I woke up to the light from the sun, and to a weight on my chest. Solais was still asleep, and she still looked happy. Melanie and Lexie weren't in the room, likely having gone to breakfast, as it was past time for Lexie's morning workout.
I started to scratch Solais, gently, on the left side of her neck. She began to purr, and started to lean into my touch. Slowly, her eyes blinked open, and I stopped. Her head returned to my chest.
"Hey gorgeous, how are you feeling?" I asked.
"Great. I haven't slept that good in…well, since before the tornado." Solais got up and began to stretch.
"We should probably clean ourselves up before we go to breakfast." I got up, myself, and started to stretch, as well. "We didn't get to, last night, with the storm and all."
"Yeah, won't it be kinda awkward though?" Solais asked.
"No, not really." I cast Anthrofy as I was speaking. "Not only because of that, but I also manage to share a shower with Kaorah, in her normal form, with no issues. Plenty of times, in fact." Even though they're smaller in the Pokemon Centers than they are at home. Even then, the one in my aunt's house isn't that big either, anyway.
"I get your point. Of course, the question now is, what about my fur?"
"I can help you dry off with a towel. Thing is, static electricity."
"Huh?"
"If we use a towel, you're going to puff up. I don't have a dryer that we can use, either." I grabbed my clothes for the day while I was talking. "Come on, let's get this over with, so we can go eat."
[???]
"Uh!" A body hit the ground with a grunt, then slowly began to sit up while rubbing the back of her head. "That…hurt."
"You lost focus, little one." Another voice reached her ears. She reached up to the wrapping over her face, and pulled it off. She blinked several times, as her eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness. "That's enough for now. You need to rest."
"I don't feel like I need to." She said. The Riolu felt a paw on her shoulder.
"No, your focus is off. I suspect, that your mind has drifted back to…the incident." The Lucario said, as he stepped into her view. "You can't focus when your mind is set on a bad memory. Focus on the now, not on the past." He said. "And, you do need rest. You're pushing yourself too hard."
"I know…it's just... I can't help thinking about…"
"It's OK. Take some time to meditate. It will help you clear your head." The Lucario interrupted her. "Settle down, and then go and get yourself something to eat." He said. "Don't focus on revenge, or on your memory. You don't want to start down a dark path. Instead, seek to bring those responsible, to justice. Not to take their lives, or it will only come back to bite you."
"I…understand." The Riolu said, then she sighed. It wasn't long before she left the room.
"I wonder if telling her the truth of that day was a wise decision." The Lucario said, to no one.
"Perhaps, perhaps not." He was startled by a voice in the shadows.
"Riley? When did you get here?" He asked.
"Only a few minutes ago. I heard your conversation." The man stepped out of the shadows, as he was reaching up to adjust his hat. "Sometimes, the truth is the better choice. Despite how horrible it is, it still gives her some motivation, at least."
"I worry about the possibility that she may pursue vengeance, and not--"
"I understand. Still, guide her on the path of good, as she is your student to teach. Bringing her here, to Iron Island, was a wise choice. As it allows her to train, without the crowds of curious Pokemon." Riley said. He was right, of course. After the incident, word had quickly spread around the kingdom. Of the Riolu's return, the death of her mother, and…
The trainer who'd found her, after it all. Nobody blamed him of course. They all knew who the real villains were. The trainer had told them so, himself.
The Lucario himself, remembered the young man. Spiky black hair, bright green eyes, and the team he was with, as he was there when the trainer handed the Riolu over. Still, though, nothing had been decided, by the kingdom anyway, as to what to do with the group who had taken one of their own.
Although the Kingdom usually stayed to itself, taking the life of one of their own, was essentially a declaration of war. Or at least, it would be, if they'd allow it. Sending a force to Kanto would likely cause an international incident.
At the very least, they knew who the culprits were, and their decision would be made, eventually.
[Kanto, outside the Safari Zone]
[The following day]
[Zeryph]
Our group had just packed up after stopping for lunch. We'd been on the road for a few hours now, and had actually passed through a preserve, not too long ago. Apparently, they had been having a poacher problem, as of late.
