Safe Haven

A Deep Conversation

Reina's eyes fluttered open, the wood panel ceiling above her slowly coming into vision. She positioned herself so that her back was to the wall, cushioned by the straw below her. A sigh escaped her mouth.

Reina had to take a nap after that. Her day had been so eventful, she couldn't stand it. She needed a break.

Reina gazed at her surroundings. Before her nap and after Charm left, she unpacked the majority of her suitcase and put all of her stuff into place.

As Reina looked forward to the other end of the room, she saw the bookshelf that was there when she arrived. Every shelf was occupied with the belongings which she had organized everything of hers into. She glanced to her right. The walls were adorned with photos of her and her father. Some, however, were empty.

-

"Reina!" Her father called after her. She was taking off her backpack, hanging it on a hook on the wall. She was exhausted, just having gotten home from school.

"Huh?" She murmured, a tired curiosity in her voice. She zipped up her bag and began to walk to the kitchen where her father called for her.

"I got something for you while I was out today, and I want to ask something of you." He said, suddenly becoming more serious. He still, however, wore his usual smile.

"What is it?" Reina asked, trying her best to hide the nervousness in her voice. She stopped walking and now stood in front of her father. Feeling dizzy, she sat.

"Well first, here's your gift." He says, grinning brightly. He pushes a grocery bag in front of Reina, signaling for her to open it. She does.

As she unraveled the present, she found several small to medium picture frames. They're meant to hang on the wall, she assumes. Some of them already had photos of them, those she recognized. The others, however, were new to her.

"I want you to have something to take with you and remember home with when you join the Guild." Her father explained, voice wavering a little. The corners of his eyes were slightly teary, and his paws shook a little.

"I'll miss you, you know..." He said finally. Reina couldn't stand it, she dashed forward and embraced her father in a hug. She'd miss him so, so much...

"But... I want to ask you to do something, for me." He told her, pointing to one of the empty picture frames.

"Make new memories for me. Make new friends. I want you to experience life." He said quietly and carefully, almost as if trying not to cry any further. She was trying not to as well.

"I promise," Reina says.

-

Reina yawned. She needed to get out of bed and do something. Anything.

She stretched her legs, claws clutching the straw beneath them, and leaped out of her bed. Her eyes drifted to the other side of the room.

Her roommate's bed was straw just like hers, but pieces of said straw were strewn about the floor. Next to the bed were books stacked unevenly, appearing as if they were just about to topple over. There was a carpet in front of the bed, a deep red one with lines of gold sewn in delicately, almost resembling something belonging to a royal palace. Between the carpet and the wall was a bookshelf, parallel to her own. In it were several books placed almost randomly, as well as orbs, seeds, a shelf of clothing, and a sack of berries.

She and her roommate must be fairly different, she thought. Their sides of the room were almost like opposites, at least from what she could tell now.

Reina gradually walked to the door as she finished taking in her surroundings, turning the doorknob and breathing in as the bright light and chatter of Pokémon enveloped her.

Her pace heightened as she kept an eye out for something or someone in particular. She felt squished as she danced between the surplus of Pokémon in the room. Before she could find them, however, she was interrupted.

"Hello. I see you've awoken from your nap." Said the Pokémon before her, "Why don't you follow me outside where it's more quiet?" She said, and Reina was delighted at the idea. Out of here sounds much better right about now.

Reina felt much more alive as she stepped outside, the cool breeze blowing against her pelt. She closed her eyes, simply choosing to breathe in her surroundings.

"How do you feel now?" Said the voice. She opened her eyes, now looking directly at Charm.

"I'm better. How did you..." Reina paused, "How did you know I took a nap? And that I needed to step out?" She asked, curious, but also somewhat suspicious. The ninetales looked at her intently.

"I apologize. I have a psychic gift which allows me to read into the minds of those around me." She says, pausing while Reina takes in the information. Mind reading. It was an incredibly strong--as well as disturbing--power.

"I know it is disturbing; It is to me as well. As I cannot completely control when and whom it chooses to listen, I overheard your thoughts of waking up as well as being overwhelmed in the room full of Pokémon." She explained discretely. Why was she telling Reina all of this? It was a lot to take in.

"I... well, that's a lot. I think I understand, it's just complicated." Reina replied, looking away a bit embarrassed at her words. She probably looked like a fool, and in front of the co-leader of the guild, too...

"You are no fool," Charm said sternly. Reina jumped a little, surprised at her seriousness. "I took you out here not only because of the reasons which I've already explained but also because I can sense your power. You are a very strong Pokémon, Reina." She explained, looking deeply into Reina's eyes. She felt her pelt prickle as if the ninetales were exerting pressure.

"I, um... Thank you..?" Reina said, concern and question clouding her voice, "But where is this coming from if you don't mind me asking?" She queried.

"You need to choose your next steps wisely. Tonight is just the meeting of Pokémon. Tomorrow, however, is different." Charm explained, "Tomorrow you will choose who you will form a Guild team with. I want you to be wise in whom you place your trust." She paused, glancing behind her at the setting sun and orange sky.

"I will, I promise," Reina replied honestly, though she felt her legs shaking at the seriousness of this all. Charm looked back at Reina, directly into her eyes.

"I want you to choose the right path. Because I can sense your greatness, but I can also sense demise." She explained grimly, a serious expression on her face, "You choose which path you will take." She said finally, before turning her back and walking to the guild. She briefly looked back to Reina.

"Come down when you are ready. I know it's hard to be around all those Pokémon at once, but it will do you good to meet your future coworkers, friends, or however you choose to refer to them." And with that, Charm turned to the Guild and disappeared inside.

What did this all mean?