Chapter
4: The Invitation

I woke up to the feel of something warm and furry nuzzling
my face, and a pleasant plant-like smell filling my nose. I opened my eyes to
the sight of Arbor's caramel-colored eyes looking into mine. He looked like a
parent trying to wake up a child late for school. 

“Whatever it is, can it wait
until tomorrow?" I mumbled sleepily. I closed my eyes and was close to drifting
off again when a Leafeon's paw struck my forehead.

“Ow!
Okay, Okay, I'm getting up!"

Arbor
smiled and leapt off the bed. He sat on his haunches in front of the door, like
a prison guard as if to make sure I would make good on my word. His green,
leaf-like ears and tail brightening in the sunlight shining through my bedroom
window. He was large for a Leafeon yet his body was thin, giving him a slightly
lanky appearance, but underneath the coat of sand-colored fur was nothing but
muscle.

I
rubbed my forehead as I took my time getting out of bed and when changing my
clothes. Sometimes Arbor would tap his paw on the floor as if trying to rush
me, and I would roll my eyes and continue my slow pace. Realizing I wasn't speeding
up, he took the opportunity to groom himself. He brushed his fur with his paws,
paying close attention to his long ears and the large sickle-shaped crest on
his forehead. I was fuming as I watched him go about his morning ritual. As a
Leafeon, he received nourishment from the sun, and Arbor was as lazy as the day
was long. Whatever he wanted, he didn't need me for it. It wasn't until after I
finished getting dressed that Arbor was satisfied enough to step away from the
door.

Ever
since I had started my battle-hiatus, things had been moving horribly slow at Beacon. Cassandra always said she didn't need my help with anything, and I was
avoiding Ian because I was ashamed of how I treated him at The Under. I tried
picking up the search for Bryce again, but I couldn't bring myself to look at
the different maps and notes I stuffed in the box under my bed. Just thinking
about looking at it brought up memories of my past adventures with Neil and
Patrick, memories I wasn't ready to face yet. I hadn't told anyone yet, but I had
decided not to retire as a Pokémon trainer. I had agonized over the decision for
what felt like the longest time. Yesterday, I made the mistake of telling my Pokémon
that I had come to a decision about my trainer career. Arbor apparently didn't
think I was keeping my word which was the one thing I couldn't stand about him.
He was the laziest Pokémon I had, yet he got my case if he even thought I was
taking my sweet time.

I
wasn't stalling, I was just tired after spending half the night planning out my
next move. Even after stepping down from champion, getting back into battling
wasn't hard. It was the reputation I had built up over the years that was the problem. The “nurse"
at the Under confirmed my worst fears. People would compare my past actions to how
I was now and decide which version they liked better. I didn't care what people
thought of me, but a trainer was built by his or her reputation. My reputation
for being cold and ruthless attracted the wrong kind of people. I couldn't risk
anyone thinking I had gone soft.

I
stormed out of my room and nearly tripped over Dorian who was sleeping in the
hallway. He didn't show an ounce of concern at almost being stepped on or his
trainer nearly falling down the stairs. I ignored his lack of compassion and
headed down the stairs with Dorian and Arbor following close behind.

The
sound of the TV drew me into the living room. The news was on, but there was no
one inside watching it. Arbor's sister, Aqua, was curled in one corner of the
sofa, resembling a blue pillow with legs and a tail. Like her brother, Aqua was
larger than most Vaporeon. Her  body was
thin also, but her toned body wasn't hidden beneath a coat of fur. The Vaporeon
opened her eyes when I walked in and stretched, sticking her long fin-shaped tail
into the air and fanning the pectoral fins on either side of her head. Every
movement sent a wave through her body like ripples moving through water. Arbor
jumped onto the sofa next to her while Dorian laid down next to the sofa. I
mumbled, “good morning" to Aqua and turned back to the TV.

On
the TV screen was a news reporter sporting a tacky green suit and a really bad
haircut. The Pokémon League building was behind him along with several trainers
in the background, waving and making rude gestures. In big bright letters at
the bottom were the words: New Kalos Champion Crowned.

A new Champ, huh? I
wonder if it's anyone I know.

I
moved closer to the TV, plucked the remote off the table, and turned up the
volume.

