Celeste stared out of the tram window as the mountains and beaches blurred past, the scenery merging into a wash of colour until they pulled up at the shopping mall. She didn¡¯t move. Her eyes flickered to the huge glass panels outside, reflecting the perfect blue sky and the shimmering ocean. For a moment, she wondered if that was a deliberate choice to make the beachside mall reflect the ocean. But the doors hissed shut before her mind could spiral into architectural musings. Soon enough, the mall was just another blur behind her.
Just like the last six days.
Yes. Six days.
Six days of running. Six days of hiding.
Shy¡ªwho she made sure actually liked the name¡ªhad been her lifesaver these past few days, alerting them if the fake people were around, and guiding them to safety as much as they could. Celeste and Pat wouldn¡¯t have survived this long without the ghost¡¯s help. And even more importantly, with each day, Shy grew a little more comfortable around them (mostly to Pat, if she was honest).
So¡ yay? Kinda?
The ghost still got jumpy whenever Celeste pushed too hard, of course. And that was especially true when she acted like they were already best friends. And the second she let Powder and Aria out for some air and a proper meal, Shy would freak out, retreating back into the shadows. But what was Celeste supposed to do? Leave her Pok¨¦mon cooped up in their Pok¨¦balls forever? They were still acting under the island¡¯s influence, but she wasn¡¯t that kind of trainer.
Even with all that awkwardness, she¡¯d managed to get a little closer to Shy. Getting to know them better? Kind of a delight. They were shy (duh), but also eager and curious. Every time they stopped somewhere new, her shadow would stretch and slink into corners as Shy investigated. It was always the weirdest things that caught their eye¡ªonce it was a cracked coffee mug with a dumb pun on it, another time it was an electric toothbrush.
And then there were the shadow puppets. Shy had this adorable way of using their body to communicate, casting shadow shapes that flickered across walls. They loved it so much that Pictionary had become their thing, a little nightly routine while they hid away. Shy would toss up the shadow of a random Pok¨¦mon, and she and Pat would try to guess. They were scarily good at it too, but sometimes Celeste noticed little details. Like the time Shy made a shadow Diglett¡ªit had tiny tufts of hair. Or their Exeggutor, which looked suspiciously like a palm tree.
Which made her wonder¡ how long had they been hiding in her shadow?
Celeste never got to ask, though. Moments after that particular game, Shy tensed up, sensing Officer Jenny¡¯s approach. That was the end of their fun for the day.
This was the new normal¡ªhide, rest, get caught, tram, repeat.
The trams, at least, had been a big find. Automated, empty, and no drivers to attract the eye creatures¡¯ attention. It was one of the few places where they could actually breathe.
Shy had helped her piece together more about the creatures as well. Being a Ghost-type, they could sense things Celeste and Pat couldn¡¯t¡ªthe creatures and the strange things they created. According to them, there weren¡¯t enough eye creatures to cover the whole island, and maintaining the illusion was stretching them thin. The cracks were showing if you looked close enough. An abandoned power station coated in dust, rot creeping along the walls of a forgotten cave, even a rogue rain cloud far off on the horizon. The creatures couldn¡¯t keep everything perfect, so they mostly focused on the big crowds instead¡ªbeach parties, the main square¡ªthose were the places where Shy¡¯s senses flared to life.
Well, that and Celeste, who was still being actively hunted.
It was on the third day hiding, when they¡¯d holed up in an abandoned power plant, that Celeste realised that people¡¯s apathy, which came as a byproduct of their perpetual happiness, was what let the eye creatures thrive. They still made most things look perfect, of course. But the apathy meant no one bothered coming to work. And since abandoned meant the eye creatures didn¡¯t prioritise it, it meant places like the power plant weren¡¯t perfect at all¡ªdust-covered consoles, a shattered mug on the floor, scattered papers, even a Caterpie hiding away in a corner (they weren¡¯t the only ones hiding there). And that¡¯s when Celeste started piecing it together¡ªJude, Joy, Jenny. They weren¡¯t just fakes for show. They were here to maintain things people didn¡¯t bother with.
It made sense¡ªsort of. Those three were always handling services, security¡ keeping the system running. But then, not really? Shy tried mimicking an explanation, something about energy, but it all got muddled in their gestures. Honestly, Celeste was more interested when Shy revealed something else: there was only one of each fake person. Sure, they could appear in multiple places at once, but they were all connected somehow. Each Joy, Jude, and Jenny was the exact same.
Knowing they only had three of them to worry about felt somewhat comforting.
Celeste sighed, pulling herself out of her thoughts as the tram turned inland. She pushed away from the window and turned to face her Pok¨¦mon.
Her Pok¨¦mon.
Celeste¡¯s fingers curled around the empty Pok¨¦ball in her pocket, the last one from the set she¡¯d bought all the way back in Vermillion when this all started. It¡¯d been so long since she¡¯d even thought about catching anything that she hadn¡¯t noticed she was running out.
Shy and Pat had bonded super well. The Slowpoke always gave Shy the space they needed, never pushing, just waiting, watching with that calm, unflinching patience of his. And whenever Shy got jittery or hesitated to speak, Pat¡¯s quiet attention seemed to ease them. Aria and Powder, whenever they¡¯d get back to themselves, would be all over Shy, no doubt, which could be a problem. Aria would be wary, too. But given a little time, they¡¯d all become friends.
Celeste¡¯s grip tightened on the Pok¨¦ball. It made sense, didn¡¯t it? Shy had been her shadow¡ªliterally¡ªfor who knew how long. They helped her escape tons of close calls, and they¡¯d bonded with Pat. Catching them felt like the logical next step. But¡ boundaries. What if she scared them off? What if they said no?
She bit her lip, glancing over at her team. Pat met her eyes with concern and long blinks. He sat atop a map, holding it down with his body weight, while her shadow stretched beside him and over the map. Turns out, Shy could read. Maps, words, everything. Somewhere along the way, she¡¯d started letting them handle a lot of the strategising, too.
She toyed with the cold metal of the Pok¨¦ball, letting the words form in her mind. ¡°This is yours, if you ever want it.¡± Simple, right? She should just ask already, but¡
Patience.
Pat would tell her to be patient. Celeste was sure Shy had a form, a real body beyond the shifting shadows, but they weren¡¯t ready to show it yet. She wasn¡¯t about to toss a Pok¨¦ball at them and force them out. That wasn¡¯t how this friendship was supposed to work.
She sighed and let the ball drop back into her pocket as she moved closer.
¡°Four stops to the Southern Harbour.¡± She grinned, watching the wisps around Shy quiver. ¡°What? I memorised the tram routes. Figured it¡¯d be helpful.¡±
The ghost recoiled, instinctively drawing in tighter before slowly fading back into her shadow. Even after all these days, Shy still hunched inward, folding into themselves whenever they disagreed with her. Celeste took a breath, giving them the time they needed to gather their courage to speak up. In the meantime, she slid down next to Pat and tugged the map out from under his soft belly.
¡°We¡¯ve tried the caves,¡± she said, tracing her finger along the map. ¡°Almost fell into a lava pit when Joy showed up, so that¡¯s a hard no.¡± She tapped an X on the map. ¡°Then Jenny chased us when we were at the power plant and we nearly got caught in live wire.¡± She tapped another X. ¡°Sleeping on the beach was safer, but as we found last night, too open. I hate the image of a police officer trying to run us over with a motorcycle.¡± Her finger hovered over the Southern Harbour. ¡°So, the harbour¡ª¡±
Celeste stopped short as the sunlight filtered through the window, casting her shadow across the tram seats. Shy shifted, morphing into an impression of Jude.
¡°I know he was there on the first day,¡± Celeste muttered, shuddering at the sight of Jude¡¯s shadow creeping from her. ¡°But he¡¯s been everywhere. Besides, what makes him more dangerous than the others?¡±
Shy slid back toward Pat, clearly uncomfortable. Celeste had been pushing for the harbour for days, but both Pat and Shy had banded together against the idea. Stealing a boat and sailing off wasn¡¯t that crazy, was it? She¡¯d seen her parents steer a boat¡ªhow hard could it be? Besides, it wasn¡¯t like she planned on fighting Dhelmise if it showed up. She¡¯d just¡ run. Fast.
Oh well¡
Celeste could really see a future when Shy and Pat would try to talk sense into her, but Powder and Aria would stick to her side. Aria would probably back her for the chaos alone, and Powder would follow just because. It would be good to have another sensible Pok¨¦mon around.
Might as well listen to them now.
¡°No boat, don¡¯t worry,¡± she repeated, half to herself. ¡°But those big warehouses near the docks? They¡¯d make good hiding spots.¡±
Pat tilted his head, giving her that slow blink of scepticism. They stared at each other for a beat longer than usual, neither one willing to back down, when the tram suddenly slowed to a stop. They¡¯d arrived at a Pok¨¦mon Centre. This one was packed with contest participants¡ªshe recognised a few from the beach party. Celeste glanced out the window absentmindedly, scanning the crowd¡ and froze.
The crowd parted, and there, walking towards the tram, was Nurse Joy. A fake one. She could tell from the smile.
Fuck. Fuck, fuck fuck.
The running usually didn¡¯t start until later in the day.
She frantically poked Pat¡¯s back, grabbing her backpack as they both scrambled off the tram, slipping out the opposite door. They timed it horribly. Just as they hit the platform, Nurse Joy boarded. Celeste didn¡¯t even have time to catch her breath before the fake Joy stepped off on their side, too.
¡°Ideas?¡± she panted, looking down at Shy as they tugged her towards a nearby alleyway. She didn¡¯t even have to ask. The ghost always knew the way with fewer psychic eye things. But just as they broke into a run, Shy yanked her sideways, sending her crashing into a pile of rubbish. She opened her mouth to complain¡ªthen froze at the sound of footsteps.
¡°No way they caught up already¡¡±
Celeste staggered to her feet, only to see Officer Jenny coming toward them, a Growlithe at her side¡ªor what looked like a Growlithe. Didn¡¯t matter, the fire in its mouth seemed real enough.
Before Celeste could even think, Pat reared up and blasted both Jenny and her Pok¨¦mon with a full-force Water Gun. They¡¯d learned the hard way that it wouldn¡¯t stop the fakes for long, but it always bought a few moments. The alley was narrow, though, and the impact only sent Jenny and her Growlithe crashing into the opposite wall.
It wouldn¡¯t stop them for long, but it was enough.
Shy tugged at her leg again, urging Celeste to move.
¡°Paat!¡± Celeste yelled.
Pat didn¡¯t need more encouragement. His body glowed with soft, pink energy as rubbish bags burst open, their contents flying toward their pursuers. He couldn¡¯t lift heavy objects yet, but after their heart-to-heart on the beach, something had clicked in his mind. Now, small debris shot toward the fakes with surprising force. Soon enough, he¡¯d do a full-fledged Confusion and cause havoc on the battlefield.
But for now¡
She sprinted through the twisting alleyways, heart pounding in her ears as she turned every corner in Shy¡¯s direction. She knew it wasn¡¯t safe, not really¡ªjust slightly less dangerous. But the fakes were already stirring again, their footsteps echoing too close behind.
Finally, the ghost signalled her to stop as they reached a metal door. It looked abandoned, a safe place for the moment. Celeste hesitated, wanting to keep running instead. But¡ no. She exhaled, leaning against the cool metal, trying to catch her breath. Play it safe. Don¡¯t burn out.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Pat immediately set to work, wedging boxes and crates against the door as Celeste watched her shadow stretch out, searching for alternative exit strategies. She couldn¡¯t help but laugh bitterly¡ªjust a week ago, she¡¯d never even thought about exit strategies.
¡°Don¡¯t waste too much effort, Pat. They¡¯ll find a way in soon enough,¡± she said, tossing her backpack onto a table, taking in the room around them. It wasn¡¯t the warehouse she¡¯d been hoping for, just the backroom of a convenience store. ¡°Might as well grab some supplies.¡±
Celeste¡¯s eyes landed on shelves stacked with instant noodles and bread. She¡¯d been surviving on vending machine snacks and berries for days, and while it wasn¡¯t the worst, she couldn¡¯t deny how much she missed having a proper meal. A grin then spread across her face as she found a stack of Pok¨¦blocks in the corner.
¡°Score. Pat, catch!¡±
Without thinking, Celeste opened a box and tossed a block over her shoulder. She didn¡¯t even hear it land¡ªher Slowpoke no doubt caught it midair. Exercises like that would definitely make it into their training routine if¡ªwhen they made it out of this mess. Shy then reformed at her feet, tugging on her leg to get her attention. When Celeste looked down, the ghost silently raised two fingers.
Two exits. Perfect.
She bent down and dangled a Pok¨¦block in front of Shy¡¯s form. ¡°You sure you don¡¯t want food?¡± Celeste asked. But like always, they gave a gentle shake of their head. Shy apparently didn¡¯t need to eat, but Celeste kept trying to convince them it was fun to, anyway. Something to bond over and all. She¡¯d win them over one day.
With a sigh, she tucked a handful of blocks into her bag for Pat, Aria, and Powder. Enough for three days at least. That left space for more¡ She glanced back at the shelf, squinting at her options. Bread¡ or noodles? The sensible option would be the plain boring bread¡ªit was easier, lasted longer, she wouldn¡¯t have to figure out how to boil water. Yeah¡ it would be very shortsighted to get the noodles, wouldn¡¯t it?
Celeste smirked, reaching for the noodles. She¡¯d been too responsible lately. This was a counterbalance.
Just as her fingers wrapped around the packet, the entire stack wobbled, then crashed down, noodles scattering everywhere.
¡°Damn it,¡± she muttered, wincing at the clatter that came with the noodles falling. Pushing aside the mess, she found a small silver object nestled beneath the noodles.
A lighter.
She picked it up, turning it over in her hand. For a moment, an idea bubbled up at the edge of her thoughts, though she wasn¡¯t quite sure what was it.
Celeste closed her eyes, trying to bring it to the surface.
Lighter¡ fire?
The gym maybe? They¡¯d tried knocking there this morning, hoping to find Ariana or the people she mentioned, but no one opened the door for her. That wasn¡¯t it. Fire was good for something else. Boiling water? For noodles? You can¡¯t do that with a pocket lighter and she wasn¡¯t going to start a bonfire indoors.
When she¡¯d given up figuring it out, and began to move things around to tuck the noodles into her bag, her gaze fell on something else¡ªthe incense kit shoved on the bottom.
That was it.
Celeste put aside her spare items, digging out the burner and sticks. She¡¯d won them as a prize after the Snowflake Cup a month ago, and the details from the brochure flashed back in her mind: fifteen sticks total, each with a different effect. Pure, Wave, Odd, Honey, Rose. Each one had its uses¡ªPure incense repelled wild Pok¨¦mon, while the others attracted specific types of Pok¨¦mon. She rummaged through the sticks and grabbed three Pure incenses.
¡°Shy¡¡± Celeste began slowly, lifting one of the sticks. ¡°The eye things. You said they¡¯re Pok¨¦mon, right?¡±
Her shadow gave a small nod.
¡°And so are the fake people, by extent?¡±
Shy¡¯s nod was a little more unsure this time around.
She twirled the incense between her fingers. ¡°I¡¯ve got something that repels Pok¨¦mon.¡±
Shy shifted, projecting themselves onto the nearest wall, their form rippling with hesitation. They examined the incense but didn¡¯t speak up.
¡°It¡¯s okay to say if you don¡¯t think it¡¯ll work,¡± Celeste reassured them, sliding two of the sticks into her pocket and offering the third to the ghost. ¡°But it won¡¯t hurt to try, right? When they catch up, I¡¯ll light this. Worst case, nothing happens. Best case? We get some extra time to run.¡±
Shy hesitated, then slowly nodded again, this time a little less tense. Celeste smiled at them, watching as they relaxed¡ªthough not for long. A moment later, Shy¡¯s form flickered, their attention snapping towards the door.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Celeste knew that look.
¡°Pat, get ready to run.¡± She swung her backpack over her shoulder and grabbed the lighter, her fingers trembling slightly.
Here goes nothing.
She flicked the lighter, flaring up the incense. A sweet, rosy scent filled the room, soft and calming. Celeste took a deep breath, enjoying it for a second¡ªuntil Pat¡¯s wail snapped her out of it. The Slowpoke bolted away from the smoke. His paws scuffed the floor as he rubbed his snout, trying to get the scent off. Even Shy wasn¡¯t much better. They pulled at her leg, their form stretching as further away as they could go without detaching from her.
The incense worked a little too well.
Celeste¡¯s heart skipped as she hurled the stick toward the door. It was just at the right time too, as she heard footsteps and banging, growing more violent. When the smoke began to roll beneath the door, however, the noise ceased almost immediately, and the footsteps retreated fast.
Breathless, she turned around, rushing toward the back of the store where Pat and Shy waited. Her shadow looked out of sorts somehow. Almost like they were catching their breath, too. They were so out of it that even their eyes showed.
¡°Sorry I took so long,¡± Celeste muttered, though she couldn¡¯t help but smile. It worked. The incense actually worked. Maybe she should go looking for some repels too. Or other things. If these constructs weren¡¯t as invulnerable as she thought, maybe Celeste had a chance. Maybe she could fight back. ¡°I¡¯ll try to be more careful next time.¡±
Celeste smiled, looking right into the ghost¡¯s eyes, letting her fingers reach for the Pok¨¦ball in her pocket again.
Bad move.
When Shy realised Celeste and Pat could see their eyes, they got nervous enough to recede back into her shadow.
One step forward, two back.
¡°Come on, Pat¡¡± Celeste said with a sigh. ¡°Shy needs a moment, but we don¡¯t have long before that incense burns out.¡±
Pat gave her a slow blink, then trudged ahead as Celeste followed, her eyes scanning the exits.
¡°Maybe we can make it to a tram before they catch up.¡±
¡ª-*¡ª¡ª*¡ª-
The alleyways blended together as they hurried through, each turn looking more like the last. Neither Celeste nor Pat knew exactly where they were going without Shy¡¯s help and with every corner they rounded, the Slowpoke glanced at Celeste¡¯s shadow for reassurance. Celeste noticed, but kept quiet, shoving her hands into her pockets. Her fingers brushed the cold metal of the Pok¨¦ball inside¡
Better to think about something else.
¡°Remember last week?¡± she said, smirking as she glanced at the Slowpoke. ¡°When you were worried ¡®cause I was trying to befriend a random ghost in my shadow?¡± Pat, predictably, said nothing, but after a few seconds, let out a soft huff. Celeste laughed. ¡°Yeah, you warmed up to them pretty quick, huh? I¡¯m glad this new friend doesn¡¯t push you around.¡±
Pat tilted his head towards Celeste.
¡°I know, I know. I wasn¡¯t paying attention to the right stuff before, but that doesn¡¯t mean I wasn¡¯t paying any attention.¡± Celeste sighed, scratching the back of her neck. ¡°Look, I love Aria to bits, but let¡¯s be real¡ªshe can be mean, especially if she sees you as an easy target. And Powds? I see how you try to look out for her. But our baby¡¯s too caught up building her ice castles or pretending she¡¯s independent to notice you there. But you are there, and I see it. When Aria steals her food, you always share yours, don¡¯t you? You make sure she¡¯s comfy and always has water to freeze. So yeah, that¡¯s nice. But I¡¯m actually happy you¡¯ve made a new friend who doesn¡¯t treat you like a doormat. Luan¡¯s Munna was nice enough, but¡ meh. I think he hates me and thinks I¡¯m wrongness or whatever. He¡¯s been keeping his distance from all of us ever since Articuno¡¡±
Pat made a low noise, something between a mutter and a grunt, but Celeste didn¡¯t try to decode it. She kept her pace steady, glancing at her shadow again. ¡°Anyway¡ can¡¯t believe I¡¯m the one saying this,¡± she added with a grin, ¡°but you¡¯ve gotta be patient with Shy. Give them time to figure out we¡¯re their friends, too. You know, Own Tempo and all that.¡±
Pat might¡¯ve rolled his eyes at the mention of patience, but Celeste didn¡¯t press him. They stopped at a split in the alley. For now, they were still in the clear, even without Shy¡¯s guidance, but both of them knew the fakes wouldn¡¯t be far behind.
¡°Which way?¡± Celeste asked, scanning both routes.
As expected, Pat didn¡¯t take the lead, just blinked up at her. Celeste shrugged and went straight, spotting a larger road ahead. She still clung to the idea that the trams were safe¡ªthat maybe they could get in one to shake off Jenny and Joy and escape somewhere. Preferably somewhere with a kettle so she could boil those noodles.
¡°What do you think they are?¡± she asked absentmindedly. Pat just tilted his head again in response, following her at his slow pace. Travelling with a Slowpoke wasn¡¯t the best when her coping mechanism was rambling, but somehow, their unhurried exchanges soothed her nerves. ¡°Misdreavus has yellow eyes, don¡¯t they?¡±
Pat shook his head quickly.
¡°Yeah, respect their privacy,¡± Celeste muttered, her hand brushing the Pok¨¦ball in her pocket again. ¡°I¡¯m not talking behind their back, though. Pretty sure Shy can still hear us even when they¡¯re hiding.¡± Pat blinked a few times, and Celeste gestured vaguely ahead. ¡°I mean, they aren¡¯t gone. If they were, I¡¯d be¡¡± She held up her fingers in a peace sign, and stuck her tongue out to the side.
Pat¡¯s confused look was priceless, and she snorted.
¡°C¡¯mon, bud. You know I¡¯m only making jokes to cover up my crippling anxiety. And if I¡¯m anxious and not all dopey, that means Shy¡¯s just¡ taking their time to feel comfortable again. Which is totally fine.¡±
Celeste looked ahead, avoiding Pat¡¯s eyes. She knew if she glanced over, he¡¯d give her those slow, disapproving blinks of his. And she didn¡¯t need that right now.
¡°Hah! Look at that!¡± Celeste pointed ahead, spotting the familiar blue roof of a Pok¨¦Mart across the street. But before she could take a step, Pat sprayed her with water. ¡°Seriously? This isn¡¯t reckless. I¡¯ve only got two more incenses. We can grab a Repel in there.¡±
Pat immediately shook his head, eyes narrowing at the mention of incense.
¡°Does it really feel that bad?¡± Celeste frowned, watching Pat nod with unexpected quickness. ¡°But it smells like roses¡ Okay, fine. It¡¯s bad. But isn¡¯t that even more reason to get the Repel? It¡¯s just a spray. Won¡¯t spread out and affect you or Shy that much.¡±
Another quick head shake. His tail swished behind him, signalling urgency¡ªor at least, Celeste thought it was urgency¡ªor frustration. She still wasn¡¯t exactly fluent in Slowpoke, but she knew enough to tell he was disagreeing.
Either way, Celeste decided to stand her ground. ¡°Look, I¡¯m getting the Repel. You¡¯ll thank me later.¡±
She started toward the street, but stopped cold when she heard the footsteps. Fast, sharp. And worse¡ªbarks. Loud and much too close.
Celeste¡¯s heart skipped as she locked eyes with Officer Jenny. The fake smiled, too bright, too calm. At her side, the Growlithe panted heavily, flames licking its jaws as drool sizzled on the ground beneath it. If this wasn¡¯t another perfectly bright day of sunshine, the glints of the flames would be almost eerie.
Instinctively, Celeste took a step back, but before she could retreat further, something cold and firm latched onto her arm.
Joy.
Her lifeless eyes locked onto Celeste¡¯s. ¡°No need to worry,¡± she said in that flat, unnerving voice.
For a second, Celeste froze. They never ganged up like this before.
¡°No need to worry,¡± Jenny echoed Joy¡¯s words, her own smile widening. On her side, the Growlithe crouched low, its muscles tensing as it prepared to lunge.
Celeste barely had time to react before the Growlithe leaped into the air, fire crackling around its jaws. But then, mid-leap, it slowed¡ªits momentum draining away as if something had grabbed hold of it. The Growlithe hung there for a moment, suspended, before dropping back to the ground.
Startled, Celeste turned her head to see Pat, eyes glowing with psychic energy, holding the Growlithe in place. Her heart soared with relief, and it gave her the strength to rip her arm free from Joy¡¯s grasp. Without wasting a second, she scooped Pat up, clutching him tightly as she darted back to the alley.
¡°You are the most beautiful and amazingest Slowpoke in the history of Slowpokes, Pat!¡± she half-laughed, half-cried, her legs burning as she ran. Carrying a seventy-pound Pok¨¦mon while sprinting wasn¡¯t ideal, but that was her part in this. After all, Pat had just saved her life. Again.
This was becoming terrifyingly routine.
So much so that she got sloppy. Yeah, ganging up was new, but she was just standing on a big street like an idiot.
They hit the intersection from earlier, and this time, without stopping to think, Celeste took the opposite path. If she chose wrong before, this must be the right way now.
If only life worked like that.
She immediately slammed headfirst into a chain-link fence, the impact knocking her back onto the ground.
Pat let out a low bellow of concern, but before he could do anything, Celeste forced herself upright. ¡°Don¡¯t tire yourself now,¡± she muttered, rubbing her forehead. ¡°I know, I know, calm down, think ahead¡ do something sensible¡¡± She rattled the fence, testing it. It looked climbable. At least, that was something. She rushed to the corner to check if anyone was following.
Shadows loomed and footsteps echoed louder and closer.
¡°I gotta climb, bud,¡± she said, eyeing Pat¡¯s empty stare. ¡°No. I didn¡¯t think this through, but we don¡¯t have time for thinking.¡±
Pat took a second, but he soon nuzzled her leg, understanding without words. She gave him a quick nod back. He understood, but not fully. When Celeste unclipped his Pok¨¦ball, his eyes widened in surprise, but before he could argue, she recalled him in a flash of red light.
Shy emerged back right then, and even their eyes blinked to existence this time. They looked at Pat¡¯s ball, and they gaze was distinctly¡ judgmental.
¡°I¡¯m not doing something bad or stupid,¡± Celeste shot back defensively, already grabbing another incense from her pocket. She turned to the fence, aiming Pat¡¯s ball over to the other side. ¡°Don¡¯t be mad. You were in there for two seconds. You know I can¡¯t climb with you on me,¡± she tried, catching Shy¡¯s disapproving stare again. ¡°I¡¯m going to light this. You two get some distance. I¡¯ll toss it toward Jenny, then climb over.¡±
Neither Pok¨¦mon seemed thrilled with the plan, but they both moved away¡ªPat trotting on his short legs, and Shy stretching far beyond what should¡¯ve been possible for her own shadow. Celeste waited a moment, making sure they were clear, then struck the lighter. The incense flared to life, the rosy scent filling the air as smoke curled from the stick.
She tossed it blindly over her shoulder, not even bothering to see where it landed, and started up the fence. The smoke filled her lungs, but she ignored it, gripping the wires and pulling herself up.
A few feet off the ground, she paused. The fence¡ felt cold? She blinked and shook her head, reaching for another foothold, but her hand slipped off a patch of ice that had formed on the wire and she fell back to the ground with a hard thud.. The fence was frozen. Here? Gritting her teeth, Celeste scrambled to her feet and tried again, but each time, the frozen wire made her slip.
Maybe she wasn¡¯t as athletic as she thought she was?
The smoke was doing its job at least, keeping Jenny and Joy at bay for now, but the incense was burning fast. Celeste glanced over¡ªonly half the stick remained. She didn¡¯t have much time left.
With renewed determination, she reached up again, but just as she grabbed the wire, her shadow shifted. Shy recoiled back to her, wrapping around the fence like liquid darkness. For a moment, the entire fence seemed to ripple, turning intangible. Or maybe it was one of Shy¡¯s shadow portals like they did in the Pok¨¦mon Centre? Celeste didn¡¯t care. She felt their ghostly touch around her wrists, pulling her through the fence and out the other side.
They didn¡¯t let go once she dizzily tumbled ahead. Her shadow tugged her farther from the fence and the smoke, the two of them racing to where Pat was waiting, wide-eyed and nervous.
Celeste stumbled again as Shy released her. Their shadowy form coalesced back at her feet again, but something was wrong. Their eyes were redder, dimmer, and their movements sluggish, as if the energy had been drained from them.
Were they exhausted from using their powers? Or was it the incense?
Pat just stared up at Celeste.
¡°Shy¡¯s gonna be fine,¡± she tried reassuring him. She smiled at the ghost, catching their faint gaze. ¡°Thank you. Rest up, okay? I¡¯ll get us out of this one.¡±
Somehow.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Celeste tried to stay focused.
She really did.
But as her hand drifted into her pocket, searching for the last incense, her fingers brushed against the Pok¨¦ball she¡¯d been meaning to offer Shy instead. Her mind wandered back to the way they¡¯d looked at Pat¡¯s ball earlier. It wasn¡¯t a happy ¡°I want one¡± look¡
She shook her head, forcing herself to focus on the path ahead.
The winding alley stretched on, snaking through tight turns and narrow gaps, luckily with no sign of their pursuers. It felt like they had been walking for an eternity when they finally emerged onto a new street. Celeste paused, blinking against the sharp change in scenery.
She hadn¡¯t been here before.
The volcanic cliffs loomed in the background, towering over a sleek, modern building that seemed almost carved into the rocky slope. Its white concrete walls gleamed under the sunlight, stark and angular, giving the structure a minimalist yet brutalist feel. On the roof, a grid of solar panels shimmered, reflecting the light like fractured glass. There seemed to be something wrong on the roof, but Celeste couldn¡¯t really place what it was. Other than that, the front building itself was bare of decoration, save for the slow rotation of a high-tech revolving door at the entrance and the metallic cylinders lining the walls, their surfaces flickering with random bursts of pixelated light, adding a touch of futurism to the place.
This was Cinnabar Labs.
She didn¡¯t even need to read the sign to know what it was.
¡°Maybe this could be a good hiding spot,¡± she murmured to herself, taking in the size of the place. But her eyes drifted to the tram station just down the road, and a faint smile tugged at her lips. ¡°Maybe for another day¡¡±
How many more days like this will there be?
As they made their way towards the tram station, Celeste glanced down at her palms. The red streaks stood out against her skin¡ªmarks left by her grip on the icy fence. The ice burn would fade in a few hours, but it still puzzled her. Ice? In this heat? Sure, it was almost December, but the sun still beat down on them.
This was a crack in the illusion, she had no doubt.
Shy had tried to tell her something about that. Energy. It took energy to keep up the illusion, and everyday it must be harder. What would happen when it got too hard? The illusion would crumble and they¡¯d be free!
Could it be that simple? Maybe all Celeste had to do was hold out a little longer, wait for the illusion to shatter on its own. If they could just survive for a few more days, maybe the League would swoop in, save the day, and fix everything.
Only a few days and this will be over! She liked the idea.
So much so that she refused to think of any other possibility.
Celeste plopped down on the tram station bench with an oddly satisfied expression crossing her face. Her mood must¡¯ve seemed out of place, because when she glanced ahead, Pat was staring at her with his usual slow blink, and Shy¡ªwell, Shy¡¯s eyes had vanished again, but she guessed they were staring too.
¡°Uh, don¡¯t worry,¡± she said, trying to shrug it off. ¡°So¡ where are we heading next? We kinda lost our map on that other tram earlier.¡±
Pat tilted his head, and Shy folded their arms, flickering slightly.
¡°I know I sound like a broken record, but the warehouses on the Southern Harbour¡¡± she started, but the whistle of the approaching tram drowned out her words. Celeste stretched her legs, ready to stand when¡ª
A pair of cold hands clamped down on her shoulders.
Her breath hitched. There had been no sound, no warning. Not even a breath.
¡°Pat¡ S-Shy¡¡± she whispered, as she saw both Pok¨¦mon snapping into attention. Pat tensed, eyes wide, and Shy¡¯s form trembled.
¡°Welcome¡ to¡ the Pok¨¦mon Centre¡¡± Joy¡¯s voice rang out from behind her.
But before Joy could say another word, Pat reacted. His Water Gun shot out in a powerful perfectly aimed blast, swishing past Celeste and striking Joy square in the chest and sending her staggering back. At the same moment, Shy tugged Celeste¡¯s leg, pulling her closer to them.
The tram was almost here, which meant¡.
Celeste spun to Pat, who was already gathering water in his snout for another blast. ¡°Don¡¯t attack!¡± she yelled. The Slowpoke froze, blinking in disbelief as the water splashed to the floor. ¡°Just¡ don¡¯t,¡± she added, her voice firm but shaky. Grabbing Pat, she leapt onto the tram just as it stopped.
Like clockwork, Joy had got back up on the far end of the platform and was already making her way toward them again. It was just like earlier in the day. But this time, Celeste didn¡¯t retreat. Not right away. She placed Pat by the opposite door and leaned casually against it, taking a deep breath as she waited for the fake nurse to approach.
Shy frantically tugged at her leg from the shadows. She tried to zone them out and focused on the automated tram voice listing of stations. She¡¯d memorised them all. Every single stop on this list. Celeste could very easily count how many were left.
¡°Welcome to¡¡± Joy began as she boarded the tram, her voice twitching along with her head, as if glitching mid-sentence.
Celeste smiled, hands casually shoved deep into her pockets, where she hid her trembling against the last stick of incense. She felt another nervous tug of Shy pulling at her leg, but simply kept her eyes on the nurse. Five more stops on the list until the tram moved again.
¡°I¡¯m kind of disappointed,¡± she said lightly, her voice betraying just a hint of a quiver. ¡°No scalpel today?¡±
Joy froze mid-step, her cold, empty eyes staring straight at her. Even Celeste¡¯s Pok¨¦mon stared, confused. How do you even answer this, right?
Celeste glanced up as the final station on the route was announced. Her heart pounded in her chest, and despite herself, she let out a nervous laugh. ¡°Oops, wrong tram,¡± she said, though the words came in a weird high-pitched tone rather than the cool quip she¡¯d intended.
Everything after that happened in a blur. Celeste lit the last incense, the sudden flame sparking to life just as her elbow slammed into the door release button. The door slid open behind her with a soft click, and in one fluid motion, she shoved Pat off the tram (sorry, bud) and used her momentum to kick herself backward. Spinning midair, she flung the incense into the tram just as the doors began to close again.
The incense smoke rose, and Joy recoiled away from the door, unable to follow. Only her hat flew off in the wind as the door shut on her face, trapping her inside with the growing cloud of thick smoke.
Celeste hit the ground hard, sliding against the gravel. She gasped, winded, but as her heart raced and adrenaline surged through her veins, she found herself giggling. She¡¯d actually done it. She knew she could¡¯ve escaped nurse Joy earlier if she timed it right. And she was absolutely right.
¡°Holy¡ª¡± Celeste gasped, her voice catching in her throat. ¡°Did you guys saw me? How the hell did I stay so calm?¡± She ran a hand through her hair, laughing breathlessly. ¡°I even quipped back! Sure, it was terrible, but I quipped!¡±
The nervous giggles bubbled up uncontrollably, spilling into full-blown laughter. She looked at Pat, who was just staring now.
¡°I counted the stations. You know, ¡®cause I memorised all the tram routes? Then I timed everything just right¡¡± Her words tumbled out in a rush. ¡°Arceus, I timed it perfectly!¡±
Pat blinked at her, clearly relieved but also¡ worried? Even Shy, still coiled around her feet, shook their head, though there was a flicker of amusement in their movements. Celeste somewhat controlled her laughter, turning back toward Pat with a huge, goofy smile. She couldn¡¯t help herself. This high was simply too high.
¡°This patience thing really pays off, huh?¡±
Pat puffed a tiny spray of water at her, deadpanning, while Shy¡ they were flickering rhythmically. Something almost like a small laughter that they were trying to hold on to. Celeste widened her grin, but before she could make another joke, a sharp hiss cut through the air.
The tram, which hadn¡¯t gone far, screeched to a halt.
Celeste¡¯s heart dropped, and all the laughter drained away in an instant. She scrambled to her feet, eyes wide as the sky darkened above them.
The eye creatures were gathering in the sky, in full view this time. There were¡ many of them. Far too many.
They swarmed above the tram in a frantic whirl, spiralling into a colossal wheel of strange, watchful eyes and cryptic letters. Below them, the grass shifted unnaturally¡ªgrowing tall, then withering, then regrowing in a rapid, bizarre cycle. The air turned crisp, then warm, filled with the sweet scent of floral tea. Reality itself seemed to bend under the creatures¡¯ influence, warping and twisting like a dream on the verge of collapse.
A haunting melody filled the air¡ªfirst, the faint echo of a child¡¯s laugh, then a song. Giggles melted into a high-pitched chorus, hundreds of voices singing in eerie harmony, perfectly synchronised.
Celeste¡¯s eyes darted to the tram, where the last car was still smothered in incense smoke. Through the haze, she could just make out Joy¡¯s figure, twitching mechanically as she wandered in erratic circles, her neck jerking at sharp angles.
Until she stopped.
For a fleeting second, red leaves gathered at Celeste¡¯s feet, swirling in the cool autumn air. She followed as the breeze spiralled toward Cinnabar Labs, where the once-pristine building now flickered, its facade marred by charred marks. The lights inside blinked in and out as if the structure itself had short-circuited.
Celeste barely had time to process it when the song reached a new pitch, and the illusion snapped back into place. Her head whipped back to the eye creatures. They spun faster now, and a bright orb of energy swelled at the centre of their formation, pulsing brighter with each second.
Their focus was on the tram.
The tram¡?
Celeste stared in disbelief as the tram¡¯s walls began to warp, melting into molten lava before bubbling into vapour. The materials shifted¡ªsolid to liquid to gas¡ªyet somehow, the tram held its shape. It was a¡ contradiction. Nothing made sense, except that the creatures above spun faster, feeding the growing energy at the center of their spiral.
Her mind raced. They were trying to save Joy¡ that had to be it. But why was it so hard? Why couldn¡¯t they just break through?
Were broken walls against the rules of paradise?
The energy at the center of the eye creatures¡¯ spiral grew even brighter, too intense to look at. Shy tugged hard at her leg, snapping her out of her daze. Celeste glanced down and saw shadows growing wider beneath her and Pat. Before she could react, she felt Shy¡¯s pull intensify, and the ground beneath her vanished.
Celeste tumbled into the shadows, the chaos above dissolving into sudden, calming darkness. In a heartbeat, they reemerged¡ªback into the world, somewhere safer, somewhere¡ normal. Celeste landed with a thud on a stiff leather couch, the kind that looked modern but felt uninviting. Pat stumbled beside her, his eyes dazed, while Shy flickered back into view, their form dimmer than ever. Even Joy¡¯s hat came along, fluttering down besides them.
She glanced around. A pile of magazines lay scattered across the floor. A phone¡ªdisconnected and useless¡ªsat abandoned on the reception desk. Potted plants, forgotten and wilting, framed the bold letters on the wall.
Cinnabar Labs.
Shy hadn¡¯t taken them far.
Celeste didn¡¯t waste time to examine the environment further. She rushed to the window, her breath catching as she watched the scene outside unfold. The energy in the sky reached a crescendo, and for a moment, everything glowed blindingly bright. Then¡ª
Sunshine.
Celeste blinked, her mind struggling to process what she was seeing. The world outside looked¡ completely normal. Like absolutely nothing had happened. The sky was clear, the grass swayed gently in the breeze. But¡ there was no tram. Not even the tracks. Just an empty station surrounded by a patch of wild roses.
She turned slowly, her mind struggling to catch up. Pat and Shy were staring back at her, looking as shaken as she was. Her eyes flicked around the room, still in a daze.
¡°Guys¡ where did nurse Joy¡¯s hat go?¡±
Chapter 78 - Cinnabar Labs I: Of Blobs and Babs
Chapter 78 - Cinnabar Labs I: Of Blobs and Babs
The way Powder not cared about things was kind of funny. The Vulpix had barely sniffed her Pok¨¦block before turning her nose up, only mildly interested and in a very pompous way. That left an opening for Aria, who immediately swooped in, swiping the treat like it was her prey. Celeste rolled her eyes¡ªAria¡¯s state of apathy and fun was pretending she was a hunter. Celeste did try to tell her she got more than enough from the convenience store, but her Eevee couldn¡¯t care less.
Celeste absently stirred her instant noodles, her eyes scanning the room for Pat.
The Slowpoke dangled a Pecha Berry from his tail, teasing Powder with it like a pi?ata. That caught her attention. The little Vulpix squealed in delight, batting at it with an Ice Shard. Celeste smiled. At least someone was having fun.
She stirred her noodles again, but her focus drifted to her shadow stretched across the old newspaper on the table. Shy just lingered there, motionless, pretending they were her actual shadow. They still weren¡¯t comfortable around her other Pok¨¦mon. Even though Powder and Aria paid them no mind, Shy hid the moment she let them out.
It was a shame, really. Celeste finally wanted to talk about what happened¡ªnow that she calmed down, she needed to, or else rummaging through those thoughts would eat her alive.
The lights. The creatures¡ She had never got such a good look at them before. What even were they? And the tram? It had been there, and then¡ gone. How could she even process that? This was crazier still than the time she¡¯d gone into freaking Articuno¡¯s dream.
And then there was the fake Nurse Joy. Celeste could bet she was as gone as the tram.
She should¡¯ve gathered her Pok¨¦mon right then and figured things out. Instead, she¡¯d wandered the lobby of Cinnabar Labs in a daze, muttering half-formed sentences to herself, until she stumbled into this common area with a kitchen. Finding a kettle was what she¡¯d latched onto, yelling something about making noodles before releasing the rest of her team to feed them too. Now, her mind had quieted down, but the dread lingered, so she wanted to talk it out.
¡°Maybe it¡¯s fine?¡± she murmured, stirring the noodles that had long gone soggy. ¡°With Nurse Joy gone, there¡¯s only two left, right? Unless they can make more¡ Why didn¡¯t they make more, Shy?¡±
Her shadow remained still, unresponsive. Celeste cast a glance toward Pat. He was still entertaining Powder, so no help there either.
So much for talking things out¡
She poked at the noodles, watching chunks of dehydrated veggies float in the greyish broth. She wasn¡¯t even hungry, not really. Just¡ blergh. Her gaze drifted to the newspaper there, still lying open where someone had left it days ago. With no one to talk to, she reached for it, flipping to the front page.
The headline showed a man with a crate¡ªlikely a scientist. There was something familiar about him. The ridiculous tie, printed with cartoony Shiinotic and Scorbunny, clashed with his lab coat. And that goatee?
¡°Mid-life crisis¡¡± Celeste muttered, smirking. The thought stirred a memory.
She¡¯d seen this exact picture. About three weeks ago, when they docked at Two Island. Mia had been flipping through a paper just like this. Back then, Celeste hadn¡¯t cared to read it. She hadn¡¯t paid attention then, but now¡
Discovery in Tanoby, the headline screamed. This was definitely the same article Mia had been so interested in. Also, three weeks ago¡ that lined up with Ariana¡¯s timeline for when the island got taken over.
And that brought her back to the biggest question she had these past few days. What happened three weeks ago?
It wasn¡¯t just about how the psychic creatures got in. What Celeste kept getting back to was the people. Where were they when it all went down? Had anyone fought back? Or did it happen all at once?
As Celeste and her Pok¨¦mon moved from place to place, there hadn¡¯t been any signs of a struggle. No shattered glass, nothing broken, nothing. Cinnabar was pristine, even where the creatures didn¡¯t look. It was just like people had just got up and left whatever they were doing¡ªcomputers still on, coffee cups half-full, work left hanging. It was creepy. She knew there were those who escaped, too. The people close to a Dark, Bug or a Ghost-type. But except for that brief encounter with Ariana, there was no sign of them anywhere.
She stirred the noodles again, almost mechanically. Her curiosity was almost as big as her fear. Maybe that¡¯s something she and Shy had in common. They both seemed drawn to this mystery in one way or another.
¡°I don¡¯t know if you can see this, but I¡¯ll read it out loud,¡± she said, placing the paper over her shadow. ¡°This article¡¯s from around the time the creatures took over¡ I think. Discovery at Tanoby.¡± She cleared her throat. ¡°Dr. Ren Fuji, head of Cinnabar Labs, has returned from an excavation at the Tanoby Ruins, located in one of the most remote parts of the Sevii Archipelago. Details of the discovery remain undisclosed.¡±
She paused. Her shadow shifted slightly¡ªat least they were paying attention.
¡°Gym Leader Blaine was on hand to greet Dr Fuji, but when questioned about the findings, both refused to provide specifics. Dr Fuji addressed reporters briefly, stating, ¡®There¡¯s still much work to be done before we can share anything publicly. For now, I¡¯m just happy I¡¯ll be reading my daughter a bedtime story tonight.¡¯ Leader Blaine added, ¡®We look forward to seeing what Cinnabar Labs uncovers next.¡¯¡±
Celeste trailed off. The rest was just fluff about the lab¡¯s success and whatever. Nothing useful, nothing about the island¡¯s takeover. Certainly nothing about Leader Blaine¡¯s whereabouts. She half suspected he might be immune to whatever had taken over¡ªlike Ariana. She¡¯d even knocked on the Gym doors earlier today, but all she got was a blinking security camera on her face and absolutely nothing else.
¡°Figures,¡± she muttered, refocusing on Shy. ¡°It¡¯d be too easy if all the answers were just lying around in the news, huh?¡±
Silence.
The sun outside had sunk lower, and through the lab¡¯s windows, long shadows as the blues turned paler. Darkness would fall soon, and they couldn¡¯t afford to stay in this room¡ªit was too exposed. And since they¡¯d learned the hard way that lighting up an abandoned building was like shouting their location to their pursuers, they¡¯d better move soon.
¡°Come on, Pat,¡± she called softly, recalling Powder and Aria with a flash of their Pok¨¦balls. ¡°Let¡¯s check out the rest of this place while there¡¯s still some light left.¡±
In the end, Celeste never finished the noodles.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Shy slipped ahead, their silhouette flickering as they moved down the wide corridor. Celeste could barely track them, only catching glimpses as their form crossed patches of light spilling through half-opened doors. Aside from them, the corridor was quiet otherwise.
¡°You both okay?¡± Celeste asked, pushing one of the doors open. The hinges creaked louder than she¡¯d expected. Pat was slow to respond, muttering a low ¡°Po,¡± while Shy gave a brief, hesitant nod from up ahead.
¡°Sorry we didn¡¯t rest longer¡¡± she added, stepping into the room. ¡°But daylight¡¯s running out.¡±
The space they entered looked like an office¡ªnothing special. A desk sat under a messy pile of papers, cabinets lined the walls, and it was obvious whoever had been here had just left. The computer still hummed softly, its screen casting a pale glow. A bottle lay knocked over on the desk, some water still sloshing inside, and a phone dangled off the hook, like someone had left mid-conversation and couldn¡¯t even be bothered to put it back in place.
This wasn¡¯t the first phone they¡¯d found, but Celeste still picked it up, pressing it to her ear.
Nothing. Not even static.
She sighed, putting it down gently before glancing at her Pok¨¦mon. ¡°Do you guys¡ want to talk about what happened? Earlier?¡±
No response.
Boundaries¡ She half reminded herself to be patient. She¡¯d needed time to process everything¡ªthey deserved that too, right? Whatever had happened with the tram was terrifying. If those creatures could make an entire tram vanish, what could they do to them? Still¡ patience didn¡¯t come naturally to her. She was trying¡ªlearning to be more mindful¡ªbut it was an uphill battle, and not one she always won. If she had, maybe she would¡¯ve noticed Shy¡¯s flickering form, or the way Pat refused to meet her eyes.
¡°Nurse Joy is gone,¡± Celeste pressed, stepping back out into the hallway and opening the next door. This one faced the setting sun, casting long beams of orange light across the floor. ¡°I mean, I know it¡¯s a stretch, but¡ I¡¯m assuming she¡ªit¡ªis gone. Her hat disappeared, right? So, she¡¯s gone. You think that means we can get rid of the others, too?¡±
The shadow trailing her feet grew longer until its form got cast into the orange lit wall. Shy¡¯s form quivered at the edges, their form almost vibrating before they shook their head in a very decisive no.
Celeste looked away, heading toward the desk. ¡°Hiding¡¯s your thing, Shy, not mine.¡±
From the corner of her eye, she saw her shadow recoil, shrinking at her words. She swallowed hard.
¡°Sorry,¡± she added quickly. ¡°That was¡ there¡¯s nothing wrong with¡ I didn¡¯t mean¡ªsorry.¡±
She bent over the desk, sifting through a mess of papers, pretending to look for something important. She could hear Pat softly grumbling as he approached Shy, no doubt offering them a low apologetical rumble on her behalf. Celeste watched them from under her lashes, making the empty Pok¨¦ball in her pocket feel heavier than ever.
Among the papers, most of which were unreadable documents and forms she didn¡¯t care to understand, one small card caught her eye. A Ledyba wearing a birthday hat beamed up at her, the words ¡°Happy Birthday, Little Lady-ba!¡± scrawled across the front in bright letters.
It was a silly thing, totally out of place. And far better than whatever else was going on. She flipped it open, and a big, cheerful ¡°You¡¯re 40!¡± popped up, surrounded by a mess of signatures and doodles. At the very bottom, written in a glittery pen¡ªthe same glittery pen still lying on the desk¡ªwas an unfinished note: ¡°Babs, when mid-life knocks you¡¡±
¡°When mid-life knocks you what?¡± Celeste muttered, glancing up at her Pok¨¦mon. Shy had drifted closer, and Pat, too, seemed curious. For once, her big mouth hadn¡¯t ruined everything. She smiled, waving the card lightly in their direction. ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like Babs got to celebrate her birthday.¡±
She placed the card down, watching the shadows on the desk blend naturally with her own. Shy coiled around the card, their form rippling over it as if reading. They¡¯d seem to be particularly curious about anything human. This time, though, their head tilted slightly, as if the concept of a birthday card still escaped them.
Celeste¡¯s smile softened. It wasn¡¯t much, but maybe this was her chance to bridge the gap she¡¯d widened earlier.
¡°Hey, check this out.¡± She pointed to the computer monitor, where post-it notes clung to the sides of the screen¡ªreminders about making copies of documents, calling a repair shop, and most importantly, ¡°7 PM. Drinks on the roof. Fireworks for Babs.¡±
She nearly laughed when Shy stretched up, spilling shadows across the computer screen, far too eagerly. Maybe this was a mystery that wasn¡¯t as scary? They couldn¡¯t ignore the other for much longer, but for now?
¡°Come on, Shy,¡± Celeste said, tapping the desk. ¡°Maybe we¡¯ll find more about Babs¡¯ party in the next office.¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
They checked each office down the corridor, but no luck. No answers about the mysteries surrounding Cinnabar¡ªor about Babs. To Shy¡¯s disappointment, all they could find about her was a ¡°Barbara¡± listed among the employees. A scientist, by the looks of it. But with nothing else, Celeste made the decision to move on.
When they reached the end of the hall, however, a heavy metal door blocked their way.
It was locked, of course. Before Celeste could consider running back to search for a key, she noticed a small keypad beside the door, complete with a fingerprint scanner and a digital display. She knew it was a long shot, but she pressed her thumb over it, anyway.
A buzzer rang out, and the words Access Denied flashed on the screen.
She grumbled, trying her other finger as if that would be any better somehow.
Access Denied, Access Denied¡ Access Denied. The display blinked furiously at her: Maximum number of attempts reached. Input override code.
¡°What the¡¡± Celeste muttered, staring at the keypad like it might give her an answer if she glared hard enough. She could try finding another way in¡ that would be the smart move. But curiosity pulled her back. She reached for the keypad, typing 123456 with a smirk. The buzzer shrieked again, almost like it was daring her.
000000. 111111.
She could feel Pat¡¯s eyes on her back, but she kept going despite whatever he thought.
222222.
Yeah, yeah. Celeste knew it was ridiculous, mashing numbers like some impatient kid at an arcade machine. Whatever ¡°inner peace¡± she¡¯d been striving for lately was clearly slipping. But now, after a solid minute of this, she needed to know what was behind this door. A faint whirring sound hummed from the other side, the rumbles of some machine, surely. And then there was that drip. Drip¡ drip¡ drip. A leaky faucet, maybe? Or something¡more?
¡°You know,¡± she muttered, her eyes twitching as the buzzer screeched again, ¡°I never asked Olga what kinda lab this was¡ That¡ feels like forever ago¡¡±
She thought back to when they¡¯d first left for Cinnabar, about three weeks ago. She came here for some community work (among other things) after the whole Ryder/Team Rocket debacle. Their job had been simple: deliver an electronic collar to Olga¡¯s contact in the labs, see if they could reverse-engineer a way to disable the others still stuck on the Pok¨¦mon back in Icefall Caves. None of that had anything to do with what was happening now, but thinking about signals and technology gave Celeste some hope. Satellites. Phones. Even an internet connection. If there was a way to reach the outside world, it would be here.
She typed 999999 and sighed at the inevitable buzzer. Next should be 100000, right?
¡°How long do you think it¡¯ll take to try all the combinations?¡± she asked, looking back at Pat. His deadpan stare said it all. ¡°Come on, it can¡¯t be that long. Ten options for the first number, ten for the second¡ there are six, so, uh, sixty, right?¡± She frowned. ¡°Wait, is that how you do this?¡±
Her eyes fell on Shy, who was shrinking, flickering faintly like a flame about to go out. She blinked, wondering if she¡¯d messed something up again.
Celeste opened her mouth to ask, but caught herself. She didn¡¯t want to overwhelm the ghost with questions. Giving them space was probably the right move. Silently, she turned back to the keypad and punched in another code. And another. After a few more failed attempts, she felt a gentle tug at the hem of her jeans.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
¡°What¡¯s up?¡± she asked, softening her tone.
Shy didn¡¯t answer but drifted toward the door, their form shifting into a larger, more amorphous shape. Celeste glanced at Pat, confused. The Slowpoke blinked at her, equally unsure. Almost on instinct, she reached out and touched the shadow. Her hand passed through.
Oh, right. The portal thing they could do.
¡°You want us to go through?¡± she asked, though no answer came. She didn¡¯t need one. Without hesitation, she motioned for Pat to follow and stepped into the darkness. After everything this week, she trusted Shy enough to literally follow them into the unknown.
The sensation was just as before¡ªlike falling, but not quite. More like being pulled in every direction at once, weightless. It barely lasted a second, but this time she was prepared for it, so Celeste tried to focus on the feeling of the void around her. The¡ endless¡ all-encompassing¡ nothing. She felt everything stretch out the more she look into it and¡ª
And then they were out. Somehow dizzier than last time, but intact. Celeste steadied herself, glancing around. They were on the other side of the door.
¡°We really need to talk about that ability of yours,¡± she muttered, catching Pat as he wobbled. It was a skill that had saved them too many times already, but she needed to understand it better.
Shy flickered weakly in the greenish glow of the room beyond, drawing a frown from Celeste.
¡°That takes a lot out of you, doesn¡¯t it?¡± she asked gently, and Shy gave a small, tired nod.
Celeste turned back toward the door. There was a button rather than a keypad on this side. She pressed it, and with a hiss, the door slid open. A faint chuckle escaped her lips. ¡°So my idea of guessing codes wasn¡¯t so great,¡± she said, shooting a glance at her shadow. ¡°But, as much as I love that you got us through, maybe next time we should think it through together? You could¡¯ve slipped under the door and just opened it from this side. That way, you wouldn¡¯t be so tired.¡±
Shy gave another slow, reluctant nod. But Celeste dropped it. She knew when not to push.
¡°Alright,¡± she said, glancing at both Pok¨¦mon. ¡°We¡¯ve got a whole new area to explore. Let¡¯s find somewhere safe for the night.¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
¡°So¡ what kind of lab was this again?¡± Celeste¡¯s voice echoed softly as she and her Pok¨¦mon moved through the dimly lit lab, their steps muffled by the steady hum of pumps. Massive tanks lined the walls, each filled with a glowing, almost neon liquid that felt way too bright and unnatural. It reminded her a little of Life Dew, though far more creepy. She couldn¡¯t imagine anything living in that stuff. But then, one tank released a trail of bubbles, and further ahead, the liquid stirred. Celeste froze, catching a glimpse of something pink, shifting and amorphous just beneath the surface.
By the time they reached the next section of the lab, Celeste was busy listing all the blobby pink Pok¨¦mon she knew.
¡°Come on, Pat, it could totally be a Jiggly¡ puff¡?¡± Her words trailed off as her foot crunched something.
She froze, glancing down.
The floor was littered with broken shards of glass, glistening green in the low light. Green water stains streaked across the dusty tiles, leading toward the centre of the room. There stood an even larger tank¡ªcylindrical, towering, and very much broken. The green liquid dripped steadily from its cracked base onto a metal grate below, amplifying the sound through the empty, echoing space. The tank had been big enough to hold a Snorlax, which made Celeste uneasy.
Also, that was creepy as hell, but unfortunately she was getting used to that.
Celeste glanced over at Shy. They didn¡¯t move, their dark form almost blending into the shadowy corners of the lab. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, then turned to Pat. ¡°Watch out for the glass, ¡®kay?¡± she muttered, stepping carefully over the shards as she approached the tank.
The green fluid was thicker than she¡¯d expected, clinging to the edges of the broken glass. Part of her wanted to reach out, touch it, but Celeste still had some sense in her. She instead leaned in just enough to get a better look, but there wasn¡¯t much to see. The smell of alcohol hung in the air, but this was another dead end.
Sighing, Celeste straightened up and scanned the room, looking for something more useful (or interesting). That¡¯s when she spotted it¡ªa workstation tucked into the far corner, massive computers humming softly and a whiteboard covered in sketches of what looked like¡ an antenna?
That¡¯s what she needed.
Without wasting a second, she waved for her Pok¨¦mon to follow, stepping away from the broken tank. Pat nudged her as she passed, clearly wanting to move on to the next room. But Celeste wasn¡¯t quite ready to leave just yet. ¡°This could be big, Pat. I promise I won¡¯t take long.¡±
He squinted at her, unsure, but nodded. That was their dance, wasn¡¯t it? This time, he conceded at least, nodding slowly at her.
She reached the console and hesitated for just a moment before pressing a button on the keyboard. A black screen flickered on, displaying nothing but a blinking white cursor. No icons. No internet. Just an empty terminal awaiting input.
Celeste frowned. ¡°Okay¡ I¡¯ve got this,¡± she muttered, though she wasn¡¯t entirely sure she did. Tentatively, she typed, ¡°Phone.¡±
The screen responded almost immediately. Command not found.
Celeste grumbled, ¡°Really? We¡¯re doing this again?¡± She shot a glance at Shy and Pat. ¡°Five minutes,¡± she promised. ¡°I¡¯m not staying here forever. Five minutes, and if nothing happens, we move on.¡±
The two Pok¨¦mon exchanged glances, but Celeste was already back to typing.
¡°Internet.¡±
Command not found.
Her fingers tapped the keys harder. ¡°Call someone. Emergency.¡±
Command not found.
She clenched her jaw, fighting the urge to slam her fist on the keyboard. Why wasn¡¯t anything cooperating today? She wasn¡¯t usually bad with tech.
¡°Help,¡± she typed, almost in frustration.
To her surprise, the screen didn¡¯t flash another rejection. Instead, a list of commands started scrolling down the terminal, lines of text blinking rapidly. Celeste¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she leaned in, scanning the screen. Most of it was incomprehensible, but then one word stood out.
BROADCAST.
¡°That¡¯s it,¡± she whispered, eyes widening. Pat nudged her again, probably reminding her about the five minutes. ¡°Just one more second, bud. I¡¯m really close,¡± she muttered, her fingers already moving.
¡°BROADCAST,¡± she entered.
The cursor blinked, almost as if it was deciding whether to cooperate. Then a new window popped up.
Broadcast channel?
A list of frequencies appeared, most of them unfamiliar. But her eyes scanned for something useful until she found it: LEAGUE EMERGENCY DISPATCH.
Without hesitating, she selected it. The screen flickered, and a soft crackle of static buzzed from the speakers.
Activate Broadcast. Y/N?
Her hands shook slightly as she pressed ¡°Y¡±. A small microphone icon blinked to life on the screen, waiting for her to speak.
She leaned in close, took a deep breath, and began, ¡°This is Celeste Diaz, on Cinnabar Island. If anyone can hear me¡ we need help. We¡¯re at Cinnabar Labs and¡ª¡± She glanced at Pat and Shy, her voice faltering for just a moment before continuing, ¡°there¡¯s something wrong here. I think it¡¯s getting worse. They made an entire tram disappear¡ªtracks and all. P-Please. We need help.¡±
Her words echoed in the silence, and the static resumed, swallowing her message into the void.
Celeste fell back into a worn office chair, her heart pounding in her chest. She stared at the blinking cursor on the screen, waiting. Hoping. ¡°Do you think that worked?¡± she muttered, turning to Pat.
But Pat wasn¡¯t listening. His attention was fixed elsewhere. He was¡ª
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
That¡¯s the blob from the tanks, Pat!
Celeste didn¡¯t have time to shout before Pat fired a Water Gun at the pink mass. The blob reacted instantly, blasting another Water Gun right back in a spray of mist that rained down on them. She blinked, her vision hazy as droplets filled the air. For a second, the pink shape wavered in the fog, and Celeste swore it looked like¡ another Slowpoke? Maybe? Was it always a Slowpoke? They were kind of blob-like, but¡
But nothing! Celeste had to focus.
¡°Try restraining it with Conf¡ªAhhh! Pat?¡±
Before she could finish, something distinctively psychic slid the chair behind her forward, knocking her legs out from under her. She crashed into it, the backrest tilting far enough for her to see the ceiling¡ªand there were pens and pencils floating above her, their tips pointed directly at her.
She barely had time to throw up her arms before the barrage rained down. It wasn¡¯t the worse, but it hurt a little, and it was disorienting.
¡°Seriously?!¡± she shouted, swatting the pens away. Before she could finish the thought, Pat let out a bellow, pulling her attention back to the battle. The blob¡ªwhich was really a Slowpoke¡ªhad given up on its floating-pens attack and was now rushing toward her, faster than it had any right to.
It took her brain a second to catch up. It was aiming at her.
Celeste rolled her chair back, mind snapping into focus. ¡°Pat, use Confusion! Quick!¡±
Pat¡¯s eyes glowed, and the blob-thing¡ªit was a Slowpoke¡ but also not?¡ªgot yanked mid-air, suspended just long enough for Celeste to see its legs warping into a gooey mess, like it couldn¡¯t quite keep its shape. Her Slowpoke didn¡¯t linger though. In another split second, he hurled the creature onto a shelf, which collapsed on top of it with a clatter.
¡°What was that?¡± Celeste scrambled to her feet, still breathing hard. Pat¡¯s tail swished in warning, however, and she followed his gaze. The creature was¡ it was reforming? Its body leaked from beneath the clutter, pooling together before twisting back into a Slowpoke. This wasn¡¯t anything like Pat, though.
¡°Keep throwing it around!¡± Celeste yelled. Pat wasted no time, launching it again with another psychic blast. This time, Celeste couldn¡¯t help but grin. They were getting so much better at this.
Of course, the moment she felt confident, she jinxed it. The universe wasn¡¯t about to let this be easy. The gooey Slowpoke¡¯s eyes flashed¡ªjust for a split second, but faintly enough for Celeste to recognise the move. Disable. Pat and Powder had been practising that one a lot for her not to.
Pat¡¯s psychic grip faltered, and the creature splattered back onto the floor.
¡°Can you still use Confusion, bud?¡± Celeste asked, hopeful. Pat¡¯s wide-eyed, worried look was all the answer she needed. He tried the move again, but nothing happened. ¡°It¡¯s okay, don¡¯t worry,¡± she reassured him quickly. ¡°You¡¯ve still got plenty of other tricks.¡±
But then she saw the blob pulling itself back together, reforming into the shape of a Slowpoke. Its eyes locked onto her, and despite barely holding its shape, it was already moving toward her again. Celeste gritted her teeth. ¡°Alright, fine. If it wants me so bad, I¡¯ll give it a distraction.¡± She made up her mind in a heartbeat. ¡°Pat, use Yawn. I¡¯ll keep it busy.¡±
Pat grumbled, clearly not thrilled with the idea, but Celeste was already moving, darting to the side to give him room. The creature swerved, adjusting its path, and for the first time, Celeste got a real look at it. The face was all wrong¡ªits eyes too small, and the mouth stretched unnervingly wide. It was almost like a Slowpoke, but distorted, like someone had tried to copy one and failed miserably.
The thing was¡ it wasn¡¯t a copy like the others Celeste met. There was something distinctively real about this one.
Plus, it was angry. Really angry.
She hesitated. For just a second, watching it.
But then it charged at her, faster than she expected. Too fast for a Slowpoke. She barely had time to move before it slammed into her with a Headbutt, knocking the wind out of her and sending her sprawling onto the floor.
¡°Ugh¡ª¡± Celeste groaned, more frustrated than hurt. A real Slowpoke would¡¯ve done some damage. As she scrambled to her feet, something slipped from her pocket¡ªShy¡¯s Pok¨¦ball. It rolled across the floor, and panic spiked through her, and it wasn¡¯t from the battle. She lunged for the ball, ignoring the Slowpoke-thing lining up its next attack.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Shy watching. They didn¡¯t lift a finger to help, though. In fact, Celeste could swear they discreetly nudged the ball further, sending it rolling under a large machine, just out of her reach.
When Celeste stared at them, completely outraged, Shy just pretended they weren¡¯t even there. She swallowed her retort, realising Shy knew about the Pok¨¦ball in her pocket. This felt like a pretty clear statement about how they felt about it. She sighed, as if doused with a cold splash of reality. Quite literally, too, as a weak-ass Water Gun hit her square in the face.
This Pok¨¦mon was starting to get annoying.
She turned to the Fakepoke coming for her and kicked it. Her¡ªeeewww. Her foot sank into its squishy head, and Celeste immediately recoiled in disgust. But just then¡ªplop! Yawn bubbles popped in the air, swirling around the creature¡¯s half-formed face.
The creature¡¯s eyes narrowed, locking onto Pat. Her Slowpoke looked just as fed up as she was, his eyes not empty but almost frowning. He knew he had to choose his next move carefully¡ªone wrong step, and he¡¯d be asleep or worse, hit with another Disable. The thing about battling a Slowpoke, Celeste had learned, was that they were annoyingly tricky. If they played their cards right, they could wear down even stronger opponents, one slow, frustrating move at a time.
¡°Water Gun!¡± Celeste called, fighting the urge to scrape the goo off her shoes, forcing herself to stay focused on Pat. He deserved her full attention right now. ¡°Don¡¯t go for power. Just keep it busy until it¡¯s out.¡±
For once, her plan worked without a hitch. Pat unleashed an even bigger stream of water than she¡¯d expected, maintaining it for nearly a full minute, drenching the blob with a steady, relentless blast.
At the end of it, the blob¡ªno longer a Slowpoke¡ªslumped to the floor, slowly mixing into the water, and for once, it didn¡¯t reform.
Celeste cautiously approached, grabbing one of the pens scattered from the earlier attack and prodding the goo. It twitched slightly, but didn¡¯t stir. Asleep, for sure, but knocked out? It didn¡¯t really matter.
¡°This has to be one of the weirdest battles we¡¯ve ever fought,¡± she muttered, scraping the goo off her shoes with a grimace. ¡°And I really don¡¯t want to deal with it again.¡±
Her eyes drifted to the narrow gap where Shy had shoved the Pok¨¦ball. She could ask them to get it back, but¡ maybe it was better this way. Maybe she wasn¡¯t meant to carry a Pok¨¦ball for someone who didn¡¯t want to be caught.
¡°Let¡¯s¡ maybe find somewhere else to hide.¡± She gave the unconscious blob one last look before nodding to Pat. ¡°We¡¯ve had enough of this place.¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
The sun was still sinking when they crossed the lab floor and reached a large window beside a fire exit. Celeste paused to peek outside. For a moment, the world beyond the glass seemed deceptively peaceful. A gentle breeze swayed the purple cotton candy clouds, and the sky was streaked with shades of orange. She spotted a fire ladder leading up the side of the building, but it was retracted, sitting just out of reach on a platform above the second floor. From there, proper stairs climbed towards the roof. Decorative cylinders also flanked the walls, blocking her view of the full path, but that didn¡¯t matter.
They could go up from inside, scout from a high vantage point, and spot anyone approaching before they were noticed. And with those stairs? They¡¯d have plenty of escape routes if things went south.
She pulled away from the window, her mind already moving to their next steps. Shy hovered nearby, quieter than usual. Whether it was the Pok¨¦ball incident or something else, she couldn¡¯t shake the awkwardness between them.
Celeste cleared her throat, trying to mend things. ¡°What do you say, Shy? Want to see if we can find a way to the roof? Maybe we¡¯ll figure out if Babs ever had her birthday party.¡±
The ghost perked up at that, the edges of her shadow sharpening as with their spirits. It made her heart lift a little too. She hadn¡¯t completely blown it¡ªyet. Who needed a Pok¨¦ball anyway, when you had friendship, right?
As they walked toward a nearby lift, Celeste rambled on about birthday parties, how she loved them, and how the food was the best, and so on. Shy seemed to be paying attention, but even though Celeste could ramble about any topic forever, their enthusiasm faded a little by the time she stopped by the lift.
When she pressed the button, her thoughts had already moved elsewhere¡ªto the battle she and Pat had just fought.
Her Slowpoke was getting stronger every day, and they were communicating so much better now. She smiled, proud of their progress. But the thought circled back to Shy. They were a Pok¨¦mon, too, but could they fight?
Probably.
Celeste had asked them about it a few days ago, after a particularly bad run-in with Jenny. She¡¯d suggested Pat could use some help in battle, but Shy had immediately retreated into her shadow, more skittish than usual. Still, Celeste had seen how closely they watched when Pat used his moves. Even before that, she¡¯d noticed the way her shadow flickered with excitement when she¡¯d battled Luan back on Two Island.
There was something there.
But this line of thinking wasn¡¯t going to get her anywhere. She instead pivoted to another trait of the ghost: how much they seem to know about other Pok¨¦mon.
¡°Have you ever seen anything like that thing from earlier, Shy?¡± Celeste asked, stepping into the lift.
Shy hesitated, then shook their head softly.
Celeste sighed as she hit the button for the top floor. ¡°It wasn¡¯t strong. But it really hated me for no reason.¡± Her voice rose with frustration. ¡°And it was violent, right? You saw that, didn¡¯t you?¡±
Shy shrunk at her tone, and Pat nudged her leg, as if telling her to calm down.
She took another deep breath. Truth was, the idea that another thing attacked her just made her even more worked up than she was this past few days. It was questions, questions, questions, but never any answer. And a lot of running.
Surely nothing could surprise her anymore.
With a soft ding, the lift doors slid open.
¡
Yep. Nothing could surprise her at all¡
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Carefully, Celeste stepped over a shattered chair, ducking as a dangling wire crackled faintly overhead. Just a few steps ahead, a massive hole gaped in the roof, allowing the evening breeze to sweep in and scatter loose papers across the floor. Shards of mirrored glass reflected the purple sky above¡ªthese were from solar panels, she guessed, finding the rest of it further ahead, smashed beyond repair.
Roofs don¡¯t just give in like this, she thought, staring at the gaping hole.
She took in the scene again. Everything was so completely trashed that it seemed she left Cinnabar¡¯s perfection altogether.
¡°Stay alert, both of you,¡± Celeste whispered, her voice low. But despite the wreckage, there was no sign of any immediate danger. No movement other than their own. Shy¡¯s form rippled as they scanned the room, confirming that none of the creatures were nearby.
They kept moving, and soon came across a conference room¡ªone of those fancy ones with glass walls and an oversized table that had tipped onto its side. From the glass, Celeste spotted a box in the corner. A smile spread across her face when she realised what was in there.
¡°Looks like we found Babs¡¯ birthday fireworks.¡± She didn¡¯t even finish the sentence before Shy stretched forward to inspect it. Celeste hoped it would lift their spirits¡ªespecially because checking the roof for remnants of a party was a big no-go right now.
She followed the ghost in, her eyes wondering around the room, drifting to an overturned projector. The device had tumbled with the table but was still pointed at the opposite wall, casting a flickering image onto it. Maybe they could watch a movie, she thought, chuckling.
Still, she couldn¡¯t resist it. Celeste propped the projector back up onto a chair, squinting at the image. The picture remained blurred and shaky, but something about it caught her attention. The image¡ it wasn¡¯t a movie, obviously. It was a photo. Of ruins? She could just make out the stone columns and narrow cavernous corridors.
Tech, green vats, blobby monsters¡ªand now Cinnabar labs dipped into archaeology, too? She¡ actually vaguely recalled her parents mentioning something about Cinnabar before she left for her journey, but clearly it wasn¡¯t anything important (or interesting) or else she would remember it.
Celeste turned to the computer connected to the projector, pressing a few keys, but the image remained frozen. She glanced around. Shy and Pat were still focused on the fireworks box, oblivious. By her feet, a filing folder caught her eye. She picked it up¡ªempty. But when she flipped it over, one word stood out, stamped in bold letters: Tanoby.
She squinted.
Tanoby.
As in ¡°Discovery in Tanoby.¡±
This must be connected to the article she¡¯d read earlier.
Standing, she turned back to the projector and fiddled with the focus knob, adjusting it until the image sharpened. The flickering didn¡¯t stop, but the picture was becoming clearer. She twisted the knob a little more, and¡ª
Arceus. This¡ it couldn¡¯t¡
She stepped back, staring in disbelief at the image. The ruins on the screen became unmistakable. Massive stone columns lined the entrance of an ancient temple, each one marked with strange, twisted symbols¡ªsymbols that looked almost like letters. And within the letters were circles¡ eyes.
She knew those markings. She¡¯d seen them erase a tram only a few hours earlier.
¡°G-guys, I think we really need to talk about this now ¡¡±
Chapter 79 - Cinnabar Labs II: The Journals
Chapter 79 - Cinnabar Labs II: The Journals
For the past week, Celeste had been pretending she could understand what was going on in Cinnabar if she thought about it hard enough. Yes, she did have some pieces of the puzzle: Psychic-type Pok¨¦mon had taken over the island¡ªshe¡¯d even seen them. They looked like letters, and they had bulging watchful eyes. These Pok¨¦mon could twist reality, warp minds, and they created things. Mostly people, but there was a Growlithe and a Dhelmise running around too.
A lot of facts, sure. But they didn¡¯t really ever amount to anything. Not until now, anyway.
The last rays of sunlight warmed her back as the flickering light of the projector burned into her eyes.
¡°You know what my mum always said when we were out gathering info for her show?¡± Celeste¡¯s voice dropped to a whisper, her fingers tracing the carvings displayed in the image. ¡°Well, she said loads of things, really. Half the time it felt like she was trying to pass on the whole family business to me, which was fun... sometimes, but super annoying.¡±
She glanced at Pat and Shy. Both were watching her intently.
¡°Right¡ uh, the important one: ¡®Working without all the facts can hurt us.¡¯ We can¡¯t always know everything, but she tried to drill it into my head that we should gather what we could from every source available to us. To be ready.¡±
Her gaze hardened as it returned to the carvings on display.
¡°Whatever happened here¡ it¡¯s tied to this ¡®Discovery in Tanoby.¡¯ I¡¯m sure of it now,¡± Celeste whispered, her voice barely audible. ¡°I know you¡¯re scared, and talking about it isn¡¯t easy¡ but maybe we¡¯re finally close to some real answers. And figuring this out¡ª¡± Her breath hitched, her gaze shifting to her shadow. Shy gave a small nod. ¡°The head of the labs¡ªDr Fuji¡ªthink you can help me find his office?¡± she asked the ghost.
She didn¡¯t need to ask twice. The moment she stepped out of the conference room, her shadow stretched long, spilling over the damaged floorboards and twisted metal and wood scattered around. They looked and looked, until Shy¡¯s ghostly form tugged at her leg, pulling her toward an office with a half-broken door, its hinges groaning as they entered.
Celeste approached cautiously, the air inside feeling colder than the ruined corridors outside. This room was a disaster¡ªworse than the others. Bookshelves had collapsed into heaps, and the desk was nothing but splinters. Where a window should have been, there was only an enormous hole, letting in a chill wind that had long since swept away anything useful. Celeste didn¡¯t even bother searching for a computer¡ªnone would have survived this. Instead, she moved toward the hole in the wall, sizing it up. It wasn¡¯t an answer, but she was happy to see the fire escape stairs were nearby. This floor was gone, but the drop down was manageable.
Still¡
¡°How¡¯d you know this was Fuji¡¯s office?¡± Celeste asked, glancing at Shy. In response, her shadow swirled over something glinting among the broken glass.
Pat approached it first.
¡°Careful, bud,¡± she said with a smirk, shifting the Slowpoke to safety. ¡°You¡¯re still recovering from that last battle, and your skin¡¯s not that thick.¡± His tail swished happily as she set him down further away. She shook her head, chuckling, before crouching to inspect the glass.
Among the shards was a broken picture frame. Inside were Fuji¡¯s credentials¡ªhe was a biologist, with a master¡¯s in Genetics, a doctorate in...
¡°What the hell is archeogenetics?¡±
Celeste turned back to Shy, but the ghost had drifted over to Pat, who was now nosing through a pile of old books the ghost had pointed out to. For a brief moment, Celeste felt¡ warmth. The three of them could really be a team. Heck, the five of them could, once Powder and Aria were back to normal. Those two would completely freak Shy out, no doubt.
Her thoughts were cut short when Pat waddled over with something clutched in his mouth.
A book.
Celeste took it, and as she opened it, a photo slipped out, fluttering to the floor. She picked it up, studying the image. It was a family portrait¡ªDr Fuji, and what looked to be his wife, daughter, and their Pok¨¦mon, enjoying a sunny day at one of Cinnabar¡¯s caf¨¦s. The little girl, with striking teal hair, giggled as she passed a teacup to her dad. Except, the teacup wasn¡¯t just any teacup¡ªit was a Sinistea. And perched on her head was another familiar figure:
A Scorbunny, who she was pretty sure was called Whitey.
