Miette browsed through a fairly large variety of supplies she supposed she would need for the trip. The usual things, like food, water, both human and Pokémon, and some entertainment. The bare essentials Miette traveled with. Additional things, like baking and cooking apparatus, she had bought for herself years ago. It still worked perfectly well. No need to replace it. Things she brought for comfort were lower on the list of priorities, but she always found that she'd made enough room for them. Completely accidentally, of course, she smiled to herself. She was only human.
Running into Serena when she did, and the subsequent travels she had had, she had found herself smiling more than when she was alone. She didn't hate being alone, she could easily and quite contently live independently, but company was always appreciated. Since Ash had shown up, the smiles had become more mischievous. She had been having a lot of fun teasing her performing and baking rival. She knew the limits though. She had no intention of upsetting Serena on a fundamental level.
She picked up a can of Pokémon food and inspected it. Some sort of new Fairy Type can.
In reality, she was happy for Serena. Well and truly. She wouldn't lie. In the first few days she knew Serena, she had been serious about her threats. She had certainly found Ash an interesting person. Had Ash asked her out as opposed to Serena, Miette doubted she would have said no. It was an amusing possibility she liked to muse over once every so often, but she wasn't particularly upset. In fact, she didn't feel any upset. She was more happy for the two of them. It had been a minor infatuation she had had. One where you look at someone and think 'Wow, he's quite cute.' And had amounted to nothing else.
Those two on the other hand...
Miette sighed. Those two were crazy over one another. You would have to be literally blind to not notice it. You didn't even need to be a genius at romance. The way they always comforted one another, glanced at each other, body language, he'll even just how much more comfortable they looked around each other. How those two hadn't figured it out baffled her beyond comprehension. Were it anyone else, Miette would have pushed the two into each other's arms by now. But she respected them both too much individually for that.
"If only the two of those idiots would figure it out..." She muttered to herself with a heavy sigh afterwards. She noticed a shopper looking at her with a cocked eyebrow. She ignored him.
Miette glanced at another can.
It was a confusing situation she found herself in, as a friend to both of them. Every inch of her being was killing her to just force the two of them together. The way they littered around each other was, while adorable, exceedingly frustrating. It almost made her want to scream. But simultaneously, she knew Serena wouldn't likely forgive her for such a breach of trust. She sighed again. Much as she hated it, she had to let them figure it out. Hints to the other, she might give, but she had to let them figure it out.
She did some tallying on her tablet, adding up prices. 'Wonder if I'll find someone soon...'
She shook her head. When had that thought ever bothered her beforehand? She wasn't particularly lonely, she was, again, content to be alone, but at the same time... She understood how Serena felt, wanting to be with someone else more often than being alone. It was... A comforting feeling. Was she just jealous? Or was she actually lonely? The blue haired baker scratched her head and rested her other hand in her hips. "Damn those two..." She muttered, blaming Ash and Serena for these thoughts.
"I recognise that look." Miette heard from just in front of her. It was the same shopper from earlier. She had assumed he had got lost by now. Something about him felt rude.
"And what look is that?" Miette asked, staring at the trainer. He wore a purple and black hoodie, and from the looks of him, he traveled light. She could already tell he was a tough trainer, just by the calm confidence he seemed to exhibit. She suspected there was more to that than him.
"Confusion. Contemplation. Realisation." The trainer said, looking directly at the blue haired girl. "Let me guess. Companion issues?"
"What the - "
"I heard you earlier, plus that look? People you're traveling with. You're having conflicting thoughts about them, aren't you?"
Miette nodded her head. Something about this guy seemed soft, and at the same time, tough as nails. Like one of those old war veterans she met as a child. Soft hearted, but tough at the same time.
"I knew a group like that once. Battled one of them quite often. He really got under my skin." The trainer admitted with a small grin. "I was stronger, but his ideology really pissed me off. Eventually he beat me though. Made me think about how I thought about things." He shook his head. "Regardless, not sure what issues you're having. Not sure if it's between your companions, or its you, or between one of your companions and you, but trust me when I say that it's a lot tougher, but more rewarding to do the right thing. If you know what's going on, fully, the right choice is easy to make." And with that, the trainer walked to leave. "Good luck."
"Wait!" Miette called out. The trainer looked at her. Miette placed a hand over her chest and bowed very lightly, courteously introducing herself. "My names Miette."
