It was a little late when everybody was finally done with the preparations of their respective assignments and we headed back to Nimbasa together through the use of Teleport. For most of us, it's been a long time since we saw each other and despite feeling a little exhausted after a long day, there were no lack of topics to talk about in our conversations on our way back.
"Nice place you have here, short stack," Volkner whistled in appreciation when he stepped foot into the Nimbasa residence that the interpol had used as our headquarters during our stay here. Norman and Flannery had made a quick trip back to their hotel to get their stuff before joining us. I also had instructed Sebastian to make sure that dinner was ready by the time we got back since it was already a little late and I doubt any of us here had the energy left to eat out after a tiring day.
Sebastian, being the efficient butler that he is, had already prepared the rooms for our new guests. Volkner and Jasmine will take the room on the eighth floor, Norman will take the fourth floor, and Flannery will take Vance's room on the topmost floor, the twentieth floor. Everyone gathered back in the common area on the third floor to have our dinner together after a quick washing up and things became a lot livelier with jokesters like Volkner around. Still, we retired early after we finished our dinner since everyone's tired.
Or at least, that was the plan.
Norman had called me aside after dinner, saying that he needed to talk to me and Flannery in private. I simply brought them to my room on the nineteenth floor with a little assistance from Dolly's Shadow Sneak.
"I knew that your banette was proficient in this move but I have to say, its mastery over Shadow Sneak had improved beyond my expectations."
Norman's praise was instantly soaked in by Dolly, making her a very happy banette as she cackled and flew loops in the air. She's very well acquainted with Norman thanks to the period of time we spent at the Petalburg Gym where I assisted him as his gym trainer. We know that it's difficult to get a praise out of this man.
My floor, the nineteenth floor of our residence, is very spacious and has several rooms available. I use one of it as a wardrobe to store the large number of clothes and accessories that my family had given me, another of it as my bedroom, one as a study, and the last one is an empty room that could double as a guest room if needed. There's a small lounge outside the rooms where the lift is, but I hardly use the lift when I have my ghosts to bring me around.
I brought Norman and Flannery into my study. Steven apparently wanted to talk to us in private, so I simply took out my laptop and had Jarvis help me set up a video call so that it would be easier for the three of us to fit into the screen.
"Hello Norman, Flannery. Ah, Vel, good to see you too. It's been a while," Steven greeted the moment the video call was picked up on the other end of the line.
"Hi Steven," I greeted in return. "So… I guess congratulations are in order? Mr soon-to-be-officially-crowned Champion?"
"You tease, but thanks anyway." Steven accepted my well wishes with a good natured laugh. "Give me a moment, I think Wallace will want to be in this call as well. Let me see if I can pull him over," there was a brief pause before a new participant was added into our video call and another familiar face that I hadn't seen in a while appeared on screen.
"Ah, it's you guys. How's it over at Unova?"
"To be perfectly honest? It's kind of a huge clusterfuck, makes me glad that we nipped the Magma and Aqua problem in the bud before they could grew into the mess of epic proportion like how the Plasma problem turned out to be," Flannery surprised us with her brutally honest opinion that she concealed from even me when we were at the briefing earlier in the day. "I'm going to be frank, I think the Unova League was trying to paint an image far more optimistic than it really is. If things are as serious as I think it is, I'm not even sure if Unova can tide over this crisis."
"Flannery, language," Norman reminded with a disapproving frown with a quick glance my way. The funny thing is, I'm not really the fourteen year old girl that he thinks I am.
"Fuck isn't that bad of a word, I use it all the time too," I cheekily added, and it was taking all of my willpower not to laugh at how Norman's eyes had comically widened when he heard me say the F word.
"Brief us on the situation," Steven requested and simply ignored my cheeky remark. Norman very quickly gave a rundown of the situation we were briefed upon. I could see our Champions' brows furrowing deeper and deeper the longer Norman went on. Even after Norman was done with his verbal report, both our old and new Champions were silent for a short while before Steven finally broke the silence.
