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The tunnels of Mt. Moon seemed more endless than ever as silence weighed on Ezra and Karen as they pressed forward. The air was thick and damp, clinging to their skin as their footsteps echoed in the oppressive stillness. Ezra didn't glance back often, but when he did, Karen was always just behind him, her head bowed, her silver hair hiding her face. Her arms were wrapped tightly around herself, and the occasional hitch in her breath told him she was crying softly.
Ezra wasn't much for comforting people, especially not now. His own mind was a roiling storm of anger and frustration, and he didn't trust himself to say anything without snapping. What could he say, anyway?
'Sorry for your loss' wouldn't cut it.
He clenched his fists, his boots crunching over loose gravel as they trudged through another narrow passage. His gaze flicked to his reflection in a puddle of water on the cavern floor - his albino, angular face, was marred by dirt and a streak of dried blood along his jaw. His crimson eyes stared back at him, sharp and cold. They were the only part of him that didn't seem entirely exhausted.
Because beneath the surface, he was furious.
Furious at Shae for throwing herself away so recklessly. Furious at the colossal Pokemon that had crushed her and humiliated them all. Humiliated him, showing him how weak he still was. Furious at the legendary figure Shae had spoken of, if it even existed, for toying with their lives. But most of all, he was furious with himself.
He'd failed to get the answers he needed. He'd failed to beat the creature. And in the end, he'd needed someone else to save him, and she'd died for it. The anger burned in his chest, a dark, seething thing that made his hands shake and his stomach churn.
He couldn't say he'd come to like the other girl, her admittance of practically stalking him hadn't exactly endeared her to him. But he'd respected her skill and her take life by the balls attitude.
She didn't deserve to go down like that… Whatever group she came from, whatever Legendary was behind all this…
He'd show them one day…
For himself as much as Shae…
Humans weren't the playthings of Pokemon, Legendary or not.
Pokemon served him, not the other way around.
…
When they reached the next rest stop, the atmosphere was chaotic. Pokemon Rangers were everywhere, their faces etched with fatigue and frustration. Trainers were being ushered out of the mountain in groups, many of them bandaged or nursing injured Pokemon. The air buzzed with tension, and the low murmur of voices was punctuated by sharp commands and the occasional cry of a wounded Pokemon.
It was obvious from the dead bodies in Rocket uniforms that hadn't yet been dealt with - Team Rocket had attacked more than the first rest stop in Mt. Moon.
Ezra and Karen were quickly intercepted by a tall, stern Ranger with a clipboard. Her brown hair was pulled into a tight bun, and her piercing blue eyes scrutinized them like a pair of misbehaving students.
"Names, nature of any injuries?" She asked curtly, her pen poised over the clipboard.
"Ezra Kassian. Nothing that needs attention." Ezra replied, his tone flat. Karen said nothing, her gaze fixed on the ground. The Ranger seemed to know who she was anyway, because after a glance at her, she didn't ask for Karen to identify herself.
"We will need a statement, don't worry, it will be quick, we just need to check with each trainer coming through what their experience has been to see if we can puzzle together a timeline of events." The Ranger said clippedly.
Ezra glanced at Karen, who was still quiet, eyes downcast, and spoke up for both of them, "Alright, lead the way…"
The Ranger nodded and gestured for them to follow her to a large tent set up as a field station and temporary command center. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of antiseptic and the faint, coppery tang of blood. A few Rangers tended to injured trainers and Pokemon, while in a cordoned off section, others pored over maps and documents, their expressions grim, putting down markers on tunnels as reports came in from trainers.
The Ranger led Ezra to a chair, but Karen waved them off when they tried to seat her beside him. She stood near the entrance, arms crossed, her face pale and drawn. She was obviously not ready to speak, and the Rangers seemed inclined to let her, due to who she was attached to.
Ezra could understand it, Agatha wasn't someone a normal peon would want to piss off.
"We need to know what happened during your travels, encounters with either Team Rocket or waves of wild Pokemon, or if you noticed anything at all out of the ordinary," The Ranger said, her tone brisk but tinged with exhaustion. "Start from the beginning."
Ezra glanced at Karen, but she didn't move or speak still. He sighed, leaning back in the chair and running a hand through his hair. He wearily explained the Pokemon wave they'd been forced to endure, the Ranger narrowing her eyes as she wrote down the details, a few Rangers nearby seemingly openly shocked at the numbers they had survived.
The fact three trainers were mentioned in the story he was telling, and only two of them were there - got them sympathetic looks from some of the grim faced Rangers as they obviously listened in. Ezra doubted Shae was the only death, if others had run into similar waves, or whatever Team Rocket had been up to in attacking the rest stops.
As he got to the end of the waves, he hesitated, rubbing his face wearily, he couldn't name the Pokemon obviously, or reveal everything Shae had claimed, so Karen's silence was a boon in a way right now…
"We were just packing up to leave after beating the wave when a gigantic Pokemon caused the earth to shake. It tore through the cavern wall like it was paper."
The Ranger's eyes narrowed. "What Pokemon was it?"
"Don't know," Ezra lied smoothly. "Never seen anything like it. Massive. Bigger than a Snorlax, maybe twice the size. Its hide looked like stone, and it had these glowing red eyes. It moved like it didn't even notice our attacks, like they didn't matter."
He paused, letting that sink in. The Ranger's pen moved quickly over her clipboard. "Would you be able to sketch it?" She asked, handing him his own clipboard.
Ezra nodded, sighing as he got to work sketching out the Rhyperior. He wasn't exactly Michelangelo, but he could do a passable attempt.
When he handed back the drawing, a few Rangers immediately gathered around it, muttering inaudibly. The grim ambiance worsened, and Ezra felt he'd done the right choice in not dropping the name - the Rangers obviously had no idea what kind of Pokemon this was, especially for the size it was.
Which made Ezra all the more certain this had been the action of a Legendary and not a random event.
"We tried to stop it," He continued as the Ranger interviewing him gestured for him to go on, his voice cold. "Didn't do much good. Our teams were strong, but that thing? It was in a whole different league. It tore through us like nothing." He scoffed slightly, "Three teams of trainers throwing everything at it, and it barely scratched it… No wonder the other Pokemon were acting rabid if that kind of being was stomping around."
The Ranger glanced up from her notes, her gaze sharp. "You're thinking it's responsible for the waves of Pokemon we've seen in the mountain?"
Ezra hesitated. "Some of it, yeah. But not all. Team Rocket was stirring things up, but I'm sure you've already noticed that… Whatever that thing was though… It probably made everything much worse."
"Team Rocket," The Ranger muttered, her pen pausing mid-scribble. "We know they attacked multiple rest stops, but why would they risk provoking something like this?" She seemed to be speaking to herself, yet Ezra answered her anyway.
"They didn't," He said bluntly. "If they'd been after that thing… They couldn't handle it even if they tried, if they couldn't handle the security at the rest stops, they wouldn't have managed that thing at all."
The Ranger frowned, her pen tapping against the clipboard. "That is another matter, one for the Rangers, not yourself, but I appreciate the information you have provided." She said somewhat softer in tone, "We will recover your friend's body, if we are able."
Ezra shrugged, feigning indifference. "She's dead, don't waste your efforts if you still have the living to take care of."
Cold perhaps, but Ezra thought the trainers still caught in this chaos were more important than someone already lost.
The Ranger's expression darkened, obviously put out at his attitude, and she glanced at Karen, who remained silent, her arms wrapped around herself. "What about you?" She asked, her voice softening slightly again "Do you have anything to add?"
Karen shook her head, her silver hair falling over her face. "No," She said quietly. "I don't."
And that was the end of their meeting, the Rangers having too much to do to press for more details.
…
The Rangers gave them a small supply of potions to get their Pokemon on their feet again and insisted they move on. The mountain wasn't safe, and they were evacuating trainers as quickly as possible. Ezra and Karen left the rest stop without argument, their Pokemon healed enough to be battle-ready, while not at optimal strength.
