Chapter Text
Cheren should have known better when Clay called him at four in the morning, telling him he absolutely needed to get to Driftveil City and partake in the Pokemon World Tournament that afternoon. Something about an emergency.
Naturally, that meant Cheren had to ask his gym guide Clyde to take over his teaching duties once more, and he had to construct an apologetic email to send to all his students as he boarded the ship from Virbank City to Castelia City, instructing them to use today’s time for battling to do their homework instead.
Their mini tournament- their practical exam, would be postponed for the time being. League matters, he reasoned.
Clay had been kind enough to pick him up from Castelia and drive them to Driftveil before nine o’clock, but he was admittedly a bit seasick, carsick, and irritable from the whole trip, that what Clay told him went through one ear and out the other.
He didn’t know what the emergency was until he stepped out of the van, took a few seconds to compose himself, and realized someone had grabbed his shoulders to steady him before he threw up all over the PWT grounds.
When he notices concerned brown eyes staring down at him, and that stupid earnest smile letting out a sigh of relief, he knew Clay called him over just to mess with him.
“Hey, Cheren.” Hilbert flashed him a dazzling smile, and Cheren resisted the urge to kick him there and then. “Why don’t we go inside?”
He couldn’t argue on an empty stomach, and with his head spinning, he and a couple of other trainers Clay bamboozled into coming were led to a meeting room. The staff were preparing to accept registrations for today’s matches, but curiously, the slot usually reserved for the Driftveil Tournament was to be replaced today with something special.
Cheren groggily sits on the plastic chair, Cinccino on his lap as she tries to soothe his nerves by brushing her tail against his chin and nose.
Hilbert sat next to him, struggling to open a bottle of Fresh Water, and clearly being too embarrassed to ask his student, Hugh for help, even though the younger boy was insisting. Besides Hugh, his other student, Nate, only laughed at Hilbert’s inability to open a plastic bottle.
There were other participants inside the meeting room, but Cheren couldn’t really catch all of them. All he knew was that Hilbert and his students were here, and everyone else was busy chatting amongst themselves.
Cheren wishes he had taken one of those headphones Elesa had given him. Everything was too bright and loud, and he rushed here because Clay had told him it was an emergency. Yet..
“Hrrmph! Glad to see some o’ you youngsters came! I was thinkin’ only Cheren ‘ere will show up, since a lotta you had the time to mouth excuses on why yer gonna be runnin’ late!”
Should he feel pride that Clay thought highly of him, or should he feel contempt that he’s accidentally crafted this “reliable” image that people now think it's acceptable to summon him to somewhere else in the region at the last minute?
He didn’t know.
”So the situation is, we’ve got some real special trainers over. They were invited to partake in the Champions Tournament next week, but one o’ them,” He adjusts his hat with a sigh. “Is a real piece o’ work. Problem is, I owe that little whippersnapper a favor for somethin’. His grandpops an’ I go way back.”
A familiar voice speaks up from across him. He recognizes it as the voice of Subway Boss Ingo, especially since it's accompanied by the haunting chime of his Chandelure. “Pardon for the interruption, Clay. I suppose this has something to do with you requesting to borrow the Battle Subway’s Multi Battle format for today’s tournament?”
Multi Battle?
“Perceptive as always!” Clay praises, and Cheren briefly hears him get flustered at the praise, only to be annoyed when his younger twin starts teasing him for it.
Of course Subway Boss Emmet was around wherever Ingo was.
“But that’s why I called sixteen o’ ya over! Yer to be paired as a tag team and partake in the Pokemon World Tournament’s first ever Multi Battle format!”
Noises of confusion fill the room. Cheren decides to close his eyes for now, burying his face in Cinccino’s fluffy head. Questions are tossed at Clay’s direction, and he does his best to answer them all in one go, regardless of how overwhelming it is.
It was too early for this. Not even his students were this loud. He wants to pay attention, but..
He’s about to ask Clay if he could be excused from the meeting for the time being. He needed to find somewhere quiet first and regain his bearings, but unfortunately (or fortunately), Hilbert noticed his distress and took off his jacket, draping it over Cheren to cover the back of his head.
