Chapter Nineteen

"How have you been? Things have been utterly crazy."

Candice sipped champagne.

"Its, strange. I was incredibly angry for a while, but realised that life needs to go on. Sylvain wanted to go back to school, security has been upped, I have been assured he and Scott are safe."

Names she knew rather well were uttered, Celia turning, squealing.

"You didn't tell me you lot were coming here! Hello!"

Unova's Elite Three stood before her, fact they'd flown all that way to see her heartening.

"Well," Grimsley began, black and white kimono smart, alternative to suit, "you are our Elite sister."

Celia chuckled.

"Happy birthday, Celia." Shauntal handed her three cards. "We saw Piers leaving, rather in a hurry. Is everything alright?"

"There was a Ralts, hanging from his arm..."

Marshall added, perplexed.

"Piers got me twin female Ralts for my birthday. One of them, Minerva," she pointed to creature, antagonising Steelix, running rings around the Iron Snake, dizzying him, "is very self-assured. Her sister, Pomona, on the other hand is not, nervous, she needed some fresh air, soothe worries. I know how she feels. Anxiety can be debilitating. Perhaps I shouldn't have brought her? Thought they'd be miserable on their own, given I've just met them, wouldn't that be classed as abandonment?"

"Never." Grimsley reassured. "Not at all. You were right to bring them here. They are future Elite team Pokemon, no?"

Blond nodded.

"They must get used to strangers, strange Pokemon. Of course, it will be a strange experience, at first. It is, for humans and Pokemon, alike."

"Wise, beyond your years, Grimsley."

Shauntal giggled.

"No, he just thinks he is..."

Man grinned, mischievous side showing itself. They joined Sinnoh's Elite Four, chat quickly turning to terrifying events, yet again...

"Ever thought about having another kid?"

Celia and Piers had heard that question many times, it had zero effect, couple talking it through, agreeing on one.

"After one? Childbirth took it out of me, worst pain I have ever experienced. I couldn't bear doing it again. Luckily, Piers and I agreed on one, before we started trying."

"Lucky." Candice sighed. "It seems like, when I meet a guy, he doesn't want kids, when I do. Or he does, but wants, like, eight. Doesn't he realise he isn't the one giving birth?!"

"Sounds like he doesn't. Ignore 'em, Candice. 'old on, I find lookin' tends to attract the arse'oles, who reckon they are Arceus incarnate...I wasn't lookin', an' I met an angel."

Celia simpered.

"Imagine if I didn't look at that specific edition of the Galar Times? I looked because Dad had left it on the couch, and occasionally, it had ads, looking for actors, extras. I found it rather dull, but decided to take a look, after flicking through TV channels and finding nothing. Mnemosyne despised travelling, didn't like being alone, either. Quartz got travel-sick, so I had to keep her in her ball. So many variables, things ended up slotting into place. If anything didn't?"

Her husband squeezed her hand.

"Yeh, I don't know where I'd be if we 'adn't met."

"You'd still be a superstar, found someone else, yelled your 'black-heart' out. Team Yell would be formed, Marnie brought up to be a brilliant powerhouse, more than proving you are far from the stereotype of Dark type trainers. You can be a bit naughty, from time to time. Variety spices things up."

"Wait, naughty?" Candice chuckled. "Nah, I don't see either of you being like that."

"Well," Celia lowered voice, "how do you make children?"

Candice palmed her face.

"Duhhh...really? We're all adults, here."

Blond pointed to Pokemon, her Ralts, Pomona back and befriending others.

"They aren't."

She lowered voice.

"Let's put it this way. We had to get rid of some, things, as, if Sylvain found them, we would not be able to live it down..."

Piers rustling garnered looks. He pulled out a book, Celia recognising it as lyric book.

"I wrote something for you, been practising whilst you were at work."

Gold eyes lit up.

"Are you sure?"

Piers shrugged, much to his wife's dismay.

