The Gijinka Series ~ Pokemon [cc]

[Keyella]

Family

PLACEWINDS whipped, causing the rain to come down sideways as large waves crashed upon the shore. Nearly all sound, save for the roaring of the elements, was drowned out. A hurricane had hit Cinnawood Island.

PLACEPeople and pokémon ran about in a blind panic as they scrambled for shelter. Only one group; a trainer and five pokémon remained calm, weaving among the rush of bodies and guiding them to the gym; Lugia, attempting to protect a human boy as he ran with his shuckle to the gym.

PLACELugia, along with the rest of Team Jhoto, Flamestar of Team Kanto and Angel of Team Hoenn, had been visiting Cinnawood Island with their trainer Shelby to see if they couldn't get some shuckle juice when the storm had hit. Immediately Shelby had ordered them to get all the people and pokémon to the gym. It was the only structure guaranteed to survive the storm due to the sturdiness of its frame.

PLACE"Lugia!" he turned to see his team leader, TJ, calling to him. The large feraligatr had lost his hat the storm, and his tie was flapping violently. "What can you do about this storm?"

PLACE"I am unable to stop it, my friend." Lugia called back, guiding the boy the rest of the way to the gym. He quickly doubled back to TJ. "This storm is not natural. It is being caused by another of my kind. I cannot say, but for whatever reason this successor is exerting their power over the ocean." He screamed against the roaring wind. TJ stared out to the water, a hard look on his face.

PLACE"Finish getting all the people and pokémon into the gym and put a barrier. Can you hold it 'til this successor calms down?" TJ screamed.

PLACE"I can do my best, my friend. At least until we can find a better alternative." Lugia answered, a flash of red catching his eye. Flamestar was desperately fighting against the wind as he and Shelby guided a family to shelter. Their trainer was protecting the flame of his tail, being battered by the wind and rain in an effort to keep the young charizard safe. Angel, the swampert, was routing a few children and their pokémon to the gym. The people were safe, but still so many pokémon were in danger, and Lugia knew that he and four other calm pokémon along with their trainer couldn't save them all.

PLACEA single cry pierced the chaos, filling Lugia with dread as he turned his head to find the source; his team-mate Luna. She was struggling in the surf as she fought to guide a few shuckle to safety. The small espeon had lost her footing, and was being dragged under, thrashing violently in a swirl of foam. She let out another cry and Lugia jerked in her direction, but TJ was already racing toward her, using the water beneath his feet to increase his speed.

PLACELugia stopped, suddenly realizing that the waves were coming dangerously close to the gym. If he didn't put up the barrier now, no matter how sturdy the gym was, it would be under water. Desperately Lugia looked back to measure TJ's progress, and watched in horror as the feraligatr was struggling to get back. Even he could not overpower the strength of these waves. Slowly, Lugia turned back, focusing as he began to build a barrier around the gym, excluding himself from its protection. If his team-mates could not be protected and had to face the storm, then he would too.

PLACE"Lugia!" he heard his name called as the barrier fully closed. Flame and Angel were charging toward him, eyes full of worry and confusion.

PLACE"TJ and Luna are still out there! You can't put up a barrier!" Flame cried, pounding against the invisible wall. Angel remained silent, instead pressing against the barrier with all his force, quietly pleading with his eyes.

PLACE"Lugia! They're going to die if you don't put down the barrier! Lugia!" Panic was beginning to rise in Flame's voice as his thrashing became more desperate.

PLACELugia raised a hand, gently placing it against the barrier and giving a weak smile. "Please, Flamestar, stop." He said quietly. Though a storm raged, Lugia knew that they could hear him on the other side.

PLACEWhen Lugia spoke, Angel immediately stopped pressing against the barrier and simply stared at him in agonized realization. The swampert turned to Flame, catching his arm and locking eyes with the other. Soon realization dawned on Flame's face as well, and he whipped back towards Lugia.

PLACE"You can't! Lugia!" Before Flame could throw himself at the barrier again, Angel caught him, restraining him from behind. "Don't do it! What about Shelby? What about the rest of us, damn it!"

PLACEUncharacteristic tears fell from Flame's eyes and Angel began to sob into the other's shoulder. Lugia felt his own heart lurch at the sight. Those two . . .

