This conflict was building since last book, and now it's reckoning time! Orthworm Round 2, and Chapter 9, start!
Chapter 9
An Herb
"ZUZIIIIIII!"
"How did it find us?!" Arven's scream could barely be heard over Orthworm's own. Nor did he get the chance to have his question answered.
"Duck and cover!" Juliana's shout was matched by her diving to the side. Smoliv dove with her, tumbling across the dusty stone. A tail flew down, Orthworm's end crashing into the space between her and Arven. He and Koraidon were pitched back by the resultant blast of air.
"Trrrell!"
"Spark!" Juliana ordered, trying to not miss a beat. She pushed up from the ground, just as the tail whapped around over her head. Remaining low, Juliana dashed for Smoliv and picked her up. At the same moment, Wattrel began a dive downward, his whole body sparking. He crashed against Orthworm's steel surface.
"ZIIII!" The sharp hiss made Juliana cover her ears, grimacing the whole while. That same screech made Wattrel pause midair, twitching from the effect of the sound. It made him easy pickings for the Titan's tail, indiscriminate in its violence. The metal appendage swung out, nailing him and flinging the bird against the stony wall.
"Wattrel!"
"Juli, get down!" Juliana spun, heeding Arven's words. She caught a brief glimpse of him near the wall with Koraidon, clutching him. Fuecoco was in front of him, acting as a vanguard, and screaming the same warning. Without delay, she flattened herself, sucking in a breath when the tail passed over her head.
"I'm fine. Get to the Herba Mystica! If we can get it out of here then maybe-" Juliana cut herself off as another pass of Orthworm's tail cast a shadow over her. Above, Wattrel coughed, showing he was still in the fight. That alone made her grip for her two other Poké Balls. "Go, Arven! Lokix, Tinkatuff, keep that Titan distracted!"
A toss later, and both of her evolved Pokémon emerged, the hero and the troublemaker, yet both united in striking for opposite sides of Orthworm's flank. A flashing kick down, and a stone rising up both hit upon Orthworm, causing its entire body to buckle and undulate. Its face flashed around, zeroing in on the pair and Juliana, who finally had the room to stand.
"That got its attention. Now, let's keep it busy." Juliana cracked her knuckles.
"Zuuuuuzi!" Orthworm lunged. Juliana pirouetted to the side, the head smashing into the wall beside her. Stones like shrapnel rained out, cutting at her skin. In her arms, Smoliv struggled, finally breaking free with a cry. She popped to the ground, summoning a crackling, verdant orb. That same orb flashed out, striking upon Orthworm's head and snapping it back. "ZU!"
"Tinkatuff, defensive measures!" Juliana took a tentative step backwards, but not fast enough. Orthworm's face turned right for her and Smoliv, the same horrific glow she had seen once before glowing in its jagged mouth. So close to it, she could swear to seeing deep inside the beast's gullet, but there was no time for examination.
The Flash Cannon fired.
"Tuff!" Tinkatuff smashed down, her hammer striking the ground. A giant stone erupted, and the lustery beam flew forth. It struck the stone, exploding it with force and sending trainer and partner back.
Orthworm didn't stop there, the Flash Cannon loosing itself and firing in every direction it could. Wattrel dove under the offending attack, one that struck the high walls around them. By the edge, near the Herba Mystica, Arven could be seen ducking for cover and scowling. There was concern and frustration, but Juliana had to put all of her tactics and attention on Orthworm and its frenzied attack. With each cut of the Flash Cannon, boulders began to rain down, crashing upon their heads.
"Lokix!" The heroic Bug type sailed in, snapping his leg up into a kick that split a boulder in two. He spun around with another, his body now glowing, and struck the boulder to send it flying. It struck against Orthworm's head, cutting the steely cannon off.
"That's it…" Juliana breathed. "Lokix, Wattrel, Tinkatuff, rain those boulders down! We'll find a weakness yet!"
"Tinka!" If anything, Tinkatuff looked excited at the challenge. With a mighty stamp of her hammer, she took a piece of boulder and swung with dark, crackling energy to send the stone flying. It struck against the wall, breaking off a piece and sending it raining down. She wasn't alone in her actions. Wattrel struck with ribbons of air while Lokix used Orthworm's own body as a springboard to strike the stony walls. More and more chunks broke off, raining the debris down. Arven was forced to take cover, but Orthworm had nowhere to run.
"Zi! Zi! Zuziii!" With each boulder blow, its body twitched and turned, the steel surface battered, though hardly tiring the beast. It turned its head skyward, angered at the display, while its tail also rose upward, glinting silver in the moonlight. With a roar, its mouth opened…and took a boulder straight into it. Juliana's eyebrow raised. Just for a moment, until the terror of the silver beam returned. "ZIIIII!"
The newest Flash Cannon fired out from the creature's mouth, flying for the heavens. At the same time, the Iron Tail came crashing down to earth. It struck the ground, cracking it and sending tremors that pitched both humans to their knees from the very force of the attack. Only Smoliv remained unharmed, though her little form was quivering even in defiance.
