Chapter 28: An Obvious Surprise

-Present Day-

"Hey, Lucia?" Anastasia turned to Lucia as the two girls walked out of the Mauville city Pokécenter for the second time together.

"Yeah, what's up?" Lucia asked.

"You just won against Wattson and all, so I thought a celebration was in order!"

"Celebrate? Why would we celebrate?"

"Lemme finish! Celebrate as in…Lemme give you a makeover!"

"Wha-" Lucia's mouth opened as Anastasia stepped ahead, placing a finger under her lip and staring at Lucia as though she were examining her. Lucia shook her head quickly.

"That- That isn't a celebration! That's a suggestion on what to do next!"

"Aw c'mon! I always thought you were absolutely gorgeous like a gem, so I just wanted to help you shine bright!" Lucia blushed a bit as Anastasia made an L shape with both fingers and brought the tips of her thumbs together. In the white-haired girl's perspective, it was as though she were putting Lucia on a picture frame, except the frame were her fingers.

"Wh-What?" Lucia said.

"Hmmm…Let me think.. Your matching scarf and skirt look pretty good together- really compliments your outfit.."

"...U-Um, Thank you," Lucia said.

"You're really nailing that glasses-girl look. And the ponytail just compliments it so well! You have that nerdy look. I mean that in a good way."

"Oh, uh.." Lucia's eyes darted back and forth as she adjusted her glasses a bit. "...Okay.."

" …OH!" Anastasia spoke up quickly, and it startled the young girl. "I got the perfect thing that'll make you look even better! Can I please add something to your hair!? Please?! Pretty please!?" Anastasia was literally jumping up and down and clapping her hands like a giddy child. So of course Lucia wasn't going to say no.

"Sure, okay." Lucia said.

"YAY!" Anastasia cried.

"But I don't want you cutting my hair… or changing my ponytail. I like my ponytail."

"Of course I won't mess up your ponytail! Ever heard of the term, 'don't mess with the Mona Lisa'?"

"Wha- No?"

"It's a saying that means, 'I won't change what's already perfect!'!" Anastasia said with a wink. Lucia turned her head a bit to hide her blushing face.

"Y-You.. I bet you only said that because you're trying to get a reaction from me.." Lucia said.

"Nah- here's the thing. I don't tell lies to get reactions out of you. I just tell the truth and you just happen to react to it."

Lucia's heart skipped a beat.

"Dang it… she's good…" Lucia mumbled under her breath. Suddenly, Anastasia grabbed Lucia by the arm and pulled her over.

"C'mon, let's go to that tree over there! C'mon!" Anastasia pulled her aside, and kept pulling her until the two reached a tree that was still in the city grounds. "C'mon, sit!" Anastasia spun Lucia around before sitting her down so the purple-haired girl's back was facing her. Anastasia then went into her backpack to pull out a blue decorated briefcase that was filled with all sorts of accessories.

"I'm so happy I bought these during the week…" Anastasia said as she picked through her briefcase.

Lucia blinked as she stared blankly at the city inhabitants just walking around them. She turned her head around a bit.

"Uh- you won't do anything to my hair, right?" Lucia asked.

"Yeah- I told you! I won't mess with the Mona lisa!" Anastasia said. Lucia sighed.

"Okay, I trust you," She said. Lucia then pulled in her pocket and checked her phone.

If she was going to wait for Anastasia, she was going to go on her phone while waiting. Maybe she could check on Beatrice. Lucia dialed her rival-turned-best-friend's number onto her Poképhone as she felt Anastasia undoing her ponytail.

"H-Hey!" Lucia said.

"I told you! Don't worry! Trust me!" Anastasia said. In a matter of seconds, Lucia's hair was let down. "Hold on," Anastasia said. "really quickly, turn around?" Lucia turned around, and Anastasia's eyes widened in shock.

"Wh-what?" Lucia said. "What is it?"

"You- look. AMAZING!" Anastasia cried. "Can I MARRY YOU!?"

"WH-WHA-!" Lucia's entire face went red. "S-Stop it! Ugh!" She turned her head back around. "S-Stop messing with me and d-do the hair thing…"

"I swear you're a lethal weapon created to cause heart attacks, because my heart's racing!" Anastasia cried.

"You're just saying that to-"

"No, I'm serious!" Anastasia said. "Here, gimme your hand," Lucia turned around and gave Anastasia her hand, and she placed it on her chest.

