can't we just go back? | pokémon

eighteen | fall to the waters below

winona wiped her tears away as she rode on skarmory's back and set flight towards marlon's city. she was determined to know the truth and avenge the pokemon of aviation and bring light to the truth of what was happening at unova that they were ordered to come and stay for a few weeks there. hoenn has its own problems and if she could uncover, or at the very least, gather evidence of the recent happenings here, then maybe she could bring justice to those poor pokemon.

it took them around 45 minutes before they reached their destination. winona went down and brought skarmory back to its pokeball. there was quite a crowd gathered at the beach, enjoying it's cold waters and calm waves. there were a few people in their own circle, bonfires lit in the middle. winona paid no mind and looked at the city's general map to look for gym leader marlon's gym. the map noted it was at least a three-minute walking distance from where she was. she started walking, admiring the weirdly peaceful beachside, noting that it felt like she wasn't in unova and that she was somewhere in a hidden beach, far from human intervention and nothing but nature and pokemon existing together. 

she stumbled upon the gym after a while of walking. it was closed for the day for some reason, but a passerby told her that marlon was just within the vicinity. winona raised a brow at the thought of a gym leader wasting his time going anywhere but his gym. still, she persisted and went inside, surprised that the gym wasn't locked. she walked around, figuring out the gym's puzzle, amazed at the giant lily pads. when she neared the end where marlon should be, she saw an open scenery in front of her. occasional winds blew from the giant, open sliding glass door. she could see the ocean meeting with the sky of burning colors.

and in that moment, winona didn't need to think. she's just there, appreciating something she doesn't usually see. it was always there, winona thought.

the sky always meets the sea.

winona's chest ached. it should've been in the past but it felt like winona just couldn't let it all go and tied all the memories with paper-thin strings and brought them to the present.

the calming scenery made winona's eyes water. she quickly wiped the tears before it starts to fall.

"what're you doing here?" a male voice spoke from behind her which made her jump in surprise. standing in front of her was none other than the final gym leader of unova.

"marlon?" winona called out.

"how did you get here?" he asked, walking towards her. winona noted that he wore nothing but swimming trunks and flipflops. his hair was wet and he's still dripping wet. he probably just came from swimming by the beach, winona thought.

she crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"why weren't you here in the first place?"

"why should i?" he asked back, walking towards the rack just behind winona and grabbed a towel.

winona was flabbergasted with his answer.
"you're a gym leader so why should you go wandering off? you have a duty here," she said.

marlon didn't even spare her a look as he walked around her.
"where's the fun in that?"

winona clicked her tongue once.
"anyway, that's not why i'm here. i'm here to ask you about the—" when winona looked at him, a towel was already wrapped around his lower body. winona's eyes widened as she shot marlon an angry look.

"can you please be decent enough to talk to me properly?" she asked, visibly annoyed. marlon paid her no mind.

"and why? aren't you the one who suddenly barged in my gym without my permission, didn't introduce yourself properly, and now going about how and where i should be as a leader here?"

winona was too stunned to speak for a moment before finally regaining her composure.
"i.. i'm sorry," she said, in a much more mellow tone.

winona tried repeating what she said but marlon seems uninterested in what she wanted to say. it slowly annoyed her how it felt like he doesn't care about the pokémon and what is happening at unova.

"marlon! i'm still talking to you!" she called him but the leader just walked away from her.

"ugh! why do i even have to talk to him? so annoying and self-centered!" she said to herself and started angrily walking back.

two steps in and winona started slightly slipping as she tried her best to re-balance herself. the more she did, the more she moved closer to the edge, so close to the open ocean.
"marlon, help—!" was what winona could only scream as she slipped and fell into the deep water, back first.

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a/n:

hello!! it's been a while, as usual.
again, i apologize for the late update. i am trying my best to keep up with writing (and doing art stuff) and work but it's really difficult and i'm just a girl.

i hope to be able to update and write without too much time passing by, a.k.a, writing and updating as soon as i can.

for those of you who don't know:
i have an instagram dedicated to my art and poems.
i also have an ao3 account, altho this story is the only thing posted there.

here are my accounts:
ig: @//ohnine.suji
ao3: ohninesujiii

thanks for reading my update!
any interaction is very much appreciated!