"Eh, I've 'ad some lessons, an' it will be rusty, but," he grinned, "won't know unless I try, righ'?"

He opened book, lyrics he'd written melting woman's heart.

"You sung this, I reworked it. It was sorta soppy, we faffed abou' wit' it. Now we're grown up, I 'ope I made it sound as such."

"Shall I sing it again?"

"I would like tha', an' I KNOW they would."

He turned, pointing to everyone.

"I will try an' sing the new song. Emphasis on 'try,' everyone..."

Their friends laughed with him, his wife getting ready to perform.

Celia stepped away from mic stand, whistles, claps and adrenaline rush fuelling her fire, woman thinking of returning to singing. She needed to do something, teaching shifts two days a week meant she was sat on her arse for the rest of the week, growing antsy.

Elite Four work had been temporarily suspended, which meant none of them were getting paid. Unless they did interviews, TV and/or radio, their income had suddenly ceased.

Her wage packet had significantly decreased, something she knew she'd have to talk to Piers about.

Not tonight.

"I haven't heard that one before..."

Celia bowed, exiting stage left.

"Yeh, we didn't release it. Its older than our relationship."

"You listen to us?"

Celia walked behind her husband, wrapping arms around his neck.

"Of course."

Byron surprised pair.

"I don't think I've ever thought about who our audience could be. I was glad people listened and liked our sound. Well, most did..."

"Yeah," the 'Steel Body' leader smirked, "I heard about that, too. Jealous ladies."

Piers scoffed.

"They can be jealous all they want, couldn't give two Hoothoot's abou' it."

"Piers gets called 'callous' for saying that. I couldn't either. Nothing to worry about. If there was, we wouldn't be here."

Candice gasped.

"Um, can you say that about your own husband?"

Piers nodded.

"Yeh."

"Yes. We know each other. Piers isn't the nicest man I've ever met. My Dad is. My husband is magnificent, loving, elegant, composed, impish, the man who has me, wholeheartedly, good and bad. We'd never, purposefully be horrible to each other. Still, that doesn't mean we are flawless. I, certainly am not."

"Celia is gracious, thoughtful, 'ilarious, clever, glitterin', we do disagree, though. I tend to obsess over me work, tha' trait wants to take charge, question things, question Celia. an', a few times, it 'as. Not 'cause I think she is incorrect. I would do it another way, is all. Me wife jus' massively upstaged me, should I botha singin' now? I'd be bringin' the mood down."

"The only way you could do that is if you deliberately sung off key. You can still sing, I have ears, you know..."

Celia winked.

"I'm off to get a drink. Dinner time."

She looked at her stomach.

"Need to feed the rabble, too..."

Almost one hundred Pokemon replied, sound jarring.

"Wheelbarrows full of food, anyone...?"

You are my lullaby, when rest evades

You are my light, when darkness pervades

With the rope I tether

Whether here or ever

It is your lullaby

That brings me home.

Celia stopped, bumping into table. Eyes began watering, heart thundering.

"Oh, chérie...you're making me cry..."

Happy, appreciate tears fell, woman turning, running to husband, holding him tightly, resonance filling space, 'aww's' spreading throughout gathering.

After dinner, photos were taken, everyone dressed to the nines, family environment making Celia wish her Dad was able to attend.

Team Yell were correct.

They did live too far away, woman wondering, if, after Sylvain finished school, and graduated from the Trainer School, whether or not he would like to go back to Galar.

Piers had hinted at it, Celia definitely wanted too.

It wasn't merely about them anymore. It hadn't been, for some time.

Gardenia got out her phone, taking pictures of her friends.

"Is that?"

She turned phone, Celia seeing Henry, standing behind her, having entered through the back door. She paused, paramount emotion anger, mind quickly adding that making a scene now would be terrible.

She needed backup.

"How did he?...Piers."

