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Chapter 55 - The Cursed Faces His Fate

For the rest of the day, long into the night, Chris remained unconscious, seemingly comatose as the others took care of the Buneary. Along the way to the center, Servine worked with Gardevoir to clean it up as best they could, wiping away the blood and bandaging its wounds using the supplies in Chris's rucksack. Unfortunately it too was unconscious, so none of them could tell if it was going to be alright in the end or not... Once they arrived at the center, Gerald and Servine went inside together to drop Buneary off, leaving Chris in Gardevoirs care until they returned, his head still resting on her lap... Facing down, she felt his face, touching his forehead silently for a moment before letting out a sigh and smiling. "Good... You be okay... Back to normal..." she muttered, rubbing his head gently as she recalled everything she heard going on. "Wish... Could have seen you... Sound like you did something amazing... Bet you looked cool..." she told him in a soft voice, smiling sadly. "Thought you died... They say you hit by truck... Yet here you are... Wish I knew how..." she said, feeling her way towards his chest and resting her hand where his heart was. "Something in you... Changed today... You were same Chris we know... But felt... Different... It was incredible feeling... Like you could protect world... But felt scary... Like you could... Destroy world too... What happened...?" she asked as his heart beat softly against her hand, seemingly in a state of slumber itself. Once the two returned, Gerald took them to a nearby hotel for Chris to rest in safely for the night, figuring he would want to be near the Buneary when he woke up.

Working together, Gerald and Gardevoir carried him up to his room, laying him gently in bed as Servine brought in Gardevoirs case and Chris's branch as well, huffing and puffing as she pulled her way up the sheets and flopped onto his bed. "I.. Am NOT... Built... For servitude..." she wheezed, letting out a groan as Gerald looked over their belongings, making sure they brought everything in. "I don't believe we were followed... After everything we went through at the hospital and what happened at the accident, I'd wager Master Chris is going to become very popular in this city, very quickly..." Gerald told them, walking to the blinds and pulling them open, revealing a balcony outside of his room. Leaning against it, he crossed his arms while looking at the city, now glowing in the night. "...There isn't much I know about Master Chris but I know what we saw today wasn't normal by any means. Is there something about this... Curse of his you two know that... Perhaps... I don't...? From my memory, the curse placed on a human by a Ninetails can do many things... Kill someone if enough vengeance is involved... I've even heard tales of people BECOMING a Pokemon due to its curses... Yet not once have I ever heard tale of a curse doing what we saw today to a person..." Gerald told the two, getting a confused look from them in response. "What we know, you know... That's all there is to it really... We may be Pokemon but that doesn't mean we have the answer when something freaky like THAT happens... Even if it was impressive." Servine answered, sitting up and looking at Chris as well. "Chris... Cursed by Ninetails his grandpa save... Curse only makes him go to people and Pokemon in need... Doesn't turn him into something else..." Gardevoir told him as she sat on the bed, feeling her way next to Chris and laying by his side.

Optional track to LWR - Listen While Reading https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBaEYnGYjwA

As the three continued talking amongst themselves, trying to make what they could out of what had occurred, Chris was drifting deeper and deeper away from the outside world, slowly being pulled within himself further than most humans are ever capable of... Opening his eyes with a dazed look, he heard the familiar sound of a heart beat echoing from every direction, almost as if he were within a heart with nothing but a golden, glowing emptiness around him... Albeit a surprisingly warm, welcoming emptiness... As he shook his head and rubbed it with a groan, his body straightened up and he slowly landed on what felt like a floor, although there was nothing below him... And next thing he knew, he saw a white staircase form in front of him with a glassy look to it, leading higher and higher until a bright light flashed into view at the top, causing him to wince and cover his eyes slightly. "Where...?" he muttered, looking around and shaking his head once more, clutching it as it throbbed. "Its time we met one another officially human... Come..." he heard a voice echo, coming from the light ahead. "Time we... Met...? Am I dead or... Something...?" he asked, walking up to the stairs nervously before carefully making his way up. "Not dead... I suppose you could refer to it as... A limbo of sorts... A moment of awareness a human doesn't normally experience... Consider yourself lucky for being given this opportunity..." the voice echoed, causing his eyebrow to twitch slightly. "A moment of floating through emptiness and walking on something made of glass...? If that's lucky... I guess my life really is messed up..." he laughed nervously, looking below him at the transparent steps, feeling as though they could shatter with every step while making his way higher and higher towards the light.

