BossCar
Pokémon Trainer
- Pronouns
- He/His
First of all, I loved that you mentioned the card game, so that's probably my favorite bitThanks everyone for the reviews so far! I really appreciate your support! Truly, it warms my heart! :D
I'll answer them very soon, but for now, I hope you'll enjoy this new chapter! ^^
***
[Note: this chapter uses Japanese names of Pokémon, people and locations. I’m making sure to help determine who is who and what is what throughout the narration, however.]
***
Darkness, coldness, solitude: three elements that used to be so normal and comforting, and yet now they felt so alien and frightening. And as an abyss-dweller, those feelings were very unusual for a Lugia.
Dark red wine dorsal fins raised and lowered, working hard to detect even the faintest glimpse of any living soul. Faint flickers pulsated into her mind-space, signaling nearby underwater creatures. However, as soon as she got close, the pulses disappeared. Very few Pokémon dared to stay around a powerful legend, and the notion saddened Odessa immensely.
It was ironic, really: she used to love staying alone with her thoughts, craving every brief nap she could get between a redirection of a marine current and another. But that changed when darkness invaded her heart and ominous chains locked her willpower and perception of reality, forcing her to do the most nefarious actions for those heartless humans while her soul screamed to the void.
Since then, the mere idea of staying alone for too long terrified her. Even if her physical and psychic powers were immense, even she wasn’t safe from her own nightmares. And in that moment, Odessa would have given everything to have some friendly presence by her side.
‹If only I could bring some company… But Zygarde were very specific — no one else but us must attend this meeting.›
She hummed a soft tune, hoping to cheer herself up. It did nothing to fill the emptiness on the physical plane, but with the echoes of her voice she could pretend that other members of her species were ahead of her, leading the way.
‹…Almost there. Navel Rock is not too far.›
A few minutes later and with only her song as her company, Odessa reached an immense column made of silver and golden ore. She descended deeper into the abyss, way beyond any other Pokémon could dive into, and entered through a passage hidden among black rocks. Then, with a blast of aerokinesis and hydrokinesis, she surrounded herself in a twister and shot upwards, speeding through the rocky tunnel.
The first gleams of the surface shone on her face, motivating her to travel even faster. And then, she burst out of the water and spread out her wings, the twister breaking apart and her body radiating an intense silver glow. The saltwater flowed down her waterproof scaly feathers, but she sped up the process by shaking her entire body.
Wings tucked by her sides and dorsal fins raised, she scoured the small rocky chamber with her sharp eyesight and psychic reach. She glanced at a few of her older feathers scattered on the floor, their faint metallic pink shade as resplendent as always, before looking at the ceiling. Her fins quivered and flickers flashed in her mind.
A ripple, then other nine. Brain waves, radiating from one commander and nine followers, and quickly approaching.
‹Ah! Zygarde are here!›
Sure enough, the shadow of a canid bolted through the rocky arc at the end of the chamber. The amalgamation of flatworms strode toward the pond, its red jewel glowing with power and small portions of the ground emerging with each step.
The Lugia made the first move, all too pleased to have some company. «Greetings, Zygarde! It’s really nice to see you!” she chirped, swimming toward the shore.
«Same here, Odessa. It’s lovely to see you again, and without shadows infesting your aura,» responded Zygarde with a cheerful tone, wagging their tail. «Your recovery has been a total success.»
Odessa suppressed a shiver. She couldn’t quite say that her recovery was a total success, but she was grateful that her heart was devoid of shadows. Or at least, she hoped so.
«Yes. Michael is a truly delightful child. It’s all thanks to him and his friends if I could free my heart from those dark binds,» she said with gratitude, before shaking her body and ruffling her feathers. «What a never-ending nightmare, to have my mind ravaged by those twisted energies…»
Zygarde lowered their head, tail tucked between their legs. «We cannot even fathom that, and we apologize for not being able to help during that crisis. If only we had some drones close to that island, perhaps we would—»
«It’s all right, Zygarde. I don’t blame anyone for what happened, aside from those… horrible Cipher humans!» she grumbled. «How could they do such atrocities to all those poor, defenseless creatures? It’s a good thing that Michael rescued all of them and there are no more shadowed victims, otherwise—»
Odessa stopped when she noticed Zygarde whimpering and fidgeting in their spot. She detected unpleasant waves plaguing the central brain of the amalgamation — nervousness, anxiety, and also a touch of fear.
«Zygarde? What’s the matter?» she asked, craning her neck toward the other legendary.
«…It’s a long story. We’ve already given a rundown to Calyrex, but we can’t explain the situation in full until we confer with the others. There is still much we don’t know yet,» they replied, which did nothing to soothe the Lugia’s concerns. The amalgamation stared at the draconic bird, their eyes narrowed. «Are you the only one in Navel Rock?»
Odessa closed her eyes and her dorsal fins quivered, her mind outstretching far beyond the boundaries of the island. After a few seconds, she reopened her eyes and frowned.
«…Yes. Spectrum is having some troubles with his journey — avoiding humans’ satellites has become a much harder task,» she explained. «He should try learning how to teleport at this rate…»
«Well, we must make do with the gifts and powers given to us,» said Zygarde, walking forward and stopping at only one step from the water. «However, if he’s not here, we have to ask you to relay the message in our stead when he arrives. We can’t stay here much longer — there is plenty we need to arrange.»
This time, Odessa shivered. She didn’t like the idea of being left alone once more, but she could resist a few minutes until her friend arrived, at least.
«Yes, I can do that…» She tilted her head. «But why the hurry? Can you tell me what’s going on?»
Zygarde’s stare hardened. «Very well. Here’s how things stand…»
***
Disc 0:
The Monster… Coach and the Rainbow!
“Shining Leaves and Phantoms of the Past”
***
A journey on a train can be long and tiring, even on cross-country trains traveling at 340 miles per hour. That is more so for lone wolves with poor social skills, who would much prefer to spend time by themselves than to listen to gossips and random chatters of unknown passengers. Luckily there are countless ways to kill time while riding a vehicle, like reading a book, playing video games or listening to some entertaining shows and music with a Radio Card. While wearing an earplug and with the Pokégear in his hand, Silver surfed through various frequencies.
「 —bzzzt—re here live, with the returning Challenge Cup Champion: Ronald! Congratulations on your victory! 」
「 Well, I didn’t inherit these Legendary Pokémon Cards for nothing! They’re what make my deck, “Invincible Ronald”, so pow— 」
Skip.
‘…Why do people collect cards and fight with holographic creatures when they could just catch and train real Pokémon?’ thought Silver, unimpressed. ‘That makes no sense.’
「 —bzzzt—Pocket Monsters: Gōrudo and Pocket Monsters: Gin! Available now in the best sto— 」
Silver rolled his eyes. Just an ad about games featuring fake creatures. Useless. Skip.
「 Tsugino teiryujyo wa Kogane-eku desu. Next stop, Goldenrod Station. 」
Silver blinked; that didn’t come from the Pokégear. He glanced outside the window and spotted the tall silhouette of the Kogane Radio Tower. Evening had come, and the dull gray metal and glass reflected bright orange gleams.
That was his stop. He stored the earplug into the belt bag and pocketed the Pokégear, then he trudged toward the door while keeping his balance with the handrails. Soon, the train halted, with some Coil arresting its run with a strong blue magnetic force generated by their magnets.
「 Kogane-eku! Goldenrod Station! Kogane-eku! Goldenrod Station! 」
Once outside the station, Silver glanced at the tower that cast an imposing shadow over the other buildings. He frowned when he recalled the day Team Rocket invaded the tower, and when Hibiki destroyed him in battle despite the latter’s Pokémon being weary after facing multiple grunts. Not even with that advantage he could prevail over his rival.
But worse of all, he didn’t help at all during that crisis and only got in Hibiki’s way. The one-track mindset he used to have, fixated with the sole purpose of crushing both Wataru and his rival and uncaring about everything else…
Silver sighed in regret. What would have happened if he helped during that crisis? Could he have made a difference?
…Well, there was no way of knowing for sure, wasn’t there?
