Author Note: Well, this is the last chapter in Pokesync until I can get my life stable. I think it is a good place to end it for now. o7 Tell me what you think when it eventually runs down the tiers. I’ll keep releasing them each week until all the chapters are out.
Royal Road’s fanfic new guidelines also makes it hard since they’re making it so you can’t really advertise on fanfics anymore. A hard time for fanfics, I know. I’ll return to Pokesync when I can stabilize my income and life better. It’s just become impossible to justify the time when I need to make more money to actually eat more than one meal a day or even every two days while maintaining all my other responsibilities.
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PoV:
1. Rylee (Our Samurai Wooloo Girl)
2. Rhea (Our Future Super Villainess!)
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6:09 p.m. November 2nd, Monday, 106 PH (Post Hoopa Event). Day 146. Events: Rhea and the girls are on a Badge Hunt, trying to get all the Kanto Encrusted Badges before time runs out! Our girl started her journey on the 9th of June, and the end of registration for the Winter Indigo Cup is December 5th (32 days away). |
Silence.
The crushing depths of the ocean pressed in from all sides, suffocating Rylee as she sank deeper into oblivion. Her body was heavy—unresponsive—like it wasn’t hers anymore. Darkness swallowed her. The cold seeped into her bones and stole her breath as her air escaped her lungs in slow, desperate bubbles.
No… no, not again! Sinking, always helpless. Wake up! Please, make it stop…
She half felt her body twitch and turn under the thin blanket, the sweat that slicked her hot skin. The current had her in its grip, pulling her further away from consciousness, despite her efforts to push upward toward lucidity. Her breaths came in ragged gasps, too fast, too shallow.
I can’t breathe—I can’t see—I can’t…I can’t think!
Panic set in. But it wasn’t just the ocean that terrified her.
She could see the flashes of memories now—of what she had done, what it had done. Its long, plated blue body massive. And its mouth…its horrifyingly large fangs.
The power. The destruction. And then the aftermath—the regret, the shame that made her stomach twist even as she fought against the phantom waves.
Why? Why is this happening to me?
Her chest constricted as if the ocean’s crushing weight had reached her heart, squeezing it dry. She couldn’t move, couldn’t flee from the horror. The water was a cage, a tomb, and even in her sleep, she knew there was no escaping it.
No! Don’t come… I’m not worth it.
Then, from the abyss, she heard it. A voice—warm, strong, and filled with a heroism that should have comforted her. But it didn’t. It only made her sob harder, the tears leaking out from beneath her closed lids as she writhed.
Not again. Not again. Never again… Never again!
The current shifted, and suddenly, she was rising, fleeing the oppressive water, reaching for the surface, for air as a pink blur stole the attention of the lone serpentine monster in the darkness, shimmering crystal carrying her to the surface.
Her hand stretched out, down into the dark void beneath her, trembling with sorrow, regret, and a strange, aching longing.
This isn’t how things were meant to be. He doesn’t deserve this… Why wasn’t I better?
Rylee jolted awake, gasping for air, her body slick with cold sweat. The tears were still fresh on her cheeks, and her heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst. She sat up, clutching her head with trembling hands, her breaths ragged and shallow as Cami fell off the bunk with a grunt, getting up while rubbing her head. She climbed onto the bed and held her tight.
“Ouch! Rylee? Oh, hey… It’s okay… Just breathe.”
“I can’t…I can’t do this,” she whispered, choking on the words. A calm that felt like mockery after the terror of the nightmare of the previous day. She couldn’t stay here. She couldn’t be trapped on this boat, surrounded by water. The panic surged again, tightening around her throat like a noose.
“I can’t. I can’t. I can’t…”
Her teammates were quick to get up as Cami held her, crawling over to help comfort her…but she didn’t deserve it. Her Pokemon tried to cuddle her spirit, but she couldn’t help the guilt from sinking in.
I’m to blame… Speedy… I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…
* — * — *
Rhea stared at her phone as Rylee’s name flickered across the screen, her heartbeat quickening. There was a part of her that had anticipated this call, a part that had felt the ripple of dread all afternoon, even through the adrenaline of their recent battle. She glanced at Jason, who was already watching her with an unspoken question in his amber eyes.
