Gates to Misery CH: 5
#5 of Gates to Misery
Ever since I became a member of team Hope, I've been practicing my magic. I can tell that it's very unstable, so I made restraints to prevent me from using my full potential. That should stop me from losing control. The Pokemon in Post Town found out of my capabilities and have grown afraid of me because of it. I'm glad they are. If they're afraid of me they won't harm me. I've been on more missions than I think I should be. Are they trying to make me feel important? If they are, it's working. Every time I helped someone I felt more... fulfilled.
I don't understand... Why is everyone so nice to me? Ever since I appeared I've been hated by everyone and everything that can hate and now I'm being treated like I belong. I don't think they'll just tell me, so I'm going to have to search for clues. I think I'll start with Snivy. I don't know if anyone knows, but he's also a human.
I find Snivy at the bulletin board looking for a good mission. "Um... Hello, Snivy." He turned around to see who it was. He looked so happy to see me. "Hello, Eevee! You're usually not up at this time. Is something wrong?" "No. Everything's fine. I just..." Hold on. If I don't choose my words carefully, he might figure me out. "I... I want to get to know everyone better." "And you're starting with me? OK. What do you wanna know?" Wow. That was easy. "Well... You always go to the bulletin to search for missions. Why are you so eager?"
I know this question doesn't have anything to do with me, but I think I'll build up to that instead of rushing to it. Snivy gives a little laugh like the answer was obvious before telling me. "Pokemon around the world need help and I want to help them. I know the world isn't a very nice place, but that isn't going to change if no one does anything about it." Yes. That makes since. Is he trying to help me too? "One more question; what is you biggest goal in life?" Snivy thinks hard about it before making a decision. "I want to travel the world and learn it's secrets. I always liked learning. What about you?" "Me? Umm..." His own question caught me off guard. "I... I don't know." I think I've asked him enough questions for one day and walk off to find Tepig as I think about what Snivy said.
Tepig was at the fire training dojo. I think he spends to much time there and not enough time taking care of himself. I want to ask him some questions, but I don't want to interrupt. I know how much training means to him. He once told me he wants to become stronger for Pokemon that need help and fight evil. I guess he already answered my questions when I haven't even asked him. Tepig kind of scares me. I know he doesn't trust me. I don't know why though. How am I a threat to anyone?
I think I'll leave him alone now and I'll talk to Espeon. She seems more concerned for my well being than anyone else. On my way to Post town, I found Espeon in front of the waterfall. That's strange. The waterfall is my favorite place. I found the running water peaceful. Anyway, I've never seen her here before. I'm a little nervous because I don't know what to expect. "Espeon?" Her ears quickly perk up as she hears my voice and slowly turns her head towards me "Eevee! I missed you so much! I'm glad to see your OK!" "What do you mean?" I asked. "You just saw me yesterday." Espeon turns her eyes away as she comes closer to me. Something isn't right. I knew she was worried about me, but she couldn't be this worried. And what did she mean she missed me? "Um. Eevee, I..." She didn't say anything else. The two of us have a stare off as we waited for the other to say something. She eventually gave up and pulled me in with her right paw for a hug. "It's good to see you..." She finally said.
The hug was better than I remembered and I feel a spiritual connection with her. "Espeon..." I pull my head back to look up at her. "You seem different somehow." For some reason, Espeon sighed in defeat. "Well, I gave away a lot by accident, so you would have figured it out anyway." A dark orb surrounds her body and then dissapears to reveal a Zorua instead of Espeon. I'm confused because she said she missed me. I never met this Pokemon. "I don't understand. We've never met before. How could you miss me?" The tricky fox takes a deep breath before she explains herself. "Eevee, do you remember the time when that Kecleon wouldn't help you?"
My mind flashed back to that memory. A Kecleon was selling food in a small village. I stood before that cold Pokemon, begging for my life. "Please... I have 1200 Poke bucks. Take it all. Just... Please... I'm so hungry." It didn't matter how many times I begged, how much I needed the food or how much money I had. He wouldn't give me anything. I ended up leaving there, crying uncontrollably.
