Trivia: This chapter was completed two weeks ago, but has been undergoing the most amount of editing I've ever done. I hope it's not completely illegible at this point. I've ripped my hair out a lot over this guy.
Earth, Air, Water, Fire
Chapter Fourteen
-2009-
“Would you hold still?” Amy said to her partner impatiently, although she herself was wincing at the many bruises Natalia had inflicted on her in the vicious hand-to-hand combat they’d engaged in earlier. Embarrassed to have come off worse in a physical fight, she was barely able to contain her frustration, forcing calm upon herself as she gingerly dabbed at Brodie’s bleeding forehead. The two were still in the small chamber off the main tunnel where they had been interrogating their teammate.
“I will if you just -” he said through gritted teeth, jerking wildly at each touch of the ripped cloth, “-be more...gentle…” he managed.
Natalia had escaped, somehow, along with Preston and the blonde girl. Amy couldn’t shake the suspicion they’d left together. “She took the gun, too,” Brodie had moaned after regaining consciousness in a pool of his own blood.
“I didn’t think she had that much fight in her,” Amy said, her voice shaking dangerously, “she never struck me as the physical type.” Brodie gasped. “Oh shut up, you can’t hurt that much, it’s just a scratch,” she snapped. Brodie clamped his jaw shut. “What’s Gabriel going to say when we tell him?” she asked with sudden urgency.
“Do we have to talk to him?” Brodie asked after a pause. He looked quite nervous at the prospect of admitting failure to the man who had dangled him upside-down twenty feet off the ground just for forgetting to deliver a message.
“Of course we do,” Amy said impatiently, already producing her Poké Gear. Gabriel insisted he only be disturbed with calls for real, serious problems...this was definitely one of them. Amy raised her finger over the device, allowing it to hover over Gabriel’s number. Her hand was shaking slightly. “We have to call him,” she said, convincing herself just as much as her teammate. She pressed the call button. Brodie stared anxiously at the screen of the machine as it rang for their leader.
Gabriel’s face appeared, barely lit, looking rather hollowed and corpse-like with the shadowed relief thrown on his tight face. He looked irritated at the interruption. “Why are you calling me this time, Amy?” he said quietly. Brodie already regretted everything, despite the fact he himself had done very little that could be blamed for their failure. Gabriel just naturally had that effect on people.
“Gabriel...it’s Natalia. We intercepted her in the Purpleheart Tunnels. It seems she was tracking Alec Gideon independent of your orders.” Gabriel’s face betrayed no emotion. “We interrogated her, of course,” Amy proceeded with care, “until...we were interrupted. It was Joe Preston, that retired gym leader? We tortured his wife?”
“Yes, I remember,” Gabriel said, no change in his tone, although somehow Brodie felt his blood run cold at the sound of the man’s silky voice. “Was he still with Alec?”
“No, it seems they were split up. And well, I tried to -”
“She tried to kill him,” Brodie offered helpfully. Amy hissed at him, her neck tightening, showing an angry vein pulsing below her delicate chin.
“You tried to...what?” Gabriel asked. A sudden outbreak of barking was heard off-screen on Gabriel’s end. “Deal with them,” he said, looking off-screen.
Amy frowned. “What was that?” she asked, her ice-blue lips pursing together.
“Don’t avoid my question,” Gabriel said, unphased. Amy brushed the perfectly-cut black fringe away from her eyes and glared at Brodie, who shrugged in defense. She bit her lip, thinking her answer over carefully. “Well…” Gabriel pressed. More barking and snarling off-screen. “I specifically said no deaths,” Gabriel said, his voice barely a whisper and yet causing Brodie to flinch as if he had yelled.
“Gabriel, the man was already injured. Honestly, why not? He’s just an obstacle at this point, a distraction -”
“Or a valuable tool,” Gabriel said, his gloved hand rising dismissively. “How many times do I need to remind you? It’s in our nature to manipulate. Humans are infinitely manipulative, but they cannot be -”
“Foolish if killed by a fool,” Amy finished, nodding. “Gabriel, why don’t you ever just talk like a real person?” But his words were always true, or had been up to this point. Gabriel stiffened at her words. Brodie’s jaw dropped in awe of her brashness.
“Find them and bring them to Ecruteak,” Gabriel said finally, glancing off to his left. “The plan is so close to fruition. Ascension day.” His face glowed eagerly.
“But Natalia, Gabriel, I think she’s with them -”
“Natalia is of no concern to me,” Gabriel said, his clear blue eyes seeming to pierce straight through the screen at his subordinates.
“Boss, you didn’t see her in action back there, she had me knocked out in two seconds flat,” Brodie said urgently.
Gabriel shot the lanky man a look of disgust. “I know her weaknesses,” he said simply. “I will use them to our advantage when the time comes.” He shot another eager look off-screen. “Natalia is exactly where we need her to be,” he promised. And then, before Amy could protest: “Get them to Ecruteak.” Without a second glance he terminated the link, leaving Amy and Brodie to puzzle over a blank screen.
“What were those noises that kept distracting him?” Brodie quipped. Amy stood, stretching her long limbs and shaking her head. “Could they have been Pokémon?”
“I don’t know. Probably. We can talk about it on the way,” Amy said, staring at her Poké Gear.
