Category: Pokémon

Rating: M

Couples: ?/OC

Warnings: AU, hint of rape/character death

Chapter: 14

Copyright: Characters & places © By Game Freak, Plot © by me

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The Champions met the delegation of the church shortly after their arrival, as Fantina was showing them the League-building. There Diantha, Steven and Cynthia were discussing their plot to put pressure on the other Champions to speed up proceedings. At the same time, rumours were building that the old League-official was planning on getting Fantina considered a biased account, considering she was a formerly Kalosian-born League-member. Short of being actual family, it wasn't a stretch – according to him – that Fantina was doing this merely out of fan-worship to the famous actress Diantha.

Between her reading this tidbit on the League-newspage and encountering her Champion, the Hearthome Gymleader was perhaps not the best in giving a tour, but her guests seemed not to care too much. In the end, the Church didn't have that much overlap with the Pokémon League.

"I used to want to become an actress too." Mother Palkia leaned forward lightly to reach for the tea she had been offered by the Kalosian Champion. "But then I found my calling elsewhere."

"I think many do." Diantha mused, sitting back. "Still, it's quite a change to go from actress to… priestess? I am sorry, I am not that good with Church-termonology."

"I suppose it is another good reason to come over here." The older woman chuckled lightly. "The proper terminology is 'mother' and 'sister'. After all, our ideal is a version of spiritual enlightenment, so we consider one another family instead. Having a title would make that rather hard." Her grass-green eyes narrowed as she smiled. "Which is why Fantina only gets called Cousin."

"That, and you are best friends with my cousin." The Gymleader muttered, rolling her eyes.

"Cousins." The other woman corrected her. "How are they, by the by?"

"Like the rest of my family; very angry and annoyed at this mess."

"Errrr..." Steven couldn't help but feel that perhaps if you wanted people to settle somewhere, you shouldn't so callously point out the near-political drama of that place.

"Indeed." Mother Palkia smiled sadly. "So is the Church, so I can understand."

"Why?" Cynthia could understand being upset at the entire thing, particularly considering the list of crimes, but the other woman made it sound like it was a touch more personal than that.

"Because one of our own was a victim." The woman next to Fantina gave them a look that carried far more weight than they expected. "Did you really think it was mere chance we came just as this was happening? It is a cover to excuse her presence here… and moral support, I suppose." She leaned back In her seat, looking over into the garden where the rest of her delegation was enjoying the flowers. Several of them had called out their companion-Pokémon. "So expect us in the room once it is opened to the public."

"Duly noted." Diantha resisted the urge to ask who it was, considering she doubted they would tell her just like that. She also noted that Fantina had grown far tenser once the other woman had dropped that tidbit of information. Likely, the purple-haired woman feared that one of them would ask.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Allortan glowered at his phone when receiving the message that all those people he had asked to come, had now officially arrived in Lumiose. Opposite him, Olympia was leaning against the wall of his office, her female Meowstic on her shoulder. The Anistar Gymleader had come over for dinner when the messages started arriving.

"Well, this mess is now well underway." He looked up at her, looking almost drained. "I suspect things will speed up now."

"I can come back another time?" She was scratching her Pokémon under its' chin, starting to head over to the other Psychic-type that had claimed a glass bowl from a collection of arsty balls, which were spread out over the nearby table. "I imagine you will be busy now."

"All the more reason I need the break of a peaceful dinner." He rose from his seat, stopping her from continuing. "Besides, I'd rather not all the prepared food to go to waste."

"You are aware I am not Wulfric, right?" The purple-haired female placed her other Pokémon in the bowl as well, allowing them to cuddle together. "Well, let's see what you created then. You're paying for the take-out though."

"Rude, dearest one." He petted the two Pokémon one last time before leading her outside.