"Flannery is right, this is a very dire situation," Steven agreed and barely managed to hide the sigh escaping his lips. "Norman, Flannery, Velda, I only have one request to ask from all of you. Please, return back alive. The threat of the army of pseudo Ability Holders that Team Plasma had built is not something that we can realistically estimate at this point in time. There's no idea how dangerous they might be until you face them on the day itself. Hoenn cannot afford to lose two Gym Leaders in a diplomatic exchange, especially Gym Leaders of your calibre. If the situation spirals out of control to the point that your lives are in danger, you have my permission to pull out of it immediately."
"But-"
"Velda," Steven interrupted me before I could voice my opinion. "I could guess what you wanted to say, but hear me out. I am first and foremost, the Champion of Hoenn, or soon-to-be Champion as you put it earlier if we want to be technical. My priority and concern will always be the well-being of my region, my Pillars, and my people. Yes, we sent Norman and Flannery over as a show of goodwill and support to the PWL's cause of averting the prophecy, to strengthen diplomatic ties with the other regions to promote global peace but ultimately, we are not obliged to clean up the mess for them at the cost of incurring a huge and irreplaceable loss that would directly affect Hoenn's interests. Juan is stepping down soon and this is not something we can delay for much longer because he's no longer young. Wattson might follow his lead anytime in the next few years as well. With Juan's departure, Norman would be the undisputable strongest Gym Leader of Hoenn if we exclude Wallace from the picture. Norman is the new image of our military force, the representation of Hoenn's Gym Leaders. I cannot allow anything to happen to Norman because once that happens, my people will panic, the region will be in an uproar, and negative sentiments about our region's diplomatic policies are bound to surge. The media crisis that will result from this aside, we will also be forced to abort everything we have done so far. The same applies to Flannery, Hoenn cannot lose her. Do you get me?"
I understand the point where Steven is coming from. If we really do lose Norman in this fight that he had no need to take part in the first place, every single effort that the Hoenn League had put into strengthening diplomatic relationships with the other regions will immediately fall apart. All of our efforts thus far would have been for naught. If no lives were lost on our end, things will be bad but still salvageable, but if either Norman or Flannery were to be killed in this battle then the Hoenn League would have no choice but to let all of their efforts go down the drain.
"I understand," I answered, my mood a little solemn when I understood that Steven has his own considerations that he has to uphold as the new Champion of Hoenn. I felt Flannery patting my back in silent encouragement, but it still did little to lift my mood.
Steven's stern expression mellowed out a little after hearing my answer.
"The same goes for you as well, Vel. I'm not sure if you realised, but you are not just an interpol agent working in the interests of the PWL, you are also the link that connects Hoenn, the PWL, and whichever region that you will be assisting in the capacity as an interpol agent. You are our eyes and ears in the interpol, the connection we have to the higher echelons of the PWL and I want you to understand that. You are vital to the Hoenn League as well."
"What Steven is trying to say is that whether you had realised it or not, thanks to the circumstances that you are now in you are not just representing the interpol, but also Hoenn in international affairs," Wallace spoke up, probably trying to ease the solemn tension between us. "Velda, ever since the world leaders agreed to relax control over their borders there were experts who had already foreseen that the world is rapidly developing to reach a new stage of globalisation never seen before. Now, looking back, they were spot on. This was one of the visions you had when you proposed this idea to me in an attempt to promote peace and strengthen global relations, remember?"
Wallace took a brief pause, probably giving me time to digest his words before he continued.
"Now, try to look at things from Hoenn's perspective. Just look at our recent economic development and the huge surge of influx of overseas investments going in and out of every region on a daily basis, a sight which was almost non-existent a year ago. Hoenn is currently at the forefront when it comes to diplomatic policies because compared to the other regions, Hoenn's political and economical climate is extremely stable, allowing us to better focus our attention on the global stage. This is the advantage we hold over the other regions. This is also thanks to your contributions in helping to remove Team Magma and Team Aqua very early on before they could grow into the threats Team Rocket and Team Plasma had grown to be. Now, you are part of the interpol, an agent of the PWL. Not only that, you are the one and only sole member Hoenn has sent over to the interpol. Thus, you represent us, the Hoenn League, I'm sure Vance had impressed that idea on you when he made his visit."
"You were the reason he was here?"
