o.0.o.0.o
The Adventure Saga
The Truth Behind Us
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Start Date: June 2nd, X017
Current Date: August 5th, X018
o.0.o.0.o
Hilda adjusted the tie around her neck, heat traveling up her neck as she suddenly felt like a pokémon in a trap. She stood at a podium, wearing a fancy black pantsuit with a white pin on her jacket. Before her was a massive crowd of people and reporters from every major news station in Unova pointing their cameras at her. All of them waited with baited breath, with great anticipation on what she, the new Champion, would have to say.
It's almost like I'm being mocked, how could the weather be so damn nice?
The sun shone down through the clear blue sky, a relaxing breeze cooling off everyone standing at attention, staring at her. Behind her was the Pokémon League, and behind that was Team Plasma's castle. Hilda stared down at the scribbled index cards, cursing her nervous hand. Letting out a sigh, she adjusted the microphone.
"You know, they had me try to prepare something to say today," Hilda held up her index cards for emphasis. "… But I was such a nervous wreck trying to figure out what to say, I can't even read my own damn- ahem, darn notes."
Flippantly, she tossed the cards over her shoulder and crossed her arms.
"Guess I'm winging it. Granted, this speech was supposed to take place after I beat N, but in case y'all haven't noticed, things have hardly been conventional, have they? But hey, five months later is better than nothing at all, right?"
She cracked a smile, but was met with silence. Great.
"So a lot of you probably know who I am, but I guess I should state it. I'm Hilda White, some of you probably heard me go by my fathers name, Veritas, too. And yeah, I'm your Champion. See, I would've given this speech way back when, but retroactively, I had a massive mess to clean up with the fall of Team Plasma. Turns out, five months to actually experience and search through their castle makes you think about some things."
Murmurs echoed in the crowd as she brought that up. Hilda pursed her lips. Knowing that whatever she said, probably wouldn't be met with massive approval simply because of her age alone. But…
"See, when I started this journey, having just turned sixteen myself and ready to conquer the championship, I quite literally never imagined the sh- stuff I would have to go through to get here. Don't get me wrong, I always knew I'd be talking to all of you like this, but the stepping stones to get there?" Hilda rubbed her temple with closed eyes. "Lets just say it was one hell of a ride."
Lifting her head, she continued.
"I'm aware of what people think of me. I'm aware of my own shortcomings. So I'm sure you're wondering what some seventeen-year-old, overly emotional, egotistical teenager is going to help this country thrive. See, I'm a very "in the moment" type of person. I'm not good at planning ahead. But traveling through Unova, battling Team Plasma, meeting pokémon defeating N and ultimately Ghetsis, I've come to realize some things." she inhaled. "Unova, we need some work."
That caused a sea of murmurs as people began to look back and forth at one another. Hilda reached into her back pocket, pulling out a small booklet.
"I've been helping with the Team Plasma investigation. This," she slapped her other hand against the booklet. "Was N's journal. Yes, N, the King of Team Plasma. First off, I consider N a victim. He was a victim to Ghetsis as much as I, my friends, as many people in Unova were. Ghetsis is the bad guy here, and downright, it is a crime in as of itself that he lived, but N is gone. All N ever wanted was a better Unova. Ghetsis just had him down the path that was literally the worst possible for achieving it. A lot of you might not understand where I'm coming from, but N… he wasn't a bad guy. But I was like you! Blinded by my anger at his accusations, at his words, because a lot of us probably thought the same thing; not me! I'm not bad to my pokémon! But this journal…"
Hilda trailed off, flipping through the pages until she came to a stop.
"All of these entries… They make a decent point. Unova isn't a bad country. We're great! But N could see the cracks that caused countless pokémon to get hurt. At his core, based on these journals, all he really wanted was for us to live a more harmonious existence with pokémon. He wanted to make Unova a utopia, but went about it in the wrong way. He was manipulated, and along the way he closed his heart to the truth. He thought the only way to make Unova perfect was for pokémon and humans to be separated, black and white. He couldn't see or believe that we need each other to coexist. And I think that I, like everyone else, was unwilling to think about an ideal because we were literally presented with the most extreme of extremes. As you know…"
Hilda trailed off, placing the journal down as she took a deep breath.
