In Silence And Solitude

Lyra immediately blamed herself, for not paying attention to how her Pokemon was reacting; if either of them had really been hurt, well, she didn’t know what she would have done. But while relief settled in her chest, she still wanted to dispel any sense of ill-will. Seemed most of it was coming from her own Pokemon, however.

“I don’t know what came over her …” she began to say, though glancing now to where Victoria stood (the poor thing had retreated, albeit with head held high, to Lyra’s side), she could almost make out just what the issue was. Victoria’s sense of regret was masked by what was almost a scowl on her face. She obviously hadn’t appreciated the surprise, and really wasn’t liking the signals she was getting all around her. Her eyes drooped, almost as though she were so exhausted that she was about to fall asleep. “I’m not sure she’s used to there being so much energy in one place.”

She was a little torn then. Having been so determined to get to her destination, she realized now that her Pokemon was incredibly tired. The trainer chose to put off her task in favor of a couple of hours of rest.

“Are you sure you’re not hurt?” she asked, once more shuffling the egg in her arms. Well, she supposed, it would have been nice to sit down and relax herself. “I think we’re going to head to the Pokemon Center … you know, it wouldn’t hurt to get looked at. I know the nurses don’t exactly treat people, but …” It would make her feel a bit better, at least.

         On the other side, Gengar floated over them with a huge grin on his face, clearly glad to see the trainer in the city. Morty pushed his hair back a bit to avoid obstructing his sight with the blond tufts. Then, he looked down at the Psychic-type and offered her a smile as Lyra talked. He considered adorable the face her Pokemon was making, and he made it clear with a soft chuckle. Violet eyes looked back at the girl.

          “Ecruteak can give very strong waves of energy, specially with buildings as old, and all the ghost Pokemon roaming around. That’s entirely my fault, I let them do that at this time of the day”, he admitted. It was until then that Morty noticed the heavy object she was carrying, and felt bad for not offering his help before. “That looks quite like a big egg, were you on your way to deliver it?”, he asked curiously, “want me to help you carry it around for a bit?”, the gym leader offered with extended hands.

             “Pretty sure, Lyra. Thanks for the concern”. At her persistence, Morty guessed there wasn’t much room left to convince her otherwise. Besides, it could help them to get a nice rest and chat a bit. “Alright, and you can get your Pokemon checked as well. She will need a break after this encounter”, he commented eyeing the Kirlia.

       It’s 3am and Clair can’t sleep.  She regretted meeting with Karen the day before.  Gods, she really was a fool!  Spilling out her emotions like some sniveling child whining for their parent, as if THAT would fix anything!  As if, by the act of telling her friend, things would magically change and make things all better!  It didn’t. It only made her look stupid and vulnerable and everything else she couldn’t bear.  At least Karen wouldn’t blab like some other people she knew.  Her secrets were safe.  Especially from Lance.  He could never find out.

       Clair attacked the punching bag with defiant fists.  It exploded at her touch, swaying furiously back and forth on its weight, but refused to go down.  Roaring, she jabbed a mighty roundhouse kick to its midsection, sending it toppling over itself across the platform.  The punching bag collided into a rock before righting itself.

       "I'm—so—DONE—with—you!“  Fists rained down on the equipment like an endless downpour.  It threatened to topple, once, twice, nearly touching the ground but not quite.  Sweat beaded down Clair’s back in rivulets.  Her breath, an exhausted gasp.  She punched until her hands were raw, until her knuckles bled, until she couldn’t muscle out another ounce of energy.

       Life force spent, Clair rolled off the punching bag and on to the ground. Seemed like forever until she caught her breath.  Around the gym, lava crackled, its fiery warmth lighting the gym with romantic dimness. There was no sound but the sounds of dragon fire bursting from the earth.  Clair shut her eyes.  She wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight.  Dawn was fast approaching, and with it, her obligations.  Her duty as a Takane, descendant of dragons.