Without uttering a word, he slipped his hands into his pockets and walked away from the tower. Mulling over what-ifs was pointless, so he focused on a more pressing matter: renting a room somewhere. He seriously needed some good quality sleep after the emotional whirlwind of that day, to be well-rested for his incoming journey.
***
“…Shining Leaves Festival, huh?”
Silver glanced curiously at the banners hanged on some poles by the outskirts of Enju City. Orange and brown leaves crackled under his feet, which turned to dust by Ordile’s heavy stomps. The blue alligator stared gleefully at the colorful posters, his mind enraptured by the paintings of golden leaves and rainbow and silver feathers.
As they got closer to Enju, a plethora of festive energies flooded their senses: the overlapping folk music and chants of monks, followed by the warm scents of roasted chestnuts, fried savory food and pastries. To cap off the festival picture, red paper lanterns with black bird motifs and rainbow stripes decorated the streets, livening the stalls brimming with all kinds of snacks and knickknacks. Most of the participants wore orange and white yukatas and kimonos with leaf patterns, headbands with rainbow and silver feathers, or both.
Silver narrowed his eyes in thought. He had some vague knowledge of that festival, but never took part to it. Or to any other celebration, really. He considered them just a waste of time and money, which drained precious hours and resources that could be better spent with training.
Well, no matter. As Silver wanted to give a day off to his team and he had plenty of spare time, he wondered if he should dive into the celebration… even if the mere thought of that made him huff and roll his eyes.
‘C’mon, it’s supposed to be… fun. Yeah. Just some harmless fun…’
The redhead sighed and looked at his Pokémon. “Oh well, let’s get through this, Ordile.”
Ordile nodded and hissed affirmatively. Unlike his Trainer, he was looking forward to get into the festival and relish in that spectacle of sweet scents and gorgeous colors. The alligator grinned: perhaps he could show the beauty of festivals to Silver and convince him to take part to future celebrations? His Trainer seemed more open to new ideas, so that didn’t sound like a farfetched plan.
Silver and Ordile strolled through the various lantern-filled streets of Enju, with the former glancing scathingly at the various stalls and the latter marveling at the multitude of decorations and sniffing the delightful blends of fried food: the crispy scent of Crab Skewers and a foreign specialty called Crabrawler Pinchers; then the spicy aroma of Slowpoke Tails imported from Galar (when Silver inquired about that, the vendor clarified that the Yadon shed those tails naturally); and the delightful scent of pancakes filled with berry jam, sweet beans or honey.
The duo was so focused on the festival that they barely registered a feminine yell that cut through the chaos.
“Yoo-hoo! Silver!”
Silver blinked in surprise. That voice…
He turned around and his gaze darted from a person to another, looking for the source of that call. And then, he zeroed on a girl with brown twin ponytails standing by the local pond, waving at him and Ordile. She was wearing a white velvet hat, a short azure kimono with patterns of golden leaves and a rainbow belt around her torso. Even her Maril was wearing something for the occasion: a crown made of shining leaves and a rainbow ribbon tied at the tip of her tail, just below the blue sphere.
Silver’s eyes widened slightly. “Kotone?”
Kotone strode toward the redhead, beaming a bright smile. “Hey! Long time no seen! How’re you doing?”
“…Fine, I’d say,” he responded flatly.
“Ah, well, that’s great to hear! I’ve been doing good, too!” she chirped, holding her hands behind her back and showing a friendly smile. Then she gazed at Ordile. “Hello, Ordile! You’re looking fab as well!”
The alligator growled happily and waved his paw, earning a paw-wave back from Maril.
Kotone looked again at Silver, who just regarded her with a serious stare. “I didn’t expect to see you here, of all places. It’s such a pleasant surprise!”
“To be fair, I didn’t expect to be here, either.” He slipped his hands in his pockets. “Never been a festival type.”
“Oh? Well, there’s always a first time for everything, don’t you agree?”
Silver shrugged dismissively. “I guess so.”
“Anyway, any comment about my outfit?” she asked, before turning around to show off her clothing. “I’ve bought this specifically for the festival — it’s so comfy and easy to wear!”
Silver gazed hard at the kimono. He had never been into girl’s fashion and wasn’t keen to answering such futile questions. However, he was trying to be a more approachable individual, so…
“…A azure kimono, huh,” he stated simply. “Unusual.”
Kotone stared back at him, somewhat unimpressed by his answer, but beamed a bright smile despite that. “Well, yes, it’s my unusual azure kimono! Do you like it?”
Silver looked again at the brunette, then at the clothing. “It’s… cute, I guess…”
“Thanks!” she exclaimed, smirking with pride. “I’m glad you like it, too!”
The redhead raised an eyebrow, bewildered by her reaction. ‘Wow. She’s behaving as if she has just received a compliment from Wataru himself…’
“So,” Kotone grinned, “are you enjoying the festival?”
“I… well, maybe? Admittedly, I’m feeling kinda out of my element.”
“Oh. I suppose Mr. Battle-hungry Silver doesn’t meddle too much with fun and pointless stuff, huh?” she replied with a playful smirk.
Silver narrowed his eyes and looked away. “Hmph! Something like that…”
“Well, then lemme help you get into a festival mood! Shining Leaves Festival is my all-time favorite celebration! I could be your guide and show you the best of the best!” chirped Kotone, holding her fists close to her face and bouncing happily. “Whatcha think?”
Silver gazed at the girl, uncertain of what to answer. Sure, he considered spending some time with other Trainers, but did he want to have the most chipper and unabashedly optimistic of his rivals as his companion? That girl was like a walking smile, and he still didn’t know how to feel about those overly cheerful people.
But before he could answer, something tapped his back, and he turned to Ordile. The alligator grinned and nodded excitedly, hoping to send some encouragement with a few friendly growls. The redhead stared at his Pokémon in disbelief: even his own Pokémon wanted that?
Silver looked at Kotone, a bright grin. Then at Maril, a bright grin. And once again at Ordile, a bright grin. Finding himself outnumbered, he relented. “…Fine, I accept.”
“Yay! This is gonna be so much fun!” exclaimed Kotone in delight, before motioning to follow. “C’mon! There’s plenty to see! Let’s go!”
Without waiting for a reply, the girl sauntered among the crowd with Maril in tow, and Ordile was quick to tag along, all of them eager to have a pleasant time.
Silver stared blankly at the other three, before sighing and walking after them. That was going to be a long afternoon.
***
No seasonal festival was complete without a traditional parade, and Kotone lead the group toward the Main Street so witness the merry event.
Groups of men with different flags carried shrines with miniatures of the local towers and legendary birds, while performers wearing costumes with rainbow and silver feathers accompanied the committee and directed some fire Rokon and Naty. The six-tailed foxes controlled their Will-O-Wisps and Mystical Fires with grace and elegance, the spectral and magical flames tinged in a multitude of colors — red, orange, yellow, blue, purple, a rainbow of flames. Meanwhile, the tiny green birds sent flurries of Air Cutters and Feather Dances into the air, which merged into a makeshift twister of crescents and glowing plumage.
Kotone and the two Pokémon cheered when the parade walked past them, but Silver did nothing more than observe the situation in silence. He had never been someone who liked to stay in chaotic places brimming with people, and the athletic skills of the performers didn’t captivate him. Sure, those performers and Pokémon practiced very hard, no doubt, but the flashiness of attacks had never been one of his interests.
Luckily for him, Kotone seemed to have noticed his lack of enthusiasm and led everyone toward a quieter side of the city: the temple area. Still not something that piqued his interest, but it felt good to be in an area devoid of racket.
“Say, Silver… What day is today?”
Silver glanced at Kotone, wondering why she asked such a silly question. “It’s Fall Leaves Day, obviously.” He motioned toward the paper lanterns and banners. “Heck, this entire festival is all about that!”
The brunette nodded. “True, but this year’s Shining Leaves Festival isn’t a festival like any other.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Today’s the 700th anniversary of the construction of the Brass Tower and the Bell Tower!” exclaimed Kotone, clasping her hands together. “In fact, in the Bell Chime Temple it’ll be possible to see many important paintings and artifacts belonging to that era. It’s a unique event!”
