Hey there readers. With the posting of this chapter we are nearly at the end of Dedication Through Light and Darkness. Only one more chapter after this one. The plot has pretty much been wrapped up. If there are any holes still then I apologize. Didn't say much this time. Anyway, as always, enjoi!
Dedication Through Light and Darkness
Opening 4
Chapter 26: The Recovery Begins!
“What’ll you do now Damien? You don’t have much reason to stay here since the Black Organization has fallen.”
The older man looked towards the sky, the sun hiding behind the horizon. He began to chuckle as he pushed his hands into his pockets and began to walk in the opposite direction of the Academy.
“I’m not finished with Team Lustrous,” he said, stopping briefly. “As long as they exist I will continue to fight against them.”
“Good luck to you then,” said Sydnie.
“May our paths cross again,” was all Damien said before he took off towards the shoreline.
Once the man vanished, Sydnie turned back to Jyharri. A sad expression had taken over his face as he looked at all the motionless bodies around them. Pulling his chin up, Sydnie smiled at him, Jyharri returning the gesture. The two friends then began to walk back towards the school using each other as a support.
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“Mio, can you hear me? Say something Mio.”
Slowly the infirmary came into view as Mio slowly opened his eyes. Beginning to sit up, his head began to pound. He clutched it fast, falling back into the pillows. Crowded around him were four people, all of them had a worried look on them.
“Are you alright Mio?” asked a girl in a green blazer. The light shined off her face brilliantly due to the wetness.
“Charlotte, were you crying?” Mio groaned out.
“Of course I was,” she replied as she began to wipe her face. “I heard you got hurt and I rushed here as fast I could.”
“What happened?” Mio asked holding his head.
“Someone said you were trying to find some Pokémon on the cliff and fell off,” answered Sydnie. “Luckily Jyharri was there to take you to the infirmary.”
When they’re eyes met Mio studied Jyharri suspiciously. There was something about Jyharri that he forgot. Searching his mind, Mio only found more pain. Groaning once more, he sat up, his breathing becoming heavy.
“You can leave now darling,” said the nurse. “You’re going to be feeling headaches off and on for the next week or so, but it shouldn’t be anything serious. If you have any more major problems then come and see me.”
“Great,” Brandon cheered throwing his fist into the air. “Now we can go practice for our field exam!”
Exiting the infirmary, the group arrived on the main campus. The sun had fallen behind the horizon, the sky a pitch black. Lamp posts had been lighted all around the campus, making a light path around the school. Once they began to head back to the dorms, the Leaf Green and girl and Sydnie had fallen behind, talking and giggling at the boys walking in front of them. The campus seemed like a ghost town. The only people that had walked the campus was the group of five.
“Hey Mio,” Jyharri whispered to him. “Who’s the girl? She seems familiar, but I’m sure I’ve never met her before.”
“That’s my girlfriend,” Mio told him. “We’ve been dating for almost a year now. You’ve met her before.”
“Are you serious?”
“She was with me when I first met you,” explained Mio. “Not only that, but we were holding hands before we went off into that cave.”
Pushing his hat up to scratch his head, Jyharri gave Mio a look that said he did not have any idea what he was talking about. Mio threw him a disgusted look.
“You never pay attention to me!”
Mio stormed off ahead, arriving at the docks to the Fire Red dorm in a matter of minutes. Once they were alone, Brandon looked at Jyharri with a smile. When Jyharri looked at him, he began to chuckle.
“What’s so funny?” demanded Jyharri.
“The fact that you’re oblivious to the fact that Sydnie has been watching you this entire time,” replied Brandon. “She would say something to Charlotte, look at you, blush, and then look away. I don’t see why you two aren’t together. You’re perfect for each other.”
Jyharri scoffed at Brandon’s delirious statements. As they passed the main Academic building, Brandon nodded to Jyharri before walking off towards a large yellow dome. Turning around, he saw Charlotte give Sydnie a quick hug before skipping off to Mio who had suddenly appeared by the path leading to the Leaf Green dorm.
“You could wait,” Sydnie called out, a smile on her face.
Stopping in his tracks, Jyharri turned his head slightly, a smirk on his face. Once Sydnie caught up she grabbed his hand, their fingers interlocking. Silence reigned over them as they walked onto the boat that traveled to the Fire Red dorm. Still holding hands as they sat down, the two occasionally looked at each other with a smile. As they left the docks, torches had lit the way to the dorms, the fire burning brightly. The lobby, like the campus, was completely deserted. There was no source of light except for the fire outside. Leading the way, Sydnie pulled Jyharri towards the left, towards the girls’ dorms.
“Sydnie-” began Jyharri before being silenced by Sydnie’s index finger.