“—And
here is the new Kalos Region Champion, Sharon Harris," the reporter said.

 I let out a
small sigh of disappointment and moved to turn off the TV, but Arbor saw and
whined. I dropped the remote on the table and folded my arms across my chest. “What
do you care anyway? We're done with that life."

Arbor
didn't respond and simply turned back to the TV.

The
camera panned slightly and another trainer came into view. Even on TV, she had
a commanding presence like the alpha of a pack of Pokémon. The way she stood,
the piercing look in her eyes, and even her business-casual outfit reminded me
of those people who enjoyed bossing others around.

The
trainer, Sharon Harris, took a moment to straighten her ironed, striped shirt
before turning her grey eyes to the camera. It was then I noticed her other
features. Her eyebrows were perfectly aligned and there wasn't a single blemish
on her face. When she straightened her clothes I saw that she had a manicure
and there were no scars or blisters on her fingers.

Hmph, typical.
Another trainer who probably didn't spend so much as an hour in the wild. I
wouldn't be surprised if someone captured her team for her. I bet she drove to
each gym and did all her training in a facility. Did Diantha really lose to
someone like her?

“Sharon,
you are the new Kalos Region Champion, how does that feel?" the reporter asked.

Sharon
sighed and looked down, her smile melting off her face. “To be honest, I feel a
little disappointed. I mean, don't get me wrong, Diantha was an excellent
opponent and her title of Champion was well earned, but I just don't feel I
truly earned my title. And there is a certain someone who has tainted the honorable
title whom I believe hasn't stepped down yet."

I
rolled my eyes and sat next to Arbor. “Why are we watching this again?"

Arbor
continued to stare at the TV and didn't respond. The fur on his back was on standing
on end as he watched the TV. Aqua stepped around him, curled up in my lap, and
nuzzled my hand so I would pet her. I chuckled at her attempt to distract me as
I stroked her back. Her body felt smooth and cool almost as if running my hand
across the surface of a small pool of water. Petting her had the calming effect
she was looking for. Aqua sighed contentedly, but she kept throwing quick looks
in Dorian's direction and her body felt slightly warmer. Dorian never looked in
her direction.

The
news reporter talking again drew my attention back to the news,
“Disappointed?  You just proved you are
the strongest trainer in the region, what is there to be disappointed about?"

“Well
you see, the last Champion, Maya Martin"—there was an undertone of spite in her
voice as she said my name—“decided she didn't want to be the Champion anymore
and gave up her title. Diantha retook her place as champion, but she has been
defeated already; beating her feels like coming in second place. The last champion
wasn't defeated, so technically, I'm not the Champion."

“Don't
know why you care so much. The whole thing is overrated anyway," I mumbled.
Aqua yipped in agreement.

“But
that's not what bothers me. What bothers me is that Maya's name is still feared
by many trainers. That she was never defeated only adds to her power, and it
sends a bad message to trainers. I want trainers to know that she is not
someone to be feared, and that no one is invincible. You don't have to be like
Maya Martin to become the best."

Dorian
uttered a low growl making Aqua look at him, concerned. I patted his head and
he quieted down.

That 'no one is invincible'
bullshit works both ways you know, I thought.

“Oh?
So you wish to be a beacon of hope for future Champions in training?" the
reporter asked.

Sharon
smiled, but it was a fake smile. The kind of smile that someone made when they were
really enjoying the attention, but were trying to stay modest. “You said it,
not me. I just want the title of Champion to mean something again. All I want
is for Maya to be at her peak. It would be a shame if my victory came too
easily because all of her Pokémon were out of shape."

“On
their worst day, my Pokémon would destroy you," I growled.

So go down there and
teach her a lesson, my mind replied. Show her what happens when you try to talk
big with nothing to back it up.

“I'm
a trainer, not a side-show," I said.

Aqua
and Arbor gave me confused looks. Dorian shot a quick glance my way before
turning back to the TV.

“Don't
give me those looks. I know I'm talking to myself. Anyway, she's not worth the
time. We don't have anything to prove to anyone."

My
two Eeveelutions gave me skeptical looks and turned back to the TV.

The reporter was still talking, his voice full of excitement now, like a little kid waiting to hear a big secret. “Before we wrap this up, is there anything
else you wish to say? In case the 'true' Champion is watching this right now?" 

