Linkage

19

Wes stared at Cresselia. "What do you mean we need to talk? I've been trying get answers to solve the problem since the first day."

"I've come to tell you," Cresselia said, ignoring Wes's comments, "that time has been set in stone now. The events that you foresaw in the ritual of time are to become a reality. And Sinnoh will suffer at your hands."

Wes kneeled to the ground. He closed his eyes and saw the entirety of the Canalave City Gym collapse. And he screamed. He was terrified. Cynthia's bond to him was still there, but the feeling of anger was overpowering. His own fear became mixed with the blood-chilling rage that Cynthia gave him and he couldn't control himself.

"Don't tell me that," Wes shouted. "I have worked so long and hard. I've travelled years around the globe just to try and make up for a smidgeon of what I've done. Nothing, and I mean nothing ever gets easier. I can't have blood on my hands again. Especially when the first people I hurt were from my home."

"What are you talking about?" The legendary Pokemon sneered. "Your home is Sinnoh."

"No," said Wes. "my home is Orre."

The Pokemon corrected him. "No, it is you who are mistaken. You were born in Sinnoh. We met in Sinnoh. You are one of Sinnoh's warriors. Sinnoh is your home. Did you not catch this in the ritual of distortion? Your mother had to leave Sinnoh because she was concerned about people abusing you do to your bond with me."

And then Wes couldn't comprehend what was just said. His mother made him leave Sinnoh? Because of him? He would have known her better if she hadn't died in the sands of Orre due to him. No, the reason his mother died was because of this Pokemon in front of him. And Wes felt angry. His body surged with ideas on how to attack. If only this Pokemon had given him the answers. This all would have been stopped!

"Calm yourself," Cresselia ordered. "There is still time to save Sinnoh. You must find your way to the Distortion World. It is there that your foe awaits you."

The Pokemon disappeared but Wes was still screaming inside. He felt Cynthia's hands shake his shoulders and he realized that he had been asleep in the clearing of forest. The anger kept welling inside of him. But then he realized that Cresselia had given him a clue. They had to find the Distortion World.

"Cynthia, we need to go back to Turnback Spring, we need to find the Distortion World," said Wes.

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Cynthia could feel Wes's anger as they arrived at cave with the single, alternative entrance to the Distortion World. He stormed ahead and burned down the camouflage that was put up to make the entrance to the cave look as if it were sealed. She could barely keep up with him as they kept going through. He stormed ahead, lighting the path.

Rooms were burnt to a crisp as Wes plowed through. She felt bad for the poor rock Pokemon that were suffering on his behalf. However, she knew what the anger was about. Through their bond she could read the images going through his mind. Cresselia had made him feel, confused, betrayed, and just sick of everything.

After two hours of going through the spring cave they found nothing. Cynthia recognized this. They weren't going to get through this time because the spring was choosing to turn them back and away from the distortion world. But that didn't stop him. Wes was unreachable. He was angry, determined. And so he went through three times with no luck. That meant 6 hours had been wasted. They weren't getting anywhere so Cynthia pulled him aside.

"Wes," she said, "you need to stop. We aren't getting any closer."

His anger flared at her. "Cresselia said our foe was in the Distortion World. We have to go and do it, no matter what it takes. We have to end this now!"

"You're not thinking rationally Wes! We were barely prepared for the attack on Canalave City! What makes you think we could take on whoever behind this now," She countered.

He looked up at her, the anger turning into weakness. "Because I just need to. I need to defeat whoever made all this happen to me. I need to stop everything. I can't do this anymore Cynthia. I can't be the bad guy anymore."

"You what?" she asked, nervous about what he'd say next.

Wes looked hysterical. "I am bad Cynthia! Ok? I was part of a team of people who stole Pokemon and then handed them over to people who turned those Pokemon into lifeless fighting machines! I was responsible for that. And I tried to fix it, I did, but someone died because I had to fix the mess I began in the first place. So I'm not good. And I can't handle another region losing out because of people like me!"

Cynthia began to attempt a response, but Wes's phone began to ring. She stared at him, unbelieving of what he was saying. The Wes she knew was good, cared about others, and wouldn't be good if he didn't scream about not being good. She just didn't know how to say it to him. But she wished she could.

"We have to go," said Wes. "Champion Hikari's address is going to be in thirty minutes. She's moved it for some reason."

They flew to his apartment in silence. Cynthia watched him carefully as he sat down next to her and watched the television. Wes looked over at his work desk. Cynthia looked at Wes and the tears began to fall. She just couldn't handle it anymore. Until it got worse. When looking at the television screen Cynthia could tell immediately what was wrong with Dawn.

She looked at Wes, who was white. "You see it too, don't you?"

The champion was coated in a black, inky dark aura. Wes began to shake as he stared at Dawn. Cynthia watched Wes closely, who looked as if he were somehow about to break even worse than before. He stood up and walked to the kitchen.

"Dear citizens of Sinnoh," said Dawn with a grim look on her face, "it has come to my attention that we have had a security breach, and that Team Galactic has returned. We ask you to please stay calm and stay indoors while we deal with this matter. If any official staff or pokemon come to your door, please follow their directives. Thank you very much."

Wes, with fear in his voice turned off the television and spoke, "That dark aura, Cynthia, is a shadow aura. Those people that I worked for in Orre are back. Team Ciphr is back, and they're not just making Shadow Pokemon, they're making Shadow Humans."

"Arceus," cried Cynthia. "We saw this moment coming, but were too stupid to understand."

"It is what it is," replied Wes. "We're on the run from now on, do you understand that?"

She took him down on to the bed where she was sitting — Wes's bed—and cried on his shoulder. The frustration just came bawling out. And she knew that he was right.

"I get it," she said.

He nodded. "Good. Find as much survival gear as you can, I'll pack the machinery we need."

"I love you Wes," she said, feeling the rush of emotion that had been governing her all day.

He paused and grit his teeth. "We're going to be okay Cynthia."

There was a knock on the door. The both of them froze and went silent. His Umbreon froze, but Wes's Espeon did not. Whoever was out there heard it, and started to try to knock the door down.

"Cynthia, run!" said Wes, pointing to the fire escape. "I'm going after you."

But the door was busted down.

"Go!"

"Wes!"