That's right, we're still standing. We can't back down. Not now. Juliana dragged herself up to one knee. "We've gotta see this through to the end."
"Yeah, well, I just hope it's not our end! Keep on it!" Arven shouted.
His warning was well regarded. The Iron Tail was slapping out again, this time horizontally. Tinkatuff was caught by the blow, though her hammer took the brunt of it. Lokix rushed in, a speeding green bullet that struck the side of the tail and forced it off course.
"Lokix, don't just rush in!" Juliana shouted, now putting herself on her feet. Her arm flew out. "We have to battle smarter, not harder. That means going straight for its weak spot: down the gullet."
"Are you mad?! That's Flash Cannon central!"
"Then we feed it something it hates. Smoliv, Sunny Day!"
"Smol!" The cry was eager, pushing past all the fear and trembling to create a bright, shining ball. Matching that of the wicked Flash Cannon, it fired up, emanating heat that covered their little hole in the ground.
"Now, feed it a Weather Ball!"
"Trell!" Wattrel dove, spinning and summoning all the heat to himself in a giant orb. Once close enough to Orthworm's face, he flapped out, sending the orb careening downward and straight into Orthworm. The creature screeched and flailed, the burn sticking to it. In the periphery, Arven stepped back, surprised, and Juliana could see him clenching his fist, looking down at Fuecoco.
"Get ready for another!" Juliana ordered.
Her order was mistimed.
No sooner had Orthworm recovered, than its head snapped down and fired off that Flash Cannon. She dove to the side again, feeling it singe her braid. In that bright light, she saw another sight: Orthworm's legs emerging from within its body. They raised high, ready to pummel the ground and bring Wattrel down from the air at the same time. Its mouth chomped, the drool belying its frenzied state.
On top of it, the Pokémon with her were looking exhausted.
But we gotta keep going! We've come so far, we can't give up now! Juliana reached up, grabbing a piece of the wall for purchase, and dragged herself to her feet. She leveled a glare at the Titan that paid her no notice, too busy bringing its mighty legs crashing to the ground. "So, we don't! Lokix, let's go, hero! Stop those legs!"
"Kix!" The legs fell.
Lokix's fell faster. Like a blinding bullet, he arrived at Orthworm and kicked. They matched in power, grating against one another and sending sparks all over the battlefield. Those sparks turned into spots of flame in the heat of the Sunny Day, growing all around them. Wattrel dove again, firing another flaming orb that struck Orthworm in the face.
It was enough. Lokix's strength broke through, forcing one of the legs upwards and causing the Titan's lower half to spin out of control. The legs snapped in, and the tail fell, causing another crash. This time, all of them refused to fall on their bottoms. Tinkatuff smacked her hammer, and Smoliv waddled forward, both ready for battle.
"Ziii…" Orthworm's hiss was felt, its breath exuding across the area as steam. Its glowing, frenzied eyes twitched every which way, soon finding Arven and Fuecoco, and then Koraidon. The eyes narrowed. At it, the pair stepped forward to defend him, but Orthworm snapped forward.
"Stone Edge! We're gonna guide it!"
"And then what?!" Arven shouted. Juliana blinked, not having an answer to that question, even as Tinkatuff acted on her orders. She spun, striking the ground and sending a row of stones racing out. They intercepted Orthworm's path, the head smashing against them. The bulwark cracked and shuddered, eventually breaking through, but Orthworm's body had been snapped to the side. Juliana remained staring. "Come on, Juli! How do you think we're gonna win this?"
"We…?" Juliana continued blinking, and she looked up. Across Orthworm's giant body, she could see Arven, standing resolute. It was as if all the strength he had exhibited in the tunnels remained, no longer just someone along in her own wake.
No, he never was. This was always his quest, too. Our quest.
"You're not the only one getting stronger. So, tell me your plan!"
"Fuecoco!"
The sounds of battle receded for a brief moment, the scene of Tinkatuff's Stone Edges forcing Orthworm to back off and move in a zigzag pattern becoming little more than a haze. All she saw were Arven's eyes, and the strong zeal to heal Mabosstiff, and help Koraidon. They were on the road together that neither could back down from. The road where Gloria wasn't there to save them.
All they could do was help each other.
So, Juliana reached into her pocket and pulled out the one thing to shift the tide. She held it high, and with a pitcher's arm, tossed the Tera Orb across the battlefield. Wattrel snatched it, delivering it right to Arven's hands.
"One shot. Don't miss!"
"Like that would happen! This is an herb to heal my very best buddy, and this is the road to get there. Let's burn it up!"
"Fuecofueco!"
"ZIIIIII!"
The screech emanated across the battlefield, pushing back Tinkatuff, Lokix and Wattrel. In their moment of distraction, Orthworm reared back, and with its horrific, clamping jaw, it began to dive back under the ground, causing tremors all around them. Juliana took a determined step forward, balling her fists.
"Yes. This is our road! We're walking it, right to the answers of our dream! And we'll topple Titans if that's what it takes! Earth Power!"
