seen from United States
seen from Saudi Arabia
seen from United States
seen from Malaysia
seen from Yemen
seen from Germany
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from Russia
seen from Netherlands
seen from United Kingdom
seen from New Zealand
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Germany
seen from Germany
seen from Cameroon
seen from Malaysia
"P-Please...." he begs. "Please...." Voice strains with desperation. Eyes burn with mania. "Don't...e-ever...leave me again..."
I LOVE YOU @redenne FOR THIS AMAZING COMMISSION IM GONNA EAT A WHOLE FIST OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOO AAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Ecstatic Requiem 5
The moon is bright tonight.
One stays on the ground. Sitting and silent as vision haze over nothing in particular. One kneels quietly. A hand gently rubs the other’s back in silent sympathy.
She swallows heavily. Thickly. A flinch tugs her face at the disgusting taste of her throat. Shakily her hand moved to her mouth, wiping away any excess vomit. The darkness still envelops the sky, her vision, but Kotone can perfectly see the corpses now rolling inside the twisted games of her mind.
She feels like throwing up again.
She swallows again. Then looks at Hibiki. Words are absent even as she opens her mouth. Eyeballs ache at the dry tears that crinkle the corners of her eyes. While her body has stopped shaking, Kotone unfortunately can’t stop the rapid beat of her heart. “…biki,” she manages, barely, then stifles at another cry.
His hand remains at her back. “I’m here.” He reassures her. A calm expression is worn on his face, but both know the man is just as shaken at what they had witnessed. After nearly two hours of registering the situation and digging two graves for the poor souls, Kotone finally succumbed to fatigue and stress and fell to her knees. Luckily her team was there to catch her—Damien nearly cried as she remained limp in his arms.
Now, another hour has passed, as Kotone still feels lifeless.
Even with her fire starter’s warm fur, chills still seep deep into her bones.
She looks at Hibiki, eyes forlorn and pale lips stuck in a shaken frown. “I…” It hurts. “I just…” It truly hurts. “I don’t want this…” This is a nightmare. She wants to wake up. She wants to be in her Silver’s arms. No matter how badly she closes her eyes and prays for the best, Kotone only receives a vision of the grim reality that envelops her surroundings.
She hates this so much.
One hand gently squeezes her shoulder. “We…” What should he say? “We gotta go…” Go where, exactly? He is still at lost. And like her, Hibiki wants nothing more than to hope that he will soon wake up in the comfort of his own bed.
Night still fills the sky. Sleep has long been robbed.
Slowly she sits upright. Kotone hears Damien’s worried coos, and she replies him with a small, forced smile.
It doesn’t convince the Typhlosion at all.
His arms, while not as long as some, wrap around his trainer. Providing warmth. Providing comfort. Providing security. Everything that the redhead should be doing.
But Silver isn’t here, right now. And as much as Damien hates to admit it, the fire starter desperately, quietly wishes he is.
Again, she takes a slow, deep breath. Pat, pat, she pats Damien’s arms. Giving him silent reassurance her mouth couldn’t bear to voice out, Kotone finally tears her gaze away from Hibiki. She looks around, seeing nothing but trees and bushes.
Hazel eyes then widen at the sight of smoke.
Her frown remains, now accompanied by clenched white teeth.
-----------
The factory is loud and suffocating. Rocket grunts move on with their day, doing what they are told without a question in mind. Some do talk to each other, however, talking about their daily lives or sharing the latest gossip as if this is the norm for them. There are rarely any complaints in the factory, despite the area being quite smothering with the lack of fresh air. The grunts know, if they are unsatisfied with something, it is best to keep their mouths shut.
A lost strength can be returned through good rest. A lost life cannot.
The Pokémon assigned are just alike, moving behind their trainers while carrying numerous heavy loads that could drain one’s strength in minutes. But unlike the humans, the Pokémon move on, eyes soulless and brain unresponsive to the ache and wounds that have bulged on their bodies. A Furret drags his limp body with the 10 heavy carts attached on his body. One step. Two step. He keeps dragging himself. The fur and skin on his sides have torn apart, leaving trails of blood that smudge across the carts that slide above it.
“Ugh!” A Rocket grunt recoils as he accidentally stepped on the smudged trail. “Watch where you’re bleeding. You little shit!” Without hesitance nor care, he starts to kick the silent Furret. Splish! Splish! More blood gush out, staining the front of his shoe, further enraging the furious grunt.
“Look what you did!” Fury now filling his vision, the grunt raises one foot and roughly steps on the Furret’s spine.
Crack!
The sound echoes eerily, yet easily swallowed by other sounds of screams and mechanical movements.
“Stupid!” He stomps again. “Stupid!” And again. “Stupid!” And again and again and again.
The Furret has stopped moving. His back arches sharply at the impact, then starts to stick deep, deep into the floor as the grunt’s foot drills harder. The Pokémon’s eyes are empty, hollow as vision starts to blur to black. Splotches of red and pink starts to fill the floor, starts to paint the ground and the man’s shoe.
“Shit!” Eyes seeing red, the Rocket grunt scoot an inch back—
CRACK-SQUISH!
—and jumps right at the Furret.
His right foot has reached the floor with cracked bones scraping his shoe. His left, specifically the heel of his foot, has drilled deep into the top skull of the silent Furret.
Silence fills the area.
The other grunts watch in amusement and annoyance. While most merely shrug and move on with their lives.
This is nothing new, after all.
Finally satisfied with the result, the Rocket grunt carefully sidesteps and cocks his head in pride. “Damn. We need new meat that doesn’t bleed mu—”
BOOM!
Apparently, their daily norm will soon be shattered into a million pieces.
The alarm goes off immediately after the violent explosion. All eyes are directed at the source of the blast. All Rocket grunts quickly grip their Pokéballs. Right at the main entrance of the factory—where a gigantic hole has been created—stands a terrifying Typhlosion and chilling Meganium that are poised for attack. All grunts stand in shock, stunned, baffled that such powerful Pokémon still exist freely.
Unless these Pokémon belong to the Admin, Executive, or worse, The Boss himself, none of them can see any of them present.
Finally, a single grunt’s scream catches their attention.
As one scream echoes in the chaotic factory, more and more follow suit.
One trainer stands atop her red Gyarados. Another sits up perfectly straight atop his Pidgeot. None of them are Rocket Admins nor Rocket Executives. Hell, they are sure as hell—and honestly relieved—it isn’t The Boss.
But their relief is short-lived as one of the trainers points directly at them.
Anger flares deep within her, Kotone clenches one fist by her side and furiously bellows, “YOU’RE ALL DONE FOR!”
----------
Numbers seemingly were against them. But despite the odds, Kotone and Hibiki managed to battle through victory. The battles between Rocket grunts were surprisingly tough, given that their choices of Pokémon vary from sturdy to the very strong. But Kotone’s Champion title is clearly not just for show. In a span of an hour, the enemies were wiped out by her team. Some manage to escape, but the two trainers deem it is the least of their problems as they stand inside the cruel factory.
“Arceus…” Hibiki grits his teeth after returning his team. Only Belle, his Meganium, is free from her ball, wanting to stand by her trainer’s side and keep watch for any more danger. Silence now fills the area. Dust and rubble still fly about, so Belle whips up any excess dust with her vine whips.
Once their vision is free from any obstacles, Hibiki truly wishes he would rather not see instead.
Giant, metallic chains are strapped to every Slowpoke they can see. The Dopey Pokémon seem…alive and lifeless. Their eyes are opened. Their mouths are slack-jawed so…painfully wide. A transparent tube has been inserted—shoved—inside each of the Slowpoke’s mouths—no, throats. Much to their dismay, both Kotone and Hibiki can see some sort of brown mush being swiftly chugged into them.
FWING! SLITCH!
Shivers ran up their spine to hear the horrifying sound.
