THE SKY LORD'S DAUGHTERS – EPISODE 1
Long ago, there was a sailor who spent his life on a small boat with his daughter. The pair lived together simply, but happily, with the sea's bounty to provide for them. With the blue sky above, the precious sea below, and the reassuring presence of one another, he and his daughter found themselves wanting for nothing. They never expected their beloved ocean to turn on them the way it did that fateful Summer night, with winds far faster and waves far stronger than any they had seen before. It was a night beyond anything even the modern imagination could contrive... A swallowing, seething, terrifying monster of a storm. The daughter looked to her father for guidance, but despite his best efforts, the boat was tossed helplessly about, until it ultimately capsized. Even as talented swimmers and divers, the strength of the waves was too much for them, and the sailor was dashed against some nearby boulders, his blood seeping into the ocean like a deep, red fog. When the poor young daughter attempted to lift his body from the rocks, she found herself writhed and twisted by the waves, before she eventually blacked out.
As if by a miracle, the daughter awoke the next morning, water-logged, sand-soaked and hacking what felt like buckets of brine from her lungs. It was the first time she had ever been on land, and her legs wobbled terribly as she attempted to steady herself on the beach. Her father's body did not appear to be anywhere nearby, but her attention was captivated by a tower upon the island that appeared to reach into the clouds. Her father once told her that those who meet the end of their lives in the sea eventually turn into a fine mist and rise to the clouds... Perhaps, if she could climb that tower, she would find where her father had gone, and perhaps even join him. After all, what did she have left if her vessel was broken, her father was gone and the sea she had loved had turned on her so? There was nowhere left for her to go but to the sky.
Ascending the tower was no easy feat, and the weathered girl considered turning back many times, but she continued to press on. When the ledges were too high, she prayed to the wind to give her strength in her leaps. When the paths were too narrow, she prayed to the water to allow her to squeeze through the smallest spaces. And when the trek seemed too tough, and her strength seemed to fail her... she prayed to her father for the will to keep going.
Eventually, the young girl made her way to the very top of the tower, after many days of ascension with practically no food or water. It was there that she met the Great Lord of the Sky, who was intrigued by this little visitor who had come so far to see him. He asked her if she had come to have her wish granted. In the now-ancient language that the young girl spoke, she uttered simply that she wished only to see the sailor whom she called father, and had hoped to find him among the clouds. The Great Lord, whom we know today as Rayquaza, was sincerely moved by the quiet strength of the young girl who stood before him, so much so that her fortitude inspired a powerful shift in his very being; when the Great Lord had finished transforming, he spoke these words:
“I am the Father of the Endless Sky. The clouds are my children. You, who have ascended the heavens with a pure heart and a clear mind – you shall be known henceforth as my daughter, and I will be your father. From this day forward, we will share in each other's strength. As you have transformed me, so I shall transform you.”
It is said that Rayquaza's transformation was the first instance of Mega Evolution in the world, but while the fable has survived, the true meaning behind Rayquaza's words has been lost to time... Until now.
*****
Squinting through dense canopies, I watched the remaining shreds of daylight vanish from between the leaves of Fortree City's famous foliage, until the thick shade cooling my skin deepened to a more complete darkness. I breathe a heavy sigh. The journey had already been taxing on both my beloved starter and myself, but I was determined to reach the city before the sun set; when my legs gave out, she levitated me the rest of the way, but such a feat was incredibly taxing on her mental reserves. By the time we reached the city limits, both of us were ready to collapse, and the pair of us promptly did so on a bench outside the Fortree City Pokemon Center.
My Gardevoir politely shook her head when I initially asked her if she would like to go inside. Despite the rigorous battles and psychic strain she had experienced on the way, it took a great deal more for Belle to agree to any treatment beyond a bit of fresh air and rest. Even as a Ralts, she preferred time and meditation to potions of any kind. As a rookie trainer, I would fight these inclinations, fearing that lack of treatment would lead to some sort of permanent damage, but four years of travel have broadened my mind, and changed the way I think about a lot of things... especially about the way I treat Belle. More companion than minion, it is hard to look at such a graceful, talented being and think of her as anything less than an equal, with thoughts and opinions of her own. If anything, she is superior in many ways... but far be it from her to ever show it.