"N is no longer with us. But before he left, I made a promise to him. I promised I wouldn't give up my truth, but also not forget his ideals. So that's the motto I'm living by moving forward, as Champion. I will make Unova a utopia the twin heroes could agree on! But it will take time, and I can't do it alone. You guys- Everyone…"
She trailed off as the murmuring suddenly became talking, the people ignoring her, the reporters asking questions, the public distracted. Hilda felt her anger rising, annoyance turning to irritation as rumors seemed to fly. Team Plasma sympathizer this, unworthy champion that, maybe Ghetsis was right, how will this girl help to lead that…
"HEY!"
Her bellow echoed across the crowd as her fists slammed into the podium. The microphone screeched from feedback, and everyone seemed to flinch, yelping under the loud shriek of the sound. Hilda herself stepped back, eyes squeezed shut. For a single moment, the entire crowd was quiet.
"Yeah. Yep, that was a little too loud. But come on, people. I'm trying to be flowery to sound good, 'be professional'," she put air quotes around it, definitely in a mocking manner. "But guess I need to state it plainly." Hilda shook her head with a sigh as her hand ran down her face. Lifting her head, she knew her glare was projected across Unova. "Get. Your shit. Together! Don't you want to be your best self? Don't you want this country to be the best it can be for yourself, and if not for that, for your families and friends? Don't you want our pokémon companions to be the happiest they can be? Listen, I almost fucking died…"
Hilda paused, counting on her fingers.
"… At least a couple times fighting to prove that truth! That humans and pokémon can coexist! But this country was built not just on truths, but on ideals too! I've spent the last five months busting my ass alongside our president, our gym leaders, our Elite Four, to prove what I was just trying to explain! Unova can be better! So it's up to us to make it better! If you can't do it for yourself, or do it for your families,"
Thrusting out her arm, she pointed at the crowd.
"Then do it for your pokémon, the ones you have and the ones you haven't met yet!"
Her words echoed, silence falling over the crowd as cameras flashed. Hilda pursed her lips, annoyed at the reporters, then pulled her arm back, throwing it back and gesturing at the castle.
"As you can see, Drayden and myself decided to not tear down Team Plasma's castle! This is partially due to an ongoing investigation, but this is also because I plan on using the castle. These past couple months, part of my job is using my gifts to reunite stolen and released pokémon with their owners. But some of the pokémon… Didn't want to leave. N had carefully crafted a sanctuary on the bottom floor of the castle. A place for the suffering pokémon to be safe and happy. Once repairs are through, this entire castle will be a sanctuary for pokémon. Where we can help the suffering by any means necessary. Where we will teach people how to better help pokémon, both domesticated and wild!"
She exhaled, lowering her arm.
"Of course, to create a world fit for two wildly different views as that of the two original kings of Unova… It's not gonna happen like that," she snapped her fingers for emphasis. "But I want to see the world N wrote about in his journals. I don't want to hear another wounded cry from a pokémon. I'm going to go beyond fixing the mess Team Plasma caused, because I don't break my Reshiram-damned promises! I will not loose a single battle until I feel Unova is a country that will never forget my truth or N's ideals! And furthermore,"
She lifted her head, high and proud.
"I'm going to work my ass off right alongside everyone else."
"Wooooo! Go Hilda!"
Hilda's expression faltered as Bianca whooped, clapping furiously alongside Cheren and Black. In the very front were the gym leaders, who followed suit.
… Was that a confetti popper that Burgh just brought out? Skyla too…?
The artist continued to wave his streamers in the air. Slowly, like a drop of water in a pond, the clapping extended outwards. Some, Hilda was sure, was only doing it out of politeness, but she really hoped that they heard her, and would support her ambitions, as big as they are.
Letting out a sigh, she turned on her heel and walked back behind the curtain. She knew she was supposed to participate in an interview after this, but she felt as if she got her point across in her speech.
The curtain swished behind her as she made her exit.
o.0.o.0.o
Hilda shut the door to the banquet hall, letting out a sigh as she undid her tie and let it dangle around her neck.
After her speech, she had to attend a big old stupid banquet dinner at a rather prestigious hotel in Opelucid City. In attendance was the gym leaders, but the big, bad, important people of Unova. Hilariously enough, Bianca's father was also in attendance, trying to butter her up and be chummy chummy with her, as if Hilda had forgotten entirely about how much of an ass he was.
All she had to do was ask if he had met Miss Bianca Wayland and oh, did you hear the rumor that she was engaged to a certain Cheren Haku? That caused Josiah to turn an odd shade of green and red, and he scurried away like a pokémon with its tail between its legs.
