Pokemon: Blood Curse!
Chapter 13: A Past for a Past
She is taking a while... Kuro's calm voice echoed through his mind, as his nearly transparent feet fazed through the grass around Marceline's home. Maybe- I should go see her. His pale hand lifted to catch a falling leaf that whirled from the slow descent. A gentle touch was what he felt on his wrist when it landed, careful so as to not move. Those contemplative red eyes watched the leaf flutter ever so subtly from the barely noticeable breeze and felt himself falling into a daze.
His lips in a frown, exposed closed teeth similar to a particular ghost pokemon until they opened to speak. Although, no words came out, for he couldn't find it in himself to actually talk. Marceline... I'm sorry. I was the one to ruin your life in the past, wasn't I? I feel... I might ruin it again. With a clench of his barely transparent fist, the leaf crushed in and carefully let its fragments fall.
It was only a few seconds before his form began to gradually hover, further and further reaching past the treetops to view everything below. Soon, he flew, incredibly fast beneath the clouds and kept his eyes glued to the passing land. Searching, examining everything for a hint as to where Marce was at.
However, after some minutes passed, to an abrupt stop he floated there when he saw the brunette land with the help of Mew. The pink Legendary, he noticed, nodded its head after Marce, and a buff man he saw before, waved goodbye. Mel and Hornet whom he met before, accompanied the two when the Legendary softly placed them on the ground next to the other two. That Human, is with my Marceline? Is that the friend she spoke of? A tinge of jealousy filled his crimson hues, spiking anger that only seemed to have made tightened fists tremble.
The buff man he saw, helped the brunette walk towards the main sidewalk of the town. His hands were on her bicep so she wouldn't fall, Kuro could tell by the look on her face that she wasn't doing so well. Is she hurt? Who did that to her? I don't see any marks on her from this distance, but she looks damp. In his thoughts, worry and anger bubbled inside. The jealousy on his face was soon accompanied by concern over her well-being, however, he dared not confront her about it.
It was him... Wasn't it? Piercing eyes twitching, one of his trembling fists opened and was lifted slightly. Rather quickly a dark ball of energy formed inches from his palm and without hesitance, it was chucked across the distance. He saw how it scared them since the ball nearly missed the tan man's head by a foot or so and knocked over a nearby tree.
He was swift to conceal himself when they looked in his direction. Invisible to their eyes, he remained, a form of Hypnosis covering him up and making them believe he wasn't there. He will pay... Mumbling in his mind, his teeth gritted. Although they couldn't see him, other nearby Pokemon were able to, which was a tiny Scatterbug quivering behind a rock.
~~~~Marce~~~~
"Thanks, again. Why did you put your Pokemon back in their pokeballs, anyway?" Through a weak voice, Marce asked, as she felt his strong grip support her steps. From the contact, she could feel the heat rise to her cheeks and the strength in his hold caused her attention to focus on her feet.
"Ah, about that... You weren't fully, aware. You were too weak and out of it. While Mewtwo watched us leave, he called for Mew's help and it picked you up from Torch's arms. I had to put him in his Pokeball because he was really angry and when Prince said something, I had to... Break them up," With a huff and balled fists pressed on his hips, a displeased frown pulled on his lips.
"Hey um... How did you come across Torch and Prince, anyway? If... You don't mind me asking," Quiet and shy, her voice was when she questioned Meigu. Slowly she began to walk on her own and couldn't help but see that Matsuo stayed close to her side at a steady pace.
This will be good.~ Mel, spoke in her poke' language with a twitch of her tail and narrowing of her slits. Behind them and to Hornet's side, she followed, curious enough to eavesdrop on their conversation.
Don't worry, he probably met them when they were just a Torchic and Ralts arguing over something stupid in the wild. What Hornet said in his poke' tongue, unintentionally made the feline next to him smile and almost giggle.
"Hm- how could I explain it? Let's see... I guess I'll start with Torch first," Meigu hummed with the placement of his finger to his chin, clearly pondering. "I met Torch when I was just entering college. I found him in front of the college doors, starving in the rain and curled up in a bush. I couldn't just leave him alone, so I did what no one else would do. I took him in, hid him from my roommates the best I could, and eventually, they found out I had him," From his peripherals, he nearly flinched when he saw the brunette's hazel hues light up with awe. No amount of words was needed for him to know she was interested, for they twinkled with emotion.
