Oh look, I'm alive! I apologize profusely for taking months to write this chapter. School tends to take up a lot of time, so, since I had a minor break in between homework assignments, I rushed to get this chapter up for my dedicated readers (alas, don't be surprised if it happens to be filled with errors).
If puzzles and challenges never awaited around every corner,
No one would become a legend.
The morning proved to come far too quickly; though Keiko's slumber had been peaceful and content, it could not erase the restless edge pulling along her senses. Perhaps she had not yet realized that all of the events of yesterday had actually happened; so trapped in the fear Team Rocket still held her soul in their grasp. Luckily for her, these assumptions made in exhaustive and anxious slumber were not true.
Under piles of silken and satin covers, curled rather inelegantly and smothering herself in the embrace of warmth and the apparent safety net of Eusine's mansion, she began to briefly awaken, eyelids fluttering open for a few seconds at a time.
The shock of where she was did not have the same effect, nor last as long, as the first dawn she had found herself in the large room; remembering how she had arrived late the previous evening much to everyone's delight. She had been surprised by Morty and Eusine's reactions to her return, believing they would be as difficult as Lance, but found herself enveloped in some massive group hug as soon as she walked through the door (Lance had omitted himself from the proceedings, of course). Perhaps they had thought she would never be seen again, not trusting the dragon master's attempts at apologizing or coercing, but nonetheless, they delivered her an adequate homecoming.
What was even stranger to the teen was the notion of this abode being heralded as her new 'home', for she had been existing as many nomadic Pokemon trainers before her (when not under the threat of abduction), wandering when and where necessary. Yet here, in this large mansion, she was to put her trust and salvation in three other souls, relying on them for her safety, protection and guidance. She had been on her own for so long, with the exception of Rosa's humble lands, that the very notion of reliance on others was overwhelming, especially those she truly didn't know very well. She knew they meant well (at least that of Morty and Eusine), and she had already promised Lance to give them a chance at trust, so perhaps very slowly, Keiko could find herself intertwined with their good graces.
As Keiko mused and hovered in her half-conscious mind, a knock was abruptly heard at her door, stirring her into a fully awakened state, groggily widening her eyes to stare at her blanket-surrounded world. It took a few more moments to register that someone was outside, waiting for some sort of reply from the girl, that she was not in fact slumbering or half-dead any longer. The girl finally managed to somehow form a response from beneath the layers of blankets pulled over her petite frame.
"Er…yes?"
The woman at the entrance, a dainty figurine dressed in maid garb, entered the hold of Keiko's dominion with a graceful smile and cheery disposition. Curling her arms neatly and elegantly in front of her and waiting the moment Keiko actually bothered to pop out from the smothering trap of blankets, she began her practiced speech.
"Madame, Master Eusine would like you to join them in the dining room for breakfast. He's rather excited and hopes you will arrive soon, as he says there is much to discuss."
The only thing audible from Keiko's cover was a long groan, as though to even get up would be a grand tribulation. This was not the expected reason however, which soon became apparent to the maid.
"Is Lance going to be there?"
A state of confusion arrived to the face of the poor woman, strangling all performed elegancies from her sights. How odd, the child did not seem to like Master Lance. She had always thought of the dragon tamer as very handsome, polite, and well mannered, and had secretly started the small Lance Fan Club faction within the mansion. The idea of asking the Carillon to join the ranks soon flew out the window.
"Um…yes Madame."
There was some strangled, muffled curse followed shortly there-after, to which the maid blanched, finding herself shocked once again. A few moments later the face of the child appeared, having found her way through the maze of covers, a bit of a smile forming along her cheeks (probably realizing she had been a bit rude to the poor woman before her).
The servant eyed the fading injuries on the girl with a curious speculation, though remained careful not to probe any further. There was no doubt in her mind that the youth aimed to disregard such memories as soon as the healing process finished and procured a fantastic glow back upon her skin. She took her slits away from the sanctity of the Carillon's visage as soon as the child's voice floated along the hold of the room once more, dropping her head in practiced ease and allowing eyes to grasp the fine carpet along the wooden floor.
