Chapter 184 Belrose Problem Part 2

Ash and Clair head upstairs and find another portal, but just as they enter the portal, they find Charlotte.

Charlotte: Seriously, back off.

Ash: Charlotte.

Charlotte: (Turns around and faces them) You're not Saphira. All right, sorry about that. Obviously, I didn't mean you, since, like, why are you even here?

Ash: We're here to find you, of course.

Charlotte: Actually- hey, since you are here... I got this far, but now there's all this junk in the way of progressing. Can you do my homework for me? I'd do it myself but I'm too busy standing around making angsty side comments or whatever, and also I don't wanna.

Ash notices the puzzle and he groans.

Ash: Not this kind of puzzle again...

Clair: You seem to hate this kind of puzzle?

Ash: Didn't you notice the six puzzles before we come here? I had to solve every single one of them and they are really annoying.

Clair: I see...sorry that I asked.

Charlotte: I'm assuming Laura already told you what all happened. Like this hasn't happened eighty times before. Only this time, as a special added bonus, it's even more pointless! Or, well, I guess for my part everything was always pointless and I just didn't know it, but dramatic irony's a bitch like that, isn't it? See? Making great progress on the angsty dialogue already, right?

Ash decides to look at the puzzle, and after checking it, he just sits on the floor.

Ash: Back then, I just need to move one block... but it seems like I'm going to move two blocks together...

Clair: Do you need my help? I mean, you didn't have that much help last time, right?

Ash: Actually, I had Taka help me. You know, the same boy from Subseven Sanctum? But maybe I would need you to get that side of the puzzle while I do this.

Clair nods as they try to complete the puzzle, after their coordination, the portal appears after both blocks land at the white spot at the same time.

Charlotte: Nice. I love it when people solve my problems for me. Relationship points +1 or whatever. Going ahead.

Then they notice that there are going to be more of them, so they decide to continue solve it.

Charlotte: You're really good at these! My stupid little girl brain can't understand them at all! Can you show me how to do this one too?

Ash: Are you serious?

Charlotte: Heh, well, maybe if it wasn't you, I'd say something like that. Flattery's a good motivator. But you do stuff like this all on your own anyway, right? And I'm not going to insult you by actually trying to be manipulative. I just have to joke about it because, like, come on, what else am I gonna do? Solve the puzzle myself? Pffft.

Ash and Clair decide to move this puzzle, and it takes them some tries to make it right.

Charlotte: That one kinda looked like a pain in the ass; I'm impressed. No bullshit this time. I don't know how you have the energy for all this. Ever since the... thing with Sirius, I feel like just getting out of bed is about all the effort I have in me for a day. I certainly don't know what the hell I'm doing with my life. Dropped the chip on my shoulder and for what? Oh nooo, I'm tripping on my edgy dialogue, aaaaaaaah...~ Next.

As they get to the third one, it is getting complicated.

Charlotte: I don't even know what the hell this one is. Good luck or whatever. I'll be here brooding.

Then they decide to move the blocks, and Clair has a wild idea of pushing the block out of the whole ring and moving to the right one, and it actually works.

Charlotte: That looked stupid. You haven't been able to push them out of bounds before, so why now? I guess the rules are always just fake and made up. Just like the passage of time, and tragic backstories, I guess. You know, it's funny. Even though I know now that it wasn't my fault, I still think about the fire a lot. Now I'm just a dumbass with trauma instead of a dumbass with trauma and a twisted sense of ironic control. That sucks! Everybody and their Poochyena have trauma, so who even am I?! Maybe Anna was right. Maybe I do have burn scars. Maybe I need them.

They get to the fourth puzzle, and they also notice a portal already at the end, so they are wondering what will the puzzle do?

Charlotte: Okay, but I've been sitting on that line about Anna being right for days. That was badass, right? And if you say no, I'm gonna cry.

Ash: Well, then I'll say yes if it stops your crying.

Charlotte: Hell yeah. I've just been waiting for someone to say it to besides my sisters. God knows they're the stickiest sticks in the mud since... I don't know, something really muddy? Shut up; I'm having a moment, okay? It's like this place, I guess. Everything I thought was real was just a mirage. Now I don't really know what to do with myself.

Then they move the block and find that the white circle is also moving, much to their surprise, but good thing they manage to solve it in the end. And Charlotte decides to stay in the area since she wants to take a moment of brooding. And after doing the fifth puzzle, there is no new portal, but the Mega Stones for Latias and Latios.

Clair: So Ho-oh was actually in that portal, we wouldn't need to do the last two...

Ash: But at least I got something worth it. Two Mega Stones for Latias and Latios is nice.

