Chapter 23: Lies

Paul 

I woke up to find Demi's fascinating, big eyes inches from my own.

"Good morning." She greeted happily.

I scooted away, making sure my body was no longer touching her, "Morning."

"Thanks for keeping me warm all night. That was so nice." Demi said, then looked at me sheepishly, "I didn't mean to fall asleep against you, you know."

"No problem."

Salamence groaned and began shifting his weight as he woke up.

"Good morning, Salamence!" Demi rubbed his belly. His groan changed to content humming.

Demi looked around the field, greeting all of her Pokemon. I counted them, "Demi?"

"Yes?" She looked up from petting her Togekiss.

"Where's your Dedenne?"

"Oh. With Luxray."

"And where is Luxray?"

"They should be back soon actually."

"From where?"

"I sent them to track down my friend's things."

"You never explained who your friend is and what was lost. Or how, for that matter." I stood up and crossed my arms, suspicion growing.

Demi stood up and blinked in surprise, "Well, I can't. It's my friend's stuff and my friend didn't want me to talk about it."

"Why?"

She shrugged and had that innocent expression kids used to get out of trouble, except hers would be classified as particularly adorable by most. It didn't matter. I wasn't falling for it, "I'll figure this out, you know."

"Well, I mean I guess he wouldn't mind me telling you." Demi wrung her hands together, but then looked up, "Oh, there they are!"
I followed Demi's line of gaze as Luxray strolled slowly towards us, some sort of bag slung to his side. Peachy was perched on his head. He jumped off and dashed towards Demi, who ran to meet him. Peachy jumped and she caught him, spinning him around while hugging him to her cheek until a spark of electricity caused her to stop.

"Oh, I missed you!" Demi squealed, "You need to tell me everything that happened."

While Peachy seemed to be exchanging a mental account of what had happened, Luxray stopped near me, inclining his head politely. It seemed like he'd forgiven me for being rude to Demi. But I was more interested in the satchel that was hanging from his side. It looked very familiar.

Without asking permission, I took it from around his neck, holding the worn leather up to inspect it. The material was old. I held it up to look at the bottom right hand corner, finding a set of initials. B.L. The initials of my uncle. On a satchel that looked exactly like his, the one he took every time we went to draw together.

I heard Demi's footsteps as she walked over and how her eyes were plastered on me as I felt the weight of the satchel get heavier in my hands.

"Where did you get this?" I asked, not even knowing who I was asking.

"Why?"

"This can't be your friend's." Was all I could manage to say.

"Your thoughts feel funny. What's wrong?" Demi asked.

My eyes tore away from the satchel, "You've been hiding things from me."

"What?" Her face grew confused.

"Sure, I believe that you can actually read minds. It's obvious you can, and that's a Pokemon ability. That has some sort of scientific reason for being real. But this is really taking it too far." I waved my uncle's bag around, dangling it in front of her face, "You somehow made up an entire scenario to convince me that coincidences aren't just coincidences and that God is real. I'm sure you saw my uncle's bag in my head while leeching off my memories and got a copy of it made to look like it'd aged ten years since the last time I'd seen it. Clever, sure. But give it a rest. Stop playing with my head. I'm not a puppet and your emotional manipulation won't persuade me to go anywhere near your so-called God."

"But this is the first time-"

"That you've tried something this farfetched?" My voice rose, "I don't believe it."

Luxray growled at me and Demi put a hand on his side as if to hold him back, her eyes not leaving mine, "I'm really lost."

I gripped the strap harder, "You know what, so am I."

I took out all my Poke Balls and recalled my Pokemon silently, not sure how to take Salamence with me considering I didn't have a Psychic Pokemon of my own in my party. I placed a hand on his side, giving him a quick glance which meant, I'll be back for you. Entertain the manipulative child while I'm gone, will you?

He let out a small whine of displeasure. I looked at my uncle's satchel, the weight of it seeming too much to carry. Something that kept holding me back, that I'd been carrying all these years without realizing it.

"Keep it." I said, throwing it on the ground, "There's a reason I haven't seen it in ten years."

"But Paul-"

I started walking towards the hill, "This time, don't follow me."