The trainer smiled. Mimicking the motions, he spoke. "Paul."
Ash was bored. Incredibly bored.
Miette had been gone a lot longer than expected, and he was eager to start moving to the next town. He found himself fidgeting. Tapping his arm with his fingers, tapping his foot in the ground, biting his lips. He had energy to spare, and he was eager to get moving.
"Ash, you should relax a bit." Serena told him. She was sat on a wooden bench, scrolling through what looked like a news report on her tablet. She has the tip of her thumb between her teeth as she read it, apparently very invested in whatever report she was reading.
"It's been two years since I got out of Kanto, Serena, I've been locking up this energy for far too long for my liking." Ash responded, trying to calm down.
"Good point." Serena admitted, shrugging her shoulders. "Hey, take a look at this."
Ash walked over to the blonde girl and sat next to her, peering over her shoulder. She had been on the regional news network, and had been looking up times for showcases, and if they had been announced yet. While she had had no luck with that, she and found something else. Something a bit more disturbing.
"Remember that break in Clemont was dealing with?" Serena asked, using her finger to scroll down the page. "Turns out that wasn't the only one. There've been lots of them since early last year."
She was correct. As the year had gone on, attacks on remote scientist teams had become common. A theme seemed to be emerging. The scientist of their bodyguards, in most cases, both, would be rendered unconscious, and unable to recall anything about their attackers. Occasionally, a bodyguard would be physically injured, but it was always nothing life threatening. Along with that, what seemed to be a targeting attempt, the attackers would always seem to target the best and busiest scientists in the area, and steal completely useless data. In the east, a group had been researching the adamant orb, and how it connected to Dialga, the master of time, but instead, had completely left it alone in place of data on Pokemon like Metagross. They also seemed to avoid stealing valuables, or other Pokemon, even when they were placed in direct view of the attackers. On scientist claimed he had attempted to bribe them, but it had had absolutely no effect.
So far, the attackers had no names, faces, distinguishing features, or ties to any organisation. They were about as well known as ghosts.
"That's... Unsettling." Ash said, skimming over the page.
"Yeah." Serena closed her tablet and put it into her bag, and placed that on the ground.
"I've seen a lot of teams before, working towards some sort of goal." Ash said, leaning back on the bench. "Remember Team Flare?"
"The Fashion Failures?"
"Yeah, those guys. Groups like that are more common than I'd like to admit. I must have run into about eight or nine of them. But they always had a clear cut goal, and it was obvious to see what they were going for based on their activities, and once all the pieces were in place. Team Magma wanted to create new land, so they went to a volcano. Not exactly the hardest thing to piece together, but with these guys?" Ash blew out his cheeks, and looked into the sky. "I have no idea what they're up to." The raven haired Kantoean shrugged. "Hopefully they'll slip up soon."
Serena sighed, content. She liked hearing about Ash's old adventures. Although she hadn't met any of his old friends.
A flurry of rapidly approaching footsteps grabbed both the travellers attention. Their blue haired backing friend stood, her hands on her knees, as she caught her breath. She looked flustered. "Sorry... I'm... Haaaah..." She took a deep breath, standing up properly. She would occasionally pause in the middle of a sentence, to catch her breath. One of her eyes was tightly shut. Her amber left eye focused onto her favourite non-couple. "Sorry I'm late..."
"What kept you?" Serena asked, standing up herself.
"I uh..." Miette took a few deep breaths. Apparently, she had run a fair distance to meet up with the two. "I was... Having a talk with someone."
"Who?" Ash asked, curious. "An old friend?"
"No, nothing like that." Miette said, shaking her head. "Just someone in the store. He uh... Helped me select some Pokemon food. Best value and best for Pokemon preferences. I guess he saw I was indecisive." She lied. She didn't feel like explaining to the two.
"Well, you're here now." Ash smiled, not pressing the matter any further. He tapped Serena's shoulder, and she held up her tablet for the group to see. She pressed a few buttons in rapid frequency, and it showed a route the Kantoean and Kalosian had planned out. "Okay, here's the plan. We're heading to Revolution Castle. Apparently. Serena decided it was some place I needed to see."
Serena nodded. "It's an old castle from a few hundred years ago. It was after a revolution, hence the name. It's supposed to be more symbolic than anything. But regardless, it's quite the sight."
