Professor Oak and Scott,
This will probably be my last update to you before my return. I am posing the all-important question (for real this time) tomorrow, during the Feast of Thanks. Wish me luck!
-Black
The two of them stood atop a small, lonely hill on the rolling countryside, the chirping of Bug-type Pokemon echoing in their ears. Above them, the stars danced merrily as the clouds sluggishly rolled by, too lazy in the vernal-worthy winter air to do anything of substance. Shining down upon the land was the full moon, which glowed cheerily as its light pierced the murky grey blankets of clouds, shedding light upon the sleeping town of Pallet.
"The moon sure is awfully bright tonight," murmured Black, gazing serenely upon the amber wheel of cheese that glistered high in the sky. His mind was elsewhere, deep in thought and pensive intrigue as to what the future would hold for him and Red. Beside him, his normally phlegmatic companion tilted his head up a little to give Black a questioning look, which he answered with a playful jab to the side. "Hush. You're in no position to give me that sort of look, what with your being a social recluse and all."
Red flushed in embarrassment. "Sorry," he mumbled, rubbing his sore ribcage. Despite his appearance, it seemed as though Black sure knew how to pack a good wallop when he wanted to.
"Don't be. I was only kidding." The sardonically offhanded manner in which the statement was delivered earned Black an indignant punch on the shoulder. He tittered in amusement as his shoulder smarted violently. Red would need a little bit more time to adjust to living around humans, as it were. Oh well.
"We should probably set up base camp here and rest," he said. "There's no sense in bothering the locals at this late hour, and I really wanna get some more of this amazing air. Any objections?" When none came, Black reached into the fathomless depths of his messenger bag, looking for something. With an exclamation of triumph and a dramatic flourish, he produced a picnic blanket, which he spread on the grass before promptly collapsing on top of. "See you in the morning then, Red." And with that, the former champion of Unova was out like a broken light within a matter of seconds.
Red watched as the severe lines that marred Black's face slowly relaxed, opting to stay awake a short while longer. He remained standing, turning to gaze upon the illuminated rooftops of his hometown. The soft farmland air was a welcome and refreshing change from the frigid punishments of Mt. Silver. Perhaps he had been missing out on life after all. He absentmindedly took off his hat, captivated by the quaint sight.
Long-forgotten memories from time immemorial swamped his mind as the wind ruffled his free and uneven hair. He inhaled deeply, his heart somewhat torn, wondering what the morrow would hold. It had been, what, 3 or 4 years since his leave for Mt. Silver. How was he ever going to explain his reasoning to anyone? And who in their right mind would be waiting for him tomorrow? Certainly his mom, Black had mentioned Professor Oak, and that Scott guy who had set things in motion would definitely be there. Perhaps Blue would be there too. Yes, that would all be nice.
You ought to get some sleep, Mewtwo's voice urged from the murky recesses of his mind. You'll need it.
Red sighed. Mewtwo, despite being a loner by nature, had an intriguing way of caring for those near its heart. Whether it be establishing a telepathic link or dropping by to check in on his mental and emotional health, the Pokemon had made it a point to show its gratitude to its friend and savior for helping it in the past whenever the opportunity arose (if in as few words as possible). Yeah, I realized. But let me stay up a little while longer. It's been years since I properly appreciated this place and the view it has to offer.
Are you nervous? asked the Psychic type, concerned.
Perhaps a little, he confessed. I'm not certain how things will play out from here.
Mewtwo chuckled softly. Don't be. That Unova Champion has your back, whether you're aware of it or not. It's rather ironic that I'm the one telling you this, but just trust him.
Red snorted. How ironic indeed. I realized as much. Will you be watching this all unfold from the distance again?
Indeed, said Mewtwo. I too shall stand behind you, as you once did so bravely for me. Now and all the days of our lives. With that flattering oath, the biologically engineered Pokemon's presence vanished, leaving Red to think on it all alone. He wasn't quite sure when it that his eyes slipped, causing him to crumple on the waving grass from sheer exhaustion, only that Mewtwo would have a lot to answer to for knocking him out against his will (again, his slipping consciousness noted). In just retrospect, he probably needed it anyway.
