Her footsteps pounded on the empty sidewalk as she made her way downtown. Sylveon reached one of her feelers towards Moxy's hand.
"I need to be focused," she said, waving the feeler away. Sylveon's ears drooped.
Moxy had a plan. It was risky and dumb, but as of this moment, she didn't know what else to do. She needed to talk with Walter. Give him a piece of her mind. To make him see that Charles staying to go on a journey was more helpful to his growth than riding out another year of school in a different region. To tell him the truth that Charles was too afraid to say.
The duo passed by the pokemon center again, and Sylveon's ears rose when a whistle pierced the air behind them. They turned around to see a familiar, green-haired girl with her hands on her hips and that smarmy grin on her face.
"Where are you going, small fry?" Janice sneered.
"Fuck off," Moxy replied.
"Aww." Janice saw the red in Moxy's eyes. "Were you crying? Didn't know you were such a little crybaby, Moxy."
"What the hell do you want?" Moxy asked through gritted teeth.
Janice pulled out a red and white ball from her pocket and threw it up in the air. A dazzling light filled the sky, and a purple and yellow, cat-like pokemon coalesced, landing gracefully as it touched the hard ground.
"A battle. Right here. Right now," Janice said. Her Liepard wore the same wicked smile as her master. Sylveon took a battle-ready stance as she faced Liepard, however she made worried glances at Moxy.
"Are you crazy? We can't battle in the middle of the street. Besides, I don't have time for this," Moxy said, turning away from Janice. Sylveon sighed in relief. She cracked a smirk at Liepard before joining Moxy.
"You scared?" Janice taunted. Unfortunately for her, the comment flew right over Moxy's head as she continued walking away. Janice's right eye twitched, and she cupped her hands around her mouth before spitting out one final remark.
"Fine then! Runaway to your mother, crybaby! Oh wait, you don't have one, do you!?"
Moxy stopped dead in her tracks. Janice's mouth curled triumphantly. Sylveon looked to Moxy with widened eyes. One of her feelers snaked around Moxy's hand, but the teen smacked it away and whirled on her rival.
"You want a battle, then let's battle!" she screamed, gesturing her pokemon in front of her. Sylveon shot a glare at Moxy before out-spreading all four of her feelers in a wide pattern as she faced the purple feline. Liepard licked her paws, not paying any attention to her opponent's ill-attempt at intimidating her.
"I'll let you have the first move," Janice called out, her sneer larger than ever.
"Echoed Voice!" Moxy yelled without hesitation. Sylveon took a large breath, but Liepard was already on her feet as she dashed towards the pink pokemon, not a single word from her trainer. She moved at a terrifying speed, and it took less than a second for the purple cat to reach Sylveon. Liepard clapped both of its paws in between Sylveon's head, disorienting her. Sylveon yelped, surprised by the Fake Out Liepard had dealt her. Sylveon hurried to get her bearings once more, but Liepard had already vanished and was nowhere to be seen. Moxy's eyes darted around as she frantically searched for the deceptive pokemon.
Really? Hide and seek? Moxy fumed in her mind. In the corner of her eye, she saw a dark silhouette above the pokemon center.
"Above the pokemon center! Aim and use Echoed Voice!" Sylveon's head twirled to where her trainer was pointing, and she inhaled another gust of air. The dark figure descended upon Sylveon swiftly before scratching her across the face. An angered Sylveon shouted anyways, filling the air with a booming cry. Liepard ducked, the pink soundwave barely grazing her tail.
A bystander on the other side of the street jumped at the noise and backed away from the fight breaking out on the sidewalk. With a shuddering hand, he pushed three buttons on his phone and held it up to his ears.
"Cruciatus!" Janice called out. Liepard flipped backward into the air, kicking Sylveon under the chin at the same time. As it landed, Liepard cackled. Her sickle-like tail drew something into the sidewalk, but Moxy didn't recognize it. Sylveon's ears perked up, and a whisper of a meow escaped Liepard's lips. But it wasn't a meow. It was more like a chant. Moxy didn't understand what Janice ordered Liepard to do. It had been a while since they had a battle, and it looked like Janice finally had a strategy of some sort. Sylveon reared her ears as she barked back a retort, and she started to shake. Purplish wisps of energy arose from the pokemon's head like steam.
