More familiar faces this time around. I did end up using Blue as Red's rival even though it's technically different in the Manga and I hate that instead of Green, they named the girl Blue Leaf in the US. But Blue is my fave color and name, so it stays.
We are on the homestretch for this story guys and I'm so excited. As usual, thanks for reading so far with me and I hope you enjoy today's chapter.
Serena jolts out of sleep, her phone ringing on the table pulling her to a sitting position. She doesn't recognize the number and, for a second, her racing thoughts tell her to not answer. There's no need for more drama in her life; but there's a churn in her stomach. She glances at the clock on her table to see it's 8am, she'd normally be at the league at this time.
Maybe it's a worker?
"Hello, this is Serena," she picks up and rubs her eyes of sleep.
"It's Clyde, turn on the TV!" his voice rings in her ears making her flinch.
"What? Why?" she scrambles downstairs to see if her father left for work. Instead she finds her mother in the living room staring at the TV mounted on the wall. "Mom?"
Rowan shakes her head and points to the screen where the Silph Co. and the Pokemon League are shown side by side. The building in Saffron has helicopters circling above while pokemon have built a trench around the front to keep the police out. Poison types mixed with dark types band together, spitting poison or countering attacks from the police Growlithe and Arcanine.
The league building looks worse for wear with smoke coming out the side and agents everywhere battling each other. She spies the Elites forming a wall to prevent some agents from disappearing into the forest while Hendrick and Michael bark orders, clearly trying to beat the Elites back. It's a mess on either side and she guesses Clyde is trying to get help.
"What's happening?" she speaks into the phone.
"So much shit is going down!" Clyde puffs. Now that she's awake and focussed, she can hear shouts in the background as well as bursts of attacks hitting their target. "Hendrick and company decided to stage a coup, taking agents, money and whatever they can get their hands on with them. He announced his ties with Giovanni and just started attacking. Your father and Wesley are somewhere trapped inside a jail cell. I'm trying to get in but it's difficult."
"Don't! You're going to get hurt!" she reasons. Her eyes meet her mother's and she shakes her head to let her mother know that Aaron isn't in immediate trouble. "Get to a safe spot. Where's Lance?"
"He's with your dad. His pokemon are in the center which gets locked down in events like this," he explains and everything grows a bit quiet. "I've found a closet, but listen. You need to go to Saffron. Giovanni is there, defeat him and everyone else will stop."
"How can I get in? I'm not a G-man," she stares at the TV.
"It's a giant building with glass windows, Serena," he states as though it should be obvious. "I don't think they'll mind the physical damage. Giovanni is after some prototype in there and that kid from Celadon is there."
Red.
"Ugh, why me?" Serena groans and drops her head in her hands. "Okay, I'll go."
Clyde gives her a few more details about the building, he promises to be safe before hanging up. The newscast continues its live footage of both incidents in the background as she heads back upstairs with her mother on her heels. Serena feels pressure building in her head with what's going on and fights the urge to scream.
"I have to go," Serena states. At her mother's whimper she turns to her. She realizes they're the same height now and wraps her arms around her mother's neck. "I won't be caught by Giovanni, Mom. I can't stand by and let them fight my battles for me. Plus, Red is in there and I swear that kid gets into more trouble than he bargains for. I have to do something."
Rowan squeezes her tight. She pulls back to hold her daughter's head in her hands. "I should know I can never stop you, but promise me you will come home."
"I promise," she smiles at her mom. "Who's going to save the boys?"
"Don't pull your mother into this," Rowan teases in reply before pausing to consider. "You think Clair would appreciate some bonding time?"
OoO
With her father and company being taken care of, courtesy of Rowan and Clair, Serena heads to Saffron. She had received a call from Sabrina on her way out the door. Apparently, she had seen this was going to happen, but too late. Now she's out trying to keep people safe on the streets below as Rocket agents swarm the city trying to prevent her intervention in the building.
It's a genius plan, Serena admits with a frown as Wynn descends towards the building. Distract the gym leader, hit two buildings at once to create chaos and watch as agents and officers scramble to keep up.
