 |
|
 |
|
Sinful Love Love is a powerful thing. It has the power to make people cry, make people so happy, and in some cases, it can make people die. You might think that’s crazy, but then again, who knows? Some of you will say “oh, I would never do anything as extreme as that”. You may sit here and say that now, but who knows what you’ll do when you are in that situation. This is hard to think about, but say if your lover is about to shot, would you A) Stand there, or B) jump in the way of the bullet. OK, most of you won't exactly be happy to answer that, it’s understandable. But when you love someone, at the thick of any battle you would have an over powering lust to protect them. Don’t deny it – its instinct. You can say the same about Pokémon. Have you ever seen a Pidgeot protect her young from hunting Aborks, or Houndooms fighting each other to see who would get the female that won their hearts? It happens, a lot, it’s what love does to us. The best way to describe it would be that it gives us a soul; it makes us want to do things we would never dream of doing before. Have you ever been so happily in love that you could just die? I have, and I can tell you it’s the nicest feeling in the world. ”I would burn my flesh and use every last drop of blood I have, just for you to be happy”. I once said that to someone I found very special, That’s the kind of things love makes us say, it blocks out any other emotion and just pours out happiness like a fountain of water. So why am I telling you all about this? The point I’m making is: If love is so good, how comes not all forms of love are accepted by society. I am not saying Man-Woman love is neglected. No. Not at all; it’s all around us. But say, if there was another type of couple, one that was seen as a taboo by a lot of people, something that was considered to be unnatural. You may know what I’m talking about, so think about it this way: If love is such a great thing, why is it not acceptable to see other types of couples having it? As long as the two are happy, then why should it be a sin? Why should something be spoilt by the thoughts of people? OK, so I’ve basically told you the theme is about this, if you’re sitting there thinking “oh god, not another sob story”. This is far from it, you might as well listen, because you’ll learn something. Oh, and maybe I should start with an introduction that might help. Introduction In the Arena, which is different from normal battles, which most of the facilities in the Battle Frontier are anyway, it’s really down to judging how good your Pokémon do in battle. I would hate to sound vein, but none of the trainers who entered could match me, that was going to change drastically. I got on with the other leaders quite well; we all became friends, good ones at that too. We would usually brag about how many trainers we had beaten that day; it was all in good fun though. Tucker, the leader of the Battle Dome was really the life of that party, always jumping around and laughing. Its kind of fun to see a full-grown man act like a happy child, but always cool. Then we Anabel, the battle Tower leader she’s kind of young, but her battle skills are for real. No doubt about that. The battle Pyramid leader is Brandon, he looks kind of scary, but he’s cool. In every group there’s a flirt, we have ours, Lucy, leader of the Battle Pike, she’s always trying to get Brandon to notice her, but he has none of that. An old guy, you would expect to be all grumpy, but nah, Spenser the Battle Palace leader, is a very cheerful old guy. Last.. but no means least, is my favourite, Noland. He is one of those strong silent types, that look like they’ll rip of your face the second you talk to him. But I know, deep inside, he’s a really sweet person. Maybe if I went that way, I would of liked him.. Heh, I guess it’s not too hard to figure out now.
So this is well it all starts. It’s a sunny Day at the Frontier, it’s approaching closing time and I’m just ready to set of to home. I have a house in the battle Frontier that Scott gave to me, it’s quite nice.. A little cosy one should say. But anyway, it’s been a fun day at the Arena, watching the trainers fight, of course no one got near me, so I just spent most of my day training, my Heracross. He is really coming along, today I got him to break 6 bricks with just his horn, now that is impressive. As I walked out, I notice a magazine left out, one of the battler’s must of left it. Thinking, they’ll probably won’t miss it to much as it’s pretty cheap, I picked it up and had a look at it. It was the famous Pokémon times. I haven’t read this for a while, so I wanted to see what I’ve missed. The front cover was pretty shiny with a picture of a Rapping Wigglytuff as well as just the usual titles, “MY SURVIVAL WITH A URASRING” and “A 60MPH SLUGMA” all those stupid, but readable stories. But one caught my eye, “JOHTO CHAMPION INTERVIEW”. I laughed. The trainers from Johto were complete jokes, sure they’ve been here few times, but they always lost miserably. I wanted to see what joker they had as their champion. They say a picture can a say a million words. This one didn’t just do that. This one changed me. I opened the double page, and it my stomach felt like it had been dragged down to the floor. I started to breath heavy, my body felt weak. Because in these double page, I had seen the most beautiful person ever. And she was a girl. I looked at it, her crystal blue hair looked silky smooth, her eyes we’re also of the same colour and they looked rich and full of life. Her face had the look of an innocent child, yet, it also gave out the feeling of being mature, it was very pretty, even in a picture you tell it was so smooth and so soft to touch, so warm full of happiness. She looked slightly younger than me, not by much, maybe a year or so. Two at the most. I blinked. Hold on a second, she’s.. A girl. Am I supposed to be thinking these kinds of things? Then I thought about it, have I ever actually felt this way about a boy? I thought about it, since I was a little girl I was obsessed with Pokémon, never really showing any interest in boys. But then.. I remember I really used to adore some of my female friends. But I always thought of that as that as strong friendship.. However.. It might not have been. ”No” I thought to myself. I should stop thinking this way, it’s unnatural. You’re not supposed to be thinking this way about girls. As I was shaking my head, I tried to stop staring at the magazine, and throw it away. But I couldn’t. Every time I tried to move my arms, it seemed there was a force inside me that wouldn’t let me drop it. It was like trying to push a Snorlax, they wouldn’t move. Can.. Can this really be that bad? I thought to myself. Then I heard myself again “It’s unnatural”. Yes, it is, isn’t it.. I can’t ..feel this way. Then I heard another of my thoughts “What is so bad about being in love with someone” The other voice attacked it, “it should be boy and girl, not girl and girl” I agreed with that, “Why should love be forbidden” I sighed. I was having two different views in my head and it felt like there was a boxing match in my mind. I might as well read more about her. Name: Marina Crys (That’s a pretty name I though) Age: 16 (Only two years younger than me, I wasn’t that far off) Location: “New Bark Town, Johto” (Maybe I could go there..What in the world am I thinking) there was some other information, but it didn’t really interest me, I was just interested in the bottom part: Marina has broken records by being the youngest ever champion at the age of 16! She stunned trainers everywhere in the Johto region by collecting the 8 official badges with out any trouble at all! She then went on to challenge to the Famous Kanto Elite Four where she destroyed each of them one after another, like nothing at all! Even the Champion Lance stood no chance. Don’t let her cute looks fool you! She is one beast in battle, but always treats her Pokémon with love. I stopped reading, my head seemed to spinning. I couldn’t take any more of this, I wrapped up the magazine and headed for my house. On the way there, I saw Noland, he stopped me. “you look unwell.” he said, it wasn’t in a way anyone would exactly call “caring”, but even just talking was Noland’s way of showing he cares. “oh nothing” I lied. “just a little.. confused”. His face didn’t change, it still had that same cold expression it always has. “I see” was his response. I thought I should just tell someone, just to let it out. It helps, or so I've been told.“Uh.. Noland” I looked down, this was hard for me to say, not because it was Noland, it was just the subject. “Yes” he said in a nearly orderly way. “What.. happens if.. say..” I had a pause. “you. .fell in love with something or someone you’re not supposed to”. “go with it” his voice sounded a little warmer, not much. “Sometimes, you look for the right man, without realising you never intended to find him.” he walked off and left me even more confused, what did he mean by that? Did he know? Was it all guesswork? Whatever it was, I decided it would have to wait until tomorrow.
Have you ever had a really bad nightmare? You know, the kind one ones when after you wake up, it won’t let you sleep. You keep tossing and turning, but every time you close your eyes, you see it. The thing that scared you, the thing that won’t let you sleep, haunting you, from the corners of your mind, just wait until you fall asleep. Who ever said dreams can’t hurt you, never really too into account how much they scare you. I was feeling scared, not in a terrified kind of way, but in an uncertain way. I lie there on my bed; I can hear nothing but the clock outside ticking. The ticking is rhythm that won’t die, it goes on for forever, even if every clock in the world were to be taken away, the ticking of time will still go on. I lie there and wonder about it, I wonder what the ticks will be like in my future. I sighed, and looked at my sleeping pet Whiscash in its tank, sleeping, peacefully, not caring about anything. I wish I was like that. The night rhythm fills my room, I hear the HootHoots singing their midnight songs. It’s funny, as we’re lost in our dream worlds, the Hoots Hoots having their own world, one in the night. The night breeze blasts trough my open window, it’s cold, yet refreshing touch on my face relaxes me and I forget my troubles for a few seconds. I close my eyes and almost fall into my dream world. Then I see her. Her smiling face, her beautiful hair, her ivory skin all forcing their way into my thoughts. Her face is like a crystal. It is amazing to stare at and wonder how nature shaped it, but this crystal could never be broken into shards. I sat up and sighed, with out thinking, I got my dairy from the draw and a pen, and wrote in the personal section: “The air of midnight revels what not even the brightest beam can; I love you”. I stared dumbly at what I wrote. Why did I write that? I must be going crazy, or ..Am I really in love with her? In love with..a girl? ”Marina” I whispered to myself. I’m not sure what made me do it, but it just came out, its like blood was caught in my heart and I had to cough it out. I sight and got up from my bed and had a look outside trough the window. Lost in a sea of confusion, without a lifeboat in sight. I looked at my note pad. Without thinking about it I started to write again: I ask myself, is this love? How many times must it take I laughed to myself and rolled back on my bed. I must be going crazy I thought. I’ve been working to hard, yeah that’s it. It’s finally getting to me. Tomorrow I would ask Scott for some time of, yeah, that would make me feel better. Besides, I deserved a holiday; after all, I have been battling here for nearly 2 years straight. Yeah, that’s what it was, it was all just stress.. I looked at him. He looked back, I couldn’t stand the site, and I never meant to hurt him. He’s eyes were fall of water and he was shaking. “I’m sorry” I said in a deeply guilty way. “I.. never meant to hurt you” He said nothing, just stared there. “I.. love you” I had to say it, it was like a tight shoe which have to be thrown of. “I.. don’t love you back.. I’m sorry”. This was happening in the park, we were covered by some tress out of the public view. Those words seem to have hurt him, it seemed every syllable was bullet. “Why.. why did we go out” I felt guilty, my head just fell down. “I..’m sorry.. I just never wanted to hurt you” I remember it, he asked me to go out with him, I couldn’t say no, so we ended out being boyfriend and girlfriend. I was never happy, I knew one day it would come to this. “..Do you love another guy?” He said quietly, almost a whisper. “I don’t love any guy” I said. “I have never loved a guy.”
I lied there; forgetting what had made me so upset last night. It’s one of those blissful things, you know you lie in bed for a while and forget about anything, not a care in the world. I wish I could of stayed like that forever. I turned my head and looked at my clock. It was 10:23. “Oh dear Ho-oh” I should have been at that Arena at least 20 minuets ago. I ran to the bathroom and was half way of taking my nightdress when I stopped. You know sometimes, you just realize something and it feels like someone has just kicked you in the stomach. I remembered, why I was so late to wake up.. it was.. Thinking of her all night. It was happing again. I saw her face, her skin, her smile.. At the time I wish I could cut of the piece of my mind which was controlling this, out. It was torture at it’s worse. Part of my brain felt like it was being crushed under these images, the more I thought about it, the tighter the grip got. I groaned and got my battle clothes on. I didn’t think about twice where I was going, I left my house and made my way to Scott’s. Scott’s house wasn’t that much bigger than mine, I suppose he doesn’t mind living in something that small because of the trainer battles. The man lives on trainer battles, they are like food and water to him. But hey, what am I saying, so do I. I knocked on his door and quickly his smiling face appeared. “Greta!” his voice was always cheery when he spoke to his favourite battlers. But then for a second, his smile dropped. “Wait, shouldn’t you be in the battle Arena”. “I should have been there half an hour” I thought to myself. “Scott, can I talk to you about something”. “Oh, okay” he said with slight hint of worry in his voice. He led the way into his living room. I sat down on the sofa while Scott sat on the chair in front of me. For a while there was an awkward silence. “So, what’s on your mind” Scott started. “Uh.. yeah..” I was afraid, I felt bad for asking for some time off, I felt as though I should have been training. “Scott… I need.. A vacation”. That was it, the damage had been done, and I laid back in my chair waiting to be told no. “Va-ca-tion?” He laughed. “GRETA! I’ve been insisting you take one for months now!” “Yeah.. but..” “Don’t worry about the arena! We’ll get a temporary replacement!” I sat there slightly relied, but still feeling guilty. “…But, I should be training with the others”. Scott shock his head. “Greta, you are on of the hardest working trainers here, if anyone deserves a break – it’s you”. I looked down at my feet. He saw this, got up and put his hand on my shoulder. “Tell you what, name a place you want to go, and I’ll pay for it, don’t worry about it! You deserve it!” I let a nervous laugh. It’s the one of the laughs when you feel flattered. “So, where would you like to go”. I don’t know what happened. Now that I think about it, if I could of stopped myself, I wouldn’t. “New Bark Town” it shot out, without any warning, nothing in my brain told me to stop, I just said it. Scott smiled. “I knew it!” I looked at him with a puzzled look. “You want to battle, Marina right?” Someone might as well put a mach to my face, because my face was burning, the mere mention of her name made me feel weak. “Yes.. I have heard about her” I struggled to even say those words. Scott must of seen there was something wrong, “Hey, are you okay” I didn’t need him to see this. “Yeah, ..uh, just a little hot”. I didn’t think he bought it, but he just carried on anyway. “Well, I’ll have a ship take you there, and I’ll find a good hotel for you? How does that sound? “Yeah.. that sounds good, but are willing to spend that money on me?” Scott laughed again, “I make more money than I ever need from the Frontier, it doesn’t hurt to treat some of my hard working leaders!” I gave a slight smile, a bow, said “thank you” and started to walk out, until I heard him talk again. “Oh, and Greta, if you do battle, try not to loose against a Johto girl”
Why am I here? That’s what kept running through my head a few hours later, as I was waiting for the boat to come. I was at the Battle Frontier’s harbour; it’s quite a nice place to relax. The sun was out and bright, making the water glitter with it’s rays, making it look pretty, the salty air gave you a nice feeling in your nose and The sky was a clear blue and not a cloud in sight. If you looked to the left you could a flock of chirping Winguls flying to the horizon. Any other person would of enjoyed being out on lovely day, but not me. No. I had too much on my mind, I was thinking of mostly what I was going to when I get to new Bark town, more to the point, why did I ever want to go? To see.. her. I scolded myself, this was stupid, and I was travelling to a different country, taking time from when I should be training just to see a girl in a magazine. But then again, I can’t stop myself, I had to go there, and it was like an invisible force pulling my mind there, at times I could almost feel I was at New Bark Town. My heart wanted to go there, it was bleeding.. I stopped. No. I can’t think like that, I’ll just go there, talk to her, and confirm to myself I wasn’t in love with her. Yeah, that’s what I’ll do. I later look back on that and think what a fool I was. I sighed. This was all so confusing, I wish someone could just light a match in the dark and I could see and erase this cloud of confusion that was covering my mind. I looked at the sea below me for help, I wish I didn’t do that, Because for a split second I swore I saw her face, only for a second, it was as clear as day. I blinked; it was all in my head I thought to myself. I didn’t get time to argue that point because in the distance I saw the ship coming closer to the docks.
