I*A*C
Something was wrong. Lusamine could feel it as she pulled up to the Alahi household in her parent's Model 9 Devon ZC 10, being driven by Victor. Yes, deep down, she could feel that something was amiss. It couldn't possibly be her, right? Lusamine pulled out her pocket mirror and gave herself a brief look-over. Her platinum blonde hair was braided back and pulled over her left shoulder as a ponytail; not a single hair out of place. Her makeup wasn't too noticeable, but just enough to make her cheeks a light rosy on her alabaster skin and her peridot eyes pop. Her blouse was neatly pressed without a wrinkle in sight, and her skirt was just right as well; a light forest green in order to accentuate her white top. All in all, she looked as perfect as always. So what could possibly be wrong?
"Right here, Victor," she told the older man, unbuckling herself and opening the back door of the luxury car after they'd pulled in front of the quaint house. It was quiet, she realized. Too quiet for a place where both Emmi and Kanu lived across from one another. She closed the door behind her, brushed any stray lint from her skirt, and gently walked up to the front door. She briefly pondered between knocking on the door or ringing the doorbell. Ringing would be succinct, and elegant, yet knocking had a class of its own for the truly cultured. A good knock, after all, said a lot about one's character. Then, she thought better of it, realizing that no matter what she did, the ruffian that was her inamorato wouldn't understand the meaning behind either one.
She decided the easier route was best, and pressed the doorbell, hearing it ring inside. There was no stomping of feet. No eager yelling of greeting. In fact, she stood in front of the door for a good twenty seconds before she considered ringing the doorbell again. Thankfully, the decision was made for her as the door opened, and before her stood a lovely young woman would could have been mistaken for Emmi's older sister. Fortunately, Lusamine knew better.
"Good morning, missus Alahi," she greeted the woman, curtsying for her. "I'm here to pick up Tai. Is he awake?" She saw the woman's smile twitch at the mention of Tai's name. Had something happened?
"Oh, yes, he should be in his room. Please, come in and make yourself at home," the woman invited her. Lusamine gave Victor a glance over her shoulder and a nod, letting him know she'd be but a few moments. She entered the home and missus Alahi closed it behind her. "Taiyo, your friend is here!" the woman called, a bit more forcefully than Lusamine would have expected. There was a pitter-pattering of feet as Taiyo approached quickly, taking Lusamine's arm in his own that didn't hold his backpack.
"Thanks missus Alahi," he said quickly, opening the door and practically shoving Lusamine out with him. "I'll be back late."
"Take care," the woman said, closing the door behind them.
"E-Excuse me! Please let go of me, Tai! Why are you being so rough?" There was a desperation in his eyes as she turned to look at him, and for a moment, she'd thought he'd finally snapped. "Is... something the matter?"
"Let's just go," he replied, practically marching her to the car. She got in first as he opened the door for her, closing it after sliding into the seat next to her.
"A pleasure to see you once again, Young Master," Victor greeted Taiyo politely, but it seemed like even he could see that something was amiss if the wrinkles around his eyes were any sign.
"Y-Yeah, nice to see you too, V-Victor," Taiyo stammered. Stammered. He never spoke with anything except the utmost confidence since Lusamine had met him. No, something was very, very wrong. She looked out her car window, seeing the shades move in the front window of Kanu's house, the boy's face visible for only a brief moment before it vanished. Something had happened, and Lusamine hated not being in the know. "So, how've you guys been?" Lusamine looked over the bedraggled state of Taiyo, taking in the circles under his eyes, the messy state of his clothes, and his bird's nest of a hairstyle. No, she couldn't introduce this to her daddy.
"The Young Mistress has been well," Victor answered Taiyo since Lusamine had been quiet. Curses, she'd been too drawn up in her thoughts! "Yesterday, she and her precious Lily performed a lovely dance for the Master and Mistress. It was quite the sight to behold. In fact, I think I even have it recorded on my phone, if you'd like to see it for yourself."
"V-Victor! That's not appropriate!" Lusamine protested.
"Ah, but he is your inamorato, is he not?" Victor asked, an infuriatingly cheeky grin on his face. "A young man ought to know the particularities of his intended, after all!"
"Y-You...!" Lusamine felt her composure slipping, not sure what she could do to alleviate the embarrassment. "Victor! D-Daddy will hear of this!"
"Oh, and I'm positive that he will find his little girl's reaction equally as precious," Victor shot back, and Lusamine seethed. All her careful planning. All her social maneuvering. Every moment she'd put herself into Taiyo's good graces and make him indebted to her for her kindness, and it was being torn apart by this... this ruffian!? How could she make Taiyo take her seriously if he thought of her like some cutesy little girl!?
"V-Victor...!" she raged through grit teeth, feeling as all of her careful control fell to pieces. Then, the most wonderful sound filled the air. Laughter. She looked over to the seat beside her and Taiyo was laughing, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Er- uh..." She turned back to Victor, through the rear-view mirror, and though she couldn't see his mouth, his eyes betrayed his smile. Perhaps she could forgive him this time...
"T-Thanks," Taiyo's musical laughter petered out, and Lusamine couldn't help the smile on her face. "I really needed that. This weekend has been... rough." Lusamine kept quiet, expecting him to expand on the matter, but he offered no more information. Well, it's not like they didn't have all day for her to drag it out of him. "So, we're headed to your house, then?"
"W-Well, we don't need to go there immediately, right?" Lusamine asked, glancing between Taiyo and her butler. Victor didn't speak up to tell her otherwise, answering her in his own way. "Why don't we stop by Station Square for a little bit? We can get malasadas?"
"Uh... how about ice cream?" Taiyo asked, his smile seeming weak in Lusamine's eyes. "I'm a bit set on malasadas this week. No offense. I know you really like them."
"Oh! No, it's no trouble at all," Lusamine waved her hands, trying to reassure him. She reached over, taking his hand in hers. His expression changed to the one he usually had whenever she did things like this; it was complex, a mix of nervousness, happiness, and confusion. Lusamine smiled at the sight, enjoying the warm feeling it gave her. Yes, he was a ruffian, but he belonged to her, just us Marcel belonged to Kiana from her favorite TV show, Pokémon Rangers: Driftveil "We can do whatever you like this morning, Tai. My favor from you comes this evening when you meet my daddy." Taiyo just laughed nervously at that, something she found adorable. "Victor? Would you drive us to an ice cream parlor in Station Square?"
"Of course, Young Mistress," he replied, seemingly back to his polite, genial self. "Is there a particular venue that you would prefer?"
"Anywhere near the beach is fine, Victor," Lusamine replied flippantly, waving him off and turning back to her best friend. "Someplace we can see Pokémon, perhaps."
"As you desire, Young Mistress." Lusamine smiled, turning back to her best friend. "Young Master Taiyo, are you opposed to any of our arrangements, today?" What a silly question! Of course he wouldn't be!
