Playing the Dane, part of BBC documentary on Shakespeare’s Hamlet (1994, VHS capture)
Thank you so much @goyaourt for sharing this link!! My heart almost exploded when he appeared on screen, oh the noises I made And you guys know by now 90s-Tom makes me go absolutely feral Look at that The most ridiculously precious combination of features, drag me to hell The most kind deep blues, the sweetest smile and the most delicate, soft voice jesus i want to die
cass and volo meet someone new and talk to each other. sure sounds like a fine, chill chapter, right?
(cw: none for this chapter.)
read on ao3
The trip to Oreburgh was almost shockingly uneventful. No distortions appeared, and the wild Pokemon that approached the pair on the road from Jubilife were curious about the travelers in question more than anything else. The sun was just halfway into its descent when they arrived in the city, so Cass suggested that they use their remaining daylight to get closer to the mountain and scope out the area.
“You’re telling me you traversed this entire region on foot?” Volo asked as Cass helped him up onto a ledge. “At fifteen?”
“Yup!” Cass grinned as Volo dusted himself off. “It’s why I’m in such fantastic shape.”
Volo looked her over, a snarky retort forming on his lips. To his surprise, however, Cass wasn’t wrong; he’d never noticed it before, but despite her apparently slender figure, the muscles on her arms were well-defined.
“So that’s where you get the strength to break ribs every time you hug someone,” Volo quipped.
Cass laughed, the sound bringing a small smile to Volo’s face. From an outside perspective, it would seem like their dynamic was back to how it was before; for a brief moment, Volo almost felt like they were back in the Obsidian Fieldlands, laughing together at some silly joke over the campfire.
But as Cass’s laughter faded and an uncomfortable silence settled, the two eventually looked at each other, making it alarmingly clear that something unspoken still hung in the air.
Cass cleared her throat awkwardly, forcing herself to look anywhere other than Volo. “So. Uh. What should we do now?”
“You’re the one with the rift detector,” Volo replied, taking a sudden interest in a pebble at his feet. “Is it…detecting?”
Cass glanced at her Poketch, then shook her head. “All clear over here–”
She barely finished her sentence before a deafening crash resounded throughout the area; the sky darkened to a familiar shade of purple, and streaks of technicolor lightning flashed around them.
“I thought you said it was all clear!” Volo shouted, readying a Pokeball and rushing over to Cass.
“Because it was!” Cass shot back, looking up at the raging sky. “The detector wasn’t doing anything!”
Volo opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, the space next to him quivered before breaking open. He stumbled backwards as a Poliwrath tumbled out of the break; the Pokemon slammed its fists together before charging at Volo. Just in time, Volo dodged out of the way; Cass leapt in the other direction as the Poliwrath barrelled past them. The Pokemon skidded to a halt before turning around and renewing its assault.
“I’ve never seen that one before,” Volo called out, diving away from the belligerent Pokemon. “What type is it?”
“Water and Fighting!” Cass shouted back, taking her Luxray’s Pokeball in her hand. “Roserade’s your best bet!”
Volo nodded, sending out the Pokemon in question. Roserade immediately turned to face the threat with a flourish. Soon after, Luxray burst out of its Pokeball with a ferocious roar. Poliwrath didn’t seem deterred, however, and it let out a cry as it smacked its chest with its fists repeatedly.
Cass let out a groan. “It had to know Belly Drum, huh?” She waved her hand definitively, a determined frown on her face. “We need to faint it before it can hit us. Luxray, Thunder Fang!”
Luxray leapt forward, electricity sparking out of its jaws, and latched onto Poliwrath’s arm. He swung Poliwrath around for a second before tossing it towards Roserade.
“Follow up with Petal Dance!” Volo commanded. Roserade obliged, twirling around and striking Poliwrath repeatedly with red and blue petals. Poliwrath toppled over, hitting the ground with a thud.
Volo let out a sigh of relief that he didn’t know he was holding in. “That was…surprisingly easy.”
“We did hit it back to back with two of its weaknesses,” Cass replied, looking around the area. “Plus, it’s not a super defensive…”
Cass trailed off as she noticed a young woman sitting on a nearby outcropping of rocks, surrounded by strange devices and frantically writing notes in a spiral notebook. Her vibrant teal hair framed her light brown face in a messy chin-length bob, and her glasses flashed as some rift lightning reflected in them.
As if sensing Cass’s eyes on her, the woman looked up (or rather down) at the pair. A smile formed on her face as she waved. “Hi there! Spectacular job taking down that Poliwrath!”
Cass watched as the woman fiddled with a few of the devices around her. “Um, you should probably leave, ma’am,” Cass said, narrowing her eyes. She could have sworn that she’d seen this woman somewhere before, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.
The woman blinked in confusion. “Why? I’ve still got some research to do.”
“You’re researching the distortions?” Volo interjected, moving to stand beside Cass. “To what end?”
“To see what they’re capable of, of course!” The woman grinned, placing her notebook down next to her. “After all, that brings us one step closer to controlling where they lead!”
Volo felt his blood run cold. “You…want to control them?”
“That’s where I know you from!” Cass shouted suddenly, readying Luxray with a wave of her hand. “You’re Charon’s subordinate! From Stark Mountain!”
“Yeah!” the woman exclaimed, her smile only growing. “I was wondering when you’d remember!” She stood fully, dusting herself off and revealing a black uniform with yellow accents. “My name’s Venus! Well, I guess it’s Commander Venus, if you care to split atoms.”
Volo frowned. “Isn’t the phrase ‘split hairs’?”
Venus laughed. “Yeah, but splitting atoms is way more fun!”
“Who cares?!” Cass clenched her fist at her side, sending a furious glare toward Venus. “What the hell are you planning?!”
“Ooooh, somebody’s angry!” Venus replied in a sing-songy voice. “I’d love to give you the particulars of my research, but I prooobably shouldn’t. After all, you did throw a major wrench in our plans last time!” She pressed a few buttons on one of the instruments near her. Suddenly, the rift in the sky wavered for a moment before expanding and sending out a bolt of yellow lightning.
Cass felt her heart stop as the lightning struck her Luxray, making the Pokemon cry out in pain. Yellow light then covered Luxray’s form, illuminating the surrounding area as well as her Pokémon’s trembling form. He shook his head, then let out a garbled roar before leveling its gaze on Cass.
“Oops! Sorry!” Venus said, packing up her instruments rapidly. “Even after all my work, these rifts are still unpredictable.”
Cass said nothing, frozen in fear as she stared at her frenzied Luxray.
“Well, guess I’ll be off!” Venus shrugged a heavy backpack onto her shoulders. “Good luck, Champion! I’m sure you’ll be fine!”
“Wait–” Volo shouted. But it was too late; Venus was already halfway down the path to the mountain, and Luxray was rearing back to strike. Volo tore his gaze away from the scientist and looked at Cass, who was still frozen in place. Her eyes were blown wide, and she looked like she was trembling.
Even when she was facing down legendary Pokemon, Volo had never seen Cass look so terrified.
Luxray let out a roar and began to charge. When Cass still didn’t move, Volo took matters into his own hands and grabbed her wrist, tugging her roughly out of the Pokemon’s path. “Stay focused,” he instructed, shoving Cass behind him. “I’ll keep Luxray busy. You carry treats, right? Look for some he likes.”
Cass shook her head. “I can’t–”
“Yes, you can,” Volo interrupted, turning to look at her as Roserade prepared to face off with Luxray. “How is this any different from calming the nobles?”
“The nobles weren’t my Pokemon!” Cass exclaimed, trying to fight the tears welling up behind her eyes. “I don’t want Luxray to get hurt!”
“Then it’s up to you to calm him down before that can happen!” Volo shot back. “Luxray wouldn’t hesitate for you; don’t hesitate for him!”
That statement alone finally snapped Cass out of her trance, and she shrugged her bag off of her shoulders with a nod. As she began to dig through it for her Poffin case, she watched Volo’s battle out of the corner of her eye.
Roserade scattered jagged spikes around Luxray’s feet. Meanwhile, the leonine Pokemon shook his head before charging at Roserade, seemingly uncaring about the spikes digging into its fur. Flames began to spill from Luxray’s mouth as it bit down on Roserade’s torso, then spit the Grass-type out. Roserade struggled to stand back up, but eventually, he got back on his feet.
Finally, Cass’s fingers closed around her Poffin case; she opened it up, thanking her lucky stars that she had the foresight to stock it with Poffins of every flavor. She grabbed every spicy Poffin she could fit in her fingers and raced towards Luxray, barely registering Volo’s warning to be careful.
Luxray roared as electricity surged out from underneath his paws. Cass readied a Poffin; her typical strategy with Luxray was to set up Electric Terrain, then follow up with Thunder Fang. Sure enough, Luxray lunged forward with an open mouth; Cass threw a Poffin directly into his jaws before diving out of the way.
Luxray chewed on the Poffin for a moment, skidding to a halt. Above him, the rift in the sky shrunk and winked out; moments later, the golden aura around Luxray dispersed. The Pokemon shook his head, blinking as if rising from sleep, before letting out a triumphant roar.
Cass breathed a sigh of relief that shook her entire frame before rushing forward and embracing Luxray in a hug. “Hey, bud,” she cooed, ruffling Luxray’s mane. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
Volo exhaled in relief before turning his attention to Roserade. Roserade was badly burned from the Fire Fang, but he looked back at Volo with a confident smile. Volo smiled back, leaning down and gently petting Roserade. “Thank you, friend,” he said softly. “We’ll get you patched up right away.”