He’s about to sit up and tell him he doesn’t need it, but Hilbert’s hand reaches out to rub his back soothingly, and Cinccino chirps happily at the sight of her old trainer comforting her new one.
“Hey, is big bro Cheren alright?” He hears Nate ask. His normally rambunctious student sounds incredibly worried for his well being. Ah, to have the energy of being twelve years old again, unrattled by the sudden changes in one’s schedule.
Hilbert tries to reassure them with an awkward laugh, but, being the Hero of Truth has the unfortunate side effect of being unable to tell even a white lie. “Everything’s probably too loud for him right now. That, and I’m sure he hasn’t had his morning coffee.”
He grumbles, but it’s not like Hilbert notices. If he does, he doesn’t care.
“Say, can you and Hugh go get him something to eat? I’m sure Clay will let you guys use the staff room.”
The sound of a plastic chair scraping against the tiled floor is accompanied by an all too eager “Yessir!”, and he hears a pair of footsteps run out of the meeting room. There’s less noise now, but it doesn’t drown the rest.
Cheren feels something on his head. It smells like Hilbert’s shampoo, the 3-in-1 one he insists was the best brand to get, especially if you’re traveling on a budget. He recalls Bianca scolding him for being so cheap with his toiletries, and shoving him several bottles of soaps and shampoos that she packed during her travels.
He realizes seconds later that Hilbert placed his cap on his head, in an attempt to muffle the noises.
Cinccino makes a calming sound akin to purring, and nuzzles against his chest as her purring turns to singing. Cheren is about to scold her for trying to lull him to sleep at a time like this, but..
Well. Cinccino was specifically instructed to do such things in the event wherein Cheren was too distressed or tired that he needed to nap it off.
He had tried to argue before that such a thing wasn’t necessary, but the rest of the league, in collaboration with N and Bianca, had agreed that Cheren’s wellbeing was just as much of a concern to his Pokemon as much as it was to them.
Cinccino had communicated with N and had told him of her intentions, about how she wished to step in during appropriate times when her trainer needed to clear his head by taking a well deserved nap.
A Pokemon wasn’t stupid. A Pokemon knows their trainer’s feelings. A Pokemon is rightfully worried when their trainer is in bad shape.
She’s just trying to help. They all are.
When Cheren finds his head bobbing from the sudden drowsiness, Cinccino makes sure to adjust her position in his arms so he doesn’t slide off the plastic chair, fixing Hilbert’s cap atop his head to obscure his eyes. Hilbert fixes his jacket to drape onto Cheren, and leans forward a bit to quietly tell him not to worry.
“I’ll tell you everything we’ve discussed. Clay will understand. Rest for now, okay?”
He hates how that’s what gets him to let go, and he feels his consciousness slipping.
…
He wakes a few hours later, just before lunch. A battle was taking place right now, displayed on the TV provided in the meeting room. Most of the trainers Clay invited over were no longer present, but he spotted their things on the chairs and on the floor.
They must have gone out somewhere in Driftveil to eat for the time being.
The few that did remain, however, were unfamiliar to him. He supposes they were also trainers from other regions that had partaken in the PWT before and caught Clay’s eye, and as a result, were called over to partake in.. whatever Clay wanted them to partake in.
A styrofoam container was placed across him, along with a paper cup of coffee and a large Lava Cookie in a plastic wrapper. A plastic spork and wooden stirrer were placed on the tissue paper atop the styrofoam container, along with a Gear Station-themed sticky note, one displaying their infamous Joltik horde.
eat well big bro cheren! hugh & i r gonna eat lunch w/ the subway bosses before the tournament. big bro hilbert’s gonna stay to keep u company! hope u feel better! -ur fav student nate
Ah, right. Hilbert told me he’d fill me up on the meeting later..
But.. where was Hilbert? Better yet, where was Cinccino? He didn’t notice her slipping out of his arms during his nap.
Before he can leave to look for her, however, his stomach lets out a quiet gurgle, thankfully unnoticed by the few trainers that were still in the meeting room, too distracted with the ongoing battle displayed on the screen. Suddenly, the contents of the styrofoam container intrigue him, and he remembers he hadn’t had time to make coffee this morning.