Another
predatory smile appeared on Sharon's face. “Yes, actually, there is—"

I'd
heard enough. I snatched the remote off the table and turned off the TV. Arbor
nudged my arm in irritation.

“I
don't know how you even put up with that smug bastard for that long," I said,
“But I'm not about to sit here while she calls me out on TV. That is exactly what I was worried about. I haven't even started changing my image and people are already coming after me. C'mon, let's go
see what Cassandra and the others are up to."

Arbor
sighed, and Aqua shot him a dirty look before jumping off my lap and heading
for the kitchen. Arbor, Dorian, and I followed her through the kitchen and out
the back door.

Cassandra
was a few yards away from the main house, sitting cross-legged on the grass across
from her Lucario, Lucien, my Mawile, Maude, and my Manectric, Sparks. She would
glance up from the large drawing pad in her lap at the Pokémon in front of her
before diving back into her sketch. Every time she did this, she had to brush
the bangs of her blue hair away from her face. Lucien sat the same way as his
master, cross-legged and back straight, his toned muscles easily visible
beneath his blue fur and cream-furred torso. His paws were pressed together and
his snout pointed at the ground making him look like a warrior praying before a
major battle.. If it weren't for the subtle swaying of his tail, I'd sworn he
were a statue.

Sparks
sat up straight on his haunches, yellow, spiky mane of the canine Pokémon
remained unmoving despite the breeze. Even as a Pokémon, his age was beginning
to show. His skin was wrinkled in places underneath the coat of bright blue
fur. He carried his age well, though. Like Lucien, his muscled body showed
through his fur, but he was getting thinner and his body had an almost frail
look to it. But even when he was lounging around, he looked like a guard on
patrol. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the proud and feral look in his red
eyes as he sat up at attention.

Unlike
the other two Pokémon, Maude refused to sit still. Next to the two muscled
Pokémon, she looked like a bored child waiting for their parent. But she was
just a powerful as the other two, and was most likely the most dangerous
Pokémon sitting there. Her yellow fur and cute round face only was part of her
biology. Her fur even umbrellaed around her legs making her look like a little
kid wearing a pair of bell-bottoms. It was all a ruse to make her seem innocent
so her prey would lower their guard around her, something she enjoyed a bit too
much for my taste. Every few seconds, she stretched, reaching her claws high
above her head and opening and closing the massive jaws attached to her head trying
not to yawn. Seeing her like that made me uneasy; the only time she fidgeted
like that was before a major battle. Or if she went too long without one.  

Hold on a little
longer, Maude, I thought. Once I figure out my next move, you'll have all the battles you want.

It
was odd to see the three of them together. Sparks and Lucien made sense, those
two were disciplined and took everything they did seriously (sometimes too
seriously). Maude, liked to pull pranks, and hit things. I didn't even want to
think about what Cassandra could have told them to convince them to sit
together.

As
I drew closer, the tendrils on the back of Lucien's head moved and he lifted
his head. He looked over his shoulder, proud red eyes staring into me from
behind his black mask. The large jaws on Maude's head shifted as well, most likely
because of Maude's uncanny ability to detect enemies behind her.

“Why're
you three sitting around Cassandra like its story time?" I asked.

Cassandra
jumped and looked up as if seeing me for the first time. “When did you get
here?"

“How
the hell did you not see me walking toward you? You looked up several times."

Arbor
and Lucien nodded in response.

“No
one asked either of you," Cassandra said. She looked at her sketch pad and
sighed. “Dammit, you ruined my drawing." She started scrubbing at the pad with
her eraser. “Anyway, you finally decided to join the living did you?'

 “More like an impatient Leafeon didn't want me
sleeping in," I responded, throwing a dirty look in Arbor's direction. He
smiled, and I aimed a half-hearted kick in his direction. He easily dodged it
and continued to smile outside of reach. Aqua jumped on his back instead and
the two of them began rolling around in a green and blue ball. Maude—always
eager for a fight—grinned and joined them, jumping on top of Arbor and pinning
him to the ground. He squeezed out from under Maude's grip and took off
running. I noticed Sparks tensed up at their behavior, but he continued to give
Cassandra his undivided attention.