As night falls, I can feel her mind reaching deep into my heart, searching my feelings... Something is clearly there, if I can feel her rooting about. With a soft gesture of the hand, she motions toward the Pokemon Center, and rests her other hand on mine. I do not have her talent, and often must awkwardly guess at her feelings, but the message seems pretty clear tonight – she seems to believe I am in need of a deeper rest than a park bench can provide. With a nod, I lift my aching body up, but before I can even take a step in the right direction, a look of what I can only describe as dread very quickly crosses Belle's eyes. Though she attempts to hide whatever came over her from me, her efforts to control the situation are already too late. With a low voice, I attempt to calmly confront her.
“What's the matter, Belle? I saw you looking at the Pokemon Center like something was wrong... Everything all right?”
Belle's expression clearly looks nervous, but she motions toward the center again, taking my hand... I can feel the thin, green fingers trembling. I try to muster as much courage as I can in my heart, in hopes that she can feel it. With a resolute nod, I try to walk through the double-doors with as much bravado as I can, in spite of my fatigue. My dearest friend and most vicious rival, Yuina, always used to say that I was a fool when it came to situations like this, never really comprehending danger until it was too late. I remember her admonishments when we were growing up, and shake my head. Sometimes, you have to be strong and fearless, even if it doesn't really make sense to be. At least, that's what I used to say to her, before I inevitably ran head-first into a situation I regretted later on.
As soon as I've made it into the lobby, the resident nurse looks up and, upon noting the Gardevoir at my side, turns back to me. “Pardon me, miss, but would you happen to be Shiori?”
“I am, indeed,” I respond somewhat warily. I sense Belle's trembling has increased.
“Oh, perfect! We were told this morning to be lookout for a trainer with a Gardevoir who needs to receive an important message. That must be you!” Though the nurse smiles cheerfully, I can already tell that something in her mind is setting Belle off. Taking a protective stance in front of me, she reaches out to receive the letter in my stead, not bothering to give me the opportunity to protest. The nurse laughs, somewhat condescendingly, at Belle's attempts at receiving the page that slowly issues forth from the printer beside the nurse.
“I'm sorry, sweetie, but this letter is addressed to your trainer, not to you! My, but you are a pretty one, though!” The nurse giggles, and I swear I feel the heat of Belle's anger radiating from her body. Graceful empath though she was, not even her recent evolution had managed to curb her temper. She retracts her hand only to violently thrust it out again, the red of her eyes sparking with energy. With a nervous laugh, I poke my head up from over her shoulder.
“Just give it to her, ma'am. She... uh... she just loves getting fanmail!” I try to sound carefree and amused, but my absolute terror at the prospect of a confrontation accentuates every syllable.
“Fanmail, huh?” The nurse chuckles before handing the letter to Belle. “I bet! You look the type!”
“Ha-ha... yeah... Well, we both would like to take a room for the night, so-”
Belle floats in front of me and shakes her head, holding the letter in front of me. Though she likely cannot read what the words say, whatever sense she had gotten before we entered the Pokemon center clearly related to the parchment in her shaking hands. Taking the letter from her, I pause for a moment to read its contents:
Quote:
Originally Posted by ”The Letter”
My Dear Shiori,
I sincerely hope that you and Belle are having wonderful adventures together, and that this letter finds you in good health and elevated spirits. Given the nature of what has recently occurred at home, I am afraid that I must be brief, and save the catching-up for another time. Rest assured, however, that I want to hear all about your travels and what you've been up to!
Allow me to get straight to the point. Yesterday, I was supposed to help Mom in the lab yesterday after work, as I normally do before my night class, but when I knocked on the door, nobody answered. I tried calling her on her Pokenav and even went to the house to look for her, but she was nowhere to be found. I took the spare lab key, and when I went inside my mom's office, I found her purse and lab keys on the desk. Her stuff is usually a mess, so I had a hard time telling if there was a struggle or not, but something isn't right. I have contacted the police, but they seem disinterested at best. I am frustrated and unsure of what to do. I've considered attempting to call on this “Midnight Angel” that the news keeps talking about, but I wouldn't even know how. Besides, I don't know how much trust I can put in a teenage girl in a costume. Superheroes and heroines in this day and age? I guess weirder things have happened... but I digress.
