When the furor had died down and she had answered all the reporters's questions, Hannah retired to Jim-sensei's house.
He nodded. "Well done."
"Thank you, sensei. I'm going to keep myself busy from now on. You'll be a part of the Projects too, right?"
"I already am. You have visitors."
Hannah met Manny, his father and Mint outside.
"Can I get my Pokémon back now?"
"Yes," Manny's father said, "but first, fly with us. We have a little present for you."
The man released Tori from her Pokéball. The Flygon appeared to be larger and even stronger than before.
"What have you been doing?"
They said nothing, just mounted their own flying-types, heading northwest. As they descended through cloudcover, Hannah almost fell off Tori.
"You didn't!" she shouted at Mint.
Mint smiled... what a smile it was! His mouth smiled, his eyes smiled, his nose and even his ears smiled. Here was the avatar of the Unconquered Sun, and to prove it, the Sun formed a halo behind his blonde hair while it whipped through the wind.
"I did it!" he shouted in exultation.
There were two amusement parks being constructed - one on Full Moon Island, the other on New Moon Island. They all landed on the coast of New Moon Island, beside the ferry terminal. Swarms of human and Pokémon workers were in constant motion, clearing land and building all sorts of weird, wonderful things.
"We received permission from Cresselia and Darkrai. They have been alone for so long with no-one to share either their dreams or nightmares with. Now all the world will experience joy and horror at my amusement parks - the Full Moon Carnival and the New Moon Carnival. Rollercoasters, waterslides, hotdogs, popcorn, soda..."
"I can't believe it."
"Me neither," Manny laughed. "We got working the moment we left you with Jim-sensei. Your Pokémon are all here, working hard and playing hard with all of our Pokémon, too!"
"You have the legendary Pokémon building the amusement parks too?"
In response, Manny pointed at the scaffolding of a rollercoaster track. Dialga lifted a steel I-beam in his jaw, holding it in place while Daichi, Azelf and Mesprit riveted the bolts in place with their psionic powers. Scooter walked below them, causing grass, flowers and bushes to spring from the bare earth, healing scars that the large-scale construction had left on the environment.
"Most remarkable. So when's it gonna open?"
Mint snickered. "Around the same time 'Project: Hearthome' is done, I expect."
Manny and his father also chortled. Hannah looked back and forth, arching an eyebrow.
"As I said, I am done with illusions. May I borrow some friends, gentlemen? I'm going to have a talk with my parents."
888
Soaring over the sparkling jewel of the northeastern island, Tori landed in the Resort Area at the sumptuous villa. The enormous Dragonite and Tropius greeted the much, much smaller Flygon and her passenger, bending low, blotting out the sun. Dragonite extended a paw that dwarfed them both! Leaving Tori to climb all over her new friends, Hannah entered the front door.
She did a double-take. "Mom! Dad!"
They were waiting for her in the lobby, their faces stern.
"Hannah, welcome home. We have lunch on the table," her mother said, then gestured to the dining room.
The family spent the next few hours talking, moving from the dining room to the kitchen to wash up, then to the library. Their armchairs were comfortable thrones as they sipped steaming tea before a great roaring fireplace.
"So both of you turned over new leaves?" her father asked, stirring his blend.
"I can't speak for Cyrus, but omnicide did not solve my problems," Hannah admitted. "Neither did playing God with Arceus. It requires a great soul... a very great soul to accept the responsibility of Creator. That dream is far too big for me. In the end, I simply wished to be human. To spend my life exploring the passion and purpose of my soul... is the greatest adventure of all."
"You picked up some strange ideas from Jim-sensei," her mother hooted, slapping her knee.
"Mom, I know I'm waxing philosophical. It is a scary time for us both. Indulge me."
"Go on, then."
"I challenge you both to a Pokémon battle."
"Why?" her father sputtered, dropping his spoon.
Her mother nodded. "We accept your challenge. Let's use the Battle Hall! I have been so out-of-touch with my fans."
"I'll call Argenta," her father agreed, retrieving his silverware as he headed for the phone.
888
Hannah stood outside the Battle Hall, situated in the western zone of the Battle Frontier. The enormous building was decorated with pink spirals soaring skyward around the white tented roof.
"That's a big icecream cone," commented Mint, his mouth watering.
