Pokémon PrismGold

Chapter Nine: "Spark of Empathy"

Mark stared at Slowking with a deep concern, asking curiously. "You keep mentioning a 'shadow' around us. How does a shadow start a war?" Slowking's soft brown eyes drifted up to look at him, before answering coolly. "My power doesn't work like that. I see brief images. Sometimes a voice in the dark. Since you've arrived... a shadow has fallen across my visions. Like an eclipse. I see no light. I see shadows of three birds stretching over the ocean. I see a fourth shadow stretching from Shamouti to clash with the three birds... and I hear the sounds of war. I see colors raining from the sky into a single whirlpool of yellow, blue, red, and black. They mix together and spin into the depths of the ocean. To be lost... Forever." Mark held his wrists tighter around his legs, asking a little hopeful. "Do you see a way that it can be stopped?" Slowking blinked slowly, replying in a calm tone. "No. My future sight doesn't work like that. It simply tells me the strongest outcome. How something reaches that point is a mystery... because there is always a chance that history will change along the journey. It happens so rarely... but the future can be changed."

Pryce let out a small sigh, telling them seriously. "Don't ask anymore. The more you ask, the more you'll try to change things and end up making them happen on your way to avoid it. We have to keep our sights on the present. We should get some sleep." Slowking nodded, lowering its eyes to the floor as it said coolly. "A wise decision. If one only ever looks at the future, they lose sight of the present. You forget to live if you only crave the life you have in the future. Just like if you dwell on events of the past... you become blind to the present." Mark shrugged, he hated cryptic metaphors, but softly said aloud. "I guess..." Slowking smirked, regaling to him sweetly. "Think about it like this. If you're always looking up at the sky, you'll never see what is happening around you. If you're always looking behind you, you'll never see what is coing in front of you. If you chose to keep your head down, you will be blind to everything because you refuse to see and learn. To be happy. One must find a balance. Learn from your past. Head to the future... but don't forget to enjoy the long walk in the present." Slowking winked at him, then went to the water to take a seat.

Pryce laid down by the little campfire, leaning against a Dragonite as it curled up to sleep. The cave was growing too dark to even see the other side of the lake now. Slowking began to hum to himself to a peaceful song that helped relax everyone. The other Dragonite curled up behind Mark. Mark leaned back against Dragonite's warm side with a smile, until he saw Sean sitting alone. Sean was hugging his legs and staring at the Fire Ice with a distant look. Mark shifted a bit, telling Sean nicely. "It's going to get pretty cold... Dragonite is warm and he's long enough that you can-" Sean looked away from both the fire and him, saying in a numb voice. "I'll be fine." Sean flipped up the hood of his damp hoodie, pulling his blue visor down over his eyes. Pryce snuggled into his Dragonite, sleepily grumbling out. "Behave you two. Save your energy. It's going to be a long night for all of us." Mark wrapped his arms up in his team jacket as he tried to fall asleep. He did mange to sleep for a time, until his Dragonite jerked in its sleep. Sitting up, he inhaled and sleepily waited for his Dragonite to settle back down. His Dragonite looked like it was running in its sleep.

Mark stroked the Dragonite's neck, soothing it into calming down. Glancing around groggily, Mark tensed and forced himself to wake up more. Sean was laying by the fire in a huddled ball and shaking violently from the cold. Mark barely felt the cold because the Dragonite generated quite a bit of body heat. Moving away from Dragonite though, he felt the bitter cold more. The cave didn't retain any warmth. It almost felt like the cave was making everything colder. Mark could almost see his breath in the contrast lighting of the slow burning fire. Inching over to Sean, he touched his arm and felt him jerk before leaning away. Sean's clothes were still so damp and cold. Thanks to Dragonite his own clothes were warm and almost completely dry. Taking a deep breath, Mark removed his leather jacket and draped it over Sean. Sean shifted to look up at him, chattering out defensively. "W-w-what are y-y-you doing?!" Mark adjusted his jacket over him, honestly whispering to him. "You need it more than I do."