As the front of the Slowpokes’ bodies were being shoved by something disgustingly sinister, their backs—their tails—are constantly being cut by giant blades. Blood has painted each blade, rusting its metal as it slowly lifts upwards. In a matter of 5 minutes, another tail has quickly grown on its base. And once the tail has reached its full shape,
FWING! SLITCH!
It is gone in a matter of seconds.
Again and again and again this process continues. The Slowpoke are not saying a word, not moving a muscle. Yet they remain in their metal chains, staring emptily with eyes cracked in red.
Horror paints her eyes black. Horror drains all colour from her face.
“DA—MIEEEEN!!”
Unable to take the sight anymore, Kotone shrieks at the top of her lungs and falls to her knees.
The Typhlosion didn’t need to hear any further instructions. With fire raging madly on the back of his neck, he releases a powerful Eruption and burns the dreaded machineries down—along with the living corpses.
A wall of fire engulfs their vision. Fast. Panic kicks in immediately, Hibiki releases his Ledian and rushes to Kotone’s side. “Light Screen!” As hands reach for the distressed woman, his Ledian quickly forms a huge barrier around them.
Fire starts exploding and sputtering out of control. Yet the Typhlosion continues to burn everything in sight, careful as not to be hit or squashed by the falling contraptions.
Hibiki remains kneeling by Kotone’s side, hugging her tightly as his dear friend screams and cries until her throat breaks.
-----------
It is a normal day in the Rocket Hideout.
A yawn escapes him. Both arms are stretched upwards, head then lightly tilts left and right to ease the muscles in his neck. Boredom curls his lips downwards. Green eyes monitor the graphs and statistics on the screen. Nimble fingers quickly type what needs to be typed.
Enter. Confirm. Enter. Confirm. Enter. Ctrl+C. Confirm.
Ugh! What a pain, truly, he thinks. As much as deskwork isn’t his main job, it always irritates him that there are days that require him to key in some stupid data. Well… He leans forward, one elbow leaning against the metal desk, at least I can go to the Slowpoke Factory tomorrow. I can roughen up some grunts with mock battles—
Beep! Beep!
Thoughts reach a halt once green eyes see a bright red notification beeping on the far left of one of the monitor screens.
Boredom tweaks into mild confusion. A single eyebrow raised, he responses the emergency call with a single press of a button. “Wha—?”
“Admin Proton!”
Confusion evolves to absolute shock. The sight of a bunch of weary, beat-up Rocket grunts makes him sit up straight. “What the hell—”
“Help!” One of the grunts in the screen butts in. “There’s a huge problem in the Slowpoke Factory!”
----------
Truly, he hates this part.
He is their boss. His boss. Thanks to him, Team Rocket has reached absolute power over Kanto and Johto. No one dares to pick a fight with the organization. No one dares to go against the notorious terrorists. If anyone is stupid enough to do so, it would be as if they have a death wish.
The grim reminders of their Champion’s and so-called Pokémon Master’s fates are enough to silence everyone and anyone into submission.
Thanks to their new boss, all is right with the world. Thanks to their new boss, Team Rocket has become the most powerful criminal organization the world fears. Society fears them. The criminal underworld idolizes them. While other regions have not been subdued completely, Proton has received many news that, thanks to Team Rocket’s financial aid, organizations such as Team Galactic and Team Plasma are so close to reach their dominating goal.
Well, when Proton thinks about it, their boss only literally allows Team Rocket’s financial aid. Other aids such as scientific or military assistances, their boss would rather keep it quite or ignore it completely.
His goals are more personal, after all.
“Um…”
His train of thought pops once the voice peeps from behind. Proton looks from behind his right shoulder. A single eyebrow is raised, silently indicating the nervous grunt to continue.
The lowly grunt looks down. “Is…” His heart beats rapidly against an aching chest. “Are…are you sure it’s okay to have an audience with him?” Through the bruises of his eyes, the grunt casts a peek at Proton. Indifference flashes the admin’s face clear and obvious, and this only shakes the poor grunt’s nerves.
A simple shrug is given. “It’s okay.” It’s not gonna be okay. “I mean, you said it yourself that you all were caught off guard by some trainers.” Trainers are that are supposed to not exist in the first place. “I’m sure if you explain to the boss properly, he’ll understand.” You’re dead.
The smile he wears never reaches his eyes.
Finally, they stop in front of the main room. Two huge doors are placed in front of them. It’s soft colours of mahogany brown are a mere contrast to the fiery pits of hell that reside from the other side of the doors. No one is present. Green eyes silently observe left and right, quickly realizing that neither Archer nor Ariana are around as usual to cater to their boss’ orders.
“Great…” He really hates this part.
Biting back a grumble, he gently knocks on the doors. “Boss,” he calls out, one fist rapping still on the hard wood. “One of the grunts are here.”
“Get in.”
The cold, dead voice sends chills down his spine.
His fist tightens against the door, Proton pushes it open. He is welcomed with dull light piercing right through the door. The giant window that is stretched on one side of the room glows grimly, illuminating the bright moonlight that pours into the room. Black curtains are tied by each side of the giant window. A chair is seen rolled towards the window, giving no signs that it will turn to face them. The room itself it quite big, making both Proton and their scared grunt to take nearly ten steps before they can reach the center of the place.
The door eerily closes behind them.
He wants this shit to be over quick.
Knowing that the grunt is scared shitless to say a peep, Proton bites the insides of his cheeks before continuing, “The grunt is here because—”
“Let him speak.”
That alone has enough power. Enough command to shut Proton up.
An exhale is released quietly. He turns to the flinched grunt. Without a word, he places one hand on his back and pushes the poor man forward.
The grunt wants to cry. Tears trickle down a scratched face. Hands cupped together until fingers ache at the force, he takes a few steps forward. “B-B-Boss…” Stutters break into cries. “I…” Cries hold back a desperate need to sob. “I uh—”
“Out with it!”
Shit, the grunt knows he will die if he accidentally pees on the boss’ carpet.
“I’M SORRY!” he bawls, voice cracks a pitch in absolute fear. “I—!” Pupils shrink into dots. “We all were caught off guard! We did our duties as commanded until suddenly these two trainers—”
“Trainers.”
The word isn’t a question. The cold tone sends shivers down their spines.
A single gulp feels like lead. “T-Trainers!” The grunt continues. “We don’t know where they came from! But they have stupid strong Pokémon that’s forbidden to use in the first place! We—I—did my best!” Terror rattles him from head to toe. “But this one trainer—a woman—just threw us off with her stupid team! I-I think she’s the one with a Typhlosion—!”
“Enough.”
The voice has enough power to rob them of their freedom.
Proton stays in place, standing by the doors. Arms are crossed tightly, flinching even every time he hears the boss’ voice. He keeps his eyes on him, on the back of the black chair. It hasn’t moved an inch, but the admin can see his right elbow perched comfortably on the armrest.
He often wonders what plays in that sick man’s brain.
Finally, after what felt like hours of unbearable silence, the boss shatters it. “Where are these trainers now?”
The grunt, as if he has been snapped from a trance, jolts upright. “I—We don’t know…” Before the young man before him could snap, the grunt quickly adds, “B-But we are sure they’re still in Azalea Town! So they might be on their way to G-Goldenrod City o-o-or—!”
“Enough.”
The moonlight shines upon the person on the chair.
The silence in insufferable. The silence dances around the grunt’s and Proton’s pricked skin.
A right hand is seen. “You are dismissed.”
Shock almost makes the grunt loses his balance. A single eyebrow perches on Proton’s forehead.
The same hand directs to the side. “Go through that door.”
Both pairs of eyes look to the right side. There only exists a black door and nothing else. While the walls around it are free from pictures or shelves, the grunt feels confusion growing from within. His mouth parts open, but then hangs for a few seconds before slowly cupping it shut.
It’s best to not rile up the boss’ one of many good moods tonight.
