Here we mark the end of the first part of our journey through Paldea. See you at the bottom of Chapter 18!
Chapter 18
A Capture
A soft caress of wind on the cheek.
The far-off giggles of children playing with their Pokémon.
The creak of wood as it settled, and the low sounds of a television playing some program.
All this and more were faintly registered in Juliana's brain as she stirred, her eyes cracking open but a fraction. Lights were above her head, looking familiar, and under her was not the hard stone and grass of Segin Squad's base, but the soft downs of sheets and pillows. Her mind took a second to reorient itself.
The Academy. I'm back at the Academy… She started to groan, realizing her throat was hoarse and unable to speak much yet. She shifted on the covers and winced. Her arm was tender, and her cheek itched. She couldn't see the latter, but the briefest of looks at the former showed her arm wrapped in bandages, presumably holding some ointment within. She had band-aids and bandages in other places, but the rest of her seemed whole, save for the small pains that came when she breathed. But how did I get here?
With some effort, Juliana pushed herself up enough to be propped against the pillows. Moving her arms took some effort, but she managed to reach up and rub at her eyes, bringing the room into focus at last.
There was little doubt she was in the infirmary at the Academy, other beds dotting the larger room as they were separated by partitions. The window was open, allowing the sheer curtains to blow with the breeze and carrying the cries that had awoken her. It had a calming effect, wrapping her in the warmth and safety of a familiar location. Juliana started to furrow her brow, attempting to remember how she had gotten here.
She could remember the Titan Orthworm's terrible rampage, and the wounds it had inflicted upon Arven and Giacomo. And the Pokémon with her. Juliana looked around for them, as if she'd be able to find them here, but saw no such sign of either them or Koraidon. Nor did she see the one who had saved them; or at least, Juliana thought she had saved them. Now, in the bright sunshine of Mesagoza amid soft sheets, she began to wonder if it had all been some nightmare or fever dream.
Perhaps she had hit her head in Inlet Cave and begun hallucinating everything from Koraidon to the Phantom to the encounter with Team Star. The very thought made her body deflate.
It was only for a second, however, until she heard a soft snoring next to her bed, on the opposite side from the window. There, seated upon a chair was Arven, every rhythmic breath of his blowing his hair up. Fuecoco sat with him, clutching a Poké Ball, eyes drooping as he failed to keep watch. Juliana reached out towards him, wanting to believe it was real, but she stopped.
Even if it's real, then I… She retracted her hand, the bitter events at Segin Squad's base playing out. I hurt him. With my secrets. With my words. Why is he even here?
He wasn't the only one, as his light snoring was joined by a mumbling at the wall opposite. Juliana blinked and looked to see that sitting there, framed in the sunlight, was Serena. She, too, was asleep, like Arven, but produced no snores. What she imparted instead was a scene of peace, the teacher balancing her daughter on her lap. Hanna began to shift on her mother's lap, a smile playing on her face at her dreams.
"Pikachu kiss 'neary, kay?" Hanna mumbled, turning over before settling on her stomach, so close to falling off. "Mama, Auntie Dawn running…"
Juliana found her lips twitching, threatening to form a smile. Her bed creaked.
"Ah, Miss Juliana, you're awake!" The sudden shout of the only awake occupant in the room, someone who had previously been obscured by a partition, gave Juliana a start. It also caused the others in the room to jump, shaken from their sleepy stupor. "Let me look at you."
Juliana's vision was covered with sudden purple, the Academy's resident nurse, Miriam, quick to check at her bandages and shine a light in her eye. The shapely woman even tapped at her legs a few times. Only once it reached the point of annoyance with her did Juliana try to wave her away. Her voice tried to catch up to the rest of her body, but could only return with one hoarse word. "Water."
"Of course," Miriam said, her smile just as bright and effervescent as Serena's. The nurse retreated, returning quick with a glass that Juliana downed. She could feel her throat start to work.
"I-I'm good, Miss Miriam," she managed to croak out. With every word, it grew more confident, and Miriam appeared to grow more assured of her state.
"Good. Good. Ah!" Miriam's hand flew to her mouth, and she began to pace back and forth rapidly before starting towards the door. "I forgot that Headmaster Clavell wanted to know when you awoke. Oh. Ah. Uh…stay there, Juliana."
Miriam raced out of the room, leaving Juliana staring at where she'd been, scoffing. It wasn't like she had much of anywhere to go. She moved a bit more to give support to her back, and once she stopped, she looked over and saw that Serena had awoken, and was looking right at her. Some strange mixture of guilt, shame and gratefulness visited her the longer Serena watched. Then the woman shook her daughter awake enough to place her on the chair and walked over to Juliana. She embraced her.
