Author's Note: Hello again, everyone! As promised, I am delivering some potential trigger warnings for this chapter. For this chapter, the major trigger warnings regard mental health issues, panic attacks, and bullying. Another matter I am bringing up this chapter is regarding the way dialogue works in this story. Considering the fact this story is from Audi's perspective, I am writing everything in English so it can be read. However, in the world, it is just Pokémon sounds like in the show. Please refer to the giant Pokémon episode from the first season for a demonstration of what I am talking about so you have an idea of what's happening. Thank you for reading this author's note and let's get into chapter two.
"You can't be serious." Papa says in an echo to someone I don't recognize. Normally when Papa talks to someone while I am inside the Pokéball, I am prepared to leave it at a moment's notice because he always sounds uneasy. But something is different today. Today, he does not sound uneasy, he sounds shocked.
"But I am serious, Mister!" The unfamiliar voice answers back. It is high-pitched on top of the echo, which makes everything being said harder to understand. "Understanding a Pokémon's anatomy is the most important part of winning any battle against it."
"Kid, who told you this information?"
"My friend from the Trainer's School in Santalune City."
"From . . . from the Trainer's School? THE Trainer's School?" The kid does not respond. "By Uxie's yellow head! Kid, you know your friend was trying to sabotage any chances you had of winning a battle, right?"
"Why would he do that to me?"
"Well, I guess he could also just be trying to sound smarter than he is," Papa suggests. Don't people go to school to be smarter than they already are? "Then again, it seems like something meant to throw you off."
"H-He wouldn't do that to me. He's one of the best battlers in the entire school." This kid doesn't sound very confident now that Papa has said that.
"You're sure?" Papa asks. I'm surprised he is talking with anyone that isn't from the lab this much. The only other people he spoke to more than this were our family, but we haven't seen them in years.
"Yes. I trust my friends and future battle partners."
"Well, that's good. Say, isn't this your stop?"
"It is. Here's your money for the ride, Sir."
A gruff voice echoes from outside my Pokéball, "Thanks, Sammy. Be safe in the cafe."
I recognize this voice, this is Coupe! According to Papa, he is the only trustworthy taxi driver in the world. Though I think he is a little scary-looking.
"I will be." The cab door opens after a few moments, and I expect to hear it close, yet it never comes.
"Wait, Kid."
"Huh?"
"I thought you needed to go to Sycamore's Lab, Will. Not to Café Cyclone." Coupe comments with confusion that mirrors my own at this moment. Papa's being really strange today, but at least he is still calm after last night.
"I do, but I need to make a sudden stop," Papa explains. "Kid, if you are certain of what you said about understanding Pokémon anatomy being the key to winning battles, then I'd like to see you demonstrate it. I work with Professor Sycamore at his laboratory, so think of this as a case study if you will."
"Hang on," the kid interrupts. "Y-You want to battle me?"
"I do. Just a quick battle to test what you said." I must still be dreaming on the floor. We're actually going to battle! After so long!
"But we'd need a referee, and a battlefield, and a way to determine our turn order."
"That's easier to achieve than you think. Coupe, would you be willing to be our referee for this battle if I tipped you double the usual amount?"
I hear Coupe make some sort of exhale, but not a frustrated one like Papa usually makes. "Eh, why not? Everyone could use a few extra Pokédollars since everyone wants to ride the Gogoats right now."
"We can battle outside of the car, and I'll let you have the first move."
"Wow, I-I can't believe I'm going to help the Professor with battle research." Another car door opens, and I can faintly make out the sounds of Lumiose City under everyone's footsteps.
"Alright you two, listen up! This is a one on one battle because this sorry sack of shit will be late for work otherwise," Coupe announces. Papa laughs a bit, but I think that was mean. "The battle is over when one trainer forfeits or when one of the chosen Pokémon is unable to continue." I feel my Pokéball shake as Papa grasps at it, and I can't be any more excited about it.
"Sammy, I'm gonna give you a piece of advice since I see you have two Pokéballs attached to your backpack. This is a Noivern, so do with that information as you will."
"So, you have a fast dragon and flying type. In that case, I'll send out my own flying type!" I hear the unmistakable sound of a Pokéball releasing its Pokémon, followed by soft fluttering.