He lets out a sigh.
Looking for Cinccino can wait.
He removes the cap and places it on the long plastic table, and adjusts Hilbert’s jacket so it’s hanging off his shoulders like a weighted blanket.
Annoyed as he was at Hilbert for several reasons, which of course explains their strained relationship, he was glad that one of the things that didn’t change with his childhood friend was his kind and earnest demeanor. The one that made Reshiram see he was worthy to be the Unovan Hero of Truth.
He was also glad that, despite Cheren’s very bad attempts at trying to maintain a distance between them, Hilbert wanted to close the distance that he caused by upping and leaving the region with nothing more than a single letter, claiming he needed some time off to clear his head and possibly find N in the process.
The letter that he left that fateful night.
The letter that was placed underneath a Pokeball- Cinccino’s Pokeball, as he swapped her out for Reshiram.
The letter that only took a single page and a few words to utterly break Cheren’s heart at that time.
“Some time” was an understatement, Cheren bitterly thinks as he takes his coffee, discarding the sugar and cream along with the stirrer.
Two years was how long it took for Hilbert to come back with N in tow. In the middle of Nate’s confrontation against Ghetsis at Giant Chasm. In the middle of a battle that could decide the fate of the whole region.
Dragons.
Cheren had been so utterly stressed that he didn’t even react as Bianca had, who ran up to their friend and hugged him as she cried, welcoming both him and N back to the region.
When Hilbert looked at him, disheveled and damp, he smiled at him and opened his arms, expecting for Cheren to run up to him for a hug- one similar to the ones they had as children.
But Hilbert never got his hug, and Cheren only felt the growing coldness in his heart grow day by day.
Not today. Not today. You can think about this some other time.
He downs his coffee- boiling hot and completely black, without wasting another second.
He feels a set of eyes on him, completely impressed by the display of sheer willpower it must have taken to drink something so bitter in one go. Perched on his shoulder is a sassy-looking Eevee, mimicking its trainer's astonished expression.
“Oh hey there, you’re awake,” The person staring at him grins cheekily, one similar to the ones Nate makes when he thinks of a prank to pull on his classmates. He didn’t hear this person’s voice in the cacophonous chorus earlier.
Perhaps they were one of the latecomers Clay mentioned.
“Clay said something about a gym leader my age. Said something about us having a lot of things in common. Well, he’s wrong for one thing, I don’t think I can drink something as bitter as that. Sweet stuff’s always been more of my thing, you know? That’s why,” He pats the Eevee on his shoulder, and it responds with a pleased cry. “I have this little sweetheart with me right now.”
..oh this person.. loves to talk about themselves, huh?
He pushes that thought away. He puts down his paper cup and tries his best to muster up a smile. “Apologies. I must have been asleep when you arrived. Who are you?”
They run a hand on their hair- a shade of brown-ish orange, somewhat like Burgh’s.
Come to think of it, their whole demeanor reminds him of the bug type gym leader, with how confident they stand and how utterly smug they look.
“Oh, you don’t know me? Well, I don’t blame you! I’ve been trying to keep a low profile for awhile now. Gets annoying when you can’t get a moment’s rest when people try to reach out to you for everything.”
Tell me about it.
He sticks his hand out. “The name’s Blue! Blue Oak! I’m the Viridian City Gym Leader, and a former champion of the Kantonian Pokemon League! Pleasure to meet your acquaintance, fellow gym leader!”
...Oak? Where have I..
No, he’d think about it later.
He accepts Blue’s hand and shakes it. “A pleasure to meet you. I’m Cheren. I’m the gym leader of Aspertia City.”
He says it all too easily, a script he had practiced in the mirror for months after he was given the title. He shouldn’t come across as uncertain or unconfident, Drayden advised. He should hold his head up high and wear the title of Gym Leader with pride.
Just like Blue Oak here, who absolutely oozed with confidence and charisma. He didn’t know how strong he was as a trainer, but even his partner on his shoulder held its head high, proudly huffing when Blue gestures to it.
