Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"What do you mean I have a roommate!?" Janine said. "When I signed the lease for this apartment, I was told that I would be living by myself."

She was standing in the lobby of the building she just moved into, 245 Meowth Court Apartments, on Azalea Street, in the heart of Johto's largest city, Goldenrod. After she came to the front desk of the building to pick up the keys to her room from her landlady, Janine was informed that her roommate had moved in just a couple hours earlier, which came as quite a surprise to her.

"If you review the fine print of your lease, miss, I think you'll find that Meowth Court Apartments reserves the right to assign you a roommate at any time we please." The landlady said, yawning and sipping her coffee, responding to Janine's annoyance with mere apathy. "Listen, you should be happy you've got someone to help you pay rent."

"But I don't want a roommate." Janine said. "I want to live on my own!"

"Not my problem." The landlady said. "If having a roommate was a deal breaker, you should have read over your lease before signing it. Now, do you want your key or not?"

Janine groaned and took the key to her room from the landlady.

"Come on, Flora." Janine said to her Venonat, who began to follow her to the lobby's elevator. "Let's go and see who we'll be living with..."

The elevator was slow to arrive and even slower to ascend to the twentieth floor, where her apartment (#2010) was located. Not that Janine was surprised--everything in this building seemed to be rather run-down and barely operational. On its website, Meowth Court advertised itself as having "a long, proud history of housing the people of Goldenrod" and that the building had a "rustic, old-fashioned charm that is sure to win over prospective residents and guests alike." In other words, the building was old, a veritable antique next to the modern skyscrapers that now filled Goldenrod's skyline. But even those without the benefit of the website's information could have guessed that Meowth Court was a relic, given its creaky wooden floors, the peeling yellow paint on the walls, and an omnipresent musty smell. The elevator felt so primitive--not just due to how it moved at a seemingly glacial pace, but also because of the deafening whirring sound which filled the chamber as it rose twenty stories--that Janine was absolutely convinced it was about to plummet to the basement and leave her dead. But eventually, there came a dinging sound and the doors slid open and Janine stepped foot into the dark, quiet hallways of the twentieth floor. Just a few doors down from the elevator was room 2010. Below the chipped doorplate bearing the number was an old faux gold knocker in the shape of an Arcanine's head. Janine took a deep breath and used it to rap lightly on the thick wooden door.

"Hellooo?" A chipper, chirping voice came from inside the apartment.

"Um...hello?" Janine said, clearing her throat. "Er...I think...you're my roommate?"

The door suddenly flew open. Standing on the other side was a girl around Janine's age. She had short pink hair, wore a white hoodie and blue gym shorts, and had a Cleffa sitting on her shoulder.

"Roommate? I didn't know I'd be getting a roommate!" Whitney said, smiling. She seemed considerably more pleased by the news than Janine had been. Janine jumped in surprise when Whitney suddenly hugged her. "Hiii! I'm Whitney! Nice to meet ya, roomie!"

"Um...yes, hello..." Janine said, bowing stiffly. "I am Janine of the ancient Nightseeker clan of ninjas. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Oh...OK, cool!" Whitney said, clearly a bit perplexed by Janine's overly-formal introduction. "I'm Whitney, of the...er, well, I don't know if I belong to any 'ancient clans' actually...but you said you're a ninja? That's so cool!"

"Er, well, yes, I suppose I am, in a sense." Janine said. "That is, I was trained in the ways of being a ninja, by my father. But, y'know...it's the modern day so...it's not like there's any way I could do it, like, for a living but, um...yeah..."

"Huh..." Whitney said. "Well, still, that's pretty cool! You'll have to teach me some of your tricks sometime! Like, I've always wanted to know how to make smoke bombs, the kind you toss against the ground when you wanna make a quick getaway! Think you could show me how to make one of those? We could have a little arts and craft night!"

"What use would you have for a smoke bomb...?"

"Oh...I have my reasons!" Whitney said, winking. "Like, for one, I think they're just cool. But also they might be helpful I need to make a quick escape from a rabid fan or something!"

