(1300 words)
Chapter 13
Human


Thorn is having that dream again. The voice has slowly gotten clearer, and Thorn has heard a few words; 'world', 'role', and of course 'Al'. But they're running out of patience. "Hey, mysterious otherworldly voice. Who are you? Or, what are you?"

".....m Gardevoir..."

"Gardevoir?"

"Ye.... I'm so....ad you ca...hear me..."

It's clearer than ever! "Please, tell me more! Who am I? What happened to me? Who is Rose?"

"You ar........" No, it's fading! Thorn tries to hold on but-

"Thorn, come on, it's important!"

Thorn groans. "Compass? What's important?"

"Whiscash is telling a story."

... Thorn pulls the covers over their head.

"I know, 10 am is pretty early for you, but Leader Beacon says it's really important!"

"Ugh, fine, whatever." Can't be more important that a healthy sleep schedule. Hopefully they can hear more from Gardevoir later.



A crowd is gathered around Whiscash's pond, everyone whispering about the 'important story'. Thorn joins in the whispering. "Hey Compass, any clue about how a story might be important?"

"I'm not sure, but last night I heard mom talking about the legend of Ninetales and the human."

The last word hits Thorn like a slap to the face. "The... the what?"

"It's-"

Whiscash clears his throat, and the crowd goes silent. "There once lived a pokemon called Ninetales. Ninetales had many tails, all of them imbued with psychic power. It was said that anyone so foolish as to touch a tail would be cured for a thousand years. But there was someone so foolish as to grab a tail: A human."

There's that word again, the word that rings through Thorn's mind. They know something about humans. They know what humans are.

"As one might expect, the human was subjected to a thousand year curse. However, just when the curse was cast, a pokemon called Gardevoir shielded the human, and sacrificed themself to absorb the curse."

Gardevoir?! That can't be a coincidence, that name showing up in an important story! Is this story related to Thorn's past?

"To Gardevoir, that human was their trusted partner. A strong bond existed between them. Taking pity on Gardevoir, Ninetales asked the human this: 'Do you wish to save Gardevoir?' they asked... But the human had already abandoned Gardevoir and fled."

Abandoned... their partner... Why does that feel familiar?

"Ninetales became disillusioned with the human, and they made this prediction: The world's balance will one day be upset."

The world's balance! Xatu said that's connected to Thorn's condition! This story IS related to Thorn's past! They have to tell Compass! But how is it related? Who is Gardevoir? And what's Thorn's role in all this?

"And this will happen... when the human is reborn as a pokemon."

Thorn's heart stops.

"... And that is how the legend ends. I'm sorry, I wanted to avoid telling stories about the end of the world at a time like this, but... well..." Whiscash moves aside as Beacon steps forward.

"I'm sure you've all heard Xatu's prophecy; the world's balance has been upset, and if it is not restored, the unthinkable will befall our world. Previously, the world's balance was a mystery, but the wording of the Ninetales legend now gives us new insight-"

The crowd erupts into shouting. "It's that human's fault!" "That rotten human is causing the disasters!" "Yeah, that selfish monster is gonna end the-"

"SILENCE!!" Beacon shouts, and the crowd goes silent. "Indeed, if this legend is true, then the human is what is upsetting the world's balance. If we can find and get rid of the human, it is likely that the balance will be restored. If anyone has any clues about the human's whereabouts, please report to me immediately."

After a few more closing words, the crowd disperses, and Team Rose heads back to base for lunch. "So Thorn, how do you feel about all this?" Compass asks.

"Oh, well, you know. It was... important."

"We finally have a solution to the world's balance! But, how do we get rid of the human if we can't find them..?"

Right. 'Get rid of.'



Life went on as normal. Over the next few days, word spread about the search for the human, but no clues were found, and the disasters continued. Thorn had more dreams, but Gardevoir's voice was suddenly back to being completely muffled. Right when Thorn needed to hear them most.

One day, Team Rose gets back from a rescue job, and Compass is getting ready for bed. "Hey Thorn? Um... You've been acting pretty strange lately. Are you okay? Are you... scared about the end of the world?"

"No, it's- Well, yeah, the imminent apocalypse is pretty terrifying, but there's something else on my mind."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"... No."

"... Okay. Just, if you need anything, you can ask me, alright? I'm your partner. You can trust me."

"... Yeah." Thorn smiles. "Thanks."

"Though... I'm worried too. Despite all we know, we're not really any closer to restoring the world's balance. It feels like the disasters are just getting worse. I just wish there was something we could do, because if we can't restore the balance... I... I don't even want to think about it..."

"... Compass, I have something to tell you."

Compass perks up and listens quietly.

"I... Earlier, I had a dream with that voice again. I didn't hear much, but they said their name was... was Gardevoir."

Compass gasps. "That's great news! If that's the same Gardevoir from the legend, then they might be able to help us find the human!"

"There's another thing. I regained a bit of my memories recently. I remembered what I was before I was a Cubone. I..." Their Thorn's partner. Thorn can trust them. "I was a human."

Compass stares at Thorn, mouth agape. They take a startled step back.

"Compass, wait-"

Compass breaks into a sprint, running out of the base and into town, toward Leader Beacon's house.

"Compass, wait!!" Thorn shouts behind them.

But they run, faster and faster, weaving through startled townsfolk, not slowing down until they slam open the door.

"Compass? What-"

"Thorn is the human!" they breathlessly shout.

"W-what?! Compass, why do you say that?"

"They told me, they told me they were a human, and that they heard Gardevoir's voice, and they were transformed and they had a partner and they were selfish and Xatu said-"

Beacon wraps Compass in a hug. "Compass, calm down. Deep breaths... This is a serious accusation. Are you certain?"

"I... I don't... It just..."

"Let's go talk to Thorn, alright?"

Beacon and Compass walk back to the base, while Compass's mind races. Is Thorn really that awful human from the legend? Is Thorn the cause of the disasters? What will Compass have to do? Will they have to... Will Thorn have to be...

They arrive at the base. Beacon peaks inside. "Cubone? Are you-" Beacon gasps.

Compass heads inside to see the base ransacked. All their supplies are gone, and Thorn is nowhere to be found. Compass walks to the table to find the only remaining trace of them; a discarded rescue team badge. "But... why would..."

Beacon frowns. "Innocent people don't run... I'm calling a town meeting. Compass, let's go to the square; we need to hear more about this from you."

Beacon takes Compass's hand and leads them into town, but Compass keeps staring at the badge. What exactly have they done? Did they make the right choice..? Did they just... Will Thorn be... They look up at the moon shining above. They... They did what they were supposed to do.




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