It was satisfying as fuck to put that bastard in his place, even if Bianca did a much better job by completely slicing any strings that bound her to him. Would it be maliciously petty if she decided to go with a smaller competitor for steel and supplies for any construction projects moving forward?
Shoving her bangs off her forehead, she felt the risen flesh of the scar that stretched from her eyebrow to the top of her forehead. All this socialite garbage was a pain in the ass. Smiling and socializing and saying the right thing. Fucking exhausting. She became Champion to challenge the best of the best, but thinking about it…
"Oh, so you're hiding out here rather than mingling with the elite of Unova?"
"Oh, look, a thorn." Hilda rose, a humored smirk on her face. "Why am I not surprise you're the one who tracked me down?"
Black smiled, hair somewhat smoothed down, but still trying to spring up here and there. He was in a nice navy tux with a white tie. He extended a glass in his hand to her. Hilda glanced at it.
"It's water." Black clarified. "You and I are still underage anyways."
"Old enough to hold political power but not old enough to drink." Hilda sighed, taking the glass and holding it aloft. "Cheers."
Cheekily, Black's glass clinked with hers.
"Let's walk, I need to get away from all this noise." Hilda rubbed the back of her neck. "I didn't originally think being Champion would be so goddamned political."
"No? I thought it was common knowledge that Champions hold political power. From what I heard, it's why Lyra refused the position when she defeated Lance, and why Kanto is leaning more heavily on the other dexholders, since Leaf refuses to come down from the mountain."
"I thought it would be like, you know… how Lyra and Silver describe being a dexholders as. Keep up public appearances, be there to defend, represent and don't commit a crime, stuff like that."Hilda sighed. "It's a lot more. And a lot of biting your tongue. And a lot of smiling."
"Yes, well, at least you got a bit of a break for Drayden to ease you into it." Black gave her a reassuring grin. "I don't think you're doing to terrible. Just be careful to not massively allocate funds so it looks like you're choosing favorites in terms of causes and cities."
"I know, but that's literally just my allowance. I need to use that to pay off my moms medical debt first. Perk one, by the way, government health insurance, for me and my family. Unfortunately, it doesn't cover my families medical debt. Outside of my allowance, I can't do much of anything without Drayden signing off on it first."
"How's your mom doing, by the way?"
"Now that she's not wracking up debt in that old folks home? Fantastic." Hilda took a sip of her water. "I can't believe they put her in there while I was drugged up in the hospital, like what the fuck? I should sue 'em, there's no way my dad signed off on that, and I know I couldn't since, you know, I was fucking dying. But that sounds like something she needs to be a part of, and right now, Professor Juniper is looking after her in her apartment."
Hilda rubbed her temple.
"All because she's in a wheelchair and can't afford the hospital anymore. Fuck, that's another thing I need to think about with the castle. No way my mom could roll her wheelchair around there. Gotta make it handicap-accessible."
"Oh, you're going to move her in there?"
"Yeah, my plan is for her to run it. Or represent me when I can't be around to have a say." Hilda finished off the water. Unsure what to do with the empty glass, she not to subtly placed it on a decorative table, then continued on. "I know it might look bad to the public, but my mom used to work and manage Flocessy Ranch when she was younger. She might not be able to wrangle anymore, but what better person to raise up the most vulnerable pokémon in Unova than the woman who brought me up herself? She's firm but fair. I trust her with the world, I know she won't let me down."
"Seems that's the second dream off your checklist," Black noted, nudging open a set of terrace doors that lead to a balcony. The night air was cool and refreshing as Hilda stepped outside beside him. "Become champion, buy your mom a home…"
"I think I blew dream number two out of the water," Hilda chuckled to herself. "My mom is going to flip when she hears I got her a whole damn castle and a career. But still," Hilda sighed, leaning on the railing. "Pros and cons to this. Sure, I made my dreams come true, but I've got people buttering me up now, wanting me to give my opinion on all sorts of bullshit I never thought was relevant before."
"Well, your word has a bit of sway now. People are desperate to know what you think about every little topic. And…" Black trailed off. "… I know you're smart, but don't let people take advantage of you because they think you're young and dumb."
"I know," Hilda rose her head, laughing. "I might be young, but I'm not going to let some asshole corner me. Besides, I have enough experience with you," she nudged his arm with his elbow. "Having a conversation with you is like a stupid fucking dance sometimes. Which I also hate."
