???? Lucario: "I'm still on the clock. Ms. Daisy has a presentation. I wouldn't forgive myself if I missed that. Jaboca, help reconstitute Heartscale."
Jaboca: "Oui. Come on then. Viridian Woods..."
The Scrafty's name has been revealed!
Sarah checked her phone as the four dismounted, 7:30. They were right on time, then.
She patted the aerodactyl. âRest up, buddy. Weâre headed elsewhere after the party!â He trilled back, as if to say that the flight didnât wear him out at all, before she returned Wyvern to his pokeball. She checked the clock again, for good measure. 7:31.
âWhyâre we so early?â Silver glanced over her shoulder and scowled at the time. (At least, she assumed it was the time. He could be scowling at her super cute wallpaper of Sparkle.)
His boyfriend rolled his eyes. âCommon wedding courtesy is arriving 15 minutes before the set time.â
Silver exchanged a look with Hugh.
âThe elevator to go up also takes a while.â Sarahâs eyes trailed up the tower, the very same one where many things happened 4 years ago. Or was it 3âŠ? She could never remember.
âWell then,â Hugh lightly shoved the two guys in the direction of the entrance, âWeâve stalled enough out here. Letâs get going.â
â đâ đžâ
She fidgeted, tapping her foot as the elevator slowly moved upwards. Sarah could remember going up with Hop like it was yesterday. She glanced at the other three, still thinking to herself. Would Hop be there? Would Bede and Marnie?
Sarah thought again, probably not. Galarâs hero or not, Leon probably wouldnât want Hop going. And Piers, Marnie. Would Bede even want to go?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a tap on the shoulder. She glanced at Gladion, who gestured to the standing display that signified they were near the top of the tower.
âBrace yourselves.â Hugh looked at the other three somewhat seriously, but Sarah could see the excited twinkle in his eyes. âWe donât know what weâre in for.â
â đâ đžâ
The first sight was a green haired man standing in front of an elegant door. Was that door there 4 years ago? She still couldnât remember.
âSo. We meet again.â The man smiled at Sarah and her boyfriend. âHugh,â He nodded and handed him a large, crisp envelope, âAnd⊠Sarah, right?â
She nodded, and he handed her an envelope too. Her full name was inked out in a rose gold script on the front. Just above Team Rocketâs R and Marco Cosmosâ emblems.
âN!â The girl studied the man who had (inadvertently) saved them from Ghetsis. âItâs been a while!â
âIndeed it has.âÂ
âIs your outfit based on-?â
âReshiram?â He smiled, âIt is.â N glanced at the other two. âNames?â
Silver only stared. âIf you know them, then whatâre you doing working here?!â
N only smiled. âWell, officially? Chairman Rose pays well. But if you truly must know,â His expression shifted to a more serious one, âIâm keeping an eye on Ghetsis.â
âHeâs here?!â Hughâs eyes widened.
N deliberately looked away. âYou two. Names.â
âGladion.â
âSilver.â
He handed them the envelopes. âPlease read through everything. The seating chart is also in there.â He gestured beyond the doors, âThe ceremony will take place straight ahead, soon. Sign the guest book along the way, if you have time.â
âBut-â
N ignored Hughâs protest, opening the doors and gesturing them inside. âPlease enjoy the experience!â
â đâ đžâ
Sarah glanced around the âchapel,â which was just a large portion of the towerâs top floor walled off. The view of Wyndon at night was beautiful. At least the two villains had taste.
She glanced at the chairs set out, not too many. She then spotted a few people she recognized, âLeon!â
Sarah noticed that he was wearing his battle tower suit instead of his champion outfit while running over to him. She glanced back at the other three, who took their assigned seats, before tackling the champion.
âSarah!â Leon hugged her, then ruffled her hair. âWhatâre you doing here?â
âI was invited! As one of Galarâs heroes, of course!â She looked around for Hop.
