Chapter 36 - Hidden Secrets

Lonnie's P.O.V.

*****

I stretched and yawned, getting up for the day. The fire was out, and it looks like I was the earliest mon to get up. I giggled in disbelief. Normally, I was always the last one to get up. Out from the corner of my eye, I saw Kate and Philip, huddling close like it would be the very end, sleeping soundly in their slumber.

I smiled at the two lovebirds. They seemed way more sweet at each other, different from the way only friends treat each other. It seemed to be a lot more. I stood, walking over my bag, unhooking the latch. I looked over and saw it had a few berries; Sitrus, Pecha, Mago, Leppa, and finally, Wiki. I grinned, knowing that they really did came in handy.

I closed the bag once again, sighing in relief that no one has touched them except for me. Blake awoke with a start, rubbing his eyes.

"Good morning!" I chirped, tossing a Sitrus at him, which he gladly caught.

"Thanks," He said with a smile. "And good morning to you too." Then he turned towards the others, cupping his paws around his muzzle. "Hey, Prince Charming, Sleeping Beauty and Watchog! Wake up!"

"Hey, wasn't it rude to wake them up now-" I scolded him, but I saw that they already stirred from the loud bellow, opening their eyes.

"Ugh, like hell, who woke me up-" Philip groaned, but he stopped when he felt Kate stir on his side. She yawned and smiled.

"Morning," She greeted, and frowned as her expression faded into surprize and embarrassment. The two foxes blushed madly and pulled away, averting their gazes aside. I laughed, giving them each of their berries, including Watchog. He gave a happy smile in return.

"You have my everlasting thanks, Alpha. But... I-I don't have a lot of Poké to repay you-"

"It's okay," Kate assured. "A genuine thank you is enough, as long as it comes from your heart."

"True." Blake grinned. Philip just looked solemn, hearing the word genuine. I'd wonder what was going on with that guy, though.

"T-Thank you!" Watchog cried, hugging Kate. She laughed gently and hugged him back, patting him on the back.

------

"It looks like some of you are slightly in bad shape." Plasma commented. Kate laughed nervously and looked down. "But you still carried on with amazing perseverance. I'd say you did a great job."

"Of course, ma'am!" I beamed. "Kate didn't call this team 'Team Alpha' for nothing!"

"That is true." Plasma chuckled.

"And one more thing: she just handled a huge Nidoking on her own! It was awesome!" Blake says. Kate's jaw dropped in disbelief.

"N-No I didn't!" The ice fox argued. "You and Philip handled him at first! I didn't do it on my own!"

"Well, after that, Blake got injured and I got unexpectedly knocked out. You're the one who took care of the rest." Philip defended. Kate sighed and averted her gaze.

"Right, fine. I... t-took care, of the rest..." She grumbled.

"And...?"

"By myself." Kate added, reluctantly. This was one of the things I admire in her as a leader. She never takes credit for herself. She always made sure that the whole team was included in it, not just for her. Not unless if a close friend insists her so. Plasma nodded and turned.

"As I can see, you have made quite an effort from yesterday's work. I guess I'll make this day as a time for you to rest. You're having this day... off."

"R-Really?! Do you mean it Gui- I mean, ma'am?" Kate asked.

"Of course!" Plasma replied and walked away. We laughed in glee, and I interrupted the moment with a question.

"Do you know what that means where we can celebrate?" I asked.

"Odette's?" Philip guessed.

"Odette's it is!" We cried in unison.

------

"Cheers!" Kate laughed as we went on with our pretend toast, and the glass from our smoothies left each other with a clink.

"For team Alpha!" Blake snickered.

"Heh, I hope this is not about marriage or anything..." Philip whispered. Kate blushed, turning to look down at the table. I could already imagine that.

"Not today, but soon, it'll be about you two!" I teased, jokingly.

"We're not together!" Kate and Philip protested in sync with reddish faces. Blake and I laughed while taking a few sips. Kate sighed and took a sip on her own Oran Berry smoothie, and Philip did the same.

"Aw, come on, don't let your silence end this!" Blake whined.

"You're only making this more awkward," I told him.