Roserade chirped as Volo returned him to his Pokeball. Cass returned Luxray after feeding him another few Poffins, then turned to face Volo. “We should head to the Pokemon Center,” she said, her voice hoarse. “It’s getting late.”
Volo nodded; true to Cass’s word, the sun was beginning to set, painting the sky a vivid orange. The pair began the trek to Oreburgh in silence, a soft breeze following them as they went.
Just before they reached the boundary of the city, Cass stopped. “Thanks,” she said softly when Volo turned to look at her.
“For what?”
“For kicking my ass into gear back there,” Cass replied, not meeting Volo’s gaze. “I shouldn’t have frozen up like I did. It was stupid of me. So thanks for getting me out of my head.”
Volo frowned, approaching her. “I don’t think it was stupid,” he said, crossing his arms. “You care about Luxray, right? That’s why you didn’t want to hurt him.”
“Well, yeah, but I should’ve–”
“Cassandra.”
When Cass met Volo’s gaze, she was struck by the amount of sincerity it held. She hadn’t seen that much raw emotion from him since the temple; instead of vitriol, however, this time his gaze held something that bordered on sympathy.
“You don’t have to shoulder everything yourself,” Volo stated. “Pretending that you don’t have weaknesses doesn’t make them go away.”
Cass sniffled, trying to stop her lower lip from quivering. “But I should’ve just taken care of it,” she protested. “It’s like you said; what made that any different from the nobles? It’s my job to take care of things like that. If you hadn’t been there, my hesitation would’ve gotten me killed. I should know better than that.”
“But I was there,” Volo insisted. “You’re allowed to rely on me. You know that, right?”
Cass sighed, refusing to meet Volo’s gaze. “I shouldn’t have to rely on anyone.”
Suddenly, it felt as if Volo was looking not at Cass, but at a trembling teenager. Someone who was making their way through an unfamiliar world, burdened by a sense of purpose. Someone who, at the end of the day, was alone.
He couldn’t tell if he was looking at the Champion or himself.
Volo sighed, placing a hand on Cass’s shoulder and holding back a wince when she tensed. “If we’re going to make this work,” he said, his voice soft, “then we need to work together. You said you wanted my help, right?”
Cass nodded, though she still refused to meet Volo’s gaze.
“Then let me help you.”
Volo gently squeezed her shoulder, and Cass let out a shaky breath. “Okay,” she said, wiping a stubborn tear away from her eye. “I’ll try.”
Volo nodded, letting her take the lead as they entered Oreburgh City.
Author’s Note: And so we’re back. Part II of IV. This chapter focuses mainly on Julian and Nargis. Next chapter is where the drama begins. I also had to cut down the spicyness because I just was NOT happy with how it was turning out, so, sorry.
Warnings: None
Rating: Mature
Characters: Julian Devorak, Nargis Vyr, Quaestor Valdemar, Count Lucio, Nadia Satrinava
Word Count: 2939
Part I can be found Here!
“What do you think?” Julian asked softly as they made their way down into the dungeons of the palace. Four months had passed since Asra had left, since Nargis had begun to work with the doctor, two months since she’d begun joining him within the dungeons. The scent that drifted towards them never failed to give her pause, to make her nose scrunch up in disgust. Stagnant, dried blood, must, vomit, and gods know what else. It made a chill dance upon her skin.
“I’m not sure… The sudden influx could mean that the plague can be carried by other animals, perhaps?” She replied, shoulders rising in a shrug. “I don’t think any of us can be certain…” She trailed off as they entered into the antechamber, hanging up their jackets and coats in lieu of pulling the aprons, gloves, and mask on. She could already hear Valdemar talking, whether it be to themself or to someone else, she wasn’t sure. Stepping into the makeshift doctor’s office, she spotted the Quaestor easily. “Good morning, Quaestor Valdemar,” she greeted cheerfully, moving towards the vivisection table, and the body that lay upon it.
“Don’t touch it,” Valdemar warned, feet moving silently across the stone floor. “It arrived this morning before even I was down here. The guards said it was dead when they found it.” It, referring to the body. Julian cringed, nose wrinkling up in distaste at the way the other referred to the dead. “While I would love to study this one, I’m afraid…” They trailed off, gesturing to the body. It was swelled up from sitting in the heat, and Nargis had the feeling is she tried to cut into it, it would pop like a balloon. “This one will be sent straight to Lazaret. A shame, really.”
Turning from the body, Nargis made her way towards the table meant for students, studying the papers strewn about its surface. “Quaestor, I’ve a question.” She called, drawing their attention once more. “Would it be possible for the plague to jump from one host species to another?” She asked as she pulled herself up onto one of the unoccupied, and thankfully lean, vivisection tables, legs crossing beneath her. “I’m just wondering, since the plague seems to have been spreading more rapidly recently.”
Valdemar paused, ruby hues sparkling in the torchlight as they considered her question. “There… Is a possibility. I hadn’t even thought of that, actually.” Head tilting to the side, they stepped closer, lost in their own world. “It is entirely possible, given how it had already jumped from the original host- the beetles. But I pose you a separate question, now: how.” They countered, leaning against the table. “How would it be able to jump?”
“A mutation?” Julian spoke up, looking up from the drawing he was working on of the bloated body upon the table. “It’d be the only way, unless the plague was able to jump from host species to host species from the very beginning, and only chose to start jumping now that there are more species around?”
“You phrase that as if the virus could think,” Valdemar mused, lacing their fingers beneath their chin. “So, my lovely students, tell me: do you believe that a virus can think? That is has some form of intelligence?”
“I don’t see why not,” Julian replied, shrugging. “How else would it know to move on from one host to another once the original host begins to die?”
“I agree- there has to be some form of intelligence there. A will to survive- no, a need to survive. It feels the host start to die, and it breeds. It’s done its job there, now it’s time to move on to the next living thing.” Nargis agreed, leaning forward to study Valdemar’s face. “Right?”
“… Possibly.” Valdemar replied softly, sighing. “But that still doesn’t explain who it targets the most. From what we’ve seen, anyone is at risk. There’s no targeted age range, gender… It’s interesting.” They all but purred, obviously pleased with the turn of events. “At any rate, you aren’t needed now. Unless you wish to carry the body?”
“Nope!” The pair quickly answered, all but startling the quaestor with how loud their voices were. “I need to go to the market anyway. Join me, Julian.” Nargis all but demanded, sliding off of the table to the ground. “Have a good day, Quaestor!” She called over her shoulder as she quickly left, more than ready to see the sun again. The sound of Julian jogging after her made her grin as she pulled the apron over her head, quickly replacing it with the deep emerald jacket.
“Market? Didn’t you just go yesterday?” Julian asked as they ascended the steps, still buttoning his coat up. Fall had descended upon Vesuvia, and with it came the biting cold wind from the sea.
Nargis grinned, nodded. “I did, but did you honestly want to be stuck down there all day with a bloated body?”
“… Good point.” With that, the pair made their way through the palace, ready to head back into town when the sound of footsteps gave them pause. Glancing over their shoulders, the sight of Nadia and Lucio made them freeze in place.
Nargis reacted faster than Julian did, quickly turning on her heel and dropping into a curtsey. “My lord, my lady.” She greeted as Julian quickly dropped into a bow beside her. Raising gracefully, her lips spread into an easy smile as they approached. “Are you enjoying the cooler weather?”
“Cold. It’s cold.” Nadia corrected with a grimace, while Lucio let out a laugh.
“It feels better than the boiling heat of the summer,” Lucio replied as he reached out, taking Nargis’ hand in his gloved on and brushing a kiss to her knuckles, watching as her eyes widened and blood filled her cheeks.
“Of course. What are you two up to today?” Nargis asked as her hand was released. Swallowing thickly, she kept her hand close to herself. “It’s getting close to the solstice- do you plan on holding another party?”
Nadia swept closer, an arm wrapping around Nargis’ waist. “Of course we are. Come, walk with us- both of you.” Without waiting for an answer, Nadia pulled Nargis along, surprising the girl. She glanced over to Julian, who looked just as surprised as she did. “We plan on holding it in a fortnight. You will attend, won’t you?”
Nargis nearly stumbled as she kept up with Nadia’s pace. “Of course, my lady. I wouldn’t dream of missing it. I just… Need to find a dress.” She realized, inwardly cursing herself for not thinking of that earlier.
“Nonsene,” Nadia cut her off with a raised brow. “I will have my tailor fix you a dress.”
“My lady-”
“Nadia.”
“Nadia, you don’t need to do that…” Nargis replied, brows furrowed in confusion.
“Nonsense,” Lucio cut in, drawing her attention towards the Count. “It’s the lease we can do for you two, with all you’ve been doing, trying to find a cure for the plague.”
“You both will be outfitted in the best fabrics. We can’t have you two looking drab, now can we?” Nadia teased, pulling away from Nargis elegantly. “Well, if you’ll excuse us, we have some planning to finish. Come, lover.” With that, Nadia swept away, Lucio following after but not before giving the pair a mischievous smirk.
“… That was…”
“Odd?” Julian offered, brows raised as they watched the royals walk away.
“Yes. Odd.” Nargis stood a moment longer before turning, heading back towards the entrance. “Coffee?”
Julian trailed after, his arm finding it’s home around her shoulders. “Yes, please.” He replied with a grin as they headed into the cold wind. Though, he paused, causing Nargis to halt.
“What-?” She asked, looking over at him, only to see him looking up towards the sky, a small smile on his lips. It was nothing like the normal, rowdy smirks or mischief filled grins, but sad. Soft. Frowning, she looked up, and watched as snow fell. “Oh.” She whispered, surprised. “Are you okay, Julian?” She asked, reaching up to cup his cheek, turning his face back down to her. Thumb stroking the skin beneath his eye, she watched as he blinked back tears.
