Me: Well, I'm back to this story!
Sebastian: It took you long enough. I had to resort to flirting with a crew member to keep myself occupied.
Me: I think I know why Aries hates your guts, now.
Sebastian: What? All I did was flirt. At least I wasn't like-
Me: I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT! I do not own Pokemon, and that is final! Will someone please get Sebastian ready?!
Chapter Four
Stalk Much?
It is approximately 1:30 in the afternoon when I am forced into an unexpected teleportation from my hotel room. Wikstrom is dragged along, and crashes onto the ground of our new location, waking him up. Others are entering the area as well in shimmering flashes, while more have already been here a short time, wherever here is.
I take a quick look around as I swallow bile and adjust my now wrinkled shirt, studying the new location. Unlike the hotel, this location is dimly lit, except for several torches and candles that actually hover by the walls of their own accord. A few bluish flames are also flickering, and I recognize them as the ghost-type attack known as Will o' Wisp.
"Pretty romantic setting, you have to admit," a voice chuckles over my shoulder, and I can't help but cry out in surprise as a Dusknoir takes form with a large grin. The voice is male, so I have to assume it is male as well, though the frilly apron it wears says otherwise. It hovers up into the air above the now gathered group, which I estimate to be about seventy people, letting a Will o' Wisp attack fly from its hands. "Welcome, all, to The Dungeon, one of the most renowned restaurants in Hearthome City. Mistress Fantina has saved the VIP room on behalf of the Farce family. If you will just follow the wisps, you shall find the dining hall." The dusknoir fades into the darkness again, and the blue wisps stop moving, lining up on both sides of a long hall, lighting the way.
Without a word of question, many of those gathered begin to shuffle along nervously, no doubt because of the darkness. I catch sight of Ikuto and Siebold, and I move to join them. Liz, Malva, Wikstrom, and Drasna join us shortly as the seven of us begin to follow the rest of the contestants and their guests, but I am unable to see Bella.
"Liz, where is my sister?" The lucario smiles lightly, stepping a little bit closer.
"She's with a good friend," she whispers, and I have to say I don't find it comforting like I was hoping. Liz notices my worry and laughs, nudging my side. "You really need to learn to loosen up. You've been a stick in the mud for years."
"Just leave him be," Ikuto sighs. "This is not the kind of place for you to be nagging."
"I completely agree," Siebold states, eyeing Liz. "You do realize that the local gym leader happens to be the owner of this establishment, correct? If I recall, she also happens to be a judge for the competition as well."
Liz pales at the statement, and I can guess why; if anyone makes a nuisance of themselves in the presence of a competition judge, it is likely the judge will easily start deducting points from the competitors. I let out a small sigh as I try and catch sight of my sister and this 'friend' she is with. It is very worrying for me, I have to admit.
After following the wisps for about five minutes, passing by several dining areas in the process, we enter the dining area at the end of the seemingly endless corridor. It is quite pleasant, in the way a haunted house is during the daylight. Faint jazz music plays, though the source is not visible, and the tables, each with a single wisp hovering as a centerpiece, are covered in a deep violet cloth. Mr. Farce is currently seated, deep in a conversation with a mismagius, his two of his three children seated as well. At least I can be relieved that Bella isn't with Sebastian.
Soft laughs sound from a nearby table, and I can see that it actually is completely taken by younger pokemon, many of them not being older than ten. Bella is seated with them, as is Thomas, the prankster of a giratina, and they seem to be telling jokes of some kind as the other children are laughing. I don't see any point in stopping the fun, so I leave them be, joining my group as they settle down at a table in the corner, distant from the one where most of the Farce family is seated.
It takes about three minutes for everyone that was teleported from the hotel to be seated. The mismagius ends her conversation with the arceus and hovers to the center of the room, the dusknoir taking physical form at its side. "I'm glad to see so many people have arrived for the competition." A French accent is quite obvious on the feminine voice, one that sounds used to respect. "I am Fantina, owner of this fine establishment. It is my pleasure to be a judge for such a wonderful event, so it is my treat to the Farce family and to the competitors for you all to dine here. Roosevelt, if you please."
"Of course, mistress." The dusknoir, who I must assume is Roosevelt, creates a dark orb between his hands, a Shadow Ball attack, and it is unleashed, spreading across the room as smaller orbs that land in front of all those seated. The orbs fade away, leaving behind silver platters filled completely with some of the most aromatic and delicious looking foods I've ever seen in my life. I, along with many others, can only applaud at the display. It is no wonder this restaurant is so popular.