"Yes." My mind returns to the present. "I remember. Why?" Zorua had to wait before she answered her question to fight off the urge to cry. "I was there and I saw everything. Everyone saw a horrible creature, but all I saw was an Eevee in need. I wanted to know why everyone thought so badly of you and followed you the whole day. I got to know you better. You were always hiding... always starving... always crying... I... I-I felt guilty." Guilty? What did she do? "Why?" Zorua looked away from me and tried to answer. "Well... I always took everything I had for granted and there you were, trying to survive without anything." She had to pause again.
"I wanted to help you, but I was to afraid of what everyone would think of me. I did my best to make sure I helped you. I left food for you to find when I could and I managed to save you from Pokemon who tried to kill you." I was surprised she said that last part. "You did? How?" "Well... While they were looking for you, I used my illusion ability to look like you and lured them away. After that, I completely lost you." She did that for me? "When I couldn't find you, I was really worried. I overheard Pokemon talking about a shiny Eevee and hoped it was you. I always tried to help you, but I know I could have done more." She couldn't fight the urge anymore and cried. I felt terrible. I don't even know her and she's the reason I'm alive. And now she's hurt because of me. "Please stop." I use my right paw to turn her face towards me so I could look her in the eye. "Seeing you cry over me really hurts. Let's not talk about the harsh past. I would like to talk about the now.
My words seems to help a little because she stopped crying almost instantly. "OK. First thing I want to know; What are those black rings you have around your neck and limbs?" She was talking about my restraints. I have five: one around my neck and one for each limb. They looked like shackles without chains. "These are my restraints." She gave me a confused look and asked "What?" I explain to her what I was and what they were for.
I ended it with "For every one I take off, my power becomes stronger, but more unstable." "Wow." is the only thing she could say. I think I imploded her brain. I told her about team hope and asked if she would like to meet the members. Her response wasn't at all what I expected. "No... I can't." "You can't? Why?"
She pauses again. "Please don't be mad." I nod in encouragement. "Well... I... I ran away from home to find you and if Pokemon hear about a Zorua being here, mom will come get me. I don't want to go home. I want to be with you." I felt... wanted. I was really flattered by everything she did for me, but I also feel bad because I haven't done anything for her. "Please don't tell anyone about me."
I don't think it's right to keep her mother from knowing, but it was her wish and I respected it. "I won't tell anyone, but I think you should. Your mother is probably worried sick and she does have the right to know. Don't worry. I won't make you, but remember; there are Pokemon out there who care about you like you care about me." She gave me a smile of gratitude. I envied her for that. "Thanks, Eevee. And your right, but I'll tell them later. I don't think anyone would want me to be with you."
I was still confused by her motives. I'm not used to Pokemon doing things out of kindness. My feelings for this dark type became more like what my feelings used to be for Espeon. After all the things I went through that involved her, I felt like she was doing me a favor, but I haven't even seen this Pokemon before and she sacrificed so much for me. I was relived that I could something for her.
"Eevee!" Emolga's voice broke the silence that lingered for a while. I turned just in time to see Emolga come into view. "There's a new mission and Snivy chose you, me and Dunsparce to go." Why didn't he ask about Zorua? I turned to look at her and saw Espeon. "Um. OK. What's the mission?" "A Zorua is missing and she was last seen in the cursed forest." I knew there would be a mission involving her and I knew we wouldn't find her, but I kept all of that to myself for her.
The forest isn't cursed, it just feels that way because of all the ghosts that live there. I know this because I used to live there. The ghosts never harmed me, but they always gave me nightmares that made it hard to sleep and made me weaker.
As I predicted; she couldn't be found and we went home with the mission incomplete. I was so tired and guilty. I had to lie to Zoroark's face to keep my word to Zorua. I think she knew I was lying. Ever since she and her daughter saw me Zorua spent more and more time in that forest and they both knew I lived there. It didn't help when Zorua left right when she heard about me living here too. I don't want to think about it anymore. I just want to go to bed.
I went inside the little house that I've been sharing with Snivy, Tepig and Oshawott ever since I joined the team, crawled to bed and tried to sleep. I almost did until I saw a figure that looked like Zorua at the entrance. I heard a quiet "Thank you." and she left. I felt a little better and I was now able to sleep.
"You're welcome, Zorua." Was the last thing I said.