Flint of the Sinnoh Elite Four surveys the desolate landscape of the Sunyshore City.
Ever since the "Blight" has spread across the whole of Sinnoh, all civilians are urged to stay in their home for the time being, with emergency rations being distributed by league members and volunteers. Flint was naturally assigned to Sunyshore City.
The automated walkways of the city are down, as no one is going to be using them anyway, and with the sun being permanently obscured by the Blight, the solar panels installed at the rooftops of all buildings aren't going to be of much use.
The league members were told to enlist the help of each city's Gym Leader in the distribution for larger cities and towns.
So Flint's truck is currently parked outside the Sunyshore Tower, an impressive behemoth made of reflective panels with two crescent-like wings jutting out of its sides.
He strolls in through the doors and heads up to the top floor, where he finds Volkner kneeling on the ground, dabbling in his usual electrical pursuits.
"Volkner."
His longtime friend looks up at him with dull eyes, then turns back to his work.
"You need to help me give out the rations."
"Can't you find someone else?" His voice is low and bleak, as always.
Flint clenches his fists.
The league seems ready to wash their hands off Volkner. Once a very capable Gym Leader whose gym battle involves challengers having to successfully repair a faulty device, Volkner has appeared to have given up on everything in the last few years.
He is now treated almost similarly to Alder – but not quite. At least Volkner mercifully does nothing. Alder just goes around tarnishing the league's reputation.
Regardless, Flint has heard the Parelle League recommending a new Gym Leader for Sunyshore City. Thank Arceus that Cynthia is still putting her trust in Volkner, and instantly dismissed the idea.
But he doesn't know whether the coldly logical Champion will change her mind, what with the recent crisis and increasing pressure from the other league members.
And Flint can't help someone who doesn't want to be helped.
However, Volkner is someone very precious to him. So even if the rest of the league has given up on him, Flint won't.
"No. You will stand up, right now, and help me with the distribution." Flint says firmly.
"Or?" Volkner asks, hearing the unspoken threat.
"Or I call Cynthia and tell her to shut down Sunyshore Tower."
For the first time in their conversation, a deadly spark comes to life in Volkner's muted eyes. "You won't."
"Oh, trust me, I will. Besides, this tower doesn't provide for all the electricity supplied to the city. You built another one, right? I'm sure the city can cope without the tower for a few days, or even weeks." Flint smiles grimly.
But you can't.
Sunyshore Tower is Volkner's escape. And it's time to put an end to it.
Volkner tosses aside the circuit tester and stands wordlessly.
Flint supposes a silent agreement is better than a direct rejection.
The pair exits the tower, and Flint catches Volkner's minute grimace at the darkened sky.
Good. This tells him that Volkner isn't completely numb to the fate of the world, yet.
As they walk to Flint's truck, Flint's mind momentarily wanders to what Cynthia has divulged to the Sinnoh Elite Four.
Apparently, the mark of the chosen ones that they were looking for so desperately was actually the Mark of the Arcana. And these Arcana, never mind that Cynthia had bleakly shared that they are a bunch of kids, are on a journey to save the world.
Flint isn't quite sure what to make of the information.
On one hand, it sounds like the type of hogwash that Alder would have cooked up to defend his irresponsible ass against backlash.
But Cynthia doesn't do hogwash.
Flint and Volkner each grab several bags of the aid relief packages, and start going from door-to-door, handing them out.
The city is large, and they have to hop into Flint's truck to drive to different parts.
Flint is mostly relieved that the catastrophe that has hit and destroyed the Sinnoh League hasn't extended to Sunyshore City. Yet.
Hopefully never.
Other than the ominous sky and the lack of people in the streets, the city is still maintained in its original condition.
When they're done distributing the rations, Volkner immediately says to Flint, "drop me off at the tower."
Flint grins at Volkner. "What if I say no?"
Volkner pauses from where he is trying to climb into the car. "You are not playing this game with me."
"Try me."
"Flint." Volkner growls out.
"How about we go drink some coffee?" Flint ignores Volkern's dark glare.
"What coffee? The entire city is closed."
"We both know someone who isn't."
Volkner's eyes narrow into twin slits. But Flint knows his friend well, and thus the two of them find themselves in a cafe ten minutes later, having their usual order.
A man with graying hair and sunglasses brings their food over.
"Thanks, Ben." Flint says.
Ben isn't his real name. But if his real name gets out, then "Ben" is as good as dead, so they've settled for a pseudonym.
