Chapter 4: "...We've all Got Secrets to Hide..."
Noticing his older
cousin beginning to doze off, Nathan and his dear Christine had called out
"Ethan!" trying to bring him back to his senses. He seemed to be ignoring them,
possibly lost in very deep thought.
Not thinking of better
options, Christine turned to Beleza and asked her "Uh, we could use your help
here!"
Having grown concerned
for the human she saw as her boyfriend, she replied "Milo." before suddenly
hitting him and Nathan with a powerful volume of water out of her mouth,
drenching the two. Unsurprisingly, Ethan let out a sudden blast of electricity
in response, which oddly enough didn't hurt Nathan, despite the two being in
point blank rage of each other, and they hit the ground. Worried she and
Christine went to check on their trainers, and were surprised to see them get
up, with Nathan feeling a bit exhausted from the surge of power he had just
recently felt.
Knowing what happened;
Ethan turned to his Milotic and said "Thanks...I needed that." Helping his cousin
back onto his feet upon realizing that he just electrocuted him, he asked
somewhat worried "You okay, Nathan?"
"Well, I'm
drenched....and felt a few thousand volts of lightning at point blank range, but
that aside, I'm feeling okay. Somehow..." Nathan explained. "That should've
hurt..."
Not wanting his cousin
to catch a cold, Ethan remarked "Let's get going. None of us want you to get a
cold prior to us meeting up with our parents.....kind of wish I was born with
pyrokinetic abilities. Be one less problem for us to deal with." None of them noticed
a figure in the thunderclouds, the figure of an individual that had been
watching Ethan and his family ever since his birth.
On a normally bright and clear day, New Bark Town's
a peaceful town with little activity. Sure, it'd probably drive some people Zubat-crazy,
but for Ethan, he preferred the quiet and serene nature of New Bark Town. To be
fair, it was always home to him no matter where he was. Thanks to what was now
turning into a downpour, Ethan and Beleza had no issue with the rainy weather,
but they knew Nathan was another story. As for Christine...well, nobody likes the
smell of a wet jackal...do they?????
Normally, people would be walking across the
streets, going to various places and the like, but with the rain, many people
could be seen running back to their houses, or getting into their vehicles to
return to their homes.
Once they were several yards away from their house,
Ethan had acknowledged "I hate to do this, but we should recall our Pokémon."
Upon saying that, he pulled out a Dive Ball, ready to recall Beleza.
"Milotic" she said sadly, having enjoyed the feeling
of the rain on her body, and not being a fan of being inside a dinky metal
ball. But then again; who wouldn't?
While Phosphora was recalled with no interest in
arguing, Christine just said with a huff "Fine. Can you send me out when we get
into your room, please?" Nathan just nodded as his love was sent back to her
ball.
"Let's go." Nathan remarked, as he tightened the
belt on his trench coat, regaining the strength to walk on his own. "I'm glad
this is made of leather, but leather can only do so much."
"So can wool." Ethan replied, having forgotten that
he was in a pea coat in the middle of a thunderstorm. Walking back, he remarked
"Shame this is going to smell for a while."
The both of them couldn't help but laugh, even with
the cold rain pouring on them, as they returned to their old home.
Looking up at the two story house where they were
raised, Nathan had asked once they were at the front door "Want me to knock, or
do you want to do it?" Before Ethan could respond, the front door had opened, and
they saw none other than Hilda, who was more than happy to see them, even in
spite of not having seen the two for the last two years. Feeling as if he
looked like a wreck, he had said "Tia, we're sorry for how we look..."
"Don't be." She said calmly. "I'm just happy to see
you two again. Come inside, I'll get you some soup for the both of you."
Enjoying the idea of soup, Nathan had said "Thank
you Mom. That sounds excellent."
Shutting the door behind them, Hilda explained "Call
it convenient timing, but your Dad will be coming home soon from work. We can all
sit in the living room, and discuss how things have been for all of us."
The both of them nodded, as they went upstairs to get
themselves changed, as well as remove their coats to let them dry, leaving them
on a coat hanger.
With her son and nephew having returned home, Hilda
couldn't help but smile. She hadn't seen them for two years, and given what Nathan
was training in, she didn't have a single clue as to what he had really been
doing. And Ethan, she felt that he had just disappeared, almost like her
brother. Part of her had feared that something had happened to the last
surviving connection she had to him.
