Kenta silenced him with a warning glare, but Marina shook her head sadly. “The radio already reported about a double team of rogue trainers on a Zapdos,” she murmured. “About half an hour ago, I was listening to the Lucky Number Show on my way down to Goldenrod City when an emergency broadcast from the Orre News Network cut in. They were saying that Krane Laboratories had been blown to pieces by a Brendan Birch imposter and his accomplice, after failing to steal the lab’s infamous Snag Machine. In between, they kept going on about how the imposter held a Master Ball, and in it, the legendary Zapdos . . . Kenta, did you really do that?”
“We had to!” Hibiki spoke up resolutely, wanting to defend Kenta. “Taking possession of the Snag Machine was the only way to-” He stopped as Kenta signaled him a second time with a ‘that’s enough’ look. He gazed tiredly into Marina’s betrayed face, picked up her pokegear, and navigated quickly and efficiently through it. A picture photo appeared on the screen, with a sixteen-year-old Kenta and a Typhlosion smiling at the camera. In it, Kenta was winking and making a thumbs-up sign, while the Typhlosion held up two fingers just behind his head. Hibiki couldn’t tell if it was a V-for-victory sign, or if the fire ferret was giving Kenta bunny ears. The real Kenta handed Marina’s pokegear back to her, a solemn look upon his face, and Marina accepted it with more tears, a fist to her mouth. Kenta gave a heavy sigh. “Remember Bakuphoon?”
And then everything spilled out on its own. Kenta told Marina all that he had told Hibiki, starting from his military assignment to investigate Silph Corporation, and ending almost an hour later at the present day. Hibiki jumped in whenever Kenta forgot a certain detail, eager to be helpful, especially now. When the brothers had finished, Marina wasn’t crying anymore, but instead staring at the two of them in fascinated awe; a complete turnaround from before.
“And that’s why we need the Snag Machine,” Kenta was concluding, putting out his hands in a reasoning gesture. “To get Bakuphoon back from G.R.I.P., and every other pokémon like him that was once a trainer’s closest-” He stopped and looked down awkwardly; Marina had reached out and taken both of his hands, her eyes sparkling with happiness as she looked at him. Hibiki cleared his throat loudly at her, feeling annoyed for some reason that she was touching his brother. Marina took no notice.
“That is so cool!” she whispered excitedly, sliding closer to Kenta until she was clearly within his personal space. Kenta’s face reddened again as her own face drew nearer to his. “So even under G.R.I.P.’s rule, there’s still a force of rebel trainers rising up secretly to meet them. And you’re their selfless, brave leader! You’re like . . . you’re like . . .”
“Harry Potter?” suggested Kenta faintly, looking like he might pass out from pressure. Marina’s body was almost touching his. Hibiki smirked. “Try Keitaro Urashima instead.”
“Wataru!” exclaimed Marina excitedly. Kenta accidentally pushed her off as he suddenly stood up straight, staring at her questioningly. “Wataru Lance?” he repeated, a hint of exasperation in his voice. “Marina, there’s a limit to every obsession. How exactly am I like that guy?”
“Wataru’s cool,” said Marina, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. “And he can do anything!”
“Yeah, well . . .” Kenta turned away, depression threatening to take him once more. “I can’t do anything. Not without the Snag Machine.”
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” said Hibiki determinedly, making a fist and pointing with his finger at the cave entrance. “Now let’s get out of here and re-think the plan!”
“Wait!” Marina stopped them. “Johto Sky Patrol might be out there,” she explained, walking out of the cave opening first. “Just to be safe, let me have a look-see.” A moment later, she waved the brothers over, nodding her head. “It’s clear. Where are you going, anyway?”
Kenta put a hand under his chin, thinking. “Where are we going, hmm . . . Bolt and Snorlax are out of the picture until tomorrow morning, and we can’t go flying anywhere else with Zapdos. Plus, Ecruteak City is a tourist attraction as is, without the news of a golden bird flying through . . .” Kenta eyed Marina seriously. “How did you find us?”
