The next day, as Delcatty didn't appear at our dorm at the crack of dawn, we awoke later in the morning and decided to head to the Artifacts Wing to meet her. Well, most of us anyway; Stephanie, Noivern, and Elliot opted to take in the wonders of the Center instead. "I just can't imagine Elliot would be particularly…helpful, in this mission," Stephanie laughs. I agree, the last thing that place needs is a crazed kid running rampant. "Noivern, you sure you don't want to come?" I coax. "Well…to tell you the truth, I'm not sure I can face that place again…" Ah, he must be remembering our last stint there; he distracted the guards and got Delcatty—Skitty then—and I inside, but the whole thing went sour very fast. It was at that point he officially became an enemy of the Center too. "No worries, I'm sure Steph could use the help," I wink.
So that leaves the rest of us searching for the entrance of the Artifacts Wing. We asked Tinkaton at reception where it was (last time I came and left was in a bag, so I didn't really get to see the way), and it's taking us just a bit longer than expected. Turns out the convoluted path is full of twists and turns, probably to make it harder for thieves. We actually have to go inside one of the mighty trees, and then somehow work our way to a hall marking the Wing's entrance, which opens to a trap door that leads underground.
We got as far as 'go inside the tree,' but now we're struggling to find anything that looks remotely like the Wing's entrance. I'm amazed there can be such a convoluted path in a tree, although it is larger than any tree I've seen back home.
"I knew the receptionist said left! We should never have gone right!" Rotom whines from her vantage point on Serperior's head. "Then why didn't you say so when we turned right?" He says with irritation. "I'm too tired to think straight…all this searching is exhausting! And we haven't even got to the library yet!" "I don't see why you're complaining, it seems you're just along for the ride." Seviper jokes. "Aww, don't feel left out! Here," Rotom says while landing on her head and getting comfortable, "ah, that's better, I was getting vertigo up there anyway," she snickers. "I'm sorry the accommodations aren't to your liking Madame, I'll try harder next time," Serperior says, then cries out in response to a not-so-light zap.
"If I had my Pokédex, we'd have been there ages ago!" She continues. "You've been complaining about that since we got here, I'm sure you'll be alright. You've made it this far without it, after all." Dragalge says. "…by the way, what did happen to the Pokédex?" I probe; I'd been wondering where it went—Rotom is almost never without it—but I hadn't really had the presence of mind or opportunity to ask.
"Ooh…well uh…" she's looking embarrassed, "it got uh…sort of…broken." "Oooh, you're gonna be in trouble!" Seviper singsongs. "Knock it off! Maybe I'll try Dragalge's head for a ride instead!" "Oh no! And rob me of the experience of being your personal taxi?" She says sarcastically.
"I'm sorry Gwen! I don't know what happened! When I woke up it was just…ruined! Irreparably broken! Utterly destroyed!" She says, swooping down in front of me. "It's ok…a similar thing happened to my phone last time, actually…" I laugh at the memory. If that had been working, it would've saved all of us a lot of trouble and confusion. After uploading my backup onto a new phone, the first thing I saw when I turned it on were the faces of Dragalge, Rotom, and Serperior on the lock screen.
Certainly would've been handy when I was here with no memories, especially after being told they were vicious, violent criminals and all.
"Well, it might not be the best time…buuut when we get home, I've had my eye on a new model," she grins. "Haha, don't push it."
When we get home…if we get home. Thinking about it still gets me tied up in a bundle of nerves.
We keep walking, looking, and, by the grace of Arceus, eventually find it, the entrance of the Artifacts Wing, flanked by two guards I don't recognize. But no sign of Delcatty.
"Do you think she's already inside? We have been a while…" Dragalge starts. "Excuse me? Did Master Delcatty come by here today?" I ask the guards. "No, no sign of her, you meeting her here?" The munchlax replies. "We were supposed to, but we…got a little held up," I say. "Got hopelessly lost, thanks to these guys!" Rotom says flying around us, "really amazing we found it at—" she's abruptly cut off after being caught in Serperior's vines, one pressed firmly against her mouth. She offers only a filthy look in response.
"Well…why not wait out here? I can't imagine she'll be long," the other guard, a litwick, suggests. I'm dying to get started in there…but honestly, without her guidance? The Artifacts Wing is incredibly vast, and I don't know where we'd even start.