       Clair sat up, unable to relax.  Sighed. She was saved from having to doubt her existence by a knock on the door.  A sharp rap, in quick succession, urgent.  Like someone who desperately needed inside.  Needed her.  She didn’t expect the person on the other side when she opened the door.  Morty stood in the freezing dark, shivering. His shadow trembled–Gengar.

       "You’re awfully far from home,” she commented, frowning. “Has something happened?” Nothing could bring the ghost boy from Ecruteak without it being dire.  To search for her, in the middle of the night, was odd.  She stepped back to let him inside.  "Stand by the edge, it’s warmer.“

       Her fellow gym leader safely inside, Clair closed the heavy wooden doors behind him. She stood by his side near the glowering lava pit, studying his face for any sign of danger.  If it was immediate, she would have known.  The dim lighting cast his face in shadows. "Morty.  Why have you come?”

           The sound of the door being unlocked made his Gengar sigh in relief as Morty just stood there, a bit hunched, a bit too pale, a bit uneasy. A wave of heat hit him as soon as she opened the door, and as the angels welcome the souls to Heaven, there she was, imposing, magnificent, strong and fierce. And Morty got jealous! How he wished to look like that at this specific moment, but right now, he probably look as strong as a baby Bunneary.

            “It’s never far if visiting friends is the goal”, he replied with a poor excuse of a smile. Who was he trying to fool? HE LOOKED LIKE SHIT. The blonde, usually away from warmth and cozy scenarios, felt relieved at the sensation of heat against his face. His long fingers started to regain mobility as he started to warm a bit.

             She asked, and he flinched a bit. But why did he try to keep it cool? Of course there was something going on. For starters, you don’t appear at 3:00 a.m. at someone’s door as a causal visit. Even less without a proper coat, or at least something to eat. Much less with dark circles around the eyes, pale lips and ruffled hair. “OH. I probably look terrible. Never travel at night, winters in Johto can be pretty windy!”, he responded.

                                                                  “Morty. Why have you come?”

               His smile diminished a bit and he looked down briefly, he pretended to examine something at the floor, but his Gengar tugged his sweater gently. A soft chuckle echoed against the giant place. And he finally looked up to her again. “I hope you weren’t asleep, or... did I interrupt something?”

                 And suddenly, his eyes were TEARY. Wow, who would’ve thought, Ecruteak’s gym leader actually had the capacity to feel... and even more important, TO CRY?!. Still, a big smile shone on his face, trying to keep the emotional breakdown back for at least a bit longer.

                  “-----I just fell like paying you a visit and maybe talk a bit? You know...

                                                                                                              IT’S THE SEASON”.

“I don’t think I’ve ever crossed paths with Phoebe.” It was odd enough, considering that a good chunk of Team Magma’s plans involved Mount Pyre and that the Elite Four member frequented the area. Odds were that if their paths crossed, some unkind words would be exchanged eventually. Maxie’s tongue was as sharp as they came, but he did not like his odds when it came to physical conflict.

The smile on Morty’s face was beginning to get unnerving, and the comment on Maxie’s popularity with Gym Leaders only contributed. Nobody was genuinely that kind — much less so the Ghost-type specialist. Maxie didn’t trust him, but he wasn’t about to let that slip.

“Well, I do suppose old grudges die hard.” He sipped at the cocoa again with an unreadable expression on his face. “Although I don’t see why you find it important to refer to the past here and now. We no longer live in it, do we?” Gym Leaders were a notoriously picky bunch, and he wasn’t in the mood to discuss Team Magma’s former grand design.

As for Alola… “Ah, but that would be expected. We can’t have that now, can we?”

             “She’s a good girl, a bit intense sometimes, and a weird sense of style. I wonder if she ever gets cold with those clothes and the ghost Pokemon around...”, he digressed, an index over his chin in a thoughtful expression. Gengar patted his shoulder to get him back to reality, knowing how far his trainer’s mind could go. It was easy to know Phoebe wasn’t happy with Team Magma’s doings, and she was more of a spitfire than the Johto gym leader.

