Hot-Blooded
Being Sunday morning, the library was as quiet as a tomb, excluding the very small part of it where Inyssa, Barry and Lucas resided, going through bookcases together and chatting as they said their goodbyes to the latter.
"A field mission, eh?" said Barry a few feet up on the moving ladder, as he placed one of the books back in its spot. "What do they want you to do there in Iron Island anyway?"
Lucas looked up from the tome he was reading. "Well… there have been unusual tremors in the subterranean floors these past weeks, and no one seems to know why."
"So you gotta go there and investigate?"
"Yes, it seems the Gym leader of this town decided that this was a job better suited for a scientist than a miner," Lucas shrugged. "He asked the professor for help and then he asked me if I could take a look at what's causing it."
Inyssa couldn't help but make a face, pretending to read the title of a book as she showed her back to the boys. She'd expected to be able to hang out with Lucas a bit more. Then again, it's not like their own stay in Canalave would continue much longer. They'd already wasted more than a week without even visiting the Gym once. They needed to pick up the pace.
But before that, I need to find this damned book, she thought, frowning. If I want to inspire Shadi then I need inspiration myself.
"Let's hope it doesn't take too long," she finally said, placing the book back where it belonged. "It'd be nice if you and your boyfriend could get back as quickly as possible so we can hang out one last time before we head north."
Lucas stopped halfway while climbing the moving ladder, the dark skin of his face reddening a little.
"He's not… he's not my boyfriend," he whispered, barely audible. "Besides, you're talking as though you'll be leaving in like… a couple days. Didn't the last Gym take you two more than a week to beat?"
She simply let out a small heh and flipped a strand of hair to the side, smiling confidently. Barry mirrored her expression, his eyes sparking with energy.
"I've got a good feeling about my chances," she declared.
"Based on… what, exactly?"
"My trainer's instinct, I guess." She shrugged.
"And my gut," Barry added. "When you're a trainer that's all you need, really."
Lucas raised an eyebrow, not looking very convinced.
"If you say so…" he whispered, looking down. "Speaking of which, this book we're trying to get for you… I assume it's for Shadi?"
Wrinkles formed at the edge of Inyssa's eyes. She tried to stop herself from wincing at the name, though she felt a small jolt as her eyes flashed golden for a moment. Her hand came to rest on one of the bookshelves to stop shaking.
He's not talking about… her, she told herself. He means your Kricketune. Stop overreacting.
"Yeah," she said, voice flat. "I'll start training her again today. I'm counting on her to be my main fighter against Canalave's Gym Leader."
Even Barry froze at that. Though it was understandable, as this was news to him as well. It wasn't like she didn't trust him with the information; she just wanted to be one hundred percent sure that her plan would work before announcing anything.
"Really?" Barry asked, mouth slightly agape. "You think…? I mean, did you find a way for her to fight without… you know…"
She nodded, perhaps a bit too firmly. "I think so. It's a pretty crazy idea, but at this point I'll take anything as long as it has a small chance of working…"
She left the sentence hanging, not knowing what else to say. And what was there, really? The matter was as simple as it could be. Either she found a way for Shadi to fight without shortening her lifespan or she would be forced to release her. Just like that; another friend gone, another partner leaving her side…
Breaths came in slower as she tried to calm herself.
"I got the idea from re-watching my fight with Fantina," she said. "That… thing I told Shadi to do, using Bide for more than its intended purpose… I think there's something else there that I failed to see at the time." She looked down at her palm, frowning. "If I'm right then moves like Bide, Counter, Mirror Coat and Protect might be a bit more versatile than people think they are."
Even with her back turned to them, she could imagine the confused looks on the boy's faces. She didn't blame them. She barely understood it herself, to be honest. And that was something that needed to be fixed.
She stood on her tiptoes to reach another book, and a smile stretched across her lips as she read the title in its spine.
Experience is the best teacher, a voice said in her head.
"If I'm right about this… then Shadi and I might just make history." She turned around and looked up at Barry and Lucas, smiling at them with a determined expression. "And all I need is some inspiration from this book."
Both boys leaned forward a bit, squinting to read the stylized title written in gold which adorned the book's cover.
Sinnohan Music Theory and Terminology.