“This here’s my partner, Eevee! She's been my sidekick ever since I left on a journey seven years ago. Refuses to evolve. Not because I can’t get her to, no, she insists on showing off her full strength as an Eevee! They have a lotta advantages too, you know. Like Alola has this thing called Z-Moves? Yeah, Eevees get a special kick outta it, and its evolutions? Outta luck, you gotta stick to the more generic Z-Moves, apparently.”
Oh. He.. somewhat understands what he’s saying, yes. The little nap he took and his coffee cleared the fog out of his brain, and he found himself thinking clearly.
But rather than pay attention to his rambling about Alolan phenomenons regarding Pokemon moves, he pays attention to what he says beforehand. “Oh, sorry, seven years ago?”
“Hm? Yeah, I left on a journey when I turned eleven! It’s the custom for most regions, isn’t it?”
He bites his lip. “Ah, yes. Unova is a bit more loose, however. My friends and I only started ours two years ago, but I have students who started theirs at the age of twelve.”
Blue blinks in confusion, letting Eevee hop off his shoulder and trot on the table, sniffing at Cheren’s styrofoam container of unknown food. “Hold up. Two years ago? Students? You’re around my age, aren’t you?”
“Um,” Blue doesn’t look that much older than him. He can’t compare him to Hilbert, because wherever Hilbert went in those two years he was gone, it surely stopped him from aging somehow; he was still the same height and had the same hair length. “I think so? I turned sixteen this year.”
“Then what was that about students?”
Oh, he forgot to mention that part. “Aspertia Gym serves as a small trainer school, and I’m the teacher of all those who attend.” Yes, that much was true, but he also left out the part that he was supposed to monitor his students’ practical exams today, if not for Clay calling him out of the blue.
Blue looked at him in thought, one hand rubbing his chin, and the other on his hip.
For a moment, Cheren wondered if he said something wrong, but when the taller man suddenly breaks into a gleeful expression, one reminiscent of pride, he feels a weight off his shoulders.
“Well! I guess Clay was right after all! Making a name for yourself just two years after you went off on your journey! And you’re only a year younger than me? Man, now I feel very flattered! We are two peas in a pod! Birds of a feather, and all that jazz!”
Well.. he’s an awfully chipper person, isn’t he?
He’d love to partake in more conversation with Blue. His energy was contagious (not to Nate’s level of course), and he seemed to have the same knowledge in Pokemon as he did, though he concerned himself more with type matchups and abilities over moves.
But his stomach gurgled again, this time, loud enough for the two other trainers- one blonde kid and a sleepy-looking boy with a red hat, to glance at him.
Blue noticed, obviously, and didn’t dare hold back a laugh. “Oops, someone’s hungry. That’s fine, you can go eat while I do all the talking! This is a great opportunity, I was actually meaning to go to your gym if I had the time to spare. After all,” He flicks his bangs dramatically as he plops himself on the chair next to Cheren’s. “I am quite busy!”
“You seem to be, yes,” He replies, opening the styrofoam container of Chansey egg sandwiches, sliced into triangles, stuffed with fresh vegetables that he was certain was locally sourced from Mistralton City’s farms.
There were a few slices of Tamato berries as well.
How nice. He loved Tamato berries.
“Ah, but dropping by my gym so suddenly.. I’m flattered Clay has high praises for me, but I think he forgot that my schedules are constantly packed. It’s nearing examination season, and eventually, more new trainers will be dropping by my school’s doorstep to earn themselves a Basic Badge..”
Blue raises an eyebrow in interest as Cheren takes a bite out of his sandwich. Eevee sniffs it, but when he offers her a piece, she turns away. “Basic Badge, huh? You specialize in a type?”
He raises a brow as he swallows.
Don’t all gym leaders specialize in a type?
He knows some champions had variety, but again, they were typically reserved for champions, right?
“Yes. Normal type. My gym is the first in the Unova Pokemon League, so it's very common that I don’t get as much free time as I would like.”
“But you made it here today?”
He sighs. “I was told it was an emergency.”
“Ah.” He lets out a whistle. "Dang, guy got you good, didn't he? Well, I'm sure he's not gonna be wasting your time! He is a gym leader too, and a tough negotiator! Whoever he's trying to impress must be some battle connoisseur or something, if he's inviting all these strong trainers over for a show!"