"SmolIIIIIIV!" Smoliv's tiny body brimmed with power, washing over the arena. Porous cracks appeared, an effusive golden glow wafting off them. The already broken ground began to liquefy, becoming unstable and untenable as it grew and grew until it broke apart to a chasm beneath. Orthworm's body was exposed as Smoliv's mighty move gave it nowhere to run. Its body peeked out, and in that moment, Juliana's remaining Pokémon rushed forth, bearing all their weight to slam against Orthworm and hold it in place.
It started to screech horribly, all of their strength slackening, and deep in its gullet, the Flash Cannon once more started to form.
"Arven, NOOOOOOW!" Juliana shouted, taking all of her energy to do so.
Arven grinned, and with it, held the Tera Orb high above his head. "All right, for all our dreams, let's burn bright and send it cookin'! Fuecoco, Terastallize!"
"FUECOOOOOOO!" Bright, crystal light surrounded Fuecoco, tinged with an azure glow. It swirled, changing form around Arven's steadfast little partner. Smoliv began to cheer and dance, urgency found in her voice as the light of the Flash Cannon began to absorb all but what Fuecoco was cloaked in.
Or perhaps, Fuecoco wasn't the right name. For even as the light of the crystal shuddered forth, revealing a headpiece in the shape of a candelabra, there was more of the little croc that had changed. Now he wore a different kind of hat, bedecked in flames, though covered in the crystal armor. In his mouth formed a Flamethrower, all his body surrounded by fire.
It was their will made manifest, and with a finger forward, Arven commanded, "Flamethrower, Crocalor! Let's go!"
"CROOOOOOC!" All of the crystal fire was pulled to one point and then blasted outwards. It was a massive wave of heat, burning with the fading Sunny Day and the power of Terastallization. As if in response, the Herba Mystica glowed bright, the flames speeding for the mouth of Orthworm.
The Flash Cannon was about finished, ready to fire, but before Orthworm could, the fire met its maw…and disappeared inside it. Lokix flipped up and then swung his leg down, clamming the mouth up.
A brief moment passed, and then Orthworm's eyes lit on fire. Smoke poured out of every orifice and explosions popped out at each segment, sending the great Titan flailing. It whipped this way and that, nearly striking all as every part of its body reeled with the force of fire and steel, until, with one mighty cry, its head raised to the night sky. An expulsion of flame and smoke erupted from its gullet, traveling upwards as a signal.
Orthworm then crashed down, smoking and fainted. The crystal disappeared from Crocalor.
The threat had passed.
Juliana felt herself breathe.
"We…we did it!" Arven shouted. He ran forward, scooping up Crocalor with a mighty laugh. A flash of his Poké Ball saw him calling out his Mabosstiff, still too weak to move, but included in all the celebrations. "Did you see that, buddy? We did it! We're gonna heal you for sure!"
Juliana let a laugh escape her lips, and her legs gave beneath her. It was just a moment, but enough to force her to catch her breath. She continued watching Arven, keeping one eye on the downed Titan to make sure it wouldn't stir. Part of her only thought they'd gotten lucky.
Somehow, that rejuvenated her legs, causing her to step forward with some speed. She inched around the Titan, careful to get close to Arven. The second he saw her there, he raised his hand and they met, slapping against one another. With some effort, Juliana managed to crack a grin at him. "Couldn't have done it without you, partner."
They held their triumph for just a moment, but just as soon, Arven looked at the glowing herb nearby. Juliana cast her glance back at Orthworm, hoping she wouldn't see it stirring for a second round.
"Finally, the real prize."
"Smol! Smoliv smol!"
"You wanna help cook it, Smoliv?" Arven asked. Juliana looked at the pair approaching the glow and pulling aside some vines. It revealed the sloping path behind it, but both person and Pokémon were more consumed with picking fronds off. At the very sight, Koraidon inched forward, eager for a lick, but Crocalor got in his way.
"Croca."
"Kooor…"
"You'll have your fill. Let's just leave it to the chefs," Juliana assured him. She patted him at his side, careful to avoid the wound he had sustained. Tinkatuff was ready to do the same, but with a sharp look, she stopped. Arven finished picking leaves off, and took out a frying pan, beginning to sizzle the herb. Somehow, Juliana found the sight amusing. "When you cook it like any old herb, it really lessens the mystique of the thing somehow. Makes you wonder if it really is tied to Area Zero."
"Mom and dad think so," Arven said. He placed the pan down atop Crocalor's head, Arven's partner resting as he heated it. Smoliv climbed up the croc to touch her olive to the base. She recoiled a moment, but with a nod from Lokix, elected to show no fear. As she did, Arven dug into his bag, pulling out a sheaf of paper.
"Wait a minute, is that…?" Juliana dropped everything to come over and take the papers from Arven's hands. There were innumerable amounts of text on them, though from the page numbers, a great many pages were missing anyway. "You stole it."
"Let's say I liberated it," Arven said with a laugh. He reached over to take Smoliv away, the little one disappointed she couldn't reach the fire without throwing herself in. None of it stopped her from trying. "Couldn't stand to see mom and dad's research in the hands of someone like that."