Below, two news helicopters circle Silph Co. leaving Wynn little room to squeeze in and get a good shot at any of the higher floors. She swoops down low, careful to dodge any Flamethrowers or other attacks aimed at her from the ground. Clutching her pokemon tight, Serena closes her eyes as Wynn uses Slam to break a window and burst onto the floor with Ice Beam aimed at any enemies.
Glass shatters all around her as Wynn dives in, she shakes her head to get rid of the shards in her hair and face. Grunts inside scream and dive out of the way of the massive dragon type before gaining their bearings. Serena slides to the ground and watches as Wynn continues swiping Ice Beam to ward off each Ekans, Raticate and Zubat that pop out of their pokeballs. The grunts return their pokemon in pokeballs before fleeing to an upper level.
She searches the entire floor. Checking every desk and cubicle for any sign of Red before moving onto the floor above. At the top, Wynn pulls Serena into her side with her arm out to smash a desk flying through the air. Splinters shower over her as she peeks around the dragon type's wing to see Red battling a scientist's Porygon with his Pikachu.
The grunts from the floor before have disappeared and she assumes Giovanni is funneling them out of the building somehow much like he did in Celadon. She watches them battle and cheers when Red defeats the scientist no problem. The young boy is surprised to see her as his partner pokemon limps over to him, clearly tired but willing to continue on.
The scientist sneers at them before disappearing towards the stairs. She turns to Red and gauges his health. He looks frazzled and stressed. His eyes dart around as if waiting for someone to pop out and attack. A frown forms on her face as she gets out some healing supplies for his pokemon.
"You okay?" she asks. She examines Pikachu before spraying him with Super Potion. "How are your other pokemon?"
"I'm tired," he admits with a sigh. "They're fine, thank you."
"How much longer to go?" she wraps up the electric mouse's tail and places a band-aid on his head. "There you go."
"We're on the 9th floor, Giovanni is on the 11th with the President," he explains as his pokemon climbs his arm. "He uses his executives to teleport grunts away once they lose. They're here to distract us so he can get the Master Ball."
"Master Ball?"
Red shrugs as she packs up. He turns to lead her towards the staircase. "It's something new they're working on here."
Serena follows him without comment, eyeing the destroyed cubicles and ransacked offices. Papers strewn along the floor create a bit of a slipping hazard as they shuffle across the floor. It's a mess, broken machinery scattered metal, plastic and wires everywhere. There's a loud beat in the air that can only be helicopters as they climb the steps to the next floor.
Heart pounding, Serena counts down from three before busting open the entrance to the 10th floor. Wynn bursts in first only to stop at the sight of a young boy with spiky brown hair, a purple shirt and dark pants. His boots stomp around to put out tiny fires as an Arcanine waits patiently at his side. At their entrance, he barely reacts, only holding up a hand for the two to wait until the fires are out before facing them with a smirk.
"Needed help, Red?" he sneers at the boy with the tone only a childhood rival could have.
Serena raises her brow and moves to answer when Red's hands begin to move wildly in front of him. She turns to watch him, amazed at the sight and wondering what he's doing only to see the other boy doing the same back. Wynn nudges her shoulder with her head, worried she should be protecting them, Serena reaches up to pat her head in comfort.
"It's okay, girl," she coos.
"We have to go," Red speaks up suddenly.
"Fine," the other boy flicks some hair out of his eyes. "Since you already have help, I'll head on down."
The boy struts by without a glance in Serena's direction before disappearing the way they came. She points in his direction and glances at Red. "What was that?"
He sighs. "Blue."
"Blue?" she frowns. Who names their kids after colors?
Red moves his fingers at her again and waits for a response. When she stares at him, he sighs again. "I'm... not a talker."
"It's okay," she shakes her head. "I'm not going to make you explain. Let's get going."
He seems relieved at this and follows her across the floor to the last staircase. This one is behind two large, heavy looking doors cracked and lying crooked on their hinges. Serena returns Wynn and opts for Thea as they head up the steps where there's silence.
