Namohysip
Dragon Enthusiast
Chapter 48 – Flames in the Dark
Going from Hot Spot Cave to the southern corner of the world took quite a while. The sun was not far from kissing the horizon. It wouldn’t be long until they were above the Chasm of the Void; even in the incoming twilight, they expected to see the blinding darkness that was the crater.
“So, from there,” Star said, balanced atop Zena’s serpentine back, “half of us will pay a visit to Nate, and the other half will keep to finding Emily with Jerry. How’re you holding up, Aero?”
“I’m just fine,” Jerry said, twisting his neck slightly at the tightness of his Stable Scarf. “I’m a little nervous about flying with this thing around my neck. It’s messing with my dynamics.”
“You can land on my back, if you want,” Owen offered.
“I’ll pass,” Jerry growled. “I’m afraid that you’ll twist and throw me right into the water once we go over the ocean.”
“Wh-what kind of person d’you think I am?!” Owen’s flame shrank at the accusation. In truth, Owen was simply trying to make up for his insolence prior to their fight. What more did he need to do? Owen struggled to find the words to form a proper apology.
“If you must,” Zena offered, “you may ride on my back, Jerry. Perhaps you can use my body as a perch? I’m sure I feel a lot like a tree branch if you don’t think about it.”
“Listen, I’m still trying to get used to the fact that you’re flying like the Legendary Rayquaza. I’m not about to also use you as some kind of stand. I’ll… I’ll just fly on my own. I’ll be fine.”
“Hm,” Zena nodded. “Very well.”
A quiet, serene noise filled the air. It was a gentle whistle in an enchanting, organic tune. Almost a song. It pierced through the wind.
“Um, do you hear that?” Amia asked.
“Hear what?” Owen asked. “Oh, Gahi?”
“Ngg—” Gahi beat his wings rapidly and the whistling stopped.
“Gahi! I didn’t know you could sing!” Amia said. “By the Stars, that was beautiful!”
Star’s ear twitched.
“I ain’t singing!” Gahi said.
“He isn’t,” Owen said. “Those are his wings! If the wind blows at them the right way, they make a really nice hum in the air. I remember Nevren once told me that it’s even louder in sandstorms.”
“It ain’t pretty!” Gahi said. “Nevern told me that Flygon use that singing to lure prey fer a kill. It’s deadly. I’m deadly.”
“I thought it sounded quite nice,” Zena said. “I envy that. Despite my species, my singing voice is not quite up to your wings, Gahi.”
“Well, at least your normal voice is nice, right?” Owen asked.
“I—I’m sorry?” Zena asked.
“Feh!” Gahi irritably drifted away from them, flying next to Manny instead.
“Heh.” Manny twirled through the air, wagging his tail. “I’ve been cooped up in that mountain and then those caves fer way too long! I fergot how great it was ter fly!”
“Lucario shouldn’t fly,” Zena said. “I much prefer you on the ground. Perhaps with your face in the dirt?” She giggled, hiding her mouth behind one of her ribbons.
“Hey, don’t go associating me with Rhys,” Manny said. “I know yer history. I ain’t got any bad past with yeh. Don’t gotta worry about me.”
“Yes, you’re less dangerous,” Zena said. “I heard that you lost to him quite soundly.”
“Soundly?” Manny said. “Who said that? Who said I did it all easy-like?”
“I believe it was Amia,” Zena said.
Manny’s eyes flashed with genuine betrayal.
“So!” Amia said, drifting away from Manny. “Jerry, um.” She fiddled with her hands. “About earlier. The… the Fire Clan.”
“What of it?”
“I, um, I’m sorry that your circumstances turned out that way. I didn’t think something like that would…”
“It’s that Goodra that’s the problem,” Jerry said. Amia didn’t reply. Jerry, perhaps from thoughts that had been bubbling for a while during the flight, continued. “What gives him the right to judge my character at a glance? What gives that stupid Ghrelle the right to judge me?! Neither of them have the right, if you ask me! I was at the top of those exams! I would’ve passed with flying colors! But then he steps in and denies me the chance. How is that fair?”
“I—I don’t know, Jerry. Maybe we can ask him,” Owen said. “After you’re all healed up, we can see why Anam—”
“I know why! It’s because there was something in my character that didn’t fit with the Hearts’ policy. I get it.”
“Then… why are you mad?” Owen said. “If you didn’t have it in you—”
“Well, maybe I could’ve gotten better.”
“Y-yeah, maybe,” Owen said. “But if Anam had to choose between someone who already had good character, versus someone who, I mean…” Owen didn’t want to say it, but at this point, he was just dancing around the subject. “You became an outlaw after you were denied a position as a Heart. Don’t you think that kind of reaction isn’t—”
Owen winced at Jerry’s glare.