“On the way…?”
“They have at least a half day advantage on us,” Amy said steadily. “If we’re going to catch them, we need to leave now.”
….....................................................................................
“But the maps say…”
“The maps are wrong, Alec,” Chase snapped, pointing at the solid wall in front of the group. The stone glistened innocently in the flickering light provided by Houndoom’s Will-o-Wisp. Alec had offered the use of his Magby again, but Magby seemed to disagree with the choice, yawning and shaking his misshapen head. “This is a non-negotiable solid wall, it in no way resembles Preston’s maps.” He indicated to the page in question, which showed the continuation of the tunnel to a winding, ascending path, ending in a chamber that led to the exit.
Chase pounded his fist against the slippery stone barrier in frustration, looking back at his companions: Alec, peering at Preston’s journal in confusion; Houndoom, pacing restlessly, her dark eyes staring balefully at Chase; Logan and Natalia leaning against Preston’s Sawsbuck, the older man carefully arranged and fixed to his Pokémon’s back. “The map’s done all it can do,” the bearded young man said, looking at Logan. She avoided his gaze.
“Well, we’ll have to find our own way out,” Natalia said.
“How do we do that? We’re deep underground and we’ve hit a dead end, if you haven’t noticed,” Alec said hotly.
“Look, I know a bad situation when I see one, and this man is going to die if we don’t get him out of here in the next six hours,” Natalia retorted.
Logan was sponging Preston’s forehead with a rag, attempting to stem the fever that threatened to consume his body. “Can we call someone?” she asked, no one person specifically coming to her mind.
Chase, however, began laughing. Alec stared at him, utterly bewildered.
“Chase...what’s so funny…” Logan asked slowly.
Chase continued laughing and held up his Poké Gear, pushing it toward the low ceiling, standing up on tip-toe. “If I can get the reception for it...I know exactly who to call.” He walked away from the wall, slowly searching for a reception area. “Aha!” He made a show of browsing his contacts for a specific name.
“Who could he be calling?” Natalia asked. Nobody answered her.
The Poké Gear rang four times before being interrupted by a male voice. “Chase! Oh thank Arceus, I was just about to try calling you again.” Alec, who was closest to Chase, could make out Will’s graceful torso on the video screen, his scarlet shirt and navy-blue vest unmistakable. “I kept calling for Preston, but his Poké Gear appears to be -”
“Broken,” Logan said immediately, leaving Natalia with Preston’s body so she could stand closer to Chase. “We...had an accident, it’s entirely shattered. Mine, too.”
“That’s unfortunate...hello, Logan, it’s nice to see you well,” the Champion said, smiling unevenly at the girl as she came into view. He seemed distressed and distracted. “Is Preston with you, then?” he asked, peering closer at the small screen. Logan and Chase both hesitated.
“He’s...well, we don’t know exactly how bad it is, but he’s hurt his leg...and he’s gone unconscious,” Chase said finally.
“But you do know how bad it is,” Natalia hissed from Sawsbuck’s side, her arms stretched protectively over Preston’s limp body.
“Who is that?” Will asked, but Natalia did not move forward, instead shrinking further into the shadows. Chase and Logan shrugged.
“Will, it is pretty bad,” Alec said, also stepping into the Poké Gear’s line of sight, his green eyes wide in the dim light.
The Champion did not seem happy with this development. He clasped his hands together, wringing them and muttering to himself. “This is a very bad time for anyone to be unavailable,” he said finally.
“What do you mean?” Logan asked, nonplussed. Will looked back at the screen, moving his mouth but not making noise.
“Will?” Chase asked, shaking the Poké Gear. The image flickered. “I’m losing reception,” the trainer said through gritted teeth. He held the device higher, smacking it in frustration.
“Where are you?” Will’s voice cut in through the faint static sounds now emanating from the machine.
“The Purpleheart Tunnels!” Alec said loudly.
“Okay...tunnels…” Will said, frowning and closing his eyes, muttering again, adjusting his glasses. “Okay. Chase? Keep Preston safe, please. We need him far too much to lose him. I’ll see you soon.” The Poké Gear shut off.
“See us soon?” Logan said. “He’s not coming to get us, is he?”
“Sounds like it,” Chase said, smiling slightly. He had forgotten the sense of hope Will’s presence inspired. Natalia did not seem so heartened by the news.
“We should make ourselves easier to find,” Logan said assertively.
“How?” Alec asked. The three stared at the blank stone wall, stumped. Chase opened his mouth to speak, frowned, and shook his head.
“Broadcast a homing signal from your Poké Gear.” Natalia said, stepping toward the ghostly light surrounding Houndoom. Alec and Logan looked coldly at her, but she ignored them, her face set.
“How...do I do that, exactly?” Chase asked.
Natalia took the gear in her small hands, showing Chase the big orange button at the top. A look of embarrassed comprehension crossed the young man’s face. “Does anyone have a ground-type Pokémon? Or one that can use dig?” she asked, handing the device back to him.
“I do,” Alec said slowly, taking a step away from the Team Skye member.
Natalia observed this protective movement sadly and nodded. “Use it to burrow up. Maybe it can reach the surface and take Will to us.”
“Why are you helping us?” Logan asked, her blue eyes scanning the girl suspiciously. Alec took a step closer to her.
