A/N: Hey everyone, sorry for the lack of the update. Hope you're enjoying the story so far still. I really appreciate all of your reviews. It honestly makes my day to know that people were reading my story and enjoying it (or even hating it). Reading PMs during class is also the best. I actually feel loved.
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon or any aspect of it.
The Problem With Favors
He wasn't sure why she was so upset. Marie's eyes were shocked and her body language showed that she was on edge and tense. Wallace frowned unconsciously. Steven had mentioned that if he wanted Marie to participate those were the magical words he had to say. There was certainly a reaction from her, but he decided it wasn't a good one.
Marie felt dizzy. How did Wallace know about such a thing? Was he looking for it to? Noticing how stiff she was, she forced herself to soften and relax, "Wallace, where did you hear that?"
"An old man off of Hoenn was speaking to me in a Pokémart and mentioned the flute." Wallace decided that he wouldn't give Steven away.
She contemplated. Being in the contest might mean blowing her cover but the Boss did say any means necessary. Time was being wasted every moment she remained ignorant. "Fine. If I get to the second round you promise you'll tell me every single detail you know about the flute?"
Wallace beamed at her, "Of course." He smiled triumphantly.
Sighing, she snatched the Quick Claw out of his hand and stalked away. Her head was buzzing. Wallace knew about the Azure Flute. Some man in a Pokémart knew about it as well. She wondered how much Cyrus knew already. Now she had to get ready for a Pokémon contest. She had competed in Hoenn, Kanto, and even Sinnoh, winning three ribbons in each region before disappearing from the contest scene. Over the last four years she had accumulated enough experience to rival even a top coordinator. Not to mention her Pokémon had gained crucial knowledge on contests and contest battles. Cyrus had been pleased. She rubbed her temples. He had even promoted her against her will. Now it was her fault Selena was in danger.
As she began heading back to her shared room with Red she spotted a purple haired girl standing in the crowd. A flicker of recognition passed through her brain. The purple haired girl began walking towards her. Inwardly, she groaned. Outwardly, she smiled at the newcomer and hugged her warmly.
"Boss wants to see you again," the other girl whispered.
"Now?" Marie whispered back, releasing her from the embrace.
"The weather's really nice for the Pokémon World Tournament isn't it?"
Marie looked through the window, "Most definitely, we haven't had any rain besides the freak storm on the last registration day." She saw a suspicious looking news van parked right outside with tinted windows.
"I'm glad of that, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to get here in three hours!" the purple haired girl followed Marie's gaze.
"Is that it?" Marie asked inconspicuously, "Did it really only take three hours? Where were you coming from? It took me around five."
"Yup, that's it."
Marie thought she saw the other girl wink.
"I was coming from the Mountain." Extra emphasis was put on Mountain. "I've got to go now, I wanted to see who was participating for the Pokémon Contest too!" Her voice was steeped in what Marie believed to be false enthusiasm.
Two people got out of the news van and began an interview with each other. That's my cue, thought Marie. "I'll see you later Janie."
Both girls smiled at each other again and the purple haired one bounced away towards Nurse Joy.
She ran a hand through her brown hair. It was time to be obsequious. As she headed outside, she made sure to look at her feet so no one could see her face. The two news reporters sidled up to her.
"How does it make you feel getting this far in the Pokémon World Tournament? You've done super well this far!"
Marie flashed a grin, "It feels great! I honestly had no idea I would ever get to the top 20, this has been a dream come true for me but I know my Pokémon worked hard as well."
To the onlooker, it was just Marie talking with mediocre reporters that worked for a channel nobody watched.
"Whoops, we're running out of film. Would you be willing to come with us while we get more film? We don't want to miss such an amazing chance to get an interview with such a great trainer!"
The group of three headed towards the suspicious looking van. All three got in. The door closed and they were enveloped in darkness. Marie hugged her knees to her chest, hoping to get some comfort from the situation. She felt so helpless. A light turned on and in a flurry of motion she was sitting up, straight and confident.
"Janie? Seriously Marie, you couldn't think of anything else?" A voice came from her left side. She turned and saw the purple haired girl.
"Jupiter seriously, what was I supposed to come up with? Ariana? Leila? Mira? Would you have preferred any of those names?"
Purple haired Jupiter grimaced, "Never mind, Janie was fine."