Anastasia wasn't lying. It was beating fast. Lucia's face grew redder.

"It's because you're so jaw-droppingly gorgeous." Anastasia said, looking into her eyes. "I can't stop looking at you."

"I-I..!" Lucia's arm began to shake.

"Can I hug you?" Anastasia asked. Lucia's eyes widened.

"N-NO!" Lucia cried.

"Why not!?"

"B-Because my heart wouldn't be able to take it.."Lucia turned her body around. "-Just- Just do whatever it was you wanted to do already! Jeez-"

"Aww… You're so cute." Anastasia went ahead and hugged her from behind.

"EEP-!" Lucia felt a jolt run through her entire body as she froze.

"You smell nice." Anastasia said, rubbing her cheek on Lucia's back.

"L-Let-...Y-You- You can let go… now.." Lucia said. "S-Seriously-...you're… my heart's beating… too fast…"

"Okay, fine." Anastasia said, pulling away.. "BACK to the make over!"

Lucia sighed a big sigh of relief. She then checked her Poképhone and noticed Beatrice's number was still there. Anastasia went back into her accessory briefcase and hummed a tune to herself as Lucia pressed the 'call' button. She placed the phone on her ear as Anastasia started fiddling with Lucia's hair all over again.

Ring…

Ring…

Ring…

No answer.

Lucia stared at her phone for a moment before dialing Beatrice's number again.

Ring…

Ring…

No answer.

Lucia furrowed her brow.

"I wonder why she isn't answering…" Lucia said as she pocketed her phone again.

"Done!" Anastasia said. "Turn around!" Lucia made a confused look.

"Wha-?" Lucia said. "Alread-"

"C'mon! C'mon! Turn around!" Lucia sighed and turned around to see Anastasia holding a mirror.

Lucia's ponytail remained intact- but now was tied together by a large yellow ribbon tied into a bow! It matched perfectly with her scarf and skirt.

"O-Oh.." Lucia said. "I- I look.."

"STUNNING!" Anastasia finished. "Hey-Hey- really quickly- Can you pull your scarf over your lips? Really quickly! I see it all the time in shows when girls with scarves get embarrassed! It's so CUTE when they do that! Please?! Please!?"

"I-... Ugh.."

Of course Lucia wasn't going to say no. Anastasia was becoming her weakness at an alarming rate.

"Sure.." Lucia said. She slowly pulled her scarf over her lips, and actually looked embarrassed, much to Anastasia's enjoyment. She squealed and jumped up and down and clapped her hands.

"Oh my GOD I'm going to DIIIIIIIIIE! You're gonna KILL ME WITH CUTENESS!" Anastasia cried.

Lucia grumbled as her face became more red.

Suddenly, Lucia's phone began to ring. Both girls moved their attention to Lucia's phone as she pulled it out of her pocket once again. The caller ID said , 'Beatrice, the whiny rich dolt'. Anastasia saw it.

"Nice caller ID," Anastasia said. Lucia chuckled a bit. She put the phone on speaker.

"Hey," Lucia said. "You're on speaker! Anastasia's here with me and can hear you!"

"Hiiii!" Anastasia cried.

"What's u-"

"L…Lucia- This is...an emergency!" Beatrice cried.

Lucia's eyes widened as she paused. It took a moment for the young girl to take in what Beatrice had just said.

"Wait- Wh-What?!" Lucia said. "What- What do you mean?!"

"Teacher- I mean, Quinton, he- He… He betrayed us! He's with the Crimson foundation,- they found us, and-"

"Betrayed!?" Lucia cried.

"Wait- slow down!" Anastasia cried. "Quinton!? Crimson foundation?! How- How did they- I mean-"

"I- I can't- I can't explain everything-" Beatrice sounded like she was having a panic attack. "We're in Sinnoh right now, and- They had Groudon and Kyogre- I mean- they- Those pokemon weren't there- but their invokers were glowing-... like they were! Y-Your Dad and and Marie are on the way, and- "

Lucia and Anastasia exchanged a look.

"Listen- calm down, okay?" Lucia cried. "Just uh- go to Dad and Marie and stay safe, okay?! We'll- We'll see what we can do!"

"Okay- Okay…" Beatrice said. "You're right-"

"Beatrice!?" Lucia could hear her dad's voice in the background. Lucia sighed a loud breath of relief.

