"You've got to be freaking kidding me!" Celia snapped as she pressed her back against a particularly large bay tree. Stray green leaves fell on her head as she listened to the receptionist babble on the other end of the line. "My mother told me that Hache Arakachi was the one who knocked her up! What do you mean you don't know who he is?! Ughhh! He runs the Ever Grande channel, Taming Quetzal! Of course you wouldn't know what it's about, you're not part of the Pokémon League!"

Celia immediately hung up, turned her phone off and shoved it in her bra. She stomped across the bridges as raw anger pulsed through her entire body. How dare they turn her life upside down, how dare they call her right after a gym battle, but….How dare her mother lie to her for over twenty years!

With her heavy-duty boots, Celia kicked the door open. Without taking off her shoes, she stormed into the living room and threw a pillow off the sofa.

"Mother!" she yelled. "Why didn't you tell me that Don Hawkwind is my father!"

Gloria screamed as she dropped her ladle into the pot. Boiling hot broth splattered against her apron, leaving a pale stain against the dark fabric. "Celia! Don't scare me like that!"

"Is it true though?!" Celia bombarded her with questions. "Is this a joke? Did I get the wrong DNA test? You told me that my father was a deadbeat whose friend died in a hiking accident and that's why you didn't let me go on that camping trip on Route 119 when I was fourteen! Mother— MOM?!"

Gloria shuddered as she lowered the heat, letting the broth simmer. "Celia. Please, relax on the couch. I'll tell you everything when dinner is finished!"

Celia sighed as she dragged herself back to the couch. After kicking off her boots and putting on a pair of fuzzy slippers, she sunk down into the cushions. Minutes passed before Gloria offered her a bowl of kake udon with extra radish. As she gingerly held the bowl of soup, Gloria pulled out an old photograph.

"Celia, I was going to tell you when your birthday would come around," Gloria assured her. "but I didn't think you'd go out and get a DNA test without telling me."

"Well, there was some leftover at the doctor's office," Celia sighed. It was supposed to be a regular annual check-up, but several doctors brought up DNA tests. It seemed like something fun to try, anyways. "I figured I'd take one and see who my father was."

Gloria gently touched the framed photo: it was of her, a grey eagle with red warpaint on his cheeks, adorned in a brown tunic, and an orange chicken wearing a kitschy pop deco-inspired dress. A pair of Wingull flew above the duo, both Pokémon wearing intricate charms around their wings. A beautiful castle shined behind the group, its red and orange roof shining in the daylight skies.

Celia slurped down her ramen as she frowned. "Well. Mother, is it true?"

Gloria set the photo down on the coffee table. "Yes. Don Hawkwind is indeed your father."

"How?" Celia asked. "I mean, isn't he married?"

Gloria nodded. "He still is. See, twenty-four years ago, I worked as an interior designer for the Hawkwind company."

Flashy lights and sleek furniture filled the lobby. Gloria sketched in her notebook for more creative ideas: glimmering stones in the floors, a comfortable lounge for employees to unwind, even a playpen for employees' Pokémon. Some ideas didn't make the cut, but at least the fancy flooring did.

Don smiled in awe. "Gloria Carlisle," he said as he pressed a wing on her shoulder. "Your design skills are impeccable! Say, business is going well. How'd you like to meet me for coffee once you're done for the day?"

Gloria beamed in delight; this was her best client yet! Fantastic pay and friendly clients? This was everything she could ask for. Don, however, made her flustered day in and day out. His charming nature and passion about improving the Hoenn region were something else!

Celia continued to eat as she listened to her mother.

"I had fun working by the day," Gloria reminisced on the good times. "All the employees were kind to me, too. I went for coffee with Don, we talked, he proposed more ideas for work, then we went to his office after hours, and,"

The office chair squeaked as Don and Gloria made sweet sweaty music on the desk. Furniture rocked in its spot, several papers flying off the desk. Unknown to Gloria, Don slipped off his wedding ring and placed it in an empty blue vase.

"I had you nine months later," Gloria explained. "Don didn't tell me he was married, he didn't offer to help at all, saying I was just a client he hired and nothing more. I only found out after I moved here to work on the town hall"

A pair of friends, visiting from Ever Grande Island, break the news gently. Gloria breaks down in tears, cradling an eaglet in a fuzzy pink pink blanket. The eagle and chicken found a place for her to live, a steady job in town, new friends, and of course, a better chance in life. Families came and went, but Gloria became familiar with them all, from the Basurtos to the Peppers. Everyone in Fortree City was much kinder than expected. A little white lie snowballed into a big black one.