"Ignore her and use Echoed Voice! Liepard is just standing there!" Moxy yelled to her pokemon, her fist clenched. However, Sylveon turned towards her trainer, a confused look on the pokemon's face.
Moxy bit her lip. Looks like she's being affected by a Torment.
"Tere clavus!" Janice called out before Moxy had a chance to give her pokemon a different order. Liepard proceeded to sharpen her claws against each other, as well as beating her tail across the concrete floor.
"Use Quick Attack!" Moxy ordered. Sylveon's body was enveloped in pink energy as she dashed towards Liepard. She struck Liepard with a headbutt, causing the cat to tumble backward.
"Give it up, Janice! Your dark type is no match for my fairy type!" Moxy yelled, her head boiling with anger. "Follow up with Echoed Voice!"
Sylveon breathed in a gust of air. Liepard lay on the sidewalk unmoving after being hit by the Pixelated Quick Attack, and Sylveon used this opportunity to unleash the soundwave directly at her foe.
"Ferrum!" Janice yelled sharply. Suddenly, Liepard bounced into the air with blinding speed, dodging the soundwave. Her sickle-like tail gleamed white under the setting sun. Sylveon stared in horror as Liepard's hardened tail grew closer, much like an executioner's ax. Before the Iron Tail could collide with Sylveon, a red light enveloped the pink pokemon, and she was recalled into her ball. The move crashed into the pavement, crushing the concrete with its power.
A trickle of sweat slid down Moxy's temple as she clutched Sylveon's pokeball tightly in her hand. Liepard walked over to her trainer, purring as her trainer stroked her back.
"You were saying?" Janice taunted, her hand resting on an elevated hip.
Moxy's entire world slowed down around her. I… lost… to Janice? she thought in disbelief.
Suddenly, a siren blared close by. Moxy gritted her teeth, but she knew she couldn't stay. Trainers' weren't allowed to have battles outside the safe zones of an arena. Janice was two steps ahead of her, as the girl and her purple feline were already making a break for it.
Moxy ran into an alleyway opposite of the pokemon center. She kept running until the sounds of the sirens were far behind her. As soon as the coast was clear, she kicked a random can on the floor, her mind searing with anger.
She should have just left, but Janice baited her. She was too angry to fight, and there were unforeseen consequences for playing aggressively. The way she treated her pokemon was unforgivable, too.
But she couldn't think about that now. She needed to help her best friend. Moxy shoved her hands in her pockets and trudged off towards Charles' house, disappearing into the darkness of the alley.
Beyond an arched, steel gateway, the Lockwood Mansion could be seen. It was about three stories high, and the building was made of cobblestone, unlike the sandstone buildings that littered Rustboro. The sun had already set, but the sky was still a dark shade of blue. An ominous, large cloud could be seen in the distance. Moxy pressed a button on an intercom next to the gate.
"Who is this?" the voice of an elderly man said through the intercom.
"It's Moxy. Can I come in?"
"Ah, miss Moxy. Young Charles hasn't arrived home yet. Shall I leave him a message from you when he gets back?"
"No, I was just with him. I actually came to talk to Mr. Lockwood. Is he there?"
"Erm, yes. Please come in. I shall notify him of your arrival."
The gate opened automatically, and Moxy let herself in. After a short walk through the estate, she ascended the few steps that led to the front of the house. There was a loud click from the latch of the lock, and the door creaked open. A man wearing a black tuxedo stood behind the door, and he shook Moxy's hand before leading her inside. Her footsteps echoed against the white, marble floor. Regal paintings of kings and queens lined the white walls, their arrogant gazes piercing through Moxy as if they were scorning her. Up ahead, a large staircase led to a second floor, and the base of both sides of its railing was adorned with gold busts of a Bisharp. The ceiling rose high above, where a grand, glass chandelier cast a net of fluorescent light upon the girl.
"Wait right here, miss," the butler said, gesturing her into a large opening off the side of the lobby. It led into the living room, which looked almost the same as the lobby except for the white, elegant couches and tables in the middle of the room. The large TV mounted on the side of the wall was switched to the Hoenn News Network, where a lady was talking about some odd weather patterns in the sky. The crackling of the fireplace beneath that made the room feel homey. Moxy walked over to a couch, put her backpack on the floor, and sat down.