"I suppose I'll have to make some kind of appearance then, otherwise I'll get my head chewed off."
Blinking and glancing around for some short seconds made Keiko realize that she was still dressed in her pajamas, and not wishing for a repeat of her past performances in front of the men, she looked questioningly at the other maiden.
"Eh, might I ask where I could get a change of clothes? I can't remember where I put my bag-"
The maid was all too glad to be helpful once more at the child's musings, lifting her head and expanding her familiar smile along her lips, one arm raised to indicate her direction.
"That has all been taken care of, Madame. You'll find some suitable wardrobe in the closet."
They had already thought of everything, from rescue attempts to clothing. Feeling like some rude, little brat again, the child leapt from her bed, arranging herself in front of the large closet and finding clothes similar to the things she had been wearing days preceding, before her world had changed. Fingering the cloth of a nearby pastel skirt, she allowed her smile to widen and turned back to the maid, who had been waiting for some sort of mustered reply in the gentle cadence of silence.
Keiko supposed if they could accommodate for her, she could do the same for them.
"Tell them I'll be right down. Oh, and none of that Madame stuff anymore. I'm just Keiko, no need for titles."
Though Keiko left her chambers shortly after getting dressed, time seemed to be rather daunting as she shifted from various rooms and hallways, incredibly distressed that she could not find the blasted dining room within the large house. It took quite a few maids and butlers, hustling and bustling with their other chores, to turn her in the right direction with soft and understanding smiles.
Sick of her aimless wandering, Keiko finally stumbled upon the finely furnished dining hall, but instead of being greeted with the expected wide grins of Morty and Eusine and the cold stare by Lance, her ears rang with hostile yells and eyes sank at the threatening glances.
The three men were not aware of her presence as the dragon master stood from his chair, shoving it backwards in a fit of uncontrolled anger. Eusine and Morty remained fixated in their own seats, eyes penetrating and glued to the figure of the Champion as he drew closer to them with some seething edge, cruel words blindly etched from his mouth.
"I told you not to worry about it. Mind your own business and stop going through my mail. I'll take care of it."
As he slammed his hands down upon the shining surface of the table, Keiko decided to make her entrance known, for fear she was currently standing in the midst of something she was not meant to overhear, even as they quarreled over the apparent snooping of Lance's letters. Abruptly clearing her throat in the throng of the doorway, she glanced meekly at the trio, hoping the anger amongst them had subsided in that brief instant.
At once the tense faces of the researcher and ghost trainer morphed into some semblance of extended gratitude and hospitality. Eusine's grin couldn't have been larger as he lunged out of his seat (clearly happy to not be the object of Lance's ire any longer) and launched himself in front of Keiko, taking her hands in earnest and leaning towards her with unbridled enthusiasm. At this reaction Keiko could only attempt and flee, but all hopes were dashed at Eusine's firm grasp. She painted some pathetic smile on her face, apologetic and uncomfortable.
"Ah, sorry I'm late. I got lost on the way a couple times…I didn't realize you had so many bathrooms-"
"Don't worry about it all, my dear Keiko! Morty and I were simply having a lovely discussion with Lance."
Keiko could only briefly wonder what her appearances with Lance could be coined as, if that apparent eruption of anger had been termed as "lovely discussion".
The researcher quickly dragged the youth to a large chair situated near their small gathering, unfortunately across from the dragon tamer, who to his credit, had actually sat down after the release of his pent-up anger. Instead of directing his former rage upon her, as Keiko thought would be coming, he settled to drumming his fingers on the table, looking on in bored disinterest.
Morty, the quiet charmer, decided to no longer aid the silence and gave a worthy beam of light to the child in simple conversation, while Eusine was distracted in telling a nearby maid to finally bring in the prepared breakfast.
