What awaits the party-goers at Olivia's event? Where's Maddi gone off to? And what's Cynthia getting herself into? Will Blake and Sylvia resolve their… dilemma?
As for the Best Girl nominations, still going strong. Anyone else left to add?
Currently Nominated: Sango, Cynthia, Elaina, Kate, Dakota, Ayame, Marion, Kitty, Serefina, Madison
KedharS: Don't worry, I don't think Sylvia would do something like that. And besides, Blake can take care of himself.
Rosealine gold: You should be happy with this chapter, then.
Guest: I don't think Sylvia even knows who Sango is.
Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings
Chapter 198
The party was going full-swing, and Maddi wanted to leave. The music was nice, but the other people were kind of crowding her at this point. She wanted to sit down, but she couldn't. She just couldn't. Everywhere she looked, people were sitting on couches or chairs, or even countertops in other rooms. There was not a single place for her to find a seat. She moved into the next room in search of a place to rest, maybe even a seat where there wouldn't be many people.
No such luck.
The room she entered was even louder and more crowded than the last, and it reminded her even more of a club with the flashing lights and throbbing music going around, not to mention the human (though dressed as pokemon) mosh pit in the center. For non-party purposes it seemed to be a theater-room of some sort, like an underground concert hall. And even though the only music that was playing over the speakers was coming from a sound setup, it was still nice. What a surprise, the head of the Appeals Course had a giant performing stage built in the common room of her dormitory. It was kind of asinine, although it made for a good place to throw parties. But even so…
Maddi felt a slight twinge of envy seeing that empty stage up there. Like there was something missing. For a brief instant, she imagined herself up there, playing some real, live music as opposed to the synthetic stuff coming out of the speakers.
Maddi looked down at her hand, surprised she was twitching with anticipation.
So I still have aspirations like that, huh…
Ever since her sister's accident, any dreams she'd had in the field of music had been buried away. Playing guitar was a hobby, but… it seemed there was still part of her that wanted to be up on that stage.
Suddenly, two spotlights aimed down at the stage, two figures walking out from either side of the curtains. Maddi blinked in surprise, stepping forward to get a closer look even as the elbows bumped up against her as she jostled closer toward the stage.
The two girls stepped into the center of the aimed spotlights, large smiles on their faces. Maddi vaguely recognized the two as the MCs from the Fall Festival Tournament, Lila and Darla, their names were, right?
Lila was the girl on stage right, dressed in a long white dress that separated at the bottom into long trails, revealing white tights underneath. Her dress had long green sleeves that went over her hands, and her hair was a matching emerald green, styled forward at the bottoms to frame her cute face, her bright red eyes sparkling.
Unlike her partner, who was dressed as an already-humanoid Gardevoir, Darla's costume was a humanoid Hydreigon, suiting her wilder edge compared to Lila. Her dark blue dress ended in perfectly cut jagged edges, outlining her dark purple tights. It was divided into two parts, with the top part over her shoulders a deep shaggy black, serving as a shawl that covered her arms while leaving a gap for her cleavage. The flared sleeves of her dress framed blue hand-puppets like round dragon heads with purple eyes, and small little felt fangs. She clutched a microphone in them. Six slender black wings flared out of the back of her dress, and a flared, jagged black collar with purple lining framed her pretty smile, her hair dyed dark blue and cut short.
"Hello, everybody! It's great to be here tonight!" Darla called into the microphone, the music dying down slightly as the partiers turned to the stage.
"Are you loving this party?" Lila asked, to a chorus of cheers. Lila and Darla glanced at each other and grinned. They each raised a hand (or hand-puppet, in Darla's case) and pressed them against each other, spinning around to take the other's position as they walked to different ends of the stage before turning back to gaze at each other across the stage.
"I'm Darla Drake!" Darla said, raising her arm. The cheers increased in volume, the room shaking.
"And I'm Lila Seelie!" Lila giggled, winking at the audience. More cheers rang out, to Darla and Lila's joy.
"Today, we've got a special performance for you, isn't that right, Darla?" Lila asked, walking toward the center of the stage again as Darla did the same.
