A New Servspective

He was gone.

Thomas stumbled backward, falling onto the cool grass below. An overpowering ache began to well in his throat as he squeezed his eyes shut. 

No more starry night.

No more bright lights of Grandeport. 

Nothing.

Instead, Thomas found himself consumed in an inky black abyss. His nostrils seemed to weld themselves shut as a faint sound desperately tried to escape his throat. He flung a vine to his mouth in a desperate attempt to block its escape. 

Why? Repeated in his mind. I don’t get it! All the signs were there! This wasn’t supposed to happen! Just think happy thoughts… Happy thoughts!

The Servine’s eyes shot open. 

“Happy thoughts.” He murmured. “Happy thoughts, happy thoughts, HAPPYTHOUGHTS!” 

The stars rippled into a blended mess of lights. The buildings of the city below climbed up the steep hill, parking themselves inches away from Thomas’s view. 

The moon vanished, replaced by a bright mess of waves and shades of yellow. Sniffling, Thomas raised a vine and wiped his face.

The world came back into focus. 

Everything was as it was.

Except, no Andrew. Thomas sighed, approaching the peak of the hill. Everything still looks normal. Look at all the happy Pokemon down there! All enjoying their nights just like I am. He chuckled.

There were no discernable Pokemon below.

I’ll go back home and… And… Maybe Andrew will be there? Where else would he go? And we’ll talk things over, and everything will be great! 

“Speaking of Andrew,” Thomas murmured. “Did he even make it down the hill? Maybe he’s curled up in a ditch off the path. Better go check.”

The Servine navigated his way down the grassy hill. A cloud of his own breath followed him along as leaped to avoid rocks and roots protruding from the ground. The environment only seemed to get colder as he descended beyond the clearing. 

He pushed the bushes open, revealing the narrow path he had come to learn like the back of my tail. He’s right, I can’t remember the last time I saw it. But somehow, I still know it’s there, with every single detail and imperfection. 

Leaves crunched beneath his feet.

No sign of Andrew.

He ducked, swerved, hopped, and groaned.

No sign of Andrew.

The world began to darken as the trees began to thicken. Stars and light dimmed in the blackness of the sky, Thomas made each movement with precision and intent. His tail brushed up against something cold and moist. Oh, my Arceus! He cried mentally. Turning his head, he inspected the object with a vine.

It was a rock.

Slumping his head down, Thomas trudged down the rest of the forest. Pushing through more bushes brought him onto a dark, cobblestone-lined road. The street was in dead silence with not a single Pokemon bothering to make themself known.

They’re probably all asleep. He yawned. It’s been a long day, maybe I should head back home? Andrew is probably there anyway. Everything is going to be just fine. Everything is going to be just fine.

The Servine weaved through the narrow roads of the dense city. Lights through windows lit on porches, and the occasional street lamp when reaching closer to the city center provided just enough visibility along with the full moon beaming down overhead. 

He began to softly hum. I don’t want to wake any of the neighbors! Not one that he knew or had any goal with vocalizing. Just a random, upbeat tune. 

Finally, foliage again began to consume the surroundings as the quality of the street began to decline. The stones were a bit rougher and aged beneath his feet, but the same thing could not be said for the increasingly large houses on larger and larger plots of land.

The white house was at peace. No light was from the outside, and no smoke rose from the structure’s brick chimney. 

He’s probably asleep. It was his big day, I’m sure he’s a bit tired. I’d certainly be tired if it was my big day. He’s probably sleeping peacefully in his bed, just like always…

Thomas reached into his satchel and pulled out a small gold-colored key. Starlight bounced off it creating a beacon in the ever-dark surrounding neighborhood. He slowly brought and inserted it into a keyhole on the doorknob, twisting it three times.

Click!

Thomas tentatively walked into the house so as not to make any noise. The door shut softly, barely making a creek. 

“Andrew?” He called out quietly.

No response.

With more volume, he shouted, “Andrew!”

Still, nothing.

The outline of the walls were barely visible. The Servine reached out his vines to feel his surroundings, slowly traversing the hallway until feeling a slightly sticky and moist door handle. Here goes nothing. Please Arceus, I know he’s in here.

Thomas crept into the small room. A singular window sat melded into the wall, again providing a conduit for the moon to gaze upon him. Its light was just enough to get a good view of Andrew’s bed.