Two hours later Inyssa stood atop a grassy hill, arms crossed as she witnessed the movements of her Pokemon all throughout the empty field at the edge of Canalave. Water and lightning flew through the air as Johnny and Kuro exchanged blows. A gust of wind carried Steven as he sent an endless assault of razor-sharp wind projectiles toward Bret, whose vines did their best to shield him as he shot pulsing balls of energy back, eyes narrowed and sweat falling down his face.
"Come on Bret! Just because you're at a disadvantage doesn't mean you can give up!" she hollered, closing her hand into a fist. "You've always had trouble dealing with opponents faster than you; it's time you learn how to deal with it! I know you can do it!"
Her gaze moved to the other side of the field, where sparks and steam danced together with every clash between the Quagsire and Luxray, the latter of which was starting to pant in exhaustion, none of his attacks having dealt significant damage yet.
"Kuro! If you keep relying only on your electricity to win then you'll be no better than a one-trick Ponyta!" she yelled. "Use your speed and your opponent's weight to your advantage, just like Barry's Houndoom did to you! Or have you already given up after only one loss!?"
Both Kuro and Bret froze, eyes going wide while their opponent's attacks flew directly toward them. Their trainer's words lit their chest, sending heat all throughout their body. That heat rose up toward their throats as they looked up and screamed in unison, throwing themselves forward with wild abandon, leaving the safety of their respective elements behind.
Inyssa smiled, feeling her throat ache from all that yelling but proud nonetheless. Over-reliance on only one specific form of attack would get them nowhere, but if they could fight and win without resorting to it, then they'd be ready for the fight against Byron. None of her Pokemon had a clear advantage against Steel types. An all-round, diverse team was the best chance she had at claiming the Mine Badge.
Just as that thought crossed her head, another, more bleak one did as well.
If only Enma were here…
She forcefully bit the edge of her lip, chasing the thought away with all her might. Enma wasn't here. Wishing he was wouldn't do any good for her, and it sure as hell wouldn't help her move forward and defeat Byron. She'd been dealt her cards. It was time she showed them.
The faint sound of something collapsing against the grass made its way toward Inyssa. She perked up, uncrossing her arms as she turned around.
Speaking of which…
Shadi struggled to push herself up to her feet, the entirety of her body covered in sweat. Her mustache was frazzled, and her knees shook under the weight of her. Inyssa saw this and clenched her teeth, feeling a pit in her stomach. Even so, she wouldn't allow herself to show her worry outwardly; that would only make things worse.
"It's okay. Take a few seconds to catch your breath."
Shivers ran up her legs as she knelt in front of Shadi, placing a hand on her shoulder. A thin line of mist curled around her lips as she exhaled. Ignoring how cold the ground beneath her was, Inyssa reached for a nearby water bottle and handed it to her Pokemon.
"Bele…le…" Shadi let out tiny gasps once she finished drinking, her eyes narrowed in exhaustion. "Be…"
"I know; it's fine. Take your time. Breathe." Inyssa made a point to breathe slower and louder, prompting Shadi to do the same. "You're almost there. Just a little more practice before we go back, okay?"
A shaky nod was the only response she got. Maybe it was just her exhaustion, but it seemed as though Shadi was avoiding looking up at her. Scorched, torn-apart grass formed a multitude of circles all around them, marking the spots from which she was supposed to jump from in quick succession
"Remember what I told you. Think of it as music instead of battling and it'll flow out of you easier." Inyssa smiled, squeezing her shoulder slightly. "Imagine half the energy of each jump traveling through your body; from your toes to your legs and up to your chest and head, and then back down again, like a succession of music notes that form the perfect symphony. You have to keep it flowing inside you, no matter what."
Another nod, even less enthusiastic than the last one. Her breathing was finally stabilizing, though that made her look even more gloom and lethargic than before. Inyssa bit her lower lip, thinking.
"You've been working harder than anyone in the team today, and it shows. I know you can do it."
Finally the Kricketune glanced up, if only for a moment. The tip of her antennae shook spastically for a second and then she lowered her head again, letting out a sigh. But Inyssa had seen it. She didn't need to be Barry to notice the expression written all over Shadi's face.
Shame.
