CHAPTER 120 - Hanging Off the Edge

Frillish saw the world in faded colors. It was a symptom of the ghostly energy that lingered in his body, giving him his secondary typing. Oh, Grace had often told him all about colors. He was supposedly blue, while Togetic was white with specks of blue and red that remained from her old shell, Tangrowth was also blue, Electabuzz was yellow, and Larvitar was more of a dull green. He did not know what those colors looked like. All he had known his entire life was a faded world of different shades of gray.

Frillish shot a Water Sport from below his body, propelling himself out of Amity Square’s enormous lake. It was night time and surprisingly, his trainer had brought the family here to relax for their battle tomorrow. He had expected last-minute, arduous training, but instead, the children got to play and enjoy themselves, which pleased him greatly.

Even Turtonator was out, watching their every movement with a sneer in the distance while she sat and tried to converse with him. This was the reason why Frillish could not do the usual and sink into the depths of the lake like he liked to do. What if something happened? He would need to be there, or Grace would suffer more burns or worse.

Suddenly, he saw the first of the children approach. Togetic floated up to him and let out a singular chirp. It was a simple cry, but it was spoken with intent, and Frillish understood what it meant immediately.

Brother, she had called out.

Child. You appear troubled tonight, the water type replied.

Togetic lowered her head as she side-eyed the new reluctant member of the family.

Ah, so it is him, Frillish huffed. Your feelings still have not been sorted?

To Frillish, the fae worked in mysterious ways. Pokemon in the wild rarely spoke to each other outside of their own small groups, but he had been a part of one when he had just been born centuries ago, in the depths of the ocean. There, he had heard stories recounting how dangerous they truly were when they grew in power. Togetic was still relatively weak, but she was extremely attached to Grace. She was also the best of all of them at hiding her true feelings from her. She looked at Turtonator with a blank expression, but behind that was a subtle hatred so intense that it made Frillish hesitate with his following words.

Still, he spoke. Do you want to talk about it, child?

Even he disliked Turtonator. After all, he had attacked him when Grace had explicitly told him not to. A betrayal of her trust that he still wished had not occurred, but alas. It had already happened, and no one could turn back time.

The wyrm looks at our mother with disgust, even after what she has done for him, Togetic said, her voice cheery but her tone murderous. I look forward to the day that I grow powerful enough to have my revenge. I will tear him from limb to limb, destroy all the bones in his body until they turn to dust, pin him against the ground with Ancient Power and flatten him, but I will keep him alive—

Frillish’s eyes flickered, and he attempted to interrupt her tirade. Child.

—until his pride is broken, and I will revel in his screams of agony. He sickens me to my very core. He deserves worse than death. I live solely for my family, and I failed to protect my mother. If the wyrm ever strikes at her again, he will die in the most excruciating way I can find.

The words echoed in Frillish’s earholes and etched themselves into fate. Togetic had not rewritten reality, nor had she made a vow that she would be forced to pursue, but the words had been spoken with overwhelming emotion, and to the fae, that meant something. Had she been older and a lot more powerful, they might have had an effect that would be ever so slight, but could affect the course of a battle where fate itself would push for her victory, turning the odds in her favor. Turtonator stood up, much to Grace’s surprise, and began glaring at the fairy type. Had he sensed those words somehow?

Frillish certainly had, and they felt different.

Child. Your mother would be saddened if you went through with this plan, Frillish shook his head. You are not thinking clearly. It is the influence of the fae that clouds your judgment.

Togetic’s expression did not change, but Frillish certainly felt a change.

Brother… I apologize.

Think nothing of it, child. You are still young, and you must resist these urges, lest you end up like that Sylveon, Frillish warned.

We are old friends, him and I. He has a good heart.

And yet, he grows ever so attached to his trainer to the point of isolating him from his friends with tricks of the mind. It will have to be dealt with, Frillish rebuked. Go clear your head. I must speak with the others.

Togetic grabbed one of his tentacles. Wait, big brother! Tell me you love me before you go, or I’ll tell mother you were being callous again!

I love you, little one.

