hypnotized, but I've never questioned it. How was I hypnotized? Why would the woman wish to focus on me of all people? I've strayed from my main goals on this journey-far enough to believe leaving without answers would prove my effort of getting to Aomori Village would be wasted.

This, is the end of the line. I did not answer the woman's question. Instead, I asked a question of my own, "Who are you?"

She chuckled, "But of course. I said I would answer all your questions once you meet me at the center of the village…" She chuckled some more, before focusing her ice-cold gaze on me, "The answer is simple: I am a woman who wants you."

"Huh?" She was very straightforward…

"I have appeared in your dreams and visions for who knows how long? Since you've step foot in Mahogany Town, I have haunted your thoughts, I can sense."

"But why? If you keep giving me answers I don't care to hear, I'll keep questioning why."

The woman looked into the distance lying within the dark woods, and sighed. "You're different than other men. You're different in that you can challenge me like no other. It's as if, you lack a heart…Your cold attitude is so distinct. You're not one to easily fall to smarminess. These traits, I admire."

'Other men'? What did she mean by 'other men'?

"Because I admire you, I desire you. I have waited for you, and now we have finally crossed paths. You and I…we'll be able to spend an eternity here in the village, in the mountains." This woman…she was alienating. As she gave me a seductive smile that would've worked on any person with a normal heart, I began to feel anxious, "Would you not wish to live the dream you had in which I kissed you? It was warm, passionate, and filled with a yearning to never separate…"

…

…

…

"Seth, you and I can become 'us'. All of my indirect answers to your question…they all weave together and form my desire for you. For an eternity together, all I ask is for one favor-answer me this heartwarming question…"

…

…

…

"Am I pretty?"

To Be Continued…