Part Five: Young and Restless

A hundred, hundred kilometres and a hundred years away from the land of Minami; five travellers headed towards their next destination on their journey around Johto.

Two of these were in the air - flying just over the others' heads so to hear the conversation readily, and join in where necessary.

A glib comment from one in the air sent the other's face into a mock scowl as she rotated lazily and flicked a seed in retaliation.

The other dodged with a laugh. "You'll have to do better than that, Phippy."

Philippa dropped the expression and grinned back. "Don't expect me to go all out just after lunch!"

Robert - one of the humans on the ground - looked up at that last statement and sighed. "Guess I can't argue with that explanation. You had twice more than normal, and you still finished before me... I don't even understand how you can still fly!"

Cedar, who had been striding ahead purposefully, stopped and faced the rest of the group with a scowl on her face. "Listen; are we even going to reach the city by nightfall or are we just going to trade smartass comments with each other?"

Philippa landed near the three and withdrew her wings. A moment later Louisa followed. "Ok," Philippa nodded. "Sorry Cedar. All the same; we're only about half an hour from the town, so it shouldn't take us all day."

They walked in companionable silence for about a minute; following the dirt path up the crest of a hill, when suddenly Louisa bared her fangs in surprise and stopped dead. "I don't believe it!" she hissed. "Why can I sense a Dragon here?"

As quickly as she had stopped; she was racing up the hill. The others followed at a jog; they too as suspicious as she was.

At the top of the hill the group stared. Below them, a few dozen metres away, were four humans and one Pokémon, all standing still; while an intense green light shimmered in the centre.

Waves of light pulsated from them; green first, then blue, then yellow. A rushing sound echoed in their ears. Dimly Cedar was aware of Louisa striding towards them and shouting something.

But it was too late. An even more intense green light beamed out suddenly, the group disappeared with a flash; and all that was left were a few sparkling motes of energy still dissipating into the atmosphere.

"Who on earth were they?" Louisa yelled, annoyed. "That source could well have been as powerful as me!"

Briefly Philippa laid a hand on Louisa's shoulder and deftly avoided the instinctual elbow jab that followed. "I know what you mean. And there was also Flora Elemental power there too."

Umbreon, at Cedar's feet, nodded with seriousness. "There was Dark power there, for a while." he said, looking up to Cedar.

Frustrated, Cedar shook her head. "I hate that! Was it a mirage or something? What were we seeing?"

"Something I hope will be explained soon..." Philippa replied.

"Touch wood..." Robert quavered. Of all the group; he was the only one staring into the sky. "I think we're going to find out what that was all about really soon..." He pointed.

An amber coloured circle opened above their heads. Once more, yellow light throbbed with energy. Something, a small shape, flew through the light towards them.

Philippa gasped. "It's a Flora Pokémon! But one I've never seen before!"

<Be at peace with the trees, humans. Serebii greets you.> the Pokémon said, its wide green eyes benevolent.

"Eh?" blinked Cedar, Robert and Louisa.

"Be at peace, Serebii. Flora Human greets you. I accept your boon." This seemingly ritual-like greeting over, Philippa smiled and raised a hand. "It wants to ask us a favour."

Serebii floated closer and brushed thin antennae against her hand. <Yes, I do> it said in an amused voice, and then became more serious-toned.

"What do we need to do?" Cedar asked; looking all for the idea.

It looked calmly at their confused faces and nodded slightly. <Of course, I have not really explained the situation. In this world, there is a place which is a very, very long way away from here. The only people who know that it exists are nonexistent at the moment. Of course; that is because it is discovered in the future. It is a land of green, and one I personally hold very dear to my heart even though I have myself never been there.>

You've just confused me even more..." Cedar groaned. "How are we meant to sit out that long a time and still have the energy to battle?"

"Wait, wait." Louisa said, and looked to Philippa. "I get it. This Pokémon wants to stop this land being destroyed in a hundred years. To do that, Serebii is going to time travel with us exactly one hundred years forward in time. The only trouble is that it's obviously a very long distance from here."

<Yes, that is right.> Serebii answered.

Umbreon growled, and raised an eyebrow.