"Very well, I guess we'll have our battle in the sky then. Audi, to battle!" The wind rushes around the sphere containing me before it ejects me into the open world with a little bling sound. Across from me is a small boy with glasses, long blonde hair, and wearing summer clothes who I'm guessing is Sammy. My opponent is a Vivillion hovering some distance above the pavement beneath us with dark blue wings. If I'm not mistaken, this one has the polar pattern. Coupe readjusts his leather jacket while other people begin to turn their heads towards us.
"You have a SHINY Noivern?!" Sammy's jaw drops after he loudly asks this. A few more people, most of them children around Sammy's age, begin to look our way now. They begin to come closer to us, but I don't think anyone besides me notices this. I guess that's just something only I would notice being a shiny, since we are so rare according to Papa.
"I do, but don't let this realization demoralize you. Your Vivillion will need you to be at your best for this battle." Papa would normally put his Pokéball back on his belt at this point, but he isn't doing it now.
"Right, we can do this!" Sammy puts his Pokéball back on the side of his backpack with an enthusiasm that reminds me of the times Papa and I used to battle others a long time ago. And today might be the day we get to have that feeling again.
"Are you ready for a fun-filled contest, Noivern?" The Vivillon asks while doing a little spin.
"Of course I am! We haven't battled in so long, and it'll be nice to do it again." I answer back before stretching my wings to get ready to take off.
"Then you should also be ready to lose. The two of us have studied and practiced battling every day."
"Let's see what you've got then Vivillion. May the best team win." We both get into battle stances while the children watching begin to whisper amongst themselves.
"Enough talk," Coupe interrupts as he raises his hand. "This is a one on one Pokémon fight! Sammy has the first move. Let the battle begin!" The children begin to pull out objects at this point, cell phones by the looks of it. Papa seems to notice this even before I do.
"Like we've practiced Vivillion, use Powder, and aim for Audi's eyes." Sammy commands. I quickly turn back to Papa for instructions. However, he remains calm and says nothing. The meaning is clear to me: He wants me to take the hit.
Vivillion swiftly flies towards me as their wings begin to glow white. "Take this!" And with a single flap, Vivilion sends all of the glowing powder towards my face. I cover my eyes with my wing just before the sticky powder gets in my eyes. It still sticks to my skin even though it doesn't blind me. Since I have no fire type attacks, there is nothing for us to fear.
"Alright," Papa replies after coughing from the powder. "A solid strategy, but now it's our turn." I lower my wing to show everyone I'm alright.
"U-uhh, Vivillion, get away from him!"
"Dragon Pulse." Papa calmly instructs as Vivillion gets a head start to escape. I take to the skies to pursue my opponent after jumping to get a small boost. Lumiose City's buildings and residents begin to look so much smaller but so much grander from this view. Even with the head start, I catch up to the Vivillion as soon as they get above the rooftops to look into their terrified eyes.
"How did you?!" Villion screams before I expel a crackling beam of purple energy that connects with them at close range. "AHH!" Vivillion cries out as they begin to fall while I dive after them to get closer to the ground. I expect them to catch themself during the fall, but they don't, causing them to collide with the pavement with a yelp.
"Vivillion, please get up!" Sammy pleads.
"Well done, Audi." Papa congratulates.
"Why are you saying that, Papa? We haven't won ye-,"
"Owwwwww . . ." Vivillion groans in pain.
"Vivillion is unable to battle. Audi wins! Which means the victor is Will!" Coupe declares as he gestures to me and Papa. It . . . it's already over? But we just started! Sammy falls to his knees and crawls towards Vivillion. Some people begin to clap or nod at us, while others turn away or scold us. I hang my head in shame for what I've done. I shouldn't have hit Vivillion with Dragon Pulse while being so close. Papa swiftly scratches my chin before moving past me, kneeling down next to the two, and reaching into his pocket to pull out a Revive.
"Here, take this and get your Vivillion something good in the café," Papa advises as he hands Sammy the strange medicine. "You've both earned it."
"I . . . I just don't understand how we lost so easily. We w-work so hard all the time to be . . . better." Sammy laments while placing the Revive on Vivillion's head, causing them to stir.
"And if you continue to work hard, you will be able to stand against stronger opponents," Papa extends a hand out to Sammy. "You just need to be careful of whose advice you heed." The humans glance back towards the kids who have gotten closer to us and continue to point their phones our way. I can hear them laughing at us within the crowd, but I don't get what's so funny.
"Right, thank you, Mister," Sammy answers while shaking Papa's hand. "Come on, Vivillion."
