The New Normal – 11-16 – Interlude – Karen
"You look like you just won the lottery. What's gone into you?" She asked the old hag as the latter returned home with an unmistakable smile on her face. She looked tired, as most people did after the unfortunate events at Cinnabar, though obviously Agatha was excluded from the more physical elements of the evacuation.
"Also, rub that smile off your face." She added, "You look extra creepy when you're smiling."
"Bah, you'd be smiling too if you were in my place." The hag scoffed, "I guess you haven't heard about the good news."
"What is it?" Now she was curious. What could get the hag so happy?
"The eruption has destroyed the Cinnabar Gym, and it is going to need to be rebuilt." Agatha explained, "However, I think I can convince the Blackthorn to have it rebuilt in Lavender Town instead."
Her eyes widened. Now that was very surprising.
"Wait, how? Wouldn't Blaine insist that it remain in Cinnabar? If only to spite you?" She was fully aware of the animosity that existed between both parties. It wasn't as if Agatha and Blaine hated the other, but they just could not work alongside each other. They were like Seviper and Zangoose.
But then Agatha grinned, "That's the thing. Blaine's stepping down as Gym Leader – he instead wants to pursue his 'dream' of being a full-time scientist and possibly become a Professor. What an idiot. But if he's going to hand me such a gift on a silver platter, then I'm not going to refuse."
She was shocked, "…Blaine's retiring? I thought he handled himself really well during the eruption. And didn't he just become Gym Leader not too long ago?"
"He must have hated the role as much as I expected him to." Agatha shrugged, "I've always thought that he was never fit to be a Gym Leader, and I told him as much when he first accepted the position. I'm honestly more surprised that he took this long to step down. He doesn't have the patience for it."
"Nor do you." She pointed out.
"That's why I dumped it all on you. Proving once again that I am wiser than Blaine." Agatha nodded smugly as Karen rolled her eyes, "But we're getting off topic. If I can persuade Lance to have the new Gym be set up in Lavender Town, that would be a huge boon for us. Now we just need to make sure that a suitable Gym Leader can take up the post, and I already have a candidate in mind. I just have to make sure that the others will agree with my choice."
"With you in the Elite Four alongside me, and the new Gym set up, I would fear for nothing for the safety of Lavender Town." Agatha added, "And—"
"We probably aren't going to be in the Elite Four together." She interrupted, finally deciding that now was the time to come clean, "I intend to be challenging you for your position in the Elite Four once I win the Indigo Conference."
After her admission, she expected a variety of emotions from Agatha – ranging from betrayal, to anger, to amusement.
Yet instead of that, all she got was calm acceptance as Agatha simply nodded her head, "…And is the path you've chosen to go down?"
She blinked, a little taken aback by Agatha's calm response.
"…You know, a part of me expected you to have predicted this, but I'm still surprised at your lack of shock." She said, "I thought you'd be a little hurt, since I know how much you planned around me challenging Will. Assuming that he doesn't lose to Koga, that is."
To be fair, she wasn't certain about Will's chances against Koga, but now wasn't the time to discuss that.
"Foolish girl. My plans were for you to succeed me in the Elite Four. I couldn't care less who you challenged so long as you got in." Agatha scoffed, "Nor am I surprised to hear about your challenge against me. This is something you've been planning to do for some time now, right?"
"…How did you know?" She asked curiously.
"Bah! You think me blind?" Agatha rolled her eyes, "Or do you think I wasn't around to oversee your training specifically to counter Ghost types? Unless you've forgotten, this is my house. I see all, I know all."
"More like you stalk all." She shot back, "But if you knew, why didn't you say anything? I thought you'd be more upset."
"I'd only be upset if you lost." Agatha shook her head, "If you win, then I'm satisfied either way."
"…Are you sure you wouldn't have any regrets if I do win?" She had to ask, "Because if you say the word, then I'll stick with our original plan to challenge Will. Or someone else."
Despite her earlier words, if Agatha truly didn't want to lose her position, then she would respect it. Agatha's feelings mattered more than her own plans.
Fortunately, Agatha responded to that with another sneer, "You think I actually want to spend more time listening to idiots prattle about Arceus knows what for hours on end? Unless you've forgotten, I've only got a few years left with me, and I'd rather not turn the Committee room into my final resting spot. That would be taking being 'bored to death' a bit too literally."
"No, girl, I don't have any problem with you replacing me. All the better, actually, assuming you do win. But I'm telling you now, if you intend to challenge me, I will not take it easy on you just because you're my apprentice and successor." Agatha warned firmly, "The public will know if either of us try to sandbag, and you won't earn any respect if you faked your win. No, the battle will require both of us to perform at our bests – the public and your future peers will accept nothing less."
"Yes, I knew that already. I'm going into this with both eyes open." She nodded, "I just wanted to give you a heads up before I do so. I was afraid that your heart wouldn't be able to handle the shock of my sudden announcement—"
"Save your jokes for later." Agatha interrupted, uncharacteristically serious for once. "Karen. It's my turn to ask. Are you sure you want to go through with this? A loss will be quite painful for your reputation, and would kill most of the momentum that you would have earned for winning the Indigo Conference. I am not doubting you – I know you are strong, but so am I. I just want to make sure you're absolutely certain with this course of action. I only want the best for you."
"I am." Karen nodded firmly, doing her best to ignore the feelings that arose from her last few words, "I will defeat you, Agatha. I will prove to the world that you have raised me correctly; that you are more than just a grumpy old hag. You will have a successor worthy of the name – that there will be someone else carrying the torch of Lavender Town for you. I will do all I can to allow for the continued prosperity of our shared home."
"And…once you lose, then you'll have all the time in the world to manage the new Gym in Lavender Town." She continued, trying to keep her voice level despite the emotions welling up within her as she poured out what she had always wanted to say, "…Lavender Town will grow…to become as prosperous as…I know it to be in your dreams."
Tears were running down her face now, but she forced her last few words out, "…And…with my victory…you can finally rest, mother…and I…will do you proud...in your place."
Despite her unsightly display, she kept her teary eyes focused on her mother. Agatha stared back at her with a small, but proud smile on her face.
"…Of course you will, Karen." Agatha said softly, placing a reassuring hand on her own, "I have never thought otherwise, my daughter."
A.N. Yes, Karen finally reveals her intentions to Agatha, though Agatha has expectedly already guessed her intentions already. Yet before the battle begins, I wanted to shine just a bit more light onto the relationship between Karen and Agatha and the emotions running through the both of them to set the stage for their upcoming battle.
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