Now that Cynthia's fixed things with Sango, there's only one more relationship left to repair. This is a touching chapter. All about deep, meaningful conversations, and discussions where people explain what they want from one another.

…

For better or worse.

Aquahaze675: I think everyone is.

KedharS: Thanks for your character, if I have a place to use him, I'll consider it!

Thunder Fire: You have no idea.

Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings

Chapter 440

Cynthia took a deep breath. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she stood facing the door, remembering what Maddi had told her. She peeked through a crack and watched her sister digging in the dirt.

I don't want to lose my sister. I have to resolve this, she convinced herself. She let air slip through her lips as she sighed, sliding the door open and stepping out onto the deck and into the garden, her heart racing faster as she got closer.

"Hey, Red," she croaked out, not surprised how raw her throat was after all the time she'd spent crying and talking.

Violet flinched, her shovel slipping from her fingers as she froze up. Cynthia stared at her sister from behind. She was shaking, and her shoulders were so slim. She had never seen Violet look this weak and vulnerable before.

She saw Violet reach up and wipe her eyes. Her sister turned around to face her, and Cynthia could see Violet's pretty face, no doubt as red and puffy as her own was. She'd been crying over what had happened, just like Cynthia was. And that made Cynthia want to cry herself.

"Hey, Red…" Violet murmured. She reached up and ran her arm across her eyes, wiping the tears away as she tried to stay looking tough. "About… about what I said earlier… I didn't… I didn't mean to, Cynthia, I just…"

Cynthia shook her head. "Sis… we fight sometimes, I know. And I know that you said what you said because you were mad and wanted to hurt me, too."

"I'm so, so sorry," Violet said. She walked to the edge of the hole in the ground. She had dug it so deep that, for once, she was looking up into Cynthia's eyes.

Cynthia didn't answer her.

"Why… why did you say that?" Cynthia asked her. "We were just fighting like normal, and I know… what you said about me being immature… you aren't wrong, it's just…"

"I'm the immature one," Violet said, shaking her head. "Losing my temper like that and yelling at you, hurting you just because I felt insecure… I called you a child, but I'm the older one. And I was the one who was acting like a child."

Violet lowered her head in shame.

"I talked with Sango," Cynthia said quietly. "She told me about the conversation that the two of you had, where she talked about my feelings for Blake, and how I felt about the fact that he chose Ayame because I was too dense about my feelings to make a move before it was too late…"

Cynthia shook her head, and corrected herself, "I mean, I was too numb about the thought of love to even consider the idea that I could have feelings, after everything that I had gone through, the people I had feelings for growing up, and getting pushed down time, and time again…"

Violet winced. She wasn't blind. She knew just how many of Cynthia's former crushes that she had attracted to herself without even trying, and how much that had probably hurt her little sister's self-esteem growing up.

"Cynthia… I never meant to hurt you… it was all just… all just teasing…"

"But you did," Cynthia coldly rebuked her. "I don't know if you can imagine how hard it was, growing up in your shadow. Seeing you turn into a beautiful woman while I just 'grew up' into a scrawny, awkward twig. And then, to have you rub it in my face all the time… it really hurt me a lot."

"I'm sorry…" Violet had said that a lot in the last few minutes, because she didn't know what else she was supposed to say. What could she say? Nothing that Cynthia condemned her for was incorrect. She hadn't been the best older sister. Not even close.

"Do you remember my sixth birthday?" Cynthia asked. "We had just moved to our new house over Christmas, and I hadn't made any friends in school yet because it was only January and I was still shy. Mom and dad promised that they would celebrate it with me, but then they had to go off to work because of an emergency."

"I remember," Violet said.

"I cried and cried that day, I must have thrown a downright awful tantrum. It was my party, and I had put on my special dress and everything, but no one was there." Cynthia wiped the tears from her eyes, a shaky smile spreading across her face. "No one but you. Do you remember?"

"We went to the park," Violet nodded, smiling a little. "I pushed you on the swings. As high as you wanted. We spent the whole day there, until it was dark out. I wore you out until you were completely exhausted and fell asleep, and then I carried you back home."

"That was the best birthday party ever," Cynthia said quietly, her face lighting up. "You made that day special, so I wouldn't even notice that there wasn't anyone there. I couldn't count on mom and dad to be there, but you were always someone I could count on."