“Oh, that’s easy.” Marina smiled. “I was one of the people who saw your Zapdos flash past the Tin Tower. I thought I’d chase you, see if I could capture you, and . . . well . . .” She turned a bit red. “Then I found out it was you.”
So that’s why she told her Mismagius to cast Hypnosis on us, thought Hibiki uncomfortably. Wow. Good thing it was her.
“So . . . that leaves Mahogany Town,” reasoned Kenta, looking uncomfortable. “But they said this morning that they were keeping police lookouts posted around, because they’d spied Team Rocket lurking around out there . . .” Turning around suddenly, picking up Hibiki’s backpack as he went, Kenta rushed off into the darkness of the cave. Marina watched him go, looking confused. “Where’s he off to in such a hurry?”
“He’ll be back,” said Hibiki casually. “He’s just becoming a soldier again.”
Sure enough, Kenta bounded out a minute later in his sergeant uniform, looking a hundred percent different than he had as Brendan Birch. Returning the pack to Hibiki, Kenta nodded and beckoned his companions out of the cave. “We’re going to take refuge in Mahogany Town for now,” he announced, as the three of them reached water’s edge. “Marina, thank you. You’ve been a great help in warning us and hiding us. But after this, you should go back to your life as . . .” Kenta thought for a moment. “You’re still going to be an idol trainer, right? You can’t be seen with Hibiki and me-”
“What?” said Marina, suddenly looking angry at him. “What are you talking about? Of course I’m coming with you, after everything you told me. I’m in on it now, aren’t I?”
Kenta, with a cornered look, glanced to Hibiki for help, but his kid brother only shrugged. “If you didn’t want her with us, you should’ve just said we were criminals to begin with.”
“Okay fine, but what if we hurt Marina’s image-”
“My image?” she asked, smiling. “I already know how I’ll be using my image, now! I can be an idol trainer as you’ve been an idol trainer, Kenta, and help set the example as you have. Just you watch. We’ll have tons more trainers on our side, when the cute and talented Marina takes the stage!”
Kenta stared at her, lost for words, then dropped his head in defeat. “Always the independent spirit, Marina,” he groaned. “But can’t we be serious for a minute?”
“I am serious.” Marina looked directly into his eyes, her face set. “This isn’t just your fight, Kenta. G.R.I.P. took Pink-chan, my Wigglytuff. Do you know how painful it is, having to choose from three of your pokémon the one that will go? What if you had three close friends about to be kidnapped by a pedophile, and you knew you could only save two of them? Don’t you know how guilty I feel every night, when I remember how betrayed she must feel?”
Marina’s expression was intense. Kenta couldn’t look at her directly, as he realized just how affected she really was. “All right,” he said softly. “I understand. We’ll all go to Mahogany Town together.”
Awfully touchy-feely, this girl, thought Hibiki as Marina immediately beamed and clamped his brother in a hug for a second time. He shook off the thought. Geez, why should this be offending me? She’s a nice girl.
Nobody was around when Waniwani the Feraligator entered the lake with his three passengers. As they were ferried slowly towards the distant end of the lake, Hibiki tapped Kenta on the shoulder and addressed him before Marina could start another conversation with him.
“Kenta, I’ve been meaning to ask . . . how did you manage to capture Zapdos? I mean, I know you used a fail-proof Master Ball, but . . . like, how’d you even find him?”
“Ah, yeah, about that . . .” Kenta smiled nervously and poked his index fingers together as he talked. Marina listened too, from her seat in the front just behind Waniwani’s head. “To be fair, I think it was Zapdos who found me.”
***
In his barely conscious state, Kenta could feel his ruined body rising and falling by weight. Around him, the wind screamed and pushed upon him, threatening to throw him off the side of whatever platform he was lying upon. Yet every time he rolled to the side, he’d feel something long and thick pushing him back to his original spot. Opening his eyes the smallest bit, Kenta noticed that it was a red wing: a Salamence’s wing. All at once, he pieced together what must have happened, unimaginable though it must be. Bolt, a Salamence? Had he really done it, had he evolved, and become the Dragonite of the Hoenn Region?
