It was a long day yesterday, dealing with all the drama of Relic Cave and with Vic's family. Hopefully after a long night's rest, they can view things with a clearer mind and make better decisions about what to do going forward. But a certain someone is coming to town in the morning, and he's bringing some trouble with him… we've gotten to know Vic's mother already, but what is her father like, I wonder? That's right, we're meeting Wes!

KedharS: That they are.

JoshGamerV: That's certainly an interesting theory.

Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings

Chapter 940

For Alcea, camping outside brought her back to a point in her life that she would never forget. Lying back in the grass and staring up at the night sky, the stars above obscured by nothing but the tree branches, it was magical.

Well, that wasn't quite true. Before they had turned in for the night, Ross had stepped in and used his Smeargle to set up a large barrier around the entire camp, preventing anyone from getting past the walls. Rui thought it was a little paranoid considering that Agate Village was such a peaceful place, but she was fine with it if it meant the kids would feel a little safer.

Plus, it was nice insurance to prevent her daughter from sneaking out in the middle of the night to go to Relic Cave.

Alcea didn't mind the barrier too much. It was like it wasn't even there. She did miss the cool spring wind, though, that was the only part of camping that she wasn't capturing again. As nice as it was to nestle down in a sleeping bag, there was something that had to be said about the feeling of the wind running over you as you drifted off to sleep.

That night, Vic wasn't the only one who dreamed of the past. Alcea was there too.

Both girls were quite different from each other, but they had more in common than they would like to admit. Strong wills, pride in ones' own abilities, and even a connection to nature. They were two of the strongest female trainers at the Pokemon Academy. Maybe, in another time, they could have been friends, if not for all the strife between the two of them.

Alcea's dreams were of the island.

It was a familiar sight. That small green dot off the coast of Alola, home to Grass type pokemon of all kinds. She'd made so many friends there, cemented her bond with Venus, as well as Anastacia and Hollander, the two pokemon she'd brought with her.

But what she remembered most was that secluded glen, at the island's center, and the obelisk that stood in it. Beneath the shade of the great tree, a creature indescribable like the mix of a man, a horse, and a dragon stood carved in stone, and nestled between its teeth was a crystal shining a bright green, filled with life itself.

Alcea had seen it, and just knew that she was destined to have it. Not because of any special power like harmonia that called to her. But because that light brought her peace in one of the hardest times in her life.

As fondly as she looked back on those memories now, the island had been no paradise for Alcea. Certainly, there was plenty of food, a spring to draw water from, and company in the case of all her pokemon friends. To many, that would seem like paradise.

But not to a ten year old girl.

Alcea had lost her mother and father. They were still alive, of course, but she couldn't know that. For all she knew, the boat had been lost with all hands aboard. Just because she had been swept out to safety, that didn't mean the same applied to her parents. They could be dead.

And what of her little sister? Practically just a baby. Would she ever see Holly again? Would she ever see anyone again, or would she just spend her life here, alone, until she eventually withered away and died mattering nothing to nobody?

It was a grim, terrifying prospect. And one that no child should have had to face. She didn't know how to build signal fires, she couldn't make a raft. All she could do was wait and hope she'd be rescued, and try very, very hard not to think about what could happen if she wasn't.

And when it had been too much for her, when the loneliness threatened to swallow her whole, and even her pokemon weren't company enough, that's when she'd stumbled upon the crystal. She had run into the woods to be alone, unable to face her pokemon friends with her pain. That's when she broke into the clearing, and saw the obelisk and the prize within its jaws. The warm, nurturing light it gave off soothed her pain, shaving away the rough edges of her time on the island. She didn't remember why she took it, all she remembered was running back to the other pokemon with it clutched tightly against her breast, and a smile on her face.

Since that day, whenever she got nervous or scared, whenever the reality of her situation threatened to swallow her, she would look at that crystal and remember that everything was okay. It didn't make sense, but it comforted her.

Eventually, though, the guilt became too much for her to bear. After all, the crystal wasn't hers. Alcea had been raised in wealth, but by parents who cared. She wasn't like those other nobles, the rich and powerful who believed they were entitled to anything just because of their status. She knew stealing was wrong, and she knew that was exactly what she'd done. As important as that crystal was to her, she knew it wasn't hers to keep.

But when she tried to return it, she got herself lost. It was like that little hidden grotto had completely disappeared.

She must have walked through those woods a hundred times. But the same way she'd never seen that secluded glen before she found the crystal, she never saw it again. No matter how many times she tried to go back, it was like it had been snatched away. It had just appeared in the heart of the island, and now it was gone.

Wracked with guilt, Alcea had never told anyone about what she'd done. In fact, she had repressed those memories so far down she could scarcely remember anything from that day, as if she was refusing to confront her own crime.

But even if she didn't feel comfortable with what she had done, there was no concealing it, either. She had done what she'd done, and she still had the crystal to prove it. She'd been tempted, when the rescuers had come, to leave it on the island. After all, that's where it had come from. But even though she knew it was the right thing to do, something told her not to.

