Know To Understand.

Chapter 17: Our odds.



"You what!" I said stepping closer to her.

Tonya stepped in front of me and held her hand out to block my path. "Rebecca, you had a dream didn't you?"

"A dream?" Brandon asked.

Tonya placed her hand on top of Rebecca's head and stroked it gently. "Only a rare few psychics can possess the ability to look into the future. And without that accursed suit she has just now started to awaken her true potential, but right now Rebecca, remember what happened. Your ability has only awakened so you were only able to see what could not be seen. What you were looking at was the present, but over time till become the future."

"So what I saw..." Rebecca muttered to herself.

"Was something that was happening "then" rather than later? Yes, but that's a good a lead as any right now. Tell us Rebecca what you saw."

Rebecca looked nervously at everyone and then stole a quick few glances my way. The way she was acting was as if she didn't want to talk about what happened. If this was dealing with any other matter or anything else, I wouldn't care less. But we're talking about Ferali and I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I were to allow something to harm him.

"Rebecca!" I yelled.

"Oi!" Tristan retorted. "Everyone calm down and let the Princesse speak."

She could only let out a sigh of defeat. "In my dream I had become my brother..." Such pain Rebecca whispered loudly. "When I was looking through his eyes I actually saw him talking with someone..."

Okay now she was beginning to get on my nerves with this whole timorousness. I wasn't thinking about doing anything to her just listen to what she had to say so we could just hop to it and rescue Ferali. But she's taking so long I don't think my patience can only handle so much.

I was getting ready to say something when suddenly something pressed against my leg and something else gently grabbed me on the shoulder. Looking down I could see the serious face of Tristan looking up at me shaking his head. Then looking over my shoulder I saw Brian, giving me a concerned look before adding a simple nod.

I calmed down and ushered her to move along with the story.

"Everyone I saw my brother talking with Dr. Shine..."

There was a sudden gasp that came from the last person I wanted to hear it come from...Tonya. I was really hoping that she got something caught in her throat or something. I didn't want to hear her being shocked about anything. Not now of all times.

"That doesn't make any sense! We are some of the most talented Psychics in the world, damn what I just said, even if someone is a master of darkness there is no way they would be able to slip by my detection abilities without leaving the faintest piece of evidence that they were even here. Even with those Lugia wings' or any other kind abilities, Maximillion would never be able sneak by me." She put her hand to her head as if trying to come up with some sort of logical explanation for what happened.

"Does it really matter Ms. Tonya? Shouldn't we just go after him anyway?" Brandon asked.

"Yes Brandon, it does. Think about it, there won't be any real way for us to detect him."

"What if we use our suits to keep a lock on him when we fight?"

"You do know that the suits you two are using are based on the suits he invented right? Not only could that he easily reconfigure his suit as to where he doesn't appear on anything that you guys can use to find him. But with the wings coupled with the power he gained from other Pokémons he will detect the two of you in no time flat." She stepped back to look at the four of us. "You guys, I won't beat around the bush when I say that my husband was a perfectionist and always had a plan for everything. Now that I look at the four of you, he has a counter for what you all specialize in sadly."

There was a mystifying tang floating around that left a taste of death in my mouth whenever inhaled. Basically what she was saying that there was no way for us to defeat him, there was no way for us to get around anything he threw our way. He would go on to destroy the world and there wasn't a damn thing we could do about it.

"Mom, what about our Pokémon? Surely with their help we could do something to catch him off guard." Rebecca placed a hand on to her chest. "To right the wrongs that I've done, I'm willing to give my life, to make amends."

Suddenly Brandon reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder and shook his head. "Not on my watch you're not. That goes for anyone else here. I may not be the best Pokémon trainer, the best fighter, the best friend, hell, the best brother in the world, but I can assure you one thing Ms. Tonya."

Everyone remained silent as he put forth his resolve. The look in his eye was never there before, but when Rebecca spoke out a look of determination formed in his eye.

"I will bring everyone back home."

With those words said a small light of hope rained down on us. It wasn't that naïve kind of hope either but the hope that with enough planning and skill we will emerge victorious.

"Geez make everyone look bad why don't you," Brian said. He was rubbing the back of his head when he added, "I'm sorry for all the crap I put everyone through, and if anyone here should be apologizing about how crappy they are, it's me."

Brian too then reached up and placed a hand on Rebecca's shoulder. Tonya and everyone else turned their attention to me. They wanted me to say something too, but the words just didn't seem to be there. I mean I wanted to be nice and say how much I really wanted to protect everyone but I just couldn't find any words or more importantly I couldn't find the feelings. I want to say that I have a deep emotional connection with everyone but in reality I don't.

"Krystal, remember what I said earlier about the love within you. I know that you out of everyone else here don't want anything to happen to anyone here. You don't have to say it Krystal, but know that we all stand here with you not as just allies for a common goal...but as friends." Tonya said with a teary smile.

"I couldn't have said that any better Regine, aye you be a good a friend as anyone else." Tristan spoke up.