It was hard, containing herself from throwing both arms around her Pokemon and telling her over and over how great she was; how proud she was of her, how much she'd improved. But she knew it wouldn't help. It hadn't when she'd gone through the same, over and over and over. You couldn't get rid of someone else's shame with words; you had to make them prove to themselves just how wrong they were. All Shadi needed was a little inspiration…
Inyssa blinked, an idea coming to her. It wasn't much. Might not even make the situation better, but it probably wouldn't make it worse either.
"Hey… wanna hear a story?"
She felt the change in the atmosphere as she said that. The way Shadi stopped, blinked and then looked up at her, befuddled, would've brought a smile to her face if she weren't smiling already.
"Here. You can sit."
Inyssa leaned back and sat with her legs crossed, hands resting on her thighs, and urged Shadi to do the same. The Kricketune followed, confusion written all over her face. The sounds of the rest of the team battling seemed to fade as Inyssa took a deep breath and thought of a way to start.
"You know… you're not the only one named after someone else," she said, raising an eyebrow. "There lived a woman, a long time ago, whom everyone called Nyss too. She was strong and courageous and, maybe, just a little bit unstable."
She left a pause for Shadi to laugh, though she seemed more entranced than anything else. She leaned her body forward, eyes wide and curious.
"Anyway, Nyss grew up in the shadow of an older sibling who, by all accounts, would go on to become the most renowned hero in all of Sinnoh's history. Tough shoes to fill, considering she wanted to follow on his footsteps." Inyssa spoke softly, the memory of the story she was telling bringing a warm feeling to her chest. She'd heard it so many times that she could probably tell it backwards. "It wasn't a surprise that, while her friends and family supported her decision to become a soldier, none of them believed she could ever live up to her older brother's image. Yet they only thought that because no one had ever seen her fight before.
"True, she was about as charismatic as a rock and the few people she considered friends liked her despite her cold demeanor, not because of it. And yet, who would have thought that such a shy, unassuming girl would turn out to be a monster in the battlefield?" Inyssa placed a closed fist against her chest, pretending to hold a sword in front of her. "She applied to be a knight as soon as she turned fifteen, and aced the exam in such a way that even the royal guard itself was deeply impressed by her skill. The youngest student to have ever entered the academy since its funding and, by all accounts, the most skilled as well.
"For the next three years she continued to impress both her teachers and her fellow classmates. There was no exercise she couldn't complete, and there was no test she couldn't overcome, for her spirit and her skill burned brightly, shining through her in such a way that others couldn't help but stare in amazement. And yet… strangely enough, this might of hers failed to attract others toward her. Just as a dancing flame entrances our gaze, it also repels us with its overwhelming heat. And that is the perfect word to describe Nyss: overwhelming.
"It only makes sense that such a shining spirit would create shadows of jealousy in those unfortunate enough to stand near it. As it stood, by the end of her third and final year at the academy, Nyss had managed to make only one friend, yet a multitude of enemies. Not that she saw them that way. Caring about what others thought of her was very low on her list of priorities, which only made those people angrier. They tried to convince themselves and others that Nyss must have been using some sort of trick, there had to be a secret to her strength. After all, no human could be so powerful in battle, could they?
"That jealousy came to a boil during one of the last class meetings before graduation. It was a standard test; the last they would ever take before they became full-fledged knights. Each student would be prompted to declare their worst fear to the class and, after hearing it, their professor would devise a way for them to combat that fear and beat it. Those who won would be granted the right to graduate, and those who didn't would need to repeat the year over again.
"Unsurprisingly, when it was Nyss' turn to speak, she simply stood up and declared that she feared nothing. The room grew silent, festering with disdain and envy. Those students who already disliked Nyss glared at her with eyes full of hatred, not believing what they had heard. Who did she think she was, posturing in such a pathetic way? Did she really expect them to believe that there was nothing in the world that scared her? Or did she just not want to bother with the test? Such disrespect, such arrogance.. it became clear to these students, that this time she had gone far enough. Nyss needed to be taught a lesson.
"One of these students, Ainby, broke the silence by standing up as well and issuing a challenge to Nyss. He said that, even if her claim was true, it wasn't fair for one person not to take the final test just because they believed themselves to be perfect. So, for the sake of fairness and defending her words, Nyss should simply tackle the Master Trial.