Celia curled up into a ball, her knees pressed against her chest. "So, who is that in the photo if it's not my father or aunt?"

Gloria touched the photograph again. "You mean Hache and Reiko? Oh, they're some of my best friends. They live in Ever Grande City, and they were the ones who helped me buy this house. Sadly, they don't have Pokémon big enough to fly over here, but I owe them everything."

"I, I see," Celia frowned as she looked up at the ceiling. "But mom? Were you the only, um, affair of his?"

Gloria went silent as she shook her head. Celia shuddered; just her expression was enough to say that Celia definitely has more half-siblings out there in Hoenn.

"Oh," Celia sighed. She went back to her bedroom, placing her Ultra Balls in a healing machine before she threw herself on her hammock. The pink and orange sling swayed around, as she looked up at the black ceiling. Faint dinging ran from the healing machine, lulling Celia into peace. Something in her heart told her to reach out…

She pulled her phone back out and turned it back on; not a single notification? That's strange. Celia flipped through her mile-long contact list and stopped at the Pokemon League section. She took a deep breath in before pressing a wingtip on the screen.

Meanwhile, in Mossdeep City…

Apollo sighed in content as he pressed his head against the downy pillows. Wolfgang sat on the edge of the bed, pouring two glasses of cabernet sauvignon. The duo tenderly smiled at each other as they clinked the glasses before taking a sip. Warm savory wine flooded their mouths, the taste lulling them into relaxation.

Apollo barely swallowed his drink before his phone vibrated loudly on the nightstand. He gingerly set the glass down before swiping up to answer the call. "Celia?" he asked as he stepped out of the bedroom. "Is something going on in Fortree City? Are you in any danger?...My father did WHAT?!"

Wolfgang looked up from the bed and asked, "Apollo, what's wrong?"

Apollo set the phone down, "It's Pokémon League business, that's all."

"Oh," Wolfgang set his empty glass down. "Do you want to talk about it now or?"

"I'm fine with waiting," Apollo assured him, his wings running down his lover's sides. "Are you ready for round two?"

"I've been ready since we started," Wolfgang smiled as he yanked him down on top of him. The bed rocked and squeaked as laughter filled the bedroom.

Back in Fortree City...

Celia furiously hung up. She strolled through the city limits, shuddering from a surprise breeze. She stopped at a blue and purple house, banging her fist against the door.

A lilac hen opened the door, her lavender hair brushing against her shoulders. She wore a long black dress with billowing sheer sleeves, along with several violets in her hair. "Celia? Sheesh, you looked like you've seen a Banette! What happened to you?"

A small yellow bell Pokémon hovered near her shoulder, its red and white tendrils floating in the air.

"Becky, can I just come in for a few minutes?" Celia asked. "I need to sit down for a few minutes."

"Sure," Becky shrugged as she opened the door. "Your house is my house!"

Celia stormed inside and threw herself on the sofa.

She threw her head back and screamed into the pillow. "My mom lied to me!"

The bell Pokémon floated above the sofa, watching in curiosity. "Ching?" it chirped.

Celia panted as she looked back up from the pillow. "Okay, you know how my mom told me that Quetzal guy was my father?"

Becky stayed silent as she joined her dear friend on the sofa.

Celia looked back up at the ceiling. All the cracks in the ceiling were the same as before, with chipped paint falling to the floor like toxic confetti. Chingling curled up underneath her wing, nuzzling its cheek against her sleeve.

"She lied about that," Celia closed her eyes and sighed. "Becky, you'd believe me if I said Don Hawkwind was my father instead, right?"

Becky gulped. THE Don Hawkwind? It didn't add up; he didn't seem like the type of man to sleep around with random women. All the commercials for Hawkwind Corp showed the opposite: a caring family man, a businessman who valued the lives of Pokémon trainers. The twinkle in his eyes as he explained technology on screen; was that also a facade? The Pokemon that appeared with him on camera, were they even his? Apollo stopped appearing in advertisements soon after he became Champion, did Don even see his son as more than just a prop and a future heir?

