Chapter 57 - For Delia all the Lava... Cookies?

They were lost.

Again.

Celeste adjusted her grip on the large bag of bread from Battle Bakery and fished out the crumpled map from her pocket. Not the easiest feat, given the throbbing ache in her arm, the relentless flow of people, and Aria perched limply atop her head.

“Lori, a little help?” she tried, only to find her friend wrestling with her own problem. Namely, Perl.

The Frigibax was throwing a fit, her roars slicing through the murmur of the crowd. Celeste squinted past the people, trying to see what the dragon was roaring at this time. There was this long queue winding around a Castelia Cone stand and… “Hey, isn’t that the apple guy from before?”

In response, Lori just shot her a wide and begging look, like Celeste had any solution for the wailing dragon. Her eyes flicked around, spotting an alley tucked away behind a big tree—quiet, hidden, and, most importantly, empty. She tugged Lori into it, though Perl didn’t settle down right off.

“You know I’m usually the last person to say this,” Celeste spun around to her friend. “But maybe she should stay in her ball for a bit?”

Hoping for a moment of peace, Lori waggled the now very worn-out and patched up Corsola stub-toy in front of her Pokémon, who finally took a break to engage with it. “She needs to get used to staying around people at some point.”

Map in hand again, Celeste unfolded it with a grimace, her wounded arm rebelling. “Here, though?” She leaned it against the wall, wincing. “Feels like the crowd’s doubled since lunch.”

Once they were both sure the Frigibax was calmer and that the Corsola stub wouldn’t break again, Lori, looking somewhat relieved, joined Celeste by the map. “She was fine when we left the bakery,” she said, as if the explanation settled the matter. “So, where did Paul say this Clock Plaza was?”

Their eyes traced the routes crisscrossed over the paper. Just before they’d left the bakery, Celeste had received a text from Luan—they were supposed to meet at Clock Plaza. Paul had sketched a route, but here they were, no plaza in sight.

Wherever here was.

Lori followed the route with a finger, her brow furrowing. “He said third right past the Magikarp stand, then another right here and…” Her head tilted, uncertainty creeping in. “Did we take the third one?”

Celeste glanced over her shoulder, contemplating the maze they’d navigated. “At this point, does it even matter? Going back will just throw us off even more.”

As Lori delved into the map, Celeste’s gaze wandered, taking in the alley’s… questionable charm. A Rattata, quick and furtive, sent a trash can clattering over a mound of leaves while a Spinarak wove its way across the brickwork, disappearing beneath a fire escape only to emerge by a flyer for the Game Corner, before vanishing again down some drain.

Celeste’s brows knitted together.

The Game Corner…

“That’s right by the Clock Plaza!” she blurted out, louder than intended, drawing a disgruntled roar from Lori’s Frigibax and a sharp look from the trainer herself. “Eh, sorry?” she winced, pressing the map into Lori’s hands as she leaned closer to the flyer. “That sketchy guy from earlier said it was near the plaza, remember?”

“You… want to go there?”

Pointing at the flyer, Celeste’s eyes lit up. It looked way more colourful and fun that it had any right to be. At the bottom, she found a small arrow promising a mere ten-minute shortcut. “Not really, but why not take this alley? We cut through to the Game Corner, and bam, we’re at the Plaza.”

Lori wasn’t convinced. “Four hours in a bakery, and now you want to detour through a Game Corner?”

“We’re going straight through, so it’s not a detour. Better a sure ten minutes than wandering some more, no?” Celeste’s optimism seemed to physically pull her forward, past more arrows and signs promising a quick journey. “Hey look, that one says it’s nine minutes now,” she grinned, nudging her bag of bread forward.

Lori wasn’t buying it. She stepped in front of Celeste with a stern look and, for once, ignored her Frigibax’ complaints. “That place, it’s… The bright lights, catchy music… the allure… It eats people like you—” She caught herself. “We really shouldn’t.”

“We, huh?” Celeste skirted around her friend. A sign, plastered above a dozing Trubbish that made her swear under her breath, now promised five minutes to their destination. The alley felt tighter with the Poison-Type in sight, and Aria didn’t do more than giggle as her trainer tiptoed around the Pokémon.

“I’m serious…” Lori persisted

“So… the Game Corner eats people like me up,” Celeste muttered, finally stopping. “Somehow, I don’t think you meant charming and funny.”

Lori sighed. “People who are… easily excited.”