"I trust you're faring well, Keiko? We didn't want you to be uncomfortable, so I hope everything was arranged accordingly-"
The girl decided to effectively cut him off, waving her hands in a gesture to soothe his queries, hoping he would understand that she was more than satisfied with the arrangements. She didn't want them thinking that they were mistreating her, especially when they had never done so in the first place…plus she felt Lance's inquiring eyes probing her for some sort of chance at goading her into another childish fight.
"Everything is fantastic. You don't need to worry at all. Thank you very much for what you've all done."
"Oh, so you learned some manners now?"
It had clearly been too much for the Champion to resist, his teasing tones urging her to glance at him with some discontent, almost hoping she could provide the fuel for more fire and instigate a quarreling match.
Keiko, for all of her wiles, decided to not bother with the man in front of her; merely extending her eyes to glance upon him with her own look of boredom.
"I did…but you know its such a shame that you still have not mastered yours."
It was upon a sudden realization that Keiko's musings now embarked, for after her retort Lance quietly smirked and turned away from her, as though they had all understood that this was a level of normalcy. From Eusine's courteous and exaggerated greeting, to Morty's polite and cordial regards, and finally ending upon Lance's jousting sneers and quips, there was a strange atmosphere of acceptance and practiced formula to the entire charade. An air of familiarity existed, surrounding the large dining hall, mastered and content for all to view and bask within. Past sequences had been forgotten and laid behind them, because those seemingly no longer mattered. Keiko was being presented with a clean slate, a new chance to foster friendship and comradely ties to these individuals, and all she could do was stare upon this scene and present a grand smile for all of them to see.
After all she had done to these men, with her bratty ways and inconceivable temper, they were making her feel welcome.
For that, she would be eternally grateful.
"Now that we're all stuffed, let's discuss today's agenda!"
Eusine's excited voice boomed over the previously silent room, the only sounds audible preceding this moment was satisfied chewing of the exquisite breakfast laid out before the group. Keiko had been astounded by the amounts of food, usually associating the morning meal with a burnt piece of toast or, if she was lucky, a rather nice bagel, but yet again, Eusine had gone above and beyond her expectations.
Her plate now empty and stomach satiated with a proper meal, the girl turned her attention to the researcher, curious of what today's events would entail. At some point she had been wondering where they were going to go from here, for certainly the tale had just begun, the mystery unfolding and laden along her brain, confusing and tormenting the child until she had to force the conundrum away and focus on something completely different. Luckily for her, the master of the hour was going to explain in rapt detail.
"We will be adjourning to Goldenrod City, where the Director works in the Radio Tower. He has been keeping hold of the Clear Bell for us, and now that Keiko is finally safe in our possession, we can see if she is ready for the sacred item."
While Lance and Morty nodded in full understanding, Keiko blinked once or twice, not fully grasping the situation at hand.
"Clear Bell?"
Eusine, apparently used to her ignorance, drew a radiant smile along his lips and began the explanation with aplomb.
"The Clear Bell is what you will come to use to summon Suicune in order to capture him. It requires a certain amount of power to call the legendary beast, but I don't see the harm in realizing if you have reached such potential or not."
Feeling the sensation of overwhelming proportions stifling her once again, Keiko quickly tried to decipher the information within her head, but ended up coming with more queries than answers. The majestic Suicune had already arrived before her on his own, wandering around the hold of Rosa's farm, which the girl was sure Eusine knew about from Lance's dictation of events.
"But…I've already seen him once before, and I didn't need any sort of bell for him to come."
"Ah, but that was of his own accord, and you can't say that you could try again and he'd be right at your side. Think of it as a test. He wanted to see if you were truly the one he had been waiting for."