"Uh, well..." he mumbled, scratching the back of his head as Lusamine finally was able to focus on him again. "I'm actually not super into sweets. Is there a place that has both ice cream and other food, too?" He didn't like sweets? But he went to get malasadas with her and the others every other day! How could he not like sweets!?
"Ah, erm, well," Victor stammered as he thought as the blonde girl stared incredulously at her friend. How could she not know this about him? What else didn't she know? No, this was unacceptable! "I believe I know of a place, Young Master, but it... well, it is perhaps not up to the standard of our Young Mistress, here?"
"No!" Lusamine shouted, frantically facing her butler's eyes in the rearview mirror, grasping desperately at anything she could wrap her mind around. "No need to be so, ah, picky about our destination, Victor! I'm perfectly happy going to wherever would suit Tai the best!"
"As you wish, Young Mistress," Victor replied, regaining his control. "Please relax and enjoy the drive, the both of you."
"Thank you, Victor," Lusamine replied, finally happy that all of that discussion over trivial things was behind them all.
"Uh, yeah, thanks Vic," Taiyo also replied, and Lusamine was sure the edges of her butler's mouth shifted ever-so-slightly upwards. Taiyo then turned his attention to her, a gentle smile resting on his face. "So, uh, what do you usually do when you're not at school or with us?" he asked her, still obviously distracted about whatever it was that was bothering him, but doing quite well at hiding it. However, Lusamine had learned from the best at picking out small things about a person that clued her in on how they felt and what they were thinking. The way his eyes shifted from her, to the window behind her, and to the rear window of the vehicle told her far more than words. The slight agitation to his breathing and the flushness of his skin may have been because she was holding his hand, still, but Tai was a calm person through and through, and he'd never reacted to her interest for this long in the past. Still, she could applaud the effort; any normal girl would have never noticed.
"Well, I have a very detailed schedule depending on the day," Lusamine replied, humoring her paramour with a normal response. It was a little game they played. Both of them pretended that the other was normal and mundane, but each knew that simply wasn't true. She was well aware of his abnormal control over Pokémon, as well as his extraordinary intellect and maturity. He was a prodigy through and through, and her daddy often told her to never let a valuable resource go to waste. Well, he told her that she should eat all of the food on her plate, but she understood his underlying message to her. As much as she loved her mother, the woman simply wasn't as clever as Lusamine and her daddy.
Now, she'd found a third person just as capable. Untapped, yes, but his intellect and keen senses were clearly there. It was how he knew to befriend her on her first day of school. Why he paid her particular attention among their friend group. Why he was so savvy when it came to deals and negotiations. Tai knew that Lusamine was incredible. Exceptional, even. He knew of her raw talent and charisma from the very moment he laid eyes on her. All amazing people could recognize another of their kind, after all! It was simply bad fortune that he'd been born to an ignorant, low-class nobody of a woman.
"I'm woken up at precisely seven in the morning," Lusamine continued her explanation, the thoughts swirling in her head making her smile. She giggled into her hand as Tai returned her smile, realizing the connection they had instantly. Perhaps to the common outsider it could be mistaken as kindness, but she knew better. "I'm presented a healthy breakfast of an omelet made of two eggs, diced tomatoes, onions, and-"
"Uh, I meant more of what you do for fun," Tai rudely interrupted her, but she could forgive him. Prodigy he may be, he was still just a common ruffian. "Like, do you play video games, read any books, watch TV?"
"Oh, well I'm well versed in Galarian, Kalosian and Kantonian due to various books," Lusamine explained, since this seemed to be what he was more interested in. This was exciting! She'd never been given a chance to have such a long, one-on-one conversation with him before! Normally they were always with the rest of their friends. Ah, associates, that was. "I've also watched a lot of nature documentaries on the wild natures of Pokémon in their natural habitats, though daddy won't let me go in person until I'm older. It's too dangerous, he says. Hmph! As if I'm not already skilled in Pokémon battling!"
"I guess I wouldn't really know," Tai said, much to her confusion and frustration. It must have shown on his face, because he waved his hands submissively and he tried to alleviate her. "I just mean, we've never battled before," he explained himself, "so I have no idea what your battling style is or what it's like!"
"But you've seen me battle plenty of times at school!" Lusamine protested, not understanding how he couldn't grasp her skill just by watching her. And he always watched her and Lily! "That must be enough, isn't it?"
"Well, you never really get to know how someone battles until you really get into the thick of it with them," Tai told her. Was this some kind of ruffian philosophy similar to what Lark from Go Go Pokemorphs spouted? Wasn't that just some cartoon trope? "I mean, think of it this way. Kanu is a really clever battler, but you'd never be able to tell just from watching." Kanu? That troublemaking rapscallion? But all he did was attack over and over! Was he saying that someone like Kanu was on the same level as himself or, Arceus forbid, her!?
"Explain yourself," Lusamine practically demanded, holding back her seething frustration at the unpleasant thought.
"Well, Kanu does specialize in force and speed when he trains his Pokémon," Tai admitted, likely knowing exactly what she was thinking. She was too frustrated to care at the moment, though. "However, what he's also good at is endurance and precision. Knowing when and how to strike an enemy is just as important as the force you use. For example, his Pokémon hold back a lot when they aren't sure they'll get a clear hit in, but he's trained them to recognize the same kinds of openings he has, as well as their natural instincts, to strike full force when given the chance."
"Isn't that just a disadvantage overall, though?" Lusamine asked, confused. "If you're not putting power behind every attack, would it not mean you're not wearing down your enemy?"
"That's true," Tai acknowledged, "but that same enemy usually isn't doing the same thing. While they waste their energy trying to put all of their power in every single attack, his Pokémon aren't." Lusamine's eyes widened as she began to put the pieces together and understand. "They're not as tired during long bouts, so as their enemy wears themself out, they can make the decisive attack as soon as they're open."
"I-I see," Lusamine muttered, seeing the other boy in a completely new light. "That is clever."
"Well, I'll admit I had some credit to it," Tai chuckled and leaned back in the car seat. He looked out the window on her side, staring at the ocean as they drove down through Station Square. "I pushed him so hard in our first battle that he had to adapt quickly. As much skill as I have coordinating other peoples' Pokémon, they aren't trained the same way Kanu's are. Even if I know each of his tricks, if the Pokémon aren't trained to recognize and adapt to them, I'm in for an uphill battle."
"Very wise of you to recognize as much, Young Master," Victor spoke up from the front of the vehicle. "I apologize for the interruption, but we're close to arriving at our lunch location. It's a simple place called Queen Vanilluxe; a place I've been quite often with some of the other servants during our days off here in Alola. While it may not be quite up to the standards your father might endorse, Young Mistress, I can assure you to its quality."
"Sounds good, Vic," Tai spoke for the two of them, smiling as he watched the people on the beach outside. "Thanks for taking care of us. Seriously, I appreciate it. I'm sure Lucy does too, right?"
"O-Of course!" The girl agreed quickly, seeing the value in his vocal appreciation. Of course! A satisfied servant is one who would move the heavens and earth for their master. "Thank you very much, Victor!"