"Gasps and wide eyes filled the room. Such a thing was almost unheard of in modern times; a relic of a more warmongering past in which warriors needed to be the best of the best, no matter how many of their weaker companions would have to fall to accomplish that. You see, the Master Trial consisted of a very simple, yet extremely difficult task. Defeat the Blood Seeker in combat, and take its head as a trophy."
Inyssa took a moment to breath, leaning forward a bit as she caught Shadi's attention.
"To be honest, there's a lot of conflicting accounts on what this Blood Seeker actually was," she explained. "Some stories describe it as a really big and powerful Pokemon. Others describe it as something eldritch and other-wordly. But for now just… a huge, insect-like creature, blood-thirsty and with really sharp claws and fangs, okay?"
Shadi nodded enthusiastically, eyes almost sparkling with excitement.
"Okay… where was I…" Inyssa nodded to herself, lost in thought for a moment. "Right. It should come to no surprise that their professor shut down the idea immediately, or at least tried to. He scolded Ainby and said that it was pure madness. There was a reason the Master Trial had been banned from the academy many years ago; very few students had ever survived it and most of those who did ended up too crippled and traumatized to become proper knights. He would not abide for such a…
"But just then, Nyss spoke again. She declared with a firm tone that she had no problem tackling the Master Trial. In fact, she found the prospect rather exciting. She agreed with Ainby as well, claiming that if she ever wanted to become the captain of the royal guard then she needed to lead by example, and what better way to do it than to face the Blood Seeker and emerge victorious?
"Of course, her professor refused at first, but you can only argue so much against someone possessing such suffocating willpower. In the end, she won, and the arrangements were made. Three of the royal guard members would be sent to capture a Blood Seeker, and she would face it in combat in three days.
"And yet, with his wish granted, Ainby was still not happy. Nyss' confidence had been such that he was beginning to doubt himself. What if… she really could pass the Master Trial? What if she really was as powerful as she claimed to be? No… no, this would not stand. He would do everything in his power to make sure Nyss showed her true colors during that trial, he would ensure that the world would finally see her for the fraud she was.
"So the day of the test came, and pretty much everyone in town came to the coliseum to see Nyss fight. Rumors had spread like wildfire. Everyone was excited to see the might of the so-called terrifying goddess of combat that had been blazing through the academy during the past three years. And in between all those little flames of excitements, high above the arena, sat Einby, smiling and waiting. He'd already made his play. Today, Nyss would fall.
"She entered the arena as the same time as the three knights carrying the Blood Seeker's cage. Then, after a few words from the king himself, the trial was set to begin. Nyss walked toward the hidden pedestals from which her sword and shield would raise. Except… as she saw the stone pillars break free from the ground, dust clearing around them, Nyss realized something. There was nothing there.
"Shock made waves all throughout the coliseum, and for once even Nyss herself froze. Einby cackled to himself as he looked down on her. What would she do, he wondered. Would she admit that she couldn't defeat the beast without weapons, that she wasn't as wonderful as everyone thought she was? Or would she stick to her pride and start a battle that she had no chance of winning? Either way, he had already won."
"One thing you have to know, though, is that Nyss was a stickler for the rules. Strange, considering how independent she was otherwise. She believed that laws and guidelines existed for people to follow them, and refused to take any shortcuts or bypass the rules in any aspect of her life. This might explain why she did what she did.
"Sighing, Nyss looked up at the audience and declared that, without a sword and shield, she could not take on the trial as it had been intended. It just wouldn't be right. At this point, Einby's smile grew bigger and he had to contain himself from laughing. That is… until Nyss spoke again.
"As such, said Nyss, I will make my own. Then, to the bewilderment of all spectators, she closed her fingers around a single strand of her ashen-black hair, and pulled it out.
"This shall be my sword, Obsidian, she said. Then, a moment after, she raised her right hand, palm down, and showed everyone the delicate ivy ring wrapped around her index finger, in the middle of which rested a small, golden stone.
"This shall be my shield, Amber, she declared. I am now ready. Unleash the beast.
"Many of the people who witnessed the ensuing battle would live on and eventually die still doubting what they saw in that arena. It was a brutal clash, to be expected. As courageous as Nyss was, even she had trouble against a beast of such power and malice. Yet, all throughout, the spectators couldn't help but notice something very interesting.
