Chapter 11: Love and Understanding
#11 of Love and Understanding
Chapter 11 of Love and Understanding
POKESPEECH/THOUGHTS:
"Normal Speech"
Pokemon'Telepathy/Pokemon Thoughts
'Normal Telepathy/Normal Thoughts'
" POKESPEECH/Abilities
DISCLAIMER: I WON THE POKEMON LOTTERY BUT I DON'T OWN POKEMON
MICHAEL'S POV
She was gone, taken right from under my nose in my moment of weakness. I had no one to blame but myself for neglecting her safety, putting priority on a human who might not even still be alive. Due to my carelessness and blind rage I had lost the one I loved to a fate I wasn't even sure of, from the look of pain Jessica was in they were going to subject her to torture unimaginable! It was all my fault!
I slumped down on my knees and drove my arm-scythes as far into the earth as they would go, creating a massive shockwave that spoke volumes to the level of grief I was experiencing.
'No, no amount of action could ever tell how I feel right now. I may as well have been the one to hold the knife as it stabbed into Jessica's back. I let her be captured by that hell-spawn and now she is surely gone forever-'
"Are you done with your bickering? If so I would suggest planning a course of action to get your girl back rather than wallow in self-pity like a fool."
_I could recognize that voice in my sleep, but it's tone was much colder than I last remembered it being from all those years ago. _
I turned to face the new voice and saw a bipedal Pokemon with the body and face of a jackal. Two pointed ears and four small protrusions dotted the pokemons head while blue fur was accentuated by black stripes along its knuckles, feet and face, giving it the appearance of wearing a mask. Several spikes were ingrained on its body, one on each hand and another in the center of its chest. Its fierce crimson eyes stared at me critically, gauging my coming response with wariness evident in the way it's arms were folded against its chest. It was obvious a Lucario.
The one key difference with this Lucario was the cross-shaped scars covering both eyes. It was a badge of honor during my training with my long-time sensei, Storm. Only he would have those same identical cuts which I had inflicted on him during my last lesson as a human.
What should have been a joyous reunion turned sour when Storm spoke again.
' Are you hard of hearing as well as gutless? I thought I had trained you better than that! All those years and you still let your emotions dictate your actions. That is why you are in the situation you face now! That is why your Mate was captured and that is why you will not save her!"
I flung myself up off the ground and fully extended my arm-scythes with the intent of cutting my former sensei down to size.
" YOU DARE MOCK ME WHEN THE LOVE OF MY LIFE WAS JUST TAKEN FROM ME?!" I roared with a battle cry before surging forward towards the Pokemon, bloodlust in my eyes and murder on my mind. I swung my arms vertically and brought them back down but the aged Emination Pokemon dove to he left and kicked my right arm blade away from me, causing me to stumble forward and lose my center of gravity.
That was all that he needed as Storm leapt at me with the speed of a Ninjask, landing blow after blow on my chest, arms and legs. I recovered my footing and attempted to kick the Pokemon away and succeeded, causing him to crash into the nearby tree line. I leapt high into the air and folded my arm blades together, twisting my body rapidly, and created a purple aura around me with bolts of lightning leaking from the mayhem I was awakening. I was using a very powerful attack known as Giga Impact and I had my target locked-on.
Or so I thought.
With a burst of speed Storm slipped behind me and closed its palms together, creating a massive blue sphere of energy before pushing forward and slamming that energy into my back. I screamed in agony as paralysis took over, my arms and legs having all the power of a wet noodle. I groaned while my opponent looked down on me like I was a bug, which pissed me off to no end. I tried to move my body but it just refused. A combination of the paralysis and my earlier confrontation with that man had drained whatever fight I had left in me.
"' I will ask again, are you going to sit there and feel pity or are you going to rise from the ashes and take back what was stolen from you?'" I glared at Storm, who not only had bested me in combat one-on-one but had the gall to tell me there was any hope of saving my beloved. I made my displeasure known by spitting at the pokemons feet and furrowing my eyebrows at him. He merely sighed and shook his head with what appeared to be disappointment. '" Very well, I guess it cannot be helped then_._ Know that, out of all of the students I trained you had the most potential...to see you waste it in such a pathetic fashion...it suits a quitter such as yourself._" _ I watched as he charged an incredibly large orb of energy and was preparing to smash it into my skull, my eyes closing as I resigned myself to my fate.
"That's enough, Storm."