When the dawn came, it was with a sudden onslaught of Pidgey that flew past the two sleeping teenagers, hollering obscenities at each other into the groggy morning light. Black got up, groaning. "Where'd the time go?" He rubbed his eyes tiredly, trying to get his bearings straight. What the―ah, right. Red. Mt. Silver. Off. Yes. Feast of Thanks. Here. Pallet. Christmas Eve. Christmas―he suddenly leaped to his feet at the thought: Another year had already gone by. Several stiff joints cracked loudly in indignation, causing him to fall face first. "Oof!" He picked himself up, wiping his face of debris as he saw Red, who was doubled over in the effort to contain his mirth at the sight of the former Champion of Unova with his head in the ground and rear in the air.
Red made several grunting sounds that resembled those of a pig's as his self-control tried to rein him in. He slowly straightened up, a tear making its way down his face as he regained his composure. Black glared at him (not altogether seriously), before carefully standing up to dust himself off. "Sorry," gasped Red. "Was funny."
Black had to admit, that was a pretty fair assessment. "No biggie," he replied. "Anyway. Let's make some breakfast and get ready, shall we?" He didn't wait for an answer, getting to work straight away. Eventually, they had between them a surprisingly nutritious sub sandwich, which was quickly done away with. Not a word was exchanged between them as they silently chewed, having opted instead to retreat to their respective mental landscapes to ponder the future.
Black silently mulled over the question of how (and when) it would be that Scott would introduce the entirety of his plans to Red. Given the size of the overview Scott had provided him with before he'd left, it could be assumed that there would be an incredibly large wave of information about to be slammed on them. If that were the case, then the Christmas dinners make for the ideal time to explain things. Well wouldn't that be fun to digest as a dessert. Come to think of it, why had Scott chosen him to spearhead Red's path to the position of Frontier Brain?
Due to the speed with which things had developed, he hadn't been able to sit down and re-examine the case on his own yet. As such, he'd written off Scott's decision to ask for his help as nothing more than the workings of the fickle finger of fate and fortune. But, now that he thought more about it, it seemed a little suspicious how convenient Scott's arrival had been. Could Scott really have a Machiavellian bone in his body? Thinking too hard again, chided the voice. Black sighed as he realized the truth in that statement, his right eye twitching in assent at the acknowledgement. If he wanted an answer that badly, he could just ask the man. Sheesh.
A beep from his Xtransceiver caught his attention. He looked down at it, wondering if it was anything of importance. Oh. It was just the hour alerting itself. The clock face read 6 A.M. For the umpteenth time that day, Black rose, this time to clean up and get ready to make their way down to Pallet Town. He offered Red a hand, which the latter obliged. "Well, Red," started Black when everything was finished. "Ready to return home, then?"
The trainer blinked at him for a second as he processed the question, mouth slightly open like an awestruck goldfish, before nodding firmly. "Mm." Black took a deep breath and made the first step downhill, slowly gaining confidence and momentum as Red followed beside him. Together, they made their way to the boundary between Pallet Town and the world, where they stopped for a moment upon arrival. The red-orange houses and their occupants snored peacefully, totally oblivious to the return of their strongest. Only the trees were awake at this hour, waving to and fro in welcome of the town's pride and joy.
Black nudged Red lightly on the side, urging him onward. The shocked boy slammed his foot onto the ground in an effort to right himself as his body leaned forward about 20 degrees. He blinked blankly, hesitation etched into the very air around him. Black could only imagine the inner turmoil that was taking place inside his head. He walked to a stop beside Red, and took a hold of his hand in an effort to help alleviate some of that conflict. The physical contact was enough to startle Red back to reality. He subconsciously jerked his hand violently from Black's grip, and stared at him, mouth agape. Black gave him a reassuring smile. "Apologies. I figured that was the fastest way to wake you up. Shall we proceed?"