They sip their drinks, Volkner having returned to his usual impassiveness, while Flint wonders how he can possibly pull his friend out of his slump.
The bell on the door chimes, and voices spill inside.
"See, I told ya the cafe was open! We should eat first and figure out shit together later."
"Didn't we eat already? Why are you turning into Ash?"
"Guys, I still think this is a bad idea. Like, a really bad one."
"Our van broke down. Which, by the way, is our only mode of transportation. That should be our first priority. Lance will kill us."
"Gary, there are some shady people insid – Flint?"
Flint turns around.
The bluenette who called them shady looks strangely familiar. To be fair, she was probably referring to Ben, who looks plain suspicious no matter how you slice it.
There's a large group of teenagers at the doorway, looking the worse for wear, and Flint racks his brain trying to recall whether he knows them.
Especially that bluenette who definitely recognizes him – but everyone recognizes him as Flint from the Elite Four anyway.
Then it hits him.
He snaps his fingers. "Ah, Dawn, was it?" They met at a function a few months ago.
Immediately afterwards he remembers another tidbit.
Cynthia had told him a group of twelve teenagers is the Arcana trying to save Parelle.
And with the current situation, it'll be crazy for anyone to be going out and about, let alone a dozen people.
Which just so happens to be the number of children standing in front of him right now.
"Wait. Are you guys the Arcana?"
"Oops. Busted?" Ash scratches his head sheepishly. While Cynthia didn't forbid them from revealing their identity, she also cautioned them against disclosing it, as it could make them a target.
A target for what, she didn't elaborate.
"What Arcana?" Volkner asks, sounding marginally intrigued.
The wheels in Flint's head turn.
Right, Volkner doesn't know about the Arcana because he isn't a member of the Elite Four. But he seems to have an interest in them.
And the Arcana are here, presumably for a reason.
Did they say their van broke down?
Flint hides his smile.
He may be able to kill two birds with one stone, if he plays his cards well.
Misty shakes her head as she watches Gary and Ash dig into their food, having an unspoken competition on who can eat the most.
Both are insufferable.
After escaping the "hand thing", as Serena has very unimaginatively coined it, their next pressing concern was their van.
It seems like they could never catch a break, because Alain had informed them darkly that their car was on the verge of breaking down and maybe exploding.
This brought on yet another argument over whether to ditch the van and walk to Sunyshore City, or to tough it out and pray that their vehicle could last the remaining five miles to the city.
In the end Cilan had settled it by snapping that those who wished to walk could walk to the city, and then everyone had shut up because it was the first time the eighteen-year-old had lost his cool.
That didn't last long since Cilan promptly apologized for his "meltdown", making everyone who had a conscience feel like a dick since Cilan flaring up was nothing compared to the numerous clashes they had, yet he had put up with their squabbles and even resolved them patiently.
The van lasted until they reached the edges of Sunyshore City, where it started emitting a sound halfway between a cough and a wail.
All of them got off, and Dawn suggested seeking Volkner, the Gym Leader of the city, for help since he's a renowned mechanic, while Cilan was mostly disheartened that the stores were closed and he couldn't build up their supplies, but Gary suddenly said he was hungry.
So under the guise of going to Sunyshore Tower, he slyly led them to restaurant after restaurant, all of them closed until they eventually reached an open cafe.
"We'll get nothing accomplished at this rate," Misty folds her arms crossly, glaring at the two whose stomachs are like black holes.
Dawn is explaining their situation to Flint and a disinterested Volkner.
Flint turns to Volkner, but the blonde holds up a hand.
"No."
"You haven't even –"
"Still no. I am not fixing their vehicle for them." He says flatly.
"Why?" Flint frowns. "You have the skills to, and these kids –"
" – shouldn't be running around in this craziness." Volkner counters. "Cynthia should have known better. Why did she assign children to such a dangerous task? I can't believe the Parelle League would stoop so low – actually, I can. You guys have always done things your way."
"They're not just some random kids. They're Arcana. Haven't you heard of the legend?" Flint retorts exasperatedly.
Volkner leans against the counter. "I don't believe in such fables."
"They're not fables." Dawn intercedes. "They're very real. I feel it. I know it's crazy, but how else can you explain this pull I'm feeling, this voice inside me that tells me my card is in Mt. Coronet?
Volkner glances down at her, unbudging. "Perhaps you just need to rest. Particularly your… overwhelmed mind."
"Are you implying I'm insane?" Dawn's eyes flash. Something about this conversation has struck a raw nerve in her.
It's Volkner's insinuation.
