POV: Cynthia / LOCATION: Veilstone City
Cyrus? A criminal? But he treated me to dinner at a stupidly expensive restaurant! And he has a Crobat, for crying out loud! Villains don't have Pokemon that evolve through friendship!
At my visible confusion, Flint launches into exposition.
"A few months ago, you began looking into the Galactic Energy Corporation. Their employees have been sighted stealing Pokemon in addition to public vandalism. Petty things. But you claimed that, despite their goofy outfits and general incompetence, there was something sinister about them."
I… I did say that. I remember now.
"You didn't really explain anything to me before you took off. Then you just…disappeared."
And Cyrus was the first person I saw upon waking up.
"We're going back to the League," Flint declares. He searches his sagging pockets. "Damn, I left Hot Air Balloon in the PC. You mind if we borrow Togekiss?"
"I don't have her."
"It's not like you to leave her behind."
I wordlessly show him my only possession: Garchomp's Poke ball. You can see it in Flint's eyes when the puzzle pieces fall into place. He jumps up so abruptly that he knocks over his chair.
"Cyrus stole your Pokemon!" he roars.
"What the hell are you two yelling about?"
In the heat of the moment, we've forgotten about Volkner.
Flint mumbles something under his breath. Possibly a non-PG 13 curse. "I need to take Cynthia to the League. It's an emergency."
"I'll come with you."
"It's okay. We'll be real quick—"
"If you're planning to leave me in the dark, I'll use Electron to suck all the energy out of Hearthome's power grid. The hospital included."
Volkner says a lot of sacrilegious things, but he does not bluff. Flint knows that. He runs his fingers through his hair in frustration.
"Fine. I'll fill you in on the way."
Sparkling under the sunlight, the legendary Sinnoh League shines like a castle from a Kalosian fairy tale. With its candy-pink roof, stained glass windows, and marble pillars, tourists often mistake it for a church… until they come in and are asked to provide their complete Gym Badge case.
I remember the first time I looked up at these gilded walls. The youngest Champion in Sinnoh's long-standing history.
Having briefed on the story thus far, Volkner's apathetic demeanor completely flips on its head. He skips into the League instead of his usual slouched shuffling. He whistles a peppy tune instead of sighing every three seconds.
"I'm going to take down a villain," he hums. "Our battle will be electrifying."
Good old Volkner. Always seeking the thrill of a challenge even when the sky is falling down around him.
At the top of the winding staircase is a man in a suit so sharp it cuts your eyeballs. His eyeglasses, (tinted, of course) droop gently down his nose bridge to contrast such a stern outfit.
"Cynthia?" Lucian says incredulously.
Since I'm in no mood for the usual reprimand, I seize the initiative to speak. "You don't need to hover over me all the time. I'm not a kid!"
"You are an adult who purchased a villa in another region on impulse." As usual, his voice is irritatingly cool. "You left your swimwear—with the tag still attached, mind you—in the encyclopedia as a marker. The last book I lent you had grease stains—"
See! He's insufferable! "How about you critique your books instead of other people's lives?"
Lucian pushes the pad of his finger to his forehead, inhales sharply, and restarts the conversation while Flint and Volkner watch safely from the background.
"Tell me the story."
I tell him.
"Team Galactic?" he says once I finish.
Wow. Not even a "Are you okay?"
Lucian turns to our spectators. "You know about this?"
"Verrry briefly," Flint squeaks.
To me, Lucian says, "Please explain why this is my first time hearing of this."
Cheesus, why does he insist on knowing everything? I had put two and two together without his help. I was perfectly capable of investigating Team Galactic on my own.
As if reading my exasperation, he says, "Even if you're the strongest Trainer in the region, it's dangerous to play hero with real-life villains. You run off and what happens? You lose your memories. Your Pokemon were stolen. You voluntary revealed information to the enemy—"
"I didn't tell him anything!" I insist.
"Let me finish. Given this fine mess you've found yourself in, what will you do now?"
"I'm going to finish what I started. Obviously."
"Without any proof?"
"Cyrus kidnapped me. Isn't that enough?"
A calm, stern look from Lucian is more eloquent than any reply. And he's right. If I am to strip away Cyrus's façade, I'll need to find irrevocable proof of his crimes.
Which means I'll have to go back there. To the place where the tale began.
"Do you still intend to do it alone?" says Lucian, whose tone indicates that he expects only one correct answer.
Instead of flashing him the one-fingered salute of the rude, I give him a scowl more powerful than any response.
"We'll help too," Flint says in a small voice.
Volkner slings an arm around Lucian's shoulder, much to the latter's dismay. "Cynthia's the Champion of Sinnoh. Have a little faith in our lord and savior, pretty boy."
