Fleeting Dreams
A collection of stories revolving around Hikari; each one set a different place somewhere in Sinnoh and each featuring a different character (either in the form of friendship or more). Written because I love this region and Hikari is my favourite female protagonist :)
Setting: Valor Lakefront
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Beaconshipping (Hikari/Volkner)
Rating: PG
Summary: His eyes are soft in the evening light and suddenly she has visions of a future that won't come true.
The evening has set in, initiating the shades of bluish light so typical of Valor Lakefront. Repeatedly Hikari has thought of this time of day as her favourite. The middle of the day, with its bright light, is attractive, and so is the morning; inaugurating a whole new set of opportunities that she might or might not take. But this - the moon reflected in the black waters; the beach reduced to a sober extension of the sea; and the town itself seeming almost pearly in the glow of the moon - this is what is most beautiful of all.
Perhaps she is melancholic to think like that. Hikari doesn't know.
The silence of Lake Valor is so different from the silence in her own town (home). It's soothing, and calm, rather than deserted. Chosen stillness; not an inevitable consequence of geographical factors.
It's in this state of mind and this setting that she sees Volkner for the first time in a long period. He exits from the Hotel Grand Lake and walks in the direction of the beach; wishing, perhaps, for a breather or a quiet reflection after - whatever action.
Her grey eyes follow him. She is surprised to see his face here - but not so much that it results in a physical reaction. Her life towards the top has blurred the sharp edges of her emotions: too much has happened for her to still be shocked; too much has succeeded for her to still want something.
But she still can feel resonations. There's something stirring in her stomach, at this very moment.
After a few seconds, another person follows him and - it's a woman. Of course it is, her quiet reasoning tells her, and it's not regret or loss that colours her tone. It's merely the distant sound of observation.
(Her journey has been nothing but observing things with sometimes turning them into acquisitions; by now, the distinction is clear).
They go down to the beach, together, and - why does that last word feel so much more loaded than the rest of the sentence? Is it because it's something she can only long for herself, she, who is always underway? She, who is always alone?
But that is simply not true, her reasoning replies. She has her Pokémon and her friends, and besides - it is chosen solitude. Not an inevitable consequence of factors.
So it's almost with clinical detachment that she watches Volkner put an arm around the unknown woman; that she imagines his eyes to be soft in the evening light, the frown on his face still there but almost imperceptible.
And oh, there may be scenarios and futures in her head that won't come true (won't come true, won't come true) but that doesn't matter. She's as much used to deception as to greatness, and - it's only a fickle desire anyway.
It's nothing substantial.
She still keeps her eyes on the beach, drinking in the shadowy details with an avidness that is almost eager.
(So long since she's felt something like this. So long since she's been burning…
burning, for what?)
Her hand closes around the pokéball on her waist. One shouldn't lose time dreaming meaningless dreams, she mumbles feebly.
You're way past that, her reasoning confirms, and smiles an almost pitying smile.
(Once upon a time, there had been nothing but dreams twirling in front of her eyes. She'd like to go back).
Setting: Victory Road
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Croqueshipping (Marley/Hikari)
Rating: PG
Summary: She is a doll, Marley thinks, a beautiful doll.
She is a doll, Marley thinks, a beautiful doll.
Raven hair, so polished it gleams; eyes grey and shining and sharp.
Skin - powdery. Like a china doll. Like the dolls she used to collect.
"I want to go through this cave," Marley whispers. She doesn't like to talk. She doesn't like going through the dark alone. "Can I come with you?"
The girl nods. There are shadows surrounding her face. Marley can't distinguish everything; she does not like it. She wishes for the brightness outside, where the flowers and the summer air will be waiting for her.
The doll (girl) talks a lot.
Her lips are cherry, pink-cherry.
Is that possible? Marley doesn't know.
She ponders.
She looks at her lips,
(and wants to touch them, and wants to feel them)
and thinks - they should be soft, should they not?
"…you're very chatty," Marley says instead.
She does not like words. Words are distracting. They are nets in which your thoughts get constricted and lost forever. The thoughts will disappear; she feels them disappearing right now.
It's scary.
But not wholly - because Arcanine is with her. Her partner. With his fur so soft, like a woollen blanket.
The girl walks, and talks, and walks. Her legs are long.
Marley doesn't understand how it is possible - this girl travels a lot. How can she look like a doll?
A china doll.
"….just a little," she says.
She thinks of the Pokémon among the flowers. There's a tablet. She is not sure how it makes her feel, but she thinks it makes her happy.
The girl looks happy. The girl looks brave.
She fights all the wild Pokémon that attack them, and wins. Marley helps along with Arcanine. She does not like fighting; but now she doesn't mind that much.