The covers were neatly made and folded. The pillow was centered on the edge, and not a single crease or imperfection in the bedding could be found.

Oh Arceus, it’s just like I left it…

Thomas felt himself descending to the floor, his torso making contact with a short thunk. The world again decided to go dark. The faint lines that made up the world around him began to blur and fade into nothingness. Soon enough, Thomas found himself left in a world of nothing but darkness.

I don’t get it. He has to be here! 

He pushed himself up from the ground and opened back up his eyes. Stomping out the bedroom door, he again called out. “Andrew!”

Thomas dashed into his own room, finding his own bed to be untouched as well.  

“Andrew!” He said with a growing panic in his voice.

The Servine slumped onto his mattress, curling up into a fetal position a strong wind shook a tree visible outside his window. A weight began to lift off Thomas’ shoulders as his eyes began to feel heavy. 

He yawned. I never realized just how soft this pillow was. 

A vine carefully took his satchel and placed it beside the bed as another yawn escaped his lips. His eyes had become too heavy to continue to hold open. With one final sigh, Thomas let them fall shut.

---

Sleep did not take him.

Thomas turned in his bed for what felt like the millionth time that night. He flipped his pillow over, resting his head on the cooler side of it and shutting his eyes closed.

What if he never comes back?

The Servine rolled to the other side of the bed.

He could already be sailing away.

Thomas sat up. “Why did I do that? Why did I kiss him?” 

The memory kept paying back in his head. A moment of happiness, love, and joy, only to be followed by heartbreak. Andrew running into the forest, dashing into the dead of night in a desperate escape. Never to be seen again!

Thomas stood up, slowly cracking open the door and peeking into the hallway. Andrew’s door sill remained open the way he had left it. Loneliness loomed over Thomas; the large house felt utterly dead and empty. 

Strong winds bellowing outside were Thomas’ only companion. He began making his way into the kitchen, faint creaks of the wooden floor below joining his accompaniment with the wind. 

What time is it? Certainly too late to eat. Or too early.

He promptly sat down at the end of the table. Squinting, Thomas could almost make out Andrew’s outline sitting across from him. A bowl of soup appeared beneath as the lined figure bent down to take a sip. It nodded, before getting up and going to its room.

Where is he? Charlie is still mad at him, but could he be in the castle? I don’t know where else he’d go. Does he have any other friends? What was the Espeon he kept ranting to me about? The one from the restaurant? Jacob? Jasper? Jason? That sounds right, but Andrew said that was his… What was it?

He tapped a vine against the table while trying to recall the memory.

His mortal enemy? Was it that? Doesn’t sound too friendly to me.

Thomas ambled to the front of the house, finding a door a couple of feet to the left of the entrance. Opening it revealed hangers filled with scarves. Despite the severe lack of light, his eyes had no trouble registering each one of the garments’ vibrant colors. Red, blue, green, purple, pink, every color or design imaginable was contained within the closet.

“Miracle these things survived the fire.” He remarked, grabbing a red and orange checkered scarf. It wrapped effortlessly around his neck, providing a snug, warm feeling.

I have to talk to Andrew… And make sure he’s still alive. Arceus, please let him be safe and in Grandeport castle I don’t know what I’ll do if he’s not.

The Servine firmly clasped the doorknob and exposed himself to the brutal coolness of the outside. Shadowy outlines of trees waved and beckoned him under the night sky. A long, deep wail forced cool air straight into his face. With one last gaze at the newly hollowed house, Thomas began his trek toward Grandeport castle. 

The night still seemed to repel Pokemon from the daylight’s busy street corners. Even as he found himself crossing through the main square, a sense of loneliness and unease followed him. The stands were all devoid of any product. Storefronts remained empty beneath a thick layer of glass and a blanket of darkness. Street lamps in the area’s center provided an island of light, which Thomas found himself crossing at an increasingly quick speed.

When did this place get so creepy? Remind me to never come out here this late again. 

He breathed a sigh of relief upon entering a narrow backroad. It didn’t provide as much light as the square, but a sense of comfort and safety was far stronger in the no longer kenophobic space.

Stone soon turned to dirt as the wooden houses of the city transformed into trees on one side and the ocean on the other. The spires of Grandeport castle loomed high in the distance. A single orange dot poked out of a hole in the front-facing tower. 

Maybe he’s in there, all nice and warm. Thomas smiled.    

