From the Ashes

[LKWayvern]

Chapter 9

(RL) The other Scyther’s face twisted slightly, a light of recognition entering their eyes.
“Eric? You actually got out of that bloodbath?” Goker snorted. “Hmph. I figured you’d been captured with Arkon. After all, you’re so much weaker than he is.”
Eric came out of his reverie with a start. “Goker? I was never weak. I simply tried to come up with a strategy before rushing into a fight.”
“And then you were knocked out by an Aerial Ace or Wing Attack in the first few seconds,” Goker replied haughtily.
Eric frowned at the other Scyther. “How do you like Vibrant Meadow?” Eric asked, trying to change the topic.
Goker gestured flippantly with a scythe. “This place? Feh. The Pokemon here are soft, from too much peace. War is healthy, it strengthens Pokemon, but these? Pathetic.”
Eric narrowed his eyes. “You don’t find this place beautiful? Pokemon of all species coming together to make a paradise… A true Utopia… While our own Clan never did anything but fight, fight so much the horror of blood was dulled and--”
“Stop waxing poetry, sentimental fool!” Goker hissed. “I’m twice your age, I watched you grow up. You always were squeamish about fighting!”
“Not squeamish, I fought when I had to,” Eric replied.
Goker laughed at that statement. “Ha! Scyther are born to fight! What else would we do with these lovely scythes? We cannot build, we cannot heal, we can only destroy. And once you embrace that fact, Eric, you’ll find your strength improving a hundredfold. You want to play Psychic type? Fine, but in the end, it will get you killed, mark my words.”
Eric stared at Goker, shocked that the other Scyther would say such things. Then he turned around and, wings buzzing, flew away.


(RL) Eric wasn’t sure how long he had been flying when he came to his senses again. He was going to get lost in a strange place if he did not land. So he did.
He soon realized he was back in Vibrant Meadow’s gardens, and not alone. Sitting nearby, eyes closed, was Kai.
Not knowing what else to do, Eric sat down next to her.
For several minutes there was silence as the wind slowly waved the myriad flowers back and forth. Then Kai opened her eyes, turned to Eric, and smiled. “It really is like they say, like a Utopia, isn’t it?”
Eric nodded, sullenly. Immediately noticing something was wrong, Kai frowned. “What happened?”
Eric would have put his head in his sheathed scythes, and sighed. “I… ran into one of my old Clanmates,” he explained. “Back in the Rahzyne Clan, we more or less had one belief, and one only. Our scythes were best for battling, but made us terrible at trying other things. Scyther from our clan believe that because of this, Mew decided when Scyther were created that Scyther were made for battling. My Clan embraces this belief, but in the process… They lost things. They lost the idea of strategy, or strength through teamwork. They began to gain strange ideas about what qualifies you as ‘strong’ and what as ‘weak’.” He paused. “I wanted to make it so that our definition of strength is redefined. So that they would see that strength of mind is just the same as strength of body… But no one would listen, due to the same foolish laws I wished to change.”
Eric leaned back on the soft grass, staring at the azure skies. “I had a friend, Arkon… He was more or less the only friend I had. He was as kind to me as he could be while still embracing the Clan’s ideals. He tried to change me so I could conform more easily to the Clan. While I dislike that, I appreciate how he tried to ease my pain… When they were kidnapped, it was his loss I felt the most. I care for my Clan, because they were all I knew, and I didn’t know how I could go on without a certain familiarity… But after my confrontation with Goker, I realize I only miss Arkon.”
Eric raised up his sheathed scythes, pointing them towards the sky and studying them. “Goker also said… My former clanmate told me… He said I was trying to be something other than a Scyther, and that it would only end in death for me if I continued to do so. I’m not trying to be something other than a Scyther… I am what I am. And what I am is just… a different Scyther. But this difference… How different Vibrant Meadows is from the Rahzyne Clan relieves me and scares me. It assures me there is hope for the Rahzyne Clan if we rescue them, if we can teach them to live like this… But if they react like Goker did to it… I’m terrified they might attempt to destroy this beautiful, different place.”
Kai simply looked at Eric for a moment, then gently took his sheathe, scythe still inside it, in her hand.
“I’ve had experiences with difference,” Kai murmured softly. “When I was young, I lived with my mother and her trainer. My mother taught me how to live in a world where humans took care of everything you wanted, and all they asked for in return was to help them out in battles and contests… But when my mother and I were released, my mother couldnt cope with either the grief, or our new life. She couldn’t cope with such traumatic change… And it killed her.” Kai’s eyes misted up for a few moments, before she blinked away the tears.
“I was younger, and more flexible, though,” Kai continued. “I found a way to come here, to Utopia. It amazed me how Pokemon could live here, on their own, without help from humans. But I learned quickly, made a life in Vibrant Meadows, and when the Phoenix League was formed I joined. I wanted to thank them for how they opened my eyes, and made my change in lives so much easier…”
Kai looked towards the flowers, thinking. “I guess I’m trying to say that change can be good. So you really shouldn’t try and destroy it just because it’s change, wait and see what kind of change is first before you do something.”
Eric nodded, and smiled. “...Thank you, Kai. I… I feel a lot better now.”
They sat together, on the grass, surrounded by the beautiful scenery. It made quite an adorable picture, before Eric suddenly jumped up. “Oh, crap!” he yelled.
Kai looked at him, startled. “What’s wrong?”
“When I flew away from Goker in confusion, I lost track of Gadzooks! I don’t know where he is, we have to find him quickly!” Eric flustered.