After getting to Ho-oh, it is also glowing like Lugia, and in the Mirror Field, it summons Hydreigon, Articuno, Mega Latias, Shaymin, Celesteela, and another Ho-oh, and Ash and Clair manage to defeat them with ease and captures the Ho-oh.

Ash's New Capture in Mirage Tower?: Ho-oh (Event)

Charlotte: (Walks in) Got the Anomaly? Good shit. You can have it, obviously. I'm thinking I should move on from Fire-Types anyway. I'll still keep the existing mono teams for official capacities, but I'm done basing myself on a comedy of errors. It's a new direction to go. And speaking of new directions to go: Down. You wanna come with me?

Ash: Of course, we should go back to the others.

Charlotte: No point in sticking around. Except for that Mega Stone sitting over there that you missed... Nah, I'm just kidding. Let's go.


After getting back to the first floor, both Charlotte and Saphira are now being scolded by Laura.

Laura: Okay, so now that Ash and Clair have shown up and done literally all of our jobs for us, can we maybe sit down and talk about things like mature and reasonable adults?

Charlotte: I dunno, "adults" might be a tall ask. You sure Saphira is old enough for that yet?

Saphira: Excuse you.

Charlotte: Gottem.

Laura: At least you two are joking again...

Saphira: It shouldn't be your job to peace make like this. I've been a poor excuse for the eldest sister.

Laura: No, that's part of your problem. You keep placing that burden on yourself even when there's no longer any need to. Let us take care of you for a change.

Saphira: That feels wrong. But I don't know what's right, so I'll defer to your judgment.

Laura: And Charlotte, it would probably help if you-

Charlotte: Yeah, yeah, stop throwing hissy-fits, something maturity, something friendship, and love.

Laura: I was going to say, it would probably help for you to stop trying to deflect from genuine emotional conversations with sarcasm.

Charlotte: ...Yeah, but that's no fun.

Saphira: Neither was any of this.

Charlotte: I dunno; I had a decent time up there?

Laura: Charlotte.

Charlotte: Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine. I hereby swear to be the least sarcastic person on this planet, for three minutes, if you're lucky.

Laura: Perhaps that's okay. It's not as if I don't sometimes enjoy your sass.

Charlotte: That one's going in writing; I'm reminding you of it next time you complain.

Laura: Now, I've gotten the feeling that perhaps Anomaly-hunting is a bit beyond us as a family unit for the time being, so how about instead we all just try and have a nice time together? We haven't gotten too many of those, and I believe there is always something to be said for stopping to smell the flowers together.

Charlotte: You know we're in a desert, right?

Saphira: There are still flowers here.

Laura: These are metaphorical flowers, okay?

Charlotte: And just what, pray tell, do these metaphorical flowers smell like?

Laura: Love, trust, and the experience of growing together.

Charlotte: Yikes, you just said that with a straight face.

Saphira: It was almost impressive. Almost.

Laura: (Speechless for a second) Well, Ash and Clair, it has truly been a pleasure. Once again, I am much obliged for your help. It was indispensable, and I believe all of us will be better at it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I will be dragging these two home by their ears.

Saphira: I'll take her other ear if you spare mine.

Laura: Deal.

Charlotte: Wait. Hold on, we can still talk about this! Mature and reasonable adults and all that! (Being dragged by both ears from Saphira and Laura) Hey, hey, wait- Ash, Clair, save me!

Laura: Have a wonderful day, Ash, Clair.

After the three of them leave, they are feeling a little bit awkward as they head back to the house. After resting for a while, they go to the night club and find the three siblings there.

Laura: I hope you've been taking care of yourself? Actually, I'm glad you stopped by. I... wasn't exactly thrilled, when I found out Bennett had sent you out to check on me, but at the same time, I was very grateful. I was so worried, and... I couldn't handle it on my own. But you found them both, safe and sound. And as worried as I'd been, when I saw them both, I was even happier. I really appreciate your help. Things with my sisters... Aren't going to be as easy to patch up as I'd hoped. But while we were out there, I felt like we were taking steps forward. They may have been baby steps, but any step forward is better than none at all! I have faith in all of us. Thank you, Ash, Clair.

Ash: No problem.

Charlotte: I suppose you didn't conveniently forget everything that happened at the Mirage Tower did you? Please? Because if not, I'm gonna have to come up with some edgy, dramatic spiel to save my image. In fact, let's just both pretend I did that already, cool? Cool. I'm only upset ironically or something. So yeah, uh, don't forget it or whatever.

Saphira: I've focused for too long on the past. It's time to start thinking about the future. Not too long ago, this city was filled with broken buildings and ruins. Those structures became the foundation for countless new homes and businesses. I wonder what I can become.

Ash: I'm looking forward to it.


And here is a new chapter, and this wraps up the Ho-oh and Lugia event. I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will be back to the 4 girls from Onyx Trainer School.