"Not as awkward as them." He whispered to my ear, crossing his forepaws. I shook my head and sighed.

"They'll be damned if you won't stop being awkward..."

"So I'm awkward?"

"Clumsy."

"It's your fault for being so cute." Blake chuckled. I blushed, turning away with drooped ears. I heard Kate giggle from that, amusedly staring at us. Philip just looked at us with a blank stare, confused.

"I guess he has no idea about that." Blake whispered. I elbowed him and glared; it was rude to place a sassy remark on someone. Philip looked like he didn't hear it, but to my surprize, he went down from his chair, walking away.

"Philip..." Kate murmured, but he looked back and said, "I had to go out for fresh air. I'll be back soon. See ya," And with that, he padded away, looking down the pebble embedded path.

"Uh... but don't we have fresh air right now, right? I mean, we're already sitting outside Odette's..." Kate says with a puzzled look etched on her face.

"I'm sure he'll be just fine..." I told her. Kate nodded reluctantly, silently resting her head on her midnight colored paws, crossing on the table.

"I just hope he is," The Glaceon mused. "He's been acting like that at least one time since yesterday. I hope that it wasn't caused by me. Or something more serious. If there should be anything I can do to help him, maybe I should. But right now, it seemed that... I really just can't."

I frowned, taken halfly aghast from her dreaded prospect about Philip. I knew she liked him, no, loved him, but I certainly didn't expect that she was nervous about ruining their affinity of friendship. Blake laughed nervously and locked his gaze at her.

"Hey, now, I don't want any drama today." Blake says, nervously. Kate's ears drooped, and she didn't say nothing more than a low, plaintive whimper.

"Don't worry, girl." I assured. "I think he just needs some time alone. Just think of it. He'll be just fine..."

Philip's P.O.V.

*****

"Philip..." Kate started, but I turned back with a fake smile and said, "I had to go out for fresh air. I'll be back soon. See ya,"

Padding away, my smile faded into a grimace, my pelt coursing electricity with vivid sparks. With a sigh, I walked away into the forest path, disappearing into the deciduous foliage of trees. I couldn't just do it anymore. I could still feel the past haunting me, laughing at me like crazed fools, drawing memories of bloody, violent dispositions, death, and darkness. I remember them clearly: Norsoe's raspy voice, Trusty's snarl, snapping at me to obey and be loyal.

Even though I was trying to pick between two choices: stay loyal to Norsoe, or turn to Arceus; for Kate, for Lonnie, for Blake, Sun, Lance...

But I couldn't just step up like an idiot who would choose a certain, particular choice that will change his or her life forever, like oh, I'm just gonna choose to be like this, that and...

That's it. Of course, nothing was easy. I was right. No one is easy, nothing is easy, everything is. It is a secret that remains to be unlocked. And once it unlocks, I'll have to pay the consequences I'll have for hiding them. I wish I could tell her... but I was too afraid to do so, if losing her or strengthening us could happen.

Either of them could happen. If only I could take the fear away; if it could happen, I would gladly do so, but it was impossible. Even taking my memories back seemed like impossible; it felt like I didn't know what or who to believe anymore. Dialga... or Norsoe.

Flashback

Huge boulders are hurled from a certain Rockruff's Rock Slide, but I dodged and crashed into him with Double-Edge, causing pain into me from its recoil damage. He snarled and bit my neck, burrying hard like a steel trap. I screamed in pain, 'till I reached out with a paw, unsheathing my blunt claws and let it smack down, scratching into his rough flesh. He roared and let go, and with a smirk, I started my Shadow Ball and watched as it glided through, running smack into his torso.

"Nice try, Trusty," I growled, ignoring the blood that stained my paw and Eevee mane. Trusty snarled with glowering crimson eyes with a paw on his face.

"That won't stop me from being captain, Eevee! I won't stop 'till I have no choice but to kill you!"

"Then stop already," Norsoe rasped.

"N-Norsoe..."

"I have already decided the best among the best. As I said, becoming captain is a huge responsibility. Fail, or die. Some of you may have some great qualities, but only one of you may suffice."

