TxW: Never Alone, Forever Together

Chapter 6: Past meets Present...

Tari POV-

I sat in my room, against my bed just across the door, trying desperately to contain myself like I've learned to. But I couldn't. The way I snapped at Whimpu, taking my anger out on him, the guilt and shame was too much. I couldn't help but cry away

A few minutes passed, before I heard a knock on my door. "T...Tari?", a concerned voice said

"Go way...", I said softly, trying not to raise my voice any more than I already have, "I've hurt you enough..."

Whimpu walked in through my door, seeing as how it didn't have a lock on it, and came near my curled up body

"Y'know...", Whimpu said, "that wasn't the first time I've been yelled at over a game. It's ok, it happens-"

"No, it's NOT ok", I said with a raised voice, "I yelled at you as if I got stabbed in the chest, JUST because I lost a game. You didn't deserve that..."

"I'm supposed to be strong, nice, the person everyone can count on for comfort", I said, my voice breaking as I spoke, "That was not strength, that was..."

Before I could fully finish what I was saying, I couldn't help but start crying again, more softly than before

I felt Whimpu take a seat beside me on my right

"Tari...", Whimpu said, "is there something you want to get off your chest? Anything at all? Cause I'm here if you want to talk about it."

"Whimpu...", I said, "that's really sweet of you, but you don't have to get involved in my problems..."

Does it have something to do with what you said earlier?", Whimpu asked, "About you not needing help when you invited me over?"

I stayed silent for a few moments. I'm surprised Whimpu had the patience to wait for an answer. It's almost... admirable

"maybe... a little..." I finally said, very quietly, though not too quietly to hear

I felt Whimpu put his hand on top of mine, causing me to blush a little bit

"Tari... I know this isn't really any of my business", Whimpu said, "but I'm your friend. What's the point of friends if they're not here to help and support you?"

"Whatever it is that's going on, you can tell me.", he said, with a voice that felt assuring, "I won't judge, I promise!"

I giggled a bit, finding the way he said 'promise' to be kind of cute

"Ok, ok... you win.", I said, "I'll tell you everything..."

For years now, I've been wanting to win at a video game tournament...", I said, "I wanted to be someone others looked up to, someone who was strong enough to build dreams!"

"But every time I've ever played, I just lost, and lost, and lost every time I tried...", I said, "and for the last few tournaments I've competed in, I've kept losing to Evelyn, the host's daughter."

"She'd make fun of me and bully me for not being able to beat her.", I said, with a slight crack in my voice, "Every single time I have to see her, she'd say these horrible things to me that put me down, that made me feel... pathetic..."

I could feel tears starting to from in my eyes as I spoke

"Like... that no matter how hard I try, I'll never, ever, achieve the things I want to achieve.", I said, my voice cracking as I spoke. "I... I don't know what to do!"

"I can't beat her on my own because she's too good! And if I ask for help...", I continued, "then is that even a victory? Am I still just that scared little girl who needs to cry for help???"

"I'm so scared and confused and I don't know why!", I said loudly, "An I just destined to be like this? Am I always going to be this sad, weak... the little nothing she thinks I am?"

By this point, I couldn't hold myself together. I cried harder and harder, as it was the only things I felt I could do. I felt Whimpu's hand on mine, giving it a gentle squeeze to pull me back to reality

"Tari...", Whimpu said, "there's nothing wrong or cowardly about asking for help, at all."

"It is important to be able to do things yourself", he said, "but it's also important not to think that you're alone in any of this, because you're not!"

"You have me, Saiko, Mario, Meggy, and every single one of your friends to help you!", Whimpu said, in a reassuring voice, "And I know they would be ready to help if they knew what was going on."

"All you really have to do is let them in.", he said, as he gave me a soft look into my eyes

I sat there for a moment, letting the comfort in and beginning to feel like myself again

"Thanks for the kind words, Whimpu..." I said, "but the next tournament is in a week. How am I going to stand a chance against Evelyn, even with the others?"

I saw Whimpu put his hand on his chin, thinking for a moment, but then he jumped up

"Tari, stay right here.", he said, with noticeable excitement in his voice, "I have an idea!"

Before I knew it, he blitzed outside of the room. I then sat there for a moment, pondering this new feeling I had felt inside of me. "Is this feeling... for him?" I thought to myself

The Writer's Talking-

It's good to see the birds chirping happily now. I wonder what kind of plan Whimpu has in mind. Find out in the next chapter, as the journey continues... why did I just confuse this for Pokémon?