Suddenly Brian grabbed me by the hand and nodded to me with a confident smile. Tonya grabbed me by the other and offered the same smile.

I could do nothing but the same and stare at the ground. When I looked back up everyone was still looking at me with smiles. I could see that they were waiting for me to do something.

"Let's not only find Ferali, but put an end to this mess!"



We spent the rest of the day preparing for the long trek after Ferali. We knew he would inevitably lead us to Dr. Shine. Night was upon us and all was silent saved for the gentle wind that whispered a faint sound of the darkness.

I was sitting inside the bed that Ferali was sleeping in when I last saw him, next to the large hole that I made. I was thinking, thinking about all of the good times we've had together.

Now that I was putting some actual thought into it. I couldn't think of any reason as to why Dr. Shine just didn't kill him right there. What is the point in having Ferali follow him? What did Dr. Shine say to him to completely abandon the idea of killing his father?

Rebecca said that Ferali was seen walking away with Dr. Shine. So I assume that he went away on his own volition. I was doing my best to rule out everything that could possibly be true, but this sudden turn of events didn't make sense, so I couldn't check anything off. I didn't know what he was thinking I couldn't tell why my beloved was acting this way.

Normally Ferali is pretty easy to read as he would always do his best hold in his emotions but after being with him for so long and loving him the way I did...I could tell.

Suddenly someone rounded the corner...well what could have been a corner if there was still a wall up shielding me from the outside. Basically I was sitting in Ferali's bed outside looking at the moon, but I digress.

When the faint silvery outline reflected its way into the moon so that I could make a clear view of whom it was I relaxed and went back to looking at the moon.

"Why are you here?" Brian asked.

"Because tonight's moon is beautiful and it brings me peace." I replied.

I heard him stepping closer to me to the point where he sat in the bed. I looked down at him to see that he was laid splayed out with his legs draped over its side. I was sitting at the head of the bed myself so it really didn't bother me none.

"That's not what I meant you know," He said with certain carelessness about his voice. "I'll say again, Krystal, why are you here?"

It took a moment of silence but I soon realized what he was talking about. What he wanted to know was that why am I out here: in the wilderness looking for a lover who is now a Pokémon, facing certain death at the hands of a tyrannical mad man, when I could be living a privileged life with my father.

"I don't know, now that I think about it. The normal person would have quitted while they were ahead a long time ago. Hell a normal person wouldn't be in this situation. A normal person would have been at father's side until he died." I looked at Brian and shook my head with a sigh. "I can't do that Brian. Father planned to have me killed once you and Brandon were old enough to take my place as beneficiaries."

He suddenly sat up and looked at me questionably, "father would never-"

"You don't know what that man's capable of until you've been on the other end of the shit stick. Did he even tell you why you are even doing this?" I asked.

"Yeah he said that you were running around amuck with your powers. We were told to just bring you back and to assist Ms. Tonya. He never really tell us "why" only that we are to "do", but you know that more than anyone else."

I sighed dejectedly as I shunned the thought. Father was a prick if there was ever one to be born on this planet. I think it was him I must have gotten my antisocial nature from. Because when a man is that rich he tends to have many enemies, and close himself off to the rest of the world. To think for the last ten years I've been completely following in his footsteps.

"No, the real reason why father wanted you to come here was to kill Dr. Shine mostly as a first priority, and then bring me home most likely bruised and battered so that I won't be able to resist him or his science team when they begin to experiment on me." I said rather nonchalantly.

It was him this time to sigh dejectedly. "You know that doesn't really seem to surprise me."

"Really now?"

"Yeah, father has done some questionable things in the past. I never once questioned him or his motives, but lately he's been acting rather...ambitious." He said looking at me with all seriousness.

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing you need to worry yourself with right now, as it stands we have a lot on our plate. And if tomorrow goes well I'll let you in on father." He said with a yawn. "Anyway that's all I wanted to know and to tell you about how much I respect you."

When he said that I jumped a little in embarrassment a blush quickly spread across my face. I looked away from him to conceal the blush as it would break my character.

"Why would you say something like that?"

The blush wasn't leaving my face as butterflies entered my stomach. There was only one other time I actually felt this way and that's when I first met Max...oh Max. I have to say that this is a pleasant and uncomfortable feeling that caught me completely off guard.

"Well..." he said sitting up looking away from me. "I-it's nothing, don't worry about it."

He suddenly stood up and began to walk away from me. Now I know that he was hiding something, but I couldn't understand what it was. My mind was running in circles as I didn't know what do or what to say next. Something inside of me was telling me to stop him, but something else was telling me that if I were to stop him trouble will follow. I don't like to leave unfinished business.

Quickly jumping over the bed I rushed to the door and quickly grabbed Brian by the arm. He stopped dead in his tracks just as he was about to leave. He didn't turn to face me, but instead continued to look outside of the room.

"Brian, look at me." I said wanting him to turn and face me. But he never looked back...instead I could feel his hand start to tremble. "Brian..."

"Krystal, I..." He said finally turning to look at me. "I don't know what it is about you, but you're not like other girls."