“I’m fine, dorogoy. It… Simply reminded me of home. Let’s get coffee, da?” He brushed it away, pulling her close once as he led her off the palace grounds. It left her wondering, however, just where he came from.
“Julian?”
“Yes?”
“… Never mind.”
“Ah, warmth!” Nargis exclaimed as she collapsed onto the pile of pillows upon Julian’s floor. His little house was nice, she had to admit. Though, she still enjoyed the comforts of the shop. Julian settled down beside her, a smile on his lips. They sat together in silence, enjoying one another’s company, until she broke that silence with a question. “Julian, why did you become a doctor?”
The question took him by surprise, and he looked down at the other, watching as she fiddled with one of his pillows. “Well… I wanted to help. I was in medical school when the fighting started near my home, and one thing led to another, and I ended up joining with the old Count’s military as a field medic. It’s how I met Lucio.” He explained softly, gaze falling upon the flames within the fireplace. “I just wanted to help people.”
“… You’re a good man.” Nargis stated simply, nodding as if agreeing with herself. “A very good man.”
“I’d argue that.”
“Why?”
“… Because.” Julian stated, shrugging. “Because of what I did during the battles. I let… der’mo, I let people die.”
Nargis reached up, turning his head down to her own. “That’s what happens in war, curly. People die. We’re fighting our own war right now with the Red Plague. People die. It’s how life is…” She trailed off, gaze drifting down towards Julian’s lips. As if reading her mind, he leaned forward, closing the gap between them. His lips were softer than she thought they’d be, plush. She pulled for a moment, meeting his eyes, before tangling a hand in his hair and climbing into his lap, their lips meeting again in a much harsher kiss than before. She nipped at his lip, and he moaned into the kiss, sending a thrill through her. Tongue slipping out to meet his own in a battle for dominance, a shudder danced through her as his hands came to rest upon her hips, fingers playing with the slits on her dress.
“Are you sure…?” Julian asked as they parted. Her lips were kissed bruised, cheeks flushed, eyes bright- she was beautiful, he decided in that moment. Beautiful, deadly; a snake poised to strike. A smirk curled her lips as he studied her, causing his own to twitch upwards.
“More than sure,” she replied, leaning down to press kiss after kiss along his jaw, nipping at the skin. “I’m also sure that if you don’t get your shirt off within the next minute, I will rip it off of you.” All but purring the words, she sat back, fingers drifting down to gasp the hem of her own dress. Julian grinned up at her as he hastily pulled his shirt over his head, tossing the fabric aside. She mimicked him, pulling her dress over her head, leaving her in naught but her smallclothes. Her hands immediately came to rest upon his chest, nails digging into the pale flesh. A pleased hiss left him as his head tilted back, eyes falling closed at the feeling of lips pressing into the skin along his jugular.
“You’re wicked,” Julian gasped as her nails drug down his abdomen, a shudder dancing through him. “Wicked, no good, Chert poberi!” Her hand had dipped down between, grasping him through his trousers. A grin pulled at his lips as he shook his head. “Wicked woman.”
“You love it,” Nargis whispered, retracing the path of her nails once more, eliciting a lovely hiss from Julian’s lips. “And you like pain. The more you know,” she murmured, sitting back with a pleased smirk. “Bedroom.”
“Bedroom,” Julian agreed with a nod.
The sun was just peeking out when Nargis woke, a pleasant warmth pressed to her back, a solid weight over her waist. A smile curled her lips as she rolled over slowly, to not wake Julian. He was sound asleep still, lips parted just barely, curly hair a mess from the night’s activities. His chest was marked with scratches from her nails, bruises sucked into his neck. It was nice, to wake up with someone. He was so peaceful, sound asleep like this…
“You’re thinking too much,” Julian murmured, startling her out of her reverie. Jade hues glanced up, catching hold of whiskey and gold mixed. A sleepy smile curled his lips as he pulled her closer, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Dobroye utro krasavitsa.” He murmured in Navaran, voice soft, husky, sleep still clinging.
“What’s that mean?” She asked as she curled closer. It was like sleeping beside a fire; his body heat was far more than her own. Perfect for a cold morning.
“Good morning, beautiful.” He translated, eyes falling closed again. “We need to get up… The Clinic needs to be opened…” He mumbled, and Nargis sighed, rolling over to stretch. The sheets fell low, gathering around her waist. A wince danced across her features at the pain between her legs. Ouch.
Julian sat up, still not quite awake, and ran his hands through his hair. “Lucio and Nadia will want us to get… Whassitcalled… fitted?” He yawned, stretching his arms up over his head. “I dunno why they’re doin’ that, though.” A giggle escaped Nargis as he spoke. His accent was thick in the mornings- thicker than it normally was, at least. Sitting up, she leaned over, pressing a kiss to his bare shoulder.
“Dunno, but I’m not gonna pass up the chance of wearing a fancy gown,” she replied before slipping from the bed, wincing as the cold morning air bit into her bare flesh. Her clothes were downstairs, she realized with a pout. Though, she did grab her underwear and her breast bindings, pulling both on in a rather ungraceful manner. “I have to go check up on the shop… I’ll see you at the clinic?” She asked over her shoulder, hearing a hum in response. A brow raised as she turned, lips curling into a grin. Stepping back over to her lover, she cupped his face in her hands, tilting his head up to meet her in a languid kiss.
“At the clinic,” Julian agreed between kisses, slowly rising to his feet. Large palms settled upon her hips, covering the bruises he’d left from the night before. “Or you could stay…” He murmured, trailing kisses down her neck.
A soft moan bubbled up from her before she pushed away, shaking her head. “No, sir. We have work. I’ll see you at the clinic, handsome.” A laugh escaped her at his pout, though she turned to make her way back downstairs. Julian watched her go, leaning against the wall with a pleased noise. He remained there until the sound of his front door closing resounded throughout his house. Alone. Though, as he looked down at himself, marks from her nails, her teeth, her lips, still lingered.
Not alone.
“You seem chipper,” Valdemar commented as Nargis set about cleaning the vivisection tables. She’d come in with a bright smile and a song upon her lips. “Oddly so.”
“I had a good night, that’s all. That, and I have an appointment with Nadia after this! She’s getting me fitted for a gown, you know.” The words gave the Quaestor pause, brows raising as they look over to the student.
“A gown?” They repeated, gaze falling back upon the body that they were currently tagging for disposal. “For the masquerade, I assume?”
“Yes! Oh, I hope it’s emerald. I love emerald. Or gold… Though, I think gold would look stunning on Nadia.” She rambled, though she fell quiet at the sudden ache in her head. “… Maybe I should have gotten a bit more sleep last night…?”
“Your sleepless night has something to with a missing redhead.” It wasn’t a question. Valdemar shook their head, chuckling under their breath. “Humans.” They said simply, in amusement and exasperation.
“It’s quite nice, you know. You should try it sometime.”
“Are you offering, doll?”
“And if I am?”
“I might take you up on that.” It gave Nargis pause, eyes widening in surprise before a laugh barked free from Valdemar. “You should see your face! I’m quite alright with my own… Private affairs.”
“Now I’m interested. You need to tell me more tomorrow,” she gushed, pulling her gloves off and hanging her apron up. “I’m off to see Nadia now!” She left, hearing the faint ‘so long’ called after her. The pain in her head hadn’t receded quite enough, but she paid it no mind. Surely, it was from lack of sleep and an early morning, right? Of course.
Though, unease tugged at the back of her mind. What if it wasn’t just from that? What if…
She shoved the thought away as she entered the library, catching sight of Nadia lounging upon a pile of pillows, reading. No, it was surely just a normal headache. She forced a smile as Nadia caught sight of her and rose gracefully, extending a hand.
“Let’s get you fitted, shall we?” She asked, and without waiting for the girl to answer, swept her out of the library and down the ornate halls.
The sun was lowering from its peak in the sky as Cass and Volo approached the Cafe Cabin for a quick lunch. They’d set off for Solaceon Town the morning after their Contest victory and reached the small town at about noon. Though it was tempting to take a break and explore the ruins, Cass–perhaps feeling guilty about taking a day for the Contest–insisted they press onward, promising to return once the Galactic situation was dealt with.
“Alright,” Cass stated as the Cafe Cabin drew nearer. “We’ll stop for lunch here, then we should make it to Veilstone by nightfall.”
Volo nodded. “And once we get to Veilstone?”
Silence fell over the pair, broken only by the sound of the wind.
“You have no plan,” Volo stated bluntly.
“I do my best planning under pressure,” Cass blurted out, not meeting Volo’s gaze.
Volo sighed. “Perhaps during our lunch break you could come up with something? I don’t think winging it is the best idea when it comes to dealing with spacetime-altering criminals.”
“It’ll be fine,” Cass protested. “Once we get there, I’ll just beat them like I did before. Easy.”
“And how can you beat them without knowing what they’re doing?” Volo placed a hand on Cass’s shoulder. “We shouldn’t be reckless about this.”
Cass sighed, her lips curving into a small pout. “Fine. But you’re helping, cause I’m not smart.”
“Says the woman who completed the Pokedex.”
Cass opened her mouth, ready to fire off some snappy retort, but the words died on her tongue when she saw Volo’s expression. He was smiling at her, knowing and patient, and his eyes shone with a softness that was, to her knowledge, reserved for his Pokemon.
Had he always looked at her like that?
The blush spreading across her face must have been evident; Volo raised an eyebrow in concern. “Are you alright?”