"Rabid...fan?"

"Ah, yes! I should led with that...you see, Janine, I'm something of a celebrity!"

"A celebrity!?"

"Or, well, a celebrity-in-the-making, I suppose. A 'rising star' as we say in the industry."

"The industry...?"

"The music industry! I'm trying to become Johto's next big idol sensation! I won't rest until I've achieved my dream of hitting the big time! I'm aiming for total pop stardom; nothing more, nothing less!"

"I see..."

"...But, unfortunately, I'm not quite there yet. I haven't actually had, like, a show yet. Or a gig. Or a public performance of any kind. And...well, actually, I don't quite know how to play an instrument either. And the voice teacher I hired told me I was hopeless and 'tone deaf', whatever that means! But what does she know, right? I just know, if I keep trying hard enough, I'll break into the industry soon enough and have everyone in Johto swooning over me!"

"Er, right..."

"Pii!" The Cleffa on Whitney's shoulder suddenly chirped. "Pii! Pii!"

"Oh, where are my manners, I ought to have introduced you to one another!" Whitney said. "Janine, this is Stella! Stella, this is Janine!"

"Hello." Janine said, smiling at the Cleffa before reaching out a hand to pet her on the head. "She's sooo adorable! Here, let me show you my Pokémon. Flora, come and say hi!"

"I'll bet Flora is a real cutie pie--AHHHHH!" Whitney said when Flora popped out from behind Janine's legs and looked up at Whitney with her big red eyes. "B-B-B-Bug! Bug! Bug!"

"What's wrong?" 

"S-S-Sorry...it's just...Bug Pokémon kinda...weird me out..." Whitney said, forcing a smile and bending over to reluctantly pet the Venonat. "Haha...h-hi there, little bug...gosh, you sure are...um...cute?"

Flora, sensing Whitney's reluctance, also grew unnerved. Her antennae began to twitch, causing Whitney to scream and jump backwards.

"...My apologies." Janine said. "I...I didn't realize there were people who were afraid of Venonat. Where I'm from, everyone adores them."

"Everybody!?" Whitney said. "Wh-Where exactly would that be...?"

"Fuchsia. In the Kanto region."

"Oh...that explains it!" Whitney said. "Fuchsia, that's the city where the Safari Zone is located! You people are practically living out in the jungle! You must be used to scary Pokémon like Venonat!"

"W-Well...it's not exactly a 'jungle' per se..."

"Goldenrod must be quite a change of pace for you, huh?"

"Yes...I've found it a bit overwhelming, honestly." Janine said.

"Well, don't worry!" Whitney said. "I've lived here my whole life! I'll make you feel welcome! Speaking of...why don't you come inside? I'll make you some tea!"

"...Sure." Janine said as Whitney stepped out of the way, allowing her to enter the apartment. As Whitney busied herself by preparing a pot of tea, Janine took a self-guided tour of their new shared living space. It was just as small and claustrophobic as Janine imagined it would be. It was hardly enough space for a single person, let alone two. The apartment consisted of a tiny living room with a kitchenette attached, a single bedroom (which, by the looks of it, Whitney had already claimed, meaning Janine would have to sleep on the futon in the living room), and what looked like the world's smallest bathroom. Whitney had moved in huge towers of cardboard boxes, containing all her things, while Janine brought with her only two suitcases and a backpack, which she found was more than enough to carry everything she felt was worth taking with her. In addition to the many other, rather obvious ways in which they were different, Janine seemed to be a minimalist while Whitney definitely struck her as a maximalist. She had already unpacked many of her boxes, and everywhere Janine looked she found little trinkets and decorations; mostly Pokémon plushies, which Whitney seemed to own hundreds of. There were also numerous material signifiers of her aspirations to be a pop star; on the wall of the bedroom was mounted an acoustic guitar painted pink and sitting on her bed was a metronome, sheet music, and a notepad full of potential song lyrics. When Janine was done looking around, she found a cup of tea placed on the tiny, round kitchen table, which had a pink gingham tablecloth draped over it. Pink, by the looks of it, appeared to be her roommate's absolute favorite color.