"Oh, thank goodness," Anastasia mumbled to herself.

"Wh-Who're you on the phone with?" Lucian asked.

"Lucia! It's-"

"Lucia!? Give me the phone!"

"Dad?!" Lucia cried.

"Sweetie!?" Lucian cried. "Listen to me, I know what you're thinking, but don't go anywhere near Sinnoh, okay?!"

"What- What happened!?"

"The worst happened… And I know you're worried, but it's far too dangerous! You understand?! If you come, you could be seriously hurt or worse!"

"How could I not go over there after hearing Beatrice panicking like that!?" Lucia cried.

Lucia could hear Beatrice's hyperventilating, and it sent Lucia into overdrive. She started pacing around the tree, and Anastasia trailed behind her.

"Listen to me," Lucian said. "Your old man's going to handle everything, understand? You need to trust me!"

"...Ngh..! But-"

"No buts- do you understand me?! I'm your father, and you will do as I say!" Lucian cried. Lucia's eyes widened. "Ugh- I'm sorry," Lucian said. "I- I don't want you getting hurt, I really don't. I want you to be safe, Lucia. You're my kid, so I know exactly what you're thinking. Heck, you'd probably come anyway, knowing you… but listen, okay? And when I say this, don't ask questions. Your mom- she can call on the Spatial Pokemon Palkia."

"What!?" Lucia cried. "What do you mean!? What!? When!? How?! Why?!"

"I told you, don't ask questions!" Lucian cried. "What's gonna happen is this: Your mom's going to call on Palkia, and then teleport Beatrice back to Hoenn with you guys. "

"What?!" Beatrice cried. "You can't just bring me back!"

"It's too dangerous for you!" Marie cried.

"I can't! That's my father! If he's gone rogue, I have to stop him! I'm the only one who can stop him!"

"I can't just let you go!" Lucian cried. "He's dangerous, and he's going to- ugh- Listen- Hey- Lucia, you're listening, right!?"

"Y-Yes.." Lucia cried.

"Just go home, okay? Your mother's going to use Palkia to bring Beatrice back to the house. Then, she's going to come with us to help out. The three of us can handle it, okay?"

Lucia turned to Anastasia, and Anastasia shook her head quickly. Lucia turned away and looked at the ground. She then turned to Anastasia and gave her a final nod before looking back at the ground.

"Okay," Lucia said. "I understand."

"Good. Thank goodness. Thank you so much for understanding. I love you so much, sweetheart. I would… It would break me up inside so much to see you hurt. Okay- So, I want you to go home right this instant, okay? Once Beatrice gets back home, you guys can just… go back on your adventure. You, Beatrice and Anastasia. Okay?"

"Okay." Lucia said.

"Okay. I love you."

"I love you too, dad." Lucia said. She turned off the phone. She turned to Anastasia.

"We're not going to do a single thing that he just said, are we?" Anastasia asked.

"Of course not." Lucia said. "Well- we're going to do one thing. We're gonna go to my house… and convince my mom to teleport us to Sinnoh."

"Is your mother really going to agree to that?"

Lucia closed her eyes and shook her head.

"...No…Probably not… at least not without a fight."

"Fight!? What do you mean? N-Not without a fight- there's an emergency! Why would she fight you!?"

"This emergency is exactly the reason why she'd fight me. She knows I'm my father's daughter." Anastasia watched Lucia walk ahead and slowly turn her head to her.

"She's going to ask me if I'm ready," Lucia continued. "and right now, I've never been more ready in my life."

"I mean- do we really have the time to spare for that? And- if you're going to fight her, wouldn't that mean you'd get hurt?"

"If we do this, the fight with my mom is unavoidable. Besides, my body can take a lot more than you'd think." Lucia raised her hand in front of her and slowly clenched it. "Besides, I really wanted a rematch against her."

"B-But... Isn't your mom a former champion!? Marie told me that once!"

"Yeah. Former Champion. I haven't seen her fight in a battle once in my life until she fought me. That old lady's rusty."

"Is there really no way to stop this..? Ugh.. You guys- You and your family are nuts…"

"We do what we do because we love each other," Lucia said with a shrug. "That's just how my family is."

"Fine…" Anastasia said. "Just be careful, okay? You can't get hurt too much if you're going to fight."

"I won't. C'mon, let's get going." The girls exchanged a nod before running.