"I'm glad you're okay." It was a simple phrase, one that could easily be dismissed as a platitude, but Juliana knew it was anything but. She accepted the hug. It lasted but a bit, and eventually, Serena pulled away to show that Arven, too, had woken up. He said nothing, but nodded at her. "You've been quite popular while you were out."
"How-how long?"
"Just a few days, give or take," Arven said. His words seemed a touch colder to Juliana, but she couldn't be sure. Perhaps it was just her perception after all the events that had happened to them. "It was a hassle, carrying you back. Naturally, Nemona couldn't shut up. She tends to pop in multiple times a day. Says she needs her rival back."
"Of course, she does…" Juliana groaned, her voice finally fully finding itself again.
"Knowing her, she'll be here in just a moment."
"Mm," Juliana vocalized, nodding her head. Now that all of them were awake, she was starting to feel small, as if something was missing in the space around her. There was little doubt as to what it was: there were no Pokémon but Fuecoco in the room. Her heart ached. It was her mind that worked harder, though, and the tangential question visited her. "What…what happened to Team Star? To Giacomo?"
Arven didn't answer, folding his hands, but he looked to Serena. She let a sigh part her lips. "That's a question best answered with the headmaster-"
"Juli! We're here! Ah, she's awake!" The loud voiced caused all to wince. Hanna nearly toppled from her chair, covering her ears the second the door banged open to reveal Nemona, as energetic as ever, standing in the doorframe. Right behind her was Penny, the girl looking utterly done with who had dragged her there. Juliana didn't blame her. "Look, Penny, we came at the perfect time!"
"You realize you dragged me here, right? I'm not someone for you to boss around." Nemona didn't care much, waving the issue aside. It gave Juliana a chance to shoot Penny a sympathetic look. The girl tightened her lips at it, but eventually nodded.
"Mama, the loud girl is here again," Hanna said, sliding off her chair to join her mother. Serena pat Hanna on the head. The description didn't stop Nemona from leaning over Juliana's bed with a grin, though.
"Ay, Juli, it's about time you woke up. I was starting to get worried."
"Didn't need to bother."
"Of course, I did! As student council president, I consider it my responsibility."
"Don't lie, Nemona," Arven said, his eyes halfway through the process of rolling, "you just wanted to battle her. But not right now. Nurse Miriam has said she needs to take things easy for a week or two."
"Aw…and here I wanted to show off more of my new Pokémon. Can't believe I never thought to use a Nacli before!" Nemona's usual mutterings continued, the girl hardly aware of the fact no one was listening. Penny even tried to slip away, but was stopped at the door by a knock and the sudden presence of Clavell there. Every student sat up straighter.
"Headmaster!" they all replied. Only Serena remained silent, retreating to allow Clavell his approach.
"Settle down, no need for such rigidity," he said, offering each his kindest smile in turn. Penny didn't relax, looking ready to bolt, but most of the others did, feeling more assured. With another person to the room, however, Juliana just felt crowded. "Miss Juliana, I'm glad to see you on the road to recovery. Miss Serena tells me you had quite the encounter at…was it Segin Squad's base?"
"Team Star?" Penny asked, pausing at the door and looking back. Her glasses glinted, the sunlight shielding some of her eyes. "Why did you go there?"
"A question I hope to have more of the answer to. I hope you weren't following those foolhardy suggestions of your old friend Cassiopeia," Clavell said. Juliana shook her head, only now realizing that her braid had been undone and the rest of her hair was flung back and forth. "Well, then, I'm here in the hopes of hearing your account. Given the events that have transpired I want to keep my students informed."
Juliana brought her knees up, almost hugging them. Penny looked to have gone from the room already, looking unpleasant, and Juliana didn't blame her. Though her own past had come out into the open, she was far from wanting to tangle with it again. "There's not much to say. They captured us."
"Captured you, Juli?" Nemona said, barely hiding her gasp. "You could've kicked them out of there con no problema!"
"It was complicated," Arven admitted, his low voice all but confirming to Juliana the hurt she had inflicted. "But I wouldn't let people traipse northwest for a while."
"Mm, so I've heard. A Titan Orthworm," Clavell said, all while shaking his head and clucking his tongue. "Well, it seems to not be troubling anyone for now, but Team Star is my chief concern. You were all in their base. Did they say anything?"
Juliana didn't want to say. Her knees pulled tighter.
Having seen Giacomo's prone form, realizing that somewhere deep down she still cared for them, and understood them, she didn't want to talk. Didn't want to get involved. Like another wall going up, she wanted to turn away towards that which she cared about, and leave behind the rest of the world trying to creep in. She started to shake her head, prompting Clavell to approach.
"You're not in trouble, Juliana."
