the slateport invasion... he should've guessed it was the case.
he stood amid the chaos, observing the ensuing battle with an eerily calm demeanor. he felt like a spectator of his memories, unsure of what to do. it wasn't until he felt a force from another league cadet that ran past him that pushed him aside that he knew this wasn't just a show he was meant to watch.
hands would instinctively grab for a pokeball by his belt, one belonging to bravo. the distinctive scratches and bite marks were gone, replaced with the a brand new ball's smooth surface. he feels a chill in his spine. the scene was recreated and all he was back to having a shitty team to defend himself once more.
eyes would look for cait alfric, or even light cardwell. backup was nowhere to be found. he was alone.
he knows full well what happens next. electricity is cut off. chaos ensues. silas blackwell appears to kidnap the shipyard master, except this time, there was no shipyard master to kidnap. rocket grunts and league cadets serve as background noise. kyle was left standing alone with the rocket boss.
the fear of certain death gets his heart racing. he couldn't tell whether it was excitement, anger or fear, but the feeling was surreal. his hand grips his chest, crumpling the shirt as he watches silas command his luxray to attack. there was no one for him to rely to to get him to safety. he knows he's useless alone.
he takes a step back as he tried to send out a poochyena. the thought lingers in his head. 'will it really matter?' even if all six of them were out, he doubts they'd be able to overpower the beast in front of him. only a slaughter awaits him and his team. he was about to die.
time stops. the luxray freezes in place as it lunged and was about to wrap its fangs around his neck. kyle tenses despite the relief. a voice echoes in his head.
you could've done something, but you gave up right away. y'know you can do things on your own too, right?
the next moment in, he was at verdanturf.
a hole in the clouds allowed light to pour in within their battlefield amid the rainy town. electric terrain gets the whole town electrified. destruction awaits small, peaceful verdanturf as rockets stormed in.
the scene remains frozen once more.
in front of kyle was silas blackwell for the second time, his calm demeanor taunting him wordlessly. dogs surrounded him protectively. they were as they were at that night. foxtrot was resting in his pokeball. tana, eirika and bravo all shielded him. innes looking guilty for not being able to participate. matthew was ready to pop out of his ball at a moments notice.
these were all weapons he had trained to make sure the feeling of weakness he felt back on slateport wouldn't be felt again. still, he feels inadequate as he found himself cornered by the rocket boss.
are you running away again just because you're not with a friend? lame.
that's what he did. he relied on others to finish the job since he believed he couldn't. he didn't know much about what happened after he left the scene, but it ended well eventually. he was reluctant to fight till the end that time and concluded that running away would have been better if his odds of winning were less than desirable.
he was going to escape the situation as he did before, wishful thinking filling his head that maybe someone more reliable than him will pick up his slack. the voice rings again.
what's gonna happen to your beloved verdanturf if there's no one else?
kyle swallows. he knows the answer.
come on! you know you can do great things on your own too! you're just shy, y'know?
he gives in eventually. the scene unpauses. he takes a step back, his beasts growling as silas intimidated him with pokemon whose brute strength alone clearly surpasses his own. this would be a one-sided match that's predetermined even before it started.
you always hold back! is it to save face just in case you fail? what's wrong with you?!
he faces silas as he awaits the answer for his question. kyle doesn't speak, however, and remains wary of the situation. his legs freezes. part of him questions whether the voice had just put his subconscious decisions into words that he was only realizing now.
let out all of your inhibitions! going easy won't get you anywhere. do things at a hundred percent! you know you're capable of doing great things. owe up to it!
'i-it doesn't suit me, don't you think?'
why not?
'i'm not fit for ambitious things. i'm like, hmm, how do you say it... a side character.'
who cares? this is your life. you're the main character here. touch the untouchable, break the unbreakable! go wild!
'go wild, huh?'
he gives in. a heavy sigh follows afterwards.
kyle clicks his tongue, releasing a lucario from his pokeball. he doesn't have time to argue with his himself. he points towards silas, ordering both his ninetales and his lucario, through copycat, to bombard the opposition with consecutive solar beams, and his manectric pair with their respective electric-type moves.
craters were left from the solar beams that do not hit their target. lightning strikes left scorch marks on the ground as the grass of verdanturf starts to catch ablaze. it was only this so far, and kyle still has so much more up his sleeve.
the scene pauses for the third time.
he is then left with his mightyena beside him. their eyes meet. the dark-type's tail wagged before positioning himself in the grass to sit. the canine turns to him as if he speaks, the same voice echoing in his head for the nth time.
how does it feel?
'good, i guess.'
that could have happened for real, y'know?
'this is an illusion though. anything that happens here either is supposed to give me hell or spoil me with my desires.'
what do you think's the case here?
it was the latter. kyle knows that much. given the feats of strength that silas has displayed to him before, an ideal scenario was the one he chose: run away with the least casualties as possible. there wasn't much to be done alo--
stop that! that train of thought-- stop it! that's exactly why i'm here! to fuck your shit up! listen to your shadow!
i'm supposed to beat my inner demons though...
hah! beat me? you can barely function as an adult as it is! remember that feeling you felt earlier. how relieved were you when you decided to just do you? you need me.
you- you're making a valid point.
atta boy! for now, don't believe in yourself. believe in me that believes in you, or some shit like that.
kyle smiles, and the illusion fades right after. he was still on verdanturf, but on a different area. he feels the distinctive indentations and bite marks on his pokeballs once more, confirming that he was freed from the spell. he looks for thomas, unsure of whether or not he can see the illusions and spectate, and speaks the first thing that is needed to be mentioned.
"i couldn't conquer him."despite the unfortunate news he delivered, his expression was anything but saddened.