"Nyss never let go of the strand of hair, nor the ivy ring. Not only that, but at no point were they harmed or severed in any way, even when directly struck by the beast's incredibly sharp claws. During certain parts of the battle, for a single moment and only if their vision focused just right, they could have sworn that Nyss wielded a real sword and shield. It was ridiculous. But… how else could she have endured so many slashes from the beast? How else could she have cut one of its horns off?
"They would never be sure of what they saw, for the battle ended in only a couple of minutes. Dust settled around the now deceased beast, Nyss standing atop its chest. The black of her hair and uniform had been stained a deep crimson, falling down her shoulders and coursing through her arms in flowing bands, like vines of flames. The coliseum stood silent, except for the woman's heavy breathing and the sound of blood droplets hitting the beast's chest as they fell.
"I know this was no coincidence. Nyss' voice broke through the silence, barely a whisper yet easily reaching every single person watching from above. Many of my colleagues hate me, wished they were as good as me, and that feeling turned into poison inside their chests, rotting their spirit and preventing its growth. But they will not bring me down. As long as I breathe, I will keep teaching this world the same lesson over and over.
"Her gaze went up, meeting fiercely with those watching. The entire coliseum felt the weight of her stare.
"Willpower is the strongest weapon in this world. It can turn a strand of hair into a sharp blade, or a ring of ivy into an impenetrable shield. By tempering ourselves in its heat, we can go beyond. We can evolve and show the world why we are the greatest kingdom on this planet! Just as a willow can't help being swayed by the wind, reality shall bend to our Will!"
Inyssa had almost run out of breath, but she deemed that final scream necessary in order to truly capture the feel of the story. Slightly out of air, she leaned back and breathed in. No one said anything for a few seconds. Behind her, she could hear the shuffling of her four other Pokemon, having come to hear the story after the end of their skirmish, eyes wide in surprise and excitement.
She breathed a few more times before looking at Shadi. Her expression was unreadable, though she could detect a hint of happiness in her eyes.
"Some… some versions of the story keep going, but I always liked ending it at that," she admitted. "What do you think? That Ainby was a real piece of shit, huh? No wonder his name eventually morphed into our word for extreme jealousy."
"Belele…"
Shadi looked down, frowning. There was something in her eyes that hadn't been before. A spark. A flame. Inyssa's lips stretched into a proud smile as she pushed herself to her feet, extending her hand to her Pokemon, the rest of her team smiling behind her.
"I'm guessing you got the point of the story. Now… what do you say? One last try before we call it a day?"
"Bel! Belele!" Shadi offered Inyssa the dull part of her scythes, helping herself up. The tips of her mustache were slightly curled up, accompanying her smile. "Bele-be!"
"That's what I like to hear."
Reiko sat slumped against a tree, staring intently at her own hand. A cold, sharp wind ran through that part of the forest, carrying thick waves of mist with it. They seemed to be converging in the small open space around the house. Swirling, hiding her from the rest of the group. She was thankful for that.
Her fingers curled inwards, and immediately her nerve shot up to her elbow, making her wince. The pain lasted for less than a second. Still, it felt as though her nerves had been brought to a boil.
Just like her entire body, really.
She closed her eyes and exhaled, her breath burning through the cold mists like they weren't there. The freezing weather did little to temper the heat of her skin. It was beginning to sting more than just a little; most people would have come to the conclusion that they'd caught a fever, but she knew better.
Her gaze moved down to the sixth Pokeball attached to her belt; the one she hadn't opened once ever since setting foot in Sinnoh. Its appearance was unlike any other anyone else had ever seen. As she moved her hand to hover over it, she could feel a tremendous heat emanating from it, as though it were a furnace. She frowned.
"I know, I'm sorry." She tried her best to imbue her voice with a hint of regret. "Just kinda… slipped in the heat of the moment. I promise it won't happen ag…" She paused, eyes going wide. "Heat of the moment… fuck me, I wish I could make a pun that bad on purpose."
With what little strength she had left she laughed, her entire body hurting as she did. God, she needed some sleep. Dawn wasn't far away, but she didn't care. She'd sleep through the day if she had to.
"Hey, Reiko!"
Reiko's head perked up slightly, a lazy grumble caught in her throat. What did Palmer want? Didn't he see her sulking?