Togetic left, seemingly satisfied. Frillish huffed, but his eyes dimmed. At last, she was back to her cheerful, mischievous self. No matter what, he could not resist this child, nor any of the others. He had grown soft, but he was perfectly content with that. From the day he had started living alone and preying on those weak Pokemon in Sandgem’s shallow waters, to the afternoon Grace had caught him, his life had been so dull. A mindless cycle of staying perfectly still, waiting for an unsuspecting Magikarp or school of Remoraid to swim by until he could trap and drain them with Absorb. Grace had called it draining ‘energy,’ but that was not exactly true. He had been stealing away their lifespans.

Frillish was not a true ghost, and therefore, he was not truly immortal. Of course, he was so hard to kill he might as well have been. If there was even a speck of his body left, he would eventually regenerate, and he had stolen so many years of life that he would not meet his maker for centuries more.

Of course, he had stopped doing so now. Grace disliked it when he killed things— something he did not understand. Why care about wild Pokemon he or she barely knew? But he did not want to see her sad, so he listened.

Plus, he also had to wrangle with the fact that he would live long past everyone here, which the water type did not like to think about. These intrusive thoughts always struck him at the worst of times. He needed a distraction.

Frillish noticed Larvitar screaming obscenities at Tangrowth below him, and he floated down to see what all the ruckus was about. The grass type’s vines were wriggling about erratically, which clearly meant that he was in severe distress.

Larvitar shook her arms and began stomping on the ground, forcing Tangrowth to pick her up. Let me get deeper into the water, you sack of vines! Let me in, let me in, let me in, let me in—

Now, now, child. What is going on here?

The rock type let out a half-gasp, covering her mouth with her hands. Frillish! Nothing… nothing is going on. We’re playing games.

Tangrowth shot the ghost type a series of blinks and shook his entire body.

Tangrowth here is telling me you were misbehaving, he said.

Well, Tangrowth’s a big, smelly liar! I’m gonna tell mo— Grace!

The grass type’s vines drooped sadly along the floor.

You hurt him. You must apologize, Larvitar.

She was about to protest, but Frillish intensified his stare until she relented and issued a short apology. Tangrowth forgave her immediately, and quickly returned to his usual, joyous self. Larvitar was still a baby, and so she tended to be very irritated when she did not get her way. Togetic had shown a little bit of this when she had been younger, but that was mostly gone now. However, something told Frillish that Larvitar would never lose this immature side of her. She was placed on the ground again, and Tangrowth gently guided for to the lake’s shores, where she enjoyed spending her time.

The rock type was itching to grow stronger. She disliked Turtonator, but she also looked at him with awe because she admired his great strength.

And that was because her ultimate goal was to get revenge on the Pokemon that murdered her first mother. First was important, because despite her reluctance to actually enunciate the words, Larvitar did think of Grace as her second parent. She was just not ready to take that final leap. Frillish did not have the heart to tell her that even Turtonator would be no match for that Rhyperior in his current state.

The water type held back a huff. Even that dragon was weak compared to the true horrors of the world.

Frillish looked at Tangrowth with suspicion. Not because he did not trust him— he loved him just as much as the others— but because he believed he was on the brink of a discovery. Tangrowth never spoke, even with fellow Pokemon, opting to communicate with his vines and eyes instead, which meant that he was hard to understand at times.

And yet, Frillish had figured out that he was not a child as Grace and he had believed.

Frillish was old, and so he could differentiate the behavior of children and adult Pokemon. Tangrowth did not behave as a child should. He was a caretaker, often opting to play with the rest of children, or Grace’s friend’s teams even when he did not particularly want to. No child would display such a level of maturity and gentleness.

And yet sometimes, he behaved like a child anyway. The grass type was truly an enigma that Frillish struggled with on a daily basis, and it appeared he would not completely solve it tonight either. The water type heard Electabuzz call out to him, and he bid Tangrowth and Larvitar goodbye after telling the rock type to behave and Tangrowth not to let himself be walked over.

Electabuzz grinned and waved at him.

Hey Frillish, pal! Looking gloomier than usual today! He exclaimed. Check this out!

The electric type let loose a series of punches in the air, which were quicker and more powerful than they used to be.

I can quickly alternate between Ice and Fire Punch now. Ain’t that grand? Electabuzz smiled.