“I’m done talking about this,” Jerry spat. “You better go with the group that sees that stupid Dark Guardian, got it? Because I don’t want to see your scaly hide for any longer than I have to, you pampered little—”
“Shut up for a second,” Star said, gently holding a paw on Jerry’s muzzle. “What’s going on down there?”
Jerry was about to protest, but he grunted instead and looked down. “What?” he asked. “It’s just a crater, nothing wrong with—wait a second…”
“Yeah, exactly.”
The Chasm of the Void was a shallow crater in the middle of a field of tan rocks and red dirt—no deeper than Kilo Village’s. Surrounding this field of lifeless dust were the thin trees of the southern forest. But that crater wasn’t supposed to be that way—and many in the group imagined it would be quite a lot deeper. Yet, it looked like it only went down for a hundred feet. The ground at the bottom was a barren wasteland of even paler dirt and rocks like the terrain that surrounded it. All the way across, it was about a quarter of the size of Kilo Village’s diameter.
“That’s not good,” Owen said. “Isn’t it supposed to be this… black circle that’s like going blind?”
“Yeah. And now it’s gone.” Her voice trembled. “Nate…!”
“Please don’t tell me Eon got him,” Owen said.
“N-no, that can’t be it. I mean, Nate’s shy, but he’d’ve told me, right?! Guys? I’m approachable, right?”
Zena huffed. “I suppose you are friendly, when you aren’t lying through your teeth.”
Owen could tell that one hurt.
Zena’s eyes softened slightly. “I… apologize.”
“N-no, it’s okay. I deserved that. I’m doing better,” Star said in a squeak. She gulped and steeled herself. “Change of plans. Let’s all fly down there and investigate. If there’s trouble, I want us to all be there to fight it off, alright?”
They all nodded and descended. Before long, they were at the very center of the crater; Owen was the first to land, sensing no immediate danger or foreign presence. “It feels fine to me.”
“I don’t know if I should be glad or worried about that,” Star said.
“Oy, Flygon,” Manny said.
“Eh?”
“How about we go off and circle the whole crater, see if we can spot anything weird at all angles, eh? My eyes and yer speed.”
The mutant Flygon made a thoughtful churring sound reminiscent of his Trapinch years. “Yeah, sure. Figure these guys’ll just scan the ground.”
Gahi put his speed to good use, and Manny hopped onto his back. For just an instant, Gahi felt an odd, nostalgic kinship with him—the Lucario that he had been so impressed by as a delinquent adolescent. Now, as a delinquent adult, Manny got to see him in his full glory.
“Oy!” Manny shouted at the others. “We’re gonna do a spin around the crater!”
“Yeah!” Gahi called back. “We’ll let y’guys know if we spot anything!”
And with that, the pair took off.
The rest resumed their search on the ground for any signs of oddities. Star spoke up first. “You don’t think Eon got to him, do you?”
Zena tilted a tiny boulder over with her ribbons, finding nothing. “Didn’t you just say Nate wouldn’t be defeated by Eon so easily?”
“I meant, like, with words,” Star said. “Eon’s pretty good with those when he has to be. Charisma, like any good leader.”
“Eon?” Jerry repeated.
“The leader of the Hunters.”
“Uh-huh. And the Hunters?”
“Uh, the people chasing the—look, I’ll explain later, if we even have to explain it.” Star waved her tiny arms in the air dismissively. “But right now, it doesn’t look like there’s anything here.”
“This dirt,” Zena said, slithering tentatively over it. “It feels… well-traveled. As if there were creatures constantly trotting over it at all times. But I imagine it would be quite lonely down here, don’t you think?”
“I don’t see any footprints,” Owen said.
Jerry kicked at a loose rock. “That’s because whatever used to be here didn’t have normal feet. I’ve never seen markings like this before, and I’ve followed lots of tracks. For all I know, this is just more of that weird business you guys deal with. But the way the dirt looks here, it feels like some sort of Ghost Type used to live here.” Jerry huffed. “Or some abomination. What’s the difference?”
With his foot, the Aerodactyl rolled a rock over and tilted his head. Something flat and yellow had been trapped underneath. He leaned down and picked up a strange cloth. The sensation baffled him—it felt smooth, cold, and wet, yet no water or residue was left on his wing’s claws.
“Huh.” He didn’t see any importance to it, but perhaps the material would be useful. Making use of the small bag they had given him for his sparring match with Owen, he slipped it inside. Maybe he could sell it.
Gahi and Manny—who had been specks in the air until seconds ago—descended next to the group, indicated by that same singing from the Flygon’s wings.
“Nada,” Manny reported.
“What the heck’s a nada?” Jerry said.
“It means nothing,” Star said. “Lost language.”
