Cole had spent the last several days in a cot in the Nurse's Office somewhere inside of the massive Uva Academy and he was eager to uphold his promise to Paige and somehow find the son of Professor Turo and Professor Sada. His wounds were, at least hopefully, recovering. He still felt a great pain whenever he turned over in his bed, but it wasn't as awful as it had been when he was found and rescued by the Primmy...uh...preemie...uh...whoever that woman had been. Even though he had been taught by the others in Area Zero to be cautious around people who weren't among them, he was surprised to see how kind and courteous this Geeta woman had been. Helping him and doing all of these good things to him despite not knowing who he was or where he came from. Which was a good thing. No one truly questioned him, something he had been nervous of since departing into the Time Machine to follow Paige.
Despite his eagerness to move on, Cole still had his doubts if he could do as Paige wanted. He wouldn't even begin to know where to find this "Arven" person he was told to look after. Would he look like Turo or Sada? Would he even be interested in helping? What if they had gone further back in time than they thought and Arven was a baby boy? He had so many questions and no idea how to answer them. Paige usually had answers for him, but to his knowledge she wasn't around. He could hope, but he didn't know much about how time travel worked. For all he knew, she was flung into another time than him.
He turned over on his side and was confused as there was no other students in the nurse's office with him. Didn't that Primmy...primo...didn't that Geeta woman say the school semester was going to start soon? On the chair beside his bed was a suitcase with the main emblem of Uva Academy, a violet shield with a vine of grapes in the heart of it. He could only imagine what would be inside of that suitcase.
His hand fell into his torn-up pants pocket, falling upon the three Poke Balls he had to his name and the half of the Tera Crystal his best friend in the world had given him. Paige had trusted him with half of her crystal and had further confided in him a mission that would be paramount to their goal in preventing Natalya from causing an apocalypse. With Turo and Sada being left behind and in no state to help them, it was up to the two of them. He was sure Paige was doing her job, somewhere out there. Now it was his chance to prove himself to her. He could not let her down. He would not fail her.
He tapped on the three Poké Balls in his pocket and his three Pokémon appeared out of them. Jory the Pawmot was shocked to have been called out, but quickly leaped up onto his bed and snuggled up to his trainer. Ares the Fletchling fluttered around him before landing on his head and whistling a tune of happiness. His Petilil, whom he had not done much training with, simply slowly danced up until she was in his hands and then made herself comfortable.
"It's okay, Paige" he responded to her gently. "Hopefully if we're in this school long enough, I can help you be the best Petilil you can be." He brought the frail Grass Pokémon up to his face and gave her a kiss. The Pokémon seemed to smile at him before resting on his chest. Cole tried to rest himself on his pillow, wincing in pain as his ribs still felt the pain of his being flung into a new time from the future. "Let's just hope I can be the best I can be as well."
"I've no doubt you will be" a voice finally called over to him. Cole opened his eyes and saw a woman in a white lab coat with long lavender-colored hair. She walked over to his side and affectionately pet his Pokémon. "La Primera did say you would be waking up soon. I'm so glad you're showing signs of recovery, Cole."
"Uh, thanks" Cole replied.
"I'm Miriam. The Nurse of Uva Academy. I want you to know you can come here whenever you feel sick, hurt or simply need to destress from a rigorous school's day." She smiled down at him. "La Primera wanted to know when you wake, so I guess I should-"
"No need, Miriam" Geeta's voice echoed from nearby. "I was visiting to check on our patient today, anyway."
Cole looked past Miriam to find Geeta and another man with gray hair and glasses approaching from the outside. Cole did his best to sit up for them, but Miriam did her best to ensure her patient was comfortable. "Please. Don't overexert yourself. You may not be fit for daily exercises yet."
"Can't be too cautious, can we?" the man next to Geeta suggested, taking a moment to straighten his glasses on his face.
Miriam bowed to the both of them. "Of course. I do prefer the students to be the best of health before the semester starts." She looked to Cole and smiled gently before returning to her other duties.
Geeta stepped forward first and pet Cole's Pawmot, her eyes never leaving Cole's. "I'm certainly glad you've shown a few signs of recovering. When I first found you outside of The Great Crater, I was concerned that you might not make it. But you seem to have some resilience in you, Cole. And for that, I am grateful."