The castle quickly grew larger until it dominated the sky, the stars and moon deciding to hide away behind the structure’s overbearing walls. The dirt path led to an equally overbearing gargantuan door. Two torches were lit on either side of it, illuminating two distinct figures.

“Halt! Who goes there?” A Vulpix leaped in front of Thomas and blocked his path.

A Riolu ran in from her right, “Yeah! Who are you?”

Thomas held up his vines, “Woah, I don’t want any trouble. I just want to go inside.”

“Go inside?” The Vulpix jolted forward. “Who do you think you are?”

The Servine took a step back. “No need to get upset, I’m pretty sure my friend is currently inside that castle. And, you know. It’s quite cold out here. I’m practically an icicle! Would you two be kind enough to open the gate for me to see my friend?”

The Riolu tilted his head, a dumbfounded look overtaking his face. “What?”

“I can repeat that if you need me-” Thomas began, before being interrupted. 

The Vulpix shook her head. “All these big changes at the castle, and look! Some idiot is trying to take advantage of us!” She chastised. “When’s the last time we got to pummel someone?”

“Not sure, you tell me.” The Riolu chuckled, cracking his knuckles.

Thomas continued to move backward, his heart starting to pump harder. “I promise that I don’t mean any harm! My friend is Andrew, you might know him. He’s a Marshtomp, quite outspoken, certainly a hard guy to miss. No need to pummel me!” 

The Riolu dashed over to the Sevine, leaping up and colliding into him. They both stumbled back a few feet as Thomas’ mouth contorted into a spiteful grimace.

“You’re right, man.” The Riolu bounced in place. “Practically an icicle! Luckily, I’m just getting warmed up!”

“Calm down, you know that I’m supposed to get the first hit in.” The Vulpix jeered, shooting a deathly glare at the Riolu. 

“I promise, there’s really no need to hit me.” Thomas laughed nervously. “My friend Andrew came in here a few hours ago and I just want to talk to him. I can give you some money if that would persuade you.”

The guards went silent. Thomas darted his eyes from side to side, only to land back on the Vulpix who was slowly approaching. Each step felt like an asteroid slamming into the planet, or a predator finally catching up to its weakened prey. 

“Did I, uh, say something wrong?” He murmured.

The Vulpix stopped inches away from Thomas’ snout while sticking her own in his face. “We. Don’t. Take. Bribes.”

She backed up and resumed her ready-to-lunge position. “I suggest you leave before we pummel you.”

“Could you let me in without a bribe?” Thomas asked, a worried smile creeping onto his face.

The Riolu smacked his snout. “Did you listen to anything we just said?”

“But, my friend-”

“That stupid Marshtomp hasn’t come here tonight.” The Riolu interjected “We guard this place eighteen hours a day. I promise you, man, he’s not here.”

Thomas slumped his head down. Arecus, why? I ask for one thing! One! And you can’t give it to me? Please, please listen. 

“Well, a-alright then.” He turned around, having lost any desire to continue fighting with the castle guards. “Sorry for bothering you.”

Thomas was able to barely pick up the faint sound of their shuffling feet as the guards moved back toward the warm torches in the frigid night air. Even the scarf could only keep him so warm, a shiver running down his beginning to ache back. Foliage again turned to ocean which soon turned to the tightly built wooden houses of Grandeport.

There seemed to be even less lighting than there had been before he left the city’s limits. The moon hung lower in the sky. Its white gaze still looked over him as the sun and its warm touch were nowhere in sight. 

What am I supposed to do now? The Servine mulled. Andrew’s not at the house, not at the castle, and not dead on the path down from the hill? I don’t get it, Arceus. Where is he?

He squinted his eyes. Darkness began to contort and fold until a Marshtomp-like outline formed beside him. 

“Oh, Andrew,” Thomas said quietly while slumping along the cobblestone path. “Where are you? I made a mistake, but deep down, I know you’re a caring Pokemon.”

The outline gave no response, instead opting to continue walking in sync with Thomas. Its wispy lines zoomed around in close proximity, but never dared to break shape from what Thomas envisioned. 

What am I even looking at?

The Andrew outline decided that it was bored. No longer did it want to move with the Servine, or at all. It stood in place without motion as Thomas kept on walking. His eyes fell shut for a moment as they again began to have a weight pressed onto them. The outline was now a good ten feet away. He continued to amble aimlessly as it watched on in silence. Thomas was even-

Smack!