With the Rangers running defence across the tunnels, and the waves of Pokemon already defeated, there were no wild Pokemon encounters on the final stretch of the route, to Ezra's relief.
He could have used the stress relief of absolutely bullying them, but his Pokemon, and Karen, were not in the state to really handle it.
They passed another rest stop on their way out of the mountain hours later. This one was in even worse shape, its buildings partially collapsed and the air thick with smoke. The sight of it made Ezra's stomach churn, but he pushed the feeling aside. There was nothing they could do for the people who had already left or the people or Pokemon that might still be buried beneath the rubble.
Karen said nothing, her silence stretching into a tangible weight that Ezra couldn't ignore forever. He wanted to say something - anything - but the words stuck in his throat. What could he possibly say to someone who'd lost a piece of her team? A piece of herself?
He knew he didn't have quite the same bond with most of his Pokemon that other trainers did. He'd mourn if he lost someone, he thought, but he'd move on. His goals are, after all, more important than any one of his Pokemon.
Karen wasn't like him.
She loved her Pokemon, each and everyone of them.
And he didn't know how to even begin to help her.
Especially since all of this happening… Was likely because of him.
…
When they finally emerged on the Cerulean side of the mountain, the sight of the sky was like a balm for Ezra's frayed nerves. The pale blue expanse stretched endlessly overhead, the clouds tinged with the soft hues of early evening. The air was crisp and cool, a relief compared to the oppressive stillness and dampness of the tunnels.
But any sense of relief was short-lived.
A League contingent was waiting for them just beyond the exit. Several tents were set up in a loose circle, their white canvas stark against the rocky terrain. Uniformed officials moved between them with purpose, their expressions grim.
At the center of it all stood Agatha, waiting for them.
The sight of the old woman made Ezra's stomach drop. She was leaning heavily on her cane, her sharp eyes fixed on him with unnerving intensity. Her hunched form and frail appearance were deceptive - Ezra knew better than to underestimate her. There was a weight to her presence, a sense of authority that demanded attention.
He'd hoped not to have to see her lovely face for quite some time.
"Fucking hell," Ezra muttered, his shoulders slumping. He glanced at Karen, who blushed furiously and looked away, refusing to meet his eyes.
He sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair.
He should have really seen this coming.
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Agatha sat across from him in the tent she'd brought him to, her thin frame hunched slightly as she leaned on her cane. Her gnarled fingers traced the edge of the sketch he'd once again drawn, as if willing it to reveal more than it did. Her sharp eyes flicked up to meet Ezra's, and for a moment, it felt as if she could see straight through him.
"Let's not waste time, young Kassian," She said, her voice like brittle iron. "Start from the beginning. Everything. Don't leave out a single detail."
Ezra leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. His crimson eyes gleamed with a mixture of defiance and calculation. "You already have my report to the Pokemon Rangers, I'm sure. As Karen's master, don't you have more important things to deal with right now?"
She was her master, and apparently had partly raised her, Ezra would gladly dump fixing her heartbreak onto the older woman. He was man enough to admit his own personality wasn't the most well suited to be comforting.
He was well aware he was an asshole.
Agatha's expression didn't change, but the slight tightening of her knuckles on the cane betrayed her irritation. "Karen is resilient," She said sharply. "And this is about something far more important than her feelings. Now, speak."
Ezra shrugged, adopting a deliberately casual tone. "Alright. Big scary Pokemon busts through a wall in Mt. Moon. Red eyes, rocky hide, built like a tank on steroids. It stomped around, smashed things up, shrugged off everything we threw at it, and killed someone. The end."
He had already made his deal with Agatha, he didn't need to be her bitch now. Nothing in their deal said he had to be pleasant and subservient.
Whereas before he'd had to navigate things very carefully, he now held more cards in his deck. He was known now, to Gym Leaders, to Professor Oak, to the League. It wouldn't be as easy to railroad him.
Not to mention Karen had gotten attached enough that Agatha would risk alienating her if she went too heavy-handed.
So he would not be as subservient in this meeting as their last…
Agatha's lips pressed into a thin line. "Don't be clever, boy. I'll not tolerate flippancy when lives are at stake. Describe the creature in detail." She tapped the sketch with a bony finger. "Its size. Its strength. Every action it took."
Ezra sighed dramatically, running a hand through his hair, he supposed he could give some details just to save time on arguing, it had been a long day. "Fine. It was bigger than a Snorlax, taller too. Its hide looked like a mix of stone and steel, tough as hell. Red eyes glowing like it hated the entire world. It didn't move fast, but when it did, it hit like a meteor." He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees. "We threw everything we had at it - ghost, dark, ice, fire, poison, fighting moves. Barely scratched it."
Agatha's gaze didn't waver. "And its abilities? Did it display any unique powers?"
"Other than being a walking disaster?" Ezra snarked, feeling annoyance rippling through him. "It could make the ground ripple like an earthquake when it stomped. Knocked most of our Pokemon off their feet. It also had this... shimmer around it sometimes, like its skin was hardening or being protected. Made it even harder to hurt, not that we managed to hurt it anyway."
Agatha leaned back slightly, her cane tapping rhythmically against the ground. "Hmm. And you're certain this wasn't Team Rocket's doing?" She probed.
Ezra raised an eyebrow. "You think a bunch of bumbling criminals who couldn't even take down a half-staffed Ranger station could wrangle that thing?" He gave her a dry sarcastic look, "Please. That thing would've turned them into paste before they got anywhere near it."
Agatha nodded slowly, her eyes narrowing. "Agreed. The Rockets in this area of the region lack the resources and intelligence to wrangle such a creature. Which begs the question…" Her gaze sharpened. "What do you think happened?"
Why the fuck are you asking me, you old hag? He wondered. How much had Karen told of Shae's story…?
Ezra held her gaze, his expression carefully neutral. "No clue," He said evenly. "It showed up, wrecked everything, and left a lot of dead Pokemon and people in its wake. If you're looking for a grand conspiracy, I'm not the one to ask."
Agatha chuckled darkly, a sound that sent a chill down Ezra's spine. "A deflection form a true answer, boy. You know more than you're saying."
Ezra tilted his head, his tone light and mocking. "If you're so sure, why bother asking? Did Karen not give enough details?"
Agatha's smile was razor-thin, her grip tightening on her cane. "Careful, boy. You're not as untouchable as you think."
Ezra leaned back, his smirk unwavering. "Noted."
For now she wanted him a hell of a lot more than he wanted her, and now that he was mixed in the middle of all this, he wasn't as easily removed as he had been during their first discussion. He could afford to be a little more bold, if not entirely antagonistic.
She was still an Elite Four with immense power. So he couldn't tell her to fuck off. It was a balancing act.
For a moment, the tent was silent except for the faint rustle of papers and the distant murmur of voices outside. Then Agatha shifted, her gaze dropping to the sketch before her. "What about the girl? The one who died." Her voice was quieter now, almost contemplative. "Did she mention anything... Peculiar before her end?"
Ezra's smirk faded slightly. He leaned forward, his crimson eyes narrowing. "Why are you so interested in her?"
Karen… I guess I haven't seduced you to my side quite enough yet…
Agatha didn't answer immediately. She traced the edge of the sketch with her finger again, her expression unreadable. "Did she name the group she was working for? A commune, a cult, anything of the sort?"
Confirmation that Karen had indeed reported everything that happened. He'd have to work harder on her going forward.
Ezra frowned, his mind racing, wondering why Agatha had an interest in Shae's origin. "No," He said cautiously. "She didn't."
Agatha's eyes flicked up to meet his, her gaze piercing. "Pity. That would've saved us some trouble."
Ezra's frown deepened. "What kind of trouble?"
Agatha paused, her fingers tapping against the table. "How much do you know about the end of the war?" She asked suddenly.
Ezra blinked, caught off guard by the shift in topic. "Not much," He admitted. "Kanto lost obviously, the other regions were all embroiled in full out war and Johto was facing an invasion after beating us, and some Legendaries stepped in to cut the regions off from each other. Big dramatic show of power, everyone went home. That about covers it, right?"