I opened my eyes to see a young man who looked no older than sixteen walking towards my former sensei. He wore a red cap with black trim and a green pokeball symbol stitched into the fabric. Messy raven-black hair poured from beneath the cap and eyes the color of pure gold stared at the Pokemon, then at me with calculative intent. I noticed his gaze was one of the most intimidating I had ever seen, in spite of the boy being so young. He was wearing a black T-shirt with blue trim and a white undershirt beneath that, his chest looking remarkably fit for one so young. A pair of clean navy blue jeans were followed by black running shoes with white trim and laces. On the boys shoulder was a Pokemon that seemed vaguely familiar.
On his shoulder was a yellow mouse-like Pokemon with two ears tipped with black at the ends. It had two eyes the color of obsidian and two red blotches were where its cheeks would be. A narrow midsection was followed by impossibly small feet and brown stripes along his lower back led to a tail shaped like a lightning bolt. It looked at me with what I viewed as pity.
This rodent was feeling pity for ME? What had I done to deserve any pity from complete strangers? 'I'm...I'm doing exactly what sensei said...I truly am losing myself to my emotions again...'
"You must be Michael, am I right?"
" H-How...do you know my name, human?"
"I know your name because Arceus told me about a human-turned-Gallade with an unusual body color. Before you ask, yes, I can understand you so please try and reason with me, I am only trying to help you out."
I stood on my feet, relieved that the paralysis on my body had worn off and I was finally able to look at the boy face-to-face. I simply gave him the coldest stare I had and tensed my muscles trying to intimidate the boy, who was even shorter than me.
"I wouldn't recommend what you're about to do, friend, it won't be good for your health."
" Oh? And what are you going to do about it little boy?" I would soon regret those words.
I suddenly felt a feeling of weightlessness in my body and I saw myself levitating in the air. I was looking around for the perpetrator but found only the human and my former sensei. The scary thing was that none of them were using any sort of attack, so what was using Psychic on me?
The answer came in a blur of red and white as a strange Pokemon materialized in front of me with a look of anger on its face. I suddenly had an ominous premonition about this Pokemon, as if I was standing before something I should NOT attempt to mess with. With an audible gulp I lowered my arms and retracted my scythes, giving the boy and his Pokemon my honest and heartfelt apologetic look, not surprising given my current situation.
"I think he is ready to listen now, Latias, you can let him go. Gently now..."
So the other Pokemon was a Latias, I knew I had seen it before back when I was in school. We had taken history lessons of numerous legendary Pokemon and Latias was one of the ones I had been most interested in. Did this boy truly capture a legendary Pokemon? Who was he?
"I believe we got off on the wrong foot so allow me to introduce myself, friend. My name is Ash Ketchum.
UNKNOWN LOCATION
"I believe this may be the most impressive specimen to-date, agent Yule, there will be a promotion in your near future at the rate you are bringing us Pokemon to instill our newest evolution into. Soon the world will realize how foolish things like 'bonds' and 'companionship' truly are in the grand scheme of things. With our army of Hell Pokemon we shall prove once and for all that it is humans who are at the top of the pecking order! We will one day challenge Arceus himself! Even the god of all Pokemon will be unable to withstand the fury of hell!"
"I look forward to letting this one out into the field, her psychic powers far exceeded my Alakazams when we found her. It was only because of the underlings that we were able to capture her or she might have even done me in. Regardless of a momentary setback on his part he will be ready for action sooner rather than later, I assure you, master."
"Very good, Agent Yule, I expect a thorough report at the end of the day on this one, which reminds me...be a dear and let her out a little early, I want to see her strength firsthand."
"May I recommend another Psychic-type to create a barrier for you, master? Her strength is nearly triple that of a normal Gardevoir and, though I have no doubts in your own abilities, I would feel safer knowing you had some form of ready protection."
"That will not be necessary my dear, I have all the protection I will ever need and even this one's attack will do nothing to stop me from seeing the fruits of your labor. Go ahead and lower the barrier."
"Right away, master!"
A loud hissing sound filled the large room, steam filling out from the bottom of the double-pan energy-proof sheets of glass as a figure emerged from the mist. It stood roughly six feet tall and had blood red hair that went down to its knees, its eyes were completely covered by the drooping locks and its body was covered with a satin dress. There was plenty of blood dripping from the fabric and a sinister double-edged chest spike split out from its core into the shape of reaper scythes. Its arms were covered in dried blood and its hands boasted fearsome claws which burned with an unholy fire.
