Chapter Seventeen - Ella
Driftveil's steel-plated drawbridge extended across the ravine with regal grace, stretching towards the horizon and nearly out of sight. A thin layer of snow had settled against the metal, and the sparkling crystals remained mostly untouched, despite the usually heavy traffic on the bridge. Driftviel's bridge length was nothing compared to Castelia's legendary Skyarrow Bridge, but to Rosa's untrained eyes, she saw a structure that strained into eternity.
Beside her, Anna hopped up onto the side. She clung onto one of the thick supporting ropes, and using only one paw, the Lucario suspended herself over the edge to stare ardently into the ocean landscape below.
Rosa's heart leapt painfully at the sight. It was slick from the snow, and the water below was probably frigid. The last thing she wanted was for her Lucario to get hypothermia, but she forced the panic down and allowed her Pokémon her peace. The likelihood of Anna falling was slim, and if she constantly helicoptered her team's actions, they would only grow more rebellious.
Punks.
She could hide nothing from Anna's ability to read aura, however. Tasting her fear, the jackal flashed her trainer a wide grin before smoothly descending back to the safety of the bridge's solid ground. Warmth flooded Rosa's frozen fingers as Anna reached out to take her hand, and together, the two of them began to walk to distance to Driftveil on the other side.
They'd only traveled a few minutes, however, when two figures appeared in the distance. The size and shape of them indicated people, but as they drew closer, Rosa's insides turned to ice.
Both were garbed in costumes, but while one was dressed as a knight in colors of silvered-blue, the other was donned in the unmistakable uniform of Team Plasma.
What were they doing here? She hadn't seen any Plasma members since her trip to Castelia, but if they were stirring up trouble in Driftveil, she surely would have heard about it. Hugh had likely already passed through town and collected his gym badge – had he missed them? He would have called her if he'd gotten tangled up with them. Probably.
The two appeared to be in deep conversation, or more accurately, arguing heatedly. One was in the other's face, leaning in like an enraged dog ready to snap the other's ear off, while their victim turned their back and pointedly disregarded them. Their harsh voices echoed across the concrete, though Rosa couldn't understand what they were saying.
Well, if they were dumb enough to walk around in broad daylight, then she was going to take advantage. Even if the one was just a grunt, surely they would know where their main base was located. Letting go of Anna's paw, Rosa exchanged looks with her Lucario before the two of them started forward again, more slowly this time.
As they approached, the conversation became more clear.
"I just don't understand you!" The Plasma member shouted, jabbing his finger in the knight's face. "You never had a problem with our actions before! We stole plenty of Pokémon together, and I can guarantee society won't accept you just because you've gone soft. Team Plasma is the only place you'll ever belong, and you know it!"
The other shook their head, and as they did so, their knight hood flew off to reveal a waterfall of curly, ginger-hued hair. It glowed brightly against the woman's pale skin.
"It doesn't matter what people think," She declared boldly. "I only care what Lord N thinks, and he would be saddened by my leaving him. Stealing is wrong, Archer. I refuse to take part."
"N is a joke." Archer laughed spitefully. A glob of saliva flew from his mouth and scattered across the woman's cheek, and Rosa's teeth clenched tightly. "Nothing but a puppet-turned-traitor. We're setting in motion events that will allow us to take over the world, and you're worried about pleasing an ignorant child? Don't be pathetic, Ella."
Ella bristled, and as she did, her skin flushed from her cheeks clear to her roots. "N is a good man. He would never betray anyone-"
"Then where was he when Team Plasma was falling apart?" The man demanded, grabbing Ella's delicate shoulders in his big hands and shaking her roughly. "When our leader fell apart, and we needed our king most? Gone! Off with that revolting champion, undoing all our hard work! Yet you continue serving that trash? It's shameful, and the fact that I ever called you family is disgusting-"
"Touch her again, and I'll throw you over the bridge."
Archer's grip fell away as he turned his head and caught sight of Rosa's blazing eyes. Her hands were closed into fists, daring him to repeat his actions, to again shake the woman and make her teeth rattle. Nostrils flaring, she signaled to Anna with a nod of her head, and the Lucario wasted no time in flinging a raging ball of aura in the man's direction.
The blue sphere hit Archer squarely in the chest. With crushing speed, he went hurtling backwards, and when his body hit the concrete, he groaned and crumbled into the snow like a sack of potatoes.
Rosa marched up to his broken frame and snatched the front of his shirt. She could see in her mind his blue lips and blanched face in a sea of artic waters, and it felt good. It didn't even matter that he might have information, she wanted him gone.
His silky uniform stretched under her fist as she yanked him harshly upward, and he twisted away as she snarled, "You're the one who's disgusting. I can forgive being part of such a ghastly organization, but you have no honor. The next time you touch a woman like that, you will regret it. Now get out of here. You're a disgrace."