Proceeding through the sliding doors, the two Fire Red students stopped at a door that wasn’t too far from the lobby. Sydnie placed her palm on a small machine located next to the door. After a few beeps and a loud click, the door opened. The room looked exactly as it had several months back. Jyharri remembered being in the room when he had to go on a date dressed up as a girl. Pulling him even more, Sydnie led Jyharri to another door, this one not needing verification. Once the door was swung open Sydnie’s room was revealed. Sydnie brought Jyharri in, closing the door behind her. When the door was finally shut the two finally released each other’s hand.
“It feels good to finally be back in a dorm,” commented Jyharri as he sat on Sydnie’s bed.
“Not only that, but it feels good to finally not worry about anything life threatening,” Sydnie added as she sat next to him. “Now we can just rest.”
Sydnie laid back, her head coming to a rest on a large pillow. Following suit, Jyharri lay behind her, wrapping his arm around her torso. Sydnie smiled before closing her eyes and drifting slowly into the unconscious state called sleep.
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“Come here Jyharri.”
Just as he had before, Jyharri had seen the woman who possessed similar features to Sydnie in his dreams. She had a cheerful expression on her face, beckoning to him. A tree had been placed behind her, the leaves a golden color. A leaf slowly began to fall towards the yellow ground. Running to the woman, Jyharri let out a high pitched laugh. As soon as the leaf hit the ground the scene had changed. Now inside a small room, the woman sat in a chair clear across the room, her head hung low. Jyharri approached her, trying to get her to move. She remained motionless, her hair hanging in front of her face. Pushing a little harder, the woman fell off the chair and onto the floor still not moving. Coming back to reality, Jyharri bolted upright. He began to pant as he looked around the room he was in.
This isn’t Sydnie’s room, he thought as he saw his belongings against the opposite wall.
I’m in my own room. But how did I get in here?
As he got out of his bed, he noticed his blazer was hanging off the chair by the door. Grabbing his blazer, he quickly opened the door, entering the main room. The room was deserted of people minus Jyharri. A loud chime sounded from his pocket, a light expelling out as well. Pulling out his PDA he saw that a message had been sent to him.
“It’s from Brad,” Jyharri noted. He began to read the message allowed as he walked to the door. “I saw you and Sydnie walk towards the dorm so I decided to tail you. When I noticed you were going into her room I quickly put my foot in between the door and the wall so it wouldn’t lock. After about ten minutes I entered the room and brought you back to our room. The headmistress and her staff were checking the dorms and I wouldn’t be much of a friend if I let you get in trouble again. You can thank me later. Peace!”
Jyharri shook his head as he began to run out of the dormitories, heading for the dock to the main campus.
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“Nice try trainer, but this is where you lose. Blaziken finish this with Blaze Kick!”
A smile drew itself across Jessica’s face as her battle with a proctor raged on. The proctor’s Blaziken jumped towards her Quilava, his right foot surrounded in flames.
“Dodge and hit,” said Jessica. “Go Quick Attack!”
Dashing around Blaziken in a flash, Quilava jumped at him, tackling him in the back. The Blaze Pokémon hit the ground, skidding across it before jumping back up. The large battlefield behind the academic buildings had been occupied by many students and proctors.
“Now use Flame Wheel,” shouted Jessica.
Once again dashing at Blaziken, Quilava became covered in flames. Blaziken flipped over him easily, his right fist beginning to glow.
“Let’s go,” roared the proctor, his dark hair flowing in the small breeze, “Sky Uppercut!”
Before Jessica could tell Quilava what to do, he was punched high into the air by Blaziken. A small cry of agony came from Quilava as he flew into the sky. Following up from the uppercut, Blaziken’s foot once again began to glow.
“Time to end it,” the proctor said. “Knock him down with Blaze Kick!”
Blaziken’s leg swung around Quilava, quickly coming down on his face. The Volcano Pokémon fell to the ground fast. Hitting it with a thud, Quilava’s body began to twitch a little. Pulling out a red and white sphere a red light engulfed Quilava, bringing him into the sphere. The proctor did the same, stowing the Pokéball away in his purple blazer.
“You did well trainer,” the proctor shouted across the field. “You met all the requirements that were set. Even though you didn’t win you still pass.”
After quickly bowing to the proctor Jessica hurriedly walked off the field with a sigh of relief.
Man, the teachers here sure are tough, she thought.
I hope Genevieve did well enough to pass.
“Jessica!” called a voice.
Turning around Jessica saw Genevieve running through the small crowds of students, her arms waving in the air. Jessica smiled as her friend reached her, panting.
“I passed,” said Genevieve between breaths. “I almost knocked her Pokémon out too. How did you do?”
“Same as you,” replied Jessica, “but I wasn’t even close to knocking out his Pokémon. That proctor was just too tough.”
As they started to walk down the field, a bright blue figure appeared in the corner of Genevieve’s eye. Instantly turning, she saw Jyharri commanding his Glaceon against a proctor’s Electabuzz. Once she nudged Jessica she turned as well, watching as Jyharri’s Glaceon fired a jagged blue beam out of her mouth.
