EPISODE 17: Change*
Our eyes gaze upon each other's souls. It is like the wheels of time suddenly ceased to function. Chloe's face is hot under the collar, while her deepest chambers start to flare like a beguiling nightmare.
Her hands twitch like blunt claws preparing to scrape off a prey's heart. She looks treacherous and bitter just like a youngster fighting over a small lollipop. My heart skips a beat while I hold Ralts and Lily on my grasp. I beg for mercy just like what peasants do in front of queens, but her anger is beyond the temperature of the sun's core.
"Why do people like you exist anyway? You're starting to brass me off stutter girl! You deserve to be in the mental hospital, far away from people like us.
People like you don't have any dreams, and if you do? It will be impossible to achieve. No matter how much you try, you'll never be the person you ought to be.
When I achieve my dream, I'll be on stage, laughing at a scapegoat like you. Shiny Pokemons do not matter, strength and speed do." Chloe badgers harshly. The silent night forges into a rough one, a rough night between teenagers like us.
"Your wrong... b, bond does." I correct with a solemn voice while looking down on myself. She has a point, I don't have a dream, but do people like me deserve to stay in mental hospitals?
"What was that?! Bonding with your Pokemon only makes you weaker. You're soft, that's why you only have one friend. Wanna become stronger? Go pursue on strength and stamina... oh never mind, you're a coward when it comes to battling.
No matter what, you'll always be a weakling because of your disorder. Nothing could cure it, so I guess you have to live in the box of eternal shame." Chloe mocks and disparages with a slight sarcastic tone. She passes through me and my Pokemons flawlessly by colliding our elbows together. I thought she wanted milk? Eh, I guess she is too furious to get a new cup of milk.
Her insults are extremely painful to the point that every cliche I've ever seen or heard about make sense. My heart feels like someone pushes a dagger through it and set it on fire. The tears kept flowing through my eyes like someone broke a handle from behind my eyeballs. I continue to mourn in the middle of the hallway, I sense it, the bitter taste of despair and suffering, not even my Pokemons could thaw my frozen heart.
<Pet! Petilil!> <Ralts! Ralts!>My Pokemons tries to comfort me while rubbing off my tears as if they are stones trying to block a stream from flowing into something it shouldn't flow into. Without my mother during that time, I made a grave turn. A turn to a new path, a new Luna.
"Let's go." I angered and incensed while standing up from the velvet carpet. My voice scared the hell out of my Pokemons, it is like they are communicating to a stranger rather than a familiar person. They kept quiet and still, but their face begs me to calm my rage.
With two clenched fists I walk back to my room with my Pokemons. I lock the doors, closed the curtains, and sit on the wooden chair. On my desk is a small paper, and on my left hand is a yellow pencil. Yes, I am indeed a left-handed person.
It's time to make my desire a reality. I'll prove Chloe wrong, I'll make sure that those who mock me will live to regret their own decision. I'll show them, that no burden shall ever stop me. I know what I'm doing is wrong, but my mind is shrouded with anger and remorse, a virus keeping all those optimistic thoughts down to the very last chamber of the lower parts of the brain.
I don't want to do this, half of my body tried to hesitate, but the virus fought back. Vengeance boiled, and instead of them? I was the one who lived to regret my decision.
I wrote a letter that addressed my mother, the master five, and Jenny. With one hand, I fold the paper in half, tuck it inside my blanket, and I prepare my bag. Ralts and Petilil are confused with my actions, they don't know that I'm planning to run, run away, and never return.
"Petilil, Ralts, return to your Pokeballs!" I demand with a stuttering voice. In immediate actions, my Pokemons turn into a beam of red light, warped into their spherical homes. My clothes are prepared, and my bag is set. If I'm not mistaken, I know where to find the persons I need to seek.
Now come's the pinnacle of my grand escape, I scrape off the curtains and tie them against each other. I am an innovative person with a creative mind, making a rope is a piece of cake.
"No looking back." My voice stutter again while clinging to the railings of my balcony. This is my last opportunity to undo everything, but I'm too shrouded with remorse, there's nothing I could except to listen to my heart like what Jenny said.
