Two days later, after mulling over different ways to break the news to her mother and close friend, Serena decided to bite the bullet and tell them at the same time. The three of them sat in Serena's mother's living room in the early afternoon, enjoying some hot tea while snow fell down noiselessly outside. The usual small talk about weather and work had faded, leaving only the ticking of a nearby clock to track every awkward second that passed by. Serena's mother broke the silence.
"Serena, what's wrong?"
Serena looked up from her tea and made eye contact with her mother. "Nothing, why?" Her gaze briefly flicked to Calem, who she could tell didn't believe her.
"You're too quiet. I don't think you're going to fool either of us, honey. Is it work? Money?"
Serena waved her hand dismissively. "No, no, don't worry about that. Actually, I was planning on telling you guys that I'm going on a trip."
Keep it cool, Serena.
Calem looked confused. "So?"
"It's a mountain hiking trip."
"Again... so what?"
Serena inhaled sharply. Here goes. "It's a hiking trip to Mount Whitefall."
Serena's mother, who had chosen that precise moment to drink, began spluttering and coughing for a few seconds while trying to choke some words out. "You-what?!" Calem simply stared, his mouth having formed a thin line of disapproval. After recovering, the words came out slightly raspy: "You can't."
"But I want to! And it's super important to me and-uh, me! Just me."
"You're the worst liar ever, Serena. You and who else?"
She glared at Calem. "Our former teacher..." She hoped her vagueness and facial expression would deter him from saying the name out loud.
Calem clearly didn't understand-or care. "Sycamore! How's he doing?" He grinned at Serena's angry scowl.
Serena's mother looked at Calem, understanding dawning. She looked to her daughter. "Now I get it. Only that lunatic would get you tangled up in this."
"Lunatic? He didn't force me to do this, I said yes! I can expand my writing big time if I do this. I could write a book instead of articles. And-hey-you never thought he was crazy before!"
Her mother blinked in disbelief. "That was before he asked my only daughter to risk herself! Sweetheart, I know your career is your life, but you have to draw the line somewhere, don't you think?" Calem nodded in agreement.
"But that's the point. I don't write about nice trips to the beach or pleasant forests to hike in. I document the places that most people wouldn't go. I find out if crazy myths and rumours are true or not. This could be my best piece yet... if not ever." The words tumbled out, tinged with excitement.
Her mother's eyes implored Serena to reconsider. "I just don't want to read about the death of my daughter and her former mentor dying in an avalanche in some crazy quest for research, or whatever it is that he wants," she looked away uneasily and added, "I suppose you've made your decision already, though."
Serena stood up from her chair and moved to her mother's sofa, sitting down to wrap an arm around her shoulders. "I'll be okay. If things get really bad, I can call for help. I'm ready for this. I want to do this." Realizing Calem had been quiet, she vocalized the thought to him. Calem simply shrugged.
"I think it's crazy, but you're crazy, so it makes sense." This received another glare and a stuck-out tongue.
Serena looked back to her mother. "I'll call you every day, okay? I promise." Her mother looked up, a weak smile having formed. She nodded in surrender.
"Okay. I don't think I'll ever approve of this crazy venture until you're back home."
The following days consisted of gathering together the needed supplies: clothing, backpack, bed roll, rope, various gadgets, food, water, medicine (human and Pokémon), camera, hygienic items, and a couple of oxygen masks. Thankfully most of the supplies were fold-able, so they wouldn't be too much of a burden. They were laid out neatly on her bed, waiting to be packed away.
A niggling feeling had tried to catch Serena's attention throughout the week. This whole idea was too spur-of-the-moment. Maybe her mother was right and she was signing away her life to a lunatic. And then there was Delphox... was she so willing to blatantly risk his life again? She wanted to trust the professor. It wasn't like he intentionally ever mislead her back in her training days... even if he did once trust a man who tried to save the world through genocide. With age comes wisdom, right?
Feeling utterly lost, Serena flopped face down on her bed and groaned into her pillow.
She recalled the latter half of their discussion in his office.
"Now, I know what I have suggested is rather extreme, so I will completely understand if you say no," the professor had said in response to Serena's wide eyes.
"I have a lot of questions..."
"And I have time!"
"Okay, so why isn't there some scientific expedition? Why ask me?"
Sycamore drummed his fingers on his desk, hesitating. "We-ell, there was really nobody else I could ask. If anyone else knew, I'd probably be locked up in here for my own safety."
Serena's eyes narrowed. "You really aren't selling me on this."
"I don't know what else to say. What if I told you that I really enjoy your articles?"
"Oh, my!" She clapped her hands. "That settles it! When do we leave?"
Now it was his turn to narrow his eyes. "Sarcasm doesn't suit you."
Stubborn, she folded her arms and said nothing. Sycamore opened one of his desk drawers and pulled out a magazine, which Serena recognized as the very same one that she wrote for. Uh oh. He held it open before her. "Look at that highlighted part and read it to me."
She looked up at him. "Is this necessary?" After a stern nod, she sighed in resignation. "Fine. 'Every travel writer's dream is to conquer the beast known as Mount Whitefall. Rumour has it that the ruins of an ancient cooperative Pokemon-human civilization are hidden somewhere in the mountain's interior. I fully intend to make this more than a simple dream. It will be my lifetime achievement.'" She looked back up. "So?"