"So, Janine, can I ask why you came here to Goldenrod?" Whitney said. "I mean, coming here all the way from Fuchisa...that's quite a long trip!"

"Yes...but I felt it was necessary." Janine said. "I...I want to try and live independently. I love my father, but I've always relied on him for everything. I want to test myself...see if I can make it on my own, as an adult. And...well, I was always curious what life might be like in the big city. So here I am..."

"I see, I see." Whitney said. "Y'know, I kinda get where you're coming from! The reason I decided to get my own apartment, it's because I just couldn't stand to live with my mom any longer! I love her, don't get me wrong, but she's just kinda...pushy, I guess. She kept bugging me about going to college or getting a 'real job' or whatever. She never took my dream to pursue music seriously! So, I decided to take a gamble and get my own place! I knew that was only way I could realize my dreams!"

"Hm..." Janine said. "Well...I do hope I won't get in the way..."

"Oh, no, not at all!" Whitney said. "In fact, I'm really glad you came, Janine! If I'm being honest, I was a little nervous to live all by myself! Having another person to liven up this old, run-down apartment, it's just what I need!"

Whitney poured herself some tea then lifted up her cup.

"A toast!" She declared. "To becoming roommates! And to new beginnings! Cheers, Janine!"

"...Cheers." Janine said, smiling as they clicked their cups together. And as they drank their tea and continued to chat, Janine began to think that maybe the landlady had a point. Having a roommate might not be such a bad thing after all.

Chapter Text

"We won't let you get away this time, you little runt! Get back here!"

Through the dark alleyways of Goldenrod, a trio of burly men gave chase to a young girl. The men were all dressed in pinstriped dark suits and wore multiple golden rings on each of their fingers. Running at their side were three Pokémon, a Mightyena, Manectric, and Granbull, all howling and snarling and snapping at the teenager they were pursuing. The young girl looked exceptionally strange by the standards of this new world where she found herself. She had long lavender hair, tied into a flowing, tight braid. She wore a huge, puffy, sparkling pink dress with white accents, as well as a giant floppy pink beret, upon which sat her faithful servant, Manaphy. This girl was named Amethyst, the Marchioness of the Radiant Realm of Lucia. Not that such a title carried any weight in this dimension...

"Marchioness Amethyst, they're gaining on us!" Manaphy said, communicating with her trainer via telepathy. They dared to look back and saw that the men and their frightening Pokémon were indeed approaching them rapidly as Amethyst--tired from having to run so long--was gradually slowing down. "We've got to try and lose them."

"R-Right..." Amethyst said, taking a deep breath and mustering all the energy she had left in her to make a final, desperate mad dash to safety. She made a series of sudden turns, weaving through Goldenrod's gigantic maze of narrow alleyways, alarming a number of Rattata and Meowth who made their homes in these alleys. Just when she was starting to believe the men chasing her may actually have lost track of where she had gone, Amethyst was dismayed to make a turn right into a dead end. When she spun around to find a different route, she realized it was already too late. The trio of men and their three Pokémon had cornered her.

"Please...don't hurt me!" Amethyst said, collapsing to her knees.

"Relax, little girl, all we're here to do is to transport you back to your cell." The leader of the three men said, approaching her. "We're under strict orders from the boss to get you back to Circlet Tower. So don't make a fuss and come back home with us."

"No...no, anything but that!" She screamed. "I cannot spend another minute in that accursed tower!"

"Well, then...it seems we'll have to do this the hard way, unfortunately." The man said, whistling to get his Mightyena's attention. "Mightyena! Use Crunch!"