Feeling overwhelmed with gratitude, he keeps bowing and bowing. “T-Thank you, boss!” Hands slapped to his knees, he then shoots up straight. “I promise I’ll get better! I’ll show you that Team Rocket is not to be messed with—!”
“Leave!”
Fear once again shoots him in the chest, the grunt immediately makes a mad dash towards the door.
----------
Once entered, he slams the door shut and drops his back against the hard wood. A huge sigh escapes him. More and more tears are wiped by the back of his hands.
He is safe. He is free.
Honestly, rumours of their boss being a ruthless, heartless dictator was apparently mere myths. While all Rocket members respect him, all of them are terribly terrified of the boss as well. Not all have seen him in person, and most prefer it that way. But judging by the way the situation was handled, the grunt is greatly relieved that his boss has given him a second chance—
A deep growl breaks his train of thoughts.
Quickly his eyes snapped open, not realizing that he has them shut the second he exits the room—
A single Feraligatr stands in front of him. His body, bloodied and bruised positioned so close until his tail slammed against the door beside the grunt. His jaw, gaped and hanging, is wide open. Drool and spit trickle down until they stain the grunt’s blood-stained shoes. Pupils and irises shrink manically to tiny dots. Fangs gleam maliciously right in front of the stunned grunt.
The moment his vision catches sight of the Pokémon in front of him, the grunt doesn’t even realize that his pants has been soiled terribly.
Click.
A single red light flickers on the collar around the Feraligatr’s neck.
Staring straight into his prey’s soul, the Big Jaw Pokémon sinks his fangs into his head.
----------
Arceus, Proton only wishes that the room can be sound-proof.
The silence in the huge room doesn’t help in the least. Sounds of bones cracking. Sounds of a man shrieking. Hell, he flinches even when he hears something soft and squishy slam hard against the other side of the black door.
The screams only last a few minutes.
Fingers curl into the palms of his hands when all Proton hears next is the sound of a Pokémon’s roar.
“Proton.”
Quickly he looks forward, arms automatically slapped to the sides. “Yes, boss!”
Finally, the chair moves.
The young man looks forward, coldly stares at the admin that remains frozen in the middle of the room. “Get Petrel and the executives.” He stands up, palms pressed against the desk before him. Locks of bloody crimson drapes softly against his shoulders. A low ponytail is tucked neatly by the side of his white collar. His voice is deep, lulling a terrifying calm that increases the beat of Proton’s heart.
But he knows, even in the dull light of the moon, even with the voice that echoes a melody of death, Proton can clearly see his jaw tense roughly.
Yes. He definitely hates everything about this.
Wrath swirls in a pair of dull silvers. Reaching for a pair of black gloves that are placed inside the drawer of his desk, Silver grimly seethes, “It’s time for an extermination.”
Ecstatic Requiem 4
This shouldn’t happen.
This couldn’t happen!
No.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no—!
Air tastes like toxic as it slithers straight to her lungs. Vision is blurred. Face is pale as the moon above. If it wasn’t for Hibiki standing by her side, Kotone would have passed out or fallen to the ground.
The crimson ‘R’ still sticks close to her brain like glue.
A single gulp felt like lead in her throat.
“This can’t be…” she mutters, over and over like a broken tape. From the moment they saw the ‘R’ signal and checked their Pokégear for further investigation, Kotone could feel herself losing air at the lack of proper breathing.
Her contacts are missing. Her mom’s. Professor Elm’s. The gym leaders’. Red’s.
Silver’s.
They can’t log into the internet. They can’t find any way to communicate with others. After long, long minutes of rummaging through their devices, Kotone and Hibiki decided to run out of the hidden area and go back to the nearest place: Azalea Town.
Every step they took wrecked fear into their hearts.
And now, as both stand before the entrance to Azalea Town, Kotone once again feels as if she is about to drop to the ground.
A grip on her left hand tightens gently.
Quietly she looks to the side. Hibiki merely looks at her, forlorn gaze gleaming in each iris. Yet the smile he wears seems sincere, seems hopeful, giving her the push she needs in hopes, in hopes…that this is nothing but a long, horrifying dream.
“Come on,” he says, assurance forcibly dripping in his tone. Lips purse tightly. His right hand grips her left. His own left hand has curled to a tight, shaking fist.
Fear overwhelms them both.
Words are absent, yet a smile finally twitches, tickles the corners of her mouth. A single nod is given. Hazel eyes then dart to the entrance. The building seems gloom and dull, a complete contrast to the traditional, nature-like colours that enwraps the building in her time.
Her time.
Air is held tightly inside her lungs, both walk inside.
Air turns to broken gasps at the sight of the town.
Azalea Town was a happy, small, peaceful community filled with tradition and family values. The Pokémon and people live together in harmony. Children were seen running about, laughing and talking with their toys and friends while adults smile peacefully at the safety and security of their peaceful little town. It was always filled with greenery, always filled with water and grass-types as Azalea Town was also a place for these beautiful Pokémon.
The sun was always shining. The trees were always dancing. To breathe the air of Azalea Town was to breathe a new life.
But now, as she stands before the dark environment that she cannot recall what it should have been, Kotone feels as if the town in her memories are a dream all along.
“W-Wha-at…” The question breaks into shaky gasps. Pupils shrink, swallowed by the horrified gleams of hazels. “What…happen…?” One, two, three steps she takes. Her hands are shaking, palms opened as fingers tremble at the cold chill of the wind.
The sun is gone, shielded by dark clouds that paints the dead town.
There are no children running about. There are no Pokémon basking under the sun. Adults are seen at least, but the way they walk are wary and slow. Some even smoke on a nearby building—
What…the hell… is all she thinks next as Kotone realizes the building nearby is a gambling centre.
The bright lights are blinding to a fault. The loud music drowns any sounds nature can ever produce. Vomit and spit and something she will rather not say foul the air. It makes her nauseous. It makes her cringe.
Slowly she walks the area. Cautious steps are taken, legs feel like lead as gaze falls on the ruined peace. The Pokeballs strapped to her belt are shaking, trembling slightly as they too see the sight that befalls them.
Careful, is all Mewtwo whispers to Kotone. While he wishes to pop out of his ball to protect her from danger, the Genetic Pokémon feels it in his gut to better stay inside rather than announce himself out in the open.
His trainer can take care of herself. But Mewtwo can only clench his fists at the swirling distress in her heart.
Kotone walks…and walks…
Her destination is unknown, both to Hibiki and herself. Her childhood friend walks a step behind her. His hand has held his Meganium’s Pokéball, but he remains it clipped to his belt to avoid suspicion.
“The hell…” Hibiki responds, just as dumbfounded. While he keeps his pace with her, he takes in the surroundings with a heavy frown.
The trees are chopped, gone and replaced with electrical poles and huge billboard signs. Trash and filth fill the area that was once lakes and parks. The buildings are rundown, scraped from paint or materials that use to liven up the community. These buildings are small, too small and too uncomfortable for anyone to live in. Some of the rooftops are only a wide scrap of zinc, and the trainer holds his breath when he sees blood in some of the walls.
There is one building that is huge, though; Hibiki freezes in his place at the sight. The colour red mostly fills his vision, further tightening the pits of his stomach at the grim reminder of what shouldn’t be.
More people are seen—much to Hibiki’s horror—sprawling and withering in the darkest corners of the buildings. Some stand silently. Others sit limply. While most…he looks away at the bodies that remain motionless in the cold.
“No…”
Her voice, broken and wheezed, snaps him back to reality.
He looks at her. “Kotone…?” She has stopped. Her eyes are wide. Her hands press against the sides of her head. “Hey…Ko-Kotone?” Worry blooms where disgust once resided a few minutes ago. “Kotone, what’s—?”
“This…can’t…b-be…” The words are nothing but a weak murmur.
One hand hovers across her. “Kotone…?”
“No…” She can’t hear him. “No…” She isn’t able to hear him.