"Hey, kiddo." My uncle messed up my hair and sat down next to me.

We were in his backyard and I was watching Electivire concentrating, but he couldn't see able to figure out how to do whatever was on his mind. I kind of felt the same way.

"Why can't I live with you all the time?" I asked, resting my chin on my knees.

Uncle Ben was quiet for a moment before he replied, "Well, I think your mother would miss you too much for that."

I turned my head as little as I could so he could see my sour expression.

"She does love you, you know."

"She has a lousy way of showing it." I grumbled, turning back to Electivire who seemed to be angrily bouncing up and down as if it would miraculously help him accomplish whatever it is he was doing.

"What happened?" Uncle Ben asked gently.

"She's going to Sunyshore City with Reggie. He has some sort of Championship sports thing. And after that she's taking him to look at Pokemon so he can start his journey. And buying him new clothes and everything." I clenched my teeth together, "Plus, in Sunyshore I hear that the Champion is supposed to be visiting while they're there. And he's going to get to meet them."

"And you're not allowed to go?"

I shook my head, "She said I have to stay with dad. And I never even see him anymore."

"That could be fun."

I looked up at him again. He still didn't understand, "I won't be able to see you that whole time. And his house is boring. And he's boring."

"I'm sure that's not true."

I rolled my eyes. Why was he so optimistic?

"It's not fair." I stated, scowling, "Reggie gets everything. And I'm stuck with dad. I've always wanted to go to Sunyshore. I want to be able to see the Pokemon League."

Uncle Ben studied Electivire, who seemed to be taking a break, "You know, Veilstone is actually closer to the Pokemon League than Sunyshore."

"So? You can't see anything with the mountains." I gestured to the right side of the backyard, which led to the coast. Mountains surrounded it. More experienced Trainers climbed them. Once I got strong enough, I would, but that wasn't going to happen till I was a few years older.

"Actually, from the tip of the mountains, it's very easy to see the Pokemon League."

"Great." I rolled my eyes, "Good to know for the future."

Suddenly, Uncle Ben pushed my head and I flailed forward, almost falling if a wired tail hadn't wrapped around me, setting me down gently.

"Your balance really needs some work, kiddo. I didn't mean to push you that hard." Uncle Ben said, somehow impatient and kind at the same time, "That attitude needs even more work. Now listen up. Why don't we go on a hiking trip while Reggie is gone?"

"You mean up to those mountains?"

"Yep."

"The ones with the really strong Pokemon?"

"That's the one." His eyes got brighter.

I smiled, the envy and anger suddenly gone, "Could you really convince my dad to let me go?"

"Of course."

I let out a sigh of relief.

"Hey, Paul?" My uncle's voice sounded serious.

"Yes?"

He opened his mouth, but stood up and ran into the house. I stayed seated when Electivire placed a hand on my shoulder, but peered through the door as I heard him rifling through things. He hurried back out with his satchel that he took everywhere, sitting right next to me, his hands gingerly holding the leather.

"I've had this bag since I was a little kid." He explained, "It's my favorite thing that I own, not that I really care for material things. I know it's not fancy new clothes, you know how living as an artist is, but when you start your Pokemon journey, I want you to have it."

He held it out and I placed a hand on the leather, which was worn. It still smelled nice even though it was so old, "You'd really let me have it?"

"Of course."

I opened my mouth, too surprised to really speak.

"When the time comes, it's yours. I hope you'll accept it."

"Why wouldn't I?" I asked, eyebrows pulled down.

"Sometimes people like new and shiny more than warm and fuzzy."

I wasn't sure what he meant, but it didn't matter. I liked the satchel more than anything Reggie could get. I got to spend time with my uncle. That seemed much better to me.

"Thank you." I said, meaning it.

"I guess it's time to start planning our trip." He smiled, pulling his sketchbook out of his satchel and moving it to be a sort of table for his sketchbook as we thought about what kind of food to bring and tried to plan how long it would take to get there, the leather underneath me soft to the touch, a promise that made me keep smiling.