He has a point.
He's still annoyed he had to be called over, but..
Clay had been a very important person in his ascension as gym leader. They all had, sure, they vouched for him when Lenora announced her retirement and expressed interest in having a previous challenger take over, but Clay and Burgh especially pushed for Cheren to take the role, claiming he had the potential.
He admittedly doesn't see it himself, but he accepted nonetheless.
If Nate and Hugh were anything to go by, he was doing quite an okay job as a teacher then.
“Perhaps,” He replies. “I hope I don’t disappoint them then.”
Blue smiles at him again. It’s a charming kind of smile, truly. Blue must be very popular back at Kanto, with how friendly and easygoing he was. “Of course not! You sound like some big deal, and I know you walk the talk! You don’t strike me as a liar, that’s for sure! Trust me, I have good instincts!”
He continues eating his sandwich. He doesn’t have much of an appetite, but he has to eat something, lest his dizziness and nausea catch up to him again. Nate and Hugh would never let him hear the end of it too if he didn’t at least eat one of the sandwiches they got for him.
The door opens, and he hears a familiar voice greet the other two trainers watching the TV. “Hey, what do you two think of Unova so far?” He asks, leaving the door open for an equally familiar Pokemon to scurry inside.
As always, Hilbert’s earnest personality makes him so approachable to others. Cheren wouldn’t be surprised if he befriended all of Clay’s guests at this point.
The blonde trainer grins. Cheren hadn't noticed it earlier, but in his arms was a peculiar looking flying type Pokemon. Its head resembled a music note. “Awesome! So that’s what a Triple Battle is like?! Oh man, Lucas, we should totally participate in one once this Multi Battle thing is over!”
Lucas, the sleepy-eyed boy, hums. Now Cheren can see that he, too, has a Pokemon in his arms, but it’s something that he finds familiar as a normal type specialist; a Munchlax, eating a berry between its fuzzy paws. “Huh? But I wanted to go try Casteliacones, Barry..”
“If Casteliacones is what you want, I think I still have some in my bag! They don’t really melt as quickly as people think. They come in boxes that keep them from melting until opened! Unovan secret, apparently. Not even I know what it is.” Hilbert chuckles. “But I can give them to you after the tournament! Don’t want to upset anyone’s stomachs now and be accused of sabotage.”
The two boys, Lucas and Barry, laugh lightheartedly. Cheren can’t help but feel both proud and jealous of Hilbert’s ability to be so.. easygoing with others.
He feels a weight on his lap, startling both him and Blue. Cinccino is back with him, looking quite happy as she shows him a small candy on her mouth.
A Sweet Heart, if he recalled.
“Hello, Cincci. Did someone give that to you?”
Her ears twitch, and she turns to Hilbert, who makes his way towards Cheren with a soft, understanding smile.
His previously relaxed expression hardens against his own will.
He doesn’t mean it.
He really doesn’t want to make it seem like he hates Hilbert.
But he can’t help it.
He can’t help but feel this way towards someone who..
No, he didn’t abandon me. Stop that. Stop thinking that. Do not be selfish.
To his surprise, Hilbert doesn’t call out to him yet. He assumes that’s the case because Blue, all of a sudden, stretches out of the seat loudly, the chair clattering to the floor, and makes an even wider smile than the one he flashed to Cheren earlier. “Pleasure to meet you, my guy. Sorry for being fashionably late, but I don’t think we’ve met.”
Hilbert is taken aback, but he smiles at Blue anyway. “Oh, um, I must have gone out when you came in. I’m HIlbert.”
“Hilbert! The man of the hour!”
The increase in volume causes Barry and Lucas to turn in their direction.
Cheren senses something off from the way Blue’s acting. Sure, he’s only known him for a few minutes at best, but..
“So you’re the famed Hilbert I’ve been hearing about! Wow, it’s a great honor to finally meet you! Hero of Truth, right? Savior of the region? Must be a very busy guy, aren’t you?”
...he doesn’t seem sincere now?
Whether or not Hilbert notices, that warm smile of his falters for a bit, and Cheren catches him trying to maintain it to the best of his ability.
