POV: Cynthia/ LOCATION: Veilstone City
At first, Flint was against bringing too many flowers. But with each passing day, Lucian's bedside grows so colorful that it eventually blooms into the secret garden that he has always wanted.
Not long ago, he was reprimanding me, Flint, and Volkner about wasting precious League funds into pachinko. Dragging our drunk asses back to the League, complaining to Bertha that he's not our damn babysitter.
Just recently he sat on my side of the interrogation table, drawing his own mental rapier in a battle of wits against Cyrus's riddles.
Then he was behind me when the fortress of madness rose to the sky, his hand extended, screaming my name.
Now, Lucian is in a deep sleep. A slumber that has so far showed no intentions of finding a new host.
Just like that, my future has changed. And there's no going back.
One day, after changing the shriveled orchids in Lucian's hospital room, I stop by the ruined city of Veilstone.
Since that last fiasco with the mobile fortress, all citizens have been evacuated to nearby Hearthome or Pastoria. Left behind is a cold, dark chasm trapped under eternally weeping skies.
As I drift down a cracked road, the angry silence of the city buzzes in my eardrums. Anything Galactic-related has been boarded up. Condemned. The Galactic-funded Casino, for instance, now sits beneath a stew of graffiti. The famous Department Store has been closed while it scrambles to find other sources of sponsorship.
When I close my eyes, I remember a much different Veilstone. One warmed by sunshine and innocence. An evil insurance agent/unofficial tour guide whose eyes would crinkle every time I barked in his face.
Near the bund are the remains of Neo Galactic HQ: nothing more but charred steel beams. A relic from glorious days bygone.
Beyond the yellow police tape is an argument.
"Mars, you can't do this! This was our home! The only real home I've ever known!"
"I'd rather slit my stomach than acknowledge a traitor in la mia famiglia. Step aside."
"NO! This is my only good memory of Master—"
And with a forceful kick, Mars shoves Saturn away. Her expression unchanging, she ignites an armful of those murky glass bottles and lobs them into the ruins.
Soon, the remains of HQ go up in flames. Bluish fire devours everything in sight, releasing black plumes of smoke into the bruised skyline. Veilstone Bund is aglow in red. Even from here, I can feel its scathing heat.
Saturn is crying. Mars stands near the ledge, her petite silhouette dancing erratically in the inferno.
"Our home is with Jupiter," she says in monotone. "In this cruel world, she's the only one we can trust. Let's go home."
Our paths cross on the path out of Veilstone. Pretending that nothing was seen, I give those two a weak smile.
"Hi!" Mars chirps, seemingly back to her innocently jovial self. "You look sick. Are you sick? Not as sick as that pretty boy, right? There was sooo much brain matter to clean up—"
"He's fine!" I scream.
Mars giggles. "He's not waking up from that coma."
Right away, my heart turns to stone. I stare at this girl, whose smile widens, stretching to her ears.
And for the first time in my life, I think that I'm afraid of Mars.
Meanwhile, Saturn is rubbing his nose. "It was pretty bad," he mumbles to the ground. "I mean, you could see so much blood from where we stood."
Looker's words grab my head. "You know what you have to do, Cynthia. Think of Lucian. Think of everyone who have silently suffered from your immature wrath."
No! Never! I worked hard to get here! It was my dream since I was a child! Looker doesn't understand!
"You are sick!" Mars exclaims. "Look at how you're sweating like someone shoved a pistol down your throat!"
Just then, Jupiter comes up to us. At first, she pretends not to notice me. Then she changes her mind.
"All that came out of his mouth were lies anyway," she says. "So you did the right thing, shutting him up like that."
"What?"
"Yeah… If Cynthia hadn't done it, I would've. That two-faced, double-crossing…" Then she sighs. "Mars, Saturn, come with me. Cynthia… you can come if you'd like."
She might've said instead: "Come with me so I can keep an eye on you."
"Where?" I ask.
"Hearthome. Some big-shot lawyer wanted to talk with me and these brats."
Located in Hearthome's historic downtown is an inconspicuous law office. You won't be able to tell on the outside, but Jupiter insists that this is one of the top lawyers in all of Sinnoh.
"Thank you for coming," says the lawyer.
"You wouldn't stop calling Melissa's residence," Jupiter grumbles. "Because of you, I had to take the day off. What do you want?"
The lawyer glances at me. "Champion Cynthia, you'll act as witness today."
Witness? To what?
Meanwhile, Mars is rocking in her chair. Nibbling on a strand of hair.
"What's wrong?" Saturn whispers.
"Act natural," she mumbles, eyeballs darting back and forth. "We didn't do anything wrong. Innocent til convicted."