"Oh-ho! Gratitude from the Young Mistress is quite the rare gift, indeed," the old man's eyes crinkled in delight at her praise, as expected. "You both are most welcome. When we arrive, I shall stop at the front doors to allow the two of you hasty entrance to the establishment while I secure a parking space for our vehicle. Is that amenable, Young Mistress? Young Master?"
"Of course, Victor."
"Yeah, sounds good, Vic."
It was mere moments later that the trio arrived at the restaurant in question. Well, it was more of an establishment, really. Before them, stuck neatly between two large hotels, was a single-storied building with a white roof and a large, gaudy image of a vanilluxe plastered across the large sign out front. 'Queen Vanilluxe, Grill and Chill' the signboard said in proud, pink lettering adorned with sparkles. The vanilluxe in question wore a silver tiara of sorts, adorned with blue and red gemstones. The building itself was decorated with paintings of palm trees, Alolan exeggutor, and a mixture of grookey, pansage, and passimian within the painted brush underneath. It was... quaint, as her mother would put it.
Lusamine closed the car door behind her, and Victor drove off down the block to find a parking space. Despite the relative rarity of motorized vehicles in Alola, the street was still filled with taxis, tour buses, and other vehicles that had likely brought tourists to the beachside. Behind where they stood, she could clearly make out the stone path and tropically decorated wall that separated the beach from the street. Already this early in the noontime, people were out lounging in chairs, under umbrellas, and generally enjoying their day under the Alolan sun.
"Nice, isn't it?" Tai asked, taking her hand in his. It was time for Lusamine to blush, her eyes wide as she tried to take in the fact that it was Tai making the move to hold her hand this time. "Sometimes I forget how peaceful Alola is, but when I see scenes like that..." His eyes weren't even on her, instead gazing out at the lively beach. Even still, her heart raced. She tried to stomp down the smile on her face, knowing he was merely holding her hand as some kind of retribution for holding his in the car, or because he knew it would get a reaction out of her. Such an untamed brute! "It's nice to see people so at ease. After everything that's happened in the last month or so, I think I needed to see this. So, thank you, Lucy."
"A-A-Any time, T-Tai!" Lucy tried to hold back her smile, but it simply wasn't possible. No, not like this. "Ahem! Should we enter and order something to eat? Thinking of the matter, did you eat anything today before meeting me, Tai?"
"Ahah, no, actually," he said, his laughter holding a nervous tilt to it. "I just, uh, wasn't that hungry this morning. But I'm starved now. I hope your pops has some deep pockets, 'cause I'm about to put a dent into the Balsam coffers!"
"Please, as if a single boy could do such a thing!" Lucy bragged, feeling some pride in her family's wealth. "I'll make sure that you're well fed, Tai! That's a promise from Lusamine Balsam, and the Balsam family doesn't break our promises."
"Heh, guess I'll put that to the test," Tai gently pulled her along into the Queen Vanilluxe. Lucy felt like a princess being led by some gallant knight from those old Galarian legends. The inside of the Queen Vanilluxe was equally as unimpressive as the outside, yet Lucy couldn't find it in herself to care all that much. The walls were painted a clear sky blue, and several boothed tables lined the inner and outer extremities. Directly in front of the front automatic sliding-glass doors was the countertop. On top of said counter were three registers, each one manned by a teenager in the establishment's uniform and an apron, happily taking orders from tourists dressed both for the beach and those in simple, casual clothing. In the back, though which orders were passed up through, Lucy could see both a growlithe and a vanillite hard at work alongside their human companions; the Fire-Type keeping a grill lit with a steady stream of flames every few minutes, while the vanillite helped keep ice cream cold in their display containers with its very presence.
The two children stood in line, and Lucy had the sense of mind to pull out the Credit card that her father lent to her for her own personal use before they ordered. She'd been expecting Victor to have arrived by the time they reached the front of the line, but there was no sign of him. Perhaps the streets were more crowded than he'd been expecting, and he'd had to park someplace further than intended. She couldn't rightfully fault him for that, she supposed.
"Is there anything you really want?" Tai asked, his eyes staring over the menu. "I'll probably just get a burger combo meal with fries and a cup of nomelade." Another peculiarity about Tai. He never seemed to drink any soda, just fruit juices and water. It was a good habit for an aspiring trainer, but he seemed more aware of it than most kids their age.
"Oh, uh, perhaps just a chocolate ice-cream cone and, uh, a hot dog?" She had no idea what a hot dog was, looking at the picture on the display, but it looked something like a big, pink sausage covered in a red sauce and a yellow sauce. Tai nodded approvingly, whatever it was, so it must have been a good choice. As they stepped up to the counter to make their order, she felt Tai's hand grip hers more tightly. "Tai?"
"Everyone, stick your hands up and get down on the floor!" A voice shouted from behind them, and Lucy turned to look at who'd done so. Standing at the door were seven adult men and two women, each one dressed in peculiar outfits. The men were all dressed in bright yellow business suits and wearing red masques not unlike those she would expect to see at a masquerade. His eyes were locked on to her. "You idiots hear me! Down on the ground! Now!"
"Hey, there, bud," one of the other adults walked forward from beside the counter, a friendly, if nervous, smile on his face. He reached out in a placating manner to the man. "Let's all calm down here, alright? What's got you in a-" One of the men behind the guy in front moved. In a flash of red, between the tourist and the strange men was a tall, red, metal creature. Its right arm was raised as if celebrating, and Lucy quickly realized that the Pokémon was a bisharp. Then, she realized that the tourist's hand was gone, blood instead flowing out of the stump where it'd once been.
The man screamed, then everyone screamed and began to do as the first man had said, dropping to the floor as the other members of this strange group began releasing their Pokémon in a show of force. "That's right, all of you just sit pretty and shut the fuck up. You. Little girl. You're the Balsam heiress, aren't you?" Fear gripped Lucy's heart as he approached them, knocking down the feeble barriers that marked the queue area for the registers. She took a step back. She'd left Lily at home so she could rest. Even if she hadn't, could she even stand up to these... psychopaths!? "We've been watching you for a long time, girlie. The boss wants you for a nice little ransom, so you'll be coming with us!"
Lucy felt herself pushed back as Tai stood between her and the weird man, and the guy scowled at the boy in front of her. "Lay a hand on her and I'll rip your entrails from your swaying corpse," Tai snarled, one arm stretched protectively in front of her while hos other hand was balled into a fist.
"T-Tai, don't!"
"Listen to the girl, brat," the man grumbled, reaching to grab the sole poké ball on his belt. "Kids like you ought to know better than to get in the way of adults. Don't make me hurt you."
"Lucy's my friend," Tai insisted, his voice low. "If you want her, you'll have to go through me!" The man smirked, obviously not intimidated. Lucy couldn't believe what was happening. She'd known Tai was brave, but this was insane! How could he even stand against these monsters!?