But he, Kenta, should not be surprised. On the day he’d captured Bolt, he’d succeeded only because the little Bagon had first thrown himself headfirst off a cliff in Meteor Falls, in attempt to fly. Once the capture and the concussion had passed, Kenta had knelt down to his newest little pokémon and put out his pinky to make a promise. Train and become strong with us, Kenta had told the young Bolt, and one day they would fly together. And they’d pinky-swore, Kenta with a finger, and Bolt, with his teeth. Later, Kenta joked about it being the most painful promise he’d ever have to keep.
How fitting it was. Bolt was now flying for the very first time in his life, and he, Kenta, was in more pain than ever. It felt as though his abdominals were straining, without him flexing them, to get out the bullet that wasn’t there. He’d been pierced straight through the back, and out his stomach, so that there were two holes in his body that formed a mini-tunnel right through. One of his hands had found the spot on its own, and lay pressed against it in attempt to keep the life-blood inside. Staunching the blood flow didn’t seem to be working though; he continued to bleed regardless.
Kenta didn’t know how long it took for Bolt to reach where he was going. Time had no meaning anymore. Nothing really did, with certain death approaching. He’d lost too much blood. He had no more sense of touch, and his other senses seemed on their way out as well. When they’d at last touched the ground again and Kenta rolled off Bolt’s back, he didn’t feel any impact. He didn’t even feel the temperature around them, although judging by the light snowfall, it must’ve been freezing. And somewhat to his relief, he was starting to be numb of the stinging pain in his chest, which now felt no worse than a Weedle’s poison.
Yet there was fear in his heart which kept him from embracing the sweet relief death seemed to be promising him. The American missionary that had come to New Bark Town years back, the one whom he’d brushed off at the time, had mentioned something about dying that he’d never given much thought to until this very moment. Death, he’d said, wasn’t the end. Anyone who died went on, but only in one of two directions: towards the creator of the universe, or away from that same creator. Those who’d never known him in life, and thus could never be thankful to him for the sun’s warmth, the delicious variety of food tastes, the vast multitude of the world’s scents and flamboyant colors, and so on, these people would not search for him in death.
Why was Kenta wondering about him now?
“We had to!” Hibiki spoke up resolutely, wanting to defend Kenta. “Taking possession of the Snag Machine was the only way to-” He stopped as Kenta signaled him a second time with a ‘that’s enough’ look. He gazed tiredly into Marina’s betrayed face, picked up her pokegear, and navigated quickly and efficiently through it. A picture photo appeared on the screen, with a sixteen-year-old Kenta and a Typhlosion smiling at the camera. In it, Kenta was winking and making a thumbs-up sign, while the Typhlosion held up two fingers just behind his head. Hibiki couldn’t tell if it was a V-for-victory sign, or if the fire ferret was giving Kenta bunny ears. The real Kenta handed Marina’s pokegear back to her, a solemn look upon his face, and Marina accepted it with more tears, a fist to her mouth. Kenta gave a heavy sigh. “Remember Bakuphoon?”
And then everything spilled out on its own. Kenta told Marina all that he had told Hibiki, starting from his military assignment to investigate Silph Corporation, and ending almost an hour later at the present day. Hibiki jumped in whenever Kenta forgot a certain detail, eager to be helpful, especially now. When the brothers had finished, Marina wasn’t crying anymore, but instead staring at the two of them in fascinated awe; a complete turnaround from before.
“And that’s why we need the Snag Machine,” Kenta was concluding, putting out his hands in a reasoning gesture. “To get Bakuphoon back from G.R.I.P., and every other pokémon like him that was once a trainer’s closest-” He stopped and looked down awkwardly; Marina had reached out and taken both of his hands, her eyes sparkling with happiness as she looked at him. Hibiki cleared his throat loudly at her, feeling annoyed for some reason that she was touching his brother. Marina took no notice.