"Don't worry, milady, I'll protect you!" Manaphy said, hopping off of Amethyst's beret in order to fight. Manaphy used Signal Beam, blasting a multicolored beam from their antennae towards the Mightyena, who was running towards Amethyst. The impact of the beam knocked Mightyena backwards and caused the Granbull and Manectric to run over towards Manaphy to join in the fight. Manectric used Thunderbolt, striking Manaphy with a powerful jolt of electricity. Granbull then followed up the attack by using Play Rough, grabbing Manaphy and spinning them around before tossing them into the air. Manaphy fell to the paevement with a thud, heavily damaged.

"Manaphy!" Amethyst screamed. "Are...are you alright!?"

"Marchioness...you must...transform!" Manaphy said. "That's the only way you can fight these goons and win!"

"...OK." Amethyst said, sighing. "I'll try."

"Ready to give up yet, girly?" One of the men said, grinning.

"No..." Amethyst said. "I...I've still got one Pokémon left to fight with. Ferra! I choose you!"

From her satchel, Amethyst grabbed a Poké Ball--much unlike the ones in this world, which were spherical, this one was jabbed and crystal-like in design. Tossing the ball into the air, a Togedemaru popped out. Ferra did a small flip in midair before landing in front of her trainer. Spikes popped out of her back as she assumed a battling stance.

"Manaphy!" Amethsyt cried as Ferra popped out of her ball. "Radiant Heart Bond Metamorphosis!"

"Yes, milady!" Manaphy said, beginning to levitate off the ground.

"What the...?" The leader of the men said as they and their Pokémon backed away, weirded out and a bit frightened by the seemingly impossible events happening right before their very eyes.

Manaphy unleashed another beam of light from their antennae, this one a light pink in color. The beam of light coiled around Amethyst and Ferra like a snake. In the blink of an eye, the pink light faded with a sudden burst, and Amethyst changed appearance. She now wore a sparkling suit of pinkish-silver armor, complete with a helmet decorated with yellow spikes. In one hand, she carried a huge platinum shield, also ornamented with large yellow spikes. In another hand, she carried a giant spiked scepter, with a crystal ball on one end that radiated electricity. Ferra, meawhile, also changed form in a burst of light--the spikes on her bag grew even larger and sharper and covered nearly the entirety of her spherical body, long whiskers of wispy lightning bolts surrounded her nose, and her tail grew much longer and began to resemble a tall, metallic lightning rod.

"Wh-What's going on here!?" One of the men screamed as he laid eyes on the new forms of both the Pokémon and her trainer.

"If a trainer and Pokémon share a strong enough connection, Manaphy can use their special powers to temporarily bond the hearts of the two and grant them brand new powers!" Amethyst said, aiming her scepter at the men. "Ferra and I have entered our Whole-Hearted Formes! You cannot defeat us now!"

"You think a few magic tricks and a quick costume change is enough to scare us off!?" One of the men said. "Granbull! Use Headbutt!"

Granbull let out a roar and charged towards Amethyst, looking to headbutt her in the stomach. Amethyst quickly raised her shield, however, to block Granbull's attack. After Granbull's head collided with the shield and they were knocked backwards, Amethyst then raised her scepter while twirling it around like a baton.

"Radiant Scepter Spark Barrage!" Amethyst said. A number of blindingly bright spheres of pure electric energy came bursting out of the scepter's crystal. Each of them honed in on Granbull and collided with them, delivering blow after blow before Granbull finally fainted. 

"This...this isn't possible!" One of the other men grunted. "Manectric! Thunderbolt!"

Manectric roared. Their fur stood on end as they blasted a big bolt of electricy towards Ferra. However, Ferra quickly raised her lightning rod tail and absorbed the attack, using it to power herself up. Electric energy radiated across her small body and her electric whiskers flared up as Amethyst called out a follow-up attack.

"Twirling Electromagnetic Bolt Ribbon!" Amethyst called. Ferra jumped upwards and began to spin around in midair. From her tail, she unleashed a spiraling gray-colored thunderbolt, which twirled around her like a dancer's ribbon before she sent it flying towards Manectric. The long, grayish bolt collided into Manectric and knocked them out in a single hit.