“Doesn’t look like anything’s here,” Zena said. “That’s too bad. I hope Nate is okay…”
“Guess so,” Star sighed. “Okay. I guess Nate isn’t here. I don’t see any signs of a struggle, though.” She looked over at Owen. “What do you think? Owen? Hello?”
“Huh? Oh—sorry,” Owen looked back. “I was trying to scan the whole area and I think I got lost.”
Jerry blinked. “This is a big, open crater. How in Mew’s name do you get lost in here?”
Star’s ear twitched.
“It’s—it’s hard to explain, okay?” Owen said. “Sometimes it feels like I’m everywhere at once, and big, open areas make me just bleed my mind all over. I kinda prefer confined spaces.”
“You’re one of the weirdest Chars I’ve ever met,” Jerry said. “Hmph. So, are we done here? Are we good? Let’s go.”
“I guess we are,” Star agreed, nodding uncertainly. “Owen?”
Owen was standing still again, staring into empty space with his mouth agape.
Jerry smacked Owen just below his horns.
“Ng—don’t do that!” Owen crouched down, covering his ears. “I was just thinking!”
“You were thinking for ten seconds. C’mon, let’s get going before you go crazy. Seeing the Chasm all bare like this is giving me the creeps.”
Owen shrank. “O-okay.”
“What,” Star said to Jerry, “you mean it being like staring into the abyss is any less creepy?”
“That was weird, too!” Jerry said. “Tons of crazy rumors about this place. They say that if you fell into the void, demons would claim your soul and turn your body into more darkness.” He shivered. “Some Pokémon once escaped. They said that they felt thousands of hands trying to pull them apart.”
“Th-that wasn’t what it was like when we came,” Owen said.
“You went into the Chasm?” Jerry asked.
“Yeah! We… mis-warped or something, and wound up there.” Owen paused. “I didn’t know Badges could mis-warp.”
“They can’t,” Star said. “Nevren redirected us there since apparently Eon was gonna head there next. Probably wanted to keep Nate protected. What a load of good that gave us in the end…”
“Jerry,” Zena spoke up. “How do you know about the Chasm?”
“I’m from here,” Jerry said. “Ever heard of Pyrock Village? Not that far from here.”
Amia tilted her head back. “Mm… that does sound familiar,” she said. “But I’ve never been there. Perhaps a few generations back?”
“Yeah. Back before the ‘Fire Clan’ split up.” Jerry shrugged and repositioned his wings. “Whatever. Guess it doesn’t matter now. The Chasm is just gone, and I say good riddance. All those scary stories about evil spirits stealing you away at night don’t have much weight to them anymore, now do they?”
“Doubt they had any weight to begin with.” Star shrugged, eyes closed. “Nate’s friendly. Sure, he’s weird, but he’s friendly.”
“Speaking of weird,” Jerry mumbled. Owen was staring into space again. He flicked his tail on Owen’s thigh.
“Guh—! Stop that!”
Star hummed. “I guess he’s getting his powers back gradually. Power before control. You keep that in check, big guy.” She crossed her arms and flicked her tail. “You weren’t like that when you first evolved, so I think you’re getting your powers back in full before you’re getting back the knowledge on how to handle it.”
“I guess so,” Owen said, shutting his eyes tight. That didn’t help. If anything, it made him even more focused on his surroundings.
Jerry grumbled irritably.
They took off. Before long, the now bright, barren chasm was a small speck in the distance, and the thin, pale treetops of the southern forest took over the landscape. Jerry followed behind at a slightly slower pace. The others were quick to notice this, but it was Owen who spoke up first.
“Jerry, are you okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, just fine.”
“How come you’re slowing down? Don’t get too far. If you start melting, I’m gonna need to get that scarf refreshed before we get to Emily.”
“I feel fine. Lay off.”
The Charizard winced, beating his wings as if it would help to shake off the rejection. “O-okay.”
“Hey,” Star spoke up. “How about we go on a little detour first?”
“E-excuse me? This is a bit urgent, Star,” Zena said.
“Oh, please, we aren’t in a rush,” Star said. “This is just a bunch of hurry-and-wait. Even once Jerry gets healed by Emily, we need to wait for the Badges to recharge before we can get back home. Jerry?”
“What? What do you want?” Jerry asked.
“Want to visit the Western Chasm Glade?”
Jerry’s flight stiffened into a glide, and he stared ahead, looking at nobody.
“No.”
Star blinked. “You… y’don’t?”
“No. Let’s just see Emily.”
Zena and Owen glanced at one another, and then at Star. She seemed puzzled at the response, but then said, “Aw, well, I’m sure you really want to. I bet she’d—”
“Let’s go.” Jerry beat his wings hard, accelerating forward until he was ahead of the entire group. The ocean dominated the landscape, with the forest below transitioning into fields and sand, and finally into nothing but an expanse of water that glistened orange under the setting sun.
