Existence

The air was still upon entering the glade. The forest brush and trees gave way to reveal a wall of glowing blue eyes that gazed at the three entering strangers. The Abnormals, Pokémon of all kinds, gazed at Marvin when he entered with Mycaelis and Vagus in tow. He had been here more than a dozen times, but the greeting he received had always been cold. The native inhabitants of Oat; reduced from once continent sprawling clans to now small isolated tribes that cowered in the darkest recesses of their ancient land.

Marvin was never one to ask for a warm welcome from them. They had every right to treat him with suspicion regardless of how many of them he was able to feed with his occasional tribute of berries. With Abnormals, friends amongst outsiders quickly became impotent when they were faced with the overwhelming pressures of a murderous lynch mob.

It wasn’t long until the Abnormals dispersed and went about their own business, content with the fact that the outsider was someone they knew and meant them no peril. Yet still amongst those that gathered, Marvin was able to pick out a set of smiles amongst the scores of blue eyed faces. Two young Absols, no older than Mycaelis and Vagus ran towards Marvin calling his name and beaming brightly. It was as though Marvin were the first ray of sunshine that they had seen in months.

“Marvin!” chimed one of the young Absols who bore a scar across his left cheek. “About time you made it back again! It’s been ages!” He pounced up against Marvin’s side where Marvin returned the smile.

“Yea, ages!” agreed the other Absol, this one with a shaggy tuff of fur about his head. “Say, did ya bring any food again, Marvin? Been hungry for days.”

“Sure I did,” beamed Marvin, patting both the boys’ manes and pulling them into a hug with his good arm. “Didn’t think I’d come empty handed now, did ya? Stavros will see to it that you get it.”

“Boys!” snarled an aged and well-spoken voice. Behind the two Absol’s a large male plodded, his shoulders were broad and his fur greyed and rustled by time. Randhir’s once flawless walk was now punctuated by a limp that only seemed to grow worse and more pronounced the older he grew. His eyes were as lifeless as ever, now even more so, even when addressing his own children.

“Astinos,” Randhir called to the Absol with the scar, “I recall instructing you to not leap on our guest.” He then looked at the Absol with shaggy tuffs of fur, “and you Stelios, I certainly expected better than you to demand a gift.”

Both the Absol brothers bowed their heads. “Sorry, father,” they both responded in unison. They stood aside and allowed Randhir to approach Marvin. Marvin embraced his old friend with his good arm and caught a rare smile from the aged Absol who appeared as old as he was.

“Good to see you again, old friend,” Marvin spoke sternly.

“As it is good to see you. I see you have stayed in good health.” It was then he noticed Marvin’s arm, “most of you at least.”

“That, erm, brings us to my visit here.” He turned his attention to Mycaelis and Vagus and presented them to Randhir. “I’d like you to meet Vagus and Mycaelis,”

If Vagus thought that Stavros’ eyes were heavy with scrutiny, then Randhir’s felt like a damned avalanche. He nearly grovelled before them, like whenever he felt the weight of his father’s eyes. Yet behind Randhir’s eyes there was a cold dispassion, rather than the malice and disgust of his father’s eyes.

“Pleased to meet you, sir,” Vagus nodded politely.

Randhir managed a low and brief chuckle. “I take it you’re the one that took a chunk out of Marvin’s arm.”

Vagus shifted uneasily. “N-no, sir. Not a chunk. A...erm, it was an accident.”

Mycaelis meanwhile was eying both Astinos and Stelios with a stern glare, one which both brothers returned with a smile and a sense of excitement. Marvin suspected that this was likely the first encounter with outsiders their age. They seemed completely oblivious, naïve even, of the monster that had been lovingly planted within the Charmander before them.

“Accident?” Randhir regarded Marvin with a faint smirk. “Either this Totodile has the strength of a Croconaw, or you’ve become more senile that I have feared.”

Marvin laughed. “Like you’re one to talk, you old coot,” he jested, smacking Randhir on the back where it produced a grunt from him. “But I must see Daedalus.”