Her head then snaps forward, unknowingly causing the man next to her to flinch. Eyes wide in pure mania, Kotone directs her attention to the west side of the town.
Without a run, she runs towards her destination.
“H-Hey!” Worry bursts into panic, “Kotone!” he chases after her.
---
Her heart drops to her stomach.
Following the path she knows so well since she was a teenager, Kotone finally stops and lets out a horrified gasp at the building before her.
Or at least…what’s left of the building.
“Kotone!” Once again Hibiki catches up to her. Pants of air escapes him as he brings both palms to his knees. “Geez! Please don’t run off like that!” Mild annoyance tickles him that their roles are now reversed. Exhaling a loud sigh, he straightens his back and faces her. “Seriously, what got you…so…riled…” Grey eyes follows what she sees, “up…”
The building—a house—before them is only pieces of demolished walls. The roof is missing. The paints of the house have faded to black and smoke. No grass nor trees are present. No lakes nor puddles appear. Only a single bicycle can be seen perched on the front yard.
A bicycle that is charred to its steel. Just like the house.
“Old Man Kurt!” Without haste, Kotone dashes inside. The door is absent, instead replaced with Spinarak and Ariados webs. Fear of the inevitable drowns her mind, she rips them all apart and scrambles in.
“O-Oi!” Hibiki follows suit, panic reaching its peak every minute.
---
Once they entered, fear only stays rooted in their hearts.
Everything is gone. Destroyed. All precious items and furniture are nothing but soot and dust. Not a human nor Pokémon is present, much to their vain relief. The earth underneath them has filled the once beautiful house. Creak…creak…their steps grimly fill the haunting silence.
“Tch…” Anger suddenly fills her. One hand quickly unsnaps a Pokéball, and Kotone releases Charlie. The Charizard comes out quietly, head lowered as if she understands the horrifying situation. Using the fire on her tail, she carefully lights up the room.
What they see does not ease the tension at all.
Everything is charred to black. Everything is broken and tattered to pieces. The roof gone, both humans and Pokémon can see the terrifying picture that paints their eyes forever.
There aren’t any humans nor Pokémon.
Good. It’s good.
Finding a broken branch, Hibiki carefully lights up the end of the wood with Charlie’s fire. “Thank you,” he mouths quietly, lips curling a smile amidst his trouble heart. Grey eyes then look at Kotone, who still has shock envelope her entire body. “Kotone,” he calls out, waiting as she finally reacts to him, “I’m gonna look around the other room. I…” What will he say? What will he do? This is a situation none of them ever thought would be thrown into.
Sometimes, both of them this hope—beg—this is nothing but a nightmare.
“We’ll see if we can find anything.” The meaning of the words contrasts to what he said, but judging by Kotone’s firm nod, he knows he got his words through. One hand then unclips his Marill’s Pokéball, but he chooses not to unleash her yet. Other hand tightened on the makeshift torch, Hibiki walks towards the next room.
Which leaves Kotone alone with Charlie. In and out and in and out the trainer takes a deep breath. Her heart still races. Her forehead still sweats. Trembling hands curl into fists. Dull nails dig deep into her palms.
‘Kotone…’
Charlie’s soft growls plant Kotone back to the ground. Hazel eyes snap open; she doesn’t realize they have been shut tight. Quickly she looks at her Kanto starter. “It’s okay, girl…” It has to. “I’m okay…” I have to.
Mewtwo’s Pokéball rumbles lightly on her belt.
Right hand gently pets Charlie’s muzzle. The fire-starter feels warm. Kotone doesn’t realize her body has gone cold since she came to this time.
Slowly she takes a deep breath. “Let’s go look around.”
The Charizard nods once. Navigating her way to the rubble, both trainer and Pokémon observe the area. There isn’t any living thing inside. Everything has been licked by flames. Kotone looks up, right at the walls that were once a soothing brown. The Celebi statue is missing, possibly shattered, as she can’t find the object anywhere. The pictures that she used to see are gone. She can’t find the picture of Kurt and Professor Oak. She can’t find the picture of the old man smiling happily with his only grandchild and her Slowpoke.
She will be fine. Kotone has to be fine.
She presses forward, careful steps creaking the burnt floors. The stars and moon are out tonight. While the sky paints a glorious picture, the earth below is nothing but horrors and smoke.
The stars mock her, Kotone thinks.
While everything is gone, nothing seems to be too horrifying—at least in her book—as she stands in the middle of the room. “Old Man Kurt…little Tina…” Hands shakily rub the goose bumps on her arms. “Where are you…?” I hope… Steeling her shaken heart, Kotone moves on to the next room, I hope—
—you’re safe—
Craaack—squish!
Darkness looms far worse than the previous room. But before Charlie could enter and light the way. Before Kotone could stop and adjust her vision of the surrounding abyss.
Before the nauseating stench slithers up into her nostrils, Kotone chokes out a silent gasp.
Once Charlie enters the rooms—and flinches at the foul smell—she brings her tail up to light up the room.
Ironically, the stars and moon help too, and this doesn’t help them on what they see.
A corpse of burnt flesh and bones is curled onto a charred futon. A bigger, charred skeleton—with a head and tail gone from its body—is seen by their side. Flesh of black coat them. Skin of soot is spread against scraped, wooden floors. Their arm, their small, frail, skeletal arm, is spread across the bones next to them—
A small…frail…skeletal—
Kotone wants to scream.
She staggers—squish—!
Her body jolts. Her eyes manic.
Fear is a shadow that swallows her whole. Fear is a poison that pours her lungs with dread. Her arms remain stiff and apart. Her jaw drops open, inviting the disgusting smell to gargle her throat.
Her head is a robot. Inch. By inch. By inch. Tilting down to the source of the sound.
The stars and moon are very bright tonight, as they reveal what she is standing on.
An upper jaw is positioned closely to her left foot. Its rotten teeth touch the materials of her shoe. A head of black and bones is placed vividly above the hilariously clean spot of the floor. Its sockets, while one is absent of an eyeball, the other still possess its own; the eyeball is black as soot and pops out just an inch as it is looking directly at her.
Her foot remains frozen on the skeleton’s lower jaw, on the spot Kotone has stepped and cracked.
Pupils shoot to tiny, tiny, dots.
---
“Arceus…” The word seethes out between gritted teeth. The torch in his hand is brought up, giving him more areas to observe as he takes in his surroundings. The kitchen is just in bad shape as the living room. The food and spices are long gone and rotten. The fridge is opened, showing more Spinarak webs and what he hopes to Arceus are Ariados’ eggs; Hibiki makes a mental note to leave as soon as possible before the Pokémon’s parents come ba—
“AAA-AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”
Hibiki actually jumps at the shrilling sound. A heartbeat pounds once and twice, and it is immediately then that the trainer knows who the sound belongs to.
“Kotone!” Waiting for neither confirmation nor assurance, he stumbles around and makes a mad dash towards her.
---
Hibiki almost dropped the torch once he finds her.
“Koto—!”
“NOOOO! NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO FUCK—OH ARCEUS NO!!!”
Her screams shock the poor man. A flash of red waves madly in front of him, and Hibiki quickly reaffirms himself that it is just her Charizard’s tail flapping about.
“Kotone!” Grey eyes spot her, curled in Charlie’s arms with her own wrapped around her head. The pair is on the far corner of the room, right next to an open space that was once supposed to be a wall. His eyes are on her, on his friend. Though body engulfed by the starter’s arms, Hibiki can see Kotone tremble, shake, whimper.
Panic floods his mind.
“Kotone, what—” Crack-squish!
He immediately stops in his tracks.
The torch is still firm in his tight grasp. His foot is still pressed deep against what he hopes, what he gravely hopes, is furniture.
He wants to looks down. He wants to badly to look down.
But he steels himself. Eyes slowly shut, Hibiki cocks his head up and shakily moves the torch forward.
He then snaps his eyes open.
