Uncharted Skies, Untread Paths ch5
After another normal day at school is finished, Serena prepares once more to head to the forest to meet Larkos, trying to build her determination to ask him if he is willing to meet her family and the professor, she doesn't know how exactly he's going to react to it, he must have been hiding in the forest for a reason, and from what she knows, limited as it may be, from her many searches on the Pokénet, interactions extending to more than chance brief encounters with Latios and Latias, simply didn't exist, her situation was a incredibly unique one, not only has she seen a Latios, but she's firmly befriended one, and regularly meets with him, something no one else has ever done according to her searches, sure, there have been one or two trainers who have befriended legendary Pokémon in the past, one even caught and trained one, though that was a Darkrai, little was known on Latios and Latias personalities other than the fact that, one, the Pokémon existed, and two, they were incredibly intelligent and extremely long lived beings, they were known as the Eon Pokémon after all. While they weren't as shy as other legendary Pokémon, being somewhat regularly spotted over the skys of the Hoenn region and its many surrounding islands, as well as a few other select nearby regions, she was in uncharted waters. She knew very well that she could spook him with the request, even if he hasn't been skittish with her so far, and she didn't personally believe he would abandon their friendship over something like that, the fact still remained that in the back of her mind, she was still nervous.
As she finally made her way into the clearing where the Latios resided, she noticed him doing something peculiar, he was staring at his arm, while it shimmered and flickered sporadically, parts of it turning transparent, but ultimately still being entirely visible, Larkos had a look of concentration on his face, he didn't even notice she was present and watching until he got frustrated, let out a grunt, and sighed, then his ears perked up as he heard the sound of her foot crunching a fallen leaf on the ground, a more common sight this time of year as winter rounds the corner in Kalos. He turns to look at her, and waves his clawed arm in greeting, before projecting a voice into her head
~ah Serena, you nearly startled me, I was practicing one of my abilities as you no doubt saw~ he told her, as he lazily floated towards her
~oh? I smell food, you brought me something?~ he asks as he appears to sniff the air towards the girl, his senses were much sharper than a humans, it was no surprise he could tell she brought him the leftovers from last night
She smiles warmly and nods "yup, my moms cooking is amazing, I'm sure you'll love it, I also brought the pocket mirror you asked for, it's a bit small but it's all I could fit in my pockets and I couldn't find anything larger that would fit in my purse."
He seems to light up at that and nods
~that's perfect! Thank you again for that, I'll need it if I'm ever going to get my illusion ability right! It's hard to practice without being able to see myself fully. Since you've done so much for me, I'd like to do something in return, tell me, are you interested in going on a flight? I've been going on a few lately and it's been exhilarating! I'd love to share that experience with you ! Well, as long as that's something you'll find fun, I know there are many who dislike flying, so only if you want to do it of course.~ his face clearly brightening at the thought of flying
She'd never flown on a Pokémon before, but it's something that she had wanted to do ever since she was a little girl, the thought of flying through the sky has always excited her, but the idea of flying on the back of a Latios was something beyond her wildest dreams. Latios and Latias were known for their incredible speed, able to fly fast that jet planes, what exactly did she even have to think about? Of course the answer would be a resounding and excited "Yes! Of course I'd love to fly with you!"
After her declaration she slowed down to temper herself, she had something important to talk to Larkos about first
"Oh, Larkos, before all that, there's something I need to speak with you about. You see last night after talking with the professor, he told me a lot of information regarding Esper development, and the routes I could take, one of them, is the one we agreed to before, where you are the one to help me as a psychic Pokémon with the ability to assist. But before I can start, there's something he wants… Larkos, would you consider meeting the Professor and my mom? I know you're wary of strangers, but, I trust them all the way, they won't tell anyone about you if we ask…" she says warily, a small concerned look on her face after asking the question that's been on her mind all day
Larkos looks at her concerned face 'she seems to be making a big deal out of asking that for some reason, did she think I would react badly to it or something? I don't mind her asking something like that, but I do need to think about it first, she obviously trusts her mom a great deal, and she seems to trust this professor of hers, I definitely wouldn't mind meeting her mother but a professor is a different story, I don't want to be exposed to everyone…'
~Listen, I wouldn't mind meeting your mother, I trust her to keep her word about keeping me secret, but you just met this professor recently right? How about this, bring your mom here tonight, and I'll talk to her and she can tell me if this professor is trustworthy or not, does that work?~ I tell her seeking a compromise, getting the reaction of a normal adult first to see how others may react is really my only option when it comes to gauging a relative strangers trustworthiness at the moment, as half baked of an idea as it is, I do want to meet more people, but I need to consider my status as a legendary first, there's alot of people who would be interested in trying to capture me for their own goals, and I can think of a few reasons a Pokémon professor would want to easily. While I trust Serena's judgment, I still need to be careful.
The girl in question looks at me in momentary confusion "you're not upset I asked?"
Now it's my turn to look at her in confusion
~No? You really were making a big deal of this in your head weren't you? Don't worry, I'm not going to be scared that easily, plus I found a compromise right? I've been wanting to meet the woman you talk about so often anyways, this is a good opportunity!~
Serena feels relief wash over her, clearly visible on her face "ha, I really was overthinking it wasn't I? Well ok, I'll go head back for now and bring mom over here, I can't wait to see the look on her face, I'll be back in an hour then!" She turns to leave, with a happy expression on her face and a pep in her step
~ok I'll see you back soon, this is sure to be interesting.~ he tells her with a bemused expression, as far as she can tell on his Latios face at least.