Team Rocket included, not that it's really a surprise. Jessie's team, in fact, which…tends to always show up when Ash is around. And, as with the few times before, they never seem to expect my team to be there, either.
Which, of course, results in chaos that usually ends with them losing, and being teleported off somewhere. Only for them to eventually come back. I still wonder how they always manage to do it so fast. They don't have an Abra, or any other Pokemon capable of transporting them large distances.
Or do they? I dunno, still, something's allowing them to get back faster than expected. That aside, we'd also encountered a bunch of Kangaskhan, which of course, Jessie's squad tried, and failed, to catch. With Jessie herself, even trying to catch one for her own team. While we had interfered, there was another, unexpected bit of interference.
A child, named Tomo, who had been living with the Kangaskhan for a pretty good while. As we discovered from his parents, though, his name was actually Tommy. And although it was the same name as Melanie's previous trainer, they're obviously…not the same person.
There was also our first proper meeting with him, after we'd found a Kangaskhan infant that had been injured, during our search for the boy. His reaction, and the reaction of his parents for that matter, were very different. The reaction, of course, being to seeing healing magic for the first time.
Awe, in the boy's case. Recognition, from his parents. They hadn't realized who we were at first, but they definitely knew, once they saw it. It's clear to me that word of our efforts in Fuchsia have spread, even faster than we originally thought.
Following that, more trouble from Team Rocket. Rare that they're able to try a second time, but then again, they did retreat the first time around. I didn't mention that before, of course. And this time, they had a giant robot Kangaskhan. Honestly, I guess I should've expected the robot, considering their other schemes.
And, of course, it fell to us to handle it, although I'll give my cousin points for at least trying. It turns out that a Dragon slamming into a giant robot at supersonic speed is more than enough, although it left Kaorah dazed. She later admitted that it wasn't her brightest decision, but at least it worked. Melanie had to make sure she didn't get a concussion out of it.
Mewtwo then dealt with Jessie's squad, personally. In the same way he always does. Even though they'll somehow be back in less than a week. At least he's decided to not actually hurt them. I don't think I could stop him, either, if he did.
We then set up camp for the night, as the day was spent dealing with everything that I had already mentioned before. Which brings us to now. My team and I had fallen back from the rest of the group, to talk, mostly about what was ahead. Plans for the Safari Zone, and some future plans for training. I knew for a fact things aren't going to go down well today, likely.
It was when an elderly man emerged from a building, yelling at the others to quiet down, I'd realized what was going on. One of the banned episodes, to be sure.
"Zeryph, we may have a problem." Mewtwo spoke up.
"I see that." We caught up with the others. I didn't have to ask what Mewtwo had seen, either.
"Hey? What's your problem? We were just--" Ash was interrupted, when the man drew a gun. Ah, shit…now we've really got a problem. I noticed hair starting to stand, and it wasn't just mine.
"I said, quiet. Or do you want to get--" What the man was saying, was interrupted by a flash of brilliant blue, and a broken scream of agony as his chest was burned from the energy, and he began to convulse as lightning spread through his veins. The gun fell from his hand, and was caught in the air, before being crushed into pieces. My ears began to ring from the bang that followed, and I winced. A bit of healing magic was enough to fix that problem.
"I have lost one person to a man with a gun. I will not allow it to happen again." Melanie stood over the man, with fury burning in her eyes. She had begun to glow, and her eyes had turned the same shade of blue as the very blast she had just unleashed. "Give me one good reason I shouldn't fry you." But her order was met with silence. She had shocked the man unconscious, whether or not she realized that, I don't know.
"No pleas? No objections?" Lightning began to charge in her hand. If she hits that man again… "Oh well. You should've spoken up." She raised her hand, ready to cast it, but I grabbed her wrist at the last second, and pulled her aim off just enough that she missed.
"Stop." I commanded. "You've done enough. If you were to hit him again, he would die. You only just barely avoided killing him, but he's unconscious." It'll be very fortunate if he wakes up. I don't want to have to explain a "bolt from the blue" to the police.
