Enma almost came back to his trainer that night.
He easily could have, standing just outside the light of her bonfire. He'd come down from the abandoned building after a few hours of sleep next to that strange woman, haunted by shadows spiraling around in his nightmares.
Flames danced behind Inyssa, casting a weak light on her pale face. She looked calm, though that was probably due to her being asleep. He'd never joined his teammates before when they decided to sleep at the foot of her bed. How could he? They were all worthless weaklings, too attached to the human they served. Besides, his Pokeball was good enough for him.
He gulped, and couldn't help but take a step forward. Did she still have his Pokeball with her? He couldn't think of any reason why she would. After their last encounter it would be a miracle if she didn't simply throw it at the ground and stomp on it until it became nothing but a pile of shattered metal. It would be fitting. It would be what he deserved.
What was he doing so close to her, anyway? At any point before he could've found her by going back to the grey city she was in. There was no reason for his visit, other than to quell the irritating feeling inside his chest which had convinced him to come to see her, even if just for a moment.
One last look at her face and he turned around, fingers curling into fists. Steam rose from every one of his pores, and the sand under his feet started to crystallize.
Nothing good would come of him staring at her any longer. Maybe at some point in the future he would freely walk to her and ask her to be partners again.
Not yet. Not while he remained so weak. Not while he owed that stupid pink-haired woman for saving his life.
He walked away, his tail burning with a pale, almost extinguished red. The heat and familiar cackle of the bonfire disappeared in the distance, only the smell of sea breeze and regret willing to walk alongside him.
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Inyssa was woken up by an aimless beach ball falling on her face, and the day only went downhill from there.
She enjoyed the sunny morning for a couple hours with Barry before finally heading toward Pastoria. It was nice at first, but she soon discovered that sand was a piece of shit to get off her, especially after she slept on top of it. Part of it had gotten in her hair, so she'd need a ton of shampoo to rinse it off.
Their walk west was mostly uneventful, with the exception of the people around them. She could swear some of the rich folk who'd come down from the resort were looking at them funny. She felt their eyes on her back, and as soon as she turned around she found them looking the other direction.
Unfortunately, it only got worse when they reached Pastoria.
The sight of the city was just barely too much to take in, reason why they stood at its entrance for an entire minute. As she lay eyes on the unbridled, wild patch of plants and flora which covered most of the old buildings around her, she couldn't help but think of Eterna. However that wasn't quite right, it didn't fit. She then remembered Floaroma, but that wasn't it either. The first was like a bouquet; a piece of nature carefully built and put together to appease the senses. The second resembled a garden; larger and harder to take care of, but still enclosed in principle.
Pastoria was neither of those things. There was no rhyme or reason as to where and how things grew. Bushes, flowers and trees resided anywhere they pleased, with the bare exception of the concrete streets, and even then she spotted some cracks here and there from which wild undergrowth shyly showed its face.
On their way to the Pokemon Center they even passed an old, ruined mansion with a gigantic oak growing in the middle of it. Pieces of ornamented wood and roof tiles were stuck to the branches, so it was like the tree was wearing part of the house as a hat.
"I wanna climb that," Barry said, eyes shimming with excitement. "I'm gonna climb that."
"Not before I get to take a shower. And eat something." She grabbed him by the collar, smiling. "Come on, we'll have more than enough time to explore later."
She couldn't help admiring the city's unabashed show of life. It didn't seem to care whether what grew in it was beautiful or ugly, useful or an annoyance. It bared the entirety of nature's might, becoming one with it. It was beautiful, in more ways than she could count.
Yet much as her eyes were enjoying themselves, she couldn't shake off the feeling she'd gotten at the beach. A few people were staring at her, mostly adults or teens around their age with belts full of Pokeballs. She had an inkling why, but decided not to bring it up around Barry.
The Pokemon Center was located past the local harbor, just before the city ended and the forest leading toward the Great Marsh began. It looked worse for wear than the ones she'd visited before, but by no means less cozy. As soon as she stepped inside she took a whiff, enjoying the familiar, yet subtle scent of lavender and old, worn leather. It smelled like home.
Not a lot of time to enjoy it though, as a waving hand caught their attention, followed by a mane of flame-red hair and a boisterous voice.
"There you two are! You sure took your damn time!"