I really would like to see Yuina home. I think it would help if you came, too, Shiori... You have always been such a kind, supportive friend to both of us. Besides, it might ease my sister's mind if she has the assurance that her rival isn't getting ahead of her while she comes back home to sort this horrible situation out. I can practically hear you laughing, Shiori, but you know it's true!
I wish I could summon you under better circumstances. Worried as I am, I really do look forward to seeing you. I have already paid for a Pelipper to fly you to the new house in Fallarbor, so don't worry about having to make the trip.
Best Wishes and Fondest Regards,
Arisa
P.S. If you're reading this, it's because you missed me trying to call your Pokenav at least 5 times. Both you and Yuina never pick up!! Gosh!!
|
Instinctively flipping open my Pokenav, I see that Arisa had been right... Six calls, all missed in the rush of the day's travels. Belle and I had been so distracted with our journey that we didn't even think there could be an emergency in need of our attention. Arisa and Yuina's mother wasn't just an old friend of the family, though that alone would be reason enough to rush to her aid. Professor Ayahana went as far as to hand-pick our starter Pokemon for us when Yuina and I set out on our journey and Arisa began her studies as a Pokemon medical technician; without her, Belle and I would never have been matched in the first place. With a quick apology to the nurse, I rescind my request for a room and instead make my way to the cheerful looking Pelipper waiting out back. As fast as flying could be, I knew that this trip would be a long one.
…
When the Pelipper finally landed in Fallarbor town, night still loomed over Hoenn, and my body felt as though it could collapse. The entire ride, Belle had clung to me, though I had a difficult time telling if it was from fear of falling, or a need to protect me... perhaps a bit of both. The look in her eyes was still deeply distraught, and troubled me greatly, but how could I comfort her if her fears were of something I couldn't even begin to perceive? And even if I could... I always leave the future to Belle. The present is more than enough to deal with for me. I try to think of something comforting to say, but just the act of walking is already burning what energy I have left, and I can tell that Belle knows how concerned I am... She always does.
The pair of us make our way in silence from the Fallarbor Pokemon Center to the address of the Ayahana family's new home. It had only been a year since they had moved, thanks to Professor Ayahana's extensive research on one of an entire deposit of newly-discovered stones that were suspected to have a use for Mega Evolution – it was her expert analysis (and a little bit of luck) that led to the pairing of this particular stone to Arisa's Audino, which led to the subsequent renaming of the stone to Audinite. Perhaps in the wake of this new discovery, as a way to honor the accomplishments of her hometown, a mysterious woman in an gorgeous dress that appeared to be inspired by Mega Audino's beauty had been appearing around town, helping those in need and saving people and Pokemon from the brink of death before disappearing into the night. “The Midnight Angel”, as the local media had dubbed her (Ugh, could you get more cliché?), looked quite suspiciously like Arisa to both myself and Yuina... but no one else saw the resemblance, for some weird reason. Maybe it was the makeup? The pink, wing-like clips in her hair? Who knew that such minor things could conceal an identity so completely? It was mind-boggling. Regardless, if Arisa really was the Midnight Angel, and she needed
our help... The situation was dire, indeed.
It only takes one knock at the front door before it flies open, and before I can even take off my shoes, I find myself suddenly engulfed by a lily-white pair of skinny, yet incredibly strong arms. “SHIORIIIIIII~!” Yuina cries out, as a splash of her shiny black hair falls in my face, my ribs practically collapsing at the strength of her embrace. “I haven't seen you since we battled outside Petalburg! How have you been, girl? It's been so long! I hate you! You need to be around more! Fucking hell, Shiori! You have to battle me and Jasmine RIGHT NOW!” Yuina moves her arms away to give Belle an equally powerful hug, which she similarly attempts to endure. As Yuina pulls away from my Gardevoir, she gives the stoic-looking Absol by her side a brief look, but ultimately heaves a deep sigh. “Well... Actually, I might need to do a rain check on that. You got the letter, right?”
“Yeah, I did... I'm here to help in any way that I can.” As I speak, Jasmine has already positioned her head beneath my fingers, with a look in her red eyes that clearly communicates the thought,
Pet me immediately or I shall never forgive you. A few gentle scratches behind the horn, and I am spared the Absol's wrath. As Yuina withdraws, I can see, standing a few paces behind her, the beautiful Arisa is still red from hearing her darling little sister swear... Yet, it's obvious from the dark circles under her eyes that there is too much weighing on her to waste precious time reviving that argument. Little Enjeru, the famous Audino of Fallarbor town, tilts his head and regards me with quiet curiosity, maintaining his stance beside his trainer.