“You mean gullible.”

“That’s not what I said.”

Aria snickered at that. The little traitor probably agreed with Lori.

Celeste simply huffed. Did people seriously think she was going to fall for some sparkle? Well… maybe, but not today. She knew she could be… bright eyed sometimes and, sure… she usually jumped headfirst into things. But come on! They should give her some credit.

“You know there’s a big Game Corner in Celadon? My dad lives nearby.” Lori clung to her arm. “I’ve seen what it can do… you don’t need to be gullible or naïve to get hooked.”

Now she was also naïve? Great. “Is this where you tell me some horror story about how gambling ruined your family? Really, I get it.”

With reluctance, Lori continued. “Not my family. It was Rey.”

Celeste blinked at that. “Rey…? As in Silverwind? Our Rey?”

Guilt flashed across Lori’s face. Knowing Rey, this was definitely not something he’d want to go around sharing. Yet, she pressed on. “He was… I think a few months into his journey, and all he had was a Larvesta who couldn’t win him many battles. He’d been staying at my father’s back then…” She paused, closing her eyes. “Specially bred litter of Eevee, just hatched. That was what Celadon’s game Corner had been offering that summer. He… figured he could win that. Then, after he finally did, he moved on to the Dratini egg… most of his money was already gone by then.”

Aria’s ears perked up at that. Hopefully Celeste wouldn’t need to stop her Eevee from bullying Rey’s… but damn…

The neon glow of the Game Corner spilled into the alley, painting their path in shifting hues. “He never got it, did he?” Celeste’s question was soft.

“The Dratini egg?” Lori shook her head. “I pulled him out before it got worse and sent him back to Olga before he found trouble. Look, don’t—”

“Don’t worry…” Celeste reassured, although she had to push down her newfound curiosity about the place. She wanted to know what it took for pulling Rey—smug, braggy Rey—in. Also… months in and not anything to show?

Again, damn. Why did she think he was the best trainer ever again? Also… didn’t he have two badges?

“We’re almost there. Let’s see if there’s a way around. Just to check.”

—*——*—

“Two Island’s Joyful Game Corner.”

Celeste stood under the neon, the cassino’s fun-looking round letters catching her eye. The lights, swirling like a slot machine, felt hypnotising as they tugged her forward. Back when she travelled with her parents, their crew would often indulge in poker nights—her mother would abstain, while her father… Well, he liked a good game. He’d let her sit along whenever he played and he always told her she was his good luck charm.

Games of chance could be fun.

Thrilling even.

Opal had once told her that “Battles are like poker, not chess.” Funny place to remember that. She smiled, eyes resting on the lights. Battles, games, adventure. It’s the thrill that she liked. The unknown. Celeste was pretty sure she could come up with something deep and meaningful to convince her friend that it was indeed a good idea to go in.

Yet, the sight of Lori attempting to calm her agitated Frigibax, who’d began to snarl at the neon glare, made her resolve waver.

“Promise is a promise,” she reminded herself, looking for a way around the large building.

As they neared the entrance, an employee caught Celeste’s eye, idly standing by a display that curiously featured a pixelated Dodrio amidst berries. She shared a knowing look with Aria before approaching, channelling the kind of politeness that would make Delia proud.

“Excuse me, sir?” she ventured, the smile on her lips unsteady. Her Eevee, being helpful for once, chimed in with an oddly diplomatic bark. “We’re a bit… lost,” she admitted, her gaze flitting to Lori and Perl. An uneasiness bubbled inside her, perhaps a residual effect of the story about Rey. She tried maintaining her smile. “My friends aren’t dealing well with all the lights and…”

The casino worker’s attention snapped to the Frigibax with an audible gasp. His vest, very on the nose, black and red with suits of cards, fluttered in the air as he quickly spun toward Celeste.

She bit the insides of her mouth. “Uh… We were just looking for a way around to Clock Plaza—”

“Come inside!” The man’s interruption was as sudden as it was forceful, his hand gripping Celeste’s wrist and pulling her in. His focus seemed fixed on Perl. Aria tensed, ready to leap to her trainer’s defence at a moment’s notice. He kept on talking, though, not really giving a damn about them. “I’ll get your friend. Don’t worry.”

As the door slid open, a blast of cold air mixed with the cacophony of slot machines chiming and artificial cheers. It was all so pretty… and also tacky and fake.

