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Revenge of the Heart_ActIII_P5

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***The Painful Past, Part 1***

     Perhaps I should begin far back enough so that you may understand it with more depth…

     While I was still a Shuppet, I had often wandered aimlessly from place to place. But although I had met various others, there always was an emptiness inside, a loneliness. Those others… They had never actually shown much concern for my existence. I was merely another ghost Pokémon. All I was good for was trickery and fright. Other Ghost-Types only wanted my help to scare, while everyone else wanted to chase me away.
     To live the lifetime of a ghost… What purpose had I in the world that did not pertain to the pitiful stereotype? I longed for something more…
     Then, along came a young girl.
     It was one night, when I was desperately trying to elude capture from some trainer. He refused to give up on capturing me, but I refused to be confined. Especially by some lowly trainer who selfishly wanted the assistance of a ghost Pokémon in his pathetic battles. He had pursued me all the way to an old shack with a Murkrow at his disposal. They were persistent in trying to fish me out. I began to throw everything I could at them, but capture still seemed inevitable.
     And then there she was.

     "Enough!" she shouted at the trainer as she ran in. "I don't know what it is you think you're trying to do, but you'd better knock it off and get out of here!"

     "But I've almost got it!" the boy shouted back. I took that opportunity to throw more objects in their direction as I hid behind a crate, and a plank of wood nailed him square in the forehead. I blindly kept up my assault, and he seemed to be kept at bay.

     After a few moments more, I heard her voice again. "It's alright," she gently called out. "He's finally gone. You're safe now."

     I abruptly stopped my assault, and then slowly peered over the crate. She was right. He had finally left. She stood there in his place, holding a small plush doll in her hand and with a sympathetic smile on her face. Her skin was a bit cut and bruised, no doubt as a result of my attack.

     "Oh, you're just a little Shuppet. Poor thing. You must have been so frightened to have caused such a ruckus." She carefully outstretched her hand to me. "But you don't have to be afraid anymore." I stared at her hand, and then back up at her face, unsure of how to react. After a moment of my lack of response, she pulled her hand back. "Well, I'll leave you to yourself then. If you ever need anything, you're more than welcome to come find me in town, okay?" She waved as she turned to leave. "I hope to see you again, little Shuppet," she said merrily as she walked out.

     It was a strange feeling to be treated as if I possessed any true value…as if I meant something in the world…as if I were not just another ghost Pokémon. However, I did not want to trust her so readily. She could not have been too different from everyone else, I thought. But as she stood there, I sensed no trace of ill intent within her. Only a hint of loneliness… And, I realized, she had saved me from being caught by that trainer.
     I felt an obligation to the girl…so I followed her.

***

     I dropped a rose in the book she was reading as she lied in the grass next to a park fountain. She looked up in confusion to see me floating above her. "Oh!" she exclaimed with a cheerful smile. "Little Shuppet, you actually came!" She sat up on her knees with the rose in her hand. "Is this for me?" she asked. I nodded, and her smile grew wider. "It's beautiful! Thank you!" Her smile was oddly gratuitous…and somehow, I couldn't help but smile back. She stood up with her belongings and sat back down on the fountain's rim, holding up her book. "This book I'm reading is one of my favorites. I'm almost finished with it, and I'm at one of the most exciting parts of the story. If you'd like, I could read it to you, as well."

     Her voice was eager, and I could almost sense the loneliness seeping through her emotions again…so I agreed to stay and listen. When she read, she was so passionate, so expressive; it made the story more exciting. And even the story itself…I couldn't stop listening. I was so engrossed in it. And then, suddenly, it ended…

     She closed the book and set it beside her. "So, what did you think?" she asked. "Interesting, isn't it? Did you enjoy it?" I smiled and nodded in agreement. "Yes. Reading these sorts of books gets me craving to read more. I love great literature! If you enjoyed it, too, then feel free to stop by often. I'll read you another good one, okay?" She looked down at the rose in her hand. "By the way, my name is Catey. And this is my special doll that I made all on my own." She held up her black-haired plush doll. It wore a lumpy, dark grey hat and was cloaked in a matching dark robe that had a yellow zipper around the head's opening. "I thought it'd be neat if I based his design off of a Banette, considering that Banettes are like living dolls." She giggled and tightly hugged it. "So, I just call him my 'Banette Doll'. And…" She looked up at me. "What should I call you? Surely, it shouldn't be just 'little Shuppet.'"