"As am I, Master Cole" the elder man added. "Perhaps it is time I introduce myself. I am Director Clavell. I am the Chief Administrator of Uva Academy. Should you ever have any questions or concerns while you are enrolled in this prestigious academy, I hope for you to come to me with them so they can be solved promptly. Though I am not the young lad I once was, I am certain that we can both count on one another to make our home here at the Academy a welcoming and safe environment to all."
Cole nodded. "Pleased to meet you, sir." He then turned towards Geeta. "And I don't think I ever thanked you for saving me."
She happily waved him off. "Ah ah ah. La Primera does not need any thanks. I protect my people, Cole. And you are one of them. It is my duty after all." She patted his head playfully. "And I'm also glad your Pokémon wish to show you their affection as well. That means you don't need nearly as many classes as I might have feared." The Fletchling on his head whistled playfully as Geeta's fingers stroked his back.
"We should warn you" Clavell added, "that Pokémon are not permitted to be out of their Poké Balls while you are inside the school building. Outside in the Schoolyard, within your Dormitory and of course when you are out and about in Mesagoza, your Pokémon will of course be allowed to walk outside with you, though we do ask you keep them from battling to the best of your ability."
"I'll be sure to remember that" Cole replied as he cuddled his Pokémon.
"As we wish you to keep your promise to me not to go into the Great Crater again" Geeta reiterated.
Cole shamefully nodded, both due to being caught and knowing he would likely not be able to keep this particular promise. "I understand. And I'm sorry for scaring you."
"No need" she responded. "I just want your safety. Which brings me to my question, Cole. Why were you in the Great Crater?"
Cole gulped and looked away. "I'm not sure you'd believe me, even if I did say everything." How could these people ever comprehend what he and Paige had done. What Turo and Sada's research had found. What Professor Sexton had fought to prevent. What Natalya had wrought upon them all through her arrogance. He then gasped. "Wait. Did you find my friend Paige?"
"Paige?" Geeta asked. "No. I only found you outside of the Great Crater." She looked to Clavell. "Director, check the School Registry for someone by the name of Paige."
Clavell nodded. "I shall. I trust then, my lady, that you can help ensure Cole knows what is expected of him at Uva Academy?" He bowed to the two and then walked his way out of the Nurse's Office and off into the halls of Uva Academy, leaving Cole and Geeta alone for the time being.
"I don't think you'll find her if she wasn't with me" Cole lamented.
Geeta, doing her best not to show her inner fears to the boy, kept a smile on her face. "Well, we will do what we can to search for your friend so long as you keep your promises to follow the rules of this school. We've got a few issues on our hand and the last thing we need is another troublemaker causing issues."
Cole agreed. "I promise you I won't break any rules."
Geeta took up the briefcase and unlocked it. Within the confines of his briefcase was a school uniform, a lavender collared shirt and white pair of pants. Also within the briefcase was a card key that would allow him access to any of Uva Academy's classrooms, his dorm room and all scholastic activities he may need access to. "These are your clothes, Cole. We'll clean up those clothes of yours while you're focused on studying in your classes. And this Key Card will be necessary to access your own dorm room. Of course, it won't just be for you. You will have some roommates to get along with."
"Roommates? Like other students?"
She nodded. "Of course. Surely you know of how Paldea has been closed off to the world for the last fifty years, correct?"
Cole had of course known more than what Geeta would tell him. More perhaps than even she knew.
Professor Turo and Sada had sat him and Paige down a year or two earlier (or many years later) and explained to them what had caused the calamity. Turo and Sada had for many years, with the assistance of their colleagues, been working on the Time Machine deep within Area Zero. This was to try and discover what Pokémon could have looked like centuries ago or would look like many years into the future. According to Professor Sexton (as Turo and Sada didn't like to talk about it), Cole had learned the first time the machine had been activated, their entire expedition was sucked into the machine and vanished without a trace. The Pokémon they encountered were, to put it bluntly, terrifying. Monsters of every shape and size, with power comparable to the Legendary Birds of Kanto or the Legendary Beasts of Johto. This was precisely why Sexton discouraged everyone from using the machine. The team was flung through various moments in time until Turo and Sada reunited many years into the past (perhaps even longer into the past than Cole was now). The two would spend years going from moment in time to moment in time until making it to Cole's present, where they found few people capable or willing to help them with their research.
Professor Sexton and Natalya joined on, followed swiftly by Cole and Paige, and their small little family became the only one Cole ever longed to know. Sexton joined with the condition that they do not turn on the machine under any circumstances. While Turo and Sada didn't need persuading, Natalya became obsessed with the machine and its potency. Despite everyone and everything urging her not to, she activated it. And now, those monsters that Sada and Turo had unleashed upon Paldea many years earlier now appeared in swarms.