Agatha muttered something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like 'failure of the school system'. She leaned back in her chair, her gaze growing distant. "The Legendaries are mercurial beings," She said slowly. "Their actions are often random, driven by whims we can't begin to understand. They've shaped the world as much by accident as by design."
Ezra tilted his head, his curiosity piqued despite himself. "So why'd they work together to end the war? That doesn't sound random." If Agatha was in a sharing mood, he was going to take advantage.
Agatha's lips curved into a faint, approving smile. "Indeed. That cooperation was... unprecedented." She leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping to a bitter almost haunted tone. "There was a community - a cult, if you will - that worshipped the Legendaries. They prayed to them, made pilgrimages, offered sacrifices of all kinds. They claimed to have a connection to these beings."
Ezra's stomach twisted slightly. "What kind of sacrifices?" He asked, already having a feeling.
Agatha's expression darkened. "Some distasteful. Others... Unforgivable."
The silence that followed was heavy, oppressive. Ezra forced himself to speak. "And they convinced the Legendaries to stop the war?"
Cultist like that seemed more likely to have other types of goals…
Agatha nodded, her gaze sharp. "Somehow. Almost a dozen Legendaries cooperated to sever the regions from each other for a time. You can understand why we're very interested in what that girl told you…"
Ezra hesitated, then asked, "What happened to the cult?"
Agatha's face went stony, her eyes narrowing. "They disappeared. Never to be heard from again." Her tone left no room for argument, and Ezra knew better than to press the issue. But privately, he had his suspicions.
'Disappeared' probably meant 'slaughtered'. Whatever reason they'd had to convince the Legendaries to separate the regions, no government would trust that they wouldn't have other more nefarious goals, or leave a group alone, which was capable of negotiating with Legendaries to that extent.
Watching Agatha's dark eyes, a flash of satisfaction in them, flaring briefly, he wouldn't be surprised to hear she had a personal hand in the group's 'disappearance'.
Agatha's expression darkened slightly, her tone remaining firm. "If any more of these members approach you, Kassian, you are to take them down and contact me or the League immediately. Understood?"
Ezra snorted, crossing his arms. "I'm not your dog, Agatha. I'll decide for myself what to do."
Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "I'm not joking, boy. Neither Kanto nor Johto will tolerate such a cult continuing to operate."
Ezra leaned forward, his smile cold and sharp. "Is it illegal to talk to them?"
Agatha's lips thinned. "You may consider it to be so," She said coldly.
Ezra's smile widened, though there was no warmth in it. "So, in other words, no, it's not."
"You're playing with fire, young Kassian," Agatha warned, her voice low and dangerous. "I will not tolerate a resurgence in such dangerous people… If you are connected to them…" She let the threat trail off.
Ezra shrugged, unbothered. He knew she wanted him, and with their previous deal already in place, this was just empty threats, at least for now. "We already have a deal. If you want me to do more, you'll have to sweeten the pot."
If he actually met with this cult… He would have to make sure she didn't find out, he didn't want to test their deal to the straining point.
Last thing he wanted was to be locked up on the Indigo Plateau as her 'totally willing apprentice' on eternal house arrest.
Agatha smirked, tapping her cane against the ground. "Heh. Precocious brat." She leaned back in her chair. "Fine. I'll leave it alone, for now."
Ezra didn't trust the glint in her eyes, but he said nothing. He knew she was only backing off because she expected Karen to tattle if anything happened.
Well... He'd work on that.
Karen was already hiding things from Agatha. What was one more secret? He did note she didn't ask about Meowth, so Karen hadn't shared everything.
Curious she'd allow him first chance at the talking Pokemon after all.
But a good sign.
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That night, camp outside Mt. Moon.
The campfire crackled softly, sending tendrils of smoke curling into the night sky. Ezra sat cross-legged by the flames, his gaze fixed on the flickering embers. Beyond the firelight, the faint silhouettes of the League's tents stood against the darkness. Somewhere close, Karen sat hunched on a log, her knees drawn to her chest, her silver hair disheveled.
She'd been like that all day - silent, brooding, and tearful. Ezra wasn't good at this kind of thing, but he'd spent enough time with Karen to know she wasn't going to snap out of it on her own anytime soon. She hadn't even insulted him once today. That, more than anything, worried him.
Okay. You can do this. Just… talk. He told himself.
He cleared his throat, earning a slight flinch from Karen, though she didn't look up. "Hey," He started awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "You, uh… Want some soup or something?"
Karen's shoulders tensed, but she didn't respond. She simply stared into the flames, her red-rimmed eyes hollow.
Ezra sighed, shifting to sit on the edge of the log she occupied. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and glanced sideways at her. "Look, I know today's been rough. More than rough, actually. But you don't have to go through this alone, you know."
Karen let out a mirthless laugh, her voice brittle. "You're bad at this, you know that?" She muttered, wiping at her eyes with the sleeve of her jacket.
Ezra cracked a small grin despite himself and how awkward he felt. "Yeah, well, I never claimed to be good at comforting people. Kind of a work in progress here, I'm way better at insulting them."
Karen sniffled, finally looking at him. Her eyes were puffy, and streaks of dried tears marked her pale cheeks. "Then why are you even trying? Shouldn't you be off brooding about Shae and her prophecy or whatever?" There was a lot of bitterness in her voice, that made him think Houndor wasn't the only thing she was so upset about.
Ezra tilted his head, considering her words. "Thought I'd mix it up and try being helpful for once."
Karen blinked, and despite the heaviness surrounding them, her lips twitched into the faintest hint of a smile. "You're really bad at this." She reiterated.
He felt he wasn't too bad at this, she'd smiled, so he was doing alright. Progress, right?
"Yeah, well, you keep saying that, but I don't see anyone else lining up for the job." Ezra shifted slightly, nudging her with his shoulder. "Come on, Karen. Talk to me. What's going on in that pretty head of yours?"
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Her smile faded, replaced by a flicker of guilt. She hugged her knees tighter, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't feel bad about her."
Ezra frowned. "Shae?" He guessed.
Karen nodded, her hair falling forward to shield her face. "I know I'm supposed to or whatever. She saved you. She died so we could run. But… I just can't bring myself to care about her. And that makes me feel like a terrible person."
Ezra exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. "Karen, look at me."
She hesitated but finally lifted her gaze to meet his.
"It's okay not to care about her," Ezra said, his voice steady. "You barely knew her. Hell, I barely knew her. And let's be honest - she was annoying as hell most of the time. Just because she did one decent thing at the end doesn't mean you have to feel something about her. That doesn't make you a bad person."
Karen's lip trembled, but she quickly bit down on it. "But I feel bad about not feeling bad. Does that even make sense?"
Ezra chuckled softly. "Unfortunately, yeah, it does. Look, I've got mixed feelings about her too. She saved my life, sure, but she also spent half the time she was with us being cryptic and obnoxious. You're not alone in feeling conflicted."
Karen nodded slowly, her arms loosening slightly around her knees. "Maybe… Maybe you're right."
Ezra tilted his head, giving her a faint smirk. "Of course I'm right. When am I ever not?"
Karen rolled her eyes, the action a little too forced to be genuine. But then her expression darkened again, her voice dropping. "It's not just her, though."
Ezra watched her closely, sensing she was about to spill what had been weighing on her all day. Her Pokemon's sacrifice.
"It's Houndour," She whispered, her voice cracking. "I failed him, Ezra. I didn't recall him in time. He - he died protecting me, and it's my fault."
Ezra felt a pang in his chest as he saw the tears welling up in her eyes again. He reached out hesitantly, placing a hand on her shoulder. He had to try. "Karen, listen to me. Houndour loved you. He would have done anything to keep you safe, and he wouldn't have blamed you for a second."
"But I -"
"No," Ezra interrupted firmly. "You didn't fail him. That thing we fought in Mt. Moon? It was a monster, Karen. We were all outmatched, all doing the best we could. Houndour knew what he was doing. He chose to protect you because you meant everything to him. That's not failure - that's love."