Sweat drips from his head to the corpse underneath him. Pupils shrink to dots. While he hasn’t realized the two charred bodies on the futon, Hibiki is instead taken aback at the marking on the wall before him.
A huge mark stains the wall. Drips of dark, crusty red has dried; some didn’t manage to trickle down to the futon below it. Splatters of the vile colour is spread apart like fireworks. Hibiki wants so badly to move the torch away, for he can see chunks of…pink and black stuck to the single letter.
R
It paints the wall red. It paints the wall bloody red.
---
“Please…”
The voice sounds so soothing, yet so desperate.
“Please…don’t give up…”
He still feels her grip on his wrist. He still feels that warmth tickling his skin.
The image is blurry. All he sees is brown and black. He tries to make out the form of a person. Was it a person? He can’t remember. The image seems fuzzy. Unreachable. Indescribable. Yet he can feel the touch on his wrist. He can hear the sound that lulls him to this day.
“Please…” He wants to hear more. “Please…” He wants to feel more.
“Please—”
He needs to find her.
Silver eyes flutter open.
Ecstatic Requiem 3
For a place so bright, Hibiki is sure seeing stars. “Ugh…” The throbbing in his head doesn’t seem to stop. One hand rests on the side of his temple. Another groan slips weakly through quivered lips. “What happened…?” Grey eyes blink once and twice to register his surroundings. Bright light seems to tamper with his sight, but the man soon realizes that it is no longer the light from something mysterious; rather, it is the light from the sun. “What?” Stupor still clutches his rationality. Slowly he sits up, though utterly thankful that the dizziness is dissipating. “Hibiki!” His shoulders jump at the voice, which then emits another low groan from the young apprentice. “Kotone…?” Left and right he slowly shakes his head, then finally turns to the owner of the voice. Though bafflement falls heavy on his head, Hibiki is beyond relieved to see his friend by his side. “Are…Are you okay?” She looks better than him, and it would be no surprise that she is. “Yeah…” A small smile paints her face as reassurance. “I’m not dizzy anymore.” Left and right she looks around. “And…I don’t think we’re dead.”
White teeth clench unnervingly. “Right…” Upon seeing her stand up, Hibiki follows suit. “Where are we?” Once ensuring that his head is clear of any ache, he looks around. True enough, the sun is shining. No tall trees or thick thickets can be seen. A field of green grass is spotted a few feet where they’re standing, but other than that, it takes them less than a few seconds to realize they were no longer in Ilex Forest. “I don’t…” She stops. Deeps breaths are taken, in and out as she tries to recollect her nerves. “It…seems like we’ve been transported.” “Somewhere?” “Somewhen.” Grey eyes widen at her blunt response. “Some—what?” Shock is splashed all over his face. “What do you mean somewhen?” Confusion and panic stir inside his heart, but Hibiki remains as calm as he can since the area they are in technically doesn’t feel alarming. Kotone doesn’t reply immediately. She looks left and right. “Kotone.” The stern, albeit fearful tone, brings her attention to him. “Hey, do you remember a legendary Pokémon called Celebi?” Shock turns to surprise at the sudden question. Hazel eyes seem focused and intense. “Uh…yeah?” One finger taps his chin in wonderment. “That’s the Ilex Forest’s guardian. She protects the forest and the Pokémon inside it.” Hibiki has never seen the legendary before. But from pictures and stories alone that the man knows the Pokémon is powerful just as she is beautiful.” “Did you know that she has the power to travel through time too?” Another question catches him off guard. “Uh…” Now that he thinks about it, it does makes sense why the legendary is called the ‘Time Travel Pokémon’. “The documents do say about her abilities.” Two and two click together. Eyes widen at the connections. “Wait, you’re telling me Celebi did this?” One finger points from him to her to him again. “She made us go through some time-travel?” It is a wonder as to how calm she looks. “I saw something before we were basically blind for a few minutes.” Palms pressed together, she brings them to her pursed lips. “I even heard some chirps that sounded a lot like Celebi.” A deep breath is taken, then exhaled in a slow manner. “So unless this is all some weird dream, I assume it was Celebi who caused the bright light and brought us somewhere in time.” The explanation was easy to understand, but that doesn’t Hibiki from being frozen in stupor. “So…” He believes her. He actually does. It’s just the time to digest the information took longer than expected. “If Celebi was the cause of all this, when are we?” Again he looks around. Once common sense is lodged back inside his brain, the man realizes some familiar spots he once has seen in his adventures when he was a kid. “Why are we here?” “FATHER!” Before Kotone could reply, they both jump at the sharp sound of a voice. And for the Johto Champion, most of all, prickles run up to the skin of her arms once she recognizes that voice oh so well. “It can’t be…” Her head turns to the side, body then follows suit as she spins around. Without hesitance, her feet brings him to the owner of the voice. Boy, was Kotone giving him all kinds of surprises in a span of an hour. “H-Hey wait up!” Not giving a chance to wait for a reply, Hibiki runs after her. Thankfully, she didn’t run far. During times like these, Hibiki is beyond glad that he keeps a little training regime during his field studies. “Kotoneeee…” A long whine slurs childishly. Annoyance bubbles from within. “What’s gotten into you—?” “Shh.” She quickly shushes him up. Eyes never focused on the man behind her, Kotone mindlessly waves one hand behind until she feels what she assumes is his wrist. “Stand down…!” Fingers nimble and quick, she pulls him to his knees. “Whoah!” One hand presses hard against the hard tar. “What’s wrong?” Annoyance now melted to concern, he looks at her. But his gaze was never returned, for her attention is solely, absolutely fixed at whatever is on the other side of the bush. “Kotone…” “Look…” Her voice in hushed whispers, Hibiki finally, carefully pushed away a few thin branches to see what is on the other side. And when he does, small gasps are forced out of him to see somewhere oh so familiar. --- This can’t be happening. “You t-old me…” Voice cracks. “You were…” Breathing hitches. “You were the number one in the w-world…!” Mouth remains agape. Heartbeat pummels all too violent. “In the world!” Like a fool he repeats, tone very much betrays the very mask he wears all too often. “Are you gonna quit?” A mixture of growl and laughter chokes out in a form of a desperate question. The young boy stands before the still man. His back is still facing him, still taunting him of the answers he so desperately wishes to deny. This can’t be happening. His whole body is shaking. His own breathing is seething. Vision are tainted by clear tears, but the boy fights them back. The foolish man does not deserve to see his pain. The foolish man does not deserve to see his anguish. The foolish man does not deserve to see the damage he has gravely caused. Strong. He needs to be strong. “What—” His voice is a traitor. “What are you going to do now?” Fingers clench into tiny fists. Dull nails dig deep into the dry skin of his palms. The whole world seems to shake below him. But he needs to stand strong. He needs to stands still. The man remains silent. Speak… Thoughts plague what words cannot be spoken. S-speak—speak! Finally, the man turns around. Cold. Calculative. Stern. Void of the love the child desperately, secretly craves. The man takes a single breath. “One must acknowledge one’s defeat before he can move on.” His words are laced with indifference, dripped with apathy. Grey eyes stare at the son who is shaking violently. Unruly red hair shields some parts of his face, but he can perfectly see the rage that burns violently inside a pair of crimson eyes. There is no love. No care. No tell-tale signs that resemble the wife he misses so much. Guilt choke around his neck. Fingers dug deep into the skin of his palms. Yet he remains uninterested, apathetic. “I must go solo…for now…” Grey eyes tear away from the child. There is no point in reasoning with him. There is no point in giving back the love and attention that died along in the explosion. No. He must not grieve. He must move on. Live on. Even when his most beloved didn’t agree on his choice of living, even when his own flesh and blood denies his very form of existence, the man must walk forward to carve a better path—for him. For Team Rocket. “So that one day—” A new form of spirit rise within him. Roaring hotter. Bigger. “—I will form a stronger organization!” No longer does he see the son before him. All he sees