Pokémon XYZ: Life, Death, Order, and Chaos (book 2 of the HBoD series)

Chapter 40: Values of a Trainer

 "Where's the Water starter?"

I didn't know where I was.

"Well, we have him, but I don't think you two would want him."

I felt empty.

A Froakie appeared on the table. However, it wasn't a normal Froakie. His yellow eyes were paler than regular Froakie eyes and his blue skin was so pale. He also didn't look happy. More depressed actually.

I tried not to think.

"What's wrong with him?"

"Stop," I pleaded quietly.

Froakie seemed to look more sad after hearing that, but I'm pretty sure I was the only one to notice.

"Please," tears pooled beneath my eyes, falling down the side of my face. "Please stop."

I was lying on the ground, eyes staring up at the night sky. Stars twinkled above me, the moon providing a dim glow on the field I was laying in. 

"Why did I push him?" I gritted my teeth, the salty taste of my own tears in my throat. "I already knew he was going to die, so why did I push him?"

Fresh tears welled up, refusing to be pushed back. 

"All of you," I thought of my Pokemon. "I failed all of you. The way I was behaving after the battle with Alain, why did I let his words get to me!?"

I felt the wind pick up and a sweet scent came with it. I blinked. The stars were moving. Tiny little dots of light, floating around, dancing in the sky. Then they began to come closer, down to Earth.

I sat up, blinking away tears. I was still in Laverre City, but it was different. The sky was turning a hue of black, pink, and purple. It was a soothing combination. Strange colorful flowers were growing rapidly all around me across the field of grass, their scent alluring. A thrumming sensation was coursing through me, a total of 13 times. I felt my head turn to look at the huge tree, not that far away, and at the clock carved into it. Both hands had stopped at the number 13 and weren't moving. 

I began hearing strange cries around me and I looked to see different kinds of Fairy type Pokemon coming out to play. Spritzee flew over my head, a Florges to my left, creating flowers for the Flabebe around her. There were even a couple I didn't recognize, one of them who looked like a witch who was staring at me from afar.

I stood, the amazing sight before me temporarily distracting me from my grief. Route 14 was known for it's swamp and creepy bare trees, but now it was alive. Fall leaves decorated the limbs and the water glistened with lights even this far away.

"What is this?" I breathed. 

"Ah," a sweet voice spoke. "So you're here as well."

I turned around to see a woman in a pink kimono-dress sitting among the flowers, letting a Ralts, Snubbull, and a Pokemon that looked like a Ponyta, but not on fire, play around her.

"Aren't they just the sweetest," Valerie gave a small laugh of joy, deep eyes twinkling. "Fairies are just truly the cutest."

The Snubbull gave short barks at Valerie and the Fairy gym leader responded in kind. The Snubbull seemed happy at the response she gave and ran off.

"You can speak to Pokemon?" I asked, dumbfounded.

"Only Fairies," Valerie swept up the Ralts on her large sleeves and brought their heads together, both touching each other gently. "For as long as I have been alive, I have been able to understand them. They have always been by my side, always caring for me, and in turn, I cared for them."