"Just a small part of it. Vance's visit was mainly his own initiative because he simply wanted to see you, and also because your father had other plans for you. I just made sure to remind Vance to convey to you about your importance to the Hoenn League once I learned that he would be visiting you in Unova. Think back, Vel. While Vance did earn his rank through his own power, it wasn't entirely by coincidence that he was my second-in-command. He's the heir of the Vera family, the League will have to take special care of him. Just like how your father was put under Drake's care during his time in ACE, the League had specially arranged your brother to be under my care once he showed a greater potential that outshines even your father at his prime. Well, he was originally supposed to be under Norman's care, but I digress. That's a story for another day."
"Your brother is simply too destructive for me to handle. Somebody more qualified was needed to supervise him." Norman's explanation was short and succinct, enough for me to understand the gist of it.
"As of now, in a manner of speaking, you are our only sole full-time diplomatic representative in global affairs. At least for now," Wallace continued, and it was then I was suddenly reminded that due to a severe lack of globalisation in the pokemon world there are still no such things as diplomats or ambassadors that serve to help maintain the global diplomatic relations with each region. So, in a way, I somehow had found myself in a very special and unique position without knowing it myself, because I am the only Hoennian within one of the PWL's most prized units, the interpol. My actions would represent Hoenn on a global stage.
"I'm not going to hide this from you, but there are still dissents from officials within the Hoenn League and the President's cabinet about us being too proactive and appearing as if we are too eager to help with international problems when nobody else seemed to give a damn. These sentiments didn't arise from nowhere, Vel. It is a fact that the other regions are not as vested in the shared cause we agreed upon when we first decided to set up the interpol. There are also dissents regarding your appointment to be Hoenn's representative in the interpol. The main arguments they brought up are mainly about the concerns they had about your age but thankfully, your contributions in the Magma and Aqua problem, your participation in the war at Indigo, and what you had accomplished so far in the Unova region allowed Steven and I to easily shut them up. At the very least, on affairs relating to pokemon, your status as a Vera also made you a very suitable candidate to represent us on the international stage as Hoenn's first diplomatic ambassador despite your young age. I was planning to let you in on this in the future when things are less busy for you, but I guess now is a good time as any to break this news since we are already on this topic. Assuming that there are no unexpected developments, becoming Hoenn League's ambassador is the direction that Steven and I are planning to groom you towards. You are more than capable of representing us on the global stage. You have all the qualities to be one and Steven and I are confident in your ability to do your job well. All you ever need is the time to grow and learn until you are ready for the responsibilities for that position."
I could not believe it, Wallace's serious.
"However, once you officially become our representative, you have to start looking at things from our standpoint. You have to start thinking about and protecting Hoenn's own interests. This Team Plasma problem is just one example out of many. Going forward, Hoenn cannot always be the main party offering assistance to the PWL's efforts. As much as I don't want to say this outright, we are not a charity organisation. In every kind of relationship, be it between family, lovers, regions; there must be an equal amount of give and take for the relationship to be a healthy one so that it can last. Hoenn cannot keep sending support to the other regions in this manner like we had done for Indigo and Unova. Can we agree on that?"
"I see your point," I admitted.
"In my personal opinion, we were already being very generous in our efforts, sparing a Champion and an Elite Four for the Rocket mess in Indigo, and now our strongest Gym Leader and Flannery for the Plasma problem in Unova where the other regions did nothing of the sort. Just look at the situation now. Which other region had sent over their Pillars or equivalent when Unova had requested for assistance? Only we answered their call. Just look at your current residence, your family was the one who forked out the money to build the interpol's first headquarters in Unova, not the PWL. I don't want to compare or talk behind people's backs because I'm sure the other Champions had their considerations and problems to deal with back home, but we cannot keep this up if things were to continue in this manner. Hoenn will not hesitate to help her allies if they need it, but if they continue to take us for granted and treat us like a charity organisation then we are going to have problems. If that is the case, if it really felt as if Hoenn is the only party vested in trying to contribute to the PWL's efforts and nobody else is taking this seriously, Steven and I will not hesitate to pull out our support if the other regions keep taking our goodwill for granted because it takes two hands to clap. Already, we are very displeased by the attitudes of the other Champions when it comes to upholding the agreement we had in trying to build a better and more cohesive world in attempting to avert the prophecy."
