Work Text:
“Pilot, land down there! Right in front of Mommy’s house!” ordered Barry, hanging on to the leg of his trusty chatot as she flew as fast she could. The sense of urgency in her trainer overwhelmed her with the adrenaline needed to go faster than a staraptor, knowing what exactly this meant if she could not bring him to Lake Verity in time. But even then, Pilot would never reach the ground, as Barry let go of her talon, dropping him on the snow right in front of the house he hasn’t seen in forever, deliberately.
It was a passing thought of his when he started flying that if he might have to see his mother, or even his father (which was probably likely, they probably would have been happy too for once) again. He hadn’t been near Twinleaf, much less their house since he left. As much as he believed it was happening, he wouldn’t want to see a Cygnus family household happy without him.
The last time he saw his mom he inconvenienced her… having run him down just to wrap his scarf around his neck and scold him for not saying goodbye.
So he didn’t even spare a glance at it as he jumped down, “Pilot, return!” he commanded, pulling out the pokeball he caught her in. “You did good, rest for the fight ahead…” he praised, shoving her pokeball back into his brown messenger bag, and started darting for both route 101, and the lake beyond. If he didn’t stick around, he wouldn’t have to see a family happy without him specifically. Besides, the point is Mesprit, the mirage that chose him, not his fam-
“Barry?! Is that you?!” cried a voice from behind him, one that belonged to a neighbor of his and Dawn’s coming from a top floor window of a house close to theirs.
The blonde turned his head around, continuing to run as he waved her off, “Not now Miss neighbor-I-can’t-remember-the-name-of, I gotta get going to the lake, there’s something really big happening and I-”
“Your mother’s been kidnapped! Your father and Dawn’s mother too!” she shouted, loud enough for the entire twin leaf village to hear as she leaned out the window.
And in that second, Barry halted. The news felt like glass shattering in his ear. His deep brown eyes widening as he felt his throat go dry. He stared back at his neighbor, “What?” he asked, the question coming out in barely a whisper.
What do you mean kidnapped. Mommy? Daddy? His mommy and daddy were super strong, daddy had a dragonite even! A dragonite that protected him… Mrs. Lyre too! Her pokemon knew so many cool moves. That’s impossible. That couldn’t have happened.
But the neighbor looked at him with anxiety and worry, pity too, maybe. “A bunch of guys in these… weird uniforms came by and just… just overpowered them! It was so terrifying…” she tried to explain the best she could with a trembling voice, all as she ran her shaky fingers through her brown hair.
Just the description of “weird” and “uniform” next to each other was enough of a hint for the blonde to know exactly who was behind this. A spark lit inside him, and Barry couldn’t tell whether or not it was out of fear, or if it was out of anger.
Emotions were so hard to label.
“Even your father couldn’t do much about them! We’ve been trying to reach you, but… but you haven’t been home in so long! No one could figure out how to contact you!” That’s because he didn’t want to be contacted. He didn’t think something like this would have happened. He just wanted his mommy and daddy to live without his presence in their life… “We thought that once we got through to Dawn she could tell you to come back home, but, the, the… we think some of the cell towers went down in the earthquake.”
“We got a hold of your uncle Volkner though, along with Skyla. They’re both going to be here as soon as possible, and want you and Dawn indoors and hidden until they come by to sort this out. They’re worried that both of you could be targets too!”
Barry stared up at her, clenching his fists. Of course they’re the targets. No one else was chosen like him, Dawn, and Lucas.
Lucas… What about the Aquilas? What about Lucas’s mom and dad? Shouldn’t they check in on his cousin too? What about her? Isn’t Lake Acuity close to Snowpoint? He knew those his neighbor probably wouldn’t know about the Aquilas, no one really traveled outside of Twinleaf that much, but still!
If he and Dawn were targets, the beloved children of emotion and willpower specifically, well, knowledge wouldn’t be safe either. Why is she worried about him?
“Come in my house Barry, wait for your uncle and Skyla to come back! We’ll protect you and Dawn once one of us can get through to her poketch!” She called, waving a hand in a gesture.
But the bandaged blonde shook his head no. He couldn’t go inside. Not with everything at stake. He couldn’t just sit by, not when Mesprit was being threatened, much less his mom and dad. As much they didn’t love him, as much he ruined their happiness, he still loved them. It was his job as their son to save them.
Sure he’s not thinking with his brain. But he always listens to his heart. And his heart says go. It could only be him who saves them.
