[Tally has posted a video! Will you watch it?]
[Yes!]
[The video begins in one of the classrooms of Blueberry Academy, which seems to be mostly empty. The only students seen in the room are Cerbera, Carmine, Drayton and Kieran, all sitting in various different seats. A familiar figure, Ms. Briar, stands at the front of the room, already in the middle of giving some kind of speech or explanation.
“I want all of you here to join me…” She begins, a wide, beaming smile on her face, as if she can barely contain her excitement. “... on an expedition to the secluded and mysterious Area Zero!” She finishes, excitedly clasping her hands together.
Cerbera is the first to react. Their eyes go completely wide, and their jaw goes completely slack, nearly dropping to the floor. They appear so shocked, in fact, that Carmine is able to get the first word in after the sudden reveal.
“Area Zero?! That's that place in Paldea you wanted to visit, right? You got permission?!” Carmine's own golden eyes widen as she lifts herself off her seat the slightest bit, both hands splayed across the desk in front of her.
“What– you– you're serious?” Cerbera stares up at Briar with an incredulous expression, recognition and suspicion already beginning to spark in their eyes.
“Why, of course!” Briar nods her head up and down, causing her large earrings to wobble. “You told me my dream was bound to come true at some point, and you were right! I really must thank you for motivating me back when we first met.”
Cerbera chews their lip for a few silent moments, trying to ignore Briar's innocent smile, Carmine's confused expression, and Drayton's curious eyes boring into their back. Then, once he's found the words, he continues before Briar can.
“B– Ms. Briar.” Cerbera makes sure to correct herself. “You mean you want to bring a bunch of regular old students into the single most dangerous place in all of Paldea? Señora, with all due respect, you don't know what's down there, and I don't think–”
“Well, I would hardly call any of you ordinary students.” Ms. Briar cuts in, trying to suppress some quiet laughter behind a raised hand. “Why, you're all extraordinarily talented battlers, and Carmine is my trusted assistant!” Carmine, for a moment, beams at the praise as Briar continues.
“Besides, my main goals are only to investigate the Terastal phenomenon and to gather samples of the crystals present in the crater.” Briar waves that same hand in an almost dismissive gesture, as if attempting to brush away Cerbera's concerns. “But to be honest, I also have one more ambition for this trip.” She lifts a finger before Cerbera can get a word in. “Which… I promise will not put any of you in any exceptional danger! Not with so much capable, young talent involved in this expedition!”
Cerbera frowns at Briar's wording, seeming to notice how she speaks almost as if each member has already accepted her proposition. Drayton, however, just quietly voices his amusement through little chuckles, something that causes Carmine to whip her head back and glare at him in annoyance.
“I'm hoping that we can find Terapagos, the Legendary Pokémon slumbering in Area Zero!” Briar finally reveals this supposedly safe goal of hers, that innocent smile still plastered across her face. Although each student instantly perks up at the mention of such a Pokémon, Cerbera is once again the one to give the first reaction. This time, it's one of barely concealed frustration and disappointment as they throw their head back and look up towards the ceiling.
Kieran finally lifts his head, eyes wide as he processes Briar's words. “... Terapagos? A Legendary Pokémon?” He echoes, attention now zeroed in on the woman before him. For a moment, Cerbera's eyes flicker to the side, glancing in Kieran's direction. Even Drayton gives him a subtle side eye.
Suddenly, before the conversation can continue, the door to the classroom opens, and a tall figure steps inside. “A rather exciting idea, isn't it?” Geeta's smooth voice replies, a polite smile on her face as she walks in. Cerbera, whose expression has turned to one of absolute shock, only intensifies when Elite Four member Rika comes strolling in right behind her superior.
“La Primera?! Ms. Rika?!” They gawk, looking wildly between Briar, Geeta, and Rika.
“Hey, kiddo.” Rika's previously serious expression softens a bit at the sight of the young Champion, and she lifts a gloved hand to give a little wave. Geeta simply gives Cerbera a surprised look and a respectful nod as Briar quickly approaches to shake hands with both women.