The two news reporters grinned at the interaction. Marie may not be trustworthy but at least she wasn't insufferable. Changing from their disguises, the news reporters could be identified as Sam and Marshall. They had black and white outfits on as well as mint green colored hair.
"So Marshall, status update?" Marie asked the green haired boy on her left.
Marshall glanced at Jupiter who crossed her arms and nodded confirmation. "Well, we've found the Spear Pillar in Sinnoh as well as a map leading to where the Azure Flute was supposed to be. We crossed checked it with our other information and it seemed trustworthy."
"Lemme guess, you didn't find it."
He shook his head.
"It's not going to ever be that easy. What did the map say?"
Jupiter interrupted before Marshall could reply, "We're there."
The van stopped and Marie wondered who was driving. The door opened and a girl with the same general outfit as Sam and Marshall appeared, her hair was cut short and dyed green. Marie didn't recognize her. She was handed a blindfold by the girl and she sighed. "Really Jupiter, I still have to wear these?"
Jupiter shot her an annoyed look. "We have this conversation every time. Get over it and put the blindfold on."
Marie smiled slightly. She was glad for Jupiter's no nonsense attitude; kindness would only break her in the end. Obediently, she put the blindfold on. She felt someone's hand tighten it around her head even more and she frowned as it pressed against her skull. "Sorry about that." She recognized Jupiter's apologetic voice.
Leading Marie down a complicated set of turns, Jupiter counted tiles and steps as they headed deeper and deeper into the Unova region base of Team Galactic. Sam, Marshall and the mystery girl were walking behind them. At a nonverbal command of Jupiter's they reached for Marie's Pokéballs.
"No," she spoke suddenly, "I'll give you my word. I won't use them. Promise." If they took away her Pokéballs her courage might fail her.
Jupiter motioned that it was fine. She knew Marie could be trusted to keep her word at least.
Cyrus was watching the procession through the winding tunnels through his computer monitor. He smiled. Jupiter had already informed him that Marie had a chance to obtain new information about the flute they were seeking. It had been a wise move on his part to include her in the team. Perhaps it wasn't the safest move he could've made but her resources and friends greatly expedited his plan.
Two Galactic Grunts stood by his side. A blue haired man was standing directly behind him and was watching the screen carefully. "Saturn," he questioned, "What's on your mind?"
The blue haired man started; he hadn't realize he was being watched. "I'm just wondering if she can be trusted with our master plan."
"Of course not. Once we have the Azure Flute I plan to..." Cyrus trailed off but Saturn had gotten the message.
A knock on the door was heard and the computer showed that the group had arrived. Cyrus pushed a button and the door opened.
"Welcome back Marie. It's so good to see you again, although I'm not sure you can say the same."
Marie was suddenly nauseous. What had she gotten herself into? She didn't have a plan, she didn't have her Pokémon, she didn't even have hope.
"I'm blindfolded Cyrus. I can't see you. Not saying I'm not pleased to not see you." She adopted her usual tough facade.
Cyrus chuckled, the sound sent shivers down Marie's spine as he said, "Unfortunately your friend Selena hasn't had that luxury."
She heard someone plead for help. Marie knew the voice frighteningly well. "Selena," she whispered under her breath.
The blindfold was removed from her eyes and she had to blink a few times before she adjusted to the dim lights and could see.
"Marie!" She could hear a pained sound and she whirled around in the direction of the voice but she couldn't locate it.
Jupiter and Saturn exchanged looks. They weren't used to seeing Marie so worked up. Cyrus had been right, Selena would guarantee Marie's loyalty.
"Would you like to see her?" Cyrus asked her gently.
Marie took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. "Where is she?"
"Somewhere in this mountain," Saturn answered.
Jupiter chimed in, "Somewhere you'll never find her by yourself."
The two smiled sinisterly.
"Let me see her," Marie demanded, her voice was starting to waver. She hated herself for showing weakness.
Cyrus joined in on the sinister smiling. "What do you have to trade."
"Information on the flute," she replied quietly. She was well aware he already knew that. Jupiter must have been watching her entire conversation with Wallace as well as been briefing Cyrus immediately afterwards.
"I appreciate your honestly. Now that comes to the question of the contest."
She smirked, "And that's going to be your decision in the end."
He sighed. To Marie he suddenly looked tired. "Yes, in the end it usually is my decision. Fine. You are released from your previous obligation to me and can participate."