So he disregards her command, instead springing into action, a fire began to burn inside his heart. “Ms. Neighbor you gotta contact the Aquilas, Griffin and Eleanor, they work for Professor Rowan! And if they don’t pick up, tell Candice, the gym leader! Can’t explain why, don’t have time, it’s ticking as I do nothing Just do that and tell her to get back here with Dawn and Lucas pronto, I’m gonna save Mommy and Daddy!” He yells, turning for the route entrance yet again and running with a quickened pace and even higher sense of urgency.
His neighbor jumped, “Barry, get back here! It’s not safe! Wait for Volkner!” she screamed, practically leaning her entire body out of the window, hoping her voice would at least get him to turn his direction towards her. But the foolish boy did no such thing, just kept moving farther and farther out of her sight.
She felt sick watching him run to what she could only worry would be his death.
But Barry kept moving, pumping his arms and legs faster than he’s ever run in his life. A speed that could rival Lucas’s infernape. A million thoughts ran through his mind, each being the worst possible scenarios. All of these including the death of everyone’s parents. What could possibly be their plan, targeting their loved ones? They didn’t do anything! They’re not involved with some stinkin’ prophecy. It was all him, Dawn, and Lucas. What’s the point?!
He liked being a chosen one, because it made him important, and gave him something else other than “the one who ruins everything for everyone.” He could have even made his loved ones happy. He didn’t want this! He didn’t want them to get hurt.
Even when his existence was supposed to be inherently good, be so very special, that simple existence found a way to hurt.
Just more of a reason he shouldn’t exist. That everything would have been better off had he not been born.
He hates emotions. He doesn’t want to think anymore, he doesn’t want to find a will to live anymore.
He doesn’t want to feel anymore.
But. Ah. There he goes spiraling again.
Snap out of it Barry. You have a mission to do. Now is not the time to listen to the truths your brain wishes to share. It’s not about you. It’s about Mesprit. It’s about mommy and daddy.
And as he reaches the entrance of Lake Verity, the very same lake where he saw that pink shining glow the time he ran from home, the lake were he met Sprig the Turtwig, and the lake where a certain shy boy in glasses he and Dawn came to find a third piece of themselves in.
But now it’s different. Rather than a quiet, peaceful lake where he could hide away when the noises in the houses got too loud to block out. He’s greeted with bustling busy people, all in matching uniforms and hair, shouting out orders as machinery got used, passed around, and loaded into a helicopter.
And he could see a pink pokemon curled up and wincing, inside a cage made of glass and electricity. If he listened closely, he could hear its muffled cries of pain. He didn’t know what they did to him, but it was hurting. The powerful, omnipotent being of emotion, one that Cynthia and even Cyrus claimed loved him specifically, one that showed itself to him when he was so young.
All the spiraling got tossed aside, in favor of pure rage at the sight. And he didn’t give himself time to look and observe. There was no time, he never had time. He had to stop them. He had to save Mesprit.
“Oi! Ya Galactic Asshats! Stop what you’re doing right now and release Mesprit!” He shouted, pointing a finger directly at them. Everyone stopped what they were doing, eyes turning directly at the thirteen year old in front of them. If gazes could have killed, both Barry and every single Team Galactic member at that cage could have killed each other.
“OH, if it isn’t the BELOVED apprentice of emotion!” announced a sarcastic, young voice from among the crowd. One that belonged to a redhead, commander Mars of Team Galactic. “We weren’t EXPECTING your ARRIVALLL, what ever shall we dooo?” she cries in the most fake surprised voice the commander could muster. Rolling her eyes.
“Sike. The other apprentices have already failed to stop the willpower and knowledge squads. We already figured you were coming.” She crossed her arms, eyes going from sarcastic shock to annoyance, stepping in front of the helicopter. “Had we not had to make a pitstop, you probably might have been able to stop us from making our Leader’s new world.”
Barry gritted his teeth, eyebrows sharpening with anger. Dawn and Lucas failed? Shit. If they failed, what will this spell for Team Galactic’s plans? What if they got kidnapped too? He sifted through his messenger bag, not even bothering to look and see what he would bring out. He just needed a pokeball, and threw the one he grabbed without thinking.
He didn’t even have a plan, he never had any plans. He just knew he needed to stop it, and his trusty Floatzel would have to work for now. He will. He always came through for him, just like everyone else would.