While Eusine had the answer to every one of her questions, Keiko still felt lost and exposed, wandering around in a tomb of mythical runes where each puzzle solved only led her to more and more rooms of confusion. Bringing a hand to rub her temple for a few moments, the three men looked on with sympathetic gazes, or in Lance's case, a smirk. It was Morty who raised his hand, patted her shoulder in a soothing gesture and commanded a warm voice to the stressful fray.
"It seems like a lot to digest right now, but don't worry, you'll come to understand in time. I don't think becoming a legend was ever easy for anyone."
The journey to Goldenrod had Keiko restless and pulsing with anticipation, kneading her fingers together in her lap while sitting quietly in Eusine's vehicle, struggling to listen to the men talk amongst themselves. Staring out the window did nothing for her either, watching the scenery pass by only caused her thoughts to fade off into what the future held, annoyed by the fact that she could predict nothing.
They had marched to the vehicle soon after breakfast, though not before Lance had recommended that Keiko put on some amount of makeup so it didn't appear as though they had been beating her. Though bitter at his words, when glimpsing into the mirror she had realized just how horrible her face truly did look, marked by tarnished yellow and green hued bruises, and opted to apply some cover-up. No one knew of her recent tortures besides the men, occupants of Eusine's household, and those who had actually tried to corrupt her, and her rescuers didn't believe it necessary to inform every single person they came in contact with of her struggles and recent turmoil. The Director was simply told that they had convinced the beloved Carillon to follow them, and were proceeding in the direction of acquiring the Clear Bell.
Upon arrival, Keiko only grew more excited and wary, the two emotions bubbling along her stomach and causing some jittering motions. Even when Morty had handed her a pair of sunglasses, some amount of a disguise in case Rockets were nearby, her fingers had twitched and barely grabbed hold of the eyewear. At this, the ghost trainer had given her his kindly smile and proceeded to glide with an air of quiet elegance beside Eusine, leaving Keiko to trail behind them with Lance nearby, struggling to keep up with his long strides.
Even with her nerves, the walk along Goldenrod's streets was remarkable and enchanting. She had always found the hustle and bustle of the city to be enthralling, people shifting and moving every which way to run their daily errands, feasting their eyes on market wares or roaming uneasily to the gambling portion of the block. Children would play with an unprecedented ease, shout gallantly of their next pursuits in the Bug Catching Contest, their mothers soon scolding at them to keep up or smiling with a knowing gaze. Whitney's Gym would beckon and call to any challenging trainers, the massive shopping center would tower over its citizens with such a promising gleam, and the townspeople would call and hark to one another, asking how their neighbor's day had been going thus far. As they passed along a familiar alley that led to the Bike Shop, Keiko at once felt the desire to explore its depths and finally manage to land that bicycle of her dreams, but with a firm tug on her shirt by Lance, she shifted back to the side under his watchful eye and smirk.
As they strolled the pebbled roads of the city, Keiko could feel eyes sliding over the group, for there was no doubt that each one of the men were firmly recognized and admired. Eusine, with his bubbling personality and eccentric tales had fostered some kinship among many, far too friendly for his own good. Morty, the silent but steady ghost trainer was a Gym Leader, and was granted respectable nods by many folks alike. Last of course was Lance, who was not only gawked at, but several females would advance from large crowds and request his autograph, shoving nasty, jealous glares in Keiko's direction as she roamed beside him. All of them seemed used to this ambience of life, but the young Carillon could only wonder if this made them easier to spot, easier to trace and ambush with lines of Rocket fiends possibly loitering amongst the crowds. It was sad to even believe that she had been unnerved by the pressures of days before (she thought she was a bit stronger than that), but at her apparent alarm written so clearly on her face, Lance lifted a hand to pat her firmly on the head, making sure to knock on the cranium a few times with his knuckles for good measure.
"We're going to attract attention wherever we go, and unfortunately, we can't just lay low in secrecy all the time. But honestly, don't look so damn afraid, living in fear isn't going to do you any good. You think we're not going to protect you?"