Karen's breath hitched, and she wiped at her eyes again, though the tears were falling freely now. "It still feels like I should have done more."
Ezra nodded, his tone softening. "I get that. I really do. But beating yourself up about it isn't going to help. The best way to honor Houndour's memory is to get stronger. Strong enough that nothing like this can happen again. That's what he'd want."
Karen sniffled, her gaze dropping to the ground. "Do you really think so?"
Ezra gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "I know so."
They sat in silence for a while, the crackling of the fire filling the space between them. Ezra kept his hand on her shoulder, offering a steady presence as she quietly wept for the Pokemon she'd lost. The sky above them shifted, the deep blue of twilight bleeding into shades of orange and pink as the sun dipped below the horizon.
"Look," Ezra said softly, nodding toward the sky. "The sunset's pretty tonight, the world goes on still, life moves on, Houndor won't blame you for moving forward."
Karen glanced up, her tear-streaked face softening as she took in the view. The vibrant colors painted across the sky seemed to cast a warm glow over the camp, offering a brief moment of peace.
Ezra shifted closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders in a hesitant but comforting gesture. Karen stiffened for a moment, then relaxed against him, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Thanks, Ezra," She murmured after a while, her voice thick with emotion.
"For what?" he asked, genuinely puzzled, because he'd honestly not said anything she didn't already know.
"For trying," She said simply. "Even if you're bad at it."
Ezra chuckled, the sound low and rumbling in his chest. "I'll not argue the point with you today, as a personal favour. You can win this one time." He lightly teased.
Karen nodded, a faint smile gracing her lips as she leaned into him. For the first time all day, she felt like the weight crushing her chest had lifted, if only slightly. And for now, that was enough.
----------------------------------------
The morning sun cast a golden glow over the landscape as Ezra and Karen set off from the League camp. Ezra had been in no mood to linger, especially after hearing Agatha mention that Bruno was en route to investigate the gigantic Pokemon and to scour Mt. Moon of any more issues.
Agatha was enough trouble to deal with. Another Elite Four member? No, thank you.
Karen walked beside him, quieter than usual but no longer the withdrawn, brooding figure from the night before. She'd tied her silver hair back, her expression steely as she adjusted her pack. Ezra stole a glance at her, relieved to see a bit of the fire back in her eyes.
They crested a hill just before midday, the dirt path sloping down into a wide plain, and paused as the view of Cerulean City unfolded before them. Ezra blinked, taking in the sight of the sprawling city below.
Cerulean looked nothing like the cities they'd passed through before. It was vibrant, alive, and impossibly picturesque. Cheerfully painted buildings in shades of blue, green, yellow, and white were scattered across a landscape seemingly woven with ribbons of sparkling water. Rivers and canals crisscrossed the city, dividing it into countless small islands connected by arched wooden bridges and smooth stone walkways. The water reflected the bright sunlight, making the entire city shimmer as if it were enchanted.
In the middle of it all, the Cerulean Gym stood out like a beacon. The building towered over the surrounding structures. A massive arena extended from the back of the gym, its tall walls visible even from this distance.
"Ugh, this is going to suck," Karen groaned, breaking Ezra's study of the bright city before them.
Ezra turned to her with an amused smile, already guessing what her problem was. "Why's that?"
Karen scrunched her nose in distaste, glaring at the city as if it had personally offended her. "You'll see," She grumbled.
Ezra chuckled, his curiosity piqued on what exactly she'd experienced to be so reluctant, but decided not to press her. Instead, he adjusted his bag and started down the hill, leading the way toward the city. Karen followed with a sigh, muttering under her breath.
…
As they entered Cerulean, the city seemed even livelier than it had appeared from above. The streets bustled with people and Pokemon alike, the air filled with the cheerful hum of conversations and the sound of rushing water. Families strolled across the bridges, children pointing excitedly at the Magikarp and Goldeen swimming in the canals below. Trainers stopped to battle or show off their Pokemon, their voices rising in enthusiastic chatter.
"This place feels like a postcard," Ezra remarked, glancing around. His Umbreon padded at his side, ears twitching at the noise.
Karen snorted, her arms crossed as she walked. "Too cheerful," She muttered. "Like they're trying too hard."
"Not a fan of water towns, huh?" Ezra asked, smirking. "Is that really why you don't like it here?" He poked at her.
Karen shot him a sidelong glance. "I prefer places where you don't have to worry about falling into a canal every five minutes."
Ezra grinned, his amusement growing. "Bet you fell in when you were younger." He teased, even if he was sure she was lying about her reason for disliking the city.
Karen's cheeks flushed, and she looked away, her expression sour. "Shut up."
Ezra laughed, shaking his head. They passed a fruit vendor who was selling vibrant blue berries that Ezra didn't recognize. Karen stopped to buy a handful, tossing one to her Murkrow, which cawed happily before snatching it out of the air.
The bridges they crossed were adorned with colorful flower boxes, the petals of lilies, marigolds, and tulips cascading down in vibrant displays. Ezra noticed a pair of trainers fishing on a wooden dock, their Poliwag and Psyduck lounging nearby, the water rippling with the occasional splash of a hooked Magikarp.
As they continued, the streets narrowed in places, and the sound of running water became louder, the air cooler and tinged with the smell of vibrant nature. Karen muttered complaints about the humidity and how her hair would frizz, earning a teasing remark from Ezra about vanity that she pointedly ignored.
Eventually, they reached the Pokemon Center.
Nurse Joy greeted them with her usual serene smile from behind the counter. "Welcome to the Pokemon Center. How can I help you?"
Ezra stepped forward, placing his Pokeballs on the counter, having recalled Umbreon as well right before entering. "We need a full heal for our teams."
Karen followed suit, her movements slower, more hesitant, no doubt due to having one less Pokeball to hand over. Nurse Joy took their Pokeballs with practiced efficiency, placing them on the healing machine. "This will just take a moment."
As they waited, Ezra noticed Karen staring at the counter, her fingers tapping lightly against its surface. "You okay?" He asked, keeping his tone casual.
Karen nodded quickly, not meeting his eyes. "Yeah. Just tired."
Ezra didn't push her, instead leaning back against the counter and scanning the room. Trainers of all kinds filled the lobby, from eager-looking rookies to seasoned veterans. A group of kids crowded around an older trainer who was showing off his Gyarados's Pokeball, their eyes wide with awe.
At least he was smart enough to not actually release it. He thought, studying the man. He was probably lying anyway, he concluded. The type of man capable of taming a Gyarados was generally not the type to show off to a bunch of brats about it.
Nurse Joy soon returned, handing them their healed Pokemon. "All set. Your teams are in perfect condition."
"Thanks," Ezra said, taking his Pokeballs. He stepped to the side, motioning for Karen to do the same. "You switching anyone out?"
Karen shook her head. "Not yet. I'll wait until we know what we're dealing with after the gym."
Ezra nodded, already knowing he needed to swap some of his Pokemon. He walked over to the PC in the corner of the room, logging in and scanning his roster. It didn't take long to make his decisions, his fingers moving quickly over the controls. Moments later, the Pokeballs he needed appeared in the retrieval slot.
Karen watched him from the corner of her eye as he rejoined her. "Getting serious, huh?"
Ezra shrugged, tucking the Pokeballs into his belt. "Not going to make the mistake of not taking a star badge battle seriously this time."
He'd kept Morrigan and Alduin in, but the rest of the team was his heavy hitters. He wasn't going to mess around. With their evolutions, Morrigan and Alduin had a lot more hitting power now, especially as he could enhance them using his dark aura.
Thinking about that, he briefly wondered what had happened to the ghosts who'd been hiding in Shae's shadow, because they hadn't returned to him. Another mystery he'd probably never get an answer on.
Karen said nothing to that, looking pleased he'd learned from his mistakes, leading the way out of the Pokemon Center. The midday sun was warm against their skin as they stepped outside, the sound of rushing water greeting them once more.
