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“Yes, we’ll pick you up. You don’t have to worry about the expenses, I’ll get it covered.” A man by the name of Alder, was on the phone all smiles. “Evelyn was far too excited about this.”
“But dad, I’m independent now.” A voice came from the phone. “And Rose said she’ll need mom for most of the trip. The baby is very excited.”
“Sounds like someone I know.” He teased.
“Well, I’m not as bad now.”
“True that. I’ll call you right before we get there. I have to finish up here.” Alder sighed.
“Alright, just get the work done. See you later.” The man on the other side of the call said.
“Yeah see you later.” Alder smiled widely. He hung up and sighed.
Evelyn has been planning this trip for months to make sure everything was perfect. She wanted the whole family present. She even asked for a month off for her movie shootings just for this. It was that important.
Evelyn always made sure her plans went off without a hitch. None of that unplanned nonsense. She also wanted to see her grandson. She was preparing a special gift for her grandson and she wouldn’t tell him, the love of her life.
“Ah, she just becomes more beautiful the more I look at her.” Alder sighed as he looked at his phone lock screen. You see his wife is the most talented, most beautiful, most decorated actress in the world.
Evelyn was the most dedicated person Alder had ever had the pleasure of meeting—and marrying— in this lifetime. Since the beginning of her career she has always put her soul into her work. Evelyn has never given up. Well, she did once—and only once—but even when she gives up she will keep going.
Alder had met her when she was barely starting as an actor. She was a background character most times and barely even got lines. Alder had just become champion—it was a couple months into his championship— when he met her. It was a memory he will never forget.
“She was so mean, how did she turn out so sweet.” He mused. She had called him a ‘rich boy’ the moment they met. And he continued to talk with her—or she passionately talked about her dreams and desires— after that. She would find him and order something that he would have to pay for.
He learned her name when she first won an award for ‘Best Upcoming Actress’. It was such a beautiful name he had thought. It matched perfectly with her angelic face. He was the one to present her the trophy. Her speech was long but the one thing he still remembers to this day was when she thanked him.
“I would also like to thank our champion for always listening to my worries. We might have gotten off on the wrong foot, but he was kind and able to cheer me up. He truly deserves to be our champion. Thank you so much Champion Alder.” She had smiled right at him. She was truly so beautiful when she was happy. He wished to make her happy every day.
And so he confessed that night.
At the after party, Evelyn was being showered with praise and getting to be in some shows or movies. She was beaming, but Alder noticed she looked tired and overwhelmed.
“She got better at hiding her emotions. Well not in front of me.” He chuckled to himself as he went through the memories.
He remembers how she looked so relieved when he asked her for a talk. They went to the balcony where nobody could see them and the breeze was refreshing. He was nervous then, because he thought she would reject him. He’ll save you the embarrassment of that confession.
She teases him for it every anniversary.
“I wonder how she’s doing.” He smiled.
“I wonder how he’s doing.” A beautiful woman sighed with a hand on her cheek. She felt a bump on her leg. “Oh, am I needed already? I was just about to call him.” She looked down at her Pokémon. A Deerling she herself caught thanks to her husband. “Oh well, we will be seeing each other later won’t we?”
“Miss Evelyn, it’s time for make up!” The make up artist yelled.
“Why don’t we go together, the others should be finished with getting my things.” She smiled and her Deerling nodded happily. They walked together to get her make up done. She sat on the chair.
“Miss Evelyn, I still don’t understand why we even do your make up! You’re so beautiful.” The make up artist gushed.
“Why thank you.” She smiled.
“See! Your smile is so pretty!” They continued. “I’m a firm believer in keeping your make up natural.” They grinned. “Well except for when you play the best character ever created. Countess Cerberus!”
“Eden please, you flatter me.” She huffed.
“Because you need it Miss! You’re so humble and I’m so thankful to be your make up artist!” Eden smiled.
“I’m glad you’re my make up artist as well.”
“And besides, I love enhancing your beauty.” Eden sighed with a serene smile. After they had finished with make up they started doing her hair.
She circled through her routine and once she had her clothes on for the scene she had time to play with her Pokémon.