"I…" She couldn't stop shaking her head. All she could think about was Giacomo, and then Koraidon, who had rescued him. The events played out in her head so rapidly that she started to hurt. She wanted to see them. Needed to know if they were okay.
"It was hard to tell," Arven said. Juliana could feel his eyes on her, and the suspicious expressions of both Clavell and Nemona. "They mentioned something about some operation, but it wasn't clear if it was about something that happened in the past or something for the future. Was all a blur."
"The past, hm?" Clavell's thoughtfulness struck a chord, one that Juliana wasn't sure about. It wasn't enough to tear her away from the Pokémon that weren't there. Her eyes started to flit, trying to find where they could all be hiding. "Well, then, would seem it might be a good idea to keep an eye on them."
"If you need someone to issue Academy discipline!" Nemona volunteered.
"That won't be necessary, Miss Nemona. Let us not antagonize them further. I believe they've suffered a blow to morale, anyway."
"But what happened to them? To Giacomo?" Juliana asked, wheeling back around on him in absence of the Pokémon. Clavell pushed his glasses up and offered a sigh.
"Disappeared, it seems. Miss Serena, you helped some of the students out, correct?"
"Yes. They received instructions from him and he vanished in the night," Serena confirmed. "Some say they saw a flying vehicle pick him up over the mountain, but we were all exhausted."
"Even…um…" Juliana swallowed. "Even Gloria? Assuming she was there and not just…" The thought that she might have hallucinated the Champion of Galar took hold. Yet at Clavell's smile, her heart eased.
"Don't worry, Miss Gloria is quite safe within the walls of Mesagoza, though perhaps a bit busy, I hear. Would you like to meet her?" Clavell watched Juliana as she shifted uneasily.
"Uh, just… Just give her my thanks, yeah?" The curt nod was confirmation that she needed to let the subject drop in favor of the idle thoughts tormenting her brain. Unable to stay still anymore, she swung out of her bed, slipping the shoes on that were there. She didn't stumble once, though the bothersome worrywarts kept all eyes on her. "Can I go, headmaster? It's just that I-"
"Oh, of course. Thank you for your time," Clavell said. Now that he was free to think, his eyes looked already lost in thought, stroking at his chin. More than once, Juliana saw his eyes move over to Serena's with some passing understanding, but Juliana didn't care. That wasn't her world and she needed no part of it.
All she needed was them.
Her footwear slipped on the floor as she started to run for the entrance, using its frame to hold herself up, and at the sound, Nemona stared at her with alarm. "Where are you going, Juli?"
"To find them. I gotta…" Juliana caught her breath, feeling the pain jab in her breast. Yet she used it to stand taller. She wasn't letting this stop her. Juliana took a step out of the room. "I'm going to find my Pokémon."
"I think you already know where to look," Serena said, her eyes shimmering and glinting with foreknowledge. Juliana's eyes narrowed, attempting to figure it out, but it didn't take long. There was only one place to keep a Pokémon as big as Koraidon.
For the briefest of moments, a smile flashed on Juliana's face.
"Thanks." She was off.
The slippers on her feet did not give her good traction against the floors, and more than once they were caught on the carpeted or tiled surfaces, but Juliana couldn't stop running. She was vaguely aware of people behind her, but she didn't stop to wait for any of them. Soon as she saw the elevator, she jammed on the buttons and hopped in, letting it carry her to the ground floor. Once it stopped, she was off again.
"Mademoiselle Juliana, please no running in la bibliotheque!" Salvatore yelled to her as she sped between the rows of books.
"Sorry, but I need to get somewhere!" she shouted, her volume drawing the ire of some studying students. Most of them dove out of her way, while others tried to greet her despite her blowing past them. Her chest began to hurt, a sign that her wounds weren't fully healed, but she pressed on. With burning exertion, she reached the great doors and pushed them open, her arm screaming.
None of that mattered, only the turn towards the side of the Academy. Over the courtyard she ran, blowing past Des and Fidel on their way out. They looked to consider scolding her, but Des shrugged, as if saying he had bigger fish and other students to fry. It left Juliana unimpeded to her goal, the large housing set to the side of the Academy, like a massive pasture where students' Pokémon and Cyclizar were housed.
With panting breaths, Juliana pulled up in front of the enclosure there. She scanned the field but saw no telltale sign of her red-scaled companion. Figuring he was inside, Juliana ran around the fence, past a couple students that were walking out of the building with bags of Pokémon food. She pulled to another stop once inside, staring right to the end, where she found them at last.
"Kor?" Koraidon's head perked up, seeing her. Juliana sprinted for him and the others, all five of the Pokémon that had accompanied her present and accounted for. Koraidon seemed to decide she was real after all, and dashed to meet her. He wasn't alone.