Your mother said no training tonight, Frillish said.

This ain’t training, I’m not using any moves! Grace is okay with it, I asked her. I’m supposed to keep my opponents off of that little Snorunt tomorrow.

The water type sighed. Well, if she said so. Is anything troubling you, perhaps?

Well, nothing you can do anything about, he shrugged as he continued punching the air. The turtle’s worrying me. Grace is being too chummy with him.

On that, we agree, Frillish nodded. But I came to an understanding when I struck him with that Water Pulse. There is simply no point in fighting.

Electabuzz hit the water type’s back as he laughed, causing him to groan in annoyance.

Bahaha! You only say that because it didn’t actually deal any damage!

No, child. I say it because Turtonator is in pain, and his way of dealing with it is lashing out. Did you not see? He wanted a fight. He still wants one.

Electabuzz lost his playful demeanor, and his arms slumped.

Grace said as much.

Do you not trust your mother? I believe her words. She is surprisingly good at understanding us, for a human.

Even if she still had work to do.

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I trust her, but I need to get stronger. I wasn’t enough. I’m never enough to protect her. Until a few nights ago, she was still crying herself to sleep. I know you heard, but you never did anything. I… I didn’t either.

I was too ashamed of myself, the water type admitted. You say you did not protect her, yet it was you who saved her from the heat and an explosion. Without you, the burns would have been much worse. Meanwhile, my water… my water could not win against Turtonator’s flames.

Come on, pal! You’re being too hard on yourself. Honestly, I think we all share some of the blame. Grace made a decision, and we… we weren’t good enough to ensure that it went well. At the end of the day, it’s all our fault.

Including hers? Frillish asked.

The electric type looked at him and shrugged again. Dunno. Hurts to think about, so I’d rather not.

Fair enough, he nodded. Instead of punching the air and doing other nonsensical things, why don’t you go and keep your sister company? She has a lot on her mind.

Which one? He asked worriedly.

Togetic.

Is she still in her murder mode?

Only if you bring up the ‘wyrm.’

Electabuzz chuckled. Always loved her strange way of talking. Fairies are funny like that!

He quickly left and jogged toward Togetic, who sat on the ground and watched the bright moon in the sky that often captivated her. Frillish smiled when he saw them start to talk. Electabuzz was a much-needed ray of sunshine that kept the family going in their darkest days. After the attack at Valley Windworks, in Eterna Forest, Mount Coronet, or the far north, he had always been there. A reassuring presence that they could always fall back on, even though he did not think of himself as one.

He did a lot more for all of them than he knew.

“Hey bud. Deep in thought?”

Frillish slowly turned toward Grace. She smiled at him and gently grabbed his tentacle, somehow causing him an uncomfortable amount of comfort.

On all of our minds, he responded, looking at every member of the family. Grace was good at understanding Pokemon, but she still needed a lot of expressive body language to truly understand what they meant.

“I’ve been worrying you all, huh?” She sighed. “I’m sorry. I guess I’ve been too headstrong about forcing this Turtonator thing onto you.”

The water type’s eyes flickered. She already knew?

“I think he’ll slowly come around, but I can’t force you to like him. Even Tangrowth keeps his distance, and he’s the nicest Pokemon around.”

Larvitar seems to admire Turtonator, he said, pointing at the rock type.

“Sweetheart? Yeah, I suppose she could change her mind. She doesn’t mind him, but it’s got to do with strength or something. I don’t fully understand yet.”

Frillish nodded, indicating that she was on the right track. Grace did not need to know about this plan for revenge any time soon, and he doubted that she would even accept it.

“Regardless, I won’t force you to talk to him or anything. You can all keep your distance, and I’ll work with Turtonator by myself.”

I appreciate that decision, but don’t overwork yourself, child, Frillish said with a worried look.

“I’ll be alright. Let’s all do our best and look forward to tomorrow. Though I guess you don’t particularly care, do you?” She teased him.

The water type huffed. It was true that while all the others cared about Grace’s dream of becoming the best trainer and gathering badges, he did not particularly do so. The act of battling for sport had even confused him at first. After all, why fight someone if you aren’t going to kill them? It had taken him weeks to understand, but he was still not enamored with battling like everyone else was.