Making a panicked noise through his noise, the man scooted away from her before he stumbled to his feet and scurried off. Rosa's nails bit crescent moons into her palms as she watched him go, but the ribbon of pain that looped across her skin was nothing compared to the volcano in her veins.
"Thank you."
The soft voice behind her snapped Rosa back to her senses. Turning her head, her eyes met those of a vivid, cool blue. From her place against the ropes, Ella smiled gently, and her entire face lit with warm gratitude.
"You didn't need to save me, though. My brother is an idiot, but he would never intentionally cause harm. He's just upset that I refused to rejoin Team Plasma's cause, and he has a problem keeping his temper in check. Archer didn't mean those cruel things he said."
Rosa crossed her arms. "There's no excuse for manhandling someone."
"Be that as it may, I still forgive him. I cannot turn my back on the only family I have."
Running a frustrated hand through her hair, Rosa let out a long breath and did her best to subdue the angry fire licking her insides. She had no siblings of her own, but Hugh was enough of a pain that she understood the desire to forgive and forget. That was Ella's business, not hers.
Even if Archer did deserve a long, cold dip in the post winter ocean.
"You were a Plasma member two years ago?" Rosa asked to distract herself.
Ella nodded. "My parents perished in a house fire, and my brother and I had nowhere else to go. We lived under the protection Team Plasma gave us, but after they fell apart, Lord N split off into his own group to try and correct the mistakes of the past. I only ever wanted to rescue Pokémon anyway, and I've always been fond of Natural. When he asked me to come with him, I couldn't turn away.
"But Archer stayed behind to serve Ghetsis. He's always hated being at the bottom, and the promise of being able to rule the world was just too tempting for him to resist. We all have our weaknesses."
So Team Plasma really was looking to take over the world. What kind of foolish, ridiculous plan was that? Was such a thing even possible? The regions were huge, and each contained a countless number of powerful Pokémon and trainers. Either this Ghetsis was a complete idiot, or he had something nasty up his sleeve.
Or both.
Ella interrupted Rosa's thoughts with another smile. "Well, I can't just let you go without a proper thank you. Would you mind returning home with me? If its information you seek, then I have a friend who may be able to help you."
Driftveil was a breezy old town that smelled strongly of sea salt and fish. Most of the snow had been cleared from the stone walkways, but there was still a layer of slush in the shade of buildings that squished every time someone stepped through it. On the southern side was a seaport, complete with a docking area for boats, but what drew Rosa's attention was the colosseum-like building surrounded by fair booths. It towered over any other structure in the town, and from what she could see, it pulled the most attention. Trainers and tourists of all kinds flocked around it, from even from their place near the Pokémon center, she could hear their excited chatter.
Shivering slightly, Rosa glanced over at Ella to ask, "What is that building over there?"
The ex-plasma member's eyes twinkled, and she brushed a lock of curled hair behind her ear. "That's the Pokémon World Tournament. It draws travelers from across the region, and on occasion, even Unova's gym leaders like to clash there. I've been wanting to participate myself for quite some time, but I'm afraid I lack the strength to hold my own against such power. This way, Miss Rosa. My home is just up the hill."
Ella's "home" turned out to be a small colonial house just outside of town. There were snowflakes drifting from the sky by the time they ascended the grassy hillside, but only Rosa seemed to be bothered by the cold. Her breath turned to vapor in front of her, and the icy crystals stung her skin. With purple-tinted lips and gently chattering teeth, she and Ella reached the hardened oak door and knocked gently.
There was some banging around from inside the building, followed by a gruff, "Ella, I keep telling you, you live here! There's no need to knock. Why are you always so overpolite, eh?"
Rosa had to step back to prevent being smacked in the face by the door as it was thrown open. From it, an older gentleman with silver-tinted hair emerged. The robes he wore around his rounded frame were old-fashioned, like a monk outfit he'd spruced up with golden thread and a jeweled neckline. His old, beady eyes were tight with feigned irritation, but as soon as they fell over Rosa, he blinked and they relaxed into warm, chocolate pools.
His wrinkled lips formed into a smile.
"Well, what do we have here? Are you a friend of Ella's?" The man leaned in to examine her more closely, and Anna, who was standing behind her trainer with a critical expression on her face, hummed in warning. The noise drew the gentleman's attention, and he glanced around Rosa to get a look at her Lucario.
"So you've brought along two friends, hmm? Good sakes, I didn't even have time to clean the house."
Ella's large eyes fell towards the ground repentantly, but they were still bright. "I met them on the Driftveil bridge today, Rood. This is Rosa, and her Lucario, Anna. They chased away Archer for me, and she wants to know more about Team Plasma."
Surprise crossed Rood's face, and then his toothy smile stretched across his face to reach his ears. "Ah, so you took care of my little Ella, did you? Well, any friend of hers is a friend of mine. But if you want information on Team Plasma, then you're going to have to prove to me that you deserve to know. What do you say to a one on one battle with me, dear Rosa?"