"Then who is it?!" Trusty asked. "He should only be the best among us, like me!"

Norsoe's face crumpled into a sneer, pointing his claw at me with a laugh.

"You." He said. I smirked, standing proud before him with a raised tail. Trusty's jaw dropped in disbelief. I knew I didn't go here for nothing.

"B-But-" Trusty sputtered, but Norsoe cut him off.

"You dare defy me, pup?!"

"N-N-No! All hail to you, lord of greatness!"

"Come to me, boy, for you are worthy enough. Come." Norsoe called me to his side.

"So... what am I going to do now?" I asked.

"I want you to have this." The pitch-black Pokémon says, handing me a swirling orb of obscure darkness, swirling with a dark aura that seemed to come from the darkest night. I hesitantly reached it with a paw, but then I stopped.

"What is it?"

"This is the primal orb of evolution from the ancient times, my boy." He says. "Touch it, and it'll give you power, stronger than that pathetic Rockruff himself, as you'll need that for being captain. Think of what you want to, and you will be that one as exactly as you want!"

I took a deep breath, and with a brown, fuzzy paw, it glided through and touched the mysterious orb. I stared in farewell at it, because soon, I will be no more of my previous form from now on; reborn, new, and most importantly, stronger.

"I want to become a Jolteon," I murmured. "So I can devour the light with a darkened bolt, stand from the ashes with a crackling volt, and be the storm that will pursue through and be the one that will stand despite the crumbling ground."

End Flashback

The truth was just waiting for someone to unlock it or stay proven elusive. If I could unlock it with my own paws, risk telling Kate, or keep it hidden...

"Philip!" A voice called, pulling me back to reality, snapping me out of my trance. I casted my glance, seeing the unusual furry ice fox trotting up to me with concerned emotions. Her scarf and her light, blue fur swayed gently along with the light breeze of wind, as if she was the ocean itself, along with the radiant glow of her ice crystal, reflecting the sun's rays. My face glowed lightly in constant warmth, not denying her beauty; she looked absolutely ravishing.

"Oh, hey." I greeted.

"Are you okay?" She asked. I wanted to tell her that no, I'm not okay, still thinking how I can choose sides between yours and Norsoe!

But I couldn't, so I replied, "Yeah, I am. What makes you think I'm not?" I asked. Kate averted her gaze with a blush, blinking gently with a shying droop on her ears. I couldn't help but chuckle as I stared.

"J-Just making sure." She whispered quietly. "How could I ignore you when you were acting really strange today?"

I gave a sigh; if only I had the courage to tell her everything right now, about Norsoe, about me, and most of all, admit that I do love her and all that's left is to know that she shared my feelings too. But what if she doesn't, and even decide to stay away from me when she learned that I was stabbing her behind her back?

And if I did tell her, and she would accept the fact with open arms, that would anger Norsoe so greatly, and the next thing we would know is him lashing out at us in great fury. I couldn't let that happen. I don't want to put them in peril because of me. Fine, I know Kate was already in danger, but I don't want her to be in harm's way much more than she already is because of me. It was difficult to choose.

"Philip..." Kate spoke softly, taking my paw in hers. "If anything is wrong, please, don't be afraid to tell me or a friend about it, okay? We promised that. I promised that. As you said, we shouldn't let it bother us, right?"

I nodded reluctantly, remembering I was the one who said it before. I felt her paw clasp gently around mine with an assuring, weak yet beautiful smile on her face; it made my heart flutter wildly to see her like that.

"Don't think too much," I told her. "It's nothing... b-big at all."

I could tell that her face expressed a wave of doubt, but she eventually gave in and sighed, averting her gaze from me into ground.

"If you say so." The Glaceon says, looking up to me, hopefully. I gave a nervous titter, ruffling her fur and kissed her on the forehead, blushing subtly as I did.

"Don't exaggerate. I'm fine." I chuckled. "Let's just head back. Blake and Lonnie might be bored waiting for us."

"A-Alright..." Kate stammered, visually flustered, left as a blushing mess, turning tail. I followed her with a fast beating heart, trotting towards her with a low pant, my mind swirling with overactive thoughts. If I could tell her...