Cass shook her head and promptly looked at anywhere she could that wasn’t Volo. “Peachy keen! Just–”
She was cut off by a thunderous crash that, by now, she was exceedingly familiar with.
The pair wheeled around to see a crack steadily forming in the sky, multicolored lightning arcing around it. Cass glanced at her Poketch as her other hand flew to Umbreon’s Pokeball; the Rift Detector app pinged, a second too late, and she sighed. “Ugh. I need to give Rowan some feedback on this thing.”
“Champion Cassandra.”
An unfamiliar voice sent a shiver down Cass’s spine; approaching her and Volo were two black-clad figures. One was familiar; Venus’s teal hair and malicious smile were immediately recognizable. The woman standing next to her, however, was someone Cass had never seen before. Her silver hair was swept over one of her bright blue eyes, and she regarded Cass with a glare.
“Oh, fantastic,” Volo said, reaching for one of his Pokeballs. “There’s two of them now.”
“I am Mercury, lieutenant commander of Team Galactic,” the silver-haired woman spoke, her voice even and low.
Cass held Mercury’s gaze. “If you’re in charge, then tell me what you clowns want,” she replied, clutching Umbreon’s Pokeball at her side. “And how you think you can get away with it after what you pulled six years ago.”
“Ooh, ooh! Can I answer?” Venus asked, raising her hand. Mercury glanced at the scientist out of the corner of her eye, then returned her gaze to Cass. Taking this as an affirmative, Venus grinned. “We want to get Mister Cyrus back from the Distortion World!”
Cass’s eyes widened at the familiar name. “You want Cyrus back? Why?”
“So he can finish what he started six years ago,” Mercury answered plainly. “The new world he seeks will come to fruition at any cost.”
Volo suppressed a shudder, Mercury’s words resonating in an all-too-familiar way. “And why are you telling us this?” he asked, glancing at the fracture in the sky. “Aren’t you concerned that Cass and I might take action?”
Mercury’s eyes narrowed as she reached for one of the Pokeballs at her belt.
“The two of you won’t be a problem for much longer.”
She tossed a Pokeball into the air, releasing a Slaking. Next to her, Venus sent out a Dusclops, then fiddled with a device on her wrist.
Cass flung her trusted partner’s Pokeball forward, and Umbreon popped out of the device with a determined cry. Next to her, Volo sent out Togekiss, who chirped happily at being out in the air before the reality of the situation hit her. She quickly steeled her nerves with an angry peep.
“Umbreon, Calm Mind,” Cass instructed. Umbreon closed its eyes and focused intently, exhaling a bit before opening his eyes again. Volo swiftly commanded Togekiss to do the same thing; Togekiss focused before sending a determined glare across the field at her opponents.
Venus pressed a button on her wrist, then beamed at her Pokemon. “Dusky, Skill Swap with Slaking!”
Cass’s blood ran cold. “Oh, shit.”
Volo frowned. “What does that do?”
“Slaking is stupid powerful, but has an Ability that causes it to slack off every so often,” Cass explained, keeping a wary eye on the battlefield as Mercury commanded an Amnesia from her Pokemon. “And now, that Dusclops has switched its Ability with Slaking’s. Meaning that Slaking will act normally.”
Volo sighed through his nose. “But Dusclops will slack off now, right?”
“Right,” Cass replied, “but I have an unfortunate feeling that’s not the end of their strategy.” She waved her hand, returning her full focus to the battle. “Umbreon, Snarl!”
Umbreon let out a loud bark, sending a wave of darkness towards Slaking and Dusclops. Dusclops staggered back a bit, but remained standing; Slaking looked barely affected, even when it was hit by a Moonblast from Togekiss a few moments after.
“Slaking, Hammer Arm on Umbreon.” With a wave of Mercury’s hand, Slaking launched forward with uncharacteristic speed and slammed its fist into Umbreon. The impact sent Umbreon flying backwards, but the Pokemon shook it off and stood back up with a growl.
“Don’t worry, Dusky, you take your time!” Venus cheered as her Dusclops settled down for a quick nap. She pressed a few more buttons on her wrist, then grinned. “Ready, Mer?”
Volo tensed. “Ready for what?”
With a nod from Mercury, Venus grinned. “For this!”
She pressed another button on her wrist, causing bright lightning to shoot down from the rift and strike Slaking. Yellow light enveloped the Pokemon, causing it to let out a deafening roar. Cass froze up, panic coursing wildly through her system as she watched the scene that was unfolding in front of her. Thoughts raced through her head as she tried to come up with a strategy. How could this woman let something like that happen to her partner? How could she want it to happen?
A hand on her wrist jolted her out of her trance. She glanced over to Volo, whose lips were pressed shut in a thin line. He didn’t look calm by any stretch of the word, but he looked back at her evenly. “Don’t panic,” he said evenly, lacing his fingers together with hers. “We’ll get through this together.”
Cass exhaled, steeling her nerves, and squeezed his hand. “Okay.”
“What’s the plan?”
Cass took a moment to think. “I’ve got physical moves,” she began, “so I’ll take care of Slaking. Its Special Defense is weaker, but Amnesia’s boosted it. Have Togekiss focus on taking out Dusclops.”
Volo nodded. “Got it.”
“Umbreon, Iron Tail on Slaking!” Cass instructed, waving her free hand. Umbreon’s tail took on a metallic sheen as it turned around and slashed at Slaking. That seemed to pack a bit more of a punch than Snarl had, though Slaking still looked relatively unbothered.
“Togekiss, Moonblast on Dusclops!” Volo followed up. Togekiss sent a blast of concentrated energy toward Dusclops, who stumbled backwards.
“Oh, Dusky, keep it up!” Venus exclaimed. “Skill Swap again! This time with Umbreon!”
“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” Cass seethed as Dusclops executed its orders.
“Slaking, Rock Slide,” Mercury commanded. Slaking slammed its hand into the ground, pulling up boulders and launching them at Umbreon and Togekiss. Both Pokemon managed to remain standing afterwards, but neither were doing well; Togekiss was covered in bruises, and Umbreon was unsteady on its feet.
“Another hit like that and Umbreon will go down,” Cass said, inching closer to Volo.
“Same for Togekiss.” Volo tried to think, the noise of the rift and Slaking’s roar doing nothing for his concentration. “If the rift closes, Slaking will go back to normal, right?”
“I don’t know,” Cass replied, her grip on Volo’s hand becoming vice-like. “Even if that happens, it’s still wicked strong, and I don’t know what they have beyond that–”
“Give up, Champion,” Mercury interrupted coldly. She took a step forward, her visible eye seeming to glow in the dim light of the rift. “Your journey stops here.”
Cass opened her mouth to reply, but whatever words she was going to say died on her tongue as the reality of the situation settled in.
She was losing.
A lump formed in her throat as she tried to straighten her thoughts. When was the last time she had lost when the stakes were this high? She’d always prided herself on her ability to pull out a victory from nothing; at least, she thought she could. Now, though, failure was staring her directly in the face.
She was so deep in thought that she almost missed Slaking rearing back for another Hammer Arm.
Cass faintly heard Volo call out to her as she squeezed her eyes shut, unable to watch what followed. Light flashed against her eyelids, and she registered the crack of thunder and a surprised gasp from beside her.
Cass has woken up in Sinnoh; her phone, her Umbreon, and her uniform are all that remain of her time in Hisui. She catches up on her notifications, gets dressed for the day, and steps out into the new world.
(cw: none for this chapter. contains postgame spoilers)
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“Vague as ever, Arceus,” Cass mused, setting her phone down on her nightstand. “I definitely know what you mean by ‘mend the tears’.”
Umbreon barked softly at her, and she smiled. “But you know me,” Cass continued, patting the Pokemon on its head as she walked towards her dresser. “Interpreting vague instructions from a higher power is kind of my specialty.”
She pulled open her dresser drawer, looking at the clothes inside. She selected a black sleeveless turtleneck and some well-loved denim shorts, holding them up to herself in her mirror to see if they’d still fit. Deeming them satisfactory, she shut the drawers of her dresser and shrugged off her Survey Corps uniform.
As she changed, she heard the Arc Phone vibrating constantly on her nightstand; she pulled her turtleneck on, then went over to glance at the screen. “Holy shit,” she said softly, glancing at the sheer amount of notifications she’d received. Apparently, now that the Arc Phone had cell service, it was dutifully delivering every notification she’d missed in the past year. Texts from friends and family as well as news headlines and alerts flooded the screen, appearing faster than she could read.
Cass unlocked the phone, clearing the notifications from the screen, then locked it again. She could deal with all of that later.
“Alright, if I wanted information about ‘tears’, where would I go?” Cass wondered aloud to herself, pulling on a pair of boots and strapping her Poketch to her wrist. She thought for a moment longer before settling on a destination: Canalave City. It was her hometown; the library was a good resource, and she should probably visit her parents before they got too worried about her.
With renewed purpose, Cass tied a zippered hoodie to her waist and grabbed her old bag. Her eyes fell on her old uniform, and she made the quick decision to fold it up and put it in her bag, just in case. She then strode out the door of her villa, Umbreon on her heels.
She nearly bumped into someone who seemed to be on their way inside.
Cass’s breath caught in her throat as she met an all-too-familiar steel-gray gaze. For a moment, she was back at the Temple of Sinnoh, facing down Giratina and locked in battle with her former friend.
“Oh, Cass! You’re back!”
Cynthia spoke, and her voice snapped Cass out of her flashback. Cass suppressed a sigh of relief as she recognized the former Champion. “Hey,” Cass replied simply. “It’s been a while.”
Cynthia gave her a look. “That’s all you have to say?” she asked, a friendly smile on her face despite the tone of her words. “You travel back through time for a year and the only thing you can say is ‘hey’?”