She waved at her husband, whisper-yelling his name. He looked, face hardening, eyes turning murderous. He calmly got others attention, thirteen sets of eyes on Henry.

Celia mouthed apology, for what she was to say.

"This is the illustrious Henry Howell, everyone! The man who masqueraded as a teacher, blindsided us, tried to take me from my husband, doesn't know what 'no' means, joined Ghetsis, threatened Scott's life, degraded me, bullies people..." Blond smirked. "Should I go on?"

Henry remained in the corner, sending out Hydreigon, Candice immediately calling her team, Shauntal sending out Froslass. People surrounded Celia, shielding her.

"No," woman confused crowd, "let him. Lets see what he's made of, if he really is 'tough.'"

Calling for her Noivern, Angelite flew into the room, hissing viciously.

"Since you're the 'next best thing to Arceus,' a 'God among men?' Get on with it, then. You don't mind an audience, do you?"

Henry grinned, black hair merging with backdrop, pearly whites becoming even more sinister.

"Every single one of you is completely unnecessary. All hot air, noise, pointless. Ghetsis was right. Why did I let myself believe, even for one, fucking second that you could be of use? That you'd drop the clown," he sneered at Piers, "though, your son? He has promise."

"Were you groomin' him, arse'ole?"

"Him? No. Scott? Yes. He could be moulded, putty in my hands, shift focus from the plan."

"And what is this 'plan' exactly?"

"For all of you to die, by the jaws, paws, whatever it is your Pokemon have. They are killers by nature. We force them to behave, their instinct curbed, in favour of 'friendship.' Don't make me laugh."

"Considerin' you 'ave the nerve to show up? So, ya plan? It involves those pieces of shit antenna's, an' I'll bet the reason they are crap is 'cause they are prototypes."

Henry squinted greys.

"The court jester has a brain! Impressive. Yes, Piers. Those were the first devices. We already have what we need, the machine that controls them will be up and running soon."

Piers snorted.

"Pokemon should not be controlled. We force them to be our pets, curb their want to harm, kill. They must kill in order to survive."

Henry looked at Noivern.

"Aren't you a bat? Bats bite, draw blood from their victims. Yet, Celia feeds you apples and poffins?"

Angelite rolled her eyes, squinting at man.

"I feed her what she wants, Henry. If she wants meat, she gets it. Notice they all avoid you? Is that why you have to take another's Pokemon?"

Celia approached dragon, gasps leaving people's mouth, though none knew from who.

"He won't touch me. I looked up all I could on Hydreigon. Incredibly rare, Brutal Pokemon, kills without question. Henry isn't your master. If you wanted, I would be dead already. Most of us would be, with the level of his strength. Yet, you stay back. Why do I think you want all of this to be over? You seek rest, are not allowed it. You thrive off of pain because that's what Ghetsis gave you."

Mention of his master's name caused dragon to bellow.

"You just want it to end, want to sleep, but he won't let you."

Atmosphere tense, Celia continued.

"Just because you are called the 'Brutal Pokemon' does not mean all of you are. You attacked him, but he took it, earned your respect. Yet, he treats you like dirt, he says humans make Pokemon their 'pets?' He made you his pawn. If he cared, one, tiny bit, he'd let you stop fighting, let you go."

Each set of eyes squinted in tandem.

"If I am wrong? No one here will stop you."

Protesting sounds came from the crowd.

"Don't." She dared turn away from creature. "Unless he attacks me, don't hurt him." Her gaze found scarlet irises questioning, obviously disorientated. "I should want to harm you, given whom you serve, and the fact he used you to try and kill us? Yes. That is exactly what he did, Hydreigon. You have a name, don't you? Does he use it, or leave you nameless, like you mean nothing? Our Pokemon are friends, family, they mean the world to us."

Woman held out hand, palm down, forcing nerves down, knowing dragon would pick up on them.

You did not show weakness around Hydreigon.

They savagely beat anything that cowered when they appeared.