 “Of course,” Randhir then turned to Astinos and Stelios. “Wait for me by the den. Keep your sister company.” Both the Absols nodded and bounded off, but not before throwing a curious glance back and Mycaelis and Vagus.

When the Absol brothers were out of ear shot, Marvin followed Randhir towards Daedalus’ sanctum, a small tent suspended by branches at the far end of the glade. The two old friends walked far ahead of Mycaelis and Vagus, far enough to keep their conversation out of earshot, or so they thought.

“It grows harder for Daedalus every day,” continued Randhir. “Even with your help, the prospect of another migration is becoming more inevitable the longer we stay here. We already lost so many coming here.”

 “Aye,” affirmed Marvin, “and Guildmaster Carlos is under pressure to force teams to venture deeper into this forest. Crass and the villagers are persistent in catching you, Randhir.”

“I can’t hide forever, Marvin. The day must come where I must submit to my destiny.”

Marvin felt sorrow grip his heart. The feelings of the past began to haunt him once more, feelings that remained in dreams and nightmares crawled into his waking thoughts. “You’re not the monster you think you are, Randhir. What happened to Elia…”

Randhir stopped and shot a fierce glance at Marvin. “I know what I am. I’m an old cripple; one who can’t even hunt to support his two boys. My death will be of no consequence to them, but my continued existence will. Unlike you, I know what I have to do to protect my children.”

Marvin bowed his head in shame. He was beginning to lose his composure. “I…I don’t want to lose you, too. You…Narda…you’re all that’s left.”

Randhir growled. “Steel yourself. If Daedalus sees you in this state, he’ll throw whatever it is you have to say to the wind.” He swept a quick look behind him at Mycaelis and Vagus who trailed behind. “And them, not sure what they are doing in your company, but they best not catch you so…moody.”

Marvin nodded and raised his head high, taking a deep breath and seeing the wisdom in his friend’s words. He had an example to set for Mycaelis and Vagus. He arrived at the entrance of the tent. Randhir left Marvin’s side and slipped pass the tent’s flap while Marvin remained outside. As an outsider, he had to wait to be admitted. Mycaelis and Vagus caught up with him.

“Gotta admit,” grumbled Mycaelis with a faint smile, “this place is pretty sweet. Feels like home.”

Marvin shuddered, disturbed by the fact that a place like this was what Mycaelis would nostalgically refer to as ‘home.' 

“What are we doing here, Marvin?” Vagus queried. “What does Daedalus want to do with us?”

Marvin shook his head, “The heck I’d know. But if there’s anyone here that would know anything about you, it would be Daedalus. Now, when you meet him, you greet him and address with the utmost respect and, as children, you will bow your heads and address him as Elder Daedalus, is that understood?”

“Understood,” replied both Vagus and Mycaelis.

At that moment Randhir emerged from the tent. “He will speak with you, Marvin,” he regarded both Mycaelis and Vagus with a conspicuous gaze, “but these two must remain here for now.”  

Marvin muttered something to Randhir about keeping an eye on a certain Charmander before entering the tent. What followed was one of the most uncomfortable silences Vagus had ever experienced, he and Mycaelis gazed at Randhir and the aged Absol gazed right back at them.  

Vagus' desire to ask questions soon broke the ice. “I hear you guys have lived in this land…for hundreds of years,”

“Then  you heard wrong,” Randhir spoke ever smoothly, “we have lived in this land for thousands of years, it is the common folk that have lived here for hundreds.”

Vagus was taken aback by the statement. “I see.”

“I take it that Marvin told you of what became of us during those years?”

“He did.”

Randhir gave a solemn nod.  “Good. Though our blood runs dry and our numbers dwindle, I hope to die knowing that our story will live on.”

“Can I ask ya a question?” Mycaelis asked, being unusually polite.  

“You may.”

“Do you hate them? The commoners. For…what they did to your kind?”

