A Love to Transcend Life and Death

It was all so vivid in his mind. She was there, standing over the cliff in what seemed like a daze. He called to her, but she only answered with silence. Her face was pained, not like the beautiful smile she had always given him before. She stumbled towards the edge of the cliff, the young Machop chasing after, but to no avail. Her foot slipped from the edge and her body fell, plummeting to the rocks along the base of the cape. The young one was horrified, he had never shown care to anyone before. This is how the fates repaid him? His first love dead, swept out to sea. He fell to his knees, sobbing. His heart shattered, and as it did he began to glow with a shadowy aura.

“No, Kana... If you wanted to leave me, what did last night really mean? Was it just your way of saying goodbye? By bringing us together in a way that I’ve never felt before? How could you be so cruel my love? On this day, may death take me as it did you!” The young Machop screamed as he raced towards the cliff. He knew this would be the end of his days as he leapt, but to his surprise he did not plummet, but float upon the air. A loud growl came from his mouth as he fought the force holding him in place.

“God damn it, Jet! Just let me die!” The words echoed throughout the air. He fought with all his energy, but the power weakened him slowly. The force threw him back away from the ledge, skipping him across the ground before he landed at the feet of an Alakazam.

“I’m not going to let you end your life Hariel, not without good reason. We rely on you, you’re the strongest of us, even if your soul is still the most cloudy... We-“ The words were cut off by a shadowy punch across the Alakazam’s jaw, sending him flying into a wall.

“Don’t even try to pull this ‘We’re a team’ bullshit with me Jet! There is no team anymore! Kana’s dead you bastard, she leapt off the cliff right in front of me! There cannot be a team without a leader! She didn’t even care she was carrying Mina and Kyoko’s Poke Balls when she jumped!” As he spoke, the aura around him grew darker and darker. Jet watched in horror. Kana used to tell him all about the experiments she used to take part in. She had helped to pioneer the science of closing the heart, but as she saw the effects, she couldn’t take it anymore. She stole as many as she could and ran away. This had to be the power locked away in them that she had wanted gone. His soul was being absorbed by shadow, and there was nothing he could do to stop it... Or so he thought. Just as he was about to unleash the power of his shadow, he was struck from behind. He stumbled forward a little and turned, seeing a Squirtle and Bagon standing before him.

“You want to try and stop me too? Like either of you could stand up to me!” He growled as he spoke, sending a wave of shadow energy towards the pair. Jet knew this was his chance, and probably the only one he’d get. With Hariel’s back to him, it would be simple. Jet smirked a little as he charged forward, striking Hariel in the back of the head with a punch. Hariel moaned a little as he collapsed to the ground, the aura dying away.
“Damn you... Jet...” He sighed softly as his eyes shut, falling into unconsciousness. The Squirtle and Bagon lie on the ground, struggling to come to their feet. Jet walked over and helped the pair stand, being the crutch for them to lean on.

“Aqua... Koga... Are you okay?” The pair nodded in response to Jet’s question and Aqua spoke weakly.

“Yeah... But where’s Kana?” She asked worriedly, fearing she already knew the answer. Jet just stared down at Hariel and sighed, scooping him up in his arms.

“She’s gone Aqua, but we’re still here. She fell from the cliff... With Mina and Kyoko still on her belt. We can look for them later Aqua. For now, let’s get our brother home...” Jet’s body glowed brightly as he teleported them from the scene and back to their hideout.

********************

Several days passed before Hariel even opened his eyes, and even longer before he would speak to anyone. All the progress Kana had made in purifying him broke down on that day. Hate and will to die is all that ruled his heart now. Jet came to him one night, after a long time of thinking and planning.

“Hariel, I’ve come here to make you a deal. I know without Kana there’s a void in your life that nothing can fill. I also know we need you in the group, so here’s my proposal. I’ll let you commit suicide one year from this date, if at the time you choose to. But there’s conditions... You have to train your replacement on the team. Someone I stumbled across right after Kana died...” Jet was interrupted by Hariel’s disgusted sigh.

“No more humans Jet, I’m not going to help you net a new weak and feeble human to be a lap dog to. So you can shove the deal straight up your ass, for all I care. I’m not taking it.” Hariel turned to walk off but stopped as he heard Jet laugh.

“Nice speech, but too bad for you it’s not a human I’m sending you after... She’s a Charmander... And not just any Charmander. She was born of pure shadow energy just like you.” Hariel stopped and looked back at him in shock. Another one like him? Jet had his full attention.

“Thought this might pique your interest... Her trainer is supposedly a high administrator in the organization that Kana worked for, Cipher. He abuses her to no end, and does all he can to make her life hell. I want her here as your replacement. You train her, and as much as it would pain me to do so, I would let you go into the beyond my brother. I will set you free of your promise to Kana. So do we have a deal, Hariel?” Hariel nodded in response to Jet.

“So what’s this Charmander’s name, and where can I find her?” Hariels queried and the response shocked him. Jet laughed slightly and gave Hariel that all too familiar smirk.

“The man lives next to the Pokemon Center in Phenac City... And the Char’s name... is Kana...” Silence followed the last bit as Hariel trembled softly and a tear fell. He nodded to Jet, as he slipped out towards the exit and headed onwards in his journey to Phenac City. Jet turned to walk out of the room, but was stopped by Aqua and Koga who were blocking his way.

“Do you really think that this is going to work Jet? His heart is shut tight, He will reject and abuse her just like her master!” Aqua’s prattle was cut off by her being given a smile by Jet.

“I think his heart will open back up if the key truly lies in her... The Key to Hariel’s heart lies with Kana.. Maybe he can find what’s he’s looking for in her. You know the old legend... Maybe their love was truly a love that can transcend the bounds of time and death itself. Maybe she is his other half, Aqua... This is Hariel’s last chance... His last chance at reclaiming his soul. Isn’t that worth taking a chance for?” All Aqua could answer with was a nod, and Jet walked to the window.

“No matter what, fate’s wheels have been set in motion. It’s out of our hands now. All we can do is wait and hope. Let us leave it in time’s hands and see how things play out...” Jet smiled softly as he gazed out the window and watched Hariel walk forward towards his destiny...