They made their way painstakingly through the uneven dirt roads, their footsteps echoing in the thick tension like horse hooves on cobblestone. Black realized that they hadn't exactly discussed any potential destinations, which might lead to some aimless wanderings unless one of them took the initiative. "Shall we go see your mom first?" Red turned to look at him in question, eyebrows arched. "I think it's the least we can do for her. She's your mom after all, and deserves as much. Wouldn't you say?" Red nodded in agreement and led the way, which surprised Black a little seeing as to how the Pallet Town native hadn't seen (nor thought of, come to think of it) the place in years.
They eventually came to a stop at a white wooden fence, whose paint was slowly fading away. Black stepped aside and held his arm out in an after-you gesture. Red reached for the gate with his hand and rested it there, rubbing it back and forth, his breathing quick and shallow. With obvious effort, he closed his eyes, inhaled, and pushed it aside gradually.
The gate opened with a deplorable amount of creaking, which caused Black to wince as the disgusting noise tore through the delicate fabric of night like a sword through a spider's web. He peeked through one eye as Red's hand jerked in surprise, slamming the gate into the fence. A deafening boom broke the blissful morning silence as Black imagined every household within a mile radius flicking on their lights in fear. He made an exaggerated sigh, and lightly rested a hand on Red's shoulder, guiding him to his front door. Black knew he had to restrain himself and at least fake calmness for the Kanto Champion's sake, even though he personally was giddy beyond belief.
Both trainers looked at the slab of aged, cocoa wood for a minute, letting it all sink in. Finally, Black spoke up. "Allow me," he said. Raising a fist, he knocked thrice. Knock knock knock. Silence lay strung in the air as they waited for Hanako to open the door. Just when they were about to try again, the door flew open. Black instinctively leaped back like a cat (when was he ever going to stop doing that? he wondered in the back of his head), colliding with a confused Red, whose caught-unawares knees promptly buckled from the sudden extra weight. They both tumbled to the ground in a writhing mess of limbs as Hanako emerged, too tired even to remember her frying pan.
"Huh, hm?" she groaned, trying to rub the last vestiges of sleep from her eyes. Black shot up comically, grabbing Red, who made a small noise of protest, along the way.
"Ah! Mrs. Hanako!" he said jovially.
"Well if it isn't Black," she said, all weariness draining from her eyes. "How are you?"
Black's responding grin split from ear to ear, giving it an unsettling appearance. "Beyond perfection, ma'am." When Hanako cocked an eyebrow in a perfect imitation of Red, Black stepped aside. "I brought someone here who wanted to see you."
"Who―"
Black couldn't imagine what a sight it must have been for Hanako. Here he was, a potential associate for one of the most influential billionaires in the world, standing at her front doorstep in the wee hours of the holiday season, with a raggedy teenager who, to all appearances, must have looked like a beggar rapscallion turned on the wrong side of the road. Mother and son stared at each other for several long eternities (a few of which were wasted trying to realize just who it was they were eying), neither side exchanging a peep as they took in the sight of each other. Time seemed to stand still all around them, save for Black, who casually pulled out some Fizzy Water and took a sip. The sharp crack of the bottle opening had the desired effect, snapping the spellbound two out of their daze. They jumped, shifting a foot awkwardly. "Er," provided Black.
Hanako lifted a hand to the boy's face, brushing it, not daring to believe it was who she thought it was. "..."
Red's lips nervously curled in an attempt to provide a small smile. "Hi, mom," he said. The words, quietly uttered as they were, might as well have been the whispers of a ghost amidst a raging tempest. However, they yielded the intended outcome. Hanako's single hand was instantaneously joined by its twin, who snatched a frightened Red from his spot into her embrace. Black took another, less audible sip as he carefully observed the delicate situation before him. Tears were streaming from Hanako's clenched eyes as she practically crushed her son, refusing to let him go despite his gasps, which forced their way in between his choked sobs.