Serebii continued. <-have the strength to take all five of you, and all of your other Pokémon into the future. And you are also right in saying that I do not have the strength to transport distance; only time.>

"There is still a lot you haven't told us," complained Philippa quietly, her fingertips brushing Serebii's gauzy wingtips. "What is it exactly that we'll be fighting against?"

The Pokémon stilled for a moment in response, and when it spoke, its voice was even deeper and more serious than before. <I chose you because I believed you would make the right decisions. But I would not dare play the Game of Time across this reality. To split such a line by going backwards would be sacrilege. Whatever happens happens. I trust that I am doing the right thing. When you decide how to end the strife, you must trust also.>

With that cryptic explanation out of the way, it began to glow. A golden sphere of power enveloped them. Serebii grunted softly, and concerned, Philippa hesitatingly linked to the small Pokémon; her eyes widening as she sensed the surge of passive Flora energy circling them.

"Biieeeeeeeeee!" Serebii shrieked unexpectedly, straining its head backwards, its mouth open in a distressed 'o'.

The grassy hills around the group rippled with energy, the grass swaying furiously even though there was no wind. A humming sound met all their ears.

Slowly the light grew brighter and brighter; briefly blinding all involved. Cedar closed her eyes which were already watering painfully. Even after this she still had to blink a couple of times, when the light eventually dimmed, to clear her vision of the retinal glare.

A unanimous gasp came from them a second later as they finally saw the devastated vista before them.

Louisa eyed the burnt and cracked soil with a bit of disgust as she turned to Serebii. "Aren't we a little too late?"

Serebii staggered slightly in the air, its green colour dimming visibly in the environment. Philippa reached out and took it into her arms, wincing at how light it felt. "What on earth did this? Once this land was full of Flora energy - now it's a barren wasteland!"

Shaking slightly, she kneeled, reaching down to the dry earth, and gestured quickly. Slowly, almost painfully so, a small shoot of brown-green uncurled from the dirt, but as it reached the acidic atmosphere, its life lasted only a second before it blackened, crisp as charcoal.

<No, winged one,> Serebii corrected, its voice weak. <We have not yet reached that place yet.> It cast a pained eye over the surroundings.

"Wait!" Cedar said sharply, looking both furious and scared at the same time. "This is where we were standing; only now a hundred years after? This is Kanto?!"

a deep voice answered them. <Elfinwing, I am ready to take them now.>

Looking startled; Serebii flew from Philippa's arms and faced the newcomer. <Clairviolence? But where is Bubblejoy? Ah, but why do we use the old names? Humans, this is Myuutsuu.>

Ignoring the last statement, Myuutsuu hunched further over his misshapen chest in apparent melancholy. <Bubblejoy could not come to assist you. She is sheltering in a place which obstructs our link. For her sake; I will help instead. I have no haven to shelter when the armies come and ravage.>

Still Cedar looked seething mad. "You're sending us to this other place to protect it; only to tell us that our homeland is going to be like this in a hundred years? What about our priorities?"

Myuutsuu turned his head swiftly before them. <You dare question us, human? Do you think we do not have priorities also? We have done all we can here. The Game of Time is damaged in this land. We cannot change the past to affect the future here anymore.>

<Quick, there is no time!> urgently beckoned Serebii, buzzing beside him. <They do not need to know any more about the Game of Time. In truth, they know too much.>

"Um, do we need to touch him?" asked Robert; looking a little uncomfortable being so close to the lilac-grey creature.

Myuutsuu chuckled. <Elfinwing, when I am with you, there is literally no time. No, you do not need to touch. Only stay close.>

Again, Myuutsuu turned his lavender gaze upon the small green Pokémon. <How could I ever forget such a thing? Go in peace.>

His eyes blazed an eerie electric blue. His head bowed, making a quick motion with his hand; and they rose into the air. And then they were gone.

The group found themselves standing on a pristine beach; the waters gently lapping at their feet. Their footprints were the only ones on the whole stretch of sand.

Philippa blinked, then smiled; taking note of the peaceful forest beyond the sand. What a haven, the sky, the surf and the trees. It was truly paradise-like. Slowly she wandered further onto the beach, heading for the tree shade.