Hannah started at his voice. "When did you two get here?"
"And miss your parents handing you your head?" Manny laughed. "Inside a Big Top circus tent, no less."
"It is not a circus! It's a battleground!"
"Suuuuuure it is, and I'm the ringmaster," Manny jeered, sweeping his hands wide apart as he hollered, "Welcome to the greatest show on Earth! Watch in fear and wonder as Hannah places her head inside a Luxray's mouth!"
This drew stares from other Hall patrons. Hannah raised her hand, thought better of it when Manny and Mint cringed, then made for the entrance.
In the foyer was thunder and lightning of people shouting commands while running in circles, ensuring that everything was perfect for the show. At the centre of this stupendous human hurricane was Argenta. The Hall Matron, resplendent in maroon-themed dress suit, black boots and a luxuriant purple hairdo, was just standing there and smiling at Hannah as she entered.
Argenta lifted one black-gloved hand to Hannah, and the human hurricane parted for the girl and boys to enter the eye of the storm where the Mistress awaited.
"Your parents made a big splash here in their youth. I have been in the Pokémon Contest business before I was your age, Hannah, when I had nothing but a little Dratini to my name. This is where I have reached at this stage of my life," she declared, lifting her hands in the midst of dazzling lights and noise. Her ruby eyes sparkled with uncommon relish. "There is so much more to be had! So much more! My life's work is only at the halfway point, and I'm about to do my little turn on the catwalk before the curtain closes and the audience applauds."
Argenta placed both hands on Hannah's shoulders, that irrepressible grin almost devouring the girl whole.
"Your parents and this battle will launch me into the big-time, baby. Even bigger than the Frontier itself."
"It's nice to meet you too, ma'am," Hannah replied.
Manny and Mint coughed. Argenta straightened, clapping her hands twice sharply. At those thunderclaps, the storm abated, with all eyes turned to their Mistress.
"Conduct these children to the Hall. Make them presentable."
The three kids were lifted on a surging tide of hands and swept through the lobby doors to the changing rooms. Their cries of protest were drowned by imperious professional voices.
"Makeup! MAKEUP! Honestly, it is as though this girl never laid foundation in her life..."
"My goodness, are these what pass for hairstyles among little boys today?"
"We'll have to scrub the blonde one about four times before the smell goes away..."
"A scarf? Who wears a scarf indoors? Oh no-no-no-no-NO! This will NOT do..."
888
Voices rumbled around Manny and Mint. The boys were seated in the Hall with their families and several thousand other spectators. Mint, his face scrubbed raw red, was convinced that his red tuxedo collar was choking him. Manny stared at his hands. The efficient Hall minions had had the audacity to polish his nails. He was a ten year old boy! His fingers were supposed to be dirty nubs from adventuring with his Pokémon!
"They're about to start!" Johanna squeaked. She was dazzling in her blue sequin dress, her hair done up in a bun. Matching sapphire earrings and necklace magnified the light of her face. Her husband, who had not seen her like this - so breathtaking - since their wedding day, was drinking to her only with his eyes, as on that day ten years past. Like his son, he too wore a blue tuxedo, and that made Manny even more uncomfortable.
Behind them, Palmer and his wife were arrayed in their finest, his red tuxedo complementing her red fitted dress. Ruby earrings and necklace drew you into her deep red lips as she laughed: Palmer was hypnotised. Mint struggled with his collar in vain: the dastardly Hall minions had buttoned it tight. He thought the three of them looked like a family of ringmasters, but that right was reserved for Argenta who took centre stage to open the battle in grand style. Manny stared openmouth: cosmetic sorcery made the woman appear half her age, and her red and black ringmaster costume was very flattering.
"Welcome to the greatest show in Sinnoh!" she sang, then cracked her whip in the spotlights.
Colour and sound exploded around the stage! Manny saw Ambipom and Primeapes on trapezes, Pidgey and Taillow swooping in aerial formation about the dome. Three Wooper riding unicycles juggled pins to each other across the stage, and - was that a Machamp on a motorbike? Flexing with his upper arms arms and steering with his lower pair, the Machamp rode straight for the audience stand, prompting several men, women and children to scream, but just before he plowed headlong into the stand a luminous band of light pulled the bike upward into a loop-the-loop, launching it upside down and backwards into the ring. When it seemed the bike would collide with Argenta (again, prompting audience screams) yet another glowing band appeared to swerve the bike away from the ringmaster. Applause was spontaneous and wild! It was only then that Argenta gestured: the spotlights moved to a pair of Mr. Mime, from whose fingers danced very elaborate Reflect shields to propel the biker Machamp through the air.
