As I made it to the mansion, I could see Laura standing out in front of the door. I rushed up to her and hugged her. We both looked back towards the mountain and just stared at it for a couple of minutes. No words were spoken. We then turned around and looked at the mansion with a the hole still there. Laura grabbed and held my hand.
Laura: Well… it’s still messy but since my sister did it, I’m not that upset about it.
Matthew: Heh. Yea…
Laura: What happened in there?
Matthew: That Lin showed up. I don’t know why but she just had an intimidating feeling just being around her.
Laura: Whoa. Are you ok?
Matthew: I’m fine. Just… I had to pretend I was part of Team Meteor. That felt really awkward and betraying almost.
Laura: Well it’s not like you did anything for them sweetheart.
Matthew: I know but still…
Laura: Ohh by the way. What did my sister want with you before?
Matthew: She basically said that I’m part of the family. Well somewhat.
Laura: That’s astounding! Saphira never usually says anything like that to almost anyone but myself or Charlotte. You must have really made a good impression if she feels that way towards you.
Matthew: Yea. You’re right. Hey. Why don’t we go inside. We can rest and get out of this rain.
Laura: You’re right. Let’s go in.
We opened the door and went inside. Everyone was sitting around the coffee table. We walked up and sat at 1 end. Everyone was relieved that we were ok.
Matthew: So, what are you guys doi-
Anna: But she was SO cool riding that giant Steelix!
Matthew: I guess you guys were talking about Saphira?
Anna: Mhm. When she comes back, I wanna take a ride on it!
Noel: Anna, I doubt she made it. I mean she fell off it at the peak of Tanzan Mountain.
Matthew: I don’t know. She’s pretty tough from what I can see. Maybe she’ll be injured but I bet she’ll still be walking and kicking and whatnot.
Anna: Yea! Don’t be like that Noel! Stop lying!
Noel: I’m not. Look, I’m not trying to be negative. I’m just being realistic. Even Nomos says it’s a rough fall. Just… don’t get your hopes up ok?
Shelly: B-But then…
Anna: If you don’t have any hope, then how can you keep moving forward?
Noel: I already told you Anna that-
Charlotte: Psh. Oh please. I know my sister. She probably called out her Dragonite before crashing into the mountain. Even then, she’d prob crash right through it and be perfectly fine.
Laura: Sis, I know she’s strong but I don’t think she’s-
Charlotte: Laura, don’t be like that about our sister.
Laura: Ok. Ok… Sorry.
Charlotte: Besides, people in our family DO NOT go out that easily.
Shelly: That reminds me… where are your parents?
Charlotte: You know Shelly, we were in an orphanage. Anyways, changing the subject. Who was the weird chick on that Hydreigon?
Anna: Wait wait. There was a lady on that? But I didn’t see anyone…
Noel: Anna, that Hydreigon didn’t just appear on its own. Someone was riding on top of it. Matt, you were there for a long time? Have any idea who it was?
Matthew: Did she have green hair?
Noel: Yea.
Matthew: Yea. I know who it was. It was Lin.
Charlotte: Lin…? What kind of fucking name is Lin? A stupid name, that’s what.
Laura: Charlotte, she is the leader of Team Meteor.
Everyone froze for a second. They all thought they knew who the leader was but that was shocking to them. After a long while of no talking, Anna broke the silence.
Anna: Ohh yea! Matt! Laura! Did any of you happen to gen my pendant back?
Laura: No. I’m sorry.
Matthew: Me neither but I think they’re using it as a key.
Anna: A key? What do you mean they’re using it as a key?
Shelly’s eyes widened. She looked like she was in shock as well as her brain just remembering something.
Matthew: Whoa. You ok Shelly?
Shelly: Anna, where did you get that pendant from?
Anna: I’ve had it since before I was in the orphanage. It’s from my father.
Shelly: Hmm…
Charlotte: If you need something to say, speak up.
Shelly: It’s just… I remembered an old story that I read… In this story, it described an ancient city built around the crash site of a meteor.
Matthew: -thinking to myself- Wait… Meteor… Team Meteor?
Shelly: There was a temple that housed the meteor and it was sealed by for crystal keys: Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald and Amethyst. But the city fell into ruin and it was lost.