He did, however, want to grow stronger to protect what he currently had. He would not lose another family again. It had been comfortable, to live in the wild and chase prey for centuries. He could turn everything off and run on auto-pilot, not being consciously aware for years at a time. It wasn’t like anything in Sandgem’s waters was powerful enough to kill him. So he had almost forgotten. Forgotten what it was like to have a family until Grace had caught him.

Frillish reckoned that if he hadn’t experienced it before, it would have taken him months for him to even give her a chance. He very well could have been doing what Turtonator was doing now or worse. He had even attacked her at first.

“I’m gonna let you think and go hang out with princess and honey, alright? Something’s been off about her lately, but I can’t place what it is.”

Frillish smiled slightly. She had even noticed that? He had underestimated her.

“Aw, look at you with the cute smile!” She said, hugging him. Frillish’s body was cold, and yet he still felt warm. “See you later, bud!”

What an impressive child she is, he mused to himself. Grace was warmth personified, and there was not a single being she could not reach if given enough time. Frillish was sure of it.

Perhaps even…

He stared at Turtonator, who had laid lazily back down in the grass.

What, ghost? The dragon mocked. Have you come to strike me again? It would be my pleasure to indulge you.

Frillish sighed. He could at least give talking a try.

I realize that I did not apologize for my outburst a few days ago. I am sorry about attacking you.

Turtonator mockingly snorted. Hah! Apologizing? You think like a human, ghost! Has a few months under that annoying child’s company softened you that much?

I am not a ghost! Frillish said a little louder than he wanted. And it has, he admitted. Is there anything wrong with that? Does it matter if I am soft if it makes me happy?

The fire type closed his eyes. You’re the only one I have a modicum of respect for, ghost, he said, ignoring his protest and question. You got angry and attacked me. That takes courage. But the others? They pretend, pretend, pretend. They will speak to you about me, but not spew their hatred to my face. That fairy is the worst of all. You seem to care for her, but you know the sinister desires that lie within the fae. Bah! The thought alone disgusts me! He hatefully spat. Even that human acts as if she likes me. She’ll drone on and on about anything that comes up in her empty little head.

I will keep the others under control, he said. They will not strike you. Larvitar admires your power, and Grace’s desire to get closer to you is genuine.

Bah! He snorted, letting out a puff of hot smoke. Maybe the little one is fine, but the rest are not. Eventually, even that petulant human will give up. They are all the same. Good-for-nothing little weasels worth less than the most common Rattata. Betrayal is second nature to them.

Even Kamaile?

The temperature rose, and Turtonator’s shell lit up as he stared at Frillish with a look of pure rage.

Do not speak of him, ghost. I will not ask you twice.

Frillish’s eyes dimmed, and he bowed his head to apologize. He had gone too far, but he couldn’t help but be curious. Where had this hatred of humans come from? Why did Turtonator, who traveled the lands with his trainer suddenly start to hate humans? Frillish refused to believe that a Pokemon with this much hate could have been used by a trainer in any way, shape, or form. Grace had told him about the fact that he had attacked a human just for walking next to him. The hatred was fresh. Recent.

Perhaps there was more to his trainer’s death than met the eye.

You are lucky I am in a good mood today, ghost. Otherwise, I would have killed you right then and there, he said.

Many have tried. It is harder than it seems, the water type answered.

You are a weakling, ghost. One well-placed Dragon Pulse would erase you beyond your regenerative capabilities.

Frillish froze. You know?

How old do you think I am? I have seen my fair share of ghosts. Annoying little rats, the lot of them, but still better and easier to kill than a powerful fairy.

Why are you so insistent on calling me a ghost? Frillish huffed. That is not even half of what I am.

Ghost, half-ghost, it is all the same to me. And it is also because I know you hate it, ghost. Turtonator smirked, closing his eyes. You are the worst weakling of all. Purposefully holding yourself back, and for what? How disappointing.

What do you know? Frillish said, narrowing his eyes.

Pokemon as old as we can sense things, ghost. I know you have been holding back your evolution. In fact, you could have evolved when you fought me in the mountain. Maybe then, your trainer wouldn’t have had to be scarred for life.