Probably not, considering all the mist.
"Percy and Argenta are back! Cynthia told us to gather in front of the house to discuss some things!"
She pushed herself up to her feet and headed over to him, though not without her fair share of grumbling. None of them said anything for a while as they walked. The outline of the house appeared from behind the mists, about a hundred yards away, and she noticed the vague silhouettes of three people near the front door.
A tired smile formed on her lips. At least Percy seemed to be okay.
"So, Reiko…" Palmer's voice took her out of her stupor. He sounded doubtful. "Are you feeling okay after tonight? I don't mean to intrude, it's just…"
He left the sentence hanging. Reiko glanced at him with furrowed brows and tried to draw the will to be angry at him, but couldn't. She was too tired. And besides, it didn't seem to come as easily to her as it had done the day before.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she said, voice hoarse. "Just tired. Wasn't an easy fight."
"I can imagine…"
Reiko dug her hands into her pockets, feeling the tips of her fingers sting from the heat. What a bother. This and having to owe someone like Palmer and… ugh. Why couldn't things be simpler? Why was everything so goddamn complicated here in Sinnoh? Now she had no choice but to…
"Hey…" She spat that word out, and waited a few seconds to keep talking, feeling like her tongue was tied into a knot. "…Thanks. For saving my ass back there."
A weird sound of surprise came out of Palmer's mouth. He turned to look at her, eyes going wide, and Reiko unconsciously clenched her teeth.
"Don't get the wrong idea. This doesn't make us friends," she snarled, starting to walk faster. "It just means I owe you one."
She quickened her pace and soon found herself with something else to occupy her mind. Percy, Argenta and Cynthia stood near each other in front of the house, talking amongst themselves until they arrived. Percy turned to Reiko and a tiny smile formed on his face, soon replaced by a frown as he saw the state she was in.
"What…?" He hurried toward her, grabbing her hand with his. "Reiko what the hell happened? You're…"
"It's okay, I'll tell you later," she hurried to say. "I'm fine, trust me."
To emphasize her words she placed a hand against his cheek and smiled, even though the mere act of raising her hand was painful. He didn't need to worry. Not because of her stupidity.
"How did it go on your side?" she asked, wanting to change the topic. "You look pretty unharmed."
Percy's gaze went up and he shook his head in a 'so-so' manner. "It was… weird, but at least we found something."
Argenta addressed them, eyes closed and arms still crossed. "This Percy boy and I had quite the productive night indeed. I must admit that I am impressed. There seems to be more than hot air inside that small head of his."
"Hey!" protested Percy, frowning at her.
"I told you, he's smart as shit," Reiko smiled. "You probably weirded him out a lot but still, thanks for bringing him back safely."
"Heh. Safe, you say? How truly pedestrian you are, my dear Reiko." Argenta stuck one of her legs out and forward, half her face covered by her hand as she posed. "Though I may have been graceful enough to keep his body from harm, none of us are safe from the burning, stygian touch of the truth. For you see, we have discovered something most w–"
"Reiko."
Cynthia's voice was low, yet potent enough to make even Argenta shudder under its weight, shutting her up. All four trainers turned toward the Champion. Reiko gulped, feeling the heat under her skin flare up at the sight of those stormy grey eyes.
"Palmer was kind enough to tell me what occurred during your mission." There was no hint of anger in her voice nor her expression, but everyone could feel the atmosphere around them tensing up. "Would you like to… explain yourself?"
Reiko had to stop herself from leaning back. "W-why should I do that? I'm sure he already told you everything you needed to know."
"I would like to hear your justification."
Even squinting she couldn't decide whether Cynthia was actually mad or just fucking with her. It wasn't often she ran into someone so hard to read. What was her deal?
"I don't see what the problem is," she said. "We got the information we needed."
Cynthia raised an eyebrow. "Through un-diplomatic means, if what Palmer told me is true. Those were not your orders."
A tiny gasp escaped Reiko's lips. The edges of her eyes began to crinkle as well as the bridge of her nose. She took a heavy step forward, meeting eyes with the Champion.
"Orders? Is that what you think I'm doing? Following orders?" she asked, tone offended.
"Perhaps that was the wrong choice of words," Cynthia admitted. "But my point remains. This was not what we had planned."