              He sipped from his drink, still hot enough to warm his chest and cause him a cozy feeling that made him feel better. Good choice for the day he would meet Maxie, hardly anything would upset him with his happy drink as breakfast.  He buried himself a bit down into his purple scarf.

              “It could have been worse”, he shrugged. Morty didn’t condone Maxie’s actions, but certainly, the consequences of his actions could have been much much worse, especially if he had accomplished his goal. “The past transforms us in what we are right now. It’s important”, he replied. He walked right to a bench that was just a couple of meters away. “I’m CURIOUS, like everyone, but I guess big plans aren’t ever revealed, hm?”, he wondered, taking a seat on the cold wood.

             “We can’t have... what? The luxury of throwing guesses? In this chaotic world, everything is possible. Unlikely variables meet, creating surprising results”, he explained. “I have asked my fair share of questions. It would only be polite to reciprocate the gesture, so... ask away whatever you want to know”.

  Neat piles of paperwork were scattered across the borrowed desk, pinned down by more paperweights than normally needed. He’d misplaced two and in their place, he’d placed two Zephyr badges. Newly shined.  The Violet City Gym was home to a constant B R E E Z E, courtesy of the many wings present in the building and loose papers had a tendency to go flying if left unattended.

  He patted the paperwork, taking the opportunity to pull a report on top of an expense report. Gym maintenance, mostly, and not for Morty’s eyes. Not when he wasn’t here for business and certainly not when Falkner himself had to take a minute to sip his tea and look longingly at the roof in case money should miraculously materialize and fall into his lap. Not impossible to cover, but not fun money to find, either.

    "Nothing more important than guests. This paperwork will, sadly, still be here tomorrow, “ he answered with a frown, merging four stacks into two and clearing desk space in the process. Enough for a pot, two cups, and elbow room. One stack in portrait, the other in landscape to separate stacks already covered and stacks soon to be covered. The joy of being a gym leader.

  It is funny, how easily the human eye gets used to change, how it takes the words of another to once more see what is new. He followed Morty’s eyes and for just a second he was surprised by the walls being pristine white, not patched grey and oddly yellow. But it was new; So new Falkner could still recall the precise cost and feel the memory of aching muscles from lifting the paint brush yet again. Kept costs down.

    "A consequence of keeping Bird Pokémon, I’m afraid. There’s some acidic… byproduct involved. To tell the truth, I’m a little envious of you on that point,” he covered his words with a chuckle and a shake of his head, a loving glance sent to his Nobu roosting above them.

      Then he threw a hand out towards a chair in front of the desk,

    "Please, take a seat. I’ll be right back with the tea.“

  An annoying but harmless Murkrow and a well-trained Pidgeot warranted no warning and he left the room for the kitchen, taking his own half-empty cup with him. A high-pitched and whiny ’falkn e~ e~ e~ r~’ following him as the Murkrow left its perch to settle on his shoulder.

    "Absolutely not,” he answered by instinct.

              His eyes continued scanning the place, his heart skipping a beat every time he saw an overly colorful feather on the ground, hoping for an encounter that would probably never happen. Ah, so this is why he also stopped coming. Too many emotions for his heart. A grin spreads on his face as he notices all the paperweights, imagining the nightmare that must be whenever someone forgets to pin the light objects to the table.

              Gym business was quite boring, he didn’t know of any person who actually liked it, but he has gotten some help at Ecruteak, which he thanks greatly. Staying behind a desk all day to finish paperwork was certainly something that could get him a bit upset; but that was one of the things he ADMIRED the most about Falkner. He was always doing everything ( or almost everything ) by himself. His compromise with the gym was strong and anybody who knew him or just even stepped in, would notice right away.