Reiko flashed them a wide grin and raised her hand. It took her until she saw Barry meeting it with his own to realize she wanted a high five. She obliged reluctantly, the clash of her fingers against hers leaving her hand sore. Behinnd her, Percy turned around in his chair, gaze as sharp as ever, and lazily waved with his free hand.
"I'm glad you made it here okay," he said.
"Glad to see you, fancy boy," she replied, rubbing her aching palm. "You too, Reiko."
"It's so nice to see you!" Barry nodded, shoulders squared.
"Same here. We saw what happened in Veilstone." For a moment Reiko's smile wavered, though she recovered pretty quick. "Anyway, a promise is a promise. How do you two feel about pizza right now?"
Barry agreed immediately, of course. Inyssa opened her mouth to protest, until she felt the low rumble coming from the pit of her stomach. She hadn't eaten anything but marshmallows in almost an entire day.
"Sounds wonderful," she said, trying to imbue her voice with levity. "I want pepperoni."
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As far as pizza went, the one Barry took a bite of was pretty good. Then again in his entire life he'd never eaten any that he could consider bad, not even those with pineapple in it. Pizzas were like people; all beautiful and incredible in their own way.
"Barry for the love of…!" Niss shivered, her eyes wetting. "Agh! You got some of your pizza on mine! This thing is burning my tongue!"
"You agreed to split the flavors in half," he said, still chewing. "Learn to live with the consequences."
She shot him a murderous look and cut with the knife the part of her slice covered with his toppings. In front of them Reiko and Percy exchanged a quizzing look, before keeping their laughter to themselves.
"What's wrong? Sensitive girl can't take spices?" Reiko teased. "You're a true Sinnohan, alright."
"Hey at least I don't put fish on my goddamn pizza, you heretic!"
Reiko almost looked offended. "Oh please, fish and cheese go together better than anything you guys could ever come up with."
The discussion continued for a few minutes, and Barry could see that Niss was clearly enjoying herself, even if her eyebrows were knitted the entire time. Percy rolled his eyes, but he also occasionally had to press his palm against his mouth to repress laughter. There was a light, pleasing levity floating around the table, one which he'd sorely missed.
At least if it weren't for the people watching them. He was sure Niss had noticed as well, but he felt multiple pairs of eyes on his back. Heavy, judging eyes which made him more nervous than he'd like to admit. With his free hand he quickly tapped at the fabric of his jeans, fingers frantically hitting his leg. The usual shivers came back, making him wish he could be outside so he could stretch or run or find any way to get rid of the anxiousness covering his body like a swarm of ants.
"So… did you beat this city's Gym already?" he asked, trying to get his mind off the subject.
Percy answered, since Reiko was too busy chomping on her fourth slice of pizza. "I've lost twice against him."
"I won my first time!" Reiko declared proudly once she'd swallowed. "He was tough as all hell, but nothing my Gamatetsu and Denki couldn't handle."
He remembered the name of her Venusaur, but wasn't familiar with the second. Still, judging by the name and the fact the town's Gym was water type he figured it had to be some kind of electric Pokemon.
"Barry and I are gonna knock it out of the park, just you wait." Niss elbowed him, smiling. "We'll kick his Pokemon's asses so hard we'll send them back to the ocean."
The memories of last night came to mind, especially Niss' confession about her own gloating. He had to contain a laugh at that.
"Sure we will," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "That guy's not gonna know what hit him."
The two older trainers exchanged a second, much less subtle look.
"You don't know who the Leader is, do you?" Reiko smiled wickedly. "You wouldn't be so confident if you did."
Niss shrugged. "I'll find out when I go challenge him."
"That's the spirit!" Reiko declared, hitting the table with one fist and almost toppling the plates to the ground. "So, what about you two!? Did you defeat Maylene? She took me four tries when I fought her, and for Percy it was six."
The mood dropped fast, and judging by Niss' expression it might as well have fallen on top of her head. Her eyes darkened, hand strongly against the fork.
"She was hurt during the Galactic attack," she said. "So we had to skip her. We'll fight her after Sunnyshore's Leader."
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
Reiko's cheery expression turned to one of embarrassment. "Ah… sorry."
"It's okay."
The tapping of Barry's fingers became more incessant. He opened his mouth to speak.