In a moment of sanity, Celeste signalled for Aria not to attack. Avoiding trouble was best in places like this. Still, she attempted to free herself, her sneakers silently sliding on the plush carpet mingled with the much louder chatter around her.

“One more go, this has to be the one,” came a boisterous voice.

“Betting on the next battle sounds epic!” A group of kids her age laughed.

And then a slice of conversation, carrying tones of familiarity, floated closer. “Yeah, it’s a beautiful shade of turquoise. Are you sure you wouldn’t rather sell it? It would fetch quite a high—”

That’s when the employee’s shove sent Celeste tumbling into the owner of that last voice.

Mia. Of all people.

She halted mid-sentence, her reflexes preventing a tumble, but her attention remained split between the call she was on and Celeste’s sudden intrusion. The voice from her phone persisted, oblivious to the chaos.

“…moto!? …u there? …pect …livery?”

Mia’s expression shifted from shock to urgency. “Sorry, boss. Y-Yeah, I’m on it. Just…” Her gaze darted to the employee now pestering Lori. “Got a bit of a situation. I’ll circle back.”

With a swift pivot, Mia released Celeste and moved with purpose toward the unwelcoming bouncer, leaving Aria to shake Celeste off her daze so they’d follow along.

“… scram,” Mia’s voice cut through, cool and… scary. The employee scurried away, head down and shaking.

Lori’s eyes mirrored Celeste’s surprise, but her lips were tightly pressed together.

“Uh… Mia?” Celeste ventured, the alley’s shadows suddenly feeling a shade darker.

Mia’s scowl was a mix of concern and exasperation. In this moment, silly as it was, Celeste realised Mia was an adult, and most importantly, that Lori wasn’t. Not quite yet. There was a difference there.

“What are you doing here?” Mia’s tone softened as her focus shifted to Celeste. “This place…”

“Yeah, gambling is bad.” Celeste’s reply came automatically, almost rehearsed. “We were just… looking for a shortcut to the Clock Plaza. Got a bit turned around, is all.”

Mia’s tension eased with a half-hearted chuckle. “Relatable,” she said. Then, with a rare glimpse of vulnerability showing through her eyes, fixed back to the doorway, where greed still lingered in the employee’s gaze. “Why don’t I take you two there?”

Lori nodded right away, clearly wanting out. Yet, as they prepared to leave, Celeste’s curiosity found its voice. “Mia… why were you here?”

Mia’s response was to wrap Celeste in a half-hug, steering them away with a smile that held way more warmth than it had any right to. “Razzo’s putting some products here—prizes for the games. I was just finalising the contract. Should’ve been done yesterday, but, you know how that went…”

As they rounded the corner, leaving the Game Corner and its promises behind, Celeste couldn’t help but glance back one last time.

—*——*—

With a purposeful stride, Mia guided them through the winding alley. “This place, it’s a trap,” she murmured, and for once Lori was nodding along. Celeste truly didn’t expect her two friends to go on a lecture about the pitfalls of vices and gambling, but there they were. It went on until the silhouette of a towering clock peeked over the rooftops and they reached an iron gate. When they stopped, Mia’s expression shifted to a smirk. “So how goes operation Cupid?” she asked.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Celeste blinked, lost for words, while Lori’s focus remained on her restless dragon.

“I can help but to notice our lovey-Pidoves aren’t with you,” Mia pressed, leaning in, ready for some secret. Aria’s elongated “Veee” did little to reassure her, and Celeste noticed her grip tightening around the gate. Her nails, long and well cared, were a striking shade of purple, just like her hair.

Huh… a girl’s night could be fun one of these days. Do our nails, braid our hairs and…

Mia’s impatient nudge brought Celeste back to the moment. “So…?”

“They… spent the day together,” she said, her voice barely above the murmur of the plaza.

Lori’s attention snapped back right at that moment, her dragon slightly calmer. “Celeste… please don’t say you—”

“I didn’t do anything! I mean, I kinda did… but it was nothing, really.” Her free arm flew up in defence, Mia’s frown deepening.

“You weren’t supposed to do nothing,” Mia chided. “You were supposed to set them up.”

Trapped between her two friends, Celeste felt cornered. “I did… something.” She turned to Lori. “Not much. I… kinda nudged them together today.” Then when she moved to the gate, trying to get some space, she spotted it. Under the shadow of the clock and amidst burgundy dahlias and a carpet of golden leaves, Luan and Delia sat, with their laughter mingling with the crisp air.