"...You're slow..." the voice suddenly echoed, and next thing Chris knew, behind him the steps began shattering away, the glass turning into shards so tiny the stairs were seemingly turning to dust. With his eyes shot open wide, he quickly began running faster and faster up the stairs, wheezing along as the shattering glass grew closer and closer. Once he reached the light, he let out a shout and made a desperate leap for it as the stairs shattered beneath him, shutting his eyes tightly due to the bright flash around him. Keeping his eyes closed for a moment and trembling nervously, Chris slowly opened an eye, noticing he landed in grass before opening the other and standing, looking around in surprise. "Woah... What is all this...?" he asked, looking at the field around him, a single tree in the center filled with blossoms. "You could say you've become one with yourself on a new level... Or rather... You've taken a journey into the deepest part of your Earthly being as possible..." he heard the voice echo as he walked towards the tree. Above him there was a blue glow, like that of a sky, yet there was no sun to be seen... Still there was light... Rubbing his head confused, he stopped once he was near the tree. "So... Who am I meeting exactly? Are you... It...?" he asked, looking up at the tree. "I am not an it... I am who I am... The one who gave you this life... The one who determined your purpose long before you were born... Or rather, you could just refer to me as your fate... I suppose..." the voice echoed. Suddenly, he saw a bright aura seep out of the trees bark, and next thing he knew, Chris saw Ninetails standing next to it, looking at him with its bright red eyes.

"Oh... Its you... H... Hey..." he replied in surprise, blinking at Ninetails as it backed away and sat before him. "Yes... Hello, human..." Ninetails responded, keeping its intense gaze on him as he sweat nervously, rubbing his arm. "I... Is this about the... Accidents? The cliff or the... Truck...? S... Sorry about the later... Hope it didn't cause you any pain! I mean... I hope the cliff stuff didn't stress you out either! But... I actually had no idea I could do that other thing! I... I mean... Agh... I'm real sorry..." he said with a nervous laugh, putting his hands together with a bow, causing the Ninetails to sweat slightly. "...Yes well, neither did I... It was a... Surprise..." it responded with a pulse of anger on its forehead, twitching its eye. "Human... The first time we met... I appeared in order to keep you alive... You have a purpose to fulfill. Many need you... But in doing so, it would seem something else... Something unintended happened when that fall of yours occurred... Look up at this tree..." it told him. Glancing it over, Chris smiled at its countless blossoms, yet also noticed there were many that bloomed gold in color. "Huh... Pretty..." he muttered, tilting his head. "Ever since your very soul came into existence within the womb which cradled you, before your Earthly body took shape around it... A part of my own soul was bound to you. I've been with you from the very first second reality welcomed you into its cruel world... Because of this, the two of us have always had a close link, one that allows me to watch you and guide you wherever needed most... Over the years, my own essence has incidentally become one with your own... Although our souls are separated, what we are... Or rather... What you are... No longer is..." it told him, looking up at the tree itself as another golden bud suddenly blossomed.

"...Say what?" Chris asked, raising an eyebrow confused. "...Our souls are separate, but our essences are not. When you fell from that cliff and I poured my energy into you, my own essence was absorbed by your body as well unintentionally... You humans tend to refer to a beings essence as... Genes... Genetics... Or rather... Code... To put it simply, you're a human with the genes within you of a Pokemon now... To be precise, of my kind... You, in a way, are also... Me..." it replied, causing Chris to jump back with a loud "say whaaaat?!!" in response, Ninetails jolting and shake its head, rubbing its ear with its paw in irritation. "Refrain from doing that..." it growled, causing Chris to quickly bow and apologize. "S... So am I going to turn into... You?" he asked, lowering onto his knees and sitting in a traditional way. "No... You will not... But by becoming one with my essence all these years, then having it suddenly amplified when I saved you, the link between us... Or rather, the door... It has now become a two way connection, allowing you to connect with me as I do you, and apparently it allows you to tap into the power I possess..." Ninetails replied, giving him a scowl as he looked away nervously. "H... Hey its not like it was on purpose... Its still confusing too so give me a break..." he reminded, causing Ninetails to sigh and nod. "...Due to the nature of the curse I placed upon you before you came into existence, I had to make sure your own nature suited the curse. Throughout the years, I've been constantly keeping control over your mind, watching over your memories and experiences... I will not lie... You were intended to be a puppet in every sense of the word... You were to be obedient, simple to guide and control... And yet even with my grasp on your mind, you came to form your own personality, your own wills and desires... The very things I intended to prevent... Originally..." it told him, and suddenly Chris saw a silver chain flash into view all over the tree, like a snake rapidly ensnaring its every inch.