"Don't think it'll do much good," Juliana noted with a light pout. She still shoved the papers back in her own bag. "There's some good theorizing, and it definitely confirms there's a connection between the size of Titans, Area Zero and the Herba Mystica, but nothing on Terastallization. Lot of mumbling about time and DNA, though."
"Ah, yeah, mom and dad had a tendency to lock things under a DNA code. Got me in a lot of trouble as a kid when they remember I shared it, ha ha." Arven's eyes drooped, becoming wistful and longing. Juliana's own face dropped, as if visiting a memory she couldn't have had. Before long, though, the silence was broken by ringing. Arven pulled out his phone. "Speak of the devil…"
"You're not going to answer it?" Arven's means of response was waiting for the call to end, drowning them in silence and nightfall. His hand fell to his side, and he took his frying pan away.
"Wouldn't know what to say. Hey, mom, I'm investigating the stuff you are. Nearly getting killed! They wouldn't care."
"Don't…don't say that…" Juliana swallowed the growing lump in her throat. Seeking comfort, she reached out to Smoliv. In her action, Koraidon broke free and snatched some of the food, only for Wattrel to perch on his head and distract him. "People care. Would do anything for… You can't be afraid of what to say."
"Smol!" Smoliv hopped up and down, patting against Juliana's hand. Empowered by her words, and the scent of the aromatic pan before them, Smoliv began to grin. And in that grin, she started to grow, transforming before their very eyes. Like she defied fear, defied the roadblock in front of her, Smoliv evolved, her body grown larger and two olives emerging where once there was only one. It attracted many a wide eye and an approving nod from Lokix. "Doll!"
Dolliv spun, her new form exciting her. A heady smell of herbs and spices wafted through the air, distracting Koraidon and causing Crocalor to dance and cheer. Both leaned over the pan, cooking the herb and seasoning it. The scent alone brought some peace to Juliana, and with the push of a button, she called out the wounded Quaxwell, right next to Mabosstiff, whose breaths were labored. She patted her first partner atop his head.
"See? Even Dolliv knows how much care there is."
"Don't think I get your logic, but…" Arven scoffed. He bent down, swiping the pan and moving over to his bag, where his other ingredients were. Not acknowledging the message he had received, the boy whipped together a salad before their very eyes, glowing and brimming with energy. Juliana wondered if, perhaps, he was actually buoyed by the message and putting it off, or if he was using it to distract himself.
She supposed it didn't matter, not when he served up the Herba Mystica and distributed it to all the Pokémon. Quaxwell was swift to eat, his pallor and wounds looking better, while Koraidon hummed softly in pleasure, looking stronger than ever.
The only one not entirely invigorated by the meal was Mabosstiff, the dark-colored Pokémon barely moving a muscle. Not that it stopped Arven from trying, feeding the most diced salad imaginable to his loyal hound. He barely ate, Crocalor practically having to force his mouth open to get the food inside. The struggle was real, but the longer Juliana listened, the more she realized that the wheezing from his lungs turned more even, less whining.
And on impulse, Mabosstiff's leg twitched, jolting Arven and causing his phone to fall from his vest pocket. It struck the ground and began to play.
"…ven…" it began, cracking in and out of focus as it was muffled against the ground. "…location correlate…Zero… You…key… Not wake…beast…"
The message ended, glitched and barely audible, though certainly with a peculiar level of coldness. It was something that had barely gotten through, and at the event, Juliana checked her own phone to see the utter lack of reception.
Arven couldn't care less.
"Crocalor, did you see that? He moved! He really moved!" Arven shuffled forward on his knees. "And the wound is shallower than before! The Herba Mystica is working even better! One to promote eyesight and one for curing atrophy and we'll be fighting fit all over again!"
"Two more, huh?" Arven looked up at Juliana's question, though her mind wasn't at all there. She was too busy frowning at her phone. Her words fell out without thought, too. "Two more and I feel like I'm no closer."
"Ah…yeah, sorry. I didn't think about that," Arven admitted. He was rubbing the back of his head, returning the already dozing Mabosstiff. "Guess you wanna stay and study it?"
Juliana shook her head. All it took was a look at Orthworm to dissuade her of that notion. "Nah. We can always study the other two, right? And with your parents' notes, we can put something together."
"Probably about all they're good for, anyway," Arven admitted, shoving his hands inside his pockets. Near them, the rest of the Pokémon were finishing their dishes, each attempting a desperate keepaway from Koraidon. That distraction allowed both trainers to look skyward to the starry sky. "Still…like you said, a long way up."
"Maybe that tunnel?" Juliana suggested, pointing to the passage just behind the vines. Her body was already moving in its direction, and she pulled aside some vines to see the sheer cliffs climbing up. It wasn't as harsh as the hole, but certainly far beyond their reach. "Or not. No phone service either."