Ideas fly through Serena's mind. She has to find a way to get Red out of here in case something happens to her. He can't go down with the building. He's too young for it to end like this. But also, they need a plan of attack. If they go in, pokemon blazing, and there are employees there, someone could get hurt. Will Giovanni have already gotten what he wanted?
At the top of the steps, the room opens up before them with a waiting area to the right and a wall of photos to the left. Employees hide in the far corner, all sitting and staring down the hallway with fear. None of them acknowledge the two as they head in that direction.
On his shoulder, Pikachu begins growling as sparks dance across his cheeks. Thea's fur stands on end as they approach, the anticipation of a fight increases as voices are heard shouting through a glass door. Serena steps in front of Red, holding the handle in her hand as she decides to go in first. She can get them distracted while Red gets the President and heads out before anyone can get hurt and this Master Ball can get stolen.
With a small inhale and exhale, she pushes open the door and the two round the corner. Giovanni stands hunched over a large table with his back to them while the president of the company, an old well dressed man, sits on the couch across from him. Behind him, Proton clutches the man's shoulder with a gun pressed to his temple and a large blue pokemon at his shoulder: Golbat.
The pokemon spots them and lets out a high pitched scream to alert the room of their arrival. Serena hovers over Red as they cover their ears and shield their pokemon from the attack. The men turn to face them once the screaming subsides and Serena finds herself truly nervous.
Giovanni stands at full height and turns around to face them. His eyes gleam with surprise, but also with sudden determination. "Ah, it's you two. I shouldn't be shocked to see you here, boy. And you, Serena, aren't you curious as to why I'm here?"
"You're after the Master Ball," she states with a tense hand on Red's shoulder.
"Yes, and it is the most powerful pokeball in existence," he gestures to the president. "Able to catch any pokemon without fail."
"Don't use it on a Magikarp then," she replies with a glare. "What do you need it for?"
"I'm missing something important," he puts his hands behind his back. She tenses, knowing he's reaching for something. But focuses on him when his voice changes, it sounds heavy and makes her shiver watching his eyes glow with anticipation. "Something life altering."
"What?" she presses further.
"Come with me and find out," he holds out a hand.
She laughs in response. Thea hops in front of her and growls, baring some sharp teeth. "I'm not that desperate."
"Aren't you?"
Her grip on Red loosens as she stares at her uncle. Her heart races in her chest as she stands across the room from the answers of her entire life. Everything she's ever wondered about that night, that month and her scars. It could all be answered if she just walked across the room and left with him. Her feet remain planted but the whole world tilts on its axis as Giovanni smiles across the room and beckons for her to come with him.
"I can help you," he soothes.
"Thunderbolt," Red instructs Pikachu before she can respond.
The mouse pokemon jumps off of Red's shoulder and releases a bolt of electricity across the room. This jerks Serena back into her body and she nods at Espeon to join the fray as Golbat takes the hit and Proton returns it for Wheezing. Giovanni lets out Rhydon to even the odds.
"I think you'll need more convincing," he sneers at Serena. "Poison Sting!"
"Use Protect," Serena instructs Thea.
"Quick attack!" Red calls out as Proton tries to use Smog.
Purple needles emit from Nidoking's horn but dissipate once they hit Thea's blue shield. Pikachu dashes across the room, jumps on the table and over it to slam into Wheezing. The president shields himself as Proton jerks them both backward and out of the way of the two pokemon battling.
Red moves across the room while Serena takes her place across from her uncle. The couch and the table don't last long as the battles rage on. Even the glass windows along the room shatters from a misdirected attack. The wind beating sounds of helicopters filter into the room as both enemy pokemon faint.
"That's it, you're done," Serena moves to stand by Red in the wreckage of the office. "Give us the President of the company and surrender yourselves."
Proton bursts into laughter. "Demanding. Must be a family trait."