"So," Ezra said as they started walking, "You gonna tell me what your deal with this place is? Or are you just going to grumble about it the whole time?"
Karen shot him a glare but didn't answer right away. Instead, she adjusted her bag and muttered, "You'll find out soon enough."
"It must be really bad if you're this reluctant to talk about it." He teased, but she steadily refused to talk about it.
Soon enough they arrived at their destination.
Ezra stared at the Cerulean Gym's glossy sign, its cheerful lettering clashing horribly with his increasingly foul mood as he realized the sisters running it were going to be as bad as he'd thought. It wasn't just a gym; it was a full-blown tourist attraction. The sign boasted of 'The Stunning Sensational Sisters' Spectacular Water Show!' in bold, glittering letters, complete with colorful illustrations of Pokemon performing tricks and synchronized swimming routines.
The actual gym section of the gym was barely noticeable, almost covered up by the advertising.
A gym leader was supposed to test trainers and serve as a pillar of the League system, not run a circus, he thought with irritation. Hold contests, run a show… Sure… Beyond your regular duties, as something extra for an income or to revitalize the city. Not as a replacement for the duty you already had.
Not that he was that interested in the duty part of running a gym, other then to make sure he was the obvious best at it - but he really didn't want to face one day being compared as these girls equals.
As they approached the entrance, Ezra muttered to Karen, "This already feels like a waste of time."
He'd been so focused on teasing Karen he'd forgotten he'd have to be the one dealing with all of… this.
Karen shrugged, her expression unreadable. She'd been quiet for most of the walk, but a slight curve at the edge of her lips betrayed some hidden amusement. "Oh, you'll love it," She said dryly, voice dripping with sarcasm.
Inside, the lobby was bright and pristine, but instead of an air of competitive energy, the place felt like a theme park. Posters of the Sensational Sisters adorned the walls, showing the three gym leaders in elaborate costumes, posing with Water type Pokemon like Starmie and Seaking. A counter at the far end was manned by a bubbly receptionist in a sea-green uniform, smiling at them as if they were customers rather than challengers.
The giant gift shop filled with plushies that took up more room than the lobby added to this feeling. He wasn't opposed to monetizing, obviously. But making it so obvious that the gym was second fiddle was distasteful.
Ezra wasted no time, marching up to the counter and pulling his trainer ID from his pocket. "I'm here to challenge the gym leaders for my Star Badge."
The receptionist's smile didn't falter, but there was a flicker of something Ezra couldn't quite place in her eyes - amusement, maybe? "I'm sorry, sir," She said in a sing-song tone, "but the Sensational Sisters are fully booked for the next two months."
Ezra blinked, unsure if he'd heard her correctly. "Two months?"
They were in the middle of the League season, hundreds of trainers needed to challenge the gym, no one could book ahead that far. A gym leader could run dozens of battles a day, easily.
It wasn't that uncommon for first badgers to sometimes not even meet the gym leaders if the load was too heavy, earning their badge from a veteran gym trainer. Although it was rare any gym was so cramped the gym leader didn't have time.
But two months!? That was beyond ridiculous.
The receptionist nodded, her tone too chipper for the news she was delivering. "Yes, they're incredibly popular! Between performances, media appearances, fan signings, and their rest days, they're just completely swamped."
… There were supposed to be gym battles, somewhere in that, wasn't there? Ezra thought, one eye twitching irritably.
Karen scoffed behind him, muttering something he didn't catch. Clearly, she'd expected this.
Ezra scowled, leaning forward slightly. "I'm doing a Star Badge challenge. I don't have time to waste so a bunch of snot-nosed twelve-year-olds can try to fight them pointlessly with Geodudes once a day."
The receptionist's smile widened, and Ezra hated how smug it looked. "I'm afraid there's nothing we can do. The Sensational Sisters' schedule is set, and all our appointments are filled. Even if you want to try impressing them, you'd have to get through every single gym trainer first."
"That's fine," Ezra said immediately. "I'll fight them all."
The receptionist chuckled, shaking her head. "Even if you managed to do that - and trust me, it wouldn't be easy - it would only mean you might get their attention. A maybe." She stressed, "They have an important show to prepare for and that takes precedence."
Ezra's patience, already stretched thin from recent events, snapped. "Where are they now?" He growled.
The receptionist's smile faltered slightly, but her tone remained light. "Practicing for their show. This isn't a battle day." She chided slightly.
Ezra almost felt like he was having a coronary, not a battle day!? The gym was open, but not for battling, what was this bullshit! He immediately thought of a way to get his point across and force a battle, a devious look in his eyes.
Karen stepped up beside him, eyeing him warily. "What are you planning?" She asked, her tone laced with curiosity and caution. "I know that face."
Ezra's smirk was slow and dangerous, the kind of expression that promised trouble. "I'm just going to remind them what their jobs are."
Karen's own smirk grew, her eyes gleaming with anticipation for the first time that day. "Oh, I will enjoy this," She said, her voice carrying a rare note of enthusiasm. "Whatever it is."
The receptionist's cheerful facade faltered completely as she watched them walk past the counter, heading deeper into the gym. "Hey! You can't just - wait! You need permission to go back there!"
Ezra didn't slow down, as he made his way toward the doors that likely led to the practice area. Karen followed, her earlier gloom replaced by something resembling amusement.
…
The Cerulean Gym buzzed with youthful energy, filled with the chatter and laughter of teenage trainers. Some lounged against the walls, their Pokemon at their sides, while others roamed the brightly lit hallways, patrolling like sentinels - gossiping sentinels. The trainers wore a mix of gym uniforms and casual clothing, their appearances as eclectic as their Pokemon. Despite the supposed duties of being gym trainers, it was clear that their real interest lay elsewhere.
"Did you see Daisy in her new outfit during practice yesterday?" A boy said, his voice low and conspiratorial as he leaned against a vending machine.
The girl beside him rolled her eyes, flipping her ponytail over her shoulder. "Oh, please. Everyone saw it. She was stunning, as always. But Violet's performance was way better. Did you see her Starmie's spin attack? Perfectly synchronized."
Another boy snickered nearby, lounging with his Psyduck. "You're all wrong. Lily's the best. She doesn't even have to try, and she still outshines the others."
The conversations were punctuated by the occasional splash of water and muffled commands from the gym's practice area. The trainers weren't oblivious to their duties, but their attention was split between idolizing the Sensational Sisters and maintaining a half-hearted watch over the hallways.
Unseen by any of them, Ezra leaned casually against the wall just before the gym trainers area. His face was an impassive mask, but his eyes gleamed with sharp amusement as he released Cheshire, Loki, and Nyx. The trio of ghost Pokemon materialized with soft, ominous chuckles, already feeling his intentions.
"Keep it subtle," Ezra instructed quietly, his voice low enough that only the ghosts and Karen could hear. "Just scare them enough to clear the way."
Karen, leaning against the wall beside him, raised an eyebrow. "Subtle isn't exactly your style," She said with a smirk, before looking around with distaste at all the posters of the sensational sisters. "But this? I can get behind."
Unbeknownst to Karen, as the visible ghosts drifted into the gym, Ezra's shadow rippled unnaturally. His unseen Pokemon slipped through the wall he was leaning against, ready to join in on the chaos.
…
Inside the gym, the first victim was a boy no older than fifteen, wearing a gym uniform two sizes too big for him. He was patrolling a hallway with his Squirtle when Cheshire, Ezra's Gengar, materialized silently behind him. The boy hummed a cheery tune, oblivious to the malicious grin spreading across Cheshire's face.
Cheshire suddenly grabbed the boys head from behind him, it's tongue giving him a long lick that dragged his hair up with it.
The boy froze mid-step, his shoulders tensing as he turned slowly. When he saw the Gengar grinning at him, its red eyes gleaming with mischief, he screamed, bolting down the hallway. His Squirtle blinked in confusion, then waddled after him. Leaving Cheshire giggling in the empty hallway.
