[ episode four ]
Annoyed and feeling like a fool, Clair made her way back to the challenger's waiting room, Windie and Jude by her side. She sat there, twiddling her thumbs, for what seemed like an hour. The sound of Viola's feet slapping on tile announced her arrival. She opened the door and skidded before Clair, panting. "I—was—looking—for—you," she gasped. She held her side, breathing heavily. "Alexa'll—be here—soon!"
Once Viola had caught her breath, she brushed a lock of hair behind her head. "My sister's a journalist for Lumiose Press. She normally works there, but she was here visiting me, so you'll be interviewed by a professional! Isn't that exciting?"
Not really, no. Clair crossed her arms over her chest. "I've won the badge. Why must I stay for an interview?"
Viola plopped down in the seat beside her. "Because!" she said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, "My sister is first-rate. An interview with her will jump start your career." She grinned cheekily at Clair. "Don't you want to be Champion? My sister will get you there!"
Champion? Tch. The Champion title was for people like Lance, who were kind, and thoughtful, and for the people. Clair was none of those things. She was brash. Arrogant. A right bitch. Clair pressed her lips into a thin line. No, she didn't want to be Champion.
She was saved from answering when a knock began at the door. A brown-haired woman with a hairstyle similar to Viola's peeked in. "Hi, I was told you'd be here," she said, smiling. She wore a bulky fanny pack around her waist that made her look frumpy. "I'm not too late, am I, Viola?"
"Alexa!" Viola squealed, running to give her sister a hug. A pang of jealousy washed over Clair's dark heart as the two embraced. "Yes! You're just in time." She turned and motioned at Clair with her hand. "This is Clair. She's from Johto, can you believe it?"
"Johto?" Alexa's attention piqued. Her dark green eyes surveyed Clair with a certain kind of intensity before her attention went to the Pokémon by Clair's side. Windie and Jude were half-asleep on the couch, Jude's head resting on Windie's shoulder. Alexa smiled and made her way to Clair. "Why don't you come with me?" she said. "I'm sure you'd like to speak privately."
Viola looked embarrassed. "Okay, I'll take that as my leave!" She reached into her pocket, produced a badge in the shape of a beetle, and handed it to Clair. "This is the Bug Badge. You've earned it! Good luck, Clair!"
With that, Viola turned to go. Alexa watched her for a moment longer before she turned to Clair. "I'm sure you must be uncomfortable here," Alexa said kindly. "Follow me; I know the perfect place. It's quiet, and perfect for an interview."
Clair was skeptical, but she followed Alexa out of the Pokémon gym and back out into Santalune. It wasn't quite noon, but the sun was shining bright. Despite being the middle of spring, tourists milled about hither and thither, their hands filled to the brim with bulging shopping bags. Clair tried not to scowl as they hindered her and Alexa's progress to wherever Alexa was leading them. She adjusted the bag on her shoulder—Clair's new badge proudly on display—and walked down the brick-laid streets.
Alexa led them past them past the giant Roselia fountain, down a side street, and on to another, lesser-known main road. Windie and Jude took in the sights with awe, stopping every now and again to sniff flowerbeds that lined the roads. At last Alexa stopped outside a cozy-looking tea shop. She smiled and opened the door, and the two were greeted by the cheery ting of a bell.
"The owners know me, and only the locals come here," Alexa said by way of explanation. She grabbed a table by the window and beckoned Clair to sit. Once she had, Alexa leaned forward conspiratorially. "It's nice to meet you, Clair. My sister has already said, but my name is Alexa. Might I take it you're cousins with the Champion Lance?" She stopped her questions and smiled at an older woman. She ordered a cup of tea—Clair wanted nothing. Once the older woman left, Alexa continued, "How much do you know of the upcoming conference?"
And there it was. An interview—but not about her, never about Clair. Conversations always led back to Lance.
"Why do you need to know?" Clair retorted. This chick really had some nerve, asking about her family like that. Who did she think she was? She was just some stupid journalist. To bring her all the way out here, under the guise of a successful gym battle interview, was embarrassing. She was a fool to think anything different. Clair stood from her seat. "No wonder your last assignment was cut," she said, her voice scathing. "Don't bother me again."