It reminds her of her mother.
"Dawn, calm down," May puts a hand on her friend's arm.
She glares at Volkner. "We're not doing this for no reason. I'm here because my parents got sucked into one of those portals."
"If you continue on this journey of yours, you'll be next." Volkner says blandly.
"Volkner!" Flint shouts, appalled.
Drew's hands ball into fists. "Don't talk to May in that tone." He hisses at Volkner.
He raises a brow. "Defending your girlfriend?"
"This is it, Volkner. You're coming with me. Right now." Flint grabs his hand.
Volkner shrugs him off. "I'm not your pet." His azure eyes have darkened almost viciously.
He wants a fight, Flint realizes. Coped up in the city with no real competition, he's thirsting for action.
But Flint isn't about to give it to him. Not here. Not in front of the kids, who are nervously watching the heated exchange.
"Forget about this." Gary has finally ceased inhaling his sandwich – because said sandwich is fully devoured. "That guy is clearly not going to help us. So I say we leave the van and go on our own way."
"Oh?" Iris whirls to face him. Something in her snaps. She's tired, she's had a combined maybe three hours of sleep and she was recently attacked by the hand thing.
"And how exactly do you propose we leave for Mt. Coronet? Are we supposed to walk there? I think we'll drop dead before we even reach the foot of the mountain! And since you're so ready to cast aside the van, I volunteer you to call Lance and tell him, 'oh, sorry, we had this chance to repair it but we threw it away because my sorry ass didn't want to wait'. Yeah, I bet he'll be just ecstatic to hear that!"
"Okay…" Gary drags out the last syllable. "Overworked much?"
She huffs. "You have no idea."
A thought hits Serena. "Wait, guys, after we find Dawn's card, how are we supposed to head to the other regions? We can't drive across an ocean."
"No, before that, which region are we going to after this?" Gary asks.
Misty scoffs. "What do you think? Obviously the next closest region."
"But both Hoenn and Unova are about the same distance from Sinnoh! And since Sinnoh is right smack in the middle of the regions, we'll get further away from the other regions we still need to go to!"
"Then why don't we split up?"
"Are you kidding me? Twelve of us barely fought off the hand thing, and now you want us to split up? Great. The next time I hear about you would be on the front page of Sinnoh Now report detailing your death!"
"If I recall, we weren't doing much fighting. We were busy escaping. In fact, weren't you the one who ran the fastest out of there?"
"Don't you think we should think of a new name instead of the hand thing?" Mairin speaks up. "The hand thing sounds very… I don't know, not very intimidating?"
"How about 'the thing that twelve of us fought but Misty insists we didn't'?" Gary raises, staring daggers at Misty. She glowers right back at him.
"Why must the name always include the word 'thing'? It's totally not scary at all!" Mairin whines.
"But who cares about a stupid name anyway!" Gary shoots back.
"Well, I do!"
"You're so hung up on the strangest things, like Dawn." Drew observes wryly.
But Dawn is offended.
"Excuse me?" She butts in, annoyed to be dragged into the conversation in an unfavorable light. "I'm here, and I have ears, and I can hear you!"
"Okay, okay, calm down," Cilan cuts in. "Let's focus on one thing at a time. We haven't even gotten Dawn's card yet. We can cross the next bridge when we come to it."
"Yeah, and with our luck, that bridge will collapse and we will drown." Paul snorts.
Dawn jabs one finger at him. "Mr Sarcastic over there, kindly shut up."
"Everyone, STOP! RIGHT! NOW!" Cilan asserts more firmly. He's developing a migraine from all this snarkiness that runs amongst the group. It's two steps forward, five steps back with them.
Meanwhile, Volkner turns to Flint and smirks. "Those are the ones you want to leave the world saving up to?"
Flint grimaces.
"Fine, I'll admit. Cynthia's decision is questionable."
The two adults watch wearily as the children continue their incessant quarreling.
"Pass me that. No, that."
Ash hands Misty the tool silently.
"Do you think this will work?" Serena whispers to Mairin. The younger girl shrugs helplessly.
After the horrible first meeting with Volkner, Misty declared that she would fix the van herself if Volkner wasn't willing to land his services.
Then Iris pointed out that there was no van to fix since they left it at the city's outskirts; they couldn't very well haul it here with their bare hands, could they?
Then Ash facepalmed and said they could have just called the car repair service.
Then Drew rolled his eyes and reminded Ash that all citizens have been warned to stay at home, and he highly doubted there was a car repair service willing to fix their van.