But knowing this would simply make Geeta either lock him up for insanity or for breaking a law of nature, he simply nodded. "Everyone knows that."
"Our entire region has been cut off from the rest of the world for half a century" Geeta pressed on. "But, as I am La Primera, I have decreed that this time must come to an end. Therefore, we shall be opening our borders briefly to allow students from other regions to come to the most prestigious learning academy in the world. You aren't the only new student being enrolled in Uva Academy, you know."
"Kids from around the world" Cole remarked. He'd known hardly anyone his age. Paige had been the one and only. Maybe it could help if he befriended a few people. Not only to help him adjust to this time in the past, but to perhaps help him stop Natalya and her evil plans, no matter what.
"We are unveiling a new Deluxe Dorm set up here in Uva Academy. Rooms will be larger but will be divided between four students. Two boys on one side and two girls on the other. The two girls that you will be sharing with are from the Arcana Region. Addison Tenton and Morgan Augustine are their names, if I'm not mistaken. But to ensure you three don't lose your way, we've assigned one of our more veteran students to be looking after you. The son of Uva Academy's most renowned alumni, Professors Turo and Sada."
Cole blinked. Can it be?
"I'm sure Arven will be able to help the three of you get better acclimated. If not, I have another girl in mind who would be more than capable."
"Do you know where Arven is now?" Cole inquired.
Geeta sighed. "Arven is one of many students who seems to have forgotten he has classes to attend to. The last place he's been seen with any regularity is the Poco Lighthouse. That's where his parents did much of their research." She handed Cole his briefcase, with his Pokémon scattering along his hospital bed. "I look forward to seeing how you progress in your academics, Cole. We will meet again." She gently stroked his leg before rising to follow Clavell out of the Nurse's Office. Cole's eyes followed her until she vanished from his sight.
Find Arven...I need to find Arven...he reached up and patted his Pokémon on their heads. "We need to find Arven. Paige is counting on us."
{}
Though the halls of Uva Academy were supposed to be empty, with most of the students slowly returning to school over the next few days, there was one student who bucked the trend and remained at the Academy longer than the others. Despite remaining at the Academy instead of going home, this was not because she loved school. In fact, she hadn't been into a classroom to do any lessons in almost a year. It was because being in school beat being at home alone...or worse...with...ugh...Angelique! If she had to deal with that woman one more time, she would have ripped her mixed red and blue hair out of her head. This was why she stayed in school, even when there was nothing for her to do but remain in her dorm room with her computer and her Veevees.
After all, if that was what it took, Penny would take that every moment of every day. After all, she'd been alone for so long. This would be no different to her. No one bothered her, no one even thought much of her. Some of her teachers weren't even sure she existed. To them, she was a glitch in the matrix. A non-existent entity in the otherwise exclusive STEM Track, where only the brightest and smartest students would venture into. And despite not showing up for many, if any, classes, those who did know her (the few there were) knew she was the brightest Uva Academy had ever seen, perhaps since Turo and Sada's age. After all, she'd built her own computer to use. She'd helped create the League Points system for students to use on top of the money they'd make in Pokémon Battles. She'd even done more things to help make Uva Academy a better in ways beyond technological advancements...but that was one way she'd since come to regret.
Penny was considered a prodigy, taking high level classes despite only being thirteen years old. She could do anything she set her mind to but saw nothing for her in going back to classes. Seeing what her actions had wrought. The mistake she'd caused that now reared its ugly head all throughout Uva Academy's halls. The one thing she wished she could take back. But it was too late. The Genie was out of the bottle, for lack of a better term. Team Star could not be stopped by anyone. No trainers would challenge them. At least, no one with sense. Even that Class President girl who would battle a mountain if she could get it to use Pokémon Moves knew better than to cross Team Star. The very thing she had begun to stop one of Uva Academy's greatest issues was now the greatest issue they had ever faced. The very thing kids feared.
And so, Penny elected to stay out of it all. Every last part of it. She wouldn't leave her room for anything, save for the occasional trip to her favorite sushi restaurant, which did not yet deliver to the Academy. No classes were worth it. And it wasn't like she had friends to go out and meet...not anymore. She couldn't even recall the last time her Dorm Room had even housed a visitor.