"No one is coming to back up your attempt at heroism," Giovanni rolls his eyes. "The League is occupied by those fools. No one in Kanto or Johto is going to trust the G-men, the league or any authority again after today. The public thinks you're all in on it, they'll be eating out of Team Rocket's hands in no time."
Serena clenches her fist. "I don't care how long it takes, but I will out you and those working for you to the world."
"You are going to help me look for what I lost," he shakes his head.
"I don't even know what you're talking about!"
"Then come with me!"
Serena lets out a disgruntled noise. "Leave me alone!"
Thea lets out a psybeam at Proton, knocking him away from the oldman and giving Red a chance to dive forward and grab him. Giovanni moves to intervene but Thea attacks again and Serena steps between them.
"You bitch," Proton stands from the floor and rubs his chest. "I'll have my revenge for that."
"No matter," Giovanni holds up his hand. "We've gotten what we needed. We'll have to regroup to get the rest."
"You're not getting away!" Serena lunges forward.
He catches her with ease. Arms splayed out, she fights her uncle's grip as he grabs her throat and holds her in the air. With her airway restricted, Serena struggles against him, her legs kicking and arms grabbing his as he laughs. He moves her body to be in front of his, blocking Thea's clear shot.
"I'll be back for you, my dear."
He tosses her back onto the splinters of the table. Red, Thea, and the president come to her side and watch as a Drowzee appears out of thin air, gathers them and leaves in a flash of light.
"Ugh," Serena gasps for air. "Let's get downstairs."
"Take a second," the president urges as she tries to sit up.
World spinning and lungs fighting for air, she decides to lay back for a moment or two more. Once everything stabilizes, the two help her up and take the elevator to the first floor. The president, Mark, is in good shape. He was tossed around a bit, leaving bruises and cuts, but he'll walk away fine. Red looks pale from stress but his eyes dart to Serena as she clutches her throat and stares at the wall.
Her mind remains blank as the door opens. Red taps her arm to get her attention and walk her outside. They meet Officer Jenny at the entrance and she escorts all of them to the ambulance. Serena declines, but makes sure Red accepts it.
"Ma'am, you have marks on your neck. Please let us take a look," one of the women gestures for her to take a seat.
"I have to get to the Pokemon League, my family is there," Serena waves them off. She turns to Red and gathers him up in a hug. "Thanks for having my back."
"Thanks for having mine," he mumbles in her shoulder.
"I'll see you at the tournament then, but," she pulls out her card. "If you are in trouble or need anything, please call."
He accepts it, twirls it in his hand and nods at her before pocketing it.
She turns on her heel, trades Thea for Wynn and rushes out of there as fast as she can.
OoO
Smoke emits from the league, climbing to the sky as Wynn starts to descend to the chaos. Firefighters and other personnel are already on scene helping calm everything down. As they approach, Serena slides from Wynn's back and lands safely on the grass from a few feet above.
Rowan is the first to spot her and she sprints to her daughter. "My baby, I'm so glad you're okay."
"What happened here?" she glances around. She grasps her mother and squeezes tight.
"Your mom and I kicked some ass!" Clair comes bounding up from the wreckage.
Serena raises a brow at her best friend. "It's a mess."
Behind her smoke rises from a dilapidated part of the league, Serena thinks it was where the Pokemon Mart was at the front. The building, once standing tall, is missing parts of the roof and a bunch of columns. Civilians and G-men are scattered around the area trying to get a head count and get those hurt to the waiting paramedics.
"Kicking ass isn't clean," Clair snorts.
"Rena!"
Lance, his father, and Aaron break away from officials and come running as well. She waves and then squeals when Lance lifts her into the air, her body screams at his arms squeezing tight. "I'm sore!"
"Sorry," he sets her down. "We heard what happened."
Aaron budges in, his hands flying to her neck to examine the small bruises there. "What did he do?"
"I bruise easily."
"I'm going to kill him," he cups her face and kisses her forehead. "I wasn't sure what was going to happen."
"It was rough," she admits. He pulls away and Wesley takes his turn to embrace her. "You guys look terrible."