Still… not really what she would call lovey-Pidoves.

One bark from Aria drew the other’s attention to the pair under the clock

Mia’s whining broke through. “You could do better than that!”

Lori’s response was to march past them, the gate creaking open. “Whatever this is.” She gestured to the couple. “They can sort it by themselves.”

With a challenging snort, Mia said, “As if. We know they need all the help they can get.” Then, sharpening her gaze towards Lori. “Maybe we should turn our matchmaking skills onto you next.”

The suggestion was met with a mix of dismissal and discomfort. “I’m not interested…”

“Ace Trainer Lorelei has a certain ring to it, huh?” Mia let a devilish glint shine in her eye, just as Perl let out an irritated howl, tugging Lori’s focus back to her.

“What was that for?” Celeste asked, her attention briefly caught by the apple vendor’s reappearance across the plaza.

Mia shrugged. “After your bedtime, we grown-ups were talking boys. Or… I was.” She shoved Celeste into the plaza. “Look, I’m a romantic, and a matchmaker at heart. Since Lorelei isn’t interested, you can be my next project. But first…”

They paused beside a vendor hawking Lava Cookies and the way Mia looked at him didn’t bode well to… anyone. A protest died on Celeste’s lips as her friend slid some cash onto the man’s tray.

“I’m helping you help them,” she said, then gesturing to Delia and Luan. “Send that couple there a box of these. Tell them it’s from a secret admirer who believes in love.”

All resistance melted under Mia’s determined gaze, the latter’s smile sharpening as she gave Celeste another shove. “Don’t waste my money,” she finished, with that overly warm smile dancing once more on her lips.

Only when Mia returned to her business and Celeste was left alone, she managed to speak again.

Pity it was too late.

“Fuc—”

—*——*—

As they slipped to the side of the clock tower, Lori’s words kept on coming.

“Why are you listening to Mia?”

“She doesn’t really care.”

“You shouldn’t meddle in your friends’ lives like that.”

Honestly, all very good points, but the ship had sailed, and her friend was too busy tending her Frigibax to fight hard on anything. So, in hopes of further distracting Lori, Celeste gestured to the dragon and to the candy apple man on the other side of the plaza. “You think she’s hungry?”

Lori frowned. “We’ve just left the bakery.”

Hunkering down beside the tower, Celeste shrugged. Whatever upset the young dragon, the distraction was enough for her friend to stop bothering her with the ethics of eavesdropping and meddling and… oh well… Aria let out a dismissive “Veev” that somehow encapsulated the situation better than human words. Celeste was being stupid, but she would do this anyway,

Closer to the side of the clock tower, she caught snippets of Delia’s voice. “I’m at a loss, Lu,” she said, her words sprinkled with the sound of munching cookies. “It’s like I’m pulled in three directions—Professor Oak, Olga, and Cee right in the middle of it all…”

Did she say… Cee?

Celeste’s heart skipped at the mention of her. She edged even closer, curiosity’s pull being stronger than caution. If not for Aria’s tug on her hair, she’d probably tumble right into view.

Luan’s reply was muffled, but Delia’s laughter, the one she often used to charm people into doing whatever she wanted, smoothed over the awkwardness. “It’s just cookies.” She sounded reassuring. “Nice cookies that we got for free.”

Louder now, Luan’s voice broke through. “I… Yeah… Nice, the cookies…”

Poor boy. This hadn’t been Mia’s intention, and at this point, it wasn’t Celeste’s either. They were meant to talk about love, not… whatever this was.

She turned back to Lori. “You think we can salvage this?” Should we? Lori never answered. Her focus remained on her dragon, and Aria’s snort only cemented Celeste’s frustration. She leaned against the wall again and felt the sharp pain in her arm act up as Delia’s voice floated back into focus.

“…I told the Professor I’d get his volcanic ash samples from Cinnabar and be back to the lab soon…” Then, with a quieter voice, “And then there’s Olga’s offer in Viridian… She wants me to be manager of the new shop. I also told her I would do it…”

“But… you can’t… Can you do both?” Luan asked, and there was no audible answer. “What do you want to do, Delia?”

“Want?” Her laughter filled the air once more. “Wanting doesn’t really factor into it. What if I disappoint both the Professor or Olga?” She sighed. “And that’s not even taking Cee into account.”

Luan hesitated, and Celeste heard him sliding in closer. “Is… travelling with her what you want to do? W-wanting is important… I… you shouldn’t ignore it.”

