Mitsuaki's Travel Log Part 3

Between Dark Forest and Crystal Lake
Since the last of my journals, I've made remarkable improvements concerning both my hunting skills and my health. My side no longer sears off pain as I walk, and I've finally managed to trap small pokemon such as caterpies.
Of course they were not especially delicious.
Well, I suppose achievements are achievements, and I needed some nourishment other than those small mushrooms, and the bugs provided them for me. By the end of the journey, I sincerely hope that I should improve beyond catching bugs for food......
From this vantage point I can just make out the distant sparkling of Crystal Lake. I had pass Quagsire River about two days ago, walking quietly past as to not disturb the quagsire families. There were groups and groups of the tranquil pokemon along the banks of the river, and some almost unnoticeable, swimming in the shallow water.
I thought about hunting them but decided not to.
The sun is about to go down, and I should start on the fire and try to find a place to rest for the day. I shall end this entry here.

Crystal Lake
How many days has it been? My guess is that it's been about a week, hasn't it? Since that distant memory of the Crystal Lake in sun set.
I reached Crystal Lake area upon crossing the channel between the two lands, made fairly easy with my ability of flight. As I touched down, I could hear a soft breeze next to me; the wind of Crystal Lake.
Mitsuaki, long time no see.
".... It's... Been awhile."
I had been to Crystal Lake many times as a child, my father being from a long line of priests, and apparently the air there still remembers me.
Hata really wants to see you.
"... He's here? You told him?"
He'll know anyways, Mitsuaki.
I knew that to be true, but I suppose I never really thought about meeting my parents on my journey.... It was inconsiderate on my part.
He really wants to see you.
"... Well he's not going to."
I had decided upon starting this journey that it'll be a journey of self, not so much of others. The voice stayed quiet for the rest of my trek toward the central lake, and I didn't pay much attention even when it did stated its opinions. It took me perhaps about a day to reach the shore of Crystal Lake, and I smiled a bit as it reminded me much of when I was a child. The lake looked wider than the ocean then, and it was still a remarkable sight.
"Mitsuaki!"
I sighed as I recognize that voice. I turned and nodded my head a bit to the altaria man that spoke.
"... Father."
"What are you doing at Crystal Lake child? A delivery?"
"........... No."
My father looked puzzled, his sky blue eyes narrowing, so much like when I grow suspicious as I've been told.
"Then what's wrong?"
I hesitated about answering him.
"I...... Want to find myself."
".... Yourself?" He breathed out a silent word, a galled expression forming on his lips. "What.... What's wrong with you right now?"
I gave a sigh, knowing that he won't understand.
"Everything."
"But... You're just... You."
"An over sheltered and spineless fool? Yes father that's me."
Maybe it was the bitterness in my voice, but I could see that he winced at my last comment, the scar on his cheek distorting. He stared at me for some times, and I stared right back.
"... It was... It was that Shirayuri girl wasn't it?" He stuttered out the words, and I groaned.
"No father it's- "
"Oh I know perfectly well WHAT IT IS." There was a purple fire in his eyes that I know well enough to be anxious of. "It's that.... That girl made you think that IT WAS ALL YOUR FAULT! For Arceus' sake Mitsuaki NONE OF IT WAS YOUR FAULT. How was you to know about Sugi? About what was going to happen? How was it you that committed the crimes? How could people assume those things? They thought it was your fault wasn't it? Everything." His eyes got softer, and he stepped forward closer to me. "But it's not, Mitsuaki. None of it."
I closed my eyes and sighed. I knew this was going to happen.
".... I'm done playing the victim father."
"What?"
"I'm done acting like the victim. I'm done feeling sorry for myself and convincing myself that I didn't have anything to do with things. I'm done with not doing anything about my weaknesses and accepting that as part of who I am." My father started to speak but I cut him off. "I was too weak as to not be able to do anything about my situation, and I intent to change that. If I want something, I want to have the right to go after it; I'm done playing the victim." I could feel my father's hand on my shoulder, as if he wanted me to stop, but I continued. "Look at this world father, and many times I didn't want to face it. I felt like the world's victim, but....... What had the world done to me that I didn't do to myself? Nothing is left up to chance, but to actions and plans of the higher ups. Nobody is anyone's victim because everyone shapes their own destiny in Arceus' hands."
"Wow Hata dear you're not very convincing."
My eyes got wide, and my father released his grip on my shoulder. I know that voice also, the very woman that I was afraid of to hear this confession.
"Mother."
My mother, Hikaru Narai, jumped down from a nearby tree and stalked toward me quickly. She was a small person, but gave out the aura of one who is large.
"Mitsuaki." I heard a whoosh of air, and then my head was sideways, my left cheek burning. I didn't flinch.
"Hikaru!"
"Oh shut up Hata. Go look after Fuyuki or something. I need to talk to my son." I glanced at my mother, and her eyes were a crimson bloody red. I heard the rustling of leaves, and I would assume that was my father leaving the area since I couldn't really tell as I had my eyes fixed on this woman.