"You... Wanted to treat me like a puppet...?" he asked, glancing at the tree wide eyed. Looking over the chains, he let out a groan and rubbed his head, shaking it off as Ninetails remained silent. "Wait... Originally...?" he asked, looking at Ninetails in surprise. "...Over the course of your life, watching you become someone, watching you steer away from the path of a mere puppet... It concerned me. I'm not one to waste time dealing with people when I want something done... A puppet was the best option for me... High performance, little to no maintenance... Yet over the years, you became someone that suited what was necessary for the curse nonetheless. You naturally became someone befitting of your fate. So in the end, all I really had to do was ensure the worst in your kind never poisoned your mind... You became someone I never intended, even with my interference... Asides that, I have ensured you were never allowed a desire that would interfere with the curse as well. Dreams and ambitions... From the start I ensured they were never yours to have..." Ninetails admitted, continuing to face him. In response, Chris crossed his arms, looking over the tree bound in chains once more. "So that means... Everything I could have done... Could have been... Was denied? Or actually... Stolen from me, right?" he asked, looking back at the Ninetails. "Anything that would have, or could have interfered with the curse and my plans for you, were not allowed. That is correct, human... Dreams... Ambitions... Various senses such as greed... You've also gone wherever I've willed throughout your life... And to be perfectly clear, you will always go where I will... You will always endure hardships for the sake of others... This is your purpose... This enrages you?" it asked as Chris looked around, facing the bright yet sunless sky before closing his eyes.

"Actually... No..." he replied, Ninetails grinning in response before jolting, a shocked look quickly wiping away its grin. "Wait... What was that...?" it asked, tilting its head. "I'm... Not mad about it..." he repeated, looking at the tree once more. "I don't follow... You're enslaved by a curse... Controlled by my will... You did understand every word I just said, correct?" it asked as he stood, looking around the area before walking up to the tree. "Yeah... I know... But thinking about it... If it weren't for the curse... For you... I could of wound up being like a lot of lousy people in this world... Like the ones I've come to meet... Or learn about on my trip so far..." he replied, holding part of the chains on the tree with a hand and giving the chains a tug. "...Sometimes, being restricted from certain things isn't really all that bad... Thanks to you, I may not have been given the opportunity to do whatever I may have wanted, but I still wound up being someone I can respect, and living two of my dreams... Traveling the world... Being a trainer. I've just started, but... Its still been a blast... You've given me a great family too... Gardevoir and Servine... You've even turned me into a bit of a hero!" he chuckled, letting the chains go as Ninetails looked at him wide eyed. "To be honest... I don't think any other life I could have lived would have been as extraordinary as this one... I've lived a life with no regrets... I've brought smiles to so many faces... You let me give people and Pokemon alike with nothing... Something they needed most... You may not realize it but... I'm really starting to think this curse of yours is more like a blessing in disguise..." he smiled, causing Ninetails to jolt and stand, taking a step back. "I... Do not understand you..." it replied as he rubbed the back of his head with a nervous smile. "Yeah... Nobody really does when I try to talk like this... Ha ha." he said, squatting and grinning in front of Ninetails. "Listen... Don't go around thinking you're going through with some kind of curse you placed on me anymore... I don't think it is really myself... You're doing something really awesome, for people and Pokemon." he said, giving Ninetails a thumbs up as it took another step back.

