Story Notes:
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. The following story should not be read by anyone.
Like a Thousand Miles
THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE THE MORNING AFTER THE EVENTS OF CHAPTER FOUR.
----------
We'd just finished packing up, and we were sitting next to the embers trying to relax before finally actually setting out to go anywhere. I was extremely tired, and I was still feeling a little groggy from the previous night's endeavors.
Even though my fingers were on the strings of my guitar, everything felt very neutral and distant. I'd considered asking Gard if we should rest for a few more hours. I figured I'd act like a bard and make her laugh until she was convinced. I played a simple chord scale:
"Gardevoir, Gardevoir.
Could we stay and rest,
For a few hours more?"
I paused, hoping for a straightforward answer, but she just smiled and giggled. I played another scale.
"But m'lady, my dear,
You have no caffeine!
Of the bitches there are,
Your head will ache like their queen."
She laughed again. One more quick rhyme. I checked my watch. It was 8:45. Good.
"If we can stay,
And sleep until ten,
I swear on my life,
...I'll be you best friend!"
She giggled at my schoolboy antics before contemplating a serious answer.
"Okay," she said after a few moments. "But I have a question for you."
"What is it?"
"Should I feel guilty about what happened last night," she flipped her hair. "Or are you okay with it?"
She was in my head, and I knew it, but I didn't care. It just made lying a futile effort, so I told her the truth.
"Frankly, Gard," I said, putting on my 'serious face.' "It may have felt better to you, but I can hardly remember it, and I"m tired as hell today. Your little secret ingredient is why we have to rest more right now."
She looked at the ground, disappointed and guilty. "I won't ever do it again."
"Good," I replied, allowing my facial expression to lighten up a little bit. "I'm more upset about it because I can't remember it that well. You can understand why that would disappoint me."
She smiled a little. I could feel a little bit of faded joy, or maybe thankfulness coming from her. It was like feeling my other half. We'd grown so close together over the past few months that I could almost always feel her emotions. It was a part of me.
I closed my eyes and played another tune. I'd heard this one on the radio a while back and memorized it. Gard leaned over onto my shoulder.
"...And now I know,
The only compass that I need,
Oh, is the one...
That leads back to you..."
She leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. I got a little louder.
"And I know, the burning blisters on my feet will calm...
So hold me, as I'm close to the floor...
Because in the warmth of your arms I'll stay,
Off of the radar and out of harm's way..."
I stopped playing and relaxed. I needed to sleep, and Gard's breath on my neck was pushing me into the calm abyss of unconsciousness.
I awoke at 10:45. It was well past what I'd gotten Gard to agree to, but I still felt her on my shoulder, fast asleep.
I swept my hand over her arm to wake her up. We needed to leave soon, if not now.
She squeezed my arm and then got up and stretched. We picked up our bags and got ready to leave.
Not five minutes onto the trail, and I had to piss. I told Gard and left the path while she waited for me.
Behind some trees nearby, I relieved myself and zipped up. Something loud and obnoxious was falling from the top of the tree toward me. I'd figured it was a Pidgey, or a Spearow, or even a Heracross. I couldn't have possibly been more wrong.
I saw a flash of yellow before feeling a sharp pain in my stomach. It took me a few moments to register that I'd just been attacked by a Beedrill, and that I needed to get to a hospital before paralysis set in.
I turned to the trail to run, but the mind-shattering pain in my upper torso wouldn't allow it. I limped instead. Barely lifting my legs from the ground, I started to waddle my way back to Gard. Halfway through the ten-yard journey, I fell over onto my back.
"Aw, shit." I cursed. Things weren't looking very good at all, I wanted to relax today. "Gard, a Beedrill got me... Help me out, please..."
I heard her shout something at me, as a reply. Like, 'I'm coming.' But I heard her say something else right afterward, it felt like a warning.
My idle thoughts were answered by another flash of yellow, and a blow to my stomach. I watched as I was impaled by the pissed-off animal. Things started to slow down... The paralysis was setting in. The Beedrill was glowing purple... Good. Gard would save me. It shot face-first into the ground, knocked out in an instant.
'That's my girl,' I'd thought. 'Such a fighter...'
I felt her sorrow and worry as she began to shout and cry. I couldn't understand what she was saying. I started to go unconscious, my only sense being that of the mind.
I felt her guilt, her depression, her anger, her tears... I felt a glimmer of hope, then doubt. I felt a choice, an important choice being made. Then I woke up to a world I didn't want to be in. Something was wrong with this world. I wasn't sure what, but I didn't want to be awake anymore. I wanted to die, after I saw her.