"Did they try and get you in trouble, for having him?" A bit of a pained look made her brows furrow, the thought of poor Torch in the rain like that only made her want to curse out whoever had done that. What?! Torch was starving?! How old was he, a baby?! Who in the right mind would want to do that?! Fuming on the inside, her once pained expression fell into anger the moment her gaze averted.
"No, not at all actually! They said they would've done the same if they saw him. They were upset though, that they didn't and blamed themselves for not seeing him sooner. They helped me keep it a secret, so I pretty much raised Torch," Faint tints of pink dusted his cheeks with a lift of his hand to rub his neck. It wasn't every day he told someone how he met his Pokemon, so it was rather awkward.
"That's nice of them. It's no wonder Torch acts like a kid sometimes, especially when he's having a sort of quarrel with Prince. They behave almost like brothers who never get along, haha," A low chuckle, she too grew nervous and fidgeted with the end of her sleeve.
"Ah... About that. It's true, I pretty much raised them together. It was long after College when I met Prince. I was training at the time, doing my usual jogging routine, and saw a Ralts watching a workout ad on television, behind a display window at an electronics store. He was alone and it was nighttime, so I walked up to him and tried to strike up a conversation. Of course, he was reluctant at first and tried to run, but I showed him I wasn't going to harm him. When I pointed at the workout video that played behind the display window, I asked if he wanted to tag along with me during my jog," Matsuo gave a brief pause to look up at the afternoon sky and watched the Pidovs fly over their heads. "He wasn't willing, but when I said- 'Your dreams don't accomplish themselves unless you take those first few steps'. I could tell he was shocked. He just kept staring at me until I began to jog away- then he joined me and copied me from behind," To the side, he gave her a bright smile and laughed, he couldn't see her astonishment since his eyes were closed. However, upon opening them, he actually flinched and felt immense heat rise to his cheeks.
Marceline was in awe, amazed by how wholesome and sweet the man was. It was enough to bring a true smile to her face, one of which made Matsuo nearly become frantic and look everywhere else but at her.
Wow, she looks... Really happy. Mel's widened eyes and parted feline lips proved how surprised she was upon seeing the brunette show such an expression. She's really starting to warm up to him. This man is really a good person, it seems. Mumbled low, her poke' words reached Hornet who answered with an annoyed buzz.
Yeah. I'm happy that she's happy! A cute close of his eyes, after he spoke in his poke' language, his two front stingers gently clapped together from the joy of it. That was until those red ovals for eyes sharpened with a killer instinct. As long as no one else comes close to my territory, Marcelin. As if on cue, those stingers moved away from one another and looked half-tempted to stab at just about anything that tried to come close. Some citizens who wandered by nearly jumped at Beedrill's hostility and anger, before picking up their pace.
You're scaring people... A sweatdrop trickled down Mel's head with an annoyed glance at the bug pokemon. When she gave him a warning growl, she watched Hornet drop his stingers and pout.
"That's... Actually, kinda sweet," A shy smile grew on the brunette's lips after she returned her attention to the sidewalk they strode on. From the pounding of her heart, her breath began to barely waver, for she felt her cheeks burn and the nervousness taking over. Why am I feeling this way? I remember feeling like this one time, towards a boy I used to like in Highschool. He'd never notice me though, so I just ended up staring at him from the sidelines. That was the only time I ever felt like this, so why with him? I don't understand... Her fingers fiddled with the ends of her jacket's sleeves, as her hazel hues hazed over with stirring emotion that she can hardly understand. I've only known him for like what... Almost a Week or so? Ah! I know, I'm just embarrassed as usual, it can't be anything serious. With a sigh of relief, her hands were placed into the pockets of her jacket and carefully her gaze shifted to peek up at the buff man.
His bright grin, and those chocolate brown eyes full of life and energy stared into the distance down the sidewalk. Her words seemed to have given him a trip down memory lane, for he hadn't changed his expression for a whole two or three minutes.