now is a newly-formed team. A stronger team. A team that will help him realize a future where he stands above all. The child is flabbergasted. Still shaking. Still seething. This can’t be happening! “What aspect of you was number one?” Laughter trickles along with the jeering question. Tears now trickle down his face, but anger completely envelopes the child to realize his moment of weakness. “Gathering so many only to be defeated by a mere child?” Stomp! One foot stomps the ground. “A mere fucking child?!” Stomp, stomp, stomp! The man merely watches the boy throw a childish tantrum. His gaze is cold, unforgiving. “Putting together the potential of many is how you produce a huge power…” One hand slips out of his pockets. Sweat shines upon the rays of brilliant sunlight, yet he can still feel the chill of his beating heart. “That’s what an organization is…” He can never forgive himself. He can never forgive the monster. All he can do is move forward. Fingers tighten to a harder fist. “That’s the strength of an organization!” Anger lurches from the pits of his stomach. Memories he so disgustingly hates start rolling in his mind. “I failed…” —to protect her— “to make the best use of my subordinate’s potential…!” —to love you— All he can do is start anew—even if it means abandoning his past. Finally, grey eyes sharpen at the sight of widened crimsons. “But you shall witness one day the revival of me and my Team Rocket!” The roaring fire within him grows brighter and hotter, swallowing his dead heart whole. As the man relishes at the birth of his new resolution, the child he has left for dead merely gapes at him like a stricken fool. Potential… Organization… Team Rocket… It makes him sick. “Y-You…” Anger lurches his throat until he feels literally sick. “You…” He wants to throw up. He wants to belch here and now if it isn’t for the fact that fury completely fuels his entire being. With breathing hitched sharply through gritted teeth, he stomps one step, two steps forward. “I don’t—understand you!” A scream cracks his tone into two. “You don’t make any sense!” He tries to raises his hands. He tries to grip at the old man’s jacket. Anything. Anything as long as it means he is looking at him. He never does. Without a word, the man turns around. He hears the strained gasp. He hears the choked tears. It hurts. But he must move on. “One day you will understand…” And with that, he leaves. If heartbreak was a physical disease, the child would have died right now. No… Mouth falls agape, wide and open. N-No…No… Lips are dry and chapped. Eyes are red and strained. How dare—no—! The child merely stands there, shaking, trembling. Knees almost give away. Shoulders slump heavily as if boulders had been placed on each of them. The man is walking farther and farther away. Not once did he look back. Not once did he care about him. Snap! Whether it was the mind or the heart, he doesn’t know. He doesn’t care. “I don’t want to understand you!!” A shriek finally echoes amidst the bright sky. “I’ll never…” His voice strained from the ache, from the pain. “I’ll never become someone like you.” Gaze is thrown left and right and up and down. Dull nails scrape at his jacket, scratch harshly at the skin of his burning neck. “A c-coward…” He laughs, cracks a mirthless laugh at the despair that pours upon him. “A coward when you’re alone and acting like a tyrant when you’re in front of other COWARDS!” Both hands now press around his neck. He can’t breathe. He can’t think. Reality crashes hard against him. Hopes and dreams turn to soot that fill his lungs until he can’t breathe properly. He has lost his mother. He has lost his father. He has lost everything. And there’s nothing he can do. Nothing. He laughs again. Nothing. And again. Under the bright blue sky that promises a wonderful day, a lone child cracks a cackle that seethes of nothing but agony and hatred. A scream then burst out of a dry throat. “I WILL BECOME STRONG!” Mania widen a pair of crimsons. “I WILL BECOME A STRONGER MAN ALL BY MYSELF!” That’s it. He has no one. He relies on no one. If the foolish bastard he once called father needed some weak people to stand where he is, then the child will prove to him that he can rule anything with just him. And him alone. The man is nothing. He will be everything. Laughter and choked tears corrupt the poor boy. Fingers madly tugging the red strands of unruly hair, Silver slams one foot hard to the ground and shrieks, “ALL BY MYSEEEELF!!!” --- As the scene unfolds before them, every kind of emotion riles up in the two. Shock. Anger. Sorrow. Sympathy. Everything boils down to create a shivering mess that can barely be kept together. “Wow…” is all Hibiki can muster. From the moment he looked, his gaze never tore away from such a heart-breaking moment. “I can’t believe Silver went through all that…” Truly, the young man doesn’t know Silver all too well. He just knows that he was Kotone’s rival, and the man who stole the Totodile when he was a boy. All that, and also that Silver is a cocky bastard at worst. But this… “What should we do, Koto—what wait!” Concerns burst into shock once he realizes Kotone has stood up and walked past the bushes—walked towards Silver. --- He hates this. He hates this. He hates this. Why is this happening to him? Why? Why, why, why? What did he ever do to deserve such a cruel punishment? Laughter has finally seized, yet tears still mock him. Berating and mocking himself for wanting to fall to the ground, Silver instead quickly spins his heel and walks off. At least, that was what he was about to. Instead he bumps into someone, a woman he soon realizes. “What the—” The blurry vision and disoriented mind almost make him see stars. “Out of my way!” Neither a care in the world at who she is, Silver shoves the stunned lady with all his strength. The mysterious woman trips to the side, and Silver takes this opportunity to run. “Wait!” He feels something around his wrist. His head whips in stupor to see the lady’s hand holding him. Let go! He wants to be alone. Fucking let go! He wants to wallow in despair. Alone. Not bothering to look at her for more than a second, Silver shakes and wiggles his hand away from her. Anger still boils in his heart, fuelling the strength he so desperately needs. “Please don’t go…” Crack! A gasp weakly blurts out from such a soft tone. “Let go…” He whimpers harshly. “I said let go, you bi—” “You are strong.” Crack, crack! Silence hollows out as the sounds of his broken heart breaks anew. He no longer struggles, yet his head drops low to the ground. It hurts her heart, but Kotone takes this chance. “You’re stronger than you know.” In truth, she is at lost at what to say. Her body reacted out of pure instinct. Her emotions took hold of what her mind failed. To see such a young child being ignored and ridiculed… To see such a lone child begging for love from a man who has no love to give… Kotone couldn’t bear it anymore. She has to do something. Anything! “You’ll grow up to be amazing.” Her grip on him loosen. “You’ll grow up and you’ll surpass him. You don’t need him to prove to anyone that you’re strong.” His head is still down. Red strands cascade and hide the emotions he is too afraid to show. “You’re amazing… You can go on with life without him.” You can go on with life with someone better… Hazel eyes observe the poor child before him. She realizes that his wrist is bony, that his whole body seem frail. Oh how her heart shatters at such a sight. While she knows the boy in front of him will grow up to be a happier, healthier man, no image could shake off the sympathy and anguish she feels for her former rival. “I…” His name almost slips out, but Kotone sucks it back with a single breath. “I believe in you.” I always have. Always will. “You will be stronger. Better.” And I’ll support you. No matter what. Slowly she lets go of him. The arm drops weakly by his side. It hurts. “Please…don’t give up…” While she comforts the broken child, Kotone hasn’t realized that her body is slowly disappearing. Pain was never present, so it took the realization that her fingers had turned transparent that made her realize she is about to be transported back to the present. He still doesn’t turn around. It really hurts. “I know you’ll be the best trainer ever! No matter what!” Panic rises as she digs up words of comfort. “Know that I’ll always support you! Know that, no matter what, I’ll always be with you!” Her hips and legs have now turned to nothing. Her ghostly arm reaches out to him one last time. “Please…” Her voice echoes. “Please…don’t give up…” Fingers disappear before one could even brush his jacket. “Silver…” And with that, she disappears. But before she could finally be shrouded into nothingness, Kotone finally, finally, sees a pair of horrified crimsons. --- Once they are back in their own time, heavy silence fills the air. They know it wasn’t a dream. It