"It sounds ridiculous, right?" Celia sighed.

Becky shook her head. "Not at all," she assured her. "Hey, do you want to spend the night here?"

Celia looked up from the pillows, relieved to see kindness in Becky's eyes. "Yeah. I'd like that very much."

Chingling chirped as it wrapped its tendrils around Celia's left arm, relaxing in content as both trainers petted it on the head.

-10:30 PM-

Meanwhile, on Route 120…

Indigo and violet clouds engulfed the skies, blocking everything in sight except for wild bird Pokémon. A large cave rumbled in its spot, with trails of lava spilling from the crevice.

Frank pressed his back against the tree, shivering as he lit up another cigarette. Even under glowing sun beams, his feathers bristled from a faint cold wind. He slowly inhaled the bitter taste of pure Fallarbor Town tobacco, sighing in relief as he calmed himself down. Faint grey smoke hovered in front of his face. He looked inside the box: ugh, there was just one cigarette left. Fortree City was only a few hours away, but do they even carry tobacco in the first place?

He tucked the cigarette box away in his pocket, then started to build a tent under the forest canopies. His subconscious told him to go to Fortree City anyways; perhaps the boys would be there too? The three of them did say they'd swing by there. Unless they left already, probably storming off to Lilycove City. Flying on his Pokémon had its perks, but walking around the Hoenn region was nice too.

Once the tent was set up, he crawled inside, threw his hiking bag in a corner, and took off all his clothes. He bundled up the clothing, tossing them in another corner. The forest was silent, as Frank finally laid down for some proper rest. But what exactly is going on in the Hoenn region right now? He tossed and turned in his spot; dangit, he was not going to smoke that last cigarette!

-11:25 PM-

Hours passed since Hawkwind Corp closed for the day. City lights twinkled in the windows. Countless papers were scattered across the floor, some crumpled into little balls.

Don slammed a wooden box on his desk. He ripped it open and pulled out a Paldean cigar. He lit up the contraband tobacco before chomping down on the other end, inhaling the thick musty fumes.

The door swung open.

A white and red eagle stomped inside, scowling in fury as she swatted several items off the desk. Her cerulean eyeshadow and eyeliner were smudged, highlighting her bloodshot eyes. She wore a black leather jacket over a short blue dress.

Don screamed as he jumped up in his seat, scrambling to catch several papers. "Amelia! Honey, I told you I would be home in a few hours!"

"That's not what I'm here about!" Amelia lashed out as she sat down across from him. "Apollo called me today. He said-" she shuddered before slamming a fist on the desk. "You've been cheating on me for the past twenty-five years!"

Don yanked out his cigar, twirling it between his fingers. The nerve of that boy! "How do you know Apollo's not lying about this? He's lied before, you know."

"Yes, about breaking a window when he was twelve," Amelia recounted. "And bringing a girlfriend to dinner, small things, NOT canoodling with several mistresses! You're a real bastard you know that."

Don chomped down on the cigar, cringing from the taste of dry paper. "There's still no proof that I've been cheating! Clearly Apollo's still pissy that I didn't want that mangy mutt Wolfgang associating with my company!"

Amelia glared at him. Oh now he was just trying to rile her up. "Then what's that lipstick on your collar?" she pointed out.

Don gently touched his shirt collar; ugh, why did Coco have to wear the brown lipstick that day. She still owed him for that Anorith. "It's my shirt pattern– no, an employee released their Smoochum during lunch break and it used Sweet Kiss! I was buying you a birthday gift and the makeup girl at Lilycove wanted to test the color! She drew it herself!"

Amelia crossed her arms and shook her head. "Stop lying to me, Don. How many women have you been cheating on me with?"

Tension hung from the room like wilted vines on a collapsing building. Husband and wife glared at each other, all resemblance of trust shattered like a beer bottle to the wall.

"Something like….thirty six?" Don snapped his fingers. "Yeah, it was thirty-six."

Amelia facepalmed in both wings, completely exasperated. "Thirty-six. You slept with thirty-six women, in the span, of our entire marriage."

"Amelia, please," Don smoked more from his cigar. "I get busy with work, and I have my needs! If you put out more we would've had more kids than Apollo AND I wouldn't be out and about! Ever think about that?"