Ash nodded. Revolution Castle. He hasn't heard of it before Serena had mentioned it. It certainly wasn't his first thought. A revolution was essentially an uprising. In Kalos' case, it was the uprising of civilians against an aristocratic leadership. It was what made Kalos the region it was now, no longer ruled by a monarch. Still, it felt somewhat ironic. Castles were what you often associated kings and queens with, or at least the olden kings and queens. And the Kalosians had built a castle to symbolise their freedom from a king and queen. That was like celebrating the end of a war by firing a gun into another region. He shrugged. It was built now. Nothing could be done. He had to admit, that premise alone was intriguing. If nothing else, it would be a nice place to visit.
"I remember that place." Miette said, using a handkerchief she keep to wipe her brow of sweat. "I went when I was a kid." She smiled at her nostalgic memories. "That was one of the last places I visited with my mother. I remember, there was this drawbridge that terrified me. They started dropping it, and I thought it was gonna crush me." She laughed at herself. "I was a dumb kid."
The group began walking out of Lumiose City as Miette recounted her childhood memories, and her childhood phobia of this specific drawbridge. Ash noticed it was one of the few times Miette spoke about herself. Certainly the first time she had mentioned family. Around him, anyway. Perhaps to Serena. Then again, it had been two years.
Miette suddenly stopped walking. Her gaze was fixed to the floor. Her two companions stopped what they were doing and looked back at their blue haired friend. "Listen." Miette said. "I uh..."
Ash raised an eyebrow. She was nervous about something. Unsure. It was weird. Surreal. Miette had a confident personality. It was rare to see her unsure about anything. She seemed to be a believer that it was better to be wrong with confidence than correct with timidness. Better to be occasionally wrong, but be sure of yourself. To see her unsure was odd. "Look... Ash, you're not here for long. I uh... " she seemed to smile a bit on one side of her mouth. "Well... I was thinking. If you two wanted to spend your time together alone, then I've got no problem with that. I could go ahead. Meet Serena again after you've left."
"What makes you say that?" Serena asked, her eyebrows raised. She was curious, but above all, shocked.
Miette shrugged. She didn't want to reveal the advice she had received. This feels like the right thing to do. "Well, my thinking is... Well, to be honest, I'm sort of embarrassed. I mean, I still remember all those... Uh... How do I put it..."
Serena tilted her head. "You're still hung up on those?" She had figured out Miette's excuse quickly. All Miette's attempts to 'steal' Ash away. "I didn't think you'd be embarrassed. You mentioned being remorseful, but never embarrassed."
"Well... I am."
Ash just watched the exchange in utter confusion. What the hell was 'those' supposed to mean? "Uh, can someone clarify for me? I'm completely lost here."
"Remember when we went to that dance?" Serena asked.
"Yeah?"
"Basically all events like that."
Ash tilted his head back and made a silent 'oh' motion. He them smiled. "Water under the bridge. And besides..." Ash looked at Serena and smiles. "Me and Serena thought about it. Serena had an idea that you might say something."
Miette looked back at Serena. The shocked expression was completely gone. Now there was just a smug smile. She had predicted this.
Ash smiled. Warmly and calmly at the blue haired girl. "Hey, I don't really know what you're thinking, but as far as I'm concerned, you're out friend. Serena thinks of you as a friend. Regardless of anything else, you're one of us. You want to travel with us, than it doesn't matter what happened, when it happened, or why it happened between you and me, whatever it exactly is about it you're embarrassed about."
Miette couldn't help but smile. 'He's still oblivious. But... He's got a really good heart.
He'll make Serena really happy.'
"Well..." She said, giving in. She couldn't say no after all of that. In a last ditch effort, but one she was sort of hoping would fail, she said, "Are you sure you don't mind me being around?"
"We've traveled a long time together, Miette." Serena said with a sincere smile on her face. "Rivalry aside, like Ash said, you're one of us now."
Miette nodded in appreciation. "And Ash?..."
He decided not to bother reiterating his reasons for it. Instead, Ash just held out his hand for her to shake. "Welcome to our world of madness."
She could have almost geared up. She extended hers and shook his hand. "Thanks."