My words had an effect, snapping Melanie out of her fury with a loud gasp. I pulled her into a hug and let her cry, when it was clear she was going to.
"Zeryph…what…was that?" Ash asked me, after his ears stopped ringing from the thunderclap caused by the spell.
"That...was a bad memory making a violent return." I said. "It's a long story, but it's not my place to tell it." I'm sure the thunderclap from that spell had carried quite a distance, too.
"A bad memory? She almost killed that man." Brock has an excellent point.
"You have no idea. Still…she can tell that story if she wants to. For now, let me tend to her. She needs some time to recover." It's a wonder that a similar incident didn't happen yesterday, in the jungle we passed through. But, that time, I think it's the fact we were dealing with a Ranger, that stayed her hand.
Rangers are armed, only if necessary, and dealing with poachers definitely qualifies.
"Mewtwo, wake him up. Slowly, we don't want him to panic." I said, referring to the elderly man. I'm going to report this incident anyway. Guy pulls a weapon on the wrong group, and much worse could happen than what just did, with us.
"You sure?" Mewtwo asked.
"Yeah, go ahead. I'll…handle Melanie." I opened a portal, and pulled her through it. It was only once we were isolated that she really let it out. I didn't say anything, choosing instead to just hold her until she was done. It took several minutes for her to quiet down and I felt a hand on my cheek before I was pulled into a kiss. I returned it of course, and it lasted much longer than the ones we normally share.
Melanie broke it, and then laid her head on my shoulder, opposite to the one she'd just been sobbing into. She was breathing now, long, slow breaths, just like I'd taught her.
"Are you OK, Mel?" I whispered.
"I…I don't know. I…think so." She whispered back. "It's just…he pulled a gun and…and I reacted. Without…without thinking."
"It's OK, just…you may have to apologize, if…he'll even accept it."
"How is it OK? I almost murdered someone."
"You were acting in defense of us, and yourself. He drew first. Mewtwo had already seen it coming, but didn't get to say anything in time. If you hadn't done anything, he likely would have." I said. I reached up and brushed her hair back, fixing it from where it had been messed up by her overcharge. And Mewtwo likely would've crushed the gun into a ball of scrap metal, rather than actually attack. Of course, with those blades of his, the man likely would've been missing a hand if he got unlucky.
"It…it won't happen again. I promise."
"Mel." I gently caressed her right cheek. "Sometimes, you just can't hold back. There are some people in the world who are just…awful, irredeemable. And in those cases…sometimes, it's better to be rid of them. Other times, you just don't have a choice. It's them, or you. But, don't ever stop letting it affect you, because when you do…that's the point when you become a monster." I said.
"Come on, let's go back before the others start to worry." I opened a portal, and we released each other from our arms. I was the first back through the portal, with Melanie close behind, but with her right hand in my left. She was back to smiling, just like she was before the whole mess started, but her smile faded when she saw the elderly man was awake.
"Uh-oh…we might have--" I raised a hand, interrupting my cousin.
"Relax, kiddo. We've got everything sorted." I walked Melanie over to the man, and we knelt on either side of him. I saw it, the fear in his eyes, though he did well with hiding it.
"Sorry for almost…stopping your heart." Melanie could've worded that a little better, but…she's not wrong. It's a wonder the man survived it, in the first place. He…might have problems with it later, though. I translated what she said, though, a little less blunt.
"Hmmph. Don't apologize for me, do it for Thunderbolt." Man sounds bitter, seems he had an attachment to that revolver of his.
"Guns don't have feelings." I said. "You pulled it on us, and she responded. Listen, buddy…she…very likely has PTSD, from a past incident." Course, I don't know that for sure, since she didn't react violently to the Ranger having one "You pulling that thing, on my cousin no less, set her off. She reacted that way, because you were a very real threat. Look, you go pulling a firearm on people, someone's likely to do the same to you. Only, they're not gonna talk first."
"Whatever. At least I'm still alive." Mewtwo helped me push the man onto his back, and then Melanie's hands lit up gold.
