Fortem spend the rest of the day relaxing beside the river, and
contemplating his life choices. Sure, Meka wasn't looking at the
full picture... but he'd overreacted. He wished he could go back
and explain things better to the Mew. His tail bristles in
annoyance at both Meka and himself.
"Well...what do you say we ignore them and just...take a walk? I
promise not to judge you if you go into a temple alone!" He stood
taller, determined to be brave for her. He looked around for
Emerald, who seemed to be absent. Had he wandered off while he was
talking to Meka?
Meka cheered up at this, moving off the ground a little more.
"Sure! The woods are really cool when you don't stop with your tail
between your legs at every mystery!" She giggled and winked at
Winter, before starting off, Winter following with a shrug.
"Hey, Mewtwo." Fortem greeted, somewhat calmly and somewhat glumly.
"What's up?" He swiped his tail over the warm, smooth stone he was
resting on, beckoning him over for a chat, while enjoying the
tranquil river sounds.
[Fortem]
"...you're alright from earlier...right?" His tail swished back and
forth. "No, of course not. I can sense it." He closed his eyes and
rested his tail over him. "...just move on. It's in the past. Make
a better tomorrow."
"You're probably right," Fortem said, closing his eyes and relaxing
at the river side, which was almost as good as the bubble therapy
(almost, Yung's massages were still better to Fortem). "Maybe I'll
talk to Meka later, when I'm feeling more relaxed."
Winter stopped suddenly after noticing Emerald talking with his
father. Winter himself wanted to ask Yung for his side of the
story, even though he'd said he'd ignore Meka's troublemakers, but
at the same time, Emerald was his friend, and Yung had been kind to
him... "Meka? You don't mind if we stop to talk with them, right?"
he flicked his tails at them. "Maybe if I can get you in a genuine
conversation with him without that disrespectful Lycanroc, you can
see that you directed your anger at the wrong person?" He blinked
at her, ready for her to say no.
Meka looked at him for a second. "Fine, I suppose. I guess he
didn't actually say anything." She sighed, wanting to get this over
with. They approached the two, politely waiting on them to finish.
[Winter, Meka]
"...but dad...you can apologise right?" Emerald asked him.
He shook his head. "I can apologise all I want. It's not going to
make a difference. Words mean little without action after
all..."
He looked at the sky. "Listen Emerald, remember that there are two
sides to any argument, two sides to any life. I shouldn't have said
what I have said to Meka..." He paused. "...but even so, you don't
have to make the same mistake. Angering a legendary will come back
on me later on, but you don't have to make the same mistake, hear
me? Never insult someone for their past life. Never insult someone
for their present life. Everyone is going through troubles you may
not know...and they don't deserve to be beaten down further." He
paused again. "Hey Emerald? Do you want to know my dream? My
dream...is to create a world without prejudice. I know. It's a pipe
dream. But if I can start with Vivaldi...and spread it to Luminia.
And see that no one is so different after all...it's a start." He
looked at the Riolu before standing up. "Well, I'll be
investigating now. Alone. I won't be part of the group starting
tomorrow, alright? Let Azure lead." Emerald held a paw out but Yung
left, leaving no trace behind.
[Fortem]
"You may have been wrong to snap like that. But she shouldn't have
insulted your life like she did....but then again...Mew's live
their life in freedom. No holding back. I know...I have their DNA."
Mewtwo said quietly. "Perhaps it was right to her. She believed in
what she believed in, just as you do."
"That's not always true!" Fortem said, a little more
enthusiastically. "I think, that given the right conditions, any
pokemon can change. Stereotypes aren't always true, and I know that
because I defy one myself. Nature isn't enough to blame actions on,
but we can all change. That's why I haven't given up on fighting.
Maybe my family is right, and I will change? I don't know. But I
know it's possible." He said, a little bit prouder and louder than
before.
[Fortem]
"...You're right." Mewtwo said. "A world without stereotypes or
prejudice....how wonderful would that be...?" Mewtwo said.
"...maybe I can keep forward into finding myself."
Winter supposed Yung hadn't noticed him and Meka standing there...
"Emerald?" He approached the Riolu, man, this was awkward. He
trotted over to where he was standing. "What was that all about?"
Meka was staying off to the side, looking a little awkward herself.
Fortem smiled at Mewtwo. "Mmhm! I think that would be great, so
that, if anyone truly wants something, pushes hard to get it, and
really deserves it, they can get it, no matter what type of pokemon
they are." He sat in silence for a little bit, enjoying the
trickling of the river.
[Winter]
He turned around. "...I...I can't say. I'm sorry. Perhaps you don't
want to see dad right now...and I can't blame you two." He got up.
"I suppose it's good night..." Emerald just had a completely
defeated tone to him. All of his happiness had been drained
completely with that conversation. The usual sparkle in his eyes
was gone. The events that transpired in the temple...he had heard
it all. Both sides. His father had pointed the faults from both
sides... And now...
He simply stood up. "Night..." He shakily left to go to his
hut.
[Fortem]
"Mm...let's go and get some sleep..." the Mewtwo said to Fortem
Fortem nodded, and let out a huge yawn, shifting into dusk form as
he did. The temple fight had taken quite a bit of energy from him,
and he was drained. "Good idea," He began heading to his little
rocky cave he'd made. "Good night, mewtwo!" He responded
cheerfully, feeling like some bricks were taken off his back after
his talk with mewtwo.
Winter stood rigid. He had no idea what had gotten into Emerald.
Was whatever happened back there...that bad? "Night.." He called
quietly after him, feeling rejected for some reason. He turned back
to Meka. "Let's head back...it's getting late. We can do this again
tomorrow morning or something. Meka nodded and they both went back
to the same hut Winter had used the previous night.
Fortem woke up in dusk (dawn?) form, and strolled into the
clearing, feeling happy after a long night's rest, and free from
the pressure of battle training with his parents. Although the
situation was scary, Fortem knew there were pokemon he could count
on, like Mewtwo and Yung. He walked up to the berry pile.
Strange... speaking of Yung, shouldn't he be back by now? He
sniffed the clearing. No luck.
Winter came out of his little hut with Meka behind him, at full
energy even this early. He had promised to go on a walk with her.
Less of a de-stressing thing at this point and more of a some
bonding time before they would have to leave. "Let me grab a berry
real quick, alright? Then we'll go." Meka nodded vigorously and he
was pressured to hurry.
[All]
Something was off today. The clouds certainly denoted it at least.
There was a little more of a subdued feeling today. Azure was
making plans to expand further out.