Silver stared at Kotone for a good minute, before cocking an eyebrow. “That’s the part where I’m supposed to get excited?”
“If you love myths and legends, then yeah!”
Myths and legends… Silver had read countless texts and books about all kinds of legendary Pokémon, with his interest being heavily oriented toward their sheer power. Getting such a Pokémon under his command… that would be a dream come true, and it surely would have taken him one step closer toward his goal. Or, well, that was what his younger self used to believe.
But the redhead had yet to see a real legend in the flesh. Glimpses, fleeting shadows, distant howls — that was all he got in the past three years as a Trainer. That was more than what most people got in a lifetime, but it annoyed him immensely that Hibiki was one of the few privileged Trainers to have actually interacted with real legends. That kid with black hair didn’t receive an authentic Silver Wing for nothing, after all.
But despite his grievances, Silver had a pretty good guess of why he got nothing more than crumbs: legends only sought after Trainers with pure hearts, and he didn’t have one. That was a tough pill to swallow, but… his rival fitted that description way more than he did.
“However, there’s more about those artifacts than simple folktales,” added Kotone, while making her way toward their destination. The teenagers and their Pokémon could see the distant golden pinnacle of the Bell Tower from their location, reflecting four faint beams of light toward the sky. “Those are also valuable lessons and memories of past times, when humans and Pokémon didn’t need Poké Balls to forge bonds and become friends. In fact, back then they often traveled side by side.”
“Hmm… So, you always keep Maril outside of her Poké Ball to emulate those past times?”
“Not really. It’s just that it’s much more fun to travel around with some company. Besides,” she glanced at Silver, “you’re doing the same with your Ordile now. Don’t you like that?”
“Well…”
Silver glanced behind: Ordile was chattering with Maril in his native speech, with a pleased smirk plastered on his muzzle. He stared at the two for a while, before turning to the brunette and nodding.
“…Yeah. I admit it was a bit weird when I walked around with Ordile for an extended amount of time, but… I’ve got used to that. And I can understand my Pokémon a bit better now.”
Kotone grinned. “Ah, I’m so glad to hear that! Your auras and hearts are becoming stronger and more united, aren’t they?”
“…Our auras and hearts?” Silver blinked, before narrowing his eyes in confusion. “I… can’t really say, but I guess so?”
“Well! A trip to the Bell Chime Temple is going to be helpful,” exclaimed the brunette, winking reassuringly. “I bet you’re gonna like that!”
Silver couldn’t figure out what Kotone was planning, but by the way she was grinning at him, it seemed something worthwhile. And if that would not be the case, then he was more than ready to not let her live it down!
“Hmph… Alright. Let’s see what’s so special about this oh-so-unique event,” he rebutted, crossing his arms and staring at the building ahead of them. The copper-hued roof and doorway of the Bell Chime Temple immediately stood out, giving off an aura of magnificence and peace to whoever gazed at it. Even the redhead felt some inner peace by just staring at that building.
“So, here we are,” announced Kotone, before walking through the door.
A silent atmosphere greeted the two teenagers, with very few visitors and monks walking around. Lit ceremonial incenses filled the air with an intense aroma, reminiscent of both cherry wood and saltwater — so different, and yet they complemented each other perfectly, just like the legendary birds themselves. Ancient tapestries and bronze statues decorated the area, depicting either an imposing bird with long tail feathers or a more draconic creature with enormous wings. Several artifacts were stored in unbreakable reliquaries and guarded by some Gardie, who sniffed and growled at whoever stepped too close. But more often than not, people just wanted to pet the small striped dogs, despite the warnings of the monks.
“Ho-Oh and Lugia…” muttered Silver, walking toward two statues placed at the entrance.
“Yup! The former guardians of Enju City, who lived by the two towers until a mysterious fire destroyed the Brass Tower. They’ve been missing from the city since then.”
The redhead nodded. “Yeah, I’ve heard about that tale when I first came here.”
“And to think that the people of Enju built those towers precisely to commemorate the perfect union between humans and Pokémon…” Kotone sighed. “I wonder what would have happened if the Brass Tower was still intact — would the legendaries still be here?”
Silver shrugged. “Who knows? It’s not like there’s a way to find out, isn’t there?”
“Yeah, I know. I was just thinking about the possibility, that’s all. I mean,” she grinned dreamily, “wouldn’t it be cool if we could meet and talk to the legendary birds whenever we wanted?”
Silver narrowed his eyes in thought, his gaze lingering on some tapestries depicting Ho-Oh with a trailing rainbow behind it. Only then he noticed that Ordile and Maril weren’t by their side anymore, having preferred to stay by the door to watch the parade from afar. Once reassured of their status, he focused again on the paintings.
“Heh. It’d surely be something,” he replied.
Kotone sighed again, thinking about that impossible dream, but regained her enthusiasm quickly. “Anyway! Let’s look around, shall we? There’s plenty to see here!”
The two teenagers walked past the two statues, but Kotone immediately froze. She blinked a few times and tilted her head. “Wait, isn’t he…?”
Silver gazed at the brunette in puzzlement, before following her stare. He spotted a blonde young man, wearing a purple headband and a scarf around his neck. The redhead had seen that man before, but where…?
Ah! Of course. The Phantom Fog Badge! So he was…
“Matsuba, the Ghost Gym Leader,” responded Silver. “What’s he doing here?”
“Hmm… Well, Matsuba visits the Bell Chime Temple and Bell Tower very often to study their various artifacts. I’ve heard he’s looking for a way to bring back Ho-Oh and see it with his own eyes.”
“Well, tough luck with that! With this city’s track record, he desperately needs it,” muttered Silver to himself. Then, his gaze drifted toward someone talking to the Gym Leader. “Hm? Who’s with him?”
That question piqued the attention of Kotone, who gazed at the people standing in front of Matsuba. It was then that the mild curiosity of the two teenagers turned into bafflement.
The unknown individuals had a very pale skin and wore white and blueish gray suits, while white helmets protected their heads — they seemed to have jumped out of some high budget sci-fi movie! The young man had a tuft of magenta hair dangling from his forehead and light blue pupils, while the teenage girl had a long orange braid and light blue pupils with a veil of ginger.
Silver had to blink a few times to make sure he wasn’t imagining them, but his eyes kept showing the same vision and his gaze lingered on those strange uniforms. ‘…Okay, I’ve seen all kinds of ridiculous costumes, but those beat all of them!’
“Heeey! Matsuba!” chirped Kotone, walking toward the trio.
Silver glared at the brunette. Why did she have to attract the attention of the Gym Leader and those weird people in white? Perhaps he could sneak away before—well, too late for that! Matsuba and the new individuals noticed them.
“Ah! Greetings, Kotone. It’s good to see you,” replied Matsuba with a small smile, then he gazed at Silver with a more neutral expression. “And Silver, too.”
The man-in-white studied the teenagers with tired eyes, while the orange-haired girl beamed a grin. “Oh? Acquaintances of yours, Matsuba?” she said, making an imaginary square with her hands. “Alola! Nice to meet you! I’m Zossie and he’s my colleague Dulse!”
“Zossie, remember that they don’t use that greeting in this region. What they use is,” Dulse waved his hand left and right, his movement resembling a wide-screen wiper rather than a hand-wave, “this salute.”
“Oh! Right!” Zossie was quick to emulate her companion, with her hand movement just as mechanical. “Hello there!”
The two Trainers quickly inferred that those two were tourists, by the way they spoke and behaved.
“Um… hi to you, too,” replied Kotone, looking curiously at the new individuals and greeting them with a hand-wave.
Silver said nothing, still staring at those humans-in-white in disbelief. Just… where did they come from? Did they bring the wrong costume for the wrong festival or something?
“Are you two here to learn more about Enju and its history?” inquired Matsuba.
“Something like that, yeah,” replied Kotone, beaming a grin. “We’re here to find out more about the bonds between humans and Pokémon in ancient times.”
Silver blinked and glanced at Kotone in puzzlement. “Huh? We are?”