Delia’s answer was a very loud and indignant scoff. “Cee’s fun. But the chaos of travelling with her? The absurdity? Not so much,” she said, sounding way more amused than she should. “I’m not keen on becoming an Ursaring’s dinner or getting on the wrong side of some Legendary because of her next wild idea. I don’t have to tell you that, do I?”

Celeste’s jaw tensed. What was with people today? She wanted to jump in and protest loudly, but Aria poked her head before she did so. “I’m not that reckless…” she muttered, further restraining herself. “I’m not…” A danger? Messed up? A lightning rod for chaos? …Wrong? With lips thinly pressed together and feet planted on the ground, she stood still and kept on listening.

“…again, want had nothing to do with it,” Delia was telling Luan.

Luckily, someone still had faith in her. “She can survive on her own,” Luan said, and even went further on her defence. “She’s travelled a lot before, and is not really shy about asking for help when she needs it… Plus, with Lori, she can be—”

“You really think Lorelei will babysit her?” Delia’s words stung. Celeste closed her eyes and took deep breaths. She wasn’t going to prove everyone right by being impulsive now, and she wasn’t going to make a scene in the middle of a busy plaza. Not again, at least. “…Imagine her camping by herself,” Delia continued. “She’ll be out there telling the trees about her expensive tent while trying to cook something fancy that will probably end up causing a forest fire.”

Luan, the turncoat, stopped defending her and joined in the mockery. “She’d probably get her Slowpoke under her arms and jump into the fire to save all the Caterpie around.”

Celeste’s pride simmered, but she clamped down on her frustration. It will be worse if they find out you’re listening in. Stay put. Don’t blurt out anything. Breathe.

Their laughter eventually faded into an awkward silence, only broken by more munching sounds.

“So… what then? You can’t juggle everything.” Luan’s quiet voice rippled in the silence.

“I can’t,” Delia admitted. “I… can’t disappoint any of them…”

Celeste watched from her hiding spot as Luan inched closer and lightly brushed his leg on Delia’s. For him, this was big, bold even. Drawn in, Celeste shuffled a bit to get a clearer look. Peeking through the flowers, she saw Luan, his eyes deep into Delia’s and loaded with things he couldn’t find the courage to say. Delia, though, tensed. She didn’t move or speak and all her attention was glued to the cookie box sitting between them, as if it was the most interesting thing in the world right then.

“I’m sure Cee will understand,” Luan offered, almost hopeful.

Delia pulled her legs up to her chest, moving away from him. “I’m not worried about letting her down…”

Luan also edged back, creating more space between them. “I… I don’t really get it.”

In a whisper, Delia continued. “I’m pretty sure Cee will support me whatever I decide. It’s not her…”

There was a lull in the conversation, allowing the hustle and bustle of the plaza to wash over them. Nearby, the candy apple seller’s pitch wove into the fabric of countless conversations and leaves rustling softly in the backdrop. Lori’s Frigibax let out a roar, punctuated by her trainer’s frustrated grunts. These layers of sound intertwined with the rhythm of Celeste’s heart. What was this about, Delia? She never asked, yet even Aria, sensing the shift, leaned in, her curiosity piqued by the conversation’s direction.

“Professor Diaz… she asked me to watch over Cee. At least until she goes back home in summer.”

Thunder.

Delia’s words barely rose above a whisper. Yet to Celeste, it was like getting slammed by a Thunderbolt, torched with a Flamethrower, and blasted straight on the heart with a fucking Hyper Beam. Aria tried to reel her in. She really did. But another tug of her hair, and another soft “Veev” weren’t enough.

“Cee’s mother was so nice and caring. I couldn’t… couldn’t say no… I promi—”

She was still talking when Celestes marched in with her face scrunched up in completely new ways.

“You did WHAT?” The words burst from her. Heads turned around them—candy apple guy included.

As she stood there, they all slowly realised what was happening. Celeste jerked back, catching Delia and Luan’s bewildered looks morphing into understanding. Lori’s gaze snapped towards the scene, her ongoing battle with Frigibax momentarily forgotten and, while Luan shifted enough to drop the cookie box, Delia slowly rose to her feet.

“Cee…” Delia’s voice was slow and measured. “Were you eavesdropping?”