I sighed. I'd been back at the Pokemon Center and hadn't eaten dinner. I didn't want to be around people, which is why I was holed away in our room, alone. I figured Dawn was out training, which was fine by me. I didn't particularly want to tell her I'd accused a child of lying to my face about an insanely detailed plot to pull the wool over my eyes. She wouldn't believe me, but I knew that bag. And I knew Demi had seen it before in my memories as well. It was the only logical explanation.

"Paul?"

My eyes whipped towards the door, scanning it as if I could make out the nine year old right outside. I didn't reply. I had told her hours ago to go away. To not bother me. If I remained quiet, maybe she'd leave.

"Actually you said not to follow you. You didn't say anything about staying away."

I almost swore as I remembered she could read thoughts. Of course I couldn't be quiet. She'd always be able to hear everything regardless to if I wanted her to or not, "The message was in between the lines. Go away."

"No. I need to talk to you."

"Then talk. I won't promise to listen."

"That's not my bag. It's my friend's, remember?"

"If that's all you have to say, then I'm not paying attention." I walked over to the door silently, standing on the opposite side of her, feeling as if I would gaze a hole through the wood with the intensity of my anger.

"I wouldn't hurt you like that, Paul. You wanna know why?"

"Sure, amuse me."

"Because I love you." I heard her voice get more desperate, more childlike through the few inches that separated us, "I love you like you're my brother. I couldn't hurt you."

My breathing stopped. She couldn't mean she loved me, even if it was like a brother. How could she? She'd just met me a few days ago. How could she possibly have any affections for me when we were just acquaintances? She was a liar.

A stream of consciousness that wasn't mind, as well as emotions, flooded into mine, I'm not lying. I really love you, Paul. Feel it for yourself.

And I did. I saw from her eyes the first time we met, how concerned she was for my grief and how much her heart ached to help. How she was so patient with me, how she hadn't been mad even though I kept dismissing her. How she truly loved me, despite all of the times I'd been downright cruel to her.

Her emotions and memories waned in my mind and I knew her presence was gone. I felt like sinking to the ground to think, but I couldn't move.

This is what I had struggled with concerning Dawn. Allowing love when all it had caused me was pain. Living alone was the easiest. I didn't have to think about other people, or what they felt. I didn't have to take care of them, or worry about hurting those horrid things people had called feelings, feelings that used to be so bothersome to myself until I buried them. Now, because of Dawn, I had learned to love again. To take the risk of losing her. But really, it had happened all by mistake. I hadn't wanted to fall in love with her. And then it was too late, and I didn't care. I took the risk. I realized that living without her would be more painful than losing her. Because without her, I didn't have a light to keep me going.

After ten years of darkness, she was the new spark of hope. And I couldn't lose her without slipping back into blackness forever. I knew that.

And here was little Demi, her feelings so raw for a nine year old, so powerful that I couldn't imagine them coming from a child. Getting attached to someone who would just continue to push her away. But now I realized pushing her away was for her own good. Because love hurts and this love that she felt wasn't worth the risk. Not when I was leaving the second I could and would never see her again.

I cringed at the thought, but shook it. I couldn't think about that, "You're wasting your time. I don't love you back."

"I think you're lying." Her voice was full of tears.

"I don't care what happens to you." I said louder, "Don't come back here. Don't go looking for me. Leave. Me. Alone."

"I can't do that."

"Demi, I never want to see you again." I gritted my teeth, my heart clenching as I felt the lies begin to pour out just to make her go away, "You're an insignificant child who can't make any difference. No one actually thinks you're anything more than some cute infant who can't do anything by herself. Everyone just takes pity on you and that's the only reason you're a Trainer and the only reason I've even let you talk to me. So stop bothering me."

I heard her stifle a sob and blinked a few times as my eyes prickled. I shut down my mind, forming mental barriers so she couldn't see that it wasn't true. I didn't know if that was something that I could actually do, but I tried nevertheless.

"I know that's not true." I heard her let out more hiccup-like cries, "We're like perfect partners. Like you and Electivire."

"Yeah, because Electivire and I are getting along swimmingly right now."

"No." Demi sniffed, "Like you and your uncle's Electivire."

