Harmonia | Pokémon Fanfiction

35 | Dusty Trails

Music in media: Dusty Trails by Lucius

17 January, Monday, 10:30 p.m. | Winter

Screams shattered the silent air. Frenzied footfalls headed in various directions. Hands swept with cold sweat tried to search for a way out. For the majority of the people in the Driftveil Gym, they needed no clairvoyant to voice out the singular thought running in their heads, which was a singularity of its own kind, and a disappointing one at that: We killed a man.

Killed.

How different were they now from the antagonistic forces they resented? The smoke, this time, seemed adamant, barely showing signs of dissipating, as if taunting them, haunting him like sin branded into their visions.

Rae glanced around. Cheren was tugging her sleeve while everyone else was at the exit now, evacuating the crowd or calming them down.

"What is it?" Cheren asked when she refused to budge.

"My Pokémon are missing again. They must be caught in the smoke."

"It's not safe, Rae. You see the hole in the roof?"

"Cheren," she said slowly, meeting his eyes. "I think N is still alive." Cheren raised a brow as he released his grip. Rae continued, "The blast was deflected. My Pokémon did that."

"Are you sure?"

Rae nodded. "But the smoke isn't clearing and it's bad for the lungs."

Cheren gave her a grim look. "I'll head in instead. You stay here."

Rae was about to protest when he dashed into the smoke with his sleeve covering his nose. A minute passed. Then another. Then—

Coughs filled the air. Cheren emerged carrying an unconscious N in his arms while Rae's Pokémon trailed behind him, Tabutabu's hands awash with white light. Heal Pulse.

Rae hugged them and thanked them and promised she would do better as their trainer. How could she not have realised it earlier? Noko-Noko, however, simply placed a wing on her shoulder in comfort.

"He'll be fine," said Cheren as he set N down on the ground.

"I know. Tabutabu is an excellent healer."

"You're worried nonetheless."

"Of course I am! I... He saved me! And I... trust him. I don't think he is a bad person."

"Well, there's a chance the Shadow Triad are acting independently. The only other believable option is Ghetsis still controlling it all. He bears the last name Harmonia too."

N coughed. Cheren knelt and raised his back a little. Then N's eyes opened slowly.

"Cheren? Rae?" He blinked as he took in his surroundings. "Have them calmed down?"

"That was reckless of you," Rae exclaimed and hugged him. Lots of hugging today. So many people and Pokémon needed comfort.

"I... You're right." N's gaze softened as Rae let go. After thanking her Pokémon, he added, "But I do not regret it. It was nothing compared to their suffering. Besides, Icosa put me up to it."

"What do you mean?" Cheren crossed his arms.

N scratched his scalp. "It's baffling but he was using me as bait to snap them out of their worry."

"He really hates you, huh?" Rae sighed. "Can you walk?"

N pushed himself off the ground and flexed his legs. "Yeah."

"You know," Cheren mumbled, "you speak fast, but not as fast as you used to."

"Moderation."

That marked the end of the conversation.