Owen was tempted to ask Jerry what that place was, or why Star was offering, and why Jerry refused so curtly. She was just trying to help, wasn’t she? Owen felt someone brush against his side; he glanced to the right.
“Oh—sorry,” Zena said.
“It’s okay,” Owen said. “Hey, are you having trouble flying? I guess it’s pretty weird for a Milotic to be going through the air, huh?”
“Oh, it’s not strange at all, actually,” Zena said. “This feels very much like swimming. I should do this more often. I would be more worried about your mother.”
“Uh?” Owen looked to his left. Amia was flying, yes, but she was squinting at the air, struggling to see through the rush. “Mom?”
“Oh! Yes, dear?”
“Are you okay? Seems like you’re having trouble, uh, seeing.”
“Ohh, it’s just fine, Owen.” Her eyes were watering.
Owen wondered if Pokémon that could naturally fly just had an easier time with harsh winds. Then again, Zena was fine with it, too, but perhaps swimming through water worked in the same way? Owen looked at the others. Manny was flying, and he had no problem with the wind; last he checked, he never saw Rhys fly. No, he did, when they had gone over the ocean the first time—but did that really count as flying? Propelling himself with the sheer force of aura from his paws? It wasn’t like he could keep it up, either; Rhys had been quite strained by the end of it.
Wings sounded like the most appropriate way to fly, like himself and Gahi. None of these Mystic cheaters. Then again, he supposed lots of Pokémon levitated… But Rhys didn’t. If he wanted to fly, he’d need to sprout an extra set of wings.
Owen briefly imagined Rhys crossed with a Dragonair, little white wings sprouting from his furry back.
He snorted out a small flame from his nostrils and tried to cover it up as a cough from swallowing a gust of air.
“Owen?” Zena asked.
“N-nothing, nothing,” Owen said. “I was just, uh, I was just imagining what it’d be like if, uh, Manny had wings.”
“Wings? Oh, flying,” Zena said. She looked at the Lucario, and then giggled. “Oh, goodness, imagine if you fused with him, Owen.”
“Fused?” Owen said. He imagined himself with Manny’s boisterous personality, and then the mighty wings of a Charizard attached to the thin frame of a Lucario. “That doesn’t sound too bad. For some reason I was imagining the little white wings you see on Dragonair.”
Zena’s eyes bulged and she stifled a laugh of her own. “Now why are you imagining that?”
“W-well, I—I mean,”—Owen flushed—“I was imagining how a Lucario could fly normally. M-maybe they could use a bunch of Aura Spheres and use that as propulsion? Do you think they can shoot them from their feet?”
Manny was too far away to ask without yelling over the wind.
Zena let loose a small giggle. “And how do you imagine I would fly, Owen?”
“Y-you? Umm—well, how does Rayquaza fly? You sorta move like I imagine he would. With… wind power, or something.”
“Wind power,” Zena repeated.
“W-well, what else would it be? Doesn’t he have control over the sky or something? That’s awesome! Hey, Star? Is Rayquaza real?”
“Yeah.”
“W-wow! What, um, what’s he like?”
“He’s cool. A little uptight, but really laid back. Lots of the pantheon is kinda like that. I think they get it from Barky, you know, since they’re sorta disciples of him and stuff. Created their forms, yadda yadda… ‘Quaza was good friends with Dialga.”
“Oh? You mean you didn’t make them? I thought you made all life.”
“All normal life,” Star said. “The Embodiments are his thing, for the most part. But most of them aren’t around anymore.”
“Oh, that’s too bad,” Owen said. “So Rayquaza isn’t around?”
“Nope.”
“Well, I guess that explains why there have never been any sightings,” Owen said, though he couldn’t help but wonder why they wouldn’t be around anymore. “How come they aren’t around?”
“Eh, stuff happens,” Star said evasively. “Maybe one day Barks will get around to making another.”
“Hmm.” He knew Star wasn’t telling the full story, but perhaps it was just a sore spot, or an accident. Did Rayquaza die from flying into a mountain when he wasn’t paying attention? If it was something embarrassing, perhaps Star was just covering for his spirit’s dignity.
Star growled. “Look, I don’t know the full story, either, okay?”
“O-oh. Sorry.” Owen nodded; if anything, that felt honest.
Zena sighed. “Speaking of Embodiments, I can’t wait to see Emily again.”
“Urk.” Owen’s flight briefly faltered. “Y-yeah. She seemed nice.”
Zena smiled apologetically. “I know you didn’t get the best first impression, but I’m glad you at least see her as friendly.”