“Barrel, water jet the cage with Mesprit in it! We gotta break that at all costs!” he ordered, directing the weasel what to do at that moment.
Mars snorted, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. You do realize we have all your guys' parents in the back of that helicopter, yeah?” She smirks, as Barry looks at her with wide eyes, as though he’d been frozen in time and space.
“If you break that cage, we’ll break them!” she continues, stating plainly in almost a sing-song voice.
Barry gasps, turning white. And before his floatzel could finish charging up his attack, Barry pressed the button on his pokeball in a panic. It’s just like him for his heart to be faster than even his own pokemon.
And after that, he stared at Mars, and froze. For the first time in his life, everything truly came to a stand still. Time and space distorted, so nothing could move. And he was standing there. Holding his floatzel’s pokeball close to his chest. Why couldn’t he move? He never stopped moving. The world never stopped moving. And yet here he was. Frozen.
He very well could just. Run into the helicopter. Free them. Have Barrel take care of it still. But. He won’t move. Why is he so scared? He always fought back even when he was afraid. But he just. Can’t. Why are his emotions working against him again?
Mars gives him a look. “At all costs my behind. You mean all costs except for a mom and dad. Psh.” she rolls her eyes, before turning to the grunts working on transporting the cage. “Carry on, pay him no mind, he’s just a nuisance.” She then turns to several grunts on standby, “Surround him, restrain him and take away his pokeballs. Our Leader is on his way, he wants to talk with emotion specifically.”
“He thinks this apprentice is going to be The One.”
Barry snapped out of his thoughts, reality crashing back in as Mars’ orders hit him like a brick against his mental state’s glass. In a panic he tried to click the button on his floatzel’s pokeball, but his shaky fingers only led him to drop it. And before he could pick it up again, blue haired grunts in matching uniforms already surrounded him. They grabbed at his arms, and pulled at his bag, one already picking up his poor floatzel’s pokeball.
“H-hey! Let go! What are you-!” he cried out in panic, doing his best to free himself from the grunts’ grasps. Kicking and pulling against them. But no matter what he tried, no matter how hard he fought back, the poor thirteen year old could do nothing to a group of adults. His bag was ripped away from him, including his pokemon, Sprig, Pilot, Punk, Stardom, Beacon. All of them.
He was helpless.
And with the bag and his pokemon out of his reach, his arms being held by two grunts. “Give them baccckkk!” the child cried, but his pleas were never answered. What was happening? Did this happen to Lucas and Dawn too? He was so confused. He wanted his mom and dad. He wanted home. Why was this happening to him?
The poor child of emotion couldn’t help the tears welling up in his eyes, and a shriek escaped his throat. “MOMMY!! DADDY!!” he cried, calling for the ones who came to his aid no matter what, no matter how much it inconvenienced them. He wouldn’t be an inconvenience anymore, he’ll leave them alone, just please, save him this last time.
And had his thoughts been any quieter, Barry could have heard both a familiar, gruff voice, and familiar, warm voice. It was shouting his name, only to be muffled by the helicopter they were trapped in. But just like how their son was helpless to the grunts holding him up by his arms, they too were helpless to save him, to protect him, to hold him, to tell him everything will be alright.
No matter how much he fought, they wouldn’t let go. Rather than freeing himself, and saving the day like he planned on doing. He tired himself out, helplessly. Barry couldn’t fight anymore. What happened to his boundless energy? Is he really just going to give up here? He hung limply, watching as Mesprit was taken into the helicopter, with everyone’s parents inside.
He could have sworn he locked eyes with Mesprit, staring at him, pleading for him to not give up. But he didn’t know what more he could do.
He was so tired he couldn’t discern what was happening with the helicopter next to him. Probably leaving, with his mom, and dad, and Mrs. Lyre, and Mr. Aquila, and Ms. Aquila, and Mesprit. So many people he failed.
But that’s not what happened. Rather, a second, smaller one had landed right next to it. “Oh, Leader, you're here JUST in time!” the commander’s voice pepped up, and the blonde turned to look at Mars. She was bouncing on her feet, as the one who promised to place himself on the throne of gods approached, snow crunching beneath his own.
“I got Mesprit’s chosen riiight here, just like you asked~!” she sings, clasping her hands together with a big smile etched across her face.
Cyrus looks over in the blonde’s direction, then nodding approvingly in Mars’s direction. “Good job as always Commander Mars.”