"At least…let me dampen the pain. I'm not going to fix the scar, let it be a reminder, and a lesson." I translated what Melanie was saying.
"Wait…just one minute. You. You're the so-called "lady with the golden hands", aren't you?" The man's tone seemed to have changed. Well, isn't that interesting?
""Lady with the golden hands" huh?" I asked. "Haven't heard that one before. But to answer your question, I guess she is." The man didn't speak after that, choosing to stare off into space while Melanie was busy. It didn't take her long to finish, then Mewtwo and I helped the man to his feet.
Our group began to follow him, all the way back to the building that separated the Safari itself, from the outside. It was the only way through the fence, of course.
"What are you following me for? Get out of here. You've done enough already." The man said.
"We just wanted to-" I put a hand on Ash's shoulder.
"Kiddo, stop. The man has had enough, today. Nearly dying has…clearly shaken him. Sorry kid, but, no Safari for us." I said quietly.
"Couldn't we just…come back later?" He asked.
"Not likely. Man's gonna remember us after today. He won't be happy if he sees us again. Come on, we've got more traveling to do." We started to head back south, towards Fuchsia, then we would head across the bridge to the west. Melanie had taken my hand, again, and didn't seem keen on letting go, either. She'd even started to rest her head on my left shoulder, and got my left arm around her waist.
"Zeryph seems really close with her, doesn't he?" I heard Misty ask.
"Yeah, although…he can have full conversations with his Pokemon, rather than just guessing at what they're saying, like we have to." Brock said. "People like that, can form bonds with Pokemon that most others can't even get close to. But, there is a way to learn to understand them, as well."
"Is there really?" Ash asked.
"That's right. Well, there are two ways. One is to have a Psychic type, much like your cousin's Gardevoir, Melanie. The other, well, you need a Lucario for that." Brock said. "And, good luck getting one. Outside of Sinnoh, anyway. Well, one that's found wild."
"Why?" Ash asked.
"It's because Riolu, on its own, is quite rare." Brock said. "Still, for your cousin, being able to talk with Pokemon and understand them, is definitely a gift. But it makes you wonder how far their bond really goes." Seems Brock may be starting to suspect something, already. Worth mentioning that Pokephilia cases in this world are…actually pretty rare, surprisingly. The only places such relationships do exist, well, apart from mine, are in the regions where it's legal.
Course, they won't be figuring it out any time soon.
[Break]
As the sun began to set, we stopped to make camp for the night. It took us a little while to set up, and then we sat down in the center of the tents once we had. Lexie offered to make supper for everyone, and Brock offered to help out.
Melanie had perked back up, and seemed to be doing much better now. She was smiling once again, and it was clear she felt better. I'm sure the idea of supper probably helped, too. She was still by my side, of course.
There was a small disagreement with Kaorah, during our walk. Them discussing the possibility that Melanie might've been hogging me. I shut that down pretty quickly, especially before it could escalate into a fight. That's the last thing that we need.
There was also the matter with Solais, that I'd forgotten to mention earlier. They'd settled into a discussion about it, when we headed out yesterday morning. And they've adjusted things so that I rotate between all three of them. Of course, I joined in and mentioned the idea of Shadow Clones. Thing is, learning that might prove to be…difficult. Unless I get it as a lucky pull from a dungeon, it's very unlikely.
As supper was being served, I noticed something. A pair of glowing eyes, watching us from a tree, a pretty good distance away. Small reddish-orange dots, right in the center. Definitely seems familiar.
I slowly, quietly, got up, and began to fix an extra plate of food, from the leftovers that would've ended up in my inventory for storage.
"Zeryph? What's going on?" Ash asked.
"Shh…we have a guest. I don't want to spook them, or provoke them into attacking." I said quietly. With the plate in hand, I slowly walked over to the tree. There was the sound of rustling, and then a whoosh as she dropped from above. An Owl, though when her wings folded close to her body, together with the hood, it looked as though she was wearing a cloak. It's clear what drew her to us, the scent of food in the cool night air.