feels too real. It is too real. The two remain quiet, trying to register the entirety of it all. It has been a good few minutes, and all that can be heard are a hard, laboured breathing. All Kotone can see was him. Small. Broken. Alone. The ache in her chest reminds her that it wasn’t a dream. Silver… Despite the stories he told her, the agony they both went through, nothing could prepare her the sight of a child losing everything before his very eyes. Anger sparked her heart at the memory of what Giovanni had done to him. Although she had only met him once and beat him in battle, Kotone wishes she could go back in time again just so she could punch him in the face. Granted, the bastard is dead in this time, but still. She exhales through her mouth. One hand rests where he heart frantically beats. In and out she calms her breathing. She is back in her time. She is back with her beloved Silver. Although she knows she was gone probably in less than an hour, Kotone now wants nothing more than to fly off to Indigo League and give her husband a big hug, Pokémon battle be damned. “Hey, you okay?” The sound of her friend’s concern brings her back to her senses. “Yeah…” A smile, small and sad, curves her mouth. “I’m…I’m fine.” She will be fine. Silver is fine. Returning her knowing smile with his own, Hibiki lets out a sigh. “Man, that was really something.” Grey eyes stare at the shrine behind them. “I don’t know what Celebi was thinking, but I’m just glad we’re back in our time.” “Maybe she wanted to show us that to help Silver.” Kotone calmly explains, sorrows drips her tone at the bitter memory. “Maybe she wanted to show you,” he corrects, “I was just there coincidentally.” Feeling as if he had ran a marathon, Hibiki whips out his Pokégear. “Well, I’m all time-travelled out. I’d say we call it a night and head back home.” His thumb unlocks the communication device, ready to call a Pidgeot Grab to fly to Goldenrod. Kotone only nods once, feeling fatigue rushing over her body. “Yeah…” She considers calling a taxi of her own too, but then opts to just share the ride with him since they were both going in the same direction— “Huh.” The single sound snatches her attention. “What?” Kotone stares at him, a single eyebrow raised. Hibiki doesn’t answer immediately. Up and down he flicked through the Pokégear screen. “That’s…odd.” He can’t find the Pidgeot Grab application. What’s more, he can’t find the other transportation applications on his phone. “Hey, Kotone, can you try checking if you have….the…” Words fail him when he sees the signal on his phone. There is a small letter on the top right. A single eyebrow raised. Once he pressed the signal bar however, grey eyes then widen in sheer horror. Realizing that he’s not going to continue his sentence anytime soon, Kotone walks closer towards him. “Hibiki?” Hazel eyes looks at him in confusion. “Hey, you okay?” His mouth agapes widely. His breath hitches inside his throat. Confusion now turn to concern, Kotone follows the trail of his sight. And when she does, her own eyes widen in pure, unbridled shock. A big, red ‘R’ logo shines menacingly on the phone screen.
Ecstatic Requiem 2
Cold wind welcomes her presence through the calming, serene caress on her skin. Her head holds up high, chin tilts upwards before a single breath of air is inhale slowly. Hands carefully pressed against the Charizard’s back, Kotone adjusts her position and exhales through her mouth. “What a great day, Charlie!” Her smile beams like a thousand suns. Hazel eyes peek at the purring Kanto fire starter. Slim fingers give little scratches on the places she knows the Pokémon loves, and this only widens her smile once she hears a gentle roar. Beep! Beep! Her attention is then robbed by the sound of her Pokégear. One hand digs into the pocket of her black pants. Upon taking the device out, Kotone feels the Butterfrees in her stomach to see the name on the screen. With a simple swipe of her thumb, she opened the message. Skitty <3: honey, r u done w the boring meetings and stuff? Her hearts skips faster at two things. One: the sole fact that he typed ‘honey’, and two: him.
Quickly fingers start to reply his text. Me: darling! yes I hv ♡(ŐωŐ人) are u done wiping out the other trainers? A few seconds pass by. Beep! Beep! Skitty <3: uuuuugh nope. i still hv 7 more left Warm eyes widen in shock. Me: eh??? theres still more??? Her body leans a bit forward for stability. As for Charlie, upon realizing that Kotone is no longer pressing her palms against her back, she slows down. Skitty <3: yes theres more. n im more annoyd too. i told them im gonna hv a small break rn bt i swear if this keeps going ill just fight the pokemon myself A snort slips out. Me: id love to see that (♡´౪`♡) at least you beat them all right? Skitty <3: uuuuuugh nope She can vividly hear his adorably annoyed groan. Before she can reply, another text beeps in. Skitty <3: 3 trainers surprisingly (and annoyingly) beat me. lucky they arent cocky assholes like ur cousin. Me: im gonna screenshot this to white fyi Skitty <3: ANYWAYS, Laughter bubbles in the chill, orange sky. Skitty <3: those trainers wanna battle u next bt i told them to battle u tmrrw. Me: eh really? i can go there and battle them later tonight tho Skitty <3: no A single eyebrow raises in confusion. Me: why???? (・∧‐)ゞ Skitty <3: coz ur mine tonite If it weren’t for Charlie’s fast reflexes, Kotone probably would have slide down off her back. Flush of red kisses her tanned cheeks. The same cheeks then puff slowly. The long end of her ponytail tickles the side of her neck, and Kotone is at lost on whether the shivers in her body is due to the hair or text. Quickly she texts back. Me: someones possessive (♡´艸`) Skitty <3: u hv no idea hw possessive i can be when it comes to you God, Kotone wants to scream right now. Face now filled with heated swirls, she peeks at the screen. Me: cant wait to find out tonight then (⺣◡⺣)♡* Skitty <3: i hope ur ready then my love Dead! I’m dead! Screams echo in her mind as Kotone bends forward against the Charizard’s back. He’ll be the death of me! Giddy giggles burst from pretty pink lips. Her legs start to wiggle forward and back, obviously catching the attention of her confused Kanto starter. Charlie’s wings continue to flap, but her attention has now been stolen by her excited trainer. A smile of her own curls the edges of her mouth. She knows damn well the only person who could make her trainer act and feel such a way was none other than the redhead. Puffs of light smoke slips out of her nostrils, Charlie emits what can be depicted as a chuckle and flies forward. After letting it out of her system, Kotone carefully sits up straight and releases a long line of air. After texting each other their ‘I love you’s, she tucks the communication device back into her pocket. Her smile now ever present, both hands are brought up to tap each warm cheek. God, she feels so lucky to have him. Slowly her attention comes back to the skies. A nice, orange hue slowly, warmly envelopes the sky. There are less flying-types around as Charlie soars, so peace and quiet truly wraps the trainer’s senses. Hazel eyes cast down, and a soundly gasp escapes pink lips at the sight of a place she hadn’t been to in a while. “Charlie,” she called the Charizard. Magnificent blues meet warm hazels. “Can you bring us down to Ilex Forest?” --- The air always feels fresh whenever she arrives at the place. Arms stretch comfortable to the sides. The air is a bit chillier once she reaches the ground, and Kotone honestly loves the feel of it against her arms and neck. Feeling fatigue being washed away from fresh air alone, she plops her hands to the sides. Eyes turn to her Charizard, right hand now holding the starter’s ball as a silent question if she wants to get back in. With a single nod from Charlie, Kotone flashes a smile and returns her. Ball shrunk and clipped onto the belt of her pants, Kotone then looks around the forest. It has been years since she last stepped foot, but awe and wonderment always splash her face to witness the breath-taking scene. It seems that the forest hasn’t changed a bit, hence it brings back a small twinge of nostalgia in her heart. Her mind wanders as her feet walks around the forest. Sounds of slumbering Hoothoots catch her ears. Sights of Caterpies and Weedles frolicking about opens a box of reminiscences in her heart. Ah how she misses being a teenager again. When she first stepped into the peaceful forest, she was 16 at that time. Soft giggles bubble out when she remembers her famous pigtails and puffy hat. Skitty always hates that puffy hat. Giggles evolve into innocent laughter. She remembers that Azalea Town was the place she had met Silver for the third time. While their early encounters weren’t exactly pleasant in the least, Kotone always treasures each and every memory into her heart. Each memory plays