"Really? Wonder how mom and dad got through…" Juliana shrugged, not knowing the answer, herself. She did know that she wanted out of there, though. Hoping to do so, she moved closer, examining more of the passage and soon finding herself surrounded by her team, each weighing her down. It was only when Koraidon pressed himself in that she finally toppled over, crushed under all that weight. "Okay, you guys mind? I'm trying to get us out, so unless your jumping ability has…"
Juliana stopped, looking straight up to Koraidon's feathery mane. He tilted his head, looking down at her. Arven chuckled.
"You have an idea."
Juliana quirked her eyebrow, reaching for her Poké Balls and returning all her Pokémon at once. The weight lessened, and she turned from where she was on the ground. "What do you say to a short ride?"
"I'd say if it gets us out of here, I'll take it."
"How about you, Koraidon?" Koraidon once more tilted his head, considering and trying to understand her words.
Once he did, he stepped off her, issuing a mighty roar into the sky. She took that as a yes, and scrambled to her feet to mount the great lizard. Arven was right behind her, holding tight. Soon as he was steady, Koraidon crouched, pooling all his strength into his legs.
Then he bounded upwards. Heat pulsed through his body, the power of the Herba Mystica borne through his veins. It drove him higher than before, enough that he could catch the edge of the sheer pathway and use it to bounce ever higher, climbing towards the light at the end of the passageway. It was almost impressive, the length and height he could reach with a single jump alone. But nothing was more impressive than when he broke through the surface, sailed through the air for just a moment, and then landed upon grass.
The effect was jarring, causing both trainers to tumble from him and on to the soft surface that had left the badlands behind. The rustle of trees was heard, and a trickle of a river. That alone became reassuring, pushing the battle with Orthworm and the encounter with the Phantom far out of her mind. Juliana made to stand, clasping Arven's hand as he helped her up.
"Wonder where we are…" he said, taking in his surroundings under the veil of night. Juliana did the same, but unlike him, she stopped as soon as she saw something draped across some trees. A groan left her.
"We're out of the frying pan and into another."
Hooked between two trees was a giant flag awash in purple, green, and the emblem of Team Star.
"Where are they?"
Another endless ringing followed by another round of Rotom telling her there was a failure to connect echoed in Serena's ears. Her face was creased with worry, causing wrinkles that she was sure weren't there before she had started class. It certainly wasn't class that had caused them, either. Most of the students had quickly taken to her philosophy, treating each other with respect and dignity as they tried to learn the art of Performing.
Not that it meant everyone was so kind to one another. The occasional snigger broke out in the classroom, something Serena was more attuned to than ever before. It was even the reason her feet were beating down this particular hallway for the room where students seemed to gather the most.
That said, it was her inability to connect via her phone to Ash, Gloria, Juliana or anyone else in that region that was starting to distract and disturb her.
"I expect it of Ash, but I'd have thought Gloria or Juliana would pick up," Serena sighed. Glancing at the display on her phone, noting no missed calls but far too many attempted dials, Serena started to hang her head.
"Might I suggest to wait until tomorrow. Perhaps they are out of range," Rotom suggested helpfully. Serena smiled at the phone, but didn't answer either way. She finally tucked it away, keeping her hands shoved inside her pockets as she passed a hallway.
"Hah, did you see her? Fell flat on her face!"
"Not everyone's up for Performing. Maybe she should consider something else, like a librarian. Though I bet that Lechonk of hers couldn't handle that either."
"Will you two lay off it?" another boy snapped, the harshness of the voice causing Serena to slow. The students certainly looked familiar, and inside, a piece of her heart started sinking at the conversation. "So, what if she trips. I didn't see you two do much better."
"W-we so did better. Besides, what're you gonna do if we don't, Luis?"
"Can always have the Disciplinary Committee settle this!"
Serena passed on, a frown further etched in her lips and her brain at high speed in an attempt to figure out how to handle a conversation like that. Or like all the others.
For the more Serena had started to look, the more it felt like she found. On the ignorant surface, the Paldean Academy was a happy place. While the troublemaker existed here and there, they were usually guided by a gentle hand. Yet now that Serena had started to look, driven by the accounts of Team Star, it was beginning to feel like all she saw was bullying.
Caustic remarks and jabs. Name-calling. Ganging up. They were subtle, but present, and with every little one noticed, the more the air felt choked around her.
How did I not notice? Serena could only think. More questions joined it, such as how long it had been going on for, why it wasn't that apparent, and so many more. No answers could be found for her either, and that thought alone twisted her stomach until she arrived right outside the infirmary and knocked. The door slid open with welcome.
"Oh, Serena, you're already here!" Fully drawn out of her reverie, Serena looked up with a smile, directed straight towards one Nurse Miriam. The purple-haired woman, dressed in a white sweater and wearing a stethoscope took all her attention, wearing her own look of concern for the briefest of moments.
It must have shown more than Serena had intended it, too, because soon as she realized it, a tiny blur was at her leg, hugging her. "What's wrong, mama?"
Serena smiled down at her daughter, ruffling the top of her head. "Nothing, Hanna."
