Chapter Fifty-Three- Fly Free, Little Bird

"You called me, Father." Anri asked as she entered her father's office. It was just him for once, no Ford or Garchomp. She steadily took a seat across from him.

"Yes." He coughed. "First, I need to ask you. What is the status of Berk? Has he show… hesitation?"

"...Yes." She confirmed. "During his time in Ether, he displayed hesitation and a possible desire to defect."

"Understood." Her father nodded. At that moment, Samuel casually strolled in.

"Yo!" He greeted. "What'd you call me for boss?"

"One moment." Her father commanded. Sam raised his hands briefly in understanding, sitting beside her. "Anri… What do you think of Lux?"

"Well," She answered. "In my reports, I explained that he's quite-"

"Do you view him as a friend?" He interrupted. "Something you care for?"

"W-what!?" She gasped, flustered. "N-no! He's our-"

"You've show me something earlier." He continued. "You're a little bird trapped in a cage. A cage created by me. It's time I opened your hatch." He ended, passing her a gold ring and a document. "Take it."

"Why…?" She hesitantly accepted. The ring was crafted beautifully, with a ruby in the center. It was her mother's… The document appeared to be on Shadow Pokemon.

"Berk." He turned to his agent, who perked up immediately. "Your last assignment is to join Anri in her assistance of Lux Amity."

"Whoa, whoa!" Sam panicked. "You can't be serious!"

"I am." He asserted, leaning back. He shifted his stoic gaze back to Anri. "You'll find more joy by their side, then you would by mine, my sweet child. Good luck."

"Understood." Anri nodded, calmly. She stood up, leaving the room. Sam awkwardly followed behind. She felt her whole body trembling as she grasped her mother's ring. Her father remained in his office, alone.

"Hah…" He chuckled to himself, inspecting his right arm. "Mailys… She's so much different than you… Ironically, she took after me, didn't she?"

…...

"Hey~" Niles tilted his head, surveying the girls' new outfits. They had returned to his family's manor near the top of Mt. Fang. It was a large blue and gold building surrounded in greenery. A large fountain sat in the front. They were outside Mr. and Mrs. Fang's room, where Luna and Gena changed. As usual, the Noivern screeched in the distance. "Not bad. Not bad at all~"

"Tch." Gena groaned, ignoring him. She donned a powder blue skirt and a lavender turtleneck. She had a baby blue coat over that, lined with white fluff. She still had her white thigh highs, amethyst boots, and red scarf. However, she no longer wore her hat, revealing her hair. He noticed that her hair appeared to have either gotten longer, or was extended, as it reached below her chin. "I don't care for your opinion."

"It really works." Lux commented.

"Guess that's an Lux complement." Gena smirked, glancing to her sister. Luna dressed in a pure white vest, and a pink undershirt. Over that, she covered herself in a white and pink winter trench coat. She also sported white shorts, black tights, and white boots. However, she still wore her hat, unlike Gena.

"Yes, children!" Linda laughed out a haughty laugh. "Admire my work! Praise the dragon mistress!"

"Don't." Niles commanded the group. "Mom has a big enough head as is."

"Preaching to the choir on that one." Draco chuckled. "Granted, I'm not much better…"

"Bullies!" Linda whined. "I'm bullied by my own family!"

"Yep." Niles rolled his eyes, pausing as his father checked his phone.

"A new challenger-" He cut himself off, putting his phone away. "And they're gone…"

"W-what?" Luna gasped. "What'd you mean 'gone?'"

"Victory Road." Linda smiled. "We record every time a challenger enters. They never make it to round two."

"Round two?" Gena inquired.

"It's a secret~!" She evaded.

"What's round one?" Lux pondered.

"Eh." Draco shrugged. "We just release a horde of Pseudo Legendaries. Garchomp, Tyranitar, Metagross. There's even a new batch being shipped next year from Alola!"

"Let's just stay here tonight, alright?" Niles yawned, walking down the halls. "No arguing!"

"I'll just use the same room." Lux announced, leaving the others behind.

…...

Anri paused at the luxurious wooden door that had a Salamence carved into it. She felt her entire body trembling in the cold air of the night snow. Sam warmed himself silently with his coat behind her. Did she really deserve to return? She forced her hand upward, slamming it down on the door with great force. Crap!

"They have a bell…" Sam sighed, pressing a button next to her gently.

"R-right…" She mumbled as a sweet tune played out. She recognized it the song played on a Pokeflute.

"Noi!" A Noivern screeched as it landed beside them. It glared at them as a Shelgon pushed open the door. It was dressed in a custom butler uniform. It gestured for them to enter, before waddling back inside.