¡°This is the girl I met the other day.¡± She turned the picture so Shy and Pat could see. ¡°Amber. She invited me for tea.¡± A snort escaped her. ¡°Hope she doesn¡¯t make me drink out of a Sinis¡ª¡±
She blinked, drawing back the memory from the other day. Amber had a Sinistea with her. A ghost Pok¨¦mon. That meant¡
Arceus!
Celeste was almost fifteen, and this island had been pushing her to the limits of her sanity. What could it be doing to a little girl? Was Amber all alone out there, feeling lost and misunderstood? Maybe her dad was with her. Or¡ Or maybe Dr Fuji was behind all of this.
Amber had mentioned Blaine when they met.
The Gym Leader who Celeste couldn¡¯t find. Could Amber¡¯s home be where people were hiding? If that was the case, why would Ariana complain about not being allowed to check on Giovanni? Giovanni¡¯s house was right across from Amber¡¯s. Sneaking over wouldn¡¯t be that hard. No, that couldn¡¯t be it. But then what¡?
Shy gave her another nudge, this time toward the book Celeste was holding.
Right... Focus.
Celeste opened the book, her eyes widening as she realised it wasn¡¯t a book at all¡ªit was a journal. Fuji¡¯s journal. She glanced at Shy, and with a shaky exhale, she managed a smile.
¡°That conference room feels like a good spot to settle in for a long read,¡± she said. ¡°Shall we?¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Celeste ripped the cushion from a broken chair, settling beneath the flickering projector for what little light it offered. The sunset was long gone, leaving only the quiet starlight outside. Pat flopped onto her lap, giving her that goofy Slowpoke grin of his, which only widened as she scratched his snout. He was ready for a well-earned nap after the day they¡¯d had.
Shy lingered, hesitant as always, but Celeste soon felt the coolness of her shadow stretching across her shoulders. She caught the faint glow of their eyes behind her, but this time resisted the urge to turn around. She didn¡¯t want to spook them with eye contact.
¡°Alright then,¡± she murmured, flipping open the journal to the first entry. ¡°Let¡¯s start from the beginning.¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
For Amber.
To you, my daughter, I give the world.
And for you, I burn it down.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
January 20XX (Four Years Ago)
The Consortium
A few years ago, I found myself standing in the great city of Mesagoza, amidst some of the most powerful figures in the world. The occasion? A summit convened by the local League Chairwoman Geeta of Paldea. Her goal was to assemble a task force¡ªan elite group of scientific minds, alongside select industry leaders¡ªto explore the Great Crater of Paldea. Why I was invited to this first meeting still escapes me, but I suspect my old university colleague, Sada¡ªor should I say, Professor Sada¡ªhad a hand in it.
I must say I remember our university days fondly, when we both were consumed by the mysteries encoded in the DNA of ancient Pok¨¦mon. Those were simpler times, but a lifetime ago. Our paths have long since diverged. Over the years, Sada begun chasing legends; I, however, remained tethered to science, to reality. Fairy tales and Scarlet Books had no place in my work.
Yet, despite my scepticism¡ªand no desire to ever step foot in that crater¡ªI attended the meeting.
Sada, of course, was as persuasive as ever. Her passion filled the room as she spoke, and I could see the gleam in my colleagues¡¯ eyes. The promises she made of discovery, of fantastical secrets¡ªancient, prehistoric Pok¨¦mon even¡ªlying just beneath the crater¡¯s depths, was intoxicating to some. Treasure lies in the great crater of Paldea, and it¡¯s just waiting to be claimed.
I couldn¡¯t hide my scorn.
Prehistoric Pok¨¦mon alive in the present day? Absurd.
Or so I thought when she revealed a grainy image of a Pok¨¦mon from eons past¡ªwhich despite Sada¡¯s ravings was nothing but the Ground-type Pok¨¦mon Donphan, common all over the world.
By the end of the meeting, I was eager to return home to my wife and baby girl, to put Sada¡¯s wild ideas behind me once more. But as I prepared to leave, someone approached me¡ªLusamine Aether, the head of the prestigious Aether Foundation.
Her eyes gleamed sharply at me.
¡°This meeting was a waste of time, but we¡¯ve come too far, Doctor. Let¡¯s not make our trip a loss.¡±
Intrigued by the cryptic offer, I followed her to a second meeting that evening, one far more secretive. This time, there was no Chairwoman Geeta. Instead, it was her ¡°industry partners¡± who had called the gathering. At the head of the table sat none other than Joseph Stone, the wealthiest man in the world. His booming laughter filled the room as he spoke casually with his companions¡ªDonna Razzo, biotech magnate, and Sam Silph, the towering figure behind Silph Co. Across from them sat George Rose, whose influence in Galar was growing by the day.
It was humbling to be in the presence of such titans, yet unnerving at the same time. They spoke with a level of power that went beyond money; it was the power to shape the future. Luckily, I wasn¡¯t alone. Several of my scientific peers had been invited, though many wore sceptical expressions, unsure of where this gathering was headed.
Over dinner, Mr Stone spoke.
¡°Prehistoric Pok¨¦mon,¡± he said, cutting through the chatter. ¡°Not as a legend, but as a reality. Made possible through science.¡±
The room stilled. Simple words, but they carried weight. This, as I soon learned, was the birth of the Consortium¡ªa union of scientists and corporations, pooling their resources to chase Stone¡¯s grand vision. The goal? A machine capable of extracting and reconstructing ancient Pok¨¦mon DNA. To bring fossils back to life. It was Sada¡¯s dream, but stripped of its fantasies¡ªrooted in hard science.
Not everyone was enthralled.
Professor Rowan was the first to speak, his voice gruff. ¡°To create a Pok¨¦mon is to play god. A violation and desecration of His creation.¡± I hadn¡¯t taken him for a religious fool, but then again, this type of behaviour is to be expected from a Sinnohan.
Then, a younger voice rang out¡ªsharp, passionate. ¡°Once you bring them back, what next? Do you stop there, or push further? Cloning, synthetic Pok¨¦mon, weapons. This is dangerous technology.¡± The speaker was a young scientist. I hadn¡¯t known him then, but he walked out before dessert, vowing to push for policy reform if this project moved forward. I later learned his name¡ªElm. He was Oak¡¯s prized student.
By the time the meeting concluded, several seats had emptied. I, however, remained silent, despite agreeing with many of the points made by my peers. The possibilities of this technology... they pulled at me, stirred something deep inside.
Bringing a fossil back to life...
Could this technology¡ªthis consortium¡ªbe the key to what I¡¯ve been seeking? Could it be the breakthrough that I craved?
For Amber.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
¡°Fossil Pok¨¦mon, huh¡¡± Celeste murmured, glancing up at the picture of the ancient temple on the screen. ¡°You think they brought those things back to life, like they did with Aerodactyl?¡±
Pat was already snoozing, his soft breaths rising and falling in time rhythmically. But there was a gentle tug at her shoulder¡ªShy¡¯s way of showing they were listening. Celeste tapped the name on the page¡ªJoseph Stone.
¡°This guy here? He¡¯s the president of Devon Corporation. Big paleontology nerd. I guess he figured archaeology was close enough to his thing, or maybe he just likes old stuff?¡± She shrugged. ¡°But, yeah, he¡¯s also my parents¡¯ main show sponsor. We were in Hoenn a while back... uh, do you know where Hoenn is?¡± She glanced at her shadow, who tilted their head slightly, shaking it. ¡°Right... It¡¯s this region southeast of here, not too far.¡±
So¡ Hoenn must have been before they joined her¡ Celeste thought, still not fully turning to the ghost.
¡°Anyway,¡± she continued, ¡°when we were there, Mr Stone invited us to this big museum opening. No big deal¡ªMum and Dad get dragged to those all the time. But halfway through the night, he pulls Mum aside, real secretive-like, to show her something Devon Corp had been working on. She comes back an hour later with this Pok¨¦ball, acting all smug. Apparently, she¡¯d ¡®one-upped some Gym Leader from Sinnoh¡¯ and got the better fossil. That¡¯s how we got Aerodactyl. She calls her Petra. And trust me, you do not want to pet Petra. She¡¯ll take your hand off. Maybe your whole head if she¡¯s in a mood¡¡±
Celeste trailed off, her eyes lingering on the page. Maybe that Elm guy had a point after all... fossils were dangerous.
Shy leaned fully against her now, their glowing eyes casting a faint light across her cheeks.
Celeste smirked, giving them a quick side glance. ¡°Next entry?¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
It is in amber that we find these exquisite fossils, wholly preserved through the ages.
For amber endures.
This feels like destiny, my daughter.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
February 20XX (Four Years Ago)
Project Helix
After years of relentless effort, we are finally seeing results. So bear with me, my daughter, while I indulge in a little ¡°science.¡±
Scattered throughout Indigo Bay, and stretching as far as the northern mountain range toward Mt. Silver and Mt. Moon, lie countless fossils, waiting to be unearthed. Among the most common are the so-called Helix Fossils: the ancient, spiral-shaped remains of a long-extinct Pok¨¦mon known to us as Omanyte.
As demonstrated by [Wu et al.], fragments of ancient DNA can undergo a genomic restoration process. By introducing genetic material from a close evolutionary counterpart, the missing sequences are filled in, allowing for the reconstruction of a more complete genome. Wu¡¯s initial trials yielded only limited success and organic samples struggled to stabilise. However, subsequent research by [Vargas et al.] revealed something intriguing: DNA linked to specific elemental phenotypes (EP) was more prone to degradation than others. Vargas hypothesised that introducing DNA from Pok¨¦mon of a similar elemental type could promote greater genomic stability.
In Omanyte¡¯s case, Shellos DNA was initially used, but stabilisation was weak, leading to rapid tissue decay. But when Gastrodon DNA was used¡ªdespite its genetic coding being nearly identical to Shellos¡ªthe outcome was different. Something within the nucleotides, particularly those tied to the Ground typing, sparked limited tissue growth. Yet, even then, the growth proved unsustainable, decaying before any complete specimen could form.
A breakthrough, however, came from an unexpected source. Devon Corporation¡ªcourtesy of Mr Stone¡ªprovided samples from a newly discovered Water/Rock-Type Pok¨¦mon, Relicanth, found in the ocean¡¯s depths. Dubbed the Longevity Pok¨¦mon, Relicanth¡¯s genetic material exhibited remarkable proprieties. When we applied these samples to the Omanyte fossils, we observed immediate progress. The Rock-type EP acted as a stabilising agent, allowing tissue to grow within the incubation chamber.
It was around this time that our Hoenn collaborators also sent us the (patent-pending) Ciclotron Energy Accelerator (CEA), a device we retrofitted to amplify cellular regeneration.
What followed exceeded even our wildest expectations. In just one week, the accelerated development produced results far beyond what we had imagined.
We had done it. Omanyte lived again.
I wish Professor Sada could have seen it. She once spoke of dreams like this¡ªvisions of prehistoric life living among us, and I have no doubt she would have marvelled at the ancient creature we have brought to life. But alas, my old lab partner has long since withdrawn into her crater, with her public outings becoming rarer by the day.
Amber, let me leave you with this thought:
Through the power of science¡ªnot myth or fairy tales¡ªwe have proven that we are no longer slaves to the whims of nature.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Celeste kept flipping through the pages, completely drawn in, even though half of the technical stuff flew right over her head. The next entries laid out Fuji¡¯s progress over the years, but things hadn¡¯t exactly gone as smoothly as his first success hinted. At first, they struggled to keep the revived Pok¨¦mon stable for long. When they finally managed that, a whole new problem popped up¡ªrapid, uncontrollable growth.
It had taken Fuji and his so-called Consortium years to fix that mess. But even when they did, the Pok¨¦mon¡¯s behaviour was all over the place¡ªwild, unpredictable. And then there was the issue of extending the procedure to other fossils, something they clearly hadn¡¯t mastered yet.
As the time passed, it was clear Fuji wasn¡¯t just aiming for some scientific breakthrough, though. His ambitions spiralled into something grander. His words always came back to ¡°achieving medical miracles¡± but he sounded more and more unhinged with every entry.
It was getting late, and Celeste¡¯s head throbbed from trying to process some stuff about gene therapy and stem cells. She was just about to nudge Shy and suggest they call it a night when she turned the page.
The writing had changed. It wasn¡¯t the neat, clinical handwriting she¡¯d been struggling to read. This was different¡ªletters carved into the page, jagged and messy. Angry. Were those... tear stains?
Well... sleep could wait a little longer.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
They don¡¯t understand it, Amber.
Those Leech Lifers don¡¯t understand the cost of a life.
The cost of a soul.
Integrity? Ethics?
Tell me what father would not trade this and much more to ensure his kid had a chance?
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
May 20XX (two years ago)
Project Ditto
Even though my hand trembles with anger, I will force myself to begin at the beginning. I will attempt to treat these events with the detachment a scientist ought to possess. But by the end of this entry, the injustice¡ªthe sheer shortsightedness¡ªof those with the power to achieve greatness will be glaringly clear.
The Consortium¡ªor what¡¯s left of it¡ªvisited the lab today. It started well enough. They were all brimming with praise for our success in restoring Omastar and Kabuto, and Rose even spoke about how our Galarian collaborators were working on a machine to piece together broken fossils. Nothing unusual there.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
Then, as always, Rose twisted the conversation to his so-called ¡°energy crisis.¡± What was unusual, however, was how Joseph Stone actually indulged him this time, even encouraged the discussion. I held my tongue, waiting, until Stone casually mentioned something that made my blood boil.
He was looking into Infinite Energy... with, I kid you not, Maxie.
Yes, that Maxie. The lunatic shunned by every credible scientist on the planet for his obsession with ¡°more land.¡± And Stone, one of the wealthiest, most powerful men alive, was partnering with him in search of something physically impossible.
¡ªI simply cannot.¡ª
No. I must not get carried away.
We concluded the tour of the facilities without incident. They marveled at the restored fossils, satisfied enough with their spectacle. When they seemed ready, I guided them to the conference room for what I believed was the most important part of the day.
Our future.
As expected, the moment I introduced scaling the fossil restoration process, the discussion derailed into profits and shares. They wasted a full hour debating money. It¡¯s practically a scientific experiment to watch them argue.
Joseph Stone maintained that resurrecting fossils was a passion project, claiming he didn¡¯t care for the money¡ªeven though he held the majority of the shares. Lusamine Aether, ever sanctimonious, declared she wasn¡¯t in it for profit either. She spoke of her ¡°sanctuary,¡± where she intended to ¡°rehabilitate¡± these ancient Pok¨¦mon out of the ¡°goodness of her heart.¡±
At least Donna Razzo and Sam Silph were honest.
Razzo hoped to extract chemicals from the ancient Pok¨¦mon to launch a new line of luxury products. She claimed the title of her new line, Blast from the Past, was testing well in focus groups. Her cosmetics, believe it or not, already used Gloom extract for perfumes and Flab¨¦b¨¦¡¯s flowers for makeup pigments¡ªnaturally, all ¡°compassionate¡± practices that didn¡¯t exploit the Pok¨¦mon. The moment she realised the fossils weren¡¯t really viable for her purposes, she shifted her attention to mass-producing them for sale¡ªuntil that too became a logistic nightmare. She lost interest almost immediately after.
Silph was no different, even though his angle was simpler: find new moves to patent for his TMs. As that didn¡¯t seem to be panning out either, he checked out just as fast.
With their distractions out of the way, I finally introduced the real reason I had called them here.
Project Ditto.
With our progress, we could now confidently bring a Pok¨¦mon fossil back to life from just a few strands of DNA. The next logical step wasn¡¯t resurrecting extinct species¡ªit was applying the process to living ones.
Of course, Rose interrupted me before I could even finish. ¡°Cloning?¡± he said bluntly. ¡°That¡¯s what you¡¯re proposing?¡±
Yes, I was talking about cloning. The potential was limitless, but of course, their narrow minds couldn¡¯t grasp it.
¡°It goes against the beliefs of my sanctuary,¡± Lusamine feigned shock.
¡°Why bother cloning when breeding is cheaper and easier?¡± Sam Silph chimed in, conveniently leaving out that he owns half the breeding centres in Indigo.
The rest of the room quickly followed suit, each voice adding to the chorus of disapproval. I was not shaken¡ªI had anticipated pushback and was prepared with arguments.
¡°This is only the beginning,¡± I told them. ¡°This technology can change medicine, science, humanity.¡± The words fell on deaf ears. So, I shifted to a more practical angle. ¡°Why waste time breeding rare Pok¨¦mon or capturing them in the wild when we can grow Lapras and Dratini safely in our labs?¡±
That got a laugh from Rose. ¡°Ever heard of supply and demand?¡± he said, adding, ¡°It¡¯s a waste of energy.¡±
I pressed on, trying to open their eyes. I spoke of enhancing Pok¨¦mon, of creating hybrids. I even hinted at the possibility of human cloning. But as I spoke, their faces twisted from scepticism to something darker. They weren¡¯t just dismissing me¡ªthey were questioning my sanity.
Could they truly not grasp the potential of this technology?
Finally, I revealed my trump card.
¡°What if we didn¡¯t stop at rare Pok¨¦mon? What if we cloned something¡ Legendary?¡±
The room fell into stunned silence. Stone¡¯s expression darkened; I could almost see him calculating the cost of having me committed. I didn¡¯t let it faze me. Instead, I reached for my briefcase.
I wouldn¡¯t make such a claim with nothing to show.
When I set the object on the table, they all leaned forward, confused. It was a chunk of amber, similar to the ones holding some of the fossils we had worked with before. But this was different. Trapped inside was a single strand of pink fur¡ªnot as pristine as I had hoped, but enough.
I cleared my throat. ¡°Mew,¡± I said. ¡°The first Pok¨¦mon. Said to contain the genetic code of every Pok¨¦mon that has ever existed.¡±
I deferred explaining how I got that fossil¡ªnot because I thought any of them would be against my dealings with the black market, but because I did not want to share my sources. I waited, letting the weight of my revelation sink in.
¡°If we successfully clone Mew, we will have access to the base genetic code of every known Pok¨¦mon. And perhaps even more than that. The possibilities are limitless. Medicine, human health¡ªeverything could be revolutionised. We could unlock the code of life itself.¡± I paused, letting the enormity of it all hanging in the air. ¡°With the power of Mew, we could eliminate disease. We could conquer old age. We could become legends. We could become gods.¡±
The looks on their faces said it all.
They thought I was mad.
Donna Razzo was the first to speak. ¡°Old age is good for business. We sell creams for that.¡±
Typical. She wouldn¡¯t want to cure all diseases¡ªthere¡¯s no profit in that. Better sell Ekans Oil to the masses.
The others piled on with their so-called ¡°ethical concerns.¡± They had no issue resurrecting Pok¨¦mon from fossils, but now drew a line at cloning?
The hypocrisy!
I wanted to scream at them, to tear apart their shallow reasoning piece by piece. How could they stand there, smug with their self-righteous objections, while turning a blind eye to their own misdeeds?
Silph dared to lecture me on ethics, while his company poured millions into researching ¡°digital life¡±? And Lusamine, sitting on her throne of moral superiority, while Faba makes horrors in the dark corners of her so-called ¡°sanctuary.¡±
They accused me of crossing lines, while quietly redrawing their own to fit their profits. It wasn¡¯t the ethics they cared about¡ªit was control. As long as they could package their ambitions as ¡°compassion¡± or ¡°innovation,¡± they felt justified. But the moment someone like me pushed the boundaries in a way they couldn¡¯t exploit, suddenly they were all saints.
But fine. Let them walk away. They¡¯ve already made me rich, and I don¡¯t need them. I will forge ahead¡ªwith or without them.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Celeste finished the entry in silence. By the time she set the journal down, Shy¡¯s shadow had spread across her entire shoulder, their glowing eyes brighter than ever. They exchanged a look¡ªwith eyes and all¡ªno words needed, no shying away.
Yeah, all this cloning and mad scientist stuff sounded super sketchy, but still¡
¡°Next page?¡± Celeste giggled, her fingers already slipping to the corner of the page, ready to flip it.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
My Amber, Blaine often says that all those that are born on this island have fire on their souls.
I know you have.
Your fire is like fireworks. Burning brilliantly, for it knows fickleness.
Mine is, of all things, a singe. The butt of a cigarette that didn¡¯t even realise it burned down the forest.
I fear I burned your hopes for a future.
But¡ I still hope there are trees in those woods.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
May 20XX (two years ago)
The Consultant
After last week¡¯s debacle, I knew I needed a bolder strategy. I could carry on with the project alone, but without the Consortium¡¯s backing¡ªand protection¡ªI would be at the mercy of policymakers like Doctor Elm.
He wouldn¡¯t hesitate to shut us down.
I am not proud to admit the lengths I went to, but honesty compels me to record it.
I resorted to blackmail.
It all started during a prior meeting with the Consortium. I kept mostly to myself as usual, but Dr Faba... he has a habit of running his mouth after one too many drinks. That night, a long tap opened, and he revealed far more than he should have about the chimera they were aiming to create. I didn¡¯t get all the details, but I heard enough.
¡°Cloning Mew seems like a far lesser sacrilege compared to crafting a Pok¨¦mon in Arceus¡¯s image. That is, if you¡¯re concerned about divine wrath.¡±
Blunt. Direct. When dealing with someone like Lusamine Aether, anything less would¡¯ve been a waste of time.
She cut straight to the point. ¡°What do you want?¡±
My demands were clear and simple: I wanted her backing. If not the full Consortium, then her personal protection, so I could continue my research unchallenged. I wanted her to ensure her associates wouldn¡¯t interfere. Most of all, I wanted to make sure my daughter wouldn¡¯t die because some self-serving woman was more invested in selling face cream than advancing science.
Lusamine didn¡¯t like it. But she was in no mood to argue. Sensing an opportunity, I pushed further.
¡°Arceus Plates¡ªthat is such an obscure subject,¡± I noted, watching her reaction. ¡°And I happen to know you don¡¯t have anyone on your team capable of digging that deep. I want your consultant.¡±
Her reaction was immediate¡ªcold amusement masking irritation. She laughed, dismissing me outright at first. But it quickly became clear she was protecting someone.
From me.
Hah. She was the monster here.
Still, I recognized that look, that instinct to shield a loved one from the darker paths we walk. I¡ had felt it myself.
¡°I grew up on this island with Gym Leader Blaine,¡± I told her. ¡°He always wanted me to go on a journey with him, while I pushed him to study by my side. It sounds foolish, I know, trying to protect someone so much stronger than yourself. But I do. I protect him from knowing too much.¡± I leaned in, watching her closely. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to do the same for your friend.¡±
Lusamine had enough sense to realise she had no choice. If she said no, I would find this elusive consultant on my own, and she knew it.
¡°You tell her nothing. Everything goes through me first,¡± she relented, her voice tight. ¡°Whatever you¡¯re up to, I don¡¯t want her or her family dragged into it.¡±
Once again, their hypocrisy was staggering. But I didn¡¯t argue.
A deal was struck.
And just like that, none other than the famed Professor Tiana Diaz became my consultant.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Celeste had to do a double take at that last line.
Yeah. She knew her mother was well connected, and she¡¯d heard about her journey with Lusamine through the Alolan island challenge a million times (even though Celeste herself had only met Lusamine briefly). But still¡ she didn¡¯t expect her mum¡¯s name to pop up here.
And she definitely didn¡¯t expect it to be the best thing ever.
Her mother, Tia Diaz¡ªthe ¡°all-knowing one,¡± who was always right while Celeste was somehow always wrong¡ªwas getting duped by not one but two super shady people. Celeste couldn¡¯t help the grin spreading across her face. She was going to hang onto this journal forever, and next time her mum dragged her into another lecture about ¡°wasting her life¡± and ¡°missing out on the amazing opportunities she got her,¡± Celeste would shove it in her face.
¡°Remember that internship you got me at the Aether Foundation?¡± BAM. ¡°Looks like I dodged a bullet there, huh?¡±
Her laughter echoed through the room, bouncing off the walls until Shy tugged at her shoulder, clearly confused by her outburst. Celeste just shrugged and rubbed the back of her neck, muttering something about it being complicated.
And with the prospect of more dirt on her parents?
Yeah, she tore through the next few pages.
Unfortunately, there wasn¡¯t any direct interaction between her mother and Fuji. A few scattered mentions of Lusamine here and there, mainly when Fuji needed information about Mew, but that was it. What stood out more, though, was how desperate Fuji seemed to get as she read on.
Each entry was addressed to Amber. He wrote about her illness in vague, terrifying terms¡ªgenetic, silent, ticking time bomb¡ªand blamed his wife. Or, well, ex-wife, considering he¡¯d spent an entire entry ranting about refusing to sign the divorce papers. His life was unraveling, and fast.
But it got worse when he talked about Project Ditto.
Failure after failure, this project was a complete mess. Fuji¡¯s science-y explanations mostly went over her head, but she caught the part where he couldn¡¯t ¡°stabilise¡± whatever he was working on. His descriptions of the tanks downstairs were way too detailed, and by now, Celeste was pretty sure the Pok¨¦mon Pat had fought earlier was one of those failed Mew clones.
Yikes.
She understood the desperation, though. Amber had seemed perfectly fine when Celeste met her for all of five minutes¡ªsweet, smiling, and offering tea like any normal kid. But the thought of that little girl having some kind of ticking-clock illness? Something lurking under the surface, waiting to strike? It didn¡¯t sit right with Celeste, and she couldn¡¯t even imagine what it¡¯d be like to watch your own daughter go through that.
Which made her wonder¡ given how unhinged Fuji was becoming, had he finally snapped? Had he decided to take a more drastic approach?
With a deep breath, Celeste flipped to the next page.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
For Amber,
Where there¡¯s life, there¡¯s a way.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
April 20XX (this year)
Next steps
After extensive research, I have come to a critical conclusion: the issue with the failed Ditto clones does not lie in our methods, but in the corrupted Mew DNA we¡¯ve been using. I recently reached out to Lusamine, hoping she might offer a lead on obtaining fresher samples. While I knew this would require considerable effort, I did not anticipate it becoming a herculean task.
Aside from absurd rumours about Mew hiding under a truck at Vermilion Harbour, there have been no credible sightings. From Hoenn to Sinnoh, across regions and oceans¡ªnothing. This data gave me pause. Why do we believe Mew to be a real entity and not just another mythical creature, like so many deities in our world?
Unsatisfied, I contacted Lusamine again, pressing her for answers. To my surprise, she gave me Professor Diaz¡¯s direct contact.
¡°There was a thing with her daughter,¡± she remarked, sounding bored. ¡°Girl¡¯s bratty, and Tia¡¯s in a mood. Go bond over diapers and toddler tantrums if you want. I¡¯m not getting involved.¡±
Of course, one such as Lusamine does not understand the complexities of parenthood. I wasted no time in reaching out to Tiana, and to my relief, we understood each other quite well. We both want nothing but to see our daughters thrive in a world that is too dark for their precious soul.
Tiana was forthcoming, far more than I expected.
While she confirmed that Mew sightings remain unrecorded in most of the world, she revealed that there are well-documented accounts of an island where a cult once revered Mew. This island, she explained, is believed to be Mew¡¯s dwelling place. The good news: the location can be charted on a map. The bad news: it¡¯s called Faraway Island for a reason. Remote, dangerous, inhabited by wild Pok¨¦mon far more powerful than what most trainers ever face, and accessible only during a small window of time each year.
Beyond that, the details are scarce. Few have made the journey, and fewer still have returned.
My heart sank when Tiana asked which Pok¨¦mon I planned to bring on such a perilous trip. I couldn¡¯t bring myself to admit that the only Pok¨¦balls registered to my license belong to my infant daughter. Instead, I mumbled something about asking Blaine for help, trying to sound competent. Her response, though well-intentioned, only deepened my troubles.
¡°You should consider bringing an Elite-level trainer,¡± she said gently, sensing my hesitation. ¡°There¡¯s a reason my husband and I have never attempted the trip ourselves.¡± Her next words struck like thunder. ¡°Dead, you cannot help your daughter.¡±
Our call ended soon after. Apparently, young Celeste was struggling to figure out what her newly hatched Vulpix could eat.
¡°If you¡¯d like,¡± I offered, hoping to tighten our connection. ¡°I can put you in contact with Blaine. He¡¯s raised many Vulpix over the years.¡±
¡°Thank you,¡± she replied. ¡°But Celeste is capricious. She found herself the more difficult type of Vulpix.¡±
I sighed as the line went dead.
I was grateful, at least, that Tiana didn¡¯t see me as the monster others might. But per my arrangement with Lusamine, I kept my true intentions with Mew to myself. What weighed on me now wasn¡¯t the secrecy¡ªit was the overwhelming uncertainty.
How would I survive Faraway Island?
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Brat? Capricious? Seriously?
Celeste¡¯s eyes narrowed. And Lusamine? Bad move. You don¡¯t just hand over your friend¡¯s contact info to some mad scientist because you¡¯re annoyed with their kid.
She felt a soft tap on the side of her head, snapping her out of her thoughts. It was a hesitant pat, like someone wasn¡¯t sure if they were being supportive or just awkward. Celeste barely turned her head, catching sight of her shadow hovering next to her, trying their best to be... well, comforting, she guessed.
It was actually kind of nice.
¡°Only two entries left,¡± she said, a small smile tugging at her lips. ¡°Ready to find out how this island went to hell?¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
For Amber.
Though I might go far away,
My heart is always with you.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
September 20XX
Project Faraway
Tiana had insisted I bring an Elite-level team of Pok¨¦mon for the journey, and in the days following our conversation, it became clear why. Her husband, Professor Otto Diaz, had sent me more information about the island. According to him, strange and powerful Pok¨¦mon roam the seat of Mew¡ªsome even believe that other Legendary Pok¨¦mon visit the island to pay their respects. Otto, while less pragmatic than his wife, seemed to be the true expert on the subject.
¡°There¡¯s debate,¡± he explained, ¡°but I lean toward the theory that Faraway Island was once home to a great civilisation. Worshipers of the First One, Mew. Supposedly, they rivalled the Celestica people in power. The island¡¯s dotted with ruins, but no one¡¯s been able to properly study them. The location makes it nearly impossible. But from what I hear, it¡¯s quite the sight.¡±
I couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°I know Tiana mentioned Elite-level Pok¨¦mon, but with your connections¡ªand your own trainer prowess¡ªhave you never considered going yourselves? I would¡¯ve thought Faraway Island would be the kind of mystery you¡¯d want on camera.¡±
He hesitated, and when he finally spoke, his response¡ªor lack thereof¡ªcaught me off guard.
¡°Tia mentioned you¡¯re doing this for your daughter.¡±
I explained Amber¡¯s condition and the situation I found myself in¡ªor at least what I could without revealing too much. I opted to tell him that evidence suggested Mew¡¯s fur contained a life-saving chemical. Whether he or Tiana truly believed me, I couldn¡¯t say, but they didn¡¯t press for more details.
¡°Our daughter¡¯s angry at us right now,¡± Otto told me. ¡°She thinks we don¡¯t understand her, so she¡¯s striking out on her own.¡± I opened my mouth to say that my situation with Amber was different, but Otto stopped me. ¡°No, Fuji, it¡¯s really not. From one father to another, let me tell you: Celeste was right. We were so focused on doing what we thought was best for her that we forgot to include her in that conversation. Parents can make mistakes too. Before you risk your life, make sure this is what Amber wants. Make sure you¡¯ve exhausted all other options.¡±
The call ended soon after.
It was refreshing, in a way, to talk with the Diaz family rather than deal with Lusamine¡¯s coldness. But their daughter is just a rebellious teen. Mine is dying.
We live in worlds apart. The Diazes cannot possibly conceive the depth of my pain. For Amber, it¡¯s everything or nothing. There is no middle ground or conversation to be held.
Not long after that conference with Otto, I went to speak with my old friend Blaine.
His reaction mirrored Otto¡¯s. ¡°Find another way, Fuji. This can¡¯t be your only option.¡±
Amber is his goddaughter, yet even he didn¡¯t understand.
¡°If you can¡¯t secure an Elite Four member, then come yourself,¡± I suggested. ¡°I¡¯ve been told I need an Elite-level team to be safe. Isn¡¯t a Gym Leader close enough to that? Besides, I know you¡¯ve got vacation days to spare.¡±
He tried to remain firm, but we both knew that if I went, he wouldn¡¯t let me do it alone. ¡°Can I at least choose the date?¡± he grumbled.
¡°Unfortunately, we have a narrow window. December is our best shot. It¡¯s the low season for your Gym, is it not?¡±
Blaine chuckled in response. Apparently, he wanted to ¡°stick it¡± to Lance by closing the Gym at an inconvenient time. He never had much to say about the previous Champion, Jasper, but his complaints about Lance are endless¡ªmostly that he doesn¡¯t know how to manage the Indigo League public affairs. I imagine I¡¯ll have plenty of time to hear all about the young Blackthorn¡¯s failings on this trip.
Days turned into weeks, and then months, as we prepared.
The hardest part was securing transportation. Once we finally found a ship willing to take us, the fall leaves were already showing, and Blaine grew ever more uneasy.
¡°Did the archaeologists say anything specific? I¡¯m ready to face type disadvantages, but you mentioned Legendary Pok¨¦mon. What are we talking? Kyogre? Moltres?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve been training my Gym¡¯s strongest Delphox. She¡¯s a specialist in barriers, and her Teleport might come in handy. Is one psychic-type enough? In fact, how many Pok¨¦mon should I take?¡±
¡°Do we really have to go by sea? Charizard travel is easier on the nerves.¡±
It comes down to cost and reward. What am I willing to sacrifice for my daughter? How can I be sure we¡¯ll even find the Mew samples we so desperately need? How can I be sure they¡¯ll even work?
The cost is high. The reward, everything.
Still, in a sea of uncertainty, I find myself praying. Perhaps to the First One itself.
Is there another path I haven¡¯t seen?
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Celeste finished the entry, then read it again. And again. Each time, the words blurred together, but it wasn¡¯t Fuji¡¯s pain and desperation that held her attention. No, those weren¡¯t the lines she kept coming back to.
Maybe it was selfish.
What she couldn¡¯t stop reading were her father¡¯s words.
Shy had stopped their awkward attempts at patting her, but they hovered just by her. She leaned back against the wall, her eyes meeting the warm glow of theirs. They look right back at her this time. The red in their gaze was dim, and their bright yellow irises floated against it like stars in the night.
¡°Did you notice?¡± she began, the tiniest smile crossing her lips. ¡°Both of us have yellow eyes.¡±
Shy blinked, almost startled, and for a second, Celeste thought they might retreat into the shadows again. But they didn¡¯t. Not this time.
¡°Yours are cooler, though,¡± she added, her voice soft. ¡°I like that they glow.¡±
The red in their eyes flared ever so slightly, like embers catching the wind.
Was that¡ blushing?
Celeste bit back a laugh. Man, she wished she could just hug them right now. But¡ yeah, maybe not push it too much.
Refocusing on the journal, her fingers traced over the words her father had spoken again.
¡°It¡¯s hard,¡± she murmured, ¡°not to think of them as bad guys who just want to control me and all that¡¡± Her voice softened. ¡°I used to think of them as my best friends, you know? Told them everything. But lately, we¡¯re just... always arguing, and it¡¯s like... we never talk about real stuff anymore.¡± She hesitated, then added, ¡°I mean, the texts are better, but still¡¡±
She let out a long breath. Then, with a small nod to Shy, she turned the page.
¡°Last entry.¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
To Amber,
You are my everything.
You are my paradise.
My Xanadu
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
October 20XX
Project Xanadu
My daughter loves books. Her favourite is the tale of a young girl, lost in Wonderland.
It fascinates me¡ªwatching Amber play make-believe, seeing how she immerses herself in these stories. In her imagination, she is Alice, darting down rabbit holes and crossing through the looking glass. One moment she¡¯s towering over everything, the next she¡¯s shrinking, small enough to ask her Skitty for directions, laughing as she goes.
Every time I look at her, I have but one desire:
I must ensure that the light in her eyes never fades.
For Amber, I¡¯ve been prepared to do the impossible. But now, I wonder¡ªmaybe I won¡¯t have to?
Perhaps, just perhaps, the Legends do hear our prayers. Or perhaps a pair of archaeologists decided they didn¡¯t want my desperate fate weighing on their consciences.
But let me begin properly.
A book arrived in the mail this morning.
At first glance, I couldn¡¯t imagine why Otto Diaz had sent it. A poetry book. Something Amber might enjoy in the future, sure, but far from my immediate concerns.
Or so I thought.
The first poem was titled A Vision in a Dream. A Fragment.
¡°In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure-dome decree:
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea¡¡±
I read the lines, also scanning the other poems that followed. It seemed strange, but something about the name Alph tugged at my memory. Where had I heard that before?
When I set the book down, I was lost in thought, pondering not just Xanadu¡ªthis supposed utopia, a paradise beyond comprehension¡ªwhen I noticed a note slipped between the pages. It was from Otto, and it mentioned the Ruins of Alph, just south of Violet City.
That was it. The name jolted my memory.
Those ruins were a well-known excavation site in Johto, though their mysteries still eluded researchers.
My interest piqued, so I went to study the map of Indigo pinned on my wall. The first thing I noticed was that no river¡ªsacred or otherwise¡ªran near the ruins.
Puzzled, I went back to Otto¡¯s note.
Apparently, the ruins are the subject of much debate. Some argue it was once a thriving city, while others claim the very fabric of reality is distorted there. Some believe a gateway to the so-called Xanadu of the poem lies hidden within those ancient walls. Otto even included pictures of the engravings found on the site.
Were these engravings letters? The shapes were close, but something was off.
Still intrigued, I read on. Otto had included a translation of the inscriptions. They spoke of a great power, something primal. And he added that these inscriptions aligned with sightings of strange phenomena reported by the excavation team.
At first, I dismissed it. It was all very fascinating, yes, but these ruins would bring me no closer to saving Amber. Still, despite myself, I kept reading. Otto had attached a summary of a recent study analysing energy signatures at various ancient sites with similar engravings. The researchers hoped to harness the energy of primordial beings, such Arceus itself.
Does it always come back to energy?
Despite my wariness, I had no reason to distrust the Diazes.
Though the study yielded no conclusive evidence of Arceus, there was something else¡ªan unexpected discovery. A few sites, including Alph, Tanoby, and the Solaceon Ruins, shared a peculiar energetic signature. Higher-frequency beta waves, unlike anything seen in humans or Pok¨¦mon.
I hadn¡¯t anticipated being drawn in like this, but here I was, gripped by the possibilities. Otto had attached the full study and contact information for someone he trusted in Tanoby.
¡°Xanadu is said to be paradise,¡± Otto¡¯s note concluded. ¡°A place where illness and sorrow cannot exist. Before you venture into the jungle, explore your alternatives.¡±
Tanoby was not far.
I wasted no time contacting my colleagues in the Sevii Islands, as well as Otto¡¯s contact, and arranged to visit the Tanoby Ruins for myself. If a Pok¨¦mon exists that can transport us to a better reality, it remains unknown to us. Yet now, I find myself considering a possibility I had never dared to before¡ªsomething beyond science, something, as my old colleague Sada would call it, fantastical.
I do wonder what she would say if she knew I dream not of Xanadu, but of Wonderland.
Well, it is for you, my Amber, that I dive headfirst into the rabbit hole, clinging to the hope that on the other side, a world without suffering awaits.
For you, I would cross the threshold.
And for you, I will find these elusive beings.
These... Unown.
Chapter 80 - Cinnabar Labs III: Unown
Chapter 80 - Cinnabar Labs III: Unown
¡°For you, I would cross the threshold.
And for you, I will find these elusive beings.
These¡ Unown.¡±
Celeste read it aloud, her voice quieter than usual. Somehow, the words felt heavy, like they had a weight to them. And as she spoke, her shadow coiled tighter around her arm, shivering. That made her stop. Shy was spooked, and if the ghost was scared, that couldn¡¯t be good.
Still, she forced a laugh, shaking her elbow as if to jostle the fear away. ¡°Fuji spelled ¡®unknown¡¯ wrong,¡± Celeste tried to sound casual. ¡°Guy¡¯s got a PhD and can¡¯t even spell right, huh?¡± But Shy wasn¡¯t buying it. The ghost didn¡¯t relax one bit, and just lightly pulled on her sleeve. She pressed on anyway, exaggerating the syllables. ¡°Un¡ known. Un-own. Should I even say it different?¡±
Each time she said it, Shy¡¯s eyes flared, brighter, sharper, triggered. It was just a word. Why all the fuss? She paused, at least, waiting for Shy to calm down before she continued speaking.
¡°So, I¡¯m guessing that¡¯s what we¡¯re calling the eye things?¡± She sighed. ¡°Fuji brought them here, clearly. But that¡¯s the end of the journal, and we still don¡¯t know what actually happened.¡±
She glanced at her ghost, who had slunk halfway into the wall, head shaking but eyes narrowed, like they were watching something she couldn¡¯t see. Celeste¡¯s stomach knotted.
¡°Shy?¡± she whispered. The moment she spoke, their eyes snapped wide, panic flooding them as they wrapped tighter around her arm, pulling at her, frantic now. ¡°What? What is it?¡± She didn¡¯t really need to ask. Damn it. ¡°Jenny? How close?¡±
No reply came. Not right away, anyway. Shy only kept on pulling and making gestures and shapes with the shadows she couldn¡¯t really understand. It got to the point that they grabbed her hand and began moving it around randomly over the pages of the journal. Celeste blinked. Not randomly¡ they were pointing to specific letters.
¡°This is like an Ouija board, Shy. Heh. You¡¯re really letting you ghost show, buddy.¡±
She snorted at it.
It really wasn¡¯t the time, but Celeste couldn¡¯t help thinking back to that time she messed with an Ouija board in school. There¡¯d been this rumour about the academy being haunted by something worse than the usual Ghost-types lurking in the towers. Totally unrelated to the fact Lyra was running for student body president that week. (Okay, maybe Celeste started the rumour.) Anyway, when it gained traction, her parents just so happened to bring home an Ouija board from one of their trips. (Not really¡ªshe¡¯d bought it for the occasion.)
So, at recess, the ¡°kid whose family dabbled in weird old stuff¡± conveniently knew how to talk to ghosts by using the Ouija board. (Shut up, Lyra, it makes sense.) The Hammerlocke Spectre made its grand declaration: it had returned to see its chosen one, Lyra, crowned president. Plot twist! Everyone freaked out so much, no one voted for Lyra. What. A. Shame.
And for the record, no. It¡¯s not wrong to pull an elaborate prank on your bully. Detention was totally worth it.
Shy¡¯s grip squeezed, forcing her mind to snap back to the present as her fingers traced the letters on the page. ¡°W. R. O. N. G.¡± Celeste read it out loud, and the ghost kept going. ¡°Wrong. More power. Close. Jenny.¡±
Celeste¡¯s stomach twisted. ¡°This Ouija thing isn¡¯t all that fun,¡± she muttered, her voice hollow now. ¡°How long?¡±
Shy floated back, raising a closed fist. That meant zero.
¡°Great¡¡± Just great. Celeste nudged Pat awake, but her Slowpoke needed his time¡ªtime which they didn¡¯t have.
She shot up, darting back to the corridor and to a window over on the other side of the building¡ªthat¡¯s where Shy said the presence was stronger. Outside, in the dim light, she could just make out Jenny, or rather, the thing that looked like Officer Jenny, creeping closer to the building.
Also, why was Shy so rattled?
¡°It¡¯s okay we can¡ª¡±
Outrun Fake Jenny?
All this time they¡¯d been using the tram to get away quicker. But the tram was gone¡ªat least the one close by. Could she steal a car? Hotwire it, like in the movies? Never mind that she had no clue how to do that. Or how to drive, for that matter. And, also, she hadn¡¯t even seen a car nearby.
Celeste rushed back toward the conference room, ready to grab Pat and get the hell out.
¡°No tram, no car,¡± she muttered under her breath. Maybe there was a bike somewhere? Or they could run it to the next tram station¡ assuming it still existed.
Ugh. Focus. Exit routes? Access points for Jenny? That was the priority.
She glanced into the rooms as she passed, half-expecting Jenny to jump out of one. There was a second lift at the far end of the floor, three staircases, and a fire escape through Fuji¡¯s office. The rooms themselves? Useless. A break room, a tiny reception, and storage closets filled with enough cleaning supplies to sterilise the region.
¡°Jenny could come at us from anywhere,¡± Celeste muttered, striding into the conference room where Pat looked a little more awake. ¡°Let¡¯s just¡ª¡±
Her foot snagged on something, and Celeste yelped, stumbling over something by the door and crashing near her Slowpoke, who didn¡¯t even twitch. Really? Not even a nudge? Actually¡ could he even lift her with his psychic powers? Questions for later.
She rubbed her shoulder for a bit, Shy already rushing her.
As she sat up, her eyes drifted to what had tripped her. Babs¡¯ box of fireworks. Some had come off the box in her fall, and now colourful rockets and fuses scattered across the floor. She stared at them for a beat, her brain clicking.
¡°I think¡¡± Celeste murmured, eyeing the ¡°use outdoors only¡± label in one firework. Shy and Pat were watching her very intently. ¡°Guys, I think I have a really bad idea.¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Pat hated this idea the most. And honestly? That was fair.
If things went wrong, he¡¯d have to battle. And if they went wrong-er, he¡¯d have to put out a fire.
¡°I know, bud,¡± Celeste muttered, splashing alcohol and bleach across the floor. The scent alone was burning her nostrils and making her head dizzy, but they were the only flammable things she¡¯d found in under a minute. The fireworks were already set up at the end of the hallway, and the fuses soaked in half a bottle of alcohol. ¡°It¡¯s not exactly my best plan. But we can¡¯t keep running forever.¡± She forced a smile. ¡°Besides, we got rid of Fake-Joy. If those Unown-creeps don¡¯t make more copies, we¡¯ll be down two out of three on the fake people.¡±
She squeezed the last drop of bleach and tossed the bottle aside, pouring the rest of the alcohol toward the door of Fuji¡¯s office. Her stomach churned as memories of being trapped in a burning building on Four Island flashed in her mind, but she shook them off for now. Shy¡¯s steadying presence beside her helped. She glanced at the hole in the wall leading to the fire escape and took a deep, steadying breath.
Like she said. This was a terrible plan.
¡°Jenny can only come through this hallway,¡± Celeste said, trying to reassure herself. Pat rumbled in disagreement, but at least he wasn¡¯t spraying her with Water Gun to knock sense into her. Which meant, maybe, this wasn¡¯t her worst idea ever.
Or¡ maybe she¡¯d just set the bar way too low.
She sighed. ¡°One more thing, and you¡¯re definitely not gonna like it.¡±
Pat narrowed his eyes, his tail twitching.
She pulled a lighter from her pocket, stepping back cautiously. ¡°I¡¯ll toss this, then dart for the fire escape. But I¡¯ll have to call you¡ª¡±
He yelped before she could finish.
¡°I¡¯ll let you out as soon as the ground¡¯s in range,¡± she said firmly, raising her voice. ¡°Come on, Pat. I can¡¯t run fast enough carrying you and you can¡¯t run fast on your own.¡±
Pat¡¯s scowl deepened, but Shy drifted closer to him, letting the shadows creep up his legs this time instead of Celeste¡¯s. The ghost gave him a gentle tug, their eyes appearing, soft and calm. Pat stared into them, his rigid posture relaxing just a bit. Celeste had no idea if they were talking somehow, but something passed between them. With a resigned ¡°Poo¡¡± the Slowpoke trudged toward the door and placed himself in front of them.
His look back to her said more than just acceptance, though. She¡¯d wait until the last second to recall him and then release him when the ground was close enough.
Celeste nodded. Now, they just had to wait.
The lighter clicked open in her right hand. Pat¡¯s Pok¨¦ball sat ready in the other. Shy had climbed up to her knees but wasn¡¯t pulling¡ªpulling meant go, and that was only for when Jenny got close enough. Meanwhile, Pat¡¯s psychic energy pulsed, ready to be released at any moment.
If this didn¡¯t work, perhaps they could make a stand, anyway?
Seconds stretched. Celeste¡¯s heart pounded in her chest, fingers itching to let the lighter go just to get it over with. But she held on. This had to be timed perfectly. Just like with Joy. Trap her, hit the right moment, and¡ well, hopefully no weirdness this time. Hopefully, blowing up was just as valid a way to get rid of those things.
Celeste¡¯s pulse quickened as she set the lighter to life, holding her breath. Pat tensed, eyes wide, but Shy didn¡¯t tug. Not yet.
And then, the tug came¡ªsharp, shaky, urgent.
Now.
The lighter slipped from her fingers, tumbling down into the bleach-soaked floor. The flames caught instantly, roaring into a blazing inferno that lit up the hallway with an explosion of heat and fumes. Celeste staggered, momentarily disoriented. Shy yanked harder, and Pat let out a loud cry as he used his Confusion to shove the fire and smoke away from them. But beyond the flames, through the haze, Celeste saw it¡ªa shadowy silhouette creeping toward them.
Jenny.
She didn¡¯t wait to recall Pat like she was meant to. She slammed Pat¡¯s Pok¨¦ball button just as she spun on her heel and sprinted for the hole in the wall. He vanished in a flash of red, but without his psychic pull protecting her, the noxious fumes clawed at her throat. The room spun as she reached the edge and glanced down¡ªthe jump looked a lot further than it had before ago, stretching on and on.
No time to think. She tumbled down, more than she jumped.
It wasn¡¯t a graceful fall, and the landing knocked the wind out of her. She groaned as she scrambled to her knees, only to feel the fire escape sway violently beneath her. The metal groaned loudly under the strain.
Before she could get to her feet, Shy¡¯s shadowy arms seized her with a strength they¡¯d never shown before. No hesitation, no softness¡ªjust a pull. An explosion tore through the air above her, but the shadows were already closing in by then. Still, the shockwave hit, driving her down.
Down, down, down.
For a moment, it felt like she was drowning in the darkness until¡ªclack!
She crashed onto the fire escape, three floors below. The metal clicked beneath the impact, cracking, trembling¡ªready to collapse at any second.
There was no time to waste.
Celeste sprang to her feet, aiming Pat¡¯s Pok¨¦ball down at the ground as she dashed for the next flight of stairs. The structure groaned louder, tilting under her feet. It was all coming down, and fast.
Her first instinct was to stabilise the stairs. Could Pat hold them with Confusion? Not likely. Maybe Shy could¡ªshe tripped. A shadowy hole opened beneath her feet, too small to fall into, but enough to send her stumbling. She caught a glimpse of a few more flickering to life, only to fizzle out before they could grow larger than her fist.
¡°It¡¯s alright, Shy,¡± Celeste panted as she forced herself back up. Pat¡¯s wide eyes were fixed on her¡ªhe was bracing for the worst. ¡°I¡¯ve got another idea.¡± The panel beneath her feet wobbled dangerously. Two floors left and¡
Whatever. This would do.
Celeste bit her lip and yelled, ¡°Pat, slow me down!¡±
By the time the Slowpoke understood, she¡¯d already leapt a few more stairs, vaulting over the railing. Worst that could happen? Broken leg. Maybe. The air rushed around her as she felt the weightlessness before she fell. A cry echoed beneath her. Come on, Pat. You wanted to slow me down a few days ago, remember? She didn¡¯t say it out loud, but somehow, she knew he heard her.
As she grinned at him it was as if time stopped, and he squinted up at her, his expression saying loud and clear, This is not what I meant.
But that was her Pat. Not fast. Steadfast. His psychic energy caught her, wrapping her in an invisible hug that slowed her descent, and when Celeste¡¯s feet touched the ground, she was as light as a feather.
¡°That was amazing!¡± she gasped, barely able to enjoy the moment before the groaning creak of metal snapped her back to reality. She grabbed Pat, pulling him close as they scrambled out of the way.
The fire escape collapsed with a deafening crash, taking half the wall with it. Dust and debris rained down, but they were far enough now.
They were safe. At least for this moment.
Together, they moved far enough away, the heat of the moment finally dying out. Celeste¡¯s heart still hammered, but when she looked up, the night sky lit up with brilliant fireworks. Cinnabar red, bursting into flower-like shapes, some forming Pok¨¦mon outlines. A few even took the shape of Ledyba¡ªBabs¡¯ favourite, maybe?
What about that?
She chuckled softly. ¡°Happy birthday, Babs.¡±
Pat nudged her, pretending to be annoyed, but his eyes gave him away every time.
¡°Sometimes we slow down, think things through. But other times? We¡¯ve just gotta blow stuff up and jump off buildings. It¡¯s all about balance,¡± Celeste smirked, trying to sound wise. She couldn¡¯t help herself.
Pat sighed, plopping down beside her. And maybe it was her imagination, but he was definitely quicker with his reactions these days¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t have rolled his eyes at her that fast a week ago. Celeste sat down next to him, her fingers scratching his head gently, and together they watched the fireworks burst overhead. Shy hovered on the grass nearby, eyes also wide at the pretty colours in the sky.
For a moment, she thought maybe they could just stay here, watching the display forever.
That would¡¯ve been nice, wouldn¡¯t it?
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
The soft rustle of leaves was the first thing Celeste noticed. At first, she tried to convince herself it was nothing¡ªjust the wind, stirred by the lingering bursts of fireworks and explosions. But Shy, who had calmed a little since they escaped the building, stretched out to investigate. The rustling grew louder, shifting into a low rumble. Celeste turned her head, frowning, as her gaze snapped to the ground. Tiny pebbles were trembling beside her.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Another firework exploded, casting flashes of shadow and light across the grass. She straightened up, just in time to see Shy sliding back toward her and Pat, their shadowy form rippling under the glow of the sky.
¡°Jenny?¡± Celeste¡¯s voice wavered. Shy shook their head, tugging at her shirt. The wind picked up, the rumbling grew deeper. Even Pat shuffled a few steps forward, squinting as if he could sense what was coming.
¡°Shy, what is it?¡± she asked, but there was no answer¡ªjust more frantic pulling. Something was wrong. They couldn¡¯t stay here.
More fireworks lit up the sky as Celeste stood, and behind them, another explosion echoed from the smouldering Cinnabar Labs building. But that wasn¡¯t what was causing the ground to shake.
No, it was something else.
In the blood-red light of the fireworks, Jude stepped forward.
Celeste¡¯s heart lurched.
Jude wasn¡¯t alone.
On either side of him, strange creatures wriggled and blinked in and out of existence¡ªUnown. Dozens of them. Their bulging eyes and twig-like bodies shifted and hovered with eerie calm. This time, they didn¡¯t bother to hide. And yet¡ from up close, they seemed almost harmless. Celeste thought she could break one with her bare hands.
But there were more.
A lot more.
The Unown formed a circle over Jude¡¯s head, spinning slowly at first. The circles spun faster, then another ring formed within the first. And then a third outside. Unnerved, Celeste¡¯s eyes darted back to Jude, standing completely still, then to the creatures once more. Their circles spun faster and faster, like a gyroscope, where the wheels twisted in all directions as well as in on itself.
The next firework exploded, but when the light flared, everything was¡ pristine. Cinnabar Labs stood untouched¡ªno fire, no destruction, just¡ perfection.
Celeste¡¯s stomach churned. She stared at the spinning Unown, wondering if the strange formation they made spelled out something¡ªa message she couldn¡¯t read. More importantly, she wondered if she could run. Or if they would tear her and her Pok¨¦mon apart like they did to the tram.
Shy wasn¡¯t tugging at her leg anymore, but their dread-filled eyes were locked on the sky, unblinking. Pat, at least, had slipped into a battle stance.
¡°So now what?¡± Celeste whispered.
Jude still didn¡¯t move. Another final firework lit up, casting a brief light on his face before the Unown snuffed it out, plunging them into the night.
¡°You¡¯re worried,¡± Jude said, his voice calm, hollow.
¡°Very much,¡± she answered, suddenly feeling very tired of all this.
Jude¡¯s head tilted slightly. ¡°We enjoyed the fireworks,¡± he said. And it hit her then¡ªhis voice wasn¡¯t just his own anymore. It was many. ¡°You enjoyed them too.¡±
Celeste¡¯s throat tightened. What was she supposed to say to that? ¡°T-they were¡ pretty,¡± she managed, taking a step back. The Unown had closed in around her, tightening their circle.
¡°We can make more. Will that make your worry go away?¡±
Her mouth opened, but no words came. What the hell is going on? She swallowed hard. ¡°If you make them, they won¡¯t be real.¡±
Jude remained motionless, but the spinning Unown slowed. ¡°They will be real. We will make them so.¡±
¡°W-Why?¡± Celeste¡¯s voice cracked. She¡¯d reasoned with Articuno, hadn¡¯t she? Maybe she could reason with these things, too. ¡°Why are you doing this?¡±
¡°Why?¡± Jude¡¯s many voices echoed.
¡°Yeah. Why. Why doing this? Whatever this is.¡±
¡°Because reality is imperfect. Because humans worry, feel pain, and suffer when the cold of winter comes. But when you wish with all your heart for paradise, we make it so. We make the world perfect.¡±
Celeste shook her head. ¡°But¡ this isn¡¯t perfect. What about the people who like winter? What about the people who need to worry? Who need to feel things, the good as well as the bad, to make the world work?¡±
Jude¡¯s face remained expressionless. ¡°The wish was not theirs.¡±
¡°Wish? Was it Fuj¡ª¡±
Suddenly, the Unown began to spin faster again, and this time it wasn¡¯t just Jude¡¯s voice that filled the air. It was dozens, maybe hundreds of voices, overlapping. Like a chant or a hymn.
¡°¡Someone who worried¡¡±
¡°¡Someone who cried¡¡±
¡°¡Endless summers¡ endless smiles¡¡±
¡°¡Togetherness¡¡±
¡°¡Paradise¡¡±
The flood of voices was suffocating, pressing down on her. Celeste clapped her hands over her ears, trying to shut them out, but they kept going, their words spinning faster and faster, like a vortex pulling her in.
¡°Shut up!¡± she screamed, and suddenly, silence.
The air went still, heavy with the weight of all those eyes on her.
¡°It¡¯s¡ It¡¯s not good if it isn¡¯t real,¡± she said, her voice shaking. ¡°People can¡¯t possibly be happy like this. Not really.¡±
She almost felt hopeful in the moment of quiet that stretched between them. Like Articuno, the Unown would understand her¡ She would make them understand.
And then she hitched a breath when Jude finally spoke, his voice cold and singular. ¡°There is something wrong with you,¡± he said.
A chuckle escaped her lips, surprising even herself. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve heard that before,¡± she muttered. Then her eyes narrowed. ¡°But don¡¯t you think this world needs a little wrong?¡±
Jude actually squinted at that. ¡°No.¡±
¡°N-no?¡± She somehow didn¡¯t expect no.
He said nothing, just extended a hand before him. A Pok¨¦ball materialised in his palm.
Did they¡ want to battle her?
The Unown suddenly began spinning again, the eerie hum returning. ¡°We are the Codex of Creation,¡± they chanted in harmony this time. ¡°We wrote light into this world. We are the language of the creator, and our words are. With many eyes, we see. You laugh, you cry, and now you want to tear apart the world we have made. Even your ghost cannot hide the truth in your heart. So tell us: if we give you a chance to fight, will you yield to the dream we¡¯ve given? Or¡ shall we make it so you were never dreamt at all?¡±
Jude let the Pok¨¦ball slip from his fingers, and the spinning wheel above turned brighter¡ªblinding. The ball never opened. It morphed, shifting into the shape of a Growlithe¡ªthe same one that Fake Jenny had with her earlier? Perhaps. But this was just another copy in the end.
Celeste shot a glance at Pat. He nodded.
¡°Get ready, bud. I don¡¯t think we can afford to lose this one.¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
The Unown swirled overhead, moving in perfect sync, like the gears of a machine locking into place. Shy¡¯s movements mirrored the enemy¡¯s, coiling tighter around Celeste¡¯s leg, their trembling rippling against her skin each time the Unown drifted too close. Jude¡¯s voice, cold and mechanical, still echoed in her ears¡ªthe latest command had been Agility followed by Flame Wheel¡ªbut the whole thing felt scripted and void.
Celeste clenched her fists, resisting the urge to shout something desperate. Scripted or not, she¡¯d been waiting thirty agonising seconds for Pat¡¯s Water Gun to hit the fiery blur of the Growlithe streaking around him. Speed was a problem they hadn¡¯t solved yet¡ªand now was really not the time for problems.
Her eyes tracked the flames trailing from the dog¡¯s paws as it closed in on Pat again. The fire ring surrounding its body blazed hot as it charged headlong at her Slowpoke. Every muscle in Celeste¡¯s body screamed at her to intervene, but she bit her lip hard, forcing herself to hold back. If he took the hit, he could have an opening.
Arceus, damn it. She hated to tell him to take the hit.
But Pat, warrior that he was, stood his ground. Hooves dug into the grass, unflinching as the Growlithe slammed into him. Flames licked at his side, scorching his short fur, but the Growlithe didn¡¯t even pause¡ªit just kept pushing forward, following its momentum as if the impact hadn¡¯t happened.
Well, no complaints there.
¡°Disable it!¡± Celeste shouted.
For a moment, nothing happened. She almost called out for the move again, but stopped herself. Pat had heard her. He always did, even when he took his time to acknowledge it. This dynamic of theirs? Well, her part in it was to figure out the right timing, and his was to figure out how to make her bizarre ideas happen¡ªnot that Disable was bizarre.
¡°Increase the heat!¡± Jude called.
Too late, though. Pat¡¯s eyes flashed, and just like that, the flames around the Growlithe flickered and died out.
She was kind of glad these Pok¨¦mon more or less acted and worked like real Pok¨¦mon.
¡°Tackle it away from you!¡± she yelled.
This time, Pat didn¡¯t hesitate. He hurled himself at the Growlithe, the impact so fierce it sounded more like a Skull Bash than a Tackle. The fake dog barely reacted, though, and its blank expression remained unchanged. But Pat wasn¡¯t thrown off by the lack of response. Nor was he dizzy, wobbly, or even slowed by the collision.
He was ready.
And as the Growlithe staggered back, Celeste¡¯s next command came out without thinking.
¡°Push it away with Confusion! Keep it down!¡±
It wasn¡¯t part of any grand plan¡ªjust instinct. But it was more than enough.
Pat¡¯s body began to glow with psychic energy, the air around them humming with power. Blades of grass rose into the air, caught in the ripple of his move, as the battlefield pulsed under his control. The Growlithe tried to step forward, but its paws never touched the ground. It dangled mid-air, suspended in Pat¡¯s psychic hold.
It was¡ well, helpless wasn¡¯t the right word for it.
Most Pok¨¦mon would be flailing, scrambling, trying to fight back. Maybe even a little afraid. But not this Growlithe. This thing wasn¡¯t a real Pok¨¦mon. It wasn¡¯t afraid. It wasn¡¯t anything. Limply, it hung there, offering no resistance as Pat flung it aside.
Still, Celeste wasn¡¯t taking any chances. ¡°Water Gun!¡± she shouted. Before the words fully left her mouth, Pat unleashed the blast. A torrent of water shot forward, crashing right into the dog.
It didn¡¯t faint.
The moment the water stopped, the Growlithe dissolved, disintegrating into particles of light. The fragments rose into the sky, merging into the Unown¡¯s swirling ring above them. Just like with the tram, energy gathered above them, slowly growing stronger, denser¡
Not good. Not good at all.
Celeste straightened up, forcing a steady exhale, trying to centre herself.
¡°We¡¯re not so easy to beat. Not anymore,¡± she said, swiping her hand through the air like she could brush off the tension. She summoned every ounce of bravado she had. ¡°And none of us are very fond of yielding, either.¡±
Above her, the Unown spun faster, their movements erratic, like something was shifting. But Jude remained silent. So¡ what now?
¡°We won,¡± she called out, eyes locked on the swirling creatures. ¡°Now let us go!¡±
Bad call?
She wasn¡¯t met with silence this time around.
Jude¡¯s voice cut right through. ¡°There is no leave,¡± he said, as the Unown¡¯s energy created another Pok¨¦ball in his hands. ¡°There is no prize for winning. We offer you a chance to fight until you are spent. The only alternative is for you to cease.¡±
The energy swirling above her flared, casting long, distorted shadows as the Unown¡¯s sang in eerie, discordant harmony.
¡°C-Cease¡?¡± Celeste took a step back even though she could not run.
Jude dropped the Pok¨¦ball, and in a flash, the light morphed into a Houndour, eyes dead, burning with the same emptiness as the Growlithe before it. ¡°We give you another chance,¡± Jude said. ¡°Do you yield?¡±
Celeste bit down on her lip, gaze fixed on the Houndour. Another unevolved Pok¨¦mon, another Fire-type. Pat had the advantage with Water Gun. But it was a Dark-type, too¡
She shook her head.
It didn¡¯t matter. They could send out freaking Entei into battle for all she cared¡ªshe wasn¡¯t about to yield.
¡°Water Gun!¡± she shouted.
Jude was faster. ¡°Sucker Punch.¡±
Celeste winced. Which move was that again¡ª?
Before Pat could gather enough water for his attack, the Houndour blurred into motion. Its Sucker Punch wasn¡¯t a punch at all, more like a dark tackle, faster than she could react. Pat was sent sprawling, splashing into a puddle of his own failed Water Gun.
¡°Can you do a Yawn, bud?¡± Celeste called, her eyes darting over the battlefield, desperately searching for an opening. She barely heard Jude¡¯s follow-up¡ª¡°Bite.¡± Pat had made strides, but again, speed wasn¡¯t his game, and in this game Houndour was already upon him, jaws filled with pulsing shadows.
So what if he couldn¡¯t dodge in time? He also didn¡¯t flinch. Even as darkness oozed from the bite, Pat stood firm, the Yawn bubble swelling at his lips as he finished the move. And by the time it burst across Houndour¡¯s face, a plan suddenly clicked in Celeste¡¯s mind.
She waited, watching, as the Houndour released Pat and backed up a few steps. It wasn¡¯t disoriented¡ªit clearly didn¡¯t even feel the Yawn. It simply stepped back because that¡¯s what any Pok¨¦mon would do in this situation.
¡°Alright, Pat,¡± Celeste muttered, ¡°you don¡¯t know Protect¡± yet, ¡°but what about using Confusion to defend yourself? Focus the psychic energy¡ªspread it in a circle around you, just like the rings the Unown are making. Anything that comes close, you push it back.¡±
Pat just blinked at her. But ironically, there was no need to worry this time. She focused on his eyes, and she knew this was the right type of blink.
The attack came fast¡ªHoundour¡¯s jaws already filling with darkness. But this time, the move worked like a charm.
Or as well as she could expect, anyway.
On the first charge, Pat¡¯s psychic aura flared, spreading out in a shimmering circle just as Celeste had instructed. Her Slowpoke tried restraining the dog, but it bit through the psychic force, tearing its way forward. Celeste¡¯s breath hitched¡ªthen Pat shifted, swishing his tail almost angrily as he shoved the Houndour back before it could land another hit.
It scrambled to its feet and charged again. This time, Pat didn¡¯t even let it get close. A wave of Confusion sent the Houndour tumbling. By the third attempt, Jude¡¯s cold voice echoed across the field, ¡°Long range¡ Fire¡.¡±
Houndour stepped back, flames igniting along its incisors as it launched a blast of fire of some sort. A few of the flames hit Pat, and Celeste saw the pain flash across his face. He was resistant to fire, but the hits were starting to add up.
Still, she smirked, forcing confidence into her voice. ¡°Hang in there, Pat.¡±
The fire died down after only a moment, and the Houndour swayed on its feet, then collapsing to the ground. Its eyes were shut. Fast asleep. The Unown¡¯s dedication to ¡°realism¡± was truly impressive¡ªif not hypocritical.
¡°Finish it,¡± Celeste called.
She didn¡¯t have to tell Pat twice. He unleashed another Water Gun, drenching the dark fire dog until it too dissolved into particles of light. The fragments floated upward, feeding into the increasingly massive energy ball overhead.
Pat puffed out his chest, panting hard. He couldn¡¯t keep this pace forever, but right now? He had as much bravado as she did.
Keep them coming, she almost said.
¡°Are you done fighting now?¡± Jude asked, taking a robotic step forward.
Done?
Celeste was done with everything on this island. But yielding? No. Ceasing? Hell no. And then a cold thought hit her¡ªif she yielded, what would happen to her Pok¨¦mon? She wasn¡¯t immune to whatever the Unown were doing, so yielding meant she¡¯d be like Delia and Lori, and Aria and Powder. But Pat and Shy weren¡¯t affected. Would they be left behind? Would they have to cease? Pat could retreat into his Pok¨¦ball, but she didn¡¯t have one for Shy. Not anymore.
Her teeth ground together. ¡°Does it look like I¡¯m done?¡±
Her mind raced. She¡ªand more importantly, Pat¡ªcouldn¡¯t keep this up for long. The best option was to run, regroup, fight another day. But how? She was surrounded. Unown circled above her head and around her back. Unless she could sink into the ground itself, there was no way out¡ª
Her eyes shot wide open.
Jude was still talking, something about fighting, yielding, and ceasing. The word cease had a heavier weight now and his tone stayed firmly in that horrible Uncanny Valley spot. But though she knew he was deadly serious, Celeste wasn¡¯t really listening.
Her gaze drifted down to the ground, settling on Shy.
The ghost was attempting to blend in as a normal shadow, but their glowing eyes remained, and the edges of their form flickered, struggling to keep the shape. Shy trembled, though Celeste couldn¡¯t tell if it was from fear, excitement for the battle, or some strange mix of both.
Celeste tapped her foot gently, trying to catch their attention. No response. Not until she whispered their name. ¡°I have another idea,¡± she muttered. ¡°Can you follow my lead?¡±
Jude¡¯s voice sliced through her thoughts before she could say more. ¡°We take your silence as a no. If you do not yield, only one option remains.¡±
Say what now?
When she looked up, another Pok¨¦ball was already halfway to the ground. What emerged from the burst of light wasn¡¯t a small fire dog Pok¨¦mon this time. This one was different. A lot different. A tall, humanoid figure took shape, its body dark like smouldering coal, glowing red-hot at the edges as if still burning from within. It was clad in a golden armour of some sort, but the shoulder plates weren¡¯t attached¡ªthey hovered above its shoulders, as if held in place by sheer force of will. To complete the getup, a long plume of fire blazed from the top of its helmet¡ªor maybe it was part of its head¡ªtwisting in the air around them with pure heat.
Either way, that didn¡¯t matter.
It was clearly a Fire-type¡ªthat was easy enough to tell. But more than that, it radiated danger. Celeste had no idea what she was up against, but every instinct screamed that this one was trouble.
She didn¡¯t wait for Jude to speak.
¡°Pat, come closer,¡± she called. ¡°We need water. I don¡¯t care what, just put as much water as you can make between us and that.¡± She pointed toward Jude¡¯s new Pok¨¦mon, who stood still, flames swirling around its body, waiting for a command. ¡°Shy¡ just tell me you¡¯re listening,¡± she whispered.
Shy flickered faintly at her side. Jude was already giving orders to his Pok¨¦mon, the words beckoning the rising heat as the ground began to melt around the new Pok¨¦mon¡¯s feet. Pat gave Celeste a worried glance. They were way outmatched.
But it didn¡¯t matter. They¡¯d get out. They had to.
¡°Water, Pat. Loooots of water,¡± Celeste urged before turning back to her ghost. ¡°How far can you take us?¡±
Shy wavered, rippling with uncertainty.
¡°Doesn¡¯t matter¡¡± she muttered, her eyes darting to the mist rising fast around them. Jude had commanded some fire attack, and Pat was already struggling to hold it back. ¡°A few feet¡¯s fine¡ªjust get us behind them. As soon as we have enough cover.¡±
The ghost¡¯s form blurred more, their sides fully trembling now. Celeste bit her lip, watching the battlefield as best as she could through the thickening mist¡ªit was almost ironic that she was using mist, of all things, to run. But anyway. They were running out of time. Fire was spreading, the air getting smoky too.
¡°I know it¡¯s not much time, and I know you¡¯re tired, but we need you,¡± Celeste whispered, her voice soft as she spoke to Shy. Just for a moment, though. Then she snapped back to the battle. ¡°Crank it up, Pat!¡± she shouted, as she took cautious steps backward, heart hammering in her chest.
The battlefield was mostly obscured by the swirling steam now. Through the haze, she could just make out Jude¡¯s Fire-type. It outstretched a burning hand, commanding the flames like extensions of itself. Jude hadn¡¯t asked for anything more complicated, and by the looks of Pat¡¯s heaving breaths and dwindling stream of water, he didn¡¯t need to.
Celeste¡¯s fingers tightened around Pat¡¯s Pok¨¦ball. Shy flickered nervously beside her, maybe gathering courage or maybe just gathering strength. She wouldn¡¯t let Pat push himself to the breaking point, but¡ª
She inhaled the thick, humid yet smouldering air. Just a little more.
The Unown above were singing louder now, their energy swelling into a massive, looming orb overhead.
¡°Please, Shy,¡± Celeste breathed. A sudden tug on her leg made her glance down. Glowing eyes shining bright from her shadow, filled with a new resolve. They were ready.
This time, it was Celeste who gave the timid nod.
Without a second thought, she turned to the battle, barely able to see through the mist and flames. She pressed the recall button on Pat¡¯s Pok¨¦ball.
In an instant, the flames Pat had been holding back surged toward her, heat blasting against her skin, embers scorching her clothes¡ª
Then, before she could get burned, darkness.
The fall was shorter and much more steady this time.
Before she could take a full breath, she was spat back into the world, landing awkwardly in the pristine flower beds just a few feet away.
She stumbled, trying to find her balance, her shadow wrapping around her legs too tightly. ¡°It¡¯ll be alright,¡± she whispered, barely managing the words as she glanced toward the corner of the building, looking for any cover.
It wasn¡¯t much, but it was all they had.
She rounded the corner¡ªand froze.
Jude was there, waiting by the rose beds¡ªrose beds that hadn¡¯t been there until the Unown ¡°fixed¡± the building
How? Why? But¡ she had a plan!
Celeste glanced back to where she had just been. It was as if nothing had happened¡ªno scorch marks, no battle scars, no nothing. The only sign anything had happened at all were the Unown. They were still in formation, gliding slowly through the air, drifting toward her once again.
Running was a beautiful plan. But where could you run on an island?
The Unown swirled fully into view again, their formation spinning like the gears of a clock, winding reality to their will. They made wishes come true¡ªbut whose wishes? Fuji¡¯s? Their own? At this point, Celeste was too tired to care. She just watched as they encircled her and the building, the energy they held growing brighter and more menacing with every passing second.
¡°Do you yield?¡± Jude¡¯s voice was as flat and lifeless as ever. He approached slowly, his Pok¨¦mon walking alongside him, heat radiating from its armour.
Celeste sighed. ¡°I¡¡±
Her gaze drifted up to the armoured creature. It raised its arms, and the floating armour plates on its shoulders began to shift, locking into place around its arm, forming a cannon of some kind. Shy clung to her leg, all the way to her knees.
She couldn¡¯t yield. She couldn¡¯t leave her little ghost to face this alone. She just¡
Celeste squared her shoulders, staring down the barrel of the cannon. ¡°I can¡¯t. I won¡¯t.¡±
Jude nodded, as if he¡¯d expected nothing less. The energy the Unown had been gathering flowed into the Pok¨¦mon¡¯s cannon, charging it with a brilliant glow.
¡°Very well¡¡± he said slowly. ¡°Armarouge, Armor Cannon.¡±
Chapter 81 - Dominoes
Chapter 81 - Dominoes
Outside.
Celebi drifted through the timeless forest, weaving amidst the green that surrounded them. Leaves made of moments and branches made of years extended far beyond view. The laughter of a newborn tumbled through the wind, settling near roots born from the sorrow of a Kangaskhan who had lost her cub. The little pixie fluttered from root to canopy, watching as the tree grew mighty, nourished by that single leaf. And on the top, the cheers for the Kangaskhan whose strength had become so great she saved all the children in her village, swayed gently with the winds of destiny.
Higher they soared, far beyond the canopy, where the air thinned and the starless night sat above time. They paused only when they could see the entire forest and even glimpse parts of the next one. Not that the other forests mattered. This was their own¡ªthe forest they had been tasked to nurture and cherish so it would grow strong and healthy.
Well¡ not really tasked, as much as felt compelled to. The powers-that-be had instructed them only to observe and never interfere. But really, why create them with a divine spark of caring if it wasn¡¯t in the job description?
Celebi huffed, dismissing the thought as they focused their eyes on a cluster of branches obscured by thick, warping smoke, distorting reality around it.
Time had rules. Far too many boring rules. Celebi knew them well. Yet all the convoluted aspects of this particular wing of creation could be distilled into a principle so simple it was almost beautiful: cause and effect¡ªand destiny. But even destiny was bound by cause and effect.
What wasn¡¯t bound by those rules were those who could rewrite reality on a whim¡ªbeings who could make candy cane sprout from a willow seed without a second thought for logic or causality.
And naturally, out of all creatures in the universe, Celeste had to encounter those.
Celebi clicked their tongue in irritation. They had honestly expected the girl would remain protected by the winds blowing her way, no matter how hard her older self tried to meddle.
But no wind blew inside that smoke.