Laura: Are you saying that…
Shelly: Anna, what if your Amethyst Pendant is actually the key from that story?
Noel: So that would mean that the ancient city…
Everyone: Became Reborn.
Shelly: So is the temple just underneath Reborn?
Matthew: Ohh no.
Laura: What’s wrong hun?
Matthew: Shelly, you remember when Team Meteor blew up the Grand Stairway right?
Shelly: I do. Wh… Wait… You aren’t saying what I think you’re saying am I?
Matthew: When I went down there to save Victoria, I came across 1 of their leaders, Solaris… The 1 who did this to my cheek… Anyways, he told me stuff about Reborn and how they want to bring back this civilization or whatever. I’ll be honest. I don’t remember much of what he said. But in front of us was a door. It had 4 colors on it: red, blue, green and purple.
Shelly: Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald and Amethyst…
Charlotte: That’s not good… Now that they found the lock, now they need the keys.
Anna: If that’s the case, then Heather’s Ruby Ring must be 1 of the keys, too!
Matthew: I didn’t even think of that.
Laura: We have to stop Team Meteor from getting the last 2!
Matthew: You’re right… Whatever it is they’re planning, it can’t be good.
Laura: So we need to make sure they don’t get Emerald and Sapphire right?
Noel: Correct.
Charlotte: Wait. So these keys, they’re embedded into jewelry right? Laura, don’t you have a Sapphire Bracelet that dad gave you as a present for your birthday some years ago?
Laura: Ohh my Arceus. I actually completely forgot about that…
Charlotte: So do you know where it is?
Laura: I, uhh… I lost it when mom and dad died…
Charlotte: Ohh…
Laura: But it could have survived the fire…
Matthew: Fire?
Anna: What fire? Ohh. THAT’s where you got those burn scars from?!
Charlotte: Anna, for the last time, I don’t have any scars. See? Perfectly clear.
Shelly: I have to agree with her… I don’t see anything…
Anna: Ohh right! Sorry! I keep forgetting! Hehe.
Noel: Sometimes Anna you say the most-
Anna: But since we’re on the subject, what fire are you talking about?
Laura: Umm… well… It was something that happened with Charlotte when we were younger.
Charlotte: Alright. I’m tired of this. I keep saying I don’t wanna talk about it but you all just keep bringing it up. So go on. Talk about it. I’m not gonna stay around and hear this shit. -walks out of the house-
Laura: Charlotte! Wait! I’m sorry! -chases after her-
The 4 of us stood there feeling awkward. We said nothing for a few seconds. But within that few seconds, everything that was said was going through my head. This temple underneath Reborn, these jewels that are a type of key to get into it, Team Meteor and Lin and this fire story. It was all rushing through my head. That is, until Anna spoke up.
Anna: Sooo how is everybody?
Matthew: That only made things awkward Anna.
Noel: That is true.
Anna: -gasps- I know! Noel, why don’t you let Matt challenge you to a Gym Battle right now since it got interrupted before!
Noel: Well… I suppose it is necessary…
Matthew: I did wanna go to sleep buuuut I think I can handle a Gym Battle before then… To be honest, with everything going on, I’m stressing out and this might help.
Anna: Ok! Let’s go outside.
The 4 of us went outside in the rain for the Gym Battle to take place. Anna stood against the wall while Shelly stood in the middle of me and Noel. The 2 of us each grabbed a PokeBall and then looked at each other.
Shelly: I-I guess I’ll be the referee for this match.
Noel: Hey. Before we start, I want to apologize the last time we were here.
Matthew: Huh? What you mean?
Noel: When I got jealous of my sister saying that you’d beat me. I shouldn’t have let that get to me.
Matthew: It’s ok. I think it would have hurt my feelings in some way if I was in your position.
Noel: Thank you Matthew. Well, Nomos and I are ready whenever you are.
Matthew: I hope you are. -grins-
Shelly: Ok, ok. This will be a 6 on 6… Umm… Hey Noel. You do Singles right?
Noel: That’s correct.