The room was quite nice although all it was only a bed. I dumped my bags on the floor got my dairy out of one of them, sat on the bed and opened it. I had a look at what I wrote yesterday, the poem. “It must have been the lack of sleep last night”. Soon I would come to realize all these excuse were weak. “The brightest beam” “lovely caged bird” How cheesy I thought. I was thinking that until I remembered what I was thinking that night. Her face, her hair, her smile. Yet again, my hand rose and I started writing. In a field I stopped and threw the dairy across the room. I decided I needed rest, so I wrapped myself up in the blankets and waited for sleep to come on me. The sunset light hit the hill in a brilliant orange, it was beautiful. I looked around me I was standing on an angel of the hill, I saw a path leading downwards, it seemed to be endless, and flowers covered the grass that clocked the hill. It felt so relaxing, I could have just sat there and fell asleep, the sunlight as my blanket and the soft grass as my bed. But I couldn’t, I had to walk, something in my body was telling me too. For a while I didn’t see anything, until I saw a figure, I couldn’t make out who was in the distance. “Please don’t be Marina, Please don’t be Marina was I all I was thinking”. As I walked on it because clear, I then realized it was me, a slightly taller version of me, but she was taking seeds out of a bag and blowing them down the hill. I walked up to her, I wasn’t scared, because I knew this had to be a dream, it was too bizarre. She didn’t look at anything or me; she just kept blowing the seeds. I went to say hi, but something was wrong, something else came out of my mouth. .”As doubt fades with the sunlight”. What happened was weirder, without stopping or looking at me, she responded with.“The feelings in my heart will not deny true love”. I gave out a nervous laugh, what in the world was this about. She stopped blowing seeds, turned around and faced me. Now that I looked at her, I saw how different she looked from me, it wasn’t much, just little things: Her hair was longer and darker, she was taller, her eyes seemed to have a more happier glow and she had a smile I had never seen on myself, despite the fact she was crying, she looked very happy. She walked towards me and gave me a hug. She spoke in my ear; her voice was like mine, but softer and almost seemed like it was singing. As the night enters, we look for the smallest light that breaks trough. We use this light as a guide, a guide to get home; don’t be blind to this light, do not question it, just always follow it”. Just as she said that, the whole sky went pitch black. “Okay, this is getting weird” I thought. She gave me a kiss on the check and held me tighter. Somehow it felt a little.. Strange being kissed by something I assumed to be myself. “Don’t look at things with just your eyes and your mind, let your heart act as a window to happiness”. She let go and placed in my hand a seed. Grow! Grow! You shall see the birth of something great. With that she walked into the darkness, all I heard her feet on the grass and called out to her. “But.. but, watch what grow?” She didn’t respond. All I heard was the footsteps, and when they died out a little bit of light came from the sky, I looked up and saw a single tiny star shinning in the sky. I had no idea what it was doing, but it makes me feel nice, it made my body feel like it was made of pure happiness. It was an unearthly feeling that I could never describe. ”We are about to disband in New Bark Town” Said the guy on the deck. It was actually kind of lonely since it seemed I was the only one going to New Bark Town and everyone else had already reached his or her destinations. saying that it was pretty relaxing. The sun had down, and night returned to its daily schedule, I liked this, I was more a night person, and it gave its relaxing aroma. It was pretty to see the stars reflected of the sea as the ship moved closer to New Bark Town. We we’re just passing Tojhto falls, the river was kind of small, but so was our boat. It was lucky New Bark Town was near the sea, even if it was just a small part of it. I sighed, soon I would be seeing her, I started to feel nervous at the thought, my stomach felt like it had bugs crawling around in it, and my face felt all lifeless. That’s how nervous I was, but it would be nothing compared to meeting her. The ship got nearer to the shore, I grabbed my bag and looked down, this was it. I had to see her tonight, it was now or never. I couldn’t leave it, it was killing me. The man moved out of the way. “We’re here” there was no port, so just moored by the lands edge. I walked down the stair and looked around me. It was a very small town, only around 3 houses or so a small laboratory building, and what I can only assume to be the hotel Scott was talking about was a very small building. It was fitting someone with such humble backgrounds could rise up to a huge height. What am I thinking, ugh, I better just see her and get this over with. I started to walk around the town, wondering if I should bother going to the hotel first. I thought no, this is something I needed to do. I took out the cursed magazine from my bag, opened it to the page and looked down. Marina appreciates any fan mail you might want to send! Her addressed was underneath that, basically, I was looking for if her house number was “1” “2” or “3” that’s how small the town was. I started walking to the house which was number 1, it was a modest house, with a few flowers planted around a small path to the door. I stopped. This was it, this is what I had travelled for, just to walk up to some girl’s house I’ve never met, say Ho-oh knows what, and probably make a fool of myself. Oh, well, I’ve done worse. I started walking on the path, every time I took a footstep it seemed to have stretched, stretch, stretch, stretch until I felt like I wasn’t even moving. I had a feeling, the same feeling I can only imagine prinsors have when they were walking up to the hangman’s hoop in the medieval times. I felt like I was about to die. After what seemed like forever, I got to the door. I took a breath and knocked. This was it, the moment that surely would kill me, I felt enduring rushes feel my body, I felt like I was about to melt into the ground and die. The door opened, my heart jumped, but died down when I saw it wasn’t her. It was, who looked to be her mother. “May I help you?” It must have been weird, a 18 year old girl, standing outside, shaking, and pretty white in the face about to ask “..Is Marina there?” “oh sure, but isn’t a little late to be calling her?” she said. “Oh, I’m sorry, but I’ll only be a second with her”. “Okay” she walked into her house and my heart started to beat hard again, so hard it was hurting, the pain was nearly making cry, the same weak feeling took over my face, and my stomach felt like a Heracross had just Megahorned it.
Then I heard her voice steps, and my nerves felt so brittle. She appeared in the door way, her face looked even more pretty, her glowing eyes were looking at me, which shot me with fear, her eyelashes looked so pretty, and she had a aroma of pure beauty. My body froze; I had that feeling you have when you look down a very high cliff and become stiff scared. My nerves felt like they broke in have, my legs felt like they were set in concrete and my heart was beating so fast it was impossible to feel each beat. She looked puzzled but happy. “Hi there” her voice was like music coming from the finest crafted flute in the world. I tried to speak, but I just kept chocking, so much I couldn’t breathe. “Are you.. okay?” This was all to much for me to take, I couldn’t even say simple sentences, “I’m...I’m” I was talking like I had knocked down My face feels like someone has sucked out the feeling with it. I don’t know what happened next, I could only guess my body just gave up, it just collapsed and I fell down. I would come to realize when I woke up later, there no doubt in my mind I loved her.
Is true love in a different shape still love? She was holding me again, yeah, my creepy look alike person on this tilted hill. For some reason, I felt like talking to her, I never could do before because it was just to plain weird, yet now, I felt more confident. “Why must love confuse and hurt?” “If all things were easy, would we ever feel satisfaction?” She sat down and I took this as a hint to do so next to her. She put her arm around me in such a caring way. I kind of enjoyed it, being sat there with someone who obviously cares for very much and just looking at the sunset, it was such a beautiful feeling. ”What is love” I found myself asking her. “Love is many different things: If you was a mother, would you love your children, if you were a friend, would you love your friends, if you was a Pokémon trainer, would you love your Heracross, if you was an item, would you love your soulmate”.” That doesn’t answer it really” Her voice never really changed, it always had that slight singing tone. “Love is many things; when you like someone, that is a form of love, when you are fond of something, that is a form of love, when thinking of someone makes you happy, that is a form of love, when you would die for someone, that is love at it’s strongest”. “What about unnatural love?” She stood up, her voice changed, it wasn’t the sweet smooth voice, it was like my voice, but almost screaming?
She sat down again, and put her arm around me and gave me a kiss. I laughed, “Hang on! I’m not a lesbian yet!” to my surprise she laughed too. Who was she? She looked like me, had the same, buy softer voice as me, and possibly had the same sense of humour. “Who are you?” I just asked that straight out. “Are you like, a guardian angel or something?” For some reason, her voice lost her tenderness and started to sound more like mine. “No, I am not” “Then who are you”. She smiled, “You will learn soon enough”. Gave me another kiss and rested her head on my shoulder. “Then, at least tell me, what is this place?” “Again, you will learn soon enough.” I was getting slightly annoyed, so little answers yet so many questions. Just about as I was going to ask something else she butted in and went “do you still have the seed?” I looked in my hand it was there, this whole time I didn’t notice it was there. I had a closer look at it, it was a shiny white colour, it seemed to have a strange feel to it, it felt unusual compared to any other seed I’ve held. “What is this?” “I cannot tell you now” “But why not?” she got up, and started to walk away from me. “Because it hasn’t even begun”. ”Are you okay?” My eyes weren’t open, but I
could hear someone’s voice. I felt something wet on my forehead,
and someone was over me. I started to mumble “seed..”
I felt something touch my arm, I thought I should open my eyes and see what’s going on. I gave out a scream, two big red and yellow eyes were staring at me, what ever it was started to laugh. “Oh Muu-Chan! Leave her alone!” It started moving away from me and I saw it was a laughing Misdreavus, figures; they always get pleasure in scaring people. It floated to the other side of the room, and to my horror Marina was standing there. The blissful feeling disappeared, I was in total fear, I looked around me and saw I was in, what I guessed to be her bedroom. It was quite nice; the wooden walls were covered with posters of trainers and Pokémon. She had a shelves full of Pokémon soft toys, there was a very cute Misdreavus one, some figures, a newspaper cut out of her as well, but I couldn’t see her bed. Then I realized, I looked to the side of me and saw I was sleeping in it. I was quite confused to what had happened, I tried to speak but I really couldn’t get the words out, even though I wasn’t feeling like I did when I walked to her door step, I still felt scared. “Are you okay?” She asked again, I really don’t what to say, “no I’m not, I love you, and I am going trough complete hell at the moment”. What would be truthful, but I couldn’t say that.. She came and sat on the end of the bed and for some strange reason started giggling. “Listen. When you fell your clothes got kind of dirty and..” I didn’t need to be told, I pulled the blanket off me and saw I was wearing one of her nightdresses. “Sorry, but..” She started to giggle even harder “..You have the same underwear as me!” I could of died, my face went completely red. Here I was, supposed to be having my relaxing vacation, instead I was coming here out of doubt, fainting on a person I don’t even know’s doorstep, and having her dress me up like a doll. ”I’m sorry! I can be so immature at times!”
For some strange reason, I found I could talk to her now; maybe
it was because I felt so embarrassed I couldn’t feel even
worse. ”did you read my interview?” She asked.6 “Yeah, I did, I was very impressed”. “That’s good” She looked away. “when I read about you.. I .. I felt inspired” “huh? In what way?” I felt slightly flattered. “Well, they said you was the hardest working Leader, and you have some fantastic moves.. then.. I saw a picture of you and your Heracross hugging, I thought of that as really.. sweet” “I love him so much, he’s always been my partner” “That’s.. what I believe is the most important part of training.. loving your Pokémon” I looked to see her Misdreavus floating there, looking at her, adoring her, it was obvious to see they had a special connection. “I love Muu-chan so much” She gave her a hug. For a while, no one said anything, we were just thinking of lovely memories of our Pokémon.
She left the room with Muu-Chan and left me there thinking what I had got myself in too..