     A name…? I never had much use for a nickname. Whenever I was addressed, it was always along the lines of "you, Shuppet" or "hey, little ghost" I may have had an individual name some time before, but it must had eventually become lost from lack of mention.

     "Should I decide on something?" she asked. Again, she looked at the rose. "Let's see…" Occasionally glancing back up at me, she thought long and hard for a name. "You know…the horn on your head reminds me of the thorns on this rose. …'Thorne'… How would you like to be called 'Thorne'? It almost has a poetic feel to it, doesn't it?"

     Thorne… Like the thorns of a rose… It did have a certain appeal to it… I smiled and nodded at her decision.

     "Heheh, so then, it's settled. Hello, Thorne. It's very nice to meet you."


     That day was the beginning of something wonderful. Many new things had happened. First, I found a new interest in the great literature she read to me. Then, I was kindly given a real name--my first real name in who knows how long. I may have had found my first real friend…and I felt a joy that I had not felt since as long as I could remember.

***

     Since then, I couldn't help but continue to return, day after day, to hear more of her stories, to read the poems she wrote…to just be with her. Catey always seemed so happy to see me when I came around, and her kindness was always so genuine. And after a while, that loneliness--both hers and mine--gradually faded away. Eventually, it came to the point where I couldn't even stand to leave her side. We did everything together. Over the months, I grew so dependent on her precious company that it became an addiction. I was always alone, yet I never realized just how lonely I was. To go back to my pointless, lonesome life from before I met her would have brought me an unbearable pain. She was the very reason my existence ever held any true meaning. I loved her more than words could describe…
     …I should have expected someone to come ruin that so soon…

     We were at our usual spot at the park fountain. Catey was reading to me about the different Pokémon myths and legends… And then he walked up, and I could sense all too well the malice in his emotions.

     "Hey there, little girlie," he addressed to Catey. "What's your name?"

     "Oh, um… It's Catey."

     "Catey, huh? What'cha reading?"

     "It's a book about Pokémon legends and stuff."

     "What, you mean the legendaries? Lemme see that." He snatched the book out of her hands and began flipping through the pages. "Mew? Fake. Celebi? Wimp. Jirachi? Can't grant a real wish to save its life."

     "You don't know that for sure!"

     "And what's this? Ninetales? That's not even a legendary!"

     "A Pokémon doesn't have to be legendary to have legends about them! Besides, that's no ordinary Ninetales they speak of."

     "'If you touch the tails of Ninetales, you will be subject to a thousand-year curse.' Kekeke! Seriously? That's so stupid! It's not like Ninetales are Ghost-Types or anything. So, how could they lay a curse? I should go yank on a tail just to prove how ridiculous this really is. Keke!"

     "Stop it! Why are you being so rude?"

     "Keh, because it's all nonsense. Who actually believes this stuff?"

     Catey stood up and grabbed the book back. "I do!"

     "Kekeke, well, of course you do. You'd believe anything. After all, you're just a naïve, little girl…" He grabbed her Banette Doll and ripped it out of her hands. "…who still carries around some stupid rag doll!"

     Catey gasped, reaching out to her doll. "No! Give him back!"

     Unable to idle around any longer, I flew up to his face and began shouting threats at him to give the doll back. I was ready to attack him if that's what it took. But of course, he could not understand what I was saying, and he only backed up and called out, "Ugegeh! Hey, restrain your crazy Shuppet!"

     "He wants you to give him back!" Catey retorted.

     "Keh. Oh, I'll give it back…" He held up a Pokéball and smirked mischievously. "If you can beat me in a battle, that is." He released the ball, and it opened up to reveal a Kirlia from its light. The boy backed up farther and pointed to me. "And you'll have to use that psychotic Shuppet of yours, too."

     "A battle?" Catey asked nervously. "But we can't! I'm not a trainer yet, and Thorne has never even been captured."