Not knowing what else to say, Saturn squeezes Mars's hand.
"Don't worry," says the lawyer. "My field isn't in criminal defense. Anyhow, to begin, I'd like to confirm your identities. It's Mars, Saturn, and Miss Jane, yes?"
"Riiiight," Jupiter says through her teeth.
"Thank you."
And the lawyer brings up a huge metal briefcase. Setting it on the table, she opens it…
"MONEY!" Mars screams.
"Enough to buy all the latest game consoles!" Saturn cries. "No, more than enough to preorder all future generations!"
The only one not overjoyed at seeing this bleeding gold is Jupiter. "What is the meaning of all this?"
To that, the lawyer produces a manila envelope. "I'll get to the point. Mars, you will receive 25% of the fortune. Saturn, 25%. Jupiter, 40%. The remaining 10% will be redistributed, at Miss Jane's discretion, among the employees at Galactic Energy."
Mars and Saturn leap up in their seats. "WE'RE RICH!"
To the lawyer, I ask, "So you just needed me to confirm that they won the lottery?"
"No, ma'am. Your name wasn't listed in the will, but your presence will count as proof that the beneficiaries have been rewarded—"
Never have I seen Jupiter's face crumble so quickly that her knees actually buckle.
"B-But I was just talking to Melissa!" she wheezes.
"Will?" Saturn echoes. "Who's that?"
"It's a thing," Mars says. "Usually, you invite a well-off company executive to your manor, ask them politely to give their signature—you usually have to help them. Then you let them see your Magikarps."
The lawyer calmly produces a cassette tape. With one press, the reels spin. Tapes unwind. Then a voice slips from the speakers.
Oh. That's…
"Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter. By the time you hear this, I am no longer able to resume my chair as CEO. Since I know you'll want confirmation that this is not an ill-advised prank, I have requested my lawyer to provide you with this recording."
Mars stops grinning.
"Before we move on to what you want to hear, allow me to speak a few words. Firstly, I never expected to see to my 20th birthday. I never expected to celebrate our grand opening. I have never dreamed of actually owning property."
"That's him!" Saturn cries. "He's here! Somewhere!"
"None of this would be possible by myself. Often I think back to my days roaming around Sinnoh. Now, I realize that I wasn't searching for a purpose: I was looking for a home. And I found it. It wasn't a thing, but the people who have stayed by my side, regardless of my having nothing worthwhile to offer them."
Jupiter jams her fists into her ears, shaking her head fervently as if to dispel the evil spirits.
"Sorry. This is my first time doing anything like this. There's no script in front me, just… my feather pen. My lawyer assures me it's okay though. It's my will. She's very patient. It's very pleasant outside. I wonder if it'll be sunny tomorrow too…
"Ahem. Sorry. Anyhow, I bequeath my fortune as follows…"
The recording follows verbatim the lawyer's early declaration.
"In addition, Saturn, in my safety deposit box, I've prepared notes on navigating the business world. In my place, guide Galactic back on the proper path.
"That's all I have. I hope this is adequate compensation for your time. That's the least I can do as your new boss, yes? For me, after this recording, Galactic Energy will celebrate its one-day anniversary. Wherever you are right now, whatever much time has passed, I want you to know…
"Erm… w-well. I-I'm very grateful for… Tch. Nevermind. Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter. May your futures always be blessed with fortune and happiness."
There is a long pause after that, indicating sentiments that were ultimately left unspoken. Then it abruptly ends.
No one speaks as the lawyer distributes copies of the letter, the shares of money, and the cassette tape.
"Although my client's assets were recently transferred, he had set aside money in his emergency account—"
Jupiter grabs the briefcase and flings it out the window.
"Why won't he leave me alone!" she roars. "Even in my dreams, he… If he wants to crawl back to me, then tell him to roll off a cliff instead!"
"I am merely reading his will. If you refuse to claim your benefits as benefactor, then his fortune will be left to the state—"
"Good!"
"But the money!" Saturn yelps.
"We don't need it! Like we don't. Need. Him!"
"But it's a lot!" Mars groans. "A traitor's money is still money—"
By then, Jupiter has yanked them out the door. Tossing one last glare at the lawyer, she says:
"When I find that bastard, I'm putting him in a straitjacket myself!"
And she's gone.
"That won't be possible," the lawyer murmurs. "Not anymore."
I jolt, snapping out of that wild, vivid dream. "What do you mean? There's only so many places a wanted man can hide."
"In my decades in this profession, he was my youngest client. Truthfully, I never thought I would be reading his will so soon."
I'm still so confused.
"You'll understand," she says. "Detective Looker's press conference is starting in a few minutes. It's not something you want to miss, Champion Cynthia."