Which was why when she received a knock on her door, she was at first startled. She didn't know what it could be. Was it a delivery? Was it Angelique? Was it the School Security? Had her actions been found out? She didn't want to leave her chair, pretend she wasn't home. But when the knock occurred for a second time, she knew she had been found out. Penny rose from her seat, gulped nervously to herself and slowly walked over towards the door. She slowly opened the door, expecting to be berated by whoever was on the other side.
But when the door opened, it was Geeta, La Primera.
"Ah, Miss Penny. I was hoping you would be here."
Penny remained stone-faced in an effort to hide her fears bubbling inside of her. "I don't usually go out this time of day anyway, La Primera."
Geeta nodded. "So I see. I noticed you didn't depart for your home like the other students. Is there a reason?"
Penny could only shrug. "I don't know. My father is out on his honeymoon with my stepmother. I'd be alone no matter where I go."
"And you will always be welcome here, Miss Penny. Now, I came here to tell you some very important."
Penny did not reveal it externally, but she was horrified. Had Geeta uncovered her involvement in Team Star? Was she about to be expelled from the only home she ever wanted? Was she about to be reprimanded for not showing up in class? What was about to happen? She'd be ruined if she had to leave. "Is something wrong?"
"Something good is happening, Penny" Geeta explained. "Uva Academy is welcoming a few newcomers from other regions."
Penny seemed confused. "You mean, we're opening the borders?" She had been secretly longing to taste some delicacies from other regions, or perhaps a trainer capable of correcting her mistakes regarding Team Star.
"Not exactly, but we are welcoming new students from other regions. And considering you've had this deluxe dormitory all to yourself since coming here, I hope you will be willing to allow the other room to be occupied by other students." La Primera stood at attention as she continued. "Your Pokémon have been running amok on the other side of this Deluxe Dorm, haven't they?"
Penny shrugged. "My Veevees need all the room they can get."
"In any event, you will be asked to allow the other half of your Deluxe Dorm to house two young men from Arcana. I believe their names are Justin Jacques and Thomas Queensbury, two aspiring Pokémon Masters. I trust you will help them in case they have any issues regarding classes, yes? You are one of the finest students this Academy has seen in some time."
Penny looked visibly uncomfortable with not only sharing a Deluxe Dorm with two strangers, let alone boys, but also that she would be expected to help them in case they had issues. Did anyone at the Academy know that she was not the most outgoing or extroverted person in the school? Did they really think she was like that Class President girl? But, knowing this could draw suspicion to her lack of presence in classes the previous semesters, she decided to begrudgingly agree. "I'll do the best I can."
La Primera seemed placated by this. "I'm sure you will. Now be sure to clean up after your Pokémon. Arcana's students will be arriving in Mesagoza tomorrow around midday." She then turned on her heel and departed.
Penny closed the door behind her and thought to herself. Two new students? Could one of them help me bring down Team Star? She began to wonder what these two trainers might be like. But when she replayed what Geeta had told her about them being 'aspiring' Pokémon trainers, she knew to temper her expectations. What did she expect if she sent out a few green trainers to take on the likes of Team Star's bosses?
{}
Having returned to his office in Uva Academy, Director Clavell was left to go over the remaining paperwork that needed filing to complete the transition from one semester of school to the next. He had already prepped all he could for the arrivals of the newcomers. Ten students altogether of varying ranges of talent and potential from various regions would soon be joining their illustrious school. It would no doubt add to their alumni that already boasted some fine students, including Turo, Sada, not to mention the young Class President Nemona. But it could also lead to trouble...
Whatever are we to do about this Team Star, he asked himself worriedly. They had been causing trouble for students all over Paldea. They only showed up on school grounds to intimidate students and disrupt the school system. Many students had been peer pressured into joining their ranks. Others were simply too terrified to leave their dorm rooms to confront these wicked children. The worst aspect was that Team Star had no respect for the rules of the school. So no amount of school security, reprimands or threats of detention could deter them. The only thing they respected was strength. A trainer strong enough to defy not only conventional wisdom, but also school rules, to showdown the forces of Team Star was what he needed. He had trainers with the gumption, but not nearly enough talent. And he had one trainer with the talent to do so, but none of the gumption to break the rules. Thus, leaving him in this conundrum of how to improve the school's anti-bullying programs without the means of combatting Team Star without stooping to their level.