“Ah, Hero of Truth. Yes, that's what they call me. Busy, um, no I don't think so. Not quite. It’s true I’m considered a hero because of my connection to Reshiram, but-”
Blue interrupts again.
“Reshiram! Dragon of Truth, I read about it on the flight here. Yeah, it gets real angry when people get greedy, right? Burns their homes and all that? Man, having such a powerful Pokemon by your side is so cool, it’s no wonder the PWT decided to ban it from partaking in battles! You’d think they’d pull some precautions to keep that Pokemon from wandering off its region too. Who knows where it’ll bring you?”
Cheren catches Lucas’ expression twisting into one of worry. He pats Barry on the shoulder, whispers something to him, and the other boy nods. They quickly scamper out of the meeting room, their Pokemon in tow.
Hilbert’s smile is now fully gone. He’s not angry or upset, but there’s something Cheren cannot read.
Determination?
Ferocity?
What’s wrong? Why can’t I read you?
He bites his lip, his gaze turning steely. “Reshiram is trusted. They haven’t lashed out at anyone. Yes, the legends may have some inkling of truth. I cannot confirm nor deny that, but-”
Blue interrupts again. This time, he steps forward, towering over Hilbert.
Cheren notices Eevee on the table, and how agitated she suddenly is. Cinccino peers over in concern, looking between Hilbert and Blue.
“Oh, I’m not talking about your cool dragon, buddy. I’m talking about you.”
Huh?
The warmth in Hilbert’s eyes and voice disappears.
Suddenly, it’s icy.
Cold.
Cheren hated the cold.
“What do you mean?”
Blue doesn’t respond. Not yet. Cheren knows the body language of someone that’s formulating a lie in their head, but he also knows the body language of someone who’s actively trying to be as honest as possible, while also trying to sugarcoat their words so as to not offend the other party.
Blue Oak was doing the latter. Even with how straightforward and accusatory he was coming across, he was still trying to play civil.
And Cheren didn’t know why he was suddenly so hostile towards Hilbert.
The door opens again.
This time, however, it wasn’t Barry nor Lucas. It was another boy in a red cap, with dark brown hair and a blank expression on his face. A Pikachu was perched on his shoulder as he slammed the door open, as if to command authority.
His very presence felt suffocating.
Even more so than the actual hero of Truth.
Suddenly, Blue side steps past Hilbert, his posture confident as he strides his way towards the newcomer.
Hilbert doesn't turn to acknowledge the new guy.
“You enjoyed yourself way too much with that Charles guy’s entire shtick. You can experience Rotation Battles here too, Red! This isn't Kanto, we can have properly coordinated battles in facilities instead of running around with a Vs. Seeker in our pockets!” He playfully teased, jabbing his finger lightly onto the chest of the trainer, Red.
Red. Red. Red.
Cheren’s eyes lit up with recognition.
Blue Oak. Red. Kanto.
Blue Oak is-
“You’re the grandson of the famous Professor Oak," He blurts out. He catches the way Hilbert's eyes widen at the revelation. "And you're.."
Blue grins, wrapping an arm around Red. Pikachu rolls its eyes and hops onto the table, making its way towards Eevee. "The living legend himself, Red of Pallet Town! Me too, of course. We're childhood friends, rivals, all that stuff! Yeah, we're hotshots, aren't we, Red? Took you a while to figure that out, Cheri Berry!"
Cheri-?
Red's expression does not change one bit. He glances at Cheren and Hilbert, and does nothing else. His Pikachu sniffs up at Eevee, wondering what's gotten her so agitated.
Somehow, Blue understands him.
"We decided to go to Unova together to partake in the PWT after we got an invitation from Clay. You see," He smirks. "He and my gramps go way back. He kinda owes him a favor too, and gramps let me have that favor of his since he's too busy to ever think of anything else he'd like. I think it's a great idea! Knowing him, he'd just ask for a Pokeball or something."
Red rolls his eyes. Hilbert's fists clench. He isn't looking at either Red or Blue.
"And well, since it'd definitely be an honor for a lot of folks, I asked Clay to gather round the strongest teams he has in the region to face against Red and I!" He pulls Red close by the shoulder, grinning mischievously.