Randhir paused for a long moment before speaking. “I can’t.”

“Why not? You’re all the last of your kind now.”

“Because the day will come when we, both Abnormal and commoner alike, will reconcile. Where history will be written in stone instead of blood, where the common folk will realise the crimes that their forefathers committed and will offer us their hand in kinship. I want to hate them, for all they have done, but I can’t, for there needs to be at least one of us willing to accept that hand and put an end to this nightmare. Perhaps it will not come in my lifetime or Marvin’s, but maybe it may come in yours and my own sons. It is for them that I must set this example for.”

“And others ‘round you will be keen on accepting their hand?” Mycaelis snarled. “From Stavros I can tell that there are others that will just as likely bite it.”

“There is no bite left in us, boy. My kin are dying. Either we accept the hand or let our name fade into dust like we never existed. Our breed may fade, but its story will live on. All I’ve ever wanted was that …and to see my children play in the waters of Oat Lake, as Marvin’s once did.”

Those last words intrigued Vagus to no end. “Marvin has kids?” Vagus queried. “Where are they?”

From the moment he first met Randhir, Vagus always thought that he would never see a hint of an expression in the Absol’s glaring and unflinching eyes. Yet now they bore unconstrained pain and sorrow within. Randhir knew his grief was apparent and thus looked away from Vagus. “I...should not have said that.” He looked back at Vagus, far more focused now. “If you swear not to breathe a word to Marvin, I will tell you as much as I can. Do you swear it?”

Vagus knew he had struck something deep within the aged and hardened Absol. That he had torn open once gaping wounds that had never truly healed.

“On our mother’s grave,” declared Vagus.

“And our father’s,” added Mycaelis.

“Very well. There was an Aggron named-”

The flap of the tent quickly swung open as a disgruntled Marvin stormed out. He looked like he had just gone toe to toe with Thrax again; tired and exhausted.  “Daedalus will see you now. I told him all about your little story. Come.”

Marvin gave a thankful nod towards Randhir and held holding the flap of the tent open for Mycaelis and Vagus. The Absol nodded them farewell, padding away into the glade. “I hope to see you later."

The scent of rare herbs filled Vagus' nostrils upon entering the tent. He immediately felt his Laconian senses become overwhelmed by the smell and the glare of bright blue lights that radiated from a number of crystals around the tent. It didn’t feel or smell unpleasant, but was something that Vagus found strangely unsettling. 

From the far end of the tent an Alakazam was pouring over a map and examining a nearby crystal. He didn’t even turn to face his guests when he spoke.

“Enter, little ones,” his voice was as clam and smooth as a frozen lake. He took a moment, but eventually turned his attention to Marvin and his young company.  

 “Hello, Elder Daedalus,” both of the boys said, bowing their heads ever so slightly in unison.

The Abnormal elder approached the two brothers and cast over them a pair of curious eyes that Vagus had grown all too familiar with since arriving at the glade. Vagus looked up at Marvin at what to do next, but only got a reassuring nod. It was then that Daedalus knelt beside Mycaelis and with a snap of his fingers, a bright orange light flared through the tent as the gems around them glowed like the afternoon sun, bathing them all in a bright but pleasant light. 

“Let’s start with you,” he tapped Mycaelis arm. “Lift them for me please.”

Mycaelis gave Vagus a foul look, one that he always gave Vagus when he was confused by something that was beyond the scope of his comprehension. Needless to say, it was a look that Vagus was familiar with seeing. But even Vagus seemed befuddled at what the Alakazam was planning.

Mycaelis reluctantly complied and outstretched his arms. Daedalus cast his eyes over Mycaelis arms, running his fingers across the iron muscles that had been forged in the heat of a savage jungle by a father who knew no remorse, whose goal in life was to build a monster far greater than himself. 

“Excellent muscle tone,” Daedalus murmured before moving on to examine the Charmander’s armband.  