“Ah! That’s great! Dulse and I have come to this temple for more or less the same reason!” exclaimed Zossie, smiling and swaying back and forth. “We’re investigating about bonds, auras, and all that stuff.”
Dulse nodded in agreement. “Indeed. We hope that the history and culture of Enju will help us understand our Pokémon better and strengthen our bonds with them. The bonds between humans and those legendary birds…” he gazed at a nearby tapestry, depicting Lugia eating some offerings alongside a group of people, “are truly inspiring. They used to live in perfect harmony — immortals and mortals, under the same sky.”
Matsuba smiled at Dulse, heartened by those words of appreciation toward his city and the legends surrounding it. Then he glanced at Kotone and Silver. “You can tag along, if you want. I know everything about these artifacts and the folktales of this city.”
“Oh, that’d be great!” chirped Kotone, before turning to Silver. “What do you think?”
The redhead froze at that out-of-the-blue question. “What…?”
“Oh yeah! It’d be real fun!” exclaimed Zossie, beaming an excited grin. “We could even get to know each other better!”
“Of course! C’mon, Silver! Let’s do it!”
Silver gazed back and forth between Kotone and Zossie, utterly baffled. Did that brunette have a doppelgänger from another country or something? As if one hyper girl wasn’t enough, now he had to tolerate two?!
“…Lemme guess, you’re gonna pester me until I say yes, aren’t you?” he asked, glaring at Kotone.
The brunette grinned mischievously. “That’s a possibility~!”
‘Okay… Can I still take a pass on exploring this temple?’ pondered Silver, contemplating his options. However, the cheerful smile on Kotone’s face became brighter and brighter with each passing second, which did wonders at pressuring him further and further. Annoyed by her stubbornness, he crossed his arms and stared hard at her. “…Tch. Fine! I’ll tag along if that means you’ll wipe that guilt-tripping look off your face.”
“Oh? You will? Really?” asked Kotone, her eyes gleaming.
“Yeah. Besides, it’s not like I have much better stuff to do.” Except that Silver could think of many more interesting things he could do, but he didn’t voice them out.
“Awesome! Then let’s get going!” exclaimed Zossie with enthusiasm, before walking by Dulse’s side. “This is gonna be very interesting!”
Silver rolled his eyes. “Hmph, whatever. Let’s just get over this…”
As such, the group started walking around the temple, led by Matsuba. Dulse and Zossie were behind the Gym Leader, with the former studying tiredly the tapestries and the latter marveling at the various colorful artifacts. Kotone and Silver walked after everyone else, and the brunette alternated between looking at the statues and chattering with the other girl, while the redhead stared silently at the various relics.
“…So, as I was saying, the Bell Tower used to be the residence of Ho-Oh in ancient times, while the Burned Tower — formerly known as Brass Tower — used to be Lugia’s residence, before it was destroyed by a fire,” explained Matsuba, walking toward a tapestry depicting Ho-Oh, a rainbow descending from the sky and people basking in its colors. “According to a legend, Ho-Oh left behind a fragment of its own soul into the Bell Tower, which allows it to sense hearts even from far away — if it were to sense a pure heart, it will return to the city.”
The Gym Leader paused to let the information sink in and stopped by a chipped pot. The relic depicted Lugia and Ho-Oh sharing some mysterious orbs, while some humans were surrounded by lines arranged in circular patterns — auras.
“Some people claim to have gained unique powers after witnessing Ho-Oh, which is also why the sages limit the access to the Bell Tower — a crowd of power-hungry and dark-hearted people might risk keeping Ho-Oh away.”
“Wow!” chirped Zossie, her eyes shining in admiration. “Ho-Oh is truly awesome!”
Kotone grinned. “It sure is, but Lugia is equally amazing!”
“Heh, they’re cool, I guess…” muttered Silver with feigned disinterest, diverting his gaze from the relic and looking again at the statue of Ho-Oh. Something about it was very familiar… in fact, didn’t it look like that green ball of fire from the day before?
…Nah, it couldn’t be. Could it…?
“…I have a few queries about that, however,” mused Dulse, staring at Matsuba. “You said earlier that Ho-Oh leaves behind a rainbow trail whenever it flies, and that it can grant great powers to whoever sees it.”
The Gym Leader nodded. “This is correct.”
“But nobody living in this city has seen it since the Brass Tower burned down. Is that correct as well?”
“Yes.”
Dulse furrowed his eyebrows. “Then there are quite a few things that do not add up. Namely, how do these people gain those powers? Do they need to just see Ho-Oh, even from a distance, or they need to stay in its proximity? What are those powers, and how is it possible to determine whether they are authentic or fabricated?”
“Oh, Dulse, don’t you think you’re going ahead of yourself?” replied Zossie, tilting her head. “Some questions don’t have real answers, y’know!”
“I mean, this is all for the sake of our research. We must get as much information as we can. Besides, most legends have some truth into them,” rebutted Dulse, his tone serious and professional.
Matsuba hummed in thought, before showing a small smile. “Well, according to a few ancient runes, Ho-Oh grants those powers by sharing some of its aura with the chosen humans. Though, there is no telling whether it can share its aura from a distance.”
“So, the phenomenon painted on this relic,” Dulse motioned toward the pot, “is aura sharing?”
Matsuba nodded. “Yes. This is a depiction of an auric link. Apparently, in Ransei they still perform this kind of ritual to this day.”
“Fascinating.”
“Okay, then here’s a pop quiz,” interjected Silver, crossing his arms and staring at the Gym Leader. “Just what is an auric link?”
“Yeah! I’m very curious about that, too!” added Zossie, bouncing on her spot with enthusiasm. Kotone gave her own support with a quick nod and an intrigued smile.
“An auric link,” parroted Matsuba while rubbing his chin. “So, to put it very simply, an auric link is a special bond formed when a human and a Pokémon are in perfect sync. If love and trust are mutual and absolute, then the auras will resonate in unison and unlock their maximum potential.” He readjusted his scarf. “Conversely, if there is a total lack of sync and those auras clash constantly, then both humans and Pokémon become weaker as a result. That’s a phenomenon known as auric chasm.”
Dulse and Zossie nodded in understanding, while Kotone rubbed her chin and pondered about those phenomena, wondering if she and Maril shared an auric link already. But Silver… what he just heard shook him to the core, his attention receding into the depths of his mind as the epiphany dawned on him.
‘Lack of sync… Weaker… Auric chasm…’ He shook his head in realization. ‘Could it be?’ Is that what Wataru and those Kimono Girls…?’
Silver stared blankly at the pot, and long-buried memories rushed back to him like an unwelcome gust…
***
A strained yowl, a cold wheeze, and a soft thump. Nyula laid unconscious on the floor, his fur and blue feathers disheveled and electric sparks zipping all over his body. The weasel showed the signs of a tough battle, while the Thunders in front him had barely any scratch. The speed and power of the Electric-type fox had been no match for his opponent.
Silver stared at his fainted Pokémon in shock, completely taken aback by what just transpired. His entire team… crushed by those unexpectedly powerful girls.
Dancers. He lost to simple dancers! How?!
“Young Trainer. There is much potential lying dormant inside of you, this much we have noticed through your impressive display of strength and skills,” commented Tamao, the eldest of the five Kimono Girls and owner of Blacky, the Dark-type fox. “However, you are treading on a murky path. By keeping all that rage into your heart and not opening yourself to others, you won’t be able to unlock the true power of your Pokémon—”
Silver said nothing as he recalled his Nyula into his Poké Ball. He lowered his arm and stared despondently at the floor, barely registering what Tamao was saying.
First, he lost to that Dragon Tamer with his Kairyu, then to Hibiki in the Kogane Tunnel underneath the Radio Tower, and now to those girls with oversized Eievui.
The losing streak stung deep. His goal was to become the strongest Trainer in the world. Losing so many times in a row was out of the question!
“—as soon as you will trust your Pokémon and forge a tight bond, you will realize what it means to be a Trainer.”
Silver stared blankly at Tamao. Again with that thing about bonds and trust. They were spewing the same rigmarole of that bleeding heart Wataru.
