Amber could face down criminals, wild Pokemon, and religious nutjobs with ease. But being interrogated by the police? That was too much for her.
"At least it's over." Braedon said sympathetically as Amber sat down beside him. He put a hand on her back.
Amber, Braedon, Argent, and Sapphire were all in the police station being interrogated about what happened underground. Scarlett and Rios had thankfully been arrested, though Amber had a sinking suspicion that they hadn't seen the last of them. Now they all sat in a room at the police station, waiting to be dismissed. Amber, Braedon, and Argent sat on a bench against a window while Sapphire sat alone across from them, her eyes closed.
"You okay, Sapphire?" Amber asked her.
Sapphire didn't respond at first, but after a second she muttered "I'm fine."
Amber knew that was a lie, but decided not to push the girl. She had been through a lot.
Finally, the door opened and an Officer Jenny walked through it.
"You're free to go." Officer Jenny said. "Your story checks out. Scarlett and Rios confessed everything."
"They did?" Argent asked.
Sapphire snorted. "Of course they did. They were probably proud too."
Officer Jenny looked apologetic. "They're in our custody now. You won't have to worry about them ever again."
Sapphire just closed her eyes again.
Officer Jenny left, and the four of them followed her out.
"So, I propose we get new outfits." Braedon said once they were out of the station. "Ours are ripped and covered in Arceus-knows-what."
"We have clothes at the PC." Argent pointed out.
"But where's the fun in that?" Braedon countered. "Let's get changed at the PC and then hit the town some more! I'll pay for it all."
"That does sound nice." Amber admitted. She turned to Sapphire. "How about you?"
Sapphire glared at her. "What about me?"
"Do you want to come?" Amber asked in her sweetest voice.
"Me?" Sapphire looked flabbergasted. "I-uh-have to do... Stuff. Bye!" she ran away.
Braedon rolled his eyes. "She's more shy than you, Am. And almost as asocial as Argent."
"Hey!" Argent complained. Braedon laughed and clapped him on the shoulder.
"I hope she's alright." Amber said worriedly, biting her lip.
"Well, we did just nearly die." Argent said. "Not everyone is as used to near death experiences as we are."
"True." Braedon said. "And she's not exactly a people person. She may have genuinely wanted to be alone."
Amber nodded, still staring into the direction Sapphire ran in. "You guys are right. I'm just worrying to much."
The trio started walking. "If we go left, we'll be on Jaune street." Argent said, looking at a map on his Holo. "There is a boutique on that street, as well as a cafe."
"And the Stone Emporium." Braedon said. "So we can buy some food for Sableye.
"We can head to the boutique, then the Syone Emporium and cafe for lunch." Argent closed his Holocaster. "Is that alright with you, Amber? Amber?"
She blinked. "Huh?"
Braedon looked at her as the three of them turned a corner. "You're still thinking about Sapphire, aren't you?"
Amber blushed. "M-maybe. I'm just worried about her."
"It'll be okay." Braedon said. "Maybe we'll see her again today."
"It's just that..."
"What, Amber?" Argent asked.
"It's not only Sapphire I'm worried about." Amber admitted. "It's The Hallowed Church."
"We beat them, Amber." Braedon said confidently.
"But what if they attack us again?" Amber said. "Professor Sycamore said that they have a reputation for not leaving any loose ends. And with the Pokedexes, we're already targets."
"I've been thinking about that too." Argent said.
"You have?" Braedon asked.
"Yes Braedon. You are the only one who was not thinking about it." Argent said in exasperation.
"Hey! I think about stuff too."
"What were you thinking about?" Amber asked, ignoring Braedon. "Do you have a plan?"
"Sort of." Argent said. "More akin to a goal. We should figure out why they might want these new pokedexes."
"How do we go about doing that?" Amber asked.
"We can ask Marina." Braedon suggested. "I'm sure professor Sycamore will give us her number."
"So now we have a plan." Amber said.
Braedon nodded. "We'll call her tomorrow."
"Why not today?" Amber asked.
"Because today, the three of us are going to have some fun for once, even if it kills us!"
Gale comsidered quitting, she really did.
"They what?" she fumed.
"They were defeated by those children." Andreas said stoically.
Gale rubbed her forhead. "Which set?"