He folded his hands on his desk and growled. "If I were half my age, I'd deal with those ruffians myself." But Clavell was well into his sixties and his prime had long since passed him. Gone were the days of his battling alongside El Primero as well as Turo and Sada. Now, he only helped students to the best of his ability from the Directorial Chair and not out in the field. Leave that to the younger ones. Geeta, the staff of Uva Academy, even Nemona showed promise. Now if only one of these newcomer students showed the promise to stick it to Team Star and help make Uva Academy the place it was always meant to be, a haven for those who sought to learn and socialize with their peers and not a prison to some and a place to dominate for others.
I still need to figure out what is to be done about them...but what can I do?
The door to his office opened and a tall, dark-haired girl strode inside before bowing respectfully to him. Unlike the others, who only felt compelled to wear their school uniforms when school was in session, Nemona often chose to wear hers even when she was out on her own going from town to town. She was a beacon of hope for this young generation of students, though Clavell often wondered why Nemona had such a hard time making friends in school. She was an exceptionally gifted trainer and did her best by the school. So why did she often eat lunch alone and train her Pokémon against the likes of Dendra or Gym Leaders instead of her peers?
"Director!" Nemona exclaimed excitedly. "You sent for me?"
"Ah yes, Nemona" Clavell spoke clearly. "Yes, we do have some matters to discuss about the upcoming semester. Firstly, did you succeed in your endeavors with the other students."
Nemona looked down in sorrow. "No. So many students are scared by Team Star. Some have even begun to talk about joining them."
Clavell shook his head. "They need to be stopped. And I am hoping a way opens up to allow this in the future. But we cannot accomplish anything on that front at the moment. I have more important things to discuss with you, my dear." He rose from his chair and turned his back to look out the window of his office. "Tomorrow, at midday, the first plane from a foreign region will be landing, carrying new students for Uva Academy to mold into the next generation of young minds out region sorely needs."
Nemona perked up at this. "Well, well. That's good news."
"These first students are coming from Arcana" Clavell continued. "Do you know anything about there?"
Nemona shook her head. "Can't say I do."
"They pride themselves on their Pokémon raising abilities. It's said they had a champion who could not be beaten in battle." He chuckled at that idea. "A silly notion, as you and I both know. Anyone can be beaten in battle if you determine their shortcomings and shore up your own. They also have a King, as far as I know. But that is the extent of our knowledge."
"Do you think the King is also this Champion?"
"Who can truly know unless we associate with them soon? Which is precisely where you will come in, my dear."
Nemona folded her hands in excitement. "Ooh, new students?! I hope some of them have talent."
"I'm sure they will show it, but from our interviews, we've discovered they aren't the most experienced bunch they had to offer. But these students will be eager to learn from the best we have to offer. When they arrive tomorrow, I would like you to be at the head of the Welcoming Party with myself. We will present to these students the first Pokémon they will use in battle here in Paldea. You will show them the ropes and demonstrate what it means to truly become a Pokémon Master. And once you've done this, help them determine what course they are bound to take." Upon seeing Nemona's eyes light up at this, he waved his hands to calm her. "Of course, it is entirely up to them which course they choose to take. They may be aspiring League Champions, they may find usefulness in the medical field or in Humanities or even the STEM Program."
Nemona nodded. "Oh, I know not everyone is suited to be like me. But I can hope, right?"
Clavell agreed. "Indeed. And I'd also like you to ensure these young ones don't get involved with the wrong crowds, namely these Team Star ruffians."
"You can count on me, Sir. I'll keep those rotten Team Star goons away from my new friends! When will they be arriving."
Clavell looked back at her and chuckled. "That eager, are we? Well, they are set to arrive outside of Mesagoza at approximately Noon tomorrow. I trust you will help me acclimate them to our wonderful region a bit easier than otherwise, yes?"
Nemona folded her hands together in excitement. "Oh yes, sir!"
{}
Having been spared from being stranded on a deserted island by his mysterious "old" friend, Simon Seissuon had little choice but to trust this woman when she insisted he come with her. He climbed behind her atop the back of a strange looking Pokémon he had never seen before, a white avian with black feathers appearing to carry some kind of silky cloth in it's bill and said nothing as they flew into the night. His only thoughts were on how to make his revenge fantasy a reality. How he could avenge his banishment from Arcana at the hands of his would-be Uncle, the public humiliation handed to him by Jasmine Augustine and the complete trouncing he had received from both Matthew Kingston and Addison Tenton. If he could get those bits of revenge, he would be able to rest easy for the rest of his life.
He glanced around their surroundings as the Flying Pokémon began its descent towards the land. It was flying towards an island surrounded by jagged rocks and choppy waves on all sides. The only thing on the island worth noting besides some grass with a few stray Pokémon was a busted up old house that looked like no one had lived in it for at least a few decades.