After that stunning opener the trained Pokémon flipped, flew or rode away. To the sound of drums, the dome yawned open above them. The audience stared with wide wonder as a giant Dragonite and Tropius descended from the heavens, their wings and leaves flashing in the spotlights, bearing Hannah's mother and father respectively. Hannah simply walked onstage: she looked the same; no makeup or new clothes. Her parents were also in casual clothes. Before the audience could comment on their plain, entirely un-circuslike clothing, Argenta cracked her whip.
"Returning to the Battle Hall after years raising their daughter, these legendary Trainers have made their mark across Sinnoh and many other Regions. Welcome back DRAGONESS and TROPE!"
Hannah was mortified as the audience went wild. "My parents have stage names?"
Manny's yell was lost amidst fanatical cheers. "Her parents have NAMES?"
Palmer turned green with envy. "Argenta has a retractable dome? I want one!"
"Your Battle Tower has no dome, dear," his wife reminded him.
"Then I'll build one on top, except BIGGER!"
Argenta cut through the noise. "This match shall be parents versus daughter. It shall be fought two-on-six."
Manny shook his head. "Three against one? Hanny's sure to win!"
His father grinned. "I do not fear the Trainer who has battled with ten-thousand Pokémon once. I fear the Trainer who has battled with one Pokémon ten-thousand times."
When Hanny summoned Minnie and Orric, stage flares erupted around them.
Argenta cracked her whip, her laughing teeth sparkling like cut diamonds within the pyrotechnics. "BEGIN!"
"Orric, Stone Edge on Tropius! Minnie, Ice Beam on Dragonite!"
"Dragon Dance," Dragoness commanded, gripping Dragonite's long muscular neck with her entire body. In a display that seemed impossible for a Pokémon who had been bred larger than a house, Dragonite swooped upward with a mighty flap, blasting the audience with the backdraft, sending wigs, hairpieces and hats airborne. Minnie's Ice Beam shot into the sky, missing by the a hair's breadth so that ice flecked off his claws!
"Air Slash," Trope pointed at Orric. Tropius beat her wings once: the aerial strike knocked Orric onto his back! His girth was more than his tree trunk could bear and it snapped in half with a sound like a gunshot. Hannah flinched as though wounded.
"Oh boy," Mint commented, "caught offguard so early in the fight!"
Hanny recalled her hapless warrior. "Orric, return! Zeke, go! Flare Blitz on Tropius! Minnie, since they're such big targets, use Blizzard!"
With a nimble leap, Hannah's Rapidash easily overtook the hovering Tropius but at the last moment Dragonite dove into his path. Flames blazed all around the dragon, followed by winter fury, resulting in a massive steam burst that covered the entire Hall.
"I can't see anything!" Johanna cried.
"Neither can they," her husband pointed out.
"Defog!" the battling couple shouted. A few quick flaps and whirr of leaves cleared the air: Dragonite did not seem worse for wear.
Palmer nodded. "Pokémon Physics 101: Dragonite is resistant to fire but twice as weak to ice... unless he's covered in flames!"
His wife praised the duo with applause. "Outstanding!"
She was not alone; many others marveled at the manoeuvre while explaining it to the dimmer audience members.
Hannah grit her teeth. "Very well. Zeke, return! Glitch, GO! Both of you, use Blizzard!"
This tactic was far more effective: their wings and leaves frozen solid, the giant Pokémon were forced to land. Dragoness and Trope were forced to disembark, slapping snow from their bodies. Hannah grinned.
"Another round of Blizzard!"
"Thunder Wave!" Dragoness shouted.
"Giga Drain!" Trope ordered.
The yellow paralytic bolt struck Glitch down while Tropius opened a green energy siphon between herself and Minnie, knocking the tiny Lumineon out.
"Urgh! Minnie, have a good rest. Kipp, go! Giga Impact on Dragonite! Glitch, Ice Beam on Dragonite!"