Perhaps.
"…I might like battling with you…" she whispers, "….just a little… only a tiny bit."
She speaks, and she thinks.
It is confusing.
Everything is confusing.
"You're so strong. It makes me feel happy."
There's silence in the cave. She breathes, and quivers.
"…I don't know why… this is a strange feeling…"
Marley does not want to let go anymore.
Setting: Eterna Forest
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Fortuneshipping (Hikari/Lucas)
Rating: PG
Summary: Lucas - who ties her to her old (real) self.
The forest is dense and humid. It is just as Hikari remembers it, in her memories; the ones that she treasures, because only they remind her of the journey that's past her (and perhaps is still making).
It's strange, walking here while your ten-year-old-self seemingly hovers above your shoulder. It smiles at you, at how big you've become, and how experienced your eyes shine.
I still don't know everything, she wants to reply; but doesn't.
Lucas is with her.
Lucas, who reminds her of the old days more than anyone, who ties her to her own (real) self. It's a pleasure walking together, even though she's not really used to company anymore. It was always her and her Pokémon; sometimes, she thinks she might have done it differently if she had the chance.
(Is it fair to think like that?)
There's never silence in the forest, not with all the Pokémon scuffling about. But it still seems as though the moss absorbs their every sound, even that of their own footsteps and - it's eerie and peaceful at the same time.
From behind the trees, unexpectedly the Old Chateau looms. They stand still and watch, habitual fear covering Hikari's heart - but then she smiles.
It's nothing. Nothing but a house keeping its own nightmare alive.
And it's sad, perhaps, that's she's lost that charm from before (-you have changed, her old self says, a bit surprised, as though the thought would never have come to her mind; and Hikari thinks of legendary Pokémon and destruction and accomplished and shattered dreams, and thinks naïve before she can stop herself).
Her grey eyes soften. She shouldn't think like that.
Next to her, interest is covering Lucas's face. Her heart warms to him, because he'd always been the more curious of the two. And it might have created envy in her, once; but not anymore.
She's gained enough to balance out her flaws.
(There were gains and there were losses, and at the moment it seems clear which way the scale tips).
"Shall we take a look inside?" Lucas' voice comes to her, and when she looks up there's a bright light in his eyes.
Hikari nods in agreement, and briefly extends a hand to touch his.
A spark.
An instant smile.
Something akin to fluttering feelings.
- but most of all (and there's giddiness and wonder and amazement, because how could this be) -
Unfamiliarity.
Setting: Valor Lakefront
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Beaconshipping (Hikari/Volkner)
Rating: PG
Summary: His eyes are soft in the evening light and suddenly she has visions of a future that won't come true.
The evening has set in, initiating the shades of bluish light so typical of Valor Lakefront. Repeatedly Hikari has thought of this time of day as her favourite. The middle of the day, with its bright light, is attractive, and so is the morning; inaugurating a whole new set of opportunities that she might or might not take. But this - the moon reflected in the black waters; the beach reduced to a sober extension of the sea; and the town itself seeming almost pearly in the glow of the moon - this is what is most beautiful of all.
Perhaps she is melancholic to think like that. Hikari doesn't know.
The silence of Lake Valor is so different from the silence in her own town (home). It's soothing, and calm, rather than deserted. Chosen stillness; not an inevitable consequence of geographical factors.
It's in this state of mind and this setting that she sees Volkner for the first time in a long period. He exits from the Hotel Grand Lake and walks in the direction of the beach; wishing, perhaps, for a breather or a quiet reflection after - whatever action.
Her grey eyes follow him. She is surprised to see his face here - but not so much that it results in a physical reaction. Her life towards the top has blurred the sharp edges of her emotions: too much has happened for her to still be shocked; too much has succeeded for her to still want something.
But she still can feel resonations. There's something stirring in her stomach, at this very moment.
After a few seconds, another person follows him and - it's a woman. Of course it is, her quiet reasoning tells her, and it's not regret or loss that colours her tone. It's merely the distant sound of observation.
(Her journey has been nothing but observing things with sometimes turning them into acquisitions; by now, the distinction is clear).
They go down to the beach, together, and - why does that last word feel so much more loaded than the rest of the sentence? Is it because it's something she can only long for herself, she, who is always underway? She, who is always alone?
But that is simply not true, her reasoning replies. She has her Pokémon and her friends, and besides - it is chosen solitude. Not an inevitable consequence of factors.
So it's almost with clinical detachment that she watches Volkner put an arm around the unknown woman; that she imagines his eyes to be soft in the evening light, the frown on his face still there but almost imperceptible.
And oh, there may be scenarios and futures in her head that won't come true (won't come true, won't come true) but that doesn't matter. She's as much used to deception as to greatness, and - it's only a fickle desire anyway.