His questioning glance left Keiko to feel ashamed as they finished the last portion of their walk at the glowing entrance of Goldenrod's Radio Tower. She swallowed, gulping loudly to which Lance could only roll his eyes as they proceeded into the large building.
Keiko had only been in the imposing structure once before, during a campaign to get another station for her radio. Looking back on it now made her smile for a brief interval in time, remembering when her silly trainer's life had been simple and easy. Glancing around the fortress and peering at the smiling receptionist's face, she knew that those moments had been fleeting, now only listless and old.
As Eusine proclaimed the reason for their visit and the woman picked up her phone to make the call to the Director, the young trainer could only wonder what would happen from here. Was she to be accepted by the Clear Bell, and then what could befall them? What if she didn't possess the strength for a necessary reaction-what if this was all one huge mistake? The anxiety and misery in her soul built up the tension surrounding the room, and Lance kept prodding her as they waited, ensuring she didn't faint from her thoughts' hysterics.
The phone, never an idle fixture within the large room, rang until a large hand intercepted it from the handle, holding it neatly to his ear while eyes remained locked on various portions of scattered paper littering his desk.
"Mr. Director, you have visitors here to see you."
A gentle smile broke onto the elder gentleman's face as he heard the excitable shrieking of Eusine in the background, getting up from his chair and bearing a hearty laugh into the talking device.
"Tell them I'll be right down. I wouldn't want to keep Eusine waiting."
Placing the phone back upon its former perch, the Director, a tall charismatic figure running the entirety of the expansive Goldenrod Radio Tower, marched towards his office door, pulling it open with a practiced ease. Before turning to lock it however, he noticed a maid further down the corridor, and realizing she would certainly need to clean the rather dusty office space, left the door cracked.
Tipping his hat to the woman as he passed by, he thought nothing of the stranger. As soon as he rounded the corner and proceeded down the hollow chamber of stairs, an evil, demonic smile warped along her frame, and the quickened march to his office began. The threat of her success beat wildly beneath the maid garb and hidden Rocket emblem.
Upon first sighting the Director, Keiko instantly took a liking to him. He was striking in his demeanor, and while this called for a calculated dose of respect, there was also an amiable fortitude to his presence. A set of kind eyes had befitted his gaze, charming and seemingly casting a look of understanding along each soul he met. His suits were neat and cut expertly, tailored to his style and not flamboyant like Eusine, Keiko knew she wouldn't find a cape near this man's back. As he maneuvered down the hallway all of the workers seemed to turn their heads and bid him some form of a good day, and his manifested grin was laden to all.
If possible, it grew wider at the sight of Eusine's mangled little group, from the three men to the tiny, lithe figurine of the girl whose eyes had rounded almost out of their sockets. The gentle smile was bestowed to every one of them, and a simple wink towards Keiko left her slightly baffled, but comforted all the more.
After greetings were bestowed, the Director led them up a flight of stairs to his office, Morty and Lance ensuring Keiko didn't trail behind in her anxious curiosity as she stared at each and every one of the cubicles they waltzed by.
When they entered the confines of the respectable man's quarters, the girl was once again left astounded and impressed. The office was fairly large but filled to the brim with information; books upon books were shelved neatly in the chosen stacks, while a desk gleamed brightly with paperwork littered across it. Various portraits and fine paintings were hung along the walls, one of which intrigued the dame as she maneuvered closer to it for a better look.
Embellished upon the canvas was a soft silhouette of a legendary beast, the one she had met previously, reminding her so vastly of its presence it was as though Suicune was in the room beside her. The cerulean hue was nearly perfect, a few details were misshapen or off, as though the creator had only been given a swift glimpse and could only struggle to retain memories from that sole image. Nonetheless, it conveyed that sense of reality to the girl, so much so that she found her fingers raised elegantly to meet where the brushstrokes had been made, before a voice called her to attention and surprised her from tracing the artwork.