     "Is that so? Kekeke! That's too bad! Then, I suggest you capture it and learn how to battle. Because if you don't want to be its official owner, then I will be." He held up the Banette Doll. "And unless you want this rag doll to be ripped to shreds, then you don't have much of a choice. Keke!"

     "You're horrible!"

     I could not take his harassment of poor Catey any longer. It filled me with rage just watching it. I may not have been experienced in battling, but I had to defend my Catey, no matter what it took. I floated in front of the Kirlia, bracing myself for the fight.

     "Thorne?" Catey called out. "You're not really going to fight, are you?" I nodded my head. There was no changing my mind. "Oh… Please be careful."

     The Kirlia looked at me with sympathetic eyes. "I am very sorry he has brought it to this…"

     "Right…" was all I responded with. A Pokémon who obeyed the commands of a trainer like him could not be all that good. So, I ignored the formalities.

     "Kekeke," the boy chuckled. "Then, let's begin. Kirlia! Double Team!"

     On command, one Kirlia suddenly phased into seven as she used her abilities to create illusionary copies of herself. My eyes darted from one twirling figure to another, but instead of wasting my time trying to decipher which the original was, I let out a shrill, ear-splitting Screech. The Kirlias winced at the sound, and the copies vanished, leaving the original vulnerable. I took that opportunity to unleash a Night Shade upon her, and she became cloaked in a dark energy.

     "Don't you dare let that puny Shuppet beat you, Kirlia!" the boy warned. "Break its Night Shade with Psychic and attack it!"

     Kirlia's eyes glowed, and the glowing began to seep through the darkness. Then, almost effortlessly, the colorful light dispersed the Night Shade, and it was redirected to me. It engulfed me with a terrible pain.

     "And now, Confusion!" the ruthless trainer commanded. "Toss it away!"

     "Stop!" I heard Catey shout. But still, I felt Kirlia's mind overtake me, squeezing me tightly with such pressure, and I was thrown right back into Catey, knocking us both to the floor. I struggled to get back up, fatigue having already taken a heavy toll on me. I heard Catey gasp as I wavered forward to continue fighting. "Oh, no! Thorne!"

     "All right, Kirlia," the trainer began. "Finish it off with your final move! Shock Wave!"

     "Wait!" Catey pleaded desperately.

     Kirlia looked back at her trainer with a concerned look. "But…" she began, but was interrupted by his impatience.

     "Hurry it up, Kirlia!" he yelled. "Just get it over with!"

     Kirlia turned back to me and, although unwillingly, charged her hands up with electricity. "I'm sorry…" she apologized.

     "No!" Catey screamed as the Shock Wave was released. Unable to react in time, I squeezed my eyes shut and prepared for the impact…but instead, I heard a loud scream. My eyes shot open, and my heart sank as I discovered that Catey had shielded me from the attack and was enveloped in the Shock Wave. Once the electricity dispersed, she fell to the floor, shaking violently from the jolts that still bolted through her.

     "Catey!" I cried out.

     She slowly propped herself up on an elbow, still wincing from the electric charges. "A-are you…a-alright, Thorne?" she asked.

     But before I could respond, the trainer had run up to us and shouted, "Idiot! What the heck did you do that for? It's a stinkin' Ghost-Type! It's not like he could have died from that or anything! You didn't have to do that!"

     "You big jerk!" she retorted as she sat herself up on her knees. "What difference does that make? Whether he's able to die or not shouldn't matter! Either way, you could have really hurt him!"

     "It was a battle! Pokémon are going to get hurt!"

     "But you were going way too far!"

     "Keh, whatever. Anyway…" He held up the Banette Doll in his hands. "You may have lost the battle, but you did get hurt. So, as compensation, I'm going to give you your doll back." He dropped it into her lap, and Catey covered her mouth as she gasped. It was completely ruined. It's head and limbs were nearly torn off, the stuffing hung all out, and an eye dangled off by a thread. "I hope you don't mind the make-over I gave it. Kekekeke!" He started walking away when he told us one last thing. "By the way, the name's Akuji. So, if you weaklings ever want a rematch and fight a real battle, I'll be heading west to the next town over. Kekeke, adios!"