Putting that last thought to the side, she began
cutting up a few vegetables, and heated up some slices of fresh Fearow. To her,
all that mattered was that both of them had come home. Cooking up the soup, she
looked up a ceiling lamp that was above her. Out of curiosity, she raised a
hand towards, and saw a weak bolt of lightning as it made contact with her
hand. Pulling her hand back as the spark vanished, she had asked herself "Just why am I able to wield this? What she
said to my brother and me all those years ago? Is it true? So...could Nathan be
able to learn it too? I'll explain it to them when the time is right. Who am I
kidding; we've all got secrets to hide..."
Reaching the top of the stairs, Ethan had asked "I'm
thinking of letting out Beleza and Phosphora in my room. Are you thinking the
same for Christine in yours?"
Smiling, Nathan had responded "You got it....actually,
why don't I let out my team and your friends can get to know them?"
"I'm up for that." Ethan responded. Rather than head
to their rooms directly, they agreed on a gaming room that wasn't too far away.
Heading inside, it still looked the same as they had left it two years ago. An
HDTV set up in a corner with one or two consoles set up, and a pool table in
the center. Even a couch with a table not too far away where people could hold
conversations. "I'll go first." Ethan said as he prepared to let out the girls
he had loved for as long as he knew them.
As she was brought out, Beleza just looked around,
feeling happy to have been brought back to the same place where Ethan had
raised her. Sending out Phosphora, she acknowledged with a very surprised voice
"Ampharos!" as she affectionately hugged him and Beleza. Grinning, the two
hugged her back.
Not wanting to have chimed in, Nathan said
apologetically "Sorry to chime in, but I'm guessing both of your Pokémon are
happy to be back here?" The three nodded in response. "Okay, then. Christine, we're
in!" he called as his mate jumped out of her ball.
Upon jumping out of her Pokéball, she remarked "About
time. I was beginning to feel claustrophobic in there!"
Understanding, Nathan replied "I know. I thought it
would've been easier on all of us." Pulling one more Pokéball, he asked "I
suppose your friends should meet mine, Ethan?"
"Why not? The both of us might be busy with our
parents." Ethan replied.
"Okay then." His younger cousin remarked. "Omega,
come out!" Opening one of the balls, a spider like species, known by many as a
Metagross of the Hoenn region, had appeared; a sight that caught Ethan off
guard.
"You caught a Metagross?" Ethan asked quite
surprised by the sight of the walking supercomputer.
"Yes, he did." It replied, a somewhat metallic voice
being very noticeable in it telepathic speech. "A long story, there is not."
"We'll be back for the four of you." Nathan announced
as he and his older cousin left their teams together, while they got themselves
ready to catch up with their parents. Heading back to their bedrooms, they
changed out of their clothes into more comfortable clothing, such as short
sleeve shirts and sweatpants, the both of them being surprised at how their
clothing still fit despite not having worn them for so long.
Feeling better with the change of clothing, the two
cousins headed back downstairs to catch up with Hilda. With the living room set
up with fresh hot soup ready for the two, she was sitting on a nearby chair, having
waited for them while she ate some of her own creation. Beginning to eat their
soup, Hilda had asked "So who wants to go first?"
Shrugging Ethan decided "I think I'll go." After
taking another sip, he began with a frown visible "I feel I made a mistake leaving
here. I wanted...to use my powers for good...I don't know where to really begin,
Tia."
Unsure of what else to say, Ethan just looked down
at his soup. His Aunt couldn't help but get off of her chair, and give him a
hug. She even remarked "Ethan, we've always been proud of what you are capable
of. I'm glad you've tried to put them to good use, and not squander them for
your own interests."
Comforted by his Aunt's words, he replied "Thanks
Tia. Perhaps it just isn't time for me to really use my powers. I've also tried
to find my parents, but I haven't had any success. Do you have any idea where
they might've gone off too?"
"I honestly don't know where they've gone off too."
She replied sadly. "When I last saw them twenty years ago, there was a war that
had broken out in Unova. And....and...I promised your father...my little brother...I'd....protect...."
Unable to speak further, Hilda had broken into tears. Putting his soup down,
Ethan couldn't help but hug her back in an attempt to comfort her. Not liking
seeing his mother in tears, Nathan got off his seat, and hugged her.