But the big question is, what's a Decidueye doing all the way out here? I sat down, and held the plate out to her. Slowly, she reached out to take it, before she began to dig in. From her reaction, she must've been quite hungry, as she quickly began to devour it.
"Easy, girl. Don't hurt yourself." I said quietly. "Take it nice and slow. Don't want to risk choking." She began to slow down, though her pace was still pretty quick. It wasn't long before she finished. "Want some more?" I asked, to which she answered with a slow shake of her head.
As I turned to walk away, she stopped me, with one of her wings, reaching out to grab my shoulder.
"Thank you." She said, quietly.
"No problem. We've always got plenty of extra." Whether or not she was smiling, I couldn't tell. It was then that I noticed… her hood wasn't green, but blue. Her wings weren't beige, they were black, with white dots. It's pretty clear now that she's a shiny.
"You're…a shiny." I said. Apparently, that caused her mood to change.
"You're…I have to--" I put a hand on her shoulder.
"Easy, girl. None of us will hurt you. Come, sit with us." I took one of her wings and carefully pulled her over to the others.
"Take it easy on her, everyone. She's skittish, I can tell. Don't crowd her, and speak softly." It took a little coaxing from everyone, to get her to sit down with us.
She even accepted another helping of food, and was eating much slower this time. I offered her some water, as well, in case she needed it.
"If you don't mind me asking, what's a pretty girl like you doing out here?" I asked.
"I…don't know. I just…woke up out here, about…a week ago. It's been hard to find any food, until you all showed up." She said quietly. "Thank you again." She said.
"No problem. I'm glad you're enjoying it." She seemed surprised that the food was cooked by another Pokemon. "Do you remember anything from before you woke up?" I asked.
"No…well, not…not really. The only thing that comes to mind is something heavy, falling on my head…but everything else is just a blur." So she's, possibly, a reincarnation of some sort. Maybe debris from that storm. If we could find her body, well, that would likely be…very awkward, at least.
"This is going to sound…strange. Do you remember howling wind? A rumbling sound, like a freight train?" I asked.
"No…at least, I don't think so. It…might be familiar." She said.
"Hmm. We may have something going on. Why don't you come with us? I'll be glad to have you along, at least until we solve this mystery, as to why you don't remember anything." I offered.
"Might as well." She said. I let her finish her food. "Does that mean you're going to have to catch me?" She asked.
"Yes, it does. If you don't like the ball, don't worry. Most of your teammates don't, either." I said. I've got the perfect one in mind, too. A Dusk Ball. Fits her colors pretty nicely, if only a little off. I pulled it out from my inventory.
"Wait, before you catch her…what species is she? I don't think I've ever seen one." Ash spoke up.
"She's a Decidueye. Normally, their first form, Rowlett, is given away as the grass type starter. However, this is normally over in Alola, on the other side of the planet." And Hisui, but she's definitely not Hisuian. The conditions for that form aren't even present anymore. So she's a long way from home, if she was dropped off here. If not, then she's a very special case. The fact that she's a Ghost Type is…going to be hard for her to accept, if she truly is reincarnated.
"Go ahead." I said to the Decidueye. "Whenever you're ready." She reached out and touched the ball, which activated. It opened, and pulled her in. It didn't get to click before she was back out.
"What's the matter?" I asked.
"The ball, it…doesn't feel right. I…can't really describe it." She said.
"That's…hardly the worst." Mewtwo spoke up. "Mine is…much worse. I'll explain it to you, later on. Just, relax, and let it happen. That's about the best way you can get through it." He said.
Decidueye sighed, and reached for the ball again. Just like before, it pulled her in on contact. This time, she didn't break herself out, and it clicked. I let her right back out afterwards, of course. This hints towards her reincarnating, as if she'd had a trainer, I wouldn't have been able to catch her. Not without her being released, of course. And I certainly wouldn't make her go through the trading process.
"I…don't want to go back in. Please, don't make me go back in there." She mumbled.
