Light The Way

Motivation Trio

Volt sat on the balcony of his room, gently petting his Marrep's head as it slept, amber eyes focused on the stars. He had been on the Isle for just over a year now, and he had turned nine in that time, he had gotten used to his new routine in the dojo. He would get up with the sun and would train with his pokémon, usally just battling between themselves. Around lunch one of the little rascals would do something that would turn training into rolling on the ground and playing, not that Volt minded, he had never had friends before.

He frowned and his hands started to shake, his chest rising just that little bit faster. The dark night sky flashed red and he screwed his eyes shut shaking his head, a shallow breath escaping his lips. Mareep bleated in confusion and moved to nuzzle under his chin. Volt grabbed onto the pokémon tightly and fought to catch his breath, feeling like a Boltund had runaway with it. Slowly he calmed down and looked at the pokémon in his arms.

"Thanks Mareep," he said softly. The pokémon sleepily smiled and fell back into dreamland. He giggled and pet it again, the stars twinkling and lighting his eyes like the sun. His face turned soft and his eyes held warmth as he looked at the small sheep in his lap.

Usally they would eat dinner and go to bed after more training, but Volt had trouble sleeping, which is why he was sitting out on the balcony. He never had the chance to sleep a full night back home, and he hadn't quite yet broke the habit of staying awake, waiting. He sucked in a breath and tried to stay away from that train of thought.

Master Mustard had been so helpful to him, giving him a safe space and a mentor. Volt smiled, he remembered how long it had taken him to fully warm up to the man. It had been during a battle between his Kubfu and one of Mustard's Urushifu. The younger duo had lost, and both were downtrodden, but the man had laughed and given them advice.

"You may have lost this battle, but use that to fuel your drive to get stronger, you can only go further from here," the man had said it with such confidence, and both had taken it to heart.

Volt wanted to be stronger, he didn't want to be weak anymore. He could still feel the hands on him, like brands holding him back, chains he hadn't been able to break. The stains on his soul and body, marks that would never leave, a story of who he was and still is. Amber eyes became alight with determination as he looked at the moon.

"I can only go further from here," he whispered to himself, letting the words wash over him. He sighed and looked back into his room, he knew he needed his sleep, Master Mustard was getting three new students, and he wanted Volt to meet them. "Come on lazy bum, into bed we go," he said to his Mareep as he picked him up, bringing him into the room and to the bed to sleep. The sheep merely snored and ignored him, which made Volt roll his eyes.

He sat on the bed and laid back, knowing tomorrow he would need to be up bright and early. He reluctantly closed his eyes and drifted into a dark sleep, his body restless.

Volt stared into the swirling darkness that surround him, red lightning flowing through the black clouds. He looked down and saw crimson blood was raising higher and covering him in thick waist deep liquid. He gasped and tried to move but hands shot up from the blood and grabbed his wrists, burning his arms like hot manacles. He tried to fight, but a skeletal hand grabbed his head and pulled his skull back.

His eyes widened as a dragon made of bone and blood hovered above him, salivating. He went to scream, but the dragon moved faster, diving down and swallowing him whole, the insides cold and constricting.

Volt jerked awake with a silent gasp, his own hands having moved. One was clasping over his mouth, the other had clamped around his neck tightly. He shakily removed his hands and took slow breaths. He looked to his side and saw Mareep was still asleep, and that the sun had slowly started to rise. He knew he wouldn't be able to get back to sleep so he carefully got out of bed.