It didn’t take long until a degree of smugness reached Mycaelis and he seemed to enjoy having his body marvelled at by someone else.  Daedalus soon took hold of Mycaelis' cheek and gazed deep into his eyes, tilting Mycaelis head from side to side, examining it over in the bright light. His attention then turned to Mycaelis’ back spike which he seemed to be fascinated by. “One seldom sees these spikes on Charmanders now years. The trait mostly went extinct centuries ago. Your bloodline must be ancient and well preserved.”

Daedalus rose from the ground and waved his arm through the air. A Light Screen came into existence before Mycaelis, leaving him staring at it perplexed. “Strike this barrier as hard as you can until it breaks.”

Mycaelis nodded and with a vicious snarl he drove a head-butt into the barrier, when it held firm he recoiled and struck at it with a quick barrage of punches and scratches. The barrier held firm for a while, but eventually shattered when Mycaelis rammed the full force of his body into it.

“Impressive,” mumbled Daedalus. “Now, stand aside. Let me examine your Totodile brother.”

Daedalus ran the same procedure with Vagus. He trailed his aged and experienced eyes over his arms and body. Unlike Mycaelis’ examination, Vagus did not hear a word from Daedalus, but could detect a concerned look in his eye. The Alakazam said nothing else when he cast his eyes down Vagus’ spine and concluded his examination.

Mycaelis meanwhile was regarding Vagus with a confident smile, his ignorance bestowing the belief that Vagus would soon face the same test as he did and would pass with flying colours. To a mind as ignorant and indoctrinated as Mycaelis', his way of thinking was simple. They were brothers, both sons of Gaius the Great, both sons that he could be proud of, Laconians whose strength could be matched by no other. It was that smile that gave Vagus something that he always dreaded, another expectation he had to live up to.

“Okay,” sighed Daedalus, creating the same Light Screen that he had for Mycaelis. “Get to it.”

Vagus wasted no time. He shot a Water Pulse at the barrier before charging it and ramming it with his head. He mimicked Mycaelis movements as best he could, clawing at the screen, driving punches, and loosing the occasional Aqua Tail against it. Despite all his efforts, Vagus could not make it fall as timely as Mycaelis.

As time dragged on, Vagus began to feel a sharp pain in his limbs, it started as a burn but soon felt as though a blade had been thrust between where his muscles met his bones. He grunted in agony, trying to keep his grunts from developing into moans. He hated this feeling. It always gripped him whenever he overdid his attacks like this. The barrier had to break eventually.

It did not. And as the minutes dragged by, Mycaelis’ once proud smile soon faded, replaced by a look of anxiousness, as though the brother he had known his entire life was being stripped apart piece by piece, slowly revealing who he really was; a welp, as his father would call him. And Gaius was right, oh so right. Right and ashamed, so ashamed that even Mycaelis was kept oblivious to the true extent of just how pathetic his own brother was. And now that shame was his to behold.

Vagus lungs ceased up, he gasped for breath. Soon his vision blurred and with his head screaming in pain, he fell to the ground panting and coughing. The barrier still stood, a visibly shaken Mycaelis looking at a brother he never knew was so pitifully weak, a brother had nothing to justify his own existence. 

Marvin gazed on as equally stunned, and soon Vagus felt the familiar gazes of disappointment and ridicule that those in his other life had given, a life he had thought he had left behind, a life where those who had offered him scrutiny were no longer alive to give it.

Daedalus waved away the Light Screen. “Interesting,” he murmured, “come hither.”

He gently lifted Vagus to his feet and pressed an ear against his chest, listening to his heart. His fingers came about and checked Vagus’ pulse. It pulsed as though he had just run several marathons. He offered Vagus no explanation, no consolation, nothing.  

Daedalus turned to Marvin, a fierce look flashed across his eyes. “I’m done examining them. They can leave.” He offered both the boys a weak smile. Mycaelis and Vagus nodded their thanks to their elder and scampered out of the tent. Daedalus soon turned to Marvin with a dissatisfied frown, the smile he had before was gone.