Chapter Ninety Four: No Education

The school was just as Alaska had remembered it. It had been five years since she had last been here yet nothing had changed. That towering, crimson palace that haunted her dreams still loomed above them; the fields remained unnaturally green, matching the impossibly cloudless skies dotted only with Wingull; the stadium was still bigger than anything Viridian had ever built. Five long years of thinking about this place, and finally, she was back.

Alaska would have preferred to return under different circumstances, but the same could be said for most of her life over the last few months. Instead of strolling the halls in a grey skirt and white blouse worrying about homework and social drama, here she was failing miserably to catch up to her sister, skirting around the edges of the horseshoe building in clothes she'd been wearing for nearly a week.

"Emily!" Alaska had regretted being sassy the moment she had opened her mouth, remembering too late her sister's natural speed and her own busted leg. Emily and her friend had already cleared a solid distance, leaving Alaska, Damian, Paige and Charizard forgotten in their wake.

"Why is she running?" Damian yelled wheezily from behind.

Oh yeah, like I know anything about her decisions. "No fucking clue," Alaska replied as civilly as possible. She stopped in the middle of the field, her filthy skin already slick with sweat, and she signalled at Paige. "Do you –"

She didn't need to finish her sentence; Paige was already airborne and within a second had her talons around Alaska's shoulders. They left the ground behind, rising up as high as the third storey, and soared after the runners.

Emily glanced back as she rounded the corner of the building, and the disdain in her eyes was clear even from this height. Seriously, what the hell is her problem? Alaska reached into her pocket as Paige swerved after the pair and checked to make sure she had the right Poké Ball. She had not flown all this way to pick a fight, but if it was what she had to do to save them, then she would do what she does best.

"Nadia, grab her!"

The ground below change suddenly from grass to hefty stones worn down by age, forming a neat courtyard at the front of the school. Emily was halfway across, making a beeline for a small, gothic building on the other side of the square, but she stopped as a Great Ball landed in front of her, blue energy spooling out that took Nadia's shape.

"Oh, fuck you, Alaska!" she shrieked, leaping out of the Nidoqueen's grip, and she threw her own Poké Ball to the ground.

Paige and Alaska landed softly on the courtyard's edge just as Emily's Pokémon took form. Alaska had no idea what this tall, scaly white creature was, but unless Emily had been gifted more Pokémon, she could only assume it was Chester all grown up.

"Oh, so you want to have a Pokémon battle, is that it?" she shouted, limping towards her sister.

Emily wheeled around, her short hair shaking as if the centre point of her anger. "To be frank, Alaska, I've read about the lengths you go to in battles. I don't think our parents need to pay for a new admin office, but if you came here to start –"

Alaska cut across her with a bitter, forced laugh. "Puh-lease, when have you ever cared about our parent's finances?"

Somehow, Emily's face narrowed into itself even further, her entire body quivering now. "Needle Arm!"

"Poison Jab, flip him over."

Chester lunged forwards, his elongated arms shining a vibrant green. Yet his movements were clumsy, obvious, and Nadia easily stepped aside. With her own lavender fist, she punched upwards, catching Chester under the chin and stunning him. She kept the momentum going, heaving him up by the head and hurling him across her horn and towards the stones.

Chester's curved, spiky back absorbed the shock, allowing him to bounce and roll towards a car parked a few feet away. Nadia stomped after him, and the second he had come to a stop, she jumped up and landed heavily on his chest.

"Naught Naught!" Chester tried to heave her off, but Nadia shifted her weight so his arms were pinned by her legs.

"How… how did she do that?" Emily turned incredulously to Alaska. "You didn't even give her any orders."

"What can I say, she's intuitive." Alaska was proud of Nadia's quick thinking, but asides from a subtle nod, she kept her face blank as she stepped towards her sister. "I have not come here to fight with you or cause you any trouble. If we can just go somewhere a little more private and a little calmer, we can talk about –"

"Alaska!"

