Pokémon PrismGold

Chapter Twenty-Four: "The Fear Of Falling Apart"

Nate walked up to the counter to receive his pokemon. The man scanned his bracelet, then began to type on his computer. Nate felt so torn. His mind and heart were not on the same side. He glanced back at Mark to see him approach Pryce. He was a little surprised to see the old man himself. Part of him actually wanted to see where he had been... but he found himself turning away. He was getting too attached to them. He had what he wanted. If he stayed, they'd only try to talk him out of this more. They were already making him doubt himself. He couldn't risk turning against the life that had taken him in. Turning against the man he loved. They didn't know Giovanni. They only knew his reputation. Struggling to take a deep breath, he took his pokemon when the tray was set in front of him. Attaching them to his belt, he turned to see if they were still there. They weren't. Nodding to himself, he walked to a hallway where they kept lockers for tourists. Allowing them to store souvenirs and whatever they didn't want to carry while exploring for the hours they were here.

Pressing his bracelet to the scanner, his rented locker unlocked, and he removed his black bag. Stuffing his Team Rocket uniform inside it, he hefted it over his shoulder. Adjusting his black baseball hat with the pixel trainer and Pikachu on it, he made his way out into the rain. Every step through the heavy rain was agony as his heart told him to go back. The farther he walked though, the more the weight on his heart lessened. He was used to leaving. In a few hours, he'd forget their names. He kept his head low and walked briskly through the crowds of wondering Mystics. He didn't care to know why they were flocking to the harbor or the town center. It wasn't his business. He didn't care. He had a prize that Giovanni would treasure above all others. The rain soaked through his clothes as he made his way to the outskirts of Ice town. Crossing through the light woods that divided the town from the local village, Nate tried not to make eye contact with them. The brief moment that he looked up; he saw them dressed in straw outfits that looked like the legendary birds.

They were collecting instruments and coaxing their kids to follow them. Now it made sense to him why Mystics and tourists had been gathering up. He'd heard about the locals preforming in the town squares to calm the storms that plagued the island from time to time. It was all superstitious nonsense. He tried to pick up his pace to get past the village quicker, when a hand grabbed his arm from an open leather tent. Nate jerked, his hand going to his belt for Zoey, until he saw the person. It was a man about his age, dressed like Lugia but without his mask. His face was painted like Lugia though. He recognized this man. Tobias. The Shaman's son. He'd be the next Elder of the local tribes after his Mother. The man's eyes clouded over to white as he stared at him. Nate tried to pull his arm back, but Tobias had a firm grip on him as he said in a voice that was a distorted mix of many others. "Give him what he wants. Help bridge the gap between pokemon and man. But save Lugia. If Lugia falls... the Orange Islands will die. Heal the heart of the ocean, Nate. I choose you. Seek the fire crystal. Fill it with your Determination."

Nate blinked blankly, asking Tobias perplexed. "What? How do you know my name?" Tobias moved closer, telling him in a rushed voice full of fear. "Determination. Wisdom. Empathy. Three give life to the one. Three emotions. Three heroes. Harmony. Lugia needs you. So, I choose you to be Determination, Nate." Nate grabbed Tobias's arm, asking a bit defensively. "What are you talking about?" From the center of the village, the Elder woman called out. "Tobias? Let's go! We need to hurry." Nate's heart dropped to the pit of his stomach when Tobias left another tent across the way. Holding up an instrument, Tobias told his mother coolly. "I'm coming. Just had to remember where I put this." Nate's hand on the arm of the person touching him tightened. If Tobias was over there... Who the fuck was he talking too?! Turning back to the person, he jumped. They just seemed to vanish before his eyes. Where the man had been was a ghostly ripple in the air that flew off toward the treetops. He thought he was seeing things... but he swore he saw a small pink body reappear before vanishing into the dripping green leaves.