"Bye!" I call out to Vivillion as the two of them head towards the busy café. "Let's battle again sometime!"
"Of course! But, just remember that we'll win next time." Vivillion calls back, causing me to smile at my joyful opponent. At this point, I believe Papa would be going back to Coupe, but he's storming over towards the boys. Why? Did he overhear something I didn't?
"Delete the damn video," Papa growls while putting my Pokéball on his belt. "He doesn't need people like you making his life worse."
"Woah. Slow down, old man," One of the bigger boys sneers. "You'll look like a creep if you talk to this many kids."
"Oh please, a creep wouldn't even bother with any of you little shits."
"Uhh, Papa?" I try calling out.
"In a moment, Audi," Papa tells me calmly but firmly. He doesn't even look back to me as he takes another step to loom over the kids. "You might think I'm not willing to spend a lot of time on this matter, but you're mistaken. The only reason you harass Sammy is because your parents would rather have wild Sneasels in their house than you. If you left him alone and worried about making your own lives better, training your Pokémon better, then you could face him in a fair fight without spreading lies."
"Who the fuck said anything about lying, man?" Another of the boys asks. "We can all beat him fair and square. Just look how easily your Noivern took him out!"
"So the only thing you need to understand to win Pokémon battles is the anatomy of Pokémon? Really? You aren't that fucking stupid." Coupe begins getting back in the taxi while Papa has this conversation. People around start going back to their business.
"Alright, so maybe we are playing dirty with Sammy. But what are YOU going to do about it?" The third boy puts his phone in Papa's face.
He points back to me without hesitating. "If you aren't going to delete that video, then battle me with everything you have. Audi will expose all of the flaws you have taught your Pokémon, and I'll teach you things your teachers never could!"
"Now hang on-," The biggest boy says, trying to stop Papa.
"I'll put your defeats on full display for the world to see, so that your peers know just how terrible you are. It's your move, gentlemen." Papa begins backing up to make a new battlefield. There are a lot of Pokéballs between the three boys. But I trust that he knows what he's doing, so I step forward to battle again. Maybe this fight will last a little longer, at least. The boys begin messing with their phones.
'We'll just be on our way then." The third boy says, gritting his teeth while glaring at me and Papa.
"Yeah, this isn't worth our day off!" The second boy follows up, turning back towards the café. "Let's go."
All of the boys walk off, leaving me a little relieved and disappointed. "That's what I thought. Come on, Audi." Papa sighs in exasperation before walking back to the taxi and I follow him.
"Oh no, absolutely not!" Coupe says to us with a snap. "That bat is NOT getting in this cab covered in Vivillion powder. I'm not losing my job over a dirty Pokémon. Put it back in the ball."
"You could also just hand me the towel on the passenger seat so I could wipe him off, you know."
Coupe sighs and hands Papa the towel. He begins wiping the substance off my skin and fur. The towel smells faintly of motor oil. "Fine, but you only paid me for one human rider."
"I don't care if you charge me for three at this point, Coupe. I just want to leave at this point." Once he finishes wiping me down, we get back in the air-conditioned cab and drive away.
"We wouldn't have had to stop if you just let the kid get out. The last five minutes did not have to happen. How do you plan to explain this to Sycamore?"
"What? That I stood up for a kid being bullied?" Papa asks as he gives Coupe the towel back.
"No," he says sternly, while taking the towel back. "You humiliated a kid being bullied in front of a large crowd and then got into an argument with little boys over something that's the parent's job to handle."
"Well, clearly someone's parents aren't doing their job. They'd be getting on top of their kids if that was the case. Otherwise, I wouldn't have to step in."
"Okay - you didn't HAVE to step in. You CHOSE to step in."
"And I'll step in again if I can attempt to break the vicious cycle."
"You aren't breaking anything, Will. Being bullied is an inevitable part of being a kid. We just have to accept that and move on with our lives."
"And what about the kids who have nobody to turn to or nowhere to go? Do they just move on?"
"Why don't you answer your own question since you seem so opinionated about it?" Coupe looks back at us in the rearview mirror, revealing his sharply gray eyes.
"Alright. The lucky ones end up broken. The unlucky ones die." Papa answers.