Feeling better, Hilda remarked "Thanks boys."
"Anytime." The two had responded, as they let go of
their parent.
Deciding that it'd be for the better, Nathan had
reasoned "I think my story should just wait until tomorrow."
Wiping a few tears away as Ethan grabbed a box of
tissues for her, Hilda replied "If you wish, Nathan." Looking at her watch, she
continued "We should go to bed. I'm looking forward to how your time in Kalos
has been, Nathan." Finishing up their dinner, they bid each other good night,
and the two cousins headed upstairs. Hilda decided to wait until Cheren came home
to tell him the news as she sat back in her chair.
Heading back to the game room, they found their
Pokémon having barely moved from where their trainers last saw them. Seeing
their trainers, the four Pokémon bid each other good night before they were
willingly recalled into their Pokéballs.
Walking back into his room, Ethan let his
girlfriends out, wanting to sleep by their side. Being changed for the night, he
gestured for the two to follow. After helping Phosphora back onto the bed, she
couldn't help but ask "Ethan, what do you really think of us?" Soon, all three
of them were on the same bed, Beleza having coiled herself up on the mattress, while
Ethan and Phosphora were on top of her.
Despite having told the both of them before, Ethan
replied as he pulled the both of them into a hug "Is it necessary for me to
repeat myself? I still love the both of you, and I would love a future with all
three of us in it...I just fear that people would go after us if they were to see
me romantically involved with two Pokémon, let alone one."
"Isn't Johto known to be accepting of Pokémon and
human couples?" Beleza interjected.
Stroking her hair-like fins, Ethan explained "From
what I've read of our region's laws, such relationships are legal...but people don't
really like it, as far as I've seen. And I've seen the reactions people have
had just seeing us anytime we've done something harmless like share a kiss
whenever we forget we're in public. It's unsettled me, and I...almost felt ready
to run for my life anytime I've shared a kiss with any of you. I just wish we
could find a place to settle down somewhere, and we wouldn't have to worry of
people judging us for being together."
"Why not Kalos, Ethan?" Phosphora asked. Asking her
to go on, she continued "Christine had explained to us that the region is very
open to Pokémon and Human relationships, almost said to be a haven for individuals
like us."
Smiling sadly, Ethan replied "I'll keep that in
mind. But Johto is our home. I feel too attached to this place, especially our
town."
Neither of them was aware that Hilda had stood
outside their bedroom, having heard their entire conversation that was playing
out when she went to grab something from her bedroom. Sure, she didn't have
Ethan's ability to hear Pokémon directly speak, but she could get an idea of
what they were saying by his responses. Backing away from the door, she
couldn't help but facepalm at the revelation of her own nephew being
romantically involved with a Pokémon.
"Like
father, like son I suppose. I can't hate him for whoever he chooses to be with,
be it human or Pokémon." She thought to herself. Although, she
always hated what her brother had done that led to Ethan's birth. However she found it worthy of cringing at the
implication of him being with two Pokémon. Sneaking away to her left, she
thought "But still, the fact he seems to
be with two Pokémon? Even if it's not sexual Arceus forbid, I still fear that
even people here....I'm thinking too much. I'll just wait for him to confess when
he's ready....but what about Nathan...?"
Holding both of his Pokémon, Ethan had said "The
both of you are everything to me....and I don't know what I would do if something was to happen
to any of you." Touched by his opinion, Beleza and Phosphora snuggled up to
him, as the fell asleep, their dreams taking hold of them. Ethan however didn't
get to.
As he slumbered, he heard a distinctly feminine
voice declare "Arise Ethan!" Opening his eyes, he found himself having slept on
what looked like a public road, his face in the pavement.
"Where am I..." he asked himself. Looking down, he
found himself wearing a dark blue pea coat style jacket with the thinness of a
windbreaker for use in warmer weather, as well as black jeans and sneakers.
Looking upwards, he realized he was in a city with many skyscrapers that
appeared to pierce the clouds. "How did I get here from New Bark town? I must
be back in either Violet City, or I'm even in Goldenrod City! But why would...?"
Before he had a chance to finish his last question,
the same voice had yelled "Silence, you
fool! You have no idea of how much of a threat you've become to our operations!