"Quaxwell!"
"Tinkatinka!"
"You guys! You're okay! You're here!" She dove for them, and they for her, and before they all knew it, the seven of them had crashed into each other, attempting to embrace as best as they could. Emotion overwhelmed Juliana, one that she never knew she could have.
But in that moment, holding them all, reliving the experience of them fighting for her, she could only think of it as one thing. Juliana sniffled a bit.
"They didn't want to leave your side." Juliana turned away, seeing that Arven had joined them, tossing a Poké Ball up and down. Near the entrance, having followed, was Nemona wearing a soft and approving smile on her face. "If it wasn't for their own injuries needing to be treated, I don't think they would have."
"I know," she whispered, reaching out to pat Quaxwell, and reassure Smoliv. Koraidon licked at her face. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them."
"Tinka!"
"Nym nym!" Nymble pushed at Tinkatink, as though her arrogant response irked him. The two began to squabble, and Quaxwell attempted to intervene, only for Tinkatink to bonk him with her hammer and make him get in on the scuffle. Juliana put her hand in, and softly pulled them apart, causing all to look at her. She sucked in a quick breath.
"And I…I want to be with all of you." She stood, knowing that all of them were watching. "You helped me, even when I never asked. You fought for me in battles I didn't want to fight. Protected me when I couldn't protect myself. Even though you had no stake in it, you all tried to help me meet my goal, find my treasure, and you've never left my side. I don't know if any of you plan to, either, but…if you'll have me, I'd want to walk the road to answers and my treasure with you.
"So, will you stay with me? Please?"
There was no doubt she had needed to ask it. Seeing Serena as a trainer had shown her the path, and the great swell of feeling inside had confirmed it. For the first time, surrounded by those with her, she knew of a new path forward. Juliana just needed their answers.
It was Quaxwell who stepped forward to give it. He leaned forward, causing her to do the same, and then touched his head to hers. "Quax."
Yes.
Juliana started to feel a watery smile. She embraced them all once more.
"You know, Juli," Nemona said, interrupting the moment. Juliana looked back, glaring at her, but she didn't react. "If you're gonna be a trainer, I think you need something to help protect your new friends. I've got some to spare."
Nemona dug in her bag, and pulled out six spare Poké Balls, gleaming in the sunlight that came through the windows. Juliana looked at them and then to the Pokémon. They nodded, each understanding the gesture placed before them. And even if it was Nemona offering, Juliana was ready to oblige. She reached forward to take them, and so did Arven, snatching one before she could get the rest. He offered a sheepish smile.
"Sorry, but, I don't think that big guy is catchable. Last I'd seen of him, when I was at the edge of Area Zero to see my parents, he came out of a Poké Ball owned by them. Not entirely sure, since my memory of that is pretty hazy, but…"
"That's fine. Because Koraidon's not going anywhere, right?" Juliana asked. She stooped, placing each of the five Poké Balls in a row. Then she looked at the lizard, who stared right back. "Because we've got some answers to find, don't we? Are you ready?"
"Korai!" Koraidon's sharp grunt was the signal for the new adventure to begin, the quest to continue. At his mark, the other Pokémon tapped against the Poké Balls, and with a rush of light, they were sucked inside. Each one shook, just slightly, and then went still with a ding that saw stars shoot out.
"Everyone, let's find our treasure. The answers to Terastallization and maybe Area Zero, too!" She grabbed the Poké Balls, feeling them shake with renewed determination. It left just one thing. Juliana turned to Arven. She sucked in yet another breath. "Arven…I'm-"
"Nope!" Arven held his hand up, silencing her where she stood. He huffed, himself, and put his hands on his hips, wearing nothing less than a smile. All of a sudden, his entire frosty demeanor showed itself as one imagined. "I know what you're going to say. That you're sorry you lied to me, or hid things from me or whatever. And honestly, yeah, it hurt. But come on, Juli, after all the stuff we've been through and survived, do you really think I need an apology? It's not like what went down at Segin Squad's base said you were a bad person."
"Sometimes I'm not so sure about that…"
"Well, I am. You pursued your dream. Nothing to be ashamed of there," Arven said, nodding with every other word. "I'm the same, and I'd say our own dreams and goals still align. You're a great partner on the road and I'd hate to lose you. So, yeah, even if you don't want me, I'm sticking around anyway. That's what friends do."
Juliana blinked, as if the more she did, the more Arven's smile would disappear. It never did. His words, and his feelings, they were real. Juliana knew it. There was no other reason for him to have sat by her side. Standing across from him, hearing his insistence to remain, she felt the same thing for him as for her newly-caught Pokémon. That feeling of something genuine. That feeling of a connection she had long forgotten.
Juliana felt loved.