Alexa looked taken aback. "Wait—Clair. That's not what I meant—"
"I don't care."
"Allow me to explain." The journalist sighed. Sat back in the wooden chair, shoulders slumped as if weighted down. "My sources tell me that something's going to happen during the conference." She looked at Clair and held out her hand, motioning for her to sit once more. "I simply wished to know your affiliation. I see I was mistaken."
Frowning, Clair sat back down in her seat. Crossed her arms over her chest. "Go on."
Before Alexa could speak, the elderly woman brought back her drink. Smiling, she set a steaming cup of cocoa in front of Clair. She gave Alexa a brief kiss on the cheek before leaving. Alexa stirred her drink before finally speaking up. "It's quite alarming, having all these Champions and their Elites in one place," she began. "For one, the conference is closed, meaning that nobody who isn't on the list can know what's going on. The issue we're having is that, with our strongest trainers busy, who is looking out for our countries? Where will Diantha be if Kalos is in trouble?
"There have already been a series of unfortunate events happening, but it isn't being put on the news. I've tried," Alexa's voice fell flat. "Malva doesn't want to hear it. She's part of it, you know—the woman with pink hair and glasses who's all over the news? For all her charm, she's something else. As an Elite, you'd think she'd care more."
Clair frowned. So that's what this was about. Alexa was trying to use her connection to Lance to find out information about… well, Clair had no idea what Alexa was trying to do. What was clear, however, was that she was entirely right: with the Champions and Elites busy, it was far too easy for things to go wrong. Clair remembered how Giovanni was able to fool everyone while Rocket was crawling the streets. How Lance hid their resurgence from her, how he took on the responsibility on his own. And for what? He was injured. Rocket took over his life and he didn't tell her, didn't bother to ask her, his cousin, his best friend, for help. She could have done something!
Not this time.
"I won't let that happen," Clair said, her voice full of loathing, cocoa forgotten. She glanced at her Pokémon. Windie and Jude sipped their own drinks, entirely satisfied. Pokémon just like hers were stolen—or worse—under Rocket's influence. There was no way she was going to let another group like Rocket or anyone else interfere with people's lives again. She shot a hard look at Alexa. "Nobody is going to do anything of the sort. Not if I can help it."
Alexa seemed to deflate with relief. "I'm glad you understand," she said, taking a grateful sip of her coffee. "I was hoping you could inform Lance. Perhaps he can ask the others to be alert. I've asked the other Leaders if they would keep an eye out, and they promised they would, but their focus is only on their cities." She took a deep breath, nervously adjusted her hair. Then looked at Clair, seemingly rejuvenated. "Now then," she said, bringing out a pen and a notepad from her fanny pack. "Are you ready for your interview?"
【-】
The Santalune air was brisk under a blazing sun. Clair stepped out of the shop feeling exhausted. The interview would turn out fine, Alexa insisted, but that wasn't what bothered Clair. What bothered her was the fact that she didn't think of the consequences of everyone being absent first. It was entirely possible for Rocket or their copycats to take over while the elite trainers were away. And though Windie and Jude were capable, they were still young, and not nearly at the level her dragons were. If she had them—if she had her dragons—she could easily take them down. But she didn't.
She couldn't protect anyone.
A small paw made its way into her palm. Jude's. Clair kneeled down in front of him and kissed his forehead. "Thank you," she said softly. Windie appeared by her side, whining softly. Clair kissed her forehead, too. "You're right, I shouldn't worry. Rocket is gone." And Kalos is safe.
Adjusting the bag on her shoulders, Clair heaved a sigh. There was no point in worrying about things that weren't happening. That's what she told herself, at least. With one last look backward at the shop, Alexa caught Clair's eye, giving her a simple nod. Clair inclined her head. They'd exchanged numbers after the interview, with Alexa urging Clair to inform her if she'd see any strange happenings. Alexa would do the same in return.
Windie was eager to set off. She skipped down the cobblestone road, tail swishing this way and that, and stopped at random intervals to let them catch up. Instead of catching up with Windie, Jude instead stayed several steps ahead of Clair. She spotted the look in his eye, the want of being able to be as carefree as the Braixen. Jude held himself back with obvious tension.