Alaska didn't need Damian's shriek to notice the stream of water arcing over the courtyard. Nadia saw it coming, but with Chester pinned beneath her, she could only raise an arm defensively. The attack hit her in the chest with enough power to force her off of Chester and throw her back to the edge of the courtyard.

"Good job at not causing any damage," Emily snapped as she ran towards Chester.

"That one wasn't my doing, was it?" Alaska growled back. She knew who the culprit was though, and marched across the courtyard, eyes darting about for her brother. "You can come out, Ed, I know it's you – and bring your bloody Croconaw with you!"

Something growled in response, and Alaska's eyes were drawn towards a thick, withered oak tree that stood between the courtyard and the library. Alaska cautiously stepped forward, waiting for her brother to emerge from behind the trunk. She was only a few feet away when she sensed the branches above tremor. Instinct told her what was coming next, and Alaska jumped back towards the safety of the cars.

She tripped and landed roughly on the stone, grazed hands joining her ever growing list of maladies, but it was better than being crushed by the muscular blue Pokémon that had landed from the trees. Alaska remained on the ground, staring at the Feraligatr that stood where she had been a moment ago, the beast's narrow eyes gazing at the empty space as if in disappointment.

"My, my, Fergie, haven't you grown up?"

The Feraligatr turned; her fanged, paunchy mouth spread open in a perverse smile, and she shuffled forwards on her scaly legs, claws at the ready. "TEEEEEER!"

Alaska may have been worried if this was anyone else's Pokémon, but she simply lay there and soaked up the tension. "That's alright though, big girl; my starter's grown up as well."

Fergie lunged forwards, claws at the ready, but barely moved an inch before a tawny blur slammed into her midriff. The Feraligatr screamed as she was thrown towards the tree, hitting it with a bark-breaking thump. She was given only a second's relief before Paige swooped back around, grabbing Fergie by the spikes and dragging her across the courtyard.

"GEE!" Paige squawked, dumping the Water-type unglamorously beside Emily and Chester. She turned around and landed on top of the nearest car, wings spread as wide as she could manage, her beady eyes staring down at the bested Pokémon as if daring them to take her on again.

"Easy you, you're still recovering," Alaska warned, dragging her busted leg towards the gathering. Paige nodded and slinked backwards, maintaining her menacing glare.

"What's this? Are you letting your Pokémon get caught in the firing line as well?" Emily hissed bitterly from the ground, cradling Chester's head in her lap.

Alaska ignored the jibe. She checked to see if a crowd had gathered, but asides from Emily's dark-skinned friend, who had retreated towards the shadows of the main building, there were no students around. Asides from Damian, Nadia and Charizard, who were standing like bodyguards on the sidelines, Alaska, Emily and the Pokémon were alone.

"Now, if Ed wouldn't mind showing his face, we might actually be able to talk."

Only the wind answered her; a pleasant breeze blew through the courtyard, rustling the grass and making ripples in the rapidly evaporating water left behind by Fergie. Alaska tried to look calm, patient, in control, but on the inside, her heart was beating rapidly. Buzz could be here any minute. He could be here right now.

Finally, there were footsteps. Alaska felt her stomach twist, and slowly she turned towards the noise. Edward stopped the second their eyes met; even with the thicker jawline dusted with badly shaved stubble, masked by the shaggy mane he'd had for years, he still was the mirror image of Emily.

"Hey bro."

"Hi." Edward crossed his eyes and glowered at his sister haughtily, slouching into a position of unquestionable campness that had long been a calling sign. "What are you doing here?"

Great, he hates me too. "Look, I'm not here to cause any trouble. Can we just sit down and have a civilised –"

"Ha!" Edward scoffed bitchily, and suddenly he was pushing past her and sinking to the ground beside sister and Pokémon. "You've already caused enough trouble, Alaska. Just say what you want to say and fuck off."