“There you are, Geeta! I was just getting the kids up to speed!” Briar happily chirps, ignoring the confused glances each student exchanges with one another.
“Thank you, Ms. Briar.” Geeta rests a hand on her chest and respectfully dips her head before she turns to address the rest of the group. “I do apologize for my tardiness.” Then, she focuses on Cerbera. “I certainly didn't expect to run into you here, Champion Cerbera, but… it is good to see you nonetheless.” She gives a surprisingly soft smile as she speaks to the Trainer, and for a moment, Cerbera relaxes a bit and smiles back.
“You must be participating in the student exchange program?” Geeta asks curiously.
“Yeah…! I'm kinda surprised Señor Clavell didn't tell you, honestly.” Cerbera laughs, rubbing the back of his neck as he reclines in his chair, seeming to be trying to force himself to not freak out.
“Cerbera just got crowned our new BB League Champion, too.” Drayton announces, a bit too loudly. Even as Cerbera slowly turns his head around towards Drayton and grits their teeth in a forced smile, he just gives a lazy smile and a playful wink.
“Your talent is as brilliant as always, I see. Truly a wonderful thing.” Geeta compliments them, but from the tone in her voice, she almost sounds rather unsurprised by it all. “If you'll be going along, then I suppose that bodes well…” She muses quietly, before turning her attention back towards Briar. “Is it all right if I explain the situation to the children, Briar?” She asks politely, expression turning serious once again.
“By all means.” Briar nods her head, and gestures forward with her hand, inviting the Top Champion to take the stand.
Geeta gives a nod of her own, before turning her head back towards the rest of the group. “First, allow me to introduce myself.” She begins. “My name is Geeta. I am the chairwoman of the Pokémon League in Paldea.” At that, Kieran and Carmine's eyes widen in shock, while Drayton subtly nods to himself in understanding.
“More than a decade ago, the Pokémon League provided support for research on Area Zero– the great crater at the center of Paldea. Once that duty was complete, we shifted our duties to monitoring and managing the area.” Geeta explains, her gaze sweeping across the group as she does. “Area Zero is full of mysteries– and also danger.” At the reminder, Cerbera is seen subtly clenching their jaw, briefly glancing down at the wooden desk they've chosen to sit in.
“Generally speaking, the area is off-limits, even for research. That being said…” Geeta pauses, using the moment to close her eyes and take a focused breath. “Recently, we've had to confront the possibility that dangerous Pokémon could escape the area. There's a clear need for further research– and quickly.” For a moment, Geeta and Cerbera's gazes meet, and although Cerbera still appears unsure, he still gives his senior a reluctant nod. Drayton, ever-observant, seems to notice.
“But at our Pokémon League, we've had trouble finding capable personnel– not to mention time– to study Area Zero. So…” Geeta tilts her head to look back towards Briar, as if expecting her to continue. Briar appears happy to, clasping her hands together and giving a brief nod.
“You reached out to me, as I've been requesting access to the area for quite some time now.” Briar finishes Geeta's thoughts for her. Although the other woman appears satisfied with the answer, she still closes her eyes and shakes her head, appearing almost disappointed with herself.
“I apologize that we are not better equipped to deal with this ourselves.” After an invisible sigh, Geeta opens her eyes again. “Blueberry Academy has a wealth of highly skilled Trainers with well-trained Pokémon. And with Champion Cerbera also on the team, I'd know I could safely initiate a new expedition.” Then, Geeta's gaze falls back onto Cerbera, and for a moment, it appears as if the entire room has eyes on them.
“This is entirely voluntary, of course, but it would be very reassuring to have you with us! What do you say? Will you join our little team as we explore Area Zero?” Despite Briar's attempt at a sincere tone, her eyes do seem to glint with subtle disappointment at the idea of Cerbera rejecting such an offer. And Cerbera, for a moment, just closes his eyes and barely shakes his head in visible disbelief.
“Well, I can't let you all go in there yourselves.” She decides, and despite the brief twitch in her jaw, she appears to sound firm and confident. “I'll… I'll make sure everyone comes back in one piece, Señora.” Cerbera looks away from Briar, and instead tilts her head up towards her fellow Champion.