While she was cooking, she came up a few times to see if I was okay. I kept telling her not to worry. Later asked me if I was feeling well enough to come downstairs, I accepted and she led the way to her kitchen. While going down there, I noticed I was only a few inches taller than her. The kitchen had the same texture of Marina’s walls, pots and cooking instruments hanging everywhere, and a table in the middle of it. There were two food full plates which gave out a slightly spicy smell. She sat down at the table and I followed. “I hope you enjoy it, I made it myself”. I started to take a fork and take a little bit of it. It tasted very nice, I can guess she covered it a spicy sauce. “Wow, this is great!” She gave a nervous laugh and started to eat her own. “Thanks, no-one really else likes it.” “I don’t see why not, it’s delicious!” “That’s not what they say..” “Hey, at least you made the effort of cooking it”. “Yeah, I guess” She looked down. “So, do you know why you fainted?” I stopped. I needed another lie. “Uh, yeah, I guess I was just stressed”. “Ah, I see, it must have been pretty stressful working at the frontier, then you have to go on that boat, which I heard wasn’t a very good transport system anyway”. “It was okay, I guess.” There was a long silence, until she gave out a cough. “Um.. I’m very sorry”. She said in a very guilty manner. “For what?” “Well, when you were sleeping, a book kinda of fell out of your pocket and er..” She held it up. It was my dairy, I felt my self sinking in my chair. “…oh.. my.. What did you read of it?” I asked in a scared tone. “Oh don’t worry, nothing personal just..” “just..?” “Your poems”. I felt like someone had shot me in the head, I just started at her like a frozen body. “I’m sorry” She continued. “But they are ..Quite sweet”. I still didn’t move.” “Who ever they are for, must be a lucky guy”. I felt relived, like a gunman had taken his gun from under my face. “Yeah, guy…” She started to giggle. “Awww, you have a crush!” My face once again went bright red. “Yeah, so?” “Nothing, I just think it’s cute!” she started to eat again. Silence was in the air again, but I was glad we had moved away from the subject.
”I think..We might become good friends” She said. “Maybe, maybe”. I put down my fork and knife. “Oh are you finished?” “Yeah, I am, it was nice, thank you.” “Ooh, do you want to battle now?” “But you have finished your dinner?”. “Oh don’t worry, I’m not really hungry! Come on there’s a perfect battle spot I know of!” “uhhh sure, but one thing?” “Yeah?” “Let me get changed first!” “I have clean underwear if you need it!” I burst out into hard laughter. Chapter six.
The air became tense, the competition between the battlers was clear: Even though this was just for fun, it was still a battle, and I knew I had to win, just like she had too. That's what we did as Pokémon trainers “Heracross! Let’s go!” I threw my Pokémon and Heracross came out in a flash of green light. He looked around, this would be the first time we’ve battled for a few days, and he needed a good work out. He looked at me and gave me a smile as to say “Don’t worry, we’ll win this!” ”That’s a cute Heracross! But is it any match for my Feraligatr, out you come Wani-Wani!” She threw down her ball and out came a brutish looking Feraligatr, it looked at my Heracross and gave a roar, as trying to intimidate it. He didn’t move an inch. I smiled, “Heracross has beaten things twice the size as that, do you think he’ll be scared?” “Oh, just wait until you see it attack!” she put up her arm, “Wani-Wani, go after him with a Body slam!” It started to charge at my Heracross, despite its size it was quite fast, I had to do something before it slammed on Heracross. “Double team!” Heracross then used its speed to create a wall of copies of itself, Wani-Wani still charging stopped dead in its tracks. “Now that I have you confused, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to power up, Heracross, Sword Dance!” Almost instantly all the images of Heracross started dancing in frenzy, this would double my attack. “Clever, but I know what will put you in your place, Wani-Wani, Surf! The brute stood back and the water from the nearby coast formed a wave that hit all of the illusions, it was so quick Heracross didn’t have to time to move out of the way, the water rushed away from the battle filed and he stood up, he was slightly hurt, but he looked even more determined. “You see, my Heracross lives for pain, every time he feels it, it drives him forward, making him wanting to battle for more”. “He is pretty good, but my Feraligatr is better!” I noticed her voice during the battle had become fierier, I guess the article was right. “Let’s see how you deal with this! Heracross, Megahorn!” This was it, the move that usually ends the battles, his horn started glowing and with tremendous speed he ran at the brute. “uugh.. Wani-Wani! Dig!” The alligator ripped open the ground and started to dig him out of the way. Heracross stopped in centre of the battlefield.
”Heracross, don’t worry about it, you did well sweetie, take a well earned rest” I held up my Pokeball, instantly the green beam absorbed him in. I closed my eyes. “I should have known your Misdreavus would carry psychic… That was a very foolish mistake of me, considering Heracross is part fighting”. Marina started to laugh “Ha-ha-ha-ha, now you’ve learnt your lesson – don’t under estimate me”. “Believe me, I never did” I drew out another ball and threw it to the ground. Gengar rose from the light, he was smiling and cackling deviously. “Ghost on ghost, should be interesting right?” I said causally. “Muu-Chan will still win..” “We shall see about that..” We stood staring at each other for a while, the waiting only made it tenser. ”Gengar, Thunderbolt!” finally something broke the silence. The ghost held it’s arms high, and with what looked like to be little effort, sent a moving thunderbolt from the sky homing at Misdreavus” “Muu-Chan! Calm Mind!” The Misdreavus closed its eyes and started floating like paper trapped in the wind. The thunderbolt was coming close and closer to Misdreavus, with every inch feeling like an entirety. It was near about to hit when Misdreavus opened its eyes and the same mystic colours were present as well as an aura of the same colours appearing around it, covering its body like a blanket, it only lasted for a few seconds then vanished. The thunderbolt hit it with a loud crack and coated Muu-chan in electric energy for a split second. When it stopped she looked slightly hurt but not nearly as much as I thought she would.
”Aren’t you forgetting Calm Mind, Muu-Chan’s special defence were risen!” She was tricky, she had it done before the bolt hit, making the damage not as strong, I had to attack with more force. Marina started laughing. “Now watch this! Muu-Chan! Thunderwave” it floated to the air and let out electric bolts that formed a wave of electricity. Gengar tried to move out of the way, but the wave crashed down on to him, paralysing him making him slower. “Ugh, Gengar, give it a Shadow Punch!” It tried to move, but it was so slow, making it venerable to attacks. ”ahahahaha! You know Calm Mind also raises Muu-Chan’s Special Attack?” “Yeah, so?” Her voice sounded powerful, almost scary. “Well, watch this! Misdreavus! Psychic!” Just like Heracross, The psychic energy crushed the Gengar until you could see the pain in its eyes, it stumbled backwards then fainted. ”Well Greta, just one more Pokémon left for you!” I had Gengar returned than grab the last Pokeball from my bag. “I wouldn’t be celebrating just yet”. I span it on my finger and smiled. “This one will get you” I threw it to the ground and out came Shedinja. It just floated there, not even moving. That’s all it could do. Marina looked dumb struck and worried. “Wha-what is that?” I gave out a devious smile and said, “It’s a Shedinja, and I supposed you haven’t seen one have you? Johto girl”. She just started at it; I doubted she realized what kind of power it had. “Hm, well, it doesn’t look that tough, does it Muu-Chan?” The Misdreavus gave out a happy “Muuu!” “If you know nothing about this Pokémon, you’re not going to stand a chance” I brushed my hair back, it was something I did when I felt confident. “Shedinja, sword Dance!” Without even moving the bug’s claws began to flash with its attack getting higher. ”Why are you powering up? There’s little that’s going to do” Marina smirked. “Now, Muu-Chan, Psychic!” once again the psychic energy rose from the ground, but this time it didn’t hit the Pokémon, instead it bounced of Shedinja. ”Wait, is that a dark type?!” I laughed, she had no idea. “Nope”. “Then how could psychic attacks bounce of it?” “You learn…eventually , but for now, Shedinja, Shadow Ball!” Still not moving, the Bug summoned a ball of shadows from the air and hurled it at Misdreavus at great speed, it hit the ghost and it fell back in pain. She got up, looked at the Shedinja, let out a moan that sounded she was about to faint. “Muu-Chan, use it, you haven’t got long left.” Marina said to her quietly, by this time, her face had lost a lot of the confidence it once had. She gave the Misdreavus a weary wink, and it started to let out a horrible high-pitched song. “Perish song”. Marina said, with an evil smile on her face. “Even though Misdreavus is about to faint – it doesn’t matter. After you have used 3 moves, your Shedinja goes bye bye” She laughed. If she thought she had won this, she had another thought coming”. “Okay Misdreavus, you did well, you can stop now”. It floated downwards to where it stayed until she used the Pokeball to return it. ”Big deal, I still have 3 turns left”. I was quite nervous. If she had a Pokémon with a fire, rock, ghost or flying move, I would loose, it all depending on what she picked next. She picked up another ball and gave smiled; she started to twilling it around with her fingers and laughing. “This is it, go Ampharos!” Ampharos appeared out of its ball then ran to Marina and gave her a hug. “Come on girl! Not now, save it after that battle!” she giggled. An electric type, I’ll be okay if she didn’t teach it fire punch, I thought to myself, It was luck, but I had feeling she was up to something.. ”Okay, let’s get on with this! Shedy, Shadow Ball!” The bug summoned another ball and hurled it at the Ampharos, “Quickly, protect!” shouted Marina. Ampharos held its arms across its face to summon the protection force, each Pokémon could do it, and it was a moved that used the energy inside its body to create an invisible force filed to block attacks for that turn. Like this, one as soon as the Shadow ball hit it, the protection filed repelled off into the distance. ”Two turns Greta!” she said gleefully. “Hmm, I can see you’re trying to stall me”. “Hahaha, that’s right”. That was a nice strategy, but I knew how to break it. “You can’t use it more than 2 turns in a row, can you!” “Oh don’t worry, I thought of that..” The second turn started, the countdown was 2, and I felt like I was watching the timer of a bomb about to go. She gave me a sweet smile, winked and ordered her move. “Ampy Protect again!” I knew she was going to do that. “Shedy, sword dance” I figured I shouldn’t waste this turn.. “You only have one turn left! Why are you powering up, you only have one turn left. ” “You shall see,” I laughed. “Laugh all you want, but this battle’s mine!” The third turn, and the last chance for Shedy to do anything. “This is Marina, the turn that decides the match” “Yep, I have to say, whatever the out come is, it’s been a good fun”. Her face changed, it was her sweet smile and her innocent eyes again. She changed a lot battle, it was like a sweet innocent girl, to a heated master battler. “I agree” I smiled back. I hit me, that this battle would have no losers. I felt honoured to battle her, and I had an insight to how her Pokémon loved her, I guess it was because she was so nice to them, treated them with love. I admired that a lot, I had seen some pretty horrible trainers in the Frontier, and shouting at their Pokémon, yelling at them if the lost. But not her, she was just proud they battled for her and because of that, they always gave 100% I smiled to her, “I’m not about to loose though.”. “Neither am I”. I took a deep breath and shouted “Shedy, Density bond!”. Marina looked like she was about to be sick, “N-No”. The Bug let out a circle of shadows which covered Ampharos then faded into its fur. “That’s not fair!” she yelled slightly angry. “Sure it is, you know what happens now don’t you?” She nodded sadly. “Yes, if Shedinja goes down this turn so does..” . She gave out a sigh. “Well, make your move!” I guess I kind of taunted her there, but it’s something you do in a battle. She looked down and sighed again. “I forfeit”. Why was she doing that, wouldn’t of been better to have a draw? “But why! You could easily have made this into a draw!” “..It’s better if someone wins”. She gave out another smile and summoned her Ampharos back. “Besides, what’s the fun in a draw?” She laughed. “That was so nice of you” For a moment there I just stared at her with a loving face, even though we’ve only talked for a few hours I got the strong feeling what kind of sweet person she was. Infact, I was expecting it of her, I don’t know why, maybe it was the feeling in my heart when I looked at her picture, yet, and I still asked myself should I be thinking like this? I wasn’t confused if I loved her or not, how can you not know if you fainted on their doorstep, but why did I love someone I barely know, a person who’s pictures I saw in a magazine. It all seemed crazy. But I had the feeling I had known her forever.. I snapped out of my trance and looked at Shedinja, walked to him and gave him a little kiss. It may of seemed weird for me to kiss one of my Pokémon, but it’s something I usual did. Of course, he didn’t move still. I decide I should go. If I stayed around any longer she might have found out how I was feeling towards her, maybe I should just go back to the frontier and let this go. It would eventually pass I told myself. Maybe doing extra training would get my mind of it. I sighed and walked to her. “I guess I’ll be going now”. “Oh, are you sure?” She looked disappointed. “Yeah, but thanks for everything”. I picked up my bag and started walking away. ”Wait, do you like fishing?” She shouted to me as I was walking. I turned around I looked at her. “Well, I love too, but no-one really wants to do it with me..” “Fishing?” “Yeah, only if you want too, I have an extra rod if you don’t have one”. I stopped to think about this, she wanted me too, but I wasn’t sure, what if I said something or did something out of my control that made her think I loved her.. Things like that happen, it might be a blush, a certain way of talking, or how you look at someone. But I decided this might be a good way to build up a friendship. “Yeah, sure” she looked happy. “Oh do you have your own rod?” “Yeah, I do”. “Okay! Let’s go back to my house and get mine and a blanket”. We started to walk towards her small house.
”Listen” I said in a caring voice. “I want to be your friend”. “I know, that’s why I invited you for fishing!” she turned around and gave me a hug. I never expected her to do that. For a while, we just sat there and talked about random things, the make of our rods, the Battle Frontier, Noland (which was quite funny as I told her he never really smiled and stories about people who tried to annoy him in the Battle Factory). And all the time I felt like we we’re becoming great friends. I felt a tug on my line. Marina saw it and excitedly shouted “Quickly! Quickly! Reel it in!!” I started turning the reel, what it was, wasn’t giving up easily, the faster I reeled, the more it pulled. The struggle went on for a few moments until a Poliwhirl was flung out of the water. It looked at me angrily and started to run at me. I then realized I haven’t bought any empty Pokeballs and was in a panic, I tried to get one of my Pokémon out to protect me until I was distracted by sparks flying at the Poliwhirl. I looked around and saw Marina with Muu-Chan floating by her, she must have used Thunderwave because now the Angry Poliwhirl was struggling to move. “Quick! Now!” She threw an empty Pokeball to me. I chucked the ball at the Struggling Pokémon and with a flash of red light it was absorbed in the ball. It started to shake, once, twice, three times and on the fourth it stopped. Marina smiled at me, “you now have a Poliwhirl”. I looked at the ball and felt happy. Not just because I now had another Pokémon to love, more to do with the fact Marina actually helped me to catch it. “Thank you very much” She sat down again and looked at the ball. “So, what are you going to call it?” “Phil” “Phil?” “Yeah, after Phil Collins”. Marina looked confused. “Who’s he?” “Oh, he was a character in a book called ‘The land of confusion’.” “I’ve never heard of it”. “It’s quite a good book.”