     I stared after him as he left, rage overflowing inside me. How could he have been so cold, so heartless? Catey was such a sweet, young girl. How could one possibly do her any wrong? I wanted to attack him…but I stopped when I heard sniffling. I looked back to see Catey, tears covering her cheeks as she tightly held her torn-up Banette Doll in her hands. My heart clenched up at the sight.

     "Thorne…" she sobbed. "Why do people…have to be so cruel…? What have I done to him…?"

     Sorrow washed over me. Catey… She was so hurt…so humiliated… Her most precious possession was destroyed…and she took that attack for me. To save me. She cared for me that much…but I couldn't even help prevent her pain. I wasn't able to stop him…and it made me feel so horribly worthless. What was I to do then? How could I have been of any help to her?
     My gaze shifted to the Banette Doll. She poured her heart and soul into that doll. It was her most cherished possession. But looking at it now…repair seemed futile. It would have never been the same…
     Then, I stopped. A small hope arose inside of me. That was how I would quickly get much stronger so that we may take that trainer up on his offer and defeat him in battle. The doll… It may have been ruined…but there was still something we could salvage from it.
     I lifted the doll from Catey's hands, infusing it with my ghostly energy as I merged into it. I possessed it with every ounce of my being, and suddenly I morphed into another creature…a Banette.

     "Thorne!" Catey exclaimed with surprise. "Amazing! You evolved!" She examined my new form in admiration. "Wow, you even look like the Banette Doll in some ways, too." She giggled happily as she tightly wrapped her arms around me. "Heehee! You're so adorable!"

     Although it was strange to be referred to as "adorable", her rekindled joy lifted my spirits once again, and with my new arms, I returned her embrace, grateful to finally be holding her myself for the first time.

     Then, she let go and asked with suspicion, "But what made you evolve so suddenly? Could it be…that you want a rematch with that Akuji guy?"

     I grinned eagerly and nodded with determination. I wanted payback for him harming my poor Catey so mercilessly.

     She tightened her hands into fists. "Right! I don't blame you, Thorne. He should be taught some manners, shouldn't he?" She swiftly got to her feet. "Okay! Let's go find h--" But her fatigued body gave out from under her, and I quickly caught her as she fell. "Heh… Or maybe we should rest up first, huh?" I sighed with relief that she was all right. "And some more training wouldn't hurt, either. Just to make us sure to win against him, right? We can catch up to him, anyway, since we know where he's headed to."

     I nodded as a new fiery motivation burned inside of me. I would get much stronger, greatly improve my battle skills. I would be more than ready to fight the next time we met him. And when we did meet him…that Akuji…he would be one sorry fool to have ever invaded our peaceful lives.
:bulletred:Moved here from my Scraps~

Well, here're you guys' early New Years Gift: part one to Thorne's past. FINALLY, after so long, I get to reveal this! >|'''D *diesofpentupanticipation*

'Cause there is no way I'd ever get to this part in the comic for another 10 years or so. Not even joking. >FD;;;
Anyway, I shall post the last two parts of his story...HOPEFULLY, if I can restrain myself long enough *probablywontanywayplz* one part a day, that way it'd all be up by New Years~ >|D

So, yeah... Thorne's past finally being revealed... About freaking time, huh? >FD;

***Previously***
Act I, Part 1: [link]
Act I, Part 2: [link]
Act I, Part 3: [link]
Act I, Epilogue: [link]
Act II, Part 1: [link]
Act II, Part 2: [link]
Act II, Part 3: [link]
Act II, Epilogue: [link]
Act III, Part 1: [link]
Act III, Part 2: [link]
Act III, Part 3: [link]
Act III, Part 4: [link]

***Next***
Act III, Part 6--The Painful Past, Part 2: [link]
Act III, Part 7--The Painful Past, Part 3: [link]
Act III, Part 8: [link]
Act III, Epilogue: [link]
Epilogue Act: [link]
© 2009 - 2024 PokreatiaForms
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Pikininja's avatar
This makes me see a whole new side of Thorne!
Poor thing. DX