“Shiori, it's so good to see you again,” Arisa exclaims in a much calmer, more gentle voice – when she approaches me, her embrace is briefer, softer. Enjeru toddles behind, and manages a small wave with a paw in my direction. “We've all missed you very much, as I'm sure you can tell by Yuina's... enthusiasm.” Arisa does not waste the opportunity to give her sister a stern look before continuing, her look melting into one of concern; “Gosh, Shiori, you look exhausted.”
“Haha, well -” Before I can even attempt to politely dissuade Arisa and assure her of my unfailing strength, Belle nods vigorously, moving her hands up and resting her cheek against them, pantomiming sleep. “Belle, really, I'm fine-”
Belle shakes her head and crosses her arms. Arisa cannot help but giggle the slightest bit, and makes a motion toward the guest room. Yuina, taking the more direct approach, sneaks behinds me and gives a resolute shove in the right direction. “Then to bed with you, missy,” she announces with a puffed chest and a faux-demanding tone. “Arisa and I can handle things while you get some sleep. In the morning, we can catch you up on what we've found. Hopefully, there will be a lot to say!”
“Mm, yeah...” I haphazardly attempt to take off my shoes, nearly falling over in the process. With some steadying from Yuina and Belle, I remember putting my shoes aside, wandering toward the bedroom, and then the serene embrace of nothingness.
…
I awoke to the sharp feeling of a kick in the ribs through a pile of blankets.
“SHIORI! SHIORI! Dammit, Shiori! What does it take to wake you up?” Another sharp kick.
“Ow! OW! Stop it! ...Yuina?” Shooting upright, I give the dark-haired girl raising her leg for another kick an incredibly sharp glare. “What are you doing?”
“Well, I WAS looking for a Miltank prod a moment ago. You're lucky the kicking worked,” the brown-eyed assailant gives me a spritely little laugh, which does little to provoke any amusement on my part.
“If that's a comment on my weight, I swear to Arceus...” As I lift an angry fist, Yuina practically jumps back in shock. Certainly, she wasn't intimidated by my threatening gesture – Yuina could kick my ass any day of the week despite being shorter and skinnier than me, and she knew it – but the accusation immediately provokes an apologetic look.
“No, no! That's not what I meant at all! Sorry...” Yuina scratches the back of her head, her posture betraying her embarrassment. “You know I wouldn't say something like that.”
“But you WOULD kick me in the stomach while I'm sleeping.”
“Yes, indeed!” Yuina's grin immediately returns. “I would, and I did.”
“What the hell is wrong with you?!” My bewildered gaze is met with surprise.
“What?! Don't tell me you forgot!” Yuina grabs me by my arm, ignoring that my hand is still balled into a fist, and attempts to forcefully yank me out of my bed – succeeding halfway before going tumbling backward into a nearby bookcase, sending some books flying in the process. Yuina's statement immediately brings the memory back, and I jolt out of bed.
“Oh, shi-” I catch myself, noting Arisa popping her head in the doorway. “-iiiDINJA! That's right!”
Arisa smiles brightly. “Goood morning, Shiori! Belle is already in the kitchen waiting for you with Enjeru and Jasmine. We got her some Pokefood for lunch – Sinnoh Sunshine Brand – I hope you don't mind!”
“If she doesn't mind, I don't,” I respond with a smile, before I realize what was just said. “Wait, lunch? How long did I sleep?” A quick look at the clock beside the bed reveals that we are well into the afternoon. Feeling rather embarrassed for having slept the day away, my immediate reaction is to waste no more of my friends' precious time. “Well, never mind that. I want to hear everything about your investigation. Did you find her?”
Yuina and Arisa exchange a worried glance, with Yuina taking the initiative to confirm my suspicion; “Not yet.” A playful smirk makes its way across her face. “That said, I did find some... interesting things in the lab, though. I want you to come take a look as soon as you can.” Yuina winks toward her sister, who clearly appears to be feigning confusion.