Dragoness countered with "OUTRAGE!"
Dragonite, a supernatural rage blazing in his eyes, picked up Tropius, spun while striding forward and with a riotous roar flung her like a hammer!
"OH!" Manny cringed when the half-frozen Tropius crushed both Luxray and Porygon-Z against the stage wall beside Hannah, who had narrowly avoided joining the Pokémon pancake. Several audience members who had been jarred out of their seats scrambled to recoup. Several other audience members thanked whatever Powers That Be that the stage wall had held firm, saving them from a gruesome flattened fate.
"Glitch... Kipp. Return."
Wobbling, Tropius stood up, shaking broken ice from shivering wings and stars from her vision as she stomped back to Dragonite, whose titanic limbs shook with towering rage.
"They still can't fly. Orric, Tori, go! Hit 'em with Earthquake!"
"Tropius, Magical Leaf!"
Still in the throes of Outrage, Dragonite charged across the stage, followed by whirling rainbow-coloured leaves. Hannah's Torterra and Flygon combined their strength into a massive seismic motion. To Argenta's credit, the stage was not ripped in half by the tremendous Earthquake, but rather shuddered as the foundation dissipated energy. Even so, it knocked both opponents off their hindquarters. Unerring rainbow blades struck Orric down, but he struggled to stand again. With his tree already broken, he was very weak.
"Just one more Earthquake!" Hannah coaxed them. While they gathered strength to strike the stage, Tropius felt sap flowing through her cold wings again. Trope leaped onto her neck as she took flight.
"Dragoness, we're airborne."
"We're not. Toss him?"
"Use Strength!" Trope yelled.
When a second tremor ran through the stage, Tropius gripped Dragonite with her short but powerful limbs, flinging him toward Orric!
"HRRRAAAAUUUUUUUUGH!" Dragonite roared as he tore into the turtle with claws and jaws, mangling Orric's broken tree further. Orric collapsed. Several audience members fainted.
"Orric, return! Go, Zeke!"
"She's down to her Rapidash and Flygon," Palmer muttered, sitting so far forward in his seat that his hands gripped Manny's head. The boy's complaints were lost in the bellowing crowd.
"Dragonite, use Hyper Beam!"
Dragonite staggered about the stage, eyes swirling in their sockets. He tripped over his own tail, falling on his rump. Confusion was the price paid for berserker rage.
"...Never mind."
"Tropius, Magical Leaf on Flygon!"
"Zeke, shield Tori with Flare Blitz, then attack Tropius! Tori, hit Dragonite with Dragon Claw!"
Despite Zeke acting as a flaming equine shield, the rainbow blades curved around him, unharmed by fire, to strike Tori!
Palmer guffawed. "When the League categorised that move as 'unavoidable', we meant it."
Meanwhile the cantering fireball ploughed into Tropius, trampling with molten hooves. Tori's small but vicious claws slashed Dragonite. Both giant Pokémon cried out in pain for the first time as the super-effective attacks connected!
"Yes! Repeat your attacks!" Hannah shouted, fighting spirit rising.
"Dragonite, use Dragon Rush!"
"Hurr," he replied crosseyed, headbutting the stage wall, sending part of the audience running. Dragoness facepalmed.
"Tropius, another Magical Leaf on Flygon!"
It was the end for Tori though she managed to wound Dragonite again. The rainbow blades chased her, struck her down at last. It was also the end for Tropius, who fell with an echoing crash. Trope patted her head fondly.
"You did well, faithful friend."
"Trope?" she gurgled, earning a smile from her Trainer. He smoothed the singed leaves on her back.
"Yes, I will always be with you."
Zeke pawed at the ground, his hoof leaving scorch marks. The starry-eyed Dragonite had ignored a second Dragon Rush command and was gnawing his own tail.
"Zeke, use Giga Impact!"
The fiery horse became a comet, slamming into Dragonite's back with all four hooves. The potent blow with Zeke's natural fire melted the ice there.
"Zeke, as soon as you recover, another Giga Impact!"
Zeke cantered to a safe distance, exhaustion quaking his muscles. Nonetheless, he summoned his blazing spirit for one last charge. He galloped with the fury and ardour of a volcano...