"Now, as they say, dig in!" Fantina laughs as she leaves the spotlight to continue speaking with others in the room. With a small smile, I look down at the various dishes and grab a hold of one, a mouthwatering soup of some kind, the scent enhancing the effect.
"Well, if it isn't our favorite blastoise," a pair of matching male and female voices states as I begin to eat, and I look to the source with only some interest. It is a galade and gardevoir duo that stands behind Siebold, both smirking.
"Ah, if it isn't my least favorite pair of twins," the elite four member scoffs, basically ignoring them. "You two got let into this competition?"
"Of course," the galade snickers. "We are the best after all."
"We would already be world famous if you hadn't shown us up years ago."
Siebold rolls his eyes and ignores them, and Ikuto snorts in laughter. I guess he knows this cocky pair as well, but I remain silent, quickly finishing the soup. As the four of them begin to insult one another, I stand and head into the hallway, feeling a bit stuffy in the dining hall.
Roosevelt hovers in the hallway, and glances at me with a grinning eye. "Do you need something, sir?"
"There's no need to call me sir," I say, blushing lightly. "Is there a restroom I can use? Or perhaps another area I can head to? It's a bit stuffy in there."
"Yes, it gets that way whenever there is a large group," he sighs. "Come along with me. There is another room you can stay in until the automatic teleportation occurs." He turns and hovers down the dimly lit hall, and I follow silently, glancing back. I can't help but feel like I'm being watched by someone.
We turn down a hall I had not seen before, and it leads into a room I can barely describe. There are several couches and lounging chairs around, and a large fireplace is lit against one wall. Besides the two of us, the room is abandoned, and has been for some time, based on the dusty prints I'm leaving.
"This used to be a waiting area, but in the last few months, we haven't been getting any customers that haven't booked ahead, so we rarely use the room any more. You can stay here as long as you need to until the parties in attendance leave." Roosevelt nods to me as I thank him and set myself down on a dusty violet couch, sinking into the cushion. He leaves the room, but I can hear him say something as he collides with someone. "Oh, my apologies, sir. Please, go right in."
"Thank you," a familiar voice states, and I sigh, looking towards the fire place as a certain dialga enters the room. I don't pay attention to him, but I can hear him stop walking when he sees me, his eyes burning holes in the back of my head as they watch. "Aries."
"Farce," I growl lightly, keeping my gaze away and getting comfortable. He sighs, and I hear him move to a chair just by where I am, still watching.
For a few minutes, the only sounds in the sitting area are the cracks of the firewood and our breaths that fill the air. I stay facing away, watching the blaze flicker from the couch. His gaze is still on me, that I can tell from the way my body is sending chills through me, in the same manner it used to when we were dating; a feeling I do not welcome anymore.
"Are you going to stay mad at me forever?"
"If I can, I sure as hell will do so. Will that make you stop staring?" He chuckles, a sound that I blush from hearing.
"You always could tell when I was watching. It's good to see you haven't lost that skill. I really missed it." He adjust in the seat and leans so that I can hear his breathing right behind my head. "I missed you more, though."
I let out a sigh and turn to face him. If I was younger than I am now, I'd likely be in love with the way he looks, well groomed and handsome as ever. But, I can easily over look that. "If that is why you followed me here, you'll be disappointed to know that I never missed you for a second."
"That isn't what Bella told me." I freeze, taking a good minute to understand what he just said. Sebastian sighs, shaking his head lightly. "I guess she never told you. We wrote one another starting a few weeks after you broke up with me. She told me about everything that's happened since then."
I blush a deep crimson, since I can only guess how detailed she made it all. But, despite my own anger, I have to admit, I did miss this handsome bastard for a while, crying myself to sleep sometimes. I got over it though, after a year.
"So what. I, I don't care what she told you. I didn't miss you." I quickly turn away, and he sighs, sitting back. I hold back shivers and tears as we sit silently in the room. Anyone else would jump at the chance and apologize, trying to get back with him in this setting. But, I remain stubborn and hold my anger deeply, not wanting to do just that.
Me: Wow…
Sebastian: Well, I have to go flirt. Maybe get on Aries' good side off set~
Me: Ew, no! You are NOT going to do that!
Thomas: Do what?
Sebastian: Get under the covers with Aries.
Thomas and Me: SEBASTIAN!
Sebastian: What? I was just going to cuddle with him.