It's nothing substantial.
She still keeps her eyes on the beach, drinking in the shadowy details with an avidness that is almost eager.
(So long since she's felt something like this. So long since she's been burning…
burning, for what?)
Her hand closes around the pokéball on her waist. One shouldn't lose time dreaming meaningless dreams, she mumbles feebly.
You're way past that, her reasoning confirms, and smiles an almost pitying smile.
(Once upon a time, there had been nothing but dreams twirling in front of her eyes. She'd like to go back).
Setting: Victory Road
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Croqueshipping (Marley/Hikari)
Rating: PG
Summary: She is a doll, Marley thinks, a beautiful doll.
She is a doll, Marley thinks, a beautiful doll.
Raven hair, so polished it gleams; eyes grey and shining and sharp.
Skin - powdery. Like a china doll. Like the dolls she used to collect.
"I want to go through this cave," Marley whispers. She doesn't like to talk. She doesn't like going through the dark alone. "Can I come with you?"
The girl nods. There are shadows surrounding her face. Marley can't distinguish everything; she does not like it. She wishes for the brightness outside, where the flowers and the summer air will be waiting for her.
The doll (girl) talks a lot.
Her lips are cherry, pink-cherry.
Is that possible? Marley doesn't know.
She ponders.
She looks at her lips,
(and wants to touch them, and wants to feel them)
and thinks - they should be soft, should they not?
"…you're very chatty," Marley says instead.
She does not like words. Words are distracting. They are nets in which your thoughts get constricted and lost forever. The thoughts will disappear; she feels them disappearing right now.
It's scary.
But not wholly - because Arcanine is with her. Her partner. With his fur so soft, like a woollen blanket.
The girl walks, and talks, and walks. Her legs are long.
Marley doesn't understand how it is possible - this girl travels a lot. How can she look like a doll?
A china doll.
"….just a little," she says.
She thinks of the Pokémon among the flowers. There's a tablet. She is not sure how it makes her feel, but she thinks it makes her happy.
The girl looks happy. The girl looks brave.
She fights all the wild Pokémon that attack them, and wins. Marley helps along with Arcanine. She does not like fighting; but now she doesn't mind that much.
Perhaps.
"…I might like battling with you…" she whispers, "….just a little… only a tiny bit."
She speaks, and she thinks.
It is confusing.
Everything is confusing.
"You're so strong. It makes me feel happy."
There's silence in the cave. She breathes, and quivers.
"…I don't know why… this is a strange feeling…"
Marley does not want to let go anymore.
Setting: Eterna Forest
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Fortuneshipping (Hikari/Lucas)
Rating: PG
Summary: Lucas - who ties her to her old (real) self.
The forest is dense and humid. It is just as Hikari remembers it, in her memories; the ones that she treasures, because only they remind her of the journey that's past her (and perhaps is still making).
It's strange, walking here while your ten-year-old-self seemingly hovers above your shoulder. It smiles at you, at how big you've become, and how experienced your eyes shine.
I still don't know everything, she wants to reply; but doesn't.
Lucas is with her.
Lucas, who reminds her of the old days more than anyone, who ties her to her own (real) self. It's a pleasure walking together, even though she's not really used to company anymore. It was always her and her Pokémon; sometimes, she thinks she might have done it differently if she had the chance.
(Is it fair to think like that?)
There's never silence in the forest, not with all the Pokémon scuffling about. But it still seems as though the moss absorbs their every sound, even that of their own footsteps and - it's eerie and peaceful at the same time.
From behind the trees, unexpectedly the Old Chateau looms. They stand still and watch, habitual fear covering Hikari's heart - but then she smiles.
It's nothing. Nothing but a house keeping its own nightmare alive.
And it's sad, perhaps, that's she's lost that charm from before (-you have changed, her old self says, a bit surprised, as though the thought would never have come to her mind; and Hikari thinks of legendary Pokémon and destruction and accomplished and shattered dreams, and thinks naïve before she can stop herself).
Her grey eyes soften. She shouldn't think like that.
Next to her, interest is covering Lucas's face. Her heart warms to him, because he'd always been the more curious of the two. And it might have created envy in her, once; but not anymore.
She's gained enough to balance out her flaws.
(There were gains and there were losses, and at the moment it seems clear which way the scale tips).
"Shall we take a look inside?" Lucas' voice comes to her, and when she looks up there's a bright light in his eyes.
Hikari nods in agreement, and briefly extends a hand to touch his.
A spark.
An instant smile.
Something akin to fluttering feelings.
- but most of all (and there's giddiness and wonder and amazement, because how could this be) -
Unfamiliarity.