Still. Unmoving. She was laying on her back, next to me in the dirt, two deep wounds in her stomach.
I knew exactly what she'd done. She'd transferred the wound to herself. Needless to say, I was not happy. I felt only depression. I knelt down next to her and listened for breathing.
Nothing.
My heart raced and tears filled my eyes, fogging and blurring my vision. I was all alone now. I slowly reached over and grabbed my lover's hand... My fingers grazed her shoulder, then her elbow, then her wrist... And hope exploded into my soul.
She had a pulse. She wasn't dead yet, but she was close. I had to get her to a Pokemon Center, and fast. I picked her up, my right arm under her limp legs and my left hand supporting her head. Nothing mattered but her. I started running. Every second counted.
I'd been sprinting for eight seconds and I was already pissed that my five-minute journey wasn't already concluded. I was outraged.
Every instant felt like a thousand years, filled with unbearable torment. Every inch I had between Gard and the Center felt like fifty miles of hot coals and desert sand. My vision was blurred with tears of worry. My hands were cold and sweaty. My pulse was racing like a Rapidash's gallop. There were a dozen trumpets blaring at me in each ear. My nostrils burned. My throat stung. My legs felt as though they'd had metal rods driven into them from the foot up. My heart...
My heart was missing a crucial piece. She'd become part of me, a piece of me during our time together. She was me. I was her. Without her, I just couldn't be. The Jack that the world had known had ceased to exist at that point.
If you can say that there was a bright side to the situation, there was. Nature was apologizing for trying to kill her. The dirt beneath me was merely a device presented by the planet. Something I could use to propel myself forward with each step. The air was something the plants gave me so that I could breathe harder. The sun lit my way to the town, which was at this point coming into view.
Part of me was excited. Not in the good way. Excited as in nauseated. As I made my way down the street, the Pokemon Center came into view. I wondered if she was going to survive, because frankly, if she couldn't survive this, I wouldn't be able to either.
I kicked open the door, greeted by faces of surprise and worry. I fell to my knees, half of my life cradled in my arms. As she was taken from me, I saw a face on the Nurse I'd wished I hadn't seen. Doubt. Worry and doubt.
----------Chapter End Notes:Pokedex entry from Pokemon Emerald:
"Gardevoir, the Embrace Pokemon. It apparently does not feel the pull of gravity because it supports itself with psychic power. It will give its life to protect its trainer.
----------
We'd just finished packing up, and we were sitting next to the embers trying to relax before finally actually setting out to go anywhere. I was extremely tired, and I was still feeling a little groggy from the previous night's endeavors.
Even though my fingers were on the strings of my guitar, everything felt very neutral and distant. I'd considered asking Gard if we should rest for a few more hours. I figured I'd act like a bard and make her laugh until she was convinced. I played a simple chord scale:
"Gardevoir, Gardevoir.
Could we stay and rest,
For a few hours more?"
I paused, hoping for a straightforward answer, but she just smiled and giggled. I played another scale.
"But m'lady, my dear,
You have no caffeine!
Of the bitches there are,
Your head will ache like their queen."
She laughed again. One more quick rhyme. I checked my watch. It was 8:45. Good.
"If we can stay,
And sleep until ten,
I swear on my life,
...I'll be you best friend!"
She giggled at my schoolboy antics before contemplating a serious answer.
"Okay," she said after a few moments. "But I have a question for you."
"What is it?"
"Should I feel guilty about what happened last night," she flipped her hair. "Or are you okay with it?"
She was in my head, and I knew it, but I didn't care. It just made lying a futile effort, so I told her the truth.
"Frankly, Gard," I said, putting on my 'serious face.' "It may have felt better to you, but I can hardly remember it, and I"m tired as hell today. Your little secret ingredient is why we have to rest more right now."
She looked at the ground, disappointed and guilty. "I won't ever do it again."
"Good," I replied, allowing my facial expression to lighten up a little bit. "I'm more upset about it because I can't remember it that well. You can understand why that would disappoint me."
She smiled a little. I could feel a little bit of faded joy, or maybe thankfulness coming from her. It was like feeling my other half. We'd grown so close together over the past few months that I could almost always feel her emotions. It was a part of me.
I closed my eyes and played another tune. I'd heard this one on the radio a while back and memorized it. Gard leaned over onto my shoulder.
"...And now I know,
The only compass that I need,
Oh, is the one...
That leads back to you..."
She leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. I got a little louder.
"And I know, the burning blisters on my feet will calm...
So hold me, as I'm close to the floor...
Because in the warmth of your arms I'll stay,
Off of the radar and out of harm's way..."