"Oh, by the way. Since we're almost to my Dojo, why don't you tell me how you met Mel?" Poor Meigu refused to peek behind him to look at Hornet. He wanted to make sure his attention was on their conversation and not the buzzing of Beedrill's wings.
"M- Mel? Uh... That's a bit- complicated to explain," Awkwardly, her finger scratched her cheek before she averted her gaze and did her best to not express it.
"Couldn't be as complicated as Torch, Prince, and I, haha!" With a loud chuckle, he patted her shoulder, unaware that he made her flinch since his eyes were tightly shut.
"T- True. Well- It's sort of..." Near the end, Marce couldn't help but trail off. Finding the right words to explain it without making it seem like she had a sob story would be difficult. "To put it simply, I met her in Sinnoh. My parents and I lived in the thick woods around Snowpoint city and I met Mel when she was just a baby Purrloin. She told me when I met her, that she used to be in a faraway region, but her trainer was killed in an avalanche on their way to visit someone in the city. She came all the way from Unova, so, I decided to live in Unova to give her a piece of her home region," At that moment her heart raced quicker, the thought of going on a long-winded explanation of how they met and became friends would be too exhausting and didn't care to bring up her past.
"Aw, that's very nice of you. But- that's not all of it is it? Come on, there's more juice to that than just letting her live with you in Unova," His strong hand patted her back after he gave her a reassuring grin. However, he noticed how her nervous smile dropped and how her eyes were downcast with sorrow, which seemed to have made him do the same. "How about this? If I tell you my little secret, will you tell me yours?" This time, with all seriousness glinting in his brown gaze, he remained quiet so she could answer.
A long silence filled the air as they walked, which only made Mel and Hornet curious enough to inch closer to their backsides. "Sure..." Marce reluctantly accepted the terms. Kuro and I used to talk a lot and we were great friends in High School. Mel, she already knows. I know he's just wanting to become closer as friends and know more about me. As soon as her troubled thoughts echoed, she peeked at Meigu who was gazing at the passing clouds above.
"My older brother, Bruno. He pretty much took me in after he became a part of the Elite Four. I was a nobody back then. The only family I had went overseas to work and never came back, I was eleven years old then. I met my brother a few days after I turned thirteen. When he saw how I talked with Pokemon around me and cared for them, he said I sort of reminded him of himself. So he took me in, gave me food, and a place to sleep. He taught me just about everything he could, in order to help me make a life of my own. With the money he received as payment, from being an Elite, he saved up and bought a tutor to catch me up in school. When I was finally able to walk on my own two feet and live my life, he let me go to college. He visited me on occasion because he knew I needed to work hard, so he didn't visit as often as he wanted. He would send me Pokemon books to study and I think, I became more focused on that than actual College stuff, haha!" With a lift of his hand behind his head, he laughed, before a smile graced his lips at the thought of his big brother again.
"You already know how I met Torch and Prince, so I'll cut that part out. After I finished college, I pretty much started my own local Gym business with Pokemon and People. As a congratulatory gift, Bruno even helped me build my own private Dojo so I could train my Pokemon in peace. For years I spent my life helping Pokemon and People. I think I already told you this too but- others seem to treat me with a lot of respect. Sometimes they act like I'm a celebrity. That's pretty much it," With a shrug of his shoulders and a glance at the brunette, he watched as her eyes lit up with sympathy and awe.
Snapping out of it, subtly shaking her head, a deep breath was taken after nodding and closing her jacket more. "I guess it's my turn," Awkward, afraid of bringing up her past, she knew his Pokemon would also be able to hear their conversation inside their Pokeballs. "As you know, I lived... In Sinnoh. When I was very small, maybe five or six years old, my parents started to notice things in me that wouldn't normally show in humans. They began to question if I was a natural-born Psychic but- that was until that day when they saw me with a Ghost Pokemon. In the beginning, I used to play with a Gastly outside of our living room window. It was always cold, I used to draw on the windows with my fingers and make faces. Sometimes I'd make silly faces at the Gastly while it did the same to me. We would laugh, play, and talk just like a couple of kid neighbors. My parents didn't see the Gastly though, it kept itself invisible mostly until they were out of sight. But they began to think I was delusional or going insane. So they sent me to psychiatrists and many doctors to see what was wrong... I even remember being tested in a lab, people taking blood samples and putting masks over my mouth to help me sleep," Slowly, her arms folded with insecurity. Fingers gently grasped the fabric of her jacket over her biceps, as she kept up her pace next to Meigu.