"Yes, I think it'd be best if we left soon," he pulls away from her hug. "Aaron and I have damage control, Elijah is taking care of staff now."
"Where is he?" Serena peeks around.
"He's in what's left of the building helping firefighters get other people out," Aaron explains. "Those two assholes really hit us hard and went a little overboard."
Wesley rubs his face and sighs. "We lost a lot of staff to Team Rocket today."
"We have a lot of work on our hands," Aaron nods.
Serena bites her lip. So much more work for her until this clears up. The media will blow it up, her secret will have to be airtight. She can see all the background checks running now and the interviews again...
"Come on, kids," Rowan interrupts her meltdown with a clap of her hands. "Your mothers are worried. Dinner at our house tonight, required."
"Yes, ma'am."
Minus Wesley and Aaron, the group teleports home. Rowan gets a bath going as Serena starts to come down from her adrenaline rush and all the events come rushing back. In the hot water, her scars burn and her head pounds against her skull. Tears pour over as she cleans up and changes into loose clothing and a large scarf.
Rowan rubs a soothing salve over her scars while humming a calming tune. She pops some pain relievers and heads downstairs to help her mother cook.
"Honey," Rowan starts. "Take it easy."
"I need to focus on something else," she responds, getting the meat and herbs out.
"Talk to me while we cook, then."
Over the next hour, Serena relays the events in Saffron. Meeting up with Red and getting to the top floor and talking with Giovanni. She explains how she felt when her uncle offered to give her all the answers and how tempted she was to go with him. It all feels wrong, and she feels like she's betraying her father for thinking that way.
Her mother listens and offers gentle advice and rebuttals. That combined with the motions of cooking and the aroma of garlic settles her nerves down.
"Didn't I tell you not to grow up too fast?" her mother questions when the meatballs go into the top oven and the bread into the bottom oven. "I shouldn't have let you go alone."
"It was all happening so fast," Serena replies. "I didn't mean for it to get out of hand."
"No one does."
"Mom, I'm going to find answers," she faces Rowan. "I can't let him have all the power."
"I know, I won't stop you," her mother sighs. "You don't have to do this yourself."
Serena pulls out plates, bowls and silverware from the kitchen. "I think I do. I've been beside Lance and Clair most of my life. Everything I do, I do with or for them. Vice versa. I need to be on my own for a bit."
"Not forever."
"No," she laughs. "Not forever."
By six, everyone starts to arrive still looking haggard and dressed in sweats and loose shirts. Serena keeps to herself a bit more, switching the scarf and loose shirt for an old sweatshirt with the hood up and greeting everyone as they pass by to grab drinks from the fridge. The last to arrive, much to her surprise, is Elijah's family.
"Hey, sport," he greets Serena with a gentle hug. "Glad you're safe."
"Thanks," she smiles and gestures for him, the kids and Stephanie to pile in.
Ava, Bryce and Carter wait for their parents to get their coats and such off before running around the house to investigate its contents. Stephanie isn't far behind with Elijah warning the boys to behave and looking to keep an eye on Ava. He greets Aaron and Wesley with a handshake and their wives with hugs.
"Thank you for having us last minute," he tells Rowan. "And if the kids break something, feel free to keep one."
"Don't tempt me," she laughs, gazing at Ava as the little girl stands in the living room trying to rearrange the pillows to her liking. "We're setting up the table now, let them explore some more and then come sit."
He nods and joins his daughter in the living room while the food gets brought out, Rowan turns the music to a low volume and everyone starts coming together. Serena takes a seat between Lance and Clair at the middle of the table with Clair's parents, Tatsuo and Eloisa, flanking their group. Across from them Rowan, Kaida, Stephanie, Elijah and the kids squeeze in with Aaron and Wesley on each end.
Silverware clinks as everyone piles food on their plate, their stressed faces looking softer in the gold lighting and with each bite. Serena takes a large gulp of water while facing her full plate. Her head aches at her temples and her back feels strange, she doubts she'll be at the table for long tonight.
"So, who's going to start?" Clair breaks the silence.