Wallace's voice had turned a little sterner as he continued to talk.
"In fact, once this entire Team Plasma problem blows over Steven will be calling for another talk between the Champions to make our displeasure clear. If we feel that the situation does not improve after that talk, we will pull out from this immediately. Yes, including you, Velda. If things ever get to that point and Steven gives the word, you are to immediately put down everything you have in the interpol and return back home immediately, this is an order from your Champion. We will not be taking no for an answer. If needed, we will send people to fetch you for your safety. As Champions of Hoenn, Steven and I have to make our stance in this matter extremely clear because to us, our people and our region is our first and foremost priority. We cannot keep cleaning up messes that everybody has a duty to clean up after but yet, allowing our partners to keep shirking that same shared responsibility that we previously agreed upon. The only outcome that will turn up from that in the end, will be what was originally another region's problem or an international problem suddenly becoming Hoenn's problem. There are many other such things going on behind the scenes that I'm not telling you, Velda, but the way the other regions keep pushing the dirty work for us to handle is something that has to be addressed before we could really embark on the agreement that initially led to the founding of the interpol. Talk is cheap, Steven and I prefer if we could see the other Champions actually taking concrete action to fulfil their promise."
I certainly had no idea what else to say or do after hearing what my Champions had to say. I knew it was going to be an uphill challenge trying to get every region on the same page when it comes to that stupid world ending prophecy, but I guess I was either too naive or I had underestimated just how difficult it would be to get everyone involved.
Maybe the expression on my face had betrayed my mood. Steven and Wallace ended the call shortly after and wished us the best of luck, but not before reminding us once again that our lives are our foremost priority to the Hoenn League and should be prioritised above everything else for the upcoming battle.
"I know they sound harsh but don't take it the wrong way. They are not blaming you for anything, you did nothing wrong. In fact, you did a great job thus far, they just want to let you know that things are not as harmonious as it seems behind the scenes and that you should be aware of them lest you get taken advantage of without knowing it," Flannery pulled me to her side and immediately tried to lift my mood up. I tried squeezing a smile but for some reason it felt really forced.
"Take our word for it, none of us Pillars are blaming you for anything that resulted in the mess that happened behind the scenes. You have done well, Vel, but Hoenn cannot always be the party at the forefront of solving this international mess. Believe it or not, Flannery and I were sent here not just to assist Unova as a show of goodwill, we are also here to see and judge for ourselves how well the interpol is faring, just what kind of support the interpol has been receiving from the other regions, and the attitudes displayed by the other regions in this matter. Steven will make his next decision depending on what we observed and report back to him."
"Sorry for the disappointment," I mumbled, knowing that the only help the interpol had so far was my family's donation in getting this building to be our residence, office, and headquarters all in one. I should have identified this problem earlier on. If even the PWL is giving empty promises and not taking substantial steps in tackling the prophecy problem, to the point that my family had to fork the money out of their own pockets, then something is very wrong. We had to start everything from scratch, and the only people in the Unova League that seemed to be actively trying to help us were Alder, Grimsley, and Elesa. I should have noticed the signs sooner.
"Hey hey, stop blaming yourself for this. This is not your fault," Flannery reiterated her point as she spun me around to face her. "You already did your best, nobody is blaming you for this because this is out of your control. You know why we were sent here? Not just because Hoenn wanted to express our support to Unova, not just because we are here to see for ourselves how things are really like on the ground, but also because Steven sent us here to make sure that you are alright and if necessary, bring you back home just in case this whole interpol business falls apart from the lack of support from the other regions, cos nobody can stop you from going home with two Pillars behind your back. Now, I'm glad that we were sent here, because none of us back home had any clues that things were this bad until we saw it for ourselves. You are only fourteen, Vel, give yourself some slack. This Plasma problem is a mess of epic proportions that even adults wouldn't want to touch within a ten foot pole. Honestly, you shouldn't be anywhere near the Plasmas on the day itself. You are far too young to be involved in a war of this scale."