A minute later, Moxy made out large footsteps going down the staircase. A burly, six-foot-three tanned man entered the living room. His hairy, puffed-out chest could be seen under his thick, black robe. He shared many of the same facial features Charles had, but the man's blue eyes were baggy and darker. On the bridge of his nose lay an old, horizontal gash. His bronze hair surged behind him in a wild way, and he scratched his bushy beard as he entered the living room. He looked a lot like a king back in the era of Arceus.
Moxy began to get up to greet him, but the man gestured her to stay seated as he made his way to a couch opposite hers.
"Walter," Moxy greeted.
"Where's my boy?" he asked in his thick, northern accent, much like Charles but deep and rough. There was a hint of accusation in his voice as if she had done something to his son.
"We went our separate ways about an hour ago," she responded. "But, I came here to talk to you, sir."
"So I've heard. You aren't angry about the police showing up at your school, are you?"
Moxy's forehead strained as she responded once again, "No, I'm sure you had a good reason for embarrassing me in the middle of class."
Walter simply nodded, taking the TV remote off the table and powering down the television. "Well? Out with it. I'm quite busy."
"It's about Charles going to Unova-"
He interrupted the girl with an open palm. "If you're going to try to change my mind, you are wasting your time."
"Why can't he just go to the academy right here in Hoenn? It's the same thing,"
Walter got comfortable on the couch. "Unova is his home region. He will learn with the same people who taught Elliot, me, my father, and his father before him. I won't change tradition simply to suit your whims."
Moxy gulped in response to his accusatory statements. But she didn't come all this way just to be shot down.
"He's eighteen," she started. "He's an adult, by law. He can make his own decisions."
Walter crossed his arms. "He's no adult under the laws of this roof. He's still a boy. My boy."
"That means he doesn't get to choose if he wants to go or not then, right? Do you know how ridiculous that is? Every trainer with a license goes on a journey. He's had his license for like three months now and you still haven't let him go on a journey. He trains and studies all day, but he can learn so much more by actually exploring the world,"
"He isn't 'every trainer'. And it's that mindset that will get him killed, or worse. You aren't a cop. You don't know what it's like to find bodies out in the wilderness after 'every trainer' got reckless trying to catch some mythical, dangerous creature they heard a whisper about. No. He will train at the academy. He will be ready. Then he will go. And your tenacity over this matter will not bend me."
Moxy narrowed her eyes. "Was Elliot ready when he ran a full circle around Unova trying to stop Ghetsis?"
Walter returned the same gesture, his eyes far more intimidating than Moxy's. "Yes. He'd done his time at the academy. And, like his ancestors before him, he defended his region from that psychopath. He wasn't deluded by dreams of grandeur. I'm thinking of his future."
"So that's what Charles' life is going to end up like. To lay down his life for a chunk of land? Did you even ask him if he wants to do that? No, you didn't, because I know what he really wants to do." Moxy complained. Every word out of her mouth seemed to make Walter grow more irritated. But she wanted him to be irritated. He had no right to force his son to do something he never wanted.
"He wants to go on a journey," she stressed. "He wants to explore everything Hoenn has to offer, and he wants to give the Championship a shot because he could have that potential. He doesn't want to be drafted into the league to fight their wars. He doesn't want to go back into that warzone. Don't you want what's best for him?"
"Stop lying," Walter snarled, leaning forward. "The only reason you're here arguing on his behalf is that you want him to go with you. Don't think I don't do my homework. I know you don't have a passport to leave. I know he's your only friend. You should be more grateful for that cur Elliot gave you."
"What the hell did you call Sylveon?!" Moxy's voice cracked as she jumped from her seat. Walter followed suit.
"Don't you yell at me. There isn't a single, goddamn thing on this planet I wouldn't do for my son. After that fire five years ago, I could see right through you. You're full of anger. Hate. Grudges. Charles doesn't need that in his life."
Moxy tensed. A wave of nausea hit her when he said 'fire'.
"I've m-moved past that. I'm different now," she protested. Walter picked up a fire poker. Moxy took a step back, afraid of what he might do to her. Instead, he moved towards the fireplace, and the crackling fire grew louder as he stoked it.
"One thing you'll learn in life is that people never change." his voice was grim, and the embers reflected against his blue eyes. Moxy was about to retort, but he continued, "I won't ever forget what happened that day. Nicole called the station about a fire. I was worried about what your death would do to my son. I got you, Nicole, and all the other orphans out of there. And then I find out that the fire originated from papers set alight next to the curtains in the living room. One of the orphans said they saw you walk downstairs holding a couple of books. It was then I looked into your eyes, and I saw regret. Regret that the job wasn't finished."