“Yeah, sure, as soon as I get dre-” I look down, realizing that I don't need to finish my statement, as I had apparently been so exhausted that I had fallen asleep dressed in trainer's garb. A quick comb-through of my pixie cut with my fingers, and I'm more or less ready... certainly not for a date, or really any sort of meaningful public appearance, but this was an emergency. “Actually, let's go. Your mom needs us.”
…
Stepping into Professor Ayahana's new lab for the first time, I find myself overloaded by the sights and sounds – the detailed anatomical posters of various Pokemon on the walls, the rows of samples and rock-like objects on benches, the massive chrome instruments, the buzzing, beeping computers, the pristine shelves with every single test tube in its rightful place -- one would never know that the professor was infamously disorganized by the look of the laboratory. Compared to the tiny extention to the old Ayahana residence, with its single, outdated computer, cluttered lab bench and cheap shelving units that sagged under the weight of all the equipment piled on them, this new setup was downright magical.
After a brief moment of fumbling with an Audino keyring whose burden rivals a Klefki swarm, Arisa unlocks her mother's personal office, and encourages us to walk inside. It seems that all the mess hidden from view in the lab proper has taken residence inside the office, where the familiar paper piles, sagging shelves and old, dusty computer seem to have held on. A cursory glance reveals nothing out of the ordinary, though Yuina is quick to pick up a small notebook on her mother's desk, waving it in my face. The pink, spiral-bound notebook clearly has the words “AUDINO RESEARCH, PART TWO” written in clear, deliberate, feminine script... The type of writing only Arisa was capable of. The older sibling had yet to notice, however, and appeared to be searching intently.
“I think there's something here that mom might have wanted us to find-”
“What's this, then, Arisa?” Yuina holds up the notebook. “Doesn't look like my mom's handwriting...”
Arisa immediately blushes, attempting to take the notebook from Yuina. “Come on, sis! That's not important to the case-”
“Aaaaaaaaa-riiiiiiiiii-saaaaaaaaaa,” Yuina croons, “Could it be that your deep, dark secret that neither of us could
possibly know is in this notebook? You know, the one that involves pictures that are CLEARLY of you in the newspaper, but no one seems to acknowledge it because of all the makeup and whatnot you have on? Shiori and I CERTAINLY know nothing about it. Mm-hm!”
I sarcastically nod along with Yuina, much to Arisa's irritation.
“Hmph! You two knew all along? Why didn't you say anything?”
Yuina shrugs. “Look, Arisa, what you do at night in a sexy Audino costume is none of my business-”
“YUINA!”
I can't help but chime in; “We are proud of you no matter how you choose to live your life! Let your freak flag fly, Midnight Angel.”
“SHIORIII!”
“Arisa...” Yuina's face softens a bit. “What we mean is... We trust that, whatever you're doing, it's the right thing... Even if we don't fully understand it. But given what's happened, the secrecy has to end.”
Arisa lowers her eyes, eventually nodding. “You're right. I knew there would come a day that I would need to call upon you both to help me, but... I had hoped it wouldn't be this soon, or this personal. My hope was to keep you both out of danger as long as I could. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have kept the secret from you...” She pauses, with a bit of a grimace, “...even if you already knew.”
“Apology accepted!” Yuina gives her sister a thumbs up. “So, how can we help?”
Arisa moves beside her sister, opening the book in Yuina's hands and flipping to a particular page. Pointing to where she wants her sister to begin, I move to the other side of Yuina in order to peer over her shoulder. While the two of us read the story of the ill-fated sailor and his daughter who ascends the Sky Tower, Arisa digs her way through one of her mother's desk drawers. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch her slip what appears to be a gold pendant over Yuina's neck, before doing the same to me. I finish the story just in time to observe her clasping a thin, gold bracelet with an odd-looking gem around my Gardevoir's arm, and affixing a similar one to one of Jasmine's paws. Though Belle is quietly contemplative regarding her new adornment, the ferociously competitive Jasmine is not really the meditative sort. With a sharp cry, the creature lifts her arm, activating what appears to be Absolite... but it is Yuina who begins to take on a strange glow.
“Oh my gosh, Jasmine, you can't give me five minutes to explain this?!” Arisa can't help but chuckle. Though Yuina seems quite shocked as the transformation envelops her, and rightfully so, I can't help but think that if the roles were reversed, Jasmine would be sprouting wings faster than you could say, “What tutorial?”
