NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 139 – Past Life
The four Blastoises stood panting, their gazes fixed on Ursaluna, who lay unconscious. Their expressions were a mix of relief and solemnity, recognizing that they had just faced the strongest Pokémon they had ever encountered, one even more formidable than their leader.
The wife of Blastoise, her face etched with worry, rushed toward her husband. The aftermath of Ursaluna's Magnitude attack had left everyone else unconscious, including Gyarados, Kanraku, Floyd, and others. The remaining Blastoises gathered the fallen, preparing to return to safety.
Before departing, they cast a lingering glance towards the spot where Venusaur had vanished. It was clear to them that Venusaur had been the pivotal force in their victory over Ursaluna. "Blastoise!" they shouted in unison, a vocal tribute to Venusaur's bravery and sacrifice.
With their comrades in tow, they began the journey back to their base.
…
A few minutes later, the group of four Blastoises and the others arrived back at the base. The scene was one of concern and urgency, as many at the base anxiously awaited the condition of Floyd, Kanraku, and the others. Swiftly, they retrieved healing powder from the storage, ready to administer aid.
Chansey and Happiny were already on the scene, tending to the wounded with expert care. Blastoise, Gyarados, Fraxure, Floyd, and Growlithe had borne the brunt of the battle and were, therefore, the primary focus of the treatment.
(AN: Growlithe was a Fire + Rock-type Pokémon, which had been particularly affected by Ursaluna's Magnitude attack.)
Bianca, with a keen sense of urgency, took possession of Floyd's backpack. She knew it contained secrets that must not be exposed. Meanwhile, others began to carefully undress Floyd, revealing a fractured shoulder and numerous internal injuries. In a normal world, such wounds would have been critical, but in this parallel world, with his robust physiques and the availability of mysterious healing berries offered a chance for recovery.
After a few minutes of intensive care, some Pokémon, less severely injured, began to awaken. Floyd's Pokémon, excluding Growlithe and Fraxure, were among the first to regain consciousness, their faces filled with worry for Floyd's condition.
Hours passed, and Floyd, along with the others, were moved to a clinic for further care under the watchful eyes of Chansey and Happiny.
…
Floyd found himself lost in a dream, reflecting on his past life in his original world, where he battled an incurable illness from a young age. The weight of his condition often led him to moments of despair, as he grappled with the harsh reality of his mortality. He yearned to continue living in the beautiful world around him, but his illness seemed to deny him that chance.
Despite the bleak outlook, Floyd's life was imbued with an unexpected warmth and hope, thanks to his family. His parents and relatives never wavered in their support, surrounding him with unwavering love and encouragement. Every day, they instilled in him the will to fight against his illness, nurturing his spirit with discipline and optimism. This unyielding support from his loving family propelled him to keep moving forward, refusing to succumb to despair.
Floyd's cousin played a special role in his life, introducing him to shonen anime, filled with characters whose stories mirrored his own struggles. These hotblooded teenagers from anime, who relentlessly chased their dreams despite all odds, left a profound impact on him.
Ash from Pokémon is one of the anime that attracted him. He remembered how he would sometimes express frustration towards Nintendo and the anime creators for their story decisions, especially when Ash didn't win a tournament. He recalled his rants about characters like Tobias and Alain, his views on how dumb some legendary Pokémon like Heatran, Mew, Lake Guardians, etc., and the satisfaction of seeing Ash finally triumph in the Master Eight Tournament.
This connection to anime and the companionship of his family enriched his childhood beyond expectation, granting him an additional 15 years of life, a gift he cherished deeply.
Floyd felt immense gratitude for his family's unwavering support, and though his illness remained incurable, he harbored no bitterness. The love and care he received were the highlights of his life, filling his final moments with a sense of fulfillment and peace.
As he lay surrounded by his family – his mother, father, sister, cousins, aunt, and uncle, all shedding tears for him – he left the world with a smile, carrying the love and memories they had given him. In his last conscious moments, he harbored a wish to be reborn in a Pokémon world, a testament to the impact of those stories on his life.
However, the reality of his wish was different from what he had imagined. Although he found himself in a world related to Pokémon, it was still akin to the Earth he once knew, presenting a familiar yet distinct new reality.
In this chaotic world, a reality where humans coexisted with Pokémon seemed like a distant fantasy. Floyd, finding himself an orphan in this unfamiliar land, struggled to adjust to its harshness. His life took a turn when he rescued Axew from hunters, marking his first step towards adaptation in this cruel world.
Though the concept of taking lives was alien to him, Floyd understood that survival sometimes demanded hard choices. Each time he was forced to act against his nature, he felt a deep sense of misery, battling with the peaceful ideals of his past world.
It was a constant struggle, a clash between his inherent beliefs and the ruthless reality he now faced. Despite hating it, he really never learned much, he found it hard to fully come to terms with this new way of life.
Months passed in a blur, and before he knew it, eight months had elapsed. Floyd awoke from his slumber, his eyes opening to a plain white ceiling.
"How long did I sleep?" he murmured to himself, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Munchlax!" Munchlax, who had been vigilantly watching over him, expressed joy at his awakening. His eyes shone with happiness, a stark contrast to the dim room.
"Fra-xure!" "Awwrrrr," Fraxure and Growlithe chimed in, sharing in the excitement. Despite their own injuries, bandaged and resting on adjacent beds, they mustered the strength to approach Floyd.
"Horsea~" "Ehew!" "Goomy~" The other Pokémon joined in, each expressing their relief in their own way.
"Don't worry, I'm fine!" Floyd reassured them with a smile. "What time is it?" he asked, turning his gaze to the wall clock. It read 6 o'clock. A glance through the window revealed a twilight sky, indicating it was evening.
"What happened after I passed out?" Floyd inquired, looking at his Pokémon companions.
One by one, they recounted the events that had transpired. Floyd listened intently, nodding in understanding. "I see, I get it!" He felt a wave of relief, grateful that nothing worse had occurred.
"So, it's already dark, huh? They must be in the meeting by now," Floyd murmured, pondering the meeting he knew was scheduled for 5:30 pm. Despite his weakened state, he forced himself to sit up.
"Munchlax?" The concerned Pokémon tried to dissuade him, a sentiment shared by the rest of his team.
"Don't worry, I'm feeling somewhat better now," Floyd reassured them, although he still couldn't move his right shoulder due to the severe injury. He was determined. "I need to go to that meeting. I have unfinished business," he declared, a fierce determination in his eyes.
The betrayal of Hu Tianyi weighed heavily on his mind. His and his Pokémon's near-death experience, along with the danger posed to Kanraku and the others, was something he couldn't just let go of. For Floyd, this was a matter of principle, a wrong that needed to be righted.