And here's the second chapter for the week.
Chapter Twenty - One: Flare
Yveltal stretched his wings. "It seems I may be well enough to return today."
Eris smiled, looking tired. "That's good."
Yveltal tilted his head. "Are you feeling alright, Miss Eris?"
"Fine." She sneezed, immediately detracting from her words.
Yveltal hummed disapproval. "I return to relative health, and you become sick."
"Ah, sorry?"
"Always apologizing for ridiculous things." Yveltal shook his head. "You may have a day to rest."
"Gee, thanks."
"You hardly sound grateful." He thought about reminding her of how important their task was, but checked himself. I'm sure by now she knows. And even if she is Marked, she is still a simple human. He shook himself. "Let us return. I will send you with Eon, since I may have to fly at a slower pace."
"Oh. Okay." She seemed uncertain.
"You need not worry, Miss Eris." He tried to keep the exasperation from his voice.
She smiled awkwardly, then sneezed again.
Yveltal switched to the pokemon language. "Eon."
The noivern edged forward. "Oi. Why do I have to take her?"
"I know your opinion of her is low, but she need someone to watch over her."
"Yeah, yeah. I'm not the only one with a low opinion, Master." He shook his head, grumbling as he approached Eris, "Stupid, sniveling, weak human."
Eris climbed aboard, and noivern, human, and honedge disappeared into the sky. Yveltal frowned thoughtfully. "Do you share his opinion?" he asked the remaining noivern.
They shifted uneasily. One hesitantly ventured, "We don't want to question your judgment, Master, but she isn't quite the material for the job."
"And we've done a good job for you since you returned," another interjected.
Ah. Yveltal bowed his head. "My apologies. I have not forgotten all you've done for me. And now, if you're willing, I would like to ask you for more favors."
The noivern looked skeptical. "What would you have us do, Master?"
"I need you to continue to be on the lookout. You may act on your jurisdiction for any situations that seem to need it."
The noivern reeled. "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
The dragon pokemon seemed pleased. They crept out of the cave, muttering thanks and flying away. Yveltal slowly beat his wings.
-A Team Flare grunt knocked on Lysandre's door. "Hey, Boss. We've managed to make more money."
Lysandre rubbed his temples, his eyes sliding open. He sighed tiredly, standing, opening the door. "I've only just returned, and you're already bringing me work."
"Sorry, Boss. But it'll help build our new world, so it's kind of important, right?"
Lysandre sighed. "Yes. Yes, I suppose it is." He waved his hand. "Take the money to the admins. They'll see to it."
"Okay."
The grunt left. Lysandre rolled his shoulders. If I'm awake, I might as well do something. He left his room, closing and locking the door, and strode down the hallway.
He'd obtained the café above Team Flare's hideout for a small price. The area beneath had been worked on extensively, carefully, people and pokemon slowly building the frame that would support a sort of hidden base. Still, as Lysandre walked through the dim hallways, he decided, We should find another base, somewhere above ground, as well. I am sick of always being confined in darkness.
He took the steps and emerged into his café. One of the workers smiled at him. "You're leaving again, Mr. Lysandre?"
"Yes. I have some business to attend to."
"It seems you always have business."
"So it does."
He left the café, blinking in the sunlight, then wearily made his way through Lumiose City, his shoulders back, his bearing proud. He weaved through the familiar streets, ignoring the looks from passersby, and found himself at the foot of Professor Sycamore's lab. He ascended the steps and entered.
The receptionist pulled a double-take when she saw him. "M-Mr. Lysandre! I had no idea you were coming!"
"That would be because I only just decided. Is the professor in his lab?"
The receptionist shook her head. "He went out to do some field work with his apprentice and another woman." Her voice said she believed he had found a new girlfriend and disproved of it.
Another-ah. "That would be Rachel."
"How do you know her?"
"I sent her to the professor."
"You should know better than-"
"I was not trying to encourage a lecherous attitude. Besides, you know he's become very mild." Lysandre smiled to pacify her. "Miss Rachel was looking for her daughter. I thought perhaps the professor could help her."
"I see."
Your tone says you do not. "At any rate, I would like to have access to some of the professor's recent files. I would prefer to talk this over with the professor himself, but as he's given me leave to examine them at my leisure, I feel justified in taking advantage of it."
The receptionist frowned, but acquiesced, waving him on. "You have a passkey and you know where everything is. I won't stop you."
"Thank you, ma'am."
He ignored her grumbling about being called 'ma'am' rather than 'miss,' entering the elevator and rising to the third floor. The elevator released him.