"You can go on ahead," she murmured, pressing her hand on Jude's head. Her thumb rubbed against his soft fur. "You don't have to remain by my side." Clair smiled. "Go have fun."
Jude's red eyes bore into hers, searching. Then he turned and dashed after Windie, tackling her with one giant leap. The two went tumbling to the cobblestone, oblivious to the passersby who laughed at them. Clair continued walking, cheeks burning.
Her Pokémon caught up to her in a rush. This time they stayed by her side, but they chittered and barked at each other the entire time, caught up in their fun. The trio strolled down the walk to the north side of town, past the tree-lined streets and flower-filled gardens, to the north side of town, where Paterre Way awaited.
Lumiose City awaited on the other side of this path, but it would be past dark by the time they arrived. It was a long walk, but it was a choice Clair was more than willing to make. Lance would be waiting for her. She didn't know how he'd know when she'd arrive in Lumiose, but he made her a promise. He knew how she felt about promises.
Perhaps she should take out her phone, shoot him a message. Hey, I'm heading out! she'd write. Or maybe, On my way to Lumiose, can't wait to show you my team! Or even a message about how she missed him already, wished he'd see the progress she'd already made. Or none of the above. Instead, Clair opened up her Messages app and typed: Beat The Leader. Lumiose Tomorrow.
Parterre Way was a winding road lined with hedges as far as she could see. Twisting and turning, the greenery was smoothed to with the utmost care and perfection. Trees dotted the hilly landscape behind them, random and cluttered compared to the hedge rows. Decorating the road were tall flowers in every color: reds, yellows, purples. Jude loved them, spending more time in the flowerbeds than outside. The flowers all but towered over him. Windie, however, enjoyed the hedge rows, poking her head between the thick brush, almost as if searching for something. She seemed disappointed when she came out empty-handed.
This route was busier than Détourner Way, with cars, bicycles, and pedestrians making their way to the large city. More than once Clair forced a cyclist off the road—they were in the wrong lane—and she didn't play chicken. Her steps were self-righteous for a few moments before settling into long, easy strides.
With her first Badge on display, Clair attracted immediate attention from junior Trainers. They'd first stand before her, attitudes arrogant, but quickly slipped into fumbling excuses upon seeing her Braixen. Upon seeing Jude, the Trainers were haughty, confident that the little Riolu would be no match for their Ralts or Combee. Even Skitty. And when Clair felt like battling, she grinned a crooked grin. With nary a scratch on Windie, and a few cuts on Jude, Clair left the Trainers behind, their weekly allowance stuffed into her pocket.
Windie was a powerful thing indeed. Though distracted—she seemed intensely curious about the bushes—she scorched her opponents with ease. And though Jude had a slight hitch in his step, he too did well. During a battle with a particular Pokémon called Flabébé, Jude's palm glowed bright blue and, upon striking his foe, a burst of blue energy erupted from the contact, sending Flabébé reeling into the hedges. Clair cheered. He'd learned Force Palm.
Blues turned to oranges as the sun faded from the sky. Streetlamps sparked into life. Clair continued to walk along the path to Lumiose even as the road emptied. Soon the trio were the only travelers heading in either direction. After a moment of peaceful silence, Clair glanced at her team. Windie, usually full of energy, staggered beside her. Jude struggled to keep up. Though the city was only a few miles off, her young team wouldn't make it.
"I know you're tired," she told them. "We'll set up camp soon." Windie and Jude's ears perked up. Windie barked with delight. At the thought of rest, they seemed momentarily rejuvenated.
She found a suitable spot between the hedge maze's two rows a few minutes later. The tall bushes would hide them from anyone who dared to look, and Clair was never in a mood to deal with busybodies. After a brief dinner of sandwiches and berries, she once more massaged Jude's hock and performed a range of motion exercises on it. She hummed an ancient lullaby as she worked. It would take time for significant improvement.
Removing a sleeping bag from her pack, Clair shuffled her Pokémon to the side as she put it into a soft spot on the dirt. It was no surprise that Windie took up the most space, leaving Clair and Jude to deal with scraps. But Clair was stubborn, and Clair was tired, and she moved Windie out of the way so she could have the most room.