Violet knew what was coming next, a cloud passing across her face.

"I thought you were always going to be with me, Violet. You were my whole world," Cynthia murmured. "But then you grew up, really grew up, and just like mom and dad, you didn't have any time for me. Even worse, because mom and dad made time for you, and I was just off on the sidelines, trying to do whatever I could to get you to notice me. So that we could go back to the way we were before, back to that special day."

"I'm sorry," Violet whispered, but it was a different kind of "sorry" than she had given before. "I had my own life to live. I couldn't keep spending all my time with my little sister. I had friends, girlfriends, pokemon to care for. We couldn't go back to how we were, Cynthia. I'm sorry that hurt you, and I should have made some time for you, sometimes. But… I was just a kid, too. I'm sorry."

Cynthia smiled a little, and shook her head.

"No, no, it's fine. Because I know, okay?" Cynthia's eyes were teary, but the bright smile on her face overshadowed them completely. "I knew that even though you couldn't spend time with me, you never stopped loving me!"

A choked sob escaped Violet's throat and she nodded.

"I wanted to be just like you, you know? You were the person I idolized, even when I hated you at the same time. You were like the Itachi to my Sasuke, Red."

Violet stared blankly at her sister. Cynthia sighed, and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Never mind." Cynthia continued, "I know that you speaking on my behalf with the Commander was you trying to show you loved me and look out for me. And I know that your talk with Sango was because you were concerned, since I'm always a bit, well…"

Cynthia lowered her head and mumbled, "I'm not that good at making friends. I mean… I am good at making friends, but I'm not good at making good friends. Being happy and excited and open is one thing, but… I understand why you were so concerned."

Cynthia smiled shyly at her sister.

"It was wrong of you to yell at me like that, but I said some bad things, too. And you're right. I am immature, and I DO need to grow up. But… I like being your little kid sister. I'm not going to try and catch up to you. I'm going to go at my own pace, and become better than you in my own ways. So until then, is it okay if I keep being your little sister for a little longer?" Cynthia asked hopefully.

"You're not… you're not mad at me for what I said?" Violet asked. "Even though it was so cruel to say those things?"

Cynthia shook her head and beamed at her sister.

"Oh, I'm mad. And you're definitely going to pay one of these days," she laughed. "But you and I are sisters, Red, and that's what's most important."

"Yeah," Violet nodded, beaming up at her little sister. "That's what I've always wanted from you, too, Red."

"Imagine, me talking down to you like this?" Cynthia laughed. "It's a lot of fun being the big sister for a change."

"We'll see about that," Violet said, smiling smugly. She stepped up out of the hole dug in the ground and stood up, looking down at Cynthia, her face shining with triumph as Cynthia scowled up at her. "Back to being the little sister." Violet reached out and patted Cynthia on the head to emphasize her mocking words.

Cynthia fumed up at her.

"No fair! Stupid Violet!" She pouted, swatting at her sister as Violet laughed at her.

That night, dinner was the best Cynthia had had for a long time. Maddi had taken some private time, and Cynthia didn't blame her, things were difficult for her. But Sango and Violet were eating with her, and so was cute little Kagome and her mother! So while Grandpa Roland and Grandma Rose brought meals to the guests who were staying in their rooms, Cynthia prepared a special meal for her sister and her friends. The best she could cook! Violet never really tried her food before, and she was excited to see what her sister thought of it.

"This is great!" Sango gasped, putting down her fork as she savored the casserole Cynthia had prepared. "Man, if only Marion was here, she would be blown away!"

"Is it good, Kagome?" Kagome's mother asked, turning to the little white-haired girl. Kagome nodded eagerly, taking as many bites as she could, as fast as she could. The little cutie had absolutely zero concern for table manners, and Cynthia found it to be absolutely adorable.

"It'sh dewicioush!" Kagome spurted out through bites, her little cheeks puffed up with food. "Shank yu Shynthia!"

"You're very welcome," Cynthia cooed, wiggling in her seat as she fed some of the casserole to Aud. She was happy for so many reasons. Not only was she getting to talk to Kagome more, and she had made up with Sango, and Maddi was opening up to her, but Aud had been out of her case for hours and was still doing fine. Her little girl was growing up so fast!