"It's daddy, isn't it?" Miriam chuckled at Hanna's blunt insight, and Serena had no choice but to join her. Sometimes, for all her father's denseness being inherited, Hanna was far too precocious and quick-witted. "Don't worry. He's always like this. Daddy's best on his adventures."
"That he is," Serena said, surreptitiously drawing a Poké Ball out as she spun Hanna around back towards a group of young children in the room. They were far from the only ones there, as some other students had gathered, either on their own or in groups, causing Serena's smile to falter again. She plastered on the cracks however, and opened her Poké Ball, calling Yamper out, much to the delight of the underage children. "Now, go play with your new friends and Yamper. Mommy has to talk to Nurse Miriam."
"Kay! Everyone, this is Yamper! Mama's awesome Pokémon!"
"Wampa!"
The number of coos at Yamper's appearance, and the subsequent worship of the little girl who had brought him, almost made Serena laugh. Almost. There would be a time for that later. For now, she approached Miriam's desk, the woman sorting through a stack of reports until she pulled out one that had yellowed around the edges.
"I know you requested it a few days ago, and if the director hadn't reminded me, I might never have found it. The Academy doesn't keep records for all that long," Miriam said. She pushed her voluminous hair away to flick through the papers before handing them over to Serena. "Have to say. I didn't take you for being in the medical field, Serena."
"I'm not, ha ha. Not really." The papers in her hands, Serena began to flick through the old report. First of note was the date on it, roughly two and a half years ago by her reckoning. "How about you, Miriam? I know you're a nurse here but you always feel more like a teacher to me."
"Guess I just like being around the students. Creating that safe environment. My dream is actually to run a Pokémon Center."
"That's a lovely dream. Are you going to school for it?" Her question was heartfelt and earnest, but didn't distract Serena from flipping through the pages. They were logs of student absences, with those admitted to the infirmary. The notes were scant, and none of it was in Miriam's handwriting, but the few that were there detailed minor injuries. At least for a while.
"No, not yet," Miriam admitted, twirling her massive hair around her hands. "I think I'll stay here for a little. The students really need this as a relaxing, safe space."
"You think they need a safe space?" Serena fully looked up, her eyes first finding the students that were at the window. A more skilled eye would be able to discern if they were healthy, but Serena couldn't linger, soon finding Miriam again. "Is that common?"
"Occasional."
"And what about two years ago?" Serena's fingers had stopped on a page, one where there were more admittances that usual, until it all suddenly stopped. The anomaly made her throat go dry.
"I wasn't here two years ago. I think…only Miss Tyme was. But she was focused as a Gym Leader back then. I only started about a year ago."
"A year…" Serena felt her mind race a little. Seeing those dates on the page disturbed her, as if something had happened two years prior. Was it an increase in bullying? But then the sudden silence only raised more questions. Had it been covered up? Or had the widespread bullying come to an end? Had Team Star formed? There were too many questions and not enough answers, and presumably only one place could answer them. Serena gripped the papers tighter, nearly tearing them. "Can I keep these?"
"Sure. I'm sure I have copies…somewhere…"
"And do you know where the director is?"
"Likely an evening meal in the entrance hall. He eats at odd hours, and odd places, especially when he's been traveling. Why do you-ah!" Serena was already on the move. She approached Hanna, kissing her on the top of her head, and then immediately breaking for the door. It was like her daughter didn't even notice she was gone.
Even she hadn't noticed that she was gone, her feet taking her from the infirmary and to the elevator so fast, she may as well have been Pikachu.
Moonlight streamed through the halls, though Serena took little notice. While she was surprised by the lateness of the hour, almost all her faculties were zeroed in on the cryptic report that Miriam had provided. Closer perusal as she reached the elevator and took it down towards the entrance hall started to show more.
The list of absences proved beyond a doubt the shadow of bullying that had clearly once rested on the Academy. That was as normal as anything. She had seen it herself in her own school. More concerning was the sudden uptick and disappearance. Had it been when Team Star was formed? Or was there some deeper ghostly secret amidst the old staff that had cast a pall over what remained?
Serena couldn't be sure which, but she hoped Clavell could answer some questions.
"You know, students aren't allowed out this late, and definitely not with food."
"Is she even a student, Des? She hardly even comes to class!"
The voices echoed in the almost empty entrance hall. From the high windows, more of the moonlight came in, bringing the dimly lit halls into sharp effect. Standing in the center of it, as if a spotlight was upon them, were the pair of Des and Fidel, removing their ebony traveling cloaks, and standing right in front of a girl. Rather, Serena realized, her name was Penny and she was stock still, saying not a word. Or just two.
"Please move."
"Well, since you asked so nicely." Des's sneer was evident. Serena lowered the papers, stowing away the past in favor of the present. Penny tried to move forward, but when she did, the bowl of ice cream she was carrying was suddenly snatched from her hand.
"H-hey!"
"I said you could move on. Not the ice cream. Food like that isn't supposed to leave the cafeteria. Fidel, could you escort it back to its proper place?"