"I actually... Want to thank you, for everything... And to tell you I'm looking forward to wherever you lead me next... I'm not really worried over what will happen anymore because I know I have a good family... Good friends..." he paused, suddenly reaching out and rubbing Ninetails on the head. "And a great guardian watching over me every step of the way." he chuckled, causing Ninetails to freeze up with its mouth open. "You keep doing what you do, and I'll give it my best every step of the way! If your will means I get to keep making friends and have an even bigger family... That I can keep making people happy... That's just fine by me." he smiled, pulling his hand away and sitting once again, this time leaning back in a more relaxed position as Ninetails slowly sat as well. "Y... You're a fool..." it replied, facing away with an irritated look on its face. "Ha ha... Yeah... A lot of people tell me that too... But listen... I really am sorry about the way I used your powers like that. Its great I got to save Buneary, and it did make me feel pretty awesome, but I promise not to do it again. At least not without your permission first! I guarantee it will only happen in an emergency!" he assured, Ninetails jolting and looking at him with a furious expression. "Who said you could use it period?!! You think I'll agree to it even if you ask?!!" it snapped as Chris laughed. "You're just like Servine!!" he replied, pointing at Ninetails causing it to let out an "urk!" and face away, seemingly embarrassed. "...Seriously though, thanks for everything again. You've given me an incredible life so far." he smiled as Ninetails looked at him again. After a moment, it let out a sigh and shook its head, looking towards the sky. "...I think its time for you to leave. You're... Family... Is getting a bit paranoid." it said as Chris looked up, covering his eyes from the light. "I don't see anything..." he replied, looking at Ninetails before suddenly floating off the ground. Standing up, Ninetails watched him before showing a small smile on the side of its mouth. "Farewell... Stupid human." it told him as a bright light suddenly flashed all around him...

"Should wake up by now... Sun went down long time ago..." Gardevoir said, pacing back and forth at the foot of his bed, stumbling here and there. "Gerald said all he needed was rest..." Servine assured her, only for Gardevoir to continue pacing. "Should take to hospital... But he just get out of hospital... Ooohhh..." she panicked as Servine groaned and climbed up to Chris's face. Looking over him, she saw Chris's eyes were wide open and looking back at her, and right when Chris said "Hi!" in response, Servine turned pale as a ghost and screamed loud enough to seemingly shatter the windows, falling clear off the side of the bed as Chris laughed loudly, sitting up and shaking his head with a slight groan. Looking at Servine, she was now clutching her chest as she lay on the floor, sweating badly from the shock and babbling while Gardevoir stood frozen, facing Chris as he stretched with a grunt. "Wow... Now THAT was some nap... Was there anything I missed?" he asked. Next thing he knew, Gardevoir began trembling before blindly jumping into him, smacking her forehead roughly against his yet ignoring the pain as she squeezed him tightly, shouting "You're awake you're awake!!!" over and over while rubbing her cheek against his, their foreheads now glowing and each sporting a slight lump... "Agh... Y... Yeah... Its all good... What's happened...? The Buneary and Gerald?" he asked with a slight gag in his tone from being held so tightly. "Oh... The poor thing should be alright... Its at a center down the road. Gerald went home for the night after making sure you would be alright... Good thing you finally came to, that dreadful girl was about to snap the last of my nerves in half worrying over you..." she said. "Hrmph!! At least I care!! You not worry if he wake up or not at all!!" Gardevoir shout back, continuing to squeeze and rub Chris on the head like a doll. "H... Hey!! That's an entirely uncalled for statement!! I did too care, I just have more faith in him is all!!" she barked, scowling in irritation as Gardevoir stuck her tongue out.

"Ah... Ha ha... Come on now girls... We all turned out alright... Again! Lets just be happy about that for now, agreed? You two did a real good job taking care of things while I was out of it." he praised, putting an arm around Gardevoir causing her to freeze up and flush as he motioned for Servine to come up as well. In response, she faced away with a "hrmph!" for a moment before eventually giving in, making an "only because you want it so badly..." statement as she got on the bed and stood next to him, suddenly pulled against his side the same as Gardevoir before he flopped back down, holding both Pokemon close to him as he grinned from ear to ear. "Ahhh this is swell... You girls and this life really are the best..." he chuckled, causing both Pokemon to glow as their pulse sky rocketed. "R... Really...? Ha... Happy!" Gardevoir stuttered, clutching her chest tightly. "Q... Quite so! Ov... Overwhelming a ta... Tad..." Servine replied as well, her voice sounding squeaky as the two smiled from ear to ear as well. "Any day can make you feel like this when you've made a new friend." Chris replied, glancing up towards his forehead before feeling a ping inside it, causing him to jolt and laugh nervously. "New... Friend...? You talk about Buneary?" Gardevoir asked. "H... Huh? O... Oh!! Well, lets hope so!" he told her, causing both Pokemon to suddenly scowl at the idea with bleak expressions. "Three's a crowd..." they both said at the same time, causing Chris to blink confused...

Laughing nervously in response, the three were just happy the day was finally over and Chris was awake and safe once more...