“If
I'd known that staying here all day was so boring, I'd found a new hobby," I said.
“Seriously, I thought that a Pokémon sanctuary would have more to do."

Cassandra
shrugged. “I try to leave the Pokémon alone unless they need medical attention.
Some of them have been abused, so they don't like humans much. There's more
than enough food to go around, so unless something serious is going on, this
place pretty much runs itself. Besides, you've been locked in your room for the
last two days. Of course you're bored."

“What?
It's only been two days?"

“Yep."

I
groaned and sat down on the grass next to Lucien. Something pressed against my
lower back which had to be Dorian laying down behind me. Arbor came back,
breathing heavily from his brief fight with Aqua, and lay in my lap (as much of
him that would fit) and closed his eyes. I was still pissed at him for not
letting me sleep in, so I pushed him onto the ground. Aqua and Maude came back,
breathing heavily with content smiles on their faces, and sat next to me.

“It
feels like months," I mumbled.

“That's
only because you don't have anything to do," Cassandra answered. “For the last
several years, you've been traveling, battling, and training. You can't just
expect to give up your lifestyle and think you'll just adapt."

I
looked up at Cassandra. Something in her voice gave me the impression she
wasn't talking to me. Thinking on it, she spent a lot of time doing different
things. It was always something new, a hobby or a project she just had to work
on.  Maybe she was bored too and just
needed a means to pass the time.

Cassandra
had gone back to her drawing, staring at it and tilting her head as if trying
to get an idea of what do next. Judging from the way the pencil was moving, she
wasn't doing anything.

“What
happened to starting the search for your brother again?"  she asked.

I thought about what
you said. Maybe it's better not to go down that road again, I
thought. I had no intention of admitting Cassandra was right—especially about
that, so I asked, “What are you drawing?"

Cassandra's
stared at her paper as if she was trying to decide how to finish it. But I knew
the drawing was the last thing on her mind. “I'm gonna pretend you're not
dodging and say, the clothing ideas for the fashion show."

 “Oh," I said, leaning back on Dorian and looking
up as the sky. Then it dawned on me what Cassandra just said. I sat up and
raised a brow at her. “Wait, clothing? And what fashion show?"

Maude
started grumbling as if I should know what Cassandra was talking about. Sparks
looked over his shoulder and barked.

Cassandra
shook her head and said, “They're saying that we're having a Pokémon fashion
show. The Pokémon are going to get dressed-up and show off the latest fashion
lines created by yours truly."

I
burst into laughter. All the Pokémon frowned at me, but I didn't care. The idea
of Cassandra designing clothes was the funniest thing I heard all week.
Cassandra always did her own thing, and so a few of her fashion decisions were
a little…out there. Her hair was one example. She was naturally a brunette, but
she dyed it blue and bleached the tips to match her Lucario's fur.

When
I managed to stop laughing and my sides stopped hurting, I said, “You really
are bored. You see a Lucario in a dress and suddenly you get an idea for a
fashion show?"

Lucien
stiffened. Maude started rolling across the grass, laughing hysterically.
Cassandra started chewing on the end of her pencil.

“I
thought you forgot about that," she said.

“No,"
I responded, smiling so wide, it made my cheeks hurt. “Since we're on the
subject, how did this happen?"

“Lucien
was watching me get dressed—"

“There
are so many things wrong with what you just said."

“Don't
make it weird. Anyway I asked him why didn't Pokémon wear clothes. He said he
never thought about it, so we decided to have him try on a few things and see
how he felt. After noticing  how good he
looked in my outfits—"

“You're
seriously making me question your relationship with him."

“Don't.
Make. It. Weird. Anyway, after that I decided I wanted to design a fashion line
specifically for Pokémon."

I
leaned forward and put my face in my hands to hide that I was stifling another laugh.
Images of Lucien wearing women's clothing kept flashing through my mind. When I
finally managed to compose myself, I looked at her and said, “Ignoring the
questionable bits, you do realize that in a Pokémon battle, their clothes will
just get dirty and torn up? They would have to get dressed and undress for
every battle and no one wants to go through that."

“Maya,
the clothes are for casual use, not battling. Like, if you wanna take your
Pokémon for a walk, or for anyone who isn't a trainer. C'mon, Maya, they
already have spas and salons for Pokémon, why not make clothes, too?"