Why do I feel like this is bad? Cami sounded sad, but she said they were alright, she thought, pressing the answer button. She lifted the phone to her ear, forcing herself to keep her voice steady. “Rylee? Hey, going on? Are you okay?”
The silence on the other end was thick—heavy, like the pause before a storm. Then, Rylee’s voice came through, so faint and brittle that Rhea almost didn’t catch it.
“I… I took a plane…”
Rhea’s brows knitted together. “You took a plane? But…weren’t you supposed to be on the boat with the others? Where are they?”
There was a shaky breath on the other side of the line. “They couldn’t afford it, but my mom bought it for me. Umm. I couldn’t… I just couldn’t be on that boat, Rhea. I—I couldn’t…”
Rhea swallowed hard. There was something hollow in Rylee’s voice, something that made Rhea’s stomach clench with unease. Her mind immediately flashed to the Plasma incident and after being told about her family’s past—the raw emotions.
She pushed that fear down, keeping her tone soft, steady. Maybe this really shook her up, like it did for Lori.
“It’s okay, Rylee. You don’t have to explain right now. Where are you?”
“At the airport… I got here early. The others couldn’t afford the ticket since it was an unscheduled flight—a Master… Did I say that already? I just—” Rylee’s voice cracked, the sound of her unraveling emotions bleeding through. “Rhea… I’m sorry.”
Rhea’s chest tightened. Sorry for what? But she didn’t ask that. Not yet. “It’s alright, Rylee. We’re coming to get you. Stay where you are, okay?” she asked, looking at Jason. “The airport, right?”
Jason had already pulled out his own phone, typing quickly as he nodded to her. “Nearest airport’s about ten minutes away. I’ll call an express Pidgeot cab now.”
“Thank you,” Rhea mouthed to him, then turned her attention back to the phone. “Rylee, we’ll be there soon. You don’t need to say anything else if it’s too hard. Breathe with me, okay? In…out.”
For a long moment, Rylee didn’t respond, hopefully following her prompts. Then, a quiet, shaky “Okay,” whispered through the line. “I’ll be on the side of the road. Sorry, it’s…it’s hard to talk.”
Rhea’s mouth became a line as Rylee hung up, her thoughts spinning. She knew that hollow feeling. She’d felt it after her mother had told her the truth about her birth or when she was home alone, staring up at her ceiling when both her parents were gone during the Ultra War, thinking they’d died. The look her mother often had when the past was brought up. Whatever Rylee was going through, it wasn’t something that could be easily fixed with words.
Sure, she didn’t know Rylee as well as the others in Sam’s party, but she was a friend.
Amira and Lori were already beside her, their expressions mirroring her concern.
“Is she okay?” Amira asked quietly, brushing a strand of red hair behind her ear. “I’m not seeing much from the news online other than that there was an attack, but the boat is safe, and repairs are being done on it.”
Rhea shook her head slightly. “I don’t know. She’s at the airport. Jason, the cab? She couldn’t stay on the boat, she said. The others are waiting for the repairs, I guess.”
Jason nodded. “It should be here within minutes by the notification. A driver was nearby.”
Lori’s brow furrowed. “That’s not a good sign, Rhea. Her mom paid for it? You think…”
“I don’t know what to think,” Rhea admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “But whatever it is, I’m sure we can handle it. I’m just worried that she hung up on me… I hope she’s still there.”
The Pidgeot cab arrived within minutes, its large wings stirring up the sand as it descended. Jason opened the cab door for them all to climb into it, and soon, they were soaring above the coastline. The salty air whipped through Rhea’s hair as she tried to push back the growing unease in her chest.
She focused on the rhythmic beats of the Pidgeot’s wings, on the steadying presence of her boyfriend and friends beside her. Amira, Lori, Jason—they were all with her, and that gave her strength. Something felt off, though. It was something in her voice that made her thoughts return to moments during the Ultra War, hearing the way Masters talked to one another after a loss.