"Well, you fiends? Will you surrender already!?" Amethyst said as Manectric and Granbull were both recalled to their balls.

"This...has to be some kind of dream or something!" The leader of the men said, obviously terrified. "This isn't possible!"

"Oh, it's all very real, I assure you!" Manaphy said. "Villains who dare to harm the benevolent Marchioness of Lucia will not get away with their unforgivable crime!"

"So what will it be?" Amethyst said. "Must we fight? Or will you be sensible and flee!?"

"I...I ain't scared of you!" The man said, sneering. "Mightyena! Take Down!"

Mightyena howled and began to charge towards Amethyst, who did not seem at all alarmed.

"Ferra! Let's finish this off with our Special Bond Maneuver!" Amethyst said, raising her scepter once more. "Super Team-Up Electro Spike Artillery!"

Ferra turned around to her trainer and nodded before hopping into the air and extending her long lightning rod tail. Amethyst waved her scepter and unleashed from it a huge pink lightning bolt. The bolt was absorbed by Ferra's tail, and her whole body began to glow pink. As she landed back on the ground, she turned her back towards her opponent and began to blast a series of glowing, electrified, pink spikes at the approaching Mightyena, who was quickly knocked out by the attack.

"I-Impossible!" The man said, recalling Mightyena to their ball. "This isn't possible...!"

"All of you! Flee at once!" Amethyst said, pointing her scepter at them. "You have been soundly defeated! Now go!"

The three men, scared that Amethyst might blast another bolt of lightning at them, all turned tail and ran. As they ran off, Amethyst and Ferra were both surrounded by pink light again and quickly transformed back into their normal forms. Exhausted, Amethyst again fell to her knees, trying to catch her breath. Manaphy and Ferra rushed over to make sure she was alright.

"Milady!" Manaphy said. "Are you alright!?"

"Yes...I'm fine..." Amethyst said. "I just...can't believe...we won..."

"You are stronger and much more capable than you think, milady." Manaphy said. "I knew you could chase off those henchmen easily."

"Thanks..." Amethyst said, before hugging Ferra, who squeaked happily. "And thank you too, Ferra..."

"Come, we must find a better place to rest than this dingy alleyway!" Manaphy said. "We need to restore our energy before more minions come to try and capture us."

"...Yes." Amethyst said, standing up. "It won't be long...until we come face to face with more of those men with the golden rings. Ferra, Manaphy, let's go..."

"I'll lead the way, milady." Manaphy said. "Follow me!"

Chapter Text

"Ah, Janine!" Koga said, picking up mere seconds after Janine dialed his number in her PokéGear and called him. "How are you? Are you settling in OK?"

"I'm fine, Father." Janine said, grinning at the sound of his voice. She was sitting on the sofa in the apartment's living room, with Flora sitting on her lap. Janine combed her long purple fur as she spoke with her father. "How are things in Fuchsia?"

"The same as always, I suppose." Koga said, sighing. "Though it's not the same without you here. How do you like Goldenrod? Is it everything you dreamed it would be?"

"In some ways, yes." Janine said. "Though I've also find it quite overwhelming. It's so much...louder than Fuchsia. And a lot more crowded. And I get lost so easily! I swear, this city is designed like a maze! But it's really quite a beautiful city, just like I imagined. The old yellow brick pavement combined with the big, modern skyscrapers...I'll have to take some pictures to show you when I get home, Father, it's really pretty. And everyone here is so nice too! Despite what everyone told me about how rude people in the big city could be, I have found everyone here to be very kind and welcoming."

"Well, that's good!" Koga said. "It sounds like Goldenrod hasn't changed much at all since I was last there...though, now that I think about it, that was well over twenty years ago. I'm sure, if I went, I would notice all kinds of small differences."

"I didn't know you visited Goldenrod at all." Janine said. "What was the occasion?"