But best of all was the look on Violet's face, when she tried Cynthia's Seafood Casserole and took her very first bite.

"…Amazing," Violet had gasped, and Cynthia had felt like her body was lighter than air. Violet had complimented her. She liked Cynthia's cooking. That right there was enough for Cynthia to put all the unpleasantness of the day out of her mind.

"Hey, Violet," Cynthia said, catching her sister's attention.

"Yeah? What's up, Red?" Violet asked, glancing up from her casserole.

"Tomorrow, um… I'm willing to help you dig that pond for Marion," Cynthia replied. She fidgeted in her seat, blushing.

Sango and Violet both stared at her, surprised that Cynthia would volunteer to do work.

"Y-You know, if you want," Cynthia added, squirming a little. "Just the two of us, you know? Working together, as sisters?"

Violet smiled, and nodded.

"Yeah," she agreed. "I'd like that."

"Ooh! And, and, you promised to take a bath with me, too!" Kagome perked up, reminding Cynthia. "Let's do that tonight, okay? Can we? Can we, mom? Can we? I want to show Cynthia how cool the baths are!"

"I think she knows, sweetheart," Suzune laughed.

"I would love for you to show me the baths, Kagome," Cynthia grinned, Kagome's expression lighting up with joy.

"Yeah!" Kagome cheered.

"I wouldn't mind coming along either," Violet suggested, glancing at Cynthia with a coy smile. "Unless you're going to feel insecure seeing my body, and you wouldn't want me to?"

Cynthia shot her sister a dirty look in response. But her face softened and she smiled, shrugging her shoulders.

"Sure, come along if you want."

She was in too good of a mood. After talking with Violet, she felt like she and her sister were on good terms for the first time in so long. Today had been a good day, somehow.

While Cynthia was enjoying herself, across the inn, two guests were focused on something else entirely. Flora and Gwen were working out a plan of action.

"Gwen. I'll be the one to talk, okay?" Flora asked. "You don't say anything unless I ask you to say something, okay?"

"Understood," Gwen nodded.

"That's good," Flora said, sighing in relief. She felt bad for Gwen. It was always so difficult for the other blonde to talk with people. She wished that there was some way that she could help her, but she didn't have any idea how she could. So she just tried to be really nice and considerate of her, and hoped that would be enough.

Flora and Gwen walked down the hall to the single rooms. Gwen followed obediently behind Flora, who watched cautiously to make sure they wouldn't be discovered. As far as she knew, no one had any idea what they were there for. But if something went wrong, she didn't want to involve outsiders in the situation.

She stopped in front of the door of one of the singles, and knocked on it.

"Who is it?" A thick accented voice called out from inside.

"Professor, this is Flora," Flora said. She knew that he might not open the door if she told him. But she didn't have it in her to trick the old man. She was trying to handle this diplomatically. If Rey- err, Preya, were here, he would have just forced the door down. But she wanted to have a conversation with him, and that would be a bad place to start.

"…So you've come," the professor's voice was low and resigned, as if he had been expecting them. Flora sighed.

"Can you let us in?" Flora asked. "We just want to talk."

There was a shuffling sound behind the door, like footsteps.

"Is he here?"

"No, professor. It's just me and a friend of mine."

A long sigh came, and the door slid open. Standing in front of the girls was Professor Johanes Decker, his face aged with wrinkles and his brow furrowed with exhaustion. He turned from the girls and trudged into the room. Flora took the implicit offer to enter. Gwen remained standing in the hallway, until Flora told her to come inside. Flora closed the door behind her, and then turned back to the professor who was sitting in a thick chair in silence, staring out onto the veranda of his room.

"He's not here, but he sent you here, didn't he?" Decker mused, stroking his chin. His eyes were glassy and his body was sunken, like he wasn't even paying attention.

"Yes, professor," Flora admitted. "He wants your help. Your work on pokemon genetics is-"

"You tell Gleiss, or whatever that fool calls himself now, that I am not interested," Decker scowled. "I looked over his proposal already. And Adam was…"

"So it isn't just a legend," Flora said. "Adam was real?"