"Of course, boss." Fidel made to scramble over and take it, but in that moment, Penny turned and leveled a glare at him. He stopped short, cowed a moment but soon laughing it off. "Ooh, the little shut-in wants to fight back."
"Course she does. Ice cream's her only friend. Well, freak, maybe if you attended class more often instead of being truant like those Team Star losers, you wouldn't have to sneak for ice cream at night." Des looked far too happy with himself, and Serena found her lip twitching. Her strides sped up. Meanwhile, Des's face was right in Penny. "Come on, shut-in, when're you gonna learn? Go to class already and we can lay off. Otherwise, accept the punishment you troublemakers deserve."
"I-"
"You what?" Penny swallowed. Des scoffed. "Thought not. Without a guard dog, you're just another problem child. Another coward."
"I'm not the coward." Penny's voice was cold, but gave Des a moment of pause. It was as if the gears in his head had ground to a halt, recalculating it all. That was ample enough time for Serena to step in.
"That's enough." All three stopped and stared at her approach. Des's eye twitched, another scoff visiting him. "If you think you see an attendance problem, report it to the teachers or the student council. Don't make a situation worse. Don't stop a student from growing."
"Like you would kn-"
"Fidel!" Des's snap put a silence to his flunky's words. Fidel bit his lip and stood up straighter, as if whipped. He offered a low, simpering bow and then walked towards his boss. Des shrugged, tossing the ice cream bowl over his shoulder with abandon. "Not gonna tangle with that. My apologies, Miss Serena. We'll be on our way."
The bowl crashed to the ground, breaking into pieces. Des and Fidel disappeared.
The damage, however, was done. Ice cream dripped down poor Penny's form, the girl looking a distraught mix between upset and furious. She wiped the ice cream out of her hair. Knowing where her priorities lie, Serena stowed the papers away and approached her.
"Stay still. Primarina, some water please." Primarina appeared with a flash of light, and Serena cautiously led Penny over to a bench and sat her upon it. The girl said nothing, her glasses fogging while Serena gently cleaned the dessert out of her hair. "This isn't the first time they've done this, right? For people upholding rules, they're not very kind."
"I guess." Penny's croaking voice was warbled, and her vision was some thousand-yard stare into nothingness. "Just think they can do whatever they want. Say whatever they want. But I guess when you're the Disciplinary Committee you think you can."
"They must do some good," Serena said, keeping her voice even as she finished cleaning Penny's hair.
"Maybe. Once. But things used to be better before…" Penny sniffled in, as if stopping herself from crying, and when she looked up, her eyes were like steel. "They're just like all the others. Go after us for not coming to class, or even things in our past that we can't control, when people like them are the reason I don't want to in the first place."
"That's unfortunate," Serena said. She finished wiping away, and with a smile, she sat down on the bench next to Penny. "I wouldn't want a student to miss any class of mine, no matter what someone else said."
"They'd just lead the jeers."
"And I once fell flat on my face in front of a crowd. I kept going, and I'd want others to do the same." If her encouragement was doing anything, Penny didn't let on either way. She simply kept staring, knotting her fingers together and soon playing with a star-shaped bangle beneath her baggy sweatshirt. "If we can accept the flaws of others, use them to examine our own, we can make a healthy environment to-"
"I don't think that's gonna happen. And it wouldn't matter anyway. The Academy is rotten." Such a strong term took Serena aback, though none moreso than Penny standing and balling her fists. "I'd hoped time would have changed things, but it really didn't. Coming back, seeing them… Still sitting on the sidelines, like we don't matter. But we do."
A moment of silence passed, fraught with some passing anger inside Penny. Her body showed miniscule tremors, and Serena found herself unable to say anything, unable to understand how to reach out for the girl in front of her. The longer she watched, the more she saw Juliana, too. Two girls, beaten by the world around them, unable to smile. "Penny? Is there something you need to say?"
Penny's arms relaxed. She shook her head. "No. I'm just…being a hypocrite."
"What do you mean?"
Penny huffed and adjusted her glasses, and then began to walk off. She only paused. "It's not just everyone else who needs to get off the sidelines. Sometimes I think I do, too, if my friend will… It'd be the only way to make everyone see…"
Penny expelled a breath. "We're people, too, right? Not just targets."
"Of course, you are. Why would you think different?"
Penny didn't provide an answer. She only uttered a quick whisper of gratitude and then walked off into the dim lights, leaving Serena alone. The teacher sat back, returning Primarina and retreating deeper into her thoughts.
It quickly became a tangled skein of thoughts, shutting her off from the world and making an ever-increasing glower spread across her face. The encounter with Penny, Des and Fidel sat chief, contrasted to the papers peeking out of her pocket. As if the lovely surface she had seen was being picked apart before her eyes.
Serena sat forward, folding her hands.
"This is very different, isn't it?" she mumbled, beginning to tap her fingers.
"Pray tell, what's different?" Serena looked up, not at all surprised to find Clavell standing nearby. He looked to be in a state of half-dress, as though he had hastily changed on his way to the Academy. Without another word, he sat next to Serena. "Miriam called. Said you were looking for me?"
