Hello everyone, sorry for the late upload. Its still the same day so I'm counting this as a win. Today's chapter does get a bit more angsty(I think I'm using it right) than they normally do and it's idea is mostly plot with Pokémon emotions(which I don't think get considered much in most Pokémon writing.
Hope you enjoy,
-Face
She stood in the centre of the park, next to the fountain that was close to where Serena had released her upon discovering the Aura Guardian.
She could feel his presence nearby, felt his eyes piercing her from seemingly every direction, judging whether it was safe to approach her or not.
A choice was made as she heard a rumbling from a nearby tree and saw the familiar blue Pokémon land next to her, offering a hand out to her in greeting.
She ignored it, instead pulling the other Pokémon into a tight hug which shocked him, feeling her friend slowly overcoming his shock and squeezing her back.
"It's been a while.", the Greninja said nonchalantly, breaking the embrace and leaning against the tree he'd emerged from.
She shot him a glare. "I thought you were dead". She began to press her finger into the ninja's chest. "And you didn't even to tell me that you weren't."
"In my defense, I didn't even know you were alive. Not that it would be to find you anyway. You were probably on the move and I was stuck up a mountain. Plus you didn't even recognise me when we first saw each other."
She squinted her eyes more at Greninja's relaxed attitude, her anger slowly building.
Greninja's near smile faltered as he seemed to finally realise the cause of her outburst. He gulped, at least the best he could do whilst wearing his tongue as a scarf, and began to back up, her advancing as he did, until his back reached another tree and the two were looking eye to eye.
"Soooooo… I take it you might be a teeny tiny itty bitty bit mad that I knew who you were and decided to let you figure it out. It's not exactly my fault that your aura is that strong not even your psychic powers mask it."
He shrivelled even more at her gaze.
"Sorry?", he managed weakly.
"Just be glad that it's too late for me to be using Flamethrower on the entire area", she mumbled, which the other Pokémon heard, causing it to stiffen.
She pulled Greninja into another tight embrace, "I missed you", she whispered quietly into his ear.
"I missed you too. I know everyone else did too", he whispered back
"How has Ash been? Serena can't sleep without me or Sylveon next to her."
"He's not been that bad. He shuts himself down sometimes. Only me and Pikachu can really get into his head when he's like that. Even then I have to force my way in through our bond and Pikachu has to be persistent for hours to reach him. The sad thing is I think he's used to people leaving. He's visited 7 regions and had to leave people behind every time."
She burrowed her head into Greninja's neck, ignoring the slight discomfort both got from his tongue. "I wanted him to be better. I think she needs an anchor, something to use. They need to win this just as much as the world, probably more. She needs him, and even though he may not realise it she was struggling yesterday, it's been years. That was the day she died to the world. The day both of them died."
They stood quietly, tears running slowly.
"I don't think we should tell them"
She shot back, not far enough that they separated, but far enough that they weren't touching.
She frowned at him, "I don't understand. She needs him. And it sounds like he needs her."
"They're just kids. They may not act like it but they're only 18. That's barely old enough to be considered an adult in Kanto and here in Kalos. And unfortunately both of them lost 3 years. They were forced to grow up much too fast.
I'm not even sure if they even see it themselves, but I know Pikachu and some of the others see them clinging to one another. Ash sees her like himself. He might not know what her task is, even though it's the same as his, but he can tell she has pressure on her. If they found the other out it would be dangerous. They'd latch too hard and in the end…", he finally went quiet, looking up at the sky, which even on the clearest of nights blocked the stars.
"I'm not sure they'd both be able to see the stars again after."
She felt him shaking under her, tears running from his face as he gripped onto her tighter than she thought he could.
"We'll keep them safe then. Do you know who else knows? Only Sylveon knows on my end. She had to know to let me leave. I couldn't keep it from her anyway. Not after everything we've been through."
He shuddered, trying to compose himself and offering a small smile to her he said, "No one knows in my side. They're that many of them that they wouldn't notice me missing. And if they did I do it enough that it wouldn't be suspicious."
"Tell someone, maybe 2 or 3 of them. But only the ones you trust most to keep it. I wouldn't suggest Pikachu. Ash knows him too well for it to stay a secret."
"You know. They've all gotten stronger. I have to leave because their aura overwhelms me sometimes. It's gotten worse since we met Arceus. He's already picked some. Pikachu's one of them. But…", he trailed off again.
The other Pokémon inhaled shakily. "They're are 4 others that are much stronger besides Pikachu. I think that's the blessing of Arceus. It's on you too. It's why I had to leave yesterday, into the woods. I didn't go back until you'd left but I felt it. She let all her Pokémon out didn't she.