You've forced this upon yourself, but we don't have much of a choice now!" Suddenly
he heard the screaming of civilians as blasts of light were seen across the
city. He realized that the blasts were coming from people that could manipulate
it. Or produce it themselves. "We Team
Phoenix wanted to conquer Johto without bloodshed, but so be it. We've even kidnapped
your girlfriends, Ethan!" Upon hearing that, he looked down, tapped himself
repeatedly, before realizing that he didn't have Beleza or Phosphora's
respective Pokéballs.
He did however, have one Pokéball. Despite his
desperate attempts of opening it, he couldn't. Yet he could sense there was a
Pokémon inside it. "Are you done, Ethan?"
that same voice asked him as he struggled to open that dinky sphere. "The forces I command are conquering Johto,
starting with the grand Goldenrod City! Do you think you can even stop us with
your power?" Knowing that it was a waste of time for him to respond, he ran
into the entrance of Goldenrod City. Regardless of what was going on, he knew
he had to stop it. He was alone, his cousins nowhere to be found, and he was
sure that his Aunt and Uncle were far away from whatever was going on.
Turning across an alleyway as he ran, he soon
noticed many injured civilians attempting to crawl away as well as the
Goldenrod Police in a gunfight with what looked like men clad in white business
suits wielding heavier firepower. "It's Ethan!" Someone called out. Turning around,
he noticed a crowd of people gathering rocks to throw as they came his way.
Fearing the worst, he prepared to run only to hear
another person from the crowd call out "We're not here to hurt you! We want to
help! We're not letting buffoons like these take our home! Especially not after
Team Rocket tried the same!"
Not sure what to say, Ethan had said "Uh, okay? Let's
stop these guys!" Gesturing for the crowd to follow him, they did so, as a few
grabbed something to use as a weapon. Noticing the grunts reloading their
weapons to open fire on the crowd, he yelled "Find some kind of cover!" Giving
the crowd time to disperse, he raised his hands out. Concentrating his
electricity that emanated from his hands, he produced a pair of rings, and
pointed them in the direction of the Phoenix Grunts whom prepared to open fire
on him. Before they could try to gun him down, a beam of concentrated light had
hit him, knocking him on his back, destroying the shields he created. Fear
getting the better of the civilians, they ran for their lives, leaving Ethan to
fend for himself.
(Sorry
to intrude this story, but remember how I said was just going to leave a random
theme to fit the scene, and assume everyone would go onto YouTube? Well, ignore
that. I'm now just going to say cue this theme, and leave a link, since this is
SoFurry. Perhaps. As for right now, cue "Encounter! Archie/Maxie from Omega Ruby/Alpha
Sapphire": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUBIfyyfqw4)
Getting back on his feet, he saw many of the grunts raise
their weapons at him, as they walked up to him. Unsure of how powerful he had
become, he tried to think of a way out. "Hold your fire!" someone had called
out, prompting them to lower their weapons. "I shall deal with this sinner." The
grunts soon backed up, keeping their eyes on Ethan as he noticed a man;
possibly around his age approach him. What caught his attention was the man's
apparel with long blonde hair, fair skin, a pure white cassock featuring a gold
trim around the front along with golden buttons as well as white pants and
shoes. In a way, the individual resembled a priest starting his career with the
attire worn.
Getting back up on his feet, Ethan had joked "Oh,
great; it's Neo. I thought he wore black, though."
"Silence, heretic!" the priest like figure had
remarked. "You have committed a great sin for expressing 'romantic' emotions
with your Pokémon! Our master is disgusted with what you have done. And such
actions have made your soul as black as this night! But he sees favor with you
for some reason. Our master, The Phoenix, sees great potential with you, and
wants you become one of us. Put the past behind you, resolve the sins you have
committed, let alone the sins your father had committed that lead to your
conception, and make things right by joining Team Phoenix!"
Clenching a fist, Ethan replied "Idea sounds nice....but
screw you!" before the "priest" could react, Ethan struck him with an
electromagnetic vortex of air, sending him floating several feet as he
attempted to regain his bearings. "As an Arceus fearing man, I know my place as
well as my love for my Pokémon! I refuse to listen to your lies, and you won't
convince me to join the group that you speak of!" He declared as the "priest" had landed
on his feet, as if he had experienced what Ethan had just pulled off.
