Into The Unown

7 minutes

In the stories, they had always asked to walked towards the light. But if he walked, Gary knew it was over. He would never see Ash, Serena and Dawn again... especially not Dawn.

Walking towards the light meant giving up; it meant breaking every promise he'd ever made—to Ash, Serena, and Dawn. Especially Dawn.

And also, walking towards the light meant walking towards him.

He didn't know who stood in front of him. Well, he knew who he was. Gary had seen him so many times, in different stages of his life. It was hard to figure out which face he wore.

"We meet again,"

Gary sighed. Luke was standing at the edge of a cliff, his legs dangling by the edge as he stared into the light. He turned, smiling when he saw Gary approach him.

"Is this a vision?" Gary asked, settling down.

"No, I am here in front of you, in form."

Luke looked the same, except for the dark curls which hung loose around his face. Gary squirmed his eyes. He didn't know whether it was the light which dyed his hair in a bluish hue, or had he actually coloured them.

"The last I saw of you, you were dying." Gary questioned.

Luke hummed as he stared into the abyss at his foot. "Universe works in mysterious ways, Gary. Sometimes... sometimes people surprise you and Arceus gives you second chances."

Yeah, right, Gary wasn't buying any of this. "I know I'm dead," he said, "are you going to take me to the light? Is that way you're here?"

Luke didn't answer. "The aura bracelets you wore around your wrist were made from ancient unowns. The design—James's design—allowed you to harvest the power of their dimension—" He stared into his eyes, "—at a price."

Gary looked at his wrist. The bracelet was gone now, broken and shattered. There was a mark where the bracelet had been, a dark line crowed on the sides by charred flesh where the bracelet has fused with his skin.

"There was a reason James never shared his design," Luke continued, "it was flawed. Borrowed magic always comes at a price. You paid yours with life."

The brunet ran his fingers through his hair, "Professor Hale said that Aura could not be learnt, that it was a skill which could only be passed down. We didn't have anyone to teach it to us. We made the best we could."

"Your best wasn't enough. If only... it only—"

"If only what? If only I'd agreed to be your pet you'd have taught me?"

"You would never have been my pet, Gary. You would have been the leader—the next generation of Oak's would have been exceptional. If only, if only you'd—"

It happened in an instant—Gary finally had enough. He propped himself on his knees, his hands grabbing the collar of the man beside him, dangling towards the edge of the abyss.

"I would rather accept death then be like you. You... you... you—" Gary closed his eyes, the memories played on repeat. "—you're a liar! I would die then be like you."

Luke's face showed no remorse. "I did what I had to."

He shook him, "No! You... you gave up on her!" Gary remembered the long talks, the novels, the nicknames. "You gave up on Xenos! You lied and told her that Udon killed Park! But it was you!"

Luke placed a hand on Gary's arms, white line shone underneath his palms. When he lifted it, the charred flesh on his skin was healed.

"What did you—"

"You cannot save her." Luke said.

"What do you mean?"

"You cannot save Serena, Gary." Light flashed from his palms once more. "Just like I couldn't save Xenos. Eventually, eventually you will realise Gary that lineage matters more than friendships."

Gary let go of him and took a step back. "It's of no use, I'm dead."

"Walk toward the light, Gary. And remember, lineage matters more than friendships."

Gary walked towards the light. And in doing so, he found him.

"What are you doing here?"