I don’t know how long we stayed there. By the time we was about to leave, the sun was already setting. It was so beautiful to see it sink underneath the waves as the sky changed from blue to orange and the stars starting to wake up from their sleep. It was very relaxing to see the waves slowly coming then falling at the coast. A frequent breeze from the sea would come and hit our faces with its tender cold. ”besides that Poliwhirl, we haven’t cactched anything”. I said to her. “Doesn’t matter, it was so nice to be out here with someone.” “Yeah, and you got to talk about -…” “WHISCASH! No-one else listens to me about it, I mean it’s so cool and so –“ I stopped her there and laughed. “Can we save it for later? She laughed too. “Oh, sorry! Sure! If you can stand me talking about it for ages.” “It’s ..nice to listen to you”. “Say, how long are you staying here for?” “oh, only for a week”. “that’s a shame.. but where are you staying?” “ I was supposed to stay in a hotel, which reminds me that I have to check in soon”. She made a nose which sounded like she awkward with asking “Um, well, I was going to ask if you wanted to stay with me?” My heart jumped. “Stay? With you?!” “I know, I know it’s a stupid idea”. She looked away from me and at to the sea. “No, it’s not.” I smiled. “I’d love to stay with you, that’s only if there’s somewhere besides the sofa for you to sleep” Her eyes lit up. “Yeah, I can take a sleeping bag into my room, that’s if you don’t me sleeping in the same room with you”. “Of course I don’t, I’m just happy you want me”. “And I’m happy you want to come”. We both looked at each other, smiling and It might have been the cool sea breeze but I there was a feeling of total relaxation. I found myself blurting out in a soft tone, “You have pretty eyes”. “Thanks, so do you”. Her tone was the same as mine. We picked up our stuff and made our way to her house. Chapter 7. We we’re both asleep, it was around midnight; we had spent ages just talking about things. Soon sleep fell on us and I started to dream again.
”Why are you crying but smiling?” “Because I am happy, yet sad at the same time.” “But why?” “You shall learn soon”. Okay, that was annoying, she was being vague, and I decide to ask a more straight forward question. “Who are you?” “I shall show you.” She walked up to me very slowly and pushed me down with a strong hand. “What? What are you doing?” She didn’t say anything, instead she pinned me down with one hand and starting to slap my face. It felt like iron was being clapped around my face. I started to cry. “Please! Please stop it!” she stopped, but still had me pinned down. “Why are you doing that?” Her voice was still in her soft tone. “I am you’re feelings, and as you know, feelings can hurt”. She then gave me a big kiss on the lips. “Yet, they can be heavenly.” For a while, she didn’t do anything, I was still pinned down and she just looked at me. “You are feeling scared and venerable that you’re feelings will hurt you again, yes?” I nodded my head like an obedient child. She let me go and walked a few metres away from me. “Do you have any other questions?” It was hard to ask because I was afraid she’d hit me again, but there’s something I wanted to know, so I wiped my tears and asked :“..How does Marina feel about me?” “She looks up to you and adores you.” “How do you know that?” “I know how people feel.” She started to walk away from me into opposite direction. “But wait, what will happen between us”. She stopped, looked at me, and gave a wink. “Nothing bad will happen”.
I figured that when I fell of the bed I must of fell down face
first, then my mind turned that into a dream. I was hoping that
was the case, otherwise it was too weird. Misdreavus floated into the room, it looked at me and Marina and floated straight at me with an eager look. It came up, and snuggled its face against mind. “Well look at that!” Said Marina. Muu-chan only does that with my mother and me. “Really?” I said while stroking the Misdreavus. “Yep, I guess she only does that to people I feel close to me”. She looked down and gave a small smile while the Misdreavus gave out a happy “muuu!” “Well, come on Muu-Chan, let Greta get dressed!” The next few days, not a lot happened. We went out battling, shopping, fishing and things like that. We sometimes swapped battle tips but we were just happy to admire each other.
At that moment I walked trough her door. “Oh, hi Greta!” “Hey Marina!” “How’s Phil’s training coming along?” Before I had a chance to say anything, I felt a tug on the back of my hair. I span around to see it was Muu-Chan trying to scare me. “Muu, not now, Greta’s trying to talk”. Marina said in a kind of stern but sweet way. The Misdreavus floated to her with a grin its face, Marina gave it a hug and laughed. “Anyway, you were saying?” “Yeah, Phil’s coming along a lot. We managed to beat about 20 Sentrets.” “Wow, that’s pretty good. But are you going to evolve him into a Poliwrath at any point?” “Only when his ready.” “Yeah, that’s the best thing to do, wait until they feel they want to evolve”. I nodded and hummed in agreement. “So what, have you been doing since I was gone?” She was quick to say “nothing! Nothing!” “Oh, okay, well listen I’m going to sleep, I’m quite tired”. “Ah sure, here you go.” She got of her bed and walked to a chair at the side of the room. “Thanks, what are you going to do?” “I think I’ll go play with Muu-Chan out side for a while!” she looked at the ghost. “Come on girl, let’s go have some fun”. She left the room, I got changed then went to sleep.
I felt like a time bomb, every day I did not tell her the truth, I felt a force inside me harder and harder, like it wanted to escape by any means possible. So on morning on the last day, I went to the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror. ”it’s now or never.” I told myself. I knew this was going to be hard, but it had to be done. For the rest of the day my heart was beating hard.
I had to spoil the moment. Didn’t I? That’s what I thought at the time.. ”Marina.. I need to tell you something”. My heart now was pounding and hurting so hard and my bones felt like they were about to crumble. I looked at her face, it looked so delicate, so innocent. I didn’t know if I could do this, but I told myself it had to be done. It wasn’t easy, not easy at all, it was like trying to force blood out of your throat. If you didn’t, it might kill you, but it was painful to do so. ”..I hope this doesn’t wreck our friendship”. “What’s wrong?” I was shaking, and she saw that. “Well….” “Go on, please, it’ll better if you just tell me – and even if it’s that bad we’ll still be friends”. Her voice sounded softer and sweeter, but from her face I could tell she was also scared. She thought I was going to say something bad, she had no idea.
” I love you”. That was it, whatever damage was about to be done, was going to happen now. She looked at me quite confused. “Excuse me?” I finally broke. My face started to screw up, my legs gave in I fell to the floor on my knees and started crying. “I love you, I really do”. My words came out in a teary voice, every time I breathed I let out more tears. “I’m so sorry, I saw you picture in a magazine and I thought you were the most beautiful thing on this planet.” Every word of this I said, she looked more and more scared. “I-I- was so confused. I d-didn’t know if-if I did. “Stop” she said in a whisper. “I’m sorry, I can’t! I n-need to tell you more. When I came here, I found out… you were just perfect in every way.. a-as the days went I gre-w to love you even more. Please you have to understand! I never wanted this to happen!” No-one said anything, all you could was hear was the sobbing of my tears. She finally sighed and said “I’m sorry, I don’t think I can talk to you any more”. She took one last look at me and walked back to her house, slowly. I just lost any will to get up and fell down on my face and continued to cry.
Something happened. Something unexpected happened. Marina started crying, she had taken the paper from Muu-Chan and saw what it was. Something in heart triggered and totally destroyed how she was feeling before. “Oh my god, what have I done”. She looked at the window. “Muu-Chan! How could I’ve done something like to someone I adore so much..” She fell to her knees and started to cry. “I’m so sorry Greta..” Muu-chan floated down and stared at her, then moved its eyes to the direction of the window. Marina sniffed and looked where its eyes were going. “You’re.. Right Muu-chan.. It’s not too late”. She got up, put on a coat and ran out side her room to the fallen friend. Meanwhile, I was still lying there, still crying heavily and thinking bitter thoughts to myself. “Well done Greta, you’ve probably wrecked one of the best friendships you’ve ever had”. I gave out a moan and let out another burst of tears. I felt like my heart was crushed into a million pieces. This week had been one of the best of my life and I didn’t want it to end like this. What would I do now? Go back to the Battle Frontier and regret it for the rest of my life? Maybe not even do that, I didn’t think I had the will to do anything anymore. I looked up the sky and shouted. “YOU SAID NOTHING BAD WOULD HAPPEN!” she lied. It was all a lie.
The whole world froze. Not a sound. Nothing moved. We was the centre of the earth, and it seemed to rotate around us. I am not going to say anything else. Because true beauty needs no words. Chapter 9 I couldn’t tell anyone what happened that night. No-one would understand. Sure, I would be able to explain it to you the events, but you wouldn’t feel it. You wouldn’t know how blissful it was, how amazing it was. Its’ something you have to experience to know, to understand. The moment we kissed, the world froze, all I could feel was her lips on mine, her love with mine, and for a split moment, I swear I could hear her thoughts, and she could hear mine. Am I crazy? No. I am in love.
‘Scott, oh yeah, hi. I’m fine, thanks, yourself…? Oooh, glad to hear that… Yeah, It’ll be good to see you tonight as well… Can I ask something? … Well, I’d like to bring back my girlfriend to the frontier for a few nights.. can you tell the transport ships you’ll be expecting two people this time? .. Ahh, thanks very much! I knew I could count on you… oh us? We’re doing very well, it’s pretty much our first day.. yeah? Yeah? I’m glad we have your support, I knew we would! Well see you later tonight, take care of yourself.. oh, of course I’ll do some battles when I get back! What are you paying me for! Well despite the fact you’re not playing me.’ I gave out a little laugh. ‘Well, see you tonight, bye, take care of yourself’.
A few hours later we made our way to the coast to wait for the boat, it was around 12. Muu-chan was absent, I asked why; she said it was because it gets sea sick. Marina looked excited yet a little nervous. ‘I’m scared’ ‘Why?’ I asked her. ‘Do you think, I’ll be any good or do you think people will just laugh at me?’ I gave a smile. ‘You realize most people are knocked out by me without even launching an attack, but you, you managed to draw with me – and don’t tell me I won, it was a draw.’ She put on a smile. ‘Yeah, I guess.’ ‘Besides, what Ever event you do, I’ll be there to cheer you on.’ ‘Will you always cheer me on?’ ‘Baby, I swear it to you.’ The boat moored in and we made our way to our room, which was still room 34. ‘This is a nice place.’ Marina said while sidewise lying on the bed. ‘Mind if I lye with you?’ I giggled. ‘Of course not!’ I go on the bed and lay down behind her and started to whisper in her ear. ‘I love you so much.’ ‘I love you too.’ ‘I had my self trapped in my own mind, I was wondering in the blind night, my heart was crumbling, and out of the cracks oozed my blood, my life, my soul. But do you know what?’ ‘What?’ She whispered back. ‘It was all worth it!’ She turned round, ‘Oh, Greta!’ and kissed me. ‘I’ve realised something’ she said. ‘What’s that?’ She looked a bit guilty. ‘I don’t have a nickname for you, you’re always calling me baby, yet, I just referred to you as Greta.’ ‘What’s so bad about that?’ ‘Well, I want to give you a nickname that will show you mean something special to me.’ ‘But I already know I mean something special to you.’ ‘But I want to show it more.’ She was so sweet, I knew she loved me, but if she wanted to give me a nick name, then it was even sweeter.
After that, we decided to take a nap as we would take a while to get to the Frontier. When we awoke, we went to the deck and saw it was the evening, with the sun slightly hovering down and faint purple in the sky.. ‘Greta! Look!’ Marina pointed to a school of Mantines flying away from the boat. ‘Wow, I’ve never seen them fly so high!’ ‘It’s amazing, isn’t it?’ We just saw the Mantines happily fly past us with making their cute noises. Eventually they vanished into the horizon. ‘Greta?’ ‘Yeah?’ Well, while we as napping, I had a dream..’ ‘Oh, tell me about it?’ ‘Well-’before she could say anything, was was stopped by a sailor. ‘Excuse me; are you two going to the Frontier?’ ‘Yes, we are’ I answered. ‘We’re about too stop there, so if you can, please get your bags from your room and get ready.’ He walked away. I pointed forward to the slowly buildings of the frontier appearing and said to Marina. ‘There it is the frontier.’ ‘I know I’m going to have a good time.’ I turned around to her. ‘so, the dream?’ ‘Oh, I’ll tell you when we’re at your house’.
