I strode over to the twins who were sitting next to their tents doing their own thing while the other pokemon played off to the side. My silvery blue rings lighting my surroundings as I made my way to them. Oliver was the first to notice.
“Shade?” He said aloud getting his sisters attention. “Why are your rings different?”
I ignored him and continued my stride. Oliver stood up and was about to start walking towards me to which I stared straight into his eyes. I didn’t need to say anything to understand me as he sat back down. I heard silence from the other pokemon but did not look back to see what they were doing. I reached the two and tried to write my message, but the ground was too hard. I spontaneously activated Iron Claw successfully and used that to carve my message into the ground.
*WHAT DID THE POKEBALL DO TO ME* was the words I drew before disabling the ability and stepping back. The twins looked very tense as they read. The silent seconds drew out to minutes and I was growing impatient. My rings flared up before dimming to a brighter level than before. A few more seconds trailed on before Oliver broke the stalemate of silence.
Leaning down in a quiet voice, he gave me his answer. “Pokeballs work through some method of changing a pokemon from matter to energy that I don’t know. But it doesn’t take much to alter certain types of energy which is how pokeballs affect pokemon. Centuries ago, when they were first created, they basically altered a pokemon’s mind to essentially remove any wild tendencies and make them almost completely loyal. From about 100 years ago, it was deemed unreasonable and cruel to do so. So newer pokeballs simply make pokemon more agreeable and accepting.” He passed for a bit before continuing. “It also adds a small amount of loyalty to people which is what allows for wild pokemon to not turn on their trainers. But complete loyalty has to be earned.” He looked to his sister as he seemed to run out of words.
Taking a deep breath, she continued. “The amount of influence they have changes over time and is different for each individual pokemon but the affect isn’t perfect. A protective mother might, even after being caught, lash out and attack or run away. The affect can also be mitigated or ignored if a pokemon knows what is happening. The affect can also stop working if the pokeball is brokennnn…” She stops with sudden realisation on her face. “Your ball is broken isn’t it?” She asks with a deadpan stare along with joy and surprise in her tone.
“That’s why you have been acting weird.” Oliver adds catching on.
I flare my lights and slam my paw onto the question I wrote. This first! I demand to which the twins recoil at the sudden aggression.
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“Right.” Jennifer says quietly. “I guess for you, the ball can have after affects that once again, change from individual to individual. I guess yours is anger.”
I start writing in the hard ground with Iron Claw again.
*Anger, confusion, intrigue, fear*
Oliver looks on with interest while Jennifer looks with sadness and regret as I finish before I moved to my next question.
*Is an after affect to follow you?*
Jennifer looks to her brother for him to respond. He sighs and continues the answering. “Depending on how long a pokemon is captured, the aftereffects could be minor feelings to what feels like a pokemon needs to do. Your case would be the former. So, if you wanted to, you could just leave. There wouldn’t be a thing we could do to stop you at our experience level.”
“And to be honest, I wouldn’t even try.” Jennifer says with a smile although her voice and eyes said otherwise. “So if you want, go. Live how you want. As upset as it would make me feel, I know it would be better for you.”
“Same with me Shade.” Oliver piped up. “You chose to come with us so you should be able to decide when you want to leave.”
And with those words, I realised the feeling to stay wasn’t any sort of control. It wasn’t just my will to stay with them. It was guilt! Just pure guilt. Guilt that I would hurt them.
If I left, it would hurt them, but they would feel better. If I left without them knowing, it might have hurt them more. I just started laughing. I was worried my mind was altered drastically but it was probably the most significant human emotion other than happiness I have had since coming to this world. The twins looked on with confusion at my reaction, I guess expecting me to still be mad. I had never been happier to be wrong.
Once I calmed down, the main question came to mind before similar ones followed.
Do I want to stay?
Should I stay?
What would I do if I were alone in the wild being free?
What would I do if I were to stay with the trainers?
What is it I want to do?
The minutes dragged on as I sat there in silence with the humans beside me. I finally wrote something into the ground which I was both happy and annoyed with myself.
*I will think about staying with you overnight. I will give you my answer tomorrow*
I figured this was the best option but hated myself for needing more time to decide. After finishing it, I looked up to see Oliver and Jennifer nod before Ollie spoke.
“Okay, I guess we will see you tomorrow morning.” He calmly said before the two get up and head into their tents followed by the rest of their pokemon.
I went back to the tree at the riverbank and sat down. The light of the full moon helping me think which is already a lot easier now that I got those questions out of the way. I looked to the moon, trying to see if I could see a sign to help me choose but all it did was rise into the sky. I felt so energetic due to the moons rays seemingly helping me, but it wasn’t the time to run around and have fun. Still gazing at the rising ball of desolate rock, I asked myself something aloud.
What is it I want to do from now on?