Her Deerling which she named Amour was the first to start playing with her. The Pokémon circled around her and she smiled. Then Whimsicott, Carol, and Jellicent, Royal, came to play as well.
“You guys are full of energy aren’t you?” Evelyn pet them and they happily accepted. She crouched down.
She watched them begin to play together while she just thought about her plans for later.
She missed her grandson and her daughter-in-law. Of course she missed her son, don’t ask her how she acted when he moved out. She had prepared many activities and some presents almost all of them were for her grandson. He was only a few months old but he was so cute.
“I wonder if they’ll like the gifts.” She smiled. She hasn’t seen them in a while. Yes, a month is way too long for her.
“Miss Evelyn we’re about to start, would you like to look around the set?” One of the assistant directors walked asked behind her. Evelyn stood up.
“As long as everything is rigged correctly, then I don’t see the point but I would love to see the visuals before they add special effects.” Evelyn smiled. She called up her Pokémon and they made their way to the set.
They looked around and we’re in awe at how beautiful this set was. This was the final part for the movie before editing started. She wondered how beautiful the set would look after the editing.
A few minutes later and it was time to start.
“Alright, you guys can sit over there and wait for a while. We’ll get food on our break alright?” Evelyn crouched and let them. They nodded. Amour lingered while the others made their way to their sitting area. “Don’t worry yourself alright? I will be right back.” She beamed and gave Amour a kiss on the forehead.
Amour reluctantly went to sit and they finally started. The make up was retouched and she put her mind into the character and started acting. The scenes were really easy, almost like the ones when the movie first started.
The first cut was when they needed to change the set and redo a small scene and add some more.
The second cut was due to a change in script. The writer had said since Evelyn portrayed the character differently the words had to be different too. The character growth was magnificent they had said.
The Final Cut was to save Evelyn.
Alder finally finished up his work and closed his computer and grabbed the papers. He put them into folders and finally relaxed.
“The shooting should be finished by now.” He mumbled and checked his watch. Evelyn had bought it for him. She said he needed something of hers that wasn’t handmade.
His phone rang and he walked to it. It was Evelyn.
He picked up the phone and answered pressing it to his ear. She usually said hello first but he missed her so he beat her to it.
“Eve!-“
“Hello, is this Champion Alder?” An unknown voice cut him off.
“Yes this is him.” He answered. He felt something bad in his stomach. “Is something wrong?”
“Champion Alder, we regret to inform you that Evelyn has been admitted to the hospital due to-“ His eyes widened and that feeling became worse.
“Which hospital.” He whispered. “Where?” He started shaking at the thought of her being slightly injured.
“The Virbank Hospital.” He didn’t hear the rest and just opened the window. He called up his Pokémon and started flying to Virbank.
“Please be alright.” He whispered. “Please be alright.”
The flight felt so long. His heart beat faster the more he stayed in the air. When he reached the city just a few feet down he jumped and landed on the street. He saw the ambulances and police cars everywhere around the hospital.
He rushed like a madman not caring about who he pushed.
“Champion Alder, I would advise you calm yourself.” One of the policewomen stood in front of him. She could see the way this was effecting him emotionally. He would do something he regretted if he continued.
“I have to see her.” His voice shook. He took very sharp breaths. “Excuse me.”
He practically disappeared in front of her and was already over the caution line. The door opened and the hospital was in disarray. The nurses and many doctors running around. He felt discomfort in his stomach again. It was much worse. He walked to the front desk.
“Can….can I get the number to Evelyn’s room?” He managed to get the sentence out. The nurse looked into her computer and gave him the number.
“She’s currently in the ER for surgery.” The nurse answered. “It should be the first one since she just got here.”
“Thank you.”
“Be careful, it’s a bit hectic.” The nurse said but Alder didn’t hear that. He was already on his way. He reached the door and there were doctors standing in front of it.
“Champion Alder we’ve been waiting for you.” One of them walked to him. Just seeing them made him nauseous.
“Is she alright?” He asked. The doctors looked at each other and then motioned for him to take a seat.
“It would be beneficial for you if you sat down.” They insisted. Alder sat on the bench and the one of them, Dr. Evans, went through the papers.
