before long, a ghost showed—but it wasn’t a spiritual feeling that announced it to them. rather, it was the warmth on delta’s forehead which caused her eyes to pop open and behold the burning ghost curiously leering at her.

compelled, she raised from the ground, and it began to lead her away too easily. the crunch of grass roused sagira from her meditative state, and looked up.

”delta!” she gasped, springing to her feet. she reached for a small wrist and pulled her daughter her back. the litwick hurried off, disappearing behind a tree.

sagira sighed and knelt down. ”that’s a litwick. don’t ever give them any attention, okay?” kids just… disappeared.

passing

she hadn’t come here for anything in particular. sagira often wandered, one to look for new places to appreciate; new pockets of existence to feel.

a zarude kept pace at her side as she walked. they reached the bridge, and the tall monkey growled at those occupying it. knowingly, she raised its pokéball and returned it.

the wind blew a long, high ponytail behind her, and carried an old sounding tune from the man ahead. she listened, captivated for a moment, and considering taking a different path so as to not disturb him—but still, she set foot onto planks, intent to pass on by without a word.

all the while, she listened, walking slower than she might have otherwise.

@makoto

they sat there, still as the massive torterra that seemed to become one with the earth. eyes still closed, neither detected the bronzor as it levitated past. its bright yellow gaze was curious as it lingered, especially on delta. maybe it was the blue of her hair?

eventually, though, it passed, and they remained there as they had been. a breeze swirled a leaf through the air between them.

passing

she stared at him, immediately knowing the answer. it had taken her too long to find purpose here, and then… was vengeance even a purpose to live for, now? at least kanto was filled with less strangers. she could have been happy. somehow.

how had she been so dumb?

saying nothing, she shook her head in a way that was too vague to be much of an answer, and walked around him, back towards the living room.

MATIAS SILPH

inwardly, she felt like a piece of paper being compacted into the fist of a god. like her chest was beginning to cave in from shriveled support—but it wasn’t. she was fine.

she shut the fridge door, and turned around. her head shook no, lips pursed and brows raised a little as though none of it meant anything.

”that you had a life of your own.” she should have made the same for herself. ”it’s great. i’m happy for you.” 

MATIAS SILPH

she hadn’t been fishing. it had merely gotten the better of her, in a moment, and it’d immediately been too late to pull it back from existence.

her frown was turned away from him, still facing the fridge as it opened. the words that followed would have hurt regardless of what they were. truly, she’d decided she hadn’t wanted to hear them.

but now, they, too, were in the air, and in her head. in her chest, prying.

”i know.” no, she didn’t. ”that wasn’t fair. i’m sorry.”

she lingered there in the light of the fridge far longer than she typically would, unsure what she was looking for.

MATIAS SILPH

there weren’t really any houses around. just a bunch of trees. they were on the outskirts, under the veil of woodland night, no less.

she stared at him and shook her head, resigning, and figuring it would stay a mystery as last time.

then, his words made her heart swell and sadness settle in her belly.

”would you have ever gone back to find me? if i hadn’t come to hoenn?”

she wasn’t sure she wanted to know, she quickly realized. no contact had been part of the plan—and it had taken her five years to break it. it had been too long to be away from him.

but finally, she’d realized, things were not meant to be. feelings weren’t shared, never would be, and that had to be okay.

biting the inside of her cheek briefly, she inhaled, ”sorry. don’t answer that,” and stood to walk to the kitchen.

MATIAS SILPH

it was a classic pot called the kettle black. she eyed him a moment, and then nodded.

”thanks.”

so, what now? she had a drunk matias silph in her house, on her couch. she didn’t feel like she could tell him to leave. part of her found that she didn’t want to, anyways. not really.

in fact, part of her wished she did have a beer or three.

echoed from the motel that first night he’d appeared, she asked finally, ”how the fuck did you even find me?”

MATIAS SILPH