"That's right, Lila!" Darla confirmed, the two turning at the center and pressing their backs up against each other (surprisingly, Darla's wings didn't catch on Lila's dress) and holding their microphones up to their lips. "Today, our performance is a special Pokemon Day event, so we'll be opening with our special rendition of 'Aim to be a Pokemon Master!' And do you know what comes after our performance, Lila?"
"No, Darla, what?" Lila asked, glancing back at her with a look of confusion on her face, that even at this distance Maddi could tell was completely bogus.
"We thought it would be good to leave you all with a taste, so we'll just be performing a few songs for you tonight," Darla said, her voice taking on a sound of sadness in it. "But that's okay! We've got a special act right after this! We're just the opening act!"
"Really?" Lila gasped. "Isn't that great, lovelies? You might only get one song from Darla and I, but we've got a special performance all set up for you! Your host and our Empress, Olivia Himeko, has arranged… what was it, Darla?"
"Very simple, Lila," Darla continued for her. "We've got a special band flown in straight from the Johto Region! Someone to really rock this party up a notch! So while they're getting ready, we'll play a few songs for you, to really get your spirits worked up!"
"Whoooo!" Lila cheered, pumping her fist into the air.
"So without further ado, let's start out with our cover of the smash hit, 'Aim to be a Pokemon Master!'" Darla announced, Lila nodding in agreement.
Maddi watched on as the two idols broke out into song, Lila's silky sweet voice blending perfectly with Darla's wild and rough tones. Maddi nodded her head, stepping back from the crowd to continue her search for somewhere quiet she could sit down and take a break from all this partying.
Honestly… I want to just go…
Maddi's sigh was unheard over the idol's performance and the cheering fans. She walked toward the exit.
I already came here, isn't that good enough? She wondered. Probably. She should at least tell Cynthia she was leaving, right? She supposed that it was only polite. Maddi scoured the party for Cynthia, eventually spotting the girl in a cluster of guys, having the time of her life. Maddi rolled her eyes as she saw Cynthia drape her arm over one of the boys and throw her head back, laughing. Her red cup nearly slipped out of her hands, before the guy caught it.
Of course that girl was having the time of her life at a party like this. They were two different people for sure. Maddi was going to go up to talk to her… but at the same time, she wasn't the type of girl who would just go and insert herself into a crowd of people like that. She shrugged her shoulders, turned, and headed towards the exit, when a hand landed on her shoulder.
"I was right! Madison, it is you!"
Madison's eyes widened at the familiar voice, one of the last people she expected to hear at this party. She whirled her head and looked incredulity at its owner.
While Cynthia was getting plastered against her better judgment and Maddi was greeted by a surprise guest, Blake found himself to be in quite a predicament of his own.
"So?" Sylvia asked, staring down at Blake, her cheeks flushed. "What do you think of my proposition? I don't need you to love me. I don't need you to care for me…"
Sylvia's lips drew closer to Blake's as she leaned in towards him.
"Just give yourself to me, Blake, this is the sort of thing that happens at parties like this. It doesn't have to matter. You and I… just satisfy yourself in my embrace…"
Blake turned his head away from her, Sylvia's lips pressing against Blake's cheek, much to her frustration.
"Still resisting me?" She whispered, bringing her mouth up to his ear. "Why fight it? You and I could have a lot of fun…"
"Even if I was interested in something like that…" Blake murmured, glancing back at her. "Not with someone like you."
"You're hurting my feelings," she said, pulling back from him so she was sitting on his lap, staring down into Blake's eyes. "What's so wrong with someone like me, I wonder? Especially if you don't know who it is you really want to be with. You don't think you could fall in love with me, is that it?"
"Not at all," Blake coldly replied. "The reason I don't want to go out with you is simple. Because… you're empty inside."
Sylvia blinked.
"What are you talking about?" Sylvia asked.
"You're not the only one who's capable of seeing people's true natures," Blake said. "Just looking into your eyes I can see that all of this? All of you? That's all just a lie, isn't it?"
Sylvia's smile cracked as she stared at him, murderous rage flashing across her face for an instant.
"You yearn for excitement because you have nothing else going for you," Blake explained to her. "The fancy clothes, the hair, the wicked smiles and the manipulation, it's all just a charade. A way to disguise that deep down inside… there's nothing there. You're empty, Sylvia. You aren't 'broken'. You had nothing to begin with. And that's why you're seeking out anything to stimulate you, because you're so desperate to fill that empty pit in your stomach. The part of you desperate to find some sort of purpose in that meaningless life of yours."