'I really thought they might take the opportunity to get rid of me.' Miette thought. 'I guess not. But it seemed like the right thing to do...' She thought back to the purple haired boy she had spoken with briefly. His words made sense. Miette sighed again. "Maybe it's that I don't know everything about the situation between these two.'
His outfit hadn't changed a lot in the past few years. He liked the style he wore. It suited him, he felt. And that wasn't particularly important, how he looked. He wanted to become stronger. That's all he wanted. So his clothes could be damned for all he cares.
He remembered the times in his life where he was unreasonable with his Pokèmon. Where he pushed them to a point beyond reasonable. To breaking point, he didn't want power, he was obsessed with it then. Fearful of his own weakness, he strove to become stronger. He wouldn't accept failure. It was victory or the Pokemon was little more than a detriment to his team and would be dropped. Abandoned in some cases.
Cases he now regretted.
He hadn't changed in his longing for power. That wasn't going to change. Nor had his hunting down of the strongest Pokemon in any given area he could find. His training philosophy hadn't changed either. But his treatment of Pokemon as individuals had changed. He no longer treated them as harshly. He pushed them, yes, but he wasn't unreasonable with them. When he was, it was because he knew they could do better, not because he demanded they be better. The reality of his methods now was, he would push, but he wouldn't shove. Pokemon at worked hard were rewarded. When they did well, they were praised. It wasn't about victory anymore.
It was about strength, for himself and his Pokemon.
He remembered when Ash had last spoken to him, after the Sinnoh league. He hadn't liked Ash. Barely even acknowledged him. The only time he ever did was to shut him up and put him down. Such was one of the few things that made him smile. But by the end of the Sinnoh league, he had learned something he hadn't forgotten since.
He might not like Ash. But he definitely respected him.
It had been a slow respect, but he had gained it. Their conflict and rivalry was something that had filed his initial antagonism towards him, but he knew that that had passed.
Paul let out a sigh. "What the hell has me thinking about those days?" He wondered aloud. He shoved his hands into his pockets and made his way around the corner. He looked around for a place to eat. Preferably somewhere with Sinnoh food. He hadn't eaten anything from his native region in a while. He passed the Pokemon centre, glancing through the window. He saw a Shinx looking at his from behind the glass. He stopped, and looked back at the Shinx, the two holding each other's glares for a couple of seconds, before the tiny electric type smiled at him. It must have been called by its trainer, because it's ears perked, and it jumped down. Paul's gaze unconsciously followed it for a few seconds before he broke off. By that time, however, he was more focused on the flier in the window.
A flier for a competition held not far from here a place he could test his and his Pokemons strength.
"Revolution Castle, huh?" He read aloud. "Test your mettle." He folded his arms. "Hrmm..."
So, who was expecting Paul to show up of all people?
Throwing Paul into this mix for mostly one reason originally. And that meaning will make itself clear as time progresses. But what will happen at Revolution Castle? I wormer myself. I haven't planned this far ahead yet.
But at any rate, I have big news regarding my own original works. The first idea of many, "Cosmic Hand", is now available for reading on WattPad. A link to my page will be updated into my profile hopefully by the time this goes up, and if not, should be within the hour. Chapter one is ready to read, and totals up to roughly 10,000 words. It's a big project of mine, and I plan to see it through to the end. Don't worry, it shall never interfere with me bringing you guys your regular fix. Ideas for the Mass Effect fanfiction I plan to wrote are also underway. I have the story planned, going over the details in my head. I have the plot planned out. All it would take would be for me to the put pen to paper and get it all down. It would be a more personal story, and one of my much more fanfiction-y fanfictions. If be relying on the willing suspension of disbelief of the willing suspension of disbelief. Multiple reasons for that. You'll see if you do choose to read it when it comes out.
Also, I plan to make a small unique image for this story, the image I use now is mostly one I used for the sake of filling the space. I've seen lots of Mass Effect fanfictions with their own unique icons, so I reckon it's time I used that Photoshop training my college put me through to some use for you guys. In the extraordinarily unlikely event someone wanted to make one, do let me know. In fact, one that subject, anything relating to my works or any thing I do, let me know. I love hearing from you guys, it's all the motivation I need. Half the fun is writing. The other half is reading that you guys like my writing.
At any rate, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you did, be sure to review and follow of you aren't already to join us on this ride. Hope to see you next time. See ya!