Her thoughts sent a memory at me and I closed my eyes, trying to force her out, but not succeeding as my own laughter from so long ago echoed through my head, my uncle's Electivire running with me. It was a blurry memory and I wasn't sure where she'd gotten in, not when I'd thought of that in so long, when it was impossible for her to know that about my past. My resistance to think back on it caused my mental grasp on reality to slip as I got swallowed in the past.

"Keep up, kiddo!" Uncle Ben shouted from ahead, running through the trees as if he was the one that was seven.

I increased my speed, panting. Suddenly, I felt giant arms scoop me up and hug me to a furry chest. Electivire. I still felt breathless, but grinned as he sprinted. I peered from his arms as we passed my uncle, leaving him in the dust. I scrambled up to look over Electivier's shoulder to see him falling behind, throwing his hands in the air in frustration.

I laughed, "Nice going, Electivire."

Electivire grinned at me, placing me on the forest floor as we waited for Uncle Ben to catch up.

"Took you long enough." I held back a snicker.

"Hey, I'm the victim here, kid. If I was younger, I'd be the one being picked up by my Pokemon."

"You sound jealous." I teased. I was in a really good mood. We were on our way up the mountain to see a glimpse of the Pokemon League. All this hiking all because my uncle wanted to make me happy.

He mopped sweat off of his brow before grinning at me, matching Electivire's, "Why would I want to be a little Chimchar like you?"

He started tickling me and I laughed while trying to say seriously, "I'm not a weak monkey."

"Oh yeah?" He stopped tickling me.

"Of course not. I'm going to be strong like your Electivire." I went over and grabbed Electivire's hand, tugging him along the path, "Otherwise it's not worth being a Trainer."

"Paul, we talked about this." Uncle Ben said firmly, "Pokemon aren't about strength."

"They're about love." I rolled my eyes, "I know. You told me."

"And you don't think it's true."

"You can't prove it's true." I emphasized.

"Right. You're the kid who never believed in Santa." Uncle Ben sighed.

"Mother got mad at me for telling Reggie he wasn't real."

"Yes. I remember." He shook his head, "I know you're not one to believe in magic, but love isn't magic."

"I didn't say I didn't believe in love. It exists." I shriveled my nose.

"But you think power is more powerful?"

"Yeah."

"Well where does happiness come from?"

I stopped walking, confused.

"Well?"

"I don't know."

He studied me for a moment, "Alright, come here kiddo."

Uncle Ben pushed my back until I'd moved into a patch of sun, turning me around and picking at my clothes, which I made faces at. He pretended he didn't notice and finally handed me something. I looked down to find a Poke Ball.

"What's this for?" I asked.

"You're going to model for me."

I fidgeted.

"What, you don't want to? Let's play pretend. You're a Pokemon Trainer about to start a battle. And you have the perfect team and it's all at stake for this huge win that you've been wishing for a super long time."

He kept setting up the scene, but I was already focused on the battle field in front of me. A huge stadium with a crowd cheering. But I didn't care about all the noise. I didn't care about all the people, or what they thought. I didn't care about anything except winning as I stared at my opponent, knowing my Pokemon were way better because they were mine and I had raised them so well. There was no way we'd lose.

What felt like ten seconds later, a white piece of paper came in front of my face. I blinked and focused on it, realizing that the drawn version of myself had his eyebrows were pulled down. My eyes were cold as I held the Poke Ball up.

"You look kind of scary, don't you?" Uncle Ben murmured.

"You must have changed what I looked like." I said in a small voice, wanting to push the sketch away.

"I didn't. I drew you just how you looked."

I didn't tell him how much I didn't like it as I handed his Poke Ball back.

"You see what I mean about love being stronger, Paul?"

I ignored him and looked around, "Hey, where'd Electivire go?"

"No idea. Go find the big fur ball. But stay close. Remember, there are plenty of strong Pokemon around here."

I ran off, calling out his name, searching bushes and branches for him. After about fifteen minutes, I decided it was about time to head back to Uncle Ben, but then I noticed a bright yellow patch in the foliage above me. So much for camouflage. I snuck carefully underneath, holding back a smile. I jumped up as high as I could and tagged it, yelling, "Got you!"