…But what if there was some truth in those speeches? Trust… was that what he lacked?
Without saying a word to the maiko, Silver turned around and trudged toward the opposite side of the theater, ignoring the sympathetic look of the director and his Sidon. Shadows as dark as his mood shrouded his face as his red locks cascaded over his eyes, and a boiling anger toward himself manifested as incessant shudders and heavy steps.
“How…? How is this possible?” he mumbled, almost stumbling through the door. “How can I lose to mere Kimono Girls…?”
Then he bumped into someone, who gasped in surprise. Silver winced and redirected his attention to the struck individual. His dismay intensified when he found the last person he wanted to meet: Hibiki, accompanied by his Bakphoon. The wolverine’s shoulder flames burned intensely, a clear indicator of his great strength and impeccable health.
“Oh! Err. Hi, Silver!” said Hibiki, grinning sheepishly and waving his hand slowly. “Um… Fancy meeting you again!”
Silver was unimpressed by the black-haired boy’s greeting and scowled at him. “You were watching me, Hibiki…”
“Huh… Yeah, but just a little,” replied Hibiki hesitantly, having detected the venom in the redhead’s voice. He frowned. “Did you… lose the battle?”
“Yeah, that's right! I never thought defeating five Kimono Girls would be so hard… I got beaten to a pulp…”
“Wow…”
Silver gathered his thoughts, before glaring at Hibiki with renewed fervor. His rival being by the theater seemed really suspicious. “…You must have come here for the same reason, right?”
“Um… We could say that…” replied Hibiki, scratching his cheek nervously. “I thought I could give a shot after all the training I’ve done, so—”
“Don't get cocky just because you defeated Team Rocket! These Kimono Girls are insanely strong,” growled Silver, before pointing toward the door. “Go ahead! See if you can defeat them. But I'm not going back. I don't want to see you win.”
Frustrated, Silver shoved Hibiki out of the way, earning a startled gasp from the latter and a warning growl from the Bakphoon. He walked away from the theater, before stopping at a few meters from it. He was trembling, his fists clenched and his breaths harsh, while a storm raged in his heart and mind.
“Silver…?”
Then, without looking back, Silver zoomed as far away as he could from that place, ignoring the concerned cries of Hibiki. He wouldn’t have shown his moment of weakness. Not in front of that wimp.
…The wimp who beat him all the time, and who surely would have beaten those Kimono Girls.
The Trainer who succeeded wherever he failed. Every single time.
Why? Why did he keep losing, despite training hard every day? Why was that other boy always ahead of him? He didn’t understand. What was he doing wrong…?
***
“Hey, Silver! Earth to Silver!”
Silver flinched when the yell echoed in his mind, dragging him back to the present. “H-huh?!”
Once the memories faded, the first thing he noticed was Kotone standing in front of him and waving a hand on his face, while staring at him in puzzlement. He took a few seconds to process what happened and groaned inwardly: he didn’t want his mind to bring up a stupid flashback for every terrible moment of his life!
“…What?” he grumbled, more toward himself than toward the girl.
“Oh, sorry. You were zoning out, and I got kinda worried,” she replied. “What’s the matter?”
Silver looked away. “…It’s nothing important. I was just thinking about something that happened some time ago.” He glanced around, noticing that the others weren’t around anymore. “Hey, where’s everyone?”
“Oh, they went ahead. I told them we would have caught up with them later.”
“Ah. Then let’s just go forward. We don’t wanna keep them waiting or something, do we?”
Without giving time to reply, he walked toward the others, forcing Kotone to rush after him.
“Okay, but… if you feel the need to talk about something — anything — just lemme know, alright?” she offered, staring intently at the redhead. “I’m always willing to lend an ear!”
Silver glanced at the brunette, then rolled his eyes. “Tch, sure. But whatever concern you have… forget it. I’m fine, really.”
They quickly caught up with the trio, who had stopped by a reconstructed mural made of a light grey mineral with silver and gold clusters. The relic depicted some… faded blurs of something. Only one detail stood out about that mural: the dark blue painting of some draconic creature circling the smears.
“Hey, we’re back!” announced Kotone, beaming a grin. “Did we miss anything?”
“Not really. Matsuba here was about to talk about this relic,” responded Dulse, before nodding at the Gym Leader. He got a nod back.
“So, this is one of the most important pieces of our city,” said Matsuba, motioning toward the rocky relic. “A mural discovered very recently in the lowest floor of the Burned Tower.”
The others stared hard at the mural, trying to make out whatever painting hid inside those blurry and faded colors. Time had been very unkind, they could tell.
“Huh… What’s this mural supposed to represent?” asked Zossie, glancing at Matsuba in confusion. “I can’t make heads or tails of what’s painted here!”
“Ah, you see… the real treasure isn’t what is outside the mural, but what is inside of it,” responded Matsuba with a small smile.
Silver frowned and brought a hand on his hip. “What? Is that supposed to be a riddle or something?”
The Gym Leader didn’t respond and instead turned to the mural. “…Barney, wake up.”
Perplexed stares appeared on everyone’s faces — the Gym Leader gave a name to a… rock?
But then, their bafflement grew tenfold when the relic began shaking, its cracks splitting completely and ectoplasmic matter pooling from the newly formed holes. The mural rearranged itself to take in the shape of a creature with two long ghostly arms and one tail with a piece of rock at its tip, before the eye of the painted silhouette glowed with a pale magenta light.
The mural… was alive!
“Wooooh!! The mural is a Pokémon?!” shouted Zossie, staring into the eye of the creature. Kotone was just as shocked about the revelation, while Silver and Dulse reacted with veiled surprise.
“Huh. Interesting,” replied the redhead, cocking an eyebrow.
Matsuba turned to the others. “Everyone, meet Barney, the Deathbarn of Enju. Dulse, Zossie, perhaps you two know this species as Runerigus, where you come from.”
“Runerigus…” parroted Dulse, showing a thoughtful stare. “Yes, I have read something about them during one of my researches.”
“That’s so awesome!” exclaimed Kotone, looking at the Pokémon in amazement. She waved her hand and smiled happily. “Hello, Barney!”
Barney curled its painted jaws into a grin and craned its neck toward the group, its ghostly wisps quivering with a black energy. The Ghost-type glanced curiously at the humans-in-white and the Trainers, then he drifted closer to Matsuba and hissed happily.
“A Deathbarn…” muttered Silver, before staring at Matsuba. “Okay, you caught a Pokémon hiding in the lowest floor of the Burned Tower. Cool, but what’s so special about that?”
“Well, this is where things get interesting.” Matsuba motioned toward the arms of the Deathbarn. “You need to clutch Barney’s tendrils.”
The others traded quick glances, then stared again at the Gym Leader. Out of them, Dulse was the one who spoke out. “Hmm… Is that a good idea? According to my research, the visions showed by a Runerigus can be… frightening, if not outright horrifying.”
“Oh, you’ve got nothing to be worried about. Barney is docile and has great mastery of his visions. He wouldn’t scare or unsettle anyone on purpose,” replied Matsuba reassuringly, patting Barney on his head slab and earning a pleased rumble. “There are a couple of visions that might be a bit strong, but Barney will make sure to not show more than you can handle. He’s a real sweetheart.”
While the others discussed the implications of touching the ghostly goo, Silver stared intently at the strange Ghost-type. Barney sensed the gaze trained on him and stared back at the redhead, his eye shining with the same magenta glow. He flapped his arms and coiled himself on the ground, mirroring the perching of a bird, and his tail waved gently. Silver could tell that the Deathbarn was trying to make everyone feel at ease, by appearing relaxed and friendly. That was… something he didn’t quite expect from a Ghost-type, that’s for sure.
“…So, are you ready to glimpse into the past?”
Silver turned to Matsuba, who was smiling at the other members of the group. Apparently the Gym Leader convinced everyone, including Dulse.
“When you’re ready, touch Barney’s tendrils and don’t let go unless I say so.”