With another huff, Celebi swooped down to the edges of the rising fumes. They weren¡¯t foolish or sentimental enough to dive inside, but not everything was shrouded from sight. They could see young Celeste running, see her bonding with her shadow in ways the Celeste they knew never had. They watched branches splitting into possibilities. A tear. A tea party. A father. But those were fragile offshoots. Not all branches grow strong; some simply wither and die, as is nature¡¯s way. That, too, was part of the interconnectedness of their forest.
All these budding possibilities, and countless more, sprouted from a single leaf, almost invisible within the warped reality the Unown had crafted.
But, of course¡
She had to make herself essential in this mess, too.
Beyond the tangle of vines and moss and smoke, Celebi could see young Celeste standing still, staring down the barrel of a cannon. By His glory, she was loud. Not her voice¡ªher words came out barely above a whisper¡ªbut with her heart. She chose her Pok¨¦mon, her (though mostly their) mind, over her own life.
Celebi¡¯s breath caught. The energy surged around Celeste, crackling, wild, until it burst¡ªthe mirage shattered, unleashing the raw power of the Unown. It swallowed the girl whole.
This was bad.
They shot forward, eyes darting to the branches overhead. They could see them wilting, twisting.
This was really, really bad.
When they had allowed the older Celeste to play with time¡ªCelebi was meant to watch; no one had mentioned they couldn¡¯t let others meddle¡ªthey hadn¡¯t anticipated a paradox. Well¡ that wasn¡¯t entirely true. They had expected one, only not this soon.
The pixie grumbled, cursing the Unown under their breath. Chariots of His word. Pff. No one even liked those stuck-up letters. Except¡ what was this tingling sensation in their fingers, filling them with joy and excitement?
Their antennae twitched. A grin crept across their face.
If the Unown were bending reality, surely Celebi could tweak a branch or two, right? Just a small, harmless touch. They weren¡¯t breaking the rules. That was just¡ maintaining order.
A giggle escaped them.
Their eyes darted from leaf to leaf, and even through the smoke.
This was a big, big mess that could have been avoided had they simply ignored her when she first confronted them. But alas, Celebi hadn¡¯t ignored her then, and now¡
Now they got to have fun, too.
With a twirl and a sparkle, they danced among the trees and branches, momentarily losing themselves to become one with the green. They tweaked a twig here, whispered to a leaf there.
What was that game humans like?
Dominoes?
Oh, Celebi had always wanted to play.
Another giggle bubbled up as they watched time unfold in all its exuberance.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Cinnabar Gym - Lobby - November 13th - 1h30PM
Caleb Raines perched on the very edge of a plush, oversized sofa in the lobby of Cinnabar Island¡¯s Gym, his back straight as if even the cushions couldn¡¯t get him to relax. The steady patter of rain outside was distant and drowned out by the soft hum of the TV and faint voices echoing from the hall. His eyes kept flicking to the corner of the television screen, where the time sat in bold white: 1:30 PM.
Half an hour. In thirty minutes, he¡¯d be stepping onto the battlefield.
It was hard to believe. Only half an hour. Caleb had never been good with time. It always slipped through his fingers, no matter how carefully he planned. And now, more than ever, it felt like it was running out faster than ever.
At the start of his trainer career, he had chased badges across Hoenn, but for two years straight, he fell short, unable to collect all eight by year¡¯s end. He could still picture the meetings with his sponsors at the Weather Institute, their smiles tight and patience thinner each time. ¡°You¡¯re a great trainer, Caleb, but you take too long to prepare for your battles.¡±
They weren¡¯t completely wrong.
In his first year, he¡¯d earned five badges. In his second, he¡¯d only managed three. ¡°But I had decisive victories all three times! I even swept Wattson. Who does that?¡± he had told his boss. Ex-boss, to be exact. Their response had been blunt: ¡°No one does that, Caleb. For a reason.¡±
By his third year, Caleb had packed his bags and moved to Indigo, where trainers could take as long as they needed to collect their badges. No year-end rush, no looming deadlines. Trainers even had the option to choose between the Kanto or Johto circuits, depending on their style. More flexibility. More breathing room. It was exactly what Caleb needed¡ªspace to work at his own pace, space to be himself.
This all felt quite momentous now.
It had taken years. Not all his victories were as decisive as he wanted, and there had been plenty of setbacks. But here he was¡ªon the verge of earning his eighth and final badge.
Almost¡
¡°Leader Blaine likes explosions,¡± Caleb muttered under his breath, the eraser of his pencil tapping against the page of his notebook, which lay open on the armrest beside him. ¡°There¡¯ll be steam if I make it rain¡¡±
He glanced at his sketched diagram of the battlefield, brow furrowing as he adjusted the lines and Pok¨¦mon placement. If this was his last battle for a badge, it had to be flawless. A six-on-six sweep might be too ambitious, but victory could still be decisive, even if the whole team had to get involved.
Only thing was¡
Caleb chewed the inside of his cheek, flicking his eyes up to the TV mounted on the far wall. The news broadcast showed Dr. Fuji, head of Cinnabar Labs, stepping out of a helicopter earlier this morning, patting a large cardboard box like it held some grand secret. Cinnabar¡¯s news had latched onto it¡ªnothing else exciting was happening today. Caleb ignored the doctor¡¯s droning and focused instead on the corner of the screen.
Twenty-five minutes until his battle.
Odd. The Gym Trainers still hadn¡¯t come to take him to the prep room.
Caleb¡¯s gaze drifted back to his notebook, lingering on his planned lineup of Pok¨¦mon and matchups. He wasn¡¯t usually one to make drastic changes right before a battle, but he wasn¡¯t completely satisfied with what he had. When he arrived, one of the Gym Trainers had mentioned he¡¯d be fighting in Arena 3. In all his research, he had rarely seen Blaine use that field. It made sense, though. Arena 3 was the hottest of all the gym¡¯s battlefields, with large pools of steaming water. Too hot for most water Pok¨¦mon, sure, but also inconvenient for Blaine¡¯s fire-types. His Water-type wasn¡¯t most. And it seemed like the trainers organising his battle thought he¡¯d appreciate having more room to manoeuvre with Gale. It didn¡¯t matter to him, however¡ªhe had ways to ensure his Sharpedo was just as fast out of water as he was in it.
In fact¡ that hot arena threw off the whole strategy.
He sighed, tapping the edge of the paper. Monsoon was supposed to be his opener. His Castform, who could bring forth any weather even in the underground arenas of this gym, was meant to set up the rain. And with the cloud cover thick enough, they could keep the battlefield soaked for the entire match, weakening the Fire-types. But in this heat¡? The rain would sizzle out into steam in seconds.
Caleb¡¯s hand wavered as he hovered the eraser over Monsoon¡¯s name.
¡°Changing this close to the battle¡?¡± he muttered, slouching forward in thought and¡ª¡°Whoa!¡± he yelped, jerking back when his forehead collided with someone else¡¯s.
The kid in front of him¡ªstill ogling his notes¡ªrubbed his head and bounced back with a grin. Caleb¡¯s eyes followed the sunglasses, which jiggled wildly on the kid¡¯s lapel before settling on the big Volcano Insignia plastered on his vest.
¡°Hiya, challenger!¡± the kid chirped, bright and bubbly. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a trainer with so many notes before.¡±
¡°Uh-huh¡¡± Caleb adjusted his glasses, pushing a stray dreadlock out of his vision as he gave the boy a polite but confused smile. ¡°So¡?¡±
The kid just stood there, grinning, waiting. Caleb held his smile a beat longer before awkwardly turning back to the TV. The weather forecast was predicting rain for the week¡ªan improvement over the freak blizzard in Sevii that had messed with the waters of Indigo Bay a while back. But that wasn¡¯t what caught his attention. His eyes drifted to the time again.
Ten minutes until his battle¡
Caleb cleared his throat softly, hoping to prompt the boy into saying something.
It worked¡ªkind of. The boy¡¯s grin widened.
¡°I¡¯m Dan!¡± he announced, voice loud enough to echo in the otherwise empty lobby. ¡°And this is my partner, Wax.¡± He gestured to¡ the air. The empty air.
Caleb squinted at the empty space, then back at Dan, who turned red as the seconds dragged on. Caleb offered him an apologetic smile, unsure what else to do.
¡°Oh man, Wax! C¡¯mon, we¡¯re impressing the seven-badger here!¡± Dan yelled at nothing.
Okay¡ Caleb¡¯s eyes flickered to the clock on the television again, trying to make the kid notice the time.
Eventually he did.
Dan scratched the back of his head, following Caleb¡¯s gaze. ¡°Uh, right. Leader Blaine¡¯s caught up with some personal stuff. He says sorry, but your battle¡¯s been pushed back to 5 PM.¡± He made an exaggerated bow, almost falling over. ¡°You¡¯re free to have lunch in the cafeteria, or use the gym facilities if you want.¡±
Caleb blinked, trying not to let the relief show too much. More time to prepare? Before the most important battle of his career? Yes, please.
¡°Thanks,¡± he said, nodding. Then, after a beat, ¡°Can I check out Arena 3 by any chance?¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Southern Harbour - Playground - 1h40PM
Cheshire gently pushed Amber¡¯s swing with his tail, the soft, slow rhythm making the world feel like it was swaying with her. The sky above was a gloomy grey, like someone had painted over the sun. Little raindrops from earlier still clung to the leaves, and everything smelled fresh and wet. The Skitty purred, flicking his tail again, and the swing went higher. Amber giggled softly. Nearby, Twiddledee and Twiddledum¡ªher two teacup-shaped Pok¨¦mon¡ªfloated in and out of sight, their tiny forms spinning around her like they were dancing.
¡°I wish it was still summer,¡± Amber whispered to her Pok¨¦mon, sneaking a glance at the puddles glistening nearby.
In summer, there was sunshine, no school, and no uniforms to mess up. Now, her blue skirt and white blouse were already smudged with dirt from sitting on the wet sidewalk. Mommy always said not to play in the mud, because she¡¯d get sick, and getting sick wasn¡¯t nice. But puddles were so much fun. They made the world look upside down, just like in her favourite book, and Amber loved that. Everything was more fun when it was a little topsy-turvy.
Not too far away, Mommy and Blainy were talking. They thought she couldn¡¯t hear them, but Blainy was always loud, even when he tried to be quiet.
¡°Her father was supposed to pick her up, not you,¡± Mommy said, her eyebrows scrunching up the way they did when Amber let Whitey play indoors. Blainy rubbed the back of his neck, looking a bit sorry.
Amber liked Blainy. A lot. He was the one who gave her Whitey and all her other Pok¨¦mon friends. It had started with Whitey, back when she was in the hospital for a whole month. That was when she was five, and it was the worst. But when she finally got better, Blainy took her to the Gym and showed her all the baby Pok¨¦mon. Whitey was there, hopping around with his feet on fire, and he looked just like the White Rabbit who was always very, very late for an important date. The next day, Blainy showed up at her house with a Pok¨¦ball tied with a red bow. Inside was Whitey! Then, a while later, when she said she loved pink kitties like Cheshire, he brought her Skitty. And for her last birthday, he gave her Twiddledee and Twiddledum so she¡¯d always have friends for tea parties, even when the other kids didn¡¯t come.
Daddy said she should thank Blaine twice¡ªonce for the gift, and twice for not filling their house with fire hazards.
¡°You can¡¯t always cover for him, Blaine!¡± Mommy¡¯s voice got louder. Amber¡¯s daddy and mommy didn¡¯t live together anymore. She hated that, almost as much as she hated rainy days without rainbows.
Blainy shoved his hands deep into his pockets. ¡°I know,¡± he mumbled, looking at his shoes. ¡°Didn¡¯t you have some clients coming over?¡± he quickly added, trying to change the subject.
¡°I do,¡± Mommy sighed, waving towards the busy harbour where big ships bobbed up and down. ¡°I planned this meeting because Ren said he¡¯d be here. He promised to pick her up from school¡ªwhich he didn¡¯t. Then he said he¡¯d meet us here¡ªwhich he hasn¡¯t. He also said he¡¯d spend time with his daughter today. But we both know how that goes¡¡± Her voice trailed off as she glanced over at Amber.
Amber quickly looked down at her shoes and whispered to Cheshire. ¡°Go higher, please.¡± His tail pushed the swing a little harder, making the wind ruffle through her hair.
¡°My client¡¯s ferry is arriving any minute, and I can¡¯t have Amber out in the cold while I show them around,¡± Mommy said, her eyes stern as she looked at Blainy.
¡°I¡¡± Blainy started, fiddling with his watch. ¡°I have a battle scheduled soon. I don¡¯t feel right leaving her with the Gym trainers after spending the day alone¡¡±
Mommy rubbed her forehead like she had a headache. ¡°Can you take her to Cinnabar Labs for me?¡± she asked. Amber didn¡¯t like it when mommy looked so sad. Why couldn¡¯t she and daddy just be happy together again?
Blainy sighed, pulling out his phone. He typed something quickly, then looked up and smiled at Amber. His moustache twitched, the ends curling up when his eyes met hers.
¡°So, little Ember,¡± he said, making the ¡®E¡¯ sound extra long. ¡°What are we gonna do today?¡±
Amber¡¯s heart felt a tiny flutter. ¡°My name is not Ember, Blainy!¡± she giggled.
He gasped dramatically, his eyes wide. ¡°What? I could¡¯ve sworn you were made of fire!¡±
She laughed, jumping off the swing and running over to hug him. His coat smelled like campfire and peppermint. ¡°Can we fly on your Charizard today?¡± she asked, her eyes shining with hope.
Mommy gave Blainy one of her looks, but he just winked. ¡°Charizard? Oh no, kid. That¡¯d be waaaay too dangerous,¡± he added, with a small laugh.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Cinnabar Labs - Room 4B - November 13th 3h13PM
Babs scrolled lazily through Silph Co¡¯s career page, her finger dragging along the trackpad like it was stuck in molasses. The last sip of her energy drink had gone lukewarm in her mouth, and honestly, it wasn¡¯t doing much to keep her awake. She hadn¡¯t slept last night¡ªnot a minute¡ªand now¡ now she was forty. Forty. The big four-oh. And what did she have to show for it? Ten years spent at Cinnabar Labs working for a temperamental, delusional boss, who threw a tantrum every time his ethically questionable projects hit a roadblock.
¡°Silph offers dental, Lady! Freaking dental!¡± she said out loud, staring at the benefits tab in disbelief. Her voice bounced off the walls, met only by a half-hearted buzz from her Ladyba.
The Bug-type, who she¡¯d caught exactly two years ago when she¡¯d flirted with the idea of ditching everything to become a trainer, was neatly unpacking the fireworks for the birthday party her coworkers insisted on throwing and reorganising it in another box. It wasn¡¯t like Babs had volunteered for this party. In fact, she regretted it deeply. A party she didn¡¯t even want, yet she still had a checklist of things to buy.
What she really wanted was to go home, bury herself under a blanket with a bucket of ice cream, and binge some trashy romance until she passed out.
¡°There¡¯s Razzo too¡ Their main office is in Vermilion, not Saffron. But they don¡¯t offer dental.¡± She opened another tab, eyes glazing over. ¡°What do we prefer, Lady? Vermilion is by the sea¡¡±
Lady didn¡¯t glance up, continuing to sort the fireworks until a soft knock disrupted the monotony.
¡°Hey, girl!¡± It was the temp from the reception¡ªa chipper twenty-something who had been temping for far longer than was reasonable. She bounced into the room, carrying yet another box. ¡°You heading to that big Tanoby project meeting?¡±
Babs made a noise somewhere between a groan and a hum. No one knew what this ¡°Tanoby project¡± actually was. No one wanted to know. And certainly, no one was eager to endure another of Fuji¡¯s tirades about their ¡°narrow minds¡± incapable of grasping his ¡°genius.¡± The thing was no one had the energy to argue with him anymore either.
Most just avoided him like the Pok¨¦rus and carried on with their day.
¡°Can you take this box there?¡± the temp plopped the new box next to the fireworks¡¯, her eyes lighting up when she noticed them. ¡°Oh my Arceus, the party is going to be so fun tonight, Babs! Seriously, everyone needs this. You¡¯re a hero, girl! Anyway¡ aren¡¯t you late or something?¡±
Before Babs could even answer, the girl vanished down the hall. Late? Avoiding Fuji was practically a game in itself these days, but meetings had a way of catching up to her.
She sighed, glancing at Lady, who buzzed sympathetically before closing the firework box with a few annoyed clicks. At least Lady understood her pain. Babs muttered some words of gratitude, returning the Ladyba to her Pok¨¦ball. She wasn¡¯t even supposed to have Lady out in the building, but who cared at this point?
Heaving herself up, she trudged to the corner and stacked the two boxes. They felt heavier than they looked. Struggling under the weight, she navigated toward the elevator, vision obscured by cardboard edges. She jabbed the ¡®up¡¯ button with her elbow, silently pleading for the doors to close quickly.
Just as they began to slide shut, a hand darted in, stopping their progress.
From beneath the boxes, Babs saw small feet step inside. A bright, cheerful voice filled the elevator. ¡°Flying is the best, Blainy!¡±
This wasn¡¯t just any child¡ªit was the child. Amber Fuji¡¯s teal hair was unmistakable.
¡°Need some help?¡± Another voice chimed in. The top box lifted from her grasp, and the weight eased. Babs tilted her head to see Leader Blaine smiling kindly beneath his bushy moustache. His frequent visits had made him a familiar sight, and the staff was long past the point of being starstruck.
¡°Thanks,¡± Babs mumbled, blinking a little at the unexpected help. Blaine didn¡¯t seem in a rush to chat, for which she was grateful. The lift doors slid shut, and for a moment, the quiet was comfortable.
As the lift dinged open again, Blaine stepped out, gently shaking the box. Something rattled inside. He frowned. ¡°Hmm, where should I¡?¡±
¡°Fireworks,¡± Babs offered a faint smile. ¡°For a party later today. Could you take them to the lounge?¡±
¡°Ah, fireworks! Sounds fun!¡± Blaine said with a nod, before glancing at Amber with a hesitant look. ¡°Uh, if you see Ren, could you let him know we¡¯re here?¡±
Babs just gave a short nod back, wondering for the millionth time how someone like Blaine ended up being friends with someone like Fuji. It made no sense. One was warm, approachable. The other¡ not so much.
As Blaine headed toward the lounge, Babs shuffled into the conference room, hoping to slip in unnoticed. No such luck. Fuji¡¯s sharp eyes locked onto her the second she stepped through the door. She set the box down in the corner as quietly as possible, but it didn¡¯t matter. He immediately started toward it, muttering something about ¡°utmost care¡± and already reaching for it.
Babs didn¡¯t even bother listening. She just wanted another energy drink at this point.
¡°Dr. Fuji,¡± she cut in, ¡°your daughter and Leader Blaine are here.¡±
He froze mid-motion, widening his eyes. For a moment, it was like he¡¯d forgotten everything else. Mumbling something incoherent, he turned from the box, never really inspecting it, and darted from the room, announcing they¡¯d start the meeting shortly.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
The second he was out of sight, Babs slumped into a chair at the oversized conference table. The projector on the far wall flickered on, displaying some ancient ruin or another. Great. Now they were working on archaeology?
¡°Hey, Babs,¡± one of her coworkers nudged her. ¡°Don¡¯t forget the drinks you brought. They need to go in the fridge before the party.¡±
The drinks! She¡¯d forgotten the drinks. Were they even on her list? She couldn¡¯t even remember.
A surge of panic rose within her. She shot to her feet, more distressed about the unwanted party than that useless meeting.
¡°Cover for me,¡± she hissed, already edging toward the door. Not that it mattered. Maybe if she got fired, she¡¯d finally have the nerve to send her resume to Silph Co.
Dental plan and a reasonable boss sounded really nice.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Cinnabar Gym - Arena 3 - November 13th 4h48 PM
Dan sprinted across the hot arena floor, his trainers barely touching the ground as he raced to his spot. Late, again. He was always late for gym practice, but referee duty? This was a million times worse. Every step made the bottoms of his shoes feel like they were on fire, and he could practically feel the eyes of everyone watching him.
¡°Run, Dan, before Blaine gets here!¡± Rayla¡¯s voice boomed from the front row, followed by a ripple of laughter. He tried to ignore it. Viv had told Cas, who told Max, who told Dan that Rayla was totally jealous Blaine had picked him to be supporting referee at an eight-badge battle. And who could blame her? These matches were the hottest, and he had the best seat in the house!
Blaine always paired a rookie (second badger) referee with an experienced one for battles above five badges¡ªit was meant to be a learning experience. Today was supposed to be Billy¡¯s turn, but Billy had a dentist appointment at five, and somehow, none of the Second Badgers were around when Blaine called to move the battle forward.
Which was totally flaming, because Dan was right there, ready and available. Which might lead to the question¡ª
¡°You¡¯re late,¡± Cas muttered as he skidded to a halt beside her. Cas was a six-badge trainer with a Combusken she¡¯d been insisting would evolve ¡®any day now¡¯ for two months. ¡°I had to prep the challenger in your place,¡± she added, her Combusken crossing her arms and nodding by her side.
¡°Sorry!¡± Dan panted, still catching his breath. ¡°I was looking for Wax.¡±
Cas glanced around, then back at him with a squint. ¡°Again? Where is he now? You know Blaine¡¯s going to¡ª¡±
¡°I know, I know!¡± Dan flailed his arms a bit, like that¡¯d stop her from finishing the sentence. Blaine¡¯s rule was that referees needed their Pok¨¦mon beside them in case something went wrong. Dan thought it was a little over the top, since there were barriers and nothing ever went wrong. But rules were rules. He inhaled deeply and called out for his Pok¨¦mon.
Right on cue, his Litwick appeared above his head, his tiny flame flickering cheerfully. Dan grinned widely. He¡¯d promised Wax that if he stayed put for this battle, they wouldn¡¯t do anything boring for a whole month. It wasn¡¯t Wax¡¯s fault he loved to explore; Dan loved that about him, even if it did make them late for literally everything.
Cas rolled her eyes but tried to keep it professional. ¡°Blaine came in a little while ago. He looked¡ not happy.¡±
Dan¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Dinah told Viv, who told Billy, who told me it¡¯s because of Amber. Again.¡±
She snorted. ¡°Did you see him on TV earlier? Acting like Dr. Fuji¡¯s not completely creepy?¡±
¡°That¡¯s called friendship,¡± Dan said brightly. Wax did a happy spin above his head, trailing a soft glow. ¡°Anyway, what about the challenger? Rayla told Max, who¡ª¡±
¡°To the point, Dan.¡±
He grinned. ¡°Terrain trainer. Weather expert. Isn¡¯t that sooo flaming?¡±
Cas scoffed. She was more of a Fire Punch, Blaze Kick kind of gal. ¡°That¡¯s totally icy. He¡¯s gonna lose.¡±
¡°I dunno,¡± Dan said, bouncing on his heels. ¡°I saw his notes earlier. They were just¡ª¡±
¡°Pshh, here comes Blaine,¡± Cas hissed, cutting him off. With a quick flick of her hands, she slipped on her sunglasses, and Dan scrambled to do the same. Constant exposure to bright lights could be bad for their eyes, so Blaine insisted on the sunglasses rule, but Dan didn¡¯t mind. It was flaming.
The speakers around the arena then crackled to life, and Max¡¯s voice, who was doing commentary today, filled the gym, announcing Leader Blaine Forge and challenger Caleb Raines. This was a full six-on-six battle with four allowed switches. The audience clapped enthusiastically, though the gym wasn¡¯t as packed as usual for Eight-Badge battles. Between the rain, the fact it was off-season in Cinnabar, and the last-minute schedule change, the crowd was thinner than expected.
The signal to begin buzzed, and both trainers released their first Pok¨¦mon. Blaine sent out Lahar, the Gym¡¯s Alolan Marowak, who casually tossed his bone club into the air and caught it, striking a cocky pose like he¡¯d already won. Across the field, the challenger released something Dan had never seen before. His eyes widened in awe. The Pok¨¦mon looked like a cross between a Ledyba and a UFO, with a shiny, metallic exoskeleton. Its wings had this strange, spiralling glowing patterns that spun around and around and¡
¡°Whoa¡ª?¡± Dan murmured, blinking as slowly, only snapping out of it when Cas jabbed him sharply. The battle had already started.
¡°You didn¡¯t study the challenger¡¯s lineup, did you?¡± she muttered. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to study before you referee, Dan.¡±
He scratched his head sheepishly. ¡°Oops? I¡uh¡ I didn¡¯t have time?¡±
¡°That¡¯s an Orbeetle,¡± she explained quietly. ¡°Bug and Psychic type. He¡¯s probably setting up Psychic Terrain. Look.¡± Cas nodded toward the steaming pools of water around the arena. The surface of the water was rippling like it was alive, bending to Orbeetle¡¯s will. ¡°This guy taught his ace¡ªa Sharpedo¡ªto ¡®swim¡¯ through psychic fields.¡±
¡°Whoaaaaa, that is so flaming.¡±
¡°Dan!¡±
It was her Combusken who gave him a small kick to ¡°behave¡±.
On the battlefield, Marowak darted forward, dragging his bone along the ground like he was about to strike a match. The instant it ignited, Wax let out a tiny squeal from his spot on Dan¡¯s head, and the whole arena flared up as Lahar unleashed a blazing Flamethrower. The flames roared across the field, lighting everything up. But the challenger¡¯s Orbeetle didn¡¯t flinch. With a smooth motion, it sent a wave of water surging up from one of the pools, effortlessly gliding around the smoke and stray embers as they fizzled out in the air.
Cas scoffed. ¡°His ace is still a fish, Dan. Dinah even felt bad for him. Figured Arena 3 would give him a better chance to adapt.¡±
Dan barely heard her words, his eyes glued to the battle. The Orbeetle hovered higher, making its psychic energy crackled in the air as it tightened its control over the battlefield. Streams of water shot up from the pools, surging toward Marowak. Blaine¡¯s Pok¨¦mon countered with a fiery Bonemerang, but even that was caught and swallowed by Orbeetle¡¯s psychic control, and the spinning bone held mid-air before dropping into one of the pools with a splash.
Marowak fumed at that, letting his flames dance wildly around him, as frustration set in. Blaine¡¯s voice rang out, telling him to focus, but the challenger seized the moment, calling for a Confuse Ray. Dan¡¯s grin widened¡ªhe loved that move, even if it wasn¡¯t the strongest.
But Orbeetle didn¡¯t do it.
Instead, waves of Psychic energy flared across the arena. The water swirled faster, and the barriers around the Pok¨¦mon¡ªthe ones that were supposed to keep things safe¡ªbegan flickering, pulsing in the same strange way. Even the Gym Delphoxes in barrier duty looked completely out of their depth.
¡°Is¡ the Psychic Terrain messing the barriers?¡± Dan asked, stepping back as a ripple of energy surged toward them. Wax quickly intercepted it, burning it away with his ghostly flame.
¡°What the hell?¡± Cas muttered, her Combusken raising her fists as if it could punch the psychic energy away.
And then¡ª
A screech. Loud and piercing.
Dan didn¡¯t know what was happening, but he instinctively grabbed Wax into his arms. The ground rumbled like the volcano beneath them was angry, and he stumbled, clutching his ghost even tighter. The Litwick¡¯s flame dimmed, but Dan felt a strange warmth seep into him, like Wax was shielding him from whatever was happening.
Then, just as suddenly, it stopped.
Dan cautiously opened one eye, then the other. The arena looked¡ normal? Yet, something felt off. Wax¡¯s flame was dimmer, and something inside told Dan not to let go.
¡°Huh¡¡± Cas trailed off.
He glanced at her. She seemed different¡ªmore relaxed, almost dreamy. She removed her sunglasses, blinking as if seeing the world for the first time.
¡°Don¡¯t you think staying underground is so dreary?¡± she said, stretching her arms above her head. ¡°And these sunglasses make everything so dark!¡±
¡°Cas, the battle¡¯s not over! Blaine¡¯s gonna freak!¡± Dan yelped, his eyes wide with panic. But Cas just shrugged, completely unfazed, and started sauntering off toward Viv, who, for some reason, thought it was perfectly fine to stroll in there during a match.
Dan whipped around, his eyes darting to the battlefield. The challenger had stepped onto the field, with his Orbeetle hovering above him as he spoke urgently to Blaine. Something wasn¡¯t right. Even Marowak stuck close to Blaine¡¯s side, glancing around, almost¡ nervous?
This¡ wasn¡¯t how battles were supposed to go.
Unsure of what to do, Dan rushed toward Blaine.
¡°¡and don¡¯t you think we can protect them all?¡± he could hear Blaine asking.
Caleb didn¡¯t answer, but both men stared up at the Orbeetle, still hovering by.
Dan¡¯s footsteps splashed through the puddles as he came near, catching Blaine¡¯s attention. The Gym Leader glanced at him, then at Wax, like the little Litwick was some kind of explanation.
¡°Where¡¯s Cassia?¡± the Gym Leader asked.
Dan hesitated. ¡°She¡¯s¡ acting weird,¡± he muttered, glancing over his shoulder at Cas, who was now laughing with her friends.
Above them, the Orbeetle emitted a sharp, clicking sound.
Blaine¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°We were lucky,¡± he said in a lower tone. ¡°The timing was¡¡± He trailed off, turning to Caleb. The challenger said nothing, but his gaze was locked on the Orbeetle.
Dan shifted nervously, his feet splashing in the water. Then Blaine¡¯s voice boomed, shattering the silence.
¡°Everyone out!¡± he barked, gripping Dan¡¯s shoulder to hold him in place as the remaining spectators strolled for the exits.
Dan could only glare.
¡°I will need you to step up right now, Daniel.¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Southern Harbour - Marina - 8PM, November 16th
Ariana sprinted through the maze of warehouses lining Cinnabar¡¯s Southern Harbour, her combat boots pounding against the cracked asphalt. Every few strides, she¡¯d cast a sharp glance over her shoulder, crimson hair whipping across her face like flames. Rebel, her Murkrow, clung tightly to her shoulder, his claws digging in as he struggled to keep his balance with each abrupt turn.
¡°What the fuck did I get myself into?¡± she muttered, her jaw tight enough to crack.
A quick day-trip to vent to Gio about her shitty dead-end job had somehow turned into a three-day nightmare. Now, Gio was acting like some grinning idiot, Officer Jenny was breathing down her neck, and this whole goddamn island felt like a giant fucking trap. The worst part? She had no idea how the cops even got involved. Then, on top of that, every ferry was conveniently out of service, the phones were dead, and she couldn¡¯t even radio HQ¡ªit was like everything was designed to screw her over. None of it made any sense. And if Jenny didn¡¯t slap cuffs on her, her boss would definitely kill her for ditching her post for so long.
¡°Just my luck,¡± she snarled under her breath. ¡°Should¡¯ve stayed playing nursemaid to that asshole at the Seafoam Islands.¡± The thought made her shudder. Things had to be seriously screwed up for her to prefer that.
She skidded to a halt at an intersection, scanning both directions. Left? Right? Left?
Right. Her gut said right.
And thank fucking Arceus it did.
A minute later, a small, half-lit marina spread out before her, dotted with a few beat-up motorboats lazily tied to the docks. The knots securing them were laughably amateurish. She smirked, untying one with a swift tug and leaping aboard. But when she glanced at the ignition¡ªno key.
Of course, there wasn¡¯t one.
But no problem. She¡¯d hot-wired enough cars to figure this out. Boats couldn¡¯t be that different, right? Ariana knelt beneath the helm, fingers searching for a panel.
As she did so, Rebel¡¯s talons dug into her shoulder, wings twitching like he might take off. But she knew better. Last time he¡¯d flown off, everything had gone wrong. She barely remembered it, just this suffocating, desperate urge to claw her way out of her own head. But her screams stayed locked inside, twisting into a laughter she couldn¡¯t control, like her body was betraying her. Like she was physically incapable of caring for anything.
¡°Chill out,¡± she muttered, finding the panel. ¡°Just give it a quick push, alright?¡±
The Murkrow cawed, uneasy.
¡°Just a Night Shade.¡±
With a reluctant fluff of his feathers, Rebel¡¯s body darkened, crimson energy bleeding into the cracks of the panel. With a series of metallic clicks, the cover popped open, clattering to the deck.
Ariana exhaled, tying her hair back, feeling the sticky salt of the sea air cling to her skin. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do this.¡± She poked her head into the mess of wires, and¡ Shit.
Boats didn¡¯t work like cars at all.
Her hand hovered between two wires, trying to figure if it was red to blue or blue to black, when she froze at the sound of approaching footsteps.
Officer Jenny? Already?
She tensed, ready to bolt, when two figures rounded the corner.
They weren¡¯t Officer Jenny. Trainers, by the looks of the Pok¨¦mon following them. The first was a tall girl with short, curly brown hair and a constellation of freckles across her nose. A big ass Incineroar padded beside her, muscles rippling under striped fur. The second was a kid, maybe twelve, with a Litwick bobbing cheerfully above his shoulder.
¡°Gym trainers.¡± Ariana¡¯s eyes narrowed, spotting the Volcano insignia stitched onto their vests. They couldn¡¯t be with the police¡ could they?
¡°¡Murkrow with her,¡± the kid whispered, a little too loudly, as they made a beeline for her.
Ariana sized them up quickly. The kid and his birthday candle didn¡¯t worry her. The girl and her oversized fire-cat¡ªthat could be a problem. Not that she¡¯d ever admit it.
¡°Hey there!¡± the girl called out, offering a disarming smile.
Ariana resisted the urge to groan. She¡¯d just spent three days dealing with Gio¡¯s creepy, fake smiles, babbling about ¡°finding love¡± and how he didn¡¯t want to ever go back to Viridian. Now this chick was smiling at her too? Yeah, no thanks.
¡°Whassup,¡± she said, jutting her chin up before turning back to the boat like hot-wiring was the most legal, normal thing ever. Let them try to stop her. Gym trainers weren¡¯t cops. She checked.
¡°Uh, are you¡ trying to hot-wire that boat?¡± the boy blurted out, his enthusiasm barely contained. ¡°That¡¯s so flaming¡ªouch! I mean, not flaming. Totally not flaming. It¡¯s icy!¡±
Ariana¡¯s eye twitched. ¡°Uh. What the hell?¡± She spun toward them, glaring. ¡°This is my boat. Okay. Not doing anything illegal here.¡±
The gym girl arched an eyebrow, her smile unwavering. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re with the Cinnabar Coast Guard?¡± She gestured to the flag flapping at the stern, with the letters C.C.G. waving mockingly in the wind.
Shit.
¡°I¡ it¡¯s my¡ª¡±
¡°We get it,¡± the girl said, jerking her head toward her Incineroar. ¡°Something happened here a few days ago, right? People are acting strange¡ªthey are unnaturally happy, or unbothered by anything. Only trainers with certain types of Pok¨¦mon, like Dark-types, seem unaffected. We can see through whatever¡¯s happening.¡±
Ariana frowned at her. ¡°I¡¯m not taking passengers.¡±
¡°Totally not flaming, sister,¡± the kid chimed in, flashing a smirk as his Litwick clapped, like it thought its trainer was the coolest thing ever.
The older girl sighed. ¡°Look, yesterday some people tried to leave the island. They got a few knots out before a mist rolled in. Once you¡¯re inside¡ they said it was like your nightmares start coming to life.¡±
¡°Sounds like a bad trip,¡± Ariana scoffed. There was no way there was fucking mist. In fact, the weather had been freakishly perfect for the past three days. ¡°Thanks for the campfire story, but I¡¯ll take my chances.¡±
¡°Why do you think the ferries are down and the phones are dead?¡± the girl pressed.
¡°Maybe this place is just a dump,¡± Ariana shot back, returning to the tangled wires. Rebel shifted again, talons gripping tighter, like he was trying to make her pay attention to those gym idiots. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to leave a one-star review once I¡¯m outta here.¡±
¡°We¡¯re gym trainers!¡± the kid piped up, puffing his chest out.
¡°No shit?¡±
¡°My name¡¯s Dinah,¡± the tall girl said, taking a step closer. ¡°This is Dan. Like I said, something happened a few days ago. We¡¯re still piecing it together, but our gym leader Blaine was in a battle with a Ghost Pok¨¦mon when it all started. Ghosts offer protection, too. As do Bugs. It¡¯s not good for you to stay out here on your own. As it is, we cannot protect the entire town, unfortunately. But you are welcome to stay at the gym with us.¡±
Ariana paused, glancing at her Murkrow. She remembered the exact moment three days ago when Gio¡¯s eyes went soft. It sucked. She¡ had been feeding Rebel then, and he¡¯d suddenly become agitated, and¡ yeah.
¡°Figured you¡¯d be the type to wanna save everyone,¡± she muttered, twisting the wires together again. The motor sputtered to life, then quickly died. Damn it. If this was true, maybe she could steal a Dark-type from these losers and throw it in Gio¡¯s face. Wake him up, snap him back to his senses, and let him figure out a way off this rock. That sounded a hell of a lot better than going into some nightmare fog on her own¡ªnot that she actually believed them.
She gave the wires another twist. The motor rumbled, sputtered, then died. Again.
Dinah sighed. ¡°Look, I get it. It¡¯s hard to leave people behind, but¡ª¡±
¡°You don¡¯t know me,¡± Ariana shot back, yanking at the wires again. Nothing. ¡°And I don¡¯t give a damn about anyone else. I just want off this shitty island¡ªnot hole up in some bullshit gym.¡±
¡°The gym is totally flaming! You¡¯d love it.¡± The kid jumped up like some Growlithe who dug a bone.
Yep. She wasn¡¯t going anywhere flaming¡ªwhatever the hell that was supposed to mean. Ariana just shrugged, ignoring him, and scanned the marina for a better boat. As she stood to move, Dinah grabbed her arm.
¡°You¡¯ll be safe with us,¡± she said softly.
Ariana froze. ¡Safe?
Dinah¡¯s Incineroar stepped closer, offering a hand, while the gym girl looked her in the eye.
¡°You can trust us.¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Cinnabar Gym - Security Room (B2) - December 5th - 7h22 PM
Dinah¡¯s footsteps echoed through the underground corridors of the gym, her body running on autopilot. Patrol again. Dinner had already been served, and Kit¡ªher Incineroar¡ªwas helping out in the kitchen. It was a relief, honestly, that she didn¡¯t have to keep him at her side down here. At least she could spare him from the never-ending list of tasks Blaine had dumped on her. Inventory checks, settling disputes, organising schedules, keeping morale up¡ªit felt like she was responsible for everything.
And she was. She was the most senior gym trainer left. This was her job now. But, Arceus, it wasn¡¯t supposed to be like this.
¡°But Blaine and even Caleb are giving it their all¡¡± she muttered under her breath. ¡°I can¡¯t¡¡±
She paused at a junction, contemplating a quick detour to grab a cup of tea¡ªanything to pause for a moment. But before she could decide, a distant rumble echoed through the halls, followed by the unmistakable sound of a small explosion emanating from Arena 2.
¡°Fantastic,¡± Dinah muttered under her breath, her fists tightening as she fought the urge to stomp down the corridor. The last thing she needed was yet another mess to deal with. But she couldn¡¯t run to Blaine every time some new problem popped up¡ªnot with the gym¡¯s underground floors packed with dozens of people. It was her responsibility to handle this, no matter how ridiculous the issues got.
She was beyond exhausted, but she wasn¡¯t about to let that stop her. She wasn¡¯t going to let Blaine down. Not now. Not ever.
As she approached the entrance to Arena 2, she could see flickers of light dancing against the walls. ¡°If anyone¡¯s battling in here, let me remind you that Leaderb Blaine has strictly forbidden it!¡± she shouted. ¡°The next person caught will be on toilet duty for a¡¡±
She froze mid-rant. It wasn¡¯t a battle. It was¡ fireworks?
A silvery shimmer hung in the air, sparkling like tiny stars. A Ledyba hovered, scattering the dust, while a Litwick¡¯s flame flared to ignite the sparks. Dinah squinted. Wait. A Litwick?
She scanned the area and spotted a woman clapping enthusiastically at the show¡ªobviously the Ledyba¡¯s trainer. No one else was around.
¡°Damn it, Dan. Can¡¯t you keep an eye on your Pok¨¦mon for once?¡± she muttered through clenched teeth as she approached the woman. She wasn¡¯t even a trainer¡ªDinah remembered that much. Some scientist from Cinnabar Labs, the only one lucky enough to have been out shopping when the psychic creatures took over. No Pok¨¦mon were allowed in the labs, which explained why none of her colleagues had escaped the mind control.
Yeah¡
Blaine, Caleb, and¡ªmost importantly¡ªCaleb¡¯s Orbeetle, were convinced there had to be more trainers with Bug, Dark, and Ghost Pok¨¦mon still on the island. But no matter how much they searched, they came up empty. Orbeetle had a theory: whatever spell had taken over Cinnabar was making people forget to release those types from their Pok¨¦balls¡ªalmost like it was hiding them away on purpose. It was awful for the Pok¨¦mon stuck inside, even if they were technically safe in their Pok¨¦balls.
But anyway¡ that wasn¡¯t here nor there
Approaching the scientist lady, she forced a polite smile. ¡°Enjoying yourself?¡±
The woman spun around, her face bright. ¡°Oh, hey! Didn¡¯t even see you there,¡± she said, gesturing to the Silver Wind still shimmering in the air. ¡°Isn¡¯t it nice? With everything going on, I¡¯ve been doing some soul-searching, you know? And I¡¯ve realised¡ªnothing scares me anymore.¡± She beamed even wider. ¡°So, I¡¯ve made up my mind¡ªI¡¯m quitting my job and moving to Saffron!¡±
Dinah raised an eyebrow, taking a deep breath. ¡°That¡¯s¡ quite a decision.¡±
¡°It is!¡± the woman beamed. ¡°Lady here is celebrating with me, and this adorable little ghost just joined in!¡±
Dinah inhaled deeply, forcing a smile. ¡°Well, despite this being a fire gym, we¡¯ve got a no-fireworks rule at the moment.¡± She bent down, scooping up the Litwick. He squirmed and flared his flame, trying to disappear, but one sharp reminder about her Incineroar¡¯s claws was enough to calm it down.
At least the scientist woman seemed to get the hint and left, waving cheerfully as she went.
With the Litwick secured, Dinah made her way through the winding corridors toward the security room where Dan and his Pok¨¦mon were supposed to be stationed. She knew the ghost was restless¡ªbeing cooped up in a gym, staring at walls, wasn¡¯t exactly a thrill¡ªbut still¡
Reaching the security room, she didn¡¯t bother knocking, pushing the door open with a firm hand. ¡°Dan, you need to keep a better eye on your¡ª¡±
She stopped short. Dan wasn¡¯t alone.
¡°Icy, Ariana, very icy.¡±
¡°Fuck off.¡±
Dan, usually a ball of energy, actually looked angry. And Ariana? She wasn¡¯t even supposed to be in here, yet there she was, leaning against the security monitors like she owned the place, her Murkrow perched on her shoulder with its beady eyes gleaming. The bird let out a sharp, raucous caw, somehow perfectly mirroring his trainer¡¯s laugh.
Great. Just¡ great.
¡°Did she try to sneak out again?¡± Dinah sighed, half-watching the Litwick twirl around Dan, as if he hadn¡¯t been throwing a fit moments ago about being dragged in.
¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Dan huffed, folding his arms. ¡°But she¡¯s been telling people where we¡¯re hiding.¡±
Ariana laughed. Or was it her Murkrow¡¯s caw? Hard to tell. ¡°Why would I do that, dimwit? If this place gets busted, I¡¯m screwed, too.¡±
Dan¡¯s eyes flashed. ¡°Then explain why some girl was knocking here earlier, yelling ¡®Ariana, I know you¡¯re here! Open up, Ariana!¡¯ And she didn¡¯t have a dark, ghost, or bug-type with her¡ªjust a Slowpoke.¡±
Ariana¡¯s eyes darted to the side, but she shrugged. ¡°Never seen any girl with a Slowpoke. Sounds dumb.¡±
¡°She called your name. Explain that.¡±
Ariana rolled her eyes. ¡°Maybe there¡¯s another Ariana? Or maybe your ears are clogged with ghost wax. ¡®Cause you clearly didn¡¯t hear me when I said, ¡®Fuck. Off.¡¯¡±
Dinah cleared her throat. ¡°He¡¯s twelve. Can¡¯t you watch your language?¡±
Ariana huffed, while Dan continued explaining. Apparently, when he got to the security room, the system had logged a recording. The gym¡¯s cameras automatically recorded when someone rang the bell and no one answered¡ªsomething Dinah didn¡¯t even know the system did. But when Dan checked the footage, he saw the girl with the Slowpoke calling Ariana¡¯s name, looking desperate.
He replayed the clip. The girl on-screen didn¡¯t look like the mind-controlled people wandering Cinnabar. She wasn¡¯t smiling, wasn¡¯t calm¡ªnone of that glazed-over expression everyone else had. In fact, she looked pale, her eyes wide and frantic. Exhausted. Terrified.
¡°Talk,¡± Dinah said plainly.
¡°I don¡¯t¡ª¡± Ariana started, then snapped her mouth shut, eyes narrowing.
Honestly?
Dinah counted herself lucky she was the one who¡¯d found her that night. Another team of trainers had been searching for trainers that day, too, but Ariana would¡¯ve chewed them up and spit them out. She¡¯d have ended up in the gym either way, but at least this way, she had a little respect for Dinah.
¡°Whatever, her name¡¯s Celina, or some crap like that,¡± Ariana said, pausing just long enough for her eyes to flash with something unreadable. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re pals. Cecilia¡ªuhh¡ Celina. Cee and me. We¡¯re reeeal close. I even made sure her annoying, dumb friends are safe over at my buddy Gio¡¯s. No clue she was here, though.¡± She smirked, a little too wide. ¡°But she¡¯s cray-cray. Yep. Totally unhinged. Bless her heart. She poked at Fake-Joy until it started hunting her. I told her to lay low while I checked with you amazing Gym folks if I could bring her in, but she was all, ¡®Oh, no, I don¡¯t wanna put you in danger.¡¯ Then she took off.¡±
¡°Whoa! She sounds so flaming!¡± Dan yelled.
Dinah slapped her hand to her face. ¡°So why¡¯s she knocking here, if she¡¯s trying to be heroic?¡±
Ariana shrugged again. ¡°Dunno. I never told her about this place. Maybe she¡¯s tired of running solo after a week.¡±
¡°A week?¡± Dinah¡¯s voice rose. ¡°She¡¯s been out there alone with a fake Nurse Joy after her for a week, and it didn¡¯t cross your mind to tell us?¡±
¡°Uh¡ it might not have been that long.¡± Ariana folded her arms tightly across her chest, suddenly looking smaller.
Dinah felt a hot surge of anger flare up, her hands trembling as she clenched them into fists. The weight was just a lot¡ªgym rounds to finish, tomorrow¡¯s breakfast, checking the nursery. She was being pulled in every direction, stretched thinner than she thought possible. And now this? Another crisis dumped on her lap because someone couldn¡¯t be bothered to care?
She pointed a finger at Ariana. ¡°You. You¡¯re coming with me to see Blaine.¡± Turning sharply, she pinned Dan down with her eyes. ¡°And you¡ªkeep your Pok¨¦mon in line. Report anything like this immediately next time. Do you understand?¡±
Without another word, she spun on her heel and marched toward the door. By Moltres, she needed a day off.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Cinnabar - Multiple locations - December 6th 1h59AM
One week. A whole week that girl had been lost and alone because of his oversight.
Guilt weighed heavily on Blaine¡¯s shoulders, pressing down on every step he took. Every day he failed to resolve this crisis was another day he betrayed the trust of those he had sworn to protect: the townspeople of Cinnabar, his dedicated Gym Trainers, everyone who looked to him for guidance. The realisation he¡¯d been failing had struck him hardest when Dinah had burst into his office earlier, eyes brimming with tears she struggled to hold back. He hadn¡¯t seen how much strain he¡¯d placed upon her, how he¡¯d inadvertently burdened her with responsibilities that should have been his alone.
And then there was this poor kid¡ª
¡°Ugh, can¡¯t you go any slower, old man?¡± Ariana shouted, dragging her feet behind him and Caleb.
Ariana was another problem. According to Dinah, she¡¯d been far too scared of Officer Jenny when they found her trying to steal a boat. A typical case: young, rebellious. Probably just needed someone to guide her, if she¡¯d actually listen.
¡°Why are you forcing me to do this again?¡± she groaned as they rounded a corner.
She made it really hard to provide guidance, however.
He drew a deep breath, letting the cool night air fill his lungs. ¡°Because you¡¯re the only one who¡¯s actually seen this girl,¡± he replied evenly.
¡°She¡¯s your friend, isn¡¯t she?¡± Caleb added, pausing ahead as his Orbeetle, Nebula, hovered silently. The Pok¨¦mon¡¯s eyes glowed faintly as she scanned the psychic energies permeating the area.
Blaine didn¡¯t fully buy Ariana¡¯s story, and he knew Caleb didn¡¯t either. Sometimes this ¡°friend¡± was Celina, other times Cecilia, and then other times just ¡°I don¡¯t give a damn.¡± She spun tales like she was testing their patience, shrugging off questions with more colourful language. But they didn¡¯t have a lot of options, and right now, even a flimsy lead was better than nothing.
¡°Nebula¡¯s sensing another spike coming from the labs,¡± Caleb said quietly.
Blaine¡¯s rescue team was¡ odd, to say the least. But his trainers were stretched thin, and he couldn¡¯t keep putting everything on Dinah. Ariana was here¡ªreluctantly¡ªand Caleb had proven to be reliable. Not only did he have three Pok¨¦mon able to assist, but his Orbeetle was invaluable, piecing together information Blaine wouldn¡¯t have otherwise had. Caleb didn¡¯t need to be here; he¡¯d offered to help, and that counted for a lot in Blaine¡¯s eyes.
¡°We¡¯d better move,¡± Blaine said, trying to ignore the way his back protested all this running. He hadn¡¯t planned to run, obviously, but as soon as they left the gym, the sky above Cinnabar Labs lit up with fireworks. Nebula couldn¡¯t teleport them directly there¡ªshe didn¡¯t know the place¡ªso they had to go on foot.
¡°What the fuck?¡± Ariana said, stopping dead in her tracks.
Blaine sucked in a breath. ¡°Language! How many times¡ª¡±
¡°Pshh, look.¡±
He followed her gaze. The tram tracks before them abruptly ended. The short grass and gravel gave way to a stretch of tall grass that didn¡¯t quite match their surroundings. Wildflowers bloomed in vibrant clusters, their petals shining under the pale moonlight. Nebula zoomed forward, emitting a low hum of curiosity.
¡°What do you think this means?¡± Caleb asked, joining Blaine¡¯s side.
The gym leader shook his head, taking the moment of pause to stretch his back. The movement made his vertebrae scream.
And talking of bones.
Lahar tapped his leg with his. A little too forcefully.
¡°What is it?¡± Blaine asked, following his Marowak¡¯s gesture.
From around the corner of the Cinnabar Labs building, a girl emerged¡ªstumbling, desperate. There was no Slowpoke, but her clothes were dishevelled, and her movements erratic. Most unsettling of all, her shadow lagged behind her, moving with a will of its own.
¡°Is that her?¡± he asked, turning to Ariana.
More worryingly, waiting for her was one of the constructs¡ªthe one based on the idea of man. And with it¡ was that an Armarouge?
¡°Uh¡ Leader Blaine¡?¡± Caleb¡¯s voice faltered, drawing Blaine¡¯s gaze upward.
High above, countless creatures¡ªthe ones Ren called the Unown¡ªswirled in a chaotic dance, their single eyes all fixated on the girl below. His heart pounded as he turned his attention back to her. The construct was speaking¡ªwords lost to the distance¡ªbut the Armarouge¡¯s actions were unmistakable. It raised its arms, armour plates shifting to form a cannon aimed directly at the girl.
For a moment, time seemed to slow.
¡°Move!¡± Blaine suddenly shouted, adrenaline surging as he sprinted forward, ignoring the fiery protest of his vertebrae. Lahar was at his side in an instant, conjuring flames that spiralled around them like a protective vortex. ¡°Caleb!¡±
He didn¡¯t need to say more. Without a word from him or Caleb, the Orbeetle zipped past, and to his surprise, Ariana followed.
She grabbed the girl by the shirt, yanking her out of the line of fire just as the Armarouge¡¯s blast shot forward. Blaine didn¡¯t flinch. He¡¯d seen enough fire in his lifetime to trust his instincts. Nebula¡¯s barrier shimmered into place just as Lahar conjured a wall of ghost flames to reinforce it.
The attack struck, but the barrier held, the flames flickering out as they collided with the psychic shield. Blaine felt a rush of relief as he reached the two girls. For a brief moment, he allowed himself a small smile. He¡¯d failed so many people on this island, but somehow the pieces in the universe aligned for him to be here at the right time and the right place.
And somewhere far, far away, a god giggled, amused at how appropriate this human¡¯s thoughts were.
Chapter 82 - Leader Blaine
Chapter 82 - Leader Blaine
¡°Armarouge, Armor Cannon.¡±
Celeste¡¯s heart pounded as she faced the growing, pulsating energy. The air crackled, and she felt the vibration of the attack building, forcing her to take a shaky step back. No longer surrounded, she had a window to run¡ªbut where? What could she do? Save herself? Save¡ª
Shy¡¯s grip tightened around her leg. The Ghost-type quivered and flickered like a dying light.
¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± she whispered, her voice trembling too. She tried to smile, but it felt like her face was cracking. Shy¡¯s gaze flicked up to meet hers, but his eyes were terrified. Poor thing¡ªthey were struggling, clearly. Struggling to find courage... Courage to fight? That would be nice¡ ¡°It¡¯s gonna be all right.¡± All Celeste could do was repeat it.
The searing light intensified. Celeste shut her eyes tight, picturing her mum, her dad, her friends, her Pok¨¦mon. Thank Arceus they were safe inside their Pok¨¦balls. She wanted to stand tall, to embrace this¡ defiance¡ªfor Shy. If only she had a Pok¨¦ball for them too; maybe then she could recall them, maybe then they¡¯d be safe. Instead, she was a trembling mess, shivering amidst the smouldering heat, heart pounding like a drum. Probably crying.
Whatever happened to ¡°practice makes perfect¡±? By now, she should be able to laugh in the face of death, shouldn¡¯t she?
The light in Armarouge¡¯s cannon burned hotter, brighter¡ªuntil¡ª
BOOM.
The ground buckled, the trees shuddered, and a wave of heat and force washed over everything.
Everything but Celeste.
She dared to open one eye, then the other.
¡°Shy?¡± she called, half-hoping the ghost had done something miraculous. But Shy was still clinging to her leg, almost invisible as the glow faded and the shadows merged into the night. If it wasn¡¯t Shy, then¡?
¡°Get back!¡± a voice shouted from behind her. It was sharp, commanding, and weirdly familiar. Celeste spun, half-dazed, to see¡ª
¡°Ariana?¡± And she wasn¡¯t alone.
The punky redhead she¡¯d met days before stood a few feet away, flanked by two men. One of them, a tall guy with dreadlocks pulled into a high bun, was staring at her with laser focus. He wore a turtleneck that looked all kinds of wrong for the heat, but his eyes¡ªdark and sharp¡ªweren¡¯t quite on her. They were fixed just above her head. Celeste looked up to see an Orbeetle silently hovering overhead¡ªhow had she missed that? The bug had its arms crossed in front of it, and only when the world rattled with another attack did she realise it had put up a protective barrier.
She barely had time to process this before Ariana grabbed her by the shirt, yanking her aside.
¡°Didn¡¯t you hear? Get back!¡± she snapped. Celeste stumbled, and the second man caught her by the shoulder. He was older, wrinkles carved deep into his face, a giant moustache dropping past his chin like a tired Caterpie. A pair of sunglasses dangled from his lapel despite it being night, and his tie¡ªburned at the edges¡ªfeatured tiny Magby, like it had been picked out by a little kid.
¡°That¡¯s her, right?¡± he asked Ariana wearily.
¡°Yes, Leader Blaine,¡± she grumbled.
Celeste¡¯s eyes widened. Leader Blaine? But he offered her no further attention, simply patting her back to steady her before striding toward the barrier¡¯s edge.
Only then did she notice the Marowak creeping at the edge of the light, studying her shadow with curiosity. She didn¡¯t know much about Marowak, but the dark markings on its skull and the eerie flames flickering on the tip of its bone suggested this wasn¡¯t the most common form of the Pok¨¦mon.
She stepped back as Marowak reached toward her shadow, still wrapped around her leg. Shy freaked out, attempting to hide by melting into the ground¡ªas discreet as a Copperajah in a china shop. Marowak glanced up at Celeste with a deadpan expression. She let out a nervous giggle, offering a helpless shrug.
¡°Lahar,¡± Blaine called, and the Marowak perked up, tapping its bone against its skull before leaping to his side, eagerly. ¡°Get ready. You¡¯re holding back that Armarouge.¡±
Celeste tried to wrap her head around it all, but before she could ask a single question, Ariana grabbed her arm again. ¡°Stay close. Don¡¯t mess this up.¡±
Things moved quickly from there.
Blaine gave a subtle nod, and the dreadlocked trainer commanded his Orbeetle to drop the barrier. Celeste whimpered; she liked the barrier¡ªit was the only thing keeping them from being fried. The trainer threw her a sympathetic look, but his focus was back on Orbeetle in an instant, telling it to prepare for a teleport.
The second the barrier dropped, Marowak leapt into action.
Celeste had been so overwhelmed she¡¯d tuned out Jude entirely, but now the barrier was down, she could see a stream of commands: ¡°Night Shade! Armor Cannon! Incinerate!¡± Blaine¡¯s strategy was simpler. He simply told his Pok¨¦mon to ¡°Hit it with the bone.¡±
Marowak swung its bone with a gleeful squeal, smashing aside attacks like they were nothing. It twirled through the blasts, batting explosions away, and danced around Night Shades. When Armarouge tried to bring its armour together again, the Marowak vaulted over its arms, raining down blows like a creature possessed.
Above them, the air shimmered. Celeste looked up, trying not to freak. The Unown had amassed a significant amount of energy and their movements grew increasingly erratic as the battle raged on. It reminded Celeste too much of when the tram had vanished earlier that night.
¡°We¡¯re ready, Blaine,¡± the Orbeetle¡¯s trainer announced. On cue, Ariana pulled Celeste closer.
Blaine nodded. ¡°Lahar, stop playing,¡± he commanded.
In a single, swift motion, Marowak swung its bone, striking Armarouge square on the helmet. The opponent disintegrated into particles of energy before it even hit the ground. Lahar flipped back, landing by Blaine¡¯s side with a triumphant hiss.
Once again, Celeste had no time to process what was happening. She glanced up at Orbeetle just as the buildings, trees, and the swarm of bulging-eyed letters dissolved into warm lights over a battlefield. Suddenly, there was solid rock beneath her feet, high stands, and peaceful walls enclosing them.
She swayed, feeling nauseous, and she fell to one knee.
¡°What the hell is going on?¡± Celeste gasped, looking around wildly. All eyes were on her again, but at least this time, it wasn¡¯t the Unown.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Celeste stared into the mirror, eyes tracing the smudges of soot streaked across her cheeks and neck. Her skin, red and irritated from the heat, felt sticky under the cooling layers of sweat. She gingerly touched her face, relieved that it was just surface damage¡ªno blisters, just the ache from all the running and stumbling. She¡¯d got off lucky.
She turned on the tap, letting cold water into her cupped hands before splashing it onto her face.
It was a relief, washing away some of the grime and, for a moment, the tension. Taking a deep breath, Celeste glanced over her shoulder to check that the bathroom door was still locked, then looked down at her Pok¨¦mon.
Pat was burned pretty badly; his fur was singed, and he winced with every movement. He needed a Potion, a Burn Heal¡ªmaybe even a proper Nurse Joy visit. And Shy? Shy hovered beside him, their form flickering, edges blurring under the harsh fluorescent light. Not hurt, just exhausted. At least there was that.
Celeste exhaled and slid down the tiled wall until she was sitting on the cool floor. ¡°What do I do now?¡± she murmured, hugging her knees to her chest.
When they¡¯d first arrived here¡ªwherever here was¡ªLeader Blaine had fixed her with a look she couldn¡¯t read and told her to come to his office. No explanations, no time to ask Ariana questions about her friends or anything. Just business. In a panic, she blurted something about needing the bathroom, and the next thing she knew, some boy was escorting her here. She¡¯d locked herself in, brought Pat up to speed, and now here she was¡ªabout two seconds from losing it.
¡°Leader Blaine said to come to his office,¡± she muttered, more to herself than them. ¡°That¡¯s never good. Maybe we could¡ I don¡¯t know¡ find a hiding spot around here. Somewhere he wouldn¡¯t¡ª¡±
Shy touched her leg, giving her a small negative. Pat kept on just blinking.
¡°You guys don¡¯t understand,¡± Celeste insisted. ¡°This is bad. Really bad.¡±
She chewed her lower lip.
¡°Remember when we fought Ryder to help Four Island? We ended up in Chief Jenny¡¯s office¡ªand then in jail.¡± She paused as the two Pok¨¦mon exchanged glances. ¡°And before that, there were Mum and Dad. They didn¡¯t have an office, but ¡®we need to talk¡¯ always meant I¡¯d messed up somehow¡ªnot being a good role model for the other kids watching us, going off script, wondering off route...¡±
She pushed herself up and began pacing the small bathroom. ¡°And school¡ªdon¡¯t even get me started on school!¡± She ran a hand through her tangled hair. ¡°The academy was the worst. How many times did I hear, ¡®Go to the head teacher¡¯s office¡¯? Somehow, I always managed to do something wrong.¡±
She mimicked the exasperated tone of Mr Quill, her former head teacher. ¡°¡®Celeste, your assignment was to discuss space, not make up stories. A twenty-minute presentation on how Rayquaza fell in love with the moon? Seriously?¡¯¡±
She let out a huff, crossing her arms over her chest. ¡°Or how about, ¡®Celeste, you cannot convince your entire class that Lyra is cursed. Her parents are furious.¡¯¡±
Turning to her Pok¨¦mon, she continued, getting louder. ¡°¡®Let me get this straight, Celeste. You gathered all the Skwovet on school grounds, organised them, and led a march on the cafeteria because you wanted to save a tree? Sus-pen-sion!¡¯¡±
Out of breath, she leaned against the sink.
¡°You see? It doesn¡¯t matter what I do¡ªI¡¯m always in trouble. If I leave school to join my parents, I¡¯m in trouble. If I leave them to travel on my own,¡± she let out a bitter laugh, ¡°I end up in jail. Arceus, my community service was supposed to be delivering a package at Cinnabar Labs. And what did I do when I finally got there? Set off fireworks inside the building! How am I supposed to explain that to Blaine without sounding completely insane?¡±
She sank back to the floor, resting her head against the tile wall.
¡°So¡ before this Gym Leader kicks us out, we hide. Maybe there¡¯s a vent we can crawl through, or¡ª¡±
Pat nudged closer, laying his head on her leg. His eyes were warm, steady, like he was trying to tell her it was okay to breathe. Celeste took in a deep gulp of air, ready to go on, but instead of words, she just let it out in a long, defeated sigh.
Shy floated toward the wall, their form beginning to shift. Within moments, they morphed into the familiar figure of¡ Olga?
¡°What are you doing?¡± Celeste asked, blinking in surprise. ¡°Olga was always telling me what I did wrong.¡±
The ghostly figure placed their hands on their hips, mimicking Olga¡¯s perfectly.
¡°Well... okay,¡± Celeste conceded, letting a small smile out. ¡°She did trust me in the end. She trained me, even when I was being a brat. She was tough and maybe a little unfair at times, but she even helped us sort out that whole jail mess. Maybe... I¡¯m not saying every adult is out to get me.¡±
Wasn¡¯t she, though?
She inhaled, deep and slow. ¡°You know, when I showed my parents that Rayquaza story, they didn¡¯t get mad. They loved it. They said it was creative.¡± Celeste¡¯s voice softened as she recalled the memory. ¡°They even ran a contest on their show for kids to come up with their own myths. They said they were inspired by me.¡± She let her fingers trail across Pat¡¯s back, the rhythm soothing her. ¡°And when I got suspended, Opal marched into the academy herself. She told Mr Quill it was wrong to cut down the oldest tree on the grounds for a parking lot. She said I did good by the Skwovet. She called me brave.¡±Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Shy drifted closer, their eyes encouraging.
¡°The Lyra thing only got me detention, but honestly? She deserved it.¡± Celeste giggled, the sound lighter now. ¡°And, hey¡ªOpal¡¯s a Gym Leader, just like Blaine. And I¡¯m not scared of Opal.¡±
She took another deep breath, feeling a bit steadier.
¡°Running and hiding from the people who just saved us¡ that¡¯d be pretty stupid, huh?¡± Shy nodded, giving her a small, encouraging look. ¡°W-Will you two stay with me while I talk to him?¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
¡°So¡ are you okay now?¡±
The boy who¡¯d led Celeste to the bathroom was guiding her through a maze of narrow, stuffy corridors. The place felt like a burrow, walls pressing in, the air heavy and warm. Oddly enough, he had no Pok¨¦mon with him, which made her frown. How had he not been affected by the Unown? Celeste studied him closer: shorter than her, a few spots of acne dotting his cheeks, and the same kind of sunglasses Blaine had hung from his collar. Also, his puffy grey and red vest had the Volcano Badge symbol stitched on the chest.
¡°¡I was fine before,¡± she muttered, blinking against the dim light.
¡°You didn¡¯t sound fine,¡± he replied with a smile. ¡°It sounded like you were freaking out pretty bad in that bathroom.¡± Before she could respond, another trainer in the same uniform passed by, balancing a stack of plates. An Incineroar followed, carrying a steaming pot that smelled like¡ porridge?
Wait, was it already morning?
¡°I was supposed to be covering kitchen duty for Dinah today,¡± the boy explained, shrugging. ¡°She took the day off, so we¡¯re all pitching in. And then you showed up and kind of messed up the schedule.¡± He grinned. ¡°Not that I mind¡ªyou¡¯re way better than kitchen duty.¡±
She stared at him, her gaze lingering on the sunglasses and the emblem on his vest.
It should have been obvious.
¡°You¡¯re a Gym Trainer,¡± she said, remembering the ones she¡¯d seen at the Pok¨¦mon Centre when she first arrived on Cinnabar. None of them had been in uniform then.
The boy puffed out his chest, hands on his hips. ¡°Yep. And a pretty good one, too.¡±
Celeste raised an eyebrow at that.
¡°I am!¡± His voice jumped an octave, his cheeks flushing. ¡°I¡¯m top of the first badge group. After all my work here, I¡¯m hoping to get promoted to the second badge.¡±
She smirked. ¡°Work? You mean kitchen duty?¡±
¡°Wax and I train hard too, okay!¡± He crossed his arms, glaring at her. ¡°Typical Water trainer, thinking she can put out our fire.¡±
Water trainer? Her eyes darted to Pat, trudging behind her with his usual slow, sleepy pace.
¡°You won¡¯t stand a chance with a Slowpoke, y¡¯know?¡± The boy flashed literally all his teeth at her. ¡°Me and Wax, we¡¯ve got the advantage, type-wise, and¡ªwait, I wanted to ask, how were you okay with only a Slowpoke around?¡±
Celeste stiffened, avoiding glancing directly at Shy. Trying to keep her tone casual, she let out an exaggerated snort. ¡°And who¡¯s Wax? Your imaginary friend?¡±
The boy flinched. ¡°Wha¡ªno! Wax... He¡ likes to wander, that¡¯s all.¡± His voice wavered as he tried to sound indignant.
¡°Riiight,¡± she drawled, rolling her eyes. ¡°So if Wax is wandering, how come you¡¯re fine without him?¡±
He squinted at her, clearly suspicious. ¡°I asked you first.¡±
She sighed. They both reached a door, which Celeste guessed was Leader Blaine¡¯s office. Great. Maybe she could pester this boy a little longer to delay whatever was next. ¡°Own Tempo. The Unown don¡¯t affect Pat¡ and¡ uh¡ I guess me by extension.¡±
He didn¡¯t buy it, crossing his arms. ¡°That¡¯s not how Own Tempo works. It doesn¡¯t extend to people. And¡ ¡®unknown¡¯? You¡¯re seriously calling them that? Is it ¡®cause you don¡¯t know what they are?¡±
She blinked. Didn¡¯t they know about the Unown? Leader Blaine had to¡
Celeste shrugged very nonchalantly. ¡°Well, it¡¯s that or there¡¯s a secret ghost in my shadow. Which one do you think it is?¡±
He eyed her warily. ¡°You don¡¯t look like someone who could handle a ghost.¡±
She opened her mouth to protest, but felt a soft nudge from Shy before she said anything. So instead, she grumbled under her breath. ¡°Let me guess, Wax is a Ghost-type?¡±
With a big nod and an even bigger grin, the boy puffed his chest. ¡°He¡¯s my Litwick. Totally flaming.¡±
Did¡ he say Litwick?
Over the past few days, Celeste had replayed everything that had happened since arriving on the island many times. She recalled a conversation with some Gym Trainers at the Pok¨¦mon Centre. They¡¯d mentioned their leader had gone mad¡ªsomething she now knew wasn¡¯t true. But they¡¯d also talked about a friend with a Litwick¡
¡°You¡¯re Dan,¡± she said, the name surfacing effortlessly.
He frowned. ¡°Yeah...? How did you¡ª¡±
¡°I met your friend. Max,¡± she explained. ¡°He broke through for a moment. He was worried about you and your Litwick. Said something about you officiating a battle when Blaine supposedly went mad. There was a girl with a Charmander too...¡±
¡°Rayla¡¡± Dan¡¯s face fell. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s them. The whole underground of the Gym is safe for us, but the grown-ups said it¡¯s too risky to bring more people down here. Including the other Gym Trainers. That¡¯s why Blaine shut the Gym and only kept people who had ghosts, bugs, or psychics.¡± His voice grew quiet. ¡°Are they¡ are they okay?¡±
Celeste nodded. ¡°I think they¡¯re all hanging out at the Pok¨¦mon centre. Having parties¡ having fun.¡±
Dan let out a bitter laugh. ¡°Must be nice...¡±
Maybe. Or maybe they were all trapped in illusions they couldn¡¯t escape. But she didn¡¯t say that.
¡°So¡ they mentioned you were officiating a battle when everything went to shit?¡± she asked.
Dan¡¯s expression shifted, but he managed a small smile. ¡°Watch your language around, Blaine. He¡¯ll scold you for swearing.¡±
Celeste almost laughed. That sounded so delightfully normal.
¡°The guy with the Orbeetle who brought you in? That¡¯s Caleb. He was going for his eighth Gym badge. Battle started out fine¡ªhe set up a Psychic Terrain, and Blaine used Lahar, his Marowak. Lahar¡¯s actually a Gym Pok¨¦mon, but after this, I think Blaine might put him on his personal team.¡± Dan paused, and Celeste leaned in, her curiosity piqued. ¡°Everything seemed normal at first, but then the terrain went wild. It flared up like crazy. I thought it was some new strategy or that Caleb¡¯s Orbeetle was just that strong. But then¡ the barriers around the battlefield started acting weird too.¡±
¡°But it wasn¡¯t the Orbeetle, was it?¡± she asked.
Dan shook his head, his energy returning as he spoke. ¡°Nope. Caleb looked just as freaked out. Then there was this rumble¡ªlike the volcano was about to erupt. I panicked, called Wax closer, and braced myself. When things calmed down, the other trainer ref¡¯ing with me¡ well, you¡¯ve seen how people get here.¡±
¡°And what did you do?¡±
¡°I thought the battle would continue,¡± he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°Everything looked normal again. I went to Blaine to tell him we were down a referee, but... I don¡¯t know. It was confusing. He and Caleb started kicking people out, only keeping those with Pok¨¦mon strong against Psychic-types. We were¡ª¡±
¡°Terrified?¡± she finished. He nodded slowly.
Dan looked at the door, his expression serious. ¡°You¡¯d better go in.¡±
Celeste¡¯s throat tightened. ¡°Am I in trouble?¡±
He gave her a small smile. ¡°I think¡ we all are.¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Celeste stepped into Blaine¡¯s office, expecting something sterile, with a serious Gym Leader vibe. Sleek desks, battle posters, maybe even a few Pok¨¦balls on display. Instead, the room was cluttered but in a warm, lived-in way. Cosy, she decided. The floor was a reddish concrete, blanketed with thick wool rugs that made the room stuffy and warm. So much that sweat was already starting to bead on her forehead. A wall of trophies on the far side of the room caught her eye, but they weren¡¯t battle awards or anything of the kind¡ªTitles such as Pub Quiz Master, Trivia Champ, and even Jeopardy Winner lined the shelves.
What the hell?
She blinked, turning her gaze to the other side of the room. There, an oversized fireplace roared with a colourful dancing fire where Lahar, Blaine¡¯s Marowak, was busy¡ªdoing¡ she wasn¡¯t sure what. The Pok¨¦mon scooped up flames with its bone, tossing them into one of two large coal-filled vases in the corners. Above the mantle, she noticed photos of people she didn¡¯t recognise at a glance. She couldn¡¯t help but inch closer, and when she did, she spotted familiar faces¡ªFuji and Amber, even Private Surge (who she met in Vermilion, forever ago). At the centre was a massive painting of Blaine surrounded by Fire-types: Rapidash, Arcanine, Magmar.
¡°Ahem.¡± Blaine cleared his throat, making Celeste jump.
He wasn¡¯t seated behind a desk as she¡¯d expected, but was instead lounging on a massive couch in the center of the room, hunched over a book. A pillow and folded blanket lay beside him, suggesting he¡¯d been sleeping there. The couch faced a large window that offered a view¡ª
She blinked once, then again.
Through the window, she saw a lava pit. And not just it. But an entire battle arena being constructed above the bubbling pool of molten rock.
Noticing her stare, Blaine chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m hoping it¡¯ll be ready by spring. Should attract high-level trainers looking for one last push before the conference this year. Still working out a few kinks, however.¡±
¡°You... you want to have battles inside a volcano?¡± Her jaw dropped.
He smiled, rising to his feet and setting the book on a low table. ¡°The volcano is miles away, actually. We¡¯re beneath the Gym.¡± He gestured expansively toward the window. ¡°Local Fire-types have carved these underground chambers over centuries, redirecting lava flows. We maintain them. Excellent for training.¡±
¡°So, you built a battlefield¡ over lava? Underground?¡± Celeste turned to face him fully now. In the warm glow, he looked older, the lines on his face more pronounced, but his eyes sparkled with the same intensity as the Marowak¡¯s flames.
He chuckled. ¡°All our battlefields are underground. This is just the first one over an active lava flow.¡± His expression turned serious. ¡°Now, as much as I enjoy discussing my Gym, we have much to talk about.¡±
¡°We¡ do¡?¡± Celeste felt her shoulders tense, glancing nervously at Pat, who blinked up at her, before Blaine gestured for her to sit.
Before he followed her, Blaine paused, his eyes settling on her Pok¨¦mon. ¡°You realise your Slowpoke needs a Burn Heal, don¡¯t you?¡±
She stared at the floor, embarrassed. ¡°He was fighting that¡ that thing. The one your Marowak beat.¡±
His footsteps clattered behind her, but she kept her eyes fixed on the table. There was a book on it¡ªa poetry book? Could it be¡ª?
¡°It¡¯s called Armarouge,¡± Blaine explained, opening a cupboard. ¡°Fire-Psychic type. Mostly native to Paldea, though we have two here at the gym. The creatures you saw must¡¯ve copied one.¡±
The word caught her attention, and she looked up. ¡°Copied?¡±
Blaine nodded, rummaging through the cupboard¡¯s contents. ¡°Those creatures out there don¡¯t create; they replicate. It¡¯s why they chose Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny¡¯s likeness. Familiar images, etched in everyone¡¯s mind.¡± With a click, he pulled out a green bottle. A Full Restore. Her eyes widened¡ªit was a lot. Not even on her shopping spree when she started out, she splurged on one herself. ¡°Does your ghost need healing, too?¡±
Her heart skipped a beat. ¡°G-ghost? W-what ghost?¡± She attempted a laugh, but it sounded horrible. Blaine¡¯s eyes flicked to her shadow, and he simply nodded.
¡°We can circle back to that later,¡± he muttered as he crouched down by Pat¡ªwincing slightly as his back cracked¡ªand began applying the Full Restore with practised ease. The Slowpoke let out a satisfying sigh as the medicine took effect and his burned skin regained its healthy sheen.
Celeste felt relieved. Blaine seemed like a decent guy, treating Pat so gently. But¡ when was the other shoe gonna drop?
Blaine patted Pat¡¯s head gently. ¡°Brave one, to face an Armarouge.¡±
¡°He is,¡± Celeste agreed. ¡°He also defeated the Growlithe and Houndour they... copied earlier. I was so proud.¡±
Pat let out a toothy, his tail swishing more lively than before. Blaine stood with another soft groan, rubbing his back. ¡°A Growlithe and a Houndour, you say?¡± He moved back to the couch opposite from her.
¡°Yeah,¡± she replied, still cautious. ¡°The fake Jenny had the Growlithe, and I guess they used the Houndour¡ template¡ from here too?¡±
He settled into his seat, crossing one leg over the other. ¡°You¡¯re a quick study.¡± A small smile played at his lips. ¡°We train police Growlithe here in Cinnabar, so yes, there are plenty. Houndour are less common, despite being native to Johto. We only have four at the Gym¡ªincluding the gym trainers¡¯.¡± He paused, eyes narrowing slightly. ¡°Are you a challenger?¡±
The question threw her off. She glanced down at the book again, trying to compose herself. ¡°I¡ªwell, you see¡ªI...¡±
Blaine laughed softly, and she didn¡¯t look up. ¡°What badge?¡±
¡°F-first¡¡±
He stopped laughing. Was she that pathetic? She felt her cheeks burn even hotter and tried to pass it off as the heat from the room. Rey would definitely say she was pathetic, though. ¡°I thought getting badges would be cool, y¡¯know?¡± she blurted, suddenly.
