((I'm not. In fact, I have a small text wall))
When Wukong finally located the rooftop that Liuye Dao had been training on, the Pawniard was lying face first on the ground. He coul barely move. He had run out of Pansage leaves over a half an hour ago, and had tried mastering nervous system control without them. Liuye had run himself into the ground.
Wukong flipped off of a double jump and landed onto the rooftop. [Oi, geddup,] he grunted to Liuye as he helped the Pawniard to his feet. [We’ve got trouble. Sal says Salem went missing.]
Liuye perked his head up as he stood up straight despite the soreness he felt all over his body. [She evolved into an Espeon and instinctively linked up with Sal, or something like that. Then she got scared and ran off. You’re immune to Psychic types, yeah?]
Liuye nodded. [Good. I don’t know if she’s out of control or not, but if she is I’m using you as a shield.]
Before Liuye Dao could give him a glare of protest, Wukong was running off to the edge of the roof. He leaped and thrust his legs downwards, propelling himself through the air to the next rooftop with a jet of fire from his feet. [Come on, hurry up!]
****
“Pa-pan!” Chen Zhen yelped, waving goodbye from floating atop his Air Balloon to the Dancer and Pansage that were leaving the urban ruins. The two ducked into the abandoned subway station that served as the entrance, leaving Chen Zhen alone in the enclosed lot.
The Dancer had helped Chen Zhen learn the Acrobatics attack. It actually helped the trainer teach his own Pansage, so he didn’t mind. Chen Zhen popped his Air Balloon, flipping through the air on his way to the ground. He did multiple somersaults before landing on his feet in a way that would make an Olympic gymnast jealous.
“Yaaaaa-pa!”
How long had he been at the lot for? Chen Zhen wished he had a watch, but he didn’t think it was more than two hours. Maybe he should go and meet Salieri and the others in the park. The Pansage considered the option as he wandered around the ruins, flipping over toppled columns of concrete with his newfound skill.
Until he heard a rustling in the grass.
He paused. Chen Zhen had thought he was alone. But there was definitely some motion going on in a small patch of tall grass. The monkey looked down on it from a hill of rubble.
There was a lavender pokemon curled up in it, and by the way she heaved Chen Zhen could tell she was crying. The monkey dropped down from the hill and began to walk over.
[Are you okay?]Salem perked up her head and got onto all fours, startled. The two of them froze in place. She was horrified by his lack of a response. Did he think she was a monster too? Would he even recognize her?
Chen Zhen tilted his head to the side, his mouth hanging open in slight awe. [Salem?] He started walking towards her.
She shifted slightly, ready to run. But she found that she couldn’t move as he didn’t stop his stride, closing in until they were a short distance apart. Salem sniffled, a few stray tears still in the corners of her eyes.
[Don’t come any closer!] she screamed, sending up a wave of telekinetic energy. The Telekinesis threw up random pieces of rubble, flinging them around the lot. The leaves and Chen Zhen’s head blew in the artificial wind, but he did not flinch.
The Espeon bowed her head down when she saw what she did. Bits of rubble still hung in the air, like they were suspended by wires. […all I am is a monster, now…]
Chen Zhen looked almost taken aback by what she said. He still held his awed expression. Slowly, he reached out to touch the side of her face. Just to make sure what he saw was real.
[Take back the things you just said. You’re beautiful.]
Salem’s jaw dropped as she looked up, her eyes meeting Chen Zhen’s. His hand lingered cautiously at the side of her face until he reached to touch the red jewel on her forehead.
They became Synchronized.
A split second was all it took for them to share their feelings. Chen Zhen took his hand off of Salem and clutched his heart, blushing profusely. He had been outed by her psychic powers. Now she would know how he really felt.
[I…uh…]
[Chen Zhen…I had no idea….]
The bottom of Salem’s lip trembled as she stumbled forward, nuzzling her face against Chen Zhen’s chest. The monkey was in shock as Salem cried against him. All he felt like he could do was cling her tightly and tell her she’d be okay.
The rubble that had been suspended in the air fell to the ground slowly, like snow.
They sat in the lot like that for a while. To Chen Zhen, it felt like forever.
And then a certain Battle Girl entered the lot, panting as she searched for Salem. Finally, Salieri spotted her with Chen Zhen, tucked in the Pansage’s caring embrace. “Salem!”
The sound of Salieri’s voice startled the Espeon, who jumped up in shock. Salieri froze in place, noting the glare Chen Zhen was giving her. She had never seen the Pansage get so angry with her before. She took a step forward, and Salem took a step back. It was like they had never even known each other.
“Salem, I’ve been looking all over for you,” she said softly as she lowered herself onto one knee slowly, like she was dealing with a wild animal. “I never meant to hurt you, I was just…surprised. I know….”
She took in a deep breath. “I know I have a lot to work on. This is just another one of those things. I don’t care what kind of pokemon you are. You’re still my Salem.”
Slowly, she reached out to pet Salem on the head. Just as she was about to make contact, the Espeon stepped backwards and looked away.
A jolt of pain coursed through Salieri’s chest as she recoiled her hand. She looked to Chen Zhen for help, but her first pokemon still looked at her like she was an enemy. The Battle Girl tried to swallow the lump in her throat. “Salem…
please…”
The silence that followed was the answer she was scared of getting.
Salieri furrowed her brow and stood up, taking out two pokeballs. Wordlessly, she returned Chen Zhen and Salem. Now she was alone in the lot.
The Battle Girl slumped down to the ground against a slab of concrete.
“…hey Moze, do you remember what you told me about that piece of paper?”
“ ‘You mean that you can’t take back the damage you’ve done to a person’s feelings, See-Sal?’ “
“Yeah. Is there really nothing you can do?”
Salieri tucked her knees up to her chest and hugged her legs. “Because I hurt one of my friends. Real bad.”
“ ‘Did you try to apologize, See-Sal?’ “
“Yeah. But she’s still hurt. What do I do now, Moze?”
She sniffled and buried her face into her hands. Her back moved up and down with each sob. No one would ever see her cry. Salieri Del Forrest didn't cry.
“What do I do now?”
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