              “Anything I could help you with?”, Morty offered. Tedious tasks were faster and lighter with the help of a friend. The towered papers caused him a sigh of surprise, causing his Gengar to materialize next to him, seeing the paperwork with obvious stress, most likely wondering if Falkner had any time to play around with all this work he had to finish. Poking at all shiny badges, Gengar got pulled back softly by his trainer as an indication to settle down. They couldn’t afford to cause the bird-type gym leader more trouble.

             Ah, yes, THE BIRDS. Once again Morty looked around, noticing all kinds of wings and beaks that crowned the place. Maintenance was certainly high with them, specially with the fame of these Pokemon dropping their waste just anywhere. Another point for the GHOST-TYPE. They didn’t get places dirty, they didn’t eat much, and lightning was something Morty didn’t have to worry much about. The darker and cold, the best for the Pokemon... and even for himself at this point. His cold hands barely remembered the heat of the beach of the sweat running down his face. “You run all the place by yourself?”

           He thanked for the gesture and sat across the desk, pitying already that he was holding his friend back with his work. Gengar settled floating next to his trainer as he also looked around the place curiously. “The last time you were here”, Morty started, “you had only evolved into a Haunter. It’s been a long time. I wonder... what else has changed aside from the gym?”, he wondered, looking back into the way Falkner had taken to reach the kitchen”.

@morumabsentia

Ecruteak was always a favorite city of hers, one that truly felt the most homely in Johto (she even supposed that eventually, in her later years, she might choose to live here). It came as no surprise that she would find her way back eventually, for one reason or another - and honestly, she didn’t know why she was still playing delivery-person for Professor Elm, but then again, she didn’t even argue his request when he gave it. She supposed she had been the best person to trust with such a task!

Toting a (somewhat heavy) egg in her arms, she passed through the city’s entrance and began to make her way toward the Dance Theater. Lyra considered herself lucky to have arrived before the sun set entirely. Yes, Ecruteak had its’ charms, but anyone would admit to feeling for the town’s creepy factor. The trainer really wasn’t in the mood for encounters that weren’t strictly business at this point.

It seemed that she had some pretty tough luck, though.

Victoria was the one who noticed it first, not exactly a disturbance - more like an unsettling feeling. The Kirlia would glance around and see nothing, of course, drawing closer to Lyra as the two continued to walk. She just couldn’t shake how she felt, and though she attempted to warn her trainer, she was only given some lackluster reassurance.

“This city is … well, it’s different. It’s a little haunting. I’ll show you later, alright?” Lyra shuffled the egg in her arms and kept on moving.

Her Pokemon certainly heard her, but she didn’t exactly listen. Victoria paused then, facing the direction they just came from - something was definitely there, and she was almost certain that it was watching her. With a snarl, she launched a psychic attack in the assailant’s direction, hoping to bring them out of hiding, or at least cause them to grow confused.

This commotion caused Lyra to turn back; she was ready to scold her Pokemon, but attention fell from the Kirlia to their supposed assailant.

“OH – I’m SO sorry! Are you hurt?”

                Late shopping were his kind of thing, but again, ANY kind of late activities were his kind of thing. Walking alongside his faithful Gengar was a habit by now, and the people of Ecruteak hardly got scared by the sighting of the ghost Pokemon creeping through the shadows and walls. Kind greetings and friendly smiles were shared by the gym leader to every passerby, the least he could do for all the support they citizens have given him through time.

               The twilight was setting comfortably as the moon, pale and rather transparent started to rose from behind the hills. A full moon, apparently. It wouldn’t be entirely dark tonight at Ecruteak, which meant a lot of ghost Pokemon would stay in the forest. Morty turned to head back to the gym, but his Gengar had other plans, apparently. The big shadow levitated his way into the opposite direction.

                                       “---------??”