The airport came into view, and they descended quickly, landing with practiced ease on the designated platform. Rhea was the first one out and jogged toward the terminal, her eyes scanning the crowd.
Then she saw her—Rylee, standing by herself near the curb, her arms wrapped tightly around her middle as if trying to hold herself together. Her neon-blue hair sticking out in the throng, pulled back into a messy bun. Exhaustion was etched into her face. Her eyes were red, black rings were under them, and her shoulders were hunched, as if the weight of everything was pressing her into the ground.
Rhea’s breath caught in her throat. She wanted to say something, anything, but the words tangled in her chest. Before she could even think, she closed the distance between them and wrapped Rylee in a tight hug.
Rylee stiffened at first, but then her body collapsed into her arms, the blue-haired girl’s breath coming in ragged gasps as her chest convulsed with sobs. “Rhea… Rhea… I—” she choked out between cries, her words dissolving into the air.
“It’s okay,” Rhea whispered, her own voice trembling now. “We’re here. You don’t have to talk if you can’t. You’re not alone. We’re here.”
Jason, Amira, and Lori caught up and stood around them, offering silent support as Rylee cried into Rhea’s shoulder. Rhea gently stroked her back, trying to soothe the shudders that racked her friend’s body, even as her own mind raced with worry.
What had happened? What had driven Rylee to this point? Something had to have happened…but what?
Minutes passed before Rylee’s sobs began to quiet, though she still trembled in Rhea’s arms. She pulled back slightly, wiping at her tear-streaked face with shaking hands. After a short pause, she said, “There… There was an accident,” she managed to whisper.
Her voice was raw while stumbling through the next parts. “When the Gyarados started to rampage… The Masters, they were dealing with it in the front… I, umm, was helping people—trying to get them inside—to safety, but…but I got knocked over the railing by this panicking woman…”
Rhea’s heart clenched. She could hear the panic creeping back into Rylee’s voice, see it in the way her hands shook. “The current was so strong… I couldn’t… I couldn’t swim against it, Rhea… I tried, but…”
She broke off, her breath hitching as fresh tears welled up in her eyes. Rhea gently cupped her friend’s face, forcing Rylee to meet her gaze. “Hey. Hey, Rylee. You’re here now. Okay? You’re safe.”
Rylee shook her head, her hands clutching at her chest. “No… no, Rhea, you don’t understand. I’m not… Speedy… He…”
The realization hit Rhea with cold chills running down her arms, knocking the air out of her lungs as she whispered, “Speedy…didn’t make it?”
Rylee’s sobs returned, fiercer now, as if speaking the words had shattered something inside her. She collapsed against Rhea again, her body trembling violently. “He distracted the Gyarados with a Flash… He saved me, Rhea, but…but he didn’t…”
Rhea closed her eyes, holding Rylee as tightly as she could, heat rising up her nose and sniffing back her own tears. Her thoughts returned to how lucky they’d been when the Plasma assassin had come for them, how her brother had come to her rescue when it could have turned out so much worse.
Feeling her Pokemon pressing around her spirit, trying to understand, Rhea knew she couldn’t take away even a fraction of her friend’s pain. She knew from hearing it during the Ultra War, when losing a bonded Pokemon was common. There was no fix for that hole but time. No words could bring Speedy back.
Amira stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on Rylee’s shoulder. “We’re here, Rylee,” she said softly. “You’re not alone.”
Lori nodded, her usual light-hearted demeanor replaced with quiet determination. “Yeah… Maybe we should go to a less crowded place. I know you probably don’t want to eat, but…you probably should. Is your mom flying in? I imagine she is.”
Jason stood nearby, his expression grim but supportive. “I’ll look for a quiet place we can sit in… One second.”
Rylee’s sobs gradually softened as the weight of their support surrounded her. She pulled back from Rhea, her breath still hitching, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—something that hadn’t been there before. It wasn’t hope, exactly, but it was a spark. A small, fragile spark that told Rhea that maybe—just maybe—they could help her heal from this.