“Well, at least you know that year didn’t make me any better with words,” Cass shot back, smiling back at Cynthia. “How have things been here?”
“Not…ideal.” Cynthia adjusted her coat as Cass turned around and locked the door to her villa. “There’s been a spike in criminal activity in the past couple of months. What’s more, distortions in spacetime have been appearing left and right.”
“Spacetime distortions?” Cass asked, turning around to face Cynthia. “With strong Pokemon and rare items?”
Cynthia blinked. “Yes, exactly like that.”
“Those appeared in Hisui too,” Cass explained. “Did the Professor fill you in?”
“He did. He released your letter to the public, like you asked.” Cynthia ran a hand through her hair, sighing through her nose. “It’s been getting more and more dangerous to go outside recently. No one really knows what to do.”
Cass placed a hand on her hip. “Well, that’s what I’m here for,” she stated confidently. “Arceus asked me to ‘mend the tears’, and that’s what I’m gonna do. Whatever that means.”
Cynthia nodded. “We’re glad to have you back, Champion.” She smiled warmly as Cass approached her, Umbreon following the younger woman protectively. “That reminds me,” she continued, reaching for her teardrop-shaped pendant and fiddling with it idly. “My grandmother wants to speak with you.”
Cass blinked in surprise. “Your grandmother?”
“Yes.” Cynthia began walking toward the Pokemon Center, and Cass followed close behind. “A few months ago, she asked me to retrieve you once you got back. I think it has to do with the distortions, though I’m not entirely sure how.”
“That’s weird,” Cass mused, matching Cynthia’s pace. “But I don’t have any direction yet, so it can’t hurt. Though I should probably, like, make a statement or something first…”
Cynthia nodded, stopping outside the Pokemon Center. “Of course,” she said. “Meet me in Celestic Town when you’re ready.” She released her Togekiss, preparing to fly off, then turned to face Cass one more time. “And really…it’s good to see you.”
With that, she took off, heading towards the mainland. Cass smiled as she followed Cynthia’s silhouette with her gaze.
“Good to see you too.”
The sun was beginning to set by the time Cass finally landed in Celestic Town. After checking on her Pokemon and withdrawing a few from the PC, she’d called her parents to let them know she was safe. They had talked for what felt like hours, her parents asking for every minor detail, but eventually, the conversation came to a halt and Cass hung up, promising to visit Canalave City soon.
Following that, she flew to Jubilife City around noon; people were surrounding her practically as soon as she landed, and it was all she could do to even find a proper landing spot for her Crobat. They seemed to mostly back off with a promise that Cass would give an official statement on Sinnoh Now, and she was able to make her way into the TV station without much fuss.
The “interview” took a lot out of her; it felt more like an interrogation. The reporters grilled her with questions about Hisui, Arceus, and everything else they could think of, and Cass had a hard time keeping up with the high energy in the studio. Thankfully, though, the broadcast eventually ended, and Cass was able to make her way to Celestic Town.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that,” she mused to herself, returning Crobat to its Pokeball and letting out Umbreon for a stroll.
As she made her way towards Cynthia’s grandmother’s house, Cass found herself struck by the scenery. She’d been to Celestic Town several times in the past, but now, she’d become used to this area’s geography from hundreds of years ago. The buildings looked out of place, as did the people; she half expected a wild Pokemon to cross her path at any moment.
Cass finally reached the house, knocking gently on the door. It swung open, revealing Cynthia; she smiled at Cass before beckoning her inside. “Come on in. We’ve just made a pot of tea.”
Cass stepped inside, slipping off her boots after wiping them on the doormat. A distinctly familiar floral scent hit her nose; she sniffed, trying to discern where she’d smelled it last.
“It is good to see you, lost one.”
Cass wheeled around to see none other than Cogita; the older woman sat at the table, wearing a gentle smile as she poured a cup of tea. “Have a seat,” she stated, gesturing towards an empty chair.
Cass’s mouth fell open. “You…wait a minute.”
Cynthia blinked in surprise. “What’s the matter?”
Cogita laughed knowingly, covering her mouth with her hand. “It has been quite a long time,” she mused. “Though not as long for you as it has been for me.”
Cass took a seat at the table across from Cogita, adjusting her glasses to make sure she was seeing things correctly. Umbreon took up residence beneath the table, settling down for a short nap. “I know it’s rude to ask a lady her age,” Cass quipped, “but, uh…I do have some questions.”
“I understand,” Cogita replied, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “You do remember the old verses, yes?”
“Most of them.”
“Do you recall the one that reads ‘waiting an eternity for the one with the mission’?”
Cass nodded. “But I accomplished that mission already. In the past.”
“And you have a new mission now.” Cogita took a sip of her tea, eyeing Cass with a piercing gaze. “The whims of our creator are not for me to decide. I simply carry out its will as best I am able.”
“I’m not even going to pretend to understand,” Cynthia said, leaning against the wall by the door.
Cass nodded slowly, taking a sip from the cup in front of her. It was the same blend she’d had when visiting Cogita in the past, and she savored the floral taste on her tongue. “Speaking of my mission,” she said, “I’m told you wanted to talk to me?”
“Indeed I do,” Cogita replied, “but I fear that must wait for a bit. There is one other I’d like to speak with about this matter as well.”
Cass tilted her head in confusion. “Who?”
Cynthia sighed. “You know how the spacetime distortions bring Pokemon from Hisui to the modern day? A while ago, one of them brought a person as well.”
“A person?” Cass asked, thinking back to her last months in Hisui. She didn’t remember anyone disappearing into rifts; at least, no one from the Galaxy Team.
“Thankfully, I was nearby doing some research on the distortions when he tumbled through,” Cynthia continued, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. “He was in bad shape. I brought him back here, and he’s been living with my grandmother for the past few months.”
“It’s my opinion that he will have some helpful insights into what is currently going on in Sinnoh,” Cogita concluded. “Though whether or not he’ll freely give them remains to be seen…”
Cass was about to ask what she meant by that when the door swung open.
“Apologies, Mistress Cogita, but the herbalist was out of Caster Fern.”
Cass’s heart leapt into her throat as she recognized the voice; a tall figure stepped out from behind Cynthia, dressed in outdoorsy attire. His blond hair was tied back into a bun, and when his gaze fell upon Cass, his visible steel-gray eye widened in shock.
In Jubilife Village, Professor Laventon conducts an informal interview.
In Sandgem Town, Professor Rowan makes a discovery.
At Spear Pillar, a spark is rekindled.
(prologue for salva me, fons pietatis, an in-progress volo/oc work i'm working on. this introduces you to cassandra and gives a preview for the rest of the work. contains postgame spoilers for legends arceus.)
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“Professor, is this really necessary?”
Cass sat back on the couch in Laventon’s office, moving a book to the table in front of her as she did. Her Umbreon sat at her feet, relaxed but alert as ever. To her left, Professor Laventon dipped his pen into the inkwell on his desk before turning to face her, pen and blank notebook in hand.
“Of course, my girl!” the professor exclaimed, a bright smile on his face. “Just as it is my duty to pass on our knowledge of Pokemon, it is also important to pass down the history of this land, and you are a distinct part of that!”
“I mean, you’ve got me there,” Cass replied, crossing one leg over the other. “I just don’t know if the people of Hisui in several hundred years will care about whether or not I care about long walks on the beach.”
Professor Laventon chuckled. “I can assure you, my girl, there is no insignificant detail in the field of historical research!” He made a few quick notes in his notebook, then looked up. “Alright, let’s start with the basics. Name?”
“Professor, you know my name–”
“Oh, humor me!”
Cass rolled her eyes. “Cassandra,” she answered, “but everyone calls me Cass.”
“Age?”
“Twenty.” Cass thought for a moment, then shook her head. “Wait. No. It’s been about a year. Twenty-one.”
“Elaborate a bit on the Pokemon you carry with you?”
Cass glanced down at her Umbreon and smiled as the Pokemon closed its eyes sleepily. “Umbreon, obviously,” she stated. “I’ve also got Decidueye, Lopunny, Chimecho, Gastrodon, and Rapidash.”
Laventon wrote quickly, and Cass knew from prior experience that his handwriting was going to be illegible to all but himself. “Alright. In your own words, please describe your journeys and accomplishments in this land.”
Cass laughed. “That’s a big ask. I’ll do my best, though.”
For what felt like a small eternity, Cass described the events that had taken place since her tumble through the spacetime rift. From the quelling of the frenzied nobles to the confrontation with Dialga and Palkia to the collection of the plates and her meeting with the creator, she spared no detail as she spoke.
Well…she spared a few details. But she didn’t think Laventon cared about her personal feelings towards a certain merchant.
Throughout her explanation, Laventon listened intently, asking a prompting question whenever he saw fit. After she finished, Laventon wrote for a bit longer before looking up at her again. “Fascinating,” he mused. “Now, just a few more questions.”
Cass nodded, having tired herself out a bit from her story.
“What, would you say, is your proudest moment as a Pokemon Trainer while here in Hisui?”
The question threw Cass off guard; she looked away from Laventon, placing her thumb and forefinger to her chin. The first thing that came to mind was her defeat of Giratina at the Temple of Sinnoh. Her battle with Volo was won by the skin of her teeth; his strength was equally matched to hers, and he had the Renegade Pokemon on top of it. The amount of time she’d spent at the Training Grounds working Umbreon’s defenses had been her only saving grace.
But that memory was as painful as it was prideful, and it had no place in a historical record.