“Miss Evelyn suffered a lot of internal bleeding and a crushed skull. The impact was head on, and only injured her upper body. Her lower body was mildly injured but everything over the shoulders was severe.” Dr. Evans flipped the papers. “We are unsure if she will survive this surgery seeing as most of her brain was crushed.”
Tears finally started to fall. He had hoped she would have minor injuries. He had hoped she would be in and out of the hospital. He had hope even when he saw the multiple ambulances and police cars at the hospital. He had hoped she would be alright.
“……the surgery could take hours but the chances of her living are not ideal.” Doctor Evans voice came back into his ears.
“Please save her.” He whispered. “I beg you please save Evelyn. Please save her!” He sobbed. The doctors were quiet as they watched their champion sob.
“We will try our best. We can not promise anything.” The other doctor spoke. “We will see you soon champion.”
And he was left to sob on the floor begging for her to live. Begging for anyone to save her. Minutes turned into hours and he cried silently. The surgery had been going on for hours. Into the night and into the early morning.
He finally came to in a hospital bed with an IV in his arm. He must have cried for hours for this to happen. He sat up and saw his son and his wife in the room. They were looking at him.
His son opened his mouth to speak but cleared his throat before that.
“You’re awake. Are you…feeling…” He couldn’t continue. None of them felt good or better or even decent.
“Is Eve okay?” He whispered, the only thing he could muster. The silence made his stomach hurt so much he had to vomit.
“I don’t know.” His sons voice cracked and he saw his son cry.
“Come here.” He motioned him over and let him cry in his arms. Rose stood up to rub her husbands back.
Alder doesn’t know what to do. His life is built on Evelyn being alive, which she will be. He hoped and prayed she was alive. He just couldn’t think of any other alternative.
He heard a knock on the door. Rose looked at him and tapped his shoulder.
“Are you ready?” She whispered. Rose was too kind. He looked at his son, who wouldn’t let him go, and nodded. “Come in.”
The doctor who came in was a woman named, Dr. Johnson.
“Hello champion.” She greeted. “I’m Dr. Johnson.”
“Hello.” He replied shortly. His son moved to sit next to his wife.
“As a hospital,” She began after a moment of silence. Alder held his breath. “We regret to inform you that Evelyn passed away while she was being transported to the hospital.”
Alders eyes widened at that.
“Then why?” His son whispered the question.
“We have a special protocol where we try to use the methods we use on Pokémon just in case. Sadly, it did not work. We apologize for giving you false hope.” Dr. Johnson apologized.
“Dad?” His son called but Alder could not hear. He just let go. He fell on the bed and started sobbing. He didn’t even say anything, he just cried. Again and again.
“What will you do if I die?” Evelyn had asked once when they were in their third year dating.
“I would cry. A lot.” He replied easily.
“Don’t copy me! I’d cry more than you.” She hit his chest.
“You don’t know how much I love you.” He smiled. She looked into his eyes.
“Aren’t you a sweet talker.” She teased. She then brought their hands together.
“Even to the ends of the earth or even the universe itself my love for you will never change.” He declared. She looked surprised and then mischievous. “Don’t bully me.” He decided to pull her into a tight hug.
“I’d never.” She laughed. She moved back to look at him. “But you’re so cute. I would never even dream of leaving you. I’m here to stay. Because no matter how thick the sands may be I will always walk with you.”
“Now who’s the sweet talker.” He teased but leaned forward for a kiss. He pulled back and just looked at her. She was so beautiful.
“You’re so handsome.” Evelyn commented. She laid her head on his chest. “Be careful with that face.”
“You’re telling me, you’re the most beautiful person in the whole world.” Alder huffed. Evelyn laughed at that.
“Carols outside.” She mumbled. “Can you open the door?”
He held the door handle and opened it.
He walked to the bed and saw her for the first time in a long time. For some reason, Evelyn still looked as beautiful as the first day he saw her. She looked so serene. She looked like an angel.
“I wonder how she’s doing.” He smiled and a weight that had been holding him down finally lifted. He physically stood straighter and gave her one last glance. He whispered a quiet ‘I love you’ before he walked out of the room.