"Yeah… about that. Uh… Niss said you wanted to talk to us about that? Something about… Mars."
The name itself made Niss' fingers curl inwards until she was all but crushing the fork in her hands. Her face didn't reflect that, however, and he hoped she wasn't as angry as he believed her to be.
"It was you specifically, I think," she said to Reiko. "You know something about her?"
Percy shifted on his seat, both hands closing around his glass of sparkling water. For the first time Reiko looked down, and he noticed an unmistakable gleam of anger shining behind her eyes. He'd seen that plenty of times on Niss, and for a moment he could almost swear he physically felt it, like a gust of wind hitting him in the face.
"I… don't think it's safe to discuss it here," she whispered. "You have a few fans, if you haven't noticed."
They didn't need to turn around to know what she meant, the incessant glare of everyone in the room still a weight on their shoulders.
"I have to admit, this isn't as cool as I imagined," Niss said, resting her cheek on one hand. "I'd even prefer them asking for autographs instead of just staring like creeps."
"They're scared," Percy said.
"Yeah, you wouldn't believe all the stupid rumors running around," Reiko added. "My favorite is the one I heard where you're both siblings who were raised by legendary Pokemon after your parents abandoned you in the forest."
Niss raised an eyebrow, letting out a sound that might've been an incredulous laugh. "At least they're not lacking in imagination. And besides, better to be feared than not recognized at all."
"We could tell people the truth," Barry offered. "That way they won't be scared of us and they might wanna be friends!"
A swat of the hand from his friend and his idea was discarded like an annoying fly.
"Let them believe what they want," she said. "If all they do is jump to conclusions about us then they're not worth the time to talk to."
And with that the matter was settled, about as abruptly as things got wrapped up when it was up to Niss. He knew the face she was making; trying to discuss further would be completely pointless. Fortunately Percy seemed to pick up on this, and changed the subject.
"We have some errands to run a few minutes. You should use that opportunity to challenge a few trainers in the Gym," he said, setting his fork on the table. "There will be plenty of time to discuss this matter later."
Reiko nodded. "There's a big patch of tall grass just south of the Great Marsh that's pretty hidden. We can meet there and talk while we train our Pokemon."
They registered the spot on the map inside their Pokétch, though Niss refused to show them hers for obvious reasons, and agreed to meet there in two hours. Each finished their respective meal and left the money on the table, the two groups heading their separate directions.
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Barry looked down at the Pokeballs on his belt, unease setting over him. Either that or it was the oppressive humidity of the town.
He'd confirmed it was safe for a newborn Togepi to be inside a Pokeball, so now he had five official Pokemon. That was great and all, but it didn't change the fact Auri would not be fighting any time soon, at least not until he figured out a way for her to catch up to the rest of his team. It would take time, tears and a staggering amount of effort, but he was still somewhat excited for it.
Wrathia was still a wildcard, too. Her attitude toward him changing so violently was a good sign, but that wouldn't make up for the lack of experience they had together. He didn't even know which were her strong points during combat, whether she preferred a hasty, offensive approach or a careful, defensive one. There was so much he would have to learn about her…
These and a hundred more scattered thoughts ran through his mind as he and Niss made their way to the Gym. It was too much to focus on, too much for him to be able to formulate a good plan. He felt as lost as ever, as evidenced by the way his breathing had gotten shallower, and his fingers curled and uncurled unconsciously, as they tended to do when he was nervous.
Niss tugging at his sleeve brought him back to reality.
"Hey, it's gonna be okay," she smiled, reading him like an open book. "We'll only fight the Leader's students, so it'll be a good chance to experiment. Breathe slowly and try to clear your mind, alright?"
"Yeah…"
He felt her worried eyes on him as relentless as ever. He was happy his friend cared so much about his well-being, but sometimes he wished she would just let him sulk a bit in peace. Not that he'd say that out loud.
"So…" He swallowed, thinking of a way to change the subject. "Did you talk to Lucas? I thought he was gonna be in the Pokemon Center today."
Niss shot him a look of I'll play along but I'll make sure you're happy later.
"He said he had a meeting with someone." She shrugged. "He apologized like ten times and said he'll be back later in the afternoon, so we'll probably have dinner with him."
He nodded slowly, trying to pay attention to her words. Who could Lucas have a meeting with? Professor Rowan? Or...