“That is so cool!” she whispered excitedly, sliding closer to Kenta until she was clearly within his personal space. Kenta’s face reddened again as her own face drew nearer to his. “So even under G.R.I.P.’s rule, there’s still a force of rebel trainers rising up secretly to meet them. And you’re their selfless, brave leader! You’re like . . . you’re like . . .”
“Harry Potter?” suggested Kenta faintly, looking like he might pass out from pressure. Marina’s body was almost touching his. Hibiki smirked. “Try Keitaro Urashima instead.”
“Wataru!” exclaimed Marina excitedly. Kenta accidentally pushed her off as he suddenly stood up straight, staring at her questioningly. “Wataru Lance?” he repeated, a hint of exasperation in his voice. “Marina, there’s a limit to every obsession. How exactly am I like that guy?”
“Wataru’s cool,” said Marina, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. “And he can do anything!”
“Yeah, well . . .” Kenta turned away, depression threatening to take him once more. “I can’t do anything. Not without the Snag Machine.”
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” said Hibiki determinedly, making a fist and pointing with his finger at the cave entrance. “Now let’s get out of here and re-think the plan!”
“Wait!” Marina stopped them. “Johto Sky Patrol might be out there,” she explained, walking out of the cave opening first. “Just to be safe, let me have a look-see.” A moment later, she waved the brothers over, nodding her head. “It’s clear. Where are you going, anyway?”
Kenta put a hand under his chin, thinking. “Where are we going, hmm . . . Bolt and Snorlax are out of the picture until tomorrow morning, and we can’t go flying anywhere else with Zapdos. Plus, Ecruteak City is a tourist attraction as is, without the news of a golden bird flying through . . .” Kenta eyed Marina seriously. “How did you find us?”
“Oh, that’s easy.” Marina smiled. “I was one of the people who saw your Zapdos flash past the Tin Tower. I thought I’d chase you, see if I could capture you, and . . . well . . .” She turned a bit red. “Then I found out it was you.”
So that’s why she told her Mismagius to cast Hypnosis on us, thought Hibiki uncomfortably. Wow. Good thing it was her.
“So . . . that leaves Mahogany Town,” reasoned Kenta, looking uncomfortable. “But they said this morning that they were keeping police lookouts posted around, because they’d spied Team Rocket lurking around out there . . .” Turning around suddenly, picking up Hibiki’s backpack as he went, Kenta rushed off into the darkness of the cave. Marina watched him go, looking confused. “Where’s he off to in such a hurry?”
“He’ll be back,” said Hibiki casually. “He’s just becoming a soldier again.”
Sure enough, Kenta bounded out a minute later in his sergeant uniform, looking a hundred percent different than he had as Brendan Birch. Returning the pack to Hibiki, Kenta nodded and beckoned his companions out of the cave. “We’re going to take refuge in Mahogany Town for now,” he announced, as the three of them reached water’s edge. “Marina, thank you. You’ve been a great help in warning us and hiding us. But after this, you should go back to your life as . . .” Kenta thought for a moment. “You’re still going to be an idol trainer, right? You can’t be seen with Hibiki and me-”
“What?” said Marina, suddenly looking angry at him. “What are you talking about? Of course I’m coming with you, after everything you told me. I’m in on it now, aren’t I?”
Kenta, with a cornered look, glanced to Hibiki for help, but his kid brother only shrugged. “If you didn’t want her with us, you should’ve just said we were criminals to begin with.”
“Okay fine, but what if we hurt Marina’s image-”
“My image?” she asked, smiling. “I already know how I’ll be using my image, now! I can be an idol trainer as you’ve been an idol trainer, Kenta, and help set the example as you have. Just you watch. We’ll have tons more trainers on our side, when the cute and talented Marina takes the stage!”
Kenta stared at her, lost for words, then dropped his head in defeat. “Always the independent spirit, Marina,” he groaned. “But can’t we be serious for a minute?”