"I see our Lady Keiko has found something that interests her."
The rich vocals were uncoiled and released from the Director, at which the child could only blush in embarrassment as she turned to glimpse upon the rest of the group. As her cheeks became shaded in a vibrant crimson hue, the man merely winked at her again, the intent of teasing her having been committed in its regard and reduced to folly thereafter. She had done no harm in wishing to touch the grand object, and his kind ambience reflected that upon her docile figure.
"Perhaps I shall retrieve what you are here for then, hm?"
Finding herself incapable of speaking for the moment, nerves freezing her to the bone, Keiko simply nodded, progressing forward so that she stood next to the regal Eusine, with Morty and Lance shifting idly in the corners, obtaining spectators' seats. The Director moved at her reply, lowering his frame down towards a small safe hidden in a corridor along his desk, fingering the combination while the child and others looked on with increasing fascination. In a few moments, the latch to the safe was opened, and the object they had come to view and question appeared before their eyes.
Enclosed in a square case was the Clear Bell, a beauty of daunting proportions. Formed in the shape of its namesake, it glistened with radiant beams that perhaps only the sun could rival, shining with a peculiar curiosity and mischievous quality, as though it beckoned forth admirers in hopes of landing a good trick upon their hides. The entire sanctum of its presence was made in crystal, looking so fragile and breakable inside it's covering. Not a single fingertip seemed to rest upon it; its sheen was never impacted by the touch of some unworthy being. Mesmerized, the sacred Carillon stepped forward, blinking steadily and holding her breath, only lifting her gaze from the bell to give a questioning look to Eusine and the Director.
"What…what do I do?"
In quiet reply, the Director lifted the cover off of the object, leaving the divine piece exposed. The urge to touch it roamed along her extended fingers, at which the researcher and his counterpart nodded her onwards. The tension in the room mounted and became quite apparent, the child's breath taken in harshly and not exuded back into the air. With careful preciseness, she wafted her fingers closer to the framework of the sacred bell, until finally, they rested on the edge.
An unexpected shock was sent through her appendages, jolting her back into reality and causing her to gasp as a slight painful tingling erupted along the core of her skin. She immediately took her fingers back, placing one along her lips and into her mouth as though to soothe the strange ache. Her brow was laced with concern, heart beating wildly in her chest. Perhaps this had all been a mistake, she wasn't the fabled Carillon, she wouldn't be the chosen to capture the sacred Suicune, and this had all been a big misunderstanding-
"Well, you're just not strong enough yet."
At the Director's words the child's panic ceased for a moment or two, her eyes flickering from Eusine to the other men, back and forth, longing to hear some sort of explanation instead of the ones currently derived in her mind.
She received a heavy sigh from the researcher, who had seemingly collected and resigned himself to this result from the very beginning.
"Shame, I was afraid of that. My apologies Keiko, it's not time yet."
"You mean…it hasn't rejected me?"
Her puzzlement seemed to cause more smiles than disgruntlement over her obvious ignorance, and she could only wonder how they had managed to gather all of this information about some blasted object no one had used before. Morty was the one to speak this time, as the Director and Eusine carefully laid the case back over the spectacle and into its safe confines to await another trial.
"No, it hasn't rejected you at all. The Clear Bell has recognized that you are the Carillon it has been seeking, but you currently don't have enough power to wield it. Hence the slight shock."
He leaned closer to the girl, chuckling against the tensed atmosphere so that it could loosen and provide her a more comfortable vibe.
"Don't worry, it's not your fault. Besides, you should have seen the reaction Eusine received when he thought he was the Carillon. That bell sent him clear across the room."
While Keiko and Morty were absorbed in giggling over Eusine's turmoil (his face had now become beet red in embarrassment), Lance, who had been silent the entire time, stepped forward for his own query to be recognized.
"How is she supposed to gain power in order to use the Clear Bell, Mr. Director?"