The three of us walked to his house, while we was walking Marina looked amazed by what was around her, she looked into the distance and saw the Pyramid and the huge Battle tower and was in awe. When we got there, we sat on his sofa while he was walking around excited. ‘I had an idea.’ ‘Tell us!’ He looked at Marina. ‘Marina, how would you like to be a Battle Brain leader?’ her body jerked with surprise. ‘But Scott, we already have 7 leaders, and there’s only 7 facilities!’ I wondered what he was going to do, maybe someone had to retire. ‘don’t worry, Greta! I’m getting to that. This is my idea: Marina, Greta, you two will be a double team, we’ll convert the Battle Arena into a 2 verses 2 facility!’ Marina and I both looked each other, she could see on me, and I could see on her that we were both looked very excited and were smiling broadly. ‘scott! That’d be great!’ Marina got up and hugged him. ‘Thank you much! I don’t know what to say..’ He did a little laugh. ‘Now girls, hold your Rapidashes for second. There is one condition’. Marina sunk down on to her seat, she felt slightly embarrassed. ‘Marina, I know that you’re the Johto Champion, and all, but I can’t exactly hand over leadership to anyone, can I?’ She nodded ‘Firstly, when you beat a leader here, you get a Silver badge, beat them again, and you get a gold badge. Now the Silver badges are hard to get, but the Gold badges are EXTREEMLY hard to get. That’s why Greta was worried someone had got one; she likes to keep a perfect record.’ ‘No golds handed out yet, but about 50 silvers – I’m going to rip Andan apart when I see him’ I rested my chin on my hand. Scott laughed at my remark. ‘No-one else wanted the risk of replacing you, and I can see why!’ ‘Hehehe, well carry on!’ ‘Right, Marina, when you have all the silver and gold badges, it shouldn’t be that hard for you, I will let you team up with Greta.’ Marina’s eyes lit up, she still looked nervous, but happy. ‘How did Greta become a leader?’ she asked. ‘Ah, well, back in the old days of the Frontier, I had the 7 leaders, however, one of them, the Arena leader was an old guy and he wanted to retire soon. So I had a look out for someone to replace him, I needed someone fierce and who wouldn’t let a lot get those shiny badges! I heard about Greta after she defeated the Battle Dome, I invited her in to my house one day, told her if she got all the badges, she’d be able to replace the leader at the Arena. She, like you was very happy about this, and within a week, she was the new leader. I believe you still have your badges on you, don’t you Greta?’ I took at a small box from out my bag and showed Marina. In it was two sections, one with gold badges neatly lined up and the other with silver. ‘If I can do it, you can do it took.’ I gave her an encouraging look. ‘Well, I’ll try for you Greta!’ she gave a happy nod. Scott, who was smiling so hard all his front teeth where showing. ‘THAT’S GREAT!’ Imagine it, ‘Couple Leaders Greta and Marina’, you two will be a sensation!’ he sat down in the chair on the other side of the room. ‘How rude of me though, tell me, how was your vacation?’ I told him about meeting Marina, the battle (I would of loved to seen it, but hey, I’ll see it again when you face her for your badges! He shouted). About my new Pokémon, (Yeah, I heard of the Land of Confusion – good book) and how me and Marina fell in love. He didn’t admit it, but I saw a small tear in his eye. About an hour later, we left his house and made our way back to my house. The sun was setting and we could see a mixture of pink and orange in the sky, it was a great feeling, we even stood to stop and look at it. The frontier looked beautiful in it, the sea was now a purple colour, the flags across the walls were flattering with a faint breeze and the towing buildings against the orange sky looked like a scene from a painting. ‘You were very nervous with Scott.’ ‘I don’t really like talking to anyone but you.’ We started to walk again. ‘just put your bags in my room.’ I told her while I went to check on my Whiscash, he was okay, I had left him plenty of food. She came up to me and oddly didn’t look at the Whiscash. ‘I have to tell you about my dream.’ She said. ‘Okay.’ So we walked into my small living room, sat down as she started talking. ‘We... were in a garden.’ She started. ‘And, we planted a flower, a flower with white leaves, almost the colour of a pearl.’ I felt a weird feeling come across me; I had been given a white seed in my dream. ‘What’s wrong?’ she asked. ‘Oh, nothing, carry on.’ ‘Okay, then the flower kept growing and growing and it never stopped.. I can remember me and you look at from the ground, then, that’s it’. ‘Oh, that sounds.. Odd.’ ‘No it’s good, because now I know what nick name to give you?’ ‘Oh what’s that?’ ‘Pearl’ ‘Pearl?’ ‘Yeah, because I was searching for gold, but I found something even more valuable – a pearl.’ I got up and gave her such a long kiss. Chapter 10. The morning had started and Marina was in Greta’s living room, sitting on a small chair, her feet, only having pink socks were being rubbed together while she sat there in her blue dressing gown I walked in taking the opposite chair and gave her a warm smile.
”Marina says she’s single, and would like to meet a nice boy. However, she said you’d have to be a great battler!” I laughed to myself and wrote over the line “OFFER TAKEN”. Not before crossing out the boy and writing on top of it, girl. Marina walked out and sat down near me. She had worn something different today, her blue hair was let down in which I saw went half way down her back, instead of the shorts she wore, she was wearing light blue jeans, she had a pink sweater on with a pretty picture of a Misdreavus. I smiled and said softly. “You look very pretty today.” She blushed and said. “I wanted to, for you.” She then looked away and sighed. “Did you think you’d ever go out with a girl.” She asked. I put my arm around her. “Sweetie, listen, we know so little of the future, so little, we can only guess. We have little control of it, I could say I will walk over to that spot there, but say as I was walking there, I died instely, seems unlikely to happen yes. But that’s the point, we have so much influence over our future, yet it can all change with one thing. I always thought I was going too alone for the rest of my life, training Pokémon. Yet, but a small thing like a magazine changed my future, to something unexpected, something I would of never thought. It’s not a bad thing, no, not at all, it’s a good thing, and baby, you have made me so happy, that I would never want to change it. Ever”. “I love you.” She said, she had to say nothing more. She got up and looked at me. “Pearl?” “Yes?” “Well, since I got dressed up..um.” I laughed and walked towards the bathroom. “I’m sorry! You’re all dressed up pretty like that, I’ll do the same!” I came out soon dressed differently from my battle clothes, which I seemed to wear all the time. I had my hair down, wearing a Purple T-shift with a dark blue vest over the top. I had decided to replace my usual tights with some looser ones, which where black. And for an extra effect I put on some perfume, which I rarely did, Sunday Sunflora to be exact. Marina came up to me, smelt it and kissed me. “You smell and look very nice”. “Thank you”. And we made our way to the first facility she decided to take: The Battle Dome.
When I took my seat in the crowd, I could hear a few people mumbling above me. “Marina, she’s called.” “Yeah….I heard she was good.” “What are you talking, she’s a Johto girl.” “I said I heard she was good, I’m not saying she is.” “So what do you think she’s here for, realized that none of the Johto trainers are good enough?” “no, it’s not that, she’s apparently her with her girlfriend.” “You mean boyfriend.” “What?” “You said girlfriend.” “Yes, I am perfectly clear on what I said. Her girlfriend is that Battle Arena Leader, err.. Greta. Yeah, I overheard the owner talking to her on the docks.” “So, we have a lesbian as one of the leaders?” “I know, disgusting isn’t it?” “They should kick her off, it’s not..normal.” “It should be banned, right?” “Yeah, it’s a shame – they’re both pretty girls and they’re wasting it”. I felt a sudden burst of rage fill my heart. I looked around to see two shocked young men. “Oh, you know boys; the only thing I really am wasting is my time talking to you two!” I said in a sweet but sarcastic way. I turned round again, not even they could ruin this for me, I am here to see my baby get one of her badges and soon enough she’ll be able to battle with me. And people like them wouldn’t be able to stop it. I sat there watching the first two battlers to come out; Marina’s first match would be after this. The battle wasn’t really significant, expect for one of the trainers. Tall, dark hair which stopped at the end of his neck, with grey shaded glasses, which were the same colour as the clothes he was wearing, with his T-shirt being black on the ends of the sleeves. He crushed the opponent with no real effort, Infact, I’m not even sure there was a hint of consternation on his face; really, he spent most of the time looking around the crowd. His Pokémon, the fierce looking Metagross I had seen, seem to know what to do with out its trainer’s commands. I knew he would be the one to face Marina soon.
The battle was over quickly, now the semi-final was about to begin, the announcer started to call out for people to get ready. I heard the two behind my starting nattering again. “Selim?” said one of the voices. “Yeah?” “Wanna place bet on who’s going to win?” “Sure, I’ll go with the other guy, no way do I want that lesbian to win.” Something inside my snapped and I stood up on my chair and span around to one of them, grabbed his collars and whispered deadly. “Listen, you leave Marina alone, or you’ll find yourself my Heracross’ new Brick Break practice target.” He sneered, his face full of swagger. “I’d let go of me if I was you, pretty girl. Or you’ll find that face of yours less pretty.” He laughed. “Do you really think I’m scared of your over-grown dung betel?” I gave him a hard slap on the face, it was so hard he looked stunned; obviously he didn’t expect I’d have to the guts to do that. “Insulting my Pokémon and my girlfriend, that isn’t very wise of you.” “Do you think I’m scared of you?” he said, still rubbing his face. I grinded my teeth. “It’s not only Pokémon training I do in the Battle Arena...” I raised a clenched fist up to him. He stopped rubbing his face and glared at me. I’m sure if the announcer didn’t shout out “Ladies and Gentlemen, the semi-final is about to begin!” we would of got into a fight later. “I’ll do with you and your girlfriend later.” He said as I turned around and begin to listen to the announcer.” ”The Semi- Final Battle will be between Johto-Champion Marina, and Hoenn Rising Star – Ser! That it’s! I had seen him in Pokémon times at one point, he was supposed to be good, and that’s the moment I realized this would the most 2nd impotent match of the tournament. ”Please Welcome Ser!” As soon as he walked out, a cheer uprooted from the crowed. His walking was calm, no swagger, no gestures, infact; his walk was like he was in a queue for a post office. He got to the Arena and put his head down as though he was in deep thought. ”Please welcome Marina!” another Cheer exploded and chants of “Mar-ina! Mar-ina!” filled the air. Selim behind made an extra effort to make louder boos. I just simply ignored him. She came out, gave a few cute waves, saw me in the crowd and blew a kiss. I giggled blush and blew her one back, Selim saw this. He laughed again. I didn’t care, I felt happy and proud seeing my baby one step away from facing tucker. They took their places as the cheering died down and the announcer walked to Ser, with his microphone and his mouth... “Would you like to say anything for your opponent sir?” I didn’t expect it, but his voice was actually pretty soft, he smiled and looked at Marina. “You’re a good trainer, I wish you the best of luck in this battle, and also in happier events.” He looked embarrassed, but happy, and then looked down again to go back to deep thinking. Marina smiled at this, she was grateful as I was, and that he didn’t mention a lesbian relationship. Then something struck me, if he knew, and these clones behind me did, then how many people here actually did? Not letting it bother me I watched as the announcer walked to Marina. ”Anything you’d like to say?” She nodded and spoke. “Thank you, that’s very sweet, and good luck to you too!” the Announcer walked back to the spot. “Thank you, and now let’s begin! Remember, you can only use two Pokémon, so please select them now”. They took out two Pokeballs and nodded. “Then let the battle begin!”
Ser wasted no time. “Metagross! Agility!” it looked strange as the Metagross’s legs started to glow and tap like it couldn’t bear to stand still. Marina knew what to do. “Heracross, Bulk up!” The Bug raised its arms to the sky, took a deep breath, and then flecked its muscles. She was clever; she had raised its defence as well as its attack. “Meteor Mash!” shouted Ser. The Titan started to run at incredible speed at the bug, with one of its raised glowing legs aiming at it. It looked like it was about to hit it until Marina ordered. “Earthquake!” The Bug jumped on the sport and sent huge shock waves under the ground to the running Metagross. They hit it, and it stopped in its tracks, and then waked away from Metagross slowly to its trainer, when it had reached there, it rolled over. Just as the crowd was about to cheer, it got up again, still looking fierce. But it did something different, a small spiky long berry which seemed to be have been stuck on it, fell off and it ate it. For a moment it started to glow red then cast a look at Heracross. “Liechi berry.” I thought to myself. This was good and bad news. An attached Liechi berry would activate when the Pokémon was low in health, but its attack would be raised. “Be careful baby!” I called out; I don’t think she could hear me. She looked at the Metagross; she knew this was her chance to knock it out. “Heracross! Megahorn!” at once the bug’s horn started to glow as it ran at the Metagross. Ser saw this and with a slight tone of nervousness in his voice, he called out to his Metagross. “…Meteor Mash!” It started to run at the bug again with its glowing claw and blocked its horn. There was a huge power struggle between the two Pokémon, here they were, with Heracross pushing with all its power while Metagross was pushing back. Even the trainers seem to be joining it. Marina had her hands clinched and shaking all over while Ser seem to be staring at hard the two. I was nervous too; I was stamping my foot hard and holding my hand together. For a while, nothing happened, still they were locked in the struggle. Marina grinded her teeth and shouted. “Brick Break!” The Heracross curled up its claw and sent shattering blow to underneath the Metagross. Its metallic voice groan out in pain and it collapsed. ”And Metagross is down from an impressive Brick Break by Heracross!” shouted the announcer. Ser looked to it, smiled for a second then returned his Metagross. “Nice one” he said. He grabbed another Pokeball, put it to his chest, and then threw it out. A Snarling Houndoom came out and looked with its dark eyes on Heracross, who by this time, looked like he was struggling to stand up. ”Houndoom, Flamethrower!” he said while pushing the air with one hand. It opened its mouth and spat out a beam of fire. It hit Heracross in the body, it moaned, then finally gave up and collapse. Houndoom looked at the fallen Heracross, smoke coming from its nostrils and a cold smile. ”Heracross is down from a single flamethrower!” The announcer called. Marina nodded her head and returned Heracross. She got her other ball and threw it to the ground to reveal Nidoking. This was one of hers, I knew she had it, it’s just I haven’t seen her use it before. She gave a wink to the Nidoking, and it got into its position. I knew what she was going to do, I would of done the same thing. She looked at Ser. “I’m afraid is over,” She said. He didn’t move, he just looked at the Nidoking. “Rock Slide!” It gave a load roar and watched up from the sky as rocks started to full on Houndoom with a loud slamming sound knocking him on the floor. It only lasted a few seconds but when he got up, he just looked around and fainted. “That was a good move against Houndoom.” I thought. “Its weak defence and it’s venerable to rock made sure it couldn’t survive”. The crowed started cheering and chanting Marina again. She gave a small wave and returned her Nidoking. I got up to my feet and started cheering, though I made sure not to get over excited, after all this was only the semi-final. Ser, just looked, returned his Houndoom and walked away.