Sylvia said nothing in response to Blake's personal attack. In truth… his words were a lot closer to the mark than she wanted to admit. Murasaki Kanou… she'd been an empty, pointless existence just like Blake accused her of. And Sylvia… was the person she was now really all that different.
"You might try to hide yourself, but-"
"You should be silent."
Sylvia's voice held a tone of menace that he hadn't heard from her. Blake finally cracked a smile. That look on her face… the seething rage… it was like he was finally looking underneath the mask for the first time.
"Blake, Blake, Blake…" Sylvia's voice was soft as velvet, with a tinge that sent a shiver down his back. She ran her sharp nail down his neck and to his collar as she crooned, her eyes gleaming. She was still on top of him, which put him in a disadvantageous position. He probably could have forced her off of him if he tried, but something about her was unpredictable. He wasn't entirely certain just how she would react to him trying to shove her off. It was enough to keep him locked in place for the moment, at any rate.
"I must say," she continued, "I'm finding myself drawn to you more and more… your words really have a way of cutting right to the heart of things…"
Sylvia clenched down on Blake's chest, her sharp nails digging into his skin. Blake was actually slightly worried that she'd rip through his costume altogether. But she eased off relatively quickly.
"Now then, Blake…" Sylvia rolled off of him and laid on the mattress side by side with him, turning and reaching up to run her black nails down his cheek. "I believe you had something you'd like to ask me about? My dear little demon…"
"I was going to ask you why you made that Escape Room about the Village of Demons," Blake replied, getting up off the bed now that the opportunity presented itself. "But I can see why, plain as day. For your own sick, filthy enjoyment."
"Precisely," Sylvia confirmed, smiling up at him as she sat upright. "But more to the point… I needed to see for sure. To know that it was really you. That you were really the survivor of that incident. And you've proven my suspicions correct."
Blake was moving onto the next topic he wanted to discuss. He knew why she did it. She was just that sort of person. But there were two things he wanted to know from her. What was she going to do with that information, now that she had it, and what would she do going forward? And the real question that was pressing on him…
"How did you know?" Blake asked suspiciously. "That incident… it was fairly well known at the time, but that was nearly ten years ago… and the news has moved on. My identity was hidden for my own privacy, so how…"
Sylvia cracked a smile.
"Well, since you were so entertaining earlier with your revelations about your love life… I suppose I can tell you that bit of information. Now… who was it…? I talk to so many people…"
Blake narrowed his eyes.
"Well, I'll tell you my secret," she cooed, batting her eyelashes at him. She raised a finger and gestured him over. "Come over here, I'll whisper it passionately into your ear…"
Blake rolled his eyes, but Sylvia looked rather insistent. He sighed, leaned over, and Sylvia stretched to whisper the name of her source into his ear.
Blake's blood ran cold. He stepped back and stared at Sylvia like he'd been slapped across the face.
"How…" He whispered. "How do you know that name?!"
"Tsk, tsk," Sylvia said, waving her finger side to side as Blake approached her. "No more strangling, sweetie. Once was enough."
"I wasn't, I just-"
"I have my sources," Sylvia crooned, licking her lips. "But more importantly… Misato Daisan. I believe you met her today?"
"So she's your source…" Blake frowned.
"She knows quite a decent amount of things," Sylvia said. "Now tell me, Blake, was that not worthwhile for you?"
Blake glared at her.
"My, that glare, so saucy," she purred. "Don't bother going off to Misato. She won't tell you a word. The Phantom won't let her. That information is classified. I was only given it as a… reward."
"How much does he know?" Blake demanded. "Richard Valon… that's his name, right?"
Sylvia's smile widened, and she shrugged, shaking her head.
"Now, if you were to… shall we say, cut your ties with the Empress and join the Phantom, I'm sure he would be able to answer all your questions. What do you say, Blake? Tempting offer, right? And as an added bonus, you can do whatever you want with all this."
Sylvia posed on Ayame's bed and ran her hand down her body, as if she was an alluring prize to him.
"I'll pass. On both offers."