Mars hopped, squealing, hearing her praise. “Anytime, anywhere for you my Leader! While YOU talk to emotion, WE’LL finish wrapping everything up so we can move out when you’re done. We don’t know when willpower and knowledge will be arriving, so we’ll try to be snappy about it!”
Taking Cyrus’s nod as approval and dismissal, Mars skipped off, going back to directing her squad. Leaving the leader of Team Galactic to approach the boy they had in captivity, seeming to disregard the blonde’s tired, yet disdain filled stare. Instead, he opted for something different. “Release him, but hold onto his pokeballs for now,” he orders. It was in what felt like seconds, did the grunts holding up Barry drop him.
It was so sudden without warning, so much so that Barry failed to find his footing. He fell over, and into the chest of the man in front of him, who caught the boy unflinchingly.
“Steady, dear emotion,” he mumbles, pulling the boy back to his feet. But the apprentice of Mesprit simply glared at him.”
“My name is Barry.” he states sternly, not wanting to put up with Team Galactic anymore. He wants his pokemon, he wants his mommy and daddy, he wants them to leave him alone. Not be. Soothed by them.
“Yes, Barry Cygnus, child of Palmer and Charlotte Cygnus, nephew of Volkner Libra. A child sent on the traditional journey to discover Arceus’s creations and his place in it. A gym challenger with six badges to his name. But most importantly, the one Mesprit loves the most, albeit, one must wonder why it loves such a brash child like you.” He stares in the direction of Mars, and Barry could only wonder what he was thinking. But he turned back towards the blonde, staring directly down in front of him. “Yes… I know you.”
Barry grits his teeth, his fists clenching, “So why do you keep calling me emotion?! And give me back my pokemon, and my mom and my dad, and my friends’ parents too! Leave all of us alone for fucks sake!!”
Cyrus looks at him curiously, raising an eyebrow at him, “A vulgar child too… one would assume Mesprit would love someone in control of these sorts of things. But I digress.” He shoves his hands behind back, turning his gaze back to see the progress of his underlings’ cleaning up.
“Unfortunately, I can’t do anything of the sort. See, I have a proposition for you, dear emotion.”
“Again with the emotion! I AM BARRY! And I want nothing to do with whatever scheme you have made! I’ve heard your rambles and I’ve heard what you’ve said to my friends! You kidnapped our families! Whatever it is, I will not work with you!”
Cyrus turns his gaze back to the boy, humming. “Listen to me first… I have you and your parents hostage, I hope you do realize that.”
“I do! And I demand you to set them free! They have nothing to do with whatever you want with me and the other two!”
“...You’re correct, they don’t. That’s why I think you should listen to me…”
Barry looks up at him, the final sentence making his eyes widen and his spine shiver.
“I want you to come with me, join me in the creation of the new world I will create, one where no one will have to suffer anymore. I’m so close to achieving my goal… I just need you or any other of the three children.”
“You don’t really have much of a choice in the matter, I will say. We have your parents, we can very well do something to them if you don’t follow along with me. I don’t wish to hurt them, but I will if I must.”
Barry growled, his anger overcoming his fear in that moment, before it all shattered in that very moment as Cyrus continued speaking.
“If you do come along though, you could be a hero. You could truly be the chosen one you were meant to be.”
“You could be their savior, and they’ll be so happy and proud of their son.”
Barry fell silent, his shoulders falling slack as he listened to the leader of Team Galactic.
“He not only saved their lives, but he also helped make a new world. A beautiful world, filled with boundless miracles, where they and so many others don’t have to feel strife.”
The blonde couldn’t look at him anymore, his gaze falling to the snow below.
“Sure their dear son would not exist anymore, but it’s ok. It’s better like that. Everything good must come at a sacrifice, and they’d be so proud of their brave son who made their lives better…”
The chosen child of emotion just continued staring there, letting Cyrus’s words reverberate in his mind. He couldn’t speak. He couldn’t respond. Just the promise, of doing something good for his parents, saving them, making them happy, it all… was what he wanted. And when it was all done…
Did he. Want that?
It was a stupid idea to go along with his parents’ captors, the ones who are hurting Mesprit, and the other lake guardians he could assume. But. He also wanted that. He could save them without going along with them… but. He wanted to make them proud. Bring them joy. A world where they didn’t argue and wanted to see each other and didn’t have to look at their shameful son with such sadness. A joy that could only happen if he just.
Didn’t exist.
