A/N:
I had planned to upload this before the international release of Black and White, but life distracted me in all her subtle ways and now it's a tiny bit late. The idea is to make this a collection of short stories, all Hikari-centred (not necessarily told from her point of view) and all taking place in a different area of Sinnoh. Sort of a tour across the region. Whoever will appear next to Hikari in the story depends on what I feel like writing at the moment; sometimes it will be shipping-verse, sometimes not.
As for this chapter: after my Alexandrianshipping story earlier I was eager to write more of Volkner, with this as the result. I don't often do game-verse stories, so I'm actually quite excited for this project; hopefully it will stay that way so that I can make a decent number of entries. :)
Disclaimer: Do not own Pokémon.
Valor Lakefront; Beaconshipping.
The evening has set in, initiating the shades of bluish light so typical of Valor Lakefront. Repeatedly Hikari has thought of this time of day as her favourite. The middle of the day, with its bright light, is attractive, and so is the morning; inaugurating a whole new set of opportunities that she might or might not take. But this - the moon reflected in the black waters; the beach reduced to a sober extension of the sea; and the town itself seeming almost pearly in the glow of the moon - this is what is most beautiful of all.
Perhaps she is melancholic to think like that. Hikari doesn't know.
The silence of Lake Valor is so different from the silence in her own town (home). It's soothing, and calm, rather than deserted. Chosen stillness; not an inevitable consequence of geographical factors.
It's in this state of mind and this setting that she sees Volkner for the first time in a long period. He exits from the Hotel Grand Lake and walks in the direction of the beach; wishing, perhaps, for a breather or a quiet reflection after - whatever action.
Her grey eyes follow him. She is surprised to see his face here - but not so much that it results in a physical reaction. Her life towards the top has blurred the sharp edges of her emotions: too much has happened for her to still be shocked; too much has succeeded for her to still want something.
But she still can feel resonations. There's something stirring in her stomach, at this very moment.
After a few seconds, another person follows him and - it's a woman. Of course it is, her quiet reasoning tells her, and it's not regret or loss that colours her tone. It's merely the distant sound of observation.
(Her journey has been nothing but observing things with sometimes turning them into acquisitions; by now, the distinction is clear).
They go down to the beach, together, and - why does that last word feel so much more loaded than the rest of the sentence? Is it because it's something she can only long for herself, she, who is always underway? She, who is always alone?
But that is simply not true, her reasoning replies. She has her Pokémon and her friends, and besides - it is chosen solitude. Not an inevitable consequence of factors.
So it's almost with clinical detachment that she watches Volkner put an arm around the unknown woman; that she imagines his eyes to be soft in the evening light, the frown on his face still there but almost imperceptible.
And oh, there may be scenarios and futures in her head that won't come true (won't come true, won't come true) but that doesn't matter. She's as much used to deception as to greatness, and - it's only a fickle desire anyway.
It's nothing substantial.
She still keeps her eyes on the beach, drinking in the shadowy details with an avidness that is almost eager.
(So long since she's felt something like this. So long since she's been burning…
burning, for what?)
Her hand closes around the pokéball on her waist. One shouldn't lose time dreaming meaningless dreams, she mumbles feebly.
You're way past that, her reasoning confirms, and smiles an almost pitying smile.
(Once upon a time, there had been nothing but dreams twirling in front of her eyes. She'd like to go back).