Red doesn't look annoyed at the gesture.
"So you'd better show me a good battle, Cheri Berry! You better reach the finals and give all our other opponents a run for their money! Show them what us gym leaders are made of!"
Cinccino looks up at Cheren, chittering and bumping her head against his chin. He's spacing out a lot today. "..apologies, I will be battling Red and you?"
"Oh, you were probably conked out during the meeting huh? Hey, Hilbert!" He calls over to his friend so casually, uncaring about how tense he looks now. "Give our friend a little recap on what you guys talked about!"
Hilbert's fist is clenching, but he takes a deep breath, and finally (wait why was he happy about this?) turns to face Cheren, that welcoming smile on his face. "..right, I promised you I'd fill you out on what we talked about."
He nods.
Hilbert walks over to a whiteboard. He now only notices there was a list of names hastily scribbled in what looked like Clay's handwriting, but he noticed Hugh's as well.
"I think you heard Sir Ingo mention Multi Battles. They're essentially Double Battles, but it's two trainers against another pair, and all trainers involved have two Pokemon each. You remember Hilda, right?"
The Battle Subway fanatic, yes, and a friend of Bianca's. Also a friend of his, but they haven't had that much time to talk to one another in the two years they've been friends.
"She's always hanging about in Gear Station, but when I decide to take on Multi Battles, she's my partner. He called sixteen of us over so there'd be eight teams in total, similar to how each tournament in the PWT has eight participants."
"And guess what, Cheri!"
Hilbert almost looks annoyed when Blue talks.
Interesting.
"Each pair has been decided while you were sleeping your pretty little head off! I'd partner with you, but Red here is a bit clingy! Isn't that right, buddy?"
Again, Red rolls his eyes. It's no secret that Blue is coming across as the clingier one.
Wait, then who am I partnered with?
Hilbert notices Cheren's expression and sheepishly smiles.
"Oh, about that. Um, I was willing to wait it out to see who you might want to partner with, but Clay was in a hurry, and we needed to get registration done and over with, and even though Hugh offered to be your partner," He takes a deep breath. "Uh, Clay didn't allow it for some reason? He insisted you, ah, be paired with.. well, me."
I knew it.
This wasn't just Clay holding a tournament to honor the wishes of the champions of Kanto.
This was Clay killing two Pidoves with one stone, by using this tournament as a way for him and Hilbert to make up.
Their relationship was no secret to anyone in the league. They knew they were best friends two years ago. They knew how heavily Hilbert's sudden disappearance weighed on him.
Burgh had been the one to call him out on bottling it in, and Burgh had been the one to comfort him and let him cry, without fearing about showing weakness to Bianca.
(It was silly to hide his grief in the first place. Bianca had told him that she and Hilda would be there for him. That they would be there for each other.)
The league had offered assistance to Hilbert's mother during those times. Elesa would come over with Skyla to cheer her and Bianca up. Burgh and Brycen always made sure Cheren didn't push himself too hard with his training. Hilda and those Subway Bosses also assisted in the search, and became regulars in Nuvema Town.
The league and its strongest trainers were there to support them.
And when Hilbert suddenly came back..
Dragons, he heard Nate say something to Hugh at that time.
Something about how Cheren's treatment of Hilbert was colder than the Glaciate that Kyurem nearly hit him with.
He also heard Hugh say something in response to that.
"Well, can we blame him? The guy did disappear for two whole years. Not everyone is as forgiving as Bianca. I mean, did you hear that Hilda gal? She said she'd throw him into next Thursday if he pulls something like that again."
And she did not make threats. She made promises. Especially when she sees Bianca cry.
He once again feels Cinccino's tail brush against his nose. She chitters to snap him out of his thoughts.
Hilbert, Blue, and even Red were looking at him expectantly.
"Ah," He takes a second to compose himself, adjusting his fluffy friend on his lap. "Sorry. What was that?"
"Oh, um, the pairs! Yeah, besides you and me, there's obviously Nate and Hugh."
Of course, his two students were inseparable.