“I would say,” Cass said after a moment of silence, “that my proudest moment was my double battle with Rei and Akari the other day.” Cass smiled at the memory, recalling her difficult victory. “It was proof positive that Hisui is changing; people are growing to understand Pokemon and forge close bonds through battle. The future looks bright, and it’s thanks to those two that I can see it.”
Laventon had stopped writing, instead grinning widely at Cass as she spoke. “Oh, how wonderful!” he exclaimed. “Such a clear vision for the future…it makes this academic’s heart soar!”
Cass smiled back, leaning against the back of the sofa. “Well, being from the future does help.”
Laventon nodded, scribbling down a few more notes. “Now,” Laventon continued. “If you could say one thing to Volo right now, what would it be?”
Cass’s heart sank, and she shifted her gaze to Umbreon to avoid meeting the professor’s eyes. “...that’s a difficult question for me right now, Professor.”
“Ah! I apologize!” Laventon exclaimed, making some notations in his notebook. “I’ll completely strike that from the record.”
Laventon made a few quick notes, then looked back at Cass. “And last question,” he stated. “What is your hope for the future of Hisui?”
Cass looked up at the ceiling, letting out a sigh through her nose. “You’re really not pulling any punches, huh?” She contemplated for a moment, flexing her fingers idly, then met the professor’s gaze.
“I want to create a world where people and Pokemon both understand each other,” she finally said. “Where we can coexist in peace and work together to make our world a better place. If we can do that, I’d be pretty darn happy.”
Laventon smiled as he recorded Cass’s words in the notebook, then snapped it shut. “Wonderful! I’ll get this edited posthaste.” He set the notebook down and stood up, startling Umbreon out of its nap. “Now, as thanks for humoring me, allow me to treat you to a meal at the Wallflower! Beni’s finest potato mochi, of course!”
Cass smiled and stood, heading toward the door.
“I’m up for anything.”
---
Professor Rowan set his briefcase down at his desk, sighing through his nose. Outside, the sky was dark, and a pale sliver of a moon hung in the sky. This was just one of several long nights in a row, and as he briefly glanced at the news on his phone, he got a feeling that it wouldn’t be the last.
Champion Cassandra’s disappearance had thrown the Sinnoh region into chaos; it was the only thing people would talk about for the past two days. It was as though she had vanished into thin air; one moment she was here, and the next she was simply gone. Her Pokemon remained in their PC boxes, as confirmed by Bebe, and her possessions, save for her phone, remained in her villa in the Resort Area. It confounded both the police and the public.
Rowan didn’t consider himself a particularly emotional man, but even he couldn’t help the twinge of sadness that struck his heart. After all, it was he who gave Cassandra her first Pokemon and the Pokedex, he who sent her on the journey that brought her to the Hall of Fame. He had always been proud of her, and despite the fact that they hadn’t talked in a long time, her disappearance weighed on him.
The professor’s eyes wandered over his bookshelf, eventually falling on a box that sat on one of the lower shelves. A family heirloom, he was told; his grandmother had been the one to pass it on to him after he’d obtained his doctorate. As he took the box in his hands, her words echoed in his mind.
“This box has been passed down through our family for generations, alongside these words: ‘Open the box when a Champion departs.’”
Rowan’s eyes widened as he connected the dots; he rushed to his desk before slowly, carefully removing the box’s lid.
Inside were several items, each worn down by the passage of time. The first thing Rowan noticed was a Pokeball, though it looked distinctly different from the ones he was familiar with. He picked it up and pressed the center button, noting its emptiness. Next was a small blue charm shaped like a cross; when Rowan picked it up, it seemed to glow in the warm light of his desktop lamp.
Rowan put the charm down, then looked back in the box; the only things left were a thick blue notebook and a letter. He picked up the letter first, being gentle with the ancient-looking paper; he felt his pulse race as he recognized his own name on the envelope.
As he opened the envelope and unfolded its contents, his pulse only rose higher.
“Hi Professor! It’s Cass. If you’re reading this, then I’ve just disappeared without a trace.
I know this is weird, but bear with me. I’m not dead. To make a very long story short, I was sent through a rift in spacetime to ancient Sinnoh by the mythical Pokemon Arceus. Wild, right? Arceus instructed me to seek out every Pokemon in the region, which was called Hisui back then, and in the process of doing that, I had an entire new adventure!
Now, if I know you, you’re probably scowling in disbelief right about now…”
Rowan snorted. She was exactly right.
“...but I promise I’m not joking. To prove my point, I’ve included a couple things from this time in the box. Hopefully, if everything goes according to plan, your ancestors will pass this box down to you, and you’ll open it up when the time is right.
When I’m writing this, I’m preparing to head back; now that I’ve accomplished my mission, Arceus is going to return me to modern times. But I’m not sure when you’ll be reading this; for all I know, it could be anywhere from a day to a week to a month after I disappear. Whenever you do end up reading this, though, I have a couple requests.
First, I’d like Cynthia to hold on to my title until I get back. I can battle her again once I get back if she wants, but I trust her with the League while I can’t be there. Promise her that I’ll tell her all the juicy details about Hisui that I can in return!
Second, please release this letter to the public, as well as the contents of the box. I want to make sure that Sinnoh isn’t freaking out for a whole year. This is the best way I have of making sure that happens.
Finally, I’d like you to keep the Pokedex I’ve included and publish its contents. Inside it, you’ll find details on every Pokemon that inhabited Hisui. Hopefully, the research I helped with will lead to some breakthroughs on your end!
Please give everyone my regards and tell them I’ll be back before you know it!
-Cass”
Professor Rowan set the letter down gently, mulling over its contents as he lifted the notebook out of the box. He flipped to a random page; it was an entry outlining, in great detail, the Pokemon Staravia. Rowan recognized Cass’s messy handwriting in the margins. He flipped to another page; this one was an entry on Qwilfish, though the Pokemon looked distinctly different than he was used to. The final page he landed on was an entry on Sneasler, a Pokemon he’d never heard of at all.
Rowan closed the notebook as a small smile formed on his lips.
“You always were full of surprises, Champion.”
---
Spear Pillar had always been a terribly cold place, but to Pluto, that chill had only worsened in the years since Cyrus’s disappearance. Every time he returned here, he envisioned what that confrontation must have been like; the Champion and her Pokemon battling tooth and nail as Cyrus fell into a void of inky blackness. Pluto would have given anything to be there, to have some chance at saving the man who had inspired him to greatness. But he had been positioned elsewhere, and now, a lonely breeze seemed to haunt the ruins atop the mountain.
In this current moment, however, Spear Pillar bustled with activity.
Pluto made his way toward the center of the ruins, ignoring the Galactic grunts who addressed him as he did. At the center of Spear Pillar, a young woman fiddled with various scientific instruments and tools, all focused around the dias where Giratina had appeared so many years ago.
“Venus,” Pluto stated, his voice cutting through the chill of the night air. “Have you made any progress?”
The woman turned to face Pluto, a bright smile on her face. “Yup! You’re right on time for the test run, Plu!”
Pluto moved to stand next to her, placing his arms behind his back. “Proceed, then.”
Venus made a few smaller adjustments to the instruments, then pressed a button on a remote control. The air itself on the dias seemed to warp and twist as the instruments hummed to life. Eventually, the space seemed to shatter like glass; a small, black tear appeared in the center of the dias.
“Yes!” Venus exclaimed, taking out a notebook and scribbling some notes. “Exactly as planned!”
Pluto stared at the rift, taking in its details. Its shape was unstable; it shifted and blinked in and out constantly. For a brief moment, Pluto thought he could see through it.
Suddenly, the rift expanded; a strange-looking creature flew out and almost knocked Venus’s instruments over. The creature let out a cry as it looked at Pluto; it resembled a Qwilfish, but its colors were wrong. Behind it, the rift snapped shut just as quickly as it had appeared.
“Incredible,” Pluto mused, reaching for his Doublade’s Pokeball.
“Oh, Plu!” Venus exclaimed as Pluto began a battle with the strange Qwilfish. “That looks like one of those Qwilfish from that old Pokedex Professor Rowan recently published, doesn’t it?”
Pluto nodded, commanding his Doublade to use Slash before throwing a Pokeball at the Qwilfish. “This means that the rift went to ancient Hisui.”
“Exactly!” Venus began taking down her equipment as the Pokeball containing Qwilfish shook, then clicked shut. “And if we know that, then we can start refining its trajectory! We’ll be in the Distortion World in no time!”
“Indeed we will.” Pluto picked up the Pokeball, a small smile forming on his lips.
ingo meets up with old friends. cass and volo have a heart to heart conversation…in more ways than one.
(cw: none for this chapter. contains postgame spoilers)
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“I see. So that is the situation,” Ingo mused, nodding affirmatively at Cass. The two sat on a bench a short distance outside the city boundaries. Umbreon, now healed, sat at Cass’s feet, and a few feet away, Volo was talking softly to Togekiss while smoothing her feathers.
“Yes,” Cass replied. “Volo and I are heading to Veilstone right now to investigate the situation further. Hopefully, we can get this resolved before anyone else is pulled through one of these rifts.”
Ingo nodded. “That would be ideal, yes. Though of all people to be pulled through, I am a bit glad it was me. I do belong in this time, after all, so I’m hoping that getting used to it will be easier than it would’ve been for a native Hisuian.” He glanced over to Volo, who was feeding Togekiss a berry. “I’m curious as to how he dealt with it.”
Cass gazed at her companion. “Y’know, I don’t know. He got here a few months before I got back.” She smiled after a moment, watching Volo interact with his Pokemon. “He’s always been the adaptable sort, though, so I’m sure he adjusted just fine after the initial shock wore off.”