“I have my reasons,” Natalia said, averting her gaze from Logan’s cold stare.
“It’s a good idea,” Chase said, he alone looking at the ruby-haired girl and acknowledging her like a human being. “Do you have any better ones?” he shot at his friends. Logan and Alec had no answer for this. “Then do as she says,” he said.
Logan looked imploringly at Alec, who bit his cheek and kicked at the packed earth floor. Chase lifted his Poké Gear and hit the emergency homing signal embedded in the phone, staring defiantly at Logan.
“Logan?” Alec asked.
“Do you want to be found? Will is probably going to arrest you, or something,” Logan said to Natalia.
“I know,” was the girl’s only response.
“Do it, Alec,” Logan said tersely. Alec reached for Pupitar’s Poké Ball. “I don’t understand you,” she said flatly, staring at the older girl, her eyes flickering over the stained white sundress.
“Don’t hurt yourself trying,” Natalia said, retreating back to Sawsbuck, laying a gentle hand on Preston. “It’s not possible to understand someone who doesn’t understand herself,” she said quietly.
….....................................................................................
-2005-
Chase moved his knight in final triumph. “Check. MATE,” he said, grinning.
Dr. Hume chuckled, shaking his head and reaching out, toppling his king over. “You got me,” he said, standing and turning to walk away.
“Don’t you want to play another?” Chase asked, reaching out instinctively. The older man strode behind his desk, taking out a folder and scribbling something on the front. “Guess not,” Chase said, packing the pieces away in disappointed defeat.
“Chase, I think it’s time you went home,” the doctor said, crossing to the front of his desk and leaning against it, holding the folder out to the fifteen-year-old.
Chase stared at it dumbly. “Really? I’m...you think I’m ready? I’m...better?” Dr. Hume chuckled, adjusting his large coat so it didn’t interfere with his legs as he took a seat at the edge of the table. “Why are you laughing?” Chase asked.
“Chase, nothing was wrong with you. All you were suffering from was temporary amnesia and shock. Now, look. You’re clearly remembering things! You’ve mastered the complicated game of chess.” Dr. Hume stroked his bushy white beard. Chase quite liked it; he was planning to grow one as soon as he was able. “You remember your family’s names?” he asked, peering at Chase over his square glasses.
“Mary, Rory, Jonathan,” Chase recited, picturing very clearly his mother, father, and brother.
“Excellent. Yes, I think it’s time we get you out of here,” the old man said, jumping from his desk and handing Chase his file. “Here’s all the records of our sessions. As a sign of faith. Just in case you need any assistance remembering! You have my number, yes?” Chase nodded. “Good. Not that I don’t believe you’re completely ready to take the world by storm, but just in case.” The doctor winked.
“Oh, this is going to rock!” Chase said, standing and pumping his fist. Dr. Hume smiled, turning to walk back to his desk. “Dr. Hume, um...if you don’t mind my asking...since I’m no longer a patient, really…” The doctor turned again, deciding just to plant himself in one place until Chase left the room. “What exactly happened to me? I know I remember everything, my past, my Pokémon, my family...but…” Chase touched his hair delicately; it outshone the doctor’s own thin hair in its colorlessness.
Dr. Hume shook his head, sighing. “Chase, when you were found, you were bruised, wounded, and unconscious...and also quite alone. If you can’t remember what happened to you...nobody can.” Chase sensed the man was not being entirely truthful with him, but he accepted the answer all the same. Something about the sad smile Chase gave him made the doctor cry out. “Ah! Yes! Before you go,” he said, reaching into his desk drawer, “these should help.” He offered a small bottle of pills to the boy.
Chase took them hesitantly, staring at the label. “Antidepressants?” he asked warily.
“They help the memory,” Dr. Hume said, smiling.
Chase did not entirely believe it, but he took them all the same, reaching out to shake the man’s hand. “You have my Pokémon and stuff?” the boy asked. “And don’t I have to sign some papers, or something?”
“Once you’ve packed everything,” Dr. Hume said, smiling. Chase nodded, turning to leave. “Oh, Chase? One final thing.”
“What?”
“Remember what I told you, two sessions ago? We were talking about your relationship to Kira, how you were worried she wasn’t going to love you enough, not like this.”
Chase nodded slowly. “And you told me, ‘You will always be searching for love. Don’t expect it from someone when it isn’t there.’”
Dr. Hume nodded, impressed. “And you worried your memory was getting worse! Just remember that, Chase. You’re a remarkable man, and when the right girl comes along...you’ll know it.” He smiled gently. “Close the door on your way out.”
….....................................................................................
Later that day…
“Mom, I’m free!” Chase said excitedly, looking at his Poké Gear. He was indeed out of the hospital, enjoying the bright almost-white sky of a warm summer day, the feeling of grass beneath his off-white trainers and the wind rustling his hair. The boy’s mother and father stared at him from their webcam, physically continents away from their son. A side-effect of being in a Kanto hospital: visitors from Hoenn were not often expected.
“Honey, I’m so relieved,” his mother said, his father shaking his head in agreement.
“Dr. Hume said you’re all set?” his father asked, his bald head flashing in the bright light of the Tang’s kitchen.