like a movie, and she truly means that literally when she learned Mewtwo has the ability to form one’s memories to a clear, vivid, realistic image. She finds that useful for her future child when they would ask questions such as how she and Silver met. Ah, her face is blushing again. “Geez…” Her heart beats ever so gleefully every time she thinks of him. Again she gives her cheeks little taps. At the same time, her feet has stopped, and it takes Kotone a second to realize that she is standing before the Ilex Forest Shrine. “Oh!” Surprise and amusement trickle pass her tongue. Taking a few steps forward, Kotone gazes at the spectacular shrine. Its design was simplistic as ever, yet bears so many memories and significances for the people of Azalea Town. The wooden pillars remain strong, though now covered in small vines on some ends. A few berries and fruits can be seen; Kotone assumes they were offerings from the people and Pokémon alike for the shrine’s owner. Celebi. The name rings in her head. Wind caresses her arms gently, tracing tickles on the finest hairs on her skin. Every time her thoughts wander to the legendary, Kotone can never forget the story Silver had told her. How he had technically died after saving her. How he was plunged into a cold abyss. How his soul withered, his mind blank from the acceptance of his timely death. She couldn’t imagine the indescribable horror he had gone through when he told her. Just the mere thought of it once brings tears to her eyes. Deep breaths inhaled deep into her lungs. He is fine now, she assures herself. Kotone keeps the reminder firm and planted. Celebi had saved him from his death. Celebi actually rewrote the past in order to keep him breathing again. The Time Travel Pokémon even let Silver meet his mother one last time, giving the dead a proper goodbye before he comes back to the living. Hazel eyes gleam at the stories he told her. Silver… The pain he went through was unimaginable. The life he grew up in was anything but human. To know such a child went through hell on earth at such a young age…her skin prickles at the fearful thought. No human can survive being sane as long as Silver has. Sullen gaze falls on the breath-taking shrine. “Silver…” His name lulls through her lips like a heavy prayer. How she wishes she can go back in time. How she wishes she can help him even before they were properly met. All the words she wants to say for him. All the reassurance she would give to a child who had lost everything. Hands rub up and down her arms. Suddenly, sorrow pops into caution when she hears rustling from behind. Quickly she reaches for Damien’s Pokéball; one heel had turned and sight sharpened to one of wary. “Who’s there?” The noise sounds too heavy for a Pokémon in the area. Kotone would assume it came from a human, probably a trainer going on an adventure just like her before. But the sky above is shrouded in darkness, and it isn’t so wrong to be cautious of any danger that lurks in the night. Especially given from a woman who had gone through hell and once became danger herself. “Kotone?” Once the voice lulls into her ears, Kotone immediately feels her muscle loosen. “Hibiki!” Caution turns to joy. Fingers casually unwrapped around the Typhlosion’s Pokéball. Finally able to walk out of the thick bushes, Hibiki brushes off the dead leaves off his arms and head. “Kotone!” Joy rings just as true as hers. Without hesitance, he briskly walks towards her for an embrace. Arms open wide, the young man hugs her by the shoulders and gives her a little squeeze. “Oh my Arceus, it is you!” “Ya!” Laughter bubbles out of pretty pink lips. She returns his embrace with one of her own. “Wow, what’re you doing here?” Pulling away to look at him, Kotone gives his arms a little shake. “Oof,” he winces slightly, “watch your strength there.” Laughter pops out with a mixture of surprise. Being the Johto Champion really does have its perks. “Anyways, I was just doing some field study.” Once and twice he rolls his arms. Surprise widens a pair of hazels. “Field study? At 8 at night?” He knew she would be shocked by his activities. “Yeah.” Once again he laughs. Grey eyes gleam as bright as his innocent smile. “I usually do my routine check-ups at night, you know. There are some nocturnal Pokémon out and about when I least expect it, so I figured it would be nice to not miss any opportunity there is.” Hands plop comfortably by his sides. “Besides, doing field studies at night really gives me a peace of mind since there aren’t any trainers or so many rowdy Pokémon around.” He has a point, as he always does when it comes to Pokémon research. “I see you’re really excelling in the field.” A proud smile shines upon her lips. “And hey, I also see that the field gave you a great workout too.” Lightly she punches his left arm. Cheeks shroud in pink at the compliment. “Well, I still have a long way to go, though.” One hand scratches the back of his head. “You’re not so bad yourself. I see constant training and battling really put some muscles in you.” His comment is replied with a sweet laugh. As sheepish as he is to receive such compliments from his childhood friend, Hibiki wouldn’t lie that he is in awe of her hidden strength. “Well…” Feeling slight conscious of the compliment of her body, Kotone taps her fingers gingerly. “I gotta stay fit if I want to catch up to younger trainers and defend my title.” “I can see that.” A nod is given. It takes him a few minutes, but realization then hits when he can’t find the presence of another champion. “By the way, Silver isn’t with you?” “Oh,” she chirped, “nah, he’s busy battling trainers at the Indigo League.” “At this hour?” Now it is his turn to have shock plastered on his face. “It’s really late. Shouldn’t the League have like…closing times or something?” A sigh leaves her lips. “It does, but it’s until 10. So for now, as long as there are trainers itching to battle after collecting all the gym badges of Kanto and—or—Johto, the Elite Four and us Champions have to get ready.” Honestly, explaining the concept alone is tiring. But much to no one’s surprise, she still manages to defend her title for 8 years. True, Silver has beaten her more times that she kept count, but she also has taken back her title from him many times than one can keep tally. In the end, Lance, the Elite Four, and the Indigo League management agreed to have two separate champions reigning on each region. It’s quite adorable when she thinks about it; the Champion of Kanto and Champion of Johto are the loving, fearsome husband and wife couple. “So anyways,” Another sigh slides off her mouth, “I’m just here walking around in Ilex Forest, getting some fresh air.” Hazel eyes look at the shrine behind her. “And of course, looking at the shrine behind me.” Hibiki doesn’t say much, instead nods in understanding. “I see…” Lower lips juts in thought, he gives his attention to the holy place before him. “Well, if you don’t mind, I’d love to keep you company. It’s been a while since we’ve hanged out.” A few steps are taken until he stands next to her. His smile widens at her acceptance. “Thanks, Hibiki.” She doesn’t mind the company. In truth, she misses her best friend as well. Suddenly, before any of them could actual start a conversation, a bright light beams a few steps away from them. The shock and light briefly dazzle them both. One has his arms shielded in front of squinted eyes. One once again grips her starter’s Pokéball while shielding her eyes with one hand. “W-What’s going on?!” Fear of the unknown pierces his tone. None answers his question, though the light unfortunately shines brighter and brighter. “I don’t know.” Through gritted teeth she replies. A Pokéball has been unclipped from her belt, but the blinding ray causes her to flinch in her place. Luckily, no heat nor chill harms them both. But with confusion and fear overpowering them, Kotone lightly curses under her breath as she tries to get her body to move. “…bi—” Irises shrink in the middle of hazels when she hears a faint sound. “…C…e…bii—” That sound! She knows that sound! The owner of the holy shrine. The guardian of the forest. The saviour of Silver’s life. While Kotone herself has never met the Time Travel Pokémon personally, she knows it in her heart that this strange light was Celebi’s doing. “Cele—bi—” The name slurs out in broken hisses. Trying to find and reason with the tiny legendary, Kotone tries to scoot one foot forward. The light, to her dismay, only gets brighter and brighter, almost rivalling the sun. Hoping to Arceus that her next action won’t blind her, Kotone sucks in a deep breath and drops her hands. Hazel eyes—though in pain of the menacing gleam—manage to spot the green shape of the creature who is causing glimmering commotion. “Please sto—!” Before any words could be breathed out, the light—along with the two baffled humans—disappear in a blink.