                Morty followed his friend who seemed ( ironically ) cursed by something, unable to stop. Then, the man got a weird feeling. Nothing bad, nothing good, just... SOMETHING. Ah, so Gengar has sensed something as well. They headed into the main street, that was rather empty at this hour, and before he could turn around the corner, he was thrown back by an attack that went through his Pokemon.

                His senses sharpened as he was ready to jump back into the action, but then, OH, THAT FAMILIAR VOICE. Morty pulled up the headband back to his forehead, and gifted the girl a subtle smile, as he did the first time they met.

                       “That was quite a strong confusion attack. I’m fine, don’t worry, but are you guys alright? Your Kirlia seems a bit on the edge”.

“Hmmm, yes. Well, I don’t think I’ve ever been used to climates outside of Hoenn.” Maxie had cooperated with the authorities in Hoenn well enough, but the not-so-subtle monitoring was beginning to try his patience. He couldn’t even pick up groceries without having an ‘accidental’ run-in with that fool from the International Police. Thankfully, he’d gotten Tabitha to deal with that issue while he took a much needed vacation outside of the region.

However, nothing changed the fact that he hated the cold.

Looking up from his cup, Maxie noticed the uneasy Gengar hovering over Morty’s shoulder and the way it nudged at him when their gazes crossed. Something was up, but what could possibly…?

“Your Gengar doesn’t seem to like me all that much,” he said, “I couldn’t possibly fathom why, seeing as we only just met.”

Who was he trying to fool? He knew exactly why the ghost type acted so suspiciously. Well, that was a lie. But he could make an educated guess at the very least.

        “It’s way warmer. I’ve visited it a couple of times. Mt. Pyre has some interesting... vibes”, he comments with a soft shrug and a tilt of the head, “and Phoebe is really nice as well”. Small talk seemed to do well for now. Nothing too personal, nothing too frivolous. Just two acquaintances meeting after a while.

         Morty wasn’t much of a television or radio person. YET, he usually knew about stuff. It was easy to hear gossip in Ecruteak, due its usual quiet streets, and let’s not forget his PREMONITIONS. It’s like getting to see the movie trailer of an event even before it’s planned to happen. But he’s quiet. He keeps it to himself and rarely speaks about his visions with others, not even his Pokemon.

         The gym leader looked over his shoulder and offered his Pokemon a little smile, meant to sooth him down a bit. “We just met, but your face is popular among gym leaders. Quite the disturbance you caused some time ago, hm?”, he commented with a smile forever present and a kind tone that remained undisturbed.

        “As someone so used to the heat, I would have expected you to go to Alola instead of Johto. Guess I didn’t expect correctly”.

     N O I S E. It’s just about the only constant in the Zephyr-granting gym. Birds are social creatures, harbor enough of them in one place and you’re asking for an uproar. Screeches and greetings and whistling and song. His name falling from the beak of a Murkrow in about a dozen different voices. A prank having secretly impressed Falkner simply because of the sheer organization going into keeping him from knowing. Officially his opinion is disapproval (because he’s a gym leader and has to act the part; what’s left is to scowl and hope the quivering of his lips and the mirth in his eyes are enough to speak for him).

         “Falkner; Falkner; Falkner~”,     it’d gone all day and though aware of his name’s origin, he’d chorused it with soft yeses and faraway hmms when particularly absorbed in his ledgers and books. A gym like Violet City gym didn’t run itself – as much as the rest of its staff wanted to believe it.

“ ———-Falkner”

         “yes”,

    he answered and looked at the door and back over his shoulder in puzzlement. The Murkrow cocked its head, a silent ‘what are you looking at?’ Falkner picked up too easy. Another sign of him needing more friends without feathers.

    The knocking sounded again. This time he heard it. Long strides took him to the door, shadowed by the silent wings of his Pidgeot; A trustworthy protector. Long fingers against the door handle; No lock needed in Violet City - and no security system could ever outsound the Pokémon beneath his roof.