To say he wasn't shocked, would be a lie, even Hornet couldn't keep his eyes off of her. Through hesitant breaths, her lips parted to speak again.
"When the doctors found something different in my DNA, my parents took the evidence and me, then ran away. The Government did everything it could, to find us, but luckily they never thought to check the woods or forests of every region. That lab part, about me being tested, was when I was just finishing Highschool. They never cared to run tests on me until I was a lot older," This time, her hands began to quiver from emotion, for tears threatened to fall the more she pondered her past.
"No one wanted to be my friend in school, cause they always called me a freak of nature or thought I was just plain creepy. Every time I'd talk to Kuro, they would say I'm creepy and that I was some alien or whatever. They acted like Kuro was never there or that they never saw him... But when I finally was of age, my parents helped me find a good spot in Unova's forests, to build a treehouse and kicked me out. They said they couldn't handle me anymore, that I'd never be able to live normally, and that I should stay away from people if I knew what was best for me. They called me a monster... As I grew up. A monstrosity that shouldn't have ever been born," From there, tears fell heavily, her throat cracked, and her body started to shiver more. The poor brunette was breaking down right next to the buff man. "When I was very little, I also... Saved Mel from freezing to death. I was looking for her until found her curled up in the snow. I did everything I could to warm her up and save her but... I nearly... Died in the process. I don't remember exactly how I saved her, but nonetheless, she ended up saving me after I somehow warmed her up. Cause I woke up the next morning with her curled up in the blanket with me in bed," For a moment, she paused with a shaky breath before she continued.
"I don't really know how to talk to people, to humans, I've only ever hung out with Pokemon alone in the forest," After her long speech, she did her best to hide her reddened eyes from him with her hand and looked away.
Horrified, devastated, and sympathetic, there were many words to describe how Meigu felt upon hearing that. However, with a movement of his hand, he didn't even think twice before yanking her into his strong arms and hugging her. His tall, wide frame, was practically wrapped around her small form and all she could do was stand still.
Astonished, her hazel hues could barely see past his shoulder and her head was barely past the side of his neck. She didn't know what to say, feeling dumbfounded by his sudden friendly affection kept her speechless and immobile. "I always had a feeling you had a burning passion to save others, you- saving Mel and Hornet as you did is proof enough. And... If anyone were to steal you away, I'd make sure I'd follow them to the ends of the Earth to save you. I'm sure my Pokemon and your friends would do the same... After all- We're friends, and you don't deserve that kind of torture," Gently on her back, his hand patted, that was until her arms carefully pushed away from his broad frame and lifted her gaze to meet his.
"I'm sorry- I... Don't particularly enjoy bringing that stuff up. Anyway..." For a moment, she trailed off, with an appreciative smile. It felt nice to let it out though, despite being in public and the occasional stare from bystanders, she felt like a weight was lifted. Her sleeve was used to wipe away tears that were easing up, with a sniffle of her nose from being a little runny. "Thanks though. I... Feel a bit better," She giggled lightly and continued to walk. It certainly did feel good to tell someone about her past, it was comforting, to say the least.
"OH! Hey- there's the store I mentioned!" Quickly, across from her, he jogged and stood in front of a pair of double glass doors with many advertisement signs plastered on the inside. "Can you stay here? I'll be right back, I know just the phone to get you!" With a wave of his hand, he ran in and ignored a few customers who gawked or blushed at him.
Mel sat down next to her legs and Hornet, who hovered above her head, all watched the buff man run deeper into the store. "W-... What? We can't go in too? Ah, that's right. I don't know hardly anything about phones, so it'd make sense. Hey Hornet?" To the side and with a slight wipe to her eye again, she watched him move around her to see.
Yes? Eager, he inched closer and answered with his poke' tongue. However his expression was difficult to discern but nonetheless, sympathy stirred in his bug eyes.