“Yes! I’ve already called Kira, I think we’re going to patch things up. I feel great,” Chase said, grinning. “Like, I could take on the world,” he continued, his mind racing with his newfound freedom to do things. “I could skydive! I could enter a Poké-race! I’m starving. I could eat a Ponyta.”
Mary Tang frowned. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
Chase shot her a goofy grin. “Yeah? Why?”
Rory agreed with his wife’s concern. “You seem...very cheerful,” he said, glancing uncertainly at his son’s soft features.
“Well, yeah! I’m gonna take on the world!” Chase shouted happily. “Hey, you know what?” he asked. His parents shook their heads, eyebrows raised. “I’m gonna call Will. Challenge him to a battle.”
His parents exchanged worried looks. “Will...of the Elite Four?” his mother asked.
“Yeah! Why not, I’m basically the greatest. Look at my track record!” Chase grinned again. “Look, I’m gonna do that now.” He went to hang up.
“No, no, Chase!” His mother reached out, concern leaving her face to be replaced by tender adoration.
“What is it, ma?” Chase asked, clearly anxious to call Will.
“It’s so rare we get to see your face,” Rory said, his expression softening as well.
“I love you guys!” Chase said, smiling at his parents. He waved. “Talk to you soon.” Before they could protest, he hung up. The boy stretched his long arms, squinting in the sunlight and turning to his Pokémon, who were blinking expectantly at him: Grovyle, Nidorino, Tyrogue, Absol, Banette, and Drowzee. “If we’re going to fight an Elite Four member, we’re going to need to train,” he said.
Grovyle raised a thin green arm, voicing concern.
“Oh, Arceus’ PLATES, you’re right! I need to call the guy first,” Chase said, laughing. His Pokémon exchanged worried glances, ones that were lost on their trainer.
….....................................................................................
-2009-
Pupitar had eagerly eaten through the wall of the tunnel, presumably heading upward to find Will. Natalia was again re-dressing Preston’s leg, using her rudimentary medicinal skills as best as she could, leaving the three younger group members to sit in a huddle around Houndoom, who seemed to enjoy the attention, especially when Logan stroked her sweet spot just below her right ear. The Pokémon was showing definite signs of fatigue from such a prolonged use of Will-o-Wisp. Alec had offered Magby’s help again and Magby had refused again just as quickly.
“I wonder what Will wanted,” Logan said, scratching Houndoom’s ear. Nobody had an answer. “You know, Tracey’s parents had a Houndoom just like this,” she said.
Chase released an anguished yell and stood, stomping away from the light, toward Natalia.
“What’s his problem?” Alec asked.
Logan shook her head. “I don’t know.” She continued preening her Pokémon, watching Chase’s stooped figure.
“What happened?”
Logan looked at Alec, confused. “Happened...when? What?”
“You told me Tracey died, but never mentioned his family. How did they take it?” Logan froze. “You don’t have to tell me,” Alec said hastily.
“No, no, it’s just...Tracey’s parents died, about a year before he did. Maybe more. He visited them right before the end. He had siblings, too, they’ve gotta be...Arceus, Courtney might be six by now.” Logan shook her head, resuming her gentle, rhythmic strokes of Houndoom’s fur.
“I wonder how my parents would react, if I died,” Alec said.
Logan looked up sharply. “Why would you say something like that?” she asked, incredulous.
Alec shrugged. “Just wondering,” he said honestly.
Chase had reached Natalia’s side. “Need any help?” he asked.
She looked up at him, her brown eyes searching him for an ulterior motive. “I...I think I’ve got it under control,” she said.
“Where did you learn so much about...medicine stuff?” Chase asked.
Natalia laughed; something happened to her face when she laughed that made Chase’s stomach lurch pleasantly. Her eyes lit up and it seemed as if years of hardship lifted from the made-up face, exposing a radiant, youthful joy. “I wouldn’t say I know all that much about ‘medicine stuff’,” she said. Her face darkened as it settled back to neutral. “I worked in a lab, a long time ago. I picked up a thing or two about basic anatomy.”
“A lab? Well, geez, why didn’t you become a scientist, or engineer, or...something?” Chase glanced back at Logan and Alec; he felt Logan’s eyes drilling into him.
“If only,” Natalia said. She was still staring curiously at Chase. “Why did you come over here? Why not stay with your friends?”
“I needed to check on Preston,” Chase said shiftily, staring quickly at the older man, whose hollowed cheeks were glistening with sweat.
“He’s hanging on, bless him,” Natalia said. “He’s a fighter, this man.”
Chase nodded in agreement, leaning in closer to investigate; Natalia jerked back, breathing in sharply. “What’d I do?” Chase asked, bewildered.
Natalia hugged herself. “People who get that close to me only ever want to hurt me,” she said.
Chase looked at her for a long moment, his expression full of empathy, pity, and a hard emotion Natalia could not identify. The boy reached out, touching her unblemished cheek. She recoiled, but he reached forward, gently taking her cheek again. “Hasn’t anyone ever kissed you?”
Natalia did not move; she seemed trapped between a lie and a truth, her tongue caught. She was trembling but she did not look away. She held his gaze steadily, her eyes moving quickly back and forth, looking into him. For the absolute briefest moment, Chase’s eyes flickered in the direction of Logan and Alec, and then soft brown eyes met deep, cocoa-colored ones, and Chase leaned forward.