Alaska maintained her smile even as her fists curled into balls at her sides. Her pledge for niceties was being worn very thin. "Don't you wanna catch up first? It has been two years since I last saw you both. How was the holiday? My summer was great, thanks for asking. Just did a little light charity work – global peacekeeping, that sort of thing."

"Is that why you've come here? To blame us for the fact you and your friends are trying to destroy the world? Because that's not our fault," Emily snapped. "We didn't make you go on your journey!"

Without hesitation, Alaska laughed, loudly and bitterly. She had expected this argument; the only surprise was how long it had taken her to say it. "Don't worry, Emily, I am well aware you didn't make me go. I mean, really, you two did the exact opposite, didn't you?"

"Oh, not this bullshit again," Edward groaned.

"Do you seriously think that we should have given up our scholarships just so we could stay home and make sure Dad didn't top himself?" Emily asked, her tone bordering on a snarl.

"Don't make jokes like that!" Alaska growled. "You haven't seen him in two years, you don't know the state he's got himself into."

Emily stood up, almost pushing Chester aside in her haste. "You don't get to act superior here. We may not have been there the last few years, but trust me, we know more about his condition than you do."

"What does that mean?" Alaska was so taken aback by the comment she briefly forgot her rage; suddenly, she was back in their living room, night time, the only light coming from the television, casting her father's steadily growing beard and gaunt eyes in flickering shadow.

"Forget it," Emily huffed, waving the comment away with her hand. "I'm simply saying your argument is flawed. We finish school next May, you could have waited until then. I'm sure one more summer wouldn't have hurt you and Big Bird over here."

"That's not even relevant, I had to go this year."

Emily rolled her eyes. "Just because you get ideas in your head, Alaska, doesn't mean you actually have to follow through with them."

"I had to leave because being involved in all this is my destiny."

Alaska hated saying those words out loud. She especially hated saying them to her siblings. Yet it was the truth, and it was the only way she was going to get them out of here.

Unfortunately, their reaction was as predictable as ever.

"Excuse me?" Emily whispered, her lips quivering as she tried to keep a straight face. Beside her, Edward looked as though he'd just discovered the back room to a male strip club, and he turned his wide, gleeful eyes on his sister, begging her to join in his joy.

"I said," Alaska repeated slowly and grimly, "that I had to go on my journey this year regardless. There is a prophecy, and –"

That final word was too much. Edward let out a great hoot not alike Darwin's, and that pushed Emily over the edge; within seconds, the two were leaning on each other for support, the courtyard swelling with the sound of their laughter. Now more than ever, Alaska wished she'd never sat down for lunch at the Athlew mansion, never heard those words or seen Charlotte's artwork; all the robot battles and exploding tunnels in the world had nothing on the pain and suffering of this moment.

"Oh my god Alaska, if I had known how much they'd warp your brain, I'd have never let you watch all of dad's bloody movies." Emily spluttered the words in-between deep breathes needed to fuel her hysterics, tears streaming down her face. Edward was a mirror image of merriment, their faces contorted in the same exaggerated, gleeful shriek.

Alaska was tempted to argue with them, to reiterate her point, but she knew there would be no budging on their part. Once the two got ideas into their heads, they stuck like glue, willing to withstand the strongest counter argument and whatever obvious truth was shoved into their faces.

Allow me.

"Wait, no, do –" Alaska didn't finish her sentence, the words catching in her throat as her head jerked backwards. The world around her was shimmering, the sky pulsating blue. As pressure tightened around her brain, Alaska heard Emily shriek and Edward shout, but before she could comfort them, she felt her own scream brew as her consciousness was pulled from her body by her throat.

She was back in the garden. The towering school building was replaced by their squat little home, the courtyard and fields now flowerbeds and bushes. Alaska spun around, confused and terrified as to what Latios had done now. There was no one with her, no memories of her and Paige being replayed on loop for the benefit of her omnipresent therapist, but Alaska did not feel alone. She could sense more eyes watching her, other figures moving through the garden.