PLACEThe water was waist deep now, and a gentle bump beside him made Lugia turn his head. TJ had finally managed to fight his way to where they stood, holding an unconscious Luna in his arms. His head hung as if it was too heavy to hold, and hair plastered to his scalp. However Lugia could feel his intense stare, and nodded; answering the unspoken question.

PLACETJ lifted his head, staring into Flame's eyes. The younger had stopped struggling by now, and was simply staring back helplessly. TJ's shoulders heaved as he took in a deep breath. "You take good care of Shelby."

PLACEHe cut off as if there was more he wanted to say, but couldn't find the words for. Instead he fixed his gaze on Lugia, shifting Luna onto one arm, and holding out his free arm. "Team-mates 'til the end."

PLACEAt these solemn words, Lugia suddenly felt happy and warm despite facing eminent death. He ducked under TJ's out-stretched arm, hugging close to both him and Luna. Closing his eyes as the water around them began to swirl and roar, Lugia couldn't help the feeling of peace and love in his heart. For so many years he had lived alone, but now that he had team-mates – no, now that he had a family, he would not let them go. "Yes, family until the end."

PLACEWith a sigh, Lugia tightened his grip on his family as a wave crashed down upon them and his world became dark.

[End: Family]

 

[Keyella]

The Last Sentiments of a Leader

PLACETHE pale yellow walls of the intensive care room of the Violet City PokéCenter glowed in the sunlight cast in through the window. Angel sat beside a PokéCenter bed, his hat in hand and a towel around his shoulders. He was without the usual cigarette, not because he was in a "hospital," but because – for once in his life – he was too worried to bother. His stomach knotted with worry and he felt sick with despair. Of all the things to happen . . .

PLACEThe blankets shifted as the one beneath them stirred. Angel immediately looked up to see the inhabitant open his eyes. The swampert's breath caught in his throat as Flamestar awakened; his body barely visible beneath the mounds of gauze. Never before had Angel seen this powerful pokémon in such a sorry state, and it greatly saddened him. One wing was missing, and the other was broken beyond repair. He would never fly again. Nearly half his abdomen had been torn out, on leg missing and a deep bite-mark in his throat. It was a miracle that his main arteries and veins were still intact. Chunks of hair from his scalp were missing; others were still caked with blood while the rest was tucked beneath a gauze wrap. He'd suffered a major concussion. Flame was a wreck, but at the very least, he was alive.

PLACE"Hey." That was somehow the only word that Angel could say. Flame took in a weak breath, as if he were about to speak, but Angel finally found enough words to say, "Do not talk. You will need your energy, hermano. I will go get Shelby so she knows –"

PLACEHe stopped as Flame gripped his arm; the hold was firm, but weak all the same. Angel would have easily broken free had it not been for the silent order he felt in Flame's action: stay.

PLACETaking a raspy breath, Flame whispered, "I'm glad it was you here, Angel. I don't have much time."

PLACE"What are you saying, hermano? Do not talk like that!" Angel immediately cut in.

PLACE"Listen, Angel, my team –"

PLACE"Hermano, you should rest." Angel urged, interrupting once more. He began to feel guilt and panic mix, kicking in his adrenaline as he tried to escape from the room. There was no way Flame could handle the news, not now.

PLACE"Angel, just listen! My team –"

PLACE"Hermano you team is dead!" Angel shouted, gasping after the words had come out. They remained in silence for a few minutes, blankly staring at each other.

PLACE"Your team is dead, hermano . . ." Angel repeated, his voice softer this time. "Lightstar's . . . He was found beside you on the shore. His body was so broken . . . Light did not make it through the night hermano."

PLACEAngel paused as Flame's hand dropped from his arm. "I went diving this morning to find the others. I found Ruby and Rose beneath . . . Beneath a rock. It must have crushed them sometime during the battle . . . Ocean and Dragon were pressed into the sand. They are all gone, hermano . . . All gone."

PLACEFlame's expression was pained, and he blinked to fight back tears. "I know Angel. I know, that's why –"

PLACE"You know?" Anger shot through Angel. He was so upset; so furious; how could Flame know unless he had expected it to happen? How could any leader lead his team a muerto? "What do you mean 'you know'? If you know, that means you knew it would happen! What leader leads his team a muerto, hermano? Hm? ¿Qué jefe? Tres fully grown, enraged gyarados would crush anyone! Why would you fight them? Are you so proud? What of your team? What about Shelby?" he shouted, unable to contain his rage as he began to tremble, fighting back his own tears.