"So you're saying you were lucky then, because you aren't dead," Papa makes a sound, I thought he was about to choke on something, but he just went silent, looking down at his lap. He starts shaking like last night, but not as much. I lean against his shoulder, trying not to let him sink too deep into his feelings. Coupe goes back to looking at the road and the passing vehicles. "Listen, I don't mean to tear you apart Will, but it's pretty clear you have a problem. Trying to stick up for other people won't help you, and neither will clinging to that bat."
Papa stops shaking after taking a deep breath. "Clinging to this bat is what makes me lucky." I smile a little bit as Papa says this. Glad to hear that I make him lucky.
"What about trying to help Sammy then? Surely that doesn't make you luckier."
"Oh, it definitely doesn't. But I've heard the way he spoke of his so-called friends. I've felt the way he loves his Vivillion," He glances back at me for a moment before patting my head. "I've seen the way he anxiously looks around when confronted. At one point in my life, I was Sammy." Wait what?! How is it possible to be someone else?
"So you wanted to be the one to help him get out of that situation? I still think that's a bit of a misguided stance to take, but at least your heart is in the right place." Coupe flips a small switch, and I can hear a clicking sound at a steady pace. I don't quite get what that is, but I know it means we are getting close to the lab.
"Oh no. I didn't want to help him get out of that situation. I wanted him to realize he was in that situation so that he could learn to get himself out of it."
"You're not making sense, Will." Coupe flips the switch again, and the clicking noise stops. Then we come to a stop behind some other cars.
"It doesn't matter how many people or Pokémon there are around you when you need help. If you don't take any initiative to save yourself from trouble, you will doom yourself. The significance of Sammy learning to have the self-reliance to take action cannot be overstated."
"Maybe . . . maybe," Coupe strokes his long beard in thought. "But surely there was a better way to teach him that than by battling him in front of everyone."
"It's better for him to get the message harshly one time than to be stuck reliving it, no? Besides, it's not like I was being mean to him. In fact, I battled him with the same respect I give every oppo-," Papa's sentence is cut off by Coupe honking the cab horn incredibly loudly, causing me to flinch. The horn is my least favorite part of any vehicle.
"LET'S GO, ASSHOLE! YOU'RE HOLDING UP EVERYONE!" Coupe yells while finally letting off the horn once we start moving again. "Why on Earth are so many people allowed to drive?"
"Trust me, Coupe, I ask the same question riding my motorcycle sometimes. It feels like people don't even pay attention to the road." We pass by some more drivers, but Coupe's attention is honed in on a Gogoat rider struggling to get her companion under control.
"That's why everyone is backed up. All these damn Gogoat riders don't know how to keep their Pokémon in line."
It's at this point I notice Professor Sycamore's laboratory out the left window. "Look Papa, the lab!"
"Yup, there it is, buddy," Papa whispers back to me before getting out his wallet and counting some money for Coupe. "Is it possible you're just using the Gogoat riders as a "scapegoat?"
Coupe lets out a hearty laugh before slamming the breaks to jolt us forward. "Get out of my cab, you! That'll be 2,130 Pokédollars."
"I didn't think you'd actually charge me for three." Papa says while handing off the money.
"And I didn't think you'd ask me to referee your battle or let you bring Audi into the cab."
"Fair enough. Thanks for the ride, Coupe. Have a good one." Papa opens the car door and we both get out of the car, as he shuts it behind himself.
"Anytime for the right price. Go learn something new today, future professor." Coupe drives off, leaving the two of us to stand on the busy street.
"You couldn't have dropped us another 30 meters closer?" Papa mumbles before signaling for me to follow him to the lab. Once we arrive at the building's front gates, he clutches at the bars and sighs quietly. In fact, it is so quiet that it makes me think he is trying not to be heard. He remains like this for what feels like a while but is only a bit. I wrap my tail around his other hand, expecting it to feel clammy, only for it to feel normally warm. This causes him to wrap his fingers around my tail before looking at me without turning his head. "We've come this far, haven't we?"
"Yes, Papa, we just arrived at the professor's lab from home," I answer in a quiet bark. Papa looks back to the gate and opens it slowly. We quietly go towards the entrance, then I finally find the words to ask what I've been wanting to ask. "What was the big thing that you found here?"
Papa stops for a moment, looking around as we both hear the sound of people walking behind us by the gate.
"Come on, Furfrou, we can't go sniffing everyone." The woman's voice rings out, but they're already on the move again before I can get a good look at them.