"Rood, you shouldn't-" Ella tried to protest.
"I accept."
The battlefield turned out to be Rood's backyard, but he wasn't messing around when he said he wanted her to deserve the information. His Pokémon was a Swoobat, and although Rosa would never admit to finding a bat challenging, the old man proved he had as much spark as anyone fifty years his junior.
It didn't help that she'd selected Anna to take him on when the Lucario wasn't powerful against either physic or flying type moves. Maybe she craved a challenge.
Or she was tired from getting so little sleep last night.
Anna was worn out. Her pelt was soggy from being tossed around in the snow, there were spots of red doting her body from Swoobat's razor-edged wings, and Rosa was almost certain she'd sprained her ankle. She wasn't favoring her leg too badly, but she was missing her usual speed and grace, and it was affecting their battle. Badly.
Swoobat's great velvet wings expanded like curtains, and then it was careering towards Anna with deadly speed. Rosa's breath caught as gust whipped around its puffy body, but Anna swiveled on her broad feet and caught the bat's wings with her front paws. Her Lucario grimaced as the impact pushed her back and cut her hands, but the jackal didn't let go.
"Toss it down, Anna."
The bat grunted as it was hurled into the slush, but Rood didn't look concerned. In fact, there was a broad smile etched across the old man's face. His wrinkled brows were pulled up in excitement, and Rosa had to look away to maintain her composure.
Some ways off, Ella clapped enthusiastically and rolled up and down on her toes like an eager child. Honestly, Rosa couldn't tell who the girl was rooting for; she just looked happy to be there.
Anna hummed and stomped Swoobat's stomach with her good foot to pin it to the ground. A mass of churning shadows pooled in her palms, glowing brighter with every weave of her hand, and despite her opponent's desperate struggle to escape her, Swoobat was effectively stuck.
It was Rosa's turn to grin. Time to show what a TM could do. "Shadow ball, Anna!"
"Counter with psyshock!"
The dark sphere blasted downwards at the same time psychic energy erupted from Swoobat's heart-shaped nose.
There was a blinding flash, like lightning, followed by an ear-shattering blast that echoed through the mountains and shook the trees. Rosa lost her footing and slipped onto her butt in the snow, but her eyes never left the rising ball of blackened flame that baked the cool air. It spread a miniature mushroom cloud across the makeshift field, scorching the tender grass to black confetti, and across the arena, she could hear Rood whooping joyously.
From the white cloud rose enormous wings on a narrowed body. Swoobat chattered as it rose higher into the blue-tinted sky, but its cry of victory sent Rosa's heart into an unsteady rhythm.
Her eyes swept frantically over the field. She took in the charred grass, the muddy puddles of melted snow, the fading smoke tangled in the branches of trees, and finally, the body lying in a heap across the scorched earth.
"Anna!"
Rosa stumbled to her feet and ran the distance to her fallen partner. There was a layer of grime coating her pelt from the explosion, and her crimson eyes were shut. Anna didn't stir as her trainer fell to her knees and gathered the fainted Pokémon into her arms, and remained still when Rood crossed the field to join them.
Cuddling the Lucario gently, Rosa dug through her traveling bag with one hand in a frantic search for a revive. She hated how motionlessness Anna felt in her arms. It had been ages since they'd lost a battle together, and although Rosa knew the damage was nothing severe, it still hurt to see her friend injured.
"Is she okay?" came a whisper across the field. Ella's long hair tumbled behind her as her shoes dusted the grass, and when she stopped behind Rosa's shoulder, she stooped down to smooth the ruffled fur near Anna's ear. "That was a big explosion."
"Anna will be fine." Rosa assured her. Her fingers brushed the smooth plastic surface of a revive, and with more vigor than necessary, she ripped the medicine from its pocket and tore away the seal.
There was far too much delight in Rood's wrinkled face as he watched Rosa spray a storm of chemicals, surely far more than was needed, over Anna's face and chest. He hummed blissfully, but when it became clear she wasn't going to give him attention, he just spoke as she worked.
"That was a wonderful battle." His eyes twinkled when Lucario's chest heaved and her sharp eyes flashed open. "I haven't had a real challenge in years – it was such fun!"
"Glad you enjoyed it." Rosa replied gruffly, hugging her awakened Pokémon close to her chest. She was fine with losing, wasn't she? Nobody could win all the time.
"Mm-hmm, it was perfectly lovely! Oh, but now you must come inside darling! We'll will fix you up with some tea."
Rosa's eyebrows creased. "But I lost."
"So?"
Anna buried her head in Rosa's collarbone, looking groggy and disoriented, and Rosa nodded. "Tea would be wonderful."
Hey everyone! Another update for you all this week, just like I promised. I don't know who's finishing up with school within the next couple weeks, but if any of you are graduating from some type of high school or university in the next little while - congratulations! You guys are all fantastic. Have a fabulous week guys, and I'll see you next Friday!