“Y-yeah, I mean, she’s great!” Owen forced himself to perk up. “She dedicates her life to rescuing Pokémon lost at sea! She’s like the ocean’s Thousand Hearts! Except, uh, just one Heart. Well, two, if you count Vaporeon, um… Tanneth, her name. And like Anam, she hugs people. A lot.”
“Hugs,” Zena said with another giggle. “Is that what we’re calling it, now?”
“I just don’t want to think of it another way,” Owen said, briefly remembering when he’d also accidentally been halfway submerged in Anam’s slime. No wonder he reminded Zena of Emily.
Jerry eyed Owen suspiciously. “Hang on,” he said. “What?”
“Uhh—” Owen shook his head. “It’s nothing! Nothing. Remember, Emily’s probably the only way we can get you fixed completely, okay?”
Jerry stared. Owen shrank, veering toward Zena if only to get further away.
“So,” Jerry said, “tell me again what’s going on? Who is this Emily you’re talking about, and how is she able to heal me?”
“She’s a Lugia with very special powers,” Zena said. “Potent healing abilities—it’s slower, but it’s incredibly strong. It was enough to heal Owen and Gahi’s minds when they fused together.”
“I don’t think it was just that,” Star said. “But she did help. It’s our best bet at getting you better, Jerry. After that, we’ll drop you off at the Hearts, you can finish your dues, and you’ll find a better job than being a criminal. Alright?”
“Don’t talk to me like I’m some kid.”
Star sighed. This was going to be a long flight.
The sky transitioned to a deep purple in silence, nobody speaking with one another, more involved with their own thoughts. With so many around him, Owen was able to focus mostly on their bodies rather than the great, empty expanse of air that surrounded them, or the ocean below. Most of them were relaxed. Star seemed to be meditating, settled on a spot on Zena’s back. Manny’s lips twitched every so often, occasionally becoming little grins. He must have been talking to Yen. Jerry, however, was still stiff.
“Oh, look,” Owen said, pointing. “Zero Isle Spiral.”
“Yep,” Star said.
The twisted archipelago was to their right. In the darkening sky, they could tell the land apart from the water only because the water glistened orange, while the land itself was dark.
“Wh—hey!” Owen pointed at the very center of the four-pronged vortex of small islands. “That’s awesome!”
The center of the spiral glowed dimly.
“That’s where the treasure is,” Star said with an amused lilt. “In other words, Dragon Guardian Aramé.”
“Can’t we just fly right to the center?” Owen asked. “We can skip Zero Isle Spiral entirely! Oh, wait,” Owen hummed. “Dungeon space is spherical, right? So, once we get too close—”
“You’ll land right at the edge, yep,” Star said. “Besides, I wouldn’t go there anyway. Aramé’s all about strength, and Zero Isle Spiral just isn’t a place you want to go. Even Elites struggle with it.”
“Yer making me wanna challenge it,” Manny said.
“Go ahead,” Star shrugged. “I’ll come and collect your corpse later. She’s merciful to mortals, but she told me a long time ago that if a Mystic ever entered the Dungeon, she’d have spirits waiting at the entrance to kill the defeated.”
“She sounds nice,” Zena said.
“Feh. Doesn’t sound so tough. Maybe she’s all talk.”
“Wanna test it out?” Star asked. “C’mon, Manny. Don’t be an Owen.”
“H-hey!”
Star giggled. “Let’s keep going, alright? One problem at a time.”
More flying, and the sound of wind blowing past them slowly faded out of Owen’s mind. The gentle singing of Gahi’s wings, too, faded from Owen’s mind. Becoming nothing but background noise, the ‘silence’ ate away at him. He drifted a bit to Zena, and then dipped beneath her until he was between the Milotic and the Aerodactyl.
“Um, Jerry,” he said.
“What now?” he groaned.
“I’m sorry for belittling you. For the fight.”
Jerry stared at Owen incredulously. “You think I care?”
Owen flinched. “N-no, I mean, yes? I—I just didn’t want to—I’m just sorry that I said you were weak.”
“Who cares?” Jerry said. “I fight to survive. Just because you thought I was weak doesn’t mean anything. Actually, you know what? It’s an advantage for me, because that might’ve given me the win in the first place.”
“Y-yes, but isn’t… I don’t know. Doesn’t it seem like a big insult? I’m really sorry.”
Jerry wished his wings weren’t occupied so he could rub his face. He compromised by rolling his eyes. “Look, if this is part of your freak-mutant culture of bloodlust, I don’t care. Your apology was losing. So, fine. Apology accepted.” He grunted. “Now how about you stop belittling me for my past, next?”
Owen winced.