The professor's office had been left in neat order. An assistant's doing after he left, I presume. He made his way to Sycamore's computer, turning it on, entering the password, and swiping the passkey. 'WELCOME' paraded across the screen, then gave way to a desktop littered with files. He clicked on one, scrolling through the contents. Where is-ah, here's something.
Sycamore and his apprentice had left for a region near Kalos's coast.
Well, then. I suppose if research has taken them there, I may have something less to worry about. He continued to scroll through the files. But nothing on what I seek.
He couldn't say he was surprised. That didn't mean he wasn't disappointed. He leaned back in the chair, rubbing his temples. I am too weary to try and travel to the coast today. But when will I be able to contact the professor? He examined the Holocaster on his wrist. I pray that he answers. He dialed the number.
Sycamore picked up after only a moment. "Hello, Professor Sycamore speaking. Lysandre? Is that you?"
"Indeed it is, Professor."
"Splendid! I've hardly seen you, but I've been hearing a lot about you lately! How are things?"
"Well enough. But Professor, I did not call for casual talk."
"Right, right, of course. What can I help you with?"
"You know I have been looking into the legends of the Kalos region, correct?"
"Yes, you told me that was your intent when you began studying under me. Actually, I have a boy here who's doing the same. Speaking of that, why didn't you take him to the ruins instead of Eris Yale?"
Lysandre stiffened, his chest clenching. He collected himself. "I assume Rachel has made it to you, then?"
"Yes. But that doesn't answer my question."
"Were you told I met Miss Eris at the airport? If not, I will inform you now. Since I knew her better than the boy, I took her along. My companions wouldn't tolerate too many outsiders, I don't think."
"I see." Sycamore looked like he was trying to convince himself and winning. "Yes, yes I suppose I see that. It certainly makes sense. I know you had your reasons."
"Of course. But, Professor, I need to know if you've learned anything more about the legends."
"You'd know more about that than me by this point."
Lysandre sighed. "Yes, I suppose. But have you heard of any strange occurrences? Anything that may, possibly, connect to the legend?"
"No." Sycamore paused. "Lysandre, is everything alright? You look worn."
"Of course, Professor. Everything is fine."
"Then I must tell you our good news! That boy we have along with us, Taylor, apparently had caught an absol, and-"
"An absol?"
"Yes. He explained that he actually captured it in Geosenge, after the town was attacked. You heard about that, didn't you?"
"I was there."
"Right. Of course."
Lysandre frowned. What an interesting turn of events. "Please, continue."
Sycamore talked animatedly, and Lysandre listened, making appropriate comments, until he was free to hang up.
-A grunt met Lysandre when he returned to the café. "Boss, the admins say they think we're ready to start our plans with the pokeball factory."
"Do they?"
"Yes. We can get started as soon as you're ready."
Lysandre's lips down-turned into a grimace, unexpected anger raging through him. "But none of that matters if we cannot find Xerneas!" He realized abruptly he sound like a petulant child, but wasn't sure how much he cared.
"B-Boss?"
"I will be in my room. If any headway is made on finding Xerneas's location, contact me. If not, leave me in peace." He stormed to his room, unlocking the door and entering, slamming and re-locking it behind him. He swiped a vase off the table. It shattered, wilted flowers lying dead amidst watery blood, glass fragments scattered like a broken body.
Lysandre's anger abruptly drained. He bent down, gingerly lifting pieces of glass and cradling them in the palm of his hand. Light refracted from them from his lamp, and he thought, This is beauty.
He deposited the fragments in the trash. The flowers followed, and he cleaned the floor. If one didn't look in the trash, they would never know a vase had existed. Is that our fate? Something so beautiful, just to fade away, at my hands?
He collapsed in his chair. What am I thinking? I cannot become to engulfed in this charade. He braced a hand against his head. It is Xerneas who brings beauty. Not I. He sighed, staring at the trash can. So senseless.
He turned off the lights, and wondered, abstractly, when he could finally bring this game to an end.
And there would be the end of chapter twenty - one. Review responses:
Guest: Yes, indeed she is. She didn't mention it mostly because she didn't think to, honestly. Part of it, though, was her wounded pride.
Antex - The Legendary Zoroark: I'm glad you enjoyed it! Ah, it's good to know that I've managed to avoid it so far. Thank you!
LeTantris: I agree. Humor wasn't the intent when I first started writing this chapter, but when it ended up being rather humorous, I was kind of happy for the breather. And I'm glad you don't view her as a Mary Sue.
Questions, comments, considerations? I'm I doing something poorly or doing something well? Feel free to leave a review!