I could tell that the Mawile and Absol had it. Based on what I could sense they're were 3 others besides them. That makes 6. Serena. She has 6 Pokémon with the blessing. Ash only has 5. But I can't read my own aura. I can't tell just how much stronger it's gotten. And I think that means I might be the sixth.
I don't want the pressure. The responsibility. I don't think I could handle it. I was the first. His pathway into Ash. Or maybe the other way around. Either way I was the first to have the phenomenon activated. I saw how she looked at the Pokéflute. Like it was familiar. It's because she has one. Maybe not the complete same but close enough that she recognises the power it has.
It powers a legacy that they will probably see as mine. But it isn't. I was just the unlucky one who got it first. The trial. But it worked and now he's pulling the strings. Did you know Bonnie has bonded to Squishy before? Because I did. Even from Mount Silver. I feel the rush of power. And it's dangerous. So very dangerous. I don't think you should even try to wield it. Every time it gets stronger, and last for longer and longer. She last did it maybe a few days ago, probably in Clemont's gym. It took it out of her. The connection severed in a much worse way than it had before."
She wrapped him even tighter as he layed on the grass, his head on her lap, his hands gesturing wildly, as if blaming everything and everyone.
"There's no trust in that bond. No trust from Squishy. I know they're not trying to hurt Bonnie. Probably the opposite. But it's not working. It only hurts them. It's forcing them apart. Even if they don't realise it.
You know how we saved the world from Team Flare, both times. That was nothing. Ash has saved the world dozens of times more than we ever will."
The two of them stayed there, leaning against the tree, just enjoying the others company and staring up at the sky.
The sounds of Lumiose could be heard from all around them, people and Pokémon out there, living their lives in peaceful ignorance. The world could be ending as they went about their lives, without the knowledge of the impending death and destruction that threatened their every existence.
"You know. I don't see it that way.", she finally said, having given enough time for his words to fully take effect, slightly upset that it had taken that long for his insecurities to finally be out to someone who could understand. "I think that we got the choice. Even if we doubted ourselves it was Arceus' will to guide us back onto the path of light. He gave us the offer. I think we took it. That we knew in some life down the line that we would get the chance to create a legacy we could be proud of."
He gave her a hopeful smile, "You really think so?"
She returned it, "I know so. And I also know that I'd never give up the chance to be with you so come on. We can still build the future we want. Our future."
A smile graced his face. " 'Our future'. I like the sound of that."
They remained silent, only looking into the others eyes, not caring about who or what saw them.
"I know who I'm gonna tell", he said at last. "I'm going to tell the other 4. The others who have been blessed. They deserve to know it. The whole truth."
She grinned at him, as he sat up, taking the space next to her against the tree. She then layed down spreading across his lap in a way reminiscent to how he had hers.
"She has one you know. You were right. She has a Pokéflute. She's used it before. But only when necessary. Mewtwo taught us how. But personally. I'd like to learn from the original. The Ash-Greninja. Do you think you could tell me how to do it without the Pokéflute?"
"Of course I could. I'll teach you now if you want me to", he offered.
She gave him a look, eyes sparkling and ears listening attentively.
"The first step is to open yourself up to the energy, and to let it run through you. The Pokéflute gives it an alternative, letting the energy flow through it as well, helping you to manage the energy. That's what makes it weaker with the Pokéflute and why it's harder without it.
The second step is being willing to lose the energy. If you open yourself up to it without closing yourself off to it then it just builds up. You need to want to be able to have the power whilst being just as able to lose it.
You may be scared about hurting yourself or Serena and accidentally lose control of one. The Pokéflute is easier to give the energy to, because you're not scared to hurt it.
The next step is to change that energy. Serena will give you her energy and it will feel familiar. The Pokéflute changes both of your energy to its basic state, so it is easier to control. If you accept the others power then you can convince it to become like yours. You know Serena and what she is like, and her energy is like that too. Almost…talk to the energy like your talking to Serena about something you both like. Then it will become more like your own and you can use it as such. Trust is so important as your energy is like yourself. Both need to trust the other for the energy to be truly accepted.
If I get hurt with a strong bond then Ash will feel it too, the pain from my injury will change the energy against my will and will enter Ash, which hurts him too. I'm sure it works the other way around but we are only ever truly bonded in a battle, and most of the time Ash is safe so can't be harmed.
I want you…no… I need you to be careful. If or when you try this with Serena you must trust her whilst she trusts you. If the Pokéflute is still used you can still send your energy directly to her.
It is still a part of Arceus and should be treated as such, with respect and fear. It is potentially deadly."
Yet again they enter a comfortable companionable silence.
"You know. I don't think Sylveon would mind if I stayed out here. In fact I think she would force me back out if she found out I didn't."
"I won't be missed with Ash until the morning. I could always stay out here."
Around 5 minutes later, both Pokémon could be found fast asleep, in a tight embrace under the tree, the world moving around them as they slept in peace.