Voices echoed faintly from inside the house. Alaska could not make out what was being said, but she knew it was her speaking, the young, high pitched squeals registering something in the back of her brain; sadness and disappointment she felt most strongly, but there was a part of her that felt resentment and guilt.

"How many times do we have to tell you, you can't train with us?"

A figure stepped through the open door, emerging into the faint haze of sunshine the memory had generated. Alaska stared at the girl and felt her confusion deepen; it looked like her, it sounded a little like her, but a pink miniskirt, a figure-hugging white crop top? Alaska had only worn clothes like that in her dreams.

It wasn't until the other two figures appeared that it all made sense. There was Edward, his young, perpetually knowing face dusted with the first hint of facial hair, his hair shaggier and more untamed than it currently was. Trailing behind him was a small girl half their size, an oversized blouse hampering her frenetic running.

"But Paige has learnt a new move! She used Quick Attack the other day. Quick Attack!" the little girl added insistently as if repeating the attack name would make it sound more impressive.

The twins looked at each other over the top of their younger sister's head, identical smirks shining back at the other. "That's very nice for her, Alaska, but we passed the point of using Quick Attack and Tackle years ago." Emily smiled condescendingly at the younger Alaska, and again the older one felt emotions she had no right in feeling; irritation, frustration, an eagerness to leave the conversation immediately.

Yet the young Alaska stayed put, planting her feet firmly into the upturned ground and scrunching her tiny hands in protest. "You two never let me play with you. Mum told you you had to let me play!"

"It's not called 'playing', it's called training!" Edward snapped, causing more anger to rise up Alaska's phantom neck. "Maybe once you start calling it that, we might let you hang out with us!"

The little Alaska opened her mouth, ready to protest. The emotions Alaska felt were more natural now; shame, sadness, a burning desire to stay. Yet the seconds dragged on without a single second of protest, and finally, with an unmistakable huff, the young Alaska in the memory turned and sprinted into the house.

"Has she always been this annoying?" Edward sighed, watching the little girl retreat indoors.

The younger Emily said nothing in response. She watched her sibling run away in silence, yet her face and her stirred up emotions said volumes; regret, disappointment, but ultimately, contentment.

"Come on, we've only got a few weeks until we get back, and I am not letting Catherine show me up."

Alaska suddenly was falling backwards at great speed. She blinked and opened her eyes at the moment her mind hit her body; the impact was like hitting a brick wall, punching the wind from her and pushing her to the ground. Footsteps mingled with squawks and grunts, and Alaska looked up as Paige landed beside her, enveloping her within her huge wings.

"I'm fine!" she said firmly. "I'm fine," she added to Damian, who had sprinted over with Nadia and Emily's friend in tow. Her leg admittedly was throbbing from the impact, but Alaska could live with the pain, she had experienced enough of it already. "It takes a while to get used to, having your mind played with like that."

Alaska stared through the gathering crowd and met her sibling's eyes. Their faces were equally pale, Emily shivering so violently her teeth chattered while Edward's ajar lips formed a perfect 'o'. That was the first time Alaska had entered one of those memories with other people; she could only imagine the strange emotions she'd felt were theirs, but that must have meant they felt her childhood rage, her desperation to be noticed.

"What the hell was that?" Emily hissed finally. "Do you have a Psychic-type with you?"

"No, that was Latios. Our minds are linked, and he can enter other minds through me. He must have found a memory to try and prove to you what's going on. I'd asked him to speak up and prove it, but he tires easily… conveniently for him…"

"I don't believe it. This is just some sick game." Emily rose back to her feet, legs wobbling so violently that Chester had to grip her shoulders. "You've always resented us for coming here, and now that you've involved yourself in all of this, you just want to make our lives hell. Well, fuck you, Alaska, I don't want any part of this fucked up world you've created."

"Wow, do you kiss our mother with that mouth? Oh wait, you wouldn't have, not after two –"

"SHUT UP!"