Noticing the nervousness beneath, Geeta gives Cerbera a surprisingly soft and gentle smile for such a normally serious and indifferent woman. “Splendid. Well said, Champion Cerbera. I'm confident of your abilities, but remember you may call on us if you end up requiring assistance.” She reassures, to which Cerbera gives a steady nod.
As Briar looks out towards the rest of the group, it's Carmine who speaks up first after a somewhat awkward silence. “Uh, well… I think it's already decided that I'm going.” She gives a smile and nod of her own, but it seems that she too is trying to hide her own nerves beneath a level of confidence.
“Your support will be very useful as always, Carmine. I appreciate having you on board.” Briar respectfully dips her head, before her expectant gaze lands on Drayton next.
Drayton, who's still slouched over his desk, arms and hands laid atop it, tries to restrain a laugh at the notion. “Sorry, but I'll pass on this one. The League Club's a whole mess right now. We need my steady hand on the wheel here.” Drayton points towards himself with his thumb, and although it's clear that he seems to be joking on some level, he appears perfectly serious on the outside.
“Suuure.” Carmine rolls her eyes, barely even bothering to look back at the Dragon Type Trainer. “You just can't be bothered to travel all the way to Paldea, can you?” She grumbles, and even grits her teeth a bit as Drayton openly chuckles.
“Heh heh. Guilty.” He confesses with a lazy smile. Then, just as Briar's gaze turns towards Kieran, so does Drayton's. “I'm curious what our mighty ex-Champion is thinking, though.” He prompts. For a moment, the room falls silent, watching as Kieran lifts his head again, an almost distant look in his eyes.
“... I'm going.” Kieran replies firmly. He doesn't even spare Cerbera, Carmine or Drayton any glances, even as the previous two exchange wary glances and shakes of their heads. “If there's a Legendary Pokémon there, I want to find it… and catch it.” He speaks matter-of-factly, as if his explanation isn't at all worrying or strange.
“This time… I won't let this chance go.” The words almost sound empty, but they cause Cerbera to react, biting their lip and physically cringing.
“Interesting.” Drayton hums, seeming to carefully consider his response, as if he too knows there's something deeper behind it.
“... I'm only saying this out of concern, but…” Cerbera begins, standing up in his seat a bit before Briar can speak. “Are all both really sure about this? Kieran is a capable Trainer, yeah, but, personally, I just…” She attempts to get the words out, ignoring Kieran's piercing gaze that seems to burn into her skin. “I don't know if–”
“Champion Cerbera.” Geeta interrupts, her voice calm even as it cuts through the room. “I understand your concerns, but you would do well not to doubt your fellow students. You may have beaten Kieran in battle, but he is just as capable as you are.”
“That's not what I–” Cerbera attempts, but Geeta simply shakes her head.
“We need all of the help offered. If Kieran wishes to take part in this mission, then he will, no matter what his reasons may be.” Her voice has a sense of finality to it, leaving no room for further argument. Cerbera, although unconvinced, reluctantly sits back down in their seat, hands fiddling with the fabric of their uniform.
“Well, then it's decided!” Despite the tension, Briar appears almost excited. “It's too bad that Drayton won't be joining us, but it seems the team will consist of Carmine, Kieran, Cerbera, and myself.”
“You have my thanks for your help on this matter.” Geeta gives Briar another respectful nod, and as she looks away, Rika flashes Cerbera a sympathetic look. “I look forward to the great findings that you will no doubt bring back!” For a moment, the briefest excitement seems to break through Geeta's calm, and she gives Briar a genuine smile.
“I'm grateful for the opportunity, Geeta. Leave it to me.” She gives Geeta a smile of her own, just as sincere, but obviously more excited. “My dream of exploring Area Zero is finally becoming a reality!” She laughs fondly, as if she can't quite believe it herself. “Now, time to prepare!” Briar exclaims. “Let's meet by the bridge at the academy entrance as soon as we're ready!”
Just as Briar gets ready to excitedly leave, the video suddenly cuts off, ending with Cerbera and Carmine's unsure expressions, and Kieran's blank scowl.]