He was right.
No one picked up when a disappointed Ash called their number.
In the end, Flint helped them with the transportation of the car into Volkner's garage using his truck, despite Volkner's refusal to let them in.
Flint had the keys, though, so all was well.
Right now, Iris is giving Cilan moral support as he contacts her using the communication device. She had told them in their last update that her phone was destroyed alongside the Sinnoh League, so if they wish to get into correspondence with her they would have to use the device.
Cynthia picks up immediately, giving the pair no time to prepare themselves.
"Ah, you called at the perfect time. We're just having a league meeting."
"We?" Iris gulps.
"Glad to hear you guys are safe," Steven's voice comes from the other line.
"Er, thanks. By any chance, does Lance happen to be there as well?" Cilan asks awkwardly.
Iris crosses her fingers. Please say no, she thinks desperately.
"Obviously I am. It's an international league meeting." Lance replies.
"We're having too many of those these days, I swear," Alder's muffled voice can be heard.
Then Lance asks suspiciously, "why are you asking for me, though?"
"Er." Cilan begins. "Maybe you should sit down."
"I'm already sitting down. Arceus, this is about the van, isn't it?" Lance growls. "Did you guys wreck it?"
"Lance, you can't give us a vehicle, send us on a very hazardous journey and expect the vehicle to make it out in one piece. Heck, you should be clapping for joy that we made it out in one piece!" Drew decides to help his friends out. Though his help is actually making the situation worse.
"It didn't even make it out in one piece?" Lance yells. He sounds like he's hyperventilating.
"It did!" Cilan says quickly, "It's just… like, a little bit… maybe… charred? And er, non-functioning?"
Alder howls. He sounds highly entertained. "Lance, your precious baby just got charred."
"I know. I heard it the first time, thank you very much. Don't remind me," Lance mutters. "Damn it. Alain, I thought you said you could drive well!"
Too bad for him that Alain isn't here to witness his tirade; the Kalosian is currently preoccupied with planning out their next move with the others.
Cynthia grapples back control of the conversation, murmuring that she'll go outside to avoid further intrusion. "So, any more updates?" She says once she's out of the hearing of the other league members.
Cilan quickly brings them up to date with the latest development. Cynthia takes the news in stride, but seems concerned about the many-handed creature that the group faced off. She cautions them to remain vigilant and careful.
"Volkner, huh." Cynthia sighs. "I'm afraid I can't help you out here. His position as a Gym Leader is precarious as it is, and I can't afford to take sides and risk provoking the ire of the other league members towards Volkner."
"Is there anything you know that can be helpful?" Iris asks hopefully.
"Hmm… I did hear recently that Volkner is in the midst of renovating his newest tower – the second Sunyshore Tower, I guess. But with the emergence of the Blight, funding for that development has been cut down, and he's not exactly pleased about it."
Iris deflates. "Yeah, and I'll bet everything I have that we're even more dirt-poor than him. By a long shot."
That isn't necessarily true; Drew knows that his family is loaded, and so is Dawn's. But it's not as if they can count on their families when they need them the most.
"Persuading Volkner to fix the van is the best option. But if you can't, I can send a new vehicle over."
They all perk up except for Drew.
"Really?" He asks, sounding highly dubious. He's distrustful of the Parelle League. In fact, he has the worst outlook on the league, besides Gary and Dawn.
"It may take a while, though."
"How long is a while?"
Cynthia sighs. "You must understand that the Parelle League is spread thin enough as it is. And some of the others don't believe in the Arcana legend, and I can't convince them to change their minds. Given that most of them are arguing over where the bulk of our funding and resources should go, helping you guys out is quite low on our list. Besides, the skepticists will just argue that you all are unreliable for destroying the van –"
"Stop defending yourself and just answer my question already," Drew grumbles, fed up with Cynthia's words which sound like excuses to him.
"Three weeks, maybe four."
"You want us to wait a month?" Iris shouts.
"And that's the fastest we can make it. With all the bureaucratic red tape and a crap ton of legal procedures to follow through, you guys may have to wait even longer, especially if you're met with opposition. Which I guarantee you will."
"How did Lance give us the van so fast?" Drew demands.
"You answered the question yourself – he gave it to you. He's the head of the G-Men, one of the largest independent organizations. He owns a lot of cars. He can pull a ton of strings. I, on the other hand, can't."
"But with Lance being upset about us wrecking his vehicle…" Iris trails off.
"I don't think he'll offer to lend you guys another one anytime soon." Cynthia finishes. "He's somewhat petty in that sense."