...until a single outstretched paw stopped him cold. That feeling of exultation drained out of Hannah. Dragonite headlocked Zeke, lifted his flickering tail into the air, coiled his own thick tail and leapt skyward, spinning as he did so. They fell earthward in a spiral, Zeke headfirst, colliding with the stage. Released upon impact, the horse was unconscious before he bounced to a halt.
"Dragon Rush successful. Game, set, match," Argenta declared, raising Dragoness's and Trope's hands in victory.
Hannah recalled Zeke, thanking him, but no-one heard her above the swelling thunder of applause and adulation for the couple.
"Celebration is in order," Argenta announced. "Let the festivities begin!"
All spotlights disappeared. Disco lights replaced them, along with an upbeat bass rhythm. The stage walls clanked outward, creating ramps for the audience to fill the stage.
"The Battle Hall is a DANCEFLOOR now?" Palmer laughed, grabbing his woman who was only too eager to comply. They had not felt this young since Mint was born, and their son did his monkey dance right along with them. Manny was hesitant at first but joined his parents in the boogie. Hannah, meanwhile, crossed the stage of revelers to congratulate her parents.
She smiled. It was a good, forthright smile. "It was a great match."
Trope shook his head. "I can't believe you knocked out Tropius. No League ever bested her. Hey, join us for the dance!"
"I'm heading for the Pokémon Centre. I have nothing against fun, but I have fun on my own terms."
Dragoness nodded to her. "We all have our own way."
"We are proud of you, Hannah; more than you know," Trope said, then knelt to hug her. Surprised, Hannah hugged back. Dragoness joined the brief warm hug. Then, Hannah waved goodbye to her parents and excused herself, evading Argenta's whip to duck out the fire escape.
Meanwhile on the dance floor, Manny ran into a married couple from his sordid past fighting Team Galactic. They weren't wearing Galactic colours anymore, but they were just as outraged.
The man shouted, "IT IS THAT UNHOLY TERROR WHO ACCOSTED MY INNOCENT WIFE IN HER SLEEP!"
The woman shrieked, "I CAN STILL FEEL HIS CLAMMY HANDS AND FEET!"
Manny's mother slapped him, shocked and horrified beyond belief. "MANNY!"
Manny whimpered as the couple stormed off in a huff. Johanna hoisted Manny into the air by his ears and carried him outside for a talking-to about the birds and the bees. There was nothing quite like public embarrassment to cap the night's events.
Mint sighed. "I told him to make sure the bed was empty."
888
Hannah met Jim-sensei in the Pokémon Centre. She bowed to him before handing her critters over to Nurse Joy.
"Let us review your battle," he said after they were seated in the lobby.
"You saw?"
"Yes, then I followed you outside; I'm not a fan of disco, either. You have improved since the last time we trained. Your stance was surer, you hesitated less and your commands were louder and more authoritative."
Hannah smiled. "Arigatou gozaimashita."
"Now for some constructive criticism: your first mistake was trying to take down both of your parents's Pokémon at once. You knew just one of them was a match for an entire League."
"Hai, sensei. I was arrogant."
"Had you focused on the weaker one first - Tropius - with Glitch and Minnie's Blizzard, Tropius would have acted as a shield and fainted so that Dragonite could take down those two. After that it would have been difficult - not impossible - to claim victory with your four surviving Pokémon."
"Hai, sensei. I shall employ this tactic next time my parents challenge me."
"Do not settle for obedience, Hannah; obedience leads to complacency. Always question and surpass my training. Any institution - whether Pokémon or Aikido - will deteriorate over the years unless the younger generation surpasses the older."
"Hai sensei, but until I am ready to exceed expectations, obedience is a useful tool for advancement."
He chuckled. "You are learning. I'm heading home for a good night's rest, and you should too. Janine is challenging Manny's father tomorrow."
Hannah blinked.
"Koga's daughter? Why?"
He just grinned, shook his head then stood. When Hanny met him at the door he knelt to hug her. Shocked, she forgot to hug back.
"Sensei...?"
"Your eyes are so much brighter than the first time we met."
"Are they?"
He stood, patting her shoulder. His own eyes shone with kindness.
"Why... look at you, glowing like a solar fire. You're something special, Hannah. You're gonna rattle the stars, you are!"
"...I already did?"
He nodded, opening the door for her. "Fair enough."