"I bet you an entire pint of ice cream that he has a date," he said.
Niss raised an eyebrow. "Deal. I'll be damned if that nerd gets with someone before I do." She extended her hand towards him, and they shook on it.
The Gym stood as west as Pastoria went, just before the poorly defined edges of the city ended. It was a tall, almost circular building covered mostly in windows, both at the sides and on the expansive roof. The walls were painted with a pale blue, and above the doors hung a giant version of what they were after. A flat, silver disk with a sapphire circle below and a platinum set of spikes growing upwards: The Fen Badge.
"Who do you think will be the Gym Leader?" he asked, his feet tapping the ground unconsciously.
"Well, judging by what we've seen so far I'd wager it's someone completely crazy," she said. "But more specifically… maybe a handsome, spry young swimmer?"
They stood in front of the door for a few moments before taking a step forward at the same time. Niss' hand reached for the handle, nervousness clear in her expression.
"Here goes nothing."
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Lucas realized he might have to take heart medication after his meeting.
He simply waited as Saturn, sitting across him on the café's table, read through his papers and occasionally bit the cap of the pen he moved through his fingers. Not that he was paying any attention to his face or anything.
Still, he could barely stand it as anxiety crawled through the inside of his skin, making it almost impossible for him to stay still. To counteract this he'd started tapping his foot against the ground, though at this point he feared he might cause an earthquake by how fast he was doing it.
Finally Saturn put the papers down and looked up at him. Lucas' heart jumped to his throat.
"This is…" he said, lips curling into a smile. "Lucas, this is incredible!"
He leaned back into his chair, not quite processing what he'd just heard. "Y-you mean it?"
"Yes! This is… are you sure this is your first project? This is amazingly well written!" He tapped the bundle of paper with the back of his palm. "I have trouble believing you really are only eighteen, considering what I just read."
He looked down, clasping his hands together in excitement. "Well… you're not much older than me, and you've already got loads of experience."
"I guess that's fair," Saturn smiled. "Still, I'm impressed. If you weren't working for Professor Rowan I would plead to my boss to let me hire you as my assistant." There was a small pause, where he leaned forward a bit, raising an eyebrow. "Well… that's up to you, still. Are you sure you're not interested in my offer?"
Saturn's proposal… the moment he'd heard it he could hardly believe it. To think someone as amazing as him would invite him to work for his company; as an actual scientist assistant no less. It was the chance of a lifetime; a doorway to learn more than he would ever be able to do by going to any university or staying where he was.
And still…
"T-thank you." He bowed his head slightly. "But… Professor Rowan has done so, so much for me, and I can't bring myself to abandon him. I want to complete this research under his name, and I want him to be proud of me for it." He smiled to himself, feeling Butterfrees flooding his stomach. "Maybe in the future I can make a name for myself, but right now I'm Rowan's assistant and I need to play the part."
There was a shade of disappointment across Saturn's face, but it was mostly overshadowed by his warm smile.
"Well, that's a very noble goal to aspire to. I won't try to interfere anymore. Though we could do some conjoined work at some point."
"Oh! You mean scientific collaboration? The professor told me he worked with Oak a few years back!"
"Yes, and that's considered the highest honor a scientist can get. That's why people like us need to work together; so that someday we might surpass those at the top." He raised one hand and turned it into a fist, still smiling. "I can see that you have the right kind of ambition. You're not doing this for money or fame; all you want is to work for the good of others."
Lucas was somewhat taken aback by Saturn's description. A terrible thought crept through the dark parts of his mind, setting above him like an unmovable weight. Was he… was he being sarcastic? He shuddered at the possibility; if so then he'd be in the same spot as back then, when…
He gulped, and looked down at the table. "You're praising me too much. I'm nowhere near as selfless as you say."
"Ah… sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable." Saturn's lips went thin, his shoulders dropping slightly. "But, if you don't mind me asking, why do you think that?"
"Well… I like learning a lot, and I hope that someday my work can help others. But I also like the idea of people knowing who I am and… liking me, for it." The tone of his voice wavered as he spoke. "To hear my name next to the best of the best, to be respected and looked up to by others who want to go through the same path… that's my dream, I guess."