Her fingers started fidgeting with the hem of her shirt, and she could only manage quick, nervous glances in Blaine¡¯s direction.
¡°I¡ªI like battling, I think?¡± The words spilled out faster than she could control. ¡°I mean, I¡¯m still figuring myself out and what my goal is and all that, but that¡¯s what a journey¡¯s for, right? My mum keeps saying I need to plan it all out, but it¡¯s like¡ªI never have time to think because I keep getting in trouble, and I feel like me and my Pok¨¦mon need to get stronger, and¡ªdid I mention battling¡¯s fun?¡± Celeste was losing track of her own words now. ¡°I figured getting badges would be a good way to get strong and have a goal, and then I can figure out what I want to do once I¡¯ve got them all¡ªlike, then I¡¯ll know. But my mum wants me to have it all sorted by summer, and I¡ I don¡¯t¡ªit¡¯s stressful. But battling is fun, and I like the challenge! I swear, I¡¯m not starting here just because I think fire¡¯s easy since I have a Slowpoke. My other Pok¨¦mon is an Ice-type, so, like, no advantage there. And my third one¡¯s a Normal-type¡ªmy Eevee¡ªbut we¡¯ve been training Dig.¡± She paused, realising how fast she was going, then pressed on anyway. ¡°Not that I think she can dig through the rocks in your arena, and she¡¯s definitely not digging through that lava-battlefield. I¡ well¡ We didn¡¯t come here just for the badges. There was this thing on Four Island, and I¡¯m just¡ªI¡¯m¡ª¡±
She stopped when she ran out of air, only to find Blaine watching her, an amused expression on his face.
Celeste then grabbed the poetry book, desperate to change the subject. ¡°So, uh, you¡¯re reading my parents¡¯ book. How d¡¯ya like it?¡± She flipped it open to a random page, eyes landing on the first word.
Breathe.
Haha. Very funny, book.
Blaine blinked at that last comment. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Did you say this is your parents¡¯ book?¡±
She peeked over the edge of the page, offering a tentative nod. The lava pit outside looked like a more merciful option than this conversation.
¡°These poems were written centuries ago.¡± Blaine tried to sound gentle. ¡°Are your parents writers? Editors?¡±
He hadn¡¯t connected the dots yet. Celeste took a deep breath, just like the book told her. ¡°Archaeologists.¡±
A moment passed. Then¡ª
¡°You¡¯re¡ Tiana and Otto Diaz¡¯s daughter? Not Celina¡ªCeleste?¡±
She nodded, feeling small. Also¡ Celina?
¡°Did they send you?¡± Blaine asked, reclining back. ¡°No, you just told me otherwise. After you shared your entire strategy for earning my Gym Badge.¡± A chuckle escaped him at the last part. ¡°Unless...¡±
¡°Trust me, Mum and Dad want me far away from any Gym circuit in any region. And I¡¯m pretty sure they won¡¯t be thrilled to know I¡¯m stuck on an island full of Unown.¡±
His gaze sharpened. ¡°Did they tell you anything about¡ª?¡±
She interrupted with a snort. ¡°Honestly, my parents don¡¯t tell me sh¡ª¡± She caught his glare. ¡°Sorry.¡±
Instead of pressing further, she reached into her backpack and pulled out Fuji¡¯s journal, placing it atop the poetry book. ¡°You know about the Unown too,¡± she said. ¡°I read this last night. Why do I get the feeling no one else here besides us knows what they¡¯re called?¡±
Blaine picked up the journal, flipping through its pages. ¡°I only know what Ren told me,¡± he admitted. ¡°He returned from Tanoby with a box full of stone slabs he intended to study. It had something to do with these Unown. He mentioned beta waves? It must have gone wrong. Perhaps they followed him from there, or maybe the slabs were cursed.¡± He sighed, rubbing his temples. ¡°I encouraged him. Anything would¡¯ve been better than his other plan.¡±
¡°Faraway Island.¡± Celeste whispered.
He nodded slowly. ¡°Ren left the poetry book with me, hoping it would inspire me to do more for his daughter¡ I¡¯ve been reading it, searching for answers, but beyond Otto Diaz¡¯s notes, it¡¯s just poetry.¡± His gaze met hers, intent. ¡°You, young lady, are the first new development we¡¯ve had in days. A bit of a mystery yourself.¡±
Blaine was more serious now. And staring at her.
¡°I¡¯m not a mystery,¡± Celeste said, feeling dread rise again. ¡°Are you¡ are you kicking me out for provoking them?¡± She kept her voice steady, only managing it thanks to Pat and Shy clinging to her ankles.
Blaine seemed genuinely taken aback. ¡°Why in the world would I leave a child at the mercy of those creatures?¡±
Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. ¡°Because I¡¯m wrong. And trouble. And I¡¯ll mess things up and... and...¡±
Before she could finish, Blaine moved to sit beside her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. When she looked up, the concern in his eyes was clear. That was when the dam broke. All the fear, stress, and doubt she¡¯d been bottling up flooded out in a torrent of sobs. He didn¡¯t say a word, just let her cry. When Celeste was finally done, he smiled warmly.
¡°You¡¯re safe here, even if you set fire to the gym.¡±
Celeste wiped her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s probably good for training.¡±
Blaine smirked. ¡°True. But I usually recommend controlling the fire. And don¡¯t think you¡¯ll win a badge by relying on Dig alone.¡± He lifted an eyebrow. ¡°Especially now that you¡¯ve told me your strategy.¡±
Her eyes went wide.
¡°Get some rest, Miss Diaz.¡± He nodded toward the journal. ¡°We¡¯ll continue this later.¡±
Chapter 83 - The Volcano Underground
Chapter 83 - The Volcano Underground
Sleeping in a cosy sleeping bag atop the stands of one of the gym¡¯s arenas was a welcome change for Celeste after a week of dusty couches and cold floors. But the change had its downsides too. The arena buzzed with activity, and Shy refused to show themself amid so many people. Despite drifting off the moment she lay down, Celeste already missed her ghost¡¯s company¡ªas well as the gentle tugs on her leg that had served as her alarm clock for this past week.
Still, when she woke up (on her own), the smell of porridge and coffee drifted through the air and the clatter of dishes and spoons echoed around her. Celeste stirred, feeling a dull ache throbbing in her head as she took a moment to recall where she was.
A moment she wasn¡¯t given.
¡°Look alive!¡± Ariana¡¯s hand slapped her back, a bit too forcefully, and her Murkrow let out a caw that shot straight through Celeste¡¯s skull. ¡°You¡¯re slower than that Slowpoke of yours, c¡¯mon!¡±
Celeste managed only a groan in response. As her senses slowly aligned, her eyes darted around, widening with a sudden realisation. Said Slowpoke, who had been cuddling with her when she fell asleep, was nowhere in sight.
Before she could ask, Ariana chimed in. ¡°Don¡¯t worry¡ªugh, that fucking word. It leaves such a gross taste in my mouth.¡± She grinned cheekily. ¡°But yeah, no worries. Turns out even a Slowpoke doesn¡¯t want to sleep sixteen hours straight like some people. Yours is with Caleb¡¯s Orbeetle. I think she¡¯s... studying him?¡±
Celeste shot up, the grogginess vanishing. ¡°Say what now?¡±
¡°Geez, so worked up,¡± Ariana waved her hand, signalling her Murkrow to hop back to her arm. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to them, alright? But first, breakfast? It¡¯s porridge every day here, but hey, there¡¯s shitty coffee, too.¡±
Reluctantly, Celeste trailed behind as Ariana made a beeline for the breakfast area in the centre of the battle arena. Celeste tried protesting¡ªinsisting she wanted to see Pat right away¡ªbut Ariana just shrugged, heading to the porridge queue where an Incineroar was diligently serving bowls to the people gathered there. Without so much as a nod, Ariana snatched a bowl from the Incineroar¡¯s paws and thrust it into Celeste¡¯s hands. ¡°Eat up. You gotta stay healthy.¡±
Celeste and the Incineroar shared a confused glance. It shrugged and went back to work like this was just another day in its strange life.
¡°Why are you suddenly being nice?¡± she asked, though ¡®nice¡¯ felt like a bit of a stretch.
Ariana glanced back with a strained smile. ¡°I¡¯ve been nice to you before. Remember? Even looked after your friends. They¡¯re fucking annoying, by the way.¡±
Celeste scoffed, sticking close. ¡°They¡¯re not annoying.¡±
¡°Sure. Whatever you say.¡± Ariana¡¯s grin returned, and she pointedly ignored Celeste¡¯s glare. ¡°Want more coffee? I think it¡¯s in the kitch¡ª¡± She was cut off by the Incineroar growling. ¡°Oh, piss off. If the kitchen¡¯s off limits, just bring the coffee here!¡± she yelled, as her Murkrow swooped down and snatched the ladle out of the Fire-type¡¯s paw, cawing victoriously.
Celeste bit her lip, trying not to laugh as the Incineroar huffed, smoke flaring from its nostrils. It reached for the ladle, but Ariana stepped away, grabbing it from her bird and dangling it just out of reach. ¡°You want more porridge, Celeste?¡±
¡°I¡¯m good¡¡± she held back a laugh.
¡°No, you need seconds. Don¡¯t argue.¡± Ariana smirked as she dunked the ladle back into the pot, stirring with an overdramatic flourish. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, kitty cat? Is there a rule I¡¯m breaking?¡±
Celeste began to wonder if Ariana was taking things too far. ¡°Maybe we should just¡ª¡±
¡°Nope. I¡¯m supposed to be babysitting you, so I¡¯m making sure you¡¯re well-fed,¡± Ariana declared, scooping even more porridge into Celeste¡¯s bowl. ¡°Feeling babysat yet?¡± She shot a challenging glance at the Incineroar. ¡°Think you could grab us some coffee now?¡±
The Incineroar¡¯s eyes narrowed, and the air seemed to heat up around it, but before anything could escalate, its trainer¡ªa girl named Dinah¡ªstrolled over with a thermos in hand. She gave Ariana a sharp glare, and for once, Ariana seemed to shrink under the look. Wasting no time, she dropped the laddle, snatched the coffee, looped her arm through Celeste¡¯s, and grinned. ¡°C¡¯mon, best pals like us need a tour, right?¡± she said, stressing the best pals bit.
As they weaved through the labyrinthine corridors of the gym, Celeste glanced at the other girl. ¡°What¡¯s that all about? Also, babysitting? Me?¡±
Ariana shrugged. ¡°They¡¯re all breathing down my neck because I didn¡¯t bring you in as soon as we met.¡±
Celeste¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°And now I¡¯m your ¡®best pal¡¯?¡±
¡°Just roll with it.¡± She gestured to a door. ¡°Come this way.¡±
Celeste dashed in, thinking she¡¯d find Pat inside, only to freeze in terror when she saw Nurse Joy instead. Her pink hair was loose this time around, and she was applying some ointment to Blaine¡¯s Marowak. The unnerving smile was gone, and there was no ¡°welcome to the Pok¨¦mon Centre,¡± this time around.
¡°Can I help you?¡± Nurse Joy eventually asked, not even looking up.
Celeste¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She took an involuntary step backward, searching her shadow for Shy, but the ghost didn¡¯t even flicker. The nurse sighed, noticing Celeste¡¯s discomfort. ¡°I¡¯m not that thing.¡± She sounded angry. ¡°Now, unless you need medical attention, please close the door.¡±
All Celeste managed was to stumble out of the room, still pale. Ariana leaned against the wall, smirking. ¡°Sooo, welcome to the infirmary. Great start to our tour, huh?¡±
Celeste shot her a look. ¡°Are you getting back at me for something?¡±
¡°Me? Never! We¡¯re best pals,¡± Ariana feigned innocence. ¡°Just thought you¡¯d appreciate a comprehensive tour.¡±
Without a word, Celeste just narrowed her eyes at the other girl.
Ariana hummed, ¡°I mean, I even let your annoying friends crash at my actual friend¡¯s place, rent-free. You¡¯re welcome, by the way.¡±
Her friends¡ Celeste blinked. She still hadn¡¯t asked. ¡°Are they okay?¡±
¡°Mhmm,¡± Ariana shrugged. ¡°Last time I snuck out there, Lorelei had completely taken over the pool with her giant Lapras, and there¡¯s a Frigibax leaving ice all over the place. A fucking Frigibax. The last time I heard of one of those in Indigo was¡ªnevermind. And don¡¯t even start on Delia and Gio. It was bad enough when he was zombified alone, but now they¡¯re all over each other, making these googly eyes. It¡¯s ugh.¡±
Celeste grimaced at that.
Before she could get a word in, Ariana yanked her around a corner, swinging her arms around her shoulder. ¡°Why¡¯d you call for me when you showed up here?¡± she asked. ¡°You blew all the goodwill I had with these people, you know.¡±
Celeste tried to squirm away. ¡°Pretty sure you didn¡¯t need my help for that.¡±
¡°Wha¡ª¡±
¡°I called for you everywhere I went.¡± Celeste rolled her eyes. ¡°Figured if I yelled a familiar name, someone might actually listen.¡±
Ariana grumbled something under her breath, muttering a string of unflattering names Celeste pretended not to hear. Apparently, her excuse was that they were ¡®friends¡¯ and she was trying to be heroic¡ªthough Celeste doubted anyone bought that. Ariana was just trying to act nice so people would ¡°back off¡± and stop making her ¡°babysit some dumb girl.¡±
Fun times.
They rounded another corner, emerging at the stands of another battlefield. Celeste finally managed to shake off Ariana¡¯s hold. This was Arena 3¡ªless rocky, with pools of steaming water scattered around, probably for Water-types? Though the place seemed far too hot.
Ariana¡¯s Murkrow hopped off her shoulder, swooping down near the few trainers scattered across the arena below. Most of them were in small groups: one large cluster of trainers and Pok¨¦mon ran through some sort of exercise routine, while others¡ªmainly Fire-type gym trainers with their signature red uniforms and those weird sunglasses¡ªpractised moves with their Bug, Dark, and Ghost-types.
Even here, the training never seemed to stop.
Ariana paused, watching her Murkrow for a moment, then tilted her head, pointing towards the edge of the stands.
Pat and Orbeetle were there.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
As they got closer, Celeste could see Pat grinning lazily at the Orbeetle¡ªwho was, disturbingly, poking him with its tiny limbs. Probing. Celeste¡¯s eyes widened, and she shoved her porridge bowl into Ariana¡¯s hands without a second thought, sprinting towards her Pok¨¦mon.
¡°Seriously? You¡¯re leaving me with your dishes?¡± Ariana called out, but Celeste was already gone.
¡°That¡¯s what pals do!¡± she shouted over her shoulder, maybe snorting?
At the sound of her voice, Pat¡¯s head turned towards her, his wide, toothy smile lighting up his face. She was just about to scoop him up and get him away from that weird bug when something materialised right in front of her.
¡°What the¡ª?¡± Celeste yelped, stumbling backward and landing with a thud. She blinked, and (literally) through the figure floating before her, she could still see Pat, now tilting his head at the scene. This wasn¡¯t Orbeetle. In fact, it couldn¡¯t be further from one. The little Pok¨¦mon had a body like a drippy wax candle, its tiny arms barely poking out, and atop its head danced a small purple flame, bobbing cheerfully like a birthday candle.
A Litwick.
Celeste¡¯s initial panic melted into surprise as she took in its round eyes and the way its flame flickered with every movement. It was kind of adorable, really¡ªlike a glowing marshmallow come to life. The ghost let out a tiny, delighted squeak as it floated closer, twirling as if to show off.
Wait, didn¡¯t they also guide unwittingly trainers to their death?
¡°Wax¡?¡± Celeste ventured, recalling the name one of the gym trainers¡ªDan¡ªhad mentioned.
¡°Correct,¡± buzzed a voice inside her head. The voice had a static-like hum to it, and before she could even process it, the Orbeetle vanished from Pat¡¯s side and teleported right in front of her, peering into her eyes as if she was some puzzle. Meanwhile, the Litwick, clearly delighted with the teleportation idea, squealed and started flickering in and out of sight, spinning in little twirls around her.
¡°D-Don¡¯t these two have trainers or something?¡± Celeste called out to Ariana, inching back while avoiding the Orbeetle¡¯s gaze. Like any good Galarian, she knew better than to stare an Orbeetle in the eyes. Ariana, however, simply shrugged.
¡°I¡¯m not hypnotising you,¡± the Orbeetle¡¯s voice droned in her mind, clearly uncaring for her privacy. ¡°But my, aren¡¯t you intriguing? There¡¯s a wrongness about you that I can¡¯t quite place.¡±
A¡ wrongness?
¡°Not this again,¡± she muttered under her breath. The bug Pok¨¦mon tilted its head, as if fascinated by her every move. ¡°Paaat?¡± she called, hoping her Slowpoke might actually do something, but he just kept staring.
¡°Yes. A wrongness. As if you aren¡¯t quite where you were meant to be. Almost like¡ª¡±
Its words cut off with an annoyed buzz as the Litwick squealed again. When Celeste turned to see what that was about¡ªLitwick was reaching out towards¡ towards her shadow!
¡°W-wait! Don¡¯t do that!¡± She lunged forward to grab the little ghost, but it passed right through her, sending a shiver that felt both cold and burning at once. Her body twitched as she rallied from the contact, and when she glanced down to see her shadow, it was twisting too, but not in sync with her. Shy was recoiling from the approaching Litwick instead.
How in the world did she take that long to notice them would forever be a mystery.
¡°Hey, stop that!¡± She tried to cover her shadow with her hands, pretending it was just an ordinary, boring patch of darkness. Even though it didn¡¯t follow the light at all¡
Ariana snorted from behind, making absolutely no effort to step in.
¡°There¡¯s really nothing to see here.¡± Celeste attempted to shoo the Litwick away next, which also didn¡¯t work, and then Orbeetle simply teleported around her feeble attempt to cover Shy up.
¡°That¡¯s objectively false,¡± the bug stated flatly.
Celeste spun around, her eyes darting between the Litwick and the Orbeetle as Shy slid away, somehow still trying to pretend nothing was happening. The Litwick squealed with joy every time Shy moved, though. It swooped up and down, poking at the ground like it was playing tag. With a twirl, Litwick finally dipped inside the floor, clearly loving the chase, while the shadow kept scooting just out of range.
¡°Her ghost is in the shadow, not on the floor,¡± the Orbeetle explained to Litwick with a disapproving click. ¡°It¡¯s not that common for ghosts to cling to shadows like this. Candle-ghost, use your fire¡ªnow! Draw it out.¡±
¡°Wha¡ªNo! No, no, no!¡± Celeste leapt forward. ¡°Isn¡¯t my wrongness so much more interesting? Don¡¯t you want hyperfocus on that instead? Or¡ªor the mysteries of the Slow-kin? Pat here isn¡¯t affected by the Unown even though he¡¯s Water/Psychic. Did you know that? Biiiig mystery. We could talk about that for hours, eh?¡±
The Orbeetle tilted its head. ¡°If by Unown, you mean the psychic entities, it¡¯s not a mystery. His Own Tempo ability shields him from external psychic influences, even my own.¡± The bug¡¯s eyes glowed briefly. ¡°I¡¯ve tested it myself.¡±
Celeste stared. ¡°Did you say test?¡±
¡°Just a few hypnosis attempts here and there¡ªnothing big. His mind is quite fascinating! So full of thoughts, but so few words to express them. It¡¯s¡ª¡±
¡°Pat doesn¡¯t need words to speak,¡± she cut in. Loudly. Orbeetle clicked in response, complaining about being interrupted.
Just as they started bickering, a burst of heat flared up nearby. Celeste and Orbeetle both turned to see Wax flickering its flames wildly as it set small ghostly fires in an attempt to flush Shy out. The fires closed in, and Shy¡¯s shadow shrank under the light. They pulled tight against Celeste and then¡ª
Poof.
Her shadow was back to normal. In the right place, doing the right movements¡ The Litwick¡¯s smile dropped at that, and with a tiny whimper, it vanished completely, leaving only a wisp of smoke.
¡°It¡¯s gone¡¡± Orbeetle said, buzzing annoyingly in her head.
¡°Yeah, I saw that.¡±
¡°Not the candle-ghost. Your ghost. It left your shadow.¡±
Her breath caught in her throat as she stared down at her shadow¡ her empty shadow.
¡°No need to be upset. You¡¯re safe here. The collective energy of all the Ghost, Dark, and Bug types, amplified by the gym¡¯s stronger Pok¨¦mon, creates a protective barrier that can be shaped¡¡±
Celeste barely heard the rest, her eyes still fixed on her own shadow. What if Shy had left for good because she couldn¡¯t protect them? What if¡ªShe was still staring, wide-eyed, when the edges of her shadow flickered, just a little.
¡°Ah¡ it seems your ghost has returned,¡± Orbeetle remarked.
She managed a shaky smile back at Shy. Then she stood up straighter. ¡°There¡¯s nothing in my shadow, and you¡¯re not going to bother them anymore.¡±
The Orbeetle clicked again. ¡°That¡¯s contradictory. How could something non-existent be bothered¡ª¡±
¡°Nebula, are you pestering people again?¡± a new voice called out. Orbeetle¡¯s clicks grew louder at that. When Celeste turned, she saw Orbeetle¡¯s trainer approaching, adjusting his glasses. His turtleneck still looked impossibly neat and unsuitable for the heat of the arena. ¡°Sorry¡ªshe can be a bit¡ much.¡±
Ariana, finally deciding to be useful, chimed in. ¡°Oh, Nebula was great. She even organised a little fire show.¡±
Celeste shot her a look.
Trailing behind Orbeetle¡¯s trainer was Blaine, his coat billowing as he fiddled with his sunglasses. ¡°Glad to see you up and about, Miss Diaz,¡± he greeted. ¡°We¡¯ve still got a lot to talk about if you¡¯re ready.¡±
Celeste sighed. Guess she couldn¡¯t ignore the mess of the world forever.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Blaine gestured to the chairs surrounding them, mumbling something about his back as he slowly lowered himself into one. He clearly wasn¡¯t too fussed about privacy this time, though he tried¡ªand failed¡ªto dismiss Ariana. She just smirked, flopped into the chair beside him, and shot him a cheeky wink, as if he was just some grumpy old man and not the Cinnabar Gym Leader. When Celeste took her own seat, the Orbeetle still hovered above her shoulder, strangely interested.
With all of them gathered, the Gym Leader leaned forward. ¡°Can you tell us what you¡¯ve been through?¡±
Celeste glanced at Pat, who was surprisingly alert. She then eyed the hovering bug, a lot more unsure.
¡°Nebula¡¯s really good at putting pieces together,¡± the Orbeetle¡¯s trainer said, giving Celeste an encouraging smile. He then added, almost as an afterthought, ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t think I introduced myself properly before. I¡¯m¡ª¡±
¡°Caleb,¡± Celeste said, her lips twitching into a half-smile. ¡°Everyone here talks about you. And¡ uh¡ Nebula... We¡¯ve just met.¡±
Caleb rubbed the back of his neck, a sheepish grin forming. Before he could reply, Nebula let out a loud buzz, drowning out his apology.
Blaine cleared his throat pointedly. ¡°Should we focus on the matter at hand?¡±
Celeste took a deep breath, nodding. ¡°Did you read the¡ª¡± She hesitated, catching the way the Gym Leader squinted at her and the tiny shake of his head. She shifted awkwardly in her seat, glancing at Nebula. The bug¡¯s oversized eyes stared at her impassively. ¡°Uh, right. What do you want to know, exactly?¡±
¡°Start at the beginning,¡± Caleb said, settling down beside her, his tone gentler than the others. ¡°We don¡¯t know much about you. Ariana said you¡¯re called Celina¡ but you¡¯re obviously Celeste. Or Celly Diaz, right?¡±
Celeste winced at the name ¡®Celly¡¯. Celina was almost better than that. ¡°My parents¡¯ show isn¡¯t supposed to be that popular in Indigo,¡± she mumbled.
Caleb chuckled. ¡°Good thing I¡¯m from Hoenn, then. I even got your autograph once.¡± He smiled, and Celeste felt her cheeks flush in a way they hadn¡¯t in ages.
She didn¡¯t mind signing autographs or taking pictures, really. She liked people, liked making friends, even liked the spotlight. But remembering every face in a crowd? Her memory wasn¡¯t that good. When someone brought up those ¡®life-changing¡¯ two minutes they¡¯d met her (or most likely her parents), and she had no idea who they were, it always left her feeling a bit... meh. It wasn¡¯t her fault, obviously. But still¡This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
¡°You alright?¡± Caleb¡¯s voice broke into her thoughts, and she realised she¡¯d been staring off into space.
¡°S-sorry,¡± she muttered, brushing her hair back from her face. ¡°I don¡¯t remember¡¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Caleb said. ¡°It was, like, a year and a half ago in Rustboro. I was there to visit my family, and I remember you and your mother walked into the Pok¨¦mon Centre where my friends and I were hanging out. Your mother kept trying to convince you to get a ¡®better-behaved¡¯ Eevee¡ªor, like, literally any other Pok¨¦mon¡ªas your starter,¡± he added with a chuckle. ¡°But you were too busy telling your Eevee not to steal stuff from the nurses or something. Honestly, I can¡¯t remember all the details either. My friends and I were just so star-struck that famous people just walked into a Pok¨¦mon centre like it was nothing. We kind of swarmed you both for photos and autographs. Thinking back, we were probably very rude.¡±
Celeste blinked at him. This must have been right after Aria joined her, but somehow this exact same situation happened far too many times. She still couldn¡¯t place him.
Before she could say anything else, Blaine cleared his throat once again. ¡°I¡¯m sure Miss Diaz would be happy to take as many pictures as you like later, but perhaps we could refocus for now?¡±
She just nodded at that. Celeste would absolutely hate to step back into the shoes of ¡®Celly Diaz,¡¯ but this guy did save her life, so... maybe it was okay?
¡°Right,¡± she said, turning back to the group. ¡°You said to start at the beginning.¡± Her eyes flicked to Blaine, then to Caleb, and then Ariana, who was currently throwing a coin in the air for her Murkrow to catch. ¡°I came to Cinnabar with my friends about a week ago. We were on our friend¡¯s boat and there were a bunch of things we needed to do here. But when we got close to the island, there was this mist. It was thick, and the radar picked up a lot of¡ things. We didn¡¯t know what it was back then, but our friend¡ªthe one with the boat¡ªshe didn¡¯t want to go in.¡±
Nebula buzzed. ¡°The radar most likely picked up the creatures that took over the island.¡±
Celeste nodded. ¡°Yeah. I think I actually saw them in the mist, too. I was pretty scared when we got in there. I don¡¯t know, it was dark and creepy and I couldn¡¯t help but to think of this story mum had told me about this Pok¨¦mon called Dhelmise that came with rolling mists. She was terrified of it. And then, right there, one appeared. It looked just like the one from the picture I¡¯d seen. Like, not similar. Exactly the same. And it didn¡¯t attack us with actual moves. It just swung its anchor and the kelp around its body, and it hit us with something that looked psychic, not ghost¡ It was weird. We couldn¡¯t really fight it.¡±
There was a beat of silence. Nebula¡¯s clicks were the only sound as she hovered by.
Ariana, to Celeste¡¯s surprise, actually seemed to be paying attention. She leaned forward. ¡°Wait a sec, didn¡¯t you say your friend didn¡¯t want to sail in?¡±
¡°Hmm? Oh yeah,¡± Celeste nodded. ¡°She offered to take us to the Seafom Islands or back to the continent with her. But the Gym was supposed to close in a few weeks for... holidays.¡± Her voice caught on the last word. Holidays. Now she knew that was Faraway Island. ¡°My other friend really wanted her last badge before the Gym closed, so we decided to just go in on her Lapras instead.¡±
¡°Lapras?¡± Ariana snorted. ¡°From what I¡¯ve seen, Lorelei just wants to lounge by the pool all day.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not like her!¡± Celeste threw her hands up. ¡°It¡¯s this place. Normally, she¡¯s super focused, and¡ª¡±
¡°Lorelei?¡± Blaine cut in, chuckling. ¡°That wouldn¡¯t happen to be the ice specialist, would it? Did she finally fix that team of hers?¡±
Caleb grinned. ¡°I doubt there are many Loreleis with a Lapras around.¡±
Ariana clapped her hands together, contorting her lips into a fake smile. ¡°Great, you all know her. Now can we maybe get back to the point?¡± she said, mimicking Blaine¡¯s tone.
Celeste rolled her eyes, but turned to Caleb curiously.
¡°I¡¯m friends with Lori¡ªknown her forever. We even traded Pok¨¦mon once,¡± he said, adjusting his glasses. ¡°My little sister is all about water conservation... I think? She¡¯s into this Aqua club or something? Anyway, she wanted a Water-type starter, so I thought I¡¯d surprise her with one from Indigo. But with my Sharpedo I can¡¯t get close to¡ª¡± He winced as his Orbeetle buzzed loudly, cutting him off. He shot Celeste an apologetic glance instead of finishing his thought.
All eyes shifted to the bug as she hovered.
¡°The creatures lacked a proper template for the Dhelmise,¡± she droned. ¡°They pieced together an incomplete copy from Celeste¡¯s memories. That¡¯s why it didn¡¯t follow the usual battle rules like the other Pok¨¦mon.¡±
Ariana flopped back into her chair. ¡°All that time just to tell us this? I could¡¯ve figured that out,¡± she muttered, but the others ignored her. ¡°By the way, should we talk about the fact that Cinnabar wasn¡¯t on the news by the time she came in?¡±
For a moment, they all stayed silent, the weight of the situation settling in. By the time Celeste ventured into the mist, it had already been days since the island had been cut off, and still, the outside world seemed unaware. How could Cinnabar be isolated, and yet no one seemed to notice? At the time, Celeste hadn¡¯t even thought of it¡ªthe mist had been terrifying enough on its own. Nebula offered her theory: while the fog was a deterrent, it likely hadn¡¯t stopped everyone. Others might have made it through, just like Celeste and her friends¡ªonly to be affected, as Lori and Delia were.
¡°And those who turned back,¡± Nebula continued, ¡°may have no memory of even trying to reach the island.¡±
Celeste¡¯s stomach twisted at the bug¡¯s next thought: if the creatures¡¯ reality-altering powers were strong enough, their influence could extend beyond Cinnabar, beyond Kanto even. They might have subtly warped perceptions so that people everywhere couldn¡¯t even consider that something was wrong.
Blaine cleared his throat, snapping everyone out of those thoughts before they were swallowed whole. ¡°Go on, Celeste,¡± he prompted gently.
She hesitated for a moment, choosing to skip over Shy, and instead explained how she kept bumping into Jenny, Joy, and Jude after arriving on the island. It felt like they were everywhere¡ªan experience that, it turned out, was common among the people in the gym. And not everyone knew to avoid them, despite what Ariana had said back when they first met.
¡°I also met this little girl¡¡± she turned to Blaine. ¡°Giovanni¡¯s neighbour. Amber. She had a Sinistea and invited me for tea, but¡¡± She paused, lowering her voice. ¡°She didn¡¯t seem mindless, like everyone else.¡±
She noticed Blaine stiffen, but he just nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll look into it,¡± he said, then gestured for her to go on. She recounted the beach party and the incident at the Pok¨¦mon Centre afterward¡ªif you could call it that.
¡°That¡¯s when I realised Pat¡¯s Own Tempo ability protected him too. Anyway, I freaked out and went to the house of the guy who invited Delia over. That was when¡ª¡±
Ariana draped an arm around Celeste¡¯s shoulders way too forcefully. ¡°That¡¯s when we became besties over a nice cup of coffee, and we don¡¯t need to bore everyone with the details.¡±
¡°Aaaanyway,¡± Celeste continued, ¡°my Pok¨¦mon and I hid all over the island these past few weeks. We mostly stuck to places the¡ creatures avoided. Caves, abandoned spots, away from the crowds. I think they¡¯re spread thin now. And the illusion¡¯s cracking¡ªuh... something about energy?¡±
Caleb adjusted his turtleneck nervously, and Blaine stroked his moustache thoughtfully.
She narrowed her eyes at them. ¡°You guys know something, don¡¯t you?¡±
Nebula floated forward. ¡°In any system, entropy¡ªthe measure of disorder¡ªincreases,¡± she began. ¡°These creatures rely on their collective energy to keep their control over reality intact. But energy isn¡¯t infinite. Over time, the strain grows, inefficiencies build up, and the disorder¡ªthe entropy¡ªgets worse. As they push harder to maintain their illusions and energy begins to run out, things start falling apart. First, it¡¯s just cracks.¡±
Blaine nodded thoughtfully. ¡°We¡¯ve sent some gym trainers out on for supplies now and then. They¡¯ve been seeing these... cracks. Small things at first¡ªfall leaves falling on the side of the road, fences broken when no one was around, shelves in the supermarket turned upside down without a reason.¡±
¡°Did you see anything bigger than that?¡± Caleb asked.
¡°Well... not really.¡± Celeste tapped her chin. ¡°It¡¯s worse in the abandoned places I mentioned, where there are fewer creatures. I did see some ice in an alley near the main street, though, which I thought was weird because there were plenty of Unoh--creatures around. Err... I should probably tell you about what happened to the tram.¡±
Even Ariana perked up at that. ¡°We saw the tracks,¡± she said, giving Celeste a sideways glance. ¡°Or actually... we didn¡¯t.¡±
Celeste sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. She¡¯d managed to avoid sharing the more reckless parts of her story until now, but there was no dodging this one. She took a breath and launched into it, the words tumbling over each other. She told them about the incenses, which seemed to make everyone sit up straighter, and how she¡¯d used the last one to trap Nurse Joy on the tram. That one earned her a disapproving look from Blaine.
¡°...so Nurse Joy was stuck in the tram with the incense. The creatures started gathering around, and then it just... vanished.¡± Celeste looked away. ¡°I thought if the illusion was breaking, we could just wait it out and be free. But you didn¡¯t see what I saw. It¡¯s like when a problem gets too big, or too hard to fix, they just erase it. You know, like when you all found me. Jude was asking if I wanted to yield to them or...¡± she swallowed, ¡°...cease.¡±
¡°Yeah, we saw,¡± Ariana cut in, smirking. ¡°You were running like a Caterpie spotting a Pidgey and then turned all dramatic.¡±
Celeste huffed, but Blaine took over, explaining how they¡¯d watched the recording of her knocking at the gym, and organised a rescue party. By the time they left she had set up the fireworks---which no one was thrilled to know had probably wrecked whatever remained of the Cinnabar Labs.
Which reminded her.
¡°Wait... you found me because of the fireworks? You didn¡¯t get my broadcast?¡± Celeste blinked in surprise.
Blaine shook his head. ¡°Nothing came through. Whatever you sent, it never reached us.¡±
Celeste sighed, deflating a little. Figures. She should¡¯ve known it wouldn¡¯t work.
¡°In any case,¡± Blaine continued, softening his tone, ¡°next time someone offers you a chance to choose between life and... well, ceasing, try to choose life, yeah?¡±
Celeste¡¯s face fell. ¡°I was worried about Pat and¡ my other Pok¨¦mon.¡±
Blaine¡¯s expression hardened slightly. ¡°Pok¨¦balls exist to protect your Pok¨¦mon too,¡± he said. ¡°And anyway¡ª¡±
¡°Not all Pok¨¦mon have¡ªuh... I mean, what if I lost one of their Pok¨¦balls?¡±
He stared at her. ¡°Losing a Pok¨¦mon¡¯s Pok¨¦ball is considered negligence and would result in a strike on your licence. Not something you should confess to a Gym Leader, Celeste. But... did you?¡±
¡°An empty one,¡± she mumbled.
¡°That hardly matters then. Just deregister the code from your licence once this is over.¡± He shook his head and cleared his throat. ¡°Now, can you tell us more about what happened with the tram?¡±
Celeste nodded and began recounting the events in more detail. As she spoke, the room grew quieter, the mood darker. Once she finished the story about the tram, she also mentioned Jude and the conversation they had when she faced him. When she finished, everyone turned towards Nebula, who had been uncharacteristically silent, her eyes glittering with thought.
¡°The creatures seem bound by certain rules,¡± Nebula said, her buzzing voice piercing their thoughts. ¡°They don¡¯t want anyone to worry, and when someone does, they try to fix it. Everything must be perfect. Like a paradise.¡±
¡°Xanadu¡¡± Celeste whispered. Everyone turned to look at her.
Nebula buzzed louder, demanding attention. ¡°Yes, Xanadu. The utopia of an old poem. Paradise. It¡¯s irrelevant. What matters is the pattern we¡¯ve identified¡ªthey prefer subjugation over killing, erasing over breaking. It tells us something about their nature.¡±
Celeste frowned. ¡°They attacked me. That wasn¡¯t just erasing¡ªthat was trying to kill me.¡±
¡°You act illogically,¡± the bug replied, almost amused. ¡°You stood before Armarouge¡¯s strongest attack without understanding the consequences. Without my barrier, whether you were killed or erased would make no difference.¡±
Celeste paled, her heart sinking. Ariana snorted, clearly entertained, while Caleb cleared his throat, trying to ease the tension.
¡°So... the only thing you haven¡¯t explained is why you blew up Cinnabar Labs?¡± He adjusted his glasses and offered a reassuring smile, steering Celeste away from dwelling on her narrow escape.
¡°Uh, I think I used them to erase the fake Jenny?¡±
Blaine sighed heavily. ¡°Arceus. Let¡¯s be grateful you don¡¯t have any Fire-types on your team...¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
The conversation dragged on as Nebula tried to piece together any missing details, scrutinising every word from Celeste. It was leading nowhere fast. The Orbeetle kept prodding her about the ghost in her shadow¡ªsomething Celeste flatly denied existed¡ªonly for Ariana to snap, pointing out that they¡¯d all seen it. Blaine stepped in before things escalated further, reigning in both Ariana and Nebula with a calm but firm tone.
At that, Nebula reluctantly dropped the subject, focusing on Cinnabar Labs again.
Celeste bit her lip, nearly mentioning the journal. She knew it was exactly what Nebula should be scrutinising. But Celeste understood Blaine too. He probably didn¡¯t want to tarnish Fuji¡¯s reputation, even now. He¡¯d find a way to pass down the crucial information without revealing the darker side of Fuji¡¯s experiments¡ hopefully. So instead, she talked about the tech she¡¯d seen, the call she¡¯d apparently broadcast to no one, and how she¡¯d met the strangest Pok¨¦mon¡ªand somehow lost the Pok¨¦ball she¡¯d been saving for emergencies when she faced it.
Eventually, Nebula¡¯s questions dried up, but Celeste wasn¡¯t quite done.
¡°Earlier you said this whole floor was protected, even when we¡¯re not near our Pok¨¦mon?¡± she asked, turning her attention to the bug.
Caleb answered before Nebula could. ¡°All the Pok¨¦mon here offer some level of protection against psychic stuff, but a few can tweak that protection more. It¡¯s like a barrier they can shape. We¡¯ve secured all the underground floors of the gym.¡±
¡°So¡¡± Celeste grinned, jumping to her feet. ¡°That means Powds and Aria are gonna be back to normal, right?¡±
¡°Celeste, wait¡ª¡± Caleb started, but he didn¡¯t get very far.
She had already zoned out, tired of overthinking it. She¡¯d had enough of questions, enough of dark labs, enough of wondering about all that is unknown. She scooped Pat up into her arms, relishing the happy rumble he let out. She loved hugging him, but it had been days since she¡¯d felt Powder¡¯s soft, puffy fur against her cheek or experienced Aria tackling her to keep her from doing something reckless. The thought of having them back to their usual selves sparked a fire within her.
Ignoring the others¡¯ warnings, she released them both in a flash of light.
The beams dissipated, and her Pok¨¦mon began to take shape before her. Powder¡¯s snowy fur gleamed under the dim lights, while Aria shook herself out.
¡°Is that an Alolan Vulpix?¡± Ariana¡¯s voice came from somewhere behind her, and Celeste couldn¡¯t resist but to shoot her a smug smile.
Then she turned back to her Pok¨¦mon¡ªand froze.
¡°Veev! Veev, Veev, Veev!¡±
Wide-eyed, Aria sprinted toward her in sheer panic, calling out ¡°Veev¡±¡ªthat¡¯s how she called Celeste¡ªover and over. She was... not okay. Aria slammed into Celeste, knocking her down, but not in their usual playful way. Fear filled her eyes. And before Celeste could even process it, Pat let out a worried bellow. He was beside Powder, who had curled into a trembling ball where she materialised. Pat tried to nudge her gently, but she whimpered, shrinking back as if even the Slowpoke¡¯s gentle touch hurt.
Heart pounding, Celeste scooped up the frantic Aria and rushed over to the others.
¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± she whispered to Powder, reaching out. But the little Vulpix flinched away, coiling tighter. Pat looked just as lost as she felt. ¡°Powds, I¡¯m here. We¡¯re safe¡ª¡±
Blaine approached quietly from behind. Her two Pok¨¦balls floated up to his hands, Nebula¡¯s psychic aura humming around them.
¡°There¡¯s a reason none of us have our other Pok¨¦mon out, Miss Diaz,¡± Blaine said, his voice low but not unkind. He extended his arm, recalling Powder and Aria with a flick of his wrist, giving Celeste no time to object. The two beams vanished, and the air felt colder, emptier. He then offered her a hand to help her up. ¡°Daniel¡¯s keeping track of the schedule if you want to take them upstairs to the arena. It¡¯s outside the shield, so¡¡±
¡°They won¡¯t be themselves...¡± Celeste murmured, glancing from Blaine to Caleb and Ariana. The two trainers avoided her eyes.
Celeste stared at the empty Pok¨¦balls, her face tight, her jaw clenched. ¡°They won¡¯t be themselves,¡± she repeated softly.
Blaine sighed. ¡°I know it¡¯s not ideal.¡±
¡°That¡¯s an understatement¡¡± she muttered. ¡°What¡ what¡¯s going on with them?¡±
¡°We call it Psychic Trauma.¡± Nebula buzzed closer, but before she could launch into a lecture, Blaine cut in.
¡°I know it doesn¡¯t seem like it, but we¡¯re the lucky ones,¡± he said softly. With a gesture, he managed to dismiss Ariana and Caleb, calling Celeste and Pat to follow him through the maze of gym corridors.
Unlike Ariana, Blaine actually took the time to explain things as they walked. Celeste knew the gym was built over lava pools, but she hadn¡¯t realised there was so much history beneath her feet. The original gym, as Blaine explained with a grimace, had been located higher up on the volcano.
¡°Years of trekking up and down that mountain ruined my back,¡± he added with a dry chuckle.
The previous Indigo Champion, Jasper Whiteley, had been a close friend. Apparently, Jasper had trained his Charizard in the heart of the volcano and had a deep bond with the island. So when Blaine proposed building a new gym, Jasper poured funds into the project, pushing for something modern and accessible, in line with the innovation Cinnabar had seen during the construction of the Cinnabar Labs. This new gym had stood for eight years now.
He¡¯d further explained he¡¯d chosen this specific location to take advantage of the volcano¡¯s power while making the gym more welcoming to the public, something Jasper excelled at but which, according to Blaine, ¡°the new dragon boy¡± had completely ignored.
As they strolled, Blaine pointed to massive metal doors set into the walls. ¡°Those lead to the lava pits,¡± he explained. ¡°Reinforced to hold back the lava, naturally.¡±
Celeste shivered slightly, though she¡¯d be lying if she said she didn¡¯t want a peek. She stayed close to Pat as Blaine led them further, occasionally pointing out more features. They passed a room serving as an infirmary, where Blaine properly introduced her to the Nurse Joy with them. She¡¯d been tending to a wild Venonat when the Unown took over, and it had become her own Pok¨¦mon since then.
The gym was larger than Celeste had imagined (though still smaller than Galar¡¯s), with facilities for both trainers and Pok¨¦mon. Blaine showed her specialised training rooms, two extra battle arenas, and a kitchen. He mentioned classrooms upstairs for public engagement, emphasising that education was key in Indigo¡¯s gym culture.
Further below, Blaine mentioned there was a furnace and a geothermal energy centre that helped power the gym¡ªand, apparently, much of the island. They passed by the nursery, where a lone gym trainer with a Sizzlipede was keeping an eye on some eggs. Nearby, in a security room filled with cameras, another trainer sat playing cards with a Lampent, relaxed despite everything going on.
¡°Unfortunately, we don¡¯t have access to the infirmary, cafeteria, or the private quarters upstairs,¡± Blaine continued. ¡°We¡¯ve had to make do with what we have,¡± he said, adding that the same went for gym trainers. There were only about half a dozen that managed to avoid the Unown, and aside from Dinah¡ªthe girl with the Incineroar, most were inexperienced. He admitted that Caleb and especially his Orbeetle¡ªthough not part or the gym¡ªhad stepped up to help him organise things, but many of the people around weren¡¯t even trainers.
Most were simply frightened.
As they entered the kitchen, Blaine grabbed a bag of something from the counter. Celeste half-expected him to tell her how stretched thin they were, and that she needed to pull her weight, but he surprised her by changing the subject.
¡°Have you been to a gym before?¡± he asked, leading her toward his office. He didn¡¯t enter, though. Instead, he called his Marowak and headed through more corridors until they reached the stairs, guarded by Dan and another trainer with a Houndour. He glanced at Celeste¡¯s shadow but said nothing, just told his trainers he wouldn¡¯t be long.
Celeste exchanged a look with Pat but followed, staying close as they made their way upstairs. ¡°Uh, yeah. But only in Galar.¡±
Blaine¡¯s eyebrows lifted with interest. ¡°Did you try the circuit there?¡±
She shook her head, thinking of Caleb. ¡°Is it normal for people to switch regions?¡±
He considered the question. ¡°Depends. Each region¡¯s got its own quirks. Places like Galar, Unova, and Hoenn run annual circuits, so you have to collect all your badges within a year. But they balance that out with more tailored challenges, better scaling. If you get into the conference first year, you probably won¡¯t get far, but you get experience. Then each year it gets a little harder. You improve and push a bit further. Places like Indigo or Sinnoh, however, offer a steeper climb from the start, but you have time to train, and your badges stay valid for years. It¡¯s not unheard of for newcomers to go far or even win here.¡± He gave her a sideways glance. ¡°It¡¯s all about the challenge you¡¯re looking for. Indigo also lets you pick between the Kanto or Johto track.¡±
Celeste blinked. She hadn¡¯t considered any of that when she came here. Heck, she hadn¡¯t even thought about the Gym lineup.
Blaine gave her a knowing look. ¡°So, why Kanto? Seems a long way from Galar.¡±
She grimaced. ¡°That was kind of the point.¡±
Blaine pushed open the door to a mostly empty battlefield. His Marowak bounded ahead, twirling its bone with effortless precision before smashing it into a boulder, shattering it to pieces. Lahar stood proudly, glancing back at his trainer, expecting praise. But instead of complimenting the move, Blaine offered a few precise corrections, noting the Marowak¡¯s stance and the need for a more explosive follow-through. It seemed nitpicky, but the Fire-type¡¯s eyes blazed with determination, and he immediately set to work on another rock.
¡°I read the journal,¡± Blaine said, moving to the centre of the arena and releasing a massive Arcanine and Rapidash. ¡°I grabbed enough food for your Pok¨¦mon too, if you want to let them out,¡± he added, mentioning he fed his team in rotation. ¡°You were having trouble with your parents?¡±
Celeste hesitated, her fingers brushing over Aria¡¯s and Powder¡¯s Pok¨¦balls. She glanced at Pat, unsure, before looking at Blaine¡¯s Arcanine, who tore through its food with a relaxed, almost bored expression. ¡°I don¡¯t think that was the point of the journal¡ Fuji¡ª¡±
¡°Is a complicated man who¡¯s dedicated his life to curing his daughter,¡± Blaine said, setting down some feed for his Rapidash.
¡°Amber seemed fine when I met her...¡± she muttered, still holding back her Pok¨¦mon. ¡°Blaine¡ªUh¡ Leader Blaine... do you think he¡¯s...¡±
¡°He¡¯s at home with Amber and his wife,¡± Blaine cut in. ¡°All happy, like a family. Even Amber. I didn¡¯t have the heart to bring her here.¡±
¡°But you don¡¯t think¡¡± Was there a nice way to put this? Don¡¯t you think this is all Fuji¡¯s fault? Can¡¯t he stop it? What really happened here?
¡°Your Pok¨¦mon will be fine here,¡± the Gym Leader said, nodding at the Pok¨¦balls in her hand.
She looked away. ¡°They weren¡¯t okay when I let them out downstairs¡ You said we were the lucky ones? This ¡®Psychic Trauma¡¯?¡±
Blaine sighed deeply, his hand running through his Rapidash¡¯s fiery mane as if he drew warmth from it rather than getting burned. ¡°This happiness¡ it¡¯s hurting them,¡± he said. ¡°Nebula looked into their minds¡ªmy Pok¨¦mon¡¯s. They can tell something¡¯s wrong. There¡¯s a scream beneath their smiles.¡±
Celeste¡¯s heart tightened. ¡°So why let them out? And what happens when we stop the Unown? Won¡¯t everyone be like that?¡± Her voice wavered.
Blaine¡¯s gaze softened. ¡°Healing takes time and patience. But right now, we can¡¯t focus on that. What I¡¯m hoping is¡ if we make some of this happiness feel real¡ªif we make them feel safe¡ªeven under the spell, maybe the whiplash won¡¯t be as bad when it¡¯s over.¡±
¡°Guess bottling things up isn¡¯t great, huh?¡± Celeste muttered under her breath. With a reassuring nod from Pat, she finally released Aria and Powder. The moment they emerged, both Pok¨¦mon seemed as carefree as ever, like nothing happened. Powder¡¯s eyes lit up at the sight of the arena, while Aria wasted no time nuzzling against Celeste, her tail flicking playfully in the air. Pat just curled up beside the shadows, his slow, watchful gaze following his teammates.
Celeste settled down next to them, her heart softening as she ran her hands through their fur, giving each of them the attention they deserved.
Patiently. Genuinely.
For the first time in days, she made sure they knew they were safe, even if they didn¡¯t fully grasp it.
¡°I thought Mum and Dad just wanted to make all my choices for me,¡± she eventually told Blaine, a small laugh escaping her lips. ¡°They got me an internship at the Aether Foundation of all places...¡±
Blaine, no doubt recalling the journal, winced slightly.
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Celeste continued, scratching behind Aria¡¯s ear. ¡°I wanted to find my own way, not theirs. We¡¯ve been arguing non-stop since I made the decision to leave. But when I read that journal¡ it¡¯s like they do pay attention? Maybe? I came to Kanto back in September. Three months ago, and I¡¯ve just been getting into trouble and off track. Mum says I need to figure things out by summer and show progress. I don¡¯t know. Lori thinks going for badges is good for me. That it¡¯ll help me focus.¡±
Blaine sat beside her, reaching out to Powder. He stroked her in just the right spot, and to Celeste¡¯s surprise, the little Vulpix happily accepted the berry chunks he offered without complaint. She watched, amazed.
¡°How do you make her eat so easily?¡± she asked.
Blaine chuckled, still petting Powder. ¡°I haven¡¯t met many Alolan Vulpix, but the Fire-type Vulpix are staples here,¡± he said, noting she was very young. Vulpix her age apparently were often still dependent on their mothers. They also needed easy-to-digest food, chopped finely. At six months, she should be transitioning to independence¡ªthat¡¯s when Ninetales teach their young to hunt¡ªand eating should become easier.
Celeste nodded, listening intently.
¡°Anyway, I agree with your friend,¡± he said after a while. ¡°Training for badges gives you structure, and it lets you explore what kind of trainer you want to be. But your mother has a point too. If you don¡¯t want to go down the trainer route, you could be focusing on an apprenticeship or furthering your studies. And she¡¯s right¡ªyou need some focus.¡±
¡°It¡¯s hard¡¡± she muttered.
Blaine chuckled. ¡°Well, if it helps, I think you have the makings of a Fire specialist. You seem even more reckless than most of the hotheaded kids I hire.¡±
¡°Hey!¡±
¡°You know, I have some spare Fire Stones lying around, for when this is all over...¡± he smiled, glancing at Aria, who was trying to pick Marowak¡¯s bone from across the field. ¡°Staying at a gym could give you structure, and I could help keep you focused.¡±
¡°Are you that spread that thin?¡± she teased, earning a heartier laugh from him. ¡°I do know I don¡¯t want to follow in my parents¡¯ footsteps. But I kind of loved the travelling. See new places. Experience the weird and the wonderful. There¡¯s so much mystery and adventure out there¡ I just want to live it. Everything. I wanna meet new people and Pok¨¦mon, make friends. If I can make their lives a little brighter, then¡ I think that¡¯s what I want.¡±
Blaine¡¯s smile softened. ¡°Sounds like you¡¯ll be a wonderful trainer someday.¡±
¡°Hope so,¡± Celeste said, standing up and offering him a hand. He accepted, and his back didn¡¯t even crack this time. ¡°Besides, no offence, but Auntie Opal would kill me if I became a gym trainer anywhere else,¡± she added, returning her Pok¨¦mon and heading for the exit.
Blaine blinked.
¡°Did you say... Auntie... Opal?¡±
Chapter 84 - Gym Training
Chapter 84 - Gym Training
Celeste¡¯s new reality at the gym felt like a major upgrade from the week she¡¯d been running away, but it wasn¡¯t without its downsides. First, Ariana still had to babysit her. Blaine, reasonable as he was, wasn¡¯t budging on that. And Ariana was the last person Celeste wanted hovering around, considering she still held a grudge over the whole not being able to check on Giovanni thing. But worse than that, though, was constantly having others around. Celeste liked to make new friends, but people everywhere meant Shy wouldn¡¯t come out. So no late night pictionary or anything of the sort.
Out of the people in the gym, Celeste was most thrilled to actually meet Babs¡ªshe was fun. Probably depressed, too, but fun. Turns out she had a Ledyba and they had been out buying drinks for her party when the Unown took over. Plus, she actually laughed when Celeste told her about using her fireworks to deal with fake officer Jenny. She said it was better than the intended use. When Celeste probed further, asking if she had any idea what went down in the labs, Babs just shrugged, having the same reaction as everybody else: she thought Celeste called the creatures Unown as in ¡®not known¡¯ and didn¡¯t have any other information about it.
But as cool¡ªor flaming, as people here said¡ªas Babs was, Celeste really wanted to chat with Shy about having met her. Trouble was, the only way she found to do that was by locking herself in the bathroom. Even then, Ariana wasn¡¯t ever too far behind, banging on the door.
¡°Everyone knows about your ghost, Celeste. Get out.¡±
That freaked Shy out every single time. Celeste would step out grinning, Pat at her side, all innocent. ¡°What ghost?¡± she¡¯d ask.
It drove Ariana mad.
And Blaine?
Celeste had got pretty close to him by now, and he was actually kind of sweet¡ªmost of the time, anyway. He made sure to introduce her to the rest of the gym trainers, even though she¡¯d already befriended half of them on her own. He also insisted she join their daily training sessions, even though she had only had Pat to train with. Apparently, the opposite of a Fire-type wasn¡¯t a water or ice Pok¨¦mon, but a Slowpoke, specifically, which made everything more challenging.
Spending more time with him also made her more relaxed, less formal. She didn¡¯t hold back anymore, which led her to burst into his office to just chat. One day, she strolled in there to pitch in her master plan for battle strategy: spontaneity and creativity.
¡°Think about it,¡± she said, leaning forward, eyes bright. ¡°I can make like Lego pieces out of moves. So, every time I battle, I can build something completely different and new and no one will know what to expect from me.¡±
At first, Blaine seemed intrigued, nodding along as she talked. He even smiled. But the longer she rambled on, the more his smile started to look¡ strained.
¡°Well, creativity¡¯s important,¡± he¡¯d say diplomatically. ¡°Everyone should have their own style.¡±
But quickly enough, the questions started coming.
¡°But what happens if you don¡¯t come up with something fast enough in the heat of battle?¡±
¡°You want something different every time? How will your Pok¨¦mon know what to expect from you?¡±
¡°Creativity¡¯s great, but where¡¯s the consistency they¡¯ll need under pressure?¡±
And the worst of all:
¡°What if it doesn¡¯t work? Do you have a fallback, something solid to rely on?¡±
He did finish by insisting that she should really train with the other gym trainers. Something about her needing a solid base before thinking about ¡®Lego pieces¡¯.
Training at the gym involved waking up at the crack of dawn for ¡°fire drills,¡± or whatever Blaine called them. They were underground, for Arceus¡¯ sake, and she was pretty sure half the Pok¨¦mon around weren¡¯t even diurnal. Litwick and Lampent? Literal lamps¡ªthey evolved to light up the night, not sunbathe at 6 a.m. But still, she dragged herself out of bed, did heat-resistance drills with Pat, and ran laps around the arena with the other trainers. Blaine wasn¡¯t doing that himself, of course. No way he was trying to jog with his Rapidash with that bad back of his.
But anyway.
After all that, she¡¯d usually sat with a group of trainers as Dinah, the girl with the Incineroar, lectured them about move combos and synergies. No battles, though¡ªBlaine had said those were off limits since there wasn¡¯t a properly working Pok¨¦mon Centre.
So the exercise afterwards was to workshop the concept of combo and perfect it. All the gym trainers were focused on specific combinations already. Wax the Litwick was working on something ¡°traditional¡±. Will-O-Wisp followed by Hex, though he was mostly trying to control the wisps he created, and they tended to go haywire. The Lampent was doing the more complex, Flame Burst followed by Psychic combination. The trainer explained the concept was to corner opponents by controlling the flames on the field. This gym trainer was the only one around who actually seemed to know what they were doing, and his Pok¨¦mon already knew both moves pretty well, with his focus being on strategies to move the fire without losing control. Finally, the Houndour on the side was practising her Howl which at some point was supposed to connect with Fire Fang for some sort of explosive finish.
Celeste had loads of ideas, too. Especially now that Pat was getting more comfortable with Confusion. He could flood the battlefield and then explode the water from under the opponent like minefields. He could get started on Hydrokinesis, for Water Pulse and maybe make a water whip or something? Or if she wanted to go with something simpler, he could fill in the battlefield with yawn bubbles and water and completely disorient the opponent. Heck, maybe she could add an actual Confusion there and¡ª
And nothing.
Before she could get too excited, the trainer in charge told her to rein it in. ¡°Let¡¯s stick with something on your level,¡± Dinah said cautiously. Eventually, they settled on Yawn followed by Confusion to disorient opponents, but without all the water explosions to overcomplicate the strategy.
The exercises were fun¡ªat first. By day two, though, they had her doing the exact same thing. And again the next day. And the day after that. Four days straight of nothing but Yawn and Confusion, all because Pat hadn¡¯t fully mastered Confusion yet. The repetition was driving her crazy. So, she tried to mix things up¡ªfound a rag, had Pat levitate it, and worked on him psychically tugging it in different directions without dropping it. But instead of appreciating Celeste doing something cooler, the others just stared at her like she¡¯d lost her mind.
¡°That¡¯s not how Confusion works,¡± Lampent boy said, raising an eyebrow. ¡°It¡¯s not about making your opponent dizzy by poking them on all sides¡ªyour Slowpoke has to reach into their mind.¡±
But five minutes later, he grabbed Celeste¡¯s rag for his own Psychic training, and lo-and-behold¡ªhe thought it was good.
¡°Actually, this helps me progress to fire control,¡± he admitted, blushing as Celeste flashed him the smuggest grin.
Even with that small victory, the repetition was killing her. So again she burst into Blaine¡¯s office to tell him she was bored of doing the exact same thing for four whole days and that her legs hurt, because keeping up with Pat for the morning laps meant she had to jog in place for longer than everyone else.
¡°Four whole days, huh?¡± Blaine raised an eyebrow, smirking. ¡°That¡¯s almost¡ a whole hand¡¯s worth of days.¡± Celeste groaned, but he didn¡¯t let up. ¡°You¡¯re not quitting just because it¡¯s boring.¡±
It seemed that was that.
¡°But,¡± he added, ¡°if you¡¯re that bored, you¡¯ve got the rest of the day to train however you want.¡± He wasn¡¯t wrong. And it wasn¡¯t as if she could go anywhere, anytime soon.
That¡¯s how she ended up dragging Ariana all over the gym until they found Nebula.
¡°Hey,¡± Celeste grinned at the Bug-type. ¡°Think you can help Pat with barriers? I¡¯ve got a Protect TM, but I wanted him to do barriers like you do. Psychic ones.¡±
How could a bug say no to that?
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
¡°What exactly am I supposed to do here?¡± Ariana asked, stretching out on the rocky floor as Celeste fiddled with the Protect TM.
¡°Observe,¡± Nebula said with a click of her mandibles. ¡°It¡¯s not every day we get to study the learning process of a Slowpoke¡¯s mind.¡±
Ariana groaned dramatically, throwing her arm over her eyes. ¡°Watching a Slowpoke think. Never been more excited.¡± She let out another loud sigh for effect.
¡°Hey!¡± Celeste shot back, but finally adjusting the TM¡¯s settings for Pat¡¯s species, she refocused on him. ¡°Pat, pay attention, alright? This thing¡¯s gonna teach you Protect, and then Nebula¡¯s gonna help you make it the best Protect ever.¡±
¡°And this is my life now,¡± Ariana groaned, putting on a mock version of her own voice. ¡°Oh, let¡¯s head to Cinnabar, check on Gio and his latest meltdown. Maybe we¡¯ll get to sip margaritas by the pool. Just a day off. Genius. Perfect timing.¡±
Celeste gave her a sideways glance, half-smiling. ¡°Pretty sure you¡¯re not old enough for margaritas.¡±
¡°And I¡¯m pretty sure you reeked of beer when we first met.¡±
Bzzzzzzt.
Nebula fluttered her wings in annoyance. ¡°Let¡¯s focus on the subject.¡±
Subject. Her Pat was a subject. Celeste sighed. Arceus, she missed her actual friends.
Still, Nebula was right. Celeste was going to focus only on Pat¡ªand a quick flicker of her shadow told her she wasn¡¯t the only one.
Pat, meanwhile, was laser-focused on the TM.
Well¡ Probably.
His wide eyes stared blankly at the device as it played sounds in a frequency only Slowpoke could hear, designed specifically for his species. Celeste had no idea what was playing, but she trusted Pat.
The process dragged on for about twenty minutes. By minute five, Nebula informed them the TM had already finished, but Pat just kept staring, his tail swishing lazily back and forth like a metronome. By the ten-minute mark, Celeste was about to ask if he needed her to run it again, but Nebula stopped her with a buzz.
¡°Fascinating. The subject seems to be ruminating on the information. Making sense of it.¡±
By minute fifteen, Celeste was on her feet, ready to poke Pat out of his daze, but Nebula wasn¡¯t having it. With a flick of psychic energy, she shoved Celeste back down, not bothering to be gentle.
Ariana burst into laughter. ¡°How¡¯d you end up with a Slowpoke again?¡±
Celeste clenched her jaw. She was tired of this¡ªtired of people assuming a Slowpoke was the wrong choice for her; she was almost as tired of that as she was of people calling her wrong. Her relationship with Pat was special, and she wasn¡¯t about to let anyone tell her otherwise.
¡°So is Murkrow your spirit Pok¨¦mon?¡± Celeste shot back, letting a smirk spreading across her face. She leaned in, her voice dripping with venom. ¡°A sneaky, thieving little pest that steals shiny things for a laugh? Or was it a walking curse that leads people down dark paths just to mess with them? Yeah, that checks out.¡±
Ariana pushed herself up on her elbows, eyebrow dropping. ¡°Damn right it does. But I¡¯m also sweet like my Oddish.¡± Her smirk grew sharper, more dangerous, as she added, ¡°Perfect fit, unlike the hothead with a Slowpoke. How¡¯s fire training going, by the way? Gym trainers tamed you yet?¡±
Celeste scoffed, ready to fire back, but before she could finish, Nebula buzzed in. ¡°I¡¯m studying Slowpoke. Your teenage bickering is well-documented and, frankly, uninteresting.¡±
¡°Buzz-kill,¡± she couldn¡¯t resist.
And at that¡ Ariana actually laughed.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
It took a few more minutes for Pat to finally be done with the TM. Celeste¡ well, she knew she¡¯d failed miserably at the whole ¡°mindful and present¡± thing on her part. But in her defence, it was easier when it was just the two of them and she didn¡¯t need to shut Ariana up.
But she shook it off as Pat turned to her with a lazy grin.
¡°How¡¯s it, bud?¡± Celeste asked, and the Orbeetle hovered closer, interested. Ariana had completely checked out by then. ¡°Wanna listen again?¡±
He took a few seconds, and then let out a rumbly ¡°ke¡±.
Nebula buzzed. ¡°It seems he¡ª¡±
¡°He got it,¡± Celeste smiled, getting an even bigger smile from him. The bug seemed curious.
¡°You understood him?¡±
¡°Yeah. ¡®Po¡¯ for yes, ¡®ke¡¯ for no. No need for telepathy,¡± Celeste said, pulling Pat into a hug.
Nebula paused, considering that. Long enough for Celeste to set Pat down and start gathering pebbles from the rocky arena. Her plan was simple. She¡¯d sit a few feet away, toss pebbles at him, and Pat would throw up the Protect barrier. First, they¡¯d see how long he could hold it. Then they¡¯d test how quickly he could react. After that, it¡¯d be time to refine things with Nebula¡¯s help.
As Celeste settled across from Pat, Nebula buzzed again, tilting her head slightly.
¡°But you wish to communicate with him telepathically,¡± she said. ¡°I sensed it in your thoughts.¡±
¡°Can you¡ not look into my mind?¡± Celeste grimaced.
¡°But you do,¡± Nebula insisted.
Celeste glanced at Pat, who tilted his head, eyes suddenly downcast. Nebula, of course, noticed it as well¡ªshe probably saw way more than Celeste could even guess.
¡°He wants it too.¡±
¡°I know,¡± Celeste admitted with a sigh. ¡°But he can¡¯t do it right now. And I¡¯m not gonna push him just because it¡¯d make things easier for me. He¡¯ll do it when he¡¯s ready. It¡¯s about his Own Tempo, not mine.¡±
The bug tilted her head. ¡°Own Tempo doesn¡¯t function like that. It¡¯s a battle ability, nothing to do with¡ª¡±
¡°Arceus, I know! I wasn¡¯t being¡ªCan we focus on my exercise?¡± She raised her voice, causing Ariana to snicker from her spot on the floor.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Nebula gave a small buzz of approval. ¡°Very well. Protect requires significant endurance. Your Slowpoke may not sustain it for long. Allow me to provide guidance alongside your¡ unconventional approach.¡±
¡°Fine.¡± Celeste nodded, then gave Pat the signal. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Pat!¡±
He bellowed in reply, and Celeste tossed the first pebble. It clattered against something invisible midair and dropped to the ground. It worked! First try. Celeste threw her fists up in the air, ready to cheer¡ª
¡°Continue,¡± Nebula cut in. ¡°He won¡¯t be able to maintain it for long,¡±
Undeterred, Celeste threw another pebble, then another, and another. She lost count after ten. Pat held the barrier without breaking a sweat. Nebula began teleporting around him, her interest clearly piqued. He only lowered the shield when Celeste told him to, and that was because Nebula insisted.
¡°Hypothesis one: the subject has an innate talent for Protect. I propose we explore teaching him psychically reinforced barriers like Light Screen. Hypothesis two: the subject is unaware of his own fatigue and¡ª¡±
¡°It¡¯s the first one!¡± Celeste cut in, not letting Nebula finish. ¡°I know him. He¡¯s not tired.¡±
Already gathering more pebbles, Celeste was determined to prove her point.
¡°You¡¯re allowing personal bias to interfere¡ª¡±
¡°Pat, speed round! Let¡¯s see how fast you can block them!¡± Celeste shouted, lobbing a pebble. It¡ bonked him right on the head. He merely tilted his head, letting the stone tumble off.
¡°I¡¯m telling you¡ª¡± Nebula started again.
¡°Sneak attack!¡± Celeste yelled over her, already chucking two more pebbles in quick succession. Pat barely managed to raise the barrier in time to block the second one.
From her spot on the ground, Ariana snorted. ¡°Careful, Nebula, or she¡¯s gonna start throwing rocks at you next.¡±
After several more throws, Pat had generated multiple barriers without any sign of tiring¡ªthough his reaction time wasn¡¯t exactly fast. Nebula had to admit his endurance was remarkable. She buzzed, informing Celeste that Pat averaged 850 milliseconds to form a new barrier. She noted that while speed wasn¡¯t his forte, his stamina compensated.
¡°If he¡¯s not showing fatigue,¡± Nebula continued, wings fluttering rapidly¡ªthough that seemed more excitement than actually flying. ¡°I¡¯ll proceed with the next phase of the experiment: coaching him through the psychic aspects of Protect. Eventually, I¡¯d like to test his limits, see how long he can maintain the barrier under more rigorous conditions, and improve his speed.¡±
She kept on ranting for a bit, buzzing about how ¡°fascinating¡± her ¡°subject¡± was, which got on Celeste¡¯s nerves.
But honestly? Nebula could call Pat whatever she wanted if training kept going this well.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
It took ages for Pat to show any sign of tiring, but Celeste watched him closely, unable to wipe the proud grin off her face. He stood at the centre of the training arena, a faint shimmer of energy flickering around him¡ªa barrier he¡¯d held up for much longer than anyone expected. Nebula hovered beside him, her wings humming as she observed every last detail.
¡°Remarkable,¡± the Orbeetle noted, her voice resonating in Celeste¡¯s mind. ¡°He¡¯s consistently infusing it with Psychic Energy. And still standing.¡±
Celeste couldn¡¯t help but beam at that. She never had a training day this successful. Protect, Nebula explained, was a move most Pok¨¦mon could learn¡ªa basic defensive technique that created a brief, invisible shield using universal energy pathways common to all species of Pok¨¦mon. But any Pok¨¦mon can refine basic concepts with their own Type Energy as well as personal abilities. The art of barrier refinement was one quite common among Psychic Pok¨¦mon (though Steel and surprisingly Ice did it often too).
¡°You know,¡± Celeste began, glancing at Nebula, ¡°I once met a Mr Rime who did the most amazing things with his barriers. He made these boxes and shapes. Caused a lot of chaos with that.¡±
Nebula turned her large eyes toward Celeste (though Celeste still refused to look directly into them). ¡°The Mr Mime¡¯s line is renowned for their precise manipulation of psionic constructs through mimery. Their physical gestures act as conduits, allowing them to shape barriers and constructs with exceptional accuracy. Other Psychic-types, myself included, typically achieve only rudimentary forms of this ability through extensive training.¡±
Celeste nodded, her mind already jumping ahead. ¡°Sooo¡ Pat could learn it? To make super strong barriers and shape them like anything?¡±
Nebula clicked disapprovingly. ¡°After evolution, it might be attainable. But you¡¯ll need to decide whether he becomes a Slowbro or a Slowking. Slowbro enhances physical resilience, allowing for more robust but less intricate barriers. Slowking, on the other hand, gets a big boost in brainpower, which could enable more precise and complex manipulation. I need to compile data to devise the best path for the subject. It could be an interesting experiment¡ to condition¡ yes¡¡±
Celeste glanced at Pat, who had now settled comfortably on the ground, his tail swishing lazily as he blinked at her with that familiar, sleepy look. Nebula¡¯s talk of experiments and ¡°the subject¡± was starting to get a bit weird, so she waved it off.
¡°We¡¯re good. No need to devise anything¡ or do any experiment¡¡±
Pat gave a slow blink and a faint, contented hum, and that made Celeste¡¯s heart flutter. She crouched down next to him, giving him a gentle scratch behind the ears.
¡°Whatever you become, bud, you¡¯ll be amazing. You already are.¡± She dusted off her knees and stood up, grinning. ¡°And you know what? I think you¡¯ve earned a reward. What do you say we raid the kitchen?¡±
That was what caught Ariana¡¯s attention. She propped herself up on her elbows, her bored expression shifting to a sly grin. ¡°Finally, something fun,¡± she said with a dramatic stretch.
Celeste shot her a look, but a smile stayed on her face. ¡°Oh, so now you¡¯re interested?¡±
¡°Anything but studying the inner works of your Slowpoke,¡± Ariana said, getting to her feet. ¡°And all that hugging and cheering and repeating how ¡®Pat is the most amazingest Slowpoke ever¡¯?¡± She stuck her tongue out.
¡°Weren¡¯t you sweet like an Oddish?¡± Celeste shot back.
¡°Pot¡¯s close to evolution.¡±
¡°You¡ called it Pot because it¡¯s a plant that stays in a pot¡ right?¡±
Ariana snorted very, very loudly. ¡°Sure, Celeste, let¡¯s go with that.¡±
Nebula watched them with a tilt of her head. ¡°It seems likely that the name is a reference¡ª¡±
¡°She get¡¯s it,¡± Ariana laughed again, already walking out.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
¡°It¡¯s fucking weird, okay?¡± Ariana laughed¡ªthe sound, Celeste noted, reminded her of a Murkrow. Pok¨¦mon take over the trainer, but the opposite was just as true and Rebel might actually be Ariana¡¯s spirit Pok¨¦mon.
Celeste pressed her lips together, trying not to giggle. That¡¯d be too mean. ¡°I thought it was kinda cute, actually¡¡±
Ariana shot her a sideways glance. ¡°It looked like a nutsack.¡±
Celeste¡¯s eyes widened, her face flushing red, which only made Ariana double over, laughing even harder.
¡°Aw, what¡¯s wrong? Too pure for the word?¡±
Rebel fluttered down, dropping a shiny bottle cap into his trainer¡¯s hand. Without missing a beat, she flicked it across the gym arena below them. A startled trainer yelped as it pinged off his shoulder, and Rebel swooped from the stands they were on, eyes gleaming with the delight of the chase.
Celeste rolled her eyes at that. ¡°Well, if you had a Castform, what would you call it?¡±
¡°Bollocks,¡± the other girl declared without hesitation.
¡°And it¡¯d be best mates with Pot the Oddish.¡± Celeste snorted despite herself.
They settled into a companionable silence for a moment, watching Rebel dive and twist after the bottle cap again. The past few days had blurred together¡ªbarrier training, endless drills with the gym trainers, and a creeping restlessness that Celeste couldn¡¯t shake. At least Ariana had stopped banging on the bathroom door every time she snuck in to chat with Shy.
Sooo¡ small victories, right?
Well, maybe not. Blaine still insisted Ariana babysit her, while Ariana herself was under the gym trainers¡¯ watch to stop her from slipping away.
And talking of Blaine¡ Celeste was kind of angry at him right now.
Earlier in the day, she had tried to make herself useful by volunteering for a supply run, but the Gym Leader shut her down immediately, making her stay in the gym with Ariana. Even Dan got to go. Bloody Dan! Everyone knew he¡¯d probably lose his Litwick on the way to the shop. But whatever. With her new gym friends busy elsewhere, Celeste ended up looking for Nebula for a distraction.
She¡¯d found the Orbeetle with Caleb for once, and joined them as they headed upstairs to feed his team. Playing with Aria and Powder always lifted her spirits, and that always made Pat happier, too. So it seemed like a good plan. It was also the first time Ariana had come along for that, and Celeste finally met Pot the Oddish¡ªwho was actually cute as buttons, despite the poison typing.
And then there was Caleb¡¯s team. That¡¯s when her very crass frenemy really started laughing¡ªwhen she saw his Castform for the first time.
And she still hadn¡¯t stopped.
¡°You know, I¡¯ve seen a bunch of Castform before on some film and TV sets I visited,¡± Celeste said, lifting her chin, though she blushed when Ariana¡¯s grin turned smugger. ¡°They¡¯re not that weird in their other forms.¡±
Ariana took her sweet time to bask in the awkwardness before replying.
¡°Look at you, a little star, hanging around on movie sets,¡± she said slyly.
¡°They weren¡¯t my sets,¡± Celeste mumbled. ¡°I was just tagging along¡ª¡±
¡°Sure, sure. You know Diantha.¡± Ariana snorted, tossing the bottle cap to Rebel again. ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re a little star. Not like a rock-star, or a superstar. More like, ¡®Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are,¡¯¡± she sang in a mocking baby voice, batting her eyelashes. ¡°Maybe I should call you Twinkles.¡±
¡°Seriously?¡±
After that she wasn¡¯t done with mocking. ¡°So what was the pop-princess playing? Generic love interest? Kissing in the rain?¡±
¡°Something like that,¡± Celeste muttered¡ªit was actually exactly like that.
¡°Something like that,¡± Ariana mimicked, not letting out. ¡°C¡¯me on, Twinkles, I just dissed your friend. Where¡¯s your bite?¡±
Celeste smirked. ¡°At least I¡¯m Anthy¡¯s actual friend and not just using her for her pool or whatever.¡±
¡°Meh. You can do better.¡± Ariana leaned back, stretching. Rebel swooped down again, and she tossed the bottle cap once more. The gym trainer had left by now. ¡°I¡¯m not Gio¡¯s friend because he¡¯s rich. Give me some credit.¡±
¡°Riiiight¡ you keep talking about his mum¡ Babysitter much?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t¡ªI just give his mother updates when I see her, okay?¡±
Celeste raised an eyebrow. ¡°So you babysitting him discreetly.¡±
Ariana shot her a glare. ¡°I¡¯m not. Ugh! Will drop it? I¡¯d follow Gio to hell if I had to, not his¡ Whatever. I got a better job these days, okay?¡±
There was more to this story and Celeste knew it¡ªAriana had even hinted as much before. Something about her father working for Giovanni¡¯s mother at some point and her being roped into keeping tabs on Giovanni when they were kids. But Ariana always changed the subject before she could dig deeper.