It wasn’t like he didn’t see why people didn’t like the world’s current gods anyways. Maybe it’d be better.
Those words echoed across his mind, his gloved hands turning to grasp at his orange and white striped jacket. “I…”
“BARRY!! Oh thank Arceus we got here in time!” cried out a familiar boy’s voice, two extra pairs of footsteps rapidly approaching the group in front of the lake.
The blonde turned around, watching as his two friends approached, gasping for breath. They were never good at running long distances to keep up with their friend, Dawn especially. And as they approached… Barry couldn’t bring himself to feel relief, or joy, or any positive emotion. Why is that?
“Leader, we're all ready to go! The lake guardian, equipment, and hostages are secured and we’re set for take off whenever!” called out Mars, looking over Cyrus’s shoulder with a glare. She fished for her pokeballs in the holster around her belt, but before she could send out what would’ve most definitely been her purugly, Cyrus gave orders instead.
“Go ahead and take off, I’ll return later, Saturn and Jupiter should already be at the base with their guardians as well. Commence the creation of the red chain as soon as the guardian of emotion is in place.”
“And the apprentice of emotion’s belongings?” called the grunt, still holding onto his bag, now containing all six of his pokeballs.
Cyrus looked over, before motioning in Barry’s direction. “...Give them back, they’ll be of no use to us. Besides…”
He turned at the boy who returned his gaze back to his shoes.
“I don’t think he’ll be a threat to us anymore.”
The grunt walked over to the apprentice, who just now looked back up to see his messenger bag with everything he needed and carried on his person. He took it weakly, holding onto it with trembling hands. If he looked closely, he could see in between the fabric threads, and see his beloved Torterra staring at him with worry.
“Barry…?” questioned Lucas, staring at the boy in front of him with his now broken glasses.
The blonde looked at his friends, who shared the same expression as Torterra. Worry. It felt awful.
Lucas and Dawn could not question him anymore though, as the noise of a propeller belonging to the helicopter holding everything and everyone started. Yet Mars’s voice overpowered even thought, who was already in the vehicle, hanging out of the window as she waved goodbye. “Well~ Weee’re off then! We’ll see you back at base Leader!”
Dawn grit her teeth, pulling a pokeball from her own white bag, “I won’t let you!! Get back here with Mesprit! Give me back my mum!!” she screamed, eyes widened. It was the first time Barry saw her in as much distress.
“Mom!! Dad!!” screamed Lucas, sifting through his zipper pockets with his shaky hands for his own pokeballs. Only for several of them to fall out all at once.
Cyrus looked at the two of them, before turning to Barry once again.
“Well, will you come with me? Will you save them?”
“Will you make a world with me, a world where everyone will be happy?”
A world where they could be happy without you.
Emotion felt the gazes of Willpower and Knowledge staring at him. Their gazes suddenly turned to their third part, staring in horror as Cyrus’s question rang in everyone’s ears. As though they forgot that their parents were just kidnapped before their eyes.
“Huh?” whispered Lucas with terror in his voice.
“Barry…? What does he mean?” asked Dawn, her own usual monotone voice rising with fear at what Cyrus asked.
And the blonde stared back at them, gripping onto his messenger back tight.
“Don’t worry guys… I’ll save them. Don’t worry. It’s for the best this way.” And with that last sentence, he gave them the best comforting smile he could muster.
“I’ll help make it after all, I’ll help make a good world.”
“BARRY?!” shrieked Dawn, “Barry are you stupid?!” she yelled, “Don’t go with him!”
“You can’t possibly think he’ll make a good world, Barry! He’s hurting the lake guardians, we can save our parents another way!” exclaimed Lucas.
But Barry didn’t respond, just shook his head as he threw his bag over his shoulder. “We could, but. I just think it’d be better for everyone if it were like this. You’ll see.”
Cyrus nodded approvingly at him, reaching out a hand of his. Just like he did when he met Mars, just like he did when he met Jupiter, just like he did when he met Saturn. For the sake of his new world, he will save this lamb too. And this lamb will be the key he needs to make a new world.
And Barry grabs onto that hand, holding on to it ever so tightly. Trusting the direction it will take him. To a world where people he loves will be happy.
He doesn’t hear Dawn’s shrieks for him to not go and Lucas’s pleas to listen to them. But.
There’s no other way. This is the best way.
Barry thinks. This will make mommy and daddy happiest.
And that’s all he could ever wish for at the end of this journey.