“Yeah, Mister Entry-Heart. By the way, did you know that they tell you the team name of the group that arrested you? Part of the records. What kind of name is Team Alloy? None of you guys are metallic.”
“Th-that’s a long story,” Owen said, realization washing over him. Alloy. What a sick joke. “It’s meant to signify a team that can combine their skills into a single, stronger force.”
“So, your fusion gimmick,” Jerry said.
“We… didn’t know about that part.”
“Ohh, so it’s just a subconscious thing,” Jerry said. “Huh. Well, isn’t that something.”
An agonizing silence followed.
Jerry went on. “So. You gonna apologize?”
“For calling you an outlaw?”
Jerry snarled. “Forget it. I can’t expect someone from the Hearts to understand.”
“To be fair, Jerry,” Star said, “you are an outlaw who ran away from your sentence. We could send you right back to toil.”
He growled in response. “Being told off by God herself. Hmph. Guess I should feel honored.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“What, don’t like taking responsibility for your mistakes?” Jerry smirked.
“Do you?” Star replied icily.
“L-let’s not get too heated,” Amia spoke up over the wind. “Emily! We’re here for Emily, to help Jerry, remember?”
Jerry and Star continued their glares. Owen, able to see Star’s face from his angle, had to turn away. Jerry’s eyes were no better, and he ultimately drifted back to Zena, taking solace in her graceful ‘swim’ through the sky.
“So,” Owen said to Jerry, “life was pretty hard for you, huh?”
Jerry broke his glare to pay attention to his flight path. “Yeah. Guess you could say that. Sure, maybe if I toughed it out, I would be able to get a decent life for myself. But there were easier ways.”
“Like stealing,” Star said.
“Like surviving away from a dead-end job.”
“Dead-end? You had it made!” Star said. “Do you know how good it is to get a job in construction?”
“Excuse me?” Jerry said, beating his wings to gain some altitude on Star. “You have any idea how high the turnover is for a job like that? Chronic strain would’ve had me out in ten years! Then what?!”
“A-Anam wouldn’t allow something like that to happen,” Owen defended.
“And another thing, don’t you think it’s a little weird that Anam’s the law of the land, the Head of the Hearts, and the world’s grand priest?! Sounds like an awful lot of power, if you ask me. I don’t think he can manage playing God of the Living.”
“Nobody can,” Star mumbled.
“W-well,” Owen stuttered. “I don’t—I don’t think Anam’s been doing a bad job. The world’s fine, if you ignore all this Mystic stuff. Maybe you just aren’t—” Owen caught himself too late.
“Aren’t what?” Jerry asked. “Or are you siding with Ghrelle, saying I don’t have the right character or purity to make it in this world? That I’m some lazy trash? Is that it?”
Amia flinched, ready to speak up, but she couldn’t find the words. Gahi beat his wings irritably, but he lacked the eloquence to counter with anything meaningful. In a rare act of restraint, he said nothing, too. Manny listened with an uncharacteristic, somber silence. Zena looked at Owen, expecting him to respond. Star seemed lost in thought about something else.
“That’s—no,” Owen said. “You—you work hard. You wouldn’t be so strong if you didn’t work hard.” He looked down, stretching his wings for a steady glide.
“Hmph,” Jerry said. “I thought so. You just follow the label. I’m an outlaw. Doesn’t matter what or why. I’m a criminal, and you’re better than me for that. Pretty simple mindset. But you know what? I had to make the choice. I either had to doom myself to a short life, wasting away at unskilled labor just to make ends meet, or—actually survive, no matter what I had to do. I don’t want to hurt people. But I needed to if I wanted to live a life of any sort of comfort that you privileged Hearts have handed to you.”
Owen nibbled on the right side of his tongue. How was he supposed to counter that? He had no idea what Jerry was talking about. Pokémon got along just fine. They worked, they got paid, and they got what they needed to live. It was simple. If there was a problem with the way the world worked—there would have been protests against Anam! Large ones!
“Owen,” Zena spoke up. “Is the world difficult to live in? I have been away for so long, but the time I’ve spent in Kilo Village—I don’t think I saw that much trouble.”
“It’s not that difficult,” Owen said. “You just need to get a good skillset, put yourself to use, and you can pretty much just find a job to take care of.”
Jerry growled. “You talk as if finding a job and getting skills is easy, and then you’re set for life. You aren’t. Sometimes you don’t have the resources to do something the right way. Got it?”
Star snapped to her senses. “Guys, c’mon.”
“Hmph, y’know what?” Gahi flapped his wings, briefly cutting off the whistling song. “Owen’s right.”
“Bah, what do you know,” Jerry said dismissively. “You’re a Heart. You’ve got the best sort of life.”