Several things happened at once: Chase and Natalia’s lips met and they pressed into one another; Logan, who had been watching, yelled out, because the Team Skye members from her time with Preston in the tunnels were lurking in the shadows behind Sawsbuck, gearing up to attack their teammate; and also the ceiling exploded in a beam of powerful orange-white light.
“What the...what?” Logan shrieked, shielding herself just in time. Debris flew everywhere; boulders, dust, shards of crystalline exotic iodes from the floor above. Sunlight streamed into the tunnel, hampered only by the giant silhouette of a Lugia. Will had arrived.
….....................................................................................
-2007-
“Tell me how you’re feeling, Logan.” The doctor Chase had recommended, Lionel Hume, was sitting across from the sixteen-year-old, whose robin’s-egg eyes seemed completely lost.
“Scared. Alone. I...alone. The thing is, doctor, I knew who I was with Tracey. He and I...got each other. I don’t know. I don’t know! I don’t know who I am anymore.”
The doctor took a note. “Well, we’re going to help figure that out. Tell me about your family, your home life,” he said, his voice calming in its own raspy way.
“Well, um, my mom and dad...were busy a lot, when I was a kid. Mom was always interested in my schoolwork, and she seemed very happy to hear I wanted to train Pokémon...Dad didn’t mind, I guess. He seemed confused as to why I didn’t have many other interests...no, like, favorite bands, or anything. Which wasn’t true, anyway.” She stared at the ceiling. Dr. Hume said nothing, simply writing furiously. “My favorite band was Quagsire 7,” she said absently.
“So you spend a lot of time on schoolwork?” Dr. Hume prompted.
Logan laughed hollowly. “No, not at all. Tracey and I would go out to the forest a lot, play with the local Pokémon...I spent more time with him than my parents,” she confessed.
“Of course.”
“I don’t want to forget him. I know that’s why I’m here. He’s dead, but he’s not gone,” Logan said firmly.
“Logan, of course we don’t want you to forget him. We just want to help you...remember. And appreciate your time with him. And then...ultimately...to let him go.”
….....................................................................................
Six months later…
“She’s better, but not entirely. At this point, I think it’s better she travel and get her mind off things than anything else,” Dr. Hume said, standing outside the hospital, giving Chase a quick up-to-date on his companion. “You’ll be okay with her?” he asked.
“Of course. More than okay,” Chase said.
Dr. Hume took in his former patient’s healing battle wounds, the white hair creeping back to its long, unkempt state from his military buzz cut. “Good. Excellent. Just give me two minutes more with her.” He retreated to the waiting area, where Logan awaited the doctor anxiously.
She stood up from the cushy blue chair by the door when he walked in. “Is Chase here?” she said eagerly.
“Yes, he’s waiting outside.” Dr. Hume said. She immediately went for the door. “Now, Logan, a final word?” She turned back to the older man. “It’s advisable you travel with Chase, at least for a while. He’s someone familiar, yes?” Logan nodded. “Good. Now remember what we talked about. It seems clear you will always need someone to care for. That’s ‘your thing’, right? Someone to pour yourself into, because you just have so many feelings in there!” He laughed uncomfortably, clearing his throat. “Chase may not be that person. It might not even be a person. Perhaps a Pokémon. They can be very therapeutic.”
Logan seemed to have zoned out, as she had heard all of this before. “Can I go?” she asked, looking outside.
Dr. Hume sighed. “Yes, of course. You have my number.” He opened the door for her. “Good day, young trainers,” he said, giving a final familiar wave to Logan and Chase before closing the door with a click.
Chase looked his old friend over, taking her in; her long curtains of blonde hair, red cheeks, and sky-blue eyes were just as familiar as ever. Logan seemed elated to see him; she greeted him with a long, passionate kiss. “Let’s run away,” she said, breaking away from the boy and grasping his jacket.
“I...hello yourself!” he said, stunned. What did they do to her? he wondered.
“I don’t like Kanto anymore,” Logan insisted, looking up at her friend. “Let’s go somewhere...exotic. Where we’ve never been.” She kissed him again.
“Um...wow, okay. Okay! Let’s go somewhere.” Chase glanced warily at the hospital. I hope they actually helped her, he thought, biting his cheek.
….....................................................................................
-2009-
Alec surveyed the damage Will had created by ordering the Hyper Beam that blew a hole through the ceiling. Logan, Chase, and Natalia seemed fine, although the latter was skulking in the shadows. Preston remained prone on Sawsbuck’s broad back; the Pokémon looked quite shaken up, pawing the ground restlessly and throwing his magnificent head back, snorting. Houndoom’s light had extinguished, although the sun streaming through the Lugia-sized hole overhead rendered the added light unnecessary.
The wall broke open to Alec’s right; his Pupitar emerged, a triumphant look in her face at having succeeded in her task. “You did well,” he told his Pokémon, reaching out to stroke her cold gray shell. Pupitar looked at him, incredulous; she had not heard a compliment from her trainer for a long time, especially not since her evolution. Alec pulled out her Poké Ball. “Rest,” he said tersely, looking at Will, who was dismounting Lugia already, hurrying to check on his old friend.