…
In another corridor, a pair of teenage girls sat cross-legged on the floor, whispering about the sisters' latest performance. One of them flipped through photos she'd taken on her Pokedex, showing off blurry shots of the show's finale.
"I swear, Lily's Seel is the cutest thing ever," One of the girls said, her voice hushed with awe.
"Seel? Please. Did you see Violet's Goldeen?" the other girl replied. "So elegant."
Their debate was interrupted by Nyx, Ezra's Spiritomb, emerging from the shadows between them. The ghost's swirling, ethereal form glowed faintly, and her hollow, echoing laughter filled the hallway. The girls screamed, scrambling to their feet and knocking over their backpacks in the process. Nyx cackled louder, her malevolent amusement reverberating as the girls fled, screaming about ghosts, leaving the hallway behind.
…
Further inside, Loki, Ezra's Banette, targeted a group of boys sitting around a vending machine. They were arguing over who was the strongest among the sisters, their discussion peppered with playful jabs and exaggerated boasts.
"Daisy's obviously the best," One boy declared, popping open a can of soda. "Her Starmie can outspin anything."
"Yeah, right," another boy retorted. "Lily's Seadra would wreck - "
The vending machine let out a loud clang, and the boys fell silent. They exchanged uneasy glances, then turned to see Loki peeking out from the top of the machine, his stitched grin impossibly wide. His button eyes glowed menacingly as he slowly tilted his head, letting out a ghostly giggle as a soda can shot out of the machine hitting one of the boys in the crotch as he let out a high pitched squeal.
One of the other boys screamed even louder, staring at Loki, dropping his soda as they all scrambled away from the vending machine "Run!" One of them shouted, his voice cracking as they fled, leaving their snacks and their Pokemon behind.
The Pokemon and Loki looked at each other for a few moments, before the Pokemon seemed to sigh, all trudging off after their fleeing trainers.
…
Elsewhere, one of the unseen ghosts from Ezra's shadow had targeted a lone trainer patrolling with a Poliwag. The trainer walked confidently, spinning one of his Pokeballs on one finger as he hummed a tune. His Poliwag waddled beside him, its spiral pattern hypnotically swirling with each step.
Without warning, the hallway lights flickered and dimmed. The Poliwag paused, tilting its head curiously as a chill filled the air. Then, from the darkness, an unearthly wail echoed, a sound that sent shivers down the trainer's spine.
"Who's there?" He called out, his voice wavering as he clutched his Pokeball tightly.
A translucent hand materialized from the shadows, brushing against the back of his neck. He shrieked, dropping the ball as he bolted down the hallway. His Poliwag slowly picked up the Pokeball, looking up as the Haunter and Misdreavous poked their heads out of the wall.
…
The chaos continued to spread through the gym. Some trainers fainted outright, overcome by fear as Loki appeared from walls or Cheshire licked their faces. Others barricaded themselves in closets, trembling as Nyx's laughter echoed outside.
Ezra had wanted to avoid having to fight through a bunch of scrubs, but he hadn't expected how pathetic of a showing they'd pull off.
But then it seemed most of the gym trainers were very young, and all big fans of the sensational sisters. If they had any trainers left from their parents' time, none of them had shown, leaving only easily scared teenagers who completely left the gym undefended.
After fifteen minutes of this calculated chaos, the Cerulean Gym was a shadow of its former lively self. Trainers had either fled or hidden, their confidence shattered by the relentless ghostly onslaught. The once-busy hallways were eerily silent, save for the occasional muffled sob or distant wail.
The most pathetic part of all of this… The sisters hadn't even noticed anything had happened, and none of the trainers fleeing had bothered calling them. It was so incredibly sloppy, he just wanted to crush these pretenders.
Ezra leaned casually against the wall just outside the sisters practice arena, having strolled through the gym with ease, his expression smug as he observed the gym's empty hallways, even as he felt a twitch of annoyance at how easy it had been. Karen stood beside him, her arms crossed and a rare smile on her lips.
"That was the most fun I've had in days," She admitted. "You're evil, Ezra. Absolutely evil."
Ezra smirked, pushing off the wall as he adjusted his jacket. "You say that like it's a bad thing."
Ready for whatever came next, they entered the practice arena.
----------------------------------------
The practice area was more elaborate than what Ezra had expected - an oversized pool surrounded by platforms, with sparkling water reflecting the bright, artificial lights above. Elaborate decorations hung from the walls - shells, coral-like structures, and shimmering fabrics that mimicked ocean waves.
In the middle of it all, the Sensational Sisters were rehearsing. They wore matching sea-green one piece costumes, their hair styled in intricate updos adorned with pearls. A Starmie floated beside one of them, spinning gracefully in the water, while a Dewgong leaped from one end of the pool to the other, creating a perfect arc of water droplets.
"Wow, they really are just focusing on being performers," Karen muttered, her tone somewhere between irritation and disdain.
Ezra didn't bother hiding his irritation. "Performers are fine. They just shouldn't be gym leaders if they don't want to do the job."
Karen scoffed under her breath, crossing her arms tightly. "Told you this place was a circus," She muttered.
The sisters finally noticed the pair, Lily's voice cutting through the room like a bell. "Oh my gosh, who are you guys?" She said, flipping her hair dramatically. "Like, this is so not a visitor day."
The trio climbed out of the pool, and Ezra didn't his once over, they were all in swimsuits after all, and they were pretty girls. He was only human. Too bad they were obviously too stupid to actually run a gym…
Stupidity was a major turn off.
Ezra raised a brow, unamused with their antics. "We're here to challenge the gym leader. You know, your actual job?"
The sisters exchanged wide-eyed glances before bursting into a chorus of giggles. Violet leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand as she smirked. "Like, that's cute and all, but we're, like, totally busy right now? We don't have time for random challengers."
Karen muttered something that sounded suspiciously like 'idiots', but Ezra held up a hand, stopping her from continuing. His eyes fixed on the sisters, his patience rapidly wearing thin.
"I'm doing a Star Badge challenge," He said slowly, enunciating every word as if speaking to a particularly dim child. "That means I don't have time for your nonsense. Where's the arena?"
Lily rolled her eyes, placing a hand on her hip. "Ugh, you're one of those. Look, we're, like, totally booked for the next two months. You should've, like, made an appointment or something?"
Karen smirked viciously at Ezra's increasingly irritated expression. "This is going to be good," She whispered, even as she stepped back towards the stands, Ezra's Pokedex in hand, she needed to film the fight anyway, so what if he got a little pre-fight banter on record?
Ezra took a step closer to the pool, his presence seeming to darken the bright, glittering atmosphere. "You're booked because you spend half your time doing these ridiculous shows instead of your actual duties - like little girls unable to handle the pressure," He said, gesturing to their practice. "If you can't manage to do your job, maybe someone else should take over."
The sisters gasped in unison, Daisy clutching her chest dramatically. "How dare you!" She exclaimed. "Do you even know who we are?"
Violet pointed a manicured finger at him. "We're, like, icons, okay? People come from all over to watch us! Do you have any idea how hard it is to maintain this level of perfection?"
Ezra glared at her, "They come to see your tits. Wear a robe instead of a swimsuit and watch your show die." He said mercilessly.
Lily looked incredibly offended, as her other two sisters both gasped loudly and overly dramatically. "Alright, you're, like, on! You and me, we're, like, totally doing this battle, okay? Like, right now! Let's, like, see if you can, like, handle me and my team!"
Ezra rolled his eyes, "At least one of you is finally useful for something then, don't worry, it will probably be over for you in five minutes or less... Let's do this." He couldn't really feel any enjoyment about this upcoming battle. These three were too ridiculous.
Also, if they kept using like in every second word. He couldn't be held responsible for what happened…
Lily stood ahead of her sisters, not far from him, a hand dramatically on her hip as she pouted at his words. Her sisters, Violet and Daisy, noticing Karen filming, checked their reflections in compact mirrors while idly chatting about how 'totally unfair' it was that their routines had to be interrupted.