"Very well, Ethan Black. I, sub-commander Valor of
Team Phoenix shall end your life where you stand! May Arceus have mercy on you
when I've finished the good work of my master!" The man known as Valor had
declared, as he snapped a finger, and created a claymore (mind you, the
Scottish longsword, not the explosive) of golden light.
Realizing that he had his stun baton in an internal
pocket, he drew it out as the baton extended, and produced sparks no doubt from
hi power. Noting its length of two feet, he thought "It's better than nothing." Clenching their respective weapons,
they charged at each other.
(And
now cue this: Valor- In Courage and Gallantry from Bayonetta 2)
Running up to each other, Ethan held his stun baton
like a sword as he threw a horizontal slash, creating a flurry of sparks as
their "blades" clashed. Breaking the clash, Valor fired another beam of light
from his hand, and Ethan narrowly dodged it, shuddering at the immense heat he
felt from exposure alone. "Two can play this game!" He joked as he fired a bolt
of lightning, one after another. Unfortunately, Valor was able to dodge the
bolts faster than Ethan could fire somehow.
Sensing that his opponent would've gained the upper
hand if he lost control of his emotions, Ethan took any opportunities he could
to catch his breath. "The forces you command will pay for kidnapping my
girlfriends!" Ethan yelled as he fired a missile of concentrated lightning at the
sub-commander.
Laughing at Ethan's remark, Valor teleported in a
flash of light to dodge the missile at the last second, and replied "You
should've joined us!" Getting right in front of Ethan as he narrowly dodged
being impaled by the light sword. "When I'm done with you, I think I'll pay a
visit to your cousin, who's performed a greater sin with that canine, and
punish them both!"
Clenching his teeth, Ethan blocked another sword
strike, and followed up with a superman punch full of lightning to Valor's
face. Thanks to the length of the cassock that the latter wore, Ethan grabbed
him by the ends of his robe, and slammed him onto the road. Taking the
opportunity, he threw an electrically charged fist to where Valor lay, only for
him to teleport at the last second, leaving his fist to slam into the ground,
leaving cracks in the road. Before Ethan had a chance to recover, his opponent
grabbed him by his neck, as he got thrown to the side.
Looking up, he saw Valor prepare to impale him in
the chest. Realizing the two were in a puddle, Ethan grinned as he zapped the
water around the both of them, electrocuting Valor as he felt thousands of
volts course through his body. Gaining the upper hand, Ethan got back up, and
struck the wielder of light with a front ball kick to the stomach. Not even
thinking, he withdrew his baton, and raised his fists to the night sky, as
thunderclouds rolled in. "Take this!" He yelled as he summoned monstrous bolts
of lightning from the sky to finish Valor, only for his combatant to teleport
out the destruction produced, and struck him with another beam of light.
A beam that had hit with enough force to leave a
burn across his chest, effectively crippling him as he gripped his chest,
trying to find an electrical source to heal himself. "You can't hope to stop
me, Ethan! The power my Lord has blessed me with is far greater than the power
you had been born with!" Valor boasted as he teleported up to Ethan, ready to
finish him off.
Grabbing a nearby lamp, he gripped it as his energy returned
to him, restoring him of his exhaustion and his injuries. "I refuse to accept
defeat!" Ethan replied as he pounced onto Valor, and attempted to hit him with
a punch to the face, only to be stopped as Valor grabbed his arm.
"A simple punch won't do me in!" Valor boasted; the
fighting messing up his hair as the two struggled on the concrete ground.
His fist opening up into an open palm ready to grab
his face, Ethan replied "Who said anything about punching you!?" In the midst
of their struggle, he succeeded in grabbing Valor by his face as he was drained
of his bio-electricity, healing Ethan, but leaving his opponent exhausted from
the leeching. Taking the opportunity, Ethan lifted Valor off the ground, and
struck him with an uppercut, knocking his opponent back onto the ground. "Now take THIS!" He declared, as he his opponent
was struck by the same storm of lightning bolts summoned from before.
Calling off the attack, he went to check the damage,
only to hear a voice call out to him screaming "Ethan, wake up! You're only
dreaming! You need to wake up!" Before he could comprehend what was going on, he
suddenly found himself struck by a bolt of lightning, realizing at the last
second that he was only dreaming. And none of it was real....and yet it felt very real to him...