Not yet through their first few bites, everyone at the table keeps silent with their eyes shooting from Elijah, Wesley and Serena.
Lance reaches around Serena to nudge his cousin. "Let's eat for a bit, eh? A lot happened today."
"Exactly," she retorts in her usual curt tone with him.
Annoyed they might argue, Serena sits up straight and clears her throat. "Yes, it did. You start, Clair, and we can eat."
From her right Clair mumbles an apology and the others slowly dig in. Forks clink against bowls, the kids talk about their day and the music fills the empty space. At the back of her mind, Serena can feel everyone avoiding the topic of her and feel their eyes searing her hoodie as she keeps her head down.
She forces herself to focus on her food, another outburst of energy or yelling isn't going to help the situation. Her bed will have to wait until everyone knows what's happened and they have a game plan.
Part way through the meal, Aaron sets down his silverware and clears his throat. "Okay, I believe my thoughts are sorted enough to explain what happened."
"Mine too," Wesley nods at his best friend in support.
Aaron smiles back. "The morning started out normal, we had a meeting with Mike and Hen at around 9am. It was going fine until the attack on Silph began and that's when agents started turning on each other."
"Assholes had insiders everywhere," Wesley shakes his head. "Lance, Aaron and I were captured first and tossed into an interrogation room while the fighting continued."
"Eventually pokemon started getting involved and it got messy from there," Aaron continues on. "The building was attempting lockdown but Mike tripped some explosives around the time Clair and Rowan came to save our asses."
Clair beams and nudges Serena. "Should have seen us. Swooping in for surprise attacks, saving the boys and then forcing Mikey and Hen's forces back."
Serena half smiles. "Is that why everything was destroyed?"
Laughter erupts and Elijah raises a hand to add in. "I've never seen Clair, or anyone, so happy to ride a Dragonite just blowing through pokemon like they were nothing."
"Sounds about right," Eloisa rolls her eyes with a laugh. "Chaos is her middle name."
The table erupts into more laughter offering Serena a little reprieve from the pain until eyes turn to her. "Right."
"I can tell the story," Rowan offers.
"No, I can," Serena sighs. She opens her mouth to start, but picks up her glass of wine her mother poured for her and chugs it all. The group raises their brows but waits for her. "Ah, okay."
She dives into the story from the beginning when Clyde had called her all the way to flying back to the league. Where she falters, Rowan adds in the details and whispers more history for Elijah and Stephanie as it comes to Giovanni. She leaves out wanting to search for answers on her own, Lance nor Clair need to know that as of now. Not until she has ironed out the details at least.
"He kidnapped you?" Elijah frowns. "Never should have hired that jackass-"
"Daddy!" Ava pipes up with a frown.
The room dissolves into more laughter as she wags a finger at him, something she's probably seen Stephanie do some times.
He holds up his hands. "This time it's true, honey. But anyway he kidnapped you, experimented on you and hasn't told you what he did at all?"
"Nope," Serena pops the 'p'. "I have scars and some freaky powers but that's it."
"Whoa! Powers!?" the boys pipe up at the same time.
"Boys," Stephanie warns them.
"That was my reaction," Clair stage whispers at them. They look at her with wide eyes and grins.
"Have you looked into it?" Elijah glances around the table.
"Looking into it causes trouble," Aaron pipes up with a serious look at his daughter. "I've asked her to leave it until it gets less intense."
"What are your leads?" the champion presses further. "I want to help."
"I appreciate it," Aaron nods. "Blaine seems to have known someone who might have had a connection, but when I investigated, it was a dead end."
"Blaine?" Elijah frowns. "My Blaine? Seventh gym leader?"
"Yes," Serena nods. "Haven't you seen how he never talks to me?"
Elijah considers it and then nods. "It's subtle, but... damn. That's crazy."
"You're telling me," Serena snorts. "Anyways, what happens now?"
"Well, we're not done with Giovanni," Aaron speaks up. "First thing in the morning, we're taking down his gym. Viridian police reported it was ransacked. It's no doubt abandoned by now, but we have to go in and see what's left and go from there."