"This is, like, such a buzzkill," Daisy whined, adjusting her sparkling headband. "What's the point of a battle if no one's, like, watching us? I mean, where's the fun if there aren't people cheering and taking, like, a bajillion pictures?"
Violet blew an exaggerated sigh, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Totally, Daisy. It's, like, so boring without an audience. I mean, do you even know how much effort it takes to look this good?" She gestured at herself with a flourish, batting her lashes at Ezra, who was visibly unimpressed at their antics.
Ezra rolled his eyes, just wanting to get this over with. "Maybe you can worry about being thirst traps on your own time," He said coldly, glaring at them. "I'm here for a battle, not to see you flaunt everything for pity points."
Karen, seated nearby with the Pokedex poised, let out a low chuckle, a smirk spreading across her face. "Oh, please keep going, Ezra," She said, her voice dripping with venomous amusement. "This is gold."
Violet's eyes lit up as she finally paid attention to Karen, showing they did know each other. "Yoohoo! Karen, can we, like, sit with you, girl?" She called, waving enthusiastically, apparently not noticing her vitriol.
Karen's expression immediately soured, and without hesitation, she reached for a Pokeball. With a flash of light, her Weavile materialized beside her, its sharp claws gleaming and its ice-cold demeanor matching its trainer's mood.
"Weavile," Karen said, her voice loud enough to carry, "Ice Fang anyone who comes near me."
The sisters froze for a beat before bursting into giggles. Daisy clasped her hands together, beaming at Karen. "Oh my gosh, that's so Karen! Ice cold, as always." She winked playfully. "One day, sweetie, we're gonna, like, totally melt that frozen heart of yours."
Karen's lips curled into a sneer. "I'd rather die."
The sisters laughed even harder, clearly not taking her seriously. "You're so dramatic!" Violet teased, clutching her stomach as if Karen's words were the height of comedy.
Lily smirked, sashaying toward Ezra with a deliberate sway in her hips. She stopped in front of him, placing a hand lightly on his chest and letting it linger there. "Maybe this guy here already melted her, huh?" She said, her voice dripping with suggestive amusement.
Karen bristled, her eyes narrowing to icy slits as she glared at Lily. "Lily. Shut up or die," She growled, her tone sharp enough to cut steel.
The other two sisters broke into more fits of giggles, their smirks widening. "Ooooh, you're so right, Lils!" Daisy said, nudging Violet with an elbow. "She's totally got a thing for him."
Ezra, never one to resist an opportunity to rile Karen up, leaned in slightly and stage-whispered to the sisters, "Don't tell her I said anything, but she does have a crush on me."
He might think these three were annoying idiots, but he never missed an opportunity to mess with Karen, and with Agatha now circling around more then ever, the sooner they could figure things out, the better.
And Karen would definitely need to be pushed for it.
Karen's entire face turned crimson, and she shot to her feet. "Ezra! You bring that up again, and I swear you won't keep the thing making you a man much longer!"
Lily giggled, undeterred by Karen's fury. "He's kinda, like, cute though, isn't he?" She said, trailing her hand up to Ezra's cheek. "Unusual looking, yeah, but, like, exotic. Confidence is so sexy."
Karen's glare intensified, her eyes practically glowing with rage. The sisters continued to smirk, exchanging conspiratorial glances. Ezra stood still, looking increasingly bored as Lily's hand slid into his hair. Just because he wanted to mess with Karen, didn't mean he had any interest in this stupid girl.
"Say," Lily said, her tone turning syrupy sweet as she twisted a strand of his white hair around her finger. "Why don't we, like, forget about the fight? You and I could go on a date instead." She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper. "Or, like, all three of us could go. What do you say, cutie?"
The tension in the room skyrocketed as Karen's teeth began grinding audibly, her fists trembling as she struggled to keep her composure. Ezra finally grabbed Lily's wrist, his movement quick and deliberate. She smirked as if she'd won, clearly thinking he was reciprocating her attention - until he unceremoniously pushed her hand away.
"Sorry," Ezra said flatly, his voice devoid of interest. "You have to have at least this many brain cells to be worth my time." He held up his fingers an inch apart. "Playing with pretty dolls isn't my thing."
Lily's jaw dropped, her shock mirrored by her sisters. Karen, on the other hand, burst into laughter so loud it echoed across the practice arena. She doubled over, clutching her stomach as tears streamed down her face.
"Oh my Arceus," She gasped between wheezes, barely able to breathe. "You shut them down so hard!"
Ezra noticed a quiet giggle, and saw Misty's head sticking out between some equipment not far away from them, spying on them and laughing at her sisters after his last comment.
Ezra ignored her and turned to pat Lily's shoulder, his expression one of faux sympathy. "Don't worry. You'll understand what I said one day if you study hard. Maybe."
Lily's face turned bright red, her shock giving way to indignant fury. "Are you serious?" She shrieked, stomping her foot. "You said that to me?"
Ezra smirked, clearly enjoying himself. "I did. Do you need me to repeat it? I know long sentences can be tricky for you girls."
Lily let out a furious screech, her hand darting to the Pokeball on the belt she'd picked up when she'd agreed to fight. "Fine! I was gonna, like, go easy on you, but now I'm gonna wreck you!"
"Finally," Ezra said, pulling out a Pokeball of his own and rolling it lazily between his fingers. "If I'd known insulting you was all it took, I would've done it sooner."
The other two sisters cheered Lily on as she stomped over to the pool's podium, her sequins glittering dramatically under the lights. Ezra took his place at the challengers' side of the arena, the smug grin never leaving his face. Karen positioned herself a few feet back, Pokedex still recording as she wiped away tears of laughter.
"This performance you're prioritizing over battles - what was the reason for it?" Ezra asked, his voice carrying across the room. "The circus wouldn't take you, so you made your own?"
Lily's face contorted with rage, as Ezra smugly looked at her, some of his irritation leaking away now that he had an outlet for it.
This was just going to be plain bullying. But he needed something like it right now, to get himself back on track. "Well, are we starting? Or are you still trying to puzzle out that I said? I can write some cue cards for you?" He said with faux kindness.
Lily let out an earsplitting screech, prompting her sisters to cheer her on. "Kick his butt, Lils!" Daisy yelled.
"Like, you'll pay for being such a butt!" Lily shouted, holding her Pokeball at the ready, glaring angrily at him.
Ezra grinned, readying his own Pokeball to begin this ass kicking that was so sorely needed. "With how you flaunt your body, you'd know all about being paid for your butt," Ezra said with a smirk.
He could hear Lily gritting her teeth together from where he stood, and it was glorious.
As Ezra was preparing to start, Misty ran out from where she'd been hiding, surprising her sisters. "I'll be the judge for this match!" She declared, sliding to a stop beside the arena.
"Like, whatever," Daisy said with a dismissive wave. "Just don't, like, get in the way or something, Misty."
"Yeah," Violet added. "We, like, don't need your commentary either, just like say when Lily's totally won or whatever."
Misty shot them an annoyed look but said nothing, stepping into the judge's box. "This will be a three-on-three star badge battle! Challenger, are you ready?"
Ezra nodded, casually tossing a Pokeball into the air. In a flash of light, Morrigan, his Drakloak, appeared, her ghostly form hovering above the water with a faint shimmer.
Lily smirked, tossing her first Pokeball. "Like, you're gonna totally regret messing with me!" She threw the ball, and in a splash, her Seel appeared in the water, barking cheerfully. "Seel, like, show him what we've got!"
Misty raised a flag. "Begin!"
Lily immediately launched into a flurry of orders. "Seel, like, use Aqua Jet! No, wait, like, use Ice Shard! Or, like, maybe Water Pulse? Actually, just, like, do all of them! You've got this!"
Ezra raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth curling into a cold smirk. "Morrigan, Dragon Breath."
Morrigan didn't hesitate. Opening her jaws, she released a crackling stream of blue flames that shot across the pool. The attack slammed into Seel mid-dive, sending the Pokemon spiraling through the water with a pained cry.