“Tar…” Pupitar said quietly, allowing herself to reduce to a concentrated red beam of energy, shrinking back into the orb.
Alec simply stared in awe at Lugia; he had never seen it before. The oft-overshadowed kindred of Ho-oh, the rumor had always been that Ho-oh ruled the heavens while Lugia presided over the earth; so it had been until the creature met Will. The story went that the Psychic had proved so synchronized with the Pokémon that Lugia had forsaken its post in the Whirl Islands to remain close companions with the now-Champion of the Elite Four.
Lugia seemed to sense Alec’s wonder, slowly turning its head and giving him an appraising look, taking a step forward and puffing its chest, letting out a deep, earthy wail that pierced Alec’s heart, making him long to laugh and cry at the same time.
“Lugia…” the boy said, reaching out.
“Alec, move,” Will said tersely. He and Chase were carrying Preston’s body through the sea of dirt and rock coating the area. Logan was right behind, carrying two Poké Balls, presumably having just returned Sawsbuck and Houndoom. Natalia was still hanging on the periphery of the area. “Here’s the situation,” Will said, carefully fixing Preston across Lugia’s neck, “there’s been a meeting called together of the Official Pokémon League committee. Something ominous is occurring in Kanto, something we don’t entirely understand, but it sounds extremely dangerous. And we need Preston at the meeting.”
“I thought he retired?” Alec said, moving so he was aligned with Logan, off to Lugia’s left.
“Yes, well, it might be time he came out of retirement,” Will said, glancing around the cavern. “Who is that?” he asked Chase, pointing to Natalia. She was kneeling over two bodies Alec had not noticed before.
“She’s a member of Team Skye,” Logan said, her hand clamping around Alec’s. “She’s been traveling with us through the tunnels because Preston thought it was noble, or something.”
“She’s tried to kill me,” Alec said blankly.
Will squinted, trying to make out her face. “The one from the siege, from the gym?” the Psychic asked. Alec nodded. Will folded his arms.
“Well, look, Preston’s been unconscious, and she didn’t hurt us! She helped us!” Chase said. Logan shot him a look that very clearly indicated exactly how much she had seen before Will’s arrival.
“That’s true…” Will said slowly. “What’s she looking at? Hey, you there, what are you looking at?”
Natalia stood quickly, turning and putting her hands up. “Fellow teammates,” she said, pointing to the gray uniforms. “They must have tracked us through the tunnel.”
Logan alone seemed to register what this meant. “Did you knock them out...again?” she breathed.
Natalia shook her head, her eyes fixed quietly on Will. “No, only Amy. Brodie was already knocked out by the explosion.” She took a step forward. “Should I...come quietly, then?”
“Don’t arrest her,” Chase said quickly.
Will cocked his head. “Preston trusts you…” he mused.
“Chase!” Logan hissed, but Will seemed to have already decided.
“Come with us. But I’m not leaving anything to chance.” He stepped forward, producing from his belt a pair of handcuffs. “As Champion of this region, thus head of the police force, I must insist you wear these. But once Preston is revived, and that will be quickly,” he said, looking at his friend, a shadow crossing his face, “he will likely make a case for you.”
Natalia seemed to expect no less. She stepped forward with a look that almost seemed gratified, proffering her wrists. Will, surprised at how calm and willing she was, locked the cuffs around her arms. They hung off her. “You need a decent meal,” he said, smiling very slightly. Natalia did not smile.
“What about these two?” Logan asked. She and Alec were still looking apprehensively at Amy and Brodie.
“I’m afraid I don’t have room on Lugia’s back. Let’s just leave them here, I’m sure they won’t hurt anyone.” All eyes snapped to him, incredulous. “What, I’m kidding! Get a sense of humor,” Will said quickly, looking at Lugia, his eyes shining a deep crimson color.
“What the…?” Alec asked, startled.
“He’s a psychic, remember? He can communicate telepathically with his Pokémon,” Logan said patiently.
“Oh, right,” Alec said, his wonder at the Champion’s prowess renewed.
“Lugia will take all of us to Goldenrod. My Espeon will bring these two to Officer Jenny,” Will explained, already releasing his Pokémon and pulling out his Poké Gear to message the head of Goldenrod’s police branch.
Logan gasped with joy at seeing the Pokémon. “Your Espeon needs to meet Leafeon when we get to the city,” she said, beaming and petting the violet-colored lynx. Espeon purred, closing her pale eyes and cocking her head in pleasure.
“I’m sure she will,” Chase said impatiently. “Will, we need to go.”
“Of course. Everyone, climb on! There should be room on Lugia’s back...I’ve carried some of you before,” Will said, smiling at Logan and Chase. Espeon crossed to Amy and Brodie, glowing a bright saffron and extending the glow to the two bodies. In a flash, all three figures were gone.
Eagerly, Alec clambered onto the giant creature’s back first. Chase and Logan followed, Logan immediately sitting beside Alec on the plate-covered area just between the wings. Chase offered a hand to Natalia, who was having difficulty climbing with her hands bound.
“He kissed her,” Logan said in Alec’s ear.
The boy’s eyes widened. “What?”
“Right before Will arrived. I’m beginning to think you and I are the only ones she hasn’t tricked yet.”