"What about the league?" Serena nods and turns to ELijah.
"Goodshow wants to keep the tourney on track, we'll use the stadiums in Silver Town for everything," he explains with a heavy sigh. "Before that we are going to have to go through all the gym leaders, elite four, doormen for the gyms and get a replacement for the eighth gym."
Serena pulls out a pen from her sweater and writes everything down on a napkin while he speaks. From across the table, Rowan's face grows grim and she shoots Elijah a glare. He grimaces and mouths an apology while Lance and Clair share a worried look as their best friend zones out to get all the details down and writes a plan.
"We'll have to interview everyone else in the league too, guess those background checks will have to dig deeper... I think if we get an Elite to take the last gym it'll look better," Serena makes a note. "I think Agatha would be a good replacement, she's calm, collected and well known."
"Uh, yeah," Elijah nods. "Let me worry about that stuff though. That is in my job description. I'll let you know what's on your list when I figure it all out."
Knowing she's going to make a list of her own, Serena offers a small smile. "Sounds good."
Clair steps on Serena's foot. "We're not going to let you run around and do your own thing. Right, Lance?"
Serena forces herself to not glance up at Lance as he stares at her and Clair. His mother clears her throat and offers Serena a smile. "You've got enough on your plate, hun."
Before it gets tense, Rowan stands up while clearing her throat. "I think that's enough for tonight. Men will do the dishes and women will put away the food and drink. Stephanie, would you guys like to stay the night here?"
Elijah and his wife share a short look before she turns back and shakes her head. "Thank you for offering, we're going to head home after cleaning up."
Rowan smiles sweetly and everyone gets to work.
Stuffing her notes into her pocket, Serena gathers the food with Clair and her mother. Everyone moves as fast as possible, the kids run off to keep from getting underfoot as dishes get cleaned, food gets packaged and drinks get dumped. Serena keeps quiet, avoiding Lance as much as possible and trying to focus on the present as her headache surges.
Come with me... Look for me...
Everything feels just out of reach to her. Two separate voices, the same answer but with a different price to pay. The first one, who knows what her uncle would do to her if she went with him. She shivers at the thought.
The second... It's familiar. But she can't place it. She knows it's trustworthy and that it has the answers.
Is it the answer? Who are you?
Hh...
She feels a breath tickle her mind and jumps. The lights flicker and the music stops in a short wave and everyone pauses.
"Serena?" Aaron comes into the kitchen as she stands at the fridge. "What's wrong?"
Her headache calms for the moment and she looks up. "S-s-sorry. Just a long day."
"Super powers!" the boys chant in the living room.
Their screaming breaks the tense moment, everyone takes this answer and nods. Elijah and Stephanie share a confused but appreciating look. Serena uses it to duck out of the busy kitchen and into the foyer. Hands trembling and cold, she takes deep breaths to steady herself.
"We're going to head out," Elijah announces as the last of the dishes get sorted and the table gets wiped. "Thanks for dinner."
"Anytime," Rowan grins and hugs them.
Elijah pulls Serena aside as the goodbyes begin to chorus with Clair's parents. "Hey. I want you to take it easy these next couple of weeks, okay?"
"I will," she rubs her temples. "Are you still... retiring?"
He half smiles and reaches up to squeeze her shoulders. "Yes. There's going to be a new champion this year. If not, it's up to you."
"I don't know how you're going to pull that," she snorts.
"You tell me and I make them my replacement," he shrugs. He gives her shoulders another squeeze. "Everything will be right in no time, the tournament will go by fast, you'll train the new champ, announce a finished league as a bonus and new elite four and gyms."
"When am I going to take it easy?" she raises a brow.
He laughs. "We all have a part in this, you're not alone."
She keeps quiet but smiles and hugs him then. "Okay. I'll see you at work, then."
"You better believe me," he fake threatens before taking off with his family.
Lance and Clair walk up next and offer gentle smiles.
"You'll be okay tonight, right?" Clair asks first with a furrow in her brows.