"So I'm not good enough for your needs, is that right?" Amelia scoffed. "I fell in love with you because you were clever, knew what you were doing and a great Pokémon trainer! I didn't sign up to be screwed over because you wouldn't keep it in your pants!"

"Well sor-ry!" Don rolled his eyes. "And before you ask, no, we're not splitting up either! Do you know how much hell the Mauville news would put me- no, put us through! Ooh look at that, the biggest CEO of the Hoenn region is getting a divorce, let's all speculate what happened with our little tinfoil hats on our heads! Do you know the kind of trauma Apollo's going to go through if he finds out! We have to stay together, not just for him but for the entire Hoenn region!"

Amelia facepalmed again. "Apollo's an adult!" she ranted back. "He's the Pokémon League Champion for crying out loud!"

"Because I'm the one who funded his Pokémon League campaign," Don pointed out. He finished his cigar and lit up another one. "If we split up, he'll take my side obviously."

"Yeah right," Amelia snarked. "For all we know, Apollo will take my side!"

-12:10 AM-

Apollo and Wolfgang laughed as they strolled down Mossdeep City's Blue Rose district, their matching trench coats flowing in the cool wind.

"So, where'd those two say we should meet up?" Wolfgang asked before he stopped to buy himself a serving of takoyaki. The sweet dough and savory sauce was fantastic, and the bonito flakes and ground Octillery filling were to die for.

Apollo adjusted his aviator shades and oversized scarf. "They said the show was at D'angelo's."

"Right this way," Wolfgang led the way.

One building stood out in the Blue Rose district, with its bright red brick exterior and flashy neon lights in the window. Pink and white roses lined the door.

The duo held hands as they walked inside; D'angelo's was the same as it ever was. Upbeat pop music boomed through the speakers, while salarymen rabbits chugged Jubilife beer.

Apollo and Wolfgang grabbed a seat at the bar.

The bartender, an arctic white wolf with bright blue eyes, strolled up to the duo. A clove cigarette dangled from her jaw, as she pulled out a notepad and a pen, "So, can I get you two the usual fireball and piña colada?"

"Not today, Whitney," Apollo shook his head. "I need a smorgasvein."

Whitney almost dropped her cigarette. "What happened?" she asked as she grabbed two glasses from the counter. She bit down on her cigarette as she poured zinfandel in one glass, then a dark lager in the other. Her face stayed flat as she placed the beverage in front of her regular.

Wolfgang watched as Apollo slammed the drink in one gulp. "Whitney, you won't tell anyone this, right?"

Whitney nodded as she wrote the tab on her notepad.

Wolfgang rubbed the back of his neck, looking away from his friend. "Apollo just found out he has some half-siblings."

Apollo heaved as he set his glass down on the iced counter. "I knew my father was a two-timing jerk," he muttered under his breath, "but I thought he'd be smart enough to use a couple of rubbers. You wouldn't believe who one of those kids is either."

Whitney started fixing another drink, silent as she poured pineapple juice, coconut cream and rum into another glass. "Who is it?"

Apollo leaned in and whispered, "Celia Carlisle. The new Fortree City gym leader. She told me herself, albeit calling me at a...strange time."

Whitney held a paw up to her mouth. "Oh, oh my," she gasped. "Do you know about the rest of the half-siblings?"

"As a matter of fact," Apollo stated as he looked at Wolfgang, wrapping a wing around his waist. "Yeah, I have my sources."

Wolfgang nodded as he rummaged through several files on his phone. While all the illegitimate ones were scattered throughout Hoenn, one detail caught his eye. Some of the offspring had been eagles like Don, but others took on their mother's species. A chicken who resided in Dewford Town, a penguin from Mossdeep City.

-1:30 AM-

Frank tossed and turned in his tent, groaning in his sleep. He screamed before jolting awake, looking around at the navy blue tent. Oh good, nobody tried to break in. The last thing he needed to do was throw hands in the buff.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed. He grabbed the Rotom Phone and swiped left to answer the call. What's Apollo doing up at this hour? Loud pop music and talking heads boomed from the speakers, along with obnoxious cheering. Oh, right.

"Wolfgang, I told you not to call him!" Apollo whispered from the speakers. "Sorry about that- Wolfgang had a couple cocktails at D'Angelos and thought it'd be hilarious to call you. How've you been, Frank?"