"Let's take this inside where we'll have more privacy, Audi." He begins going to the door and opens it normally. Mission accomplished, he's not acting worried anymore. I don't understand what's wrong, but maybe I won't need to. So long as I can keep him calm by thinking about work, we'll make it through this. The inside of the lab is how I remember it - apparently, it has looked the same way for many years - machines and books fill every corner of this place while sunshine beams through the many windows. It would be a great day to go to the park to play or get more battle training done, but being here will do. Then I catch the sound of someone walking softly on the red carpets from above.
"There you are, Will! We've all been expecting you." I look up to see Professor Sycamore at the top of the stairs, calling down to Papa. He begins climbing down the stairs to meet us face to face. If I've picked up on what happens around here by now, he wasn't coming from the lab since he doesn't have his lab coat on.
"Good morning, Professor," Will greets while extending his hand. Professor Sycamore takes his hand and shakes it. "It's a lovely autumn day today, if I do say so myself. I presume nothing out of the ordinary happened while we were home for the evening?"
The professor looks at me briefly and waves, causing me to do the same. "Right. Nothing new came of it, but I'm hoping you can get to the bottom of what that note says soon. We are all very eager to hear what it has to say, considering the paper is as oxidized as it is."
"I agree. I'm no epistolographer or paleographer, but something tells me that the paper is much older than the message written on it." Oxidization? Paleographer? Epi . . . epistolowha? What does any of this mean?! Papa, what on Earth did you find here?
"Well, that certainly makes the letter all the more interesting," Professor Sycamore smiles a cheeky smile. "It looks like Audi is as interested as I am to hear what this note says." Papa looks back at me for a moment before taking a step back to face both of us at once.
"Decoding that message is harder than calming down an angry Seviper . . . I should know," Papa says with a huff, before pulling out his phone and showing him something on the screen. "But if what I have transcribed is totally correct – which I doubt – the anonymous writer is discussing a fetish that belonged to ancient Kalosian people."
"I'm sorry?!" Professor Sycamore's eyes widen in shock as Papa answers him. Should I be worried? Papa looks at me before facepalming with his other hand.
"An amulet, Professor," Papa explains." They describe it as, and call it, an amulet in the writing. I call it a fetish because it doesn't seem to be associated with protection or luck."
"Is it about an Amulet Coin? Or maybe a Clear Amulet?" Finally, something I know a bit about. Maybe it's just some items for Pokémon, and not a fetish, or however Papa said it.
"No, I don't think so. The writer is talking about this amulet with great reverence, like it is a long lost relic with immense power." Papa puts his phone away.
"We've stumbled upon a piece of ancient history then! Perhaps this amulet could uncover more of the mysteries surrounding Pokémon as we know them," Professor Sycamore beams, kind of like I did this morning when I was invited to come to the lab. "I will leave you to finish translating the letter. I have to inform Cosette and Sophie to be ready for what you uncover."
"As you wish, Professor," Papa bows as Professor Sycamore walks off. "Come on, Audi."
"Papa," I ask in a whine as we begin to climb the steps to the upper floors. "Is this why you didn't explain what you found back home?"
Papa stops climbing up the stairs and looks back to me in confusion. "Is what why?"
"Even the professor seemed confused by what you've found. Did you already know I'd be confused too?"
"No, Audi," Papa turns back around and begins climbing again. "I have the utmost faith you would understand it if I explained it at home. I just didn't think you'd find any interest in a fet-, amulet." He clarifies, before sighing as we reach the top of the stairs and enter the room closest to the staircase, Papa's office. It has a similar appearance to the rest of the laboratory, except Papa has many papers laid out on his desk and the blinds are closed, as always. Before Papa enters the room, I make a small click to echolocate, only to find nothing strange inside. Once I nod to him, he goes to his desk, takes a seat, and pulls out a yellow piece of paper buried under the others.
Since Papa is going to be reading for a while, judging by the way he is slouching over the desk, I perch up on the bar for me to rest on and stare at the wall of books for a while. Memories from back home return to me. I remember how he would always be ready to feed me, no matter the time of day. Most of the time, we were inseparable, and I spent even more time safely in our room. Grandma and Grandpa were always nice to us too, but Papa wasn't so close with them as the years went by. We always trained when I got a bit older. Everything from moves, to how to fly effectively, and tactics. It's strange, now that I think about it. Papa always said that battling made him feel stronger, and I felt the same way. But if we were so strong, why did we always stay in our ro-,
"You can't hide forever. I know you're in there, Pussyboy!" My thoughts are interrupted by a menacing but calm voice, followed by the deafening splitting of wood. I immediately jolt from my spot and look at Papa. It sounds like it is just outside the door. He is calmly placing the paper back in its spot under the others.