Luan’s jittery gaze ping-ponged from the scattered cookies to the girls, probably assigning the blame onto Celeste. As Delia moved, her auburn hair—only a few shades lighter than Celeste’s—danced in the air behind her. They could’ve been mistaken for sisters, under different stars. In this world, however, Celeste’s mother should stay far, far away from her friends.

Inhaling deeply, her mind raced through a list of snappy comebacks, all of them witty, smart and blame-free.

Instead, what slipped out was, “I can make a fire.” She crossed her arms and looked away. “Maybe I’d even cook if you didn’t always hoard the kitchen.”

“You were spying on us,” Delia shot back, louder. A quick glance at Luan and the cookies coloured her cheeks with shades of annoyance and… embarrassment? Did… she know what the cookies were for? “Cee, this is—”

Her words drowned in the sudden clanging of the clock overhead, its vibrations stirring the ground beneath them. Delia, Luan, Lori—they all tried to speak, but their voices were lost under the tolling.

Once, twice, the bells rang.

“You and mum can to go—” Celeste tried to make her own words louder. Another chime. It was all lost in the air.

Lori stumbled into her with a muttered, “Shit.” Confused, Celeste shifted, her foot crunching down on something fragile. By the fifth chime, the aftermath was clear: a pair of glasses lay shattered at her feet, alongside Perl’s Corsola-toy torn apart. Then a grey blur, quick and clumsy, made a beeline for the candy apple vendor.

As the world fell silent again, all eyes turned towards Lori, squinting fiercely. Celeste carefully gathered the broken glasses and extended them towards her friend, only for the moment to be shattered by Perl’s wild roar. The dragon had made a leap for the apple vendor, and out of his tray came that weird candy apple Celeste saw moving before.

It had to be some sort of Applin.

As Perl gave chase to it, the crowd scattered, clearing a path amidst shouts and gasps. “Someone help his Dipplin!” a voice cried out, leaving Celeste to exchange frantic glances with Lori.

Finally snatching her glasses back, Lorelei pieced them together in a futile gesture of repair, then looked sternly at Celeste and Luan. “What are you waiting for?” she snapped, pointing out to some random direction. “Go after Perl!”

—*——*—

Celeste and Luan were hot on the heels of the Frigibax, who herself right on the Dipplin’s tail—or tails, as Celeste was pretty sure she saw two different wyrms peeking outside the apple. Both Pokémon, despite stubby clumsy legs or being a literal apple on a stick, weaved among the crowds with a surprising agility.

Rounding a corner to a stunning ocean view, they realised the Pokémon had vanished. Celeste glanced at Luan, searching for a plan, but he seemed more interested in avoiding her eyes. His gaze darted around as if searching for an escape before he finally released his Pokémon—Lunatone and Hoothoot took to the skies, while the Munna gave Celeste a look that could only be described as scornful before settling atop Luan’s head.

“Luan…” she started, stepping closer.

He stiffened, pointedly not meeting her gaze. “I’m heading that way,” he gestured vaguely, setting off without waiting for her response.

Celeste moved to bridge the gap. “I—” Words failed her. “Can’t we just talk about this?”

His reply was barely audible. “You promised, Cee… no meddling. And the eavesdropping? Not cool.”

She had promised. And she had broken that promise. Aria offered a soft bark of support, yet her attention was soon drawn to the Munna, who seemed to relish in this developing drama, puffing out his cheeks with gusto before urging Luan forward with an air of urgency.

“We don’t have time for this,” Luan called back, his voice fading with each step he took away from her.

“Right,” Celeste murmured, to no one in particular, facing the downhill path before her. Her steps began before her resolve did. Every time her heels hit the ground, she tried to justify her actions further. Yes, she had meddled, but not that much. Yes, she had eavesdropped, but wasn’t Delia also at fault for talking to her mother behind her back? Yes, she had broken Luan’s trust, but… but…

She came out empty.

There was no excuse for that, was there?

Aria’s bark snapped her out of her spiral.

“No sulking.” She faked a smile that didn’t really fooled her Eevee. Cheering her up hadn’t been Aria’s goal, however. In fact, she wasn’t focused on Celeste at all. With another bark, she leapt down, her nose twitching. There were only two options there. She either found something she wanted to eat or… “You picked up on their scent?”

With another positive bark, Aria led her just around the corner to face a steep staircase. On top of it, they could see the crowd’s frantic movements and hear scattered shouts. Celeste didn’t motion to go up right away. Instead, she squinted until the candy Applin—or Dipplin apparently—bounded down the steps directly towards them.