Sam and the others must be worried sick about not being able to be with her… Private flights like that, especially with storms in the area, are expensive. If they could, I’m sure they would have been here…and Rylee probably wouldn’t let them pool their money and hurt their journey finances.
Rhea offered a small, encouraging smile. “Yeah, let’s get you somewhere safe. We can talk more when you’re ready. Jason’s pretty good at picking out restaurants.”
Rylee nodded weakly, her grip on Rhea’s arm tightening as they guided her toward the waiting cab. As they settled into the seats, Rhea kept one arm around her friend, feeling the subtle tremors that still ran through her body. She didn’t need to say anything. Rylee didn’t need to hear words right now—she needed to know that she wasn’t alone.
The restaurant Jason found was quiet, tucked away in a peaceful corner of the island city, with an open garden that had winding stone paths leading through patches of flowers. It was a tad more expensive for even entry, but pooling their funds, it was more than enough—especially with the plushie sales. Jason was cute, offering to pay for half—he had made a killing in Kalos through all his battles.
Tissa, her Crystal Onix, was stretched out on a large, smooth boulder near the garden’s edge, sunlight glinting off her shimmering scales. Even as Rhea watched all of their Pokémon interact with each other, supporting one another, she couldn’t ignore the tension that radiated from Rylee.
They had settled at a large table outside, the garden providing a serene backdrop that contrasted sharply with the turmoil in Rylee’s eyes. Amira and Lori flanked her, their expressions soft with concern as they finished delivering their orders. Jason had taken the seat opposite Rhea, his presence comforting and grounding. It was the kind of place that usually brought her peace.
But every now and then, Rylee would murmur, “I’m sorry…” out of nowhere, her voice barely audible over the soft breeze. It was a reflex, almost like a tic, and every time she said it, the weight of her guilt seemed to press down even harder on her slender shoulders.
Rhea bit her lip, glancing down at her barely touched drink as her mind whirled. How do I help her? I’ve been through my own share of darkness, but this… this is different. I’ve never felt what it’s like to have my soul-bonded Pokémon ripped away from me. How would I respond…
Nova nudged her leg under the table, his large pink eyes filled with worry. Rhea reached down, scratching behind her ear, grateful for her supportive presence for Rylee’s Pokémon , especially her young Crystal Onix. Knight, her Honedge, had grown up with a lot of Pokémon in similar situations, so he seemed to be taking it as a rock, trying to be there for his Trainer and teammates.
Rylee suddenly spoke up again, voice wavering, “I just… I keep thinking…if only I’d done something differently… If I was with everyone else instead of outside.”
“You don’t have to say anything,” Amira gently interjected, leaning closer to Rylee. “Speedy did this for you because he loved you. Didn’t he? He reacted to you being in danger… He cared for you, like we do. Can you tell us a little more about him?”
She nodded, though her eyes remained distant and she breathed in deeply before puffing it out in a long stream. “He…was a really slow guy…until you saw him in the water. Speedy hated the water, though. Well…he used to. I started getting him to go to some of the water parks in the cities we went to… We made a game out of hitting every one, even if for only a few hours. Tissa liked it because there were places she could show off… Why wasn’t I stronger? I’m supposed to be stronger—I can use Aura.”
Jason reached out, his hand hovering just above Rylee’s trembling one. “You’re not alone in this, Rylee. Speedy started liking the water, huh?”
The girl strained a smile. “Yeah, well…if we raced. He used to race all the time with his old Trainer… My mom is putting together a funeral for him. Something small. It, umm… It should be in two days or so,” she mumbled.
Rhea watched as Rylee swallowed hard, her gaze flitting to Jason before dropping to the table. She nodded again, more to herself than to anyone else. Her fingers curled into tight fists, knuckles turning white.
Wanting to offer whatever support she could, Rhea glanced from Amira to Lori, who nodded. “Yeah, we’ll be there. Count on us.”
This wasn’t going to be solved overnight. Rhea knew that. She had seen the aftermath of trauma before, had lived through her own fears and anxieties. But seeing it now, in Rylee, twisted something deep inside her—a mix of helplessness and determination that made her chest ache.