Picking on the cue, Barney extended his two arms toward the group and coiled his tail around Matsuba. His eye gleamed with a pale pink hue and his painted grin widened slightly, and a few quiet rumbles reverberated from his goo. However, certain people needed an extra push to touch the tendrils, so Silver took that task up to himself. After all, he wasn’t a coward!
The redhead reached out for the ghostly appendage and grabbed it. Dark and cold wisps spread on his arm, and he felt… perfectly fine. He gazed at the Ghost-type, who grumbled happily at him, before staring impatiently at the others. “C’mon, you three! Just grab those tendrils already!”
One by one, the others followed suit…
Swoosh! A cold gust blew over their faces, and their bodies became as light as feathers. The temple was swallowed by a black haze, which slowly faded away to reveal another location — a square roof with four Lugia statues placed in each corner, like rocky guardians surveilling the city below, and wearing blue bells with tidal patterns around their necks. But the most outstanding element of that vision was a pinnacle of silver ore built in the middle of the floor, towering over a shrine with indecipherable runes. The full moon radiated a pleasant white glow, giving off a silvery luster to the illusionary surroundings.
“Whoa! What’s this place?” inquired Zossie, looking frantically around.
Matsuba looked at the phantom shrine. “This, Zossie, is how the roof of the Brass Tower used to look like 700 years ago.”
Everyone looked in amazement at the memory shown by Barney. The details were so vivid, almost as if they warped back in time.
“…So this is the power of a Runerigus,” muttered Dulse, rubbing his chin. “Intriguing. I shall add this experience to my research.”
“Okay, but what’s so special about this illusion? It can’t be just the panoramic view, right?” asked Silver, glancing at Matsuba.
But then, a mighty roar pierced the silence of the night, making everyone but the Gym Leader jolt in surprise. A giant shadow zoomed over their heads, before a few small silver feathers floated toward them and phased through their bodies. Kotone looked up and gasped in amazement. “No way! That’s—!”
Everyone gazed toward the sky, their eyes widening upon realizing what was hovering above them all — Lugia, one of the legendary guardians!
That draconic bird… it was even more imposing and majestic than they had ever expected. Its eyes were gentle yet authoritative, and its entire body radiated a silver aura that cut through the darkness, making its shape stand out like a star in the black sky.
Lugia looped around the tower a few times and made the bells chime, while glancing back and forth between the building and the city. After not long, it descended toward the roof and landed on top of the shrine. The legend folded its wings and its dorsal fins raised, then it surveyed the area. Was it looking for someone?
A chorus of unknown voices reverberated in the group’s minds…
Oh, great guardians of the soul and life
Golden healer of hearts and silvery mender of minds
May our mutual auras resonate with power
So that earth and sky and mortal and deities shall become one
Our hearts echo with you
Our souls echo with you
“Huh? What was that?” asked Zossie, looking for the source.
Matsuba showed a heartening smile. “That was Barney. He can telepathically project the words transcribed by our ancestors,” explained Matsuba. “There are many mantras they used to recite whenever they communed with the guardians, and this is one of those mementos.”
A dark mist cloaked the scene, but it dissipated just as quickly. Three monks were now standing in front of the legend, carrying offerings to appease their guardian. Lugia scrutinized the monks, then it checked the offerings by pecking at them. Its gaze softened significantly and its throat made a guttural cry, before spreading out its wings and staring at the sky. That seemed to be a signal, as the monks raised their hands and aimed at the legend.
Dulse rubbed his chin. “What are those monks doing?”
“They’re about to connect with Lugia through an auric link,” responded Matsuba.
Silver glanced at the two men, then again at the scene. He made out something akin to a dark blue fire surrounding the monks, which flowed toward the legendary Pokémon and made it glow with an intense silver aura.
“Through an auric link, minds and hearts become one, and that is when humans and Pokémon can draw out their true potential…”
A loud thumping reverberated around them — a heartbeat, perhaps? — and the tower shook. Lugia roared, and the entire room flashed dark blue and silver. Grey clouds cloaked the sky and droplets began falling, rapidly turning into a gentle rain. The legendary extended a wing over the monks to protect them from the water, while the humans bowed in reverence and appreciation. The memory froze with the humans and Pokémon watching the rain.
“So, the monks connected their aura with Lugia to make it rain?” asked Kotone, tapping her mouth with a hand.
Matsuba nodded. “Yes. With an auric link, it’s possible to share wishes and hopes with a Pokémon. Back in those days, the people of Enju had found the perfect symbiosis — Lugia and Ho-Oh offered rain and sunlight, while the humans repaid them with offerings and products of the earth.” He closed his eyes. “Unfortunately, that era of unity between mortals and immortals didn’t last…”
The others stared at the Gym Leader, but before anyone could say or ask anything, the entire tower was once again shrouded in a haze. When the mist faded, the tower was still dark, and peals of thunder echoed from the black sky.
“Well, isn’t this reassuring,” muttered Silver, surveying cautiously the illusion.
Kotone frowned and glanced around. “But… where’s Lugia?”
As if to answer the question, Lugia announced its presence with a mighty roar, and the group turned toward the beast. However, there was something off about it.
Marks of battle marred its previously immaculate and splendent feathery scales, with countless scaleless patches exposing the dark blue skin underneath. Its eyes glowed with an ominous red light, matching the color of the malignant aura surrounding its body. A crimson twister surrounded the beast, who launched it toward some giant shadows hidden among the black clouds. Lightning struck, flames engulfed the tower, and a dark smoke veiled the scene.
Darkness and tyranny extended their venomous binds
Brothers fought brothers, and friends fought friends
Corrupted minds and broken hearts brought an unending night
The tower of the mind mere burnt ruins it became
Our hearts pray for you
Our souls pray for you
The haze faded, but the tower was no more — only rubble and debris surrounded the group. Matsuba had a solemn expression on his face, while the others realized immediately what happened: that was the moment in which the Brass Tower became the Burned Tower.
“This is so sad!” whined Zossie, frowning at the scene. “What was that red aura? Why was Lugia fighting?”
The expression on Matsuba’s face darkened. “…There was a war. Johto and Sinnoh fought a long and grueling battle, in which even the legends themselves ended up involved… and corrupted.” He sighed. “That red aura… it’s theorized that was a shadow auric link. While with a regular auric link you share your positive feelings and thoughts, like happiness and hope, with a shadow link…”
“…you share negative feelings and thoughts, like anger and despair,” continued Dulse, his expression neutral. “Right?”
Matsuba nodded.
“It’s weird that it didn’t result in an auric chasm…” wondered Kotone, studying the desolation surrounding them.
“This is because the hearts and minds of both humans and Pokémon were corrupted by the same anger, which grew in intensity and strength when they linked together.” Matsuba motioned toward the debris. “And this is the result.”
Silver took a deep breath and scrutinized the wreckage. The anger in the hearts and minds of those people and Pokémon… resulted in that destruction? Cold shivers ran down his spine, the words of the Kimono Girls ringing once more into his mind: what would have happened if he kept bottling up his anger? And his rage… was that the primary reason he could beat up those Team Rocket losers and delinquents? Because both he and his Pokémon shared the same feelings toward them?
But the story was different whenever he fought other Trainers — good and unwilling Trainers. When he forced them to fight, just to prove his superior strength.
Perhaps his Pokémon didn’t share the same sentiments of animosity in those cases and didn’t resonate with the redhead’s fury and prepotency. This could explain why they progressed as a team only once he let go of most of his rage… when he finally started to trust them…
So… was he the one who held back his team?
…
…Wow. That vision shocked Silver; he took so long to understand the words of people who criticized his training methods.
But now that he knew, he could become better. He was even more determined to become better. He only needed to figure out how…
A snowflake floated in front of the redhead, and he blinked in curiosity. He looked up and saw light gray clouds covering the sky, while the snow became more copious. Stray leaves glowed with a golden light and turned to ashes, and strong winds scattered the powdery remains.
The mighty legends and their emissaries granted a parting gift
The snow shall cool down burning spirits and foul thoughts
The ashes of fallen leaves shall sustain new life
The rainbows following rains shall preserve our hope
Our hearts rejoice with you
Our souls rejoice with you
“…and that is the origin of the shining leaves, and why fall leaves are so important in Johtonian culture — they are an indelible reminder of the end of the war, a symbol of restored peace and unity. The Sinjoh Ruins were also built for the same reason,” explained Matsuba. He extended a hand toward the sky and an illusory rainbow feather phased through his fingers.