"Alaska's not lying." Having been silent for so long, it was a jolt to hear Damian speak. Everyone turned to him as he stepped forwards, the twins clearly confused as to who this was, but Damian's face was a portrait of stoicism as he took the mantle from Alaska. "Alaska's best friend was kidnapped a few days ago. We came to Sevii because we were trying to find her, but we haven't. Alaska is desperate to find her, she wouldn't give up searching for her just to get her revenge on you two. We've only come here because we think you are in damage."

Fuck he's good. Alaska felt a new admiration for the failed reality star; maybe Damian wasn't as useless and self-absorbed as she had assumed? Or maybe he found this whole situation as awkward and uncomfortable as she did and was just as keen to get out of here before the robots fell from the sky?

"Who do you think is coming here?" Edward asked quietly. Emily looked at him angrily but he placated her with a gentle hand on her arm.

"Buzz Bolton. He's ex-Team Rocket masquerading as a television executive. He created Indigo Dreams as some elaborate, ridiculous scheme to smuggle robots into the Indigo League and use them to kill Red live on camera." Even though these were established facts, Alaska could sympathise with the utter confusion covering her siblings faces right now; it even sounded made up to her.

"And he's coming here because….?"

"I've stuffed up his plans. They've all fallen apart now, and I guess he wants revenge. Have you seen the news, about the robot army crashing through the pavement in Saffron? The robots were last recorded heading towards Sevii but no one knows where exactly. My guess is that he wants to kill you or kidnap you or something."

"What about Mum and Dad?" Edward asked, his voice breaking slightly. "Are they safe?"

"The people working to stop Buzz and Amanda are watching our house. Buzz is an idiot, but he's not dumb enough to strike that close to the League. But you two are about a hundred miles from nowhere and your young – easy targets. Plus, unlike you two, all your classmates are rich, so that's an added bonus for him."

Alaska realised too late what she had said. Whatever goodwill she had earned evaporated instantly. She could see fire burning in Emily's eyes beneath that familiar shade of green, and she desperately reached for a saviour. "Emily, if we don't leave now, you –"

"I don't care what story you've convinced yourself is true, I'm not buying it. TV hosts and flying robots… quite frankly, Alaska, if anyone here is unstable, I'd have to say it's you."

Alaska snorted scathingly. "I'm unstable? Says the girl who attacked my Pokémon!"

"Only because you sent that beast out first!"

"I was trying to stop you from running away!"

"I ran away because you're a fucking psychopath!"

"How am I a psychopath when I am trying to save your life!"

"WE DIDN'T ASK YOU TO!"

"Emily, I think we should go with her."

Alaska had never seen Emily look so stunned. Her face froze mid-screech, her latest shout dying in her throat. She stared at Alaska in blatant confusion for nearly a minute as if she was the one who had spoken, before finally dubiously turning towards her brother. "What did you say?"

"I said we should go with her." Edward smiled fleetingly at Alaska before staring back into his twin's eyes, their faces framed close enough that they looked like two sides of the same vase. "I know you don't trust her, I know you don't want to be involved in any of this, but if what she is saying is true, we are in danger, and I'd rather not die rather wearing this shitty fucking uniform in the middle of this dingy car park, alright?"

He reached for her hands and gripped them tightly. Emily stared down at their interlocked fingers, and Alaska could sense her anger slipping away; her snarl sank into a quivering, soundless whimper, and her straightened posture collapsed into a pathetic slouch. She stayed like that for over a minute, ignoring Alaska as if she was no longer there, before quickly flinching her head forward in what was the briefest of nods.

"Alright, let's get going then." Still holding her hands, Edward turned to Alaska. "Where are we going?"

"Ummm…" Alaska wanted to embrace this sudden momentum, but the truth was she had been unable to get past the idea of reuniting with her siblings long enough to formulate a plan. Her eyes flickered pleadingly towards Paige, but the Pidgeot shrugged unhelpfully.