"Looks like we got a little hero here, fellas," the man laughed as he spoke, ushering the rest to laugh as well. "Why don't we show him what we do to heroes, huh? Come and show us, Malamar!" A flash of red, and before them stood a squid-like creature with malicious eyes and a cruel smirk on its beak. Its tendrils waved in the air menacingly as it stared down at Tai. She heard his breath hitch, but couldn't see his face. "Aww, are you scared, little boy? Then you should have thought about that when you got in the way of Team Solar!"
"Please, he's just a kid!" some woman screamed from the booths to the side, but a Psychic-Type attack from one of the evil mens' Pokémon shut her up quickly. Lucy could hear people scream and cry as the woman collapsed onto the ground.
"Are you gonna cry now, kid?" the man taunted Tai as the malamar slowly shuffled closer to him and, by extension, her. Still, Tai never backed down or ran. "Malamar, use Psycho Cut!" The Pokémon's eyes glowed a sickly yellow as Lucy screamed.
"Tai!" her voice cracked as her best friend froze, lines crisscrossing his body before they opened. Tai screamed as various cuts opened up across his body. Blood, his blood, spilled onto the floor as he collapsed.
"Great job Malamar. Akeli, grab the girl. You," the man turned towards her as another man ran to grab her, hoisting her over his shoulder. "If you know what's good for you, girlie, you won't make a fuss. Let's go, guys! I want out of here yesterday!" As the man turned and ran with his peers, Lucy was left with the burning image of her best friend collapsed on the floor, blood pooling around his body. Then, a bag was thrown over her head before she was tossed into some kind of car.
"Step on it, Pete!"
I*A*C
My body was sore. Weak. I felt like I'd been tossed into a woodchipper and somehow come out the other side in one piece. Word of advice, that's a pretty agonizing feeling. I slowly took stock of my situation, trying to remember everything I could on how I got here. I'd gone on a date, and I'm fairly certain it was a date, with Lusamine to Queen Vanilluxe, some weird reflection of Dairy Queen back home. We'd hung out a bit and made it inside, then were about to order. Weird guys showed up wearing stupid outfits. They called themselves... Team Solar?
They attacked us, and the people around us. they specifically wanted Lusamine though, for a ransom. I tried to defend her, but of course that wasn't going to go well without a Pokémon. Still, I'd underestimated just how... wretched these kinds of people could be. I hadn't expected to be intentionally attacked with a Pokémon by another person. That had been foolish, but I hadn't been thinking straight. Now... they probably had Lusamine. So where did that leave me?
I opened my eyes slowly, taking in the room I was in. I was lying in a soft, comfortable bed. So likely I wasn't also being held hostage. I doubted an evil team like that would give me that kind of treatment. The room itself was rather large and grandiose, with warm earthy colors and a window overlooking a garden outside. No personal items, so likely some kind of guest room. So, I had to be a Lusamine's family mansion or something like it. How did I get here? Had Victor brought me here after the chaos? Some other rich family on the island? I slowly tried to sit up, feeling pain lance across my body as I did so. I grunted, gritting my teeth as I fought through the pain to sit up and turn myself so I could lean against the wall beside the bed.
"-so he should be out for another few- Young Master!" Victor's voice broke through the fog in my mind as I looked up, panting from the exertion of just sitting up. "Please, you musn't move until you're healed!"
"What's going on, Vic?" I asked, watching as he tried to help steady me on the bed. His left arm was in a cast, and there was a slightly bloodied bandage wrapped around his head. The older man also looked worn and tired. He'd clearly seen better days. "Where's Lucy! What happened to those fuckers who attacked us?" I watched as Victor's expression fell, confirming what I already figured.
"I apologize, Young Master," the man spoke in a somber tone, tears threatening to spill from his eyes. "The brutes ambushed me just after I'd finished finding a suitable parking space for the car. I was lucky enough to be on the phone with one of the maids, Victoria, and she was able to rush the two of us to Master Balsam's abode whilst we recover. Young Mistress Lusamine, however..."
"I got it," I held up my hand, not wanting to force him to focus more on his perceived failure. "What's being done about it?"
"Regrettably, not nearly enough," Victor explained, keeping his composure as he wiped away the tears, his expression steeling as we looked over one another. He reached into his pocket as he spoke. "The Master Balsam has no leads to his daughter's whereabouts, and we know nothing of the assailants. I was unable to get a good look at them, as they came at me from behind and assaulted me just as quickly."
"They called themselves Team Solar," I offered as he pulled out a small silk handkerchief and opened it. Inside of it was a pristine sitrus berry. My eyes widened at the rare item. Sitrus berries were known for their incredible regenerative properties, able to regenerate lost blood, muscle, and even entire limbs when concentrated enough. However, the process used the eater's own vitality, so it would more effect on a young, healthy individual rather than someone slobbish and already unwell. "Uh, they were dressed in this bright get-up, too, like business suits. Is that for me?"
"It is, indeed, Young Master," Victor said, holding the berry out for me. I took it in my hand, in awe of the small, powerful item. I took it in my mouth and chewed, the flavor of lemon mixed with orange and pineapple flooded over my tastebuds, and I could already feel the cuts on my body from that Psycho Cut attack healing themselves. I felt a bit more tired, though. "You are simply our only hope, at the moment. Our...? I looked past Victor, and saw a tall man with platinum blonde hair that was slicked back stood at the doorway. He wore a white polo shirt, along with brown slacks and dress shoes. "May I introduce you to Master Aster Balsam, Young Mistress Lusamine's father."
The man stepped forward, his face aged with hidden worry and eyes far duller than what felt right. His gait was long and slow, as if the weight of the world were pressed down on his shoulders. Still, the man removed his right hand from his pocket and offered it to me. I stood as a sign of respect, taking his hand in mine and giving him as firm a shake as I could. "I've heard much about you, Taiyo Halui," the man spoke, his voice low and firm, like a stone boulder resting still in the middle of a stream. "My daughter has spoken at length about you. All of it positive, so no need to worry about wrong impressions. Thank you for speaking up for her on her first day of school."
"U-Uh, yes sir," I replied, not sure how I should talk to him. He was a businessman, through and through, but he was courteous and polite in a way that didn't remind me of some used car salesman. He seemed genuine. I then chided myself again for forgetting that this wasn't Earth. It should have been obvious that Regdon businessmen would be far more altruistic than Earth's. "So, could you explain to me what Vic means when he says I'm your guys' only hope?"
"Vic...?" he mumbled under his breath, sending a slightly amused glance towards the butler before returning to the moment and focusing on me. "Right. When my family and I moved to Alola in pursuit of a new market, I was forced to leave many of my assets back in Unova, where we came from," he explained, shifting his head to indicate I was to follow him. I obeyed, walking out the door with him into a hallway. It was decorated with dark wooden pillars and baseboards, a bright red carpet floor, various flowers and trimmed shrubs not native to Alola, and various pictures and paintings of what I assumed to be the entire Balsam family. There was one that caught my attention in particular; a family portrait of Aster standing beside a wooden chair resembling a throne, Lusamine standing diligently in front of him, and a gorgeous woman with brunette hair and green eyes sitting beatifically on the chair. His wife, probably. Aster's hands rested on both his wife and daughter's shoulders.