While they we’re doing that, I heard the two voices behind me again. “You lost Selim, that’ll be 20 Poke dollars. I told you Marina wouldn’t loose.” He grumbled about “stupid lesbian” for a while before handing over the money. I’d deal with him later after this battle. I started to cheer. “COME ON SWEETIE! You can do it!” She must have heard me, because she turned around to where I was and gave me a big smile.” ”A-1-2-3!” Shouted Tucker, and he released his Pokémon. A Salamence came out, and with the same love for showing of to the audience, it turned around and bowed down. I cackled to myself. I told Marina what Pokémon Tucker would be likely to use, that’s why I told her to use… ”Gengar! Go!” My cackling ghost game out, and flew around Marina trying to scare her. “Oh come on silly, you’re worse than Muu-Chan!” She laughed as the Ghost flew back to place. Tucker began his assault. “Salamence, Show us your show stoppa Aerial Ace!” The Dragon flew from the ground and charged at Gengar. “Gengar, use your Ice Punch!” The ghost floated towards the dragon, with one of its fist coasted it frozen energy, punched the Dragon as it flew to him. A sheet of ice started to spread to it, starting from the claw where Gengar had punched it. It flew down a loud cracking noise was heard when it started to rapidly spread. First his legs, then it’s body, then its head, then its wings and finally it’s tail. It was completely frozen for a few seconds, and then the ice seemed to be absorbed in its skin. Gengar floated down to meet it, but it shouldn’t have bothered. The Salamence started to move towards it, but it couldn’t stand up straight. Before it got to do anything else, it fell over on its wings and fainted. Tucker looked blankly. “…Okay, so maybe icing Salamence was a good move! But It won’t work against this beauty!” he did a little dance and sent out a Charizard, who like Salamence, started to show of to the audience again by releasing huge flamethrowers at the sky. ”Well Marina, scared of Charizard yet?” “Not really” she laughed. “We’ll you’re about to be! Charizard, show her you’re fabulous Dragon claw!” Its claw started to light up with a green energy, it started to run to Gengar. Marina knew what was needed. “Gengar, thunderbolt!” A ball of thunder came out the sky and hit Charizard in the stomach. It stopped running and what I can only guess, it let out a desperation Fire blast. A star of Fire came out of its mouth, getting bigger and bigger as it closed into Gengar, the heat from it was amazing, and I could feel it even up here. Gengar didn’t look scared. When it hit him with what sounded like burning sheets, he was still standing there, looking very burnt with its usual black body now a deep red. But he didn’t look to care. I knew my Gengar, and I knew it didn’t bother him, as he loved to battle and pain was only a small price for it. He let out another high cackle as Marina asked for another thunderbolt. Again, the Thunder ball struck at Charizard with a large crack. The Lizard looked up with electrical sparks bouncing of its body, he roared angrily, but as he tried to summon up another attack, he fell backwards, and fainted, just like the Pokémon before him.
Expect me. I started crying, I was happy. I was so proud of her. Even if it was just her first badge, it was the first of many! I screamed out “Marina! You did it! I’m so proud of you!” but I doubt she could hear me from the crowds cheering. I looked behind me to see if those two morons were saying anything. But to my surprise they weren’t there. They must of left ages ago, because I don’t remember hearing them when the battle had started. Marina walked away out of the Arena and into the Dome’s lobby. I need to catch up with her, but it was hard as so many people were leaving as well, all the exits had people squashing to get trough. With ten minutes of pushing trough people, I managed to get to the Lobby, there I saw a crowd of people talking in the corner. I presumed that’s where Marina was, getting praise, or asking to sign stuff, things like that. As I pushed trough the crowd, horror stuck me. Marina wasn’t standing talking or signing stuff. No. She was crying, sitting in the corner with her hands over her face. I walked up to her in a dumbstruck manner. “Marina, Marina.” I whispered slowly. The sight of her crying sent pins in my heart. I kneeled down and she removed her hands. What I saw next almost made me faint. There was a big gash above her eyebrow and blood was falling down her face onto her clothes. She sniffed “Pe-Pearl” it was obvious the tears gave her trouble talking. “They-they, called me...” She started to cry a little more. “A-a dirty lesbian.” My heart shattered, my soul felt like it had been ripped out, I just stared at her and took a deep breath. “Two guys.” Someone behind me said. I didn’t look at him. “Yeah, they came and threw a CD at her face, two big guys; one of them seemed to be really angry.” I just kneeled there looking at the floor. The rage. It started to rise from the bottom on my stomach, it felt like water getting and higher and higher. My arms started to shake, and I bit back on my teeth. I started to breath heavy and felt something hard in my chest. I got up, and pushed my way trough the crowd, not caring who I hit, didn’t hear anything expect Marina’s crying and ran outside the door with murderous thoughts. I knew who did it, and they were going to pay, dearly. I walked out side, and with ever step, I stamped down hard. I’d rip them apart, I’d kill them, and I’d would make them drink their own blood. I would stamp on their begging faces. How they do this to her? How they hurt someone who was just so happy. Every time I thought things like this, I felt more rage burning inside me. It was like someone was putting coal on a fire which was burning even more intensely. I couldn’t even see right because of all the anger and hatred I had for Marina’s attackers. Finally, I saw them, standing by the arena. Laughing, with the arrogant look on Selim’s face. He saw me, and with a swagger, he loudly shouted. “Hey Greta! Did you kiss Marina better?” his friend started laughing. I clenched my fists, grinded my teeth and ran to him tackling him on the floor. ”Hey, what are you doing!” he screamed. He started to try and wiggle free until he saw the look in my eye. I doubt he’d ever forget it. It was a look full of rage, a look that made him shut up. I grabbed his shoulders and gripped hard. “I am. Going. To. Kill. You.” I said in a deadly whisper. Every word seems to scare him even more. “Li-listen it was only meant to give her a shock!” I raised my fist and was about to knock his front teeth out when I heard. ”Greta! Greta! Please! Don’t do it!” Someone had said in a hard voice. I looked around and saw Scott. He was with the other Frontier leaders who looked just as furious as him. Even Annabel, who hardly got angry, looked as she could kill. “Greta, let us handle it.” His voice was gentler than before. I reliantly let go, and walked towards them. I took a deep breath and started crying. “I-m sorry guys..it’s just that” Lucy came up to me and gave me a hug. “Its okay, its okay, I’m sure any of us would of felt the same if it was them.” They all gave a sound of agreement. Scott walked towards the scared Selim twitching on the floor. “Sir, because of your assault on a trainer, I will have to give you a lifetime Banned” he got up and, shaking but still had a smirk on his face. “Hey! How do you know it was me, I didn’t do anything at all!” “Sir, please do not lie to me, I have a whole room of witnesses, and please leave now or I shall call security”. He laughed to this. “Go ahead! Do you think I’m scared of whatever fools do the secretly here!” Scott nodded to Brandon and Noland. They walked up to him, both towering over him, and Noland picked up by the scruff of his neck. “We don’t allow Trash like you here.” They walked away from him, with Brandon grabbing Selim’s friend who had just looked at all of this too scared to move.” “Where are they taking him?” Asked Spenser who was telling pass byres to go away. “Oh, just a little holding house at the far end of the Frontier where they’ll wait until the authorities come.” He looked at me. “Greta, if you had gone any further, you would have probably been joining him.” I was still being hugged by Lucy and crying. “I’m sorry Scott..” He gave out a little laugh, not a happy one, just one that seemed to be trying to light mood.” “It’s okay, I’m glad you didn’t, none of us wanted to loose you.” There was another mumble of agreement. Tucker came up and patted me on the back. “Don’t worry about Marina, she’s been taking care of, she’s going to be okay.” Scott started again. “I think you need to join us in the Leader Hall, Greta”. And so we walked away to the building in the centre of the Frontier.
”We will not stand for any prejudice.” Scott was saying later when we were in the Leader Hall. It was a private room in the middle of the Frontier, it was quite cosy. There were six large sofas in the middle facing each other. 3 one side, and 3 on the other. On the wall were posters of famous trainers and Pokémon. Some snack machines were at the back and a water colour was near the sofas. As well a TV, a GameCube, and a few relaxing chairs were suited here, I was sat between Noland and Spenser. This was a place if a Frontier leader wanted to take pressure of his or her day, they could do it here. ”They be black, white, heterosexual, homosexual, they are all welcome here! And hopefully, people will realise to this from what happened to Selim” Scott was leaning against one of the walls talking to all of the leaders, everyone nodded. “You know you and Marina have our full support” Noland said. His voice was unusually warm. “If anyone insults you or Marina, then they will have to deal with all of us”. Spenser to my left said. He was playing with his walking stick. “Thanks guy, but how is Marina?” I asked. Brandon started to speak. “I asked one of the medics while taking that filth to the jail. They said she’s okay, she was treated then returned to you house. She had to have a few stitches but they’ll heal up quickly.” “Did she ask for me?” Noland answered. “All the time. We told her you had nearly beaten the hell out of that guy, and she looked happy” I looked shyly down. “Guys, thank you for your support.” “Of course we’d support you!” Lucy said, trying to play with Brandon’s hair. “You think we wouldn’t after ever thing we’ve been trough?” Tucker said dancing by the door. “We’re all close friends” Annabel spoke up. There was a feeling of agreement in the room which was broken by shock. Scott almost fell of the wall he was leaning on, Lucy just stared blankly and Spenser was laughing. Noland had smiled. No-one had ever seen him do it, but it was there, in view. A happy smile, not a sarcastic one. “We’re almost like… family.” He added. “Why Noland! A smile suits you my boy!” laughed Spenser. “I only smile at the things worth smiling”. “I love you guys”. I said beaming at them all. “Being a family is the only thing that stops us from asking Scott to pay us!” Spenser said. Scott came up and laughed. “Hey, I’m the one who pays for all the stuff you have! You don’t need to be paid!” “So I guess Scott is like the rich uncle of the family!” Tucker said joining the rest to sit down. There was another mumble of laughter in the room. “Anyway guys, what do you think of Marina being in a double team with me if she wins all the badges?” I asked, a bit nervous. “That’d be great!” Shouted Tucker. “A strong couple fighting with their equally as strong Pokémon, my, wouldn’t that be something!” Said Spenser. I looked at Scott and he winked. “You know” Lucy moved closer to Brandon. “We could be the 2nd frontier couple, what do you say?” Brandon didn’t many any sound. Scott started laugh. “Well boys and girls, Rich Uncle Scott says that people won’t battle themselves. Some lonely ones might, but it’s time for you guys to return to your post! Expect Greta, you can go see how Marina’s doing!” They all exchanged goodbyes to each other, got up and left.
I was sitting down watching a report from a tournament in Johto, laughing as some fool sent out a Pikachu against a Rhydon. Marina walked in, dressed in her normal clothes. We had decided to change out of the clothes, we felt we was stripping ourselves from the memory of the bad events that happened today, and the badge was to reflect the good ones. She was looking at me readily. “Are we going Pearl?” She said over the Commentator’s voice on the TV. “Yeah, I just want to see what this guy does against this Rhydon.” “Okay” and she came and sat by me. “And… the trainer from Kanto ordered his Pikachu to try to use the Enemy’s Rhydon’s horn as a Lighting Rod, as you can see on this replay. Well, this inexperienced trainer doesn’t seem to realize that Rhydon’s ground typing will block out that effect.” I start laugh as the Pikachu did a thunderbolt at the Rhydon not hurting it at all. “I don’t believe they let people like that in a tournament!” Marina looked confused. “I-I could have sworn I’ve seen that guy before.” I picked up the remote control and switched of the TV. “Are you ready sweetie?” She nodded happily. I got up and got my coat and a large bag.” This is really special” “Tell me what it is!” I laughed. “And ruin the surprise! Come on!” I started to walk out the house with her following me. We walked to the far east of the battle frontier, it was a calm night, with the only light being from the stars and the facilities lights, as we passed the buildings, the warm light made us feel calm and relaxed. Eventually we came to the coast; there was a small rowing boat. “Get in, it’s mine.” I told her. As soon as we were both in, I started rowing to a small island in the distance. “How do you think people know about us?” she said while was rowing. “I guess they over-heard it from Scott, and then they told someone, and some-one over heard it from them, you know it goes.” “Yeah” She said, sounding slightly worried. “I bet there are rumors.” “Yep” I said while looking back to see how far we were to the island. “Don’t worry about it though”. “I’ll try not too”. For a while, the only sound was that splashing of the paddles in the water, she put her hand in the water. “It’s quite cold tonight!” “Yeah, it’s usually warm.” “We’re not going swimming are we?” “No we’re not.” She giggled and blushed, “Aww, can we go one day? I bet you you’d like cute in a swimsuit!” I made a few wordless noses and scratched behind head. “I embarrassed you, didn’t I!” She said happily. “You kinda did.” I looked at her and imagined her in one. “And so would you.” We were giggling to each other for the rest of the trip.