Black took a step back so as to provide mother and son with the privacy they needed. He looked around, checking for any onlookers. There was―surprise surprise!―an incredible lack of people who were awake and watching them, in spite of the ruckus that had preluded the reunion of mother and son. Black took a third sip, turning back to see how Red and Hanako were doing. Neither side had budged an inch, both still locked in a hug. However, Black was pleased to see that Red had tentatively made to reciprocate the gesture, if with only his right arm. His thunderstruck eyes were still locked in the space beyond the threshold, unfortunately, but that was okay. They were making progress, and that was all that mattered.
Having finished his Fizzy Water, Black crumpled his hand into a fist, squashing the bottle, all the while keeping his eyes on the two. A tail thwacked him in the cheek as a slight pressure appeared on his shoulder. Hiya, Mew, he said silently. Nice to have you back and joining us.
Mew mew, it murmured telepathically, responding with a mischievous flash of pink. Trainer and Legendary watched as Hanako took a step back, tilting her head a good ways to peer into her son's eyes. He was a good head taller than her now, and as such easily dwarfed her smaller frame by comparison. She reached out a hand to part his uneven bangs, clearly wanting an unobstructed view of his signature crimson irises.
"It's really you," she breathed incredulously, which earned a small pang from Black's chest. Wow, was that a reaction he was familiar with. Hanako suddenly took a step back, breathing in shakily as she did so. She turned to Black, who had managed to shuffle a good distance away from the emotionally charged atmosphere, and said, "Thank you. You will never know how grateful I am for this gift. Please, come inside."
Hanako ushered them inside quickly, taking a small peek over her shoulder before closing the door. She rushed them to the living room, and sat them down, before scurrying ecstatically to her kitchen to cook up a quick meal. Black took a look around the living room as he awaited Hanako's return.
It was almost unrecognizable from his previous visits: What was once the bare and humble space of a mourning mother had since transformed into a house of lively festivity. A brand-new Christmas tree stood on the corner closest to the window, blinking cheerily on and off. A string of holiday lights was strung up all along the house's walls, encircling its perimeter like some great serpent of myth; the floors had been freshly cleaned to a shine, squeaking with each shift of the foot. All in all a dramatic change from the place of sorrow he'd once encountered.
Red's mom re-entered the room, carrying in her hands two small plates piled high with food for each of them. Despite the quick meal he'd had earlier, Black's mouth was beginning to water again at the smell of homemade goodness and motherly care. "I can only imagine what you two ate on that horrendous mountaintop," began Hanako. "Eat up." They gladly scarfed down the delicious food without a second thought as she continued. "While you're at it, would either of you like to take a bath?" Both nodded eagerly with their mouths filled to the brim, causing Hanako to sigh mockingly. She left the room to go prepare a bath for the first one without another word to the two.
Black inhaled the rest of his food and sat back for a second to relax. "Whew. Your mom certainly makes fine provender for the ill-fed." Red continued on as if he hadn't heard a word. "I think you ought to take the first bath, considering how little you payed attention to hygiene on that mountain. I'll just rinse off after you or something." This time, the Kanto Champion looked up and nodded in thanks silently. He wiped his mouth off and made off for the bathroom, which was awaiting his arrival, staggering a little along the way. Black decided now would be a good time to call Professor Oak and Scott, who were both no doubt eagerly awaiting the news of Red's return as well.
Scott was the first to pick up the conference call, waving a hand in greeting through the screen. He hadn't changed much since the last time Black had seen him, still sporting the same vacation clothes and black sunglasses as if every day were a fun day. "Hey, Black! It's been awhile. How is everything?"
"It's all good, Scott," answered Black. "In fact, things couldn't be better."
Before Black could elaborate any further on what he meant, Professor Oak appeared, his eyes already bright and alert despite the day's youth. "Hello, Scott and Black! I trust everything is fine on your ends?" The two nodded in reply to the wizened man's question, glad to see that their third co-conspirator had decided to join them so quickly. "Is there anything I missed?"