Instantly, a bulky Pokemon I'd never seen before in person dropped down, buzzing angrily. A Vespiquen. Seconds later, fifteen Combee simultaneously flew out of the surrounding trees, making high pitched clicking noises as their wings beat rapidly.

My eyes were open in horror, heart dropping, as they all neared me. I somehow snapped back into reality and took off through the forest, not knowing where I was going. I held back screams as I panted, rushing as fast as I could, trying to beat the colony. I didn't have any oxygen to yell for help. I heard an attack smash into a tree next to me, making the ground shudder under my feet. My limbs were shaking, making it harder to force myself forward.

A giant Gust attack from the Combee made me fly into the air and crash back into the ground, barrel rolling. I cried out, trying to stand up in time, but Vespiquen was right in front of me, powering up for an attack. I cringed away.

Vespiquen released a Poison Sting and I closed my eyes, expecting the needles to dig into my skin. But they didn't come. I heard them hit something else and looked up to see Electivire standing in front of me, taking the hit. He glowed purple, which I knew meant he was poisoned, and dropped to his knees.

"Electivire!" I scrambled up, hurrying to his side, "Are you ok?"

He looked at me weakly before standing up, eyes more determined. Electricity sparked from his tails and antennae. Vespiquen smiled, seeming ready for a battle.

I was scared. I didn't know battles could really be scary, not like this. Not when I was by myself being attacked. I was only seven.

"'Lectivire." Electivire's voice jolted me from my fear. He'd turned to look at me fiercely.

"You want to battle together?" I asked in a small voice.

He nodded.

I gulped, "Alright."

I went over Electivire's moves in my head, remembering what Vespiquen was weak against, "Try an Ice Punch."

He jumped quickly, his arm glowing, but Vespiquen used Attack Order, sending all the Combee at him at once.

"Wild Charge!" I cried.

Some of the Combee were zapped by the electricity as he charged forward, ramming into Vespiquen, who went flying. She let out a screech before using X-Scissor.

"Meet it with Brick Break!"

He did despite the Combee using Bug Buzz all at the same time, the force ramming into him as he blocked Vespiquen.

"Now use Ice Punch on Vespiquen and Wild Charge the Combee!"

Electivire roared as he punched as Vespiquen, who retreated. He tackled into Combee with Wild Charge. Half of them had fainted, but about seven were left. He took recoil damage followed by poison damage, grunting tiredly.

Vespiquen used another Attack Order and prepared to use Poison Sting again.

"Thunderbolt!"

The attacks met head on, making a cloud of smoke. I shielded my eyes momentarily, looking up to see Electivire barely standing, Combee littering the ground. Vespiquen was the only one still able to battle now, but Electivire had taken so much damage.

"You're so strong." I said to him, my voice shaking just as much as he was, "You did such a good job. I can't believe you'd help me like that... like I was worth being helped," I remembered him saving me from Tanner and swallowed hard, "Both times."

Electivire let out a growl and electricity sparked. Storm clouds grew above us suddenly, wind gushing everywhere. I nervously looked up and Vespiquen hovered uncertainly, but began charging a Poison Sting.

My battling partner let out a roar and a strike of lightning came down, hitting Vespiquen who cried out and dropped to the ground. My hair stood on end from the amount of electricity.

My eyes widened. Thunder. I'd never seen him use that before.

The storm clouds disappeared as quickly as they'd come. Electivire let out a huff of relief before dropping to his side. I ran over, petting his head, "Are you ok?"

He opened his eyes a crack and smiled weakly.

"Let me get you some berries. That will help." I rushed over to some bushes, fortunately finding some Oran berries and a Pecha berry. I went back to Electivire and fed them to him slowly. He sat up after a few and began eating them himself, still looking worn but a lot better. I looked over to where Vespiquen was, a bit afraid. Electivire didn't seem to mind and I guessed the battle was really over.

"I'm so sorry about that." I said, "It's my fault you almost got hurt."

Electivire rolled his eyes.

"No, really. You shouldn't have jumped in front like that. You got hurt. Why should you be punished for something I did wrong?"