We both observe Yuina's pitch-black hair turn a stark white, save for a small streak in the center of her bangs and on the left side of her head. Beautiful white wings sprout from her back, as her sporty red tank-top becomes a brilliant white, fluffy bodice. Her black biker shorts flare out into a feathered white skirt, with a black bat-wing accent in the back. Even her combat boots turn the lovely color of her Absol's fur, taking on claw-like appendages in the front and back, similar to her Absol's claws. Gloves appear on her hands which provide a similar effect, the white fabric ending above the elbow. As the glow fades, her newly-red eyes become clear, and I can see that tiny fangs have replaced Yuina's teeth.
“What... what happened to me?” Yuina admires herself in what she can make out of her reflection in the black computer monitor. “Damn, I look hot!”
“Didn't you read the story?” Arisa crosses her arms. “It's like it says. Mega Evolution works both ways. Our Pokemon have the power to transform us, just as we transform them. This is the ethical alternative to Burst Forms that Mom has been trying to discover for ages... No longer do we have to cage our Pokemon eternally in stones to harness their abilities! With enough love, they will willingly transfer their powers to us, for a time.” Arisa wiggles her clenched fists and jumps up and down, vibrating with excitement. “Isn't it
awesome?! Shiori, you next! You next! I can't wait to see!”
“Uh...” Halfway due to self-consciousness, and halfway from being dumbfounded by Yuina's gorgeous transformation, Arisa is met with heavy hesitation of my part. “Um... How about you first, Arisa? I, uh... I wanna make sure I do... that I do it right. Yeah.”
“No worries!” Arisa wastes no time ordering Enjeru to transform her into the woman whose face graced every cover of magazines in the Pokemart check-out line, but as glorious as Arisa's pink, angelic transformation is, my mind is elsewhere... Surely, this power went beyond just a pretty dress, but Yuina and Arisa were naturally beautiful in whatever they wore. Me, twenty pounds overweight and barely able to understand the most basic emotions of my Pokemon... Was I really cut out for this kind of thing? The girls on TV were always skinny... pristine... confident. No matter what the form was that Belle was able to give me, I would never be able to carry it with her grace...
“Your turn.”
I take a deep breath, and think as loud as I can...
Please make me beautiful, Belle. Please make me beautiful.
Belle's eyes glow with psychic energy, and so, too, does my body. My jeans turn to putty, forming a puffed-out miniskirt in the shape of Mega Gardevoir's gown. A white corset cinches my ribs worse than any hug that Yuina could give me, and I cry out in pain as a red, butterfly-like appendage bursts forth from my chest, as if it were made from my very heart. I can feel the thing pulsing, faster and faster, as my anxiety reaches its peak: elegant gloves, a deep green hairstyle, and thin white boots complete the look, and even as the glow around me fades, my chest still feels as if it had been completely and utterly cut open.
It hurts... Oh, Arceus, it hurts...
I see that my arms still sag with the extra weight. My legs still look thicker than they should. My waist, though cinched, is still considerably larger than Yuina's or Arisa's... And yet, Yuina looks at me with total awe.
“My Arceus... You look
amazing.” Yuina blinks. “Oh, wow! Shiori! I can't even believe it! Look at yooooooou~!”
“I know. I look ridiculous. And this... thing...” I point to the red butterfly in the center of my chest.
“It's the source of your power, I'd wager,” Arisa interjects. “Sort of like my angel clips... If I focus through them, deep into my temples, I can channel Enjeru's healing power. Try to focus energy into your heart. Please, I know it's strange at first, but this is really important. If my theory is correct, you can use your power to figure out where our mother is. Try to visualize her in your mind.”
“And you DON'T look ridiculous.” Yuina motions with her hand as if brushing away my insecurities... and, in some ways, she does, if only for that brief moment. It is enough to inspire me to try.
At first, every attempt to focus energy into the red protrusion results in a massive amount of pain. It takes all my strength not to double over... Wincing hard, I try once, twice, three times.
“Ugh... I don't know if I can-”
A sudden wave of energy hits me. A feeling. An emotion... A strange mix of worry and admiration. These feelings are not my own, and yet, I feel them more strongly than anything my own heart has ever produced. It does not take me long to realize that these must be Belle's feelings. Worry for what danger I may face... and admiration for being able to take on her strength. I try to think – how would their mother likely be feeling? Scared... alone... worried for her daughters, especially Arisa-
The vision comes, and I am ready to play my part.