Yet, the large creature tilted dominant head, move dog-like.

"Henry? I know what you want, and its rather pitiful. Hydreigon doesn't want to battle, he's made that clear. So," Celia faced him., "face me. Lets see who has bigger balls."

Piers snorted, obnoxiously loudly, in veneration of his wife.

"Spoiler alert, I do."

She lowered head, letting dragon judge her.

"Can I turn, please?"

Hydreigon nodded, rubbing his head against her hand.

"Thank you." She turned, calling team, leaving Pomona and Minerva out, too young to battle. "See, Henry? That's what respect is."

"What does he have that I don't?"

Henry's voice was pitiful, accepting defeat.

"Let me see," blond mused, "tact."

"Jus' tact?" Piers laughed. "Love, I'm offended."

"A brain!"

Candice shouted.

"A brain, a heart, thoughts of his own, doesn't need a lead. Though, his collar gives off that he does. Do you want one, Piers?"

"From you? Yeh. From 'enry? He'd lead me 'ead first into a Cacnea..."

"I'd slit your throat, bastard."

"Wit' wha'? A sharpener?"

Titters left crowd.

"And ruin this spiffy suit?"

Henry's jaw dropped.

"You're more concerned about the suit than your life?"

"I am rather proficient at getting blood out of clothing, darling." Celia laughed, Henry grabbing her arm shutting that up, abruptly. "Think I can't defend myself? Don't insult me."

Piers stood, calmly, indignation beginning to flood veins, cloud vision.

"'enry. Get your mitts off me wife, or she'll get ya better acquainted wit' the ground..."

"That's what he wants, Piers. Go on then, get on with it, before the audience starts booing. People adore sex scenes, after all. Only, this one won't be romantic, because I fight back. Hope you don't mind, love."

Celia turned, husband feigning upset.

"Mind? O'course I bleedin' well mind!" He tutted, rolling blues.

Henry didn't move, Celia readying fist.

"You touched me first. There are thirteen witnesses."

Henry laughed.

"Try me."

"Oh, I will, but I call the shots here. If someone treats me badly, and refuses to accept 'fuck off' as an answer, I will take action."

Henry went to slap Celia, Hydreigon getting in the way, fangs slashing, man screaming.

"Oh, look! Someone else, who doesn't like you."

Celia swallowed.

"Would anyone object to me punching him?"

"Join the queue."

Piers walked towards his wife.

"Love, practically everyone 'ere wants to knock 'enry's block off. We migh' be 'ere a while..."

Celia laughed, knowing they'd be in trouble when the Police arrived, but Kalosian fire boiled in her veins, wanting to be unleashed, Henry being a complete, utter twat.

He'd been warned, several times.

He ignored all of those.

Celia was done being polite.

Midnight struck, Piers taking Celia's hand, wrapping arm around her waist.

"You are brilliant."

Celia smirked.

"Also, in a Appletun of trouble."

"'enry 'ad a face worth smackin', spotted tha' a mile off..."

"Shouldn't have done it, though. I will accept punishment."

"Will ya, now?"

Her husband nipped her ear.

"Could you be any more obvious? Arceus..."

Woman laughed.

"Fuck yeh I can."

Pressing his waist against hers wasn't really necessary, Celia on the same page.

"Oh, I know. I also know I can't keep ignoring wanting you. We are family, too, I placed feelings behind being a Mum, my jobs. I neglected to remember that I am also a wife, a lover, a friend."

"Someone tha' needs more than cuddles an' niceties. I reckon I can manage tha'."

"If you couldn't, I wouldn't be here. Neither would you."

Finding zip of her dress, Celia undid Piers' jacket buttons.

"Too much clothing..."

"Too little time?"

"No," his wife raised brows, "three-day weekend."

"Fancy spending it in 'ere?"

"You catch on quickly..."

Man freed woman of stuffy confines of her dress, pointing at her heels.

"Keep those on..."