This job, though. It had to be super embarrassing, considering how cagey she was.
Before Celeste could press further, Ariana cleared her throat. ¡°You know why Blaine has me babysitting you, right?¡±
Celeste tilted her head. ¡°Because he wants to teach me to put up with annoying.¡±
¡°Because we¡¯re the two most likely to cause trouble. Easier to keep tabs if we¡¯re stuck together.¡±
¡°Wouldn¡¯t that just make us more trouble?¡±
Ariana paused for a moment, then burst out laughing. ¡°Yeah, but you¡¯re too much of a goody two-shoes, Twinkles. You¡¯re one to stumble into chaos. You gotta want to sew it instead.¡±
¡°Are you really sticking with Twinkles?¡± Celeste deadpanned.
Ariana just shrugged.
¡°Anyway,¡± Celeste continued, ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure the last thing I need is more chaos. I¡¯m trying to learn patience, remember? Being less reckless?¡±
¡°That¡¯s ¡®cause everyone¡¯s trying to cut out your claws. Old Man Fire was supposed to be all about explosions. Did you know that? Yet there he is, forcing you to be bored out of your mind and, worse, dragging me along. You¡¯re already too nice, Twinkles. If you go all monk, you gonna lose your edge, and where¡¯s the fun in that?¡±
Celeste blinked. It sounded like good advice. Somewhat. ¡°Explosions, huh? I¡¯d like to learn that.¡±
Ariana smirked. ¡°Now you¡¯re talking.¡±
The conversation lulled as Rebel fluttered back, dropping the bottlecap at his trainer¡¯s feet once more. The faint clink echoed through the empty stands. Ariana leaned back, stretching her arms across the seat behind her, idly nudging the cap with her foot but not bothering to send it flying again.
¡°You mentioned having a job?¡± Celeste asked eventually, breaking the silence.
¡°Again, it¡¯s not babysitting Gio. Or you.¡±
¡°Yeah,¡± she snorted. ¡°I dunno. It just¡ makes you sound so¡ responsible.¡±
Ariana¡¯s scoff at the word responsible was loud. ¡°Fuck no! I¡¯m not responsible!¡± Her voice rose. ¡°My job is cool. I¡¯m like a secret agent for trouble. Ready to denounce the evils of truth and love.¡±
¡°Denounce the evils of truth and love?¡± Celeste burst out laughing. ¡°Is that from some song?¡± she asked between giggles. ¡°To denounce! The evils! Of truth! And of love!¡± She banged her head up and down like a terrible impression of a metal player, adding exaggerated air guitar strumming for good measure.
¡°You wouldn¡¯t get it. It¡¯s cool. I do tons of field work.¡± Ariana¡¯s eye twitched.
¡°Field work, huh?¡± This was too good. ¡°Do you hand out flyers warning about the dangers of truth and love?¡±
Rebel perched on the backrest behind his trainer, his eyes watching everything lazily. Ariana didn¡¯t seem to notice. For a moment she fumed, but then her gaze was suddenly off, fixed in the distance, jaw tight. Seeing that Celeste paused halfway through making another joke.
¡°You okay?¡± she asked.
¡°You made me think about work, and now I¡¯m annoyed,¡± Ariana muttered.
¡°Sorry. You can talk to me, you know? I won¡¯t make fun of it. Promise.¡±
¡°Oh, because you¡¯re just soooo kind, huh, Twinkles?¡±
Celeste sighed. ¡°Because it seems like you need to vent.¡±
¡°You wouldn¡¯t¡ª¡± Ariana started, then hesitated. ¡°Actually, maybe you would get it. It¡¯s like that supply run Blaine shut you out of. My boss? Same deal. Only sends me out for grunt work¡ªlike, not even the cool kind. And now? Fuck, Madame¡¯s gonna be pissed I¡¯ve been AWOL for a month.¡±
¡°Madame?¡± Celeste asked, frowning.
¡°Yeah, we can¡¯t use her name,¡± Ariana said, waving it off like it wasn¡¯t a big deal. ¡°So there was this big mission a few weeks back. Career-making stuff. Ugh! Why am I telling you this?¡±
¡°Because bottling things up and pretending we¡¯re not worried about stuff¡ doesn¡¯t help,¡± Celeste said. ¡°Come on. We, of all people, know that.¡±
The other girl stared at the floor for a moment. ¡°There¡¯s this guy in our¡ organisation,¡± she began, eventually. ¡°Thinks he¡¯s hot stuff, but he¡¯s not. Total sellout. He stumbled onto something big and called for reinforcements. Suddenly he¡¯s leading a huge operation, and he didn¡¯t pick me for his squad. ¡®Little Ariana¡¯s not good in a crunch,¡¯¡± she mimicked bitterly. ¡°The higher ups agreed.¡±
¡°Their loss.¡± Celeste offered a sympathetic nod.
¡°Damn right!¡± Ariana punched the air, with Rebel cawing in agreement. ¡°And guess what? He messed it up. Big time. I was ready to make popcorn and watch the fallout, but since I was the only one around HQ when it all went to shit, they sent me to bail them out of that mess. Not a cool mission. Extraction by boat. Middle of the night, middle of a blizzard, and I had to go to fucking Sevii to play getaway driver.¡±
Celeste¡¯s stomach tightened at the mention of a blizzard¡ in Sevii. Not¡ the best memories. ¡°That blizzard was the worst,¡± she murmured.
Ariana¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°You¡ were in Sevii too?¡±
¡°Yeah,¡± Celeste said, forcing a casual tone. ¡°Four Island. Crazy coincidence, huh?¡±
¡°Yeah¡ crazy.¡±
An uneasy silence settled between them. Pat stirred from his nap nearby, lifting his head to look at them.
But in the end Ariana just shrugged, letting whatever that was go. ¡°Anyway, at least I got to see him and his elite team fail miserably.¡±
Celeste snorted. ¡°Did you feel vindicated?¡±
¡°Fuck yeah. If they¡¯d sent me from the start, it wouldn¡¯t have gone south.¡± Ariana¡¯s grin flickered, then faded. She leaned back, arms draped lazily over the seat behind her, but her expression tightened. ¡°Their screw-up was what got me stuck here, though.¡±
¡°How so?¡±
¡°That sellout I mentioned? He got wrecked¡ªconcussed, half-frozen, the works.¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°I had to haul his sorry ass to the Seafoam Islands, and then guess who got stuck playing nurse while he recovered? Like that¡¯s all I¡¯m good for. Can you believe after all that, I couldn¡¯t even get back to HQ to watch the boss lose it? Missed the whole meltdown.¡±
How many people had been concussed and half-frozen after that blizzard again? The thought gnawed at Celeste, but she forced a smile, pushing it away. ¡°So you were stuck in Seafoam, annoyed, and then¡?¡±
Ariana shrugged, flicking a strand of hair from her face. ¡°Tried to take a day for myself. Clear my head, you know? Figured I¡¯d swing by and see Gio since I was so close. He¡¯s been taking a break around here for a while. But then, all this happened.¡±
¡°Talk about bad timing,¡± Celeste forced a laugh, but her mind was already racing.
¡°No kidding. And did I get to relax? Of course not.¡±
¡°Rough.¡±
¡°Right?¡± Ariana groaned. ¡°Went from listening to some idiot sing a nursery rhyme about a bird hopping to Gio getting caught up on Cinnabar¡¯s fuckery. When the island went to shit, he went to the beach and tried to make poetry about sand. Can you believe it? ¡®My ambition stretches farther than the shores, vaster than all the grains of sand beneath my feet¡¯. It wasn¡¯t even good poetry.¡±
Celeste¡¯s breath caught. ¡°N-nursery rhyme?¡±
¡°Mhmm. But that was the guy at Seafoam. And he was doing it ¡®cause he hit his head. At least he didn¡¯t come up with his own. How did it go again? A bird hopped¡ and then stopped?¡± Ariana scratched her head.
¡°Once I saw a little bird¡ Come hop, hop, hop; So I cried, ¡®Little bird, will you stop, stop, stop?¡¯¡± Celeste recited, her voice barely above a whisper. She heard it about a month ago¡ in a blizzard¡ in Four Island.
¡°Yeah, something like that¡ Guess it¡¯s famous in Galar, or¡?¡± Ariana frowned, noticing the colour drain from Celeste¡¯s face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? You look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost. Yours finally jump out of your shadow?¡± She smirked, glancing at the shadow behind Celeste.
Celeste didn¡¯t answer, though. Her heart pounded too hard in her chest for words to form. Pat must have sensed something was wrong too, because he slowly trotted to her side, his eyes suddenly alive.
It took a lot for her to speak again. When she did, her words were colder.
¡°I heard it from Ryder.¡±
Ariana opened her mouth. Then closed again. Her Murkrow tensed behind her too. ¡°I don¡¯t think I told you his name¡¡±
¡°No, you didn¡¯t.¡± Celeste remained steady, despite herself.
¡°Four Island¡ You said you were on Four Island¡¡± Ariana¡¯s tone shifted, something sharper creeping into it as her gaze slowly moved from Celeste¡¯s face down to her waist. Her eyes locked on the Premier Ball clipped to her belt. Powder¡¯s Premier Ball. ¡°And¡ you¡¯ve got an Ice Vulpix.¡±
Celeste¡¯s hand moved instinctively to cover the Pok¨¦ball. Pat stepped forward, protective, while Rebel took flight, circling above.
¡°Gozu had a lot to say about the trainers his team ran into¡¡±
¡°Did he now?¡±
Ariana¡¯s smile suddenly twisted as she rose to her feet. Her eyes stayed locked on Powder¡¯s Premier Ball, though. ¡°The girl with the boss¡¯ Ice Vulpix¡ªhe said she was a real hothead, but pretty harmless.¡± She tilted her head, smirk deepening. ¡°The ice specialist was the dangerous one¡ hindsight is a bitch, eh? Lorelei took the Frigibax for herself, didn¡¯t she? Should¡¯ve realised it was you sooner. Maybe I could¡¯ve taken the chance to swipe that from her, too.¡±
Ariana¡¯s gaze slid back up to Celeste¡¯s eyes, predatory now. Celeste¡¯s fingers tightened around Powder¡¯s Pok¨¦ball, while Pat braced himself at her side, sensing the shift. She wasn¡¯t letting her brashness take over again. Not this time. This wasn¡¯t like Ryder¡¯s battle. And she didn¡¯t have Lori to fall back on now. Messing this up wasn¡¯t an option.
¡°What are you going to do? Try to take Powder?¡± Celeste kept her tone steady, almost cold. ¡°We¡¯re stuck on this island, overrun by things we can¡¯t fight. We¡¯re both trapped here. I can call Blaine.¡±
Ariana stepped closer, her smirk cutting like a blade. ¡°Calling teach? C¡¯mon, Twinkles, you¡¯re better than that. Look, your Vulpix? Boss wants it¡ªand from what Gozu said, once his debrief is done, she¡¯s gonna want it bad. But hey, hanging with you almost made this whole mess bearable, so don¡¯t take it personal. I¡¯ve simply been AWOL for a month. Bringing something back would make things a hell of a lot easier for me. You get it, right?¡±
Her words didn¡¯t matter. Celeste wasn¡¯t gonna let them matter. She¡¯d be patient. She¡¯d hold her ground¡ª
Ariana¡¯s laugh echoed in the empty arena. ¡°Oh, Twinkles¡ nothing to say? I told you. Lose your bite, and you¡¯re no fun anymore!¡±
Chapter 85 - Battle with Ariana the Grunt
Chapter 85 - Battle with Ariana the Grunt
Ariana¡¯s laugh echoed in the empty arena. ¡°Oh, Twinkles¡ nothing to say? I told you. Lose your bite, and you¡¯re no fun anymore!¡±
Before Celeste could blink, a blur of blackness darted toward her¡ªAriana¡¯s Murkrow with gleaming eyes and razor-sharp talons aimed straight at her. The rush of wind from his wings brushed her face as she ducked instinctively, clutching Powder¡¯s Pok¨¦ball tightly to her chest. Beside her, Pat didn¡¯t hesitate in releasing a jet of water, the spray catching the light as it arced toward the Murkrow. The bird veered away, but his attack had only been a distraction. A sudden force slammed into Celeste¡¯s side. Not Murkrow, but Ariana tackled her with surprising strength, and they tumbled down the steps of the stands and into the battlefield.
Gravel bit into Celeste¡¯s palms as she scrambled to free herself from Ariana¡¯s grip. But her opponent¡¯s fingers clawed at her arms, pinning her down. Gritting her teeth, Celeste drove her knee into Ariana¡¯s stomach. A grunt of pain escaped her adversary¡¯s lips, and the grip loosened.
¡°Pat!¡± Celeste shouted. She glanced up just in time to see the Murkrow swooping down towards her. This time she was caught even more off guard, and, with a peck, Rebel made Celeste lose the grip on the Pok¨¦ball, which he then snatched with his beak right away. Panic surged. But she didn¡¯t need to say a word.
A wave of psychic energy crackled through the air and shot through the battlefield. Pat¡¯s eyes glowed as he focused his power, enveloping the Murkrow in a shimmering aura. The bird froze mid-flight, wings flapping uselessly against the psychic hold. Pat was ready to throw him away when darkness swirled around Rebel. Against that, there was little a Slowpoke could do, so he just pushed down before the dark energy broke the hold. The Murkrow spiralled towards the ground, crashing into the rocks below.
With that, the Pok¨¦ball tumbled away from his grasp.
Celeste¡¯s eyes darted to it, slowly rolling to the side. Ariana, however, didn¡¯t stop to look. Before the ball got far, she was already moving, her eyes fixed on the prize. Ignoring the throbbing pain in her limbs¡ªand the fact that the wound in her forearm had chosen this exact moment to flare out again¡ªCeleste lunged forward, colliding with Ariana and shoving her aside. The impact sent a jolt through her shoulder, but she didn¡¯t care.
¡°Pat, the ball!¡± she called out.
On cue, the Pok¨¦ball lifted off the ground, wreathed in Pat¡¯s psychic glow, and flew straight into her outstretched hand. Relief washed over her, but it was short-lived. A sudden tug at her ankle yanked her off balance. She hit the ground, Shy¡¯s eyes flashing for a very quick second, just as the Murkrow¡¯s talons sliced through the space where her head had been moments before.
¡°Protect!¡± Celeste yelled, keeping her voice as steady as she could.
Not fast, but fast enough, a translucent barrier materialised in front of her, shimmering against the arena¡¯s warm light. The Murkrow screeched to a halt, glaring at her from the other side of the shield. Ariana¡¯s sharp whistle echoed, and the bird retreated, circling overhead.
Breathing hard, Celeste rose to her feet, slipping Powder¡¯s Pok¨¦ball deeply and securely into her pocket where no one would reach it. She locked eyes with Ariana, and for a moment, the entire world seemed to narrow.
¡°You¡¯re Team Rocket,¡± Celeste said.
Ariana¡¯s lips curved up. ¡°Proudly.¡±
A heavy silence settled between them, the air thick with unspoken words. Celeste¡¯s mind raced, scrambling for something¡ªanything¡ªto say. A quip? An accusation? None of it would change the truth staring her in the face.
Ariana, the girl she had been hanging out these past few days, was Team Rocket.
That was that.
Olga¡¯s words from not too long ago echoed in her mind: ¡°You have to accept things as they are.¡±
But how could she accept this? She had crossed paths with Team Rocket three times now. Mount Lanakila. Four Island. And now here. Her stomach twisted. Was this a takeover? Were they everywhere? Or was it simply chance?
Ariana¡¯s smirk lingered, unfazed, like she already knew what Celeste was grappling with. She wasn¡¯t here on a mission, she¡¯d said¡ªjust taking a day off after¡
After she rescued Ryder.
Celeste¡¯s breath caught in her throat. Ryder. The blizzard. Articuno. He¡¯d escaped. He¡¯d escaped because Ariana went there to rescue him. All of them.
Fuck it.
She bit her lip, pulling herself back from the edge. Ryder wasn¡¯t here. She could deal with that later. Right now, the only person who mattered was Ariana¡ªstanding in front of her. Team Rocket through and through.
Celeste believed in people. She believed in giving them a chance, in seeing more than the surface. It¡¯s who she was. And that belief was being tested now, as it had been in the caves and the prison, when Lori let mistrust tear her apart. She wasn¡¯t going to let suspicion get the best of her. No. This wasn¡¯t a takeover by an evil organisation. But it wasn¡¯t chance either.
Three times.
It was as the quote said. ¡°Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action.¡±
Not chance, but fate kept pushing her into the path of Team Rocket over and over again, daring her to do something about it.
Ariana took a step closer, eyes gleaming with amusement and challenge. ¡°Quiet now, Twinkles?¡± she taunted. ¡°Are you scared?¡±
Celeste¡¯s heart pounded, anger rising. She patted Powder¡¯s ball and let the notion that she would make sure her Vulpix was safe bring her calm. Her mind sharpened. Right now, the Unown didn¡¯t matter. Being stuck in this gym didn¡¯t matter. Fuji didn¡¯t matter.
All that mattered was Ariana.
Ariana and Team Rocket.
If this was fate, then about damn time she rose to it.
Her teeth bared, and she locked eyes with Ariana, every fibre of her being ready for the fight ahead. ¡°Drop the barrier, Pat, Water Gun. Let¡¯s knock this bird off the sky.¡±
Right away, Pat¡¯s eyes shimmered as the protective barrier wall before them faded. He opened his mouth, unleashing a focused jet of water toward Rebel. The Murkrow cackled, effortlessly darting aside. Pat fired again. Missed. Again. Missed again.
¡°Too slow!¡± Ariana taunted, her grin widening. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Twinkles? Fresh out of ideas? Or what was it you said¡ Lego pieces?¡±
Celeste¡¯s fists clenched, her foot tapping restlessly. She could feel the impulse to keep shouting for Water Gun. And the regret for calling the barrier off. What was she to do now? Offence or defence? Did she even have any plan? Maybe she needed patience. Or maybe Ariana was right¡ªshe needed her bite, her edge. How could she be patient when she was up against someone so much faster? How should she keep her cool when she needed to keep the pressure? Rebel was quick, too quick for Pat, and she¡¯d known that from the start.
But this was Pat!
They¡¯d been through worse, fought through worse. She wasn¡¯t about to let a few disadvantages stop them. She needed a plan¡ªand by Arceus she¡¯d come up with one.
¡°Rebel, show them your speed,¡± Ariana called out before Celeste got out of her head. ¡°Pursuit!¡±
Dark energy engulfed Rebel as he locked onto Pat. With a burst of shadowy trails, the Murkrow lunged forward, eyes gleaming. Pat tried to move, but the attack was relentless.
¡°Combo it with Peck!¡± Ariana commanded, never letting go of that smirk of hers.
Rebel¡¯s beak glowed as he struck, each hit landing with brutal precision. Pat staggered under the onslaught, unable to evade as darkness swirled around them. Celeste¡¯s chest tightened¡ªshe was losing, and still no plan had come to her. Damn it. This was exactly what Blaine had warned her about, wasn¡¯t it? But this wasn¡¯t one of Blaine¡¯s gym battles. There was no referee here. No rules. If Pat couldn¡¯t escape the barrage of attacks, then¡ª
¡°Bud, like when we were running!¡± Celeste yelled. Through the flurry of Rebel¡¯s attacks, she caught a glimpse of Pat nodding, understanding. Without hesitating, she enlarged his Pok¨¦ball in her palms. Just before Rebel¡¯s next strike, she recalled him in a flash of light, and the Murkrow¡¯s beak snapped the rocky terrain beneath, getting stuck.
Ariana laughed sharply. ¡°Running away?¡±
¡°Think again.¡± Celeste¡¯s fingers flew, releasing Pat a few feet away. She didn¡¯t miss a beat. ¡°Protect!¡± and in a few seconds, a new wall of energy arose before them both. Only when the barrier was already up did Murkorw manage to take flight again.
Ariana laughed. ¡°Twinkles, Twinkles, little star, hides away, won¡¯t get too far. Thinks she¡¯s clever, thinks she¡¯s bright, but crumbles when she has to fight.¡±
¡°Poetry?¡± Celeste almost snorted.
¡°I¡¯m better than, Gio.¡±
¡°You might as well keep singing to pass on the time. You¡¯ve seen us train. We can keep this barrier forever.¡±
¡°Is that so?¡± Ariana¡¯s eyes gleamed as she flicked a glance up at Rebel. ¡°You¡¯re right, I did watch every dull, endless training session with that bug.¡± Her grin sharpened. ¡°I know your tricks, Celeste¡ªyou focus ahead¡ but what about your back?¡±
Celeste¡¯s stomach dropped. She followed Ariana¡¯s gaze upward, but Rebel was nowhere in sight. It took a second too long for Ariana¡¯s words to sink in. Pat¡¯s barrier¡ªit was just a flat wall, only guarding what was in front of them. A wall doesn¡¯t curve. A wall doesn¡¯t protect their backs.
Damn it, Celeste hadn¡¯t even realised this was a problem.
She spun, heart pounding, only to see that blasted bird already diving toward their backs, its dark wings cutting through the air.
¡°Night Shade,¡± Ariana¡¯s voice boomed.
The air seemed to warp around Rebel, shadows bleeding out from his wings. A wave of inky darkness expanded, blotting out the light, tendrils of shadow curling and twisting like living things. The darkness crashed down on Pat, engulfing him in a pitch-black fog. Celeste herself could feel the cold seep in, the weight of the shadows pressing against them, as if they were trapped in a nightmare, unable to escape.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
But¡
Isn¡¯t life just that ironic? It was Ariana who was woven into the darkness of team Rocket, yet it was Celeste who truly had shadows on her side. Her own shadow, actually. Shy stretched out from her feet, reaching for Pat. The darkness beneath the Slowpoke¡¯s feet bubbled and flared, and when it ceased, there was no more creeping Night Shade.
Ariana¡¯s expression sobered. ¡°Aren¡¯t you cheating a bit too much, trainer?¡±
¡°You¡¯re trying to steal Powder!¡± Celeste snapped, but caught herself, taking a deep breath to steady her rising anger. ¡°But you are right. I don¡¯t need to cheat to beat you.¡±
The rocky battlefield stretched out around them, feeling much larger than it really was, barren except for scattered stones that cast long, uneven shadows in the dim light. Pat stood firm, his eyes locked on Rebel, tail swaying with quiet determination. He had a few bruises, and the barrier had gone down again, but he was fine. Shy slowly drifted back to Celeste¡¯s side, melting into the ground like part of the darkness itself. Above, Rebel circled, but his movements were slower now, wings heavy. Still, he watched. Waiting, ready for the next move.
Celeste met Pat¡¯s gaze. ¡°Time for the combo we¡¯ve been training!¡± she didn¡¯t need to say another word. Maybe having a good foundation was good, even if it was boring.
Pat¡¯s eyes lit up with understanding. He inhaled deeply, then exhaled a massive Yawn. The bubbles that formed shimmered like polished glass, catching the light, glinting as they drifted lazily toward Rebel. The Murkrow paused, eyes fixed on the gleaming surface, wings beating slower, as if drawn to the sparkle.
Celeste almost smiled. Twinkle, twinkle little star, how you glimmer from afar. Drift on down, and when you pop, make sure that bird will drop¡ªmaybe poetry wasn¡¯t her thing.
With a few soft pops, the bubbles burst right into Rebel¡¯s face. He flinched, somehow surprised despite all of Ariana¡¯s frantic shouts. But Pat¡¯s combo had more to it¡ªthis wasn¡¯t just Yawn. It was a combo for a reason. Celeste had a concept behind it: Disorient. That was her pitch.
¡°Keep it up, bud. Like the rag¡ªpull his feathers from every side!¡± Celeste called out.
Pat¡¯s eyes glowed as his Confusion took hold¡ªor their version of it. Invisible forces tugged at Rebel¡¯s feathers from every direction. Celeste¡¯s smirk grew in time with Ariana¡¯s fading confidence. The Murkrow staggered mid-air, his wings flapping wildly as he struggled against the unseen pulls, his flight turning sloppier by the second. But now, this wasn¡¯t just about winning.
Celeste wanted to have a true victory. She needed to know she could stand against Team Rocket.
Her eyes sharpened. ¡°Finish it! Water Gun!¡±
Pat didn¡¯t waste a beat this time. Their tempo was one as he unleashed a powerful jet of water. It struck Rebel head-on, sending the Murkrow tumbling through the air. He crashed to the ground, soaked and dazed, motionless among a pile of plucked feathers.
Ariana¡¯s fists clenched, her smirk wiped clean. ¡°Rebel, get up! Get the fuck up!¡±
But Rebel lay still, unmoving.
Celeste stood tall, her eyes locked onto the other girl. ¡°Guess I do have that edge after all.¡±
Ariana took a shaky step back. ¡°C¡¯mon, Twinkles¡ You can¡¯t¡ You won¡¯t¡ Blaine?!¡±
¡°Yeah¡ Blaine,¡± Celeste frowned, suddenly unsure of what came next. ¡°I¡¯ll tell him exactly who you are!¡±
¡°Hmm, and what would that be?¡± a voice echoed. The Gym Leader himself stood in the stands, eyes locking onto the two girls as he leaned against the railings. His gaze was sharp yet unreadable. ¡°Quite a battle you two had, but I seem to remember forbidding battles altogether.¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
¡°She¡¯s with Team Rocket.¡± She sat forward, feet planted firmly on the floor.
Celeste and Ariana sat side by side on the large couch in Blaine¡¯s office, an uncomfortable silence settling between them. Blaine sat opposite in his chair, his expression sour, as though weighing something far heavier than what had been said. Rebel and Pat¡ªthough really, it should¡¯ve only been Rebel¡ªhad been left with Nurse Joy before they came here. And throughout all that, Blaine had barely said a word.
The Marowak, by the fire, kept polishing his bone club with slow, methodical strokes. The scraping sound seemed unnaturally loud, filling the silence like a ticking clock.
Why wasn¡¯t Blaine saying anything?
Celeste had told him everything. Really everything. She started with how Ariana was part of a secret organisation that poached Pok¨¦mon, and with how she had tried to steal Powder. But for whatever reason, she didn¡¯t stop there. She told him about Ryder. About meeting them in Mout Lanakila. About Articuno (yeah, even that). And through it all, Ariana sat beside her, calm, unapologetic, never once denying a thing.
¡°She could be the devil for all I care, Celeste. We just¡¡± Blaine paused, rubbing his eyes as if the weight of everything was finally catching up to him. ¡°Maybe having her watch over you was a mistake.¡±
Ariana snorted at that.
Celeste¡¯s frustration flared. This was better than her time getting arrested for beating the bag guy. But somehow she still got things wrong. ¡°I don¡¯t understand why you¡¯re not locking her up. Call the Gym trainers! This is a real problem. She is a real problem!¡±
Blaine¡¯s composure faltered. ¡°Because the Gym trainers haven¡¯t come back!¡± His voice boomed, that explosive side of him finally breaking through. He clenched his eyes shut, taking a deep, shaky breath, as if to rein himself back in.
To Celeste¡¯s surprise, it was Ariana who spoke next, her voice carrying¡ concern? ¡°But¡ it¡¯s been hours.¡±
Blaine shot her a sharp, pointed look. ¡°I know.¡± His voice was tight as he took another shaky breath, struggling to maintain control. ¡°Caleb should be right outside, Ariana. He¡¯s going to watch over you at all times.¡± He paused, eyes narrowing. ¡°And if you get any idiotic ideas about stealing Pok¨¦mon, do us all a favour¡ªwait until the island isn¡¯t overrun by monsters.¡±
Ariana stood up immediately, ready to protest. ¡°Fuck off and just leave me¡ª¡±
¡°You fuck off!¡± Celeste interrupted, just as angrily.
Blaine raised a hand, shushing them both before any could say another curse. He seemed far too tired to even complain about language. ¡°Celeste will stay with me. Unless,¡± he glanced at Ariana with an edge in his voice, ¡°you¡¯d rather trade places?¡±
Ariana stood her ground, her arms crossed tightly.
Blaine ignored her and turned back to Celeste, his expression just as stern. ¡°And you. You need to understand¡ªno one¡¯s ever heard of this ¡®Team Rocket.¡¯ The only reason I¡¯m even listening to you is because Ariana has all but confirmed your entire story¡ and hasn¡¯t stopped eyeing your Pok¨¦balls since we got here.¡±
¡°So what now?¡± Ariana mumbled.
¡°Now, I¡¯m going to figure out what happened to my gym trainers.¡± Blaine waved a hand dismissively, vaguely pointing at the door as he turned toward a laptop sitting on his table. Ariana scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain. ¡°Senile old man,¡± she muttered under her breath, stomping out of the room. It was an unnecessary insult¡ªBlaine wasn¡¯t even that old¡ªbut this was Ariana, so¡ yeah.
Through the door, Celeste spotted Caleb and Nebula standing outside, though she doubted either of them would give Ariana much thought as she stormed past.
Celeste sighed and mumbled to herself, ¡°And what am I supposed to do?¡±
Blaine didn¡¯t respond immediately, his attention already focused on the keyboard of his laptop as his fingers tapped rapidly. Celeste leaned closer and noticed that Blaine wasn¡¯t just accessing the Gym¡¯s security footage¡ªhe was pulling up feeds from across the town. Cinnabar Island didn¡¯t have many cameras, but Blaine clearly hoped there were enough to offer some answers.
¡°This is going to be boring and take some time, Celeste,¡± Blaine said, still focused on the screen. ¡°If you can¡¯t handle that, I suggest you find a book or some other way to keep yourself entertained.¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Celeste swung her feet up on the backrest of the sofa, her head dangling down toward the floor, perfectly aligned with the shadow that stretched out beneath her in an almost physically accurate way. Blaine said nothing as she began pulling books from his library, stacking them haphazardly by her side, and he seemed completely unbothered by the fact she was holding them upside down, with the pages aimed at the floor rather than directly at her eyes. He was too focused, scanning through hours of town footage, checking each camera feed in the agonising process of searching for the missing Gym Trainers.
Also, he didn¡¯t want help.
¡°The Pyroclast Gland is a specialised organ responsible for heat generation in Fire-type Pok¨¦mon,¡± Celeste read some random page of ¡°On the anatomy of Fire-types.¡± Her voice was monotonous as the book rested awkwardly on her hands above her head. ¡°The gland is activated through the stomach, the body¡¯s primary energy centre, and plays a critical role in both thermoregulation and the generation of heat.¡±
Shy¡¯s shadowy form rippled slightly at the words. Good, someone was interested in that. Yes¡ Celeste said she would learn about moves and stuff. But meh. A bit hard to be interested in pyro-whatever when you don¡¯t have a fire Pok¨¦mon of your own.
¡°The Pyroclast Gland does not possess an ignition mechanism for fire. Instead, flame production is typically facilitated through the Pok¨¦mon¡¯s breath, though variations exist among species.¡± Celeste flipped a page with her nose. ¡°The gland is most developed in Fire-type Pok¨¦mon, particularly in species such as Charmander, where it supports the maintenance of the internal flame located at the tail. This flame serves as a direct indicator of the Pok¨¦mon¡¯s metabolic health, with its intensity corresponding to vitality.¡±
She paused briefly, adjusting the book in her hands.
¡°The Pyroclast Gland is not exclusive to Fire-types, however. It can also be found in other species capable of using Fire-type moves, and even in certain Water-types. The presence of the Pyroclast Gland in Water-Types is often associated with their ability to perform moves like Scald without harming themselves. Though the Pyroclast Gland produces energy, it should not be confused with bioelectric organs, which serve entirely different physiological functions¡¡±
Celeste set the book aside, stretching slightly as she turned her attention to the shadow beneath her. ¡°Hey, Shy,¡± she asked lightly, ¡°do you think you can do a fire move? Like Will-O-Wisp?¡±
Blaine finally looked up from his screen, ¡°Will-O-Wisp isn¡¯t something generated by that,¡± he said. ¡°That¡¯s ghost fire. Different source.¡±
Celeste attempted to glance up at him, but the movement sent her off balance. She wobbled awkwardly for a moment before tipping over completely, tumbling headfirst into the pile of books she¡¯d stacked beside the sofa. The hard covers and thick pages scattered around her as she landed in a heap. Shy¡¯s edges flared slightly at that in what Celeste assumed was a brief giggle, lasting only a few seconds before they froze, noticing that Blaine had been watching them. Instantly, the shadow turned motionless once more.
¡°So¡ found anything?¡± Celeste rubbed her head, but Blaine only sighed, putting the laptop away.
¡°I need a break,¡± he declared, finally getting up and offering her a hand. ¡°You will clean this mess, I hope.¡±
Celeste looked down at the books. ¡°Guess that¡¯s entertainment¡¡±
¡°You disagree with the way I dealt with you and Ariana,¡± Blaine suddenly said. Once she was up, the Gym Leader walked to his window, observing the battlefield being built over the lava. He then turned back to her, thoughtful. ¡°Did you really meet Articuno?¡±
After blurting out about her last adventures to Blaine, it took a while for the regret to sink in, but once it did, Celeste wished she had kept her mouth shut for once. She and the others had agreed to keep Polaris a secret, after all. She didn¡¯t even tell the police or that league guy about him.
¡°Hmm,¡± she mumbled, awkwardly looking away from him and letting her eyes drifting to the trophies on his shelf. She¡¯d noticed them every time she stepped into this office. Quiz Master, Trivia Night Champ. You¡¯d think a gym leader would have more battle awards on display, like a proper trainer. She tilted her head toward the shelf, trying to change the subject herself. ¡°Aunty Opal¡¯s into this kinda stuff, too. Quizzes and all.¡±
Blaine chuckled. ¡°I know.¡±
Wait, what? Celeste blinked. ¡°You know her? You didn¡¯t say anything when I mentioned her the other day.¡±
He nodded. ¡°International league events. We¡¯ve crossed paths once or twice. Our shared interests for trivia games make for good icebreakers.¡± Then, with a smile creeping out from under his moustache, he added, ¡°It is Leader Kabu, however, who is my main contact in Galar, as you can imagine.¡±
Celeste grinned. ¡°Gotta a hellfire club?¡±
Blaine¡¯s eyebrow arched. ¡°So¡ Ariana and this Team Rocket?¡± His voice carried a subtle edge, making it clear he wasn¡¯t going to let her off that easily.
¡°I told you, the League knows about them. There was that guy at my hearing.¡±
¡°Yes, the hearing. For assaulting a fake ranger and¡ burning down the prison facility where you and Miss Kana were being held. Then you escaped and somehow encountered Articuno.¡± Blaine¡¯s lips tightened into a grimace, and the tips of his moustache twitched slightly. ¡°It all sounds a bit far-fetched, if I may say so myself.¡±
Celeste¡¯s jaw clenched. ¡°You said you believed me.¡±
He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. ¡°I do believe parts of it. Ariana does seem connected to this organisation you mentioned. And I recently approved the transfer of some police Growlithe from Four Island for retraining here. It all fits your timeline too well.¡± He paused, his gaze softening slightly. ¡°Anyway. That¡¯s not what I meant when I brought up Ariana.¡±
Celeste fell silent as Blaine opened a drawer, retrieving a worn journal from inside¡ªFuji¡¯s journal. He traced the cover with his thumb, lost in thought.
¡°Ren, as you¡¯re well aware, is no saint,¡± he said quietly. That was the understatement of the year. ¡°But he¡¯s my friend. Just as Lusamine seems to be your mother¡¯s friend. And Ariana¡ª¡±
¡°Is the annoying girl you paired me up with,¡± Celeste cut in. ¡°And, once I tell mum about Lusamine, I doubt they¡¯ll stay friends.¡±
Blaine glanced up at her, his face clouded with something Celeste couldn¡¯t quite place. ¡°It doesn¡¯t work like this, you know?¡± he said, his voice low, like a weight pressing down on the room.
She narrowed her eyes, biting back a retort. She¡¯d brought up Fuji before, convinced he had to be behind everything that happened in Cinnabar, but Blaine always shut down the conversation. No doubt he¡¯d shut it again. At first, she figured it was too painful for him to admit his friend might be a monster. But now¡ now she wasn¡¯t so sure. Was he just refusing to see it altogether?
¡°Did you search Fuji¡¯s house for the missing gym trainers?¡± she chose to speak.
He hesitated. ¡°He doesn¡¯t have cameras.¡±
¡°Giovanni Rocchi does. He¡¯s his neighbour,¡± Celeste pressed.
Blaine¡¯s expression soured. ¡°I don¡¯t have access to private security cameras, Miss Diaz.¡±
¡°Well, isn¡¯t that convenient?¡±
An uneasy silence filled the room. Finally, Blaine turned back to his seat and to the computer in front of him. ¡°I still have more footage to review.¡±
Celeste flopped onto the sofa with a grumble. ¡°He¡¯s the bad guy¡ and you know that. He¡¯s gotta be.¡±
Blaine glanced over at her. ¡°A bad guy like Ariana, apparently.¡± He sighed, his voice softening. ¡°Hatred burns fast, Celeste. Be careful with it.¡±
Chapter 86 - Pub Quiz
Chapter 86 - Pub Quiz
Celeste dashed through the puddle-ridden streets of Cinnabar, feeling each breath burn in her lungs.
Heh. Burn.
Puns, it seemed, were her defence mechanism against the indignity of bumbling like a Magikarp on land while potential onlookers watched her.
¡°Do take a raincoat, dear. December¡¯s the rainy season on that blasted island,¡± Agatha¡¯s voice echoed in her head. One day, Celeste might actually listen. Or maybe Agatha could stop cursing her with accurate predictions. That would be a real step up.
But, of course, like always, she¡¯d brushed off the warning with a shrug. ¡°I¡¯m not a kid. Plus, Pat can handle a little rain.¡±
Sure, Pat could handle the rain. He just couldn¡¯t handle a little running. Or teleporting. Or getting her to the pub dry and on time. Her options were walking or being timely, apparently. And since her window of opportunity was closing, it wasn¡¯t even an option, really. Though then again, she came here following faint whispers and there was a very big possibility her source at Cinnabar Labs was wrong, or that the guy she was after changed his mind or that he already left.
If that was the case, being timely, breathless, and wet meant nothing at all.
That was depressing.
Celeste skidded around the corner, and there it was: some old pub that she usually wouldn¡¯t see dead at. Its sign swung lazily in the downpour, illuminated by a flickering light that read, ¡°Finals: Quiz Night Competition!¡± The exclamation mark was so big and flashy in bright Cinnabar red that it felt as if it were shouting for attention through the rain.
Breathless and dripping, she slipped inside, grateful for the low light and the thrumming noise of the crowd. Conversations overlapped, the smell of fried food mixed with damp coats, and no one spared her a glance. All eyes were on the stage, where Blaine¡¯s shiny bald head gleamed as if it were his prized possession. He was deep in thought, moustache twitching with each contemplative tap of his fingers. Behind him, a corkboard boasted categories like Ancient History and Pok¨¦mon, each numbered from 200 to 1000 points. In his hand was a single red card: category Pok¨¦mon for 500 points.
Facing him stood a scrawny kid with a smirk and large round glasses that magnified the self-satisfaction in his eyes. A single Pok¨¦ball dangled from his belt, so he must be either a new trainer or not a trainer at all.
Celeste leaned against the bar, shaking out her damp hair, eyes only half on Blaine. ¡°Come on,¡± she muttered under her breath. ¡°You¡¯re a gym leader. You should know Pok¨¦mon.¡±
¡°He does this all the time,¡± the bartender said, sidling up to her as he wiped some glass clean. ¡°Pretends he¡¯s struggling to enhance the tension, I mean.¡±
Celeste turned toward him, one eyebrow raised. ¡°Is that so?¡± she asked, waiting for the inevitable procession of surprise to march across his face¡ªthe squinting eyes, the creeping realisation, the shock. His mouth hung open just long enough before he remembered how to breathe again. She then flashed him a smile, teetering dangerously on the edge of a flirt. ¡°So, what was the question?¡±
¡°T-the question?¡± The poor guy stammered like he¡¯d just encountered Ho-Oh itself. Maybe she¡¯d rushed him a bit too much. Celeste shifted her gaze away, all nonchalance, but her eyes were sharp, pointedly scanning the faces of humans and Pok¨¦mon around her and failing to find the one she was actually looking for.
¡°Something about typing,¡± he said, regaining enough composure to croak out a response. ¡°An ancient Braviary¡¯s, I think?¡±
¡°Hm¡¡± She barely nodded, eyes still darting from table to table as Blaine¡¯s voice filled the air with overdone suspense. It wasn¡¯t long before the bartender squawked out something about her order.
Celeste clicked her smile back into place. ¡°Bring me your favourite,¡± she said. He returned with an amber pint of some obscure craft beer, just as Blaine finally revealed the answer. Flying/Psychic. The kid in front of him visibly deflated, his smirk turning to a huff as he yanked a 1000 point question about tech from the board.
She sipped her drink, turning back to the bartender, her tone deceptively casual. ¡°I¡¯m looking for someone. Only familiar faces around here are Blaine and Dr Ren Fuji. From Cinnabar Labs. Know him?¡±
The bartender blinked at her. ¡°Can¡¯t say I¡¯ve ever seen him in here,¡± he mumbled.
Celeste took another sip, her smile tightening at the edges. So she dashed through the rain just to watch Blaine collect a trophy for stumping some kid. Honestly? If she wanted to see that, she could¡¯ve strolled into the gym any other Tuesday afternoon.
A lost cause, but¡ª
She glanced down at her half-empty pint, a sigh caught in her throat.
Plan B it was.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
The final question of the night was worth 300 points. Blaine was already 500 ahead, but he insisted the kid see it through, even though victory was out of reach. This was one of his Gym Leader ¡°life lessons.¡± Build character. Teach resilience. Yadda, yadda. Or, more likely, he¡¯d caught wind of the whispers and sideways glances aimed at Celeste and was stalling now he knew she was here.
The kid squinted at the card in his hands like it would bite him. The category: Who¡¯s That Pok¨¦mon? Blaine spun a darkened silhouette toward the audience¡ªa perfect, nondescript sphere. It could¡¯ve been a Voltorb. Or an Electrode. Or, maybe if you were really creative¡
The boy straightened, chest puffed with confidence. ¡°Jigglypuff¡ seen from above!¡±
Yeah, no. It was Voltorb.
The audience erupted in polite, pitying applause. As for Blaine, he patted the kid on the shoulder with theatrical gravitas. ¡°Next time, you¡¯ll burn brighter,¡± he said, already turning toward the door on the back.
¡°Not even wait for his trophy, huh?¡± Celeste muttered to herself, as the gym leader waved off a request for some parting words. He muttered something she couldn¡¯t hear and slipped away with surprising speed. His bad back didn¡¯t even seem to mind this once.
She glanced at her own shadow then.
Without a word, it peeled away from her like a wisp of smoke, slinking into the pub¡¯s gloom, unnoticed by the crowd. She tapped the counter lightly, flashing the bartender a smile as she left a generous tip. With a quick wave to the few patrons gawking at her, she slipped off her stool and vanished after Blaine.
The back room was small, cluttered with chairs stacked haphazardly and crates that had seen better days. Another door stood at the far end, its edges draped in unnatural shadows that didn¡¯t quite match the room¡¯s lighting. Blaine was already there, fiddling with the handle, muttering curses under his breath.
Celeste leaned casually against the wall. ¡°I remember you distinctly telling me you see all your opponents as little flames needing kindling to grow stronger,¡± she almost hummed, earning her a scowl from the Gym Leader. ¡°You do know that kid¡¯s out there sobbing to his parents right now, right?¡±
¡°Fire is unforgiving,¡± Blaine tried, finally giving up on the handle with a defeated sigh. ¡°Fine. I don¡¯t like losing quiz night. Happy?¡± He glanced at the shadows curling stubbornly around the door. ¡°Now, would you kindly tell your ghost to let go?¡±
Celeste tilted her head innocently. ¡°Ghost? What ghost?¡± The door slid open with a long, theatrical creak. She grinned at that, trying not to be that smug as she stepped forward and gave it a light push, letting it glide open fully. ¡°Were you pulling?¡±
¡°I wasn¡¯t pulling.¡± Blaine crossed his arms, his moustache twitching with the words.
¡°Of course not.¡± She gestured grandly, motioning for him to lead the way. She didn¡¯t want to press him further. Not yet, and not too much anyway. Blaine huffed but didn¡¯t argue, stepping outside first. The rain had stopped, but the air still carried the scent of the storms brewing.
As soon as Blaine stepped outside, his foot sank into a puddle. He muttered a low curse.
Twice in a day? She couldn¡¯t resist.
¡°Language!¡± Celeste chirped, sidestepping the puddle with an airy skip. ¡°Or is that just for the kiddos?¡±
¡°I was having a great day, you know?¡± Blaine muttered, yanking his soggy shoe free.
¡°Ah yes, nothing like the tears of a pre-teen to fire you up, eh?¡± She batted her eyelashes at him. ¡°And now I¡¯ve improved it further by showing up. Admit it.¡±
¡°Look¡¡± he began, shooting her a sidelong glare, ¡°I don¡¯t know where¡ª¡±
¡°Your new arena!¡± Celeste interrupted, her eyes lighting up, but not only with glee. ¡°The one with the lava pit! You know, the one Lance shut down because he¡¯s never heard of fun. Is it ready yet? I¡¯ve been dying to see it.¡±
Blaine¡¯s face froze.
¡°Oh, come on!¡± she pressed. ¡°Up close, it must be even greater.¡±
¡°Celeste¡¡± he muttered, running a hand over his scalp. ¡°We¡¯re still ironing out some kinks I¡ª¡±
She just narrowed her eyes, not letting go of the smile.
His sigh was long-suffering. ¡°It¡¯s late.¡±
Her grin sharpened, the lightness in her tone fraying ever so slightly. ¡°Oh fine. If not the arena, maybe we could visit your friend. You know. The one I keep asking you about.¡± Her words cut through the air like a blade. ¡°Wanna tell me where is he?¡±
Blaine froze, his gaze slipping away to the horizon. He didn¡¯t need to answer. She could see the guilt etched in the tightness of his jaw.
¡°Let¡¯s just go,¡± he muttered, fishing the keys to his gym from his coat pocket.
Celeste followed, her smile dimming as she trailed behind him. For all her quips, the truth settled uncomfortably in her chest. He was still trying to protect him.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
She wiped the sweat from her brow and reached for one of the iron chains holding the battlefield suspended above the lava. The instant her fingers made contact, she jerked back¡ªsearing heat racing up her arm.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
Celeste, contrary to popular belief, actually took the time to read Lance¡¯s boring ass reports on literally everything, including this arena. The chains could break mid-battle. A powerful attack might throw the balance of the entire volcano out of whack. If something went wrong, the consequences could be catastrophic. Good points, sure, but Blaine wasn¡¯t an idiot. He knew this volcano better than anyone, and underneath all the pose, he was a big softie. The kind who knew better than anyone how dangerous fire was, and how much safety mattered.
And honestly? Even if it wasn¡¯t safe, Blaine¡¯s side of the argument sounded way more plausible. This was a place where powerful Pok¨¦mon could truly let loose and reconnect with the wild forces of nature in their blood. It was dangerous, and it was right. One would think the so-called Dragon Master would get that.
Plus, you know¡ lava battles.
Blaine was yapping away behind her, droning on about reinforced alloys and stabilising mechanisms. She wasn¡¯t listening. Instead, Celeste giggled.
Blaine stopped mid-sentence, narrowing his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s funny?¡±
She didn¡¯t answer. Instead, she measured the gap between their platform and the battlefield, taking a deliberate three steps back.
¡°Celeste¡ª¡±
Before he could finish, she dashed forward and launched herself into the air. Her landing was less than graceful; she hit the battlefield with a loud thud, knees sinking into a layer of ash and sand that coated the surface. The platform didn¡¯t even wobble.
¡°Seems sturdy enough,¡± she said, brushing soot off her hands.
Behind her, Blaine sighed long and loud. He grabbed a metal plank from the side and slid it across the gap like a bridge. ¡°You¡¯re not supposed to jump in,¡± he muttered, trudging after her.
She rolled her eyes.
¡°Are you happy now?¡± he asked, exasperated. His movements were gentle, however. He reached out, as if to lead her off the platform¡ªand, if he had his way, off his gym and back onto a ferry bound for literally anywhere else.
Celeste planted her feet firmly.
¡°I mean, think about it,¡± she continued, her tone turning sweet and dangerous all at once. ¡°A high-heat battle. Perfect for¡ what was it you said? Ironing out some kinks?¡±
He took a step back, sweat dotting his brow¡ªand it wasn¡¯t even from the heat of the lava, she noted with amusement. Who¡¯d have thought, huh?
¡°Celeste,¡± he tried again, his voice dropping to something softer, almost pleading. ¡°This¡ this has to stop¡¡±
She said nothing, or else her smile would falter. Instead, she just arched an eyebrow.
In her silence, the Gym Leader finally found space to say what he really meant. ¡°The reason you¡¯re here. This obsession you¡¯ve got going¡ it¡¯s not healthy.¡±
Not healthy? Was he serious?
The edges of her lips strained, and her expression darkened. ¡°I¡¯m trying to be nice, Blaine,¡± she said softly. And coldly. ¡°Out of respect for you. But we just captured a Team Rocket grunt with a Ditto.¡± Her voice hardened. ¡°You know what that means.¡±
¡°They could¡¯ve¡ª¡±
¡°Don¡¯t. Excuses won¡¯t do any of us any good.¡±
There was a moment of silence between them.
¡°Did Fuji already run?¡± she asked finally, dropping any pretence. ¡°My sources said he was preparing to leave. They said there was a chance he¡¯d see you tonight. To say goodbye.¡± Her hand shot out, gripping Blaine¡¯s arm hard enough to make him flinch. ¡°He left you, Blaine. If you know where he is¡ªif you know how to find him¡ªI need to¡ª¡±
Blaine¡¯s jaw clicked, but no sound came out of him.
When she spoke again, her words were measured, deliberate. ¡°I need to stop Madame. And you need to stop protecting him.¡±
¡°Fine.¡± The Gym Leader pulled his arm from her. ¡°Let¡¯s have your battle.¡± He turned sharply, already moving to the opposite side of the battlefield.
Celeste said nothing, just watched him as he released his Magmortar inches from her. The creature towered over the battlefield, radiating heat so raw that the air itself seemed distorted. Indeed, a Gym Leader willing to have an actual fight was always a sight.
She tilted her head, unbothered by the searing monster ahead. ¡°You¡¯d rather battle me than tell me where Fuji is?¡±
Blaine sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. ¡°Ever since Amber¡ Ren¡ª¡± He broke off, closing his eyes tightly. When he spoke again, his voice was strained. ¡°Sometimes, people let the fire consume them. I don¡¯t know if he can still be saved. But you¡¡± He fixed her with a hard stare. ¡°This hatred you have for Madame? You¡¯re letting it burn too hot. Let some steam off before it destroys you.¡±
Celeste stared at him, then at his Magmortar, before letting out a loud laugh. ¡°Too many fire metaphors in one sentence, Blaine,¡± she said, reaching for the pendant hanging around her neck¡ªa delicate, pinkish stone with an iridescent shimmer.
Blaine¡¯s eyes flicked to it. She didn¡¯t miss the way his shoulders tensed.
She let her fingers drop, clearing the sweat from her brow again. Anger simmered under her skin, but not at him. She¡¯d known from the start that intimidation wouldn¡¯t work on Blaine. He¡¯d protect his friend¡ªhis brother¡ªto the ends of the earth, and trying to force his hand would only drive the Gym Leader away from her.
The trip was a waste. But¡
She smirked, pulling a Premier Ball from her belt. ¡°You know,¡± she said, releasing her Alolan Ninetales in a flurry of snow, ¡°I did say I wanted a battle in a Volcano.¡±
Blaine let out a sigh that sounded suspiciously like relief at the sight of her Pok¨¦mon.
¡°You do realise this is still not gonna be easy for you?¡± Celeste smirked.
As an answer?
Well, his voice roared like an explosion about to happen. ¡°Fire Blast.¡±
What? No barriers? She laughed again. So much for safety.
¡°Let¡¯s cool them off, Powds.¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
A massive wall of ice erupted before Powder, so dense and thick that even the volcano¡¯s searing heat could only lick at its edges. Blaine¡¯s Magmortar unleashed another roaring blast of fire, but the flames splintered on contact, breaking apart into shimmering waves of steam and ash that whipped past Celeste¡¯s face.
She didn¡¯t flinch.
¡°Go defensive,¡± Celeste called out, her voice casual, almost lazy. The command wasn¡¯t meant to turn the tides of the battle or anything important¡ªjust stretch it out a little longer. She wasn¡¯t in any rush, and Powder didn¡¯t need micromanaging, anyway. She hadn¡¯t for years.
From behind the towering ice wall, Magmortar¡¯s laboured breathing rumbled across the battlefield, each strained exhale followed by the low, menacing growl of the lava below, like there was some sort of conversation happening.
Powder didn¡¯t care. She glanced back, her eyes catching the flicker of firelight that tinged their aurora hues with a faint red. She narrowed them at her trainer. This isn¡¯t a challenge, that look said it all. When Celeste failed to respond¡ªor pretended not to notice¡ªPowder let out a deliberate, frosty huff. The gesture was as elegant as it was pointed. Battling in a volcano? That was Celeste¡¯s idea of fun, not hers. If Powder could¡¯ve rolled her eyes, she would¡¯ve. Instead, she turned back to the wall, ready to get this over with.
¡°Just a little longer,¡± Celeste coaxed, hoping to make nothing into something. ¡°I think Blaine said something about letting off steam? You could work with that, huh?¡±
Powder¡¯s ears twitched in a very loud, silent ¡°ugh¡±. Still, with all the dignity of a queen humouring her jester, she tapped her paw against the ground. Frost spiralled out from beneath her, spreading across the molten ground in intricate, lacy patterns. Steam hissed as the ice defied logic, expanding faster than Magmortar¡¯s flames could melt it.
Celeste shifted slightly, catching a glimpse of Blaine¡¯s face through the mist. His brow furrowed, the heat drawing sweat down his temples. He looked shocked, maybe a little annoyed, but mostly¡ªresigned. Surely he didn¡¯t think he could win, but maybe he had thought he could put up a fight? Or at least melt some of the ice?
¡°Didn¡¯t think that was possible, did you?¡± she called over the roar of the volcano, playful as ever.
Blaine didn¡¯t answer, but his Magmortar snarled, releasing another torrent of fire in a futile attempt to reclaim the battlefield.
Powder ignored it, though, letting the ice wall take care of the Fire-type. She had other priorities at the moment. Her frost spread with meticulous precision, carving elegant constructs into the now frozen surface, every swirl and flourish letting out plumes of steam that seemed almost deliberate.
It seemed the Ninetales had found something to occupy herself at least.
Celeste couldn¡¯t help but admire her Pok¨¦mon¡¯s work, but¡ well, there wasn¡¯t much for her to do in this battle. And an idle mind¡ it wanders.
Her thoughts then drifted, unbidden, to Fuji.
Fuji, who had handed Dittos over to Team Rocket. Fuji, who no doubt was with them now. Fuji, who had technology to do horrible things. She couldn¡¯t shake the image of Madame wielding his creations¡ªthose Ditto things morphing into anything, anyone, twisting the battlefield itself against her. And if they¡¯d pushed that tech further¡
Her fists clenched at the thought.
¡°Agh!¡± Mood ruined. ¡°Let¡¯s wrap this up, Powds.¡±
The Ninetales froze mid-gesture, her paw hovering over the platform she was still carving. For a moment, she looked torn¡ªpleased to be leaving, but annoyed at being cut short. Finally, she tilted her head, allowing the fire to reclaim the battlefield. The ice melted in a controlled collapse, filling the air with hissing clouds of steam.
Celeste smiled faintly. ¡°Make it pretty for me?¡±
And Powder did. From within the swirling haze, delicate fairy lights began to shimmer, their glow softly painting the mist in hues of pink and blue. It was graceful, almost hypnotic, and for a moment, the battlefield felt less like a volcano and more like a dreamscape.
Blaine¡¯s voice cut through the haze, barking commands with a conviction that bordered on admirable. He had to know it was hopeless, but he kept at it, unwavering. At least he was consistent¡ªhe¡¯d told the trivia kid to see things through to the end, and here he was, leading by example.
The mist lingered, thick and impenetrable, holding the moment in suspense. Then, with Powder¡¯s grand finale, the droplets suspended in the air crystallised into gleaming shards, each one refracting the battlefield¡¯s fiery glow. They burst outward in an explosion of light, scattering like tiny fireworks, turning the steam into a shimmering cascade of pink and blue brilliance.
A heavy thud broke the spell.
When the haze finally cleared, Blaine¡¯s Magmortar lay sprawled on its back, defeated, with only a few stubborn embers flickering around it. The battlefield, and even the restless volcano beneath, seemed to fall silent, as if in awe.
In the centre of it all stood Powder, her elegant form illuminated by the lava¡¯s glow. Her expression was pure smugness, her icy blue eyes glittering with satisfaction. She then tipped her head in a slow, deliberate bow¡ªgracious, but self-assured.
Blaine sighed heavily and recalled his Pok¨¦mon. He didn¡¯t reach for another. The match was over, and neither would try to extend it.
Powder most of all.
As soon as the Magmortar was gone, she shot Celeste a glare that could freeze the volcano itself. She wanted out of that hot inferno. Now. And preferably to never be called into battle in a place like this again. Celeste returned her to her ball with a sheepish chuckle.
¡°Next time, I¡¯ll call for Aria,¡± she promised.
Blaine folded his arms, his expression unreadable. ¡°Thanks for the battle. That was¡¡± He trailed off, then shook his head.
¡°Something,¡± Celeste finished for him. Her voice sounded distant, even to herself, like it was fading into the background. She lifted her chin towards him, deciding to be serious for once. ¡°You really should stop trying to protect Fuji. He¡¯s not worth it.¡±
Blaine¡¯s mouth opened, but whatever he wanted to say fell away.
The battlefield blurred around her. Darkness began creeping into the edges of her vision, the world fading like smoke dissipating into the sky. Yet her words floated in the void, over and over, like an echo.
He¡¯s really not worth it.
You should stop¡ protecting Fuji.
¡ he¡¯s really not¡ not worth it¡
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
¡°Not worth it!¡±
Celeste jolted awake, startled enough to tumble sideways off the sofa, the book she¡¯d been reading slipping from her grasp and thudding to the floor. For a moment, the room was still, save for the faint, pulsing glow of the lava pit outside. Its light cast long, distorted shadows across the walls, while her own stretched unnaturally in the eerie silence.
She blinked, groggy, and then noticed two bright yellow eyes blinking back at her from the darkness. Shy¡¯s wide stare was fully visible now. Of course, Blaine wasn¡¯t around¡ªShy would never be this relaxed if he were.
A blanket, half-draped over her legs, caught her attention. The Gym Leader must¡¯ve thrown it on her after she¡¯d dozed off.
¡°He probably left after I fell asleep,¡± she muttered, bending to retrieve the book she¡¯d been reading aloud earlier. It was the one on fire-type anatomy, and she¡¯d been halfway through the section on Fire Punch before she got bored her into sleeping. Shy had been really enjoying it, though.
She set the book on the table with a sigh.
¡°Nightmares are back,¡± Celeste said aloud, though mostly to herself. Her voice sounded smaller than she¡¯d like. Her arm twinged when she shifted. The pain in that was back too, though she suspected it got worse due to the strain she¡¯d put on it during her last fight with Ariana. ¡°And I still can¡¯t remember what they¡¯re about¡ just fragments.¡±
Shy tugged gently at her leg, pulling her out of her thoughts. Celeste glanced down, catching the faint shimmer of their shadowy form stirring at her feet.
She laughed softly. ¡°Been watching me sleep, you little creep?¡±
The ghost¡¯s glowing eyes widened in indignation, and the red around their iris became redder. Kind of cute, actually.
¡°Relax, I¡¯m kidding,¡± she added quickly.
It took Shy a moment to settle, their form recomposing into something vaguely human-shaped. Then they nodded and mimed a series of gestures¡ªopening and closing hands, shifting their form, their movements quick but not really clear.
Celeste tilted her head. ¡°Was I stirring? Or¡ speaking? That¡¯s what you¡¯re trying to say?¡±
A nod, followed by a dramatic sweep of their arm. Shadows rippled and pulled her attention to the mantelpiece, where they coalesced around a photograph.
Fuji. She could see it was Fuji.
Celeste frowned. ¡°Was I¡ talking about him?¡±
Shy¡¯s gaze lingered on the photo, and something in her chest felt heavy.
Quickly, she crossed the room and plucked the picture from its place. In the photograph, Blaine and Dr Fuji smiled broadly, the warmth of their friendship frozen in time. Her grip on the frame tightened as emotions she didn¡¯t know bubbled. Anger, frustration¡ fear.
¡°Was I¡ talking about him?¡± she asked, her voice quieter now.
She turned the frame over in her hands, her reflection flickering faintly in the glass. Something about the dream¡ªthe nightmare¡ªlingered at the edges of her thoughts, slippery and fragmented, but there. She didn¡¯t know much, but she knew Blaine thought of Fuji like a brother. She knew he would protect Fuji no matter what.
¡°I didn¡¯t need a nightmare to figure that out,¡± she muttered, placing the photo back on its spot. Her gaze shifted to the laptop Blaine had left on the coffee table, its glossy cover reflecting the lava¡¯s faint glow.
She walked towards it slowly, only stopping when her fingers could brush against the edge of the device.
Shy hovered beside her, their form rippling in what looked like a warning.
¡°Maybe if I just¡¡±
Chapter 87 - Unwitting Allies?
Chapter 87 - Unwitting Allies?
There was a faint knock at the door, and when no one answered, Blaine opened it softly, worried about disturbing Celeste. She wasn¡¯t asleep, though¡ªnot anymore. She sat hunched on the sofa, his laptop glowing in her lap.
From the corner of her eyes, she could see his frown. ¡°Celeste¡?¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t look,¡± the answer came out flat.
The floor creaked as Blaine stepped closer. ¡°If I thought you would, I wouldn¡¯t have left it here¡ Should I be concerned?¡±
Celeste turned away from Blaine and toward the battlefield outside. It loomed unfinished over the bubbling lava pit. It wouldn¡¯t be ready by spring, like the Gym Leader hoped. Years would pass before he got that running. She didn¡¯t know how she knew that. She just did¡ªjust like she knew Blaine wouldn¡¯t so much as glance Fuji¡¯s way.
¡°I thought about it,¡± she admitted. ¡°Checking the cameras on Obsidian Boulevard. Seeing if any of your gym trainers showed up there.¡±
Blaine sat down beside her. ¡°That¡¯s¡ª¡±
¡°Yeah,¡± she interrupted. ¡°I decided it wasn¡¯t right. Going behind your back, I mean.¡±
When she finally looked at him, he was holding something¡ªa Pok¨¦ball. He rolled it between his fingers before handing it to her.
¡°Your Slowpoke¡¯s healed up. Ariana¡¯s Murkrow too,¡± he said. ¡°But if you can avoid another battle... we¡¯re running low on medical supplies.¡±
Celeste took the Pok¨¦ball, pressing on the cool surface. For a moment, the weight of it steadied her. Below the sofa, Shy¡¯s darkness brushed her leg, and even without seeing their eyes, she could feel their worry.
She drew a breath. ¡°Did you look? At that street?¡±
Blaine didn¡¯t miss a beat. ¡°They¡¯re not there.¡±
¡°You sure?¡±
She just needed him to say it¡ªreally say it. Anything to make the gnawing certainty in her chest stop.
¡°Yes.¡± The word was firm, but his eyes darted away, betraying him.
Damn it.
¡°Blaine,¡± she tried again, her voice cracking halfway through. ¡°Leader Blaine. Aren¡¯t your trainers more important than your friend?¡±
The words were blunter than she meant. And yet it felt like too much to push against someone like him. He was the Gym Leader, after all. The fireplace crackled, filling the silence as she clenched the Pok¨¦ball tighter, searching for the courage to keep going. Maybe if she provoked him, he¡¯d lash out. Maybe if he got angry, she¡¯d feel stupid for doubting him.
She stood up, ready to shout, but¡ she couldn¡¯t. ¡°Please... Fuji¡ he¡¯s not worth protecting. He keeps choosing wrong.¡±
Blaine didn¡¯t answer right away. When he finally spoke, his gaze was fixed on the lava outside and his voice made him sound much older than he actually was. ¡°Ren is complicated. He¡¯s not a bad man. You read the journal. You know that. All he ever wanted was to protect his daughter. He just wanted to save the one person he loves most in the world. How is that wrong?¡±
It wasn¡¯t. And it was. Celeste sank back onto the sofa, gripping Pat¡¯s Pok¨¦ball tighter. How could a father¡¯s love be wrong? How could protecting your friends be wrong? She thought of her Pok¨¦mon, of every reckless thing she¡¯d done to keep them safe.
¡°The world needs a little wrong.¡±
That¡¯s what she¡¯d told the Unown. But where did ¡®a little¡¯ end? What line couldn¡¯t be crossed? Why did every decision have to feel like this¡ªlike¡ this balancing act? Her eyes flicked back to the Gym Leader, who was watching her now. He didn¡¯t look apologetic. Just tired.
¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s wrong,¡± she said finally. ¡°But it¡¯s not right either. It¡¯s messy.¡±
¡°Life usually is.¡± His lips twitched into something that might¡¯ve been a smile.
¡°You¡¯re not going to look, are you?¡±
¡°I told you¡ªthey¡¯re not there.¡±
Celeste clutched Pat¡¯s Pok¨¦ball harder into her palms. Blaine wouldn¡¯t look into Fuji. That meant he wouldn¡¯t act. He¡¯d let Fuji drag them all down if it came to that, clinging to some idea of loyalty and friendship until they all died on this hill. Literally.
¡°Can I ask you something else?¡± Her tone shifted, quieter now. ¡°How do you decide? When to be patient and wait and when to act with your gut?¡±
Blaine blinked at her. ¡°That¡¯s... an odd question.¡±
¡°Not really,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m not very naturally patient.¡±
¡°I noticed.¡±
¡°It¡¯s something Ariana said. She thinks by trying to be patient, I¡¯m losing whatever edge I have.¡± Celeste shuffled in place, her words picking up speed. ¡°I told you I wanted a fighting style that¡¯s creative. That¡¯s all about risk and instinct. But it¡¯s not just a style¡ªit¡¯s me. That¡¯s who I am. Reckless. Impulsive. Sometimes it works, sometimes it¡¯s a disaster, but isn¡¯t that¡ good? In its own way? Taking risks, taking chances¡ªit can¡¯t always be wrong. Right? I want to think better about my options, but I also don¡¯t want to lose that... that edge.¡±
Blaine regarded her for a long moment, then sighed. ¡°Celeste, are you planning to do something reckless?¡±
¡°Are you planning to do anything at all?¡± she shot back right away. It wasn¡¯t hard when she just went for it.
Blaine¡¯s moustache twitched. Whether in amusement or irritation, it was hard to say. ¡°There¡¯s value in trusting yourself. Quick thinking, improvisation¡ Every time we talk, it¡¯s indeed clear that¡¯s part of who you are. And it is a strength.¡± He paused, letting the words hang in the air for just long enough to feel weighty. ¡°But it¡¯s not all you are. And I¡¯ve seen enough hot-headed trainers to know the value of...¡± His gaze drifted to the Pok¨¦ball in her hands, and his expression softened. ¡°Sometimes, you need to see the world the way a Slowpoke does.¡±
He leaned back slightly, looking rather satisfied with himself.
¡°I¡¯m not spelling this out for you,¡± the Gym Leader added. ¡°If you ever want that Volcano Badge, you¡¯ll have to figure it out yourself. But Celeste...¡± His eyes locked onto hers. ¡°Don¡¯t confuse action with recklessness.¡±
Celeste rolled the Pok¨¦ball between her fingers, her lips pressing into a thin line before curling into a faint, uneven smile. ¡°I won¡¯t do anything stupid without thinking first. Promise.¡±
The smile didn¡¯t reach her eyes, and Blaine¡¯s frown made it clear he wasn¡¯t entirely satisfied with the answer. But he didn¡¯t press her, either.
So, without more to say, she turned toward the door, her steps deliberate. Just as her hand touched the handle, she hesitated. ¡°About looking into Fuji... Did you ever think stopping this might help him, too?¡±
The question lingered in the air. Blaine said nothing, and maybe in a show of trust, didn¡¯t stop her from finally leaving.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
After a long debate with Pat and Shy¡ªa conversation that mostly involved Celeste pacing in circles while the Pok¨¦mon blinked at her way more understandingly than she deserved¡ªshe¡¯d landed on a plan. A reckless one, obviously, but not too reckless. Hopefully. Baby steps.
Most surprising of all, it involved Ariana.
She found the Rocket grunt in the gym¡¯s dimly lit kitchen, hunched over the counter and muttering curses as she ransacked the cupboards. Her hair was messy, falling in uneven waves over her eyes, and her scowl deepened every time she failed to find whatever she was looking for. The sharp scent of burnt toast lingered in the air, mingling with notes of stale coffee while shadows danced across Ariana¡¯s face, sharpening the lines of her cheekbones.
Celeste stopped by the doorway, clutching her bandaged arm as it throbbed faintly.
¡°Fascinating,¡± Nebula suddenly showed up, already buzzing in her head. Celeste gave the bug¡¯s spiraling eyes a half-look and, in response, she psychically pulled at Celeste¡¯s arm, forcing her to lift it. ¡°Your wound appears healed on the surface, yet your pain persists. How intriguing! Is it worse when you think of this Team Rocket you fear so much?¡±
Ariana glanced up, one eyebrow arched up. For a moment, an awkward silence hung between them, punctuated only by Nebula¡¯s clicks. Celeste tried to swat the Orbeetle away, but Nebula kept on staring at the bandages.
¡°Great conversation starter,¡± Ariana drawled. And then added, with an exaggerated eye roll directed at the bug. ¡°Caleb¡¯s checking the barrier around the gym. He left me with that.¡±
Nebula bristled, zipping over to hover in front of their enemy. ¡°Fear not! You are safe from Team Rocket with me!¡± She puffed out her tiny chest. ¡°I¡¯ve been ordered to restrain her if she tries anything!¡±
Celeste looked away. ¡°I wasn¡¯t afraid¡¡±
¡°Oh, you should be!¡± Nebula declared. ¡°Ariana here is doing the maths in her head if she could jump on you again.¡±
Celeste barely had time to process it when Ariana clacked a mug on the counter and poured coffee in. She didn¡¯t seem to care about the Orbeetle. Instead, she grabbed the sugar and dumped a generous amount into her mug, stirring slowly, her eyes fixed on Celeste with a challenge of some kind.
¡°I-It¡¯s fine, really,¡± she said, tapping Pat¡¯s Pok¨¦ball clipped to her belt. Was it fine? ¡°I... uh... Blaine...! I think he¡¯s been trying to convince me we should be... friendly?¡±
At that, Ariana let out a sharp, unexpected laugh that echoed off the metallic walls.
It was loud enough for Celeste¡¯s sigh to turn into a groan. Maybe it was best to just get to the point. ¡°Nebula, can you give us five minutes? I need to talk to her¡ Privately.¡±
The Orbeetle hovered closer. ¡°I don¡¯t trust this. You¡¯re planning something. What you humans call... a shenanigan.¡±
Celeste blinked. ¡°A¡ shenanigan?¡±
¡°Definitely a shenanigan!¡± Nebula said. ¡°I could look deeper into your mind if you¡¯d like me to confirm¡ª¡±
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
¡°Nope! I¡¯m good,¡± Celeste said quickly, holding up her hands. ¡°No need to scan my brain. I confess: I¡¯m always planning shenanigans. Tons of shenanigans. But this one is good, okay?¡±
Before Nebula could press further, Ariana clattered the mug on the countertop again and shoved herself away from it. ¡°Ugh, can you two just stop?¡± she grumbled. Then, without warning, she grabbed Celeste¡¯s uninjured arm and began pulling her out of the kitchen.
Luckily, Nebula didn¡¯t follow, and when they rounded a corner, the hum of the Orbeetle¡¯s wings had already faded into the distance. Ariana finally released her grip and leaned back against the wall, arms crossed, fixing Celeste with a sardonic look.
¡°All right. This should be good.¡±
Celeste squared her shoulders, her expression hardening. ¡°Is your Murkrow with you?¡±
¡°What, no heartfelt apology first?¡± Ariana¡¯s tone was flat, but there was a glint of amusement in her eyes.
¡°I¡¯m serious.¡±
¡°Hmph... want to lose a battle against me again?¡±
¡°Lose? I didn¡¯t¡ª¡± Celeste stopped herself, taking a deep breath. She raised her hands in a gesture of peace. Something she¡¯d been doing this way too much lately. ¡°Look, what I want is to get out of here.¡±
¡°No kidding,¡± she kept on smirking.
¡°I mean now.¡±
¡°Yeah, we all¡ª¡± Ariana began, but then she paused, studying Celeste¡¯s face more intently. ¡°What exactly are you saying?¡±
¡°You know what I¡¯m saying,¡± Celeste muttered.
¡°Still gonna need you to spell it out.¡±
Celeste sucked in a breath, glancing toward the dim corridor. The muffled sounds of distant Pok¨¦mon echoed faintly through the walls. ¡°I don¡¯t think Blaine¡¯s going to go after the gym trainers. And he won¡¯t try to stop what¡¯s going on here... Remember what Nebula said before? About entropy?¡±
Ariana¡¯s eyes flickered. ¡°That things are going to go to shit.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t want to be here when that happens,¡± Celeste said quietly, her eyes meeting Ariana¡¯s.
At that, Ariana leaned in closer. ¡°Oh, Twinkles, looking out for yourself first, are we? Maybe you and I aren¡¯t so¡ª¡±
Celeste pushed her away. ¡°We¡¯re not the same,¡± she hissed. ¡°This was a bad idea...¡±
¡°Wait.¡± Ariana grabbed her arm again, her grip firm but not harsh. ¡°Come on, if you came to me, then you need me. Spill.¡±
A second passed before Celeste exhaled slowly. ¡°I still have some incenses. Not the repel ones, but the ones that attract Psychic-types. I figured we could use them to distract the Uno¡ªthe creatures. Like a decoy.¡±
¡°That¡¯s your plan?¡± Ariana asked. ¡°To use incense as a decoy?¡±
¡°My plan is to grab Delia and Lori and then find a boat or something,¡± Celeste continued, her cheeks flushing. ¡°I only came to you because you said you could drive a boat and...¡±
¡°And since I¡¯m a bad bad criminal, I actually know how to steal one?¡± Ariana added with a sly grin. ¡°Your plan is shit. What about the mist out on the ocean? What about that Pok¨¦mon you met?¡±
¡°That¡¯s when I was planning to use the incense,¡± Celeste explained, words tumbling out quickly. ¡°Back on Four Island, they had this ritual where you let out a little plank of wood with a candle into the ocean and... well, figure we could do the same. Plus, Lori and Delia were okay in the mist before. Maybe they¡¯d be okay again. Then we¡¯ll have a bunch of people and Pok¨¦mon to help. I know they¡¯ll be messed up, but maybe we can hope they can rise to the occasion? I don¡¯t know. Pat and¡ªmy Pok¨¦mon agree that we should leave and try to tell someone outside about it. We can¡¯t stay here. It¡¯s... not about saving myself. It¡¯s like the plane mask thing. You can¡¯t help anyone else if you don¡¯t help yourself first.¡±
¡°You wasted all that time justifying yourself instead of coming up with a good plan.¡± Ariana finally released Celeste¡¯s arm, her smirk lingering.
¡°Whatever,¡± Celeste snapped, turning away. ¡°Enjoy spending your day with Nebula buzzing in your head.¡±
But before she could take a step, Ariana fell in beside her, bumping her shoulder. ¡°Chill, Twinkles. I didn¡¯t say no, did I?¡± Her grin tuned sharper. ¡°We need each other.¡±
Celeste glanced sideways. ¡°So... you¡¯ll help?¡±
¡°Beats just waiting for the end of the world.¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
When Celeste first arrived at the gym, there had been around seven trainers helping Blaine manage things, plus a few extra hands pitching in with general chores to keep the underground facilities running. Caleb, of course, had taken on a lot of responsibilities, too. But it was those seven overworked trainers who bore the brunt of the workload. And now? Well, Dan, Dinah, and the guy with the Sizzlipede had gone on that supply run and were now gone. They¡¯d been joined by a contest girl with a Beautifly who wouldn¡¯t stop complaining about them buying the wrong brand of everything, and an older man with a nervous Paras who, Celeste half-suspected, used these outings as an excuse to sneak off and visit his husband.
That left only four gym trainers still holding the fort, and sure enough, the schedule for going upstairs and using the arena was glued on the wall with a handwritten note reminding everyone to stick to it. There was no one actually on watch. No one to keep them from leaving.
So, in the end, leaving the gym was much easier than Celeste expected.
Less so was moving out from there.
The streets felt¡ wrong. Eerily still, as though the whole place were holding its breath. No sign of Jude, and neither fake Joy and Jenny had returned (thank Arceus). But the Unown were everywhere. They drifted into view in broad daylight, staring at them with their one, unblinking eye. Every time Celeste and Ariana tried to change course to avoid them, a new cluster floated into sight, appearing just a few steps ahead like they¡¯d been waiting there all along.