“Open up, Nesthead, it’s me, Morty”.

    There was much more purple outside his door than he’d expected and his expression was silent, more silent than usual. Blank as his brain remembered, replaced with a shy smile.

        "Nest-“,

    It was hard going from soft to audible and the morning gruff in his voice broke off his words before he could get them out. A cough took care of it.

        "Nesthead, huh? Been awhile since I’ve been called that.”

    One hand pulling the door further, the other going up in a dismissive wave and his Pidgeot unpuffed its chest.

        "Come on in. I’ll make some tea",

    or something. His grandmother usually made tea. It was the thing one had to do when one had people over, wasn’t it?

                               “A revision to the past never fails to entertain”.

           An unexpected smile blossomed at the sight of the shorter male. Well, maybe it wasn’t quite a bad idea to stop by in first place. YET, the moment he stepped into the gym, a wave of  heat hit him; he even had to loose his scarf from around his neck as he looked around instinctively. All the Pokemon created quite a colorful and warm sensation that kept the cold outside. This was so alien for him. The only heat he ever experimented was during Spring and Summer at Ecruteak, whenever he had to leave the gym or his place for groceries. Out of that, the cold always surrounded him. Probably a turtleneck shirt wasn’t the best option for today.

          “Did I interrupt something?”, he asked, knowing the busy nature of his childhood friend. Ah, probably he should have called first. His head kept looking around like a curious Noctowl. It’s been AGES since he last stepped inside and he could identify a new coat of paint and some other changes here and there. 

               “Every time I come by, this place seems to change a bit. Has it been that long, huh? Since I’ve been here, I mean”, he asked again looking to the front again. Time for Morty was so... IRRELEVANT; after spending so much time with ghosts ( who were timeless ), the reality of the physical world made him a bit sick, made him feel like a stranger at his own dimension.

“…Thank you.” Maxie took the hot cocoa from the other man and held it up, sipping at the beverage wordlessly. It wasn’t his favorite, but he was grateful for the gesture. The KanJoh continent had a bad habit of being unbearably cold during these fall months, and his poor circulation and health always paid the price for going outside in the freezing temperatures.

It was never this bad in Hoenn, which was at the very least always mildly warm. He shuddered and dreaded the day that he ever stepped into Sinnoh. According to reports, it was even colder.

He stopped sipping at the hot cocoa and pressed his hands against the styrofoam cup as he stared it down, the gears in his head turning. He then looked up at the man who’d gave it to him.

Ecruteak City’s Gym Leader. He’d heard of Morty before, but he hadn’t planned on visiting while laying low in the region.

“Do you always carry spare hot cocoa with you in the happenstance you run into a stranger?” His voice was dry, but a wry smile appeared on his face. “I must say, I wouldn’t be surprised if that were the case.”

Despite what a certain leader of Team Aqua might say, Maxie did have a sense of humor. It was just that they both had very different ideas on what that constituted.

        Blue eyes were kept on the other briefly, before taking a sip of his drink as well, letting the sweet taste nest on his tongue for a bit before warming his throat. He held the cup with both hands, even if his hands were doomed to stay cold forever as a consequence of his abilities. The silence, far for uncomfortable, was filled with the distant noise of children playing and people talking, aside, of course, the constant chirping of the Pidgey around.

     “In these cold days, YES. There’s always someone in the need of something warm”, he lied. No need to uncover the real reason just yet, specially if it wasn’t required or necessary for the evolution of the interaction. He felt a soft nudge at the back of his shoulder, a common action done by his Gengar when he was nervous.

           THEY WERE BREAKING THE CODE.

Morty was aware of it. ‘No mercy for the criminals’. That was his secret slogan, and he had respected it ever since.     Until now.

    “-----You are far away from home”, he spoke again, mostly to calm Gengar’s anxiety towards the situation. “It’s a shame you visited Johto in quite a cold weather. Ecruteak is really nice during the summer”.