PLACE"I couldn't let them destroy NewBark Town!" Flame's voice cracked under the strain of him shouting back. Angel stared at him, silent after the other's outburst. Taking in a shaky breath, Flame began again, "They say rampaging gyarados created Lake Rage. I never believed it until I saw those three. Just three, but they had enough power to destroy a cruise ship. We had to stop it. I would have gone out there alone had my team not wanted to come with me . . ." He trailed away allowing the room to fall into silence save for the beep of the heart monitor. Angel simply stared blankly at Flame's face. Three gyarados at one time. What hope did he think he had?

PLACEAfter a few minutes, Flame took in a deep breath and began to speak again, "I was dreaming – at least I think so – about my team. They were calling to me, though their backs were turned to me. 'Come on, Flame!' they called. 'You'll be late! We can't wait forever you know.'" Tears began to fall from Flame's eyes as he stared off into the distance; as if he were watching his team call to him now. "I told them that I couldn't; that they had to wait a bit longer. I told them that . . . I still had a few things to do . . ."

PLACEHe blinked, focusing on Angel with such ferocity that the other twitched in surprise. "I'm glad it was you here, Angel, because only you can do all that I'm about to ask."

PLACEAngel nodded numbly, his mind blank.

PLACE"Take good care of Shelby." Flame said softly. Angel winced, his throat tightening at the sound of the familiar words. "You've got to keep an eye on Zak, too. I know you see it as much as I do, but he's got TJ's spirit in him. Robyn has Luna and Asheron . . . He's definitely got Lugia's spirit!" Flame let out a laugh, though his tears showed how sad he was.

PLACE"Watch Zak grow and keep him on the right path, won't you? He'll end up working too hard and he'll miss out on life, and hurt the ones he loves the most, and those who love him the most." Flame paused, giving him the saddest look. "Just like us . . . Just like us. God knows how much I hurt Ruby! I hurt her so much . . ." His gaze slid from Angel to his own hands. "You too . . . You can't tell me that Firepool isn't hurt every time you're near her. I can see how much she hurts when you ask her to light your smoke, or kiss her. It's the fact that you can't give her all of you that hurts her; that there's a part of you she'll never know. You've got to enjoy life while you can. I know you love her, I know it. I can see she loves you too. You've got to let the past go. When was the last time you even saw your child?"

PLACEHearing Flame mention his child, Angel winced and looked away. By some miracle Firepool had conceived his child. He hadn't even known until he'd found her caring for an egg. When he asked her about it, she would only say that he was the father and ignored him. Before he could even decide how he felt about it, the egg hatched. It was a small, little girl vulpix. He was there when she hatched, but hadn't seen her since. Angel didn't even know her name.

PLACE"She's beautiful you know." Flame whispered. He had stopped crying now and stared at Angel. Had Flame seen his own daughter more than he had? "She's got your stubbornness and is as much at home in fire as you are in water."

PLACEAngel felt tears slide down his cheeks as he returned Flame's gaze, swallowing the painful lump in his throat, "I promise I will be a better padre to her, hermano, and I will give todo mi corazón to Fuera. You are right, we have not lived, pero now I – I would like to. I promise Flame. Please, please do not leave me."

PLACE"A leader is nothing without his team, Angel." Flame said softly. Angel could only stare at him, knowing he would have said that, but hoping he wouldn't all the same.

PLACEFlame looked over to the nightstand and examined the items on its surface. He gave a weak smile when his eyes rested upon his hat. "One last thing. My hat . . . Take it and give it to a pokémon you deem worthy; just as I gave TJ's hat to Zak."

PLACEAngel nodded and Flame lay back, sinking deeper into the bed as he relaxed. He turned his head toward the window, and stared out, a dreamy – almost sleepy – smile on his face. "Maybe . . . My team and I will be reborn, like TJ, Luna and Lugia, you know?"

PLACEThe beep of the heart monitor slowed.

PLACE"If that happens . . . I think I'd like to be a grass-type pokémon. I've always wanted to . . . I've always wanted to be able to really feel the breeze, and enjoy the senses of a meadow without worrying that I'll set it on fire. I've always wanted to actually enjoy water . . . and rain. I think . . . that . . ." He trailed away, lapsing into silence and closing his eyes. A gentle sigh escaped him, his chest falling and not rising again. The quiet was filled by the sound of a single, continuous beep.

[End: The Last Sentiments of a Leader]