Both Scott and Black shook their heads no. "You actually arrived just in time," said the former. "We were just getting passed the introductions and moving onto business." Scott turned to Black, addressing him with his next question. "So I take it you're at Hanako's house, then? Those Christmas lights are hard to miss."
Black looked around him as he thought about Scott's question. "Yeah, I'm in her living room. Is the decor really that outstanding though?"
The question earned him a soft chuckle from Professor Oak. "It's not altogether that distinguishing, I suppose. However, it has partially to do with the fact that we were there not a week ago, helping her set up the house for your return. Not to mention this is the first time in years that she's bothered to celebrate the holidays." Black said nothing as he let the implications sink in.
"Anyway," interrupted Scott. "Does this mean that I'm correct in supposing Red's there with you as well?" One could easily see the eagerness making its way into his posture as the question hung in the air.
"Yes," answered Black. "You missed him by a few minutes. He's upstairs washing off right now."
"Oh. I see," said Scott, obviously a little crestfallen. "Well, I suppose there's always later."
"Are you both coming over?" Black was a little surprised by that sudden change in events.
Professor Oak piped up. "Why, yes we are. As is Blue. Arceus knows Hanako would never ask us for it but we thought we'd come over and help her with the chores."
"Right now?" This early in the morning? Black thought.
The owner of the Battle Frontier confirmed the question with a nod of his head. "Hm. I'm moving to go as we speak." Sure enough, the background behind Scott was slowly changing as he made his way into what appeared to be a garage. "While I'm at it, would you like me to pick you up as well, Professor? It's the least I can do for all your help in assisting our young Black with his research materials."
"Actually, Scott," interjected Black. "I could ask Mew to pick up Professor Oak instead. If it's alright with the both of them, that is."
The Mythical Pokemon revealed itself at the mention of its name, waving its short arms wildly in greeting as it flew all over the place, which earned it smiles from both of Black's elders. "Me-ew!"
"Why hello there, Mew!" said Professor Oak. "How are you?" The silly Psychic type used Transform to change its face into a perfect imitation of Scott's, pulling on its cheeks as it did so.
Black smacked Mew lightly upside the head, trying to refocus it. "He asked how you were, not whether you'd learned any new tricks," he reprimanded it, though amusement twinkled in his eyes. Mew glared daggers at him, before turning back to Professor Oak and nodding sheepishly, which caused the researcher to chuckle. "So, Professor, my offer still stands. Would you still like to fly Mew Airlines?"
"As long as it's fine with Mew," he replied. The Mythical Pokemon couldn't nod its head fast enough in response to the statement. "Though, might I ask why it is Mew isn't picking you up, Scott?"
Scott scratched his nose with a finger as he gave a small smile. "Well, see, I think Black is better suited to answer that question for you."
"It's because of the limitations of Mew's Teleport," Black answered simply with a shrug. "Mew can only travel to locations that either it or I know well enough to share telepathically. And, although Mew could travel to Scott by using him as an anchor of sorts to track down his location, it'd be impossible to return once they left since neither Mew nor I know it well enough to Teleport back. It's kind of like the difference between being told where a book is in an expansive, three-building library and knowing where it is like the back of your hand. You need some kind of aid for former while the latter can be constantly revisited at any time."
"I see. Very well. Let me get outside and you can send Mew over." Professor Oak got up, getting ready to shut off his connection. "I'll see you all soon, then!"
"See ya, Professor," waved Scott. "Actually, I have to get going too. I'll be there in about an hour. Later, Black!" Scott's and Oak's sides of the call both went dark as they left to get ready to come over. Black turned to Mew and nodded. The Mythical Pokemon vanished and reappeared a moment later outside the door with Professor Oak in tow. The researcher walked up to the door and tapped it lightly, patiently waiting as Hanako made her way to let him in.
"Who is it?" she asked, looking at Black, who merely shrugged. She turned the nob, pushing it open as she peered out. "Oh, Professor! What a surprise to see you up and about so early in the morning."