"Amazing," Frank ranted. "I can't sleep for more than an hour, I'm down to my last cigarette, and tracking down obnoxious Team Cottage grunts? Going great, I just saw twenty of them here on Route 120, battled fifteen of them, and my only Pokémon who wasn't beaten to a pulp was my Hawlucha! I was going to hike to Fortree City to check on the boys, but it was way too dark to go out. So, what'd Wolfy boy want to call me for?"

Apollo cleared his throat; the music vibrations still pounded from the bar, rattling his mind like a jar of jelly beans. "Wolfgang found some dirt about us Hawkwind, and, um, Frank? Next time we meet up, promise me you won't try to kill me, alright?"

"And why would I kill my own cousin?" Frank laughed.

Apollo looked back at the door. "That's….that's the thing, Frank. We're not cousins."

Frank froze up, nearly dropping his phone on his lap. His feathers bristled in their spot. "Excuse me? What do you mean we're not cousins? I've been a Hawkwind for as long as I can remember!"

"I know, I know!" Apollo tried to calm him down. "See….okay, how do I put this nicely? Don's an awful guy."

"Tell me something I don't know," Frank snarked. Don is a compulsive liar, frequently lashes out at his employees, constantly dismissing his own family, yet always puts on a happy facade for flashy commercials advertising Arceus-knows-what inventions put out for Pokémon trainers to improve their journey. "But do go on."

Apollo sat down on the nearest bench, pulling Wolfgang to his side so he wouldn't stumble around and do something stupid. "Don's a serial cheater, mostly with Hawkwind Corp employees," he explained. "However, Clint's wife, Tatiana, came in one day about a job as a marketer, right? So, Don swooped in and charmed her, they had a one-night stand and, well."

Frank's wing trembled as he held onto his phone. "Why though?" he muttered under his breath.

"I'm not sure myself," Apollo sighed. "I'd say because Don doesn't know how to keep it in his pants, but probably to get a rise out of Clint."

"Not that!" Frank snapped. "Why would Don lie about me being his nephew and not his son?!"

Apollo gulped and sunk into his spot. He took Wolfgang by the hand and started walking home, whispering in his phone. "Some areas of Hoenn are not accepting about one of the most influential tycoons having bastard children. It'd hurt his image, or so he says."

Frank shivered, and not just from wind blowing against his tent. "Of course he'd make everything about his image. Typical Don behavior."

"Yeah..." Apollo said as he locked the door shut. "Tell you what, Frank. Let's meet on Route 120 tomorrow."

"You mean it?" Frank asked. "As in, you'll actually do it?"

"Yeah, I mean it," Apollo assured him. "Let's talk tomorrow; I need to make sure Wolfgang's safe, alright?"

Frank placed a wing on his own chest. Just hearing how those two cared for each other? It made him realize that he had someone else he needed to talk to. "Yeah, that's great. Night, Apollo."

"Good night Frank," Apollo whispered before hanging up. He shoved his phone in his pocket before helping Wolfgang get to bed. The plush mattress and downy blankets easily lulled him to sleep. Apollo patted Wolfgang on the head, smiling at how adorable he was. He pulled his phone back out and plugged it in to charge. This night was barely starting yet here he was, already comfortable with the one he truly loved.

Back on Route 120...

Frank scrolled through his list of blocked numbers, stopping at one near the bottom. He unblocked the number and started writing,

"Hey Rooney.

I'm sorry I suddenly broke up with you. It was extremely fucked up of me to do that, when I should've known that you would've helped me. I'm obviously still hurt after losing Belladonna, but it doesn't excuse how I treated everyone around me, especially you. If you need some time alone, I completely understand.

- Frank"

He set the phone down on his hiking backpack, his stomach churning in dread. What if Rooney did block him back? What if the number was no longer in use, or now belonged to someone completely different? Heck, was Rooney even alive at this point? What if Cottage or Pastel or Arceus-knows-who slaughtered him in some sick plan to take over the world. Why was he even thinking these thoughts, he had to be fine, right? RIGHT?!

The phone vibrated loudly. Frank lifted the phone up, trembling as he looked at the blinding screen. Another text popped up.

"Frank?! oh my arceus you finally wrote back?! is it really you? please tell me its you!"

A single tear rolled down his face, as he started writing back. Fate finally smiled down on him, showing him a new light in the tunnel. The next morning should be the best morning of his life, right?

Right?