"Is that not your writing?"
"...It is." Crap.
"Are these sentences still true?"
"...They are." Dammit.
"Then why are you still scowling at me?"
Self-conscious, Serena looked down at her lap. "I don't-I mean-this is out of nowhere! I was supposed to be older, and more experienced, and having prepared for months! What's the rush, anyway?"
"Although any sources I've dug up are scarce, they all mention the same date: March 10th. I don't know if it's purely ceremonial or if that date holds special significance. Either way, I'm the only one willing to chase these facts, and you're the only one I trust. Nobody else I know has the motivation or experience. You can wait another ten years, but I don't think I could." She noticed that he had become substantially more subdued.
A heavy silence settled upon them both.
He looked at her once more, his energy having all but disappeared. "You're right. This is madness. I was acting on a whim, and I believe I've wasted your time. I'm sure you're a busy woman. I've got some more work to take care of, so it's best if we put this to rest. You may leave."
Serena stood up and walked to the office door, her mind drawing a blank. Before opening it, she stopped and looked back to see the professor staring wistfully out of the window behind his desk.
Dammit, he looks like a sad puppy.
Before her brain could interrupt her, she blurted, "Professor?"
He turned, eyebrows raised. "Yes?"
She pinched the bridge of her nose and took a deep breath.
What the hell am I doing?
"I'll do it. I'll go. We'll go. We'll find whatever you're looking for. E-mail me with more details when you can."
She ran out before she could see his reaction, her face having turned red.
"Master of charisma, you are," she muttered to herself.
The world slid under Serena's very feet as she stared down in fascination through the transparent floor. Green fields became clustered forests which slowly morphed into white rocky hills. The roar of the helicopter's blades drowned out nearly everything but the pilot's voice, which chattered through her headset.
"We'll be touching down in 5 minutes," followed by brief static fuzz.
She took the Poké Ball from her belt and idly polished its surface with the sleeve of her jacket. She treated it extra delicately, as if it would break at the slightest touch.
I promise I'll keep you safe.
The professor, seated opposite of Serena, was concentrating on a holographic map of the base of the mountain. From her backwards view of the map, she could see various lines and markings traced on carefully. To his credit, this scheme may have been less insane than she had originally thought, for he had their route roughly planned out with spots to camp in each night.
He must have known I'd say yes, she mused. They briefly made eye contact through the transparent map and her gaze snapped back down to the clear floor, nervously rotating the Poké Ball in her hands.
They had certainly gotten along grandly during her training years, but what about now? Was he disappointed that she had all but given up Pokémon altogether? Of course, she always devoted part of her travels to documenting the various wild Pokémon that inhabited the given space, but she never brought any of her own along anymore.
Ugh. She shook her head. All of this recent self-reflection was starting to give her a headache. She had to clear her mind anyway, for the earth underneath her feet had slowed to a stop, signalling that the helicopter had arrived at its destination. The uneven territory wouldn't allow for a smooth landing and a helipad had never been built, so the only way down was from the helicopter itself.
A ladder unfolded from the ceiling. Sycamore nodded to Serena and she stood up. After buckling herself to the ladder and answering affirmatively to the pilot, the transparent floor opened up and the ladder smoothly descended. She tucked her head down to buffer the harsh winds. Within a few minutes her feet finally touched the ground. She unbuckled herself and the ladder rose back up to retrieve the professor. As Serena waited, she examined her surroundings now that she was out in the open.
The only colours to be seen were various shade of white, grey, and blue. The wide path they were to follow was nestled in between a steep rocky valley. It sloped upwards and turned left, disappearing behind the valley walls. The clear air provided a brilliant view of the surrounding peaks of different mountains, all white and grey with snow and ice. Faded, but still within view, was the towering monolithic mountain that they were to conquer. Serena smiled to herself as the familiar excitement of a new journey rose in her heart. A deep breath of fresh air allowed her mind to relax.
A crunching of snow behind Serena told her that the professor had touched down. She watched as he unbuckled himself, waved to the helicopter and the ladder smoothly rose to disappear within the helicopter once more. Soon after, the helicopter itself rose and flew back the way they had arrived. Now they were truly alone.
Serena unclipped the Poké Ball from her belt and tossed it gently in front of her. Delphox landed skillfully on the snow, barely making a sound. His warm body temperature caused him to sink very slightly as the snow melted. He looked around cautiously, taking in the new environment. His ears snapped back as he yipped and jumped into the snow, temporarily becoming four-legged like his first form. Serena watched with delight as he sprinted around, burying himself in the powder and coming back out seconds later, causing it to burst around him like a small explosion.
A flash of red caught her eye and she craned her neck upwards as a Pidgeot flashed out of the professor's Poké Ball. Pidgeot explored the expansive space with zeal, ducking and weaving high above the ground, emitting hawk-like cries as she did so. Sycamore stood beside Serena, also smiling appreciatively at the scene. He looked down at his watch.
"We've still got plenty of daylight left, so let's go."
She gestured for him to lead, expecting him to start walking. Instead, he grabbed her hand and broke into a run... which only lasted about twenty feet before he fell and landed face first into the snow; meanwhile, the momentum caused Serena to stumble forward a few feet and she found herself looking up at the bright blue sky after also having fallen down gracelessly.
These might be the weirdest weeks of my entire life.