"I might have just the thing. Hold on one moment, let me find it."
At once the man turned to his stack of books, roaming over them with accuracy, eyes lifting over the various titles. As he scoured the tomes, however, his face seemed to draw upon a look of puzzlement, brows strained and furrowed against his kind eyes. He went back over the titles again and again, apparently befuddled and confused as to where one of them had gone.
"Odd. I had it out this morning…"
The guests could only step back as the questioned man swept across the room, glancing over and under documents, through drawers and more shelves. Eventually frustrated at being incapable of finding the sought object, a heavy sigh was released from his frame and a disappointed fixture landed along his face.
"My apologies, I was certain I had laid it out for you in case this situation arose. There was quite a nice book I had read upon and bought about the legendary creatures, especially Suicune and the mystery of his beloved Carillon. When I do find it, I shall certainly let you know."
"So we left the Clear Bell with a man who can't remember where he placed his book last?"
Lance's sarcastic tones filtered along the air as all four proceeded to vacate the building, seemingly more disappointed and anxious than when they had arrived. Strides were aloof and listless, faces were laden with either questioning glances or masked discontent.
"Nonsense Lancelot, the Director has an excellent memory. Perhaps something is amiss."
Eusine's assurances were taken and sprinkled about the team as they wandered through the confines of Goldenrod, wondering and speculating if there was more to the mysterious disappearance of the book.
"Where do we go from here?"
The quiet question from the Carillon herself stunned the other portions of the team into silence, no one having the appropriate answer.
As they dwindled at a remarkably slow pace through the scenery of Goldenrod, the sparkling and radiant structure of the large shopping mart dazzled the sights of Keiko, causing her to form a pleasant idea within her mind. A smile seemed to broaden across her visage, as though past disappointments were left to haunt her for another time and place, turning to dazzle the three men into roused spirits again.
"Can I go shopping?"
The Champion made a derisive snort, while Eusine and Morty were left to raise their brows in a questioning mannerism towards the dainty girl gliding around in front of them. Had she gotten over the past event so quickly? When silence enveloped the sector, she tried again.
"Pretty please?"
"I wasn't aware you needed something I didn't provide back home. Are the supplies not adequate for you?"
Not realizing she had potentially offended the researcher, Keiko raised her hands in mock surrender and assurance.
"Oh no, not at all. I was hoping to get some special things, that's all."
She didn't bother offering them any hints as to what these 'special things' could be, and thinking they could be some female objects that none of them wanted to ponder over, Eusine managed to give a firm nod to her request.
"Sure. But take Lance with you."
Shouts of protest and teasing laughter soon followed, until finally the young girl had managed to drag the dragon master to the sliding entrance doors as Eusine and Morty waved them off, giggling all the while and mentioning how they had to go visit Whitney. Steeling himself for an endeavor of struggling proportions, Lance formed a seething gaze and gritted his teeth.
"Don't you dare expect me to pay for anything."
The Carillon could only laugh in reply.
"I wouldn't dream of it, Lancelot."
Once inside, the girl released the poor Champion and scurried in various directions, peering at floor signs and pondering over whether to go to some certain portion of the store or not. Lance was already groaning and whining nearby, shuffling his feet in every attempt to make the entire situation unbearable for both parties.
Luckily for Keiko, there was a blessing in disguise formulated against several walls. Teenage girls had lifted their heads at the sound of Lance's voice shifting along the wide corridors of the store, stopping to stare and gawk as many had done so on the streets. While the Carillon searched along vendors and Lance continued to moan about his current location, she felt eyes glued to them. Lifting her gaze every so often, she noticed the groups of females hoarding in various ranges, sliding ever closer to the Champion. Narrowing her own slits and smirking, the trainer quietly slipped away from Lance's presence as he talked to himself about how boring the entire shopping extravaganza was.
