To Be Magenta

Chapter 1: Change

Shimmer

I can hear them laughing.

Everyday. They laugh behind my back. My parents always told me it was because they were jealous. But who would be jealous of being different?

I'm always told that, "being a part of the crowd isn't always good," or, "swimming against the tide is better than swimming with it." I guess adults just don't realize that there are times when their advice isn't helpful at all. 

Telling me that it is OK to be different doesn't make it OK. Telling me that I'm special just the way I am doesn't make me that.

I know I can do nothing about it. I was born this way. But I wished people would give me a chance......

I hear the whispers too.

Every night. After I've told mother and father of my horrendous school day and I've been tucked away, furious whispers echo from down the hall. I know they're talking about me, but I wished they would tell me why. When they refused to answer, the decision I made was easier to do.

I ran.

Away from the laughter. Away from the whispers. Away from the fake smiles that turned each conversation another way whenever the topic of their secret night talks popped up. But it was hard to do.

Fear, anger, denial, sadness. They all screamed at me, the emotions pulling me back as I tried to run from my pain. I continued to run as doubt and regret soon took hold, their claws burrowing into my skin.

No longer able to continue, I collapsed, my vision being clouded with dark spots. Whispers belonging to an unknown source flooded my ears as my sense faded into oblivion.

Give me your specialness child. I will not take it by force.

I awoke, startled by the sound of chanting floating towards me. The cavern I was in was underground, I could tell by the rain water seeping the cracks above. A narrow tunnel to my left was slanted slightly upwards.

A way out.

I softly hummed to myself, letting the metallic silver energy coat my body as I attempted to use Quick Attack, hoping the extra speed would get me out of this wretched underground cell faster. The silver blaze surrounding me began to spiral faster and faster, until I took one step forward. In a nanosecond, the shimmering spiral flowed into my body and I took off.

Racing up the stone pathway proved easy, as gracefully avoiding hazardous objects was my specialty. I burst out of the darkness of the stones, and emerged in a beautiful grass meadow.

The grass was on fire. Marigold, yellow, and bright orange leaves covered the landscape, falling off the many now-empty-trees spreading outwards in a wave.

The sky burned as well. The sun blazed red-orange, and the usual blue sky was now a burning, sunset-mango-red that burst across the heavens.

"Amazing, isn't it?"

I turned around to face the voice that had snapped me out of my daze.

"Above you child," the voice spoke, and I obeyed, turning my head skyward.

The largest Pokemon I had ever seen was descending from the burning sky. And he was on fire. The flames of time crackled along his body, and ancient power burned in every crevice of his being. A dry, hot wind flowed through me as the King of Fire beat his long wings, the colors of red, white, and green spreading outwards through the feathers, like a wave.

His long neck arched as he landed, making it seem as if he was bowing towards me. The flames encasing his form began blazing even brighter as he neared, but it wasn't scorching heat radiating off of them.

It was raw power.

Millennia of wisdom and experienced burned in these flames, bright golds and searing reds intertwined with each other in a graceful ballet.

"Do you know who I am, little one?" the huge avian asked. Nothing more than a daze-like breath escaped my lips as I uttered his name.

"Hello, King Ho-Oh." A pleased smile quickly formed in his beak as I spoke his title. Allowing myself to perform a small curtsy, I waited for the sound of his voice, and prepared myself for his commands.

Then, a sound, gurgled and twisted, erupted around me, spilling out of his beak. I stood still in shock, closing my eyes, until the horrible gargling sound stopped. Slowly revealing my optics, I almost screamed as the burning gaze of his eyes came into view.

"What is it that you want child? I can make any wish cone true, in exchange for a price," his voice, cracked by wisdom and age, spoke hungrily, as if I had anything to offer. But his eyes told me they could relieve me of my scorching desire, so I took it.

"I wish, to look like a normal Kirlia." The words had so forcefully left my mouth, I covered it in shock, hoping my sudden bluntness wouldn't be cause for his refusal.

But a laugh, so sinister I couldn't believe it belonged to him, filled the meadow.

"Whatever you wish child," he spoke, his voice having returned to the usual calm. A wicked gleam appeared in his eye before I realized too late to realize that he was using me for some  ulterior motive.

Pain, burning pain raced through my body as he took my difference-ness away from me. I screamed as I felt something detaching itself from my body.

Laughing again spilled into the burning meadow, and I knew one thing and one thing only.

I've made a deal with a psycho.

Once the pain finally stopped, and I could stand without shaking, Ho-Oh was gone, leaving nothing but a bright blue feather. Slowly, I lifted my right arm into my view, afraid of what I would see. But I had no reason to be.

It was green.

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Word Count: 988
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Well, I guess this chapter was kinda intense... Idk.
But it was longer than it was supposed to be so yeah?
But anyway, don't forget to comment. Votes are OK but comments come first!! Bye now!

-Shay