Lily's jaw dropped as her Pokemon floundered. "What?! Like, no way! Seel, like, get up! Use... uh… Ice Beam! Yeah, like, Ice Beam now!"
Ezra didn't give her the chance. "Morrigan, Shadow Sneak, and Dark Pulse. Keep attacking."
The Drakloak disappeared, reappearing behind the Seel who was just beginning to gather it's Ice beam, as Morrigan hovered behind it, gathering dark, swirling energy in her jaws before firing another blast. It struck Seel head-on, knocking the Pokemon unconscious before it could get its attack off, and leaving it floating belly-up in the water.
Ezra might be boosting Morrigan heavily with his aura to give her a bit of an extra kick… What can he say… He was making a point to these posers.
Misty raised her flag. "Seel is unable to battle! The first round goes to the challenger!"
Karen let out a low whistle, her smug grin widening as she focused the Pokedex's camera on Lily's dumbfounded expression. "Wow, this is almost too easy," She muttered.
Lily huffed, recalling her Seel with an annoyed flick of her wrist. "Like, whatever! That was, like, a total fluke! You're not even that good!" She grabbed her next Pokeball. "Starmie, like, it's your turn!"
The Pokeball arced through the air, and with a burst of light, Starmie appeared, its jewel-like core gleaming as it spun gracefully in the water.
"Starmie, like, Rapid Spin and then, like, use Water Gun!" Lily shouted, slamming a fist down on the podium in front of her.
Ezra barely glanced at her before issuing his own command. "Morrigan, Phantom Force, then SB."
Before Starmie could even complete its spin, Morrigan vanished, disappearing into thin air. The arena fell silent, save for the gentle ripples of the pool and then the water gun attack went off, hitting nothing at all. Lily's eyes darted around in panic. "Starmie, like, where is it? Look, like, behind you or something!"
Morrigan reappeared again, facing Starmie, striking down with a ball of dark energy in Shadow Ball, fully empowered by Ezra. The impact sent Starmie careening into one of the platforms, its core dimming as it fainted on the spot from both the full powered Shadow Ball, and the physical impact of slamming into the edge of the platform.
So Ezra was cheating a little…
He felt pretty good about it.
"Starmie is unable to battle!" Misty announced, wide eyed. "The second round goes to the challenger!"
"Two for two," Karen said, smirking as she zoomed in on Lily's increasingly flustered face. "This is embarrassing." She teased, "One attack too? Is this really your best?"
Lily stomped her foot in frustration. "Ugh! Like, I wasn't even trying, okay?! That was, like, a warm-up!" She pulled out her final Pokeball, her hand trembling with anger. "Cloyster, like, don't mess this up!"
In a flash of light, a Cloyster appeared, its massive shell snapping shut with a menacing clack. The Pokemon glared at Morrigan with its glowing eyes, a thin mist rising from the water around it.
Ezra smirked, rolling his shoulders lazily. "Morrigan, 3SB." He ordered, not really needing to hide what moves he's doing in this cake walk, but it amused him how panicky Lily looked having no idea what he was doing.
3SB, being exactly what he'd already been doing. Shadow Sneak and Shadow Ball, easy enough to figure out if the other trainer had paid any attention at all.
"Cloyster, like, use Aurora Beam! No, wait, Icicle Spear! Or, like, Hydro Pump! Just, like, hit it with something!" Lily ordered frantically, making it very clear she hadn't been battling much with her indecisiveness.
Morrigan had already disappear in a Shadow Sneak when Cloyster completely ignored Lily's orders to fire off a high powered water gun. Morrigan reappeared in its shadow, and gathered a sphere of dark energy in her jaws, launching it at Cloyster with unerring precision. The attack slammed into the shell Pokemon, cracking its armor slightly and sending it skidding backward on the water, until it slammed into the pools edge.
"Cloyster, like, protect yourself! Use Withdraw!" Lily screamed, but her Pokemon was already too disoriented to respond.
Ezra didn't relent. "Dragon Pulse. End it."
Morrigan unleashed another powerful blast, the swirling energy colliding with Cloyster and sending it crashing into the bottom of the pool. When the ripples settled, the Pokemon floated motionless, its shell cracked and its eyes dimmed.
"Cloyster is unable to battle!" Misty declared. "The challenger wins!"
The arena fell silent as Lily stared at her defeated Pokemon in shock. Daisy and Violet exchanged wide-eyed glances, their usually smug expressions replaced with disbelief.
After all, they'd just been walked over like they were pathetic rookies.
Ezra couldn't wait until he had his online business set up, and could post this battle.
Sure he'd get the whiners crying about how mean he was, but people always enjoyed seeing the popular rich girls taken down a peg.
Karen burst into laughter, nearly doubling over as she stopped recording. "Oh, that was beautiful! You didn't even break a sweat!"
Ezra stepped forward, his hand outstretched. "The badge."
Lily glared at him, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she reluctantly waited for Misty to run off and grab a badge case for her, after which she pulled out a Cerulean Badge and slapped it into his hand. The star-shaped adornments to the badge glinted in the light as Ezra inspected it with a smirk.
"Like, whatever," Lily muttered, crossing her arms. "I wasn't even trying, okay? This wasn't, like, even a battle day!"
"Yeah," Violet chimed in, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "We weren't, like, ready or anything. Totally unfair."
Daisy nodded. "Totally. It's, like, not our fault."
Misty muttered under her breath, "That's the most serious I've ever seen them, and it was still pathetic…"
"What did you, like, say?!" Lily snapped, whirling around to glare at her. "Nobody asked you, midget!"
Karen sauntered over to Ezra's side, her smirk practically glowing with satisfaction. "We should get going," She said, her voice dripping with condescension. "Wouldn't want to accidentally catch an STD or something from contaminated water."
"Vicious," Ezra said, laughing as he held out a fist. Karen bumped it with her own, her mood clearly lifted.
"You're just, like, jealous," Daisy said, her voice sharp. "Because we can, like, actually get a guy."
Karen's cheeks reddened, but instead of snapping back, she grabbed Ezra by the collar, pulling him close. Before he could react, she pressed her lips to his in an awkward kiss, their teeth bumping together clumsily.
She tested like raspberries he idly noted, meeting her eyes with a questioning look.
She pulled back just as quickly, her face now a deep shade of crimson. "Seems I'm beating you both as a trainer and as a woman," She said, her voice defiant despite her obvious embarrassment. "None of you can beat me, and none of you have guys that can spank you as bad as Ezra did."
Ezra smirked, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Interesting escalation," He murmured, clearly enjoying the spectacle. And the progression of Karen's interest.
It would make convincing her to side with him much easier.
Plus…
Well she was really hot.
The sisters stared, their jaws hanging open in shock as Karen grabbed Ezra's hand and tugged him toward the exit. "Come on," She said, her tone sharp. "Let's get out of here."
As they reached the town's borders shortly after, Ezra looked at who was awkwardly standing there peering at the town sign. "Cecile… What are you doing in Cerulean?" He asked sharply.
Cecile, his programmer who should be in Pewter, turned and saw him, eyes lighting up, "Oh, I'm finally in Pewter then?" He said, standing, it must be noted again, by the sign saying welcome to Cerulean. "I took a right turn at Fuchsia and then arrived here."
Karen looked confused. "That… Doesn't make any sense…"
Ezra sighed, because of course the one guy he was counting on to make him the undisputed emperor of the online world was an idiot in every other way. "This is not Pewter… Just…Come with me, I'll take you back."
He'd have to fly them back, because he wasn't trusting in this guy finding his own way. Which meant they'd need to get back to the Pokemon center and switch the teams around, and he'd have to ask Karen to lend one of her flying Pokemon for this idiot to ride.
What an annoyance.
The sound of running footsteps echoed behind them. They turned just in time to see Misty skidding to a stop, her breath coming in short gasps.
"Please take me with you!" She begged, her wide eyes filled with determination.
What the fuck?
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