“I hope Jyharri wins,” whispered Genevieve.
Jessica didn’t comment on Genevieve’s statement. The blue beam rocketed at Electabuzz, but the Electric type simply emitted a barrier of electricity destroying the beam almost instantly.
“Go for an Iron Tail,” said Jyharri.
Glaceon raced towards Electabuzz, her tail beginning to glow. The proctor smiled as Glaceon jumped into the air.
“There’s no need to move Electabuzz,” the female proctor announced. “Stand your ground.”
“Hmph,” Jyharri said with a smirk. “Go into Shadow Ball!”
Flipping through the air, a ball of black energy formed in her mouth. Both Electabuzz and his trainer appeared surprised. The ball launched out of Glaceon’s mouth, whizzing straight towards Electabuzz.
“Block with ThunderPunch,” the proctor shouted quickly.
Instantly, Electabuzz’s arm became surrounded in electricity, just as his body did before. Once the ball of energy met Electabuzz’s fist it blew up, pushing Electabuzz back a little bit.
“Ice Beam one more time,” Jyharri commanded.
Once again the jagged blue beam shot out of Glaceon’s mouth, hitting the ground around Electabuzz’s feet. The ground froze instantly, ice forming around Electabuzz’s feet as well.
“Unleash your Thunder attack,” yelled the proctor.
The entire ground around the Pokémon began to tremble as energy began to build in Electabuzz. Falling to her knees, Glaceon became a sitting Psyduck, unable to dodge the attack that was to come. Letting out a loud roar, electricity exploded from Electabuzz, forming a large lightning bolt. The ice around his feet shattered instantly as the lightning bolt came down, striking Glaceon in the back. The Ice type fell on her side, no longer moving.
“I’m sorry, but you lose,” the proctor examined as they both recalled their Pokémon.
Without even saying a word Jyharri nodded to the proctor before placing his Pokéball back onto his belt. The proctor held up her hand, giving him a thumb up as a sign of his passing. Throwing his hands into his pockets, Jyharri slowly walked off of the battlefield, heading in Jessica and Genevieve’s direction. Genevieve felt a fluttering feeling in her stomach as Jyharri neared them. It was like the day they had met. As he passed by their eyes met. Even though they hadn’t exchanged any words Genevieve knew enough just from looking into his eyes.
“Something is different about Jyharri,” observed Genevieve as she and Jessica began to walk again.
“What do you mean?” Jessica asked.
“The fire is gone,” Genevieve replied. “That confidence or as you and Sydnie say, arrogance, is completely gone. Didn’t you notice that when he lost he didn’t show any sign of remorse or anger?”
“You can’t expect people to become upset every time they lose,” said Jessica. “Maybe he’s grown up a little.”
Genevieve nodded with a smile as she watched Jyharri walk off, disappearing over a hill.
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“This summer is going to seem long.”
“It’s only two months. Before you know it we’ll be back here.”
“I know, but it will feel weird not having you near. I’m going to miss you Jyharri.”
Sydnie and Jyharri had been sitting under a tree near the docks. Boats had been docked there, waiting for all the students to board the ship that took them to their home region. Knowing she would cry, Sydnie avoided eye contact with Jyharri. Tears began to build up in her eyes.
“It’s alright Sydnie,” Jyharri told her with a slight chuckle. “You can always write me a letter and I’ll always reply back. Let’s get you to your boat. It’s going to be leaving soon.”
Neither one of them spoke a single word as they approached the boat. Steam billowed out of the smoke stacks that towered above the deck. A loud blaring horn sounded signaling the ship was leaving soon.
“Did you take your things on board already?” asked Jyharri.
“They had Machoke and Machamp take everyone’s stuff earlier today, you know that,” Sydnie replied still not facing Jyharri.
“Why don’t you look at me and tell me?” he asked trying to look into her eyes.
“If I look at you then I’m going to miss you even more when I board the ship,” Sydnie told him as she began to walk up the board walkway towards the ship.
I know, thought Jyharri as he grabbed Sydnie’s hand. Pulling her back, he turned her around, their eyes meeting for the first time of the day. With a smile Jyharri removed his black and red hat, placing it on Sydnie’s head.
“What are you doing?” she asked, pushing the too big hat up a little.
“This way you’ll have something from me near you at all times,” Jyharri replied a smile still on his face. “On top of that, you’ll never forget me.”
Once the horn sounded from the boat again Jyharri let go of Sydnie’s hand, allowing her to continue onto the boat. The walkway was pushed off the boat as soon as Sydnie was on the dock, the boat itself starting to move. Running to the side, she waved at Jyharri, tears beginning to roll down her face. Despite her starting to cry, a smile was on her face. Jyharri simply placed his hand into the air, his fingers slightly bent. As the boat began to pick up speed, Sydnie began to slowly disappear from Jyharri’s sight, but he didn’t turn away until she completely vanished.