Leon chuckled, like he could tell what she was thinking. âOh, I wouldnât let Hop go. Him and the other two.â Leon shook his head, âI feel like theyâre up to no good, Rose and Giovanni, but I know youâll be alright. Youâre a brilliant battler, at least!â
Sarah shrugged, âFigures.â She then looked at the other man standing with him.
Sarah excitedly grinned at the Kan-Joh champion. (She noted that he chose a simple suit with darker versions of the signature dragon-type colors.) âItâs a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Lance! My nameâs Sarah!â
He extended his hand for a shake, which she eagerly returned, âYou too, kiddo. Shame you fought the league while I was on vacation.â
âOh yeah! I did.â Was that really 3 years ago? Or 2? âKarenâs pretty strong, though!â
âShe is.â
â đâ đžâ
Sarah wandered back to her assigned seat, watching as guests arrived. A man, who looked like Rose, arrived with two girls- one she thought might be about her age. A man who had wild orange hair (was that the Lysandre guy from Kalos?) arrived with⊠Professor Sycamore? What was he doing here??
When Ghetsis arrived, she kept glancing at Hugh. He sent her a reassuring smile, as if to say, âDonât worry, I wonât make a scene. But I still hate him.â
Giovanniâs executives arrived together. She couldnât remember any of their names except Protonâs, who sent her a friendly wave which she returned.
She stopped really paying attention when a portal shimmered open from the floor, which Cyrus stepped out of. He took a seat, but the ghost of a chain on his ankle still shimmered in the air.
A few other people arrived, but she didnât fully recognize them. Maybe they were from other universes, haha.
To the left of the altar, she and the others sat with Leon, Lance, and some of the people she didnât know.
Everyone took their seats at 8:15, as the executives moved to the front. Proton stood with the blue haired guy on the left, the purple haired guy and the red haired woman on the right. (From her appearance, and the way Silver kept glaring at her, Sarah guessed that she was his mother.)
When the lights dimmed, she snapped out of her thoughts.
â đâ đžâ
Giovanni walked down the aisle (pre-decorated with rose petals) in a black suit and a red tie, done in Roseâs signature style.
He was soon followed by Oleana, who stood behind him. Was she really qualified to be the priest?
Lusamine smiled at her niece and her son, turning back to the altar when Oleana cleared her throat.
â đâ đžâ
âWe are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Galarâs own Chairman Rose Azalea, and Kantoâs Giovanni Rocket.â People clapped politely, which Oleana silenced with a dramatic hand flourish.
âGio.â Rose smiled, âWeâve known each other for quite some timeâŠâ
The chairman kept talking, but Sarah zoned out. She wondered what moments of her life led up to this moment. She really should have just not come.
Giovanni started speaking, but she didnât listen to that either. Hugh could probably just tell her what they- oh wait, no. He was too busy glaring at Ghetsis behind her back.
When Oleana started talking again, she tuned back in.
â đâ đžâ
â-Rose, do you take Giovanni for your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?â
âI do.â
âGiovanni, do you take Rose for your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?â
âI do.â
Oleana nodded. âThe rings?â Everyone turned as Giovanniâs persian confidently walked down the aisle, a pillow with the rings in his mouth, before sitting at Lusamineâs feet. (Because of course he did.)
The two each took one and placed them on each otherâs hands.
Oleana smiled as she stepped to the side, âNow you may kiss the groom.â
â đâ đžâ
âCocktail hour sucks.â Silver scowled at no one in particular, âWe canât even drink.â
âThese hors dâoeuvres are good, at least.â Sarah plopped down her plate, which had a bunch of deviled eggs, cheese cubes, and a few sausages.
Hugh shook his head, âThe limit was two per-â
âPffft.â She popped a cheese into her mouth, âItâs the least Rose can do.â
Gladion chuckled, âSarah-â
âShhh, wait. This is the best part of Galarian weddings.â
They turned to the center of the room, where the center of the floor sunk in and revealed a battle court.
Giovanni and Rose walked towards the center, where they sent out their nidoking and copperajah respectively.
âWhat are they-â
âPart of the Galarian tradition is that the couple has their first battle at the reception!â
They kept watching as the two pokemon exchanged blows, but copperajah eventually fell.