"Among those assets were Pokémon Trainers under my employ and sponsorship," Aster continued, paying no mind to my curiously swiveling head. Vic, however, seemed to be taking a subtle delight in my awe of the place. "Leaving us with Vic, my oldest and most treasured associate."
"You are far too kind, Master Balsam," Vic replied, but waved it off with a good humor about him. Still, his shoulders remained tense. "I merely fulfill my duties for you as I had for your father, and I shall continue to do so for Young Mistress Lusamine."
"Of course," Aster replied easily. "Vic was a league challenger in Unova's Championship Circuit some time ago and was sponsored by my grandfather at the time. After succeeding in the finals, yet failing to best the Elite Four at the time, he took employment from my grandfather as a servant of the family. He's been with us ever since."
"It has been a pleasure, Master Balsam," Vic added, and I looked upon the man in a new light. So this guy was crazy skilled, then? "Yes, I had made it all the way up to the third member of the Elite Four, Kenith Lincoln, before his Fighting-Types overwhelmed my team."
"He's been our personal guard ever since as well," Aster added as we entered a new room. A large arena in the form of a Pokémon battle court. "He's been our foremost battler, but unfortunately, he's beginning to show his age, and so are his Pokémon." We walked into the arena, and Aster turned to face me at the very center. "That, along with his injury, he is unfit to rescue my daughter once we've located where those Team Solar thugs took her. I wouldn't risk a sitrus berry on him, given his advanced age, and unfortunately the other trainers I'd normally rely on are days away from us, even by flight. Not nearly enough time for us to make our move." I could see where this was going, and I wasn't sure how to feel about it. I felt a pit open up on my stomach, actually.
"Sir-"
"My daughter has spoken highly of your ability to battle and train her Lily," Aster continued, interrupting. "I'd like to see your prowess for myself and, should you pass my criteria, I'd like to ask you to rescue my daughter." He knelt down in front of me, facing me at my own height, and rested his hand on my shoulder. "If you succeed, then I would be happy to sponsor you as a trainer once you've graduated from your trainer school." I felt my heart race. I was being offered a sponsorship in exchange for something I would, frankly, have done for free. Not only that, I was being given express permission to do so. I mean, assuming I passed whatever test he had set up. "Just from seeing how you walk and talked to Vic tells me you're a solid boy with conviction. Will you please consider my offer?"
"Sir, I'm not sure I can," I told him honestly, the hole in my heart not receding. "I'm not sure how much good I'd be in the face of these people, and I don't have any Pokémon to use, either. Even if I did..." I clenched my fists. "Listen, I cause trouble wherever I go. I just... I can't help it! First I got my mom's friend in trouble for sneaking into Kukui Ana Cavern, and just the other day I almost got my friends killed because I tried screwing around with the Totem Pokémon on Wela Volcano! How can you know I won't just screw it up again!?" I felt tears drip down my cheeks as I shouted, feeling my control over my emotions slip. Was this really what I'd become? "My friends hate me, Aster! I'm nothing but trouble and I've gotten so many people hurt!"
I fell to my knees, the realization of what I'd done finally sinking in fully. The palms of my hands slammed against the ground as I stared at Aster's shoes. "What good am I to Lucy if I can't- I'm just- I can't! If I go, then what if she gets hurt too!? Or dies!?" I held back my sobs, but couldn't stop the tears as they fell to the ground. How many people got hurt and died because I challenged that Totem Pokémon? That volcano exploded and those Pokémon went crazy because of the salazzle. How much blood was on my hands because of my actions?
"Then you'll have to decide if the risk is worth it," Aster spoke firmly. I continued to stare at his feet, but listened. "Just as I've decided that I'll risk trusting you. We can't allow our past failures to determine our futures, Taiyo. We might stumble and fall, but it's on us to pick ourselves back up and brush off the dust." I clenched my hands into fists. Could I really afford to try again? I'd already done so much damage... "Taiyo, let me tell you some advice that's been passed down among the Balsam men," he said after a few more moments of silence.
His hand squeezed my shoulder reassuringly. "My great-grandfather created my family's company after failure upon failure. He was a construction worker, you see, and it was his dream to one day provide enough money for his wife and newborn son to live comfortably." I listened, feeling my arms grow weak as they held me up, but I refused to fall as Aster spoke to me. "He created idea after idea, each one driving him further into debt. In fact, at one point, he couldn't pay his wife's hospital bills after she'd given birth. So he sacrificed his lunch and dinner every day in order to pay those." Aster reached down with his other hand and pressed it up against my chest, pulling me up to kneel instead of bowing my head to the ground. His eyes shone with a fatherly warmth. "This continued for years as he continued to try and fail. One day, his son, my grandfather, finally asked him why. Why would he keep pushing when all it led to was debt and failure? Do you know what he said, son?" I shook my head.
"It is the right of any man to change his lot in life. To fight tooth and nail to improve his life, and the lives of those he loves. Failure may be our consequence, but success will be our reward."
I stared at the man in front of me as he helped me to my feet. "You might fail, time and again like my great-grandfather, but I believe you'll succeed one day with enough time and effort. All you need to do is take that first step after you've stumbled," Aster gently patted my back. "Even so, you don't need to stand alone. You have people who appreciate you, after all. So, Taiyo. Will you stand with us?" I looked between the solid and firm smile of Aster, and the gentle and warm grin of Vic to our side. Was this even a question any more? How could I possibly say no after being told all that?
"For Lucy," I nodded, wiving away my tears as I stood between the two men. "What do I need to do, sir?"
"Hah! No need to call me sir, Taiyo," Aster chuckled and gave me a firm nod. "No, my daughter has taken quite a liking to you. So I'd appreciate if you'd call me 'dad'."
"Uh..." I blinked, taken by surprise a bit. Aster chuckled before erupting into laughter.
"You're right, Vic! He's quite fun to tease," Aster told his butler. "No, son, no need to call me that just yet. Give it a few more years. I think you'd appreciate just calling me by my name, though?"
"Y-Yes, sir- I mean, sure, Aster," I agreed, not sure where this jolliness came from. His expression focused on seriousness just as easily as he'd erupted into laughter. I guess I found out where Lucy's rapid mood swings came from...
"That's a good lad," Aster said, moving to the side of the room. "Well, then. Let's begin your test, shall we? I'll provide you with three quite capable Pokémon that you may choose from a pool of ten. Then, I'll have Vic battle you. You needn't defeat him, but I will be watching for certain qualities I think are important in a trainer. Vic will be doing the same. Afterwards, we'll let you know what we think." Aster pressed a few buttons on a keypad on the wall that I'd missed before. In fact, I really hadn't given the room itself much thought.