She was asleep as soon as her head hit the ground.
Early morning came with the pleasant singing of songbirds. The sky was a deep purple, the sun barely making its way across the horizon. Clair rolled over on her side, into Jude, who'd cuddled up beside her in the night. She rubbed his small shoulders, feeling comfort in his warmth. There was a rustling nearby, quite loud, in fact, and Clair screwed up her face. Groaned. Put her hands over her ears. Jude awoke, removing himself from her. Barked, alarmed.
Clair sat up with a start, blue hair messy and leaf-littered, bangs covering her eyes. She brushed them behind her ears. Looked toward the direction where she'd heard Jude. He barked again, louder this time. She shot to her feet and made her way to her Pokémon. Windie was stuck in a rosebush. It appeared as if Jude tried to help her, but sliced his palms on a thorn.
An exasperated sigh escaped her lips. "How did you get stuck?" Clair ran a hand over her face and shook her head. Windie, at her voice, yipped and struggled, her tail thrashing and her feet scraping the dirt. "Stop moving, I'll get you out," she chastised. "Hold still."
Upon inspection of the bush, it appeared as if, like the day before, Windie had found something interesting within and went to retrieve it. This time her curiosity was her downfall, as she'd gotten herself stuck tight. Thorns pressed against her golden body, leaving small pricks in her fur.
Clair did what Clair had done her entire life: act first, think later.
Putting her hands on either side of Windie, she grasped the rosebush between calloused hands, failing to avoid the prickly thorns. Then with a burst of strength she pulled, forcing the thorny vines apart and away from her Pokémon. The branches bit into her like teeth, digging into palms and ripping flesh. Windie struggled free. Clair released the rosebush once she was fully out, wiping the fresh blood on her jeans. She'd have to change when she reached Lumiose.
Turning to her Pokémon, Clair placed her hands on her hips. "What was that about? You know better than that," she scolded.
Windie, however, paid her no mind. Her focus was on the stick in her hand, a two-and-a-half-foot thorny branch from the bush she'd been rescued from. Windie's small paws fit between the barbs. A tiny spark of flame, and the tip of stick ignited. She waved her arm with a flourish, her footsteps a dancer's. Windie blew a puff of smoke and the flame died out, leaving the tip charred. Windie bounded to Clair's side with a satisfied yip.
"All that trouble for a stick, huh?" Clair cocked her head. Frowned. Then decided her Pokémon must've had some kind of reason for wanting this particular stick.
Clair remembered the first time she'd gotten stuck in a rosebush. The only way to free yourself was to just go, to force yourself through and carry the consequences. And while she could have saved a lot of trouble by recalling her Pokémon into her capsule, the thought never crossed her mind. A woman raised by old-fashioned Elders, it was their custom to allow their Pokémon to roam free. What use were Poké Balls when dragons heeded their command as if they were connected by blood?
Above them the sky was turning a brilliant orange, the clouds' deep purple dissipating. Still early morning, but people would be waking up soon. If she wanted to get to the city before the crowds arose, she'd have to leave now. Clair packed up her things and brought Windie and Jude to her side. Shifting the weight of her backpack, she left the safety of the hedges and walked to the main road. There was no time for exercise this morning, a fact that Clair lamented. She hoped this wouldn't become habit—she loved her early-morning climbs.
Unlike in Santalune, whose road was cracked from age, the road to Lumiose was freshly-paved, with a green-painted lane for pedestrians and cyclists. As they approached the city, vehicles surpassing the speed limit sped past them, a blur of metal and plastic. Clair frowned as a gust of wind buffeted her; this was unacceptable in Blackthorn. Their roads were steep and curved, their mountainous journey treacherous. But here, in this flat expanse, death came on wheels.
Ushering her Pokémon to the side of the road, Clair shot the speeding cars a dirty look. Could they not see that they were walking here? Of course not—even in rural areas, these paths proved as much of a danger with their twisting turns. Vehicles not bothering to look before they arrogantly overtook lanes despite not seeing what's ahead of them. She loathed them. If someone drove like this with such wild abandon in Blackthorn, they'd be public enemy number 1. Well, as far as Clair was concerned.