Professor Oak nodded, awkwardly scratching his head. "Why, yes. Hello to you too, Hanako! May I come in?" Black watched with amusement as Hanako moved aside in a daze to let the famous researcher through, with Mew at his tail. "And I see you're back as well, Black."
The trainer stood up and tipped his hat in greeting. "It's great to finally see you in person again, Professor." Mew appeared beside his shoulder, waving genially at Professor Oak.
"Thank you," replied Professor Oak. "It too is a pleasure to see you after all those long months. How is Red?"
At that moment, the former mountain hermit walked in, confusion written all over his face. He had a towel in one hand, which he was using to tousle his still-wet hair. In his other rested his signature cap, which Black was certain he was planning on donning after he was done drying his head. Red had since changed into a new attire that heavily contrasted with his previous clothes. Where the other had at least contained a faint glimmer of style and personality to it, the new, form-fitting, white T-shirt; immaculate blue jeans, and sleeveless black jacket said absolutely nothing about who Red was as a person and trainer.
Red's figure visibly stiffened at the small gathering of people, despite it only being filled with friends and family. His eyes instantly filled with fear for a second as they frantically darted about the room, eventually coming to rest on Black, who had his head cocked slightly to the right in perplexity. Black tried to send Red some reassurance as he asked him All is well? With his eyes. The Pallet Town native's shoulders slowly slumped as the tension drained out of him, leaving relief in its place. Black scooted over to make room for Red, who reluctantly took a seat beside the former Unova Champion.
"Hello, Red," began Professor Oak. "I see you're doing rather well."
"Thank you," whispered Red, nodding slightly. He smiled politely at Professor Oak for a brief moment, before going mute and expressionless again. The four of them sat there in awkward silence for a while as they all faced each other, too hesitant to make a move.
Above them, Mew gently rocked back and forth nonchalantly in the air as it quietly murmured to itself. "Mew, mew, mew, mew," it whispered.
Finally, Professor Oak decided to break the tension by resolutely clearing his throat. "Erm. So. Hanako, is there anything you'd like help with today?"
Hanako snapped her head up in surprise. "Hm? What? Oh yes! Could you please go and vacuum around the house? I'd like it cleaned up before tonight."
Black glanced over at Red in apology before leaping to his feet. "Right! The two of us can lend a hand in the kitchens while we're waiting for Scott." Black stopped for a moment to inspirit Red, who hadn't budged an inch from his spot on the couch. The Kanto Champion was staring at him as if he'd lost his marbles. "C'mon! You'll be perfectly fine, Red. It's not like you're fighting for your life. And besides, I'll be there to help you. Just show us the recipes, Hanako." Without giving Red a chance to argue, Black grabbed his wrist and dragged him inside the kitchen, astounding everyone present with his hidden strength.
Above him, Mew was beside itself with laughter, pointing at the two like some overgrown, pink elf as it relished the sarcasm that made up Black's assessment of the situation. Black mentally shot it an epileptic barrage of colors before leaving, not even staying behind to savour the choked cough it let out upon receiving the rainbow barrage.
Red wheeled on Black the moment the two of them had made their way into the kitchen and settled down a little. Black faltered under the scorching gaze blazing on Red's visage, holding up his hands in a placating gesture as he sternly said, "Now, Red. Do you really think you would have been better off awkwardly sitting alone in the living room while everyone hurried to work around you?"
Red continued to glare at him before sighing in resignation at Black's infallible logic. Despite his distaste for people, the stoic trainer would be even more ill at ease sitting alone uselessly with working company. At least here he'd have someone he knew well to deflect attention.
Black sighed, slightly worn out by his little outgoing performance as Hanako walked in. He hurriedly leaped off the island counter he'd been sitting on as she approached them. "I'd like to thank you two for offering your help. It really does mean a lot to me."
"It's not a problem at all, Mrs. Hanako," replied Black. "Do you already have any dishes in mind?"
