Pokémon Bloodstone | An Orre Fanfiction

Chapter 78: Fool's Gold

Dirk chose to remain at Citadark Isle to try again the following day. Chalcedony headed for the elevator, but Zileh stopped her.

'The Elite Four and Zane will be out any minute now! You have to get your guitar signed!'

'Thanks for thinking of me, Zileh... but I really don't feel like it right now. Especially because I'm, like... wondering if my dad has just let me go. Intentionally or not.'

'Then I'll get it signed for you. Come on! Pass it to me! You'll never complete it if you don't do it now!'

Chalcedony felt bad leaving her guitar with her 14 year-old friend, but it was clear Zileh wouldn't budge. She took the case. The elevator took Chalcedony back to the doors of Victory Road. She paid the ferry captain and boarded before the crowds swamped the boats.

For once, there was no-one around the 'I ❤︎ ORRE' sign. Everyone was at Citadark Isle. Chobin's grey clouds were so far away from the sweltering afternoon sun, it was almost like the whole experience was a dream. Chalcedony supposed it was. Just another dream that didn't come true.

In a back room at Citadark Isle, Eldes stood beside Leden. They stared out of the window at the clouds that cleared now there were no more challengers.

'She seems content as she is. Perhaps... as much as it pains me... she doesn't need to know.'

Ruby Jane waited for Chalcedony in the harbour. She took her arm, but Chalcedony hesitated before she walked with her to the Pokémon Center. Her eyes were on the piano. It was beginning to fade in the relentless sun. There was hardly anyone around. Maybe busking to no-one in one of the least exciting ports in the world was where she belonged. Chalcedony sat at the piano.

'This song's called Fool's Gold.'

Chalcedony stared through Ruby Jane. She didn't see her take out her phone to share the performance on Rotogram.

'Pull on my boots and no sleep tonight
Dressed up to pretend it's all alright
On a dirty bus ready to go nowhere
I should've known but I didn't dare...'

A hunched old lady laid down her shopping bags.

'But he knew red sky in the morning
Means lovers' warning
I thought I had one-up on him
But I was the one
Who never saw it coming

That no-one bleeds glitter
And fool's gold ain't gold
Neon lies and leaves you bitter
And when you can't deny no more
You're already tired and old

There were stars in my eyes
Under bleach-fried hair
And even as I tried and tried
I did anything to pretend I didn't care

But I knew red sky in the morning
Means dreamer's warning
Thought I had one-up on it all
But I kept on crawling
Even as I saw it coming

That no-one bleeds glitter
And fool's gold ain't gold
Lights go out and leave you bitter
And when you can't deny no more
You're already tired and old

Learned all I ever wanted
Took none of it on board
And when I finally saw the light
I was already too far behind

'Cause no-one bleeds glitter
And if I was a foreigner
I'd ignore those reports from Orre
But when you can't deny no more
You're too tired to applaud

Because red sky in the morning
Means lovers' warning
And before you even jump
You're already falling

No-one bleeds glitter
And fool's gold ain't gold
Lights shine on and you're still bitter
And you know you'd never listen
But you wish you'd been told