And yet, they didn¡¯t attack.
Even when Ariana got spooked and had her Murkrow fire off a few Night Shades, they simply snuffed out the move like a candle in the wind and kept on only watching.
¡°It¡¯s like the air¡¯s heavy,¡± Ariana muttered, ducking into a narrow street where, for now, the Unown were absent. ¡°This wasn¡¯t how it was before, right?¡±
Celeste shook her head, only half listening. She¡¯d let Pat out, holding him tightly in her arms, while Shy coiled nervously by her feet, so rattled that even Ariana¡¯s presence didn¡¯t seem to bother them anymore.
¡°Maybe it means we¡¯re running out of time,¡± Celeste said¡ªthough she was speaking to the ghost, not Ariana.
¡°Maybe you broke them,¡± Ariana spat back, already moving toward a motorcycle parked on the sidewalk. She glanced back with a grin. ¡°How insufferable would you get if I stole that?¡±
Celeste strolled over, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Depends. Can I drive?¡± she asked, half-smiling.
¡°I don¡¯t have a death wish, Twinkles.¡±
Without hesitation, Ariana grabbed a crowbar she found lying nearby and began jamming it into the bike¡¯s lock. She worked quickly, clearly knowing what she was doing.
¡°You¡¯re being annoying,¡± she muttered under her breath.
Celeste took a step back. ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything.¡±
¡°You were judging with your eyes,¡± Ariana said, not looking up. With a few twists and a sharp click, the lock gave way. She tossed the crowbar aside and straightened, satisfied. ¡°Come on. Out with it now, so I don¡¯t have to hear you whining later.¡±
Celeste just sighed, glancing away. The bike¡ªor rather, scooter¡ªwas actually kind of cute, and the little basket on the front was perfect for Pat. She carefully set the Slowpoke inside, giving him a gentle smile as he blinked lazily back at her.
When she turned around, Ariana was leaning against the bike, arms folded, waiting.
¡°Go ahead, say it. I¡¯m Team Rocket, I¡¯m evil, you hate me,¡± Ariana drawled, letting her eyelids drop as her smirk showed. ¡°Did I miss anything?¡±
Celeste hesitated. ¡°Why are you even¡? Actually, yeah. Why Team Rocket?¡± she asked finally. ¡°Do you actually want to be one of the bad guys?¡±
¡°Oh, let me make this easier for you.¡± Ariana took a step forward, raising her voice. ¡°I was abandoned on a sidewalk in a shoebox, left to fend for myself. Crime was my only option. But at the orphanage, Mama baked pies. Delicious pies.¡± She turned away, her tone suddenly wistful. ¡°Then the other kids started disappearing. More pies every day¡¡±
¡°Ariana.¡± Celeste crossed her arms, unimpressed. ¡°That¡¯s Sweeney Todd. Also, wasn¡¯t your dad an accountant?¡±
Ariana crackled at herself. ¡°I thought you¡¯d appreciate the drama.¡±
¡°Can we just go before more of those¡ things show up?¡± Celeste climbed onto the scooter.
¡°¡®Things?¡¯¡± Ariana hopped on in front of her, tossing her hair to the side. ¡°You mean the Unown?¡±
Celeste froze. ¡°W-what?¡±
¡°You and Blaine, whispering secrets like teenagers at a sleepover. I got curious.¡± Ariana reached into her jacket and pulled out a weathered journal. Fuji¡¯s journal.
¡°What the fuck?¡± Celeste lunged towards the other girl, but Ariana shifted easily out of reach, holding it just out of range.
¡°Language,¡± Ariana said, her smirk sharpening.
¡°When did you even¡?¡±
¡°You were sleeping like a log. Honestly, I could¡¯ve swiped your Premier Ball, too, but I didn¡¯t feel like watching you make a scene later.¡± Ariana waved the journal teasingly. ¡°Go ahead, say it. I¡¯m Team Rocket. Evil and selfish.¡±
Celeste took a steadying breath, trying to keep her cool. Even though, holy shit, she could¡¯ve lost Powder. ¡°Really. Why¡¯d you take it?¡±
¡°To level the playing field,¡± Ariana said with a shrug. ¡°You want to survive whatever this is? Then I also need to know what we¡¯re up against. Plus, it¡¯s quite the read. My boss will be very interested in some of this stuff.¡±
Something cold knotted in Celeste¡¯s stomach at the mention of Ariana¡¯s boss. Her hand drifted toward Powder¡¯s Pok¨¦ball instinctively. Ariana noticed, of course, and laughed sharply.
¡°What are you gonna do, Twinkles? Cuddle your Vulpix until we¡¯re overrun by Unown or trust me long enough to get out of here?¡±
Celeste hesitated. ¡°Why¡ Why Powder?¡±
Ariana frowned. ¡°Alolan Vulpix are rare. We¡¯ve been through that.¡±
¡°You said your boss would go after Powder. Specifically. But there are other Alolan Vulpix on Mount Lanakila. Your boss can send another team back there. Or just go to a breeder like everyone else. So¡ why Powder?¡±
Ariana glanced away, jaw tightening. ¡°I don¡¯t know that she is, okay? It¡¯s just¡ª¡± She cut herself off. ¡°Urgh. Talking was stupid. Can¡¯t we just go?¡±
¡°Ariana¡¡±
¡°She doesn¡¯t do breeders,¡± Ariana blurt out, suddenly afraid of meeting Celeste at eye-level. Her voice soon turned quieter, though. Almost reluctant. ¡°She likes them wild. The wilder, the better. She likes to¡ tame them.¡±
Celeste¡¯s throat tightened. ¡°But¡ª¡±
¡°Look, I¡¡± Ariana closed her eyes, taking a long, deep breath. ¡°I think she was just waiting for things to cool down in Alola. Then she¡¯d send another team like you said. Or just give up. But once Gozu tells her about you¡ªwhich he¡¯s probably already done¡ªyou¡¯ll be ¡®the girl who got away with her prize.¡¯¡± It was almost like the words were hard for her. Like she was afraid. ¡°You don¡¯t want to cross Madame. Trust me.¡±
Celeste stared at her, expecting a mocking laugh, or a snarky comment¡ but Ariana wasn¡¯t laughing.
Before she could say anything else, an Unown suddenly popped into view, then another, and another, surrounding them.
¡°Move it, Twinkles!¡± the other girl snapped, jumping up the scooter and kicking into gear.
In seconds, Celeste was gripping the back of the seat as the engine roared to life. Pat fired off a Water Gun, scattering the Unown, and with a sharp twist of the throttle, they sped through the cluster, the bike jolting as it tore down the street.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
¡°The people, Ariana!¡±
Celeste¡¯s grip tightened around Ariana¡¯s waist, her eyes squeezed shut. Up ahead, a group of people stood at the end of the street, casually chatting as if nothing strange was happening. They glanced lazily at the speeding scooter, Unown flickering into existence beside them. And yet, they did nothing¡ªjust blinked, unbothered.
¡°I see them!¡± Ariana yelled back. ¡°Rebel, Gust!¡±
Celeste peeked up, eyes widening. ¡°You can¡¯t attack people!¡±
Ariana ignored her, and a gust of wind whipped from behind them, Rebel¡¯s wings stirring up the air. It wasn¡¯t meant to hurt, just send the people away. But they didn¡¯t even flinch.
¡°Make it stronger!¡± Ariana growled.
¡°Ariana!¡± Celeste¡¯s voice strained as the wind picked up, whipping her hair wildly. The Unown were blown back, but the people still barely moved, standing firm as if the mounting gusts were nothing but a breeze.
¡°We¡¯re gonna crash!¡± Celeste shouted. At the last second, however, Ariana yanked the scooter hard to the side, barely dodging a rose bush before veering onto a staircase that led down toward the beach.
The descent was rough. The scooter bounced and jolted down the steps, Celeste clutching tight to her ride as they skidded onto the sand, sending up a cloud of dust that billowed larger than any Sand Attack Aria¡¯s ever made. The wheels spun, struggling for traction until they reached the firmer sand near the water¡¯s edge. There, she gunned the engine, speeding up again, water splashing up around them.
¡°Make your Slowpoke useful!¡± Ariana barked, gritting her teeth as they weaved through the shallows, Unown still buzzing after them.
Celeste bit her lip, glancing down at Pat in the front basket.
¡°Pat!¡± she called out. Without needing more direction, Pat¡¯s eyes glowed as he focused, using a mix of Confusion and his innate control over water. A Protect would¡¯ve been good, but they didn¡¯t know how to make this move with them yet. But a half-crescent wave rose up beside them, trailing along their path like a shield, deflecting the splashes and sometimes lashing out at the Unown, clearing a path ahead. It wasn¡¯t perfect, though. The water barrier faltered here and there, and only Ariana¡¯s quick reflexes kept them from colliding with anything, dodging obstacles with seconds to spare.
¡°Hold tight!¡± Ariana yelled, her voice barely cutting through the roar of the wind and engine. A massive cluster of Unown had gathered ahead, too dense to be blown away this time. Celeste barely had time to register it before Ariana yanked the handlebars, kicking up another cloud of sand and water as she made a sharp U-turn. Rebel¡¯s red eyes gleamed through the haze, as he darted ahead and flapped his wings furiously, sending the wave of swirling sand back toward the Unown behind them.
Ariana¡¯s eyes locked onto a small ramp up ahead, recently cleared. She gunned the throttle, but the sidewalk looked higher than they could handle, and the grunt she let out wasn¡¯t exactly reassuring. Celeste felt Ariana¡¯s muscles tense, her body shifting as if preparing to veer off at the last second.
¡°Stay on course!¡± Celeste shouted.
¡°What?¡± Ariana¡¯s reply came out sharp and strained, but Celeste wasn¡¯t backing down.
¡°Trust me! Pat, get ready! On my command!¡±
¡°You¡¯re fucking crazy, Twinkles!¡± Ariana laughed, but she didn¡¯t slow down. If anything, she floored it. ¡°Gio¡¯s is just up ahead, so this better work!¡±
Celeste snorted. ¡°Now!¡±
Pat¡¯s response was immediate. Though she couldn¡¯t see his face, she felt the powerful surge beneath them as he let out a loud bellow. Suddenly, they were lifted into the air, as if a spring had launched them off the ground. The bike hung in the air longer than gravity should¡¯ve allowed, wobbling dangerously as Pat¡¯s control quickly faltered.
¡°Let go!¡± Celeste called, and the psychic energy dissipated.
Ariana reacted instantly, stabilising the bike mid-air, then bracing as they shot down the other side of the ramp. They landed hard with a bone-rattling thud, smoke sputtering from the engine, but the wheels kept spinning. With the smell of burning rubber in the air, they tore down Obsidian Boulevard, the familiar shape of House Eight finally coming into view.
¡°Please tell me you have a key,¡± Celeste gasped as the bike screeched to a halt.
Chapter 88 - The mansion down the road
Chapter 88 - The mansion down the road
Whisk, whisk, whisk.
Delia¡¯s arm moved in slow circles, each pass of the whisk stirring up frothy bubbles in the bowl. A pinch of salt. A sprinkle of dried parsley. A pinch of basil, just because. A scratchy scrape echoed against the bowl¡ª
Whisk, whisk¡ªsplat.
The utensil slipped, and a gooey puddle of yolk spread across the spotless marble. Bright. Accusing. Delia¡¯s chest tightened for a heartbeat. She stared at it, half-expecting to care. Surely it¡¯d stain if she ignored it long enough.
Instead, she gave a soft snort. ¡°Oops,¡± she said to no one in particular. Why fret over a bit of a mess, right? She plucked up the whisk and returned to her task, leaving the smear to trickle its way toward the counter¡¯s edge.
Once the eggs sat smooth and pale, she picked up a skillet. With a swirl, Smoliv oil gleamed on the surface. Then in went uneven chunks of onion and tomato. She noted how sloppy her chopping was¡ªso different from the perfect cubes she once insisted on. But who cared anymore? The hiss of vegetables that followed felt comfortingly familiar. She breathed in the scent with a grin tugging at her lips. Perhaps it was a little too wide, but she didn¡¯t mind. She poured the egg mixture in and watched it spread like molten gold.
Everything was absolutely perfect.
Behind her, Shelly gave several excited clicks, hopping in closer, tongue already darting forward in what Delia decided was praise for her cooking.
¡°You want some?¡± she asked, tossing over a stray tomato piece. Shelly¡¯s tongue snatched it mid-flight. Probably not the best diet for a shellfish, but Shelly didn¡¯t care, and if anything, Delia liked to indulge.
She turned back to the skillet, taking hold of its handle.
The omelette was setting nicely, its edges curling. Out of the corner of her eye, however, the stained yolk caught her attention again. Her grip tightened on the handle and for one wild second, her mind drifted.
Grab the scorching skillet. Press it to your palm. See if this perfect little bubble pops. See if you are still that unbothered by the mess of the world then.
She sucked in a breath, then let out a short laugh.
What was wrong with her? Nothing was wrong. Nothing could be wrong. When life felt like a dream, who would want to wake up?
With a graceful flick, she tossed the omelette high. It flipped in an arc and landed back in place with a soft hiss.
¡°Fancy.¡±
The voice that came in startled her. Low, rich, and warm enough to melt butter, but sudden all the same. Delia turned, her grin shifting into something smaller, more private, as she spotted Gio leaning in the doorway.
¡°I could¡¯ve flipped it with a fork too,¡± she said, tilting her chin toward the utensils lying on the counter.
His eyes flicked to it, and briefly to the yolk stain, then back to her. For the briefest moment, something flashed there¡ªsomething questioning, or uneasy. Then it was gone, replaced by his dimpled smile. ¡°A real chef doesn¡¯t flip with a fork.¡±
¡°Chef, hmm?¡± She slid the skillet off the heat. Leaning back against the counter, Delia¡¯s eyes roamed lazily over Giovanni. He wore running shorts and a snug workout shirt clung to his body, outlining every line of muscle just enough to make her pulse quicken. Her own crop top and leggings were no accident, either.
¡°You could open a restaurant,¡± he said, raking a hand through his dark hair in that way he always did when he knew she was looking. The messy strands fell perfectly back into place, of course. ¡°I¡¯ve eaten at the fanciest spots in Indigo, and your cooking is better.¡±
Delia stepped closer. ¡°Should I start charging?¡±
He lowered his voice. ¡°I¡¯d pay.¡±
Her heart drummed as he looped an arm around her waist. With his other hand, he brushed a loose strand from her cheek, and the warmth of his fingers made her feel like floating. Like all was perfect and nothing could ever be wrong with the world.
Still, a tiny worry nudged the back of her mind.
Something¡ was off.
Gio leaned in, pressing a kiss to her cheek, and the thought scattered like ash on the wind.
¡°Breakfast?¡± he asked.
Delia stepped back with an airy laugh. ¡°Breakfast sounds wonderful.¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
During their stay at Gio¡¯s mansion, Lori claimed every body of water in sight. The pool, the beach, the decorative fountains¡ªit was a running joke to see random patches of ice in the sand or on the pool¡¯s surface. Gio didn¡¯t complain outright about it, though Delia caught glimpses of his annoyance.
Yesterday, she was sure he might snap.
He slipped on a thin ice patch near the pool area. Then he caught himself on a lounger at the last second. His face turned dark for a fraction of a heartbeat and his hand reached for a Pok¨¦ball in his belt. At that moment, the air felt strangely charged, like the ground was bracing itself. But Gio just released the ball, smoothed his shirt, and gave a low, velvety laugh.
¡°Lorelei,¡± he¡¯d said, somehow polite and menacing at once, ¡°watch your Pok¨¦mon or I¡¯ll have to keep them caged.¡±
Lori had only shrugged, utterly unbothered. And that was the end of it. No fireworks, no fallout. The earth did not split on his command, and she did not bring winter in response. It was all just grievances unsaid and forgotten, for there was never a need to worry about anything at all.
Still, the little things had a way of coming through. When they set out for their morning jog today, Gio made a point of leading Delia away from the beach.
¡°Let¡¯s take the volcano trail,¡± he suggested, locking the gate behind them. ¡°Better views. No ice.¡±
Truthfully, he could¡¯ve suggested taking a rocket to the moon, and she would¡¯ve agreed as long as he smiled that slow, dimpled smile of his.
Like that, they started their jog along Obsidian Boulevard. Delia fell in step beside him, her gaze trailing down the long road ahead. Towering wrought-iron gates lined the path and sprawling estates hid behind manicured hedges. Roses bloomed improbably along the way, with their crimson petals perfect and unseasonal.
¡°Most of these are summer homes,¡± Gio had explained a few days back. ¡°Empty most of the year. Places to escape the world when it gets too loud.¡±
Most weren¡¯t all, though.
Delia found her gaze drawn to a particular mansion down the street. Its stained glass windows seemed to swallow the light rather than reflect it. Each time she passed, she felt a pinch in her chest, a gentle voice in her mind hissing.
¡°Look away.¡±
She didn¡¯t.
Gio slowed, following her line of sight. ¡°Looks like old Ren Fuji¡¯s got guests.¡± He gestured at the windows.
There was movement there.
Shadows flickered behind the glass. Not just the little girl with the teal hair she¡¯d seen playing in the garden before. Not just her parents, who occasionally emerged onto the porch, holding hands and beaming with love. No, there were more figures now. The shape of a boy. A woman. Others that made a lot less sense.
The whisper in her head sharpened. ¡°Look away.¡±
But Delia couldn¡¯t.
Something about the light inside that mansion was wrong. It seeped through the stained glass in twisting colours. Alluring. Odd. Tangible in a way she couldn¡¯t place. The strange idea that came to her mind, however, was that reality was bleeding, and she had no way to bandage the hole.
¡°What¡ what are those¡ things?¡± Gio asked.
Delia jerked her attention back to him. His face had lost some colour, and for half a second, he looked truly afraid. Then a breeze ruffled his hair, and¡ he was perfect again.
¡°All I see is another perfect day ahead of us,¡± Delia found herself saying, though her own voice sounded foreign in her ears.
He looked uneasy for another heartbeat. Then when his eyes left the mansion, as though someone flipped a switch, he smiled at her again, warm as ever.
¡°Yes. This is paradise,¡± he echoed her feelings.
She interlaced her fingers with his and felt the softness of his skin. ¡°Show me your favourite spot?¡±
He grinned, taking the lead. ¡°Absolutely.¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
They veered off the main path, following a string of hidden routes that opened into a grey valley. Gravel crunched underfoot and jagged rocks towered around them.
Delia¡¯s nose wrinkled as she took in the barren sight, but¡ it wasn¡¯t that bad. Her gaze dropped to the ground, to the dark, ashy soil beneath her feet. This was the type of soil she¡¯d once been tasked to collect, she realised.
Her thoughts flickered back to Professor Oak and Spencer for a moment. She¡¯d promised them samples from Cinnabar¡¯s volcanic soil. This felt so important back then. Now she wasn¡¯t sure it even mattered anymore. Her chest tightened briefly. Would they be disappointed in her for not following through? Would¡ Olga also be disappointed?
Delia shook her head.
Not long ago, she had convinced herself that the task they¡¯d given her was essential. That they all couldn¡¯t function without her. It was comforting, wasn¡¯t it? Being needed meant she didn¡¯t have to make her own decisions. It gave her a purpose to cling to when the weight of choice felt too heavy. And when things went wrong, she could always point to someone else, couldn¡¯t she?
But had they really needed her?
Delia¡¯s lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. Maybe, to a point. But now? She couldn¡¯t bring herself to care much for their needs or anyone else¡¯s.
And not caring?
Not caring was something new. It felt weightless. Who would¡¯ve thought that choosing what actually made her happy would feel so¡ freeing?
¡°¡my secret training spot on the island¡¡± Gio¡¯s voice grounded her back into the present.
Delia blinked, turning toward him.
¡°Training?¡± she asked. He had Pok¨¦balls. She¡¯d noticed them clipped to his belt, though he¡¯d never let his Pok¨¦mon out¡ªnot once since they¡¯d met.
His smile turned sly. ¡°Lorelei isn¡¯t the only type specialist that you know.¡±
¡°Oh?¡± She stepped closer. ¡°Now you have to tell me. What¡¯s your type, mystery man?¡±
¡°Brunette. Dark eyes. A little bossy¡ªbut a great cook.¡± He chuckled, raising an eyebrow.
Delia felt her cheeks flush but narrowed her eyes, pretending to look unimpressed. ¡°Cute. But you¡¯re still dodging the question.¡±
Rather than answer, Gio leaned in, brushing his lips against the corner of her mouth. It was quick, more suggestion than action, leaving her stunned. Before she could recover, he turned and leapt onto the rocky hill ahead, glancing back with a grin that made her even more flustered.
The kiss¡ªif it even counted as a kiss¡ªhad sent her mind spinning. Days of flirting and they had never crossed that line before. Her fingertips grazed her lips as she tried to steady the thump in her chest.
¡°I promised you views,¡± he called over her shoulder, his hand extended toward her. ¡°Not a life story.¡±
It took her a second to snap out of her daze, but when she did, she strode forward, slipping her hand into his. His grip was firm, yet gentle as he helped her up the incline.
¡°You get a kick out of being mysterious, don¡¯t you?¡± Delia hummed, brushing dust and gravel from her leggings as she caught her breath.
He offered a knowing smirk. ¡°You like the mystery. Figured it gave me some points with you.¡±
She made a face. ¡°You¡¯re too full of yourself. And yes, I might like it.¡±
He laughed. ¡°Then I¡¯ll keep you guessing.¡±
One final push brought them to a plateau. The view landed like a sudden breeze, making her gasp. The open sea rippled below them, touched by the early sun and glinting as far as she could see. Gio circled an arm around her waist.
¡°Worth the climb?¡± he murmured near her ear.
She nodded, leaning into him.
Lazily, she let her gaze drift down to the path they¡¯d come, following the line of Gio¡¯s outstretched arm. ¡°That¡¯s my house,¡± he said, dreamily.
But her eyes didn¡¯t linger in his house. They were drawn further to the mansion down the street. Even from here, it felt like the place was cast in an unnatural light. The pull it had on her wasn¡¯t as strong from the distance, but she felt it still. The old mansion pulsed, like the beating heart of the island. Her head shifted up to the volcano towering above them, its peak dark against the bright sky. Shouldn¡¯t the volcano be Cinnabar¡¯s heart? She frowned faintly, recalling a poem she heard last time she was here.
Cinnabar, isle of burning desire,
Let passion set your heart afire.
May warm and kind love lead the way.
Gio¡¯s voice broke her spell. ¡°Where¡¯d you go just now?¡±
Once upon a time she would¡¯ve worried about this. She would¡¯ve second guessed her every thought and every desire. But not here. Not in this paradise.
¡°I was thinking about fire,¡± she answered, looking up into his eyes. ¡°How it means passion. And love. How it¡¯s dangerous, but¡ life-giving.¡±
His brow went up, and his lips curved into a slow, intrigued smile. ¡°Deep thoughts for this early in the day.¡±
She gave him a playful shove, then stepped closer. ¡°Blame yourself. You make me think about these things.¡±
¡°I like being on your mind.¡± He laughed softly, resting his hand over hers.
She smirked. ¡°Don¡¯t get big-headed, Giovanni.¡±
¡°Too late,¡± he answered, dimples flashing as he dropped his head to hers.
She expected another fleeting kiss, like the one earlier, but this time, his lips met hers fully, unhurried and deliberate. The warmth of him¡ªthe fire of their own desire¡ªwashed over her, and she gave into it, her fingers curling lightly into his shirt as his hand slid to the small of her back.
When they finally pulled apart, both were breathless, their foreheads still lightly touching.
¡°So,¡± he began, ¡°I¡¯m assuming I just earned a few more points?¡±
Delia couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Oh, going for the leaderboard now, are we?¡±
¡°Why stop at the top?¡± he countered, grinning. ¡°I¡¯m aiming for the stars above.¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
¡°A restaurant, hmm?¡± Gio asked as they strolled along the beach, hands entwined. Gentle waves lapped at the shore, carrying a soft, steady rhythm. Up above, wisps of cotton-candy clouds drifted in slow circles. ¡°So was it the omelette flipping that did it? Sounds like someone¡¯s got a pretty big head and it¡¯s not me.¡±
Delia laughed, stepping lightly across the sand. ¡°I¡¯m just happiest when I cook. And even more so when people tell me how good I am at it.¡±
¡°And you¡¯d want to spend the rest of your life cooking for others?¡± he asked.
She twirled, tapping his chest with a fingertip. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that, rich boy? Too lowly for you?¡±
He snorted, a deep, warm sound that made her chest tighten in the best way. ¡°I¡¯m not like that. Not¡ª¡±
¡°Not that type of rich?¡± she broke in with a grin, noticing his confusion. ¡°You sound like Cee,¡± she added, as if that explained it all.
¡°By Groudon, let¡¯s not start,¡± he said, trying his most dramatic tone (which, honestly, wasn¡¯t impressive).
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Still smiling, Delia shrugged. ¡°Fine. So, if you¡¯re not that kind of rich, which kind are you?¡±
Gio¡¯s gaze wandered over the ocean. ¡°It¡¯s my mother¡¯s money, really. She¡¯s a complete workaholic. Probably expects me to carry on her legacy.¡± He gave a casual shrug. ¡°I¡¯m not sold on that plan. I rather make my own name.¡±
Delia nudged his side. ¡°You and Cee aren¡¯t so different,¡± she tried again, though it meant little to him. ¡°So¡ the Rocchi name. What does your family do?¡± She rolled the word ¡°Rocchi¡± around just to see how he¡¯d react.
¡°Nothing.¡± His eyes flickered toward the horizon, unfocused. ¡°I picked that name for myself. Sounded more¡ grounded.¡±
¡°Wait, really? What is it, then?¡±
¡°My actual family name?¡± he tilted his head.
Delia hummed, a playful note in her voice. ¡°Name, business¡ you¡¯re being far too mysterious, mister.¡±
His mouth quirked, and for a moment, a deeper spark flickered in his eyes. ¡°International crime,¡± he said. ¡°We run the mob.¡±
She snickered, giving him a light shove. ¡°You¡¯re such a liar!¡±
¡°Am I?¡± he asked with a lazy grin, warm and easy at first. But then¡ something in his face changed.
It happened in a heartbeat, like a dark cloud crossing sunlit water. A sudden heaviness rippled through the air, so intense Delia forgot how to breathe. All her worries, which she¡¯d somehow tucked away these past weeks, rushed back in one suffocating wave. Her knees felt wobbly.
¡°What¡ what¡¯s happening?¡± she whispered.
She barely recognised her own voice. Gio looked just as lost, hands curling into fists at his sides. He dragged his gaze along the island, toward a distant mansion or perhaps the shapes lurking just by the corner of their eyes. Delia knew, with a certainty that startled her, that he hated this sudden¡ªwhatever this was¡ªas much as she did.
She forced her trembling fingers to reach for his. ¡°Giovanni?¡± she tried again, voice wavering. ¡°You feel it too?¡±
He paused, turning only enough for her to see the taut line of his brow. ¡°Feel¡ what?¡±
¡°Everything,¡± Delia murmured.
A Wingull¡¯s frantic cry rang out above them, piercing and off-key. Delia¡¯s eyes followed it down to the ocean, and she wondered if it would escape. The waves broke unevenly against the shore and a mist¡ªan unnatural mist¡ªrolled in with alarming speed. Like a d¨¦j¨¤ vu that tightened around her mind, she could only dread the monstrosities that lay hidden from view.
But then, just like before, another wave surged, wiping all that tension from her limbs, as though it had never existed. Gio¡¯s fists relaxed, and the crease in his forehead smoothed over. In the hush that followed, the breeze felt gentle again.
Gio gave a short cough, looking slightly dazed. ¡°That was¡ weird.¡±
Delia swallowed. She still felt echoes of that chill, but her voice refused to work for a moment.
¡°So¡¡± Gio said, pushing back into easy banter. ¡°Me being mysterious is racking up bonus points, right?¡±
She stared at him, stunned, before letting out a shaky laugh. She rubbed her forehead, as if that might ease the memory of what had just happened. ¡°What¡¯s with you and points?¡±
¡°I like winning points,¡± he snorted, wasting no time in capturing her hand again. He steered them onward down the beach, acting as though that pocket of dread had never happened.
Delia allowed herself to follow, the ocean breeze fluttering through her hair.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
¡°Are you sure you are fine?¡±
¡°Yes. I am cool.¡±
Delia and Gio drew closer to the winding stone path that linked the beach to his terrace. Voices reached them. One belonging to Lori, the other young, male, and unknown.
Gio frowned, muttering under his breath. ¡°Someone else here? I didn¡¯t agree to host anyone else.¡±
Delia wasn¡¯t really listening; she was too curious about the newcomer. Since Ariana stopped showing up, they hadn¡¯t had many visitors.
¡°I get it,¡± the boy was saying. ¡°But maybe¡ she could help, right? Hab can snap her out of it if necessary.¡± He paused, sounding like he was talking about Lori rather than speaking to her.
A low, hissy buzz answered him, prompting the boy to sigh.
¡°Anyway¡ I¡¯m looking for Celeste and Ariana,¡± he went on. ¡°My Orbeetle says they¡¯re here to, uh¡ cause shenanigans?¡±
Lori gave a short snort before glancing down the path. Her eyes found Delia and Gio at once. ¡°Shenanigans definitely sound like Celeste. But I haven¡¯t seen her in¡ it¡¯s been a while. Have you, Delia?¡±
As was usual these days, Lorelei was sprawled by the pool, one toe lazily dipped into the water while her Lapras rested her chin on her stomach. Standing off to the side was the boy who¡¯d spoken¡ªtall, dreadlocks grazing his shoulders, large round glasses perpetually sliding down his nose.
Delia tugged Gio¡¯s sleeve, whispering with a grin, ¡°Hey, maybe a double date could be fun?¡± But he didn¡¯t respond. His attention had latched onto the boy¡¯s Pok¨¦mon¡ªnot the hovering bug Delia guessed was the Orbeetle, but the bulky shape of sand at its feet, loosely resembling a castle.
¡°Palossand isn¡¯t common around here,¡± Gio said, eyes lit with curiosity.
The boy pushed his glasses up. ¡°We get that reaction a lot,¡± he replied. ¡°His name is Haboob¡ª¡±
¡°As in dust storms,¡± Gio cut in. He squared his shoulders, fingertips grazing one of his Pok¨¦balls as if it lent credibility. ¡°I fancy myself as a bit of a Ground-type specialist,¡± he declared, settling the mystery from earlier.
Delia raised an eyebrow, fighting a smirk. Not because Ground Pok¨¦mon were laughable¡ªquite the opposite. Rather, she found his slight puffing of the chest cute.
¡°I don¡¯t do much with sandstorms myself,¡± Gio continued, confident. ¡°But I looked into raising a Sandygast once. I talked to a¡ breeder. Eventually decided it wasn¡¯t my style. I prefer¡ª¡± He cut himself off, turning to Lori, who was staring, part smug, part sulky, completely off character. ¡°What is it?¡±
¡°Ground types?¡± she giggled. ¡°Really?¡±
Gio didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°You don¡¯t seem to mind them when you¡¯re sending your mammoth out to stomp on my lawn.¡±
Lori rolled her eyes, patting her Lapras. ¡°Bit of a surprise, that¡¯s all. We could battle sometime¡ªtype advantage.¡± She yawned. ¡°It¡¯s always fun when you¡¯re on the winning side.¡±
He ignored her, turning back to the boy. ¡°I¡¯m more interested in taking on your¡ boyfriend, was it?¡± he emphasised the boyfriend.
That question made the young visitor¡¯s cheeks flame. His shoulders tensed and he fiddled with his glasses again. Delia¡¯s lips twitched in amusement at how easily he blushed. The Orbeetle buzzed in disapproval, looking equally affronted.
Lori, who was Gio¡¯s actual target, just shrugged, swirling her hand through the pool water. ¡°How many times do I have to say it? Not interested in romance. Caleb¡¯s just a good friend.¡±
Caleb cleared his throat, trying to put on a smile. ¡°Uh, I¡¯m actually looking for Celeste and Ariana?¡± he repeated the question from earlier, this time directing it at Gio and Delia instead of Lori. ¡°I¡¯m in a bit of a hurry and¡ Ariana and Celeste really shouldn¡¯t be alone together¡¡±
Delia leaned in. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen Cee in a while. What mess has she got herself into this time?¡±
¡°I¡¡± Caleb hesitated, glancing at his bug Pok¨¦mon as though searching for something in its eyes. Finally, he looked back at Delia, his expression unreadable. ¡°Do you care? If she was in trouble¡ would it bother you?¡±
¡°What kind of question is that? Cee¡¯s my friend. Of course I care about her,¡± she said, though her smile faltered briefly. A faint memory flashed through. A fight where Celeste overstepped her limits, as usual. The emotions that had bubbled up inside her then lingered for just a moment before fizzling out like they never even existed. ¡°She is my best friend,¡± she added.
Caleb nodded, eyes drifting toward the shoreline. ¡°She mentioned the Dhelmise you fought to get here.¡± His voice sounded distant. ¡°Does it still scare you?¡±
The mention of that horrible Pok¨¦mon settled on Delia for a moment. The shadow of the Dhelmise loomed above her, its anchor swaying in the dark, misty waters. Terror. She had felt it so strongly then. But now?
Well¡
¡°It scared me then,¡± she said. A hum of satisfaction then followed as she added, ¡°But it¡¯s gone now. It will never come back. I know that, just like I know Cee can¡¯t be in real trouble. Not here. Not in Cinnabar.¡±
Delia took in the pool, the gentle sea breeze, the bright skies. Her smile broadened.
¡°This place¡ it¡¯s paradise,¡± she added.
¡°I guess,¡± the visitor murmured, ¡°it¡¯s not just about not caring. It¡¯s about not finding problems at all.¡± His eyes swept over the terrace, lingering on the pool and the sea beyond. ¡°But you¡¯re right, Nebula,¡± he added, addressing his Orbeetle, who buzzed faintly in response. He stretched out his arms, gesturing vaguely to the idyllic scene around them. ¡°You can spend your days in the pool or on the beach, watch heart-shaped clouds drift through the sky, smell the salt mingling with roses. It doesn¡¯t all add up¡ but this version of paradise?¡± He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as he turned back to Delia. ¡°It¡¯s like a summer from my childhood, you know? Nostalgic, carefree. Perfect. I look at this word and I almost feel like I did back then. Like nothing bad could ever happen to me.¡±
He paused, switching his gaze from Delia to Lori. ¡°It¡¯s hard to pull you all out when you¡¯re so¡ settled here. But¡ I hope on some level that you must realise it¡¯s breaking apart.¡±
Delia stared, unsure what to say. She wanted to tell him he was overreacting¡ªnothing was wrong, truly. But something in her didn¡¯t let those words escape.
That was when a faint motor hum drew nearer, making everyone turn. A click came from inside the house, as though a door had just unlocked.
¡°Ah¡ that would be them,¡± Caleb said quietly.
As for Delia? Well, it had been a while since she last saw Cee.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
¡°Stop gawking and move,¡± Ariana¡¯s voice came first, sharp and impatient.
¡°I¡¯m not gawking,¡± Cee replied, whiny, and definitely tired. ¡°I just think we could check if they are upstairs first.¡±
A loud groan. Wings ruffled, and the hollow caw of a Murkrow echoed close by. Whatever Celeste mumbled back got lost between that and thud-thud of her Slowpoke¡¯s hooves against the marble floor.
¡°You only want to go up there as an excuse to peek at that creepy old mansion.¡± Ariana¡¯s words rang out again, louder and closer this time.
¡°It¡¯s not¡ª¡±
¡°It¡¯s another sickeningly lovely day here in paradise,¡± Ariana continued. ¡°Delia and Gio are either by the beach or the pool. Only reason they¡¯d be in their room is if they were boni¡ª¡±
¡°Ariana!¡± Cee shouted, and even though Delia couldn¡¯t see her, she could imagine her friend flustering.
¡°You¡¯re such a child.¡±
¡°So are you! So is Delia. We¡¯re basically all the same age.¡±
¡°I¡¯m a teenager,¡± Ariana corrected with a scoff. Then she paused. ¡°Wait, how old is Delia again?¡±
¡°She¡¯s fifteen¡ªoh!¡± Cee cut herself off. ¡°Her birthday¡¯s in a few days. I totally forgot. Poor Delia. The only way she¡¯s having a sweet sixteen is if she¡¯s still under this island¡¯s influence.¡±
Ariana let out a rude snort. ¡°Sixteen, and you think she and Gio aren¡¯t fuck¡ª¡± She cut herself off, her tone dropping. ¡°Whatever. Just forget it. Let¡¯s move on. If we don¡¯t track her down soon, she might not reach sixteen at all.¡±
A few steps ahead, Delia leaned against the wall with her arms crossed. She¡¯d been listening¡ªtrying not to laugh¡ªuntil the two girls emerged around the corner, still bickering. Ariana had a scowl, and Celeste¡¯s face was bright pink.
Delia straightened up. ¡°Nice to hear you chatting about me,¡± she called, faking sternness.
Both girls froze mid-breath, colour draining from their faces. But¡ they weren¡¯t even looking at Delia.
She blinked, wondering what they¡¯d spotted over her shoulder. She glanced back to see Caleb, hands on his hips, looking far more ¡°commanding¡± than anyone else here. He wore an unreadable expression¡ªalmost disappointed. Well¡ he finally found the people he¡¯d been after.
¡°Ari?¡± Gio said, stepping closer. ¡°You disappeared for a while. I¡¯ve got big news.¡± He looked over at Delia with a shy smile that warmed her chest. It was that fluttery feeling again.
Ariana kept her gaze on Caleb, though. Only muttering to Gio a low, ¡°Not right now.¡±
Caleb¡¯s Orbeetle hovered closer to the girls, its swirling eyes fixed on Ariana and Celeste in a way that made Delia¡¯s skin prickle. No one spoke for a moment; they just stared at one another, like a silent conversation unfolding between them and the bug.
Finally, Caleb released a long sigh and moved forward. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re planning,¡± he said, ¡°but you know we¡¯re short on help. We can¡¯t mount another rescue just for you two. We need to get back¡ª¡±
¡°C¡¯mon, man! Going back is fucking crazy!¡± Ariana burst out. ¡°Haven¡¯t you seen all the Unown outside? This place is going full shit.¡±
Delia tilted her head, watching the exchange with mild disinterest. The conversation was strange, disjointed, and, frankly, boring. Cee kept on bringing words like entropy and Fuji and something about leader Blaine. Thankfully, Gio¡¯s gentle tug on her arm distracted her from it. He swayed his head toward the beach, and she brightened, ready to follow him and leave whatever nonsense was happening behind.
Then something stranger happened, making Delia pause. Ariana lurched backward, as if yanked by an invisible hand. She nearly toppled over, and a battered notebook flew from her vest¡¯s pocket, levitating in midair as the Orbeetle flipped through its pages at alarming speed.
¡°Hey! Give it back! I need¡ªugh, come down!¡± Ariana snapped, jumping uselessly to snatch it back. ¡°Come on, this is mine!¡±
Celeste crossed her arms. ¡°Oh, please. It¡¯s not yours. You stole it.¡±
¡°Right. Because you got it fair and square?¡± Ariana shot her a side-eye glare.
¡°I didn¡¯t steal it!¡± Cee shot back. ¡°Not technically. It was just lying around and¡ªOf course it was okay to read it!¡± she added, directing a look at the Orbeetle. But the bug kept flipping pages, the fluttering noise almost noisier than Cee. Then, with a solid thud, it snapped the journal shut and drifted it down into Caleb¡¯s hands.
By that point, Lori had vanished to the other side of the pool, slipping away so quietly that Delia almost missed her exit.
Gio leaned in, voice low near Delia¡¯s ear. ¡°Shall we do the same and leave?¡±
She flicked her gaze from the journal back to him and nodded. Whatever was happening there, it didn¡¯t seem like her concern.
¡°Yeah,¡± she whispered back, a soft smile curling at her lips. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±
Except¡
When they started toward the path, Celeste jumped in front of them, arms stretched wide. ¡°You¡¯re not leaving,¡± she said, ignoring Caleb¡¯s attempts to pull her back. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere without my friends. If you want to have a massive discussion, let¡¯s do it at the gym. All of us.¡±
Gio huffed. ¡°I¡¯m not going to a gym during my time off.¡±
He slipped an arm around Delia¡¯s waist. ¡°All I want is some time on the beach with my girlfriend,¡± he said, so offhandedly that Delia almost tripped.
Holy Mew, was she his girlfriend? Already?
¡°And Ari,¡± he added, flashing out a completely different smile. One that wasn¡¯t nice, but sent goosebumps over Delia¡¯s arms all the same. ¡°Enjoying the beach is way nicer than whatever it is you¡¯ve got roped into this time.¡±
¡°Oh, look,¡± Celeste muttered with an eye-roll, ¡°even your friend says you get wrapped up in bad shit, Ari.¡±
Delia blinked. Since when did Cee even know Ariana well enough to snipe at her? It didn¡¯t really matter, though. Delia was fully prepared to stroll off with Gio when¡ª
¡°Sunset!¡± Cee cried, grabbing Delia¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We should watch the sunset on the rooftop, all of us!¡±
Gio mumbled, ¡°You¡¯re not exactly invited to spend the day with us.¡± He sounded pretty done with this.
¡°No, it will be great!¡± Cee insisted, voice too loud, throwing a glance Ariana¡¯s way as if expecting backup. ¡°Come on, we¡¯ll make drinks, hang out. Let¡¯s find Lori again. All perfect. Right? Ariana?¡±
Caleb groaned softly into his hands while Ariana just muttered a swear. Cee let go of Delia to latch onto Ariana¡¯s arm and started pulling her toward the kitchen instead. Even Cee¡¯s Slowpoke trailed after them with a resigned shuffle.
Guess Cee is just being Cee, Delia thought.
Gio¡¯s tone drew her focus back. ¡°Beach?¡± he asked hopefully.
But Delia pressed a quick kiss to his cheek and gave him a sweet smile. ¡°Actually, a rooftop party with our friends might be fun.¡±
He let out a brief laugh. ¡°Ariana does make a terrific margarita,¡± he agreed, touching Delia¡¯s cheek. ¡°You want to learn how to make them too, don¡¯t you?¡±
¡°Cooking is fun,¡± she replied, already turning inside.
In the end, the beach could wait. Paradise wasn¡¯t going anywhere after all.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Ariana marched into the kitchen, yanked open an obscure cupboard, and grabbed a liquor bottle full of a water-like liquid. Her movements were snappy, and each time she jerked her arm, Cee either muttered or protectively reached for a Pok¨¦ball hidden in her pocket.
Delia tried to care for whatever was going on with her friend¡ªshe really did¡ªbut she couldn¡¯t give a damn.
She shifted her focus to Ariana and on her hurried movements. Ariana grabbed a large jug from a shelf, sloshing alcohol into it with no sign of measuring. The fridge door clattered open, and she rummaged through its contents until she unearthed a red-orange carton. The label showed an overly artificial-looking fruit, one likely packed with enough preservatives to outlast them all. At least Delia could assume it wasn¡¯t expired. Without hesitation, Ariana dumped it in the jug too and turned around.
¡°Sugar,¡± Ariana said flatly.
Delia almost refused, but she twisted around and passed the sugar pot. Ariana dumped in a heap, stirred once, then turned to Cee.
¡°Done. Can we hurry this up?¡±
Delia eyed the liquid with¡ some doubt. ¡°Is¡ that really a margarita?¡± She didn¡¯t know much about cocktails, but it never hurt to ask.
Cee gave a sour look. ¡°Definitely not. Doubt anyone cares, though.¡±
Delia cared, obviously, but she found herself smiling anyway. ¡°Well, it¡¯ll be¡ interesting. Maybe we can serve it with little umbrellas¡ªhey wait!¡±
Before she could finish, both girls had already vanished¡ªfirst slipping out the kitchen door, then clattering up the stairs. How inconsiderate. Delia giggled, though she wasn¡¯t entirely sure why, and hurried after them, finally catching up on the rooftop.
Gio, Lori, Caleb, and Caleb¡¯s two strange Pok¨¦mon¡ªthe bug and sand pile¡ªwere already there. With Caleb reading carefully that strange battered journal. Ariana moved to him, pushing the book down.
¡°I¡¯ll give it back once I¡¯m done reading,¡± Caleb said calmly. ¡°But before you and Celeste drag me into something dangerous, I need all the facts.¡±
Ariana muttered a curse. ¡°We don¡¯t have fucking time, but if you¡¯re gonna waste it, give me one of your Pok¨¦mon so I can wake Gio up and bring him up to speed.¡±
Caleb shook his head, his eyes still fixed on the pages. ¡°Absolutely not. And a ground specialist won¡¯t be much help if we¡¯re heading out by sea.¡±
Ariana groaned louder, throwing her hands up. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s wake Lorelei up,¡± she said. Caleb just mumbled something in response, barely audible as he tried to bury himself back in his book.
Delia approached Gio first, torn between handing him Ariana¡¯s questionable concoction and keep listening to the others.
¡°What do you think that¡¯s about?¡± Gio nodded toward their two bickering guests, handing her a cup as she stepped closer. His smile, all dimples, made her pulse kick. ¡°Anyway, we can still get out of here, if you want. Just the two of us.¡±
She sidled up to him, close enough for her hip to brush his. He tensed at first, then relaxed, his hand lingering a moment longer on her cup. The rooftop party wasn¡¯t exactly promising. The thought of leaving with him was¡ tempting.
¡°And what you propose we do instead?¡±
¡°Find a place with decent margaritas,¡± he murmured, his grin turning wicked. ¡°And a lot less¡¡± His eyes swept the rooftop. Ariana, glaring daggers at Caleb. Lori, half-asleep while her Cryogonal and Glalie hovered idly nearby. Cee, perched at the edge of the roof, gesturing wildly at Nebula. ¡°¡A lot less them.¡±
Tempting as it sounded, Delia¡¯s attention caught on Cee. Her friend was practically hanging over the parapet, tiptoes balancing on the stone rail. Oddly, her shadow coiled around her leg, like a living tether keeping her from tumbling off. Her Slowpoke stood behind her, eyes wide and anxious.
Then Cee lifted one foot, leaning even farther over.
Delia¡¯s brain didn¡¯t wait. She lunged, grabbed Celeste¡¯s shirt, and hauled her back.
¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± she gasped. ¡°You could¡¯ve fallen!¡±
Celeste twisted around, shock on her face. ¡°No. Pat and Shy were hold¡ª¡± She fell silent, frown morphing into a sudden grin. ¡°That was kind of exciting,¡± she said, dusting herself off. She hopped up onto the edge again, looking pleased. ¡°Bet I can hang here with just my heels¡ª¡±
¡°Celeste!¡± Delia shouted, though a part of her insisted all was safe. Nothing truly bad happened here¡ right?
Celeste paused, flicking her gaze over her shoulder as if gauging how serious Delia was. Then she inched closer to the drop. ¡°Relax. No need to worry, right? Nothing¡¯s gonna happen.¡±
Delia¡¯s mouth opened, then shut. Words slipped away as soon as she tried to form them. This was paradise, wasn¡¯t it? Nothing bad could happen here. She knew that. She felt it deep in her bones, but¡ª
But then there was Celeste.
Celeste, who always pushed too far, leaned too close to the edge, laughed at danger like it was an old friend she could play with.
Her heart twisted.
For a moment, she imagined Celeste slipping¡ªfalling¡ªand the thought felt absurd. Impossible. Nothing bad could happen here. Nothing ever did.
So why wouldn¡¯t the image leave her?
Her chest tightened as her mind looped faster: paradise, safety, nothing is wrong. This was Cinnabar. But what if something was wrong? No, it couldn¡¯t be¡ªbut Celeste wouldn¡¯t stop, would she? She never stopped, and maybe¡ªwhat if¡ªno, no, no. This was paradise. Nothing bad could ever happen here.
Except¡ what if it did?
¡°Enough of that,¡± a voice cut through. Gio¡¯s voice.
Delia blinked, suddenly aware that she was on the ground, clutching her head. She couldn¡¯t remember how she¡¯d got there. Gio¡¯s hand wrapped protectively around her shoulder, his grip steady and grounding.
His expression was dangerous when he looked at Celeste, but gentle when he turned back to Delia. ¡°Can¡¯t you see you¡¯ve upset her?¡±
For once, Celeste had no comeback. She hopped off the ledge, rubbing off her arm. She glanced briefly at Ariana and Caleb before looking back at them. ¡°You¡¯re¡ worried too?¡± she asked Gio, sounding uncertain.
Seeing Cee away from the edge helped Delia¡¯s heart start to calm. Silly her. She¡¯d let herself get all worked up over nothing. This was paradise. Of course, nothing bad ever happened here.
There was no need to¡ huh?
Why was Caleb¡¯s Orbeetle hovering so close?
Cee approached it sheepishly. ¡°¡figured I could break it¡ by triggering her¡? Or them, I guess¡¡± she muttered, facing the Pok¨¦mon.
Once again, Delia felt like an outsider, watching as Cee held a conversation she couldn¡¯t hear. The Orbeetle buzzed sharply in response, its eyes swirling around and around and around¡
¡°Well, something¡¯s happening.¡± Cee¡¯s voice jolted Delia away from the bug¡¯s gaze. Her outburst drew Ariana and even Caleb closer, their (or rather Ariana¡¯s) argument forgotten as they joined the group. Cee threw her hands up in exasperation. ¡°I snapped her out because she cares. It makes sense. And¡ uh¡ Gio too. I guess he cares about her¡¡±
Delia stopped listening then. All that conversation¡ it was just noise. For a moment, the sounds around her dulled, and she let everything else melt into the background.
Gio¡¯s hand found hers, guiding her off the ground.
He leaned in. ¡°Please,¡± he whispered near her ear. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here.¡±
Her chest tightened, but her smile came easily. She couldn¡¯t resist echoing Cee¡¯s earlier words, though her tone was light. ¡°So, I heard you care about me?¡±
His short laugh filled the air. ¡°I thought it was obvious. I can¡¯t seem to care about anything but you. That¡¯s not like me at all, honestly.¡±
Delia squeezed his hand, her voice quiet. ¡°I haven¡¯t been quite myself either. Something about this place¡¡± She paused, shaking her head. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. For the first time in a long time, I just want to do what makes me happy.¡±
His lips curved into that dimpled smile she knew too well. ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡±
Before he could answer, Gio nodded toward the others. Cee was gesturing wildly now, pointing toward the mansion down the road¡ªthe same one that had pulled at Delia¡¯s attention earlier. The lights spilling from its windows were brighter than ever, too vibrant, too alive, but also too otherworldly. They were discussing it, their voices, and the Orbeetle¡¯s buzzing, overlapping.
¡°We can take that as our cue,¡± he said.
Delia glanced back. Cee was leaning over the edge of the building again, Ariana and Caleb flanking her, all of them staring down the road at something she couldn¡¯t see.
¡°Is that Blaine?¡± Cee¡¯s voice drifted on the breeze.
¡°What the fuck!?¡± Ariana¡¯s reply was louder.
¡°Didn¡¯t you say he wouldn¡¯t look into Doctor Fuji?¡± Caleb asked, almost accusing.
¡°He said he wouldn¡¯t!¡± Cee shot back.
It all seemed very important. To them. Delia watched for a moment longer, her chest tightening with a flicker of something she couldn¡¯t name. Then she inhaled, quiet and steady, and turned back to Gio.
¡°Yeah,¡± she said softly, reaching for his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±
She could worry. Maybe she should.
But why would she?
Paradise didn¡¯t leave room for worry.
Chapter 89 - Down the Raboot Hole
Chapter 89 - Down the Raboot Hole
Celeste ran a hand over the stained glass panels set into the large wooden door of Fuji¡¯s mansion. The full moon gleamed in the glass, reflecting fractured beams of silver light back onto the worn porch.
It had been a full moon since she arrived on this island.
Somehow, she only noticed that now.
Even though this wasn¡¯t the strangest thing she¡¯d seen in Cinnabar, it brought her a chill. The moon was supposed to change. It was meant to wax and wane, and to mark the passing of days. But here, the sky was stuck. And with it came the creeping realisation that today was the same as yesterday, and tomorrow would be the same too. The sun would rise and no clouds would dot the sky, the flowers would bloom, and everything would remain perfect¡
Infuriatingly, unbearably perfect.
How could Fuji think this was right?
How could he look at this¡ this stagnant, unchanging illusion¡ and believe it was good for his daughter?
Her fingers pressed harder into the glass, leaving smudges over its flawless surface.
¡°So, are you going to knock?¡± Came Caleb¡¯s question.
Celeste exhaled slowly, trying to force the anger out with her breath. It didn¡¯t work.
She turned to face the others anyway.
Pat and Shy stood close, their eyes drilling at her. Ariana slouched against a nearby wall, arms crossed, her Murkrow twitching uneasily on her shoulder. Caleb himself stood slightly apart, flanked by Nebula and his Palosand. His focus wasn¡¯t on her¡ªwasn¡¯t on any of them. His eyes were locked on the mansion ahead, as if he could somehow see through its walls.
No one spoke.
In fact, no one had said much since they left Gio¡¯s.
Not long after they had spotted Blaine and his Marowak going into Fuji¡¯s house, more Unown had begun gathering around the mansion. Celeste and her friends had argued, of course. Ariana had put her foot down, insisting they should take the chance to get the hell out. Celeste had barely acknowledged her, shrugging her off with a simple, ¡°I¡¯m going after Blaine.¡±
At last, he was taking action¡ªor at least she hoped he was. Either way, she wasn¡¯t about to let him face whatever was inside alone.
Not that this was a democracy, but once Caleb announced he was going with Celeste to back up Blaine, Ariana (after a very long string of curses) grudgingly fell in line. Celeste suspected Ariana wouldn¡¯t leave without Giovanni, anyway. And after she had riled him up enough, he had vanished some place toward the beach with Delia.
A sharp creak finally broke the silence as the iron gates behind rattled in the wind.
¡°Celeste?¡± Caleb called again.
Celeste turned back to the door. Someone had let Blaine in, but now it was locked tight.
¡°I have a better idea.¡± She glanced down at her shadow but knew Shy wouldn¡¯t reveal more of themselves than necessary. Her gaze then flicked to Caleb¡¯s Palosand. ¡°Can Hab go under the door and unlock it from the other side?¡±
Caleb adjusted his glasses, considering the request for barely a second before nodding to his ghost.
¡°Good idea,¡± he said with a small smile.
Hab sunk into the ground, the grains of its spectral sand slipping effortlessly beneath the heavy wooden door. A beat passed. Then another. The wind rattled the iron gate once more. Celeste¡¯s grip tightened around the strap of her backpack.
And then a click echoed from the door.
The door creaked open, revealing nothing but darkness. A cool breath of air drifted out, carrying the scent of jasmine and old paper. It felt¡ inviting. Like stepping into a storybook, where every word, every letter wrote another reality, one even stranger and more stagnant than the rest of Cinnabar. But most importantly, the Unown hadn¡¯t written this story for them. And if Celeste had learned anything, it was that they were not above revisions.
¡Or cutting out characters.
Ariana exhaled sharply. ¡°Great. Not creepy at all.¡±
Pat blinked, glancing up at Celeste as if questioning the wisdom of stepping inside. But this was an island. Even if they ran away, where would they go? Celeste pushed the thought aside. She stepped forward, pausing only when her shadow coiled around her legs. She sighed, murmuring something apologetic as she pulled free.
Shy¡¯s form wavered before they let go with what almost felt like resignation.
Caleb was next. ¡°No point standing out here,¡± he said, Nebula¡¯s glowing eyes flashing on the lenses of his glasses as she drifted forward. A second later, Ariana¡¯s Murkrow let out a disgruntled caw from the shadows.
And finally, when all was dark, the door slammed shut behind them.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
The moment the door clicked shut, the house exhaled.
And not in a poetic, homey way one might imagine a house breathing. Nope. This was a full-bodied sigh, as if the place had lungs, ribs, the whole shebang.
A flicker of candlelight¡ªthough no one had lit a candle¡ªcast just enough glow to show the walls stretching, contracting, expanding past their limits, then pulling in too tight, as if the house couldn¡¯t decide how big it wanted to be. Or maybe how small they should be.
The floor bucked beneath them, like a tablecloth pulled mid-dinner. Celeste pitched forward, her stomach flipping as if it had missed a step. Her Slowpoke, wide-eyed but still processing whatever this was, wobbled ahead, right into her shins. The unexpected impact sent her stumbling forward in a graceless half-jump, limbs flailing as if trying to negotiate with physics. For a moment, she was airborne, caught between momentum and whatever reality-warping nonsense this place had conjured. Then the walls exhaled again, and gravity reasserted itself.
She stumbled, managing to grab Pat at the last second, before forcing herself upright.
¡°What the hell?¡± Celeste muttered, twisting to look at the others.
Caleb and Ariana stood frozen, expressions mirroring hers. Even Ariana, whose first instinct was usually to swear at her problems, just gawked at the room, saying nothing at all. That¡ was probably a good call, as none of them wanted that place to get pissed at them.
Then, as if it had been waiting for their full attention, the house lit up.
Though not in candlelight anymore.
A full blow spotlight, gold and sharp, illuminated every inch of the room. Celeste flinched as the walls snapped into focus, their patterns shifting. The wallpaper dressed up to the occasion, apparently. Sleek stripes shimmered in vibrant hues, as though the house had carefully selected its wardrobe for the day. And the portraits lining the walls gleamed unnervingly, like broaches on a lapel.
Talk about a house with a personality.
Celeste let a small smile at the thought. This was creepy as hell, sure. But kind of amusing? She squeezed Pat lightly as she moved closer to one of the paintings and¡
Amber. And her family. All painted in vibrant colours and large brushstrokes.
That was Dr Fuji¡¯s house, so those family portraits weren¡¯t unexpected. Yet, seeing little Amber smiling widely between her parents on a sun-drenched beach made Celeste¡¯s mood sour again. The kid deserved happiness, not whatever this was. In the next one, Amber stood mid-kick, with her Scorbunny at goalpost and her parents cheering her on. And in the following, her dad, with an impossible smile, read her a book by a bonfire.
In all pictures it was summer. Warm. Perfect.
Celeste¡¯s breath hitched when she moved to the next painting. A tea party. Amber sat by¡ by Dan. And Dinah. And all the other trainers that went missing from the Gym.
So it was Fuji¡¯s fault¡ but¡
This couldn¡¯t be right. None of it. They disappeared barely a day ago. How could they be in a painting, having tea? And what was up with Dr Fuji himself? He was the source of all this, but his smile was just as stretched and blank as all the other people in Cinnabar.
It was all too much.
Would he really let himself be swallowed by the illusion?
Much as Celeste wanted, there was no time to dwell.
The house had other plans.
The walls shuddered, lurching inward with a groan that rattled in her ribs. This wasn¡¯t just movement. It was insistence. Impatience. Like the house itself was growing exasperated with their sauntering.
¡°T-Time to move on,¡± Caleb managed to say, somehow maintaining his calm, despite the wall pressing against his back. His Orbeetle, however, didn¡¯t share the same composure. The Pok¨¦mon hovered mid-air, her eyes swirling, mesmerised by the shifting walls and the stripped patterns.
Nebula wasn¡¯t speaking into Celeste¡¯s head, but she could hear it, anyway.
Fascinating.
Her own word of choice would be surreal. Bordering on creepy. But Celeste could get fascinating too.
Caleb reached up and plucked the floating bug out of her trance, tucking her against his chest. She let out a faint, reluctant hum, but didn¡¯t resist.
With a quick glance at the floor confirmed that Shy was still curled near her feet, Celeste took off. The others followed close behind.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Quick steps, hitched breaths.
It was a bit much.
Whatever waited ahead had to make more sense than this, though.
¡Right?
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
They had been walking for too long.
Or maybe not. It was impossible to tell.
¡°This has to be a dream,¡± Ariana muttered. ¡°Psychics like Munna and Drowzee can pull this kind of crap.¡±
Celeste scoffed. ¡°Ryder tell you that?¡±
Ariana groaned. ¡°Will you drop it? He didn¡¯t tell me shit. Bet the Munna on your side scrambled his brain. Ever think maybe you¡¯re the bad guy for leaving him for dead?¡±
Celeste smirked, half triumphant. ¡°Funny. I don¡¯t remember mentioning Luan¡¯s Munna before.¡± She tilted her head, enjoying the way Ariana stiffened. ¡°Besides, I didn¡¯t leave anyone. Got dragged to the hospital myself.¡±
Ariana¡¯s arms tightened around her chest, as if holding herself together. ¡°That¡¯s not the flex you think it is.¡±
She turned away before Celeste could retort, fixing her glare on the drifting mass of Unown swirling through the void they found themselves in.
And then, for once, she went quiet.
Celeste sighed, disappointed. A fight would¡¯ve been better than the silence. It had weight here, this silence. It pressed down on them, like every moment they didn¡¯t speak, more imaginary monsters crept behind their backs.
Well¡ maybe that was just Celeste. But she had reason to suspect even her imagination was playing tricks on her. After all, it wasn¡¯t every day that the hallways of an old mansion shifted as she walked through them.
First, there were those walls, so filled with personality and impatience. They pulled them along until Celeste and her friends reached a library of some sort. It was vast and old, and books with covers that made no sense whatsoever lined the shelves. Celeste took one and opened it up, hoping to read about the mysteries of creation. But the script inside had the shape of the Unown, and the words they formed spelled gibberish. Then, when they left the library, the corridors stretched, dark, long and with a light at the end, forever just out of reach.
That last one took a while.
Long enough that Celeste started considering the dream theory herself. But she had been to a dream before¡ªto Articuno¡¯s dreams, of all things. Those had some logic. Structure. This?
This was nonsense.
Or, she realised, when the walls around them finally peeled away to reveal the spiralling ramp that led up to nowhere, this was something unfinished.
A reality left half-formed.
A wish unfulfilled.
Either because the wish was impossible, or because even the Unown had limits.
¡°What do you think of this place, Nebula?¡± Celeste finally asked when the silence turned unbearable.
Nebula barely spared her a glance. She was too busy watching Caleb, who placed each step with painstaking care, like the tiles of the ramp beneath him might vanish if he wasn¡¯t careful. But after a beat, the Orbeetle turned, her swirling eyes locking onto Celeste.
She quickly looked away.
Hypnosis didn¡¯t scare Celeste anymore, but staring into something swirling... She glanced downward for a second. Below them was just an endless stretch of empty, yawning up forever. Yeah. Better not risk getting dizzy.
¡°Dream or another reality?¡± Celeste asked, flicking her gaze to a cluster of Unown hovering above.
Nebula buzzed. ¡°Reality,¡± she said simply.
Celeste nodded. ¡°Thought so. But¡¡±
¡°They¡¯re still figuring out what this place is meant to be,¡± Nebula murmured, hovering slightly closer to her trainer. ¡°It¡¯s strange. My psychic side feels at home, but the bug in me¡ it¡¯s struggling.¡±
Struggling? Would the others be struggling, too? Would¡ª
Before Celeste could look down, a gentle tug at her leg made her pause. Shy. A reassurance¡? Or a warning? Hard to tell. Either way, the tug meant Shy was fine.
¡°But¡ do you think we¡¯re still in Cinnabar?¡± Celeste asked. ¡°At the mansion?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯re on Earth¡¡± Caleb muttered, testing another step forward.
Nebula hummed, displeased. ¡°No. We are still in the mansion. It¡¯s just¡ changed.¡±
Not reassuring.
Celeste exhaled. ¡°What about Entropy?¡± she muttered, recalling their conversation at the gym a few days ago. A system always tends toward disorder. Chaos. And the Unown? They needed energy to hold their reality together. They didn¡¯t have infinite power. So¡
¡°So they collapse inward,¡± Nebula nodded. ¡°You must have noticed their grip on the island¡ªand on your friends¡ªis slipping.¡±
Celeste narrowed her eyes. Ahead, the ramp led to what looked like a platform. Finally, something. But she didn¡¯t rush. Instead, she turned back to the bug. ¡°And what happens to Cinnabar, then?¡±
Nebula hesitated. ¡°Maybe¡ they let go.¡±
¡°You think so?¡±
Silence. Long enough to make Celeste uneasy. But at least the platform was getting closer, so she let herself feel hopeful.
¡°I don¡¯t have the answer. But I suppose it depends on Dr Fuji.¡± Nebula¡¯s voice grew quiet in her mind. Thoughtful. ¡°In his journal, he wanted a paradise. Xanadu. A world free of illness, a perfect place for his family. We still don¡¯t know the link between his desires and what¡¯s happening to the island. Did he turn Cinnabar into his Xanadu? Would he be satisfied with just this house as his haven? Or would he retreat fully into the realm of the Unown? That¡¯s the crux of it. If he¡¯s still holding on when it becomes too much, then¡¡± Nebula paused. ¡°Then I doubt the island will be released.¡±
The moment Nebula finished speaking, they stepped onto the platform.
It had nothing. Just a door.
A door that led to nowhere.
Celeste stepped to the edge, ignoring Caleb¡¯s and Pat¡¯s protests, and peered around the back.
It was just a door. Freestanding. Leading to the void on the other side.
¡°It doesn¡¯t seem safe,¡± she said, already being pulled back by Caleb. Checking it out was an excuse, really. A delay. A way to avoid admitting she was terrified of going to the next place.
Still, much like earlier in this journey, their strange group stood before a door.
Ariana sighed, rolled her shoulders, and muttered, ¡°Screw this.¡±
She grabbed the golden doorknob.
Above them, the Unown stirred. Aligning themselves, rearranging. Dancing, until words formed.
Take your place.
Celeste glared at the message. Maybe they should wait a moment and consider all this.
Or maybe not.
Ariana didn¡¯t even look up.
She just yanked the door open.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Celeste barely had time to wonder what ¡°take your place¡± actually meant before Ariana yanked open the door.
Reality (or whatever passed for it in this Unown-infested nowhere) didn¡¯t shift so much as it lunged at them. No one in the group moved, but the world on the other side of the door had no patience for their hesitation. It simply spilled forward, crossing over with the effortless confidence of someone who had just decided that here was better than there.
Bookshelves, tall as skyscrapers, shot up like trees, creaking as they stretched into place. A stadium-sized couch puffed itself into existence with a rather smug-sounding whump, cushions flumping down like pleased house Meowth. A fireplace helped itself to a wall that was still in the middle of making up its mind about existing, carving out a cosy little niche as if it had always belonged there. Above it all, paintbrushes spun like lazy weathercocks before flicking paint onto a blank canvas, splattering in patterns uncomfortably familiar. Stroke by stroke, shapes settled, colours blended, until there they were: Dr. Fuji, his wife, his daughter, smiling down at them with an expression that was just a little too happy.
It took Celeste a moment to realise that they had, at last, arrived in the mansion¡¯s living room. Probably. Maybe. One could hardly blame her doubt. The journey here had been anything but a straight line, and the room itself¡ well, it was absurdly big.
Had the house finally picked a size? Or had they somehow been downsized to accommodate its whims?
And, more importantly, why did both those options feel like perfectly reasonable explanations?
Whatever the case, there was no time to dwell on specifics. The platform beneath them rumbled, and Celeste realised, belatedly, that they were no longer floating in a void. They were standing on something solid and connected to the ground.
A large centre table.
No¡ªnot just a table. A checkered tableau sprawled across it.
A¡ chessboard?
Her white sneakers stood stark against the polished dark square beneath her, positioned near the board¡¯s outer edge.
Her breath caught.
She got so caught in this weirdness that she forgot about her friends.
Where was everyone else?
Noting a flicker of movement, she turned sharply to see¡
Lahar?
Blaine¡¯s Marowak was three squares to her left and one to the front, gripping his bone club hard.
When did he get here? He hadn¡¯t been with them before.
Also, he wasn¡¯t alone.
He was surrounded by a Braixen and a Fennekin. The smaller fire type did nothing, but the Braixen stood on the edges of the same square as Marowak, clutching a brittle-looking twig like it was a mighty sword.
Celeste exhaled hard through her nose.
The Braixen was exactly what a Braixen should look like. Textbook fluffy yellow fur, absurdly oversized ears, and no personality whatsoever. The Unown had made this one. It wasn¡¯t even a question. Celeste could easily see it now, how fake this fake Pok¨¦mon really was.
She found it rather pathetic, raising its twig like a knight wielding a toothpick against the Marowak.
Lahar lifted his club higher than his opposing Fire-type and a flicker of blue spectral fire traced the bone¡¯s arc. Then, with a brutal downward slash, he cut through both twig and Pok¨¦mon alike. With no ceremony, the Braixen vanished in a puff of smoke.
Gone.
Like it had never been there to start with.
Celeste didn¡¯t even flinch. She had no sympathy for those things. What did make her pause was the sheer anger behind Lahar¡¯s strike, and the brutality with which his bone club came down. The Marowak just stood there, bracing against his club flaring up.
¡°Don¡¯t waste time. To C7.¡±
Huh?
Celeste snapped toward the voice.
Blaine stood at the very back of the board, his expression unreadable. Beside him¡ Pat?
He¡¯d been right next to her just moments ago. Now, somehow, he was all the way over there.
Unsure, she tore her eyes from her Slowpoke and scanned the board. Everyone else had made it too, though not together. They were scattered across the checkered surface like game pieces in a match they didn¡¯t agree to play.
And yet, the game kept moving.
Lahar obeyed his trainer¡¯s command without hesitation, stepping forward in a deliberate, precise L-like path. His new position brought him closer to a cluster of fire Pok¨¦mon that Celeste hadn¡¯t noticed before. Another Fennekin waited just behind him. It was small compared to what waited in the squares ahead. Bigger, meaner fire-types stood like¡ well, like chess pieces. Lahar¡¯s gaze flickered between them, pausing briefly on a Magcargo smouldering in the far corner. He scoffed, uninterested, and turned his focus elsewhere.
A Delphox.
Tall. Regal. With utterly vacant eyes.
Lahar locked onto it. Still. Focused. Dangerous.
But he didn¡¯t attack. Didn¡¯t even step beyond his designated square.
¡°The fuck is going on?!¡± it was Ariana¡¯s voice that rang out this time.
Blaine¡¯s head snapped up, his eyes widening as if he was only just now registering their presence.
¡°What¡ª? How did you get here?¡±
¡°We came to save you,¡± Celeste tried.
From Blaine¡¯s left, Caleb hesitated, then added, ¡°The Unown spelled out that we should ¡®take our places.¡¯ So¡ are we in place for something?¡±
Blaine¡¯s expression darkened. He shook his head. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be here. You should be safe somewhere¡ª¡± Then his eyes cut to Celeste, sharp and accusing. ¡°Wait. Did he say Unown?¡±
She looked away. It wasn¡¯t her fault they had all read Fuji¡¯s journal.
But somehow, it felt like it.
Before she could answer, something moved.
A Slugma, a few tiles ahead from Celeste, slithered one square forward, leaving a trail of sizzling lava behind. Its dull eyes locked onto her, unblinking. And behind it¡
More fire-types.
Another Magcargo, waited motionless at the corner directly ahead. Beside it, a Rapidash, impassive and uninterested. Further down the line, another Braixen stood at attention, followed by the same Delphox that Lahar refused to look away from.
These Pok¨¦mon weren¡¯t just there. They were positioned.
Facing them.
As if they were the enemy. Or at the very least, the opposing team.
The creeping logic of it slid into Celeste¡¯s mind, just starting to take form.
Take your places.
On this board. In this game.
She scanned the board again, and this time, the placements¡ªhers and everyone¡¯s¡ªstarted to make some kind of sense. Sort of.
But Ariana groaned, snapping Celeste out of her thoughts before she came to a conclusion. ¡°I stole the journal, old man. We all read about the Unown. We¡¯re only here because Celeste said you were a coward who wasn¡¯t gonna do shit.¡±
Blaine didn¡¯t so much as flinch. He only frowned slightly.
Celeste gawked at Ariana. ¡°I never said he was a coward!¡±
Ariana huffed, this time clearly announcing she was done with everything, and turned her glare on her Murkrow. Rebel was perched directly behind Celeste, at the very corner of the board¡ where a Rook would be.
¡°Whatever this is, I not gonna be standing like an idiot a few feet from these fire monsters. Rebel, we¡¯re out.¡± She stomped forward to the tile ahead¡ª
And slammed into something.
She staggered back, blinking, her hands hovering near where she had hit¡ªbut there was nothing to see. No wall, no barrier. Just air.
Yet, she couldn¡¯t move past her square.
Blaine let out a quiet, relieved exhale.
¡°Don¡¯t waste your moves like that,¡± he muttered.
¡°¡Moves?¡± Caleb asked from across the board.
Nebula, who had been silent until now, lifted a little higher in the air. She had been near the edge of the board, on a dark tile. She said nothing at first. Then, in a smooth motion, she drifted back in a diagonal motion, following a perfect path of dark squares until she reached the position between Blaine and Caleb.
¡°This is a chess game,¡± she said simply. ¡°I suppose that makes me a Bishop.¡±
Blaine¡¯s face was grim.
His position¡ªthe square he stood on¡ªhe was the King.
¡°You could have made your point without wasting us a move,¡± he said, eyes darting ahead as he waited for the other team¡¯s turn. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve noticed, but this game has been going for a while.¡± His gaze swept across the board. ¡°And we¡¯re losing.¡±
Chapter 90 - A Very Important Match
Chapter 90 - A Very Important Match
¡°I don¡¯t know if you noticed, but this game has been going for a while. And we¡¯re losing.¡±
Blaine¡¯s words barely had time to settle before something on the board shifted.
On the far end, an opposing Delphox moved. It took one slow, deliberate step to the side. Then another. And another, until it stopped beside a Rapidash, and right in front of Lahar. Two squares from where it had started.
A low, rough growl rumbled from the Marowak. His grip on his bone club tightened, and flames flickered to life along its length. With a sharp breath, he lunged, swinging so fast that only the fire trailing behind his blow remained visible.
But he sliced through empty space.
Lahar staggered, thrown off by the miss. The Delphox hadn¡¯t moved. It didn¡¯t even flinch. Just stood there, watching.
Celeste¡¯s eyes tracked the board, mind running through the possibilities.
Then it clicked.
Lahar had moved in an L-shape before. If this was chess, then he was a Knight. The Delphox¡ªno doubt the opposing Queen¡ªhad just closed the distance. But while it could strike him, he simply couldn¡¯t strike back.
Great. Just great.
Celeste exhaled sharply, her mind still piecing together the board when Caleb¡¯s voice cut in from behind.
¡°What are the rules?¡± he asked, tilting toward Blaine.
Ariana let out a sharp laugh. ¡°You want him to explain chess to you? And here I thought you were supposed to be smart.¡±
She scoffed, turning on her heel and not really waiting for an answer.
¡°Screw this,¡± she said, already stomping forward, in a diagonal but careless motion, like she was daring the board to stop her. When her foot hit the next square and nothing pushed back, her pace quickened¡ªstomps became strides, strides turned into an all-out sprint.
She never stopped. Not until she reached the edge of the board and, without a second thought, threw herself forward.
Forfeiting a piece, it seemed, was not in the rules.
The moment she crossed the boundary, the Unown¡¯s reality snapped her back like an elastic band. Ariana landed in her square with an audible thump, fists slamming against the ground in frustration.
Celeste glanced up, half-expecting a swirling mass of Unown to pulse with light and twist the world around them. But nothing changed. The only thing above them was an impossibly large lamp, flickering like it belonged in some giant¡¯s study.
Blaine exhaled through his nose. ¡°What did I just say about wasting moves?¡± He gestured toward the Delphox like that was somehow meant to clarify everything.
Honestly, Celeste understood Ariana better. If she thought running was an option, she¡¯d have taken it, too.
Caleb, ever patient, tried again. ¡°So¡ the rules?¡±
Blaine sighed. ¡°Mostly normal chess rules. Each piece moves the way it¡¯s supposed to. Knights in L-shapes, Bishops diagonally, Rooks in straight lines. The Queen can move however it pleases, as far as it wants. Pawns step forward, unless they¡¯re taking a piece, then it¡¯s diagonal. And the King¡ª¡± he glanced down at his own feet. ¡°Moves one square at a time.¡±
Normal chess rules.
Celeste¡¯s eyes swept across the board. The Magcargo were Rooks, the Rapidash Knights, Braixen Bishops. Delphox was the Queen. And their pre-evolutions scattered round¡ªSlugma, Ponyta, Fennekin¡ªpawns.
That much made sense.
Except¡ª
¡°Where¡¯s the opposing King?¡± Celeste pointed at the empty space where it should have been.
That was when the Magcargo across from her shifted forward, molten body bubbling as it slithered a single square. And just like that, their side was another step closer to being cornered.
Blaine didn¡¯t even glance up. ¡°King¡¯s spot¡¯s been empty since the beginning.¡±
¡°Not normal chess if we don¡¯t have a King to take,¡± Ariana snarked, kicking at the empty space behind her that she still couldn¡¯t cross.
¡°Please, no one waste another move,¡± Blaine snapped before anyone could test their roles. When no one moved, he exhaled, running a hand down his mustache. ¡°Like I said, it¡¯s mostly normal chess,¡± he puffed out some air. ¡°When this game started, Lahar and I were alone, facing an entire set of Pok¨¦mon pieces, except the King. We tested the rules. We figured out that I¡¯m our King, and he¡¯s a Knight. We even took out a few pawns¡ maybe we can show you¡¡±
His eyes flicked to his Marowak.