Alec looked at Natalia, the girl’s ruby hair falling loosely across her olive-skinned face and bare shoulders. “She’s not a good person,” he said carefully.
“I know. But you are,” Logan said encouragingly, squeezing his hand. “And we’ll just stick together, you and me.”
“Forever and always,” Alec said, reading her mind. The two watched Natalia sit down unsteadily beside Chase.
Will climbed on last, checking to make sure Preston was secured. “Watch him. And her,” he said to Chase. Natalia lowered her eyes. “Alright, everyone. Hold on tight!” Lugia spread its gigantic wings and Alec gasped, his young face filled with amazement as the bird lifted off, leaving the earth it guarded behind.
….....................................................................................
-2008-
“Aaah! Congratulations!” Logan screamed, hugging Chase and jumping up and down. The trainer had just defeated his umpteenth opponent in the Unova League Championships, thus qualifying him to move on to the final four. “Two more battles, and you’re the winner,” she said, kissing him and feeling the stubble of a new beard sprouting on his face.
“Lucky break,” Chase said, grinning and stroking her long blonde hair.
“Lucky? You’ve worked hard to get this far,” Logan admonished, hitting him playfully. “If only Tracey could see you now,” she said proudly.
Chase nodded, pulling at the necklace around his neck. “He’s always with me,” he said softly.
“There’s our winner!” called a voice. Mary and Jonathan Tang had come to support Chase in the big tournament, flying all the way out to Unova despite Mary’s reluctance to travel. “I told your father if he didn’t come, he’d be missing out,” she said, pushing Logan aside so she could smother her son with kisses.
“Mom,” Chase protested, glancing around the enclosed waiting area; luckily, most people were still in the massive Vertress Conference stadium. Chase was the spitting image of his mother; both had soft features, gentle brown eyes and prominent, handsome noses. Jonathan took more after his father, his hair strawberry-blonde instead of black, although he, too, had inherited a large nose. He patted Chase on the back, laughing good-naturedly. “You’re smothering me!” Chase yelped.
Logan took this opportunity to slip away, glad to escape. Since the war, she had discovered a growing anxiety around crowds; the tournament was an absolute nightmare. Any chance to be alone was taken gladly by the teenager. She looked over her shoulder; Chase was too buried under congratulations to notice her disappearance.
“Good,” she said, breaking into a run through the tight blue corridor, desperate to breathe fresh air. Finally, sunlight glowed up ahead; the girl burst through the glass emergency exit, feeling warm summer breeze whip around her face.
Despite the hot and humid summer, not a day went by for Logan without pulling on Tracey’s deep blue cardigan, hugging it closely to herself. She breathed deeply, enjoying the liberation. The immediate area surrounding the massive silver stadium where the Unova League was being hosted was very well tended. Beautiful firs and oaks towered impressively on the opposite side of the fenced-in area. Through the branches, Logan could hear the twitter of Pidove and the hum of Cottonee and Leavanny. Unova contained so many Pokémon unique to its region; already she and Chase had captured quite a few, although Chase was insistent none would permanently join his team.
“I’ve already got everyone I need,” he’d said firmly.
Logan glanced around, alert; it seemed she was quite alone. She pulled out her Poké Gear, turning it on, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. Checking once more to be sure she was not being watched, she dialed the number she had seen advertised on the television last night. The screen remained blank; it seemed this number was audio-only. She placed the device to her ear.
“Hello, please hold for Madame Geller,” droned an electronic voice. Logan hopped the fence, holding the gear to her head in growing anticipation.
“Hello, may I ask who is this calling?” came a voice laced with a mysterious, untraceable accent.
“Logan Clements. You said in your ad on TV you can speak with the dead?”
“Madame Geller can commune with those passed beyond our world, it is true,” she said.
Logan’s heart leapt. “How much would I have to pay to speak to someone?” The line went dead. Logan frowned, looking at her gear; she was out of the receptive area. She had taken only a few steps into the forest; she could still see the stadium to her right. “Damn,” she uttered. “Someone needs to patch the reception on these things.” Suddenly, a wave of guilt hit her. After all the hard work Dr. Hume went through to prevent this, she thought.
Chase had heard her uttering Tracey’s name absently one too many times for comfort and given Logan a stern talking to last month. “The most important thing to remember is that he is gone,” Dr. Hume had pressed when Chase had insisted she call him. “Tracey is gone, Logan, nobody can reverse that.”
A mewing sound broke Logan from her thoughts. An Eevee limped out from under the trees, its right paw bleeding. “Oh, you poor thing!” Logan cried, reaching out to pick the tiny brown creature up.
“Eeeee!” it cried out, withdrawing clumsily; it seemed the damaged paw had been bitten, from the way the blood was matted and concentrated in spots.
“I won’t hurt you,” Logan promised, stepping forward again. The Pokémon’s large black eyes blinked at her warily, although the creature did not retreat further. It crouched, trembling, whimpering softly. “You poor thing,” Logan said, very slowly kneeling down in front of it.
The Eevee licked its paw, yelping at the pain. “May I?” Logan asked gently; Eevee flinched. “Shh, it’s okay,” she said softly, reaching slowly into her bag and pulling out a Full Heal. “This might help,” she said, offering the potion to the Pokémon.