So we wait…and wait…
And wait.
We make small talk with the guards. They're an up-and-coming exploration team themselves—their rookie status is why they've been delegated to guard duty for the day.
We eventually leave them to their own conversation and speak amongst ourselves. "So…this was where you guys broke into?" Seviper asks. "Delcatty, Noivern, and I, yeah, to rescue them," I nod at Dragalge and Rotom. "They didn't want me coming along, 'getting in the way,' if I recall correctly," Serperior says with mock hurt. "They did have to sneak in hidden inside a bag, dear, I don't think you could have really got past the guards…unnoticed," Dragalge says, eyeing him up and down. "Perhaps…but I could have got past them if they were made to be unconscious," he grins. "Truth be told, we didn't leave with as much…finesse, as we had intended…" I say, remembering the destruction we caused and the attention it immediately attracted, escalating into a fight that involved most of the Center. I assume it's been fixed up by now, all the traces of our treachery erased, but I still feel a little guilty.
More time passes, we continue to wait, and still no sign of her. I know she's busy…but doesn't she realize how important this is? And above all else, she told me she'd be here.
I keep pacing back to the entrance of the long hall, checking if she's arrived, and still nothing. How long has it been, anyway? At least an hour, but could definitely have been more. The others continue making idle chatter, but I'm too busy dipping my toes in the edge of a mental breakdown to really pay attention. We need these answers…and we need Delcatty. I only helped protect this world and managed to get home because of her and her leadership and support through everything. But now? She feels so distant…and I feel so…so lost.
"Are you ok?" I look and see Serperior beside me by the hall's entrance. I was so wrapped up in my racing thoughts that I didn't even notice he was there.
"Just…thinking." "About…?" "I don't know. I guess…everything? Mostly Delcatty. I know she's busy, that being the Master of the Center or whatever is busy, but…" I trail off. But what? But she should drop everything just because I'm having an emergency? Put her life on hold to help me deal with mine? I know she's still got her own life and problems, despite our whole situation. I realize I'm not being entirely fair to her.
"I think I know what you mean…" he starts, breaking the silence, "in prison, when she came to visit…I don't know, she just seemed…different. Not just the extra responsibilities or growing up she's done since we left, but…she seemed weighed down by a heavy burden." Huh…so he noticed it too? "…what kind of burden, do you think?" "Well, at first I thought it was just the uh…well, the crime, and it's uh…implications," he says, cheeks going pink. "You mean how you attacked a high class lady," I taunt, "one who was about to attack your son!" He says, ruffling the fur on my head as I let out a surprised laugh. I fix my fur while he continues, "but then…how she's been since it was, 'taken care of'…I don't know, maybe she's just changed? But maybe it's something more." I consider his words. Could she have just…changed? It's been a few years…and a lot has happened since, I'm sure. I know I've changed, but…could she, this much? Like this?
Despite being as accomplished as she is…maybe the Center itself is the burden. It certainly didn't seem to leave Lurantis in a tranquil state of mind.
"It's clear that even after all this time, she still considers you one of her best friends." He says, "I think if there is anything on her mind…if she'd want to talk about it with anyone, it would be you."
Could she really feel that way? I've held her close to my heart all these years, but, realistically, we didn't know each other for long at all. "I don't know…it's been…tense between us…" I had told him during one of our visits about my outburst in her quarters when I'd discovered they were in prison. "But she apologized, you apologized, I assume she wants to move forward and make the most of our time here." I nod slowly. I think so…it must be hard for her, knowing we can't stay, knowing Giratina could be after me right now for breaking our pact.
"Ok," I say, feeling my resolve returning, "I'll try to see if there's anything on her mind, try and connect with her a little better." He smiles, then a moment later we see a purple blur before something crashes into him.
Delcatty is on the ground looking disoriented a second later. "Are you ok?" She stands and shakes her head, "phew, gave me a surprise there! Thank goodness there's some guy standing right in the entrance!" She throws Serperior a smirk. "It's good to see you too…in better circumstances," he replies. "Likewise. Alrighty then, everyone ready to look for some answers? Where's Noivern and the others?" She says, noticing the absences. "Ah, they figured brining Elliot might not be conducive to a successful search." "Huh, good call. Well then, let's get started!"