The two Eeveelutions, after the flash from the teleportation, found themselves in Canterlot. Right by the train station. Shadow sighed, “I suppose we should’ve told him where we’re staying more specifically.”
Valerie smirked, “Well at least we’re closer than all the way out in the Everfree.”
The Umbreon simply sighed in defeat. “Yeah I guess. Gimme a sec, I gotta adjust my bag, this stupid paper keeps bumping into me.” He took it off from around his neck and removed the newspaper, laying it on the street for a moment to move the bits purse in the bottom of the bag. When he looked back up, Valerie was staring in shock at the paper. He saw her mouth something that looked like “my fault.”
Confused at what she meant, he glanced down to look at the paper. The main front page story was of course about Arceus and the Pokemon, but on a small side article, there stood the letters, clear as day. “Pegasus Guard Dies of Strange Poisoning, Believed to have Correlation with ‘Pokemon.’”
“My fault,” the Poison-type Eevolution said a little louder. “I’ve...I’ve killed someone else now.”
Shadow was shocked, the Pegasus that had brought Valerie in kicking and screaming had slipped his mind completely. He had assumed that ponies would have sufficient medicine to cure him. “Val, it… It’s not you fault…”
“How is it not?!” she nearly screeched at him. “That was my poison, my ability that did that!” She looked up and around, clearly searching for something.
“It is not your fault!” He argued, “You didn’t touch him on purpose! Hell he captured you and was trying to wrongfully arrest you!”
“I should have gotten the attention of a psychic or one of their unicorns to explain the situation,” Valerie returned, before picking up the paper and sticking it on her back. “I’m going to find a guard station and turn myself in before it gets any worse.”
He was getting desperate now. “That’s ridiculous! You haven’t committed any crime! It’s wrongful death at the worst! And you hold no blame for it. You were forced into that situation! And those guards just saw us as beasts! If I had tried to cure him they’d misinterpret my Heal Bell and think I was attacking!”
“And now that they and I know better, they deserve to know all the parts of the story,” Valerie said before sighing. “At least this death I can do something about…”
“Valerie… fine, but only explain what happened. Don’t do anything stupid like get yourself arrested.”
The Poison-Type made no reply as she got to her paws, heading off for the nearest guard station, Shadow walking alongside her. They walked in silence for some time, neither knowing quite what to say.
It wasn’t long before they finally made it to the station, they entered cautiously, still rather unsure about how the guards were interacting with Pokemon.
An aged, portly unicorn stallion with a thick mustache and a large bald spot surrounding his horn. He seemed to be enjoying a large bowl of salad, doing paper work at the same time. When the two Pokemon came in, he glanced up, and asked gruffly, “Can I help you?”
Valerie hesitated, but with a comforting smile from her friend, she came forward, and set the newspaper on the desk. “Um, hi. I saw this story in the paper,” she muttered, pointing to the article.
The guard grunted, “I can’t understand you, give me a moment.” He pulled out a slip of paper with some scribbling on it, and squinted at it, then mouthed a few words about magic and mental links. After a few moments his horn glowed, until the light enveloped the Eeveelution for a moment, and faded away. “There, that should last for an hour or two.”
Valerie cleared her throat, “I saw this story in the paper.”
The stallion glowered. “Yes, what about it?”
“Um… It was me that poisoned him.” she squeaked, her voice cracking slightly cracking.
He put his hooves on the desk and leaned forward, “Care to explain?”
The Veneon shrank as he loomed over her, and Shadow moved forward some, analyzing the stallions intent.
After a few moments, Valerie backed up and composed herself as best she could. “W-well, you see. Yesterday when the guards were going around capturing Pokemon, he was the one that brought me in.” She stopped and sniffed, looking down. “You see, I’m very poisonous, whenever people touch me they get poisoned.” She sniffed again, “I’m so sorry.”
The guard’s eyes softened some, and he leaned back into his chair. “Well thank for coming and turning yourself in. But don’t worry about being arrested. We aren’t even arresting Pokemon who fight back after being attacked by guards, so I don’t see any reason to arrest you for something that you can’t even control.” He put a hoof to his chin and hummed for a moment. “Though, I would suggest at least warning others or having some way to treat it to hoof. It wouldn’t do to go through life afraid to touch others.”
Valerie nodded, “I have my friend Shadow now,” she turned back to look at the Umbreon, “And we just got some berries that can be used to cure it also in case he isn’t around.”
The stallion nodded, “That’s good. I’ll make sure to tell the officer in charge of the investigation, and his next of kin.”
Valerie’s eyes widened, tears welling up in the corner, “N-next of kin?”
The guard grimaced, “Yes, I’m afraid he had a wife and child at home.”
The Poison-Type’s heart skipped a beat. “N-no. Please, it can’t be true.”
He sighed, “I’m afraid it is, please, don’t blame yourself though. We can throw the blame around as much as we want, but in the end it was just an accident. So please…”
Before he could finish the Purple Eeveelution sobbed loudly, turned, and ran back out the door. Shadow threw the stallion an apologetic look, which was answered by an understanding nod, and he was out the door too.
Valerie, having a significant head start, was already fairly far down the street. The Umbreon tried to give chase, but it was clear that she was far too fast, as she was still pulling away from him even when he was at full tilt. She turned a corner and went out of sight. Shadow put on an extra burst of speed and came around the corner, only to trip over himself when he found his quarry sitting right around the corner crying.
He wrapped one of his legs around her shoulder, and she leaned into him. Shadow heard something escape her lips, but couldn’t make it out. When he didn’t reply she said it again louder.
“I’m nothing but a threat.”
He closed his eyes, and pulled her closer to him. “No, you are not. Just because you’re dangerous doesn’t mean you can’t still do good!”
“Well a fat lot of good I’ve done.” She pointedly looked away and sighed. “I’ve done nothing but cause harm ever since I Evolved. First my brother, and Vincent on a regular basis. Now I’ve taken a father away from his family.”
“It isn’t your fault. It’s just… a tragedy with no real culprit.” He held just a little tighter as she tried to move away.
“Or rather, a culprit we can’t claw from this world,” Valerie retorted. “Still...these ponies are too forgiving. If they were human, they’d be locking me up and trying to either ‘cure’ me or put me down, I know.”
“Yeah, you're right. If anything the Doctor is to blame, for everyone you’ve hurt.”
“Especially so with my brother,” Valerie sniffed. “It...was the first day after I survived, and...and he just wanted to see if his big sister was okay...I...we both, Vincent and I both watched him die, because that damn Doctor wanted to test how poisonous I was.” Her sniffing turned to sobbing. “It’s been five years! Five years and I still can’t forget!”
Shadow continued to hug her, and stroked her back some. He used Heal Bell on himself as he was beginning to feel it’s effects.
“Well you shouldn’t forget. That would be disrespectful to his memory. I’ve never lost anybody, but I haven’t seen my parents in eight months. I miss them, I hope to see them again, and I think about them all the time. But I keep going knowing that’s what they want for me, just like your brother wants for you to live a happy life.”
The Veneon sniffed a few times, before hugging Shadow for his kind words. “I...want to find mine,” she said. “They...deserve to know about what happened.”
Shadow nodded, “Of course, I say we head to Las Pegasus as soon as we can, and have ourselves a family reunion!”
Valerie grinned, and hugged him again, “Thank you.” Before Shadow could reply he suddenly found her lips touching his. His eyes widened, and he almost pulled away, before leaning into the kiss. They stayed like that for a few moments before breaking apart and hugging again, the Veneon whispering “Never leave me,” into his ear.
“I’ll always be here for you. Don’t worry.”