"I really wish you'd listen to the stories I taught you, Paul."

I turned around to see Uncle Ben walking calmly over to us. I opened my mouth, "Uncle Ben! There was this Vespiquen and-"

"I saw most of your battle. You're both alright, right?" Uncle Ben turned to Electivire who grunted a yes.

"You didn't come help." I stated, dumbstruck.

"You didn't need my help. You and Electivire worked together nicely." Uncle Ben smiled.

"But..." I trailed off, too confused for a while, "But he did all the work."

"No he didn't. It was your encouragement and love that made him learn a new move." He put a hand in my hair, "And we've been trying to learn that for a long time, right Electivire?"

Electivire grinned.

"I don't understand." I said lamely.

"You see, it's not my training that helped Electivire get better. It was his love for you and your love for him that made him so that he could save you." Uncle Ben explained softly, "Not power, but love."

"But he's so powerful." I whispered to myself, remembering how it had felt to be so close to a Thunder attack. How brutally strong he'd been.

"Because that's how powerful his love for you is." His eyes twinkled, "And like I've said, Jesus loved us all so much he died for us. Selfless, loving sacrifices are the most powerful."

I sighed. I still wasn't sure.

"I've got something for you, kiddo." He handed me a sketch of Electivire battling and me behind, my expression much more tender than the other drawing. I was actually concerned, not the Pokemon Trainer I imagined who only cared about winning, "And there's a note on it too."

I turned it over to the back, where he'd written a lot.

He lifted it up so he could summarize, "So, first is that strength comes from love, not muscle. Second, love comes from God, because God is Love. That's super important. Third, God made you and loves you. Also super important, of course." He winked at me, "And lastly, never forget that Electivire and I love you and won't abandon you. Maybe other people will leave you, but we won't and neither will God."

Electivire nodded while Uncle Ben handed the paper back to me, which I held gently. No matter what I'd done, uncle had forgiven me and help me learn to draw, even when I pushed him away. Electivire would hurt himself to keep me from harm. The only two in my life to show that maybe love wasn't like magic. It felt surreal, what being with them was like. I felt belonging swell inside me as I realized they truly did care, they truly loved me, and maybe he was actually telling the truth, and all these Bible stories he'd told me over the years had actually happened.

I looked up at my uncle, Electivire right behind him, my throat tight, "I love both of you."

His eyes softened and I threw my arms around his neck, hugging him. He wrapped me up in his arms and hugged back. Electivire embraced both of us, a deep satisfied growl rumbling in his chest. It was the first time I could remember saying I loved someone, or at least meaning it. That I felt connected to someone who understood me and wanted to. That I trusted to be there for me, someone who believed in things that seemed impossible, yet great and wonderful and that could maybe be true.

"I love you too. Always remember that." Uncle Ben whispered in my ear.

But neither of you are here now. You said you'd be here. I thought, shutting my eyes tightly as if to shut out the pain.

"Paul?"

I numbly remembered Demi outside the door. She almost sounded surprised to get the full memory, "Paul, he didn't mean to leave you-"

"Go away."

"I'm just-"

"Go. Away." I repeated.

I didn't hear her leave. A few minutes later, I opened the door to find her gone. I turned off the lights in the room and went over to the bed, lying down, eyes wide opened. At least in the darkness, I couldn't tell what was around me. Maybe I was alone, but at least I didn't have to dwell on it as I remained in the dark. Light was what revealed pain. I didn't need more of it in my life.

I just need Dawn. I thought, I can't have anyone else.

I fell asleep uneasily, lost in the darkness of the room.

The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:5

Hey Readers,

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It's always so sad to see people, whether fictional or not, push people away just so they won't get hurt when really that causes more pain. We were meant to live with other people, not just all alone by ourselves. So I encourage all of us to be loving to other people and make new friends, even if it takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there and even say hi to someone. If they don't want to be your friend, that's their loss. Because you're awesome. 

Pokemon Question of the Day: If you were a little kid without a Pokemon to protect you, what would be the scariest Pokemon to encounter?

Love you lots!

-Flips