“We cut them off?” she said, unsure at first, but quickly widened her eyes. “We cut them off!”

As Perl powered through the bystanders and came into view with a roar, Celeste sprang into action. She and Aria charged up the stairs to intercept the Dipplin. Unfortunately, fast as they’d been before, the two little wyrms weren’t good on the uneven steps and Perl was gaining ground fast.

“Aria, Quick Attack, now!” Celeste commanded, and in a flash, her Eevee was in motion, blurring towards the other Pokémon. Perl was unexpectedly ready. Her tail glowed with a draconic energy. With a swift motion, she countered Aria’s Quick Attack, but the impact sent them both spiralling to the sides. Thankfully, the blow was weak and Aria was quick to regain her footing—far quicker than Perl could recover.

Celeste was ready to call for another Quick Attack and hoped it wouldn’t hurt Perl too much. She didn’t want to injure Lori’s Pokémon, but, most of all, she didn’t want her to start crying again.

But as words left her mouth, a new voice thundered over hers.

“Jab, chokehold.”

Right on cue, a Primape sprang into action. It made a show of sliding down the handrails before flipping off and diving towards Perl. In one smooth move, it snagged Perl in a chokehold (duh) and pinned her down against the steps to further subdue her. Celeste and Aria could only watch in awe as the situation rapidly shifted under this newcomer’s control. The little dragon twisted and turned and spat some ice, trying to wiggle free, but the Primape’s grip was unbreakable. Eventually, realising escape was impossible, she switched to her fallback strategy: bawling her eyes out.

“Shoot!” Primape’s trainer… swore (??)… before carefully weaving himself from within the crowd.

This guy was big. Probably the biggest Celeste had ever seen. Not the tallest nor the fattest. Simply… big. His arms were like tree trunks, flexing with every move as he made his way down the stairs, muscles rippling under his skin with each step.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay. Please, don’t cry.” He crouched beside Perl. His shirt seemed to strain against the sheer size of his muscles as he attempted a soothing tone. When words didn’t do the trick, he grabbed a black ribbon-like belt tied on his hips and swung in front of the Frigibax like some children’s toy.

It didn’t work either.

The Dipplin sneaked behind Celeste’s legs, casting wary glances at the unfolding scene. She whispered a few reassuring words to the little creature, her voice barely a thread. Those quiet murmurs caught the man’s attention—who, up till that moment, hadn’t really noticed Celeste and Aria’s presence.

“Are you its trainer?” he asked, his gaze shifting between Celeste and Aria. Caught off-guard and distracted by the sight of a Hoothoot flying overhead, she only managed a few blinks in response. “Hey, Eevee trainer?” he tried again.

“Ah… sorry,” Celeste replied, taking a step forward and reaching out for Aria. Strangely, it was the Dipplin who took her extended hand as an invitation to climb onto her shoulder. “Perl—The Frigibax—she belongs to a friend of mine.”

The guy let out a sigh, shoulders dropping, as he turned back to the still-crying Perl. He looked like he was running out of ideas, especially since the dragon wasn’t interested in his black-belt at all. Casting a hopeful glance Celeste’s way, he seemed to be asking for a plan, but she came up empty. With a resigned whistle, he signalled to the crowd watching them, and out popped a Machamp from who-knows-where, its arms juggling a few grocery bags. The man passed the belt to one of Machamp’s spare hands with a hopeful smile.

“Bro, can you try to figure this out?” he said.

Again, Celeste could only stare at how this guy’s muscles moved. She shrunk a few inches when he approached her. It felt like she was standing by a mountain. He then carefully patted the Dipplin crawling up her arms.

“Are they yours?” he asked.

She just shook her head. “I…” her voice cracked. “No… someone else’s… Perl just… uh… sorry. Thanks, Mr…?”

He chuckled. “Mr? That sounds weird. Just call me—”

Before he could introduce himself, Lori’s urgent call for Perl cut through everything. She burst onto the picture, followed closely by Luan and hurrying down the stairs. Initially, her focus was solely on Perl, barely registering the other Pokémon’s presence. It wasn’t until the Primape offered her a cheeky grin and the Machamp gave a friendly wave that she paused, slowly pivoting on her heels. Her gaze, wide under her now crooked classes, locked onto Celeste and the unfamiliar trainer standing by.

There was a brief silence, but eventually Lorelei managed to speak.

“B-Bruno?”