With their threat gone, Keiko's closeness with the handsome dragon tamer, the girls pounced. There was a sudden wild glee bursting along the shopping center as females roamed to his side before he even had a chance to escape, offering him pads of paper and pens, questions about his love life and requests to marry him. Struggling in the midst of the rabid fan girls, Lance watched out of the corner of his eye as his ward took off down some other hall.
"Hey!"
His shout was heard, and the child only replied with a wink and teasing wave of her hand before disappearing around the corner.
With freedom finally at her disposal, Keiko roamed the vast corridors of the shopping center with her true intentions; finding gifts of apology for the three men. She felt it was only right to give them something in return for their hospitality and constant concern. Her attitude had not been appropriate for anything recently and she only felt guilt and shame every time they comforted her. No matter what she did they always seemed to forgive her, and in the end, Keiko believed she had to justify her silly behavior. What better than with well thought out gifts? Plus, it would be easier without Lance beside her, constantly nagging about something.
It took her some decent amount of time and quick movements, she could have sworn she saw the obsidian cape of the dragon master several times, before she had finally settled on the appropriate presents for her faithful comrades. For the impeccable researcher, the girl had acquired a book on the Ruins of Alph, hoping he didn't already have it stored in his library. Morty was going to receive a mini Silph Scope, while Lance was getting a rather fashionable new cape, since his old one had been singed and reduced to frayed portions in his efforts to rescue her.
Satisfied with her selection of purchases, the child marched up to the cash register, unaware of the threatening figure stomping behind her. Glancing at the worker behind the counter and noticing the fellow female's wary eyes looking behind her form raised the child's curiosity, but she shrugged and dragged her wallet out of her pocket, pulling out the necessary amount of money. Turning around with wares in hand, she immediately bumped into the large, imposing figure blocking her path, recognizing it in an instant.
"Having a good time?"
Her large smile and teasing tones reached the red-haired, rather irritated male, who could only look down on her with furrowed brows, trying to showcase how angry he was through clenched teeth.
"I am going to kill you."
"I'm pretty sure that would defeat the entire purpose of rescuing me, no?"
Keiko waltzed around his large and lean form, swinging her bag of purchases in one hand while skipping along to the exit of the mart. In avid frustration, the Champion lunged for the container, grabbing hold of it and tearing the precious objects from the girl, despite her screams of protest.
"Now, what did you buy that was so damn important?"
"Hey, give those back! You can't see them yet!"
As he ran out of the sliding doors like a child playing keep away, the girl followed suit, screeching at the top of her lungs and attracting strange stares at the arguing couple. Her proclamations only made the Champion want to annoy her even further, especially since he had to suffer at the wrath of fan girls and some stupid shopping trip. Reaching his hand into the glittering bag, he managed to clutch onto the fabric of his new cape, pulling it out in confusion.
"A cape? Since when do you wear capes?"
Keiko, stomping in obvious anger, ripped the contents from his hands and clutched onto it like some precious artifact. Tears of frustration began to leak from her eyes, causing Lance to grow incredibly uncomfortable.
"I was just trying to do something nice for you guys. I wanted to get you presents in apology for how much of a brat I've been."
There was a sudden heavy sigh from the Champion as he moved to the girl and shoved her forwards, making her walk in some toiling stroll, stumbling and tripping a few steps as they progressed down the street towards Whitney's gym to meet with the rest of their odd group. Handing her the bag back and trying to disappear under the scrutiny of strangers' eyes bombarding him with obvious discontent (how dare he upset such a nice girl!), his voice managed to retain a calm demeanor again.
"You don't need to give us gifts in order to make us feel appreciated or redeem your cruddy behavior."
Lifting her sullen gaze from the pebbles on the side of the street, the female curiously peered up at him.
"Realize that you've been forgiven."
Afterwards there was a slight pause, in which Keiko had the time to form a grin upon her face and Lance had snatched the cape out her hands again.
"I'll still take the cape though."