The Servine planted snout-first into a storefront. An echoing noise left by the collision traveled down the empty street as Thomas peeled his face off the window. He shook his head furiously, only to find that the outline had left him.

“Alone, alone again.” He wailed loudly in the night. “Again I am left alone, the only man I’ve ever loved has gone into the night. What am I going to do? Arceus, what am I going to do?”

Thomas slid his back against the wall and sat down on the street. I’m just going in circles! Everywhere I look, nothing! Nobody is here!

“Hey, you!” A feminine voice called out. 

He shot his head up, looking around furiously. A black paw stuck out of a window on the second story of the building across the street. 

“Would you shut up? Some of us are trying to sleep, idiot!” She yelled, brandishing a certain gesture with her paw.

Thomas stood up with eyes narrowed. His short hands were clasped into fists, and an energy was building up inside of him. Getting stronger, hotter, sharper, ready to come out. Thomas, that’s not a good idea. She probably is just having a bad day. Happy thoughts!

A Buneary leaping through a meadow! The scent of flowers in a meadow! A Flaafy leaping through a meadow! A meadow!

Thomas put a vine to his chin. Wow, I didn’t realize how happy meadows are. What was I upset about again? He panned around the again emptied street. Oh, right.

---

“Andrew! Please come out!” Arceus, why are you doing this?

He turned a corner, again revealing the empty square in all its glory. There was something mesmerizing about it, but at the same time, it was wrong. The openness made the usually packed space seem like an arena, the mouth of a hungry beast. The lights in its center, which once burnt bright, had begun to dim.

A sliver of bright light glowed over the horizon. The moon had reached its lowest point, fading beneath the hills yet not quite gone. 

How long have I been up? Maybe I should be getting home. Andrew might be there now… Right?

Thomas felt like he was carrying a rock on his back. Some unseen force weighed him down making it tougher and tougher to keep going. Even his scarf had started to become scratchy and uncomfortable. Which coerced the Servine to scratch at his neck with his vines, which were beginning to ache. As he scratched, the vines trembled, which they had done in exhaustion for the last hour.

Alright, fine. I’ve had my fun for tonight, I should really be getting home. Thomas thought as he took one final glance at the ominous square. No nothing is-

A figure stood at the other end.

It wasn’t just anyone, it couldn’t be. A long fin protruded from its head, and two more from its back.

What the? Is that real? The Servine asked himself, rubbing his eyes with his ailing vines. He shook his head weakly as they retreated. 

The figure was still there. It had come closer, a little bit of light from a street lamp towing above illuminating its skin. It was more than just a dark outline in the night. Its skin had a color, a light turquoise! 

No way… Arceus, is this true? Thomas wondered in awe and relief.

Using all the strength he could muster, Thomas greedily took in the air around him. His lungs expanded to their greatest size as a wave of energy coursed through his veins. With one last breath and sweet release, Thomas yelled the loudest yell he’d ever yelled.

“ANDREW!”

The figure bolted in the opposite direction.

“W-Wait” Thomas wheezed, looking on for a moment.

Wait? What am I doing? His legs required no consent to give chase to the real, but still shadowy figure. Getting across the wide, open square was not a problem. The adrenaline pumping through his veins forced him forward and down into what seemed like the millionth narrow street.

The tip of the Marshtomp’s tail fin disappeared down another ally. Thomas continued to follow, narrowing the gap quite a bit between him and the figure. Darkness still prevented him from getting a clear glance at its face. 

What if I’m chasing some random Marshtomp? I wouldn’t want to be chased by a random Pokemon.

“Andrew, is that you?” He shouted down the road. “I’m really sorry if you’re not Andrew! If you’re really not him, feel free to keep avoiding me!”

The Marshtomp refrained from making any comments in retaliation. The gap had shortened even more, Thomas was only trailing about ten feet behind.

Nine feet away.

Six feet.

Three.

Right when it seemed Thomas was about to catch his prey, a light became visible at the end of the road. The Marshtomp’s head-fin twitched slightly as the distance between it and Thomas began to grow.

Three feet became four.

Four became six.

Six became ten.

The Marshtomp crossed in front of the house with the light on and skidded to a halt. It looked at Thomas with its face half-covered in darkness as it flung the door open. Leaping inside, the door slammed shut letting a loud bang echo down the empty street. 