"I… I can't promise my secret about Team Star won't hurt you more."
"Then we'll take it in stride. I won't ask right now, and you'll tell me when you're ready, so until then, we'll deal with other secrets. Those of the Herba Mystica, particularly." Arven held a hand out, and though there was some hesitation, Juliana clasped it. Partners, once again. And when Arven withdrew, he held a Poké Ball in his hand. "Besides, I can't fault you for hiding a secret when I have one of my own."
"Huh?" Juliana wasn't alone in asking, both her and Nemona leaning over Arven as he crouched and placed the Poké Ball on the ground. He tapped it and, with light, a large Pokémon appeared between all of them. Koraidon moved close, sniffing at the beast, a body made of gray fur, almost lumpy in places. It stirred, if only slightly, but it sounded like a strangled whimper. Nemona backed up.
"Arven, when did you catch a Mabosstiff? I thought Fuecoco was your ace!"
"Nemona, don't think of it like a battle junkie," Arven said, rolling his eyes. Juliana snorted, but kept her eyes transfixed on the slowly breathing form of Mabosstiff. The longer she looked, the more she could see what Arven was really hiding. The dog was scarred in many places, a great scratch over its eyes. There wasn't any sign of old age, but injury lingered on Arven's partner, so grievously done to the point it didn't even react when he petted him. "Mabosstiff is my first Pokémon. One of the few gifts my parents gave me. Our only connection besides the, to them, useless book. He's my greatest friend, and the whole reason I'm on this journey."
"Does it…have to do with Area Zero?" Juliana asked. She, too, reached out to pet Mabosstiff, only to feel his cold, weary state.
"Sorta. Last time I met my parents, we were attacked by one of the creatures within. Mabosstiff took the blow for me. Again, still a bit hazy. But in any case, Nurse Joy has been helping me out since, keeping him stable. It was only recently, though, when I started research into the Herba Mystica, that I realized how I could heal him. If he was hurt by something from Area Zero…"
"…then something from Area Zero, something tied to Terastallization, could heal him. Makes sense."
"Yep. So, there you have it. My secret. Don't know why I hid it, but…" Arven stood, pacing for a few moments and staring out the windows towards the sun. "Mabosstiff is my treasure. And I'll heal him, if I can."
"I think it's a nice treasure," Nemona said, nodding. "I bet Mabosstiff can get real strong."
Her opinion on Mabosstiff's battle-worthiness wasn't what interested Arven. He only turned his eyes to Juliana, waiting for her answer, deciding what their road forward would be from then on.
She didn't like the pressure, but accepted the question. From her lips passed a light chuckle. "Area Zero, Koraidon, Mabosstiff, Terastallization and the Herba Mystica. They're all leading somewhere. But heck if I know where that is."
"But we can find out?"
"Except we don't know where Orthworm went," Juliana said. Still, she inched closer to Arven, their hands close to joining. "That could take weeks to find out."
"We'll need weeks for you to recover," Arven pointed out. Juliana conceded. "Until then, we keep our ears to the ground. And if it's a hunt to be had, I'm sure Koraidon's stomach can sniff out the prize."
"Kor?" Koraidon's tongue lolled out, the thought of more Herba Mystica consuming him.
"All right, then, Arven," Juliana said, reaching out to clasp his hand at last. "No matter what Titans, Team Star squads or Phantoms lay in our way, let's reach those answers."
"Together." They squeezed tighter, and the shaking of the Poké Balls indicated the pure agreement from those that had joined.
"Ah, sounds like you have such exciting battles ahead! I'll have to train up to get stronger! Oh, oh, Juli, you and me hafta battle now you're a trainer."
"In your dreams, Nemona," Juliana said. It didn't stop Nemona from throwing an arm around her, or Arven from laughing. The girl began to jabber on excitedly about her strategies and other Gym battles she was planning, but Juliana zoned it out. Her eyes trailed outside the windows, to the great stone wall of the crater, looming in the distance. She could almost touch it.
Soon, we'll have all those answers and more. Mom, dad, me and my Pokémon will find what you couldn't: the answer that makes Tera Orbs tick.
Juliana embraced her new road forward.
"Looks like everything's working out, huh?"
Serena heard a book snap shut, echoing around the sun-drenched courtyard of the Academy. Much was now bathed in reds and golds, except for the young woman that stood leaning against the walls of the vaunted institution. Serena stopped, taking just a moment to look back at the Pokémon enclosure where Juliana and her friends were. It was as heartwarming a sight as anything else, and Serena felt her smile grow. It soon snapped to a concerned frown.
"I guess you could say that," she said, walking back towards the Academy doors. She found herself joined in lockstep by Gloria, the girl holding an old and battered book to her side. "Juliana was someone who needed others. She finally realized they were right there. Not sure how much I helped her with it, but I'm glad to see she and Arven will continue on."