"Subway Bosses Ingo and Emmet too. I think Bianca and Hilda were called over at the last minute, they're still on their way,"
Like the rest of them, he figured. Wasn't Bianca also terribly busy today?
"Um, you saw those two guys from earlier. Barry and Lucas, from Sinnoh. Two kids from Hoenn and another pair from Johto. You'll meet them later. And, ah, of course-"
"Leaving us, the best, for last?" Blue chuckles. "We're gonna crush the competition, and you two better do the same! I expect to see you two in the finals!"
So he was expected to pair up with Hilbert of all people.
Not only that, but Blue Oak, grandson of the famed Professor Oak and a powerful trainer in his own right, was expecting their pair to beat the rest.
This was a disaster.
"Nate registered your two Pokemon for you. He said he knew which ones you'd pick. I, ah, picked a pair that could complement yours, so.. let's do our best?"
By the dragons..
He hears the bell ring. Lunch was over.
They would be expected to gather for Clay's little Multi Battle Tournament. The one that Blue asked for.
Great.
Red grunts and pulls himself away from Blue, and his Pikachu immediately climbs up his arm. Eevee follows after him and does the same, jumping up to Blue's shoulder. Red gives a polite bow and nod to both Cheren and Hilbert, and leaves the room without another word, clearly eager for a battle.
Blue waves his hand. "Not much of a talker, that guy. But on the battlefield, you'd be surprised! I mean it, Cheri Berry. You better show me a good time! Looking forward to those battles that keep those challengers coming!"
He then turns to address Hilbert, but his playful grin turns into something akin to a sneer. "Hey, hero! I’m expecting big things from you! Don't run off and leave Cheri, alright?"
Hilbert looks like he's about to say something.
He leaves with a hearty chuckle, making sure to dramatically slam the door on the way out.
What's up with that guy?
Cinccino chirps in Hilbert's direction.
Cheren has never seen him look this riled up before.
He feels as if he should have done something. Blue was clearly antagonizing Hilbert, but anything and everything he wanted to say couldn't form itself into a single, coherent thought.
Two years ago, he would have jumped into Hilbert's defense. It would be instinctual at that point, to defend your friend, their name, their honor.
In the present, would he still do the same? Putting aside his own personal feelings for a second, would it be fair for him to let Blue talk about him in such a way?
Would he truly be a leader who seeks the right path if he let such things slide?
He doesn't let his resolve crumble. He musters up the courage, taking a deep breath, and trying to make eye contact with Hilbert. Baby steps, just like his therapist had told him. "Are you okay?" He asks.
To his relief, Hilbert lets out a sigh. "Yeah, I'm fine! Thanks for asking, Cheren!" The bare minimum, but Cheren's been acting so cold that Hilbert was probably taking anything he could get. "Just.. well.."
He wasn't good at lying.
"..dunno. That guy, Blue. I heard about him before. Never seen him in person, but.." He bites his lip. "I did hear he had a bit of an attitude before. They said he mellowed out, but that doesn't seem to be the case."
There's a scoff at the end. He's never seen Hilbert behave like this regarding another person. Team Plasma does not count.
Hilbert himself probably notices this is out of character for him as well. He makes a soft smile and approaches Cheren, making sure to keep some level of distance between them. "But how about you? You looked sick earlier. Did the nap do you some good? How about the food?"
Too many questions, however.
Too familiar.
He takes a step back.
Cinccino's tail swishes and pats against Cheren's thigh. He's holding her up like a Pokedoll now. He can’t help it. She doesn’t seem to mind either.
"..I'm better now. We should get going. The match is going to start soon. We should," Talk? Ignore the obvious tension between them? Call it a truce for the sake of the battle? "..strategize."
Cinccino sighs. He wants to apologize to her for such a lame response, but Hilbert isn't bothered at all. His eyes are genuine and understanding, and he doesn't dare take another step, just so Cheren can have the space he desires. This was still closer than anything they had in the first few days of Hilbert's arrival.
"Sure, Cheren! Let me show you which Pokemon I picked!"
His voice doesn’t melt away the iciness in his heart, but Cheren doesn’t care.
The chilly atmosphere from earlier slowly disappeared as Hilbert talked about which Pokemon he was going to lead with.