"It's OK. You can stay out, like everyone else." I told her. Pidgeotto's still the only one that likes his. Of course, it's only for him to sleep in, nowadays, or for travel if he's tired, but still. I wonder if her being shiny, meant that she's had run-ins with trainers who wanted to catch her, for the sake of a collection. That's…not much better than being poached, in my opinion anyway.
Pokemon aren't collector's items, just as they're not…for whatever Poachers do with them, like the black market. I know for sure that people are going to bother me for the idea of trading, but it'll never happen. I'm not gonna just go and leave her like that, not this soon after getting her, especially.
"Normally, I give each of the members of my team, a name." I said. "For you, hmm…I think we'll call you Cerise, if that's OK." I told her.
"Sure. It sounds…right. I'm not sure how, but it does." Cerise said.
"Ya know, speaking of names." I turned towards Pidgeotto. "I think I might have something for you, too. It's been long overdue."
"I find it amusing that you managed to name the rest of us, except myself, so easily." Mewtwo said. "And yet, he's the one that took you the longest."
"Guess I'm not as good at naming birds." I said with a shrug. "Still, what do you think about Evan?"
"Evan, huh?" Evan said. "I like it, something simple. Yet, it take you this long to come up with."
"Not good at naming birds, yet you came up with "Cerise" right away." Melanie said.
"We're not gonna let you forget this, ya know." Kaorah spoke up.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." We all shared a short laugh. "Alright everyone, it's about time for us to settle in for the night. We've got more traveling to do in the morning." I raised my voice. "Let's get some rest, so we can set out early, tomorrow." I said.
I showed our recruit how to get into the tents, and helped her set a place for herself. Then I explained how our mornings usually go, before I left the tent. She was going to be staying with Melanie and Lexie, since theirs had the extra space.
I chose to sit out for a bit longer, until everyone else had withdrawn. Leaving just myself and Kaorah outside.
"So, gonna bend me over by a tree, tonight?" Kaorah asked.
"Hm, no, not tonight." I unzipped our tent. "It's been a while since you last got me to yourself. We should--" I shuddered, as a result of a sudden chill.
"Should…what? Do something intimate?" Kaorah asked.
"In here, quietly. Something's wrong." I whispered. Kaorah tilted her head, but obeyed. The moment we were inside, I zipped up the tent, and motioned for her to lay down, and stay quiet.
[Both of you, stay down, don't make any noise, or even move an inch.] Mewtwo's voice sounded in our heads.
[What's going on?] I asked.
[That aura…feel it?] Mewtwo asked in return. That was when I noticed it. It was…dark, almost just as bad as a Shadow Pokemon's aura. Yet, it felt similar to Darkrai's, too. That's…unusual, because I doubt Darkrai would even know where we are.
[I don't know what it is, other than that it's a Dark Type. Yet, the aura is so strong I can sense it anyway.] Mewtwo said.
[What even is that?] Melanie quietly asked. [I sense it, too.]
There, thanks to the light of the moon, a shadow appeared on our tent. Nine tails waving in the wind, wisps of smoke trailing behind the tips of its tails. It threw its head back and unleashed the most horrid howl I've ever heard.
It then vanished into the night. I don't know where it was going, or what it was for sure, but it puts the feeling of the Shadow Zoroark, to shame. When Mewtwo confirmed it was all clear, we settled down. We'll have to ask around tomorrow, see if any of the folks in Fuchsia have ever heard any howling like that.
The floor shifted as Kaorah moved to lay down, and I snuggled up to her side. Although, the position didn't last long, as I found myself on my side with my back against her chest. Then her arms were around me, with the back of my head against her neck.
"What made you want to try this?" I asked.
"I dunno, seemed like it would've been more comfortable than lying on my back." Kaorah said. That's a good point, considering both her fin, and her tail.
"And, what do you think?"
"I think I like this." She shifted just a little, adjusting her legs. "Good luck getting out of this in the morning though." She nuzzled the side of my neck, then laid her head down. "Tomorrow night though, you owe me." It didn't take us long to fall asleep, in a position much more comfortable than we'd been in before.