"Interesting girl," Gloria said, shoving hands into her pockets as the women approached the entrance in tandem. "I'm glad I stepped in when I did."
"Mm, she wanted to thank you for it. From what I understand, she's a fan."
"You don't say, huh?" Serena looked to Gloria, the brunette scratching behind her head with a smile she couldn't hide. It was the first glimpse of the usual Gloria, drawn away from the mystery of her appearance. For a moment, Serena felt all was normal. For a moment. At least until they stepped on the elevator. "Maybe I'll have to introduce myself. Nothing like some fans!"
"Says the biggest fangirl, herself," Serena said, rolling her eyes. "By the way, when did you take up reading? Last I checked, you and Ash were both firmly in the 'no reading, except for paperwork' club."
"Eh, just some light research notes I'm looking over in Hop's stead."
"And just where is Hop?"
"Mm, somewhere. Busy."
"Uh-huh…" Serena crossed her arms, the elevator ferrying them up towards the top floor where Clavell's office awaited them. She watched Gloria, the now young woman tapping her feet and playing with her hair. "Mysterious doesn't suit you, Gloria. You're someone who wears their heart on their sleeve."
"Hey, I'm not being mysterious. If anything, the world's a big mystery, and I'm trying to figure it all out!" The elevator had stopped, opening out to Clavell's office door. Serena took the lead, pushing it open as the halls became bathed in the purple of nighttime. Little lights illuminated the halls, but Gloria took no notice, continuing to speak. "Hop's become all interested in how past eras affect current eras, using Eternatus as a reference point. Since it plagued Galar three thousand years ago and all. I'm just, you know, helping out."
"Instead of running a region, huh? What kind of Champion are you again, Gloria?" The voice of Serena's husband put the brightness right back on Gloria's face.
"Ash! Been so long!" she cried, running over and embracing her older brother in a hug. He returned it, but she didn't keep for long, soon scratching Pikachu behind the ears. "You, too, Pikachu."
"Chaaaa!"
"Gloria, this isn't social hour." Gloria's face drew a look of revulsion, quickly realizing that Serena and Ash were far from the only ones in the room. In fact, Serena realized that they were far from the biggest. The obvious was Clavell, hands folded as he looked over papers on his desk, but sitting across from him, both with their legs crossed, were Geeta and Cynthia, the current and ex-Champions watching their youngest with hawkish eyes.
"Ugh, wasn't aware showing up here would mean getting rated by my bosses."
"You realize I'm your boss first, right? Imagine if I was evaluating Galar again right now," Ash pointed out. He patted Gloria on the back and then took a seat. Serena joined him, and all eyes turned to Gloria, who was halfway interested in one of Clavell's computers. It was obvious she was ignoring the Copperajah in the room. "Gloria, you went missing."
"I'm aware. Had some stuff to do."
"In Paldea?" Geeta questioned. Her eyes were discerning, something that made Gloria uncomfortable. Or perhaps, Serena decided, it was that everyone there was peering at her with suspicious eyes, attempting to pierce her intentions. "Last I checked, you were Champion of Galar, not Paldea. You could have sent a message."
"That would have been boring," Gloria responded. She took her battered book out, spinning it in hand before depositing it in the pockets of her cardigan. "Though to be honest, I was sorta following up on something from Galar and it just happened to lead here. Moved too fast, didn't have time for contact."
"And what would this something be?" Cynthia asked. She was sipping some tea down, clearly relaxed despite the gathering. Gloria's lips moved back and forth, the thought she was putting into her answer evident. It left Serena the easy conclusion that she was now a woman with something to hide. And whether out of mistrust or misinformation, she didn't want to say too much.
Eventually, Gloria sighed. "Ever hear of Phantom Zero?"
"A regional cult," Geeta said, nodding her head. "What of them?"
"Not so sure they're just regional," Gloria said. She began to pace back and forth, her face vacillating between concern and solution. "I think they might've been active in the Crown Tundra. Once upon a time, at least. So, I kinda went looking into them. Led me here."
"Led us on a merry chase, more like," Cynthia said. Her eyes flashed, and Gloria recoiled. "You are aware of what happened with Rose?"
"You mean the plane? Sure. Might be the Phantom's work. But Rose is fine, right?"
"No thanks to you," Geeta said. She sounded haughty, and it drew a scoff from Gloria. Serena scooted forward.
"Let's not split hairs over this. Gloria, you're tracking Phantom Zero?"
"Yup." Her chirp was altered by the frown on her face. "Though I didn't expect to run into this much trouble. All that nasty business with Team Star. Didn't expect two teams to be up and running here."
