55 A Mother's Love

Gardevoir tremblingly recalled her story to Paul. By the time they were finished, Amber finally arrived with Alakazam, and was shocked with Gardevoir's present state.

She immediately crouched to become closer to Gardevoir, while releasing Happiny. The pink pokemon came down and tried to cheer up Gardevoir, which evidently worked as the latter smiled at the former's cute antics.

Amber asked Paul a question, while also taking out a Potion, gauzes, and some bandages from her pouch. The former's action made the red head sigh in relief, with the knowledge that the pink head brought first-aid medicine for emergency use.

"What happened?" She whispered, leaning closer to Paul's ear who was also currently crouching.

Hearing her question, Paul immediately responded, "I'll make it short and quick, just focus on treating Gardevoir, alright?" Amber quickly nodded, her sight on Gardevoir while giving Paul a 'I'm focused, now tell me what happened' look.

Paul quickly retold what Gardevoir told him to the pink head.

Eventually, after Ursaring attacked Gardevoir's husband, the latter was still able to combat. Still, the power levels of the two were different as Gardevoir's husband was only at early expert stage only, while the bear pokemon was around the peak expert stage. After a few minutes of battle, Gardevoir's husband decisively sent her a message to quickly teleport out of the area, the farther the better, so that Ursaring won't be able to track both Gardevoir, and the Ralts Egg.

At first, Gardevoir was unwilling, but with her husband's insistence, she finally gritted her teeth and finished forming their baby egg, accelerating the process despite the harm it could bring to her life force. Fortunately, Gardevoir's husband already imparted almost half of his energy to Gardevoir as she was giving birth earlier, before Ursaring came. Another reason why her husband wasn't able to battle that well at that time.

Just as she had formed the Ralts Egg, a large impact came from the front of the cave. Gardevoir was only able to see the silhouette of her husband's body, lying on the ground in front of the cave; unable to determine if he was still dead or alive. Ursaring, currently still enraged, directly run towards Gardevoir. Alarmed with the bear pokemon's quick approach, Gardevoir initiated teleporting outside the cave.

Though, it was still too late as Ursaring was about to strike his claws towards the egg at her embrace. Gardevoir immediately let the egg levitate a bit to the left, dodging the claw, but at the same time leaving her body with three huge gashes on the chest as the mother and egg teleported away.

After a bit more of teleporting, Gardevoir came upon the current spot, her energy exhausted. As she checked her baby egg, she discovered that the heartbeat was so faint, that it might flicker out anytime. At that time, she was out of energy, thus was only able to call out for help, out of desperation. Luckily, she was able to sense Paul, a psychic, who has a kind aura.

Amber, understanding the current situation, was a bit tearful at Gardevoir's story.

"So, what can we do to help her?" The pink head asked his friend, who almost has answers for everything she asked. This time though, she would be disappointed as Paul does not know what to do too.

"I'm afraid we can't help at all. I think we should bring them to the Pokemon Center, but it would take a while. The egg might not make it in time." Paul answered with his head down, sadness and helplessness present in his voice.

Gardevoir, who has currently recovered her energy with Amber's potion and using both moves [Rest] and [Life Dew] on herself, was filled with despair as she understood both humans' conversation.

'How about my child? Is there nothing you could really do to help?' She asked earnestly, her voice filled with pleading and anguish.

Paul, being unable to look at Gardevoir on the eyes, turned his head away and was silent. Amber just directly started to cry; her head hidden on Paul's shoulder. The red head just comforted himself and at the same time, the former, as he took the pink head on his arms.

Gardevoir's eyes was immediately filled with hopelessness while hugging the Ralts Egg dearly. As if the egg might disappear any second now. After a while, Gardevoir asked a favor from Paul, her eyes were firm with determination, despite her current plight. As though she was taking a life and death mission and leaving behind her will and testament, which was similar somehow to the current situation.

'Paul, you are a kind human; I felt and witnessed it. I hope that with my absence, you will take care and guide my daughter, who I am assured would be wonderful and beautiful. Please take good care of her in my stead, tell her that her mother and father loved her, very much so.'

She continued when she saw Paul wanting to rebut. 'My time has come to an end. I tried to feel the future, but all I saw was darkness, and my daughter as the light. I believe that I should follow my husband in the afterlife, within the presence of the mighty Arceus. Do not discourage me, as I have already chosen my path; and I chose my daughter to live, the life she has yet to experience. So, human named Paul, please love, and cherish my daughter for me and my husband. I would be deeply in your debt if you do so. Can you promise me that?'

"But…" Paul tried to counter, though was stopped with Gardevoir's question. 'Promise me.'

"Are there any other way?" He asked, a little bit desperately. Gardevoir shook her head as she asked again. 'Promise me, Paul.'

Having no other way out, Paul finally pledged. "Fine. I promise."

Just as he finished speaking, a bright white light covered Gardevoir's whole body which was then transferred to the Ralts Egg. Paul covered his mouth in shock, his wide eyes red as he finally understood Gardevoir's message. Amber was at the side, mesmerized at the current scene while being confused at what was happening.

As the light faded away, a sudden change happened on the Ralts Egg, the green patterns over the egg changed into blue. While this was happening, Gardevoir fell into the ground softly, seemingly happy as she closed her eyes with a smile on her face, facing the direction of her baby.

Paul felt his heart shake, as he realized Gardevoir's current fate. Tears streamed down his face; helplessness overwhelmed his mind as he witnessed the first demise in this lifetime. A pokemon, which was he worship and admired over and over in his past life, nonetheless died, with him being unable to help or do anything at all.

At the moment, Jake and Steven finally arrived with Gengar, Ditto 'Eevee', and Eevee, all being able to witness Paul cry and seemingly in a daze. Amber, on the other hand, kept asking the red head what was happening and why he was crying.

Jake was at a loss, not knowing what happened and noticed Paul's sight. A Gardevoir was currently 'asleep' with a Ralts Egg on her embrace, her face ostensibly facing the egg. Meanwhile, Steven approached the red head who seemed to be in shock. As he tapped Paul on the shoulder, with the latter looking back at him while eyes still in a daze; he asked a question.

"What happened?" He asked, concern and worry present in his voice.

Paul wasn't able to respond, and only did so when Steven asked for the fourth time.

"So, what happened?" The blue head patiently asked again, as he noticed that he finally got the attention of his red-haired friend.

"She's gone." Paul whispered faintly, his eyes blank, and tears that had calmed down came back again.

Steven was only able to hear vaguely, though he was finally able to understand his friend's statement as the red head repeatedly stated, "She's gone."

As if finding solace, Paul said to his friend in a mournful voice, "Steven, she's gone, and she won't come back."

"Who's gone?" Steven confusingly asked. Though, he was answered with Paul's gaze, which his eyes followed and was able to spot a seemingly 'asleep' Gardevoir.

"What happened?" The Devon Corps heir asked again, this time it was with a serious tone, nevertheless concern could still be felt in his voice.

Paul seemed to finally calm down, though he was hiccupping. The red head was able to realize Gardevoir's intent on doing what she had done. He answered his blue haired friend's question with a simple answer.

"A mother's love."