"A little too late. Tell that to the twelve year old me back in Lilycove," I cannot help but mutter under my breath, briefly recalling the memories and experiences of that fateful day which I cannot seem to truly shake off no matter how I try. Interpol work is tough, I'm not going to sugarcoat it, and there were also times that I also really felt like giving up. However, whenever the memories of the Lilycove Invasion flooded back I cannot bring myself to stand still and do nothing.
I just… I don't want something like that to happen ever again. Doing something to help prevent such things from happening again helps to give me peace of mind. Working towards that goal as an interpol agent was what I felt I needed to release myself from the nightmare that had been haunting me since Lilycove.
"I think what you need now is a good rest," Norman sighed and patted my shoulder twice in a show of support. "Don't worry too much about the politics going on behind the scenes, we adults are here for a reason. Right now, just focus on preparing yourself for the operation and be in your best condition on that day. But like Wallace and Steven had said, if things in the interpol are not going as you hoped it will be and you have reasons to believe that the situation is not going to improve, feel free to leave and go back home. Nobody can force you to stay with Flannery and I around, and the League will handle the political repercussions."
"Yup, nobody can stop you from going home with us here."
"Why do you guys make it sound as if I'm being held captive against my will?"
"Did we?" Flannery looked at Norman, who simply shrugged.
"But a break does sound nice. I really miss home," I admitted. It's been about a year since I've been home. I've never been away from home for so long before.
And if things were really that messy behind the scenes, then maybe Steven and Wallace had the right idea. If this were to go on, even if no other major issues had popped up yet, the interpol is just going to eventually rot from the inside out despite being founded with noble intentions. My idea of setting up the interpol was a desperate idea to begin with, there wasn't any guarantee that it would be a success. I cannot keep relying on my family and the Hoenn League to keep funding and supporting the interpol because like my Champions had pointed out, it's just not sustainable. Maybe I'm just the one who couldn't let this go because the creation of the interpolwas my idea.
It would pain me to leave the interpol and the people I had befriended, but ultimately I do not need the interpol. On the contrary, the interpol is still heavily reliant on my family's financial support to keep it running when the PWL should be the one forking out for its expenses. The only thing the PWL paid were our salaries. I really should have recognised this as a problem sooner. I'm still too naive and inexperienced.
"Actually, you know what?" I spoke up, catching Norman's and Flannery's attention. "I think, after this is all over, regardless of whether the interpol can continue to exist or not, I should head home. Kind of miss my Mum and Dad."
"Not the hot springs at Lavaridge?" Flannery teased as she ruffled my hair, referring to the excessive trips I made to the hot springs there in the few times that I was at Lavaridge for a visit.
"That too, including the hot spring eggs. Damn, now I'm hungry again. This is all your fault, Flan."
"I prefer the tempura, actually," Norman added.
"Nobody is talking about Fortree's bamboo steamed rice?" Flannery added on to the list.
"Dewford's mochi," Norman continued.
"You guys are purposely trying to make me even more homesick than I already am," I accused.
"Guilty as charged, what are you gonna do about it?" Flannery taunted with an unrepentant grin.
"... I actually cannot think of anything beyond kicking you out of here, but you guys are Gym Leaders so that's not possible. You big bullies."
The casual banter that followed allowed me to finally relax. I might not have voiced it verbally, but it felt great to be around familiar company again.
Character and pokemon list:
Velda Vera, Age: 14, Female, Pokemon Trainer, Member of the International Police
Pokemon on hand:
1) Rapidash (Flamel), male
2) Swampert (Bigblue), male
3) Banette (Dolly), female
4) Flygon (Snap), male
5) Absol (Kelsa), female
6) Charizard (Toothless), male
7) Cradily (Lily), female
8) Espeon (Rena), female
9) Pachirisu (Fuzzy), male
10) Tyranitar (Kratos), male
11) Clefairy (Joy), female
12) Nidoqueen (Ness), female
13) Pangoro (Hulk), male
14) Porygon-Z (Jarvis), genderless
15) Scizor (Archer), male
16) Lapras (Chill), female
17) Gengar (Wacky), male