For three minutes my body shivers. A part of me is telling to look back, while another part told me to go down. Two governing consciousness battled for superiority over my mind while tears burst forth once last time.
I chose the decision to jump and cling unto the rope I've made. Back then, I didn't notice that I listened to my mind instead of my heart when I made the decision to jump. My body felt guilty and uncomfortable after reaching fertile grounds, even my legs shiver while I walk through the city.
I cover my head with the hood of my jacket as I rush to my destination. Here in Saffron City, there's always a curfew, and once you're caught? You'll be automatically sent to prison regardless of your age.
I hid like shadows and silhouettes, avoiding the light's galore. As much as possible, I dash through alleys with minimal to no guards or grunts at all.
"Man! These boxes are heavy." ??? complains while lifting a wooden box to a pitch-black truck.
"Keep quiet and stop complaining if you want the work to be finished right away." His compadre utters with a low toned frustration while checking on a grey looking tablet.
I hide behind a metallic trash bin while watching these men ship out boxes from a storage room. When the moment is right, I leap out and reveal myself.
"You... you, said you can cure me ri, right?" I question with an eager tone and stuttering voice that is able to capture Arlo and Cliff's attention. Yes, I've consulted these grunts on the corner of the city just like what they've instructed to me.
"Oh, it's the young girl from before? What are you doing here in a time like this?" Arlo questions with suspicion as I slowly lower my hood, revealing to them my identity.
"I... I don't want my, my voice to stutter anymore." I utter solemnly while remembering all those painful past. I clench my fists, begging them to help me.
"So, it finally came to your senses huh? We can cure your dysphemia, don't worry. All we ask is for one favor." Cliff adds with a frustrated tone towards the heavy box he is lifting to the truck.
"Wh, What favor?" I query softly. I beg to my heart that whatever favor they ask, I'll be able to do it for the sake of my disorder.
"You see kid, everything comes with a price. The cure you seek has a cheap price indeed, join Team Rocket, and no one will ever insult you." Arlo's voice got deeper as he utters with conviction. Me? Joining Team Rocket? I am left with a moment of silence while thinking of the decision.
"Wh, what if I don't?" I challenge with a slight increase in my tone. I glare at Arlo, trying to intimidate him and his other friend.
"If you don't, then you won't have the cure you seek for. Look at your glare, Team Rocket needs a member like you." Arlo stays calm while continuing to encourage me with crocodile facts. For a moment, I stop glaring at them while thinking of the decision once more.
"Hurry up kid! Make a decision right now, it's now or never." Cliff demands while leaning on one the side of the truck with worn-out muscles.
"Don't be scared, team Rocket isn't that evil. You can make new friends, friends who would respect and honor your existence." Arlo soothes while patting my shoulders. With a heavy heart, I nod. I accept the offer, to become a member of Team Rocket.
"Perfect, you made the right decision young lass. Now, before the moon sets, we should leave set course to Viridian City, the site of Team Rocket's grandest headquarters. From there, we can register you, and you'll finally become an official grunt.
Oh I almost forgot, teenager grunts like you are automatically enrolled in the Rocket Academy after registering. It's a school for rookies like you, but don't worry, you'll be able to do missions as well." Cliff explains while stretching his worn-out muscles.
"And as for your Dysphemia, we'll give it once we reach Viridian City. If I'm not mistaken, the boss will be there tomorrow morning, you can plead in front of him. If he disregards your plead, leave it to me, I have my ways." Arlo adds then pats my shoulder one last time. I have the sudden urge to change my decision, but if I want a typical life? I should get that cure.
"Come on kid, we have no time to lose. Get in the truck, and we'll set course to Viridian City!" Cliff instructs while opening the driver's door.
My body shivers while following these men. Starting from now on, I'll be far away from my alma mater. I'm no longer an orphan, I'm now a member of Team Rocket, a new me, a new life. Let the people shroud their names in the terror I shall soon hold upon. This is how I became the villain of my story. New friends and new missions finally await in Viridian City.