<Listen to my voice.> came a niggling sound in her head.

Philippa turned back, and was surprised to see others there behind her. They all looked as happy as she was. Oh, yes, they were my friends. We can live on this island together then?

Do I? Did I? I suppose a long time ago I did. It doesn't matter though. I love this place!

Myuutsuu's eyes were a stony purple when Philippa turned round and walked back to the group, sighing with relief. I hadn't even cared about my family back home!

That was so weird. Thanks, Myuutsuu." Robert said; a little guilty that he had been so uncomfortable before.

"It was weird; like, we didn't exactly lose our memories, but we didn't care about Kanto anymore."

<That is true,> Myuutsuu nodded, his eyes glowing blue once more. <That kind of thing is much more subtle than power which allows you to erase and grant back memories. With that, I leave you.>

He vanished.

Almost instantly afterward the group turned towards the trees, a powerful roar shattered the air.

"Here be dragons!" Louisa shouted excitedly, and flew up above the canopy of trees. "Guess I'll come in handy then."

"Brrraaackkk!" The sound that reached their ears, likening to the slow snapping of tree trunk wood, announced the arrival of a large emerald green dragon from the forest.

"Uh, he doesn't look very happy to see us," Cedar sweat-dropped, raising an arm behind her head in a pseudo-calm attitude.

Philippa rose from the ground and followed Louisa's path towards the dragon. "Greetings, Flora One." Philippa said; her hands open in goodwill.

"Rrrrraaak! A Flora Human! I greet you likewise. Now, get you gone from here. You are not welcome."

Philippa flinched visibly and looked to Louisa, startled. The latter smiled encouragement back quickly, and then looked to the dragon once more. "I am Louisa."

"Your name means naught to me, young dragon. I am of the Flora."

"One of the Flora, I am of the Omni."

The Flora dragon's head snapped back at this, and it snarled; exposing rows of pearly white fangs. "Rainbow one! You are indeed unnatural. You are not welcome here if you go against nature thus. Get you gone from here!"

Louisa reacted in kind; exposing the thin metal claws on her hands and elbows. 'I'm sorry, but that's not a decision you're entitled to make. In fact; neither are we."

The dragon blinked at her and seemed to settle; its mantle lowering slightly. "What of the other humans? They go with you? Mayhap they are not welcome?"

"I travel where they travel," Louisa replied formally. "You may not have your fun with them." She looked over to the forest, where the trees were suddenly acting very strangely. One in her line of sight bent beyond its normal reach and snared a shrieking human in its branches. "What is this fun you have?"

"I awoke, and was hungry," explained the dragon; smugness undisguised in its crystalline eyes. "The humans scream for no reason. The trees embrace them. The trees love them."

"I'll bet," Philippa scoffed sarcastically, gazing worriedly at the scene below them. "The trees love the taste, more like."

"What in the name of Serebii is going on?" Robert screeched below them; his hands cupped around his mouth. "Shouldn't we try and do something?"

"We are!" Louisa bellowed back down at him angrily. "I'm not exactly going to take it on!"

"How long has it been since you awoke?" Philippa asked quickly, noticing the dragon eyeing the rest with smouldering eyes. "It must be lovely to feel the sun, the earth and the water upon you."

"I awoke at high Sun-Moon. I must feed quickly. Soon others will awake also."

"Others? You mean other dragons?"

"Soon the humans will awaken others. So I leave you now; to feed. If you are wise, get you gone from here. If you are wise you will understand that your kind is not welcome here."

It roared; a sound of powerful wind against blossoming trees, and spiralled away, towards the forest.

"So," Philippa said fatalistically. "We've got trouble."

"That's an understatement." Louisa quipped, and flew down to Robert and Cedar.

"Didn't it say there would be another dragon awakening?" Philippa asked, looking worried.

"You have to be kidding..." Cedar groaned. "One is bad enough!"

Louisa looked to the direction it had flown. "I'm pretty sure they'll group together. Let's follow the Flora dragon and hope that we manage to find the rest."