"Dancing, or conversing with me?"
"Mmm… both. At least… at the beginning." Hilda grinned. "But talking to you has gotten a lot easier. Still hate dancing though."
"Well, then lets stop dancing around the subject." Black perching on the railing, crossing his arms with a cocky smirk. "It's been a bit since our bet ended. Don't I get an answer, Hilda?"
"So this was all a ploy to lure me out here." Hilda shook her head, but her smile didn't falter. "I should've known."
"Well, I wouldn't call it a ploy, but hey, the conversation transition was to perfect for me to miss it."
"It was pretty smooth, I will give you that." Hilda lifted her gaze. "Man… You know, I never took the time to realize how pretty the stars are."
Black tilted his head back too, humming in agreement. Though it was almost as if someone swiped silver glitter across a navy backdrop, each star sparkled with its own personal shine. Unique to itself alone.
"It's not as if I need to hear the 'I love you' right away, you know." Black continued with the subject at hand. "But I think… maybe you should tie up this plot line before you open a new chapter of your life, Hilda."
"You're just not gonna let this go, are you?"
"Well, you know my track record at this point, I'm not one to simply 'let things go'."
"I suppose not." Hilda lowered her gaze, eyes closing as she exhaled. "The question at hand… Do I love you, Black?"
She could feel Black's gaze on her, waiting. Hilda exhaled, stood straight, and met his gaze.
"I don't know."
"…What?" Black asked after a brief pause. "You don't… know?"
"Yep," Hilda crossed her arms, lowering her chin as she continued to think. "I still don't know how to define the feelings I have for you. I know that you're a dear friend. I know that I really do… Hmm, I guess I'll take a page from Lyra's book and say I treasure you and the time we spent together. But love… I don't know. I never loved anyone like that, and honestly…"
Hilda lifted her head, meeting his gaze firmly.
"Black- No, Touya, do you really think deepening our relationship is the best thing for us right now?"
Black's eyes shot open wide, lips parting slightly. Closing his mouth, he averted his gaze, a frown on his face.
"Aw, don't give me that simpering look," Hilda crossed her arms with a sigh. "Listen… you and I, we've been through shit. And I think you know the shit you've been through has been a lot worse than the shit I've been through. Do you know what else my government allowance is going towards?"
"No. But I have a feeling I know where this is going." Black sighed, turning around and leaning on the railing. "… It's not that easy for me to talk about my situation, Hilda. Especially considering who my father is… it could put the international police in jeopardy."
"Yeah, but it's not as if you wouldn't benefit from therapy or something, Black. Besides, you're also out of a career right now." Hilda walked up next to him. "I know Brycen offered to take you under his wing. He's been pestering me about it since you haven't called him back."
Black let out a sigh, averting his gaze. Hilda frowned slightly, placing her hand over his.
"I'm not saying that what you're looking for with me is impossible," Hilda explained. "Maybe one day, you and I could have a relationship like that. But not today. Not now. I don't think it would be healthy, for you or me, to jump into something like this. We need to focus on establishing ourselves, getting on even ground. I want you to put your health and happiness before mine, Touya. Do you understand?"
"… I do. I know what I have to do, but…"
He trailed off, lowering his gaze. Hilda was quiet as his anxiety seemed to become palpable. Gently, she wrapped an arm around his back, squeezing him.
"No matter what happens or how we end up, if you call my name or need my help, I'll come running."
"Heh," Black chuckled to himself. "I thought one of your 'knights' was supposed to do that for the lady."
"Yeah, but that's what a 'king' does for her people." Hilda grinned, going along with the charade as Black wrapped one of his arms around her, squeezing the opposite shoulder. "… We'll be okay, you know that, right?"
"Well, if you say it, I'm inclined to believe it."
Black smiled at her, but when she lifted her head to meet his gaze, he abruptly looked away. Hilda had a feeling that he was sad about what she had said, but…
I'm thankful he's handling this, at least, with grace.
o.0.o.0.o
Shortly after the conversation, Hilda was whisked away by Iris as Drayden wanted to talk to her about something. She argued, but Black insisted she go. Duty calls, after all! This left Black alone on the balcony.