A rainbow feather…
Golden and silver lights flashed throughout the wreckage. Three figures bolted in front of the humans: a yellow creature cloaked in sparks, a brown beast surrounded by embers, and a blue entity propelled by winds. Kotone’s eyes widened in realization. “Those creatures…”
Two shadows flew above the three beasts, and the group noticed Lugia… and Ho-Oh. Its multicolored plumage… what a magnificent sight! Everyone felt a wave of serenity rushing through them, as they watched the imposing bird flying in the sky.
“Someday, I’ll be able to see you for real, Ho-Oh…” whispered Matsuba, staring at the illusory legend with eyes full of hope.
A rainbow shot through the clouds and hid the birds and the beasts, and once its colors dimmed, the legends were gone.
The wound burns deep, but it will not ache forever
As for every dusk, it shall always follow a dawn
When the age of darkness its end it will reach
A new rainbow light shall unite us once more
Our hearts wait for you
Our souls wait for you
Dark clouds surrounded the group, and everyone started feeling heavier and heavier. The mist dissipated and unveiled the first details of the temple. It took them a while to regain their bearings and realize that the illusion broke. Luckily for them, the other visitors seemed distracted by the other relics, or by the Gardie. Someone could have thought that the visitors were more interested in the guardian dogs than the relics themselves! Meanwhile, Barney tilted his head and stared at the humans, waiting for some reaction and preparing himself to help if needed.
“So, this is it,” announced Matsuba as he let go of Barney’s tail, prompting the others to do the same with the tendrils. “Wasn’t that quite the trip back in time?”
“That was trippy, yeah…” commented Silver, before looking away, “but also very interesting.”
“Oh yeah! Being able to see Lugia, even as an illusion, was so cool! It’s way better than how I imagined it!” chirped Kotone, her eyes gleaming with joy.
Zossie nodded enthusiastically. “Yup! Barney, you’re kind of awesome!”
At hearing those positive comments, Barney cried happily and clapped his arm slabs together, making his ectoplasm quiver like jelly. He was very pleased that the humans appreciated his show of powers and were in good mood.
“…That was indeed a very instructive experience.” Dulse looked at Matsuba and Barney. “Matsuba, Barney, I thank you both for this opportunity. Now I have a clearer understanding of the bonds between humans and Pokémon, which will be a valuable asset for our research.”
Matsuba smiled at the other man. “Glad to have helped.” Barney rumbled happily and showed a thumbs-up. Something he picked up from the Gym Leader, most likely.
“So, it was a catastrophic event that destroyed that beautiful bond between those birds and the humans of Enju,” commented Zossie with a sad tone. “Kinda like what happened between us and the Blinding One…”
Silver narrowed his eyes and stared at the orange-haired girl. “Blinding One? What’s that?”
“The Blinding One is the name we give out of respect toward the creature who used to share its light with our people. Its actual name is Necrozma,” responded Dulse. Upon noticing the confusion on the others’ faces — bar Zossie — he explained. “That’s an entity mostly known in Alolan culture, so it’s understandable if you don’t know much information about it.” He crossed his arms. “For a quick summary, Necrozma used to share some of its light with our ancestors, until they got greedy and tried to control all of Necrozma’s powers at once. Deprived of most of its powers and in constant pain, Necrozma became wild, violent and corrputed with an insatiable hunger for light.”
“Yup! And just like that, our bond broke!” added Zossie, before sighing. “Perhaps, if our ancestors knew about the power of auric links, they wouldn’t have done that…”
Dulse nodded in agreement. “And this is partly why we came here. We wanted to check if there was something in common between the Enju legends and our history, and see what we can learn from our respective mistakes to fix things and improve.”
“Well, I sure hope you found what you were looking for!” said Kotone, smiling faintly.
Both the humans-in-white nodded.
“We sure did! Aah, I can’t wait to tell about that to the others! They’re gonna be so thrilled!” chirped Zossie, swaying in excitement.
Dulse frowned. “Speaking of that, I think we should depart as soon as we can. We have gathered plenty of material, and we have to report our progress and findings.”
“Aww, do we have to leave so soon?” whined Zossie, pouting at her companion.
Dulse simply nodded, his gaze firm. He wouldn’t have budged from that decision.
“…Well, okay.” Zossie turned to the others. “So, it’s been fun meeting you all! Thanks for the nice chitchat, Kotone!”
Kotone grinned. “You’re welcome! Hope we can see each other some day!”
“Yeah! See you around!”
And with a few goodbyes and hand-waves, the group split apart. Silver and Kotone rejoined their Pokémon, who were all too happy to reunite with their Trainers, and they all left for another side of the city. There was still a whole festival to explore.
***
The Koiking Jump: a popular sport where the speediest orange carps pull small wooden floats carved in the shape of Lugia while facing the strong currents of a whirlpool. A rite of passage for the oldest and strongest Koiking, who must rely on their Swift Swim to gain enough speed and leap over a waterfall. In this way, they learn how to master the currents and awaken their dormant dragon spirit.
The leading Koiking was a calico white and pink variant belonging to a kid wearing an oversized red cap — it was so big that its brim hid his eyes! An excellent Trainer who trained many Koiking throughout the years, and who became so popular that he got featured on a Pokégear app. And there he was, looking toward his next victory.
Ordile and Maril stood by the pond, growling and squealing in excitement to cheer for their fellow Water-types. Having waterproof bodies meant they could stay close to the water without worrying about random dribbles. Meanwhile, Silver and Kotone stood at a couple of meters behind them, commenting and chitchatting about the race. Predictably, the brunette was much more lively in her commentary than the redhead, who mostly replied with a few nods and some quick quips.
«Go, Pink! Show them what you can do!» squealed Maril, wagging her tail.
«You’ve got it, Grey Smudge! Splash harder!» roared Ordile, thumping his tail and staring at a Koiking with gray patches, who was right behind the leading carp.
Maril crossed her paws. «Wow! Seeing all of those Koiking swimming makes me wish I could just hop into the water and join the race…»
«I know, right? I’d love to show everyone my improved Aqua Jet! I’ve been practicing hard for it!»
«Ah, I can tell. You seem much stronger than last time I’ve faced you. And all those muscles, wow!» Maril chuckled. «Makes me wonder who got Huge Power of the two.»
Ordile smirked with mirth. «Heh. I’ll take that as a compliment.»
The two focused again on the race and noticed that the gray Koiking was in the lead. This cheered Ordile up, but Maril’s thoughts went elsewhere.
«…You know, it’s been long since we battled each other.»
«Yes. Last time we battled was…» Ordile hissed in displeasure, «not exactly a friendly meeting, huh?»
Maril shook her head. «It wasn’t, no,» she put her paws on her hips, «but I guess that’s what happens when you meddle with certain people…»
Ordile frowned at that remark. «…Are you talking about Silver?»
«Who else? No offense, but I don’t understand your Trainer at all, nor how you can tolerate him.»
«Um… Well, he surely has his flaws — pretty big ones, too — but he’s actually not that bad. Deep down, he’s a good kid. He even risked his life for us a few times.»
«But didn’t he force you to become his partner?» asked Maril, narrowing her eyes.
«Yes, but…» Ordile took a second to gather his thoughts. «He was… scared, alright? He fled from home, he didn’t have friends, and he was looking for some strong Pokémon to keep him safe. Heck, he feared his mother could find him at any given moment and force him to join Team Rocket against his will.»
Ordile waited for Maril to retort, but when she just stared at him in silence, he continued.
«True, I was mad at him for taking me away and making me fight Hibiki and my good friend, Hinoarashi, against my will. I even showered him with a Water Gun when he sent me out the first time.»
Maril giggled at hearing that, and Ordile himself chuckled at the memory — the stunned stare on his Trainer’s face was priceless! However, the laughter died quickly, and Ordile took a more serious expression.