Togekiss chirped as she noticed Cass watching the two; Volo turned over his shoulder and made eye contact with her. For one all-too-brief moment, the world around them disappeared, and Cass found herself suspended in Volo’s steel-gray gaze. Her lips parted to say something, but whatever it was caught in her throat before she could even speak.
There it was again. That fondness with which Volo normally looked at Togekiss was now directed towards Cass; his lips were curved upwards in a gentle, albeit confused, smile. In the late afternoon sun, he almost seemed to glow.
Had he always been this pretty? And how was she only just noticing?
“Cassandra? Are you alright?”
Ingo’s voice snapped Cass out of her thoughts. She whipped back around to face him, all too aware of the heat spreading across her cheeks. “Just fine!” she exclaimed hastily, looking past Ingo. “Peachy keen!”
Ingo looked at her like he didn’t believe her.
Thankfully, anything Ingo might have said was drowned out by the sudden sound of a plane overhead. Cass looked up to see a biplane steadily drawing closer, seemingly using the long stretch of road outside Solaceon as a runway. Ingo stared up at it curiously, as though trying to figure out what it was.
The plane landed a short distance away from them, and immediately, a man in a long white coat–matching Ingo’s, only cleaner–jumped out without even opening the door. He landed on the ground and looked around for a moment before his eyes landed first on Cass, then on Ingo.
‘Holy shit, they are identical,’ Cass thought to herself as Emmet rushed over to them.
As he approached, Ingo stood, his eyes blown wide and his mouth hanging open slightly. Cass couldn’t quite tell from her angle if there was recognition in his expression, but as Emmet practically tackled his brother in a hug, Ingo hugged back.
For a moment, Cass couldn’t understand anything that was said, as Emmet’s voice was muffled by Ingo’s shoulder. She briefly registered “you’re alive” and “missed you” before Emmet pulled away, placing both hands on Ingo’s shoulders.
“You look so shocked, Ingo!” Emmet exclaimed, that ever-present smile never leaving his face. “It’s almost as though you do not recognize your own brother!”
Oh. Yeah.
“About that…” Cass interjected, taking a hesitant step closer to the pair. “Ingo lost his memory when he was taken to the past. It still hasn’t come back yet…not in full, anyway.”
Emmet turned his head to look at Cass, still not taking his hands off of Ingo. “Not in full? What do you mean?”
Ingo cleared his throat, immediately regaining his brother’s attention. “Some things are familiar,” he explained. “Buildings like those in the town…the region we’re from…And now, looking at you, I’m starting to remember even more…” Tears welled up behind Ingo’s eyes as he spoke, an emotion Cass had never seen on the man’s face before. “You’re my brother. My brother…”
Emmet’s smile grew–somehow, despite seeming impossible–and a single tear slid down his cheek. “Yes,” he said definitively. “I am Emmet. And you are my brother, Ingo.”
Emmet pulled Ingo into another tearful hug; more muffled words were spoken as the pair embraced. Cass was so caught up in the emotion of the moment that she almost didn’t notice another person approach.
“It’s really him, isn’t it?”
Cass turned to see a young woman in a blue bodysuit standing off to the side, wiping a single tear from her eye. “To be honest, I had my doubts,” the woman continued. “It’s been so long, I didn’t think it was possible.”
Cass smiled brightly. “That’s my specialty. Doing the impossible.”
The woman turned to face Cass fully. “Sorry, I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Skyla, the Gym Leader from Mistralton City. I’m also pretty good friends with those two.”
The pair turned to face the reunited brothers, a wistful smile on Skyla’s face. “It really took a toll on him, y’know,” she mused. “Emmet, I mean. Don’t get me wrong, he was still smiling every time I saw him…but it felt fake. Both of us knew it, but he didn’t stop.” She sighed, placing her hands on her hips. “I’m a little amazed that he kept the Subway up and running all this time. Then again, both of them have always been the determined sort.”
Skyla turned to face Cass fully again, a determined look on her face. “Thank you, Champion,” she stated. “You didn’t have to do this for us…for Emmet…but you did. All of Unova’s grateful.”
Cass felt heat rising to her cheeks as she sheepishly smiled. She was tempted to say “it’s really not a big deal,” but the teary embrace beside her made it clear that it was. “You’re welcome,” she finally said. “I’m happy to help. Ingo and I became pretty good friends in Hisui, so helping him out is really the least I can do.”
Skyla grinned, placing a hand on Cass’s bicep. “Well, that just means you’ll have to visit Nimbasa!” she exclaimed. “You and your boyfriend over there.”
Cass’s blush grew as she glanced over towards Volo. “He’s not–”
She blinked in surprise when she didn’t see him; he had just been there, hadn’t he? She looked around and caught sight of Lunaire walking in another direction; the Umbreon looked back to Cass, barked, then continued on.
“Sorry,” Cass said, briefly turning back to Skyla. “I should go check on him.”
Skyla shook her head almost knowingly. “No problem. We’ll be here.”
---
Lunaire led Cass to a small stretch of sand next to Hallowed Tower. Volo sat on the shore while Togekiss chittered softly at his side. He’d taken off his hiking boots and set his feet in the gentle waves. When he heard Cass approach, he turned to look at her and smiled a bit before turning back towards the river.
Cass kicked off her own shoes before sitting down next to him. “Hey.”
“Hey,” Volo replied, not looking at her.
“Everything okay?” Cass asked, resting her head on her knees.
Cass nodded, letting him talk. Expressions of sincere emotion were still rare for Volo, and she wanted to give him the space he needed.
“Seeing Ingo reunite with his brother…” Volo began, still not meeting Cass’s gaze. “It put my actions into a stark perspective. Part of why he is here, memories lost and mind confused, is because of me. And if I had succeeded…they never would have reunited in the first place.” He sighed for a moment. “It’s…sobering.”
He sighed, gazing up at the sky. Togekiss chirped in concern, nudging his hand with her nose. “I have to wonder if, knowing what I know now, I would still have attempted what I did.”
Cass nodded, and for a moment as she collected her thoughts the only sound that could be heard was the gentle breaking of waves on the shore.
“Well, the way I see it,” she finally replied, “your feelings toward Arceus and the world as a whole have two possible outlets. One, your original plan of returning everything to the beginning.”
Volo nodded. “And the other?”
“To make the world we live in now a better place.”
Volo turned to face her, the sunlight reflecting in his eyes. His expression was one of melancholy, one of anxiety, but most of all, it held that curiosity that Cass had come to admire about him.
“I wasn’t kidding back in Jubilife when I said I wanted you to experience good things,” Cass continued. “I know it’s difficult. And I know the world is harsh and cruel sometimes. But I’m hoping that I can show you its bright side, too.” She glanced out over the water, admiring the way the river sparkled under the sun. “Yes, the world has plenty of issues. But a lot of those issues are fixable. And I’m hoping that we can fix at least some of those issues together.”
She then turned back towards Volo, another statement on her tongue… but she trailed off when she met his eyes. There it was again. That look she’d been seeing so often. It frustrated and confounded her that she couldn’t place what it was.
Affection?
That couldn’t be right, could it?
Cass felt heat rise to her cheeks as she stared back at Volo. Her gaze fell to his lips, upturned in a slight smile.
She wanted to kiss him.
Arceus, she wanted to kiss him.
“You’re quite inspiring when you talk about things you’re passionate about,” Volo mused, breaking Cass out of her trance.
“I…am?” Cass tilted her head in confusion, silently praying that none of her previous thoughts were projected onto her expression.
Volo’s smile grew. “You are.”
He stood, brushing sand off his pants, and offered a hand to help her up. Cass took it, trying not to focus on how her hand fit in his, or how strong he was, or how close they were now.
They were mere inches apart.
“And, so you know,” Volo continued, his voice low and soft, “thanks to you, I’ve seen quite a few things worth protecting in this world.”
Cass swallowed thickly, trying not to let her nerves show on her face. “A-and those would b-be?” she stuttered, cursing her flusteredness.
Volo squeezed her hand gently, a devilish smirk worming its way onto his face. Cass had seen a similar expression once before; she remembered it from the temple, when Volo was in the process of summoning Giratina. But this time, there was no madness or malice in his eyes. The expression was playful. It was mischievous.
It suggested that he knew exactly what he was doing to her, and that he liked it.
“I think I’ll let you figure that out,” he said simply before letting go of her hand and taking a few steps away. “Come on. We should get back to the others.”
Cass just stood there for a moment, barely registering Lunaire nudging against her legs.
He was going to be the death of her.
---
“Thank you again for your help, Champion Cassandra,” Emmet stated. They stood next to Skyla’s plane; Skyla herself was in the process of getting the plane up and running as the twins spoke to Cass and Volo. “Your assistance is most appreciated.”
Ingo nodded. “I cannot thank you enough for helping to reunite me with my brother. You have been a wonderful friend to me both here and in Hisui.”
Cass smiled sheepishly. “I’m glad I could help! I’m sorry your memory hasn’t come back yet, though…”
Ingo shook his head. “It will return in time. For now, all that matters is that I have been recoupled with Emmet. As long as we are together, I can focus on making new memories rather than mourning the ones I have lost.”
“Indeed!” Emmet exclaimed. “Champion, you must visit Nimbasa City at some point so that we may thank you properly.”
Cass’s smile widened. “I will! I’ve been wanting to try out the Battle Subway since I heard about it. It sounds like a fun challenge!”
The twins brightened at the mention of their business, and they struck their signature pose.
“We shall await your challenge, then!” Ingo stated.
“Perhaps we shall see you on the Multi Train, alongside your boyfriend!” Emmet added.