"Papa, what do we do about that?" I ask in a quiet whimper, while looking back to the door where the sound came from.
"Do about what?" He asks me, following my gaze to the door. There are no more sounds coming that way, and he stands up slowly. "What did you hear?" It sounded like that door was one more strike away from being forced open! How did you not hear that?!
"There's someone outside the door. Didn't you hear them try to break the door?!" I reorient myself at this point, nervously trying to decide what move to launch at whoever comes in here if Papa freezes up. Thankfully, he seems to be staying calm, backing up to the window and fiddling with the lock before leaving my Pokéball on the windowsill. Once it clicks, he opens the drawer and pulls something out of it. Scissors, to be exact. I'm not sure how cutting paper will help us here, but I trust he has a plan.
"If there IS someone trying to force their way in, let's thank the Original One that our intruder didn't think about trying the doorknob first," Papa replies while suppressing a gulp. He gestures to the window. "It's unlocked, Audi. I'll keep them busy so you can escape. Don't hesitate to defend yourself if there are more outside. If I don't come looking for you then . . ." Please don't say that, we'll make it through this. Surely the Professor and the other Pokémon here won't stand for this! "You know what to do."
"Yes, Papa." I answer by instinct. I know what you've told me to do if someone hurts you. You've told me to do this every time someone comes to visit. But now that there's a chance it's really going to happen, no Papa. I'm not ready to abandon you.
Every footstep Papa slowly takes towards the door makes my heart race. I hook one wing's claws around the window frame and slowly push outward. The creak is probably quieter for Papa and whoever is outside the door, but that doesn't help me calm down. Rays of warm sunlight shine down on my back and scruff when Papa is close enough to the door to open it. This is it. The window is open, I tense up in preparation to fly, and Papa wraps his hand around the doorknob. He throws the door open, sending a rush of air into the room AND . . . no intruder. After a few seconds of nothing, we both close our respective entrances.
"You're sure you heard them breaking down this door?"
"It couldn't have been any other door, Papa. The sound was too close."
"Well, it doesn't matter now. I've deciphered the rest of the letter, so we'll need to go get that squared away."
"What does it say, Papa?" I ask in a slow chirp while coming closer to him. Then I place the Pokéball back in his waiting palm.
"I'd rather wait to explain this until I have everyone together, Audi," Papa answers before dropping the scissors on the floor. "Truth be told, I don't know what to make of this news."
"Alright, Papa, let's go!" I turn back into the room one more time. At first, it felt safe in the office, but not anymore. To put my mind at ease, I make a small click one more time to echolocate into the room. There is no one there. If the noises I heard weren't made by someone, then I must've been dreaming. With my fears put to rest, I relax as we head to a table to wait for the others.
"Who's a good Noivern? That's right, you are!" Some time passes, and the Professor followed by his assistants arrive here as well. One of the assistants, Cosette, is usually very affectionate while I am here. Honestly, I don't mind the cooing and frequent pets. It's just another perk to being here.
"Cosette," Professor Sycamore says gently while sipping from a cup of what smells like coffee. Coffee has a strong smell, and I don't get how people can drink it. But if they like it, who am I to judge? "Could you hold off on petting Audi for a moment, please? I get that he is cute. Really, I do. But you might miss a major breakthrough and I wouldn't want that."
"Oh, right. Sorry, Professor!" Cosette apologizes.
"It's fine, Cosette," Papa assures with a sigh while rubbing his head. "You all think he's cute, and that's the important thing. Anyways, I just cracked the entirety of the message after a few hours of work."
"The professor mentioned something about an ancient fetish, right?" Sophie asks while moving her blue hair away from her glasses. Then she begins writing something down in a notebook.
"The writer refers to it as an amulet, but I called it a fetish when Professor Sycamore and I spoke earlier," Papa answers while tossing my Pokéball up and down absent-mindedly while he talks. "Although it doesn't explain anything about what it can do, I am electing to refer to it as an amulet for the time being. What's unfortunate is our anonymous writer does not explain the powers the amulet possesses, but constantly alludes to how much power it holds. If we are to take the denotation of the word "amulet", its powers should have something to do with protection or luck. However, I now suspect we are dealing with something more significant than JUST an artifact."