"Team Star would hardly be considered the same level as Phantom Zero," Clavell said, finally inserting himself in the conversation. "Lost students seeking a home with each other."
"I think it's more than just them being lost," Serena said. She leaned forward, balancing her elbows on her knees. "They mentioned bullying. Something intensive, enough to make them leave and form their own groups. Their own armies."
"I mean, is it that unheard of?" Gloria said. She leaned back, her cavalier attitude making Ash sigh, but she showed no intention to cease with it. "Team Yell was a practical army of just Marnie fanboys. Not that they've stopped…"
"No, this is different," Serena confirmed. "I've been a teacher five years now. Bullying is unavoidable. As teachers we try to stop it, but it happens. But to this extent? To this many students? And then Juliana and Arven mentioned they saw Phantom Zero with Team Star flags."
"It's a sign I was rather remiss in my duties. To think so many students were hurting and I couldn't pick up on the signs," Clavell said, shaking his head. His toupee nearly slipped, but he righted it. "I'll need to take a more active interest."
"As will I, if you'll let me," Serena said. She didn't need a single second for Clavell to incline his head in agreement. Now at ease with something to do, Serena sat back, turning her mind to the task to come. "Team Star's bullying is unnatural, so I'm going to have to figure out just how it got this bad. What Operation Star was, what led to Team Star's formation, all of it. Before we have another situation like Orthworm."
No one sought to challenge her on it.
Cynthia, however, finished her tea and leaned forward. "You're awfully quiet on all this, Ash. Surely you have a thought or two."
"Pikapi?"
Serena turned to her husband, his hands folded in his lap. He was uncharacteristically quiet, more reserved than the usual energy he brought to everyone in his vicinity. It was such a staunch silence that Gloria, of all people, began to look concerned. After more than a minute of waiting, Ash eventually let loose a labored sign.
"Too many thoughts for me," Ash said with a groan. "Phantom Zero cult, all that stuff with Rose, Team Star…feels like a lot of stuff that it's impossible to focus on just one thing."
"Then maybe," Gloria said, her foot beginning to tap, "instead of treating them as separate issues, we start trying to treat them as one."
"What do you mean?" Geeta asked. Instead of sniping at Gloria, her head was cocked in genuine interest. An interest that Gloria was pleased to answer. She held her fingers up.
"You've got a group of strong students with their own veritable armies."
"Veri-what now?"
"She means they're practically armies, Ash," Serena said, patting her husband's knee. He shut up after that, listening intently. Gloria continued.
"Right, so there's that. Then you've got this cult going around causing trouble. They're coming into contact, and that spark lights enough…" Gloria touched her fingers together and simulated an explosion. "Paldea burns down."
"Why would they want such a thing?" Geeta said, her dismissive scoff apparent. Still, she wasn't entirely unconvinced, even beginning to drum her fingers on Clavell's desk. "Though you may have a point. The rumors about the seals breaking. The great storms that have randomly appeared. Paldea's nature is not what it was. Perhaps this conflict is unintentionally causing it."
"Then all the more reason to get to the bottom of Team Star," Clavell said. He stood from his desk. "By my authority as headmaster, I will see it done."
"Then…I'll have to start looking into the other half," Ash said. He was leaning now, every part of his face screwing itself with thought. Cynthia shot him a look, one that made he and Pikachu slump. "I know, I know. I still have to carry on with my job. But part of that is looking into whatever's affecting a region, too. Phantom Zero is doing just that, and we have to know what they're trying. So, while Serena looks into Team Star, I'll look into Phantom Zero."
"It's not the worst idea," Cynthia agreed. Her gaze slipped a moment, drawn to looking out the window to the now moonlit wall of the crater, part of the namesake of the cult they'd be investigating. "But keep the evaluation in mind. If either faction gets wind of us looking into things, it could spell larger trouble."
"Yeah, Ash, you gotta be discreet," Gloria said, sticking her tongue out at him. He glared right back.
"Says the very conspicuously missing Champion," Cynthia shot back. Gloria grimaced. "What is your story going to be exactly? You can't operate quite so brazenly here."
"Like you're one to talk, Cynthia…"
"I'm just here on my hobbies. Helping the League is a side benefit." Serena giggled at the pair, something that drew even a glimmer of a chuckle from Geeta. "In fact, I think I'll look into these seals. See if I can figure something out."
"Check by the northwest mountains," Serena said. "Juliana found something there."
"Meanwhile, I'll keep appearances up. It's best if the League is seen as not making a move," Geeta said with a wave of her hand.
"And I'll stick around for the fun." Gloria's statement drew annoyed looks from all involved, but she pointedly didn't see them. "I'm not leaving until I get some answers, so just consider me on holiday. Officially, this time."