Rose healed his pokemon as someone passed Giovanni a microphone.
Silver smirked. âHeh. Looks like itâs the Kantonian part of the wedding, then.â
âHuh-â
âMy dear guests,â Giovanni grinned at everyone seated, âLet the battles commence. Whoever beats me and my husband the swiftest shall receive a⊠reward weâll say.â
Sarah glanced at Hugh. âYou wanna-?â
âYou didnât even have to ask.â They grinned and exchanged a fist bump.
Gladion grinned at his boyfriend, âGuess that means-â
âYeah, yeah. Whatever.â Silverâs smile didnât match his tone.
â đâ đžâ
Sarah grinned while watching the two girls fight. One had a tyrantrum and the other a sylveon. She couldnât help but feel bad- based on type matchups alone, they were screwed. The thought mustâve jinxed something, because the second she turned back to the court, both pokemon were being returned.
âOoh, that means itâs our turn!â
Hugh grinned in return, âWe mop the floor with âem?â
âYou know it!â
â đâ đžâ
âSparkle!â Sarah then did a weird⊠gesture? Dance? Giovanni and Rose exchanged a look, eyes widening when energy shimmered around her. âExtreme Evoboost!â
Her eevee channeled the Z-Power, and a blue aura shimmered around her.
âBouffalant, Psych Up!â The bovine copied Sparkleâs double omni boost.
âBut that shouldnât be possible-â
Sarah grinned proudly. âCobalion taught him! My Cobalion!â
Giovani chuckled to himself. âOf course they did. Nidoking, Megahorn. Target the eevee.â
âCopperajah, Iron Head! Follow nidoking.â
âSparkle, use Freezy Frost on nidoking!â
âBouffalant, hit copperajah with your strongest Close Combat!â
â đâ đžâ
The two plopped back down at the table.
âThat mustâve been record timing!â
The duo turned to Silver, who showed the timer on his phone- 5 minutes. âAnd most of that was just me dancing!â
âSpeaking of time,â Silver turned to Gladion with a scowl. âHurry up.â
âIâve gotta pick the right disk.â
âThey donât share any weaknesses.â
âOoh, water might be good. Resists steel.â
âHah!â Gladion plucked the blue disk from his case, âKnew I could count on you, cuz.â
â đâ đžâ
âThink theyâll beat them?â
âI think theyâll take out nidoking, but I donât know what theyâll do against Coppera-â
âSilvally, use Flamethrower!â
âWeavile, Brick Break!â
ââŠI stand corrected.â
â đâ đžâ
âCongratulations, Sarah. And your boyfriend too.â Rose handed her a 300P gift card for Smoliv Garden.
ââŠThanks Rose.â She pocketed it.
âThatâs Chairman Rose to you.â
âYeah, yeah,â She grinned, âThanks Rose.â
She watched as Rose and Giovanni left the room. Likely for pictures. She checked her phone again, 10:25. Dinner was at 11. There was still a while to hang outâŠ
â đâ đžâ
âSarah.â A voice called out to her, and also patted her shoulder.
She looked up from her arms and very eloquently blinked at Hugh. âHuh.â
âDinner.â
âItâs 11?â
âYup. You fell asleep.â
She shook herself awake, still disoriented. âDid the others-â
âYeah, theyâre already in the dining hall.â
âAlrighty then, letâs go!â
â đâ đžâ
ââŠServing Kantonian and Galarian food is a weird choice.â
âYouâre telling me.â
Sarah and Hugh sat with the others, each picking up a menu.Â
âWow. Theyâre really going for legit stuff.â
Sarahâs eyes widened, âThis is like, four separate caterers!â
âYou gonna get ramen?â Gladion glanced at his cousin, who was going down the menu.Â
âProbably.â
Gladion nodded, âFigures. I think Iâll do the same.â
âMight try the curry.â Hugh smiled at his girlfriend, âWonât be as good as yours, though.â
She grinned proudly as Silver rolled his eyes.