I stopped playing and relaxed. I needed to sleep, and Gard's breath on my neck was pushing me into the calm abyss of unconsciousness.
I awoke at 10:45. It was well past what I'd gotten Gard to agree to, but I still felt her on my shoulder, fast asleep.
I swept my hand over her arm to wake her up. We needed to leave soon, if not now.
She squeezed my arm and then got up and stretched. We picked up our bags and got ready to leave.
Not five minutes onto the trail, and I had to piss. I told Gard and left the path while she waited for me.
Behind some trees nearby, I relieved myself and zipped up. Something loud and obnoxious was falling from the top of the tree toward me. I'd figured it was a Pidgey, or a Spearow, or even a Heracross. I couldn't have possibly been more wrong.
I saw a flash of yellow before feeling a sharp pain in my stomach. It took me a few moments to register that I'd just been attacked by a Beedrill, and that I needed to get to a hospital before paralysis set in.
I turned to the trail to run, but the mind-shattering pain in my upper torso wouldn't allow it. I limped instead. Barely lifting my legs from the ground, I started to waddle my way back to Gard. Halfway through the ten-yard journey, I fell over onto my back.
"Aw, shit." I cursed. Things weren't looking very good at all, I wanted to relax today. "Gard, a Beedrill got me... Help me out, please..."
I heard her shout something at me, as a reply. Like, 'I'm coming.' But I heard her say something else right afterward, it felt like a warning.
My idle thoughts were answered by another flash of yellow, and a blow to my stomach. I watched as I was impaled by the pissed-off animal. Things started to slow down... The paralysis was setting in. The Beedrill was glowing purple... Good. Gard would save me. It shot face-first into the ground, knocked out in an instant.
'That's my girl,' I'd thought. 'Such a fighter...'
I felt her sorrow and worry as she began to shout and cry. I couldn't understand what she was saying. I started to go unconscious, my only sense being that of the mind.
I felt her guilt, her depression, her anger, her tears... I felt a glimmer of hope, then doubt. I felt a choice, an important choice being made. Then I woke up to a world I didn't want to be in. Something was wrong with this world. I wasn't sure what, but I didn't want to be awake anymore. I wanted to die, after I saw her.
Still. Unmoving. She was laying on her back, next to me in the dirt, two deep wounds in her stomach.
I knew exactly what she'd done. She'd transferred the wound to herself. Needless to say, I was not happy. I felt only depression. I knelt down next to her and listened for breathing.
Nothing.
My heart raced and tears filled my eyes, fogging and blurring my vision. I was all alone now. I slowly reached over and grabbed my lover's hand... My fingers grazed her shoulder, then her elbow, then her wrist... And hope exploded into my soul.
She had a pulse. She wasn't dead yet, but she was close. I had to get her to a Pokemon Center, and fast. I picked her up, my right arm under her limp legs and my left hand supporting her head. Nothing mattered but her. I started running. Every second counted.
I'd been sprinting for eight seconds and I was already pissed that my five-minute journey wasn't already concluded. I was outraged.
Every instant felt like a thousand years, filled with unbearable torment. Every inch I had between Gard and the Center felt like fifty miles of hot coals and desert sand. My vision was blurred with tears of worry. My hands were cold and sweaty. My pulse was racing like a Rapidash's gallop. There were a dozen trumpets blaring at me in each ear. My nostrils burned. My throat stung. My legs felt as though they'd had metal rods driven into them from the foot up. My heart...
My heart was missing a crucial piece. She'd become part of me, a piece of me during our time together. She was me. I was her. Without her, I just couldn't be. The Jack that the world had known had ceased to exist at that point.
If you can say that there was a bright side to the situation, there was. Nature was apologizing for trying to kill her. The dirt beneath me was merely a device presented by the planet. Something I could use to propel myself forward with each step. The air was something the plants gave me so that I could breathe harder. The sun lit my way to the town, which was at this point coming into view.
Part of me was excited. Not in the good way. Excited as in nauseated. As I made my way down the street, the Pokemon Center came into view. I wondered if she was going to survive, because frankly, if she couldn't survive this, I wouldn't be able to either.
I kicked open the door, greeted by faces of surprise and worry. I fell to my knees, half of my life cradled in my arms. As she was taken from me, I saw a face on the Nurse I'd wished I hadn't seen. Doubt. Worry and doubt.
----------Chapter End Notes:Pokedex entry from Pokemon Emerald:
"Gardevoir, the Embrace Pokemon. It apparently does not feel the pull of gravity because it supports itself with psychic power. It will give its life to protect its trainer.