"Who cares? I got the information, wasn't that the point?"
Cynthia frowned. "The point was not to attract unnecessary attention to ourselves. And after the events of tonight, it will not be easy to disguise our tracks and make sure Team Galactic is still unaware that we're trailing behind them."
Reiko parted her lips to reply, but no rebuttal came to her. Not surprising. Cynthia was right, after all, even if Reiko would never admit it out loud. What she'd done had been incredibly stupid and risky, especially after she'd already secured the information they needed in a safer, though less ethical way.
She bit her lower lip, breathed in and replied.
"I just did what I thought was right."
The grass rustled behind them as Argenta took a step forward.
"An admirable way of living, child. However, there are times when one must see beyond the thick mists of our immediate situation, and focus on the bright and endless canvas of our future." For once, the woman's voice lost its loud and bombastic tone, sounding somewhat thinner and calm. "Follow the ramifications of your choices, just as a drop of rain follows the branches of a tree. The end…"
"Don't say it!" Reiko snapped back, turning so fast toward her that her neck clicked. "Don't say that the end has to justify the means!"
Argenta seemed startled by her sudden reaction. The forest grew silent with the exception of the low whispers of the wind around them.
"Fuck that… fuck that to hell. If you think I'm gonna follow orders that I hate just because it might help me out later…" Her voice thinned as she spoke. "That's how all this started. I'm not gonna do the same thing that you did to my region."
Palmer was the first to look away after she said that, closely followed by Argenta, the hints of shame crossing her expression for the first time. Cynthia, however, did no such thing. She stared straight at Reiko, expressionless, for what felt like an entire minute.
Then the corners of her thin lips perked up.
"It never ceases to amaze me, you know?"
Reiko blinked, confused. "What?"
"That, despite your clear hatred of us Sinnohans and what we've done, you're always the first to jump and decide whether someone deserves to live or die."
Her body moved instinctually, fueled only by the sudden burst of anger that had exploded in her chest. Her fist cut through the mist as though propelled by a piston. A crack was heard as her knuckles clashed against the wall right next to Cynthia's face, a few spiderweb-like cracks growing from the point of impact.
The strand of hair covering Cynthia's eye moved a bit, though she didn't react in the slightest to the punch. The same couldn't be said for everyone else.
"Reiko!"
"Child, you shouldn't…"
"…gotta calm down, kid, she didn't mean…"
She pushed her other hand back, showing them her palm. They stopped on their tracks. Cynthia, who hadn't moved an inch yet, closed her eyes and formed another one of her infuriating smiles.
"Was that… meant to intimidate me?" she asked.
"No. It was a warning," she snarled back. "Just because you think I'm following you doesn't mean I won't kick your ass if I feel like it. And just because you think we're all buddies now doesn't mean I forgot about everything you and Palmer did."
Cynthia shrugged in the most nonchalant way possible. "I doubt you would either way, considering your… hot-blooded nature."
"Heh. You think you're funny, don't you?"
"I've been known to make people laugh with relative ease, so..."
Reiko shook her head and let out a small chuckle. Her fingers uncurled as she wound her arm back, small bits of concrete falling to the ground and a couple drops of blood staining her knuckles.
She glared at Cynthia. "Don't get the wrong idea. I'm doing this to set things right; even if I'm forced to work with you, I still hate you. If I had to throw all three of you to the Houndooms to get the justice we deserve, I'd do it without a second thought."
Part of her didn't want to say those words. Wanted to, at the very least, try to contain herself and make the best out of the situation. But that flame… his flame, burned away all the positive feelings she'd recently developed toward this group, leaving behind only her anger and bitterness.
She couldn't trust these people. No matter how kind they were to her.
Everything seemed to wane for a moment as Cynthia closed her eyes and breathed in. The mists slowed down to a crawl. The wind all but stopped entirely. Then Reiko saw as the Champion's shoulders dropped slightly and a smile of satisfaction formed on her lips.
"Your spirit…" she said, barely above a whisper. "It's… scorching and painful and… wonderful." Reiko felt a strong shiver down her spine as Cynthia opened her eyes, the grey of her eyes flashing ominously. "I knew there was a reason I liked you, Reiko."
Reiko startled back, feeling herself lose her footing as the anger inside her vanished in an instant. No words came to her. What even…?