Seriously...that what was on his mind? Does he really think I need him to tell me that? I'm constantly reminded of that little fact every freaking day I wake up, every time I go into a city, every time I get into a fight. That is a truth that I can never really escape and he bringing it up like that as if it something that mystifying about me. He must really be confused then.

"No, I can tell on your face that you think I'm trying to insult you. Krystal, when you and I had that little sparring match out in the woods. I can't seem to get you off of my mind. If you want to know the truth, I'm completely envious of Max."

Now I seriously had no idea where he was going with this. I had let go of his hand and began to back away from him until I tripped and sat in the bed.

"Why do you envy Max? Trust me when I say it's actually the other way around, Brian." I then thought of some of the reasons why Max would envy him instead. "You have your own body for one thing, father isn't trying to kill you, your brother isn't trying to kill you, and you're handsome and young. I'm more than sure he'd kill to be in your position."

"Yeah you're right I do have all of those things, but Max still beat me in one category." He said slowly approaching me.

I could only shake my head as I didn't know what he was referring to, but my stomach butterfly knot felt like it would burst in my stomach at any moment.

"He has you." He said leaning in closer to me.

Something inside of me knew that he was going to confess his feelings to me, but part of me wanted to be naïve and deny the truth. I would be lying to if I said that I didn't feel anything for him. But I love Max...

My heart rate increased as if it were trying to tell me something was wrong that and that this wasn't right. His face constantly inched closer to mine and I couldn't...no I didn't want to resist. My mind was going blank, and then it happened...

His lips met mine my brain went straight into cloud nine. Everything was hazy as the room started to spin, I didn't know what to think or feel. That's when the knot in my stomach snapped, and with it my consciousness along with it.



I awakened to find a bright and sunny day in an empty room. I wasn't in the room that I fainted in last night, but in my room which was right across the hall way. My head was pounding as if I just walked into a crowded park. I massaged my temple and rubbed my eyes. I tried remembering what happening last night and if any of it were real.

I didn't want to believe that I allowed Brian to get so close to me...but in my heart I feel that he's a kindred spirit. He's been through as much as I have from I've been hearing. Wanting a better life for him and his brother, while putting up with my parents, can take its toll on anyone, but he persevered through it all. He even became the test subject for that suit he's wearing. It's something I would never agree to doing, because he can't hide his true emotions nor can he ever tell a lie.

I guess that would make sense for last night's kiss. Thinking back to when he was making his way out of the room. He wanted to avoid his feelings but I stopped him...and in a way I forced him to confess his feelings to me.

That shouldn't have happened, but...it did.

Getting dressed it would seem that the kiss was the only thing on my mind. Damn and I know Rebecca and Tonya will love to do some mind probing. That's if they haven't already gotten to Brian first. But still I think I'm going to have to talk to him about it. I mean it wasn't his fault for it and I'll accept that, but my heart still belongs to Max right now and I don't want to give up on him.

I feel that a part of me knew that what I was doing when I stopped him...

Shaking my head I quickly got the thought out of my mind, but remnants of it still remained.

"Ugh...this is exactly what I needed..."



After I was done getting dress I packed a small backpack with a few necessities for the long trek we had coming. I looked over at the mirror to give my hair one final brush before I left out of the room. Next to the door I looked down and saw Sasha's horn. And the first time in a long time since I first received the horn I felt happy. I don't know whether or not because of the talk I had with her brother Tristan, or because of the good I know I can do with it. Either way the path to the future may not be as clear as all the psychics may think it is, but I know that I'm going to keep going till I find my place in this world by making it a safer place.

Walking outside I saw everyone (including Pokémon) standing outside. They were talking to each other rather quickly so I couldn't make out what they were saying. I quickly jogged over to them to see what they were talking about.

Rebecca looked over to me first she had a concerned look on her face. She was wearing her Poké-suit but for some reason the color had changed and it was bright yellow.

"What's wrong with everyone?" I asked.

That's when everyone had turned their gaze over to me. Brandon and Brian gave me questionable looks and their Pokémon were looking very upset. Tonya walked over to me holding a Pokédex. She held it up to my face so I could read it, but I instead just took it from her. And when I read what was on it I nearly collapsed as it was today's news.

Olivine City has been completely destroyed by three mysterious beings. One resembled a silver man with wings, a solid blue giant with a huge jaw, and one smaller green dwarf. Anything or anyone they touch is killed instantly. This looks to be a repeat of what happened in Blackthorn City. All residents are advised to evacuate immediately by any means necessary. The military can't seem to enter the city as they are immediately destroyed as they enter. The total amount of casualties is well into the thousands and the number seems to keep rising.

That's all of the news we have for now. Be advised the military will not allow anyone into the city until this crisis is resolved.

"We need to move like yesterday." I said after I regained my composure.

Everyone nodded and recalled their Pokémon's back into their balls. We immediately made a mad dash into the direction of the chaos. As of right now our odds of everything and everyone coming out okay are slim to none.

I can only hope that that wasn't Ferali they were speaking about on the news, because if it were him...I wouldn't know what to do.