"Yeah, it's a headache," she waves her off. "I need some sleep."
"Just let me know," the blue haired girl affirms with a sharp nod. "I'll come over right away."
"Get some rest," Lance states in a curt tone. It's sudden as though he had been debating on what to say while she spoke with Clair. It makes Serena frown.
"Don't talk to her like that," Clair snaps.
"Good night."
Serena turns on her heel and heads up the stairs, unable to expend energy to deal with both of them. Her head pounds with each step up until she reaches her room where it seems her heart pounds like a drum against her chest. The dark room spins as she stumbles to bed and plops down on it with a heavy sigh.
Everything swirls around her as she slips under the covers, she lets out Ty and Thea to keep her comforted before drifting into an uneasy sleep.
Downstairs, Clair glares at her cousin as their families prepare to leave. On the way out the door, she pulls him aside.
"What?" he demands.
"Give her a break," she sneers. "We both know Serena uses logic in most of her decisions, right?"
"Yeah, so?" he crosses his arms.
"So, what are you like as a member of the Four?" she presses further. When he frowns, she snorts. "You don't do half your job, skip out to sleep around and do the bare minimum. Serena turns in your training sheets, gets your pokemon to their check ups and tracks you down to sign on regulation."
"What's your point?"
"You know that was her first time seeing you on a mission, right? What you're doing during meetings, and training times, also the fact that she's doing your paperwork most days is all she knows about you on the job. So when she heard you were sleeping with someone on a mission, it made sense to her. She wasn't believing Proton, she was relying on her information on your behavior."
"She could have asked me," Lance snaps back. Though he's starting to rethink his choices up until this moment.
He was just having fun and Serena doesn't do all of his work. He makes most of his appointments and puts in the hours with his pokemon on the battlefield for training and official battles. Sure, he's been sleeping around, but there haven't been any rumors, or false accusations this time. He's still working hard... Right?
His uncertainty makes anger flare up as Clair laughs at his words and continues on.
"When?" She demands. "Before or after Proton had her in his clutches and she was tossed into the ocean. It looks like you're mad at her for not expecting better of you when all you do is give her more work to do."
That hurts and he shouts back. "You don't know anything about my job!"
"I know more than you do," she rolls her eyes. "I don't know what happened to you, but you're drifting away from her and for what? Some ass? Fame? Your skills got you to where you are, but your arrogance will get you kicked out."
"Whatever," Lance scoffs. "It won't be that easy."
"Oh really?" she raises a brow and smiles. "The lineups are changing. Elijah is retiring, so are Agatha and Lorelei. I hear Koga applied to be considered part of the Elite Four. Have you asked Elijah to nominate you for champion?" At his clueless look she lets out a laugh. "You have no idea what I'm talking about, right?"
"What do you want from me?" he demands. He doesn't want to hear this from Clair of all people.
"I want you to realize that the world is bigger than you and your fame," she sighs. "You have influence now, there's more to your position than fame."
"That's rich coming from you!"
She grabs his collar, her lips curled into a sneer. "Serena is our best friend and the next few weeks -no- months are going to be a living hell if you don't get your act together. At least I want to be good for something that has to do with my dream. When's the last time you even thought about becoming the champion? Don't you think Serena has enough influence to help get you closer? Or are you too deep in sex to even think about things other than your vanity?"
"Clair, that's enough," her father urges from the walkway. "I think Lance can figure the rest out on his own."
Eyes as cold as ice, narrowed to slits, Clair lets him go. "Just think about it, cousin. Where do you go from here?"
Lance fixes his collar, his breaths shallow as he watches Clair stalk down the street behind her parents. Despite always being a step ahead of her, he can't help but realize she made sense. He glances back at the house and wonders if he's too late to fix everything and get back on track.
"Son?" his mother calls from the pathway. "You okay?"
"Of course he is," Wesley butts in and gives his son an expectant look. "Not all wake up calls are friendly, but it was just what he needed. Right?"
Lance purses his lips. "Yeah. Let's get going."