The wall beside the pad opened, and ten poké balls rolled neatly onto a tray that was built into the wall itself. In a screen above the tray, the images of ten Pokémon were lined up. From left to right, I looked over them.
"As a courtesy, I am a specialist of Normal-Type Pokémon," Vic offered. So, no inherent advantages, but very few disadvantages either. Sounded like a skilled trainer. I didn't know a lot of Pokémon from Unova, but having Vic be a professional trainer meant I'd be in for a world of hurt if I didn't take him seriously.
Boldore. Krokorok. Gothorita. Galvantula. Klang. Lampent. Durant. Mienfoo. Tranquill. Herdier. These were my ten choices. I could only pick three. My mind raced to try and put together a solid team. Thankfully, both Aster and Vic were patient. I rested my hand on Mienfoo's pokeball first. It was the obvious choice, but I decided against it for now. No, a first-stage evolution wouldn't stand any kind of chance against a trainer like Vic, type advantage or not. Durant was my first pick. Tough, sturdy, and could take a beating as I figured out what exactly Vic was capable of. I was tempted to use Klang instead for the extra defense against special moves, but decided against it. Most Normal-Types prioritized physical moves, after all. As for that...
Lampent was my second choice. Immune to Normal-Type attacks, it would force Vic to focus on moves like Bite or Crunch, which I was certain he'd be prepared with. Still, it was a Fire-Type, and a good burn could negate some of the power behind those strikes if and when they hit. That, and I was a Fire-Type specialist in my previous life. Lampent would suit me well.
Lastly, I chose Galvantula. It was the only fully-evolved Pokémon on the list aside from the single-evolution Durant, which I was already using. It was a speedy bug, capable of pressuring any Flying-Types that Vic my use, as many of them seconded as Normal-Types. It also was decently strong on average, so I'd get a good use of its abilities.
Speaking of which, in order, the Pokémon I chose had Hustle, for Durant, Infiltrator for Lampent, and Compound Eyes for Galvantula. I glanced over each Pokémon's moveseat. Unlike in the games and TV show, the Pokémon in this world weren't limited to learning four moves, forgetting another as a consequence. No, a move learned was a move memorized, so long as they had trained it. Pokémon could be taught strange moves using strange methods of training, but it was considered so difficult that most trainers figured it was simpler to just use what a Pokémon specialized in naturally and use TMs. It seemed like Aster was one such person.
"Are you ready?" he asked as I attached Lampent's and Galvantula's balls to my belt and tossed Durant's ball in my hand, feeling its weight. "Vic will also be using only three of his Pokémon. They're old and experienced, and while the Pokémon you've been lent are capable, they're typically used for emergencies only and don't have much battle experience outside of training."
"I understand," I told him, moving to one side of the area. I stood across from where Vic stood, the elderly man waiting patiently with a smile on his face. "I'm ready when you are, old timer."
"Bah, when I was a boy, my grand-pappy would have beat me for such disrespect!" Vic laughed as he spoke, unscrewing the cap of his first poké ball with his good hand while his other held it. "Since the nature of this battle is to test you, I'll take no substitutions. However, aside from that, don't expect us to hold back much, Young Master!"
"I'd be disappointed if you did, gramps!" I grinned, feeling adrenaline fill my body. Excitement. Nervousness. This would be my first real Pokémon battle. I couldn't count those playground brawls or those scraps to survive against the Totem Pokémon. No, this was my first taste of real battle. What a real trainer was capable of.
"This will be a three-on-three match between Victor Strife from Unova and the challenger, Taiyo Halui from Akala Island!" Aster called out, spreading his arms out wide. I guess he was trying to hype me up and make me feel less nervous by treating this like an official match. "The challenger may substitute his Pokémon, while Victor may not. Let the battle... begin!" Vic and I both threw our poké ball out at the signal.
"Let's rock, Durant!"
"Stand by for battle, Wanderlust!" Vic commanded. I winced a bit as the small Iron Ant Pokémon stood against a massive buffalo Pokémon with an afro. Bouffalant. I remembered that bouffalant were- "Wander, let's open the gates with Flare Blitz!" My eyes widened as I scrambled to call out to Durant.
"Agility, then Dig, Durant!" I shouted, my voice frantic as the massive buffalo charged at my Pokémon, its body catching fire and sparks snapping in the air. Durant glowed with a faint pink aura before digging into the ground at a rapid pace, the bouffalant barely missing my Pokémon by a hair.
"Hah! First rule of battle, Taiyo. There's no time to think!" Vic shouted as he continued to laugh. "Alright Wanderlust, let's shake the bug out with a Stomp! Let him know exactly where you are!" My throat dropped into my stomach as I knew exactly what he was aiming for. What to do, what to do!?
"Durant, Use Sand-Attack when you surface!" I shouted.
"Oh, no you don't, lad!" Vic shouted. "Wander, Scary Face!" The ground cracked and crumbled under the bouffalant, and while Durant originally seemed keep to slap some of the loose dirt and gravel into the buffalo's face, he hesitated with fear, instead. Just long enough for Vic to get the upper hand. "Horn Attack!"
The bouffalant mood with fury as he slammed his left horn into the iron ant, the metal bug screeching in pain and surprise as he was torn across the battlefield's floor. That could work...
"Durant, Screech!" I commanded. The bug continued to wiggle, but an ear-blastingly loud shriek shot through the room, driving all three of us humans to cover our ears as well. It must've been hell for Bouffalant, because he'd stopped dragging Durant across the ground. "Bug Bite, Durant!" The little bug crawled all over the larger Pokémon, leaving bites hin his wake as the buffalo bucked and kicked, trying to get it off. I watched as Durant emerged from Wanderlust's afro triumphantly, an oran berry in his pincers before the little guy devoured it wholeheartedly. "Cheeky old geezer," I laughed.
"Enough messing around," Vic called. "Wander, Head Charge!" The buffalo groaned loudly, racing towards the wall of the arena.
"Durant, get out of there!" I shouted, but realized too late that the bucking hadn't been to get Durant off. It'd been to tangle him into the Bouffalant's hair! Durant was helpless as he was smashed into the wall. Bouffalant shook his head, tossing the Iron Ant Pokémon to the ground, unable to battle further. "A good effort, Durant," I said, calling him back to his poké ball. I mumbled against the iron, "You put in a lot of work and got me some good data. Thanks for that." I nodded, clipping the ball to my belt.
"So, you're down one," Vic called over, a wry smile present on his face. "Now you know how intense these battles can get, Young Master. What will you do, now?"
"I'll get back up and try again," I announced, grabbing my next poké ball. "Let's do this, Lampent!" The hovering Lamp Pokémon emerged with a flash of red light, and it drifted from side to side as it stared down its opponent.
"Ho ho! Very interesting choice, Young Master. Come then, show me what you're made of!" Vic grinned, obviously excited. "Wanderlust, let's greet our new friend with a Throat Chop!" The buffalo mooed loudly, charging at Lampent straight-on.