For an hour, we stayed there, feeding The Crobat, I gave it a few vitamins so it could stay healthy, and Marina got more used to it, even petted Crobat a few times. It was getting late, and we decided to head home, we said goodbye to the Crobat and left. We walked out to the cave, on to the beach. “Marina, let’s sit down.” “Oh, I thought we was going home.” “Yeah, we are, I just wanted a word with you.” I sat down at the shore and she followed. “Do you want this?” I asked her. “Want what?” “This life?” “What do you mean?” I took a deep breath and stared at the half crescent moon. “That guy who attacked you..” She got up and walked a few meters away from me. “Pearl! I don’t care what happened! I love you!” Her voice had a slight tone of anger in it. “What if it happens again!” I said, still looking away. “How much damage would you take for me?” I got up, walked to her, looked into her eyes, so close, that I could see my own reflection and whispered. ”I would burn my flesh and use every last drop of blood I have, just for you to be happy.” She held me, and whispered in my ear. “And that’s what I’d do for you.” I let myself relax in her arms while she spoke again. “When I kissed you that night, the only thing going on in my mind was that I love, and I love you forever, no matter what happens.” The anger in her voice seemed to have dyed down. I l closed my eyes, and said in a near-teary voice. “”But people don’t understand, people think it’s bad. I don’t want anyone to hurt you because of it.” “They can rip my flesh, but they’ll never rip us apart.” She put a stronger hold on me. It was odd, because usual I was the on in her position, I guess what happened today made her stronger in mind. “I love you Pearl, I love you so much.” She whispered in low voice, I saw a tear trickling down her face. “Do we make each other happy?” “Yes” I replied. “Then why should we stop?” “I know but – “ “Pearl, who ever attacks us just because we love each other, then I pity them.” I looked in her face again. “Before I met you, I had a battle in side my mind to think if I should be in love with you.” “So did I.” “What did you do?” “Well, after a few days, I found out I was thinking of you a lot, how cool you was, how kind you was to me, how sweet, I had never thought of that of anyone. Not even a boy. I tried to shake it off and told myself I just really liked you as a friend, I couldn’t like you that way, it was just unthinkable. But there was a small corner in my mind, which knew I loved you. One night I was randomly drawing, and I drew that picture, I tried to forget I did it, but it was on my mind nearly all the time. As the feeling inside my mind grew, the doubts disappeared. I started to think even if it wasn’t natural or right, it was love, and love is the most precious thing in the world. On that night you told me you loved me, my heart gave a sharp thump, but I still had doubts in my mind. That’s why I didn’t tell you. I went home and tried to forget it. I saw that picture, and my heart felt like it was on fire. Seeing the Picture destroy the doubts and made me realize what I almost missed out on.” She took a breath and we were salient for a while. She spoke again. “You are my world, and I don’t care if it is wrong. I love you.” I saw she had more tears down her face. I smiled. “You are mine too. Even if our love is sinful, it’s never felt better.” “I love you.” We both sat down and she rested her head on my shoulder. Soon she fell asleep, which I followed after, as the events of that day slowly disappeared.
Marina was still sleeping on my shoulder. I had been awake for a long time, just look at the sea and thinking. Today she would face me in the Battle Arena. I was looking forward to it but scared someone would attack her again. I looked down at her sleeping face to the stitches on her forehead. I sighed and gave her a little kiss. She made a little noise, opened her eyes and smiled. “Good Morning!” not moving, I said, “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.” “Nah, it’s okay.” She said getting up. “I want to get ready for today’s match anyway”. She rubbed her eyes and looked around. “It’s such a lovely day isn’t it?” She was looking at the sun-coated water. “It is, isn’t it?” I got up and walked to her. “You know, I’ve been doing some thinking?” “Yeah?” “Well” I said while picking up a flower, relationships are a lot like flowers. “How so?” “When you plant a seed, it all depends where you plant it. If you plant it on a path, then it will not grow. These are people who never had a good foundation for a relationship. If you plant it in the soil, and Pidgeys come and eat it, these are people who allow others to wreck their love. If you plant it in good soil, and don’t water it, these are who don’t give enough love to it.” She interrupted me. “But if you plant it in good soil, and water it, and don’t allow birds to eat it, you get a very pretty flower?” I nodded and smiled. “When we get back to your place, let’s plant a flower in a pot and we can watch it grow like our love!” “Exactly what I was thinking!” For some reason, my heart stopped. I froze and just stared into space. I had images of my dream person blowing her seeds, and her smiling face. Suddenly it made sense, all those seeds were relationships. Yet, I haven’t seen her for a while, why was that? “Pearl? Pearl? Are you okay?” her voice broke into my thoughts. “Yeah, just thinking.” “Come on! Let’s go, I have to get ready for our battle!” “Oh, yeah, sure well I hope you had a good night last night.” I said making my way to the boat. “It was perfect.” When we got home, we got a small flowerpot and kept in on the shelf above my bed. It was as great feeling, because we knew it would eventually grow into a pretty flower, if we took care of it – just like our love. “Are you going to be okay today, Marina?” “What do you mean?” We where getting ready to go to the Arena. I was getting changed in my room, while she was in the bathroom and I could hear her brushing her hair. “Well, aren’t you scared you’ll get attacked again? “No, because I know you’ll be with me this time.” “Well, whatever happens I hope you enjoy the battle.” I walked out of my room, to the bathroom, dressed, knocked on the bathroom. “Yeah, one second.” I waited for a minuet and she came out, fully dressed. We then made our way to the arena, it was a cloudy day and the sky was a dark blue, and everything had a dull feeling. We were out side the dojo-looking building when she stopped me and looked into my face. “You will give me 100% in battle right?” I nodded. “Of course” “Promise? I don’t want you to hold back, I know you how much it means to you that I win.” “ I want you to win, but I’m going to give it all I got, for you.” “Please don’t back down, I want to know I won out of pure skill.” Her innocent yet determined look was piercing trough me, made it clear I couldn’t let her down. “I want you to forget any thoughts of us as frontier leaders.” She continued. “Get rid of them, and only think about beating me.” “I Will.” Then she said it, she said the thing that haunted me all trough the battle, the thing I wish she never said. “If you love me, you won’t let me win.” I stood there and gazed at her. “But what if you do win.” She looked into my eyes, a strange look, a look that made me feel slightly week. “I would of won out of skill. You wouldn’t of let me won; you would of lost in a fair match. Letting me win would be not fighting at 100%.” I put my hands out and held both of hers, looked into hey eyes with a feeling of slight relief knowing that our relationship didn’t rest on me winning. “I will give it everything, for you. I did when we had our first battle right?” she looked back at me. “Yes, but we weren’t going out!” I nodded and let go of her hands. “Okay, as soon as we walk trough those doors you will be just another trainer to me.” “And so will you.” After that I tried to give her a kiss good luck but she refused, saying we had to forget we were girlfriends at this battle, with that we walked into the arena. She walked to the challenger’s room and I walked to my personal waiting room. It was a typical dojo work out, with screen doors and wooden floor. There were two doors, one I just had walked trough and another with a corridor leading to my entrance to the main arena where we would be battling. I stood there doing some pre-battle stretches and peppering myself while Marina was in the challenger’s room, getting told all the rules of the arena, I tried to push her out of my head and act like I was just about to battle another faceless trainer. As I stretched my leg, and set my thoughts of my Pokemon moves, she seemed to move out of my thoughts. Expect in the back of my mind, some thoughts of her remained, a feeling inside crept up. I started to think how great it would be for us to be double leaders, how admired we’d be, how unstoppable we’d be. If only she won this fight, if only I lost. I stopped my stretches and sighed. I had promised her not to think like that, and already I had broken it. I punched my palm in frustration and counted to do some work out, forcing her words into my thoughts. “I want to win out of pure skill.” I kept replaying that over and over again, overwriting anything else that tried to take command. I kept it up until what seemed like forever, Andan came in. “The Challenger is ready.” I stopped and looked at him. Andan was dressed in a Martial arts suit, however, he didn’t look fierce in it at all, he was short, shorter than me, weedy and looked like he was scared just to talk to me. “Oh and, about all those wins..-“ “Oh don’t worry, I just find a better replacement next time.” Without saying anything he walked out. I took one last look around the room, just getting my mind into a ready state and took the door into the corroder where I walked up to the entrance door. “Don’t think of her as your girlfriend.” I thought, as I opened the door into the main arena, a small place, no audience was allowed, if you didn’t count the judges watching us, all dressed in Martial art suits. There was the announcer in the middle, a huge body builder who had known for a long time. His voice boomed out as he called out the start of the match. “Trainer Marina, please step forward.” I saw her walk up to her spot, not even looking at me.” “Trainer Greta, please step forward.” I took a deep breath and stood tall, I started to walk and gazed straight into her eyes. “Welcome to the Battle Arena, I trust you know the rules.” She nodded. I kept my mind blank, not thinking of who she was. “I shall repeat them incase you was misguided. Three Pokemon each. One on one. When two Pokemon are facing each other, they only have 3 turns to try to knock out the opponent. If they fail to, the judges will deiced who battled the best, and that Pokemon will be kept on while the loser sends out a replacement. They judge in 3 categories, Mind, skill and body. Whoever is left standing is the winner. Also, you may not switch out Pokemon.” She nodded. “Is that what you was told?” “Yes.” Her voice was cold and slow. “Good. Let us begin.” I took a bow and drew a Pokeball. ”Hypno, Go!” He came out of his ball, waving he’s hypnotic device slowly at Marina. She stood there, not even looking at it. “I didn’t know you had a Hypno,” she said, broadly. I noticed her eyes where looking straight me, it kind of made me uneasy, they were like a strange hypnotic force that seemed to be warning me to do my best. “I Have many Pokemon.” She didn’t respond to that, she simply threw her ball and her Feraligatr came out, it clenched its right claw and roared. I smiled at it, “I guess it wants to make up for the battle we had.” She said nothing. I heard another voice to the side of us, “The first round between Arena Captain Greta, and Trainer Marina has begun.” I decided to hold any comments to her until the end, I cracked my finger and focused on the two Pokemon, waiting to fight.
”Round 3! If none of the Pokemon are knocked out in this turn, then it will turn to the judges dissection! Begin!” I clicked my fingers, and shouted to Hypno. “Thunder Punch!” It drew electric sparks on to it’s fist and started to up to the Slow moving Feraligatr, with a flash of bright yellow light, it’s fist had landed on it’s stomach, shockwaves started to cover is body as it shock violently, it slowly took a step back let out a roar and collapsed. While it was lying there, a few spark flickered as Marina called it back. ”Battle one goes to Trainer Greta, Trainer Marina, please select another Pokemon. With slight hesitation, she threw out another Pokeball. As her Nidoking came out, I notice she looked slightly frustrated. “Round one of the second battle begin!” Before I even got a chance to say anything, Her Nidoking was running up to Hypno with it’s Horn shining and rammed into him with a crash, he was flung back to the back wall, where gravity pulled him down, he landed on the floor as an motionless heap. I looked at him, he had he’s eyes half opened, and he was struggling just to do that. “It’s okay, you did good, you can rest now.” With a grateful sigh, he let them drop and he was out. I gave him a thumbs up and returned him. ”Megahorn, with a Choice Band I’m guessing?” She didn’t say anything. “Captain Greta, Please select another Pokemon.” The announcer was looking at me slightly impatiently. “Very well” I said while picking up a ball. “Go, Phil!” Marina’s face started to light up, as she saw, not the Poliwhirl she had seen a week ago, but a fully evolved, Poliwrath, flexing its muscles. “You. You evolved him!” she said, with a huge smile on her face. “Yeah, we did a few days ago, he wanted to. I wanted to surprise you.” As she started to speak again, the feeling that we were in a fierce battle seemed to melt away. “I’m so proud of him, and you.” “Thanks baby.” A large, forced cough came from the announcer. “This is lovely ladies, but must I remind you, that this is a battle?!” We stopped talking at once and faced the arena. “Round 1 of Phil Vs Nidoking, go!” “Megahorn!” She shouted which the Nidoking straight away responded too. I was ready for this; I knew what I had to do. “Phil! Hypnosis!” He started to twirl its body, so the swill on its body was twisting in an intriguing way. Nidoking stopped in it’s tracks and was mystified by the moving swill, he’s eyes focused on it, it’s body starting to fall, it’s eyelids flicking up and down, as it fell asleep. “Round one is over, Nidoking is asleep, if it does not wake up in 2 turns, then he would have lost by default.” Nothing was said as he announced round two to start. Nidoking was still a sleep, I took this as advantage to make my Poliwrath bulk up, he flexed his muscles, in an almost show-off way. Round three started and Nidoking was still sleeping. Marina was looking extremely aggravated, sweat was down her face, her feet were locked into one place, and she was slightly shaking. “Phil! Body Slam!” The Tadpole took a few steps back, started to run, jumped up into the air and slammed at full force on the sleeping Pokemon. It’s eyes opened as he saw Phil towering over him, he was breathing heavily, and it wasn’t long before it let it’s body just give up.
”Brick.. Break” my voice was strained and slow, Phil looked at me confused, Marina looked at me dumbstruck, he ran to the floating ghost and watched as he’s and simply went trough it. Marina, looking at him, said in a voice almost as strained as mine. “Muu-Chan.. Psychic..” I didn’t want to watch, I knew what would happen. When I turned around Phil was on the floor fainted. I knew my last Pokemon would easily be fallen to Muu-Chan. As so it was, I sent out Heracross, and with the same, lifeless voice, I ordered it to do Brick Break again, Muu-Chan simply did what it did to Phil, Psychic, and watch as it falls to the ground. Marina having a look of disgust on her face. ”Captain Greta has no Pokemon left, the winner is Trainer Marina!” I gave a small guilty clap as she walk towards me. “Congratulations trainer Marina, you have beaten me, here is your Silver Badge!” I held it up to her, and she reliantly took it. She didn’t say anything after; she just walked away, leaving me feeling guilty. “I shouldn’t have done that”. Was one thought burning in my mind, but another was saying “You only did what you thought was best for her.” No matter what I was telling myself, it still boiled down to the same thing: I broke her promise. Without looking at anyone else, I ran out of the Arena to find her.