Cassandra
had a point. I wasn't against the idea, I just didn't want Cassandra to invest
more time and money in something that wasn't going to lead anywhere. “When you
put it that way, it almost makes sense. I'll agree to it on one condition:
where's the money coming from for all this? I just had to do a tournament
because we were strapped for money."

Cassandra
waved away my concerns. “Don't worry about that. I got it covered."

“Cassandra…"

“No,
really. I have a friend who works in a boutique, and they agreed to foot the
bill if they like my ideas. Plus, the Leavanny don't work for money. So long as
I give them some of my special berry smoothies, they agreed to make the
outfits."

I
raised a brow. “You're gonna give them alcohol?"

“What?
No! How many times do I have to tell you I don't put alcohol in the drinks? After what happened with Delphine, I know full well not to let any Pokémon
drink. Maybe you'll change your mind when you see what I came up with."
Cassandra held up the drawing pad for me to see.

It
was a pretty accurate drawing of Maude wearing a sleeveless jacket with a
studded bracelet on each arm. Leaning closer, I could see she had also drawn in
a choker and two ribbons on the top Maude's head at the base of her large jaws.

“All
right, I take back everything I said. That
 looks badass, and if the fashion
thing doesn't work out, you could make a killing as an artist. But I do have
one question: How do you plan on creating this stuff? I've never seen you sew
anything."

“Oh,
that's easy. A few Leavanny moved in recently. When I told them about the
fashion idea, Maya, you would not believe the way their eyes lit up. Turns out
they're always making clothes for Sewaddle, and other small Pokémon. Being able
to do something on this scale is something they've always dreamt of."

“Riiight,"
I said, fighting the urge to roll my eyes.

I
had known about her ability to speak to Pokémon for almost as long as I'd known
her. Patrick used to brag about it all the time. Even after all this time, I
still sometimes found it hard to believe. Whether I believed it or not, I found
it hard to imagine her talking fashion with a couple of Leavanny in the middle
of the woods.

Cassandra
whipped out an envelope the size of a postcard from her pocket. “Before you
start thinking I'm gonna make you try on outfits and help make the clothes,
don't. Right now, I just want you to focus on figuring out your next move."

I
took the envelope and raised a brow. There was nothing on it except for my name
neatly written in the center in large letters. “What's with the envelope? I start
getting fan mail?"

“It's
not fan mail. The old guy who dropped it off this morning said it was an
invitation to the Battle Chateau."

“The
Battle-what?"

“Just
read it."

            I opened the envelope and found two
pieces of paper inside. One was a fancy-looking letter with a golden trim and written
in the neatest handwriting I had ever seen. The paper was crisp like was brand
new. The other piece of paper was the size of a movie ticket.  I ignored it and read the letter first:

Miss
Maya Martin,

Due
to your numerous, praiseworthy accomplishments, we cordially invite you to join
the elite trainers of the Pokémon society at the Battle Chateau.

In
this exclusive social club and battle arena, you can enjoy the most thrilling
of battles against like-minded and equally skilled trainers. Whether you seek
entertainment, glory, riches, or a fierce challenge you will not be
disappointed by what we have to offer.

If
you wish to know more, we implore you to visit us at your earliest possible
convenience. Our location is the edge of the river of Riviére Walk a half day's
walk from Connecting Cave.

We
thank you for your time and hope to see you among the elite rankings of Pokémon
society.

I
could barely contain my laughter as I read the invitation. “Are these guys
serious?"

“Apparently
so."

“Right.
It sounds promising, but I don't really like how this 'elite trainer society'
stuff sounds. How convenient I get this when I'm trying to figure out what to
do to change my image as a trainer."

Cassandra
shrugged and refused to make eye contact. “My parents always said to count your
blessings."

“Cassandra—"

“Okay,
okay, it was me. I put your name forward and asked them to invite you. They didn't
want to because of your reputation, but I put in a good word for you. Maya,
believe me, this place is perfect for you. Who you were doesn't matter too much
there."

“Unless
they're deciding whether to invite you or not."