Only a couple of seconds later did the Servine reach the door. A curtain had since been drawn across the window next to it, though a few streams of light still managed to escape. 

He let out a dry cough. An unpleasant feeling planted itself in Thomas’ stomach, churning and only adding to the pain that seemed to inflict every millimeter of his body. Arceus, what was that? 

The world seemed to shift a few degrees to the left. Thomas shook his head and gave two hearty knocks on the door in front of him.

“People are trying to sleep! Please come back later.” A voice shouted firmly from inside. 

Have I heard that Pokemon before? It was broadly masculine, though not too deep. I know I’ve heard that voice somewhere.

He knocked again.

“Hey!” The voice called out. “I said later! Go away!”

Thomas grinned sheepishly. “Is my friend there? Andrew? He’s pretty hard to miss.”

“I’m not entertaining this. Good night.” The voice said, followed by a small thump coming from within the house.

“I saw him run in there just a second ago. Could I please at least talk to you?”

No response. 

Thomas sighed, Arceus, why? What did I do to deserve this? I just want to see him. Why are you keeping us apart? Do I not care enough? Just tell me!

He slid down and sat against the hard wall of the house. It provided a bit of relief for his feet which had begun pulsing with pain from being used constantly for hours, not helped by the long chase they were forced to endure.

Just… He yawned, eyes finally falling shut. Tell me…

---

The sun reflected nicely off the water surrounding Grandeport. The moon finally hung low enough to no longer dominate the sky, with the sun slowly rising to take its place. A battle of two lights erupted in the morning sky much to Thomas’ amazement.

He sighed, have I ever been on the hill alone? On the bright side, I guess there’s a first time for everything.

A ship began to climb over the horizon, nothing more than a tiny speck from his perspective. The winds had calmed from the night and a small layer of dew lined the grass. Little dots moved across the microscopic streets of Grandeport. Red, blue, orange, green, and everything in between. 

“It’s funny, isn’t it.” He whispered to himself. “All of them down there, going about their days like everything is normal.”

The sun’s rays had finally grown strong enough to touch his skin. A pleasant, warm feeling washed over Thomas as he sat on the top of the hill. The sun bathed the city in its light without mercy or care. The shining city, on the bottom of a hill.

A voice in his head told him to lie down. Enjoy the sun. It asked calmly before beginning to get firmer. You’re tired, and weak. Lie down. He could practically feel the dark bags hanging from beneath his eyes. Everything had gotten a bit fuzzier than it should have, his eyes seemed to close for longer and longer each time he blinked.

Yet Thomas did not waver. 

Even as every bone in his body, and every voice in his head begged for rest, he refused. No! I have to find him! I won’t be alone anymore.

“But, I am.” He wailed quietly.

“I’m alone.”

The sun was so bright.

The voice cried for sleep. Close your eyes! It’s time to rest!

I can’t…

Thomas began to collapse backward. The ground became closer and the sky stole more of his view. He squeezed his eyes shut to brace for impact as the ground became feet… No! Inches away! 

I don’t remember the ground being this… squishy. Or wet? Did it rain last night?

“Uh, Thomas?”

The Servine shot back up and whipped his gaze to where he had fallen. For what felt like the first time in years, a blissful smile sprung from each corner of his mouth. 

“Andrew!”

Suddenly, his exhaustion was an afterthought. The weight lifted from his back as energy once again pumped through his body. Thomas’ eyes lit up as he leaped into the Marshtomp’s flippers, a look of surprise overtaking Andrew’s face.

Thomas’ weight forced Andrew to stumble onto the soft ground. The Servine coiled his tail around him in a tight embrace. “Where were you? I was searching all night!”

“You were also up all night?” Andrew spoke with a weakness in his voice. Like a fire about to burn out into a tiny plume of smoke. Gazing at his face, even deeper bags hung from beneath his orange eyes than Thomas’.

Thomas released Andrew and rolled beside him. “When you didn’t come home, I went out and ran circles around Grandeport until I came back here.”

“I don’t even know what to say I’m just…” He paused. “So tired. I’d be passed out if you weren’t here. I had quite a night.” 

He nodded. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Andrew let out a soft chuckle, folding his flippers behind his head. “You’d never believe what happened. Let me tell you all about it.”