"What makes you say that, Will?" Cosette asks Papa. Sophie seems focused on writing in the book, and Professor Sycamore seems to be listening very intently.
"The writer claims that this amulet has been secured in an old house just off of Parterre Way. And while the writer does not identify themself, they admit to being a worshipper of the Destruction Pokémon."
"The Destruction Pokémon?" Sophie repeats, immediately stopping her writing. Wait, Papa doesn't mean . . . .
"Yveltal. The Pokémon of Death," Papa puts his phone away before looking at all of us in the room. "I'm sure you can imagine my surprise when I read this. This is much bigger than I initially assumed it would be." So he did mean Yveltal, now we know why he kept this quiet.
"But why would they keep it by Route 4? That's such an odd place to keep it." Cosette asks while adjusting her hair. Papa doesn't respond, and he stops tossing the Pokèball.
"It's possible this amulet has been there longer than the route has been established. Kalos has been inhabited by humans for many millennia now." Sophie raises her glasses as she mentions this. Professor Sycamore turns to me, and we lock eyes. I'm not sure if he is thinking or if he wants my opinion, so I speak up.
"What if we sent a letter to the writer asking why they put the amulet there?" I suggest, my tail wagging in unease. Is that a good idea? Maybe I should've just stayed quiet.
"Well, we don't know if the writer is even alive anymore." Cosette answers me gently.
"And even if the writer is alive, Audi and Cosette," Sophie follows up, pushing her glasses up. "We do not know who they are. You can't exactly contact someone you don't know." Oh, right. I guess I should've known that.
"Maybe it's true that we know nothing about the writer, but we do know where the amulet is supposed to be kept," Professor Sycamore begins with a smile. He pushes a button that reveals a map of Kalos on the table, only much bigger. "And I think that is more than enough for us to start conducting an investigation on the matter!"
"Yes, Professor," Papa, Cosette, and Sophie say in unison. Sophie then looks to the professor, closing the notebook. "So how will we proceed from here?"
"I will accompany you two to the woods outside of Parterre Way, and we will search for the house in question," Professor Sycamore explains, circling a small portion of the map under the table with his finger. Papa silently tenses when the professor says this. "Will, I was hoping you could stay behind and work out who wrote the letter. You have a knack for solving odd problems on your own, after all."
"From there, we could have everything we need to solve the mystery behind the amulet." Cosette beams as the sunshine dims in the room.
"Then it's settled," Professor Sycamore takes another sip of the steaming coffee. "We'll set off to leave ton-"
"No." Papa suddenly interrupts, causing everyone, including me, to look his way in curiosity. He stands up and puts my Pokéball on his belt.
"What's wrong, Papa? Isn't this a good plan?" I ask in a whine.
"It's a solid plan, Audi. But I believe it would be even better if we volunteered to be the ones to go find the amulet." He gestures to the two of us.
"R-really?!" My tail begins wagging even more now. We could be going on a journey together!
"Well, this pleasant surprise is certainly unexpected, Will. " Professor Sycamore admits with a chuckle.
"I have some experience going through deep parts of the woods without navigation tools. Also, if this is a night trip, Audi's echolocation will be more valuable than Garchomp's eyesight," Papa reasons. "The only concern I have is that I don't think we'd be capable of defeating Yveltal if push comes to shove."
"Wasn't Yveltal last sighted leaving Allearth Forest for the mountains over ten years ago?" Sophie asks, twirling the pen around in her hand.
"They were." Papa quietly huffs. Well, this is good. We shouldn't have to fight Yveltal if they were last seen ten years ago.
"Normally, I'd ask Alain to go with you, but he is currently in Johto."
"I should be alright to go alone. Like I said, I know how to manage in the woods. Plus, I'd be bringing my motorcycle to make a quick escape if things go south," Papa moves past me and looks out the windows towards the sky. "Who could you even ask to back me up out there anyways?" No one answers the question at first. I hear Cosette and Sophie whispering something about contacting the police, but they mention that this situation does not qualify as an emergency.
"I could ask the champion to accompany you." Professor Sycamore suggests standing up as well.
"You . . . you mean Diantha, right? The former champion?" Papa asks, turning back around.
"The current champion, Will. Dianthe is likely busy starring in the upcoming film." Professor Sycamore replies. The champion was replaced, and Papa didn't tell me?! Well, I suppose it doesn't matter. We aren't exactly trying to become the champion.