“Come
on, I know you're pissed, but do you have any better options? You're a trainer,
and your Pokémon are practically trained warriors. You can't just sit around,
get fat, and think you'll be happy with your life. Even if you get used to it,
your Pokémon won't. Maya, you know I don't like to butt into people's business,
but seriously, you should go, or at least check it out. If you still don't feel
like doing it, then I'll back off. You know that Ian and I will support you—"

Lucien
barked in protest, making Cassandra laugh. Whatever Lucien said, Arbor and
Sparks joined in the protest as well. Aqua lifted her head and mewed in
agreement. Maude looked at me and nodded, and I felt Dorian shift behind me.

“I'm
sorry: Ian, me, and our Pokémon will support you, but only as long we know you've thought about it and decided it's
what you want," Cassandra said. 

I
turned to Maude who was giving me a pleading look. Arbor and Aqua were giving
me hopeful stares as well.

“That's
why woke me up isn't it? You wanted me to see Sharon Harris call me out so I
would challenge her," I said to Arbor.

His
ears fell and he dropped his head in shame.

It looks like I don't
have much of an option. If Arbor is getting antsy, the others have to be getting
restless as well. They need a challenge, and I can't give them one battling
trainers in underground tourneys.

Cassandra
tapped me on the shoulder. “You don't need to decide right now. Battle Chateau
invites don't expire. Right now, you should focus on doing your chores."

“Wait,
my what now?"

“You
said you were going to help out more," Cassandra replied as if the answer were
obvious. “I said this place runs itself, buuut on the rare days—like this one,
you have to do some actual work.

“So
first, I need you to check the areas around the edge of Beacon. There's a
pack of wild Mightyena that've been trying to push into the area. They've
already attack Lucien when he tried to talk to them, so I know they won't play
nice. When you finish with that, I'll tell you what else needs to be done."

My
jaw dropped. Beacon was several acres large—half of which was a forest.
Patrolling just the borders on foot would take hours. The only Pokémon I had
large enough to ride was Dust, but since a good portion of the Beacon was
covered in trees, I had to walk most of the way. I wanted to argue, but as
co-founder of Beacon, I needed to do my part. Also Cassandra probably
wanted to make use of my experiences training in the wild with my uncle.

“Oh,
come on, Cassandra," I said pleadingly. “I know you're just getting back at me
for staying in my room the last two days, but seriously?"

Maude
snickered into her claw.

“I
don't know what you're laughing at, you're coming with me."

Maude
immediately stopped laughing.

Patrolling Beacon was just as boring and tedious as I thought it was. Part of me
actually wanted to run into the Mightyena so it would get a little interesting.
Unfortunately, nothing happened, and there were no signs that they ever came
back. If they had attacked Lucien, they learned the hard way this area is well-protected.

Maude
grumbled the entire trip. Sparks and Dorian came along, too. Maude made no
attempts to help out and questioned every wild Pokémon we did come across.
Sparks was more helpful. He sniffed around, and spoke to the Pokémon if
anything suspicious was going on, or at least, that's what I assumed he was
asking them. Either way they were more pleased to speak to him than the moody
Mawile. Dorian just followed behind us like a silent bodyguard. He never let me
out of his sight, and growled if any wild Pokémon got too close.

            The sun was starting to set when
Cassandra called me on my holo caster and said she sent her Pokémon to check
out the other half of the area so I could head back to help her prepare dinner.
I wasn't trying to walk back, so I found the nearest clearing and whistled for
Dust to fly me back to the main house. Even with the ride, my legs and feet
still hurt something horrible, and according to Cassandra, I wasn't even close
to being done.

            There were no more leftovers, so Cassandra
had to make dinner which meant going the greenhouse and picking berries. She
planned to make some kind of berry-vegetable casserole. Cassandra had already
picked the berries by the time I got back, but I still had to sit there and  separating the berries and mashing them for
the meal Cassandra was planning. We talked while we prepared the food, mostly
the different clothing ideas Cassandra had for the outfits and the developments
of the wild Pokémon living in the sanctuary. Thankfully, Cassandra avoided
talking about the Battle Chateau or my reasons for not battling anymore, and
changed the subject whenever it seemed we would were going in that direction.

            I learned that the reason Ian and
his Pokémon were missing was because they went to Vert Plaza in Lumiose City to
train, and that's where he claimed to be spending his time whenever he wasn't
with me.  