"Uh-huh…" Ash said. He craned his neck to look at her, and judging by her freezing mid-stride, she knew he was looking. "You never answered us, though. Why are you here in Paldea for real? What brought you looking?"
Gloria put her foot down, all of her deliberations playing on her face. There was a clear internal struggle, one that went on for far longer than Serena thought it would, but eventually, Gloria's body relaxed. Her mind relented. She turned to face the group at large.
"I'm here for the same reasons you are: to keep everyone safe. To get answers before things get worse. Before some evil, or evil legacy, that was left behind burns everything down. That's the only part that matters. That's what really brought me here. Conjecture and fear and the vague ramblings in an old book, trying to ascertain the truth. That's why I'm looking into the past, and a place as history rich as Paldea. Though it's mostly guesswork from stitched together theories.
"Which is to say, of course, that she's the real reason I'm here, and I will find the answers I need before it's too late. Let's save Paldea."
The harsh, biting winds surrounded by dense fog.
The sharp cries of creatures beyond any understanding from beneath the clouds.
The snapping, breaking noises of an unearthly menace destroying all.
All this and more was what the Phantom heard, staring out over the vast abyss that was Area Zero. They lifted their hand, as if they could reach out and grasp it, but just as easily it slipped through their fingers. Behind, the glittering, golden metropolis that was Mesagoza served only to highlight the darkness that was thriving deep down in the crater. The area they couldn't reach.
If there was but one thing visible from it, it was the crystal, crawling up the edges of the forbidden area. That crystal had begun to spread, little pockets covering the landscape of Paldea, as if there was a sentient force of defense, seeking to entomb the entire land to protect itself.
"So close…yet no matter how close, it denies entry this time," the Phantom said, their voice like a whisper on the wind.
Shadows drew close, a whirl of dead leaves and brambles, and at the Phantom's side appeared their confidant. Their right hand, donning the mask with the eye that had long come to be associated with them. The one that saw all. "We still cannot access from the top."
"No. I can only guess that there may be a protection matrix when entering above from anywhere not the Zero Gate. And that has a pesky DNA lock, or book lock. Hard to know, given the day. The professors have outdone themselves." The Phantom kicked a single stone, sending it flying above the clouds of the crater. It soared in an arc before touching the tops of the clouds. A sudden screech emerged, a red barrier appearing just below the clouds, preventing the stones access. "The system continues to make sure of it. But it will be blind to other things, so long as we keep pulling the strings."
"And pull at them we shall, my lord. Already we have operatives in place, unseen."
"The silent blade," the Phantom said with a chuckle. They winced, clasping at their side, the old wound that remained there twinging at such a statement. Once it passed, the Phantom pulled away, lightly caressing the Poké Ball and knife on their belt. "It would seem, then, that the preliminary distractions have been successful."
"Very. Paldea won't see it coming. All that remains is getting you back inside. Are you sure you don't-"
"It's no bother. Continue with the plan as is. I'll make sure the mayhem keeps rolling. And at the end of it, all our plans will find fruition." The Phantom began to smirk, catching sight of their follower bowing low to them, hand upon his breast. "I think it's time all of us head back to school, friend.
"It's time we make these wars begin."
With a bow, both Phantom and follower, vanished into the night.
TO BE CONTINUED
Author's Note: This was, if anything, a sort of denouement chapter for the story. Juliana finally catches her team. We get a glimpse into what Gloria's up to. We have some ominous stuff with the Phantom. Which really just says this is setting up for the next book, as conflicts and personal relations start to clash with one another. It's, of course, important to note that Juliana's character journey is far from over; that was obvious with some of her mindset this chapter. Where that takes her will be seen next time. Either way, I'm very interested in your thoughts on this chapter and, of course, the book as a whole!
But I'm sure you're also quite interested in what's to come next. And that next is Book 12 of the Ancienverse and the second book of the Paldea Trilogy, none other than Love in the Time of Tension. That book will be released on May 12th, to give me some time to rest and relax in between the grueling editing schedule. To whet your appetite, a summary.
Ancienverse Book 12. Juliana has embarked anew! With a team of Pokémon at her side and a friend in Arven, she continues to strive for answers at the center of the world. But things can never be simple. Disaster is brewing in Paldea, a war fomenting between Phantom Zero and Team Star, with many Champions and teachers caught in the middle of it all. And at the end of it, neither Juliana nor Paldea will remain unchanged…
Vague summary perhaps, but hopefully it tides you over the next month. Until then, thank you to everyone who read and commented, particularly ChE clarinetist, AmourshippingCanon and Tenzalucard123 for giving me feedback every chapter. I hope we get more in book 2! Until then, please review and, of course,
Dare to Be Silly.