The nurse walked him back down.
“Her body will be brought to the Grand Cathedral at the specified time.” The nurse gave her the schedule.
“Thank you.” He said before turning to leave.
The service was the least bit quite. As the pope spoke the cries were minimal, but still loud. Her Pokémon got the chance to mourn her when at the church. Amour had been shaking while they watched. Their trainer was gone. Carol, who was always ready to cheer everyone up was silent and Royal was no different.
Once the service was over they made their way to the cemetery. The car ride was slow because everyone in Unova was mourning.
The streets were full of people sending their love and prayers to the family and to their champion. He hurt the most. He didn’t dare look up, feeling as if he would break again if he looked at his people. He felt like he had failed them by breaking the first time. He had to be strong this time.
Evelyn has never liked fire so Alder refused for her to be cremated, so they buried her.
Alder gave his speech and then his son. It ended with Rose. Alder would never humiliate Evelyn by making her own family speak at her funeral. They were lucky he even invited them to look. That was all they would get.
Amour, Carol and Royal were given their turn to do something for their trainer and what they did was so beautiful. They planted Evelyn’s favorite flower together. Using something special they each learned from Evelyn.
“Will we be alright dad?” His son asked.
“Yeah.” He sighed. “We’ll be just fine.” He smiled and he returned the Pokémon after they expressed their urge to go back into their pokeballs. “It might take a long time but we will be alright.”
“Thank you.” His son smiled and hugged him.
They left with the other guests.
“This is really not the time.” He mumbled. They had barely left the cemetery and Evelyn’s estranged family was in front of him. He had a big headache. His head felt like it was splitting open just by looking at them. Evelyn’s estranged mother, Alders hand twitched, bowed at him.
“I would like to apologize for all the things I’ve done. Not only as a mother but as a human being. I know there is nothing I can do to gain your forgiveness but I hope you will find it in your heart to acknowledge my apology.” She said. She spoke those words with grace, not a tear in her eyes.
Alder clenched his hands into fists as he shook in anger. He couldn’t say anything to this woman or he would regret it for the rest of his life. This woman brought nothing but anger whenever she spoke. This time was no different.
Evelyn had told him to stop clenching his hands into fists or it’ll bleed. He resorted to clenching his jaw and she slapped him for that. She told him to find better methods or she’ll slap him again.
He calmed himself and sighed.
“Let’s go.” He turned to smile at his son and they walked right passed them. He did not want this type of interaction minutes after they buried Evelyn. He was already feeling the effects of her death, but so much worse now.
He got into the car and sighed.
He put his hand on his chest to feel something but there was nothing. It’s gone. How unfortunate a champion is without a heart to support them. He was breathing fine but there was nothing beating on his chest. Nothing to indicate that he had a heart.
“How ironic.” He moved his hand to he cheek and leaned on it.
His son and Rose had prepared a lot of food for them and he had stayed at their house for close to a month. They wouldn’t let him go. He felt his heart start to beat then. Being with them made him feel warm again. When it was time to leave he had something to give them.
“I went through your mothers things when they were delivered to the house and found some gifts.” He had said. He opened the suitcase and showed them the gifts.
“Mom is always going all out.” His son crouched and looked at the gifts sadly.
“It’s her specialty.” Alder chuckled.
“Are all of those just for us?” Rose asked.
“Yeah, they have names on them.” Alder pulled one out that had his grandsons name. “Let’s open them.” He grinned widely and his son smiled. Rose nodded and picked her son up to look through the gifts.
Expensive dresses, expensive shoes, handmade baby clothes, and other things they would need. The gifts were beautiful and they would cherish them for a long time.
“I’ll be leaving soon.” Alder said after a few hours of gift opening.
“But dad!” His son frowned.
“You can’t keep me here forever. I’ve neglected my duties for too long you know.” He sighed. “But don’t worry, I’ll visit every few months.”
“You better.” His son grumbled.
“So childish.” Alder ruffled his sons hair.
He left the next day to finally start doing his duties again. At least his heart was beating a bit. It would take a while for his heart to fully start beating, but he lived his life to the fullest.