 “What about Ian's battling anxiety?" I asked.
“You mention a Pokémon battle and he gets nervous."

“I
don't know. Maybe he feels self-conscious around us, and doesn't want us to see
him like that," Cassandra said.

“So
he doesn't trust us then? Doesn't he know that we don't care about that?"

“You're
one to talk. I can barely get you to tell me what day it is half the time."

I
was quiet until dinner was ready.

We
worked in a system to get the food outside. I prepped the bowls while Cassandra
carried them outside for our Pokémon to eat. Once we were finished, I put away
the leftovers for Ian's Pokémon when he brought them back and got started cleaning
up.

            Cleaning the kitchen took no time at
all. Strangely, after spending the whole afternoon walking around and helping
Cassandra with the cooking, I wasn't the least bit tired. While I still had the
energy, I went upstairs to clean my bedroom. I took my time picking up clothes
and deciding which ones should go in the laundry and putting the rest away.
Unfortunately, there wasn't enough to qualify as a full load so I couldn't wash
them. The Pokémon toys that littered the floor, I swept into the closet with my
foot. There was no point in putting them away since my Pokémon would make a
mess later anyway. In less than an hour, my room was clean again. I swore,
realizing I should've taken my time. I had hoped that making dinner and cleaning
up would take up the rest of the day, but instead I was bored. With nothing else
better to do, I headed downstairs and almost walked right into Lucien.

Before
I could ask what he was doing, I heard a knock at the front door. As a Lucario,
Lucien could detect the auras of living things. He most likely felt the aura of
someone approaching the house and came inside to find me.

“Is
it anyone we need to worry about?" I asked.

Lucien
closed his eyes, and the appendages on the back of his head moved slightly as
he felt out the aura on the other side of the door. When he opened his eyes and
shook his head, I opened the door.

An
older, and slightly taller, version of Ian was standing outside. Unlike Ian,
his black hair was streaked with grey along the temple and the man had a
stronger jaw. He was definitely a Pokémon trainer; the way he stood suggested
he was getting into a stance to throw a Poké Ball. He looked at me with a
friendly expression, but I could see the years of experience buried in his
green eyes.

"Hello, Miss. I'm looking for Ian Doyle."

“You
must be Ian's father," I said. It's
funny how I can recognize you even though I've never once seen your face. It's
even funnier how Ian's been here for a while but you never once showed up.

“Yes,
I am," the man said, extending his hand to me. “My name is Vance. Pleasure to
me you, Miss…?"

I
looked at the man's hand but didn't shake it. “Maya," I replied tonelessly. “If
you're looking for Ian, he's not here."

Vance
lowered his hand, but he didn't seem put off by my rudeness. “All right. Do you
know where he is? I really need to talk to him."

“Maya,
who's that?" came Cassandra's voice from behind Vance. He must've had no idea
she was there because he jumped the moment she spoke. His hand instinctively
went to his side where I caught a glimpse of an Ultra Ball clipped to his belt.

Vance
quickly recovered and lowered his hand. “Excuse me, I didn't hear you approach.
My name is Vance. As Miss Martin said, I'm Ian's father."

“And
he was just leaving," I said.

Vance
turned to me and said, “Actually, Miss Martin, I wouldn't mind waiting until my
son returns." There was a small note of irritation in his voice.

I didn't tell you my
last name, old man, I thought. That means you knew who I was before I told
you. Lucien would know if you were lying, so I can give you a pass on that. But
why hasn't Ian mentioned you before?

“Oh!
You're Ian's dad. It's a pleasure to meet you," Cassandra said. “I'm Cassandra
and that's Lucien,"—she pointed to her Lucario standing next to me—“and you
already met the grouchy one. Don't worry about her; she didn't have her
afternoon nap."

I
gave Cassandra the finger at her comment. She smiled and shook Vance's hand before
gesturing for him to go inside. I clenched my jaw and stepped to the side to
let him in. It was then I noticed Dorian, Sparks, and Aqua standing at the base
of the stairs.

Vance
pointed at the Pokémon and asked, “Those are very beautiful Pokémon. Someone
put a lot of care into raising them. Are they yours?"