Saturn sat still for a few moments, and all of Lucas' previous confidence evaporated in a wisp. He became painfully aware of how loud he'd just been, and cursed his stupid enthusiasm. Did his words put him off? Was he disappointed by what he'd just said? The mere possibility made his legs shake like they were made of jello.
Maybe if he'd tried to lie… but no, that wouldn't have been right. The truth was as solid and hot inside his chest as a molten rock; it had been that way ever since he was little. His ambitions were largely selfish and self serving, and he'd only been able to get so far because he'd been blessed with Rowan's help. If he'd tried to succeed alone…
You're just gonna keep being a nuisance if you stay like this forever.
The sudden and familiar voice emerged from the depths of his mind, bringing back those memories he'd tried his best to keep locked. He didn't realize, but his fingers were grabbing the fabric of his jacket so strongly the tips had gone pale. His eyes began to sting, and he tried his best to contain how pathetic he knew himself to be.
He should just apologize to Saturn for wasting his time, he thought as the silence formed the shape of a noose around his neck. He was about to when he heard him speak.
The young man leaned back into his chair and crossed his arms. His voice came out a lot mellower than before, though still as warm. "Interesting. You're about as rare a specimen as I've come across yet." He let out a snort, as if he'd just told a joke only he could understand. "People who want to be famous only for the benefits or to stroke their ego are a dime a dozen. But to have that desire burn so strongly inside you and still have it tamed under your duty as a scientist… that's very impressive."
Lucas' reaction made him look like a Poochyena whom someone had dumped a bucket of water on. He unconsciously leaned back and tried to reply, though his voice didn't come out the first two times.
"R-really?"
Saturn raised his head and nodded, eyes bright. "Yes, absolutely. I've seen too many who were consumed by their own ambitions, but you are not like them. The kind of world my associates and I are trying to create... you would fit right in, Lucas."
"W-wh..." The boy's lower lip quivered, and the sting behind his eyes turned almost unbearable. "Saturn…"
The man's eyes found his, and he suddenly felt without breath. His words descended on him like a blessing; the ones he'd been wanting to hear his entire life:
"I have absolutely no doubts that you can achieve your dreams. I believe in you."
He knew he shouldn't have reacted to his words in the way he did. He knew that starting to tear up in front of someone who he'd just met a few days ago would have been stupid and weird and probably make him look like a crybaby. He knew that he was pathetic and a coward, and yet…
He unconsciously tried to shrink in place, lowering his head. He tried his best to contain the sobs escaping him; but there was no doubt Saturn could hear them.
Professor Rowan had always been kind and supportive toward Lucas, but he was a man of few words. Both shy and stern, he'd never fully vocalized just how much he believed in his student, and the boy had taken that to mean that he wasn't good enough. Even back when he lived with his brother, not once had he ever heard a real word of encouragement coming out of his mouth.
All and all, it was the first time in years anyone had outwardly expressed their belief in him.
"Woah!" Saturn raised his palms, eyes open wide. "Lucas, are you okay!? I'm sorry if what I said upset you, I was just…"
His sudden, weak laugh interrupted him.
"It's… it's okay." He tried his best to calm himself, even if his voice still shook violently. "I'm sorry, I just… it's been a long time since anyone… I'm sorry."
He didn't fail to notice the reflection of pity on Saturn's expression, though he didn't mind as much since it was softened by the dorky way in which he looked worried. He seemed unsure whether to extend a hand forward and pat him on the shoulder or to just sit there.
"Hey, we all get emotional sometimes." He raised his hands as he shrugged awkwardly. "Again, sorry if… uh, anyway. I think it'd be a good time to ask for desserts!" He raised his finger, forming a lopsided smile. "They make a chocolate sundae here I absolutely need to show you. I'm sure that will improve your mood."
As Lucas cleaned his cheeks with the back of his sleeve, cheeks flushing from embarrassment, he couldn't help but smile at the awkward man sitting across him.
I really am blessed, he thought to himself. Rowan, Niss and Barry, Saturn… I almost feel like I'm cheating. Like I don't deserve to know them.
He clenched his fists, forcing himself to look up with a determined look. Even if he didn't deserve them, he would become someone who did. That's the least he owed them for all they'd done for him.
"Thank you so much," he told Saturn, nodding. "And yes, that sounds delicious."