“Hah!” Gahi swayed threateningly closer to Jerry. “Easy, being a Heart? Don’t make me laugh. While all the normal folks get to live quiet lives, we’re the ones heading straight inter danger every day. We get paid well because we need supplies, and ‘cause without us, Pokémon would be in trouble and dying a whole lot more often. Mutant attacks alone amount fer a lot o’ our problems, too, y’know. We’re the ones who gotta fight ‘em, not the civilians er whatever. Y’know that one guy, Granbull Jin? Died defending town, jus’ like that. And y’know what? I think I’m starting ter understand why Anam rejected you. ‘Cause he has a sense fer this sorta thing. His power. He can peer inter yer heart, feel yer emotions. Figure that’s a Mystic quirk.”
“Oh, is that it?” Jerry said. “Anam, the great, compassionate Goodra, is literally able to feel what others feel? Well then enlighten me, Flygon—why did Anam reject me? Because I was too mean? To harsh? Too scaaary for the adult hatchling to handle? I would’ve been the best new recruit they’d’ve ever gotten!”
“Hmph, no you wouldn’t,” Gahi said. “Strength ain’t why Anam rejects people. That’s what the tests are fer.”
“Then WHAT?” Jerry shouted, seemingly convinced that Gahi knew the answer. “I had everything! I could’ve turned my life around! None of this would’ve happened if I was just accepted into the Hearts! All of it! So WHY?”
Gahi snorted. “That’s easy,” he said. “Why’d you wanna join the Hearts?”
“To make my life better. So I can actually feel secure. So I could actually survive. What’s so wrong about that?!”
“Ain’t nothing wrong with it,” Gahi said. “But that ain’t enough. Figure I know why. D’you, Owen?”
Owen gulped. “Y-yeah. I know. I think I know.”
“What is it?” Zena and Jerry both asked—Zena in curiosity, Jerry with bitter impatience.
Owen winced. “It’s because you don’t care enough about others.”
Jerry stared at them in disbelieving, wide eyes. “How can—” he said, but he stopped himself. An opposing gust of wind disrupted their course and the group of fliers had to swerve to stabilize on their way. The sun had finally set; what little light that had brightened the Chasm, by now, was gone completely. The ocean was a sea of undulating darkness, except for the distant factory where Steel Guardian Brandon resided to their left. This factory had no light, but was instead an even darker patch against the water.
“Don’t care for—” Jerry said again. His wings beat twice, each one angrier than the last.
“How can I care about others when I can BARELY CARE FOR MYSELF?!”
He made a nosedive toward the ocean, gaining speed, and then tilted up to move forward. He didn’t care where he went; he didn’t even care if he lost his course. He just wanted to get away from them. He tilted his head back to get a look at his tail and feet. They were still solid. For just a brief moment, his thoughts trailed to the idea that if he melted, maybe he wouldn’t have to think about this anymore. The irrational thought remained in his head for longer than he’d wished, but he eventually shook it out.
“Aagh, what is he doing?” Gahi groaned.
“You guys need to stop pushing his buttons,” Star said.
“Oh, like you weren’t?” Gahi said.
“That was too far,” Star said. “Look, you guys have a point, but we’re trying to help him. If he runs off, we might lose him. Like, super-lose him.”
“He heading the right way?” Manny asked.
“Yeah. He’s fine. Let’s just keep up.”
“So, how exactly are we going to spot Emily’s place?” Owen said.
“I know the way,” Star said. “But if you guys aren’t sure, uhh, let’s see,” Star scanned the group. “Anybody know Flash?”
No reply.
Star sighed. “Yeah, I figured.” She looked down. “Hmm. Well, if Emily’s around, I can sense her aura. Otherwise, we’ll be able to see it on the ocean as a little darker spot. There’s still a little bit of light left. If we speed it up, we’ll actually see it.”
Gahi grumbled. “It’s getting real dark,” he said. “Kinda… tired, y’know.”
“Oh, that’s right,” Amia said. “You… you’re a little sleepy, huh? I forgot that normal people have to sleep. I wonder if Jerry’s feeling tired, too.”
“Doubt it, after getting upset like that,” Star said. “He might be used to long nights.”
“Um, Gahi, er,” Owen said. “If you need help, maybe we can fuse. Then you won’t have to sleep. Does that sound—”
Gahi crashed into Owen, melting into his side. Owen gasped in surprise and swerved through the air, twirling without direction. He fell a quarter of the way to the ocean, and then outstretched his four wings, righting himself. “Ugh—” Gawen muttered. “I’m kinda worried that I’m getting used to that.”
Star giggled. “Doing alright, there?”
“Y-yeah, I’m fine.”
“Not, um, not feeling antsy at all, dear?” Amia asked.
“I’m fine, Mom,” Gawen said. “Gahi’s actually resting. I think he fused differently this time. It feels like he’s… just a little bit there, in the back of my head.”