"Ahhh, truly magnificent, Agent Yule. May I see a taste of its power?"
"Right away, master! Be ready for her to lash out at you. Disengaging safety plates!"
A loud clang could be heard as three metal plates fell from around the pokemons neck, sending out an immediate reaction. A powerful psychic wave unlike any seen before began flowing outwardly from the pokemons core, its hair lifting so its face was visible. The pokemons eye sockets were completely hollow and blood had formed around the bottom where they had likely been plucked out. The Pokemon glared at Yule and let out a banshee wail before throwing an incredible amount of psychic energy her way and towards her "master"
" *Light Screen!" * The man called out as a purple barrier erected itself around the man and his agent, sending the psychic attack back at the enraged Pokemon. When the dust settles the Light Screen had numerous cracks and chips in it and the entire room was shaking with untapped energy. The man had a vicious smile on his face and his eyes were burning brightly with glee. "Yes! She will do just fine! Send her out into the field right away! I want this Gardevoir to show off her true power now! Maybe if she's lucky she'll run into her 'beloved' hmm hmm..hmm hmmm..."
MICHAEL'S POV
I suddenly grabbed my chest spike and fell down to one knee, shaking violently and groaning in extreme pain. It felt as though my soul had been split in two just moments ago and I knew it could only mean one thing. Tears began to flow from my face and I threw my head up to the heavens and began screaming in unsuppressed rage.
" GODAMN YOU, ARCEUS! YOU PROMISED US! YOU PROMISED ME AND JESSICA WOULD HAVE A FUTURE TOGETHER! YOU PROMISED! YOU PROMISED! YOU FUCKING PROMISED YOU GODAMN SON OF A BITCH~"
I pounded the ground over and over, my wailing echoing across the landscape and causing Ash and Latias to wince noticeably. Storm was gazing at the ground in obvious thought, but I couldn't find myself to care about any of that anymore. The truth had finally sunk in, my beloved was never coming back to me, the spark of life I felt from her soul had been extinguished forever.
"Michael..." Ash trailed off with a look of pure sadness in his golden eyes. I didn't want to hear anyone say anything about anybody offering any hope, it was too late now, much, much too late. My friend, my lover and soulmate of twenty years gone in an instant and it had happened fight under my nose. "I know this is hard for you but I know that Arceus will-"
" DON'T YOU EVER BRING UP THAT FORSAKEN NAME EVER AGAIN YOU BASTARD! I SWEAR UPON ALL THAT IS SACRED I WILL RIP YOUR TONGUE OUT OF YOUR MOUTH AND SHOVE IT SO FAR YOUR ASS YOU'LL-"
"ENOUGH~!"
I watched as Ash's body began glowing a blinding bluish green and his eyes burned with the same shade and intensity. He was levitating in the air and he had his hands wrapped around my neck far too tightly.
"What the hell do you think we are doing here anyway? Surely you saw that aAlakazam, right? That was one corrupted by some sort of mGical taint known as Hell Evolution. They are the remnants of a pokemon that has lost any sense of care, compassion or love and has only rage and fury on its mind. I think I knowhow to reverse the process but I need you to listen to me!"
Ash finally let me down but the damage had already been done to my psyche. I was crushed and nothing anybody could say to me would convince me otherwise that something truly terrifying had happened to my beloved.
Tears still fell from my eyes as I couldn't even feel my legs anymore, the heartbreak and sorrow was just too much for my mortal mind to endure.
'_Master, I know this is important but something big is coming! Is aura...it is completely twisted and perverse. It might be a Hell Pokemon *!' * _I heard Storm cry out an alarm through telepathy, causing Ash to recall Latias to her pokeball.
"'Michael we may need your help so be on the ready!"
I weakly nodded my head as I too could sense something sinister approaching from the east. It's power was unlike anything I had ever felt before, and yet its signature was so familiar.
"Brace yourself! It's here!"
I watched as a towering pillar of blood and fire smashed into the ground, devastating the land around the point of impact. I saw what appeared to be a bipedal Pokemon with long locks of scarlet hair flowing over its face, a double-edged chest spike-
*"N-No..." *
My mind and heart stopped cold.
" D-D-Don't...tell...me..."
I was scared to look at it, it was all too real, all too cruel yet all too true as well. There before me was what was left of my beloved.
" J-J...Jessi...no..."