Melancholy was probably the best way to describe his mood right now. He knew he shouldn't have expected Hilda to swoon, and he should count himself lucky that Hilda was willing to give him a chance in the future. But he still felt a little bitter. The entire feeling overall was bittersweet, and a small part of him wanted to scold himself for feeling so selfish. But his heart still stung, in a lonely sort of way.
Hilda was right. She went through hell and back and is still drastically adjusting to being the Champion. He knew it took a lot for someone like her to admit that she was getting help. And deep down, he knew for a while that he couldn't continue to deal with his issues on his own.
I don't wanna watch you fucking die… I don't want anyone to die!
"Thanks, brain, for popping up that memory," Black sighed, running a hand down his face as Hilda's voice from his suicide attempt echoed in his mind.
Hilda was right. He needed help.
Slowly, he drifted inside and down the hallway. The door to the banquet room was open, and he saw Hilda talking to some bigwig in a suit. She looked miserable, complete with the most forced, strained smile he's ever seen on a person.
"Oh. You. I did not expect someone like you would get overwhelmed by a crowd like this easily."
Black turned around, and saw Brycen staring at him with his default, stoney expression. Black blinked, then smiled.
"Oh, I don't, Brycen, but even I need a little bit of air every once in a while. Thinking about it," Black slipped his hands into his pockets, smiling. "You're just the man I wanted to talk to."
"I've been meaning to speak to you as well." Brycen crossed his arms. "You haven't returned my calls nor tried to contact me. What are you feeling in regards to my proposition?"
"Well, with all this drama going on," Black waved his hand in the air. "Becoming a world-class actor hasn't really been on my mind. But thinking about it now… I'm near broke and almost out of money. So what're we looking at in terms of prospects?"
"Well, first I'll need to coach you, and then we can talk about heading to Virbank City and Pokéstar Studios to get you in a production. Of course," Brycen met his gaze. "The training will be intensive, as you can make just as much money as a stunt double if not more. But I will provide you free room and board should the need allow."
"Sounds great." Black smiled. In the back of his mind, he thought of his father, and additionally thought of how whatever Brycen concocted couldn't be at all worse than what he had gone through then.
"I do not want to see you slacking off, Black. I do not openly offer this position to just anyone."
"It's a good thing I have something worth working hard for, then." Black smiled. Brycen blinked, then lowered his head.
"It is good to have ambition, but you should work hard to satisfy yourself rather than someone else."
Even though his voice was monotone and his expression was blank, Black could tell, somehow, that Brycen was pleased with his answer. As Brycen walked past him to get back to the banquet, Black spoke.
"Hey Brycen, you mentioned you tried, like… therapy for your condition, right?"
"I had." Black could feel Brycen's gaze on him. "It is ongoing, in fact."
"Do you think you could recommend me one? Or get me in contact with somebody?"
Brycen was quiet.
"For what, exactly?"
Childhood abuse and trauma, divorce, suicidal tendencies, possible PTSD and depression…
"… Let's start with anxiety." Black settled on saying. It wasn't exactly a lie, but Black was certain he could list off a million possible problems that he needed help with… but figuring out how to deal with that degrading little voice in the back of his head would probably be a good start.
"… Very well. I'm sure I can find someone who will be able to work with you."
With that, the two went back inside the hall, Brycen cutting to the left to speak to Drayden, while Black made his way to Hilda. She was enthusiastically talking to Clay, with Bianca and Cheren chipping in every once in a while. As he got closer, he heard her speaking of a grand stadium being built in Driftiviel, where powerful trainers from all over the world could come to battle, an exclusive tournament hall specifically for Unova.
Looks like the politics stuff was a little overwhelming. Hilda just wants to ensure there's still a place she can go for thrilling battles.
He smiled to himself, then slid into the conversation. In the end, it was okay if Hilda ultimately couldn't come to accept how he felt, irregardless of how hard of a pill that was to swallow. He should just count himself lucky that Hilda wanted to remain his friend after everything. Maybe one day, there could be something more, and even if it was bittersweet right now…
She glanced at him and smiled. He nodded back and returned the expression.
I'll make myself better, just like you asked all of Unova too. If it's not for myself, then I'll do it so one day, I can consider myself worthy to have been allowed to stand by your side.
o.0.o.0.o
In the end, Unova wasn't going to change overnight. I knew that the moment I took the mantle of Champion. But I won't drag my feet, and I won't pretend anymore.