"D-do we…?" Sam paused, twiddling his fingers towards the door. Anri marched inside without a word, while the Noivern continued to glare.

…...

Lux gazed out to the night sky, counting the stars overhead. It was so beautiful… He closed his eyes, recalling how strong they've become. He saw Haxorus as an Axew, when he was rescued by Niles, catching Espurr, his battle with Albert, and his entire team's evolution. He smiled, confidently. They really have grown strong… At that moment, the stone in his bag began to glow. He pulled it out, watching the solid green shift into a green and red swirl. He placed the stone back, noticing the Dusk Stone Wild had given him.

"Lampent." He called out, revealing the ghost Pokemon. "Hey, do you want to evolve?"

"Lamp..." She shook herself in denial. "Pent!"

"You want to spend more time in that form, don't you?" Lux chuckled, putting the stone away. "Sorry about your mother…"

"Lamp!" She growled, ramming him.

"Ow!" He flinched. "Right… Just keep smiling." He nodded, allowing her to phase away. He smiled to himself and made his way back to his bed. Meowstic and Eevee curled up on the bed sheets, sleeping peacefully. What could he evolve Eevee to…? He shook his head at the thought, noticing a Shelgon march into the room.

"Gon!" It cried, signalling for him to follow.

"Oh...kay?" Lux shrugged, pacing after the Pokemon. It led him down the hall, into the balcony built from it. A blonde girl gazed out from out top.

"Shel!" Shelgon shouted, walking away. The girl turned, revealing her face to him.

"Anri!" He beamed.

"Lux..." She grimaced. "I… I know you'll just forgive me… but I still can't forgive myself…"

"Welcome back." Lux hugged her tightly, causing her to squeak. "Just shut up for now."

"You're too nice…" She growled. "But it's not that bad, I guess…"

"Let's get the others." He suggested.

…...

"And that's the end of it." Anri concluded her explanation to the rest of the group. She sat on the grand entrance staircase, while the others stood around her. "Berk was sent to join you as well."

"Sup?" Sam tipped his head. He stood beside the beginning of the guardrail.

"Welcome back, big bro~" Nero laughed. "Guess the Sky sisters won't have to cry anymore!"

"Quite the army we're amassing…" Gena commented. "Better than six teens with attitude against an evil sorceress or some cliche like that."

"Mega Morphing?" Luna grinned. "Love that season!"

"Anyway..." Niles interrupted, outstretching his fist to Anri. "Welcome back, Bunny-Rabbit."

"Yeah." Anri chuckled. "Y'know, I think it's time to tell you how I, Anri Wilson, not Rina, really feel about all of you."

"Pardon?" Lux paused.

"Niles, you're the biggest mess of an inferiority complex I've ever seen!" She insulted.

"Ow?" Niles groaned.

"But, you're a good fighter." She ended, turning to Gena. "Gena, on the other hand, is the most envious sibling I've ever seen. You can't even see your own strength, but you're really lucky to have small breasts. They really get in the way when fighting."

"...Thanks." Gena rolled her eyes.

"Luna." She twisted to face the second Apple sibling. "You're so damn innocent. I just want to slap you sometimes… But, you're truly a gift to the messed up world nonetheless."

"Hehe?" Luna laughed, awkwardly.

"Nero." She shifted to the green haired fighter. "Nero, Nero, Nero. What a work you are. You're a massive blood knight who can only think of her next fight. But, in spite of that, you really know how to find the fun in anything."

"Daw, thanks!" Nero giggled.

"Albert." She continued. "The most anti social, misanthropic little redhead ever conceived into the world. You're less a person and more a loose collection of character flaws. And that's without your crippling fear of ghosts. But, you did show how much you've grown as an actual Gym Leader."

"Whatever…" Albert sighed, a minuscule smile on his face.

"And Lux." She turned to him finally. "Little Luxie-poo...Leader of what I like to call the Amity Army. You're so nice and forgiving. You even see the good in everyone now… You're truly an all loving hero at this point... But… Your hat looked stupid."

"Good thing I don't wear it anymore then." Lux sighed. "Welcome back…"

"Good to be back." She grinned.

…...

Galen calmly made his way out of their facility. He continued until Ford stopped him near the entrance.

"Where are you going, Galen?" She interrogated. "We need to prepare-"

"That's your job." He retorted. "I am your leader. I don't do grunt work. I have somewhere to go right now. Just do your job for once instead of trying to tell me what to do, Ford."

"...Understood, Sir." She inhaled sharply, allowing him to pass. She waited for a brief second. "Don't speak so highly, you little pawn. I'm nearly done with you anyway…"