EPISODE 165: A Twist of Faith!

"Wait... the Pokeball, it didn't teleport to my lab!?" Professor Bellice beamed with shock as the Pokeball in my hand remained on it. The Pokeball didn't shrink or even teleport to the lab. I began to wonder... how could I be bringing seven Pokemons with me!?

The Pokeball shook thrice, and suddenly Shaymin beamed out of it. She gave me a bis smile as her tail wagged.

"Shaymin, why did you go out of your Pokeball?" I queried.

"I don't like to stay in my Pokeball. I want to walk, run, and play." Shaymin beamed with joy and excitement.

"That would explain it. It seems to me, Shaymin is just like Riolu. It will follow you no matter where you go, therefore, the Pokeball does not need to teleport to the lab since Shaymin will be traveling outside rather than inside." Professor Indigo explained and concluded.

"So that means, we can bring more than six Pokemons?!" Camellia beamed with awe.

"I guess that's how it has to be. If a Pokemon wishes to stay with the trainer outside the Pokeball, then it doesn't need to be sent to the lab." Professor Bellice hunched while jotting down notes about the new discovery of trainers holding more than six Pokemons.

"Kalem, you are aware that you can't use Shaymin in the Pokemon League and during any gym battles right?" Camellia questioned as she recalled the rules and regulations of the PLC or the Pokemon League Company.

"It's fine. Shaymin can be used in the future, plus... if it wants to stay out of her Pokeball, it's fine by me. At least Riolu has a Pokemon to talk with." I smirked at Shaymin while rubbing her chin.

While playing with Shaymin's chin, the clouds turned to twilight. Lightning lit the skies in brilliant streaks. Fog embraced every tree, every square centimeter of ground. Thunder declared itself as some rock star upon the stage. The wind ran as if it has been restrained for time out of mind and it was determined to outrun any chaser. The sound of it was a strange song as if howling yearned for a melody, and we watched the trees join in the unfolding scene, as if the change, though abrupt and startling, was as welcome as a surprise on the island.

"Run! Run! Run!" A worried voice suddenly beamed loudly while two familiar men rushed inside the hollow tree.

"It's a dead-end!" One of the men complained while hitting the corner of the hollow tree.

"Glade, Captain Smith!" Camellia beamed with relief while a fast blazing speed of wind rushed and circled the three.

"Oh no... Zeraora is here." Shaymin shivered with fear while trying to hide herself.

"Oh my, so the legend of Zeraora is true after all!" Beatrice's belief suddenly changed while the wind circulated even faster than before.

"Of course it's real! I nearly got killed." Captain Smith complained and grumbled.

"Shaymin, stay behind that rock," I instructed while holding Zapdos's Pokeball. Shaymin hid behind a sturdy rock while shivering with fear. She would sometimes peak out to see what was happening.

"Humans!" Zeraora infuriated and blocked the entrance and exit of the hollow tree. Electricity was flowing through his veins while giving us a cold and barren smile.

"Zeraora, we're not here to cause any trouble." Professor Indigo explained.

"I tried telling him that, he won't listen." Glade and Captain Smith began to panic while Camellia tried to find a hiding spot.

"I don't believe your old tricks anymore! All your heads shall become my souvenir!" Zeraora infuriated as his fist was suddenly succumbed by blue electricity. Zeraora rushed swiftly to Camellia while targetting her head.

"Zapdos, come out then use Drill Peck!"

<Zap! Zapdos!>Zapdos's drill peck pushed Zeraora far from Camellia.

"Argh! I'll deal with you myself." Zeraora beamed with anger and frustration while trying to hit Zapdos.

"Zapdos, dodge, then use Thunder!"

*Zapdos dodged the thunder punch. Thunder was not very effective since both electric types are a disadvantage against each other.*

Zeraora rubbed his two fists to store electricity. "Zeraora, you have to listen to me, not all of humanity is cruel!" I explained while fighting the thunderclap Pokemon.

"Foolishness! Every single one of you are the same. Your specie will regret your decision to burn down this forest." Zeraora used thunder punch on Zapdos while explaining his belief. His eyes were filled with vengeance.

"Look, I don't know about the past, we can change the future. We are different from the past, there may be cruel people but there are also good ones."

"Don't be a short-sighted fool! You use your Pokemons for battling. For you, Pokemons are slaves!" Zeraora shouted while launching another attack.

"Zapdos dodged then use Drill Peck behind Zeraora." Everybody was silent while watching the confrontation. Professor Bellice however, was trying to gather information about the legendary Pokemon by studying the way it moves, the way it thinks, and the way it attacks.

"Kalem, be careful!" Riolu beamed with worry while watching the catastrophe. On the other hand, Glade and Captain Smith were watching the battle with awe.

"Zeraora, please stop this! Your belief towards humanity is wrong, you have to trust us!"

"I've promised myself to never trust a human again!" Zeraora's electric power suddenly increased as his fist punched Zapdos on the abdomen.

"Oh no Zapdos!" I beamed with worry.

"Zapdos, use Thunder once more!"

<Zap! Zap! Zapdos!>Zeraora was hit by the attack but not a single scratch formed on its body. It was still standing strong and firm, as the attack Zapdos used boosted his power.