Cass’s face erupted in red. “He’s not my–”
She was cut off by the engine of Skyla’s plane roaring to life. The pilot leaned out of the cockpit, beckoning towards the twins. “C’mon, you two!” she shouted. “Let’s get you home!”
The twins nodded once at each other, then at Cass and Volo, before walking briskly towards the plane and boarding. With one final wave, Skyla took off. Cass and Volo then watched as the plane grew smaller against the horizon before it grew too small to see altogether.
Volo let out a small yawn. “Well. I suppose it’s back to business for us, then.”
Cass nodded. “We should probably get dinner first, though. It’s gotten pretty late…”
True to her word, the sun was making its way lower in the sky, and the horizon was painted in orange and pink. The pair began walking back towards Solaceon, their Pokemon trailing behind.
“So. Veilstone tomorrow,” Volo stated.
“Veilstone tomorrow,” Cass repeated affirmatively. “And the Team Galactic HQ.”
Volo nodded. “Have you come up with any ideas yet?”
Cass smiled to herself as they passed a road sign. The layout of the building filled her mind, and as she mentally walked herself through it…
in celestic town, cass comes face to face with a person she hasn't seen in months. she deals with this person--and the feelings she holds for him--spectacularly well, as always.
(cw: none for this chapter. contains postgame spoilers)
read on ao3
The tension in the air was so thick you could cut it with a knife.
For a while, Volo simply stared dumbfoundedly at Cass; she stared back, her mouth falling open slightly. A low growl from Umbreon seemed to snap Volo out of whatever trance he was in, and his eyes narrowed. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Language,” Cogita chided noncommittally.
“I think I should be asking you that,” Cass replied, standing up. “Last I checked, you were back in Hisui planning to take over the world or something. How’s that going, by the way?”
Volo scowled. “It would be going smoothly if a certain someone didn’t continually show up uninvited.”
“Cogita literally invited me–”
“Both of you, calm down,” Cynthia commanded, placing a firm hand on both Volo and Cass’s shoulders. “I know you two have your differences, but at least hear Grandmother out before you fight to the death.”
Cass laughed, sitting back down forcefully. “Differences sure is a word for it,” she quipped, not taking her eyes off of Volo. “Then again, I guess I do feel pretty different than someone who stabs his best friend in the back and tries to destroy the world.”
Volo scoffed dismissively. “Still so torn up over that? I would’ve thought the chosen one had better things to do than stew in her feelings.”
Cass glared at him with as much venom as she could muster.
“I said calm down,” Cynthia interjected, her grip on Volo’s shoulder tightening. “Grandmother, please tell me you didn’t call Cass here just to argue with him.”
Cogita said nothing, instead sipping her tea.
“I’d like to know too, actually,” Cass interrupted, closing her eyes and rubbing her temples. “Cogita, why did you need Volo to be here to speak with me?”
“Simple,” Cogita replied, setting her teacup down on its saucer. “Volo is going to aid you in your investigation into the distortions.”
“What?!” Cass and Volo exclaimed in unison.
“It shall be how he atones for his past actions,” Cogita continued. “He has prior experience with tearing holes in the fabric of reality; I’m sure he’ll be of some use to you.”
“Do I get no say in this?!” Volo asked, turning to face Cogita fully.
Cogita shot him a look. “Do you think you’ve earned a say?”
Volo opened his mouth, then shut it. He shifted his gaze to Cass, who suppressed a shudder. “Do you even want my help in the first place?”
Cass inhaled, ready to say “no,” before stopping herself. Did she want his help? Sure, she had plenty of bad memories associated with him…but she had a plethora of good ones as well. Nights spent around the campfire discussing ancient legends, helpful items given to her with a playful smile, battles that were friendly competitions rather than life-or-death clashes…Volo had and continued to frequent Cass’s thoughts, even after he’d betrayed her.
Cass looked up at Volo; he stared back at her with a piercing gaze. It felt like he was picking her apart where she sat, staring directly into her mind and listening to her thoughts. For better or for worse, he had always been able to see right through her defenses.
“I think,” Cass began, trying to get around the lump forming in her throat, “that your insights would be… helpful.” She paused for a moment, mulling over her words before continuing. “Cogita’s right; you know more about these rifts than I do. And while I probably could accomplish my task alone…I think it’ll go a lot smoother if we work together.”
Volo blinked in surprise; from the looks of it, he fully expected Cass to reject his help and leave him behind. “...really?” he asked, his voice much softer than it had been throughout the conversation.
“Yes, really.” Cass ran a hand through her hair. “You actually make a decent traveling companion when you’re not trying to cause the apocalypse.”
“There’s the Cass I know,” Volo remarked dryly, his eye narrowing again. “I was beginning to wonder where she went.”
Cass stuck her tongue out at him, but said nothing.
“Come now, Volo,” Cogita interjected, drawing the group’s attention. “You cannot tell me sincerely that you’re happy being stuck in Celestic Town with an old woman like me. I’m doing you a favor.”
Volo sighed, sinking into the chair in front of him. “Fine,” he stated after a brief moment of silence. “I’ll help Cassandra with her little project. Happy?”
“Quite,” Cogita replied. She took a final sip of her tea, finishing off the cup, then set it down. “Now, to particulars. As Cynthia has no doubt informed you, Cassandra, there’s been a disturbance in spacetime. Distortions have been appearing one after another.”
Cass nodded and took out her Arc Phone, trying to ignore the venomous glare Volo looked at it with as she did so. “Arceus told me to fix them,” she explained. “Do you have any idea how to…do that?”
“Unfortunately, I know not much more than you do,” Cogita answered. “However, I can say with confidence that these distortions are different from those that appeared in Hisui during your time there.”
“Different? How?” Volo asked, his natural curiosity finally overcoming his bitterness.
Cogita glanced at him. “The distortions in Hisui were caused by you and Giratina, were they not?” she asked. “That cannot be the case here.”
“Right,” Cass added. “Wormy’s in the PC. I checked on it on the way here.”
Volo turned to face her, a dumbfounded expression on his face. “I’m sorry, Wormy?”
“What’s more, Wormy has been in Cassandra’s care for years now,” Cogita continued, completely ignoring Volo’s outburst. “It could not have caused these new rifts; the effects of the original have long since waned.”
“So something or someone else is causing this,” Cass said, placing her thumb and forefinger to her chin.
Cynthia returned to her spot leaning against the doorframe and nodded. “And if you find the source…”
“Then I can make it stop,” Cass concluded. “It’s just finding the source that’s going to be the hard part.”
“You could visit Canalave Library,” Cynthia suggested. “It’s a good starting point, if nothing else.”
Cass nodded. “And there’s something else I need to do research on as well,” she replied, playing back her final conversation with Ingo in her mind. “That settles it, then. Canalave it is.”
“Canalave can wait until tomorrow,” Cogita interjected. “For now, though, I believe a good night’s sleep is in order.”
Cass yawned, and the fatigue that had been steadily piling on her all day seemed to sink in all at once. “Definitely,” she replied, standing and stretching. Umbreon shook himself awake, making his way out from under the table to stand beside his trainer. Cass turned to Volo, who didn’t meet her gaze. “I’ll meet you out front tomorrow morning, okay?”
Volo hummed noncommittally in reply.
Deciding to avoid pressing the subject, Cass turned to Cynthia. “You have my number, right?” she asked, shoving the Arc Phone back into her pocket. “Call me if you find anything out.”
“Will do,” Cynthia replied, walking with her to the door. She opened it and placed a gentle hand on Cass’s shoulder as the young Champion stepped outside. “And if he ever gives you trouble,” Cynthia added, lowering her voice, “let me know.”
Cass smiled gratefully. “Thanks. I kicked his ass before, though. I think I’ll be able to do it again if needed. Still, it’s nice to know I can count on you.”
Cynthia nodded and returned the smile with a smaller one of her own. “Have a good night.”
With that, she closed the door, leaving Cass outside in the chilly night air. Cass shivered, turning and making her way toward the Pokemon Center, her Pokémon hot on her heels.
“I do not get paid enough for this, Umbreon.”
---
Pluto stared down at a report from the team at Spear Pillar. The words were beginning to blur together; given the late hour and the lack of sleep he’d been getting recently, it felt like his brain was fighting him as he continued to work. But he wouldn’t stop now. He couldn’t stop now.
Not when he was so damn close.
The sound of the warp panel and rushed footsteps caught his attention; moments later, a grunt burst through the door to his office. “Boss!” the grunt exclaimed, skidding to a halt and panting.
Pluto’s eyes narrowed as he placed the report on his desk. “How many times have I told you?” he stated, his tone flat and demanding. “You are not to address me as such. That title is reserved for Master Cyrus alone.”
“A-apologies!” the grunt stammered, standing up straight. “But there’s something that requires your attention!”
“Spit it out,” Pluto commanded.
The grunt took a breath in an attempt to compose himself, then met Pluto’s gaze.
“Champion Cassandra has returned.”
Pluto’s blood boiled at the mention of her name. He began to grip the pen in his hand so hard that it nearly broke. “What?”
“I-I’m sorry!” The grunt bowed at the waist, trying to avoid Pluto’s harsh gaze. “She held a press conference on Sinnoh Now earlier today.”
“And you’re telling me about this now?” Pluto pressed.
“I couldn’t leave my post until a few minutes ago! I’m sorry!”
The pen in Pluto’s hand snapped, causing ink to spill onto his hand. He stood from his desk abruptly. “Bring me Mercury,” he instructed his tone leaving no room for argument.
As the grunt rushed out of the room, Pluto threw the broken pen into the trash can before searching for something with which he could wipe his hands. He let out a deep sigh, clenching his fist at his side.