She pocketed it, and never thought twice.

It was the strong bond that Alcea had with nature and her love of Grass type pokemon that made her connection to the Oracle of Grass so powerful. And that very same bond was what gave her such an affinity for Agate Village.

But not even that connection meant she was aware of everything that went on around her. She was only human, after all. Which is why as she slumbered, she was completely ignorant of the flower she had cultivated, resting by the house in its incubator, slowly growing as it absorbed the abundance of life energy teaming through this village.

Alcea had no way of knowing this, but the truth of Agate Village would soon be making itself known to her, and the rest of the group. It would come with the rising of the sun.

Morning greeted Agate Village with a sight that was rather unusual. Teenagers in general were not common to the area, but a pack of them camping out in front of the house of the village protectors drew a couple eyes.

Two of those eyes belonged to a man who was returning home after a long journey through the Orre Region.

Wes stopped at the path leading up to his house, and stared quizzically at the tents set up outside it. Not to mention the kids in sleeping bags. Rui was nowhere to be seen.

He was quite a different man from his youth, although in many ways he was very much the same. His hair was still the same gray-white, though now it looked much more fitting on the distinguished older man he'd grown into. He still had a penchant for black and dark blue, though now his outfit was a little less "teen rebel" and more of the "shirt and slacks" variety. The pale scar across his face was still as noticeable as it had been, and his eyes were as sharp as before as well. Really the only change was the dignified beard he'd chosen to grow as he approached middle age.

And most notable of all was the face that he no longer wore the snag machine on his arm. He'd never explained to his family what had happened to it, simply telling them that some secrets were best left secret.

His stern expression was filled with suspicion and concern as he approached the group of kids, intent on figuring out what these squatters were doing here, only to be rebuffed by a large barrier erected in his path.

He wasn't amused.

"Kuno, smash it with brick break," he said, sending out a large Hariyama to smash down the barrier surrounding his house.

When the screen shattered, a massive alarm began blaring, echoing through the peaceful mountain village.

"What the hell?!" Callie exclaimed, scrambling to her feet. The first thing she saw was the Hariyama, and the man standing next to it. Of course, she had no way of knowing that was Vic's father, so she immediately reached for her own pokeballs.

"What the fuck?!" Maddi burst out of the house, her face filled with anger at being broken out of some much-needed rest. "What's with that noise?!" She demanded, having to shout at the top of her lungs to be heard over the blaring siren.

"SORRY!" Ross shouted, coming out of the tent. "I HAD AN ALARM PLACED, TO GO OFF IF THE BARRIER WENT DOWN! FOR SAFETY REASONS!"

He fumbled for his pokeball to send his Smeargle back out, to overwrite the alarming paint he had placed on the barrier.

"I'M TRYING TO SLEEP!" Vic burst out of Rui's tent, her face hot with anger. Whoever was responsible for this was in for a world of hurt!

Then she met her father's gaze, and both parties immediately realized there was nothing to worry about.

Just in time for the alarm to cut out, as well. It took a few seconds for everyone's hearing to return, but when it did, Wes recalled his Hariyama and approached his daughter, confused about what was going on here.

"What's going on…?" Rui grumbled, crawling out of the tent beside her daughter. Then she spotted her husband and immediately leapt into the air, throwing herself into his arms. "Wes! You're back!"

"Yeah, I said I would be coming back today… what's going on?" Wes demanded with a scowl, glancing between his wife and daughter.

"Well, didn't I tell you?" Rui laughed, scratching her head sheepishly. "Victoria's coming home! She and some of her schoolmates are on a field trip to the Orre Region and I'm here to chaperone! I thought it would nice to show them around Agate Village, so she could see you when you came back, that's all! No big deal! I'm sure I let you know, right?"

Wes raised his eyebrow and crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"…Or… maybe not?"

He shook his head.

"Seriously mom?!" Vic groaned, slapping her face. Why did her mother have to be such an airhead sometimes?

"…Well, then, it's a nice surprise!" Rui was quick to put a positive spin on things. "Welcome home, darling! Would you like a bath? Or some breakfast? Or perhaps-"

"Some answers would be nice," Wes gruffly interrupted her. "Why are there teenagers loitering around outside our house?"

"I just told you, we're on a field trip, and I thought it would be best to-"

"There's a Pokemon Center."

"Well…"

"Hold on a second, dad," Vic said, walking up to him. "I told you that I was coming, remember? I said I was bringing my friends, and you wanted to challenge the Commander to a battle! We had a whole conversation about it!"

Wes glanced at her, confused.

"You mentioned that you were bringing over that boy called Alden," he said. "I don't remember hearing anything about other people."

"I… I didn't?" Vic was a little taken aback. No, no, she'd definitely mentioned that she was coming here with all the members of the Commander's inner circle… right? There was no way she'd just spent the entire conversation talking about the Commander without even bringing up the field trip in the first place.