"Mm, yes. Just got a bit distracted," she admitted. The pair shared a chuckle at that.
"I take it this is from looking into Team Star." Serena hummed. "Yes, it's all rather complicated. Miss Gloria thinks it has something to do with older students."
"That would make some sense." Gesturing with the papers, she held them before Clavell before letting them fall back to her lap. "Whatever started Team Star didn't happen yesterday. This was building. Maybe a little bit at a time. Some bullying here, some teasing there. But someone must have seen it, because someone wanted to ignore it. And bit by bit, it started to choke the students without them even noticing. Took something beautiful and made it ugly.
"I think something happened two years ago. Something that shifted the tide."
Clavell said nothing to this. After a while, Serena looked at him, finding that he was looking at her. There was deep thought in his eyes for a good while, until he found it in him to stand. "Yes, I suppose you're right. But there's only one good way to find out."
The man jerked his head, a call for Serena to follow, and she did just that. Despite his older age, Clavell made great strides across the hall, to one of the bookshelves set against the walls. Once there, he pulled a book and the shelf opened, revealing an iron door on the other side. There was little surprise in either adult, however, and Clavell didn't pause to explain when he took a key out and opened the door, permitting them inside.
A short hallway later and Serena found herself in a room full of filing cabinets, shelves and boxes.
"The Academy archives," Clavell explained, though it needed no explanation. "Every record that should be here is here, though I admit, I worry we wouldn't find what we're looking for. If even I, the director, had no knowledge of such prevalent bullying…"
"Then I need the first report of the most major incident. Where are the disciplinary files for two years ago?"
"Ah, that would be this way." Clavell stood straighter, a man on a mission as much as she. Through the rows of files, he wended his way until they emerged near a dustier part of the archives. Cobwebs and old mossy brambles littered the floor, the boxes messy and tucked away in some forgotten corner. Coughing, the headmaster pulled a box forth. "Yes, here it is. Shall we split it? What do you propose to look for?"
Serena didn't quite know, herself. She just knew she'd know once she found it. Without a word, she took the box and reached in for a stack of reports. They were as old as the medical one, each detailing some incident or other. Knowing she needed time, Serena sat, and Clavell sat with her, the pair going through the files.
Most of it amounted to nothing.
A few detailed isolated incidents of bullying, or truancy, or some other fights that broke out across the campus. A few others mentioned students she had heard of by name, like Giacomo or an Eri, but they seemed more grievances than wicked bullying.
"Nothing, I suppose?" Serena grumbled at Clavell's question. "I find the same."
"I guess the Academy wasn't as meticulous back then. Or…" Something caught Serena's eyes: a date on one of the reports. She quickly took it out, comparing it against the medical list she had to find that one of them matched exactly. Her heart began to race, and Serena dug in, pulling out pages, and matching them one by one, until eventually only a single conclusion could be reached. "The dates are missing… The uptick of bullying that started in the infirmary is missing from here. Look."
Serena handed over the sheets, and Clavell leaned over to peruse them. His glasses slipped on his nose, but his frown etched itself increasingly deeper until, at last, he sat up.
"That missing date… I saw something with it in here…" Clavell leaned over, digging through his own pile until he found what he was looking for and held it up triumphantly. "Aha, here. A lone report that must have slipped through the cracks. Or maybe whoever tossed them out didn't consider this important."
Clavell handed it over, and Serena's eyes absorbed it. As she did, her eyes grew wider, the details there almost staggering. She stood, breath becoming faster as she ran to the edge of the aisle and began searching for another section, finding it without assistance. Serena dove in, finding the box, and pulling it out before she found the certificate of one thing that drew an indelible and all-too-uncomfortable possibility. Clavell came up behind her. She turned.
"This document…it looks like nothing. But it's the first of a missing report, and it says one very important thing. That the bullied student, one named…Atticus, was dressed down by a boy claiming to be invoking the school dress code." Serena held up the other stack of papers, the one holding the other possible truth. "After that, there was an increase in admittance to the infirmary before it stopped altogether. This is no confirmation, but it's a theory worth thinking about, and a disturbing one, too. But when all of that began, that first incident two years ago…
"It was the day the Disciplinary Committee was approved by the student council and all the authority that came with it."
Author's Note: There was quite a lot in this chapter! The rematch with Orthworm, two evolutions, a call from Sada, the emergence in yet another Team Star territory and Serena's disturbing investigations into the formation of Team Star. Lots of details mixing and mingling in this place and it gives plenty to think about and chew on.
Hopefully the battle was solid, if a little easier than expected. Juliana did think they got lucky, after all, and Orthworm was probably reeling from Gloria kicking it before. Really I just wanted it to show that just as Juliana has gotten stronger, so has Arven. He's a really dependable guy!
But now we're out of the frying pan and into another, with a new clash with Team Star on the horizon. How will this go for Juliana and shake up her psyche? We'll find out. So, until then, I'm asking you (almost begging at this point, to be honest) to review and comment and, as ever, Dare to Be Silly.