"If you want- I could ask Meigu if he could help train you. Again, I'm not much help, all I can do is support you while you're fighting random wild pokemon in that clearing... But, I want you to have more challenges. I know for a fact that you won't get much stronger as you are now, against other wild pokemon where we live. I wouldn't mind it at all if you wanted to train with Meigu or his pokemon at his Dojo," A sweet, reassuring pat to the open spot above his eyes, she saw how it made the bug pokemon grow tears at the corners.
If it means I can get stronger to protect you, then so be it! I would love to! Quickly he turned around, poking and stabbing the air next to him as if he were a boxer in an arena. His cheery and childish personality was enough to make the brunette giggle.
"In that case... I'm going to do some odd jobs here and there to earn some more money. I'm running low and I'm sure you two would like some snacks while we're there at his Dojo. It's risky... But that's all I know how to do- the only thing I know of, to avoid being found," A sigh escaped when she wrapped her arm around Hornet and gave him a warm hug.
Tensed up, the bug Mon never expected to feel such affection from her. However, what he said next, nearly made her burst out laughing. Can I sit on your head? He buzzed and asked in his poke' language.
"Hahaha! I think you're a little too big to sit on my head! Or... On my shoulder!" She laughed and petted the clear spot on his head again, before letting go.
Yes, you aren't a tiny Weedle anymore. Also- thanks Marce. Are you sure though, that you'd want to do some odd jobs? Questioned Liepard who hadn't moved an inch away from the woman's feet.
"Yeah. Why not? I could buy something for Kuro too, since he came a long way from Sinnoh and wants to hang out tonight. I promised we could have something to snack on," With her hands being pushed into her pockets, she felt her hood lift over her head and looked over to see Hornet using his stinger.
You'll catch a cold, it's chilly. Happily, his eyes closed, to indicate some sort of smile. Which in turn, made her do the same.
"Marce! Here!" Out of the store ran Matsuo with a plastic bag in his hand. As soon as he stopped in front of her, he saw Hornet staring straight at him and felt his whole spine shiver. With his head turning away, clearing his throat, he lifted the bag. "It's actually the same brand I use, it's really good," He dared not look in her direction, lest he'd feel phobia take over his mind so he waited and soon felt the bag leave his hand.
"Thank you! Um... I'd like to buy us some snacks, so we can have something while we're at your Dojo," Out of her jacket pocket, came a wallet, but her hand was quickly pushed back. This action was enough to make her perk up confusedly and see him wiggle his finger back and forth.
"Ah- ah- ah, you're not paying. I invited you to my Dojo, so I'll pay for them," Pink dusted his cheeks when he saw how cute the redness spread across her face, followed by a shy smile, which he can't seem to get over.
As time passed, their walk soon came to an end. The few plastic bags that Meigu and Marce now carried held various goodies, as they stood in front of a concealed building.
What?! His Dojo looks like a frigin' Football Stadium! It has a weird glass dome over it though... What is that? Marceline's brows knitted, confusion setting in when she noticed the supports inside the glass ceiling. The sun-setting rays beamed through and lit up the entire field of grass and trees after they walked in, of course, the buff man had to unlock the large doors.
A couple of large arenas on either end of the stadium could be seen from the height they stood at. All around them were many holes where stadium chairs were pulled out of the sockets and the metallic platforms were so clean she could see her reflection.
Refreshing, warm air knocked off the chill she had from outside and the smell of fresh fruit, vegetables, and Poke' food filled her nose. "Wow... This is... Amazing," beneath her breath, she mumbled and smiled. In awe at how well the Dojo was taken care of and how happy the pokemon inside seemed to be. Countless, various fighting-type pokemon ran and played across the field; some weren't even Fighting types, but she knew, since it was Meigu, they had to have had something special or would know how to use Fighting-type moves to be there.
"Thanks! Bruno said it took a long time to build, he said he used an abandoned Football stadium and turned it into a Dojo for me. What makes it private, is that no visitors are allowed and it was out of commission for a very long time. I want you to meet my other pokemon! Come on!" Excited, with so much energy in him, he hurried down the steps and left the astonished brunette there with her two friends.