islandshore | 40 - video/action for Vermilion;

[It was kind of strange, really. After their match in the tournament, Riku hadn't seen hide nor hair of Xion. He thought he might've kept missing her and that she was somewhere in town; the city's huge, after all, and with so many trainers, it'd be easy to lose her in the crowds.

But when he tried contacting her over the Pokégears, he got no response. Then, when he checked his PC, he caught several familiar Pokémon inside what would've been an empty box (the others were safe at the TC, after all). Then there was that note... Really, it didn't take much to add two and two together.

So, when he addresses the network, it's with a somber expression. There's an Arcanine bounding around in the background, but Riku doesn't pay him much mind. Making it to the semis in two cups is worth celebrating, sure, but not when he's lost a close friend.

He hesitates before, finally, he speaks up.]

To those of you that knew her, Xion's gone. I've got Bahamut and a handful of her other Pokémon, but if anyone else wound up with some her roster, could you let me know?

She probably wouldn't want us to worry about her. If anything, she'd probably want us to keep smiling, but I know she made a lot of close friends here. It's only fair of me to give you guys a heads-up.

[There's a pause, followed by a sigh.]

And good luck to everyone else in the tournament.

[With his message complete, he shuts off the gear and wanders out to the docks with Flare by his side. It's still mind boggling to think about. After over a year, he hadn't expected her to just... vanish. And after he beat her in the tourny, too.

How ironic... depressingly so.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That is one of the things I dislike about this world, you do not get a chance to say goodbye.

[He almost says, "There is always a slight chance she may come back," but refrains from doing so. It would only make the other feel worse, especially with the thought that Xion may not remember anything if she did return.]

I am sorry. I understand what you are going through, truly I do.

[When his brothers and sister left Johto, he was also unable to see them off. Not to mention he's been unable to say goodbye to many people who have passed on back home.]

I'm sure just about everyone does, but that still doesn't make it any easier.

[He shakes his head.]

Especially with people who've been here for over a year.

At least you made her happy while she was here, yes?

Yeah... I guess that's true.

[But that doesn't change how he feels right now...]

It's just... Even if she does come back, it'll probably be different.

Which is exactly why I did not say, "At least she may come back."

This place is cruel sometimes, but... You must not just look at the bad.