…
It doesn't take us long to find our way to the abandoned house that had briefly flashed in my mind, our Pokemon following along, silently observing our progress. The girls and I had debated whether I had the power teleport everyone there, but all my intense, meditative focusing just made me feel light-headed and a little gassy, and nowhere closer to where we needed to be. My attempts at levitation did make me feel a little bit lighter... though that could have just been my imagination. Pausing at the front door, Arisa turns to her sister.
“Yuina... This is where I need you.”
“Oo, sweet! What special power do you think I have? The ability to sense catastrophe? Attunement to darkness? Brooding, fallen seraph type of stuff? Two-winged angel?”
“No, I just need you to beat up any thugs that might try to get in our way. You have claws, right?”
“...Oh. Yeah.” Yuina shrugs, admiring the pointy claws at the tip of her gloves. “At least I'll be pretty doing it.”
“Shiori, if you can use your powers to stop enemies or shield us, try attempting that, as well. We really don't know the extent of what we can do yet, so try your best, girls! Believe in yourselves, and in our friendship!”
“...Did I really just hear you say that? Did you just go full Sailor Moon? NEVER go full Sailor Moon.”
Arisa rolls her eyes. “Please break down the door.”
“Can do!” With a strong punch, the door falls down, revealing only cobwebs and empty rooms.
“Hold up.” Stepping inside carefully, I can sense some strong emotions coming from beneath the floor. Following the sense, I approach a small tear in the worn, threadbare carpet of what appears to be a former living-room area, and one small tug at the tear reveals exactly what I expected to find – a trapdoor.
We steel ourselves for the task, ordering our Pokemon to join us as we descend into the pit below. Given that our costumes didn't really lend themselves to stealth operations, it seemed to make sense that we would drop right in, magical guns a-blazing.
The three of us landed in a rather unceremonious pile on what appeared to be a large desk, which separated Professor Ayahana from what appeared to be a masked interrogator in a grey suit. In fact, the five or six grunts surrounding him all seemed to be wearing similar grey attire, suggesting some kind of evil organization. The men in grey are oddly difficult to read emotions from, but Professor Ayahana's fear broadcasts loud and clear. Yuina gets to her feet first, and with true magical girl form and finesse, kicks the guy right in the nuts. Simple, but effective. The other goons draw their Pokeballs, but I am ready.
“GUARDIAN SHIELD!” I don't really need to shout anything, but it feels right. I throw up a shimmering pink reflect, just like what Belle would do, and protect my friends as they greet Professor Ayahana.
“MOM!” The two girls embrace their mother, who wraps an arm around each of them, clearly relieved to see them. Though I can tell that they would stay in that embrace forever, the pair sense that I am straining against the reflect, and insist that we escort her out the back door as soon as possible, with our Pokemon following close behind. We push our way past the grunts in a glorious battle montage, complete with music and flashing orbs and magical attacks – the kind where nothing really makes sense, but no one really argues it, because it's MAGICAL LOVE PRISM FRIENDSHIP HEART OF THE CARDS! Eh, I guess you had to be there.
As we escape the abandoned house and gradually shift back into our original clothes, Arisa and Yuina are laughing with their mother, who dotes on them for having adapted so well to their new talents. She couldn't be more proud, she says. This is the start of a brand new life for us, she says. We're heroes, she says. The girls seem too excited about their mother's return to even begin asking questions right now... and though they hang precariously from my tongue, I find it hard to ask them right now. This moment is like a dream, and it would be a shame to wake them... but what I sensed from those men in grey didn't seem right.
…
Fade out. A moment of black, before a bright, blaring series of overly saccharine and feminine visuals assaults your eye, accompanied by a Japanese theme song about... I dunno, love? Friendship? Hell if I can translate any of it.
Wow, those girls sure got Professor Ayahana out of trouble in the nick of time, didn't they? But who were those mysterious men in grey? What did they want with Professor Ayahana? What mysteries will the girls solve next? Find out next wee- er, well, whenever the writer decides to rewrite and add more to this drivel – next time, on TEAM M.E.G.A. (Magically Evolving Girl Alliance, of course)!