“I am serious.” Marina looked directly into his eyes, her face set. “This isn’t just your fight, Kenta. G.R.I.P. took Pink-chan, my Wigglytuff. Do you know how painful it is, having to choose from three of your pokémon the one that will go? What if you had three close friends about to be kidnapped by a pedophile, and you knew you could only save two of them? Don’t you know how guilty I feel every night, when I remember how betrayed she must feel?”
Marina’s expression was intense. Kenta couldn’t look at her directly, as he realized just how affected she really was. “All right,” he said softly. “I understand. We’ll all go to Mahogany Town together.”
Awfully touchy-feely, this girl, thought Hibiki as Marina immediately beamed and clamped his brother in a hug for a second time. He shook off the thought. Geez, why should this be offending me? She’s a nice girl.
Nobody was around when Waniwani the Feraligator entered the lake with his three passengers. As they were ferried slowly towards the distant end of the lake, Hibiki tapped Kenta on the shoulder and addressed him before Marina could start another conversation with him.
“Kenta, I’ve been meaning to ask . . . how did you manage to capture Zapdos? I mean, I know you used a fail-proof Master Ball, but . . . like, how’d you even find him?”
“Ah, yeah, about that . . .” Kenta smiled nervously and poked his index fingers together as he talked. Marina listened too, from her seat in the front just behind Waniwani’s head. “To be fair, I think it was Zapdos who found me.”
***
In his barely conscious state, Kenta could feel his ruined body rising and falling by weight. Around him, the wind screamed and pushed upon him, threatening to throw him off the side of whatever platform he was lying upon. Yet every time he rolled to the side, he’d feel something long and thick pushing him back to his original spot. Opening his eyes the smallest bit, Kenta noticed that it was a red wing: a Salamence’s wing. All at once, he pieced together what must have happened, unimaginable though it must be. Bolt, a Salamence? Had he really done it, had he evolved, and become the Dragonite of the Hoenn Region?
But he, Kenta, should not be surprised. On the day he’d captured Bolt, he’d succeeded only because the little Bagon had first thrown himself headfirst off a cliff in Meteor Falls, in attempt to fly. Once the capture and the concussion had passed, Kenta had knelt down to his newest little pokémon and put out his pinky to make a promise. Train and become strong with us, Kenta had told the young Bolt, and one day they would fly together. And they’d pinky-swore, Kenta with a finger, and Bolt, with his teeth. Later, Kenta joked about it being the most painful promise he’d ever have to keep.
How fitting it was. Bolt was now flying for the very first time in his life, and he, Kenta, was in more pain than ever. It felt as though his abdominals were straining, without him flexing them, to get out the bullet that wasn’t there. He’d been pierced straight through the back, and out his stomach, so that there were two holes in his body that formed a mini-tunnel right through. One of his hands had found the spot on its own, and lay pressed against it in attempt to keep the life-blood inside. Staunching the blood flow didn’t seem to be working though; he continued to bleed regardless.
Kenta didn’t know how long it took for Bolt to reach where he was going. Time had no meaning anymore. Nothing really did, with certain death approaching. He’d lost too much blood. He had no more sense of touch, and his other senses seemed on their way out as well. When they’d at last touched the ground again and Kenta rolled off Bolt’s back, he didn’t feel any impact. He didn’t even feel the temperature around them, although judging by the light snowfall, it must’ve been freezing. And somewhat to his relief, he was starting to be numb of the stinging pain in his chest, which now felt no worse than a Weedle’s poison.
Yet there was fear in his heart which kept him from embracing the sweet relief death seemed to be promising him. The American missionary that had come to New Bark Town years back, the one whom he’d brushed off at the time, had mentioned something about dying that he’d never given much thought to until this very moment. Death, he’d said, wasn’t the end. Anyone who died went on, but only in one of two directions: towards the creator of the universe, or away from that same creator. Those who’d never known him in life, and thus could never be thankful to him for the sun’s warmth, the delicious variety of food tastes, the vast multitude of the world’s scents and flamboyant colors, and so on, these people would not search for him in death.
Why was Kenta wondering about him now?