Towers of the city loomed in the distance, their peaks hidden behind morning fog. Such skyscrapers were the norm in Kalos, she'd heard, but seeing them from this distance betrayed their height. Neither Celadon nor Saffron compared to Lumiose. Clair loathed coming to such a crowded place, but that's where Lance said he'd meet her.
Sighing, Clair fished into her pocket for her phone. She hadn't bothered to check, hadn't thought of checking, but being so close to Lumiose, she figured Lance would have responded to her message.
No response.
Clair refreshed the page. Perhaps it was simply—what was the word—frozen? But no, there wasn't any new messages. Oh. Disappointment washed over her features, and her shoulders sagged only just. It wasn't as if she was looking forward to hearing from him—she was going to see him soon—but, you know, it would have been nice if he'd messaged her. But he didn't. And she felt stupid that she felt this way.
Pursing her lips into a thin line, Clair picked up the pace. There was a traveler's gate just ahead, and she was ready to move on to the next stage of this journey. Wherever it would take her, whatever she had to face, she'd handle it. With or without Lance.
The traveler's gate was a small building that acted as a point of passage from Paterre Way to Lumiose City, and safely separated pedestrians from the vehicles on the toll road. This close to the city, Clair could smell the arid stench of oil, garbage, and other, hard-to-place aromas. She crinkled her nose. How could anyone live in this? Windie and Jude, however, seemed to pay it no mind. They were overjoyed by the sights of the sparkling windows that glinted in the sun. Bright billboards with rotating, annoying ads lined the walkways.
Walking into the gate, Clair half-expected Lance to be waiting for her. He wasn't. A few people milled about, either sipping coffee or reading brochures. Some had Pokémon by their side, others at their waists. She walked across the heavily-trodden tile floors and to a counter. A red-haired woman smiled with tired eyes and waved her through. Apparently this early in the morning, checking the ID of people entering the city was something to be neglected. In Blackthorn, the Elders knew everyone who entered the village.
She was just walking past a series of vending machines and benches when she thought she heard her name. Clair turned, eyebrows furrowed. A young woman with warm brown skin, dark purple hair, and a cheery, heart-shaped face waved. Beside her was a young man with a sharp jawline, blond hair, and piercing green eyes. Both wore pristine white uniforms and a multicolored band around their bicep. His ascot was blue; her bow was red. Clair had no idea who they were.
"I'm not interested," she said, her voice brusque. If they wanted a battle, they'd have to look elsewhere.
The girl smiled, her blue eyes bright and shining. "Oh, you misunderstand us!" she laughed. "We were actually looking for you! Clair, right? The Professor told us you'd be coming this way."
Clair quirked an eyebrow. Why would anyone be looking for her? Unless someone told them she'd be coming. Could it be her grandfather? She glanced at her Pokémon, who seemed unabashed in their presence.
"I'm Dexio, and this is Sina," the young man continued. Like Sina's, his accent was thick but clear. He gave Jude a pat on the head. "We're assistants to Professor Sycamore." He gave her a once-over and pointed to her head. "Roughing it, huh? Can't say I blame you."
Clair touched her head. Found a twig embedded in her hair. Cheeks flushing crimson, she tore her hair from its tangled ponytail and shook it out, sending leaves and other small sticks to the ground. "Don't you dare say anything to my cousin," she seethed. She hurriedly fixed her hair back into a ponytail. "Now, who is this Professor? He's the one who gave me Windie?"
Sina, who'd been playing with said Braixen, leapt to her feet. "Sure is! He's really got a knack for choosing people's partners. That's why we're here—to take you to him! It's early, but he should be in his office."
Dexio gave a sly smile. "He'll be in, but he usually doesn't start work until 11am."
This professor sounded like a Kalosian already. Clair would never understand how laziness became a way of life here. Waking late, starting work later, goofing off instead of working… tch! Her grandfather would beat her if she tried that.
Clair pursed her lips. Well, she hadn't heard from Lance, and it was still early, so she might as well follow these kids. Besides, this Professor gave her Windie, and she supposed it would be nice to thank him. It would make Lance happy, at least. "Alright," she said slowly, "take me to him, this Professor."
"Great!" Sina clapped her hands. "Let's go, Dexio! Adventure awaits!"