Excusing herself after making sure Rylee had enough support, Rhea slipped away from the table, her phone already in her hand as she made her way to a quieter part of the garden. The fresh air helped clear her head, but her thoughts still spun as she dialed Cami’s number.
The line clicked after a few rings, and Cami’s voice came through, filled with relief and exhaustion. “Rhea? Is she…is she there?”
“Yeah,” Rhea replied, leaning against a stone wall, her gaze drifting over the tropical flowers. “She’s with us now. We’re taking care of her.”
There was a pause on the other end, followed by a heavy sigh. “Thank Arceus… We’ve been so worried, trying to figure out how to get there, but every flight is either booked or way too expensive, and now with this storm rolling in…”
Rhea smiled, though there was a touch of exasperation in it. “Why didn’t you call me sooner? Seriously! You all treat me like I’m glass or something.”
“I did,” Cami admitted, her tone sheepish. “But Sam and Jade…they didn’t want to feel like we were using you. You know how they can be—stubborn.”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t know them as well as I thought I did, I guess, but we are kind of newer friends,” Rhea said with a soft chuckle, though the seriousness of the situation wasn’t lost on her. She took a deep breath, her thoughts turning over a solution. “Don’t worry about finding a ride. I grew up in a community of Masters, remember? Hold on for a second.”
“Rhea…”
Pulling the phone away from her ear, Rhea quickly opened Pikabook and navigated to the Master Community message board. Her fingers flew over the screen as she typed out an SOS, detailing her friends’ situation. As soon as she hit send, a lump formed in her throat. She knew what it was like to feel that crushing weight of responsibility—to want to help, but feel powerless. It took forever for her mother to finally open up to her.
Within seconds, responses flooded in, and Rhea blinked back the sudden rush of emotions. Masters from all over were offering their help, empathizing with Rylee’s plight in ways that only they could understand. She quickly thanked them and sent the nearest one to the island Trainer ID.
Bringing the phone back to her ear, Rhea cleared her throat. “Cami? You still there?”
“Mhm. Yeah, uh… I’m just in the bathroom right now, collecting myself. Should I get the others?”
“No, no. It’s fine. I’ve got someone coming to pick you up. I’ll send you his Trainer ID so you can connect and activate the GPS lock to meet up. You’ll be here in a few hours.”
There was a moment of stunned silence on the other end, followed by a choked laugh, as if the cloudy sky had broken to a stream of sunlight. “You somehow solved everything…easy as that,” Cami said, her voice thick with gratitude. “Lori helping me become a Trainer again with her crazy Black Market bets… Getting Champion Lyra’s attention to help my sister, and now…now this. Thank you, Rhea… Thank you.”
“Not all of that was me!” she laughed, her voice softening. “And you’re welcome. Whatever Rylee decides to do from here, I know she’s in good hands with you guys. And tell Sam, Hannah, Jade, and Jay not to stonewall me. Got it! We’re friends, and this is the least I can do.”
“I will,” Cami promised, the shadow cast over her voice lifting. “I’m about to reconnect with them. I’m sure they’ll send you a ton of messages once they hear everything. Don’t…you need to get ready for the battle with Gym Leader Blaine tomorrow, though?”
Rhea’s smile grew, warmth spreading through her chest. “Good. I’ll be here, and I look forward to seeing you all soon. And prepare for Blaine? You’re way more important than that, and not to mention we’re already qualified for the Silver Cup. This is just for fun and practice.”
“…You’re something else, Rhea. My friends back home would never have gone this far.”
As she ended the call, Rhea took a deep breath, letting the tension ease from her shoulders as progress was made. The world felt a little lighter now, despite the circumstances.
She returned to the table where her friends were waiting. Rylee was still quiet, her eyes downcast, but there was a little more color in her cheeks now—a sign that maybe she was starting to feel a sliver of hope through the endless darkness. It made Rhea remember her talk with Terri after she’d been rescued from her ghostly curse of eternal senselessness.
Rhea slipped back into her seat, offering Rylee a gentle smile. “Help’s on the way. Sam and the others will be here shortly. We’ll figure this out together.”