"Oh, you mean the chick from Alola! Damn, what was her name again?" Cosette says to herself, snapping her fingers repeatedly.
"You know, you'd make a great Pokémon professor, Cosette." Will comments with an amused smirk.
"What makes you say that?"
"The fact that you constantly forget Pokémon trainer's names," Papa answers. This gets a laugh out of everyone in the room, but I don't find it that funny. "Anyways, I've been keeping up with her battles since the Lumiose Conference quarter finals. Her name is Malu, and she's from the Alola region like you said."
"Right, right. She was a cute little thing, and so were her Pokémon. May she hold the title of Kalos champion with honor!" Sophie says with a playful but polite tone.
"Little? I dare you to call her little to her face. She's not that tall, but she's built like a fighting type!" Papa challenges Sophie in the same tone she used.
"Which is all the more reason to have her accompany you. She's another experienced traveler, and she's got a very good chance of taking down anything that gets in your way." Cosette suggests.
"So this is where all of our grant money is going to go? Pestering the newly crowned champion to accompany me on a small walk in the woods?" Papa sighs.
"Hey, knowledge has a price after all. Besides, the potential information at stake here makes it worth every Pokédollar," Professor Sycamore muses. "I think I speak for all of us when I say I'm glad to see you speaking up like you did." Knowledge has a price? Papa always told me that you learn by putting time and attention into something, not money.
"Yeah, it is good to see. I remember when you first got here, you would speak about two sentences a day. You've come very far since then." Sophie praises. Papa goes slightly pale after hearing those words.
"You're right, you two, we're all friends here. And friends watch out for one another!" Cosette adds on. Papa begins to shake slightly.
"That's wonderful and all, but I'm going to need to step outside and smoke now."
"Is everything okay, Will?"
"I need to smoke. So if the meeting is adjourned, I'll be having a cigarette outside." Papa begins moving towards the front door after spitting those words. I'm too stunned to move as the door closes, followed by awkward silence. What just happened? Everything seemed so happy.
"Audi? Go check on Will, would you?" Professor Sycamore asks me.
"As you wish, Professor." I say, just like Papa would before bowing and leaving. As I walk to the door, unease runs through me. Papa always said that smoking was bad and that no one should do it. Did he lie about being against smoking, too?
When I open the door, I see Papa pacing back and forth in the courtyard. He is shaking a lot and breathing shallowly.
"Just say it, you hate me, you pricks. All of you. Every last one of you. Say it. You hate me! You want me gone!" Papa shouts every word a little bit louder.
"Papa? The professor wants to know if you're okay." I say in a nervous whimper.
Papa clutches at his stomach like he intends to tear through his shirt at the words. "Original One, they're trying to turn you against me."
"What? No! Papa, the professor is scared for you, just like I am," I assure Papa as he continues to pace. "Please, just tell me what's wrong? What did I do?"
"No . . ." Papa goes paler than the lab coats and is drenched in sweat. "Arceus, let me keep what I have left!" He lurches and vomits after he shouts. I clutch my snout at the foul smell. Every part of me wants to turn away, but I can't let myself do it. He needs me. His legs begin to shake as if he is going to fall, like he did when he was younger. Suddenly, the smell doesn't seem so bad, and I rush forward to catch him. He leans his head against my scruff after putting his full weight on me. We stay like this for a moment that feels like a while. Papa won't want anyone to see him like this, but I don't care if someone sees us. Nobody will hurt him, not with me around. I've made up my mind, I won't lose him.
"You can't escape." The calm voice from before echoes through our surroundings. This time, I feel no fear. I know I am awake, and I won't entertain the idea of flying away this time. Warm liquid seeps into my scruff.
"I'm sorry, Audi. I'll try to be a better owner," Papa apologizes hoarsely, but he is still shaking and cold. He pulls away from me, just enough to look me in the eyes after wiping tears from his. "You know that I love you, right? You know I love you." I see a Furfrou with a pair of humans walk by the gates as he sinks back into my scruff after I nod. The man begins to pull out his phone and point it towards us. I bear my fangs at the couple, causing them to leave after a few seconds.
"I love you too, Papa." I answer in a purr, accepting that I won't get to know what happened. Not now, and maybe never. Knowledge might have a price, but not being able to pay for it won't change my answer.
Pokémon belongs to Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures Inc.