"Adam was a fool's dream," Decker said, waving his hand. "I have taken what I learned from that mistake, and moved on. And what Gleiss proposes… impossible. Even if I was interested, I would have nothing to say on the topic."

"But professor, you're the leading source in pokemon form changes!" Flora insisted. "If there's anyone who knows how valuable this proposal is-"

A derisive snort interrupted Flora's pleas.

"Any proposal can be valuable if one discounts the notion of possibility," Decker said, his tone cold and mocking. "And what he said? It's a fairy tale. Pokemon changing forms and growing more powerful, just off touching a single stone? Altering them at the genetic level?"

"Then what do you call evolutionary stones?" Flora pressed him.

"Doctor Whitmore's research on Eevee?" Decker glanced at her sharply, and shook his head. "Not even close to comparable, feh! An Eevee does not turn back into an Eevee the way you propose."

"What about pokemon like Castform, then?" Flora asked. "Or Ditto, that can turn into any pokemon and then back? I don't know much about science or genes myself, but if even someone like me can suggest it's possible! Isn't science about challenging things we think are impossible?"

"Only if one uses scientific theory," Decker insisted. "That paper of his? No! He had a dream, and is trying to find the science to assert the possibility, with nothing to suggest that it is! That isn't science, it's pseudo-science. Oh, yes, I can see the allure, believe me. Stones that alter pokemon at the genetic level for combat, boosting their power and abilities, and then reverse the mutations later on, all based on some carvings on walls? This 'Mega Evolution' you propose, it flies in the face of everything I we as scientists believe in."

He rose from his chair and turned to the two girls, his face flushed with frustration.

"And worst of all… to use it as a weapon to harm others, to assert supremacy in battle, no. I saw that all too much."

Flora frowned. She held her hand over her breast, her amber eyes shining with resolution.

"I can't speak for anyone else, professor, but I know that what I want? I want to create peace in our world. So that my friends and I can live in peace, and not have to worry about hatred and scorn from people who think we're different," Flora declared.

"…I have nothing but pity for you children," Decker said, shaking his head. "But what you suggest won't bring peace. Once upon a time, I dreamed of creating the ultimate pokemon. I experimented with genes without a care in the world, with no thought for the 'why'. And lo and behold, Adam was flawed. He went wild, causing nothing but destruction."

Decker sighed mournfully.

"To create an ultimate pokemon, love is essential. Not power. That man understood nothing from my mistakes. To think he would expect me to lend him my wisdom, to a project like this, when I know what he seeks to do with it?"

Decker stroked his chin and approached Flora.

"Have you come to take me back with you? Back to him? If so, I do not think myself capable of resisting. Against you, with those powers of yours? And me, without a single pokemon to call my own? No, not at all. Take me if you like." His tone held no resignation, though. It was strong, the voice of a man who had in no way given up on his aspirations or convictions. "But I promise you, I will play no part in Gleiss's experiments."

"You misunderstand, professor," Flora said, shaking her head. She gave a sad smile. "I'm not here to force you to do anything. I just came here to ask you to consider lending your genius to the project. If you won't then that's the end of it. We'll part our ways here."

The professor seemed surprised by this. He had been expecting them to come to take him prisoner. If it had been Gleiss himself, he had no doubt that the man would absolutely have abducted him without a second thought. But this girl, this child with harmonia, it seemed she was of a kinder sort than the others in her organization.

"…Well, I see. Thank you for your kindness, dear girl," Decker nodded.

"I'm sorry we couldn't see eye to eye," Flora smiled. "Come, Gwen, we're leaving."

She gestured for Gwen to follow her to the door.

"One more thing," Decker croaked out, Flora pausing in the hall to glance back him.

"Yes?" She asked.

"Tell Gleiss… tell him that he has no hope of achieving his goal, not with that heart of his. Even if his proposal for Mega Evolution… no, even if his other experiments bear fruit… someone who sees his experiments as mere tools will not be able to develop the ultimate pokemon."

Flora said nothing, and the two girls continued down the hall.

After they left, Decker added under his breath, "that is a privilege that is reserved only for me."

So it seems there's a new player in the game. You probably have a lot of questions. Well, good. When we get back to school, that will be the arc to answer them, just you wait.