"I won't call him petty; we are talking about ruining a vehicle worth millions…" Cilan mumbles shamefacedly. He's been running a restaurant with his brothers for three years and even he hasn't earned a fraction of that sum of money.
"Alright then. I guess it's back to badgering Volkner." Iris says determinedly. She'll try every trick in her book to make him cave.
"I mean, we are pretty stubborn." She says forebodingly. "Volkner won't even know what hit him."
"Please don't let it be your fists. The last thing we need is to end up behind bars." Cilan begs.
"Hey, what did you take me for, a delinquent?" Iris complains.
Drew and Cilan exchange silent looks that all but reveal their answer.
Serena walks outside, and Drew glances at her. "How is the fixing coming along?"
She flops down next to them and sighs. "That's the problem. It's not coming along at all. Misty is doing her best but Mairin and I both think she's messing things up even more," Serena confesses with a cringe. "I didn't want to watch her butchering the van so I came out here."
Drew groans. "Life sucks."
"A lot." Iris adds.
The trio leans back, all wearing similar expressions of frustration and tiredness.
Cilan hangs up the call, and Iris starts blathering away about her plans to make Volkner give up. It lasts for about three seconds until Gary runs outside.
Gary.
Cilan has known him for all of two days and he doesn't think Gary Oak is capable of such an excited look, but one always learns new things each day, he supposes.
"Volkner said he'll help us fix the van!"
Iris pauses in the middle of describing very vividly how she will make Volkner give up, her jaw dropping. "Really?"
"Yeah, I don't know why he changed his mind, but he did after some phone call –"
"Wait, wait, hold on a second," Drew interrupts, "he offered to help us just like that? Abruptly? For free? Isn't that suspicious to anyone?"
Gary rolls his eyes. "What do you think? It's not like we have a choice. Beggars can't be choosers, yada yada."
Cilan smiles resignedly. "I guess we aren't much different from beggars."
"What if he installs bombs or something!" Iris yelps, leaping to her feet.
Gary shrugs. He's awfully nonchalant about the prospect. "Then I guess we'll get blown into pieces."
Drew glares at him half-heartedly. "You're turning into Paul."
"Arceus, don't compare me to that plumhead."
"I can hear that, you know." Paul's deep voice rolls from inside Volkner's house.
"Just pretend you didn't," Gary yells back. "Gee, there's no privacy here at all. Volkner should consider getting a new home."
"Why would he need to?" Serena stands up, dusting off her pants, about to follow Iris and Cilan into the house. "He lives alone. In fact, we're intruding into his privacy. We should get the van repaired and hightail out of here."
Gary has already stalked off into the distance, so her words are left hanging.
Then Drew grins slyly. "I don't think he lives alone though."
Serena tilts her head curiously.
"Since the Sinnoh League got wrecked, the Elite Four have been displaced. Cynthia, at least, has her grandmother's home. Flint doesn't. He lived there all the time, so from what I've seen, he has taken to rooming with Volkner. That's why he has the house keys."
Serena blinks, then her lips quirk up. "That's kinda cute."
"Shh. Don't let Volkner hear that. Or he'll rescind his offer to help us."
May pops her head out of the house. "Grasshead, get over here! We're having an important meeting. Oh, Serena, you too." She smiles at the girl.
Drew frowns. "April, that's favoritism! How can you treat us with such different attitudes!"
May makes a face. "Sue me."
Serena laughs.
"You two are adorable as well," she teases, and her voice is loud enough only for Drew to hear.
Drew blinks rapidly, and his face tinges red, just a tad. "You're an actual menace."
He walks briskly into the room, leaving Serena behind.
The girl reaches into her pocket, and her hand plays with a scrap of cloth.
Her smile drops.
She wonders when she should tell him about it… Or if he even remembers her…
Or worse still: what if she has the wrong guy?
It has been many years, after all, and even if they look similar, well, looks can be deceiving…
"So. All those who want to rest here for another day and set off tomorrow, please raise your hands."
Everyone raises their hands. Even Cilan, the one who spoke, has his arm raised.
They haven't had a proper sleep in forever. The unanimous decision takes them by surprise.
"I'm glad to see that there's at least one thing we can all agree on," Dawn says with a broad smile.
Volkner said that he could get the van repaired and ready by midnight, but he also uncharacteristically provided them with lodgings for the night if they wanted to rest and set off tomorrow morning instead.
The others were stunned, but they weren't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Perhaps Volkner has grown a heart.