"The children in the Prodigy Program, Your Holiness." Andreas said. "They were doing their regular purification, when they met the children and tried to steal the pokedexes. With my advisement, of course."
"I know all of this." Gale said impatiently. "Tell me how they lost the children. No, wait, I have a better idea. Tell me how you will fix this screw up."
He cleared his throat. "I will apprehend them and retrieve the Pokedexes myself."
Gale sneered. "Good boy. Now get out of my office and go train for your upcoming battle."
"Yes, Head Priest." he bowed and swiftly left the office.
Gale sighed, then grabbed a beer from the mini fridge next to her desk. If she was going to deal with these fools, she would need alcohol.
The three of them had split up in the store, intending to surprise each other with their outfits. They agreed to meet each other at the cafe.
"I like it." Argent said, examining himself. He wore a pewter gray sweater vest over a black tie and dress shirt and khakis.
"You're an adorable nerd." Braedon agreed. "I told you this would be fun."
"You were right." Argent said. "Do not let it go to your head. Your ego is big enough as is."
"Bite me." Braedon said. He wore a purple button up with two breast pockets and black jeans. His shoes were purple hi-tops and he kept his silver sunglasses pulled up above his eyes.
"Juvenile." Argent said.
"Whatever." Braedon spit out his tongue.
"Stop you two." Amber chided. She wore a yellow hoodie that was designed to look like a Pikachu, complete with a tail, and jeans. She had traded her cowboy boots for combat boots.
Amber say down, as did the boys. They ordered their food and talked as they waited. Amber was having so much fun she didn't notice someone was behind her until Braedon cleared his throat and pointed.
Amber looked over her shoulder, then stood up quickly. "Sapphire!"
Sapphire held her arm awkwardly as Amber beamed at her. Beside her was Glaceon.
"Hi." Sapphire said.
They all greeted her.
"What are you doing here?" Amber asked.
"I... Came to gave you this." Sapphire pulled out a small box from her pocket.
"What?"
"It's a thank you. For saving me... Fighting Scarlett for me... And for being brave." Sapphire said.
"Thank you." Amber said. She opened the box. Inside was a bracelet made of glittering blue scales.
"They're Snowflake and Cray's." Sapphire said. "I made it."
"Thank you." Amber said with a blush. She slid the bracelet on.
"No, thank you. You fought for me." Sapphire said. "You all did. You're all so strong. That's why I wamt you to be my rival!"
"Wait, what?" Braedon's eyes widened.
"I'm not good with people." Sapphire said. "So I've never asked someone to be my rival. But I want you to be it, Amber. Your strong and smart and worthy of being my rival. So when Cray is all better, she, I, and Snowflake will take you down!"
"Y-you want me to be your rival?" Amber sputtered.
"Do you accept?" Sapphire asked.
"I-I-uh... Yes. Of course!" Amber said.
"Then I have training to do for our next battle!" Sapphire said. "I have to go! Bye!" With that, she ran off.
"Glace!" Glaceon ran after her.
"She ran away again?" Amber said in surprise.
"What just happened?" Argent asked.
"I think..." Braedon said. "We just made a friend?"
Amber smiled. "Yeah, I think we did."
The next day, Braedon called Professor Sycamore.
"So? What'd he say?" Amber asked Braedon after he got off the phone with the professor.
Braedon shrugged and sat down next to Argent in the booth. "He didn't give me her number. She's on vacation, so he doesn't want anyone calling her about work."
"Now what?" Amber cried in frustration.
Argent pulled out his Holo. "Now, we go with Plan B."
"You have a Plan B?" Braedon asked.
"As all good trainers should." Argent said smugly. "I see that the other creater of our Pokedexes, Cassius Blake, lives in Dedemille Town, just east of here. So we will just head there and question him."
"Nice going, Argent." Amber said.
"How do we get there, oh wise navigator?" Braedon asked.
"We take Route 16," Argent said, ignoring Braedon's sarcasm. "And it's a straight shot there."
"Then let's get out of here." Braedon said. "The faster we get there, the better."
"Why?" Amber asked.
"Because, as you said, we have targets on our backs. It's best if we don't stay in one place for too long."
A/N: Sorry if this chapter is all over the place. It's been a long week. But we're finally done with this story arc! It's eight chapters long, making it the longest arc out of any of my stories.
A/N 2: So, the Reader Question from last time is still on going! So make sure you vote!