Once she returns home, she opens the door to find her mother and the professor playing cards in the living room, they turn to her at the same time, slightly surprised to see her back so soon, something they haven't seen happen in a while
"Oh Serena, you're back earlier than usual, something happen?" Her mother asks
She hesitates slightly, somewhat amused at seeing her mother playing cards with their guest, and feeling a little bad about interrupting "ah, yes, it's about the psychic Pokemon friend I've been talking to lately. He'd like to meet you mom, oh just you for now, he said he'll meet the professor tomorrow if it goes well, he's a bit shy you see, sorry for interrupting your game but it would be best if you met him tonight."
Grace had a slightly confused look before schooling her features, knowing this is important for her daughter, she quickly goes to respond, but the professor interrupts her first
"This Pokemon can speak to you so clearly? Or is it communicating through telepathy? It's more powerful than I would have thought for the psychic types I know live in the area, I'm impressed, if it truly can it will definitely make your development easier!" He says excitedly, letting his academic side take over in favor of his social skills telling him interrupting someone about to speak is rude
Grace quickly shoots him a quieting look, for which the professor promptly apologizes, before she turns back to her daughter to speak. "Alright then, I'll get ready now, anything I need to bring or that I should know first?"
Her daughter's face turns slightly pale "ah, well, just don't freak out when you see him ok? You'll know why once you see him, he's not a Pokémon typically found around here, haha…"
Grace becomes a bit intrigued at that response, before nodding and getting her shoes and jacket, it was getting quite chilly in Kalos, the first snow was bound to fall soon, the November chill starting to seep into the region quickly
After a few short minutes she's ready and the mother daughter pair leave the house, and Serena starts leading her mother to the edge of the forest
"I know you've been disappearing after school lately, have you been going to this Pokémon friend of yours? I wish I had known it was deep in the forest, I would have given you some repels to ward off errant Pokémon if I had"
"Ah that hasn't been a problem, there's been a lot fewer Pokémon around lately, you'll see what I mean once we get deeper"
Her daughter was right, not a single Pokémon in sight throughout the entire walk, questions adding in her head as they continue, why they've disappeared? Where did they leave to? Was there something dangerous scaring them off? Why was her daughter so comfortable with that happening? It wasn't until they reached a small clearing about 20 minutes later she would find out. There was a cliff, with a small cave nestled into the face of it, several berry trees surrounding it, seemingly frequently picked. They made their way to the cave opening, her daughter shouting out
"Larkos! I've brought my mom, come meet her! Also if she freaks out it's not on me, I prepped her a bit first!" She adds on playfully.
If there was one thing she could have expected any less, it was the sight of a honest to Arceus, gleaming silver Latios happily floating out of the cave in front of them. She didn't have many expectations about what Pokémon her daughter could have befriended, maybe a Espurr, or a Aegislash, he'll even a Alakazam would have been less surprising, but standing, or floating should be more accurate, before her, was a legendary Pokémon, one of the Eon duo, there was nothing she could do but gawk as she had her thoughts flying about in her head 'a Latios! And she named it! This is a legendary creature of all things! What do I even say?! Do I bow?! Do I show it deference?! But my daughter is speaking to it so casually! They're clearly friends, I should just speak casually right? I'm Grace Gabena god damn it get it together, ah this explains a lot doesn't it? The state of the forest for one. Ugh this is gonna be a rough talk isn't it? Well I'm sure the professor is going to be excited once he learns, if the Latios in front of me accepts me at least…"
Serena stares at her mother's wide eyed and open mouthed expression, and scratches her head lightly 'ah, this is the expected reaction I guess, though I've never seen my mother so dumbfounded, it's kind of funny' she giggles at her mothers shock, this being enough to jolt the woman from the inside of her head, as Larkos joins in on the giggle, clearly amused
"Ah, ehem, it's, a pleasure to meet you Mr… ah, Larkos was it? I'll be honest, the last thing I expected to meet was a Latios today, I hope you excuse me and my shock…" she says after schooling herself and getting over the embarrassment of getting caught staring
Larkos looks at her and nods, acknowledging her
~I did expect this kind of reaction, don't worry about it, just speak normally, I'm not some royalty after all, just Serena's friend. I wanted to meet you first because Serena told me you were trustworthy, and that you know the Professor well, and can tell me truthfully wether or not he can keep me secret from others, you as well, I must ask the same thing. I don't want others to know about me, I realize that I would be seen as an object of capture, and I'm fairly vulnerable at the moment, I've only started learning to use my abilities and power recently, for reasons I won't get into…~
Grace seems to understand, Serena nods, I projected the voice to the both simultaneously, something I've never done before but found I could handle with relative ease, it seems my handle on general psychic abilities are becoming much more natural, if only my illusion or dragon abilities were so easy, I can only manage a pathetic anemic dragon breath and can barely even make my arm go invisible right now
The woman respond after a slight delay, a contemplative look on her face "I definitely can keep you secret, I understand why you don't want to be exposed, personally, I believe the professor can keep you secret as well, as much as it'll pain him to not be able to publish papers about the Latios and Latias species, I do trust that he will keep his word, I've known him for almost twenty years now." She gives a nod and a resolute look, her daughter nodding in agreement
~alright then, it's settled, bring him here tomorrow, you come too Miss Gabena, I trust you, and I can feel you telling me the truth, you don't feel malicious in any way, though my emphatic abilities are lacking, I feel I can tell that much at least~ I was telling the truth, emphatic abilities came naturally to the Eon duo, even with limited understanding or experience, the clear lack of malice was enough for me to believe her at her word
They wrapped up the conversation and the two headed back, it was going to be an interesting night, both wanting to talk but refusing to let anything slip before the professor met the silver Latios, they would talk later, but that still didn't remove the unspoken questions between them.