¡°Lahar. A6. Take out the Slugma.¡±
The Marowak let out a slow, rumbling breath, eyes still locked on the Delphox. He hesitated, then he moved, his L-shaped path precise.
Before he even reached that small Slugma, his bone club spun in his hand, tossed up once, twice, as if testing its weight. Then, without ceremony, he hurled it.
The Bonemerang cut clean through the fake slug.
For half a second, the Slugma held its shape.
Then it crumbled into nothing, vanishing in a puff of smoke, just like the Braixen had before it.
Lahar caught his club mid-air when it spun back to him and stepped into his new square.
¡°Capture in this game means a battle,¡± Blaine said flatly. ¡°And whoever wins gets to stay, no matter whose turn it is.¡±
Ariana, arms folded, scowled. ¡°Got it. So it¡¯s not real chess. And we can¡¯t win, because the one thing we need to checkmate is literally missing.¡±
Caleb sighed. ¡°Mostly chess, but not quite,¡± he echoed Ariana somewhat. He looked down at his own feet, then at the Pok¨¦mon standing at his sides¡ªhis Palossand on one, Nebula hovering at the other. ¡°I¡¯m a Knight too, I guess. Nebula¡¯s a Bishop, and I think Hab¡¯s a Rook.¡± He tilted his head toward the Orbeetle. ¡°How good are you at chess?¡±
Celeste wasn¡¯t listening, but Nebula droned on something about rules and plays.
Lahar was more interesting. The Marowak was still staring ahead, bone club resting lightly in his grip. His eyes flicked between the Rapidash and Magcargo, sizing them up, daring one to move.
The Magcargo stayed still.
The Rapidash didn¡¯t hesitate.
Its hooves struck the board in a sharp clack, three squares down, then it took a sudden, perfect right-angle turn toward Lahar. When it closed the distance, it lunged, fire trailing behind each pounding gallop, and red-hot streaks from its mane searing the air.
Its eyes were empty, but Celeste had fought enough of the fake Pok¨¦mon to know that the force behind that charge was real.
Still Lahar didn¡¯t flinch.
At the last second, he sidestepped, letting the fire horse graze past him. The heat scorched the air between them, but his own flames burned brighter. Blue ghostly fire flared to life along his club as he flipped it once in his hand.
Then he swung.
The blow struck clean against the Rapidash¡¯s exposed flank and a hollow, echoing crack ripped through the air.
The fire horse reared, hooves kicking up embers. Flames spiraled outward in a circle: this was a Flame Wheel. However, the blue of Lahar¡¯s ghost-fire mingled with it, twisting into something unnatural. Red and blue coiled upward, embers slithering like dragons locked in battle. The entire board seemed to glow under the blaze.
Celeste lifted an arm to shield her face, squinting at the inferno. Through the heat, she could only make out shifting shadows. Lahar, the Rapidash, a war of fire.
Blaine¡¯s voice cut through the burning air, unflinching.
¡°Don¡¯t use fire. Brutal Swing¡ªdown, hard, on its jaw.¡±
A low growl. The blur of movement.
Then¡
CRACK!
Celeste couldn¡¯t see it clearly, but for a split second, the Rapidash¡¯s head twisted at an angle that shouldn¡¯t have been possible. The flames surrounding them flared, purple at first, before the blue took over.
When the fire died, only Lahar remained.
He rolled his shoulders, catching the bone club back into his hands. Blaine exhaled at that. Not that he even looked worried to begin with, but relief came anyway. It almost made Celeste believe all was well.
But¡
Lahar was hurt.
Fire-type or not, his body bore scorched patches, raw and seared. He braced against his club, chest rising and falling in uneven pants.
Celeste¡¯s fingers twitched at her side.
Maybe it was time for someone else to fight.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
Celeste¡¯s gaze swept across their side of the board. She already knew Caleb, Nebula, and Hab¡¯s roles. Ariana was a Bishop, and her Murkrow, a Rook. And if Blaine was the King, and Pat stood beside him¡
Oh! Oh, shit.
Pat was the Queen.
Celeste turned, scanning the others. Nebula and Blaine were deep in discussion. The Orbeetle insisted on setting traps. Blaine refused. ¡°No King,¡± he muttered. ¡°What¡¯s the point of traps if we can¡¯t win with a checkmate? We take down as many as we can.¡±
All very interesting, but something was nagging at Celeste¡¯s thoughts. She knew what it was, but she counted the pieces again, anyway.
Two Rooks. Two Knights. Two Bishops. A King. A Queen.
And her.
¡°Take down the Ponyta at B4,¡± Blaine ordered, cutting through Nebula¡¯s insistence on strategy.
Lahar shifted, his club already catching fire as he locked eyes with the Ponyta in question.
But Celeste wasn¡¯t watching that.
She counted again, quickly. Then, before Lahar could leave his square, she turned back and ran.
Her foot barely touched the square behind her before something snapped her back into place. She hit the board hard, breath knocking out of her as all eyes turned to her.
Lahar just huffed and kept moving, despite it all.
¡°I¡¯m a Pawn?!¡± Celeste yelled.
Ariana let out a laugh. ¡°Yeah, that tracks.¡±
¡°This is serious!¡± Celeste waved an arm at the board. ¡°If something comes at me, how do I run? I¡ªI can¡¯t fight like a Pok¨¦mon!¡±
At the far side of the board, Lahar trudged forward, batting away the Ponyta¡¯s Fire Blast with swings of his bone club. The flames curled and fizzled against the air, but he didn¡¯t slow. He just kept moving, closing the gap with steady, if maybe a little tired, steps.
Then, just as he lifted his club for the final blow, he left himself open. It was just long enough for the next blast of fire to hit him square in the chest. The flames licked across him, but he barely reacted.
His club came down and, just like that, it was over.
The Ponyta flickered, then vanished like all the others before it.
The Marowak exhaled, glancing down at the fresh burns marking his chest.
And then¡ he shrugged.
Celeste watched it all from the square she was trapped in.
She was reckless, often enough, rushing forward, throwing herself headfirst into danger. Because as long as she moved, she didn¡¯t have to think about it.
But right now?
She wasn¡¯t moving.
And she was thinking very much about how she couldn¡¯t just shrug off a Fire Blast to the chest.
Her breath quickened. She turned sharply, scanning the board.
Two squares ahead, a Slugma. Beside it, another Ponyta. And lurking farther back, a Magcargo.
Before anything could move towards her, before anyone could even speak, she threw a finger toward the Slugma, voice rising.
¡°We have to do something, because I can¡¯t even touch that without dying! And it¡¯s too close!¡±
Ariana, from the safety of her position, looked amused. ¡°Relax, it can¡¯t get you from there.¡± Then she lifted her chin to the Ponyta nearby. ¡°That one can, though. In two moves.¡±
¡°Not helping,¡± Caleb muttered.
Blaine didn¡¯t even look up. He just shook his head, gaze fixed elsewhere¡ªon the Magcargo on the opposite side who had started moving again. Its molten body shifted forward, creeping toward an open path¡ one that led straight to Caleb¡¯s Palossand.
Slow. Steady. Unbothered.
It didn¡¯t care about Celeste¡¯s panic. None of them did at that moment. Everyone just braced for another battle.
But it never came.
The Magcargo stopped.
Not by the Palossand.
By Lahar side.
Blaine¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°¡What are they doing?¡±
Nebula¡¯s eyes swirled in response. ¡°It¡¯s called strategy,¡± she buzzed in their minds.
¡°Very well,¡± Blaine¡¯s response was immediate. ¡°Lahar, C6. Take out that Fennekin Pawn.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not strategy,¡± Nebula shot back. ¡°You¡¯re just tiring your Pok¨¦mon out while he takes out some Pawns.¡±
Blaine swept an arm around the board. ¡°The strategy is to take them all down. What else can we do?¡±
Celeste barely heard them, though.
She looked down at her own square¡ªH4. Now that Lahar moved all that stood between her and that Magcargo was another Fennekin.
Uneasy, she shifted, and her shadow shifted with her. For just a moment, Shy¡¯s eyes glinted. Worried. Watching.
But also there with her.
Celeste exhaled, telling herself it would be fine.
Once the fiery Marowak struck down another Pawn it was time for the opponent¡¯s move. Now, the Magcargo could either chase Lahar or finally go for the Palossand.
That was it.
As long as the Ponyta ahead didn¡¯t move, it would all¡ª
¡°Fuck.¡±
It was Ariana¡¯s voice that snapped through the air.
Celeste¡¯s head shot up.
A Fennekin¡ªthe Fennekin she just mentioned¡ªhad stepped forward.
Just a single, small step.
And with that one, simple move¡ It cleared the Magcargo¡¯s path to her.
Celeste felt it before she even turned. The weight of every gaze locking onto her.
Blaine¡¯s. Caleb¡¯s. Pat¡¯s. Nebula¡¯s.
And the Magcargo¡¯s.
It was looking at her.
A cold rush of air filled her lungs.
Shit.
¡°Celeste. Breathe.¡± Blaine¡¯s voice was steady.
It didn¡¯t help.
¡°You can step forward,¡± Ariana said, getting a little lively again. ¡°The square ahead of you is open.¡±
Celeste looked.
Slugma ahead. Ponyta to its side.
¡°If I do, the Ponyta will take me.¡± Her voice cracked.
Ariana arched a brow. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s time your ghost actually fought a battle?¡±
¡°I¡ªShy¡ª¡± Celeste¡¯s throat closed. Honestly, she didn¡¯t even know what Shy was, much less if they could fight. ¡°I c-can¡¯t¡ª¡±
Her vision blurred. Her hands clenched.
¡°We can do strategy instead. What about that, hmmm?¡± Nebula buzzed.
The polished surface of the board glowed under Celeste¡¯s feet, the white of the square ahead reflecting all the fire surrounding her.
¡°The only move she needs to make,¡± Nebula continued, ¡°is nothing. Hab can take the Magcargo. Simple.¡±
Celeste swallowed. This wasn¡¯t enough.
¡°What if he loses?¡± she asked.
Caleb started to protest, but Celeste¡¯s focus snapped to the Marowak instead.
She had a better idea.
¡°Lahar can block!¡± She pointed at the squares to her side. ¡°B or D4. If he just¡ª¡±
But Lahar wasn¡¯t paying attention.
He tapped his tail against the board.
Once.
Twice.
His eyes were locked onto yet another of the many Fennekin Pawns.
Muscles tensed. Grip on the bone club tightened.
A simple bark from the small fake fire fox cemented it all.
Marowak wasn¡¯t waiting for orders. He was about to move.
Celeste¡¯s breath vanished.
He wasn¡¯t going to protect her.
Before she could think, before she could stop herself¡ª
She lunged forward to the square ahead.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Celeste could feel their heat.
The Slugma in front of her burned the worst, but her eyes refused to leave the Ponyta, because that one could actually take her out.
Still better than the Magcargo, though.
¡°Now what?¡± Ariana asked, voice flat, scanning the battlefield with the disinterest of someone not currently at risk of being barbecued.
No one answered.
Or rather¡ªPat did.
From his spot at the back, the Slowpoke bellowed. A deep, rumbling noise that Celeste suspected meant he¡¯d only just now realised the full extent of the situation. The moment it clicked, he tried to charge forward¡ª
And was immediately snapped back into place.
He could have moved anywhere, sure. He was their Queen. If only it were their turn.
Blaine reached out as far as he could toward the Slowpoke, fingers hovering uselessly in the empty space between them. Pat trembled, wide-eyed, searching for something he could do. Even Hab seemed to feel for him. The Palossand swayed, shifting its form, raising its tower-like arms in what might have been an attempt at help¡ªor at least, his version of it. He beckoned the Magcargo forward, as if sheer taunting could force the opponent to take the less deadly move.
¡°It won¡¯t work,¡± Nebula buzzed at her teammate. ¡°These constructs can¡¯t get taunted.¡±
And she was absolutely right.
Because when something finally moved, it wasn¡¯t the Magcargo.
It wasn¡¯t the Ponyta either.
Nope.
It was much, much worse.
The Delphox. The opposing Queen. The one Lahar kept returning his glare to.
That was what moved.
One step, light, yet powerful. Then another. Diagonal. Steady.
Until it stood right there.
Not just at Celeste''s row, but directly in front of Ariana, too.
¡°Shit!¡± Ariana yelped, stumbling back. ¡°No fucking way¡ªshit, shit¡ªdon¡¯t give me that look, old man! There is a goddamn fox wizard with a fire stick pointed at me, and I am not¡ª¡±
¡°Don¡¯t move!¡±
Nebula¡¯s voice slammed into their minds, loud and unignorable, freezing Ariana before she could bolt.
For a second, Celeste thought it was just the shock of it all.
¡°Before either of you panic and leave the other to die, let¡¯s think.¡±
Celeste laughed, bitterly. ¡°Ariana should take the move. Either way, I¡¯m toast. My options are death by Ponyta or death by Delphox.¡± She gestured vaguely between them. ¡°Both come extra crispy.¡±
Pat bellowed again, not really into the humour of it all. But what else was she to do?
¡°That¡¯s that, then,¡± Ariana said, shaking it off. ¡°She¡¯s fine with dying, so I¡¯m out¡ª¡±
¡°Negative.¡± The Orbeetle¡¯s voice cut through, buzzing louder than Pat¡¯s cries. ¡°The Unown are making calculated moves here. Risk and reward. If I move beside Celeste or Ariana¡ª¡±
¡°Then it¡¯ll go for the other!¡± Ariana huffed. ¡°Fucking hell, do you think I don¡¯t know you¡¯ll protect Miss Goody-Goody over there?¡±
Nebula protested, saying something diplomatic. But the bug didn¡¯t move, and every moment she didn¡¯t, Celeste could see Ariana¡¯s foot tapping against the board.
Celeste knew what that meant.
Ariana wasn¡¯t going to stay put and risk her neck.
Celeste could move first. She could throw herself onto the Ponyta while the other girl was still gathering the nerve to act. But then what? Then they¡¯d both be dead.
Her whole body trembled. She tried (and failed) to take a steadying breath.
There was probably a lesson in all this. Be patient. That had always been the struggle, hadn¡¯t it? How to be like the Slowpoke.
It was the only thing she could do now.
Close her eyes. Wait.
Patience, it seemed, would be the death of her.
Though if she was being honest, it wasn¡¯t patience that got her here. It was jumping onto Lori¡¯s Lapras. Heading into the mist and to Cinnabar.
She shut her eyes tighter and willed her brain to shut up for once.
And then¡ª
A single sound cut through the silence.
A hoof against polished wood.
Followed by a firm, decisive¡ª
¡°Ke.¡±
Celeste¡¯s breath caught.
¡°Ke,¡± he cried again.
She knew this.
¡°Po¡± for yes. ¡°Ke¡± for no.
Her head snapped up.
Ariana was pounding against the invisible edge of her square, unable to move forward. Nebula, in her own spot, flew in frantic circles. Blaine stood frozen, mouth slightly open, eyes locked on a single point¡ª
Pat¡¯s empty starting position.
The Slowpoke was no longer there.
¡°What¡ª¡± Celeste¡¯s voice barely made it out.
She didn¡¯t know what to feel. Confused? Maybe. Proud? A little. The irony wasn¡¯t lost on her. She¡¯d spent all this time trying to be like the Slowpoke, and now he was acting exactly like her.
But more than anything, she was terrified.
Pat, however, was certain.
Slow. Steady. Step by step.
One square.
Then another.
Celeste¡¯s pulse pounded in her ears. The Delphox was right there.
Pat stopped.
Directly in its diagonal.
¡°What are you doing?¡± she finally managed to say.
Pat only blinked at her and smiled.
And she felt it.
She felt Shy¡¯s grip tightening around her leg.
And she felt the warmth of a tear, slow and steady, trailing down her face.
And most of all¡ª
The overwhelming, undeniable weight of his love. Not spoken, not seen, but pulsing through her mind like a heartbeat, clear and loud.
Then he screamed.
And the cry ripped through the battlefield. This wasn¡¯t his usual voice. Nor his usual calm.
He barked. He screeched.
Then he screamed.
¡°No. No, no, no¡ª¡± Celeste stumbled forward, reaching out, begging. ¡°Take me instead!¡± she pleaded. ¡°I¡¯m weaker¡ªI¡¯m easier¡ª¡±
But it was too late.
The fire had already sparked at the tip of the Delphox¡¯s staff.
It turned. It aimed. And then the flames shot forward.
Celeste barely saw her Pok¨¦mon through the tears.
¡°Protect!¡± she shouted.
Pat braced. His barrier was already up when the fire hit.
And still, he didn¡¯t stand a chance.
The shield cracked like glass, and the Slowpoke was launched backward, slamming hard against the edge of his square. His legs trembled, burns seared into his skin. He barely stayed upright, but he never looked away.
He kept staring. Brave. Always so brave.
Maybe he could Yawn. Maybe he could douse himself in water. Maybe¡ª
The fire didn¡¯t stop.
Why wasn¡¯t it stopping?
If the Delphox kept going, then Pat¡ª
¡°No! W-Water!¡± Celeste¡¯s words tumbled out, incoherent. She lurched forward, then snapped back. Again. And again.
Not impatient, but helpless. Desperate.
She couldn¡¯t stop herself. Couldn¡¯t stop throwing herself at the edge of her square, couldn¡¯t stop screaming, while Pat stood inside an inferno of flame.
Then¡ª
Something cold pressed against her fingers.
Pat¡¯s Pok¨¦ball.
Shadows coiled around her leg, shifting, taking form.
Shy.
They held it out to her.
She barely saw them. Barely registered the shapes forming. Barely let herself think.
Celeste simply grabbed the Pok¨¦ball and recalled Pat, hands trembling, praying¡ª
Please. Just let him go, please.
And it somehow worked.
The flames vanished with the red light of his ball.
Celeste collapsed to her knees, chest heaving, arms wrapped tight around the Pok¨¦ball, as if holding him close would keep him safe.
No one spoke. No one dared to.
But the game?
Oh, the game didn¡¯t care.
It just moved on.
And in its motions, there was no mercy.
Chapter 91 -The Red Queen
Chapter 91 -The Red Queen
With Patrick¡¯s brave and selfless sacrifice, the evil Red Queen was weakened and cornered.
¡°End the Queen. End this madness.¡±
Their voices rose in unison, chanting, demanding.
And so it was.
In one fell swoop, Marowak, their dark knight, lifted his bone club high and¡ª
BAM.
Off with its head. Off with this game.
Celeste traced her thumb over the Pok¨¦ball in her hands, her voice dropping to a whisper.
¡°That would be a nice story, wouldn¡¯t it, Pat?¡±
Maybe that¡¯s the version she¡¯d tell him later. The one where he got to be the hero. The one¡ª
¡°Don¡¯t¡ªWhat in the¡ªAriana! Why is it you and your Pok¨¦mon keep throwing our turns away?!¡±
¡°Oh, fuck off, old man. Rebel was in that thing¡¯s reach! You expect him to just sit there and get toasted like¡ª? Like¡ you know¡¡±
¡°Let¡¯s just avoid acting rashly. What about that?¡±
Celeste bit her lip, staring at the Pok¨¦ball in her hands.
If she looked up, she¡¯d have to leave the story behind. The one where Pat was the hero, and they all celebrated his victory. The one where they laughed¡ªreally laughed¡ªand Powder and Aria were themselves again. Where Shy wasn¡¯t just lurking in the shadows, but fully there with them.
Where they were a team. A family. Whole. Together.
Something shifted nearby. The game hadn¡¯t stopped just because Celeste was sad. No one was waiting. Not her friends, not the other side. But she still couldn¡¯t bring herself to care. She still couldn¡¯t stand up and pretend to play.
A gentle tug at her leg pulled her back.
Shy had sunk back into her shadow, though their golden eyes glinted faintly against the dark. They pointed toward the square on her diagonal, moving with an unexpected urgency. Celeste only tilted her head slightly.
It was enough to catch a glimpse of Delphox¡¯s red fur settling inches away.
¡°Shit,¡± Ariana muttered. ¡°Why¡¯s it following us?¡±
Celeste took a slow, deep breath and finally¡ªfinally¡ªlifted her head.
The board had shifted.
With Delphox¡¯s latest move, it was now in range to strike her. But once again, it had choices. This time, Ariana¡¯s Murkrow shared the chopping block.
¡°Back one square, Rebel. Now.¡± Ariana yelled, not even sparing Celeste a glance.
Nebula, surprisingly, cared.
¡°Negative. The Murkrow can fight,¡± the bug said. ¡°While Celeste...¡±
Celeste barred her teeth. Everyone was talking around her. Like she could still break more than she already had.
¡°I don¡¯t want another Pok¨¦mon getting hurt because of me,¡± she muttered, pushing herself upright. She carefully rolled Pat¡¯s ball down her palms and into her pocket¡ªthe same one where she¡¯d hidden Powder¡¯s for safety.
She didn¡¯t want to play without Pat.
That was all she could think about.
But she didn¡¯t say that.
Instead, Celeste lifted her chin, set her shoulders. Put on a mask.
¡°Rebel, to¡ H1?¡± Her voice was steadier than she felt. ¡°It¡¯s H1, right? The square beside you¡ª¡±
¡°Celeste, don¡¯t be daft!¡±
Blaine¡¯s voice cut through the air, Nebula¡¯s buzz rising with it, drowning out whatever thought she had left.
¡°I can¡¯t run, and no one can stand in the way,¡± she tried.
Ariana nodded. But for the briefest second, Celeste could have sworn her fingers were twitching. Still, that didn¡¯t stop her. ¡°Yeah. Rebel, H1.¡±
But Rebel¡? For some reason, Rebel never moved.
He just stared at Celeste, big, watery eyes blinking up at her.
Seriously?
She¡¯d seen Murkrow twitch and caw and follow Ariana¡¯s every command without a second thought. No hesitation. Not when Ariana told him to steal Powder. Not when he was ordered to fight. But now? Now he was getting sentimental?
Come on, they didn¡¯t even know each other that well.
¡°Rebel, move!¡± Ariana¡¯s voice rose sharper this time.
Rebel just tilted his head.
Ariana sucked in a breath. ¡°That was a lot of fire Delphox just made,¡± she tried again.
He flapped his wings but stayed right where he was, hovering in place.
Celeste opened her mouth, unsure what she was about to say. Then, without thinking, her head snapped to something else.
¡°Nebula?!¡±
Rebel still hadn¡¯t moved. Neither had Celeste.
The Orbeetle took the turn instead.
Blaine let out a small smile, his gaze settling on Nebula as she hovered towards the square by the Delphox. She¡¯d stop by its side and taunt it, just like Pat had, no doubt.
Celeste¡¯s breath caught. ¡°You¡¯re weak to fire,¡± she blurted.
Caleb didn¡¯t miss a beat. ¡°She¡¯s strong against Psychic.¡±
Nebula buzzed, rather pleased with herself. ¡°And I¡¯m also smarter than anyone else here.¡±
Her satisfaction only grew when she reached the square beside the Delphox and then kept going.
She didn¡¯t stop at its side. She glided forward, through her diagonal, past the fire-type and right beside Celeste. But she didn¡¯t stop there either. She moved another square, straight toward the Slugma Pawn in front of Celeste.
Celeste blinked, the heat from the molten slug already rising, prickling her skin.
Magma bubbled beneath it, spreading toward her square. The air shimmered with the heat, and before she could react, Shy¡¯s grip tightened around her ankles, pulling her back. Then, before any stray magma could splash her, Nebula caught the Slugma, lifting it telepathically. The Pawn jerked upward. Its liquefied body dripped molten rock, each drop vanishing into smoke before it reached the board.
It didn¡¯t even get a chance to struggle.
Without hesitation, Nebula blasted it with a Psybeam. The energy hit like a hammer, and the Slugma¡¯s form wavered¡ªthen puff.
It never touched the ground again.
When Nebula finally settled into her captured square, she turned, meeting Celeste¡¯s disbelieving stare. ¡°I told you before, risk and reward,¡± the Orbeetle said, pointing at her. ¡°You are very low risk, but also very low reward.¡±
She flicked her head toward Rebel, who fluffed his feathers as the Delphox took its first step toward him.
¡°He is low risk, but a moderate reward. He could take a few Pawns, at least.¡±
Ariana wouldn¡¯t stop cursing.
And Celeste? She felt awful for them. But also, now that she was out of immediate danger, a little relieved.
At least no one had let her throw Pat¡¯s sacrifice away.
Before the Delphox even reached him, Ariana had already grabbed Rebel¡¯s Pok¨¦ball, ready to recall him. She was set to end this battle before it even began.
But turns out, Rebel wasn¡¯t.
The dark bird let out a loud caw, wings flaring as he summoned a swirl of Night Shades.
By Celeste¡¯s side, Nebula tilted her head.
¡°That¡¯s brave,¡± she observed. Then, after a beat, she added, ¡°He knows he can¡¯t win. But he wants to weaken the Delphox so someone else can take it out later. That¡¯s the best way he knows to protect Ariana, just like sacrificing himself was the best way Patrick could protect you.¡±
Celeste¡¯s chest tightened.
She watched as Rebel¡¯s attack took hold. Shadows coiled around the fox¡¯s tail and paws, gripping tight, dragging it down.
The Delphox collapsed. For a moment, it actually looked like he¡¯d done some damage.
Then its eyes flared open.
The fire-type grabbed its staff, summoning flames so bright they burned the shadows away.
It stood back up, tall, unshaken.
Rebel, still ducking and weaving past Ariana¡¯s desperate recall attempts, launched himself forward with a Wing Attack.
But it was too late.
The fire had already built.
A blast of flames shot straight into him.
Celeste winced as Rebel crashed to the board, burned and twitching. He couldn¡¯t dodge anymore.
This time, the red beam from Ariana¡¯s Pok¨¦ball finally hit.
She recalled him before anything worse could happen.
¡°You all must be fucking happy!¡± Ariana yelled, taking a few steps back as the fox reached her side. She tiptoed to the edge of her square and shouted, ¡°How the hell do I get out now?¡±
And then¡ she relaxed.
It was sudden and made no sense, but her shoulders dropped, and the tension in her face melted away. Celeste frowned. Was it because Ariana could just move out of the way?
And then it hit her.
Damn.
If Ariana moved, Blaine would be vulnerable.
Her throat felt tight. ¡°What happens if we lose the King?¡± she whispered to Nebula.
The bug hovered closer. ¡°I¡ my plan was to save you. I didn¡¯t really think ahead.¡±
¡°Seriously?!¡±
Nebula¡¯s eyes darted around wildly, their swirling so erratic Celeste swayed just watching. She caught herself, steadying her breath. Whatever was happening to Ariana, at least she was still frozen in place. A few minutes earlier, and she would have bolted from her square.
Across the board, Blaine tried to coax her. ¡°Move. I¡¯ll be fine,¡± he said, as if she cared about him.
But she did nothing.
Well¡ not nothing.
Ariana laughed.
¡°Delphox are so ridiculous. OoOHHH look, imma wizard with a staff! Pffft. Nerd!¡±
Blaine had no words to that.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
Celeste, however, did.
She¡¯d spent enough time with Delia and Lori since arriving in Cinnabar to recognise this sudden shift.
¡°Rebel isn¡¯t here anymore,¡± she simply said.
Nebula lowered herself. ¡°Her mind is under the Unown¡¯s influence¡¡± The Orbeetle¡¯s hum echoed in Celeste¡¯s head as she closed her eyes, focusing. ¡°If Hab is protecting Caleb, I should be able to protect her, but¡ I can¡¯t make a connection to Ariana.¡±
A pause.
¡°¡We need another plan.¡±
And then¡ªsilence.
All Celeste heard in her head was her own thoughts, and not the Orbeetles.
¡°Come on, move.¡± She focused on Blaine instead, listening as he insisted with Ariana, but he wasn¡¯t having much luck.
¡°Nah, bet I can kick it in the nuts.¡± Ariana threw up a fist, drunkenly punching the air. ¡°¡¯Cause I¡¯m the fucking greatest, y¡¯know.¡± She swayed slightly, grinning at no one. ¡°Actually, fuck off. I don¡¯t give a damn if you know. I know. I¡¯m fucking awesome.¡±
This would be almost fun to watch if not incredibly dangerous.
¡°Caleb, quickly! Before she does something stupid!¡± Nebula¡¯s voice flared back up in her mind.
Wait¡ªdid she say Caleb?
That made no sense. Caleb couldn¡¯t fight. He wasn¡¯t even positioned anywhere useful.
But he just smiled.
With no hesitation, he stepped forward, moving in the L-shape his Knight role allowed. When he stopped, just in front of the King¡¯s position, he glanced at Blaine, who looked just as confused, adjusted his glasses, took a deep breath, then dropped a Pok¨¦ball onto his own square.
A flash of red and out came his Sharpedo.
The fish wasn¡¯t exactly mobile, its body taking up most of the space, but Caleb barely seemed to care.
Instead, he fixed his eyes on the Delphox and grinned.
¡°You take Ariana, and we take you.¡± He threw his arms out. ¡°Double advantage, baby!¡±
To her side, Celeste heard a satisfied hum.
¡°You and your shadow being together gave me the idea.¡± Nebula¡¯s voice curled around her thoughts. ¡°You still have all your Pok¨¦balls. I just knew this would work.¡±
Celeste nodded, though still tense. It hadn¡¯t worked yet.
The Delphox studied Ariana. It stared at her for an excruciating moment. One second. Two. Three. Then¡ª
Then it turned!
Not to Ariana.
But to her.
The fire-type took a slow, deliberate step toward Celeste, moving into range.
Her eyes widened.
¡°Plan¡?¡± she started, voice rising, shooting toward Nebula. ¡°Come on, you got to have a plan!¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
¡°There is no other option. You have to move into the Ponyta.¡±
¡°Celeste, no one else can take this move to protect you. Don¡¯t let Patrick¡¯s and Rebel¡¯s sacrifice be in vain.¡±
¡°You have to let your ghost fight.¡±
Fight.
The voices blurred together, overlapping until she couldn¡¯t tell who was speaking. At first, she tried to block them all out. But even when she listened to no one, her own voice remained.
You can¡¯t let Pat¡¯s sacrifice be in vain.
Celeste bit her lip.
You can¡¯t just leave things the way they are. Powder and Aria are counting on you, too. Will you give up this easily?
She couldn¡¯t.
She needed to get out of this. If only to take Pat to the Pok¨¦mon Centre.
Her breath steadied as her eyes refocused, fixing on the patch of shadow stretched from her feet and across the polished board. Shy¡¯s form trembled at the edges, shifting like the smoke curling from the Pok¨¦mon surrounding her. Their eyes showed, even though people were clearly looking. Their golden irises, dim but wide, flicked toward the Ponyta.
This decision, to attack, and who to attack, wasn¡¯t hers alone. They were both in this together and moving was as much Shy¡¯s choice as it was Celeste¡¯s.
¡°Can you fight?¡± she whispered, pretending no one else could hear her.
Shy hesitated.
Then, slowly, they nodded.
Celeste swallowed, following their gaze from the Ponyta to the Delphox, then back again. ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t think we have much of a choice,¡± she murmured, fixing on the Ponyta. Then, a little more self-conscious, ¡°Do you want me to¡ give you battle commands?¡±
She braced herself for hesitation, maybe even resistance. She expected the same look they¡¯d given her Pok¨¦ball just days ago when she thought about offering it to them.
Instead, Shy nodded again.
For a second, the glow in their eyes brightened with¡ excitement?
But Nebula noticed.
The bug hovered closer, fascinated with the ghost. But the moment their eyes met, Shy pulled back. The glow in their gaze died out, and they sank deeper into the shadows, slipping toward the part of the square that stretched across Celeste¡¯s back.
Celeste scowled, and with a huff, she turned away from Nebula.
¡°So¡ what are your moves?¡± she whispered, refocusing on Shy.
They paused.
Then, to her surprise, they punched the air. Or¡ whatever medium a shadow inhabits.
Celeste blinked. ¡°¡Okay. So¡ punching?¡±
That didn¡¯t seem very ghostly. And definitely not something they could do while stuck in her shadow. But Shy took a few more empty jabs, a lot like Bruno¡¯s Primape.
¡°Anything else?¡± she tried. ¡°Maybe some of that shadow stuff you did back at Cinnabar Labs? The thing that took me through doors and around stuff?¡± She paused. ¡°Uh¡ maybe we could call that¡ª¡±
¡°Shadow Sneak.¡±
Blaine¡¯s voice cut through the air. Loud. Deliberate.
Shy stiffened.
The Gym Leader barely looked up, though, as if he wasn¡¯t particularly interested. ¡°I suppose your Palossand can¡¯t learn it, can he, Caleb?¡± His tone was casual¡ªtoo casual. But the way his eyes flicked toward Caleb told Celeste otherwise. ¡°It¡¯s¡ a very useful move.¡±
Caleb frowned, thinking. Then nodded. ¡°Bit of a niche move. I¡ battled a Banette that knew it once.¡±
Blaine smiled. And from the corner of his eye, stole a glance at Celeste.
¡°Yes, not even among ghosts is this common. Mimikyu, Duskull, Misdreavus, and Shuppet¡¯s lines come to mind, but mastery over shadow doesn¡¯t come easily¡ªeven to those who can use it.¡± His voice was measured now, just loud enough. ¡°But it¡¯s quite useful. The Pok¨¦mon takes to the shadows and launches a surprise attack. A lot like Dig, though a little faster.¡±
Celeste beamed at that. ¡°You saw me training Dig with Aria a bunch, didn¡¯t you?¡±
Shy nodded, this time more earnestly.
¡°Okay.¡± She balled her hand into a fist. This could actually work. ¡°I know how to work with Dig. We can do this.¡±
She turned back to the Ponyta, then glanced at her ghostly friend.
¡°You can do this,¡± she said, softer this time, making sure her words were meant only for them.
Then, with a timid ghost at her heels, Celeste made her move.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
The moment her foot touched the next square, Celeste felt Shy stiffen. Even deep within her shadow, their fear was obvious, with the way they held tighter to her ankles.
Then, before she could properly process it, the Ponyta charged.
Its hooves pounded against the polished board, fire flaring from its mane as it closed the distance way too fast. Celeste¡¯s pulse spiked. She took a step back, already knowing she wouldn¡¯t be able to outrun it.
¡°Shadow Sneak!¡± she called, but nothing happened.
Heat and muscle slammed into her, and when she hit the ground, air knocked out of her lungs, the world tilted.
¡°Sh-shadow Sneak,¡± she coughed the words, trying to roll over before the Ponyta stomped on one of her limbs. Dig, as she was well used to, included a literal hole. Sinking into the shadows was more of a stealth thing. She had no idea if Shy was even trying the move.
Until it hit her.
They¡¯d been watching whenever she trained with Aria. Which meant¡ª
As soon as the Ponyta began her new charge, Celeste tapped the floor, in the exact same way she would do to signal Aria to come out from the ground when she used Dig. And just like that, Shy moved. A shadow hole opened up right at the spot Ponyta¡¯s hinder legs were about to hit the board, but instead of solid wood, they sunk into a pool of shadow that coiled up.
Shy was pulling, dragging it downward.
The fire horse whinnied, thrashing, struggling, sinking. Celeste could almost feel sorry for it, but there was no panic in its eyes, and as realistic as the fighting against this pull was, the Pokemon they were battling was simply empty and void.
They needed to attack.
¡°Pull it down and¡ uh¡ punch?¡± Celeste commanded awkwardly.
She barely saw the result of her command. Just a flicker of movement in the patch of darkness on the ground.
Then¡ªimpact!
The Ponyta came crashing back, spat from the shadow¡¯s grasp. It staggered, flames whipping wildly as it landed on its side.
Celeste herself punched the air. Who knew Shy was a fighter?
But her celebration was short-lived. The Ponyta regained her footing and stomped down, ready to begin its gallop again, only for Shy to grab hold of its legs one more time. The Ponyta let out another whinny, attempting to yank its legs free just as Celeste shouted, ¡°Shadow Sneak, now!¡±
The moment Shy released the Ponyta, it stumbled back a few steps and, soon as Celeste tapped the floor, another hole opened up behind it. The horse fell full in, and then¡
Nothing.
A beat of nervous silence passed until finally¡ªPOW!
The sound of Shy¡¯s punching was almost comically loud, and the Fire-type got lunged out of the shadows before crashing down in a puff of smoke.
Celeste let out a breath.
Did they just win?
Survival had never tasted sweeter.
¡ª*¡ª-*¡ª
Nebula¡¯s swirling eyes locked onto the Delphox. She was silent, yet challenging. Now that Celeste had moved, the Orbeetle stood directly in the fire-type¡¯s line of attack. Unlike Celeste, though, Nebula could fight. And she would. But for all that daring, the Delphox seemed to decide this battle wasn¡¯t worth the trouble. With almost deliberate politeness, it stepped one square to the side.
Which, of course, meant Celeste was in danger again.
So was Ariana.
But Ariana was laughing mindlessly.
¡°C¡¯mere, you red piece of shit! Let me show you who¡¯s the real queen,¡± she slurred, almost delighted.
Celeste cursed under her breath.
This time, however, there was no debate about the next move. Nor was there any hesitation. Nebula zipped one square diagonally, planting herself in front of Celeste, tiny limbs braced as if her determination alone could decide what happened next.
Caleb¡¯s voice cut through the air, sharp and unimpressed. ¡°Well?¡± He was within range too, his Sharpedo, though a literal fish out of the water, snarling at his feet. ¡°What¡¯s it gonna be?¡±
Losing the Queen was risky in any chess match¡ªlosing a Queen this powerful? The Unown weren¡¯t stupid, and the Delphox didn¡¯t move. Instead, a Magcargo¡ªthe Rook nearest Celeste¡ªslithered forward, sliding all the way to the opposite end of the board.
Celeste¡¯s stomach twisted.
Damn it.
It was hard enough keeping track of all the pieces when you weren¡¯t literally inside the game fighting for your life. This Magcargo, though not as intimidating as the Delphox, had wedged itself into a position where it could strike Ariana next.
And Ariana¡
She had no ghost to fight for her. She didn¡¯t even have a Pok¨¦mon on the board¡ or a mind of her own.
¡°You need to move!¡± Celeste yelled, hoping to somehow reach the other girl. Before Ariana could respond, however, something invisible struck her mind like a slap. She winced. Nebula, with her sharp eyebrows pointed down in an angry V, just gestured ahead.
In her defence, it was really hard to keep track.
Ariana was a Bishop¡ªwhich meant she could only move diagonally. And since she was at the board¡¯s edge, her options were limited. Ahead to the right? The Delphox Queen stood tall, hopefully too preoccupied with Caleb to make a move of its own. And ahead to the left? Well, there was a free square, then a Fennekin. Which meant she could either fight it directly or she could wait until it undoubtedly came to her.
This was bad.
Celeste¡¯s brain scrambled for a solution. ¡°What can she do?¡±
Nebula didn¡¯t answer. Which meant the bug didn¡¯t know.
Ariana, not giving a damn, puffed her chest with the same bravado she wore when being cruel to Celeste for fun. ¡°I¡¯m taking this bitch down,¡± she said.
Then¡ª
¡°Don¡¯t!¡±
The voice that rung was Blaine¡¯s. And Ariana actually paused at it, tilting her head.
And that was all the time the Gym Leader needed.
Blaine moved one diagonal forward, landing directly across from the Fennekin Pawn that had been eyeing Ariana, who simply snorted.
¡°Ohh, what, you wanna steal my thunder, old man?¡± She blew a raspberry. ¡°Whatever.¡±
Blaine didn¡¯t acknowledge that in any way that mattered. He simply turned to the Fennekin.
Caleb muttered, ¡°You sure that was wise?¡±
It very obviously wasn¡¯t.
Blaine was the King. He had no Pok¨¦mon with him and his Marowak was four squares ahead, completely useless. The enemy Fennekin took one look at him, flames already glowing behind its teeth, and¡ª
Blaine slipped a Pok¨¦ball from his coat pocket.
With a flash of red light, a Centiskorch uncoiled into existence, filling the square with seething limbs.
Blaine adjusted his moustache like this was all part of a well-orchestrated plan.
The Fennekin hesitated, but instinct¡ªor the Unown¡¯s instinct¡ªtook over, and it launched a stream of embers. The fire flickered harmlessly over the Centiskorch¡¯s exoskeleton.
Blaine, ever unfazed, lifted a hand. ¡°Wrap.¡±
The Centiskorch lunged.
The Fennekin scrambled back, yelping, but it was no use¡ªthe bug¡¯s burning body curled around it like a living rope. The little fox squirmed, tried another fire attack, then a desperate swipe of its claws, but the Centiskorch simply squeezed.
¡°Bug Bite,¡± Blaine said finally.
The battle was over before it ever really started.
Blaine shrugged, brushing soot from his coat. ¡°Brought one of the Gym Pok¨¦mon with me. For precaution.¡±
Caleb exhaled sharply. ¡°And you only tell us this now?¡±
That actually seemed to amuse Blaine. ¡°Mr Raines, you weren¡¯t even supposed to be here.¡±
¡°And why are you here, Leader Blaine?¡± Ariana asked, louder than necessary. Caleb visibly cringed.
Blaine ignored them both. He pointed to the square ahead of him. ¡°Here. You come here now, young miss,¡± he said with all his authority.
Ariana squinted. ¡°Ooh, demanding.¡± She swayed forward, hands on her hips. But for whatever reason, she actually complied, skipping into position.
Caleb turned back to Blaine. ¡°She does have a point.¡±
Blaine¡¯s sigh was deep, tired. ¡°I went outside to look for you three when you vanished from the gym. I¡ only found the Unown were everywhere. I hoped Celeste planned some foolish escape plan, but fear that whatever happened to the other trainers would befall you, as well. I¡ I knew it was getting worse.¡±
Celeste frowned. ¡°Worse as in¡?¡±
Blaine didn¡¯t answer right away. He just looked up at the twisted, massive mansion walls around them, at the board they stood on, at the pieces still waiting to move.
¡°I realised,¡± he said eventually, ¡°that if you¡ªif anyone in Cinnabar¡ªhad any chance of getting to safety once again, it could be by confronting the root of the problem.¡±
Caleb¡¯s voice was flat. ¡°¡Fuji.¡±
Blaine closed his eyes briefly. ¡°I denied it long enough. But the second I entered this place¡ I knew.¡± His jaw tightened. ¡°This world¡ It¡¯s all like that book Amber likes so much. My best friend¡¯s desperation finally made him cross a line he shouldn¡¯t. I¡ can only hope to save him from himself now.¡±
A stone-like clunk sounded from the other side of the board.
The other Magcargo Rook had moved¡ªthis time placing itself directly in front of Caleb¡¯s Palossand, stopping squarely across from Blaine.
The Gym Leader sighed. ¡°This is a third-badge Centiskorch,¡± he muttered to Caleb.
Caleb gave a small nod. ¡°Hab,¡± he called, ¡°finally your turn to fight.¡± The Palossand stirred, sand shifting ominously as it advanced.
But Caleb wasn¡¯t finished. He glanced back at Blaine, ¡°This conversation isn¡¯t over.¡±
Blaine didn¡¯t look at him. Just kept his eyes on the board, on the battle ahead. ¡°What more is there to tell?¡±
Caleb¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°You say you want to save him. But what if there isn¡¯t any saving?¡±
Blaine¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line. His silence spoke louder than any answer he could have given.
But then the Palossand reached its target.
Blaine¡¯s voice, when it came, was soft. ¡°Well, trainer, I think there¡¯s a battle you need to attend.¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Caleb was a powerful trainer, just like Lori, one battle away from earning his final badge when all this madness began. Celeste knew he had to be strong. But knowing and seeing were two different things. And yeah, she¡¯d watched Nebula take down that Slugma a few moves ago. She¡¯d watch the Orbeetle train Pat herself. But Nebula was so independent that she hardly felt like anyone¡¯s Pok¨¦mon.
So when Hab¡¯s sandy body began to disperse, swirling outward in a storm that swallowed the entire chessboard, Celeste stared. And when she noticed the spectral shimmer spiking through every grain, heavy with ghostly energy, she gawked.
The Magcargo, however, didn¡¯t react. It simply gathered heat around itself, glowing and molten.
¡°Sand Tomb!¡± Caleb commanded, pumping a fist in the air.
And at that, Blaine raised an eyebrow. ¡°You do know what happens to sand when it heats too much, don¡¯t you?¡±
Caleb didn¡¯t even blink. He adjusted his glasses, pushed a dreadlock from his face, and kept his eyes locked on the field. ¡°Oh, I know.¡±
The ghostly sand spiralled tighter, swallowing the Magcargo whole. The fire-type responded by burning hotter, while its body sunk into the swirling dune until¡
The sand melted and hardened together?
Celeste¡¯s eyes widened.
Glass.
The Magcargo got trapped into a perfect, glimmering coffin, warped and distorted.
It thrashed, slamming itself against the edges, spitting fire against the walls, but every time it fought back, Hab simply poured in more sand.
More sand. That somehow turned into more glass.
Caleb exhaled. ¡°Earth Power.¡±
The tile beneath them began to shake.
A jagged crack split the glass pit. Then another. And another.
Then the ground moved.
A deep tremor, slow and somehow inevitable, shook the entire board. Celeste struggled to keep her balance, feet sliding over one another.
And then¡ªthe earth erupted.
The glass shattered upward, fractured by the golden pulse of power beneath it.
And the shards¡ªthey were just sand in another form¡ªand sand belonged to Hab. When they rained down, he made sure they rained onto Magcargo.
A thousand cuts sliced through the fire-type¡¯s molten form. Until finally, it was gone.
Another piece erased from the board in a puff of smoke. Another Unown construct destroyed.
Caleb adjusted his glasses, barely sparing a glance at the fading embers. He turned to Blaine, voice easy, casual. ¡°Can you pretend you didn¡¯t see that when I finally have my gym battle?¡±
Blaine let out a low chuckle. ¡°I make no promises.¡±
The board finally settled.
Then, somewhere in the darkness beyond, another piece moved.
Chapter 92 - Off with the head
Chapter 92 - Off with the Head
Celeste had played chess before¡ªwith her dad, maybe three or four times in her life. Once with Opal, too. Neither of them knew the rules well, and she suspected neither of them had tried particularly hard to beat a kid.
So when she thought of chess, Celeste didn¡¯t picture strategy or planning.
Nope.
It was just a game of pieces following each other until someone yelled ¡°Checkmate!¡±.
And honestly, at this point, that was exactly what this game had devolved into¡ªminus the checkmate, of course.
She leaned back as she watched the surviving Magcargo slither forward, its molten body bubbling as it closed in on Blaine and his Centiskorch. Blaine then took a diagonal step left, and the fire-rock-rook followed. He then shifted right, but Magcargo mimicked him. Left again, and once more, the Magcargo kept up.
Blaine let out a long sigh.
Did he even have a plan? It sure didn¡¯t look like it.
He moved right once more, and the Magcargo followed again.
The board held its breath. The only sounds around were the faint crackle of embers and¡ª
¡°Oh, my Arceus! Just do something interesting already.¡±
¡and Ariana, naturally.
Blaine, surprisingly, tipped his head toward her. ¡°My pleasure, Miss Connors.¡±
He moved one more square left.
This time, the Magcargo paused.
Celeste narrowed her eyes. It could have continued following him left to right, but if it did, it would land in the Palossand¡¯s line of attack. Instead, it chose a different route, sliding forward several squares until it stopped right at Blaine¡¯s side.
This time, Blaine didn¡¯t move.
He just smiled. ¡°Lahar¡¯s been itching for another fight.¡±
Before the gym leader even finished speaking, Lahar was already moving, his bone club blazing with blue flame.
Of course!
Blaine hadn¡¯t been running aimlessly. He¡¯d been setting a trap. Every step, every retreat had drawn Magcargo exactly where he wanted it. And now, Lahar, fully in range, closed in, eager, ready to strike.
The slug, unfortunately, reacted just in time, spitting burning rocks into the air as it turned to face the Marowak.
Blaine flinched at that. Lahar did too, caught off guard by the sudden barrage. The fire-type then took a step forward, but a chunk of his mask chipped clean off.
¡°Don¡¯t tough it out. Bat them away!¡± Blaine commanded.
Lahar didn¡¯t balk. As soon as he got the command, he was already swinging his club, knocking the first rock aside. He staggered slightly, but stood his ground.
The Magcargo didn¡¯t let up, though.
One rock. Then another. Then another.
It was relentless. Lahar swung wildly, deflecting what he could, but the hits were landing. One after another, pelting him, burning him. Keeping him from taking even a single step forward.
Celeste watched Blaine¡¯s stance stiffen. He no doubt hadn¡¯t expected this much resistance.
One Bonemerang would end this fight, but only if they could get a break and aim it properly.
Blaine exhaled. ¡°Can you use Stomping Tantrum while still blocking?¡±
Lahar let out a huff. Annoyed.
Clearly, he preferred hitting things with his club. Celeste had hardly seen him use any other form of attack. But liking it didn¡¯t matter here. Winning¡ªsurviving¡ªdid.
With a grunt, Lahar lifted one foot¡ªthen slammed it down.
Then the other.
He repeated the motion a few times, and the board trembled with each stomp. Not as violently as it had with Hab¡¯s Earth Power, but just enough to send vibrations rippling through the field.
The Magcargo swayed.
For a moment, the string of burning rocks slowed.
And Lahar seized the opening.
With another final stomp, he launched forward.
Celeste barely had time to process the movement before he was already swinging.
Bone Rush.
One single strike, and¡ªslice!
The Magcargo burst apart. Smoked. Gone.
The fight was over.
But Lahar¡
He dropped to one knee, using his club to keep himself upright. His chest heaved, scorched and battered.
This couldn¡¯t be good.
Still, Blaine exhaled, scanning the board. ¡°You did good,¡± he said quietly. ¡°You did very good.¡± He gestured around, a little louder. ¡°Two Fennekin, a Rapidash, and the Delphox. I¡¯d say¡ we might have a chance.¡±
And at that, Lahar lifted his head, and from beneath the chipped bit of his mask, Celeste could swear there was a faint smile.
Maybe, for the first time in a long while, they all smiled.
But even so, a question remained.
What was victory in a chess match with no King¡ªno checkmate?
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Celeste watched as the two Fennekin stirred.
She felt mostly safe now, but one of the Fennekin Pawns was still within reach. If it moved on her, she¡¯d have to fight (or Shy would).
Luckily, it was the other one that advanced.
Timid at first, the Fennekin took a single step forward. Then¡ another?
¡°Pawns can move two squares on their first turn,¡± Nebula observed, answering the question Celeste hadn¡¯t asked.
¡°I didn¡¯t get to do that¡¡± Celeste muttered.
Nebula¡¯s eyes flickered. ¡°Well, if you want to move so badly, you can try getting promoted.¡±
¡°Promoted?¡± Celeste squinted. Somehow, these details never came up when she played chess in the past.
Before the Orbeetle could explain, a sharp laugh rang out from a few squares away, followed by grunts of protest. Celeste turned just in time to see Ariana striding through her diagonal, stopping just ahead of Blaine and Lahar.
¡°What?¡± she shrugged. ¡°I was bored and Caleb was being a pain.¡±
Celeste frowned. That¡ was kind of pointless.
And even more so when the second Fennekin moved, too. It glanced at Celeste, considering if it wanted to attack, and then, as if deciding battling a punching ghost wasn¡¯t worth the trouble, stepped two squares forward.
¡°I don¡¯t get what they¡¯re doing,¡± Celeste said.
Nebula didn¡¯t answer. She just stared.
Across the board, Caleb called his Palossand to his side. Celeste wasn¡¯t sure if he planned to attack the Delphox or something else, but before he could make a move, Nebula finally spoke.
¡°Promotion is when a Pawn reaches the opposite side of the board.¡± Her voice was slow in their heads. ¡°They can become any piece except the King.¡±
Celeste''s eyes glinted slightly. ¡°If I get promoted, I can move however I want?¡±
And Caleb joined in, tilting his head toward the Fennekin that had just moved. ¡°You think that¡¯s what they¡¯re doing?¡± He asked. ¡°Wait! Do you think they¡¯ll evolve if they get promoted? If they do, it¡¯ll be Braixen, right?¡±
Nebula just buzzed. ¡°We are playing a chess game with no King to checkmate. And we are living pieces on a giant chessboard. I¡¯d wager the Unown are pretty loose on rules...¡±
Caleb raised an eyebrow. ¡°But?¡±
Nebula sighed. ¡°But yes, I think they¡¯re trying to reach the other side. And yes, promotion does sound close enough to evolution.¡±
That was interesting. And worrying.
With all the conversation, however, Caleb got too distracted to call a move of his own.
And Ariana took advantage of that pause.
With a grin and a flick of her tongue, she jumped to the next square.
¡°I really like this promotion thing.¡± She made a beeline for the other edge of the board. ¡°Bet I¡¯ll make Admin.¡±
Blaine, standing closest to her, shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s how chess works.¡±
Nebula hummed in agreement. ¡°Only Pawns get promoted. You¡¯re a Bishop.¡±
But then¡ when Ariana stepped onto the last row of squares she¡ª
She vanished!
No puff of smoke. No flash of light.
One moment she was there. The next, she was gone. Like she¡¯d been teleported somewhere else.
¡°What¡ª?¡± Celeste barely had time to ask before Nebula shot upward, her wings buzzing wildly.
Caleb let out a low whistle. ¡°Care to share what you figured out?¡± His gaze flicked to one of the remaining Fennekin, which had just taken another careful step forward.
Nebula¡¯s voice crackled with excitement. ¡°Give me a second. I just need to¡ªit¡¯s fascinating. A¡ door? I hadn¡¯t considered¡ Or could it be Ariana¡¯s state of mind¡?¡± She trailed into a stream of clacks, broadcasting her half-thoughts to herself and everyone else while spinning in place.
Caleb sighed. ¡°Guess we¡¯ll have to wait.¡±
Celeste threw up her hands. ¡°She just vanished! Aren¡¯t you worried?¡±
He just shook his head. ¡°Of course. But worrying won¡¯t get us out of here.¡±
With that, he plucked Sharpedo¡¯s Pok¨¦ball from his belt, recalling the shark in a flash of red. Then, in a single fluid motion, he stepped into his L-shaped pattern, landing beside the nearest Fennekin. As soon as his foot hit the tile, he released the Pok¨¦mon again¡ªthis time, directly onto the enemy¡¯s square.
Celeste hadn¡¯t noticed before just how uncomfortable the Sharpedo looked on land.
She was impressed it even managed to stay upright at all. Her dad¡¯s Wailmer couldn¡¯t last two seconds out of water without flopping like a Magikarp¡ªand a Wailmer flopping was always a disaster.
But uncomfortable or not, the shark still moved fast. In a single, fluid lunge, he pinned the Fennekin beneath him and snapped his jaws shut.
The little fire fox didn¡¯t even have time to struggle before it puffed out.
Caleb let out a small smile, running a hand down his Pok¨¦mon rough hide as he joined him at the captured square. ¡°Good job, Gale.¡± The Sharpedo let out a pleased growl at that, more like a house-cat than a predator. ¡°Figured it out already, Nebula?¡± he turned back to his other team-member.
¡°Crossing to the other side is how we win. Or escape.¡± Blaine¡¯s voice was so casual it nearly made Celeste jump. He just shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s pretty obvious.¡±
Nebula buzzed sharply. ¡°You need to consider the alternatives before making such a claim.¡±
Blaine lifted an eyebrow. ¡°Did you consider the alternatives?¡±
¡°Of course!¡±
¡°And?¡±
Nebula faltered. ¡°¡Well, yes. Crossing seems to be our way out.¡±
Blaine¡¯s expression was unreadable.
Nebula, almost sheepish, added, ¡°But I don¡¯t think we can just run for it without being chased down.¡±
Celeste followed her gaze as the last remaining Fennekin took another step forward. It wasn¡¯t far from a promotion now.
And really, neither was she.
Well, kind of.
¡°There¡¯s a Rapidash in my way,¡± she muttered to Nebula. ¡°It can¡¯t reach me yet, but I can¡¯t get to the other side either.¡±
Before Nebula could respond, Caleb cut in. ¡°Hab, line up with this little one.¡±
Celeste blinked. Was he seriously that focus on having more battles?
¡°Sorry,¡± Caleb added, at least pretending to acknowledge them. ¡°I just think we should take this thing out before it gets promoted to a problem.¡±
Nebula let out an exasperated buzz. ¡°Well, you should¡¯ve asked me first.¡±
Clearly.
Because just as Caleb¡¯s Pok¨¦mon reached his new square, the Delphox Queen began to move again.
Celeste¡¯s stomach dropped. She¡¯d almost forgot this was still a problem.
The opposing Queen stepped forward¡ªstraight for Hab.
Meanwhile, Nebula turned her swirling gaze back to her trainer. ¡°Risk and reward, Caleb. I thought you were paying attention.¡±
Gale, the Sharpedo, growled at these words, shifting uneasily.
But Caleb? Caleb didn¡¯t even blink.
¡°Hab can take that Delphox.¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
¡°I don¡¯t understand¡ We planned for a Delphox,¡± Nebula murmured, swirling eyes wide as the dust from the latest clash settled¡ªMystical Fire crashing into Shadow Ball. The flames and dark energy crackling and spread all over the field on impact.
Celeste barely heard her, but Nebula kept going.
¡°It was a good plan. For Blaine¡¯s gym¡ he has a few Delphox on rotation for six-to-eight badge challengers,¡± the bug continued, almost to herself. ¡°I remember. The crux of it was the staff. Without it, Delphox can¡¯t properly focus.¡±
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
None of that mattered.
Not if Hab was already losing.
And badly.
He kept reaching for the staff, aiming bursts of sand, stretching his body, trying to latch onto the thing that was supposed to be his win condition. But Delphox was too fast, too controlled, too precise.
And every second that passed, Hab took more hits.
Another Shadow Ball surged, and the space between the two Pok¨¦mon erupted in a burst of fire and psychic energy so violent that it nearly took Caleb with it. He staggered back, bracing¡ªbut Gale was faster. With a snap of its jaws, the Sharpedo conjured a wave of water, slicing through the flames that almost reached his trainer. The fire hissed into smoke, and when it finally cleared, the battlefield glowed red-hot with jagged slivers of glass, reflecting the flickering light all over them.
And Hab? Hab was the one who got glassed this time around. Not in a prison like he made before, but the lower part of his body had melted together into solid silica.
Caleb cursed under his breath. ¡°Let go.¡±
Hab shuddered, a bone-deep, spectral wail escaping as his shifting sands trembled unevenly. He didn¡¯t try to break the glass. Didn¡¯t even try to fight the pain. He simply severed the trapped part of his body. The trapped half collapsed inward into the glassy shell, crumbling into lifeless, hollowed-out sand that shivered, then faded, like echoes of something long since dead.
And what remained of the ghost was smaller. Thinner.
Weaker.
The Delphox didn¡¯t even blink at that and before Caleb could issue another command, it moved.
It took a single step toward the remains of Hab¡¯s glassed body. Then a kick that shattered the brittle shell left behind by Hab beneath its foot, splintering into a glittering spray of fractured glass.
And then, without hesitation, it took another step forward.
Celeste barely had time to wince before the fire-type lifted its staff, shimmering with flame and something deeply, disturbingly psychic.
Caleb had already opened his mouth to command something¡ªNebula whispered to Celeste that it was a combination of Sandstorm and Shore Up to rebuild Hab¡¯s body¡ªbut they were too late.
¡°Keep your distance, or you won¡¯t heal.¡± Nebula broadcasted the thought straight into Caleb¡¯s mind.
His jaw clenched. ¡°Hab, back! Keep moving!¡±
And the poor ghost tried.
His form scattered, reformed and scattered again, each time slower than the last. But even at full speed, a fox is faster than a pile of sand holding itself together by sheer force of will.
Before Hab could fully solidify, Delphox flicked its staff like a goddamned fairy godmother waving her wand. And¡ª
BOOM.
Celeste didn¡¯t manage to keep her eyes open as the explosion swallowed Hab whole.
For a moment, sand whipped wildly in the air.
But it wasn¡¯t an attack.
It was Hab himself.
His towers crumbled. His body collapsed into a small, shrinking dune. The dark aura of his ghostly presence flickered.
And then¡ªsnuffed out.
Hab was gone.
First from the battlefield.
Then, finally, Caleb recalled what was left of him, murmuring something about not worrying. After all, ghosts always found a way of lingering.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Lahar heaved himself upright, letting his chipped mask drop slightly over his snout. His teeth, barred, angry and pointy, stifled the growl beneath it. He could barely walk without wobbling, but he moved nonetheless, forming a snaky L of soot as he dragged the bone behind himself.
Blaine tried to stop him, of course. But when it was all said and done, the fire ghost seemed dead set in avenging his brethren. Once he reached the same line as Delphox, even though he could not attack it himself, he lifted the bone club, taunting.
Celeste pursed her lips. That didn¡¯t seem wise.
But Delphox simply flicked an ear dismissively and stayed in place.
Instead, hooves cracked sharply against the board, pulling Celeste¡¯s attention sideways. There was only one Pok¨¦mon left that could make this sound. It was the Rapidash who was on the move. Thank Arceus for the Knight¡¯s weird moves. Otherwise, the fire horse would¡¯ve gone straight to her. Instead, it turned sideways and simply positioned itself to get Celeste on the next move.
¡°Come on, weren¡¯t I low reward?¡± she said, glancing at Shy. It didn¡¯t take much to know her new ghostly friend could not take this Rapidash. She gulped a breath. ¡°Nebula?¡±
¡°Just move forward,¡± Orbeetle said, scanning the entire board and the possibilities ahead. And so, with another deep breath, Celeste moved out of danger¡ for now.
She stood right in front of the last row, and where the horse had previously been. That gave her hope. And dread. Despite no one having taken the time to stop and deal with feelings, Ariana had still vanished when she reached the end of the board. And no one really knew if that was actually the way out or something more horrible than this game. And even more so, Celeste had no idea if she would also be teleported right away, whenever she reached the end.
If not¡ Well¡
She glanced at the Rapidash again.
If not, then there wouldn¡¯t be moves left to run, and she¡¯d be stuck in a fight Shy couldn¡¯t win.
Celeste swallowed, braced her shoulders, and forced herself to sound casual. ¡°Would you like to share your next plan, Nebula? Like, fast?¡±
But the Orbeetle just hummed distractedly, lost in calculations and god knows what else. Celeste was beginning to think Nebula enjoyed suspense and the control she had over this game just a bit too much. Still, there was not much to do until the opposing team moved.
And the piece that finally did it¡ was Delphox. Again.
This time it took a few steps forward towards Lahar, who already had his bone club in hand and fire in soul¡ªeven though his body could barely take it. But no fight came. Lahar¡¯s fire move fizzled out before it left his square, and when the Delphox stopped, unbothered, it wasn¡¯t challenging his position, but just beside him.
It seemed almost cruel.
But it wasn¡¯t cruel. It was calculated.
Like Nebula kept saying, the Unown had rules. And in this game, it was all about risk and reward.
Once Delphox stopped, it looked a few paces ahead¡ aiming for Blaine. Because yeah. Why waste yourself fighting a Knight, when the King was just there?
Caleb stiffened at that, eyes just as measuring as Nebula¡¯s. ¡°I can reach it,¡± he said in a low voice. The certainty he had before seemed to falter after he lost his Palossand. ¡°I-I can reach the Delphox,¡± he kept going, and his Sharpedo snarled, eyes almost bloodthirsty, as if begging permission to tear something apart. So, steadying himself, Caleb leaned forward and¡ didn¡¯t move.
¡°Don¡¯t even think about it,¡± Nebula snapped at him, pulling her trainer back with thought alone. ¡°You¡¯re staying right there where you¡¯re safe,¡± she said, and then added. ¡°That last Fennekin won¡¯t move if you don¡¯t, and we like that.¡±
¡°I¡¯m better off if I¡¯m taking down the Delphox,¡± Caleb protested mildly.
But again, Nebula just buzzed with impatience, bobbing up and down. ¡°Yes, but then we¡¯d have a Braixen¡ªor worse¡ªattacking us instead of a Fennekin staying put. Trust me on this.¡±
¡°I am the trainer, you know¡¡± Caleb muttered, though he didn¡¯t budge.
¡°Well, trainer. Watch out for this next battle,¡± Nebula said, making Caleb jump back in surprise.
Without even waiting for an okay from him, the Orbeetle began moving, zipping right to¡ to the Rapidash! Celeste just stared at the bug¡¯s shell, glittering brightly under the firelight, and her swirling eyes, for once not analytical, but¡ kind.
¡°Y-you¡¯re fighting it for me?¡± she couldn¡¯t help but say.
¡°Oh, hardly fighting, I will just outsmart it like usual,¡± Nebula buzzed.
With that, she turned to the Rapidash, whose fire already blazed around its hooves as it galloped to her. Nebula spun upwards, dodging flames by mere centimetres, before unleashing a dizzying flash of psychic light. It struck like a neon explosion, leaving Rapidash wobbling confusedly on the spot.
She seemed pretty sure of herself.
So much so that when Nebula dipped again, she did a flourish before launching intricate patterns that rapidly devolved into impossible spirals and optical illusions. Celeste guessed this was some elaborate version of Confusion of Confuse Ray.
But it backfired.
The Rapidash lit its body on fire and exploded outward, in a reckless charge to Nebula. The poor Orbeetle barely let out a ¡°Wait, what?¡± before she got lurched out to the edges of the square they were battling out at. Nebula hovered up, glancing sideways to her trainer.
¡°I might actually need your eyes on this,¡± the bug said, not even wincing at the horrible burn on her side.
Caleb nodded. ¡°This was Flare Blitz,¡± he said. ¡°So it¡¯s injured too¡ªUp!¡± The change in phrase was abrupt, but Nebula teleported up in the same second Rapidash came down with a horn attack to her position. Then, without waiting, the trainer added, ¡°It¡¯s stance! Rapidash is going for another Flare Blitz. You know what to do.¡±
How they switched gears so quickly was beyond Celeste, but Nebula dipped down again, and stood rather stupidly in front of the Rapidash until¡ it hit a reflective barrier full force! The barrier broke down, but the Rapidash crashed hard into it, and in the second it slowed, the Orbeetle fired a last Psybeam that made the horse go poof like all the other pieces.
One less Pok¨¦mon on the board!
They should celebrate. Half of Celeste¡¯s friends were celebrating. However, as soon as the opposing Fennekin Pawn took another not so harmless step ahead, Celeste noticed her very badly injured bug buddy hovering a few squares away.
¡°¡Nebula??¡± she asked.
But the Orbeetle just nodded at her and kept moving until she reached Blaine¡¯s side. Or rather, until she was in the line of attack of the Delphox.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re doing,¡± Caleb called, eyes darting wildly when he finally noticed Nebula¡¯s advance.
Nebula¡¯s wings clicked, dismissive. ¡°It¡¯s the usual. I¡¯m the setup.¡±
¡°You¡¯re burned!¡± he shouted back.
A crickety sound came from Nebula, a little like a chuckle, but Celeste found it a little sad too. It only lasted a bit, though. She cut it off sharply when Delphox took a step forward, lifting its staff up like it was made of metal and not wood.
¡°I¡ I actually don¡¯t know if I can win this fight. Probably not anymore¡¡± she said. ¡°But you know this, too. Sometimes a fight is just about buying time, and doing more damage. The Marowak can finish this off if I play it right. The other way around would be too dangerous for Blaine.¡±
Caleb¡¯s foot slammed against the board, sending up a plume of soot. ¡°Gale could fight! He¡¯s fresh. You know he could win.¡±
Nebula¡¯s shiny wings twitched and her voice turned softer, vibrating warmly through their heads. ¡°You humans are so fragile. But so precious too. And us, Pok¨¦mon, we heal better, and we can escape to our Pok¨¦balls.¡±
She paused, staring into nothing for a moment before she rose a shimmering barrier of psychic energy around herself. For a heartbeat, when the firelight hit it just right, Celeste saw Nebula¡¯s swirling eyes reflected there, slowly swirling like ripples on a pond.
A stupid part of her wanted to reach forward, grab Nebula, shake some sense into her. But there was no way she could leave her square. So, the moment the Delphox raised its staff, Celeste squeezed her eyes shut, unwilling to see this battle play out.
¡°Ohh, you should have a little more faith in me,¡± Nebula said in her head.
Heat washed over Celeste¡¯s skin, followed by an insect¡¯s piercing screech, so sharp and bitter it made her bones quiver. She pressed her eyelids tighter, angry tears pricking her lashes.
Risk and reward.
That¡¯s Nebula had said this game was all about. But it wasn¡¯t quite that, was it?
This was about sacrifice.
¡°You shouldn¡¯t be sad that Pok¨¦mon are willing to fight for you.¡± Nebula¡¯s voice whispered directly into her mind, and somehow Celeste knew this was for her alone.
She tried to push the voice away. But when she did, she thought of Pat, who put himself in harm¡¯s way to protect her. And Rebel, who fought for Ariana. And Lahar, barely standing, yet ready to burn himself to embers for Blaine.
And now Nebula¡
A buzz, loud as a battle cry, ripped through the battlefield, shaking the chessboard itself, sending embers skittering into the air.
Celeste forced her eyes open.
Nebula wasn¡¯t down. Not yet.
And instead of keeping her full focus on the battle, she kept on talking to Celeste. ¡°I looked inside your mind, you know? Couldn¡¯t help myself. That wrongness I saw in you when we first met, it¡¯s curious. I was curious. So I followed the thread¡¡±
Celeste gaped. ¡°Nebula, this really isn¡¯t¡ª¡±
But the bug, skittering away from a fire blast, ignored her. ¡°I found something wonderfully stubborn in you. Not really what I was looking for, but wonderful all the same. Something bright and loud that refuses to sit quietly. A defiance. So great that I thought, ¡®well this girl can challenge the threads of fate itself¡¯. And then I saw it. How time and again, you dive into danger, reckless and fierce, so your friends don¡¯t have to.¡±
A sob stuck in Celeste¡¯s throat.
Nebula let out another crickety chuckle. ¡°Did you honestly believe you wouldn¡¯t inspire others around you to do the same?¡±
Celeste opened her mouth. Closed it. There were no words. Not for this.
And then an explosion.
The battle was still raging.
Fire erupted, shattering another of Nebula¡¯s psychic barrier like it was made of glass, casting the battlefield in chaotic streaks of light. The Orbeetle tumbled through the air, struggling to stabilise herself. A flicker of green aura danced over her body as she hovered shakily. Recovering. And most importantly, preparing for the Delphox¡¯s next move.
The fox lunged, staff blazing brightly. Nebula braced, catching the strike within that shimmering green aura. Which crawled up their opponent¡¯s body. Celeste watched, mesmerised, as Delphox recoiled. Whatever bug-type trickery Nebula had conjured had startled even the Unown¡¯s pawn.
Nebula seized her chance, launching herself forward with a buzzing shriek. A sound like a hundred Nincada screeching all at once. Delphox staggered, gripping its head, but didn¡¯t fall.
¡°We Pok¨¦mon fight,¡± Nebula¡¯s mental voice whispered once more, weaker now, flickering, ¡°because we choose to. You all do well to remember that.¡±
Delphox gathered itself, eyes blazing darkly, and swung the flaming staff in a final, furious arc. The world seemed to hold itself steady as the weapon struck home. Nebula spun, drifting downward gently, wings twitching weakly before going still.
Caleb¡¯s voice cracked across the battlefield. ¡°Nebula!¡±
But the Orbeetle lay motionless, her vibrant colours dimmed beneath drifting smoke and ash, and her eyes, those swirling, ever-moving spirals, barely flickered open.
And yet, impossibly, she managed a nod. A small, knowing gesture.
Then, in a flash of red light, she was gone. Back to the safety of her Pok¨¦ball.
And for the first time in a long while, Celeste head felt hollow. Like there was a missing piece in the shape of a voice. She swallowed hard. The space in her mind where Nebula had been whispering and buzzing and thinking too fast for anyone else to keep up was suddenly, jarringly, silent.
¡°Our move.¡± It was Blaine who filled that horrible silence.
Lahar simply cracked his neck in response. He rolled his shoulder and adjusted his grip on his club. Then, step by step, he advanced.
Slower than before. Weaker. But not that weak.
The Delphox turned to face him, its staff flickering dangerously in its grasp. It was still reeling, still disoriented from Nebula¡¯s final Bug Buzz, and that was all the Marowak needed.
With a final, furious arc¡ªalmost like the ghost wanted to prove himself stronger¡ªthe bone cleaved through the air.
Delphox tried to defend. But its staff snapped.
The fire fox froze. Or it seemed like that.
Then¡ªgone.
The Delphox disintegrated into nothing, vanishing in a swirl of scattered embers.
Lahar threw back his head and roared. Not just in victory, but in something wilder.
The battle was over.
Finally.
¡Or was it?
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Only the little Fennekin Pawn remained.
It stood alone on the far end of the board, tail flicking, ears perked, eyes glowing faintly.
¡°So¡¡± Celeste glanced toward the edge of the board, so close now. ¡°Do we¡ªI mean, do I just¡ go?¡±
A step forward, and this twisted game might finally end. Or so she hoped. She really, really hoped.
But it wasn¡¯t their turn.
The little remaining Fennekin shuffled forward instead, paws tapping gently ahead. One step closer to its own promotion. Celeste watched it, wondering if maybe stopping it first would be better. But no one was quite in range.
Not that this stopped the angrier of her teammates.
From the side, a low growl rumbled. Lahar stumbled forward, eyes blazing with the prospect of another battle. He gripped the bone club tighter, determined to reach the Fennekin despite Blaine telling him this was quite enough. Square by square, the fiery ghost dragged himself to the edge of his allowed movement.
And there he stopped.
Waiting.
Because there was only one possible move now.
Fennekin would reach the last row and be promoted¡ªwhatever it meant for it. And when it did, it¡¯d be in range for both Lahar and Caleb with his Sharpedo to get it.
They all stood by in silence. Until finally, the Pawn made use of its turn.
It would¡¯ve been nice if it¡¯d just disappeared like Ariana.
But nice things didn¡¯t happen in this deranged house.
The Fennekin didn¡¯t disappear. It burst into flames. Celeste recoiled, shielding her eyes as the tiny shape blurred in golden firelight, shifting and stretching. Evolution, rapid and impossible, took place in heartbeats.
And when the flames withdrew, there stood not a Braixen, but another Delphox Queen, as impassive as the last.
Lahar snarled, swinging his club at it.
But, angry as the Marowak was, Caleb, who¡¯d just lost his Pok¨¦mon, was angrier. And he didn¡¯t waste time barking. He moved forward without even recalling his Sharpedo, and before another step, he commanded water and rain, and for all the fire to finally be snuffed out.
His Pok¨¦mon simply howled in agreement, and so echoed a chilling, watery cry that pierced the suffocating, smoky air. In an instant, clouds bloomed above, spreading like spilled ink across that living room ceiling. Rain lashed down with unnatural speed, soaking the board, turning ash to mud, and fire to steam.
¡°What in Moltres¡¯ name are you doing?¡± Blaine shouted through the sudden downpour.
Caleb¡¯s response was calm, almost resigned. ¡°Someone needs to deal with it. Only then we¡¯ll be truly free. And I¡¯m the only one fresh enough. Plus, double advantage¡ am I right?¡±
He didn¡¯t wait for another word. Nor did the Delphox.
Across the board, it stared blankly upward at the rain, watching the droplets dance and scatter off its fur. Then, slowly, it raised its staff. With a bang, the fire blazed anew, burning too hot this time to be bothered by the water.
If Nebula was here, she¡¯d say this was impossible. A newly evolved Pok¨¦mon should not be so at ease with its new powers¡ Or maybe Nebula would say nothing at all, because this was not a real Pok¨¦mon.
Celeste barred her teeth and shook her head.
Nebula wasn¡¯t here. And devoid of logic, the fire kept burning.
The Delphox Queen stepped forward, fire trailing behind it like a procession. Caleb stayed put, soaking wet, waiting patiently until the board beneath Gale was flooded enough for the shark Pok¨¦mon to start moving.
¡°Aqua Jet,¡± he said, voice as steady as his stance. Celeste could see Nebula¡¯s Pok¨¦ball still tight between his fingers.
Gale obliged with a violent burst of water, spiralling forward like¡ like a torpedo with teeth. But it didn¡¯t matter. The Delphox twisted aside effortlessly, fire swirling around it like all this was nothing.
¡°Don¡¯t stop,¡± Caleb snapped. ¡°Pivot. Use the puddles. Then¡ªSkull Bash.¡±
The Sharpedo didn¡¯t falter. Water churned around it, spinning like a top, redirecting Gale midair. Celeste had no idea a fish out of water could do this, yet there Gale was, launching again. This time colliding head-on with the Queen¡¯s newly conjured flames.
Water met fire. Steam billowed, engulfing both Pok¨¦mon instantly.
¡°Caleb, get back!¡± Blaine shouted, suddenly. ¡°You¡¯re too close!¡±
But Caleb didn¡¯t budge, standing steady only a square away from the battle.
Celeste clenched her fists. ¡°Can you see if they are okay, Shy?¡± she tried, but her ghost just stared at her with their big yellow eyes.
Then¡ª
The Delphox shrieked.
Not a cry of victory. A howl, beckoning even more fire. This time of the wonky, purplulish, mystical kind. So much that the rain fizzled out before it reached the floor, and the steam began to swirl into shapes so strange Celeste doubt any of them were meant to understand.
Caleb, now more or less in view again had and an unreadable look in his face, and his knuckles, grabbing a Pok¨¦ball so tight were rigid and tense. Was this still Nebula¡¯s ball?
His shark was being fried.
Was he about to recall him? If so then he¡¯d be¡ªNo. This can¡¯t be.