"That Pokeball of yours…"
She jumped slightly, a jolt of fear running down her back. Cynthia's gaze was set on her belt, a curious look on her face.
"W-what?"
"The one at the end of your belt. The one you haven't opened ever since we met," she clarified. "How... odd, it looks. I don't think I've ever seen one like it before."
Panic began to pump through her body with each beat of her heart, and Reiko couldn't believe that just a second before she felt like she had the upper hand. Her gaze went down to said Pokeball as well. How… how did she know? There was no possible way for her to know. It was ridiculous, it was…
"What's with the look on your face?" asked Cynthia, tilting her head slightly. "Have you lost your edge, Reiko? Oh, but I was having so much fun basking in the wonderful scorch of your spirit…"
That was enough. Reiko turned around as though her body forced her to and the tense atmosphere around them vanished. She gulped, feeling a drop of sweat falling down her face.
"I… I'm not gonna waste my time like this right now."
She started walking away, wanting nothing more than to get as far away from Cynthia as possible. Unfortunately, she only made it halfway to the door before the Champion's voice made it to her again.
"Before you head off, I wanted to inform you…" The smile in her voice could be heard, even though she wasn't looking at her. "Percy and Argenta were kind enough to find a clue to a potential Galactic grunt hideout near Solaceon. Even though, thanks to you and Palmer, we already know the location of their next re-supply trip, I would still like to check this out just to make sure we're covering all our bases."
Reiko looked over her shoulder, still feeling like her stomach had been pierced by something cold.
"Okay…"
Cynthia smiled. "That is all. We leave tomorrow night, so all of you, make sure you get plenty of rest, okay?"
Inyssa grumbled unintelligibly against Barry's shoulder, the frenetic ruckus of the Pokemon Center too much for her at the moment. She just wanted to fall asleep here. Even if it would mean Barry would be stuck with her leaning on his shoulder for a few hours.
"I know, I know," he patted her head with his free hand, a hint of well-meaning exasperation in his voice. "We'll go to bed soon, but you gotta eat a little first."
She sighed. "Dunno… if I can. I don't have much energy after training my team so much."
There was a short pause, where she could feel Barry freeze for a moment.
"…Niss, do you know how food works?"
A weak laugh left her lips. She lifted her head, making her chin rest on Barry's shoulder as his arm was trapped by both of hers. Kissing him would've been nice. Unfortunately, he was too tall and she was too tired to push herself up and reach his lips.
Part of her hated how… nice it felt to just be like this, hanging on to Barry and almost falling asleep. Was it the right thing to do? What if she was bothering him? Should it have felt this nice? I mean, it's not like she had any prior experience in any kind with this sort of stuff, not even… not even in a non-romantic way.
I'm… I'm not touch-starved, she tried to argue with herself. I'm sure it's this relaxing for everyone. It's not weird to almost break into tears the first time your boyfriend caresses your cheek with his hand… right?
"Inyssa, you're rambling to yourself again."
Shut up, Uxie!
She forcibly shook her head, letting go of Barry's arm (probably a good idea, considering it was his only functional one and… well, he needed to eat) and standing up straight. Her gaze went down to her plate, where a few sausage rolls rested.
"You're right," she said. "I need all the energy I can get for tomorrow's match."
Tilting his head a bit, Barry smiled and stared at her with a questioning look. Inyssa paid no mind, too busy shoving food into her mouth.
"Then… we're really doing it tomorrow?" he asked, excitement building up in his voice. "You think we're ready?"
She swallowed down and nodded, forming a fist with one hand and raising it in front of her chest.
"Ready as we'll ever be," she declared, smiling. "Shadi's done as much progress as she's gonna make while training. The only way to really test is is with a trial by fire."
Immediately she felt the low rumble under her as Barry began to unconsciously tap the floor with his feet, stimming excitedly, full of a sudden and frenetic energy. God. Why was he so fucking cute? It was criminal.
"This is gonna be so amazing." His voice went thinner, eyes almost sparkling with excitement. "I can't wait to see what you to came up with."
Inyssa let out a small heh, crossing her arms and looking to the side dramatically.
"Trust me. By the time we're done, Byron's steel Pokemon will look like they were made of paper mache."