Shelly: Ok. This will be a 6 on 6 Singles Battle. Umm… Either trainer can make substitutions and umm…
Anna: The battle will end when all 6 of 1 trainer’s Pokemon have been knocked out! Let’s go go go go go!
Noel: I wonder Nomos. Do you think that he can win?
Shelly: B-Begin!
The battle was quite tough but in the end, I came out victorious. Each of us called back our final Pokemon back to their PokeBalls. Noel dropped his head a bit and closed his eyes. I thought maybe I had hurt his feelings somehow defeating him in battle but then I saw a smirk on his face.
Anna: Oh my god! Great job Matthew!
Matthew: Haha. Thanks.
Noel: That was quite a fine match Matt. In accordance with the official Reborn League policy, I present to you the Standard Badge.
I walked over to him and took the badge from him.
I looked at it with happiness despite getting more wet from the rain. I now had 7 badges. If this were in any other region, like Kanto or Johto, I’d only need 1 more to take on the Elite 4 but here, I wasn’t even half way done with the Gym challenge. But I still felt excited that I had obtained another Gym Badge. Just then, Laura came walking back. She looked sad.
Laura: Ohh hey guys… Did I miss something?
Matthew: I just won my 7th badge.
Laura: Ohh. Congrats dear.
Shelly: Ummm… Where’s Charlotte? Is she ok?
Laura: Ohh yea. She’s fine but I think it’d be best if we gave her some space right now.
Anna: What happened Laura?
Laura: Well Charlotte’s not here so… It was a long time ago. Charlotte was young at the time. Back then, we all lived together.
Noel: I take it you also mean your parents alive.
Laura: Yes. They were. At nighttime, she would sneak out here in the garden and stare out to the lake. Nothing harmful about that. It was safe here. But… you can see how a fire could easily start around here. She was playing with her Vulpix 1 night and…
Matthew: She started the fire?
Charlotte: It’s not like she meant to! Saphira woke me up and rushed me out of the house just in the nick of time. Our parents on the other hand…
Matthew: It’s ok hun. You don’t have to finish that sentence.
Laura: -begins to tear up- Thanks hun. But yea. Ever since then, it’s be just Saphira looking out for us… ESPECIALLY after the Doctor took us in. She has kept us safe for years. I just… I hope Charlotte is ok. I just don’t know what I’d do if she… if she were… -begins to cry-
Matthew: Babe, it’s ok. It’s fine.
Despite winning the Gym Badge, seeing my girlfriend made my stress come back. I hated seeing her tear up like that.
Laura: Ohh. I’m sorry. I’m an adult. I shouldn’t be crying. I need to be more like… more like Saphira.
Anna: -walks up to Laura- No no! It’s ok to cry! Cry all you need to!
Laura: But-
Anna: You’re just getting the sadness out of your body. Come on. We should all go back inside.
Seeing her cry was making me even more stressful. I walked up to Laura, and gave her a big hug.
Laura: Thanks babe. I really needed that.
Matthew: No problem hun. Hey guys. Me and her are gonna go upstairs. See you all in the morning. Night.
Laura: Night guys.
Shelly: Umm… Ok then. Night.
Anna: Night Laura and Matthew!
Noel: Night.
Laura and I then walked back inside the house, up the stairs and into my room. I turned her around again and hugged her. I could tell she really needed it.
Matthew: Is everything alright? Besides the whole Charlotte thing.
Laura: Yea. Just... I'm also worried about Saphira. I hope she's ok.
Matthew: Babe, I'm sure she is. From what I've seen so far, she's a pretty strong chick and can get through anything. Even that.
Laura: Yea... Yea you're right. Thanks babe. I needed that.
We then got onto the bed and just looked at each other for a few minutes.
No words were spoken but that moment alone together felt wonderful. I felt closer to her than I ever felt since I 1st ran into her.
Laura: Wow. This is so peaceful and relaxing... I feel so much closer to you right now than I ever felt.
Matthew: You too?
Laura: What do you mean?
Matthew: I feel closer to you as well with my feelings for you.
Laura: Aww babe... I love you.
Matthew: I love you too.
We kissed each other and then peacefully went to sleep in each others arms.
Pokemon Team
REBORN CHARACTER RATES