But Caleb took what looked like a steadying breath and yelled another command.
¡°Destiny Bond.¡±
Celeste glanced frantically at Blaine, whose eyes were eyes wide and dark.
¡°W-what¡¯s Destiny Bond?¡± she asked after a beat. Nothing seemed to be happening, after all.
¡°Mutually assured destruction,¡± the Gym Leader muttered in response.
The Delphox Queen, on its part, lunged forward, eyes blazing even more wildly, flame and steam weaving together around it like madness had taken hold.
¡°Caleb, that thing won¡¯t care. It¡¯s not real enough for that,¡± Blaine tried, louder. But Caleb? He didn¡¯t seem to care anymore, either.
He stood right behind his Pok¨¦mon, Pok¨¦ball tight in his hand. He waited for a breath, then, ¡°Secret Power,¡± he said, not even raising his voice.
But¡ what about Destiny Bond? Did Celeste miss it?
She squinted toward the battle again, and a ball of blue energy had built on top of Sharpedo. And it build and build until Delphox finally got close. Then he unleashed it.
The battlefield trembled beneath them, and a fireball collided directly with Sharpedo¡¯s attack, which still kept growing somehow.
Then¡ª
Boom.
An explosion tore through the chessboard, so loud it deafened. For a fleeting moment, Celeste swore she glimpsed the bright flash of a Pok¨¦ball beam.
Had Caleb recalled Gale?
When silence finally settled, the steam thinned, and rain turned into misty drizzle. Celeste forced herself to look at where Caleb was.
Except¡
Nothing remained.
No Delphox. No Gale.
No Caleb.
The board was empty, squares glistening softly with rainwater, quiet as if there had never been any battle at all.
Celeste stared, breaths catching painfully in her chest. The Pok¨¦mon who lost were back in their Pok¨¦balls. Even Pat, who was badly hurt, was sort of fine. Ariana had disappeared, but they would soon follow to wherever she¡¯d gone.
But¡
Caleb¡
It felt like forever passed before anyone said a thing. When someone did, it was Blaine, suddenly standing at her side. She didn¡¯t even see him move.
¡°We can¡¯t stay here,¡± he said softly, placing a hand on her back and nudging her forward to the last row. ¡°It¡¯s your turn to get promoted.¡±
Celeste swallowed, blinked through tears, and nodded once. No words. No arguments.
She was so tired.
And so angry.
Fuji¡ he had to pay for all that.
Somehow, she¡¯d make him pay.
One trembling step forward onto the last square.
As soon as her foot landed, reality folded inward. The board twisted on itself and colours bled together in dizzying patterns that shouldn¡¯t have existed. Celeste was falling upwards, sideways, nowhere and everywhere all at once.
For the first time, it hardly shocked her.
The game was over.
And ending the madness was all that mattered.
Chapter 93 - Curiouser and curiouser
Chapter 93 - Curiouser and curiouser
Celeste¡¯s eyes traced the chessboard pattern ahead of her. Black and white squares, none larger than two inches, sat on a small centre table with pieces tumbled all over like fallen soldiers of a horrid battle. Her foot nudged one gently, and she bent to retrieve it.
A queen.
A red queen.
The urge to fling it out of the window behind her was overwhelming. But she squeezed it instead, letting the cold wood sting against her palm.
¡°Oh, thank you, dear!¡± a voice sang lightly from across the room.
Celeste blinked and handed over the piece before her brain caught up. The woman before her tilted her head curiously, her teal hair shimmering softly under the silver moonlight spilling through the window. She¡¯d seen this woman in a picture before, but it took a moment for her to realise who this actually was.
The woman chuckled, turning to gather scattered pieces and reposition them on the small board in the centre table. ¡°Amber and her friends made quite the mess with this game,¡± she said, eyes sparkling with amusement. ¡°Are you one of Amber¡¯s friends?¡±
Celeste¡¯s eyes flicked to Blaine, who was hunched in the corner, spreading some potion over his Marowak¡¯s scorched shoulder.
¡°M-Mrs Fuji?¡± she asked, directing the question at him more than her.
He nodded. Just once, barely lifting his head.
The teal-haired woman straightened cheerfully, oblivious to Celeste¡¯s unease. ¡°They¡¯ve all scurried off to Amber¡¯s room. Apparently, chess turned dreadfully boring, and it was time for a tea-party.¡± She paused, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. ¡°That loud girl who swears far too much just went in to join them. Is she one of your gym trainees, Blaine? Honestly, you must teach them better manners.¡±
Celeste opened her mouth, closed it, then simply stared.
Blaine, however, managed to speak. ¡°Is Ren in his office?¡±
Something fluttered briefly across Mrs Fuji¡¯s face, an expression just a tad too dark for the Unown¡¯s spell. ¡°When isn¡¯t he?¡± she murmured bitterly. Then the smile bloomed again, relentlessly bright. ¡°Well! I¡¯d better bake Amber and her guests some cookies. She loves to have so many friends around. You two should go play with her, too!¡±
Blaine gently patted Marowak¡¯s head, a forced, thin smile stretching his mouth. Celeste saw his exhaustion deep in lines she hadn¡¯t noticed before. His Centiskorch wove up his arm as he stood up to face the woman before them.
¡°Later, perhaps,¡± he replied quietly. ¡°Just¡leave a cookie or two for us.¡±
Mrs Fuji eventually drifted away, her shoes making soft, cheerful noises as she padded off down the stairs. Once she¡¯d vanished, Blaine let out a long exhale.
¡°The house seems normal for now,¡± he muttered.
Celeste nodded, but didn¡¯t feel it. For starters, who bakes in the middle of the night? But she just glanced at the hallway doors. They stretched out in both directions like any old house¡ or a maze.
¡°Fuji¡¯s in his office?¡± she asked, already moving. ¡°Which one?¡±
No hesitation now. No more detours. She was ending this. For Pat. For Ariana.
¡For Caleb.
Blaine fell into step beside her, lips quirking slightly. ¡°Just like a hot-headed fire trainer,¡± he tried, but his laugh didn¡¯t make it past his throat. And Celeste didn¡¯t humour it either. ¡°Impulsiveness isn¡¯t just being impatient,¡± he said eventually. ¡°It¡¯s emotion untamed.¡±
She looked at him properly this time. He wasn¡¯t wearing his usual sunglasses, and without them, she could see the bags under his eyes.
¡°I thought you weren¡¯t giving me advice until after I challenged you.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not¡ª¡± He paused, reconsidering, then exhaled a slow breath. ¡°Maybe I am. Just a bit. Listen¡ª¡± He halted abruptly, forcing her to do the same. ¡°I¡¯m angry too. And tired. And grieving. And I know better than to waste energy trying to stop you. So I¡¯ll just say this: when your chest starts burning, when you feel that rush¡ªyou know the one¡ªdon¡¯t charge. Don¡¯t hesitate either. Just breathe. One single breath. Not deep. Not long. Just one. That¡¯s all you need to keep the fire in check.¡±
Celeste folded her arms, jaw tight. ¡°Ariana¡¯s with the others,¡± she began.
Blaine nodded.
¡°¡And Caleb is¡ª¡±
¡°We don¡¯t know that.¡±
¡°We don¡¯t know anything.¡±
That sat between them. No one moved. The house creaked, somewhere far off. Or maybe it laughed. She knew that this house had a bit of an opinion.
Eventually, Celeste spoke again. ¡°What are you going to do when we find Fuji?¡±
Blaine didn¡¯t answer immediately. His face twisted, almost in pain. When he finally spoke, it was almost a whisper.
¡°I¡¯ll take a breath.¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Blaine¡¯s steps dragged deliberately, as if slowing might somehow stall the inevitable confrontation behind that door at the end of the hallway. Celeste matched his pace without meaning to. The anger and the fear inside her, it was different this time around. She didn¡¯t feel like babbling or hiding. She just wanted this all to end. Or else she might just burst.
They stopped outside the door, and for a beat, no one moved.
¡°So,¡± she barely glanced at Blaine. ¡°What¡¯s really the story between you two?¡±
Blaine kept his eyes locked on the door. ¡°We went to school together. I liked Pok¨¦mon. He liked science. We had nothing in common¡ªand yet, somehow, we were inseparable. All I can think of now are those endless afternoons, flipping rocks on Cinnabar beach, chasing after Krabby that kept getting away and arguing about whether Magneton should be classified as one Pok¨¦mon or three.¡± He sighed, a dry, humourless sigh. ¡°He cheered at all my big battles; I applauded at his graduations. I was the best man at his wedding. Godfather to Amber. He stood at the edge of a lava pit while I convinced a furious little Magby to be my starter. Every conference, every achievement, we were always there for each other. There¡¯s no deep, dark secret here. No story you couldn¡¯t guess yourself. Ren Fuji is my brother, Celeste. Not by blood. But in every way that counts.¡±
Celeste stared at the door again. It didn¡¯t seem so plain anymore.
¡°I get it,¡± she said. ¡°This is hard.¡±
Blaine¡¯s voice was low. ¡°For his own good¡ that¡¯s what you said, right?¡±
She didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°Isn¡¯t this for his own good?¡±
Blaine shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll agree. His kid¡¯s sick. His ex-wife despises him. He won¡¯t see it our way. But¡ it¡¯s better for everyone else, at least.¡±
He didn¡¯t wait for Celeste to say anything else. Instead, he placed a firm hand on the handle, turned it, and the door swung open before them.
They stepped into what appeared to be a normal office. A desk. Bookshelves. Pens in a mug that said ¡°Best Dad in the World¡±. But then, as they walked in, the walls began to pull away. The floor stretched. And as the room grew bigger, all the noise and decoration faded, melting into nothing.
Only Fuji¡¯s desk stayed firm. By it, Fuji himself leaned in, polishing his glasses leisurely, like someone who had all eternity to spare. She recognised him immediately, with the crocked nose and greying wavy hair¡ªthough this was the first time Celeste had seen him in person. Here in his house, he didn¡¯t wear the pristine white coat from all the pictures she saw of him. He wore a plaid jumper instead, and the most boring khaki pants ever.
¡°Ren¡¡± Blaine¡¯s voice was hesitant. He raised a cautious hand, fingers twitching uncertainly in Marowak¡¯s direction¡ªor perhaps hers.
Fuji didn¡¯t immediately answer. He just stayed there, carefully cleaning his glasses with the hem of the jumper. Eventually, he put the glasses back on his face and when he looked at them, his smile spread wide, unsettlingly cheerful.
¡°My dear friend. I wondered when you¡¯d finally drop by.¡± His eyes flicked briefly to Celeste, amused. ¡°And who¡¯s this? Did you bring Amber a new little playmate?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not a pet, asshole,¡± Celeste snapped before she could stop herself. ¡°And I¡¯m not a rebellious teen like you called me in your journal, either.¡±
She heard Blaine groan softly beside her.
¡°In a strange twist of fate, Miss Celeste Diaz got herself trapped in this place, like so¡ so many others¡¡± he muttered, never taking his eyes off Fuji.
¡°Trapped?¡± Fuji laughed airily, as if Blaine had told a fantastic joke. ¡°Nonsense. If you are Tiana and Otto¡¯s daughter, then surely your parents sent you here to enjoy this paradise.¡±
¡°What the¡ª¡± Celeste blurted. ¡°I¡¯m trapped here. We¡¯re all trapped here.¡±
He pushed himself forward, carefree. ¡°Paradise is not a prison¡ª¡±
¡°Cut the crap!¡± Celeste shouted, surging forward. She¡¯d have yelled something harsher if Blaine hadn¡¯t gently yet firmly squeezed her shoulder.
¡°Breathe,¡± Blaine murmured under his breath. Then, louder and steadier: ¡°Ren, my gym trainers¡ªIf this is no prison, are they free to leave?¡±
Fuji walked slowly, circling his desk until he reached into a drawer in the back, pulling out a shoebox. He tipped it casually onto the desk, and Pok¨¦balls clattered out¡ªone for every missing trainer. They rolled, uncaring, across the desk¡¯s surface. One even dropped, with a click, into the dark floor below.
¡°Amber wanted playmates,¡± Fuji explained pleasantly, as though this was entirely logical. ¡°She got lonely, you see. They volunteered¡ªso generously.¡±
Celeste stared as another ball wobbled precariously at the edge of the desk. Then she looked around. The door behind them shrank, drifting ever further away. And in the thick shadows around them, little circles blinked dimly¡ªUnown eyes. Ever watching. Ever silently.
Anger, fear, suddenly were giving way to panic.
She lunged instinctively for the fallen Pok¨¦ball, but Blaine¡¯s hand clamped down, holding her still. His eyes were wide, face pale and shaken.
¡°Ren,¡± Blaine¡¯s voice cracked. ¡°There¡¯re children there. Let them go.¡±
Fuji laughed warmly. Way too warm. ¡°Or perhaps you could join us? Tea¡¯s ready. My wife¡ª¡±
¡°This is too much!¡± Blaine shouted, and his Marowak shrieked in harmony. ¡°By Moltres¡¯ fire, what is this?! Even you must see trapping this entire island in your nightmare is madness!¡±
If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
Celeste felt Blaine trembling through his fingers, and saw Marowak¡¯s bone club glow faintly with spectral fire.
¡°Unown,¡± she whispered to Blaine. ¡°They¡¯re everywhere.¡±
The Gym Leader nodded, grip tightening protectively.
¡°This isn¡¯t madness,¡± Fuji said lightly, spreading his hands wide, like a magician revealing a trick. ¡°It¡¯s a perfect dream. We made paradise¡ª¡±
¡°Oh, shut fuck up!¡± Blaine finally snapped. Celeste had never heard him swear before, and strangely, it comforted her. ¡°Lahar, go! Get them!¡±
But just as the Marowak sprang forward, a violent wave of fire surged from the darkness ahead, cutting the Pok¨¦mon¡¯s charge short and forcing Blaine and Celeste back a step.
Fuji stood calmly, glasses glinting through the flames. Behind him, came an Armarouge.
The Armarouge.
It was a construct, but Celeste knew it was the same she encountered before.
¡°We have rules in paradise,¡± Fuji said.
Except¡ªhe wasn¡¯t Fuji anymore. Not quite.
It was in the way his voice changed mid-sentence. In how his spine clicked upright like a puppet being re-threaded. In the way his skin suddenly looked too smooth, too symmetrical, like someone had remade him from memory and only mostly got it right.
He wasn¡¯t speaking anymore. He was being spoken through, like a puppet for the Unown. Maybe this was Jude. Maybe something else entirely. Maybe it was all of it at once.
Fuji, or whatever this was, stepped through the scattered Pok¨¦balls like they were nothing but marbles.
¡°And we don¡¯t like when you break the rules,¡± he finished, squinting. ¡°Flame Charge!¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Before Celeste could even blink, Armarouge burst forward, wrapped in flame like a comet. Its body flickered, and its feet glided across the darkness, leaving only smouldering footprints behind.
Blaine barely had time to shout, ¡°Lahar, counter with Bone Rush¡ªnow!¡±
Marowak sprang, spinning its club into a pale, whirring shield. Fire collided with bone, sparks bursting like tiny stars before vanishing into the shadow. Lahar reacted quickly, which was good, but he wasn¡¯t all good. The battles in the chessboard had been too much and even though Blaine gave him a potion, even those had their limits.
As smoke billowed around them, all Celeste could think was that they didn¡¯t have extra Pok¨¦mon to fight and help out. Not anymore.
Armarouge pressed on, mechanical and unrelenting. Marowak dug its heels in, teeth clenched tight, straining to hold its ground.
¡°Don¡¯t give an inch!¡± Blaine tried to keep himself steady.
As for Celeste¡ well, Shy couldn¡¯t fight this. She didn¡¯t even need to ask. So instead she scanned the room, hoping¡ªpraying¡ªfor something useful. But the walls had fully melted into shadow, only the door now remained. That and the Unown, dancing macabre and erratic above their battle.
¡°Night Shade!¡± Fuji¡¯s command sliced through Celeste¡¯s thoughts, his expression slipping wildly between empty calm and deranged delight.
And though Armarouge never stopped its Flame Charge, darkness surged from it before disappearing. Celeste flinched when a shade attacked Marowak from the back. Then she squinted at where she thought the shade was. But this was impossible. She couldn¡¯t even see her own shadow in this darkness.
She¡ couldn¡¯t see her own shadow!
As Marowark got hit by another blow, Celeste crouched down, facing the floor below her feet.
¡°Shy, you there?¡±
Tiny yellow eyes blinked from her shadow, hesitant but present. It was hard to see, but of course they were here, melted into her shadows, and all the darkness around them. This entire place was practically built for them. Perfect conditions for a Shadow Sneak. Emphasis on the sneak part.
She glanced up as the shades turned into tendrils of dark energy wrapped around Marowak¡¯s limbs, choking out a pained cry. Blaine¡¯s Centiskorch surged forward to intercept, slicing the dark vines apart. But that act of bravery left it open. Armarouge switched gears and aimed another blast of roaring flame at the bug. Centiskorch spiralled through the air, landing in a heap across the room, completely out.
¡°Lahar, Bone Club! Aim high!¡± Blaine called out, barely stopping to recall the fallen Pok¨¦mon.
Marowak launched forward again, flipping mid-air and striking Armarouge sharply across the helm-like faceplate. Celeste tore her gaze away from the battle, refocusing on her own ghost.
¡°Shy, can you grab those Pok¨¦balls?¡± she whispered, tilting her head to the desk ahead, and the Pok¨¦balls still spilled around. ¡°Any of them. We need backup. Now!¡±
Shy hesitated, unsure, but after a moment gave a single, determined nod. Celeste¡¯s chest warmed with gratitude and maybe a little hope that they were truly becoming a team. She nodded back, watching as her shadow melted away, slipping silently towards the scattered Pok¨¦balls.
A sudden flare of heat snapped her attention back to the fight. Marowak battered repeatedly at Armarouge¡¯s shield-like arms, but it was clear he was tiring, breathing hard between strikes.
Blaine¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Fall back!¡± he shouted. ¡°Create distance¡ªthen Bonemerang!¡±
Celeste trusted Blaine¡¯s instincts, he was a Gym Leader, after all. But the second Marowak leapt back, Armarouge¡¯s arms snapped together, armour glowing brightly. Armor Cannon. She remembered this one. And it didn¡¯t bode well.
¡°No hesitation!¡± Blaine yelled.
Fire erupted in a blast, and just as Lahar was about to jump out, his leg buckled. He was going to be hit! He was going¡ª
A little flame flickered up. Fast as light, it tackled the Marowak out of the way.
Celeste just watched in shock before one of the Pok¨¦balls¡ªan open one¡ªfell in her hands. The little candle shaped ghost that Shy let out twirled, less happy than usual, but happy enough to have helped its friend.
Blaine just gave Celeste a sharp look before refocusing on the battle.
¡°Wax, try to reveal the Night Shades!¡± he ordered the Litwick. ¡°Just that. Lahar, you push in! Armarouge needs a second to recharge!¡±
Celeste let out a breath. ¡°Nice work, Shy. If we get another shot, let¡¯s grab another Pok¨¦ball.¡±
She looked up again, watching darkness and firelight burst forth again. With Litwick¡¯s light guiding his way, the Marowak found his rhythm at least. He whipped his Bonemerangs across the field to force space, then rushed in right after with his fists on fire. He and Litwick kept moving, kept hitting. Every throw set up the next strike, and every punch burned another patch of shadow away.
Litwick bobbed through the chaos, slipping between bursts of flame, flickering in and out of view. He lit the path forward and Marowak followed without hesitation.
But Armarouge wasn¡¯t having it. It didn¡¯t let up with the Night Shades and on top of it, started firing in every direction, short bursts of flame aimed to pin them down. Marowak took the hits when he had to¡ªmostly to shield Blaine and Celeste¡ªbut he never stopped. Whenever he got a window, he hurled his bone toward Armarouge itself, letting his fists deal with anything else that got too close.
And through it all, Blaine kept calling out. ¡°Ren, listen to me! You¡¯ve got to stop this! I know you¡¯re hurting. I know you¡¯re desperate. But you always said not to chase fairy tales. This¡ this isn¡¯t good for anyone.¡±
What passed for Fuji tilted his head. A little too far to be human. ¡°Paradise is exactly as she wishes it to be,¡± he drawled. ¡°I don¡¯t want to fight you, my friend. But if you stand in the way of the perfection we create, then you have no place in our world.¡±
Armarouge shifted again, plates locking together as its body tensed. Celeste¡¯s stomach dropped. Another Armor Cannon. It was charging again. Marowak and Litwick couldn¡¯t hold much longer. Even Blaine seemed to know it¡ªhis breath hitched, his eyes frantic, scanning the field for anything that might help.
And then, from nowhere, a Pok¨¦ball rolled across the shadowy floor.
Celeste caught it mid-spin and snapped it open. Light burst forth, forming into a massive striped shape. It came out snarling. Dinah¡¯s Incineroar landed with a heavy thud, muscles coiled, claws already flexing.
Shy melted back into Celeste¡¯s shadow, their eyes glowing a little brighter.
¡°Incineroar¡ªKit! Darkest Lariat!¡± Blaine didn¡¯t even stop to breathe. ¡°Keep it off-balance!¡±
The huge Pok¨¦mon somehow instinctively understood the situation. And even though his trainer wasn¡¯t here, he surged forward, complying with the Gym Leader¡¯s command. He spun violently, creating a storm of shadows that wrapped around his blazing fists.
The hit connected, knocking Armarouge back at last.
Fuji staggered too, his expression briefly flickering into confusion and something normal. For one heartbeat, he looked almost human again.
¡°Ren!¡± Blaine tried to seize that moment of clarity. ¡°This isn¡¯t you! Please¡ªjust stop!¡±
Fuji blinked rapidly, like someone awoken from a deep sleep. ¡°Blaine¡?¡± he murmured softly, eyes briefly clearing.
But something shifted inside him. The Unown swarmed closer, their shapes glowing more menacing, vibrating with a hum that sank painfully into Celeste¡¯s bones. Fuji¡¯s expression hardened again, darkness overtaking his eyes completely.
¡°You always ruin it,¡± he hissed through clenched teeth, voice climbing unnaturally high. ¡°Always! With your morals, your doubts¡ªno. Not this dream. Not Amber¡¯s dream.¡±
He threw out a shaking hand, voice cracking in wild desperation.
¡°Armor Cannon! Full power!¡±
Flames exploded outward, faster and hotter than ever. Celeste barely had time to gasp as Blaine grabbed her, shielding her with his body. Heat surged around them, scorching, blistering. Her ears rang violently with a sharp, piercing hiss.
When the flames finally subsided, Incineroar and Litwick lay motionless on the floor while Lahar was still managing to stand. Though only barely.
Celeste¡¯s heart thundered painfully in her chest.
How was this possible?
And how could he smile through it?
Fuji just stood there, twisted by shadows and bathed in unnatural firelight, his face distorted into a terrible grin. How could he be like this? Blaine called him brother, yet Fuji hadn¡¯t hesitated. He claimed this was about protecting his daughter, yet he¡¯d trapped her in a crumbling lie. No pain, no worry could justify this¡ this senseless destruction.
Her nails dug sharply into her palms. Anger surged, hot and raw.
Part of her wanted nothing more than to sprint across the flames and tackle Fuji herself. She could punch him, scream at him, make him see reason through force if necessary. Celeste¡¯s muscles tensed, her breath grew tight, and¡ª
And she stopped herself.
She took a breath. Just one. A single, steadying breath.
¡°We cannot let you destroy this wish,¡± Fuji was saying, voice detached again.
And Blaine¡ poor Blaine. His face twisted in pain, coat shredded, a deep gash visible beneath. He¡¯d clearly taken the brunt of the attack protecting her. His eyes looked distant, lost in memories.
¡°I remember those summers¡¡± he whispered weakly, eyes glassy. ¡°Running after Krabby on the beach. Everything¡¯s so much simpler when we¡¯re kids¡¡±
Celeste blinked, her own eyes getting misty. But¡
She looked upward at the Unown swirling endlessly above them.
This wasn¡¯t her first confrontation with them. She¡¯d faced them before. She remembered clearly, that day at Cinnabar Labs. She remembered the countless voices overlapping:
¡°¡Someone who worried¡¡±
¡Someone who cried¡¡±
¡°¡Endless summers¡ endless smiles¡¡±
¡°¡Togetherness¡¡±
¡°¡Paradise¡¡±
She remembered Nebula¡¯s warnings, too, about entropy. About wishes spinning wildly out of control. Fuji was a scientist, even if he¡¯d lost himself¡ªhe had to know better. He had to know wishes couldn¡¯t be so simple as paradise. An eternal summer, with red flowers always blooming through the streets. With no worries or tears¡
Happy ever after is the thing of storybooks.
Ahead, Fuji still wore that wide, hollow smile.
Would he really trap himself in this fantasy willingly? Make his home into this twisted fairy tale? Make himself into something he is not?
She shut her eyes, listening again to Blaine¡¯s faint whisper:
Everything¡¯s simpler when we¡¯re kids¡
And when you¡¯re a child who¡¯s lonely and sick? When your parents worry constantly, and everything feels awful?
Then¡
You wish for paradise. You wish that no one ever has to worry again. And when paradise gets lonely, you wish for friends to fill it.
When she opened her eyes again, Celeste stared into Fuji¡¯s empty smile¡ªand she knew. Clearly as the firelight burning around them.
She knew.
¡°Blaine,¡± Celeste said slowly, ¡°this isn¡¯t his wish.¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Another explosion burst behind her, but Celeste didn¡¯t turn around. She kept running, eyes fixed desperately on the distant doorway, still standing impossibly in the dark.
¡°I¡¯ll distract him.¡±
Blaine hadn¡¯t said much. He didn¡¯t need to. He understood as soon as she¡¯d told him¡ªthat this wish wasn¡¯t Fuji¡¯s.
¡°He¡¯s just giving in,¡± Blaine had murmured, voice somehow hopeful again. He was still trying desperately to find excuses for the friend he loved like a brother. And in that hope, his voice boomed with such determination that even Marowak had dragged itself upright one last time. ¡°I know you can reach her, Celeste.¡±
And just like that, Celeste ran.
She ran and ran, refusing to look back at the battle. Praying that Blaine¡ªunlike all others she¡¯d lost along the way¡ªwould hold out just a little longer. She reached the doorway, bursting through it into faint morning light that spilled down the hallway. Through windows, she glimpsed another impossibly perfect day, and the sunshine framing portraits filled with too-wide smiles.
She didn¡¯t stop to look this time.
¡°Back to the staircase, turn to the other side. Amber¡¯s bedroom is the first door,¡± Blaine had told her.
Celeste noticed a fresh tray of cookies on the centre table as she slowed to turn. Mrs Fuji¡ªAmber¡¯s mother¡ªwas nowhere in sight this time. Celeste didn¡¯t stop to look for her, either. Her mind was locked onto that single goal, that first door on the side.
As her hand reached for the doorknob, Shy¡¯s shadow wrapped tightly around her leg.
No, their eyes said.
¡°I can¡¯t stop now,¡± Celeste answered, already twisting the handle anyway.
And¡
And of course.
Behind the door, wooden boards melted seamlessly into lush green grass, stretching endlessly forward. Ahead of her, another swarm of Unown circled silently. Letters spiralling into circles upon circles, smaller and smaller, disappearing into a tunnel of dreams and madness.
Celeste swallowed. ¡°Her mother did say she went for a tea party¡ just like in the book,¡± she murmured, stepping forward tentatively. But Shy¡¯s grip tightened again, their bright eyes emerging fully from the shadows now. Wide, trembling.
Terrified.
She wanted to inspire them. To speak about bravery and sacrifice. To explain how badly she needed their strength to protect her from the nightmares ahead.
But¡
¡°You aren¡¯t my Pok¨¦mon,¡± she finally said.
Their grip loosened at those words.
¡°I¡¡±
She what? Couldn¡¯t ask Shy to follow her into danger? Couldn¡¯t let them sacrifice themselves, as Pat had done?
Slowly, Celeste took the Pok¨¦balls from her pockets¡ªAria¡¯s, Powder¡¯s, and Pat¡¯s¡ªand placed them gently onto the shadow.
¡°I¡¯d like you to be part of my team someday,¡± she said softly, voice trembling just slightly. ¡°To be partner. To let me know you fully, and for real. But¡ but even if we never become partners... I care far too much to ask you to follow me in there. I wouldn''t ask them either.¡± Her voice steadied when she patted the Pok¨¦balls, but her heart pounded painfully. ¡°So, Shy¡ I don¡¯t know what I¡¯ll find on the other side. But can you watch over them while I¡¯m away?¡±
Their eyes dimmed for a moment, then surged brighter, with what looked like tears. Shadows coiled desperately around her arm, silently pleading.
Celeste let out a small smile.
¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± she whispered, gently untangling herself and rising to her feet. ¡°I¡¯ll be quick. The Unown won¡¯t even notice me. Plus¡ I¡¯m the best at faking a smile and pretending there is nothing to worry about. Y-you¡¯ll see. Just¡ keep them safe, all right?¡±
She stepped away, and this time the shadow didn¡¯t follow. Shy just stared, frozen in disbelief.
Celeste straightened, offering one last reassuring half-smile.
Then she ran.
With each step forward, her mind softened. Thoughts blurred, reality grew hazy, her lips quivered slightly.
Yet she kept moving, further and further, until nothing remained but those strange letters spiralling endlessly, surrounding her with whispers of infinity.
An odd laugh escaped her lips.
¡°Onwards,¡± she somehow found herself laughing. ¡°To wonderland.¡±
Chapter 94 - Through the looking glass
Cerulean Interpol Branch
Two days ago.
...
Nancy purred slowly, winding herself around Nanu¡¯s leg like an Ekans to the prey. She knew patience, knew how to wear her trainer down. Sure enough, he caved with a curt pat to her head. This was the best he could do at this time.
It wasn¡¯t enough, of course. Not for her.
She shot him a look, slitted eyes sharp with contempt. Kanto¡¯s Persians were known to be proud, but Alolan ones? They were royalty. And queens didn¡¯t take scraps.
She dug her paws into his shin, tail flicking, a hiss curling from her throat like a threat. Ignoring her wasn¡¯t an option.
¡°I need silence to think, dammit,¡± he muttered, voice low, tired. But the words were empty, because by the time they left his mouth, he was already shoving the chair back, and she was already in his lap¡ªvictorious.
Nancy settled only when his palm drifted over her spine, her purring shifting from demand to satisfaction.
Nanu let his eyes drift shut, then. Let the quiet settle.
The quiet. The memories.
And her voice.
The girl he¡¯d met on Four Island.
It was just a few days ago when he¡¯d heard her voice again.
Snow crusted his boots when he trudged into the station, cheeks raw from the wind, two coffees precariously balanced on a flimsy paper tray. His was black and smoky. His office mate¡¯s¡ sweet, frothy, and spiced with something seasonal. Pumpkin, maybe. He didn¡¯t care. He just set the tray down and raised a brow at the mess in front of him: Looker, the office mate in question, had tangled himself in a snarl of Christmas lights.
¡°That what you wanted, Look?¡± Nanu gestured for the tray.
The fool nearly took a stack of reports with him in his flailing, but he managed to grab his cup first, cracking the lid with a grin. ¡°With a gingerbread man on top? You know me too well.¡±
Then he dumped in more sugar in the beverage. Like the thing wasn¡¯t sweet enough.
That was Kanto, for you.
Chatter, endless paperwork, and lately, far too much holiday cheer. Not that he minded. Routine was easy. Predictable. If he played his cards right, he could even slack off some. If he played it wrong¡ well, he might be sent to some annoying mission in the middle of Sevii again.
Sevii¡
That had been a wasted week.
Also, it couldn¡¯t have been further from his mind back that day.
He¡¯d done the job at the island. Like always. Talked to the poachers, dropped them off in some dusty prison, squeezed them for intel that never amounted to much. Another dead end on the Team Rocket case. And the kids he met there? He knew they were keeping their meeting with Articuno, for one. League surveillance wasn¡¯t stupid. They tracked the bird¡¯s migration. Knew it had been there.
But Nanu didn¡¯t mind.
The kids were just kids, chasing something bigger than themselves. Getting tied up up in stories they¡¯d tell years from now, maybe to their own kids, maybe just to themselves when the world got quiet.
So he¡¯d told the acting mayor what she wanted to hear: the League didn¡¯t give a damn about the bird as long as it behaved. Much less a bunch of kids.
Let them off with a slap on the wrist, call it a lesson learned, and move on.
He¡¯d even felt good about it, too. Cutting them loose before they got into actual trouble. Even that girl. The one he said he¡¯d keep the file on. Just for the scare, nothing more.
And that was that. Another case closed. Another one for the archives. Back to the office where he could relax...
Maybe he should¡¯ve paid more attention to her. Maybe he should¡¯ve kept her in mind.
But her name never crossed his thoughts when he sank into his chair, raised his coffee to his lips, and took a sip. His gaze drifted to the small, red-nosed Stantler figurine perched next to his monitor. Looker¡¯s doing, no doubt. Nanu let out a quiet chuckle. The damn thing was cute, he¡¯d give it that.
Then the buzz hit.
Urgent. A secure channel. Emergency broadcast flagged to both the League and their Interpol branch. The voice that came through was uneven, static breaking at the edges, but the panic was clear.
¡°This is Celeste Diaz, on Cinnabar Island. If anyone can hear me¡ we need help. We¡¯re at Cinnabar Labs and¡ there¡¯s something wrong here. I think it¡¯s getting worse. They made an entire tram disappear¡ªtracks and all. P-Please. We need help.¡±
Nanu froze.
Did she say¡ Celeste Diaz?
The same girl whose file he never kept.
¡°Did you hear that?¡± His voice came out rough, more to himself than to Looker, who had his back turned, still fussing with the damn Christmas Lights.
No response.
¡°Look?¡± Nanu tried again, louder this time. ¡°Emergency dispatch? Something about Cinnabar? Hey!¡±
Looker finally turned, blinking like he¡¯d just been shaken from a dream. ¡°Huh? Cinnabar?¡± He frowned, the name pulling at something distant in his mind. Then he shrugged. ¡°Haven¡¯t thought about it in ages¡¡±
His voice trailed off. The moment passed.
And then he went right back to untangling wires.
It didn¡¯t make any sense how Looker, of all people, barely reacted. But a while later, when their boss came in with some case out of Olivine City, Look was his usual self again. Jumping at the chance to do overtime. Nanu pressed their captain about Cinnabar, but nothing. No recognition. No curiosity. Like the island didn¡¯t exist.
And it wasn¡¯t just them.
No one on the entire floor gave a damn about Cinnabar.
Except for a janitor and his Metapod, grumbling about how the island¡¯s big contest never aired on TV. And the HR lady with the Misdreavus, complaining that her sister from Cinnabar hadn¡¯t called in days. They remembered, but the way they talked about it¡ it felt distant. Like something half-forgotten, slipping through their fingers even as they spoke.
That set something gnawing in Nanu¡¯s gut.
It wasn¡¯t normal.
So he started testing a theory. He asked questions. Listened. Paid attention.
And it became clear: anyone close to a Dark-type, a Ghost, or a Bug Pok¨¦mon could hold onto Cinnabar a little longer before that eerie apathy set in. The janitor had his Metapod. The HR lady, her Misdreavus.
And him? Well, He¡¯d been steeped in Dark-type energy so long, he wasn¡¯t sure he could shake it if he tried.
That¡¯s why he still cared.
He spent the next day working the phones, rattling official channels.
Four Island¡¯s interim mayor picked up first. Launched into a speech about the upcoming elections, expansions to her ice cream shop, plans to go to Viridian. It felt like a report, but he let her talk. Waited for his moment.
Then he slipped in the name.
Celeste Diaz.
Mayor Olga repeated it, almost absentmindedly. Then kept on talking, like she¡¯d never said it at all.
Next, he called Leader Blaine at Cinnabar. Unreachable. Phones refused to ring through to anyone on that island.
And somehow no one thought that was strange?
Then, finally, he caught a break.
Ugh, he was beginning to even sound like Look.
A kid named Luan. One of Celeste¡¯s companions picked up the phone, not from Cinnabar, but from Vermilion. He¡¯d been training his Lunatone for an upcoming gym match. At first, the boy fumbled his words, rambling about how he was keeping his head down, staying out of trouble.
Then Nanu asked about Celeste. About Cinnabar.
Luan hesitated.
Said he remembered the mist. Thick and unnatural, swallowing the coastline whole. Said Celeste and the others had gone into it.
And after that?
Well¡ Luan admitted he hadn¡¯t thought about them once since the day they left.
Nanu let the words settle. He checked satellite images, scoured the news, combed through every report he could get his hands on. He did everything short of stepping foot on Cinnabar himself.
The island was covered by something. And whatever it was, it kept anything from getting out.
And somehow¡ no one seemed to care.
Which brought him to today.
A weekend. The office was empty except for Looker and a handful of workaholic detectives, all too buried in their own cases to notice what Nanu was up to. He found an isolated meeting room, plugged in the drive with Celeste¡¯s message, and endured Nancy¡¯s needy purring as he worked.
Finally, in the silence, he heard footsteps approaching.
Just one set, accompanied by the clatter of a wooden cane. But he knew there were two people coming.
This meeting had been a pain in the ass to pull.
With a slow breath, Nanu stood and opened the door.
His guests were exactly who he expected.
Agatha. Creepy grandma of two. Elite Four. Ghost-type specialist. She smiled at him like she knew his deepest secrets¡ªand would hang them over his head. And Taro. Ninja. Elite Four. Dark-type specialist. Moved like a shadow, silent, like he wasn¡¯t even there.
Agatha¡¯s smile twisted on her face, the kind that could¡¯ve been warm or could¡¯ve been wicked. Hard to tell with the way the deep lines on her face curved. She wore her age with pride. Pride enough to make Nancy jealous.
¡°So¡¡± she tilted her head. ¡°Did you figure out what¡¯s wrong with Cinnabar, detective?¡±
Nanu stepped aside, letting them in. His gaze flicked to Nancy, who flicked her tail right back, unimpressed and annoyed at the lack of attention.
He gave her a look. Pleading with her to behave.
She didn¡¯t.
Not until Taro peered into her eyes.
Nancy stilled, finally. Thank the Tapus.
Satisfied, Nanu gestured toward the chairs and hit play on the recording, Celeste¡¯s voice crackling onto the screen.
¡°This is Celeste Diaz, on Cinnabar Island. If anyone can hear me¡ we need help.¡±
He let it play out, let them hear the panic in her voice, the way the words wavered. Then he leaned back, crossing his arms.
¡°I believe it¡¯s some psychic Pok¨¦mon,¡± he said simply.
Agatha¡¯s grin stretched, and at that moment, it looked too much like a Gengar¡¯s. ¡°Aren¡¯t you a clever one?¡±
Nanu didn¡¯t respond. He was the League¡¯s Interpol liaison, but dealing with the actual League? That was above his pay grade. And worse, it was a pain in the ass.
He sighed, already dreading it. ¡°So¡ about Cinnabar¡?¡±
Agatha exhaled through her nose, folding her arms over her cane. ¡°Yes, I do hate going to that dreadful island.¡±
He squinted at her. ¡°Going¡?¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
The Unown Dimension
...
Hahaha.
HaHEHAHaha.
HAHAHAHAhahaha.
Celeste¡¯s laughter burst forth, wild and untethered, ricocheting off spiralling letters that drifted like lost punctuation marks in a cosmic sentence. In the very heart of Amber¡¯s wish-turned-reality, she felt herself unravelling. The threads of her existence spilling loose, unmaking the person she¡¯d become.
And who exactly had she become?
A worrywart.
A nervous Nellie.
Someone¡ eww¡ Someone angsty.
Celeste was never any of those things.
What she was¡
Was silly.
Silly, silly, silly.
And¡ªboop!
She reached out to catch a floating C, only to watch it skitter away, its big-bugged-eyes following her every move.
¡°Come on, I said boop!¡± she lunged forward, only to draw in more eyes shaped like letters¡ or were they letters shaped like eyes? ¡°Well, if you think that¡¯s gonna affect me¡¡± she blew a raspberry. ¡°I¡¯m like famous. I know what it¡¯s like to have all eyes on me!¡±
She smirked, almost as if she had any control.
The Unown peered on. Through her? Beyond her?
Heh.
She found the absurdity of it all kind of amazing. To see beyond the flimsy veneer of reality, to stare straight into the tangled mess of threads she was somehow made of. She could see the threads, too. And, Arceus! No wonder everyone said she was wrong. The threads twisting out from her were a mess. A knot in the shape of a person. An existential hairball with more split ends than Aria¡¯s fur.
Celeste spiralled¡ªplit, plat, plot¡ªtumbling toward one of those threads. A thin, but relatively uncomplicated one. It tugged her toward something.
She saw that detective then. With a cat. He had threads spinning from him too. Many of them jumbled with hers. A tapestry of whatevers.
But she didn¡¯t want to see the noir detective right now.
She¡ª
She needed to find Amber!
Gods, she needed to keep her head straight. Just a little bit longer. Just¡ª
Hahaha.
Had she always been such a worrier?
HahahaHaHAHA!
Who cared about a kid¡¯s wish in a place where everything was so absurdly delightful, anyway?
(She did. She always had. She cared. She worried.)
Hahaha.
Her stomach ached from all that laughing.
Except¡ she wasn¡¯t laughing.
Was she?
Was she screaming?
She needed to keep her mind together.
Think.
Focus.
She¡¯d just seen something important in that vision of the detective.
What was it again?
Celeste pressed her hands against her head, trying to make sense of it. She¡¯d followed her own voice. The one she¡¯d broadcast out from Cinnabar Labs weeks ago. She didn¡¯t think that went anywhere, but it did. And now she knew that someone, somewhere, was coming.
The League was coming!
And¡ª
AND THERE WAS NO NEED TO WORRY.
HaHAHAhaha.
The outside world was miles away now. Distant. Fuzzy. Unimportant.
Here, in this place of endless letters and half-remembered dreams, everything was just another story.
Uhh Celeste like stories. She really, really like them.
¡°Maybe you can write one for me?¡± she asked the eyes spinning around her.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Hoenn.
The past.
...
Once upon a summer, back when Celeste and her parents were sailing through Hoenn, she would sprawl across the deck of their boat, watching the clouds drift lazily overhead. Her family was after some legend of a lost sea temple, an adventure that kept everyone busy. Everyone except her. The afternoons at sea stretched long and uneventful, a blur of salty breezes and the endless rhythm of waves.
She sighed, lifting a hand to trace the sky. ¡°This cloud looks like a Tauros¡ and that one¡ definitely a Pidgey.¡±
She had no one to talk to then. Those were the days before she¡¯d met Aria, but loneliness was an old companion, and it had never stopped her from filling the silence.
¡°A Pidgey, huh?¡±
Celeste flinched, not expecting an answer. Her mother¡¯s voice was bright with amusement. Tia was always the busiest of all. Always planning, always studying, always working. But today, for whatever reason, she sat down beside her daughter, squinting against the sunlight.
Celeste blinked, then pointed back up to the clouds. ¡°There. See? The wings, the head, and that little curve is the beak.¡±
Tia tilted her head, considering. ¡°I suppose¡ but I don¡¯t quite see it.¡± She smiled. ¡°You always notice things no one else does.¡±
Celeste glanced at her mother, their hazel eyes mirroring each other in the afternoon light. Tia¡¯s gaze, however, burned golden with purpose, always focused on the future, always moving forward.
¡°That will make you a great scientist someday,¡± she said, running a hand over Celeste¡¯s hair.
A scientist... Just like them.
Yeah¡
Celeste shifted, brushing the thought aside. ¡°Do you think real Pidgey ever get up that high?¡±
Tia exhaled, thoughtful. The silence that followed wasn¡¯t awkward. It was warm and easy, like the lull between waves. ¡°Pidgey have small wings. They can fly, but they¡¯re built for short distances. The higher they go, the harder it gets.¡±
¡°That¡¯s¡ kind of sad,¡± Celeste muttered. ¡°A bird that can¡¯t fly wherever it wants.¡±
Her mother smirked, a knowing gleam in her eye. Celeste knew that look. It meant a story was coming.
¡°Tell me, Celly, do you think they should fly higher?¡±
¡°Of course!¡± Celeste sat up. ¡°If I were a bird, I¡¯d go as far as I could! Maybe even to the stars.¡±
Tia chuckled, pulling her daughter into a hug. ¡°Then you¡¯ve never heard of the Pidgey who flew too close to the sun.¡±
Celeste wriggled free, giggling. ¡°That¡¯s not a real story.¡±
Her mother simply raised a brow. ¡°Oh, but it is.¡± And with that, she began.
¡°Far, far away, on an island lost to time, lived a small Pidgey. It watched as Pidgeotto and Pidgeot soared over the sea, returning with berries and tales of distant lands.
But Pidgey could only watch from the treetops, its wings too weak, its body too light for the strong ocean winds. ¡®One day,¡¯ it thought, ¡®I¡¯ll fly farther than all of them. I¡¯ll find places no Pok¨¦mon has ever seen.¡¯
So it trained. Every day, it fought against the wind, hopping from branch to branch, beating its wings harder, faster. The elders warned it to be patient. ¡®You are not ready,¡¯ they said. ¡®Even the strongest fliers know their limits.¡¯
But Pidgey refused to wait.
One morning, just as the sun touched the waves, it leapt into the sky. Higher and higher it climbed, past the tallest trees, past the watching eyes of its kin. It felt the wind, the thrill of the open sky.
It was flying! Truly flying!
The Pidgeotto and Pidgeot called out in admiration, but Pidgey barely heard them. It wanted more. It wanted the heavens themselves. Higher still, it rose, past the highest clouds, where the world below blurred into nothing.
But the sun blazed fierce. The air thinned. Pidgey¡¯s tiny wings burned with exhaustion. Its strength faltered. And then¡ its wings locked. It tried to glide, but there was no air left to carry it.
It fell.
The ocean below stretched wide and merciless. The waves swallowed it whole.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
And so, Pidgey was never seen again.
Though its passion burned bright, the unbridled flame consumes.¡±
For a long moment, Celeste was silent. The sea rocked gently beneath them, and the boat creaked in time with the breeze.
¡°So¡ it¡¯s bad to have dreams?¡± she asked, her voice quieter than before. ¡°To reach for something more?¡±
Tia shook her head. ¡°No, love. It¡¯s only bad to forget the world around you while chasing them. And to not know when to stop.¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
The Unown Dimension
..
Celeste reached out, stretching her fingers toward the sun. Towards the clouds. And to her mum. Back then, everything had felt warm. Real. She missed that. She even missed her mum.
But there was no sun here.
No sky.
She wasn¡¯t on a boat, she wasn¡¯t even sure she was anywhere at all¡ªyet she was still drifting.
Drifting, drifting, drifting.
Towards Amber¡¯s wonderland?
She doubted it.
Palms still stretched, she peeked through her fingers to see question marks staring back at her.
Or were they just questions without the marks?
This place really was too confusing.
One moment she was laughing, another she was seeing the whole of reality and in the next she was falling.
Falling, falling, falling.
Falling seemed like a running theme in her life. She¡¯d fallen from that ferry to Pallet, right when all this started. She¡¯d fallen head on into Cinnabar¡¯s nightmare, and now she was falling endlessly here.
Here, there, everywhere.
All over, she could see a million hers falling. As if the thought of falling itself had brought forth the action.
She fell in a lake. She fell across the sky. She fell¡ on a mirror?
She could see herself in that mirror. Distorted. Disturbed. She wasn¡¯t alone there.
¡°Once upon a time, there was a fair princess in a castle. And then one day an evil Florges gave her a poisoned Applin and¡ hum¡ a knight and a Charizard saved the day in the end?¡± Celeste could hear her own voice telling whatever this was to the woman accompanying her.
She shook her head. This wasn¡¯t important now. She didn¡¯t care.
More question marks crowded her vision, tilting curiously.
¡°Why aren¡¯t you making me laugh anymore?¡± Her voice sounded flat, hollow, even to her own ears. Around her spun more visions of the world. Things that were, things that might yet be. If she looked closely enough, she could see¡ª
Luan, nervously chewing his lip, holding a pen above a dotted line. The Razzo Cosmetics logo loomed over his shoulder.
¡°I d-don¡¯t know, Mia,¡± he hesitated. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I wait until after I get my first badge? Try the¡ the normal sponsorship?¡±
Mia shook her head. ¡°Trust me, something big is coming. You¡¯ll get noticed faster if you jump in now. You can always train on the side. Pay¡¯s good, anyway.¡±
Celeste turned her head, indifferent, spiralling away.
Elsewhere, in some woods, Ray was surrounded by Zigzagoon. His voice boomed loudly. And mockingly.
¡°Oh no, I¡¯m in mortal danger! Whatever shall I do?¡± His hands theatrically reached toward the sky, never once nearing his Pok¨¦balls. One Zigzagoon growled adorably. Another wagged its tail.
Celeste cared. Deeply. She knew she cared¡ªabout them, about what happened to them¡ªbut right now, in this strange, drifting nowhere¡ she just couldn¡¯t feel it.
She sank further. Question marks and exclamation points multiplied, crowding closer like a flock of curious birds.
¡°What exactly are you asking, anyway?¡± Her curiosity broke through, just barely.
No answer came, but Celeste already knew.
She spun deeper into herself, following tangled threads into visions more distant and obscure. Her parents, lecturing together in the Crown Tundra. Opal and her five-year-old self, giggling as Alcremie swirled icing atop a cake. Diantha¡ªher friend Diantha who never once dared to put her little Ralts to battle¡ªstanding tall stadium beneath brilliant moonlight with this¡ dressed up Gardevoir.
Threads. There were threads everywhere. Reality woven into possibility, possibility woven into impossibility.
Celeste¡¯s existence was a knot.
And this knot was far too tangled to be possible.
And the Unown, with their curious eyes and silent questions, pulled her.
They pulled and pulled and pulled.
Toward something buried deep in the centre of it all.
An answer.
For why was she wrong?
Or was this simply another question?
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Ilex Forest
Years from now.
...
Celeste scowled at the Rotom phone, its holographic screen shimmering against a dense, sun-dappled canopy. It was so bright that the reflections blurred every detail of the caller¡¯s face. She didn¡¯t need to see his stupid face, anyway.
¡°You know Eusine is an idiot, right?¡± she muttered.
A crackly voice piped up on the other end. ¡°Yes, but what if Suicune really is nearby? He insists there were sightings close to Azalea.¡±
Celeste waved dismissively. ¡°Yeah, legendary doggo bad, I know. I¡¯m already checking it out. Just wanted it on record that he¡¯s an idiot. Last time he cried Suicune it was just some lost Luxio. Imagine being dumb enough to mistake a Luxio for Suicune.¡±
¡°¡ Legendary beast,¡± the voice corrected. ¡°And a Luxio isn¡¯t even a¡ª¡±
¡°Arceus, you¡¯re insufferable.¡±
¡°¡Will you report if you find anything?¡± the voice asked.
¡°You¡¯re not the boss of me, Birdy,¡± she smirked. After a beat, she added, ¡°I¡¯ll report. If there¡¯s anything, I¡¯ll even set a curfew in both Azalea and Goldenrod. Happy now?¡±
The signal fizzed as she ventured deeper into the forest, and the voice coughed through static. ¡°Don¡¯t piss¡ it off, Cele¡ª¡±
Then the line went dead.
Celeste popped open her jacket so her ghost-infused phone could float into an inner pocket. ¡°I¡¯m the boss of me, not you.¡± She stuck her tongue out, meandering deeper where no phone signal could reach her.
The supposed sighting had been near a lake on the forest¡¯s southern edge, but Celeste knew these legendary beasts rarely stayed still. That was fine. She liked an excuse to wander somewhere with lousy reception, anyway. Where the League couldn¡¯t pester her with¡ with everything.
...
Maybe she should take Lori up on that Four Island vacation offer.
She wandered deeper, breathing the air crisp with springtime, listening to leaves crunch softly underfoot. She didn¡¯t know exactly where she was going, and that felt amazing for once. The forest here was untouched¡ timeless even. Like a memory from before humans¡ªwell¡ mostly her¡ªscrewed everything.
Drawn by the scent of fresh water, Celeste soon came upon a small, crystal-clear lake. Pok¨¦mon played around the banks, their laughter and splashes echoing in the quiet. Without a care, she settled on a smooth rock, pulled a water bottle from her bag, and noticed a solitary Golduck idling on the far shore as she filled it up.
¡°Bet he saw something blue and thought it was Suicune,¡± she giggled, taking a long, refreshing sip of water. She should really come out to hike more often. Nowadays it was always teleportation and rushing, flying around like a busy busy Combee.
Then a gentle snap of a twig jolted her.
She spun around immediately, Aria¡¯s Pok¨¦ball already spinning from her fingertips¡ªonly for it to clatter down, failing to open.
She stared at it for a few seconds, then around, towards the lake, now strangely still. Empty. Even the Golduck had vanished without a sound. A rookie might¡¯ve dismissed it¡ She made a sudden movement, startled the Pok¨¦mon. Her Pok¨¦ball was coincidently faulty. But her senses were sharp, and Celeste was no rookie. She noticed how the breeze had stopped, and how no bird chirped anymore.
She crouched slowly, retrieving Aria¡¯s Pok¨¦ball.
¡°Show yourself,¡± she commanded calmly.
Nothing moved. She clenched another Pok¨¦ball, fingers itching with impatience.
¡°I said,¡± she repeated, louder, ¡°show yourself.¡±
And finally, something appeared.
It fluttered from the trees like a stray leaf, hovering playfully. An onion-shaped fairy, deceptively harmless yet deeply unsettling in its casual cheer.
Celeste frowned. She¡¯d studied threats to humanity well enough to know exactly what hovered before her.
¡°Celebi,¡± she said, cautiously smiling, like the presence of a deity didn¡¯t bother her in the slightest. ¡°The Voice of the Forest.¡±
The Pok¨¦mon giggled musically. ¡°Celeste. Frightening.¡±
¡°Frightening?¡± She raised an eyebrow.
¡°History says you¡¯re frightening.¡±
¡°Are you frightened?¡±
¡°Of you?¡± Celebi twirled in the air. ¡°You¡¯re just a human.¡±
Was¡ that meant as an insult? ¡°Care to unfreeze time and let me use my Pok¨¦balls, then?¡±
Celebi darted around her head, examining her like a weird artefact. ¡°If I do that, we won¡¯t chat.¡±
A laugh escaped her. ¡°I do like chatting.¡±
¡°I know,¡± it said. Its voice was silvery, and to Celeste it sounded like the ruffling of leaves. Also, somehow, very annoying.
She squinted at the creature, trying to recall what else she knew of Celebi. It was a protector of nature, and also a time traveller of some kind. She never considered it much of a threat, and its sighting were very sparse.
Meh. This was probably enough for her to work with.
She tilted her head, pretending to be at ease. ¡°Do future history books say that about me, too?¡±
¡°Bold of you to assume there are history books in the future,¡± Celebi said, then clutched its tiny mouth as if it¡¯d let a forbidden secret slip.
It was a very bad actor, though.
¡°You mean, there are no history books about me¡ or¡?¡±
¡°History books.¡±
Celeste frowned. She didn¡¯t like to play games with gods. And this one was particularly infuriating.
Still, she indulged it a little more. ¡°No books because¡ we go digital?¡±
Celebi darted close, perching above her. ¡°I like this time,¡± it sang. ¡°So many humans. So full of potential.¡±
¡°Cut the crap.¡± Celeste really didn¡¯t like this game. Or this onion god.
¡°Quick on the draw, champ?¡± It said, sounding like something very puntable. ¡°How¡¯s that working out for you so far?¡±
Celeste¡¯s smile grew almost madder, her fingers dancing over another Pok¨¦ball. ¡°Wanna find out?¡± she tensed again, making herself sound dangerous.
The onion exploded into high-pitched laughter, twirling into the trees branches. Celeste¡¯s irritation flared. Gods, Pok¨¦mon like this were always infuriating.
She hated them.
¡
Well¡ she didn¡¯t hate hate them.
She actually found them wonderful and amazing. But long gone was the time when she could wonder into a forest hoping to make friends with something whimsical and fantastic and¡ª
¡°Ahh! What the hell?¡± Celeste yelled as Celebi teleported inches from her face.
¡°Where¡¯d you go?¡± it asked.
¡°What?¡±
¡°Your mind¡ªit drifted away for a moment.¡±
Celeste sighed, exasperated. ¡°Can you just try to kill me already so I can go about my day?¡±
¡°Kill you? Hah. Humans are so funny. I¡¯m the guardian of time. You should know better,¡± Celebi chided.
With a heavy huff, Celeste turned back toward the lake. ¡°Alright, guardian. Lemme guess. This means you guard can¡¯t interfere, or some shit like that, right?¡± she forced her mind to recall some of her mother¡¯s books. ¡°So you¡¯ll just¡ annoy me to death. Is Suicune still around? I¡¯d really rather be mauled.¡±
Celebi spun forward, swirling flower petals and pollen all over her face. ¡°The North Wind has not blown over these trees recently.¡±
¡°Dammit, Eusi¡ªah-CHOO!¡± Celeste sniffed, wiping pollen from her face.
For some reason, that sneeze delighted Celebi, who immediately tried to mimic the sound¡ªbadly, and with way too much enthusiasm.
¡°Okay, have a nice day. And, uh, if you can unfreeze time later, that¡¯d be awesome,¡± she added, grabbing her bag and water bottle. She turned to leave, and Celebi trailed behind.
¡°I thought you¡¯d push harder for a fight. History says you¡¯re¡ fighty.¡±
¡°Maybe if people kept writing history books, your history would be a bit more accurate.¡± She sniffed again, rubbing her nose. And with that, the onion stopped following. Which would be nice, had she not hesitated herself.
¡°What?¡± Celeste asked warily.
¡°I¡shouldn¡¯t tell you,¡± Celebi murmured.
Celeste shrugged. She knew the tiny guardian wanted nothing but to talk. But she rather not indulge it that much.
¡°Fine,¡± she said, taking another step away.
Celebi obviously fluttered quickly into her path. ¡°History knows you as the one who upset nature. You upset the balance of the world. Of humans and Pok¨¦mon. But¡you¡¯ve already done that, and you don¡¯t seem bad or evil.¡±
Of course, that¡¯s what this was all about.
When was it not?
She pressed her lips together. ¡°Good people sometimes fuck things up even worse than the bad ones.¡±
¡°You came here to hunt the North Wind, right?¡± Celebi asked, hovering close as she resumed walking. ¡°That¡¯s bad¡ªHe protects the forests, you know?¡±
¡°And I protect the people. And the Pok¨¦mon that decided to stay with the people.¡± Celeste muttered. And though she tried to sound indifferent, the guilt she kept well hidden in her heart seeped through her voice. Then she sighed. ¡°Look, I don¡¯t like it¡ my Pok¨¦mon don¡¯t like it¡ But I made my choices, and there are no¡ no do-overs.¡±
She stopped, turning to the tiny onion whose eyes had somehow swollen. And she saw it then. Fully, and in all its potential. This was Celebi. She didn¡¯t know much about it, but she knew it was the Mythical Time-Travelling Pok¨¦mon. A living passkey to the past and future.
¡°¡Cause and effect,¡± Celebi whispered, strangely resigned.
Why resigned?
Celeste studied the guardian floating quietly beside her. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if it wasn¡¯t entirely happy with the future it was supposed to protect, either. A spark flickered in Celeste¡¯s chest. Hope. Reckless, dangerous hope rose through her throat and tugged a smile onto her lips.
¡°Why are you really here, Celebi?¡±
It paused midair, blinking its large eyes at her. ¡°Curiosity¡ about the person behind all the stories.¡±
She smirked at that. ¡°So you come here, tell me the future sucks¡ª¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t tell you anything!¡± Celebi fluttered its wings.
¡°You might as well have,¡± Celeste pressed. ¡°You said the future¡¯s even worse than this hell we¡¯re living. And what? Am I supposed to believe you¡¯re just here out of curiosity?¡± She laughed. ¡°Sounds a lot like meddling to me.¡±
Celebi¡¯s gaze darted away. ¡°W-what?! No! I wouldn¡¯t dare meddle¡ªI thought you understood. I¡¯m only a guardian¡ª¡±
¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± she interrupted, eyes gleaming. ¡°Big-time guardian. Bet you¡¯re not even supposed to talk to me. How many rules did you break already? How many futures have shifted just by you being here?¡± Her smirk widened. ¡°You already told me humanity¡¯s fucked. Feels like I need to do something about it.¡±
Celebi flitted about. ¡°I¡¯m only talking to you because you¡¯re too stubborn to change your ways.¡±
¡°Not if the future depends on it,¡± Celeste shot back.
¡°It¡¯s too late now.¡±
¡°Then help me before it is.¡±
They both stopped in silence, staring into each other¡¯s eyes.
Celeste¡¯s voice softened. She could reach it. She needed to. ¡°Help me fix my mistakes, Celebi. Before I make them.¡±
But in a blink, the silence broke. Golduck quacked softly across the lake. Birds twittered above, and Celeste¡¯s phone vibrated in her pocket, somehow with reception again. She hesitated, eyes searching the empty air for Celebi.
Nothing remained but leaves dancing in the breeze.
Maybe it wouldn¡¯t¡ªcouldn¡¯t¡ªhelp.
But still¡
The past. Changing the past.
It sounded a lot better than fighting for a future already doomed. She¡¯d just have to find a way to do it herself.
Rolling her shoulders, she grabbed her phone. ¡°No Suicune in Ilex, Lance,¡± Celeste said before the man could even greet her. ¡°But you know what? I think I need a vacation. Lori offered me her place on Four Island. Mind telling her I¡¯ll take her up on that?¡±
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
The Unown Dimension
...
Celeste fell further, past the questions, past the memories, even past herself. Every thread of her existence unravelled slowly, spinning and spilling out into forever. Around her, the Unown, dissatisfied with the answers they¡¯d found, hummed wordlessly.
Wouldn¡¯t it be kinder if this tangled knot of possibilities and broken rules stopped here and now?
Celeste wondered it too. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to become just an echo? To let herself vanish quietly, like morning mist beneath the sunlight of another perfect day.
Wouldn¡¯t it be better to just¡let go?
That was always the question, wasn¡¯t it?
When to act and when to wait.
When to listen and when to speak.
When to fight and when to simply¡ let go.
You¡¯ll never learn. You are stubborn. You¡¯ll never change. You push and you push, never considering the consequences. We see it clearly¡ªthere is never going to be paradise with you in it.
Celeste smiled at that, though she didn¡¯t want to. The smile stretched on her face, matching the dream of paradise the Unown held onto. All this, because a little girl had made a wish? Did these strange, otherworldly beings truly believe this was kind? And¡ were they really so different from humans? Who wouldn¡¯t bring out smiles if they had such power?
Sadness and worry¡they weren¡¯t comfortable.
Celeste just wanted to be happy, too. There was nothing wrong with it.
¡was there?
¡was that really all she wanted?
She continued falling, drifting deeper. Visions began to float around her¡ªfutures that would never be. Lives unlived, dreams untouched. Celeste saw Detective Nanu and the League pushing through waves and the thick mist surrounding Cinnabar.
Those Elite Four members were powerful. They fought bravely. Their shadowy Pok¨¦mon battled the Unown¡¯s nightmares in endless, meaningless conflict. She saw clearly the Dhelmise from her restless memories striking against a Gengar, while a Greninja rose above crashing waves, wielding darkness like a shuriken.
But what was the point?
Entropy unravelled Cinnabar¡¯s paradise at its edges. The Unown struggled, their desperate movements revealing how hard they fought to hold on the growing complexity of it all.
And yet¡ They didn¡¯t let go. Neither did the League. Neither did the trapped people, who even unconsciously fought to break out.
If Celeste could still care, this might have made her sad. She wanted to be sad. She wanted to fight, wanted to joke to scare the ghosts away. She wanted laughter to mean something.
And she wanted answers.
Oh, how badly she wanted answers. Answers about so many things.
But the sadness wouldn¡¯t come. Instead, she merely smiled, letting out that hollow, meaningless happiness.
And she drifted.
Further and further away.
Until¡ª
A single tear escaped her eyes, hovering crystalline and still in midair.
The Unown crowded closer, spinning, silently insisting there was nothing to worry about.
But she¡ she did worry!
A lot.
Her heart was suddenly thumping on her chest.
And between the heartbeats, she saw a shadow zipping through the nothingness.
¡°I-Is that¡?¡± she whispered, the tears now flowing freely.
The shadow flickered, shifting, slowly taking form. Two eyes came to light first. They were hazel like her own, and warm as lanterns guiding her home. The figure¡¯s body¡ªvaguely human-shaped¡ªwas made of wisps and ink-black shadow. And around their shoulders and curled into a helmet-like hood was something like smoke, or a fluttering cloud.
Shy looked at her softly, hesitantly, before more Unown circled them aggressively.
¡°Watch out!¡± Celeste shouted, suddenly feeling everything¡ªfear, courage, determination¡ªrush back.
The ghost flinched but swiftly rallied, punching one Unown away with small fists ignited by shadowy flame. Celeste reached desperately for her friend. Alone, the Unown weren¡¯t strong, but their sheer number overwhelmed.
Shy stretched out one trembling hand. More Unown pressed closer. But now, with Shy near, Celeste could care again, could fight. She swatted letters aside, stretched her fingers desperately, and Shy did the same.
Their hands finally touched.
The shadow was solid and soft, like a cloud in a dream. Celeste pulled Shy into a tight hug.
¡°Thanks!¡± she whispered, feeling their tiny arms wrap carefully around her neck and the wisps from their helmet brush gently against her cheek. She had no idea what Pok¨¦mon they were¡ªcertainly not a Banette, nor a Mimikyu¡ªbut it didn¡¯t matter.
This was Shy, and they were friends.
¡°Thanks for coming for me,¡± she said. ¡°T-Thanks for letting me see you.¡±
Shy looked up, eyes blushing brighter red in embarrassment. Celeste laughed at that. Genuine happiness at last. But the moment shattered as more Unown crowded around, psychic auras burning with intensity.
She glanced quickly at her friend. ¡°Was that Fire Punch just now?¡± she asked. ¡°Mind doing it again?¡±
Shy¡¯s expression hardened, and their eyes blazed brighter. Edges of their form flared, turning vivid yellow and green. Pumped with newfound determination, Shy punched forward, clearing a path through the swarm. The shadows spilling from them reached back toward Celeste, guiding her forward.
And together, they pushed onward through dreams, nightmares, and impossible threads¡ªstraight toward Amber.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
Cinnabar Labs
About a month ago.
...
Blainey set the big box down on the kitchen table, then reached for Amber¡¯s hand to guide her gently to the nearest chair. She sat down, swinging her legs, staring curiously at the box. That lady¡ªshe said she was called Babs¡ªtold them there were fireworks inside. Amber wondered if opening it would send bright colours shooting across the ceiling, like the ones she¡¯d seen through her window during summer festivals.
She¡¯d asked Daddy so many times to take her to watch them up close. The sky would burst with fiery Pok¨¦mon shapes and glitter and magic. But she was always in the hospital back then, and even after she came home, Daddy said there were too many people. Too many germs. He said the world wasn¡¯t safe for her, so she could only watch from far away.
It was why she didn¡¯t have any friends at school, either.
She could go to school now. Mommy had insisted, told her it was important. But none of the other kids came near her. Daddy had scared all their parents. She wasn¡¯t angry, not really. She knew Daddy loved her more than anything in the world.
¡°Blainey,¡± Amber tugged at his sleeve, ¡°can I fly on Charizard again?¡±
Blainey smiled, his moustache twitching gently. He peeked nervously down the hallway. ¡°Maybe later, kiddo,¡± he promised, patting her hand. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back. Just give me one minute, okay?¡±
He slipped quietly into the corridor, pulling the door closed behind him as if that could keep their voices out.
¡°You brought her here today, Blaine? Today, of all days?¡± Daddy¡¯s voice was loud, angry.
¡°You promised her mother,¡± Blaine¡¯s voice was softer, calmer. ¡°Come on, Ren¡¡±
¡°My wife should understand how important this research is. It¡¯s for her!¡±
¡°Ren, she¡¯s not your wife¡ªYou really need to sign those divorce¡ªHey, hey. Calm down. I¡¯m always on your side, but think of Amber. This... this can¡¯t be good for her.¡±
Their voices turned louder again, and painful. Amber quickly pulled out a Pok¨¦ball, squeezing it until Whitey popped out. The little Scorbunny hopped into her lap immediately, pressing close as Amber covered her ears, shut her eyes tight, and waited for the yelling to stop. Whitey was warm. He always was, especially when Daddy yelled with people in the corridor.
Seconds passed, then minutes¡ªmaybe forever¡ªuntil suddenly Blainey was crouched before her again, his eyes gentle, but hiding something sad too. Daddy stood behind him, but he wasn¡¯t smiling at all.
¡°I¡¯ve got a gym battle, so I¡¯ve got to go,¡± Blaine explained softly, glancing briefly at her Daddy. ¡°And your dad has a really important meeting. But guess what? Afterwards, he said he¡¯ll bring you to the gym. You can meet all the Pok¨¦mon and play with them as long as you want.¡±
Amber¡¯s eyes widened, her smile hopeful. She turned quickly to her father. ¡°Daddy, will you play too?¡±
He hesitated, only a second, but she saw it: his eyebrows bunching together like they always did when Mommy made him sad. Amber felt her smile fade. Was Blainey making him sad, too?
¡°Yes, honey,¡± Daddy said finally, forcing a small smile onto his tired face. ¡°I¡¯ll try my very best to finish early, so we¡¯ll have plenty of time to play.¡± But before Amber could reply, he turned away, muttering quietly to Blaine about being late. ¡°I¡¯ll send someone to stay with you soon, Amber,¡± he called from the doorframe.
Then they were both gone.
Amber waited.
And waited.
But no one came.
She swung her legs back and forth, boredom quickly replacing patience. Whitey flopped dramatically onto his side, sighing loudly in his bunny-fashion. Amber giggled softly, but her attention soon drifted back to the mysterious box on the table.
It didn¡¯t look big enough for fireworks, but maybe¡
With one quick glance toward the hallway, Amber climbed carefully onto the chair and then onto the table, her small hands peeling the box open.
No bright sparks flew out. Inside there were just some little tiles, each painted with odd, squiggly shapes. Letters? Weird letters! Amber dug through them, fascinated by how they felt smooth and cool under her fingertips.
Could she spell her name?
A-M-B-E-R.
She found the right shapes and arranged them carefully, beaming proudly at her work.
Then the tiles shivered.
Amber blinked, thinking her eyes were playing tricks. But then, one by one, the strange little letters rose into the air. She could only gasp in delight as the floating shapes unfolded from each one, each revealing a blinking eye.
They stared at her, silent, waiting.
And at that, her heart skipped. She scooped up more tiles and tossed them gently upward. Those too rose gracefully, opening like a storybook come to life. More eyes appeared, shiny and curious, watching her kindly.
She laughed, stretching her tiny fingers toward them. They flitted around her hand, playful yet elusive, whispering like wind-chimes. Their voices sang so softly around her, it was almost like a dream. Or like she was Alice, making new, strange friends in Wonderland.
¡°You¡¯re silly!¡± Amber giggled, spinning fast enough to fan out her hair in a wave of teal. The Unown spun with her, matching her movements like shadows. Whitey hopped eagerly below, sparks dancing from his paws as he tried to join their magical dance.
Amber moved her hand slowly around the letters, spelling out small words she remembered from school¡ªwords like ¡°Skitty¡± and ¡°sun¡± and ¡°happy¡±. Each time she finished, the letters hummed, rearranging themselves and echoing her words back in soft whispers.
It was like the world was filled with music, and that the songs were her friends.
It was wonderful.
But when Amber spelled ¡°happy¡± again, something shifted inside her chest.
The Unown paused, humming quieter.
¡°Happy¡ Amber, happy?¡± the voices asked her, rearranging to reform the words.
Her smile slowly faded. And the kitchen, so happy just now, felt very empty. Amber¡¯s lip trembled, and she looked down at her feet.
¡°Are you lonely, too?¡± she asked, rubbing her eyes quickly, trying not to cry in front of her new friends. ¡°No, of course not¡ There¡¯s so many of you¡¡±
The Unown drew closer, their eyes and bright.
¡°Sad¡ Lonely¡ but we are here¡¡± they whispered gently. ¡°Tell us what you need.¡±
Amber twisted her sleeves tightly. ¡°N-need?¡±
Their whispers layered over each other, never growing too loudly or startling.
¡°The world is yours to shape¡¡±
¡°We hear you.¡±
¡°We see you.¡±
¡°What do you wish for?¡±
Amber took a deep, shaky breath. ¡°I wish¡¡± she began, struggling with the words. ¡°I wish Daddy wouldn¡¯t worry about me anymore.¡± Her voice broke slightly, and she wiped another tear from her cheek. ¡°I wish Mommy didn¡¯t either. Or Blainey. I don¡¯t want anyone to worry.¡±
She sniffled again, but something inside her chest burned brighter.
¡°I wish¡¡± Her voice gained strength. ¡°I wish no one ever worried about anything. Ever again. That the world could be perfect, and happy, all the time. And sunny¡ Like it¡¯s summer vacation every single day. And¡ªand I¡¯d spend all day playing with Daddy, Mommy, Blainey, and my Pok¨¦mon friends. And we¡¯d never, ever have to stop.¡±
Her words floated softly into silence.
Then, slowly, carefully, Amber¡¯s new friends began to hum once more. A song impossibly beautiful and pure. Like angels blasting off their trumpets. It grew deeper, louder, resonating through walls and glass. It vibrated through the metal forks resting in the sink and the wooden floor beneath her feet. The song swelled and swelled, shaking the foundations of Cinnabar Labs, and outward to the very edges of the island and to the ocean itself.
They spiralled around her. Dancing to their rhymes. Their bodies glowing softly, as reality rearranged itself. As if dreams and starlight were nothing but play-doh.
Softer now, they spoke.
¡°¡Someone who worried¡¡±
¡°¡Someone who cried¡¡±
¡°¡Endless summers¡ Endless smiles¡¡±
¡°¡Togetherness¡¡±
¡°¡Paradise¡¡±
Their voices unified, gentle yet absolute.
¡°A wish from a pure heart.¡±
Then¡ª
Then the sun shone. And reality became a dream.
¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª
The Unown Dimension
...
Celeste finally understood.
As she and Shy drifted toward the distant glow of Amber¡¯s dream, the ache of a lonely child¡¯s wish rippled through her chest. Amber hadn¡¯t wished for paradise to hurt anyone. She¡¯d never wanted to trap an entire island in a nightmare.
She just wanted someone to hold her hand.
Was that really so different from Celeste herself?
Around them, reality fractured. Celeste knew out there, the Unown strained against the League¡¯s relentless push, their perfect illusion splintering at its seams. Ironically, paradise had become a ticking clock, and now everyone was in danger: Amber, her family, Blaine, Detective Nanu, the league¡ and Celeste herself. The Unown had woven paradise from kindness, but perfection couldn¡¯t exist.
Reality demanded balance.
Maybe Celeste was stubborn. Reckless. Impulsive. Maybe she really was wrong, tangled up in threads of futures that didn¡¯t make sense. Perhaps she wouldn¡¯t ever fully change. But wasn¡¯t life itself a beautiful mess of tangled knots and broken threads?
She¡¯d spent her whole life pushing blindly forward, bottling her problems away, running in every direction but her own. She never stopped to breathe. Yet here, floating in this impossible place, she finally saw clearly just how incredible it was to simply exist as a messy, contradictory person.
And now? Celeste would fight¡ªwith every bit of passion she had¡ªfor the privilege of feeling every uncomfortable, wonderful emotion along the way. Sure, that might still sound like the same old same old. But this time, she¡¯d pause. She¡¯d listen. She¡¯d take her time and slow down so thoroughly, Pat would become the proudest Slowpoke in the world.
Heh. When this was over, she¡¯d Slowpoke so hard he wouldn¡¯t even recognise her.
Just like the little Pidgey from her mother¡¯s story, Celeste could¡ªand, let¡¯s be honest, probably would¡ªchase the sun, soaring bravely toward her dreams (whatever those turned out to be). Maybe her wings would burn. Or maybe, if she wasn¡¯t burned by her own desires, she could course-correct. Her mother¡¯s story had never been to let go, but simply to take the time to look around and find the path.
¡°Take one breath,¡± Blaine had just told her that. She could see him adding, ¡°Listen to the tailwind, little Pidgey.¡±
Fly boldly, sure, but don¡¯t be afraid to stop and glide into the shade if you need to. See things as it was¡ªnot just as she wished it would be.
Olga had said it once, too.
Accept things as they are. Only then can you change them.
And now Celeste needed to help Amber and the Unown understand this as well. That the answer wasn¡¯t paradise or perfection.
Paradise meant nothing without chaos to shape it, and tears only made laughter sweeter. Sunshine needed rain to wash the world clean. And a lonely child¡¯s wish could only ever truly be answered by someone who stopped and listened.
Celeste tightened her grip on Shy¡¯s hand, feeling her friend¡¯s gentle, shadowy warmth guiding her through the thinning veil. Behind them, the Unown¡¯s rhyme faded. And ahead? Ahead lay clarity, purpose, and hope.
Together, they passed through the final shimmering threads of the liminal.
The tunnel dissolved around them. The strange glow of an impossible sun and the scent of sweet tea awaited.
¡°Ready?¡± Celeste asked softly.
Shy squeezed her hand tighter.
And onward, they went.
Toward Amber¡¯s tea party. Toward her wonderland.
Toward one final chance to wake up before it was too late.