«But then, once he experienced firsthand how hard it is the life of a Trainer and after a few… things I’m not comfortable bringing up, he began opening up to me. He had a pretty rough childhood, to put it simply, and when I’ve heard about what he went through, I… I didn’t have it in my heart to abandon him.» Ordile took a quick sad glance at his Trainer, then he looked at the race. Every Koiking had just become a featureless blur. «So, I stayed by his side and helped him out, to make sure he didn’t get in trouble or danger with his abrasive personality. And at the end, everything went in the right place.»
Maril blinked. «What do you mean?»
«He experienced the world. He saw other Trainers, other Pokémon. He fell many times, but always stood back up, stronger and wiser. He learned about friendship, love, and trust — things he couldn’t get back in his hometown.» Ordile grinned. «He became a better person, and he is still improving. I’m very proud of his progress, and I’m glad the professor understood my wish to stay with him. I… don’t know what I would have done if we had to part ways.»
«…Wow. I had no idea,» said Maril, stunned by Ordile’s tale.
«Yeah. Most people don’t know anything about him, and he still struggles to open up to others. However, I can see that Kotone is slowly chipping away at the barrier he’s keeping around his heart.» He chuckled. «I guess she’s rubbing off some of her unlimited cheerfulness on him.»
«Hmm…» Maril looked again at the race — Pink and Grey were swimming side by side. «Okay, but even if your Trainer is getting better, that doesn’t mean he has to be such a spoilsport; he doesn’t like anything!» she grumbled. «We have tried some seasonal snacks; checked a competition of craft made from shining leaves; strolled through the orange paths of the garden besides the temple. Every time, he either huffed, or sighed, or rolled his eyes!»
«Nothing that I didn’t expect from him,» responded Ordile, before glancing behind. «However, I’d like you to look carefully at him now.»
«Huh?»
Maril turned around and stared hard at Silver. She saw the narrowed eyes, the eyebrows furrowed, the neutral… smile? The mouse’s eyes widened subtly, while Ordile grinned.
«You’re seeing it, aren’t you? That smile. He’s actually enjoying the festival!» The alligator’s grin widened. «It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him happy about something that doesn’t involve training and battling.»
Maril stared at Ordile as if he had grown a new head. «What? He’s happy?»
«Yeah! He doesn’t like to show off his emotions, but I’ve been with him for three years and I can more or less tell what he’s thinking.» Ordile glanced at Kotone. «Oh! And look at Kotone’s smile. I bet she’s considering that the greatest of feats, too.»
Maril observed her Trainer carefully, who was talking about something while Silver listened. The grin on Kotone’s face was one of the brightest the mouse had ever seen. The brunette was truly using her best tricks to get Silver out of his shell, and most puzzling of all, it was working!
However, was she so cheerful because her persistence was paying off, or because of…?
But before the two Pokémon could continue their conversation, shocked outcries came from the surrounding crowd, and they looked around in puzzlement. What was happening?
Maril noticed that everyone was looking toward the sky, and she followed their gazes. «What the…?! Ordile! Look over there!»
Ordile did as asked and immediately understood why everyone was freaking out: a wild Pigeon caught the calico Koiking. The mid-sized pigeon flaunted the pink feathers on its head with confidence and clutched the carp harder, which squirmed helplessly. Whatever Splash the Koiking had pulled off to jump so high was about to turn the fish into bird lunch. Ordile growled, droplets of water gathering inside his jaws.
«Hey, you punk! Leave that Koiking alone!» roared Ordile at the pigeon, readying himself to shoot a water stream.
But then, the struggling Koiking glowed with a blinding white light, while its body became more amorphous… and bigger. Ordile dispelled the watery energy, surprised by the turn of events.
«Wait, is that…?» cried Maril in alarm.
«Oh darn! It’s really that!»
With a burst of draconic speed, Ordile rushed toward their two Trainers and wrapped his arms around them, much to the astonishment of both. That proved to be timely, as the snatched carp morphed into an enormous serpent of light and dragged the startled bird down with its increased mass.
Splash! A tidal wave drenched the unlucky guests, who didn’t interpret the warning signs in time. Luckily, Ordile’s imposing size shielded both Silver and Kotone from the wave, the water flowing harmlessly down his scales and not a single drop hitting the two teenagers. Maril was unfazed as well, her water-repelling fur keeping her completely dry. Groans, huffs and murmurs sounded all around them, echoing the displeasure of the various guests.
“Whoa, huh! Thanks, Ordile,” breathed out Kotone, baffled by what transpired.
“…Yeah. Good job,” said Silver, flashing a small smile. However, he quickly realized how close he was being held to Kotone and winced in embarrassment. “…Huh. Okay, you can let us go now.”
Ordile nodded and released both Trainers from his grip. Kotone readjusted her cap and checked on her kimono to make sure no water ended on it, while Silver dusted off the sleeves with his hands, unconsciously trying to shake off the awkwardness.
The two still-dry teenagers and their Pokémon looked at the other guests, soaked from head to sandals or paws with the fresh water of the pond. The local six-tailed foxes were quick to offer their help, starting a few rounds of Heat Wave to dry the participants faster.
And the newly evolved calico Gyarados? It looked at everyone around in embarrassment, its stare going from the fleeing Pigeon, to the wet guests, to the rival Koiking flopping helplessly on the floor, to its own Trainer who was squeezing his soaked cap.
Kotone sweatdropped and chuckled nervously. “Err… Well, that’s one flashy way to awaken a dragon spirit, I suppose!”
“Hmph! There’s a time and place for evolution,” commented Silver, crossing his arms and looking impassively at the scene, “and that wasn’t it.”
“Um, I think we could… just go somewhere else, yeah? I very much doubt they’ll continue the race.”
“As long as we won’t have other surprises…” Silver glanced at the brunette. “What’s in your mind?”
Kotone narrowed her eyes in thought, before clapping her hands and grinning. “Say… Are you hungry? I know a good place…”
bruh‘…Why do people collect cards and fight with holographic creatures when they could just catch and train real Pokémon?’ thought Silver, unimpressed. ‘That makes no sense.’
The Rosa vibes are strong with Kotone, and I like it“Yay! This is gonna be so much fun!” exclaimed Kotone in delight, before motioning to follow. “C’mon! There’s plenty to see! Let’s go!”
I like the fact that they're interacting with the Ultra Recon Squad, but I forgot who Matsuba was until I saw the mention of Ghost gym leader.“Huh? What was that?” asked Zossie, looking for the source.
Matsuba showed a heartening smile. “That was Barney. He can telepathically project the words transcribed by our ancestors,” explained Matsuba. “There are many mantras they used to recite whenever they communed with the guardians, and this is one of those mementos.”
A dark mist cloaked the scene, but it dissipated just as quickly. Three monks were now standing in front of the legend, carrying offerings to appease their guardian. Lugia scrutinized the monks, then it checked the offerings by pecking at them. Its gaze softened significantly and its throat made a guttural cry, before spreading out its wings and staring at the sky. That seemed to be a signal, as the monks raised their hands and aimed at the legend.
Dulse rubbed his chin. “What are those monks doing?”
Your descriptions are solid overall, but I decided to pick this one. Great use of more colorful prose here, and it's not alone.As if to answer the question, Lugia announced its presence with a mighty roar, and the group turned toward the beast. However, there was something off about it.
Marks of battle marred its previously immaculate and splendent feathery scales, with countless scaleless patches exposing the dark blue skin underneath. Its eyes glowed with an ominous red light, matching the color of the malignant aura surrounding its body. A crimson twister surrounded the beast, who launched it toward some giant shadows hidden among the black clouds. Lightning struck, flames engulfed the tower, and a dark smoke veiled the scene.
While I don't think that there's anything wrong with long chapters(I've written em myself), I do think that it would've been better to push back some of what was in here. Like, maybe have Silver and Kotone be the focus, then have the Ho-oh and Lugia part of the next chapter or a later chapterI hope that made sense. I had a similar thing going on, so I had to move some bits from past chapters around and trim some of it.
But overall, it's a solid chapter, and the writing's great. (y)