"Please Zeraora, you need to listen to me. If we pursue this fight, it will only give you bad results. On behalf of humanity, we are sorry for what we did in the past, the people of today are different from the people back then. There may be hunters and poachers, but there are also wise people who care and love for all Pokemon!" I beamed with conviction while Zeraora punched Zapdos on the belly again. Zapdos blasted back and fell down to the ground.

"Zapdos, take a nice rest! Grovyle, I need you to battle right now!"

<Grovyle! Grov!>The Pokemon beamed with determination while trying to protect me.

*Zeraora used Thunder Punch!*

"Grovyle, dodge the attack then use Leaf Blade!"

<Grovyle! Grov!>Grovyle was able to dodge the attack. Leaf Blade was super effective.

"Please stop fighting anymore! Try to understand what's happening in the present. We shouldn't learn from the past, but we should learn from it. There is no hope if you try to pursue your belief. People are meant to care for Pokemons, people are meant to be with Pokemons!"

"We've been here on Earth before you! If you think what you know is right, then I shall put my resolve to your test!"

*Zeraora used Thunder Shock!"

"Grovyle dodge the attack then use Leaf Storm!"

"Kalem, don't fight Zeraora anymore, you'll hurt yourself," Camellia begged.

"I have too, I can't leave a Pokemon believing on something which isn't true!" I beamed with determination while facing the mythical Pokemon. A Pokemon far beyond the power of Zapdos.

"Why do you persist human!?" Zeraora beamed with frustration as the attack swept off his body.

"Cause your faith is wrong! Stop fighting Zeraora, let us cooperate with one another."

"Humanity and Pokemons are two species which cannot combine. We have our own beliefs, and you have your own. There is no product if humanity works with Pokemons."

"Grovyle, use Leaf Blade again!"

*Zeraora was whacked down once more.*

"Grovyle, use Grass Knot this time!"

<Your words, I shall follow!>Grovyle beamed with determination while a long vine wrapped Zeraora. Grovyle began to glow afterward. It grew taller, as it's yellow eyes became feisty and aggressive. Grovyle started to develop a small pine tree on its tail, except that it doesn't have wood on it.

"You want to know the product if people and Pokemons work together? I'll show you! Sceptile, use Leaf Blade!"

*Sceptile's attack got stronger than before. His Leaf Blade wrecked and injured Zeraora heavily, but he didn't give up quickly.*

"When people and humans work together, a bond is produced. An unbreakable bond, that flows through our veins! A bond, which no one could interrupt, not even you!"

"Why attack the Pokemon when you can attack the human!?" Zeraora beamed with anger and surpassed Sceptile. An attack was heading towards my body, but I couldn't move since I froze with fear. Shaymin got worried and leaped out of her hiding spot.

"Zeraora, that's enough!" Shaymin shouted while blocking and protecting me. Zeraora saw Shaymin and suddenly stopped the attack.

"Traitor! After years of protecting you, you dare join humanity's side!?" Zeraora's blood boiled with vengeance.

"Zeraora... Kalem is right. People and Pokemon are meant to be with each other. Their hearts are meant to combine as one. The product of this is not only bond, but also love and compassion.

You see, when a person truly cares for a Pokemon, that Pokemon will feel something unexplainable. A sudden spark of joy and happiness, that feeling is called love.

I used to hate people as well, Kalem is right, there are bad people in this world but there are good ones as well. This world is vast, a world filled with cruelty and Chaos, but behind all of that? There is love.

A Pokemon once told me, if humans really treated Pokemons like slaves, then why would we feel love and compassion? It is not about battling, it is about our hearts and souls combining as one. My belief changed after Kalem helped me from those hunters. He and his friend healed my wounds and comforted me.

Please believe in Kalem Zeraora. We don't know how the people of today act and works because we live on an island. Somewhere out there? Lies eternal happiness through the people you love. A twist of faith, yes, that's all you need Zeraora." Shaymin explained with conviction.

"Y... You, saved Shaymin?" Zeraora questioned with a shocked and amused face. Zeraora stopped attacking and knelt down.

"I did... I saw her fainting, so I decided to help her." I explained and returned Sceptile to his Pokemon.

Zeraora's vengeance was calmed down after what Shaymin said to her.

"I... I am speechless. I now see that the circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant. It is what we do with the gift of life which determines who we are. Please, leave the island, I deeply apologize for attacking you. I regret every decision, every thought.

All this time, I thought every human was an enemy. I'd never expect someone like you to help Shaymin. Thank you, now go!" Zeraora uttered softly while realizing his mistake.

"Here Zeraora, take this berry. It can heal your wounds." I knelt down and handed one oran berry to Zeraora. He felt happy and pleased.

As a reward, Zeraora rushed around the island and sought for the professor's ship. It was time to return to Aulmurus city, while leaving a memory on this island. Shaymin walked by my side and waved goodbye to Zeraora as the ship headed back to Aulmurus city.

"Bye Zeraora! Thank you for everything!" Shaymin smiled and shouted loudly while leaning her two paws on the railings of the boat.

"Take care Shaymin! Thank you, for telling me the truth, thank you for twisting my faith." Zeraora waved and went back to his cave.

"Ah! It's too bad that we were unable to find the beast, but hey? At least we're safe with our heads!" Captain Smith beamed with relief as a shadow crawled underneath the sea.

People and pokemons, working as one! This is what connects our soul and heart, a connection that couldn't be cut. A connection which couldn't be interrupted, and that connection, is called love.