Aqua
blushed at the compliment, Sparks straightened up, Dorian continued to stare with
the same stone-faced expression, and I rolled my eyes at Vance.

“Yeah,
they're mine. Now why do you want to talk to Ian?" I asked.

“I'm
sorry, but that is between me and my son," Vance said, throwing me a you're-getting-on-my-nerves
look. “Judging from the way you've been treating me, I guess he hasn't been
saying good things about me."

“Actually,
Ian hasn't mentioned you at all," Cassandra said, also throwing me a dirty
look.

“Because
he's obviously embarrassed to admit he knows the man," I said.

“Maya!"
Cassandra admonished. She grabbed my arm and pulled me into the kitchen.  “Okay, spit it out. What the hell is your
problem?"

“I
don't like him," I said simply.

Cassandra
tilted her head, and frowned. “But Ian's never mentioned him. How can you hate
someone you don't even know?"

I
glanced over Cassandra's shoulder to make sure Vance wasn't close enough to
hear us. He was still by the front door, admiring my Pokémon from a distance. I
still lowered my voice and said, “You're right. Ian never talked about his
father. Even when he was in danger of losing his closest friend, he never once tried to contact him. That tells me
plenty. Plus, how long has Ian been staying here? Why hasn't his father visited
sooner?"

“
'Losing his closest friend?' What do you mean by that?"

“Ask
Ian. It's not my place to tell."

“Fair
enough. But, Maya, it's pretty obvious Ian's dad is trying to repair whatever
happened between them. Who are we to get in the way of that?"

“We'd
be good friends by keeping our friend off the emotional roller coaster this is
gonna turn into. And I'm not getting in
the way of anything. If Ian wants to talk to his father, he can decide that
when he comes back. We should stay
out of it."

“But
shouldn't we tell him so he knows he's here?"

“No.
We need to stay out of it."

“But,
Maya—"

“No."

“Are
you sure you're not taking this too personally?"

I
folded my arm across my chest and my brow rose. I hoped Cassandra was not going
where it sounded like she was going with this. “Excuse me?"

“Okay,
hear me out on this," Cassandra offered. “Maybe you're confusing Ian's relationship
with his dad with your relationship
with your—"

“Don't,"
I warned, my fists clenching at my sides. As a trained martial artist,
Cassandra could easily take me in a fair fight, but it didn't stop my muscles
from tensing up. “I let you get away with saying a lot of shit, but that is crossing the line."

Cassandra
raised her hands and backed away. “Fine, but I still think you're being unfair.
I know what it's like to feel like your parents don't give a Rattatta's ass
about you. Believe me—they care more than you think." She spun around and went
back to Vance and Lucien before I could retort.

I
clenched my jaw and stormed out the back door and leaned on the porch railing. The
Pokémon had finished their meals and went about their business, leaving the bowls
piled in a corner and porch deserted. Arbor was laying on the porch nearby. He
opened one eye when I came outside.

“Go
get my Poké Balls will you?" I said without looking at him. When he disappeared
inside, I grabbed the railing and squeezed it as hard as I could. I took
several deep breaths to try and calm my nerves.

You know you're only
angry because you know she's right, my conscience said.

Shut up. I'm not in
the mood for you, I shot back.

You're never in the
mood for too much of anything. Well, regardless of however you feel, Ian should
make the call himself.

I'm not keeping his
dad from him, I argued. If Ian really wanted to talk, he knows how to find him.

But you said it
yourself: You don't want Ian to go down the road you did. Shouldn't someone go
to Lumiose and let him know his dad is here. If he decides to stay away, that's
his business.

Arbor
coming back took me away from my thoughts. He carried the Poké Ball holster on
his back and gave me a worried look. I took the holster and attached it to my
belt. I could sense Aqua, Sparks, and Dorian were already inside their Poké
Balls. I then thanked Arbor for his help and returned him to his Poké Ball. I
hopped over the railing and whistled. Within seconds, Dust, Maude, and Sunny
were in front of me. I didn't say anything as I called Sunny and Maude back to their
Poké Balls. Dust caught on and turned around, holding his wings open so I could
climb onto his back.

I
hopped on the back of my Flygon, patted his neck and said, “Let's go to
Lumiose. There's nothing else for us to do here."