Even Flint, his longtime friend, was taken aback by the new development.
Alain cracks his neck. "Cilan, do you want to ask Volkner if we can stock up on our supplies here?" He reminds the group's unofficial leader.
"And if there's dinner," Mairin squeaks.
Cilan feels bad asking for so many favors from the misanthropic Gym Leader, but with the others all giving him puppy eyes, he musters his courage and goes to find Volkner.
Half an hour later, they are seated around the living room, all digging into their warm meal.
"I love your food, Cilan, so don't get me wrong, but I'm glad not to be eating like a barbarian." Dawn says, tears almost springing to her eyes as she has missed the comfort of civilization so much.
"Barbarian." Cilan chokes, sounding scandalized. And wounded. "Were we eating like barbarians?" He's bewildered.
He has always pride himself in being a most refined gentleman, after all.
"Nah, Dee-Dee is just exaggerating, like always." Drew says mischievously.
His words have the intended effect.
Dawn grits her teeth. "Do not call me that."
Thankfully, other than this small skirmish, the rest of the dinner passes by uneventfully.
That is, by their standards. Mairin spilled soup on herself twice, Ash got into a brawl with Gary over nothing and Flint got drunk because he poured alcohol into his cup accidentally.
A little past ten, when Mairin is showering and the others are lounging around, Volkner enters.
"Sup, Volkner, and Volkner, and Volkner." Flint drawls. "But why are there three of you?" He mumbles.
Volkner's face scrunches in disgust. "You got wasted just like that?"
Yes, Flint's alcohol tolerance is next to zero.
"I have four rooms for you all." Volkner says. "All on the third floor. Split them amongst yourselves."
He leaves shortly after that declaration.
It's his own home, but somehow the twelve Arcana have taken over it.
For the first time in a long while, the twelve of them feel relaxed.
They can eat comfortably, shower, and even have beds to sleep in – perhaps tonight is the night they can have a real, good rest.
The rooms are divided into combinations that won't spell arguments, though that's mainly for the boys who have internal spats so often. Drew, Cilan and Ash take one room while Paul, Alain and Gary take the other.
It's impossible to split up Drew, Ash and Gary into three different rooms, so Cilan decides to take two of them with him and leave the last one to the most silent members of the group.
The girls play black-and-white to choose the rooms, which end up with Misty, Iris and Serena in one room and Dawn, May and Mairin in the other.
Of course, this illusion of bliss is shattered two hours later.
For the third time, for an incomprehensible reason, and at the most unreasonable hour, the twelve are forced to get up at an outrageous hour. At this point, they're well used to the ordeal.
The doors of the girls' rooms are about to break down as Gary and Drew pound on them.
"You know what." Serena runs a hair through her tangled hair. "I'm not even surprised anymore."
Misty yawns. "What is it now?" She yells through the door.
"Volkner has evicted us out of his home." Cilan's voice drifts in.
Silence.
"Ha! Tell me something new." Serena snorts, flopping back onto her bed. Catching another ten seconds of sleep is better than nothing in her book.
Iris hugs her pillow sleepily. "I knew it. Volkner's offer was too good to be true."
"No free lunch in the world for us," Gary mutters in agreement from the other side of the door.
"Technically, it was dinner."
Both of them let out a heavy sigh.
A/N:
Why did Volkner kick them out of his house? If anyone guesses the correct answer, I'll upload the next chapter earlier on Wednesday. Also yes it's now a running gag that our Arcana will get attacked in their sleep. Third time is not the charm. *mwahaha*
Thanks for the reviews/kudos/comments!
robertarden55: Regarding the gyms, think of them as specialized challenges. For instance, Volkner in the anime is some sort of electrician, so in accordance with that, his gym involves (or used to before he gave up on gyms aha) the challengers having to repair faulty devices to obtain a badge. Similarly, Maylene's gym is like a literal gym, but since we'll be seeing her later (spoiler: CurtainShipping!) I'll leave the details to your imagination for now. So to become a Champion, someone needs to be an all-rounder who has obtained eight badges and conquered the Elite Four (who are all master specialists), if that makes sense? And yes, the cards do give each Arcana powers (all are unique; some are derived from Kresley Cole's AC while others have been adapted by me). As for whether Pokemon exist… We shall see! *laughs evilly* I hope this answers your questions!
Guest: Thank you so much!
Akatsuki Sakura Uchiha: All of the Arcana will find their cards eventually, so it's not just Dawn. And actually Paul is from Hoenn; May is the one who's from Johto! :)