"Oh, really?" Sylvia raised her eyebrow. Now that was a genuine surprise. Save for Blake's revelation about her real nature, which showed a stronger amount of perception from him than she'd expected, he'd been acting exactly as she had anticipated. It seems that the Phantom's prediction about him may have a few holes in it. The Blake she'd studied, and the Blake she'd gotten to know that day… he should have taken her deal. Perhaps…
"It seems I don't know you as well as I thought I did," Sylvia mused. "What a pity. Unless… there's something… or someone, maybe? Someone keeping you loyal?"
Blake's expression didn't change. He raised his eyebrow, his only response to her was a stoic look.
"I see… I see…"
"Well then, Blake. Why don't you ask me anything else? I'm an open book, ready to tell you whatever it is you want to know. My measurements? My birthday? I am single, in case you were wondering…"
"What are you planning?" Blake demanded.
"Planning? Me?" Sylvia's eyes widened in mock-innocence, holding her hand over her chest as her mouth fell open. "Whatever do you mean?"
"You realize not a lot of people know about my… history," Blake said. "And now that you do… what are you going to do with it? I'm expecting you'll try and get your enjoyment out of it somehow… and I want to know what you want in exchange for keeping quiet."
"Blake… it seems you really don't know me at all," Sylvia said, shaking her head. "Do you know why I'm so drawn to you? Why I've chased after you so vigorously? Why I just had to know the truth about you? Quite some time ago… the story of the Village of Demons… I immersed myself in it! I drowned in it, relishing in the mystery that not even I can solve! And now, with you… I can finally get a step closer to the truth! What do I want from you, Blake? I want to tear you apart! Break you down to your very base level and learn everything there is to know about you!"
Blake took a few steps back, clearly put off by the passion in her eyes. Was… was that drool?
"If you want me to keep your secret, Blake, I will," Sylvia purred, rising to her feet and stroking his chin. "In exchange… you will tell me everything you remember about that incident. You know far more than anyone else ever could… so tell me! Tell me everything you know! I promise, with my genius I can get to the bottom of it all! It's a win-win, don't you think?"
"…Sorry to break it to you," Blake replied, frowning, "but I don't remember much of anything."
"Liar. That puzzle, you solved my Escape Room so-"
"You did a lot of research to get that far," Blake said. "But that's as much as I know for sure. The truth is, I don't have any memory of what happened. Just wisps of a shadow, flames the color of night. That's all. Honestly."
Sylvia scanned his face in desperation, hoping for something, anything, to tell her that it was a lie, that Blake was hiding something from her. It wasn't possible! She'd come so, so far… and when she thought she'd finally get to the truth…
"What a waste…" Sylvia muttered, hanging her head in frustration. "What a fucking waste."
"Sorry I couldn't be more help," Blake said, not sorry in the slightest. "I can't tell you something I don't know."
"You think I'll give up that easily?" Sylvia growled, raising her eyes to glare at him, grabbing him by the cheek. "Maybe you don't remember… but it's in there, somewhere. You're the closest link I have to what happened… and I need to know! I refuse to accept the existence of a mystery that I cannot solve! I'll make you help me, Blake. You can count on it."
"That's fine, then," Blake said, crossing his arms. "But I have nothing else I can help you with now."
"That's all fine," Sylvia smirked, her smile returning. She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. "For now… how about you just accompany for a little longer then?"
She picked her discarded wig up and put it into her handbag, not bothering to replace her bunny ears now that she was inside the building. Slipping her shoes on, she walked over to Ayame's door and peered back at Blake, smiling.
"Unless, of course, you're fine with me talking about the Village of Demons with anyone who will listen."
Blake swallowed his growl and stormed after her. Sylvia led him back toward the party, a smile spread across her face.
Blake might not know anything. But that won't stop me. I'll learn all there is to know about him, and I'll start with this party. A mystery has to be solved one clue at a time, after all. And Blake's inner nature is the greatest clue of them all. I'll find out the truth. I may take me some time… but I'll find the truth.
It was going to be a while before she learned anything new about the Village of Demons.
But Sylvia was just fine with that.
So what awaits Blake and Sylvia downstairs at the party? What's going on with Maddi? And Cynthia? We'll have to find out!