N… Vale…
Bianca… Cheren…
Black… And all my pokémon…
I won't forget everything you've done to get me this far. I will not let the hardship and the suffering you endured, partially on my behalf, be in vain. Until Unova is what N and I dreamed it could be… I will not loose the title of Champion. So watch out, world. I already denied my so-called destiny as the hero who is destined to kill her counterpart. Now…
I will forge my own path.
o.0.o.0.o
The Adventure Saga;
The Truth Behind Us
~Fin~
o.0.o.0.o
Ethan was frantically throwing things around in his room in his grandparents house, shoving his hat off his head as he glanced around his cluttered area. Unable to find what he was searching for, he let out a dejected sigh.
He had been living with his grandparents since the announcement of his title, helping with his grandparents daycare in order to take it over once he understood more than just how to care for the pokémon. It was the dream life, for him, even if it now felt like he was missing out on the action that Lyra and Silver got to experience.
But, he was doing what he loved. Raising pokémon in a healthy, safe environment. Unfortunately, the magnum opus of his past year was… missing in action.
Settling into his desk chair, he swiveled back and forth, trying to dig into the recesses of his memory. Where the heck he put that pokéball…?
"Ethan," Krystal knocked on his door. Her politeness, to an extent, was amusing. Her girlfriend status aside, he had an open door policy for a reason. Krystals nose immediately scrunched at the sight of the disorganization. Stooping down, she scooped up some papers. "… What happened? Did your desk explode or something?"
"I mean, if the explosion was me, then yeah." he sighed, glancing around again. "I know that May is stopping in before she has to go, and I'm trying to find my goodbye present but…"
Ethan trailed off, stomach twinging a little at the idea he had lost it.
May lived in Goldenrod, in one of the high rise apartments, and he knew she was around his age, but a little younger than him. They were… something like childhood friends. Or rather, she was always around whenever he was around as a kid, visiting his grandparents.
She didn't really talk much, and she never really wanted to play with him either. May would just glare at him, or brush him off and go back to staring at the pokémon. Ethan originally thought she was really weird, but his grandparents chastised him for being rude.
May would come to the Pokémon Daycare to study pokémon. Not for any scientific reason… Really, Ethan didn't know what she was studying, but she would just sit in the corner and watch the pokémon with a very intense look on her face. She wasn't a bother, and became something of a staple in the daycare… To the point where his grandmother knew her favorite snacks and tea, and got her a comfortable chair for her corner.
She was moving today, and though Ethan wouldn't say they were the best of friends, she was still a friend… A friend that had to leave. Even without his grandparents insistence, he worked hard to create a gift for her, a gift that was a statement of the Daycare and what his family did here. She wasn't going to forget it, that much was certain.
"Oh, yes, that." Krystal reached into her pocket and tossed a pokéball in his direction. Ethan scrambled to grab it, glancing through the red top to see a pokémon resting inside. "I knew how important this was, but I didn't expect you to simply leave it in your apron pocket."
"So that's where it went!" Ethan smacked the chair of his arm, shaking his head with a grin. "Good grief…"
"You're welcome." Krystal smiled, tilting her head to the direction of the stairs. "That girl, May… She's downstairs talking to your grandmother. You might want to give that to her before she scurries off again."
"Shoot, she's here?!" Ethan jumped up, practically shoving past Krystal and going for the stairs, only to stop half way through and turning on his heel. Bounding back up to her, he pecked her on the cheek. "Thank you for finding this!"
"W-Well, someone has to keep their things straight in this relationship…" Krystal trailed off, shaking her head with a slight smile, cheeks dusted pink. Ethan grinned, then turned right back around and pounded down the stairs.
In the foyer, he saw his grandmother hugging May. Ethan already could see the red bow on her head, one of the employee daycare bandanas that his grandmother had made. Even if she wasn't an employee, he knew that his grandmother was happy that May had chosen to make the bandana a part of her daily ensemble. In his grandfathers hands was a rather large gift.
"Hey, May!" Ethen strode across the room with his hand raised as May pulled back, staring at him. "Heading off today, yes?"
"… I am." May answered with a shrug. "I'd rather stay, but there's not much I can do about it…"
"Good thing you thought about bringing us a gift, makes this a whole lot less awkward for the both of us." Ethan held out the pokéball with a grin. May stared at it, then shook her head.
"It's really fine, I don't-"
"No, I insist. I would really appreciate it if you took it. I don't know what you were staring at whenever you came to look at pokémon, but I think you'll like it."