"Float up and use Will-O-Wisp, Lampent!" I instructed, the Pokémon obeying seamlessly. Pale blue fire formed between its two limbs, spiraling and hurling itself at the bouffalant on the ground.
"Jump, Wander!" Vic called, and I once more was taken by surprise as the old buffalo leapt into the air after Lampent, his head drawing to the side as his right horn glowed a sinister black.
"Minimize, the Curse!" I shouted. The lampent became smaller as it swirled and twisted in the air, Wanderlust's Throat Chop soaring above my Pokémon. A hollow, echoing sound expelled itself from Lampent, and the bouffalant fell to the ground, falling face first into the arena's floor.
"Wander! Get up, Wanderlust!" Vic called out, concern etched in his voice. The bouffalant stood, shaky and panting, and glaring at my Ghost-Type lamp. "Very cute, Young Master. However, a measly curse won't be enough to stop us! Wander, time for a Rock Tomb!"
"Cover the arena in Smog, Lampent!" I commanded. Both Pokémon made their plays as the bouffalant dug his horn into the ground, sending chunks of the arena at Lampent, who expelled a poisonous fog onto the field. The rocks piled on top of Lampent, who couldn't get out of the way. However, the Smog persisted, and it was obviously beginning to affect the bouffalant. I recalled Lampent, the lamp unstable as he floated up after that attack. "I'm substituting."
"An interesting decision," Vic pointed out aloud. He said nothing more as I threw my last poké ball.
"Let's rock, Galvantula! String Shot and hold fast to the ceiling!" As soon as the Pokémon appeared in a flash of red, a sticky string attached to the ceiling and my Pokémon pulled itself up, hanging upside-down above the poisonous, smog-covered field. I heard Aster hum with curiosity. "Let's start off strong, use Electroweb and keep your enemy pinned!"
"No need to stay still, Wander, get moving with Flare Blitz!" Vic shouted in reply. The buffalo charged as Galvantula rained Electrowebs down on it from above.
"Keep up the pressure, use Thunder Wave!" I shouted.
"Wander, keep running!" Vic instructed. Every attack we made kept him moving, but none hit. "Is that all you've got, Young Master? I'm disappointe- Wander! What's wrong, Wander!?" I grinned.
"Should've cleared up that Smog, Vic," I told him. "I'll tell you what, Flare Blitz had me worried, but it wasn't doing nearly enough to make the Smog dissipate."
"You... trapped the field with an attack," Vic realized slowly. His expression tightened. "I see. I was foolish to have Wanderlust run around so much, forcing him to inhale more and more of that gunk. Combined that with his old age... Very well." Wanderlust finally collapsed from exhaustion. "Come back, Wander. You've earned a good rest."
I watched closely as Vic pulled out his next poké ball. I was going to lose, just as we all expected, but I wouldn't go out without a good showing. "Winder, clear the air with Air Cutter!" From the poké ball was released a gorgeous Pokémon with colorful plumage, flying proudly above the smog as it dissipated the poisonous area with its attack.
"Quickly, take advantage and use Electroweb!" I told Galvantula.
"Dodge it with Quick Attack!"
"Then use Sucker Punch into Discharge!"
"Winder, look out! Detect!"
It happened in mere moments. The web shot past the unfezant as expected as it glowed with a white aura, but Galvantula was ready, a dark aura covering his body as he lunged at the bird, the bird disappearing as it avoided the incoming Sucker Punch, but unprepared for the sheer amount of electricity Galvantula exuded as his body went flying past, bathing the room in a golden electric glow. The unfezant squawked in pain as he plummeted to the ground in a much less controlled manner as Galvantula.
"Before he can recover! Bug Bite!" I crossed my fingers as the EleSpider Pokémon git into his downed prey, eventually finding a small berry resembling a tiny cactus before eating it. A salac berry. Not what I was hoping for, but I could work with that.
"Get up, Winder! Use Swagger!"
"Infestation, Galvantula!" I commanded. The extra boost in speed was just what I needed, and as Galvantual unleashed tiny bugs from his jaws, they crawled over and onto Winder as the unfezant tried his best to puff up his chest and show off. Unfortunately, the infestation of little bugs was too distracting for him to pull it off, and it began trying to pluck and peck the insects off of himself. "Great job! Let's bring 'im home with Electro Ball!"
"Winder, get in the air and use Detect!" Vic commanded. The bird took off, still obviously bothered by Infestation but obeying anyways. Galvantula shot off his Electro Ball, and the bird avoided it perfectly in a fit of speed. I smirked.
"Thunder!"
"Winder, Detect!"
Galvantula unleashed a massive bolt of lightning from his abdomen, and it was too late for the unfezant. Winder squealed and squawked in pain as he fell to the ground, unable to battle. "Hmph, impressive," Vic complimented me as he recalled his unfezant. "However, this will be your defeat. Let's teach this young man some manners, Reval!"
From the ball came a massive beast of a dog Pokémon. A stoutland. He let out a ferocious bark and a growl, he and the galvantula sizing each other up. "Galvantula, use-"
"Retaliate!"
"Agility!" Galvantula dodged and weaved to the side as the stoutland pursued him, hunting him down like a dog on a mission. Unfortunately for the stoutland, he just couldn't keep pace. "Get on the ceiling, Galvantula!"
"Hyper Beam, Reval!"
"Wait, Hyper What!?" The stoutland opened his mouth as Galvantuala shot string to attach to the ceiling. "Galvantula, abort and use-" I was too late, as the massive dog unleashed a massive beam of energy at poor Galvantula. I didn't even need to see the Pokémon to know he was unfit for battle. I recalled the EleSpider Pokémon and sent out Lampent. "Ok Lampent, you're up," I narrowed my eyes at the dog. It seemed to be smirking at Lampent, even as it panted from exertion. "Let's go, Will-O-Wisp!"
"Out of the way, Reval!" Vic shouted. However, the stoutland was still recovering from the Hyper Beam, and took the swirling blue flames head on. It growled lowly, obviously feeling the pain of the ghostly flames.
"Lampent, use Dark Pulse!"
"Giga Impact!" Wait, wouldn't that not hit because Lampent's a Ghost-Type? What was he planni- SCRAPPY!
"Lampent, move!" I shouted. "Minimize!" It was too late, though. By the time Lampent had realized what was happening and reacted, the massive dog was already upon him, charging straight into the lamp. Lampent fell to the ground, unable to battle.
I recalled Lampent into his ball, disheartened, but not surprised. I walked over towards him as Vic approached me from across the field, and offered him my hand. "It was a good fight," I told him. "I would have loved to see you all in your prime."
"You've got guts and brains, Young Master," Vic said in return. "Once you got in the groove, you were quite the fun fight. However, you must be more decisive when faced with overwhelming force. You doubted yourself once Reval was on the field, and it cost you precious seconds."