Frillish’s eyes flared, and it took everything he had not to attack. His tentacles shivered and ghostly energy started to leak out of his body. He wanted to rip him apart for what he had just said. To make him pay. To hate—

Ah, yes, ghost, let the hate flow through you. That might make you slip from the edge and unlock your potential.

You are worse than scum for what you just said, Frillish fumed. And yet, maybe Turtonator was correct. Maybe he could have saved Grace from the anguish she was going through.

You are weak, and I am strong. I can say whatever I want, and there is nothing you will ever be able to do about it.

Damned dragons and their pride! Frillish floated away, opting to distract himself by going back to the others, but Turtonator called out to him again.

Why is it that you fear more power, Frillish?

The water type stopped mid-air and slowly turned back. That was the first time Turtonator had ever addressed him by his name.

Does it matter if you will just mock me?

Turtonator continued, ignoring his question. I struggle to understand. Some Pokemon like Vulpix are often scared to evolve because they will long outlive their trainers as Ninetales, but you will already live for centuries more.

But why do you even care? Frillish asked again.

Why should I not strive to obtain something? If it is within my reach, it should be mine.

So it is just greed, then?

Greed for knowledge? He snorted. I suppose so. Now humor me.

And if I don’t? Frillish asked.

Do not play games with me, ghost. Say that you will or that you will not. Do not ask about consequences. Only weaklings do so.

You called me weak earlier, so that would fit what you think of me.

The temperature rose ever so slightly.

If you do not speak, then you will be stuck in this powerless form forever, ghost. Eventually, you will become too weak and fall behind the ‘family’ that you seem to care so much about. You have done everything you can in this body. Your growth has flatlined.

Frillish sighed.

You said that our ages were comparable earlier. How old are you? The water type asked.

Seventy-four, the dragon answered.

You are a child to me, then—

Do not call me a child, Turtonator interrupted him with a growl. Continue.

I have lived so long I have forgotten how old I was, but it is certainly more than three hundred. When I was just born, I lived in a pod of five Frillish, including me, but I will skip past the details. When a Frillish evolves, it does not keep a balance between water and ghost. They become more of a ghost instead. My mother evolved and lost herself to hatred.

A nice little story, Turtonator said dissmisively. And why does that matter?

Do you not understand? I could lose myself! I could never be the same again! What will become of Grace then? She will be heartbroken, as I was!

Again, you think like a human. Disappointing.

Your input is highly unappreciated and unwanted.

If you have so little trust in yourself, then I retract the small ounce of respect I had for you, the dragon said, lazily turning away. A pity.

It is not even about trust, it is about uncertainty.

You are uncertain about your own willpower. If you think that is not a matter of trust in your own capabilities, then you are lying to yourself. Another human habit.

I don’t need your help. I’ve been thinking about it regardless, and I will come to a decision when the time suits me.

Run away, ghost. Run away from power because something could go wrong. That annoying little runt might be insufferable, but her love for you is genuine, at least. Do you honestly think she would not try to bring you back to normal if hate consumed you? Do you think she would fail? No trust in yourself, no trust in your trainer, well, well, ghost, you sure are a pathetic little worm. Worth less than the most abhorrent of the fae.

She could fail. My mother never went back to normal.

Oh, please, Turtonator scoffed with a half-snort. How long did you even try to save her? You were simply not resolute enough.

We tried for months. Eventually, the others left. I tried to stick around, but I gave up too, and then I was left on my own. I drifted across the ocean for years until I reached the shallow waters of Sandgem.

Months?! Hah! You are a ghost! Months are but a speck of time to you lot.

It was centuries ago! Staying with her was too painful after knowing what she had been like. I can’t change the past.

Turtonator stood up and stared down the water type with a flaming intensity.

Centuries ago, you were a weakling with no determination. Today, you are the same. How pathetic is it that you have made absolutely no progress? You are teetering on the edge, barely holding on by a single strand. You are so close that you wouldn’t even need to be in a stressful situation to evolve. You could do it right now. Just let go.

Frillish tensed as he closed his eyes.

And let himself fall off the edge.

Ha! Perhaps there is hope for you yet, ghost, Turtonator laughed as light engulfed Frillish’s body.