âThink Iâll get seafood.â
Sarah skimmed the seafood menu. She then shook her head, she was never fond of fish and was allergic to shellfish. There was no point in even looking. About to flip back, the small logo in the corner caught her eye. She smiled slightly to herself as she realized that the caterer was the same resteraunt as the one heâd taken her and Sonia years ago.
They typed their orders into the screen on the table.
â đâ đžâ
When the lights dimmed and the couple strutted through the doors, sitting at the head table, Sarah knew they would start droning on again.
âMy dear guests. I thank you all-â
She was close to putting her head down and falling asleep again, but decided to just zone out. She snapped back to reality when she saw Lance (who also seemed to be zoning out) peek up out of the corner of her eye.
â-and a thank you to our special guests: Champion Leon, Champion Lance, and Champion Sarah! Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to be here and celebrate with us!â
The three looked at each other from their respective tables, before all three grinned awkwardly at the polite applause.
âAnd to that, I toast you my friends!â He raised his glass of champagne and everyone followed suit. (The minors only had water in their glasses, but still obliged.)
âCheers!â
â đâ đžâ
Sarah wolfed down her food when it was served.
âI didnât starve you, did I, dear?â The other three turned to Lusamine, while Sarah kept slurping.
âSheâs just like this, Mother.â Gladion frowned, âNow tell us what youâre doing here.â
She only laughed, âRose has been a dear friend of mine for forever. Not attending his own wedding would be quite rude, especially after he attended mine.â
Before anyone could reply, Sarah dug into her bag, pulling out the envelope and two luxury balls.
âSince youâre going to the gift table, could you put these there for me?â
âIâm regretting the pokemon-as-a-gift decision,â Silver frowned. âHow do we know they wonât mistreat them?â
Sarah shook her head emphatically. âThey seem alright. And theyâre definitely not those two.â She jerked a thumb in the direction of Cyrus and Ghetsis.
Lusamine nodded in agreement, took the three objects, and walked away.
Hugh shook his head, âWhat was even in that envelope anyways-â
âA check for like, a billion P, probably.â Gladion frowned as Sarah nodded.
Silver only shook his head. âRich people.â
â đâ đžâ
The night commenced with dancing. A lot of dancing.
Sarah wasnât big on dancing, but even she was dragged on the floor for one slow dance.
The finale of the event happened as the walls lowered into the floor, making the space open once again. The windowed part of the roof opened up and a corviknight taxi flew in. The couple boarded it, calling out âArrivederci!â and âBon voyage!â as they showered rose petals and flew off.
Sarah glanced up at the sight, âIs it finally over??â
â đâ đžâ
They stalled for a bit, but soon everyone cleared out. Sarah and Hugh also changed, handing their clothes back over to the Aethers.Â
The quartet stood outside Rose Tower, ââŠGuess this is goodbye.â Hugh sadly looked at his two friends, as Sarah moved to the side slightly. They needed their own moment.
âBlueberryâs not gonna be the same without you.â Gladion smiled sadly, as Silver nodded.
âNow we might actually have to hang out with Drayton for company.â Silver mimed throwing up, as the other two chuckled.
Gladion and Silver glanced at each other, before each exchanged an arm. Hugh hugged them both tight.
Sarah smiled slightly when Hugh and Gladion extended arms to her too. The four hugged for a while, knowing that breaking apart would mean they were closer to separating.
When they separated, they stood awkwardly.
ââŠIâm gonna miss you, Gladdy.â She hugged him tight, which he quickly returned.Â
âIâll miss you too. Iâm⊠Iâm glad we got to spend time together this summer.â
âMe too, cuz. Me too.â If she blinked back tears, that was between her and her eyes.
âYou sure you donât need Wyvern?â
âNo. Weâre going back with Mother via the flying taxi.â
âAnd you have everything?âÂ
He nodded.
âOkay.â She turned to Silver, âIt was nice meeting you.â She smiled genuinely at him, âYouâre good for Gladdy. Thanks for keeping him company.â
He blushed and turned away, but still muttered a thank you. He awkwardly patted her on the back, too.