Hanako's response to Black's question came out muffled as she busily shuffled around the contents of an overhead cabinet, looking for something. "As a matter of fact, I do. Let me find the―aha! Could either of you pull that book over there out for me? I can't quite reach it."
Mew hurried forward before either of them could step up. It quickly used Psychic, surrounding itself and, presumably, Hanako's book in a royal blue aura as it levitated the book out. Black held out his hands, which Mew lightly dropped the book onto. He was taken aback by the book's great weight, despite its misleadingly small appearance (it happened to be about the size of what a book belonging to a seven-novel series would look like, if ever such a thing existed). The dust on its aged surface exploded everywhere, causing Black's nose to itch. He hurriedly placed it on the counter-top, before promptly exploding into a sneezing fit.
Hanako patiently waited until he'd calmed down, and then began to explain. "See those tabs sticking out of the book?" She pointed to indicate as such. "The red ones are the ones I usually make for Christmas. I'd like you to prepare those dishes, as well as 2 or 3 of the yellow desserts too. You may choose whatever you'd like for those."
Black quietly gulped when he saw the number of items Hanako had selected. There had to be at least 12 different dishes total (counting the desserts) that she had requested. If they were going to cook this elaborate feast, he had to at least try and see if his request would be accepted. "Hold on, Mrs. Hanako. Would it be alright if we used our Pokemon to help out with the cooking?"
Hanako's eyebrow arched in an unnatural angle as she considered the circumstances surrounding the question. "In this tight space?" she asked apprehensively.
"Surely there's a backyard where we can set up a prepping station," he countered.
"And their expertise?"
"Only as good as the trainers who raised them."
The two of them stared each other down for several, tense seconds as they waited for one or the other to give and crack up with laughter. "Fine," sighed Hanako at long last. "But only if you all clean up first! I expect pristine hands before any of you are to handle food!"
Black hurried to thank her, beaming all the while. "Nothing a small Rain Dance and liberal amounts of soap never fixed! Thank you, Mrs. Hanako!"
She winced at the thought. "Which reminds me. I'll have to go buy the necessary ingredients and some soap from the next city over if we're ever going to make something of this grandiose level."
Red spoke up. "I'll pay," he said quietly, much to everyone's astonishment. He flushed, pulling down his hat to hide the scarlet that was rapidly curling its way up his neck and face. "I―... leftover money," he finally mumbled.
It took Black a second to realize what he meant. "Oh. He's referring to the small fortune people tend to amass once they've become Champion," he explained. "You should be able to withdraw some money from a nearby Pokemon Center with his Trainer Card and some kind of verification." Hanako said nothing as she took in the information and the Trainer Card Black snatched from Red. "I'm sure Mew could take you to the Viridian City Pokemon Center, since I know the place pretty well." He turned to address the spectating Psychic type, who had been entertaining itself by opening and closing the cupboards until now. "Will you please accompany Hanako on her shopping trip?"
Mew's head looked like it was about to fall off its shoulders as it bobbed its head up and down. "Mew! Mew!" Without even giving them another chance to say anything else, it clasped Hanako's right hand with both of its own, shook it, and Teleported.
"Wait!" Black called out in vain as they disappeared, leaving him to extend his arm out pointlessly. Hanako doesn't even know what she needs to buy yet! He told the Mythical Pokemon mentally.
A swirl of shamrock, porcelain, and chocolate appeared in his mind's eye in reply. Black snorted internally. Hogwash. You expect her to be able to remember the lists I read to you? He suddenly had a very vivid image of Mew rolling its eyes at the sky, murmuring to itself some incredibly unflattering things about a certain someone. Hey, don't take that tone with me, now. He winced as Mew mentally mumbled something else about how this is what Red felt like whenever he was around him. Arceus―fine. I concede elegant defeat. If you'll stop doing that, I'll write the bloody list down for you to take to Hanako.
A smug "I'm waiting" type silence filled his mental landscape as Black realized Mew was waiting on something. Yes, he begrudgingly thought. All of it.