Feeling like she scored a win bolstered her confidence. The favor she had had to grant Cyrus so long ago was finally fulfilled. Meanwhile, he owed her a favor now. She would have to call it one day. At the right moment. "Now that we have that settled, can I see Selena now?"
He nodded at Jupiter who peeled herself off the wall and took Marie by the arm not at all gently. "We'll continue this after you've seen her."
Jupiter muttered, "He's just letting you see her so you know she's safe. For now."
"I know that," Marie snapped back before she could stop.
Eyebrows shot up around the room as the women exited.
At the Champion's Hotel
"So, are you excited for the contest?" Steven asked the woman sitting across from him.
Cynthia giggled, "I heard Marie was going to be participating, so yes. I'm very excited."
"How in the world did Wallace convince her to enter and where in the world did she get five ribbons?"
"Mainly Kanto and some from Sinnoh. I think she's won one in Hoenn as well before she stopped competing." Cynthia frowned. It was her that gave Wallace Marie's ribbon case. She felt a little bad about it but Marie was always a good sport in the end. Her best friend had never explained why she had given up contests before turning to battling. Marie had also never explained why she had given up battling afterwards either. Lance had told her stories about Marie in the Indigo Plateau, how she had withdrawn from the tournament after getting to the top 20.
Steven wasn't surprised. Marie was certainly an interesting character, he had ascertained that, even though he hadn't known her as long as Cynthia had known her. He took another bite of his sandwich.
The two Champions were eating a late breakfast. Wallace had told them it would be starting at one thirty in the afternoon. It was just past eleven. The Champion's Hotel was nice because ordinary trainers couldn't come in without an invitation pass. The hotel was called the Champion's Hotel but was for Elite four members as well. Because there was a limited number of Elite Four members and Champions in the world, the hotel was also a training center for Pokémon when it wasn't being used as a hotel. Cynthia and Steven had been able to train in the mornings and afternoons when they weren't occupied.
"Wallace asked me to help judge the preliminary rounds and also possibly the following rounds if I liked," Cynthia spoke first, breaking their comfortable silence.
"But then I won't be able to sit with you!" Steven put an expression of extreme horror on his face making her smile at his reaction.
"You could always come down and judge as well. I'm sure Wallace would love to have you there."
He grimaced. The last contest he had gone to hadn't exactly been perfect.
She noticed his indecision and teased him, "Is the Champion of Hoenn afraid of contests?" She feigned surprise.
Steven had to admit, even when she was mocking him she was still adorable. "I hate to admit it, but you know what I'm not afraid of?"
Cynthia blushed as she noticed Steven's gaze travel down to her lips. She smiled ever so slightly and asked in a low voice, "What are you not afraid of Mr. Stone?"
Quick as a flash he was sitting next to her and cradling her in his arms.
She felt her blush deepen ever more and her heart begun to pound. She wound her fingers through his hair and looked into his pale turquoise eyes. Cynthia couldn't look away.
It had been awhile since they were that close. Despite his iron-tough self control, Steven could feel something stirring within him. He too felt his heart begin to quicken. Their eyes locked and he was captivated.
Cynthia bit her lip unconsciously.
That was all it took. He leaned his head down and kissed her on the mouth. Wrapping his fingers in her lush blonde hair, he deepened the kiss.
She returned all of his passion, forgetting that they were eating breakfast together in public and people might be watching. She didn't care. She knew that she loved him. She loved him so much.
The remnants of her ice cream still lingered and she tasted like strawberries and vanilla. The combination left him intoxicated. But he forced himself to stop. She looked at him with a questioning gaze.
He pulled her onto his lap. Cynthia turned her head to look at him as she absentmindedly brushed the hair from his face.
The touch sent shivers down Steven's spine. Her presence was simply heavenly. He would be happy staring at her forever. But instead, leaned in to kiss her tenderly.
Their lips met again and time seemed to stop. Cynthia felt herself melt in his arms and shape around his body as she continued the kiss. He pulled her even closer and her breath escaped as a moan. His lips were gently against hers and she knew she could always feel safe with him.
A/N: Whoops I'm a loser. Hope you enjoyed the fluffiness. I tried to stop myself, I really did, I just couldn't help it. They're so cute together! The chapter was pretty long, I hope it was okay. More is probably coming next Saturday? Please review, I'd really appreciate it (seems like I'm saying this every author's note haha).
Now moving on, has anyone seen the new Korra episode? Is it any good?