Eevee’s ears flattened, its lips curling suspiciously. “Hey, hey, shh, it’s okay!” Logan said soothingly. The Pokémon hesitated; her voice seemed to be warming it up, at least enough to stop hissing. “I’ll take care of you,” the girl whispered. “Come on, little guy -” Eevee mewed. “Girl?” This was met with silence. “Girl,” Logan concluded, pushing the potion toward the creature. “It’s safe.” Eevee stuck her pink tongue out, carefully lapping at the liquid.
Dr. Hume’s voice echoed in her head: “You’ll need somebody to take care of.” She hadn’t understood this cryptic message until now. Eevee’s bright black eyes stared up at her, glistening with gratitude. Here is somebody I can take care of, she realized, her heart swelling.
Logan’s Poké Gear rang. Oh, now I have reception, she thought, pulling out the device. Chase’s number. She answered, the boy’s face pressed into the full screen.
“Logan! Where’d you go?” he cried. “The tournament isn’t gonna wait for you!”
The girl smiled. “Coming, Chase. Stop being such a worrywart.” She stood up, looking down at Eevee. “Oh, and I think I’m bringing a friend.” Eevee mewed.
….....................................................................................
-2009-
Preston blinked slowly, clearing his blurry vision. There was a very bright light overhead; it took several more blinks to understand he was merely staring at a fluorescent hospital lamp. There were several forms in the small room with him, all blurred silhouettes to his weary eyes. It took him several moments to understand that his leg was no longer ailing him. Where before it had felt as if a knife had been lodged permanently in his shin, biting through his hamstrings, now his leg merely throbbed dully every few heartbeats, almost a memory of pain more than the actual sensation.
“Preston?” came an anxious voice. Preston winced; it had been a while since he’d experienced sound. He opened his eyes, struggling to see through the sleepy film of fluid from the tranquilizers. A form close by stepped suddenly closer to the bed. The man had long violet hair, horn-rimmed glasses, and very pale skin at the moment.
“Will!” Preston cried, exalted to see his old friend. He became very aware of his surroundings at this moment; he was in a hospital wing only meant to house one person; the room felt crowded with so many visitors. Preston counted five, and suddenly his tired face split into a smile. “Does this feel familiar to anyone?” he asked, pushing himself upright.
“Sorry?” Will asked, confused.
“Well, not too long ago, you and I were in a hospital room with these very same people,” the older man said, indicating Alec, Logan, Chase, and Natalia. “Although she wasn’t in handcuffs.” Preston frowned at this. “Why is she in handcuffs? You haven’t arrested Natalia?” he asked.
“Well, no,” Will said, “not exactly. I didn’t know whether we could trust her.”
“I think you can,” Preston said. He took Will’s hand very seriously. “Take the cuffs off her, for Ho-oh’s sake.”
Will obeyed this request; Natalia massaged her wrists. “How’s your leg?” she asked softly.
Preston smiled. “I think it’s better, thank you. Anybody feel like catching me up to speed?” Everybody looked at one another, not sure what to say. “Don’t all jump at once,” Preston said dryly.
“Well...um, your leg was pretty bad,” Alec said from the furthest point of the room; he and Logan were standing together. “Logan dressed it, and we...well, we tried -”
“Natalia helped,” Chase interrupted. Logan shot him a look. “She actually did most of it,” he finished.
“Yes, well,” Logan said. “And our Poké Gear was broken in the fall, so Chase used his to call Will -”
“And I came to pick you up immediately. Nurse Joy’s looked at your leg and patched it up pretty seamlessly. You may have a limp for a while, but the bone was reset, bonded, and the skin was regrown. The miracle of modern medicine,” Will finished, smiling.
Preston nodded, taking in the information and releasing a tired sigh. “I feel as if I’ve just run a marathon,” he said shakily, leaning his head back.
“You said you had something to ask Preston,” Chase reminded Will.
“Ah, yes. Well...Preston, if it isn’t too much to ask…”
Preston repositioned himself so he was sitting completely, his legs tucked under the sheets but everything else upright. “What is it?” he asked, sensing the trepidation in Will’s voice.
“Well...the Official League Council is meeting shortly in the Radio Tower, Joe, and...well, we need everyone present. It’s urgent, apparently, and we’d like it if you were there.”
“Will, I can’t -”
“Erika’s gone missing,” Will said. Chase and Logan started at this; they were both on friendly terms with the Elite Four member. “We need someone to sit in her stead at the meeting, someone who can be trusted. Please, Joe.” Will leaned forward imploringly.
Preston rubbed his stubbled cheeks, running his fingers through his graying hair and keeping his eyes fixed on Will. “I retired, Will. I’m too old for this, I came back for the war, but -”
“Pryce is twice your age; eighty-five and still going, Preston,” Will said abruptly. “I know you feel your time with us is past, but you have an obligation as a capable trainer and prominent presence in the community to help us when we need you.” He stood up for effect. “It’s not right to hide when we need you most,” he said steadily.
Preston looked at his old friend for a long moment without speaking, wheels turning in his head. “Alright,” he said finally. “One final time.” Will smiled. “I better get a hell of a sendoff,” Preston muttered, shaking his head. This is crazy, he told himself. J.T. Preston, what have you gotten yourself into?
….....................................................................................
Good work, Bulba! I'm really enjoying this!