Chapter 20: I am the Evidence
Eclaire was brushing her hair in front of her vanity dresser when she heard the doorbell rang. Gardevoir opened the door for her.
"Steven's father is here with Ruby and Sapphire," Gardevoir communicated from the front door.
Eclaire placed the hair brush down and spoke in her head, knowing that her pokémon can read her mind, "Let them in." She soon stepped out of her bedroom to face her guests.
"Eclaire, good morning, dear," Mr. Stone greeted. "These kids came to fetch you," he spoke while patting Ruby and Sapphire's shoulders.
"Oh, what for could it be?" Eclaire inquired.
"Steven said that there will be a conference at the Space Center later," Ruby answered. "He asked us to bring you… for the concrete evidence, he said."
Eclaire glanced at Gardevoir and Gallade and the two pokémon nodded.
"Has he told you about the evidence you're talking about?" Eclaire turned her face back to Ruby.
Ruby scratched over his white beanie, "Not really. But he mentioned something like the lore about another world that Zinnia talked about during the first call he made earlier this morning. He also said something about changing the plans regarding the asteroid's collision."
Eclaire felt uncomfortable. "How many people will there be in the conference?"
Sapphire looked up to the ceiling and pressed on her fingertips one by one, "There will be the eight Gym Leaders, the Elite Four, the Champion, the Hoenn Pokémon Association's Director," Sapphire kept on counting, "and… there will be us, Prof. Cozmo, and Steven."
"Miss Eclaire don't you want to go?" Ruby asked. "Steven told me that we don't have to force you if you're unwilling to come."
Eclaire looked down on the floor, "I will come. I'm keeping the evidence after all." She lifted her face and smiled at the others, "Just go ahead. Tell Steven that I'll get there eventually."
"Alright," Mr. Stone stood up from the couch, "let's go now, kids." He turned to Eclaire, "Eclaire, dear, we'll be going."
"Take care on your way, sir," Eclaire replied.
Ruby and Sapphire followed Mr. Stone outside and headed to the open field where the rotorcraft has been waiting. They could use Sapphire's Tropius but Mr. Stone insisted to use one of his corporation's rotorcraft for them to experience riding in an aerial transportation.
The significant people began to gather in the Space Center's Conference Hall. Each of them settled into their seats around a long table, waiting for the conference to start. Steven and Wallace soon entered the room.
Moments later, Mr. Stone arrived together with Ruby and Sapphire.
"Ruby," Steven called out as he approached them, "where's Eclaire?"
"She said she'll be coming later than us," Ruby answered.
The Gym Leader of Petalburg City came to them and gently landed his hand on Ruby's head, "To think that my son is also here… Steven, this must be very important."
"Indeed, Norman," Steven replied. "I think we should get started."
Everyone fixed their postures as Steven went to the front and began speaking.
"Good morning, everyone. Thank you for responding to my calls and coming here. You may have foreseen that this is going to be a serious topic. Well, it is, indeed," he paused, looking over the other people in the room.
"Recently," Steven continued, "we found out that there is an asteroid approaching us. This certain asteroid was being observed for quite some time and it used to mean no harm. With the sudden change in its course, the Space Center collaborated with Devon Corporation to devise countermeasures in order to prevent the collision which involves transporting the asteroid into another dimension."
"Do you wish for us to participate?" Juan, the Gym Leader of Sootopolis City inquired.
Steven shook his head, "No. That plan must be revised… Or rather, it must be rejected."
Prof. Cozmo stood up, "What are you saying, all of a sudden? We don't have too much time for another plan!"
"Professor, please calm down," Steven motioned the researcher to sit down. "There is a better method according to the ancient lore of the Draconid people. Each one of you must be familiar about them."
"The Draconids are known to be the lorekeepers of the region," Fortree City's Gym Leader Winona spoke. "So, what is the method you're talking about?"
Steven cleared his throat. "You see, there are actually two different lores that they pass on from generation to generation. The first one tells about Rayquaza's Mega Evolution, which is capable of destroying the coming asteroid. The other one tells about the existence of another world, and that is my reason for rejecting the plan of transporting the asteroid to another dimension."
"I can't believe this. There is no proof!" Prof. Cozmo stood up once again. "Don't tell me you've fallen for that Draconid's chatter! Another dimension is just an empty space, there is no such thing as another world in an empty dimension."
Steven tried to tolerate the professor's resistance. "Professor, please listen to me, just for today. Actually—"
Steven got interrupted by the opening of the door, revealing the most awaited person for the conference. "—we have here our evidence," Steven spoke, stretching out an arm, motioning the rest to turn their heads to the fair lady who just arrived.
"You're just in time, welcome, Eclaire," Steven smiled and motioned her to sit on the empty chair beside him.
Eclaire anxiously walked towards the chair and got herself seated. "Steven, I'm willing to tell them what they need to know," she spoke quietly. Steven proceeded to clear his throat.
"Everyone, this is Eclaire Goldenriver. I had her summoned here to prove what I have said and she's willing to share what she knows."
"S-So, you have the evidence with you?" Prof. Cozmo asked.
Eclaire placed her hand on her chest. "No, sir," she spoke, "I am the evidence."
Each person in the room was surprised. Some had their mouth agape while some have gotten confused. It is unthinkable for someone to claim herself as an evidence of another world's existence right in front of them.
Norman sprang up from his seat, "You're… That voice… You," he quavered.
"Ah," Eclaire got taken aback. She somehow recognized the Gym Leader's face.
Steven noticed that Eclaire has totally tensed up. "Relax, It'll be fine," he murmured, gently smiling at her. He turned his eyes back to the others and asked Norman to get back in his seat. His face suddenly looked serious, changing the atmosphere inside the conference room.
"Our topic will be sensitive from here onwards and I want you to listen carefully," Steven spoke.
Eclaire breathed in and out, preparing herself to speak. Finally, she looked straight at the others. "It is as what you have heard. I am the evidence of another world's existence. That aside, I wish to help on dismissing the crisis," she paused. "There is a great chance that the plan to transport the asteroid will harm the other world. You see, there are many existing dimensions. Some are empty, while some harbor life. Some worlds live in an advanced time, while the others are still at their early development. This world, where we currently stand, is different to the rest."
Everyone got intrigued. Some began to glance at each other.
"An Example is that Mega Evolution does not exist in the world where I came from," Eclaire continued, gathering back their attention. "Another one is that there are less technological developments there compared to here where you have come to the point of being capable to transport an asteroid into another dimension. If we are to push that plan, what if the asteroid collides to their planet without notice? Or what's worse, what if the asteroid gets transported into a dimension where a world is still developing and they have no means of saving themselves?"
"Th-That's what the Draconid said back then," Prof. Cozmo spoke.
Eclaire nodded, "Exactly. I do hope that you finally believe the lore, sir,"
Prof. Cozmo fixed his glasses, "N-Not yet. I can't believe until you show me something from the other world you're talking about."
"I thought so," Eclaire opened her bag and searched for an item. She faced Mr. Stone, "Mr. Stone, tell me, did Devon Corporation ever produced this PokéNav, even as a sample?" she asked the man while taking out the said item.
Mr. Stone stood up from his seat and walked to Eclaire to take a closer look at the item, "This is a PokéNav? No, we never produced anything like this." Mr. Stone picked up the gadget from Eclaire's hand to examine it, "The logo is exactly the same!" He faced the other people in the room, "But I confirm to the rest of you, for navigators, we only produced the PokéNav Plus and we're still developing it for further improvements."
Prof. Cozmo felt frustrated. He has no other choice but to believe Eclaire and the lore about another worlds.