A/N: Head!canon time! Pokemon rangers are sort of half animal control, half state trooper. And I have no idea where Bianca's plan came from. I'm writing what's going to happen and suddenly she decides to go all Inigo Montoya on my ass. WTF, brain!
Chapter 7: Hilbert
Hilbert's condensed breath joined the gathering fog as he rushed down the road. At the end of the cobbled path stood the ranger station for Route 2. The swirling fog didn't damper the harsh yellow light lancing from the lamppost that stood on guard, marking the path to the station.
As he approached the building, Hilbert could see a lumpy mass perched on the surrounding low, stone fence. The closer he got, the more distinct the shapes became. It was Bianca. She sat on top of the fence, her knees curled up to rest under her chin and her skirt pooling around her. Her right hand was buried in her lillipup's fur and constantly moved in soothing circles. He wasn't sure if the 'soothing' part was for her or Lillipup.
She sniffled again as Hilbert rushed to her. "I just found out," Hilbert said he neared. "Mom called me on the cross-transceiver and I- I couldn't believe what she said." Hilbert's tangle of limbs poured onto the fence beside her. "Is Cheren really-are you alright? Do you need a hug?"
Bianca looked up at him and he could see the dried tear stains on her cheeks. Whatever tears she had, had run out a while ago. "Yes. No. Yes, please."
Hilbert leaned over Lillipup and wrapped his arms around the shaking girl. They sat like that for several minutes as Bianca's shaking became less and less pronounced. He reached up and adjusted her hat, which, had been knocked askew sometime before he arrived.
Hilbert tried to talk, but his voice couldn't form sounds. He took a deep breath, swallowed past the lump in his throat and tried again. "I- I know a guy. Well, the family knows. Actually, my mom knows him. But I can ask her to ask him if he would help."
Bianca's eyes grew wide. "Really?" she asked. "Who?" The reflected lamplight grew softer, becoming more candle than blazing torch.
"It's my dad's old partner. And I'm not promising anything, but I can ask him and see what he'll do."
Bianca shifted, dropping her legs down off of the top of the fence and leaned into Hilbert's side. "That would be wonderful," She giggled softly. The giggles became full on laughs which grew a pained quality and turned to renewed sobs. "Cheren would be complaining right now, I'm sure of it. Something about 'due process of law', or 'chain of command' or some shite like that."
An aside glance to Bianca. Did she just curse?
Bianca grabbed the bag sitting beside her and began to dig in it. "You know Ranger Arakawa didn't find any evidence of Cheren's pokemon at his-at his grave."
"So?"
"I think Team Plasma took them." Hilbert really looked at Bianca's face. None of her tells showed; she believed what she was saying. The dancing light in her eyes reverted back to the flaming torch.
Bianca pulled Cheren's journal out from her bag and flipped to a set of pages marked with a royal blue bookmark. She stabbed the page with her finger. Scribbled there was a note 'tt Hils re eggs'.
"Do you remember Team Plasma's presentation? They talked about liberating some pokemon eggs and they had an oshawott. I think the eggs were those referenced here and I'm going to prove it!" The vehemence in the last sentence was staggering. Bianca Jones was growing a backbone.
"They won't let the general public near them," Hilbert countered, trying to make Bianca see sense. "You'd have to-"
"Have to not be part of the general public," finished Bianca. "I know. I'm going to join Team Plasma."
"Bianca, don't be stupid!" Hilbert pleaded sharply. His voice sliced through the foggy air to land on a flinching Bianca. "Cheren's gone, you don't have to throw your life away as well!"
Bianca set her mouth into a thin line and spoke softly , but clearly. "Cheren was my first friend. He was my only friend until you and Hilda showed up. He believed in me and I will not let him just sit there and rot unavenged." She swallowed and looked Hilbert straight in the eyes. "If you could tell Papa where I am, I would be grateful," she said in her ice-voice.
Hilbert's mouth opened and closed like a basculin, but no words came out. Him, go against her father, who could freak even the most stoic guy out with just a look? This, Hilbert knew, would not end well. "I don't know how," he finally admitted.
"It's simple," said Bianca. "Papa has always been calling me a bleeding heart. If I were to join a group dedicated to pokemon rights and to helping them, it would only seem natural, right?"
"...Okay. Do you need me to do anything else?"
Bianca shook her head no.