Thankfully, Damian knew what to say. "You two go grab whatever you need while Alaska finds out where Latios is right now."

"There'll be room on Paige and Charizard to take us wherever we need to go," Alaska said quickly, taking the reality star's lead. "We'll need to move fast though, it's been over a day since Buzz put on his little street performance so he is due for an encore."

"I don't need anything," Edward said.

"I do." Emily slipped her hands out of Edward's and she started running towards the school without looking up, moving like a woman possessed. "I'll be quick!" she shouted as Chester lumbered after her.

Alaska blinked disbelievingly at her retreating figure. "What the fuck does she need that's more important than her life?"

"Leave it, Alaska," Edward snapped, one raised eyebrow reminding her which side he was on. "Come on, we'll wait for her by the stairs."

"Aye aye, captain," Alaska called. His snark made her skin bristle, but she said nothing further as Edward, Fergie and Emily's friend started towards the crimson building. Why am I saving these two sorry arseholes again? she thought darkly to herself, yet she signalled to her Pokémon regardless and followed after.

"You know who your sister reminds me of," Damian said, smiling knowingly.

"I literally have no idea," Alaska said dismissively.

She could see Damian's smirk from the corner of her eyes. "Seriously? You can't see it?"

"See what?" Alaska raised a sceptical eyebrow at him, but before she could begin to feign interest in his response, she realised they had stepped into a looming shadow. As goosebumps erupted up her arms, Alaska paused and let her eyes wander up the front of the school building. Well, I always said I'd be back, didn't I?

It had been a long time since Alaska had seen the Academy in the flesh, even if it had long been a background character in her dreams. She had first visited on an open day shortly after the twins had received their scholarships. Her parents had seen the school in brochures and online, but had to wait to visit in person until they knew things were more certain. Alaska could remember how the whole thing had become a sort of makeshift family holiday – a holiday tainted by the fact that Cinnabar Island erupted and they returned home to find their house in ruins, but everyone preferred to remember the sandy beaches and untamed mountains.

Everyone but Alaska, that was. This had been the only thing she had cared about. She could remember how she had thought it was a movie set when they first arrived; a school on a tropical island, with a skyscraping red mansion and a garden the size of a small city? Those things only ever existed in storybooks and old Unovian movies. When it was made clear to Alaska that it was a real school, that real people went here and were taught real subjects, she had decided there and then that she would become one of those students.

If they can go, why can't I? Alaska smirked as that oft-repeated question returned to her. How many times had she said that to her parents? How many times was she given the same answer before she finally stopped asking? How many years did it take for her to actually accept it was never going to happen? Had she actually accepted it? Alaska had told herself that gym battles would be better than any journey ever could be, but clearly that desire had only been buried at a surface level, waiting for Alaska to find any excuse to dig it up again.

"You would hate it here, trust me."

Alaska tore her eyes away from the bricks. She had forgotten how tall Edward had become; he always had loomed over her, but it seemed his growth spurt would never stop as his neck folded into an obtuse angle in order for him to meet her eyes.

"You always say that, yet you still come back here every year."

Edward rolled his eyes. "Oh yeah, like I'd really go crawling back to the local high school. 'Hey, sorry everyone, turns out I wasn't too good for you after all!'"

"You don't know what you're missing out on. Apparently, the new earthquake-proof library is really quite stunning," Alaska said, smirking as she stressed the last two words.

"Well fuck me, why didn't you say earlier, Emily never would have run off!" His laugh carried, echoing off the walls that connected the front of the school with the inner courtyard.

If it was any other time, Alaska may have managed a smile, but with her old memories pressing down on her, her lips barely flinched. "Do you know why she's so afraid of me?"

"Wouldn't you be?" Edward answered quickly, as though he had been waiting for the question. "We go off the grid for a few months and come back to find out that everyone is talking about you because you keep blowing up things and fighting supervillains."

"You make me sound so heroic."