"Any particular reason why you dragged me out to this old shack?!" he growled.
"This will be your new base of operations" his new friend replied.
"Base of-"
"If you want your revenge, you'd better have a place you can call home to hide in case something goes wrong, yes?"
He folded his arms grumpily. "Whatever. You could have at least picked a place made in this century."
"I would have thought this place would have meaning to you. After all, it's the last bit of land your family owns after they were so callously forced to sell off their other possessions to pay back debts the Crown incurred upon them."
Simon clenched his fists. "I will pay the King back for this. Dearly."
"Well, the King can wait" the woman replied. "You ought to focus on someone you can actually face."
"If what you told me is true and Michael Kingston suffered a heart attack, shouldn't I go after him first?"
She snickered. "I thought you had brains in there, kid."
Simon gasped. "How dare you! I am one of the smartest-"
"No need to fellate your ego to me" she mocked. "Going after a monarch when you have no position, no allies and no strength is just asking to be put down once and for all. You need to approach things strategically. When you play chess, who goes after the strongest pieces first? Especially when they are so easily fortified and guarded. You need to wait for your enemy to make the first mistake." She steered her Pokémon down until it swooped onto an open field just in front of the house. She slipped off the Flying Pokémon and watched as Simon did the same before continuing. "Then, you get to pick your enemies off one by one."
Simon folded his arms. "And you're telling me I can accomplish this?"
She nodded. "But of course. You see, I come from a time where your enemies are nothing but a memory."
"You seriously think I believe you time traveled?!" he snorted dismissively.
"I have seen more than you would ever believe, Simon" she warned. "Some of the things I've witnessed would make your brain melt if I tried to explain it. And that's just from twenty-five years into the future. Imagine what lies beyond that! That is what I hope to see. And if we work together, we both get to see that."
"How do you figure?"
She grinned. "You want revenge against Addison Tenton for what she did to thwart your parents plans for Charizark Town, yes? Well, I want Addison to explain to me how she altered time. How she prevented Mewtwo from unleashing his apocalypse onto mankind and saved humanity for a time. If we work together, you get to remove her from the equation and I get what I want. Besides, it will be just one of a few targets you can use to draw your real target of revenge to confronting you, right? Never forget the real reason your image was tarnished."
Simon cursed underneath his breath. "Matthew..."
"Killing Matthew would be too easy" she continued, a twisted joy coming from the words as she described her macabre scheme to him. "It doesn't punish him enough. You need to break him as he's broken you. He took your pride, your position and your family from him. I should think returning the favor would be more than fair, but you can do better than that, right? Shatter the good inside of him. Remind him and the rest of the world just what kind of monster he used to be. Make him the beast that still haunts the Syndicate's victims nightmares. Take the shackles off of him and let him show the world exactly what he's capable of. And then, when he's outed himself, kill him. Should be simple enough, once you see the tools you'll have at your disposal soon."
"What tools would they be?" Simon demanded, tapping his foot on the ground angrily. "I want an answer!"
She looked to the skies and shook her head. "I'll explain more when we meet again. Unfortunately, I'm needed elsewhere. I have more seeds to sow and schemes to plot. Until we make contact again, remain here and figure out just which of Matthew's shackles you'll remove first. There's plenty of provisions stocked inside the house here. I've made sure of that. Just don't leave the island for the time being, Simon. Sharpedo Bay has its name for a reason, after all." She remounted her Flying Pokémon, who let out a terrifying shriek.
Simon rushed forward and caught her wrist. "You're abandoning me here?!"
"It's better here than on that miserable rock you were trapped on" she replied coldly. "We will speak again in due course. Until then, I've got another set of unwitting pawns to hijack." She then pulled away from Simon and flew off into the air.
Simon could only watch as she flew off into the distance. He would have cursed her, but found himself with no alternative but to wait for her. He walked over towards the last bit of land the Seiusson Family had to its name and pushed the door open. He looked around at the cobweb adorned furniture and wondered aloud how his new friend could have possibly given him provisions. He made his way into what he thought was the kitchen and paused. The room was glowing with an eerie blue glow. The lightbulbs and various electrical systems were being powered by a series of crystals. Even the refrigerator, which Simon opened and realized was indeed stocked with food and beverages to last him weeks, if not months.
He thought for a moment and shrugged. No use trying to get payback on an empty stomach.