âWell, you guys should get going.â Hugh frowned slightly.
âYeah⊠Aunt Lusamineâs waiting for you.â
They glanced back at the corviknight taxi, like they both forgot she was there.
âRight.â
âWell,â They both started jogging backwards. âArrivederci. Or whatever.â Silver grinned.
âWell keep in touch. Promise.â Gladion and Silver fully turned and ran to the taxi.
Gladion, Silver, and Lusamine waved from the taxi as it disappeared into the night.
â đâ đžâ
âSarah. Wait.â Hugh placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her from running off.
She turned to him, confused.
âI, uh.â He took out his love ball and released applin, also taking out the tart apple sheâd given him months ago. âI- We talked it over.â He gestured between himself and applin, âHeâs ready.â
Sarah let out an excited gasp, cupping both his hands with her own. âReally?â
He nodded, and applin trilled in agreement.
âConsider it a⊠a salud to new adventures, yeah?â She nodded excitedly.
Applin touched the apple and they were surrounded in a blue glow.
Flapple filed around their heads, as they each gave him a pet. Hugh returned him to his pokeball, and pocketed it.
Sarah tackled her boyfriend in a hug, âDawww, you getting all romantic on me, Hugh?â
He laughed, âAre you tearing up again?â
âNo,â She wiped her face, âI got, uh, apple. In my eye. Yeah.â
He laughed again, cupping her face. âCâmere, you dork.â
She pulled him close, kissing him.
They pulled apart, noses touching.
âYou ready for whateverâs next?â
His smile was soft, âAnything.â
Prologue fin.
â đâ đžâ
Cameos:
Sean from @tallgrassghosts
Meg and Kyo from @askthewhiterocket
and finally, @kuixoticâs Cooper! (he didnât have a blog specified lol)
Thank you for letting me grab your chars! Hope I didnât butcher the back of their heads too bad hehe.
(@askthecosmicprince ) âHow large was your swarm? Were you close to them or only a few?â Coming from a large and close knit family the little mew was curious about Altriâs own group.
"I am learning numbers, given what I told the others... Henry says six-tee. A bunch... The Swarm was of many. I was close to many. My swarm was my family. Family I was born with and I chose. A good balance."
"I was fortunate to have that. Sometimes you have to find your family."
@askthecosmicprince
????Lucario: So a Scyther had slain you. However... You found Jonjo Crimson! But he might be under protection? Interesting... Tell me more, Heartscale.
????Lucario: So a Scyther had slain you. However... You found Jonjo Crimson! But he might be under protection? Interesting... Tell me more, Heartscale.
lambda studies the unconscious gallade closer, scenarios upon scenarios being simulated in its head, logistics and possibilities informing its opinions.
"lack of skill in hiding due to inexperience implies a low possibility of malicious intentions - to this forest, at least. ideally, hiding requires minimal disturbance. doing so poorly suggests this is not a common occurrence. a fugitive, very likely, but a criminal? perhaps not, in this particular instance."
lambda turns back to altrii, head poised in an inquisitive tilt.
"this pokemon... does not appear native to this area. it is possible that whatever is pursuing them is also from beyond this land. with it, they may bring some level of danger. how that will affect your decision about what to do with this stranger is up to you, but that is my diagnosis of the situation," lambda concludes. "perhaps the pursuers will shed more light on the nature of this stranger. if you find it worth the risk, that is."
(@lambda-asks) lambda @ altrii: you say you've seen this... gallade around. as in... you are acquainted with them in some way? how are you certain they are harmless?
Henry: "Sleep powder isn't supposed to last this long."
Oddy: "He could be extra extra extra extra sleepy tired."
Altrii: "This forest is very lively . Dangers are known quick. Fights, fleeing, hiding. If he caused any problems I'd know."
Altrii: "... Although... you bring up a point. Maybe he's the one who is hiding...fleeing... From what, I don't know? He's not good at hiding. What do you think?"
@lambda-asks