"If you say so." Edward paused, his face suddenly serious. "You have to see things from her point of view. You've proven yourself to be incredibly powerful over the last few months, more than either of us ever could be. If someone you think hates you suddenly gained a small army and a bunch of comic book abilities and then rocked up on your doorstep, you'd want to run away as well."

"I don't resent you!" Alaska snapped. She tried to match Edward's judgemental glare, but even she hadn't believed what had come out of her mouth. "Alright, fair point, but I'm not some deranged murderer, okay? I haven't killed a single person."

Surprisingly, Edward laughed. "Fuck me, I never thought I'd ever need clarification that my kid sister isn't a killer!"

Alaska smirked, sighing softly under her breathe. You and me both, she thought glumly.

"And, I think part of it is that… well, she feels guilty. She won't tell me that, let alone you, but I know she thinks we should have gone home this summer." Edward paused, biting his lip the way he had as a kid to stop himself from crying. "I know I do."

"Don't. You wouldn't feel that way if none of this had happened."

"Who can say? We're not in a reality where we came home, we're in this one, and in this version of our universe, I feel like shit for not coming home for even a week."

"You didn't want to face Viridian. I know that feeling, believe me. If I had to look at that fucking statue one more time – what?" Alaska glared at her brother, his sudden sniggering cutting right through her contempt.

"Sorry, I shouldn't, I know, but – you swearing, it's always sounded so silly." He snorted and began cackling, leaning against a brick column to steady himself.

Alaska stared gormlessly at him. "Seriously? You know that I've literally destroyed buildings and fought against evil robots, right?"

"God, don't make it worse," Edward cried breathlessly, his body suddenly weak with laughter.

Alaska was sorely tempted to kick him between the legs, but she couldn't help smiling herself. When was the last time they had been able to laugh like this? Had they ever? So much of Alaska's memories were discoloured by the earthquake and everything that had come after, that fact and fiction had blurred into one strange blur. But even if this was the first or the fiftieth time, Alaska was simply glad to have her brother beside her again.

"Alaska, I think you should see this."

Her laughter stopped immediately. Alaska did not hesitate, moving through the exposed entrance before Edward even noticed she was gone. Her footsteps echoed ominously as she stomped towards the inner courtyard, where Damian and Charizard stood in the middle of a throng of children. Some of them whispered and pointed at her as she approached, but the only thing Alaska cared about was the fact that, for almost an entire school on their lunch break, very few of them seemed to be talking.

Damian turned as she approached. "Up there."

Alaska followed his finger and looked at the sky; the atmosphere above was crystalline blue and as clear as glass, postcard Sevii weather. Alaska wasn't sure what he was pointing at, but then she saw; a flock of Wingull hovered in a perfect circle above the school, nearly a dozen or so moving in flawless formation.

Edward appeared at Alaska's side and copied his classmates in staring towards the roof. "They're Wingull. Are we supposed to be afraid of Wingull now?"

"We are if they aren't real." The symmetry of their circle, the seamlessness of their movements; the warning bells in Alaska's head were ringing already. She turned to Damian and gestured at Charizard. "Do you mind?"

"Not at all," Damian grunted, not taking his eyes off the birds. "Flamethrower."

Obediently, Charizard rose to full height, catching the attention of the closest students, but the Fire-type kept his eyes on his airborne targets. "CHARRRRR!"

Screams rippled through the courtyard, teens of all ages scampering as the column of fire shot into the sky. Even Edward jumped as the flames illuminated the school walls orange and yellow, but Alaska ignored everyone, watching as the attack engulfed the flock. She waited desperately for any sign she was wrong; a squawk, a break in formation, even a chargrilled Wingull tumbling from the skies. Yet when the fire has dissipated, all the Wingull remained in the circle, hovering repetitively over the school. And it was then that her forehead began to scream in pain.

"We need to leave immediately."