May was quiet, then silently took the pokéball out of his palm. She stared at it, then pressed the button in the center. The pokéball enlarged, and then popped open. Ethen beamed with pride as a Cyndaquil glanced around from the floor, finally staring up at May. May, per usual, didn't change her expression.
"Oh, how adorable-" his grandma began, reaching out to pet the little pokémon. Cyndaquil suddenly jumped, the flames lighting up on his back. That seemed to catch Mays attention specifically, there was a shift on her face. She kneeled down, reaching out a hand to the pokémon, curious.
"I've never seen one with those colored flames." May commented. "… Aren't they normally blue?"
"Thats right." Ethan grinned. "So the cool thing with pokémon, is that every once in a while… sometimes they are born with different coloring. It's called the 'shiny phenomenon'."
"… Interesting." May muttered. "Maybe you shouldn't give this one to me then." she continued, picking up the Cyndaquil and holding him out to Ethan. "He might be better off where you can observe him here."
"No, he's my gift to you. Besides, the fun part about breeding is watching the pokémon grow strong and powerful." Ethen rubbed Cyndaquils head, smiling. "You're going to a new place, so you'll need a piece of Johto with you when you go. Plus, as you raise and train him, I would love it if you could keep me updated on his growth."
"But I'm not-"
"Every person deserves to have a friend with them." Ethan placed his hands on his hips, grinning. "Thats all pokémon are, friends for us to enjoy the company of. So even if you don't wanna be a trainer, I think that it would be nice for our parting gift, from us to you, is a pokémon we worked so hard to breed."
"… Very well, then." May shook her head with a sigh, returning Cyndaquil. "Thank you. For everything."
"Keep in contact, dear!" his grandfather said as his grandmother gave her another tight hug. May gave a half-hearted hug back.
"I'll try." May nodded once. "I hope you enjoy my parting gift. Thank you again. … And goodbye."
With that, May left, leaving the three of them in the foyer, waving her off. Going back inside, Krystal was already downstairs, arms crossed with a slightly concerned look on her face. Her expression wasn't exactly disapproving or annoyed, just… concerned.
"Ethan, I know your heart is bigger than your brain, and that's one of the things I love about you, but you put so much work into that Cyndaquil. Plus, the genetic anomaly he possesses… Are you sure giving her that pokémon was all right?" she asked as his grandparents began to tear open the wrapping paper on the present. "She just… didn't seem interested."
"Thats just how she is." Ethan shrugged. "She's a little off, but I wouldn't give the greatest product of my work to just anyone!"
"But a shiny Cyndaquil, when Cyndaquils are already so rare?" Krystal asked. "Why not give her a normal Cyndaquil instead?"
"Well…"
"Oh! Ethan, Krystal, come look!" his grandmother sounded thrilled, beckoning them over. Ethan glanced over as his grandpa held… something up quite proudly. Krystal trailed behind, and the four gathered around the gift from May.
Ethan's jaw actually dropped a little. It was a rather large canvas. Painted on it was a scene that was so familiar to Ethan. It was the grassy indoor area in his grandparents daycare. In the background was his grandparents, Ethan could see himself when he was smaller, running through the field with his arms outstretched, grinning. And all around them, pokémon. Large pokémon, small pokémon, his Marill running by his side, while flying types were perched on manmade branches inside the center.
It was a glorious work of art, hand painted specifically for them. His grandmother picked up the card attached to the gift, ripping it open in hopes for a little context. Ethan glanced over the shoulder in order to read what was written.
To the people who allowed me to study the pokémon in their place of business, thank you for allowing me the chance for my art to grow.
o.0.o.0.o
AND SO ENDS PART THREE. Holy hell it's been a ride. Yeah, in case you haven't noticed, kinda switching it up with my ending since the last part. But the upcoming part? Baboom, Hoenn, chapter one will be posted TODAY right after this one!
Thank you so much for sticking with me for this long! I did not intend for this story to go on for god knows how many years. BUT IT'S DONE. I'M PROUD OF MYSELF. I THINK I DESERVE TO FEEL PROUD OF MYSELF.
Also tbh if you told 10yo Amy she was going to end the Chessshipping ship on a "maybe" and not them kissing I wouldn't been deeply offended. Ah, the wonders of maturing over the course of 13 years since the original original draft of this story was written.
Whelp, so long peeps! Hope to see you in Part 4!
Amy47101 signing off!