”You broke your promise.” She was at the docks, sitting at the edge. No ships had come in today, and it was deserted. She was staring at the water bellow not even talking to me. “No.. I didn’t” Her voice was angry, nothing like I’ve heard it before. “What on earth are you talking about? Are you telling me you made the same rookie mistake.. TWICE?! Wouldn’t someone with such HIGH battling skills know that Fighting moves wouldn’t hit a GHOST TYPE?!” She pointed to Muu-Chan who was glaring at me. “I..I got nervous.” She exploded again, her voice getting more and more hard. “NERVOUS, YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BE A PROFESSIONAL, YOU KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH IT.” For the first time ever, I felt myself getting angry with her. “Yes! But not when you’re fighting your own girlfriend!” she didn’t shout, she just simply said, in a quiet, but still angry. “See, I knew you broke your promise?” “What do you mean?” “Didn’t I tell you not to battle me as my girlfriend, but as a faceless trainer?” “Yeah, but..” “You have no excuse, you broke your promise.” I sighed and tried to sit next to her, but she just moved away. “.. I love you.” I whispered. “Greta, please, don’t, I’m angry at you.” “I want you to win all your battles, so we can battle together..” “I love you too.. but I wanted you to keep your promise.” “I know.. and I’m sorry.. but you do wanna be a Battle Brain with me?” “Greta..” the angry in her voice started to die down. “I only said I wanted to so we could be together all the time.” “We would be together, we’d be famous and people would admire us across Hoenn, possibly even Johto! Battle Brains, Greta and Marina. ” “Greta, I don’t want fame, I don’t like it. Why do you think I went home after I became Johto Champion? I didn’t like the fame, I didn’t like people always interviewing me, following me, asking me for battle tips? I hated it, I just wanted moments to myself, I went back to New Bark Town so that I wouldn’t get any hassle. And, if we did become famous.” “What?” “Well, they might say bad things about us..” “Because we’re lesbians!?” “Yes..” “But I thought it didn’t bother you!” “It doesn’t bother me, but I don’t want them to say bad things about you..” “Do you think it bothers me either?!” “I don’t know, but that’s besides the point, I have to tell you something.” Muu-chan floated over to her, and she started to speak. “I’m quitting Pokemon battling.” “But you love Pokemon battling!” “But I love you more.” “You can’t just give up Pokemon battling, just because of me, it’s who you are!” “For the love of Ho-oh, don’t you understand? I wanna give it up. Everywhere I go, it’s like ‘oh Marina Champion of Johto’ they forget that I’m a real person, and not just a faceless trophy holder.” “You’re not that to me…” “I know I’m not.” “But what will you do now!” “I will…” she hesitated. “Yes?” “I will live with you, I will catch Pokemon only to use as pets, I will come to the arena and cheer for you, I will wake everyday to love you and I will always hug you in the morning and kiss you at night.” “Sweetie.. You can’t give it up just because of me.” “I want too.” “You say that now.. But-“ She stood up and got the silver badge I gave her out of her pocket. “You see this? This is a symbol of a broken promise to me, I am going to throw this away, and start anew.” “Don’t’ throw it, you’ve worked so hard for it.” “No I didn’t. Every time I look at it, I’m just reminded of how you broke your promise “I’m not disloyal, I just wanted the best for you..” She did say anything; she just took one last look at the symbol in her hand, and threw it into the water. “That was stupid of you!” “Greta.. .” Her voice was teary, but I was too deep in anger to care.” “What?!” “Just leave me alone..” “Why?” “I need some time by myself.” “Okay, if you want. When will you come home?” I got up, and started to walk slowly away. “I don’t know.” “Fine.” And without saying I love you, or giving her a hug, I walked away, just leaving her there.
I left my house, and it was approaching night, it quite cold and the light looked like it was being sucked into the sun. I started to walk to the dorks, imagining what I would say to her. This is where my world ended. This is the scene I will never forget. This is the most awful moment in my life. I got the docks, and saw a rowing ship bayed outside it, 3 men were out of it, and one of them had Marina by he’s feet., she was on the floor battered, bleeding and crying, she had Muu-chan with her, who had fainted. With seeing this, and without even thinking I ran up them and shouted. “What are you doing! Let her go” my voice was loud, but shaky. “And there’s the other one!” I heard someone say, I didn’t take me long to realize who it was, It was Selim. “..What.. are you doing here? Why aren’t you in prison?” “When they were taking me there, I had these two come bust me out.” He looked to the burly men, one of whom was towing over Marina. “Why are you here?” “Because you two dirty lesbians ruined my career. I was going to be a great Pokemon master.” “..No, no you ruined it by yourself.. by attacking Marina. I looked down at her; she had so much fear in her innocent eyes. “Pearl.. I love you.” “Let her go, she’s done nothing to you. If you want to hurt someone, hurt me. I’m the one who challenged you that day at the Dome.” “Fine then, if we let her go, you have to take on ALL of us?” “Yes, I will.” “If you two had never done something unnatural, something is just wrong, we wouldn’t be doing this would we?” “And you say love is wrong?” “When love isn’t filth like yours.” “And you say that is wrong, but your beating her up for nothing?” “I’m just taking mine, and mother nature’s pay back.” This was the worse moment in my life, I felt so angry I was shaking, yet I felt scared, scared for Marina’s sake that I was sweating, and almost crying. “Shut up, and. let her go!” “Fine, let her stand up!” The guy above Marina took a step back. She was there, shaking, I softly talked to her, trying to make myself look calm so she’d think everything was alright. “Sweetie, get out of here, quickly!” She got up, slowly, looking at me with relief. She had a big bruise on her face, some of her hair had been pulled out, her lip was bleeding, and she had a huge black eye. “Thank.. you Pearl..” It happened at light speed, even though, now I look back at it, I see it in slow motion. There’s nothing I could do but stand there and watch. As she started to shakily walk to me, the guy pushed her of the edge; she let out a scream and fell into the water with a thud and a splash. With not even letting a second pass I ran to the edge only to be blocked by that guy. I was panicking and crying. “Let me get her! Please! Please I beg you.. She might drown..” Selim was laughing. “Not so tough now are you?” I called out to her. “Marina! Can you hear me!” There was nothing, I couldn’t even hear her splashing around. I got on my knees, with out caring about any pride I had. “PLEASE, PLEASE don’t let her drown.” The worst possible thing was happening, she might be dying, and I couldn’t do anything about it, I was useless when my baby needed me most. Her sweet voice was screaming trough my head, I couldn’t stand this. Selim laughed again, he started to crack he’s knuckles. “Let’s do this.” He said to he’s lackeys. I started to cry harder. “You’re all heartless monsters! How can you do that to her!” I just led there, eyes closed, waiting for them to hurt me, I didn’t care, and I just wanted it over with so I could get Marina. As I heard them getting closer, I heard a different voice in the background. “Get. Away. From. Her.” It was angry, very angry; the words coming from it were very sharp. I opened by eyes to see Noland with a Steelix, towing at it’s he’s side. He pointed at the 3 men and the iron giant moved towards them with it’s mouth wide open, the two men ran to the boat out of fear, but Selim, too scared to move, making a small whimper, just looked at it’s giant mouth got closer, and closer to him, in such speed, it closed it’s jaw over him, lifted his head back, and swallowed him whole. . The only sound you could hear was the fading screaming of Selim, as he got deeper and deeper into the belly of the snake. ”He won’t be eaten, Steelix takes months to digest things. He will only be in his stomach as a make-do jail. Even though he deserves to digested…” I didn’t care about what was happing to Selim, I was shaking and pointing to the sea. “Noland! Marina got pushed of the ledge, she might be drowning! Please! I can’t loose her!” He didn’t say anything, he ran and jumped of the edge and I could hear him splashing. For a while there was silence, I just looked over the edge where Noland had gone, I was still lying down, not wanting to get up. I saw his hand grab on to the ledge and slowly he’s body started to emerged. Slowly, the whole world was twisted around; as he got higher and higher, I saw Marina over he’s shoulder. He finally got on the ledge and the whole of Marina’s body was visible. But it wasn’t moving. She wasn’t making a sound. My heart felt like it had been staked. He gently laid her down, looked at her head, then felt her arm. “She…she..can’t be..” Noland didn’t say anything. I walked over to her and kneeled down. As her I saw her lifeless face, my soul felt like it was melting away, the world around me felt distant, my eyes, just looking at my sweetie, not moving, not crying, not breathing. Noland sighed. “She….She hit her head when she fell over… she got knocked out, and she drowned. There was nothing you could do.” He’s voice was sad, and quite, but it seemed to like hearing an echo to me. Everything around me cease to exist, I couldn’t feel anything expect the water filling up my eyes. I grabbed her hand. “..You can’t be.. Please… I love you.. Please..” I gave her a kiss, but it did nothing, her eyes didn’t open. They needed to open. She was still alive, and this was all just a bad dream. “Come on sweetie, I made you a nice dinner.. come on”. She still didn’t move. I started to cry harder. “Sweetie, come on, we can watch the TV for a while, there’s a great show of Misdreavus’ on tonight… I thought you’d like that.. come on… Please.. come on.” I started to kiss her and hug her. “Marina! Please.. you can’t be dead.. I love.. I love you.. please.. don’t be.. please…” Reality was starting to sink it and my heart and turned to dust. ..”I’m sorry.. I’m sorry. .. Wake up.. Please….” Muu-Chan then floated out from a hidden place. Marina probably told her to hide away. She came up, floated to her master; she looked at her cold face, with its big sad eyes. It started to cry, it floated up, and without doing anything else it vanished into thin air. “Marina…Muu-Can has gone.. you better get her back.” My hope of her, opening her eyes and smiling at me, with that same cute smile, with those lips she kisses with, and her going Pearl.. had vanished. I put my head down on her breasts crying loudly, knowing the only person I loved would never be there for me again. Chapter 16. Of course it was in the news. Of course the 3 men got imprisoned for life. Of course people sent me lots of sympathy. Of course the Battle Brains were always there when I need a shoulder to cry on. But none of this bought her back. I open my eyes one day from my bed, hearing the sound of laughter. I put on my dressing gown and go to Marina’s room expecting to see her playing with Muu-Chan. I will open the door and shout “Hi Sweetie! What do you want for breakfast!” But of course, when I do, an empty room only greets me with her belongings in it. I find myself making breakfast for two, knowing that only one would be eating. I find myself, getting out her Misdreavus Plusie and tucking it in with an invisible person. I find myself going to see my Crobat with sleeping on a beach by myself. No one has come to the Frontier for weeks. Scott shut it down so higher security can be put in, also so the Brains could get some rest. But on a breezy day, I find myself sitting on the spot where Marina fell. Just starting at the water and lost in my thoughts. I haven’t slept for days, I haven’t eaten for days. Every time I try to sleep I just see us arguing and her being pushed into the water. “It’s all my fault… if I never broke my promise, we would have never had that argument.” I start to cry, thinking what might have been today if I had won that battle… Noland comes up to me; he’s been watching me for a few weeks. He comes up to me and talks. “Mind if I sit next to you.” Even though I’ve been avoiding it, I needed someone to talk to about this, it was just hurting me inside. I look up to him with tears in my eyes. “OK.” He sits and puts his arm around me. “ Would you like to talk about what happened?” “No” I whisper.. But straight after I cried. “YES. YES PLEASE!” “What would you like to talk about?” “How did you know we were getting attacked?” “I was on the top floor of the Factory packing up, when I just glanced out the window, I saw what was happing, and grab a good Pokemon of mine.” He sighed. “I’m sorry.” “What for?” “If I had been a second earlier I might have been able to save her..” I gave him a hug. “Please.. don’t blame yourself.. you did the best you could.” “I tried..” “.. I didn’t though?” “What do you mean?” The guilt about it was killing me, I told him about the Arena. “..Don’t worry, you had no idea this would happen.” “But.. if I didn’t hold back, wouldn’t she be here today?” “We don’t know that, those thugs intended to kill her didn’t they? They probably would of stopped at nothing.” “But she would have had a better chance to survive.” He patted my shoulder. “We don’t know what happens in the future, you only wanted the best for her, we can’t control what love makes us do sometimes. If you had been the one to push her, you would have killed her, but you didn’t. You even went there to defend her, even at the risk of your own life. You didn’t kill her; instead, you gave her something that makes life what it is. Love. Tell me, what was the last thing she said?” My heart took a light jump. “She said I love you Pearl..” “Exactly, the last thing on her mind before she died was that she loves you.” I felt slightly better knowing this. “And what happened to her Misdreavus?” he asked me. “..well.. It just disappeared.” “Excellent” he said in a rather happy tone. “..What do you mean by that?” he smiled. “Ghost Pokemon have a lot of mysteries about them, like for example, they are called ghost Pokemon, yet that can be bred from eggs. One theory indicates they are not dead Pokemon; they are simply Pokemon, which is in tune with the afterlife. There have been stories of when trainers die, if they were very close to their ghost Pokemon, then they vanish too. People say it’s because they follow their masters into the after life.” “You mean…” “Muu-Chan is with her master in the afterlife.” “Do you think they’re okay?” “What ever happens there, Muu-Chan will always be by her side.. She’ll be always happy.” We sat there for a while. He asked me about Marina’s mother, I remember seeing her at the funeral, which took place, in New Bark Town. She was devastated as I was, but she was happy, Marina had a great friend like me. We never told her the truth; we didn’t know how she’d handle it. the, memories on the funeral come into my mind, I remember being asked to say a few words, I got up to the coffin and broke down in tears, not be able to say anything. Noland came up to me and sat me next time him. I looked at him and smiled. ”Noland?” “Yes?” “You’re such a great friend to me.” “You deserve nothing less. Now come on, you look tired, let’s get you home.” As we entered the house, he said we could make a shrine to Marina. I loved the idea walked into my bedroom, when I saw it. The flower we had planted such a long time ago. “..Noland..” “Yes?” “That.. flower.. me and Marina.. Said it represented our love.. It’s still alive.” “Why wouldn’t it be?” “I thought.. it would die..” “Love Marina everyday, Water that everyday, and they’ll both never die.” He gave a pat on my back, and left my house. I got on my nightdress on, and soon fell asleep. I am on a sunset coated hill. The hill is on an angle. I am blowing seeds. I am crying but happy. Soon a girl walks up to me, her Ivory face, and her crystal eyes are in my direction. I go up and give her a hug. She opens her mouth, and sings. “As doubt fades with the sunlight” which I reply to “The feelings in my heart will never deny true love.” She gives me a kiss and her Misdreavus, which is floating by her gives out a happy sound. We sit on the hill, talking, and laughing, and having a good time. Sometimes we battle, Sometimes we just simply sit there, not saying anything, and just loving each other’s company. She blows seeds with me, I blow them with her too. We look at the sunset, and think about our futures, but we laugh at that. We have all the time in the world to do whatever we want. We’ll never grow old. We’ll never feel unhappy or angry. And No-one will ever try split us a part. They wouldn’t be able to.
|