But now that she was thinking back on the conversation itself…

"I assumed you were bringing home your boyfriend to meet your family, this is the first I'm hearing of any field trip," Wes scowled.

Vic's face went pale as a sheet, and then flushed with embarrassment. And wouldn't you know it, that just happened to be the moment that Alden came out of the tent to see what all the commotion was about!

"I-I said no such thing!" She sputtered. "I just… don't assume things like that!"

Wes raised his eyebrow, and decided that this wasn't an appropriate conversation topic to have out here in front of everyone.

"I'm going inside," he muttered. "I need to put away my things." He looked at Rui suspiciously. "I'm assuming that there won't be any more teenagers inside the house to have to deal with?"

Rui glanced away nervously. "Um… maybe just one or two…"

Wes was not amused.

He strolled into the house and surveyed the living room, his eyes landing on a stunned Chloe and Mason. Mason was quick to scurry away to safety, but Chloe got a big old eyeful of Wes's glare, and practically pissed herself.

"Get out," he growled.

She practically ran all the way back to Gateon City before Maddi stopped her.

While Wes went to his room to unpack, Vic followed him into the house. She may have been shaken by what had just happened and she knew her dad wasn't in the best mood (although that was nothing new) but she needed to talk to him.

She still had a bunch of issues about what had happened last night with Ryoko and Rui, and her father was going to listen.

"Dad," Vic said, trying hard to sound as authoritative as she always did around the others. It was strange, but she just couldn't be as intimidating where her father was concerned.

Wes raised his head and turned to his daughter.

"What? If this is about your boyfriend-"

"He is NOT my boyfriend!" Vic exclaimed. "And no, it's not about that. It's about a woman named Ryoko, and Relic Cave."

That certainly got a response. Wes froze, and turned fully to face her, a dark look crossing his face. "What are you talking about?" He demanded with a growl, and Vic swallowed.

Don't get intimidated. Don't get intimidated. Vic knew that her father was a very frightening man. The things he had done to defeat Team Cipher spoke for themselves. But even as cold as he was, he'd always been kind to her in his own way. She knew her father loved her, but this was the first time that she ever really felt afraid of him.

She didn't let it get the better of her.

"We need to talk."

"Really? I just got home. Do you really want to do this now?" It was a little absurd. Heck, Vic was still in her pajamas! But she didn't care. This was too important to ignore. She'd barely gotten any sleep last night she was so confused and upset about what had happened. Now that there was a chance to actually get some answers, she was going to take it.

She told him everything. About how she and the others had snuck into Relic Cave, how Rui had tried to stop them, how they'd run into Ryoko again, how Ryoko had given her back her memories, and finally ending on the conversation that they'd had back home, where Ryoko explained that the only way Vic would be able to learn the truth was if she went to Relic Cave herself.

And for that, she would need her father's permission.

"…I see. It sounds like you had a rather… productive day, then," Wes said evenly. "And that's the real reason you're here, then? Because you want to be allowed into Relic Cave?"

Vic shook her head. Certainly that was important, but more important than that was the truth. "Dad… did you really let Ryoko tamper with my memories?" She asked.

Wes was silent for a long time.

"…Victoria… whether I say yes or no… does that change anything?" He asked quietly.

Vic was stunned. What kind of fucking answer was that?

"Of course it does!" She sputtered. "You're my father! Are you really telling me that you were okay with letting some stranger mess with my memories?!"

"I understand that you're upset. If that had happened to me, I would be upset myself," he said. "But… yes. I was aware that it happened."

Vic frowned. That wasn't the same thing as being okay with it.

"Explain."

"When Ryoko brought you home to us, she told me what she did," Wes said. "She had already erased your memories at that time. I didn't say anything, I never told you. Because what would be the point? What was done was done, and it couldn't be undone."

Vic shook her head. "No. Not buying it. There was another reason you kept your mouth shut, right?" She knew her father better than that.

He sighed, and nodded.

"I also didn't tell you… because I knew that there was definitely a reason that she'd done it," he admitted. "Ryoko… the way that girl… woman… whatever she is, the way she thinks and acts is not without purpose. From what little I know about her, there's always a reason that she does the things that she does. So if she did erase your memories, then there had to be a reason for it, do you understand?"

Vic nodded. She understood. But that wasn't the same as being okay with it.

"I want to go back to Relic Cave," she said.

Wes sighed. "I had a feeling you were going to say that…"

"Ryoko said that you would be the deciding factor. She said that you would determine whether or not I was worthy," she said. "So? What's it going to be?"

Wes frowned. "Is that really what you want?"

"Yes!" She shouted. "More than anything."

He shook his head. "I see."

Wes is back! And he's immediately been ambushed by Vic! Will he give her some trial to determine if she's worthy to go to Relic Cave? What sort of test is she going to have to face? What could be so important that it's hidden with such secrecy?