"Ah, well, I wasn't expecting a Hyper Beam," I admitted as Aster came to join us at the center of the rather messed up arena. "I wasn't expecting your stoutland to have the Scrappy Ability, either. Honestly, unfezant was probably the easiest to handle, and I chose Galvantula specifically to handle a potential Flying-Type since I know a lot of them share Normal-Typeings as well."
"A good plan, and it paid off due to your creative thinking," Vic smiled and glanced over towards Aster. "Well, Master Balsam? Did you see what you wished?"
"I did," he said, looking down towards me. "You're a bold battler, Taiyo, and once you get into the swing of things, you catch up quickly. However..." Vic nodded, obviously seeing the same failings as Aster did. "You do need time to actually get used to how your enemy battles, which can eat up precious seconds as you adjust. Also, when you lose control of the battle or are taken off guard, you're slow to adjust then, as well."
"Yes, you remind me of many trainers I fought when I was younger," Vic added. "Certainly, you have much skill and knowledge compared to them, as well as keen instincts, but that knowledge makes you cocky in your self-assuredness. You believe because something works in your head, it will equate to an actual battle. Sometimes it does, but sometimes you'll be taken off guard, and those problems Master Balsam has already explained."
"I understand," I nodded, listening to their criticism and trying not to take it personally.
"I'm curious, what was it that drove you to pass over Mienfoo and build your team?" Aster asked, taking the poké balls from me that I'd borrowed and returning them to their tray on the wall. I explained my thought process to them all the while, and Vic seemed intrigued while Aster chuckled after I'd finished. "Well, it seems like you underestimated your enemy," Aster finally said after listening to me. "I do believe passing over Mienfoo was a good choice, and attempting to stall out Vic would have been a good plan if he wasn't... well, Vic. However, you couldn't have known just how much his Pokémon would outclass yours. I think I've seen enough. Please, would you join me in my study? I'll have refreshments brought. I'm sure you're both quite tired after such an intense battle."
Now that he said it, I realized just how right he was. My body and mind felt worn, and it was all I could do to not stumble after him. I managed to keep walking, though, but was a little hunched all the while. We walked through the halls again, this time to a large room with what seemed like a massive library's worth of books adorning shelf after shelf. In the far wall of the room was a leather couch, two chairs, and a coffee table between them. Opposite of the couch, against the far wall, was an unlit fireplace. Aster directed me to the leather chair across from his, while Victor took his leave to instruct a maid to bring us some food and drinks.
"So then," Aster leaned forward, his expression once more serious and focused. "You said it was a Team Solar who stole my daughter, and that they plan to keep her for ransom?" I had to remind myself that he'd been at the door when I'd told that stuff to Vic. I nodded, though, to confirm what he'd asked. "I see. Then I expect to hear from them within a day or so. I'll inform my secretary to forward any calls from them to me. I'll also have them bring me a rotom from our collection. If used correctly, we can have it move through the telephone system and pinpoint their location. Worst-case scenario, we'll be a block or two off. That's when we'll send you."
"Uh, sir, I don't have any Pokémon of my own," I reminded him, getting a wry chuckle in response.
"That's no issue," he told me, a smirk resting on his face. "I'll loan you a couple of Pokémon we have here in our collection. Three of them, to be precise. Any more, and I fear you may have some trouble controlling them all. Skilled you might be, and naturally able to command Pokémon as well, I wouldn't want to overwhelm you."
"I appreciate that, Aster," I agreed, taking a deep breath before letting out a sigh. "I hope they're not hurting her," I said, feeling my fists clench on my lap. "If they are..."
"You and I both, son," Aster growled, and I looked up to see the wrath of an angry and concerned father in his eyes. "Those bastards will pay in blood for taking my little girl from me. I'll make sure of it." There was a knock on the door, and the tension within the room dissipated slightly. Vic entered the room with a pretty young woman with bright red hair and freckles. She smiled at the two of us while setting down a tray of nomelade and what smelled like freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. "My, Gretchen, these smell amazing! Are you trying a new recipe?" The woman shook her head, an amused yet stressed smile set across her face.
"No, the Mistress has been in the kitchen to take her mind off of today's events," Gretchen explained, her eye twitching just slightly as she spoke. "She's been an absolute delight, Master Balsam."
"Hah! Say that when you can tell me with a straight face, my dear," the man teased the maid, and her frustration spread across her face like wildfire. "She's been an absolute menace, hasn't she?"
"She's taken over the place like a weed who refuses to be pulled!" Gretchen caved easily, complaining to her boss about his wife. I glanced at Vic while the two talked, a bit confused.
"Ah, Master Balsam enjoys a casual lifestyle when not putting on airs, as they say," Vic explained, chuckling at my evident bewilderment. "Though we servants of the Balsam family are expected to maintain a certain decorum, we are considered but the extended family of the Balsams. A view passed down through the Balsam men to this very day."
"And yet, you're still as stiff as a board, Vic," Aster chuckled as he interjected, giving the old man a wry smile.
"Someone must be," Vic retorted. "After all, I'm certain that you would walk out of these doors with mismatched socks and an unpressed shirt should you be allowed to dress yourself and no one was to remain on top of the domestic affairs." Aster merely hummed and nodded his agreement, turning back to me.
"We will wait until this Team Solar contacts us," he told me, his voice remaining calm despite the anger in his eyes. "Then, I will keep them distracted to give you time to strike. Get some rest in the meantime. You'll likely need it."
"Right, yeah, good idea," I replied, already feeling the exhaustion settling in. First the sitrus berry, then the battle against Vic, and now these admittedly delicious cookies? Yeah, I was feeling tired. I slowly stood up, finishing the last of my cookie. "Thank you for your hospitality, Aster," I gave him a slight bow of respect.
"Think nothing of it," the man replied easily, waving me off. Vic made a sweeping motion with his arm, bidding me to follow him. "My daughter spoke highly of you, as I said before. Having met you, I'm confident that she spoke the truth."
I nodded back, not feeling it in myself to respond verbally. It's incredible how someone can not feel the effects of exhaustion until it's brought up. I followed Vic to the guest room I'd been in before, climbed into bed after a word of thanks to him, and passed out, readying myself for what would certainly be a tough fight.
I*A*C
That's a wrap! Well, shit hits the fan once more, but this time it isn't Tayio's fault. The evil team idea actually came to me as I was watching some old episodes of Pokémon Generations as well as Pokémon Origins with my wife, and I figured it could add a bit of depth to the fic. So, Team Solar was born! I'm not sure what direction I'll take them, but I have a few ideas involving future events. They'll be a constant problem over the course of the next few arcs; at least, I hope they will be. We also get to see Taiyo participate in his first actual battle that isn't a fight for life or death, and his loss was kind of inevitable. He put up a good fight with some clever tricks, but it's not quite enough when your opponent's ace completely overpowers everything you've got.
Either way, this was fun to write and I hope you guys enjoyed it. Please leave a review, I love hearing what you all think of my work, and I'll see you guys in the next one!
Edit: Removed a word in Lusamine's mother's description. She had two hair colors for a moment, there!