Moxy shuddered. "Please, stop talking about that."
Walter turned his head slightly toward her. "You still think she did it, right? Killed her own sister? She's strict for sure, but she isn't evil. Be grateful the judge only gave you six months. Second-degree arson warrants at least two years. Be even more grateful your permit wasn't taken away. Or your pokemon."
A lump formed in Moxy's throat. "It was a mistake. I've changed! I swear! I would never hurt anyone, not even Charles."
"I'm not convinced. Why do you think I sent the police to the school? I know about your midnight hobby." Walter faced Moxy, planting the fire iron on the marble floor like it was a cane.
"W...what are you talking about?" she stammered, holding her arm up defensively.
"Lying again!" he yelled, eliciting a startle from Moxy. "You would come in here and accuse me of ruining my son's life, only to not acknowledge the crimes ruining yours? Unacceptable! Over my dead body will Charles ever go on a journey with you! What you are guilty of is manipulating and twisting the truth to fit your needs. That goes against everything my ancestors believed in! Everything I believe in!"
Tears welled in Moxy's eyes, and her mind was brewing a concoction of rage, fear, and regret. Enough to jumble her thoughts.
Walter's expression darkened further. "Dahlia would be ashamed, as would your actual parents if they were here."
"That isn't true! Stop it!" she yelled, her voice wobbly as she covered her ears. Her heart ached at hearing Dahlia's name.
"I will stop. In fact, I never want to see your face here again. I may not have much evidence of your petty thievery, but so be it. I would take solace in the fact that you are out of our lives for the next year. Do what you please. Go on a journey. Keep stealing. I couldn't care less. The next time I have a conversation with you will surely be inside an interrogation room. And if you think about telling Charles any of this, I'll do everything in my power to get your license taken away. Even if I have to abuse my title and reputation."
He pointed to the door. "Now get out,"
It was over. There was no getting through to Walter, and talking with him only brought back bad memories. She wanted to scream at Walter with all her might, but what he was saying was true. All the community service, training to honor Dahlia's memory, and time wouldn't make up for what she tried to do. But she had endured so much from Ms. Pennington. Letting go wouldn't do her justice. If it ever came to that point again, she didn't know if she would stop herself. The truth was that her soul was being tugged at by two ideals. Vengeance or giving up. And either option would end badly for her.
Moxy's gaze faltered in defeat as she picked up her belongings and exited the living room. At the turn, the butler was at the front door waiting for her.
"Shall I drive you back to the orphanage, miss?" he asked politely, a grave look on his face. Moxy silently shook her head, and the butler nodded in response.
As the gate closed behind her, her legs became heavy. Dark clouds loomed overhead, and Moxy felt a droplet of water hit her scarlet hair. A few seconds later the boom of a thunderstorm echoed throughout and it began to rain. Her clothes were soaking, but that didn't bother her as much as her torn heart. She dropped her bag and slumped against the gate. She couldn't tell if the water running down her cheeks was from the rain or her salty tears.
Suddenly, her backpack began to shake violently. Moxy immediately zipped it open, a surprised look on her face. A flash of multi-colored light shot out from her bag, and Sylveon sprung out, skidding across the sidewalk.
"Damn, I forgot to unprime the ball. Didn't I tell you not to come out by your…" Moxy trailed off half-heartedly. She didn't have the energy or will for anything. Sylveon took one look at Moxy and immediately ran for her trainer. She let out a soft cry before wrapping her feelers around Moxy's body.
Moxy let it all out. She sobbed while holding on to Sylveon as if her life depended on it. Ryker was right, and she was doomed. Her life was heading in one direction, and it wasn't good. She could go on a journey. But the sole reason she wanted to do so was to leave for Unova in three days.
Sylveon trilled softly, tightening her squeeze to comfort the girl.
"I-I don't know what to do, Sylvie," she sniveled. Sylveon gave Moxy a warm smile, and she wrapped another feeler around one of Moxy's fingers.
A wave of serenity washed over Moxy. Her thoughts were no longer in disarray, but she still had no idea what her next course of action should be. One thought echoed in her mind, and she pulled a watch out of her backpack. The shorthand pointed to eight, and the tallest building in Rustboro was about an hour away. With Sylveon by her side, they slogged through the rain.