For the first time since they had picked her up, Rylee met Rhea’s gaze, and though her eyes were still filled with pain, there was a flicker of gratitude there, too. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.
As the day went on and her teammates reconnected, Rhea felt like things were on an upward track by the time they split apart, allowing Sam and the others their chance to support her. She got quite a few apologies from Sam and Jade to Hannah and Cami’s approving nods. She figured Sam was having trouble trying to figure out how to repay her for getting her mom involved with Mimi. For Sam, she had no idea why she’d be so hesitant to ask for a favor.
Discussing things with Jason as darkness fell and she found herself alone with her boyfriend on the road to the airport, Rhea squeezed his strong hand for support.
“You were amazing today, Jason… Thanks for being there for my friends, even if you really don’t know them.”
He smiled and pulled her in closer, hand gripping her side to pull her against him on their slow journey. “That is more than enough reward for me. Honestly, I didn’t do it for them… I did it for you because I know it meant something to you. Everyone wants my Sunshine, and I can’t steal your warmth all to myself, ya know?”
Rhea giggled and knocked her head against his shoulder, enjoying the proximity. “Whatever the reason, you did everything I needed without me asking once. Thank you… Do you really need to go?”
He laughed and leaned over to kiss her forehead. “I think I do. You’ve got a goal to keep, and I’m a distraction—a happy distraction—but a distraction nonetheless…for us both! All I can think about is what to do to make you happy when I’m with you…to see that perfect smile and steal a kiss. But… I need to think about the future, too. And if I’m going to be who I want to be, then I need to sacrifice, too. I need to get stronger…”
Pausing as they reached the airport, he pulled away and held her hands. Rhea couldn’t help a giggle upon seeing Alice and Sunny beside them, having their own talk and holding hands, possibly following their example.
Jason’s hot breath against her cheek pulled her attention, though as he looked deep into her eyes, he was the one that seemed lost in them, as if he were swimming into eternity. “I don’t know how this is going to come out or across…but I don’t want you to think about Sabin when you’re in trouble or need help… Not your dad or mom… I’m that selfish… I want to be on your mind.”
“Jason,” she whispered, but he shook his head with a smile instead of a frown.
“I want that because it’s you I’m thinking of, Rhea, and I’m sure I’ll think about you every morning… It’s the time I’d most think about you when I was in Kalos. I want to be your hero…because you’re mine. So, keep an eye on me, Babe. Because when I come back, I’m going to knock you off your feet again.”
Rhea couldn’t get a word out as he leaned in and met her lips, drawing the air out of her lungs. Once again left with stars, she balked as he spun away. He grabbed the hat Bolt tossed him from the ground, fitted it on as he flipped around, and accepted the bag Maru, his Breloom, had been carrying.
Jason gave her a two-fingered salute before saying, “Catch you on the flipside, Sunshine. And the point goes to the boyfriend.”
“You—oooh, we’ll see how many points you get when you come back!” she shot back, crossing her arms and giggling as Sunny tripped while trying to mirror his Trainer.
Alice jogged forward to help him up, giving him a kiss on the cheek and making his red face go even more cherry colored. Bolt waited at the door, giving him a smug smirk.
“Lop-pun-pun.”
“Ra-raboot…”
“Pika-pi?”
“Raboot!”
“Pikachu,” he called out with a teasing grin.
Pulling his scarf up, ears pulled back, he spun around and jogged after Bolt and his Trainer, practically floating. Maru gave a sigh and shook his head from beside Alice. After a second, he gave a start and ran after Jason, Bolt, and Sunny, his powerful tail wagging behind him.
“What a bunch of guys,” Rhea said with a long puff of air.
“Ni?” Lulu poked her head out from inside her front, yawning. “Nee?”
“Yup. You missed them.”
“Ni…”
Rhea found her elbow behind her back, feeling oddly light all of a sudden as she whispered, “Catch you later, Mankey Butt. Now, it’s time to get ready for Blaine. Tomorrow, we get our fifth Encrusted Badge.”
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