Alaska tried to focus on her thoughts, but it was difficult now that the whole school had collectively decided to speak up; most vocalised their confusion in high pitched shrieks, while the others began gossiping pointedly about what she was doing here. None of them knew the danger they were in, but Alaska didn't care about any of them right now. As she fished around her bag for her remaining Poké Balls, her eyes took in every part of the school, trying to find the spark that would ignite her plan.

"Now? Why?" Edward's calmness had evaporated; he was a shivering, gormless wreck, his terrified eyes fixated on the birds. "Are those… are those robots?"

"Yes." Alaska looked past him and pointed at the black girl. "What's your name?"

"Niva," the girl said fretfully.

"Hi Niva, I'm Alaska. You need to go get Emily and tell her to meet us on the field. Now."

Niva didn't hesitate; she turned and sprinted towards the nearest staircase as if she had been waiting for an excuse to leave. Alaska made sure she was going the right direction before turning to Damian. "You've got a full team, right?"

"Yep."

"Have them ready." Alaska's fingers found all four balls and gripped them tightly as she started walking. The crowd was so thick she thought she'd have to push through, but the students parted as she neared them; either they saw the vicious glimmer in her eyes or recognised her from a summer spent following her stories. Whatever it was, Alaska was glad. She, Damian, Edward and their Pokémon made it through without any fuss, a sea of stunned faces watching as they marched towards the field, likely all hoping that they would leave before any further hell could descend upon them.

Unfortunately, they had not been through all that Alaska had. They could not know that it was all about to get a lot worse.

"Huh." They were twenty metres from the field when Alaska stopped. Every person around them turned to look where she was, though no one, not even Damian, could work out why a family of Poliwag had stopped her in her tracks.

Interesting choice, Buzz, Alaska thought. She took in the nearly dozen or so Poliwag, the smaller contingent of Poliwhirl, and the two sturdy Poliwrath standing at the back. There was some sort of trick here, that was clear, but Alaska simply couldn't work it out, especially now that the throbbing in her head had doubled as if her brain was trying to burst through her skull.

"Be ready," she muttered to Damian as she reached into her bag. Nadia moved closer to her, while Paige spread her wings, ready to take flight. Alaska ignored the flashes of mountains and fields that appeared in a blur in her mind and tried to focus on the Poliwrath, both of whom were reaching down to grab a Poliwag each

"Alaska, what are going to do?" Edward whimpered in her ear.

Alaska had no idea what to tell him. She had no plan, no strategy, no endgame. She was surrounded by nearly a thousand school kids to stunned to even consider running away, leaving only about thirteen Pokémon and two scorned teenagers to take on the robotic threat. There was little she could say to console her brother, and only one thing came to mind.

"What the fuck do you think?" she said finally, throwing her bag aside and revealing the heavy black gun Bill had given her so long ago. "We're going to fight."

She and Damian threw their Poké Balls forwards at the same moment as both Poliwrath pulled the tails out from their clutched Poliwag. Red, blue and yellow flashes illuminated the faces of the screaming students as they fled the Poliwag grenades hurtling towards them. Alaska had commands ready to go, but as the Poliwhirl advanced, their stomachs spiralling open to reveal elongating machine guns, her vision flared again, showing her a brief image of the ocean in flight.

When Alaska came to, it was to the sound of dual explosions and Charizard and Nadia's simultaneous roars, undercut by Edward whimpering behind her. Don't worry, she wanted to say, as Solarbeams and Flamethrowers soared forwards to meet the bullets, help is on the way. But Alaska couldn't bring herself to say it, to tell her allies that Latios was coming for them.

As her head flared again with the intensity of her approaching saviour, Alaska raised her gun and fired, not caring what censored setting she had it on. We just have to hold on, she thought through the pain, roaring as she stepped closer to her enemies. We won't be alone for long. Yet as Alaska stared into the soulless eyes of the Poliwrath as they reached for another Poliwag, she wasn't sure if the fear she felt spreading through her body was for them, or what would happen once help finally arrived.