“Oh, there are different degrees of fusing together?” Zena asked.
“I guess so,” Gawen said. “But with Gahi further in, I feel like I can use the Owen part of me a lot easier. Hey, that’s right—so, think I can just use my Perception to find the cave?”
“I’d be careful about that, but go ahead,” Star said. “You know how open areas can make you feel lost. This is about as open as you can get.”
“N-no, it’s fine. With Gahi in here, it feels… like I can’t expand it as much. It’s not as easy to lose it. Um… but I don’t feel anything yet. I—oh, wait! There!” Gawen gently banked to the right. “See? It’s right there!”
“I see it,” Zena said. “I hope Jerry did.”
“Yep, I see his aura,” Manny said. “Kinda hard ter miss somethin’ so turbulent. Feh… I can’t relate ter what he’s getting at. Like, I get try’na do yer best fer yerself, but there’s more to it, eh? Hearts’re supposed ter be heroes.”
Star glanced at Manny, smiling slightly. “Yeah, you know, you’d make a good Heart, Manny.”
“Bahh, don’t bring that up,” Manny waved a paw dismissively.
The others focused; now that they were closer, they could see the Aerodactyl’s aura standing just at the edge. It was flaring with a mixture of raw emotions, and Gawen felt, simultaneously, pity and annoyance toward the outlaw—an emotion from both his halves.
“Whoa, you alright there, Gawen?” Star asked. “Felt your aura do a weird little pulse there.”
“S-sorry,” Gawen said. “Felt some conflict in my head, uh, I think the Gahi half is annoyed, but the Owen half feels bad, or something.”
“Sounds about right.” Star sighed. “…Uh—wait. Are my aura eyes crossed, or am I counting four auras?”
“Can aura eyes cross?” Manny said.
“Shut up, you know what I mean.”
“I kinda don’t.”
“Just—count the freaking auras.”
They all did. They saw a single, gigantic aura—that was most definitely Lugia Emily. Frankly, they probably would have noticed her even if they didn’t use aura. It seemed that she was home tonight. They also saw the tiny—relatively—aura of Vaporeon Tanneth resting on Emily’s shoulder. Or in her shoulder; it was hard to tell. They also saw Jerry… and then, another Jerry.
Manny flicked his aura sensors. “Oy, what? I think my whatevers’re on the fritz.”
They descended to investigate, landing on the soft sands. The water was cold on their feet. Gawen in particular sank a few inches into the cold sand, shivering with each wave of water that brushed on his scales.
Gawen focused and split in half. Gahi stumbled forward and rubbed at the area just beneath his eye-covers, yawning. Owen advanced into the cave, grabbing his tail to light the way.
“Oh, there’s your friends!” Emily said. Her booming voice shook the entire island; every step of the Lugia threatened to knock the group off their feet.
Not all Lugia are this big, right? Owen thought. She’s almost as big as the Heart!
“Hi, Em!” Star waved. “Good to see you again!”
“Oh, hi! You’re pretty!” Emily said. “Oh, you’re so tiny, too! You’re even tinier than Tanneth!” Emily faced Jerry. “Your friends are cool!”
“Nrgh, they aren’t my friends,” Jerry muttered.
“Found the real Jerry,” Star said. “So who’s—”
The second Jerry, in the darkness, suddenly shifted forms. The silhouette of an Aerodactyl meshed and transitioned before their eyes into a floating, tiny creature—Mew.
“A-another Mew?!” Owen said.
“Getting warmer, Owen,” the second Mew said in a voice that exactly matched Star.
“W-wait, how’d you—” Owen suddenly felt an icy pit in his stomach. He recognized this person. No—he didn’t, not this specific form, aside from it being Star. But he knew who it was. The same person they heard in the Chasm of the Void, before the darkness had gone away.
“He’s not a Mew, silly!” Emily giggled. “He’s a Ditto! And he’s really funny!”
The Ditto, as a Mew, gave a little wave to Owen. When he looked at him, he instantly expanded, landing heavily on the ground, and became another Owen—complete with the mutations imbued within his Charizard base.
Their two flames washed the nighttime with light. And in that light, Owen finally saw this Ditto for the first time in many, many lives. Or, perhaps not; after all, Deca visited him quite often when nobody was around…
Of the ones he could remember, at least. Flashes of old memories all throughout his scrambled mind danced in front of Owen’s vision. Based on Gahi’s dazed expression, he was seeing something similar.
What worried Owen the most was that the icy pit in his stomach was fading. Owen spoke without thinking.
“Dad…”
Eon grinned, holding his arms and wings out. “It’s good to see you again, Owen.”
She also wins points for not putting up with Willow's sass.