"Father told you?"
A sneer and another breeze of wind as the sting on my cheek doubled.
"You tried to lie to me? You think I don't know you well enough? You were in love with that bastard chil- "
"She's not a bastard child."
"Oh really?"
"You didn't even take the time to know her before you TRIED TO KILL HER."
She made a sound as if that statement was unimportant and grabbed my collar, glaring up at me.
"Oh I knew her well enough. I tried to warn you didn't I? SHE'S GOING TO ABANDONE YOU TOO."
I closed my eyes and sucked in a deep breath.
"..... So? I got what I deserved for not being able to change myself." I said quietly and slapped her arm away; to my surprise she actually released her grip. "Let me go mother, I'm not a kid anymore."
"Kid? You're only 19!"
"A 19 years old who has already seen a lot." A blood rushing sensation was coursing through my body, and I knew that it was a matter of time before my eyes turn just as red as hers. "Now I need to put those things I'd seen into use."
She stayed quiet as I turned to leave, and I was as naive to think that she would just let me go. I was wrong.
"Mitsuaki."
I turned and raised my eyebrows. "What now?"
"I want to fight you."
".... I don't wish to die, but ok."
Big mistake.
Upon saying that, she charged with the speed that I had many times seen her perform, but never been the victim of. I felt a breeze against my forearm, and before I had a chance to glance down there was already a deep gash on my arm.
"You have to prove to me that you're strong enough to do this alone. You prove that to me, and I'll let you go." She said in a quiet voice, back to her original position of standing leisurely in front of me. She pulled out her gigantic scythe from the holster on her back and swung it in front of her once. "I'll get serious so unless you want to die I'll suggest you do the same."
I narrowed my eyes, and, ignoring the dulling pain on my forearm, pulled out my short sword from its sheath. At the second my sword is fully unsheathed, I see my mother disappear once again from my sight, and I turned just in time for her steel to meet mine.
"You'll have to do much better, Mitsuaki." She grinned, and my blood ran cold. She really intends to kill me, seeing the red in her eyes confirmed me further of that. She jumped back a step and sucked in a deep breath, her eyes flashing, and rotated her scythe before grabbing it fully once more and charging. I readied myself, feeling my blood starting to boil as for a brief second I saw my reflection on my sword; my eyes, they were red, like my mother's. She gave out a roar and my eyes opened wide as she let out a white light of Hyper Beam along with her charge. I jumped up from my position on the ground, and she swung her scythe upwards toward my trajectory. I did a back bend and met the razor just in time as I gave a low kick, my wings open, toward the back of her head. She swung her scythe once again, blocking the kick and twisting her body so that her front is now once again facing me. I breathed out a large Heat Wave toward her, but she simply grinned as she flashed her sword at me once. Mirror Move.
A larger Heat Wave charged toward me as I opened my wings and performed Fly. Mother let out a laugh and lashed out an Air Slash toward me, and I didn't have time to react as the attack hit me at full force. I flinched as she also opened her wings and flew straight toward me. In my pain I didn't remember much, but my instinct told me to raise my arm, and I did so obediently. I felt the power of an Aerial Ace course through me as violent wind whipped around me, telling me that my mother is not so far.
"Aerial ace!" It hit without fail, but as my eyes opened to see her chest getting shredded by the wind, a flash of light blinded me.
Hyper Beam.
I felt a heating sensation all around me as I fell. Was I just going to lose like that and let my mother go to Firefield after the woman who I'll give my life to? No way.
My vision went red as I remembered back to the time when I first learned Heat Wave. Who did I do that for? Shirayuri. How did she felt then?
Happy.
"GO DIE" I couldn't hear anything, but I thought those words, and perhaps I did said them out loud. I saw my mother's crimson eyes widen as I blew a tempest cloud of sheer fire toward her, and another flash I hit the ground.
I think I blacked out.
When I woke up, I saw first the razors of my mother's sword at my neck, then her arms, then her face.
She was grinning.
Her eyes were back to their pink tinted purple, and I coughed a bit, finding myself choking a bit.
"........ You're going to kill me now?"
She gave out a short laugh. "Don't be dumb Mitsuaki. You thought I was really going to kill you?" She dropped her sword and squatted down beside me, her long braid dangled over my face. "....... I won't bother you anymore." She dropped a bundle of supplies beside me as I felt myself fading again.
"Wait! Moth.... Mother------- "
Then I was gone.

I woke up once again to find that it was already the next day upon my arrival at Crystal Lake. I sat up slowly as the memories of the previous day's battle came back to me, and I winced as my side burned once again along with the rest of my body. With pain, I twisted my neck to look at the bundle: water bottle, dried food, medical supplies. Next to the bundle sat my slightly charred bag and my sword in its sheath.
"..... Thanks, mother."
I spend the next few days healing and crossing to the other side of Crystal Lake. I'm currently near the dock toward Arceus Shrine and Ice Bay. Tomorrow I'm going to leave Crystal Lake behind me, and Arcues knows what awaits me.