"It was right after your mother and I married." Koga said, his voice growing warm and wistful as the memories came flooding back to him. "We decided to visit Johto for our honeymoon, since that was the region both of our families originated from. We ended up spending nearly two weeks in Goldenrod. I remember how beautiful and unique the city was in its layout and architecture, as well as how kind the people were and how they came to live in the city from all over the world--Hoenn, Sinnoh, Alola, Unova, Kalos, people from pretty much every region you could think of had their own community in Goldenrod! I was really quite taken with the city and your mother and I even considered moving there, but we ultimately couldn't bring ourselves to leave Fuchsia. Our visit and the good memories I have of it, that was the reason why--when you told me you wanted to move to the big city--I recommended you go to Goldenrod. I knew you would have a much more memorable experience and meet all sorts of interesting people if you went to Goldenrod, rather than Saffron or Celadon. There was some selfish part of myself that wanted you to stay here in Kanto, so I could visit you more often. But I knew...allowing you to have a big adventure in a foreign region, just like you always wanted, that would be for the best."

"Father..." Janine said. Once again, it dawned on her how lonely he might be, now that she had moved out. Most people his age usually had their spouse to keep them company, but Janine's mother had died when she was quite young from illness. He insisted that he would be fine and encouraged Janine to move out and pursue her own independence, but she was always reluctant, knowing he would be lonely without her. "Are you sure you will be OK? I hate the thought of leaving you all alone..."

"Don't worry, Janine, I'll be fine!" Koga said, laughing. "I've got my Pokémon to keep me company and the gym to keep me busy. I'll be OK, so perish the thought! Just relax and enjoy yourself in Goldenrod! That's what I want...and what I'm sure your mother would want as well."

"...OK, I will." Janine said, though she was certain there would be an element of guilt she would never be able to fully get rid of. "But if you ever feel lonely, please, just call me, OK?"

"Alright, Janine, I will!" Koga said, laughing again.

"JANIIINE! Can you get the door for me, pleeease!?" 

"Hm?" Koga said. "Who's that screaming in the background?"

"Hold on, Father." Janine said, getting off the sofa and walking over to the front door of the apartment, to let Whitney inside, who had left a few hours prior to go shopping. When Janine opened the door she was a bit surprised to see Whitney carrying a huge bag full of hay. "Wh-Whitney!? What are you doing with all that hay...?"

"It's for Pinky, duh!" Whitney said, walking into the apartment and going into her bedroom, where she dumped the hay out onto the floor next to her bed.

"Pinky...?"

"Oh, right, you two haven't met yet!" Whitney said, grabbing a Poké Ball from her bag and sending out a Miltank. "Janine, this is Pinky! Pinky, this is Janine! Now, Pinky, look here! Mommy's brought you a big pile of hay for you to sleep on, OK?"

Pinky mooed as she climbed onto the hay and laid down on it, clearly satisfied. The sight and smell of the hay made the bedroom feel like a barn to Janine.

"I hope you don't mind sharing an apartment with a Miltank." Whitney said. "I promise, she's not some barn dirty Pokémon! She's as domesticated and well-behaved as a Lillipup! Isn't that right, little Pinky?"

Whitney patted Pinky's head, causing the Miltank to moo happily. Janine knelt down and began to pet Pinky as well. Pinky nuzzled Janine in return.

"Don't worry, I don't mind." Janine said, smiling. "If I'm forcing you to share an apartment with bug Pokémon, I guess I'm in no place to complain about you allowing a Miltank to live here."

"Oh, thank you, Janine!" Whitney said. "You're, like, the best roommate ever! I promise, Pinky will be on her best behavior!"

"...Janine?" Koga said. "Is everything alright?"

"Oh, sorry about that, Father." Janine said, taking her PokéGear from out of her pocket. "Yes, everything is OK!"

"My hearing's not as sharp as it used to be, so correct me if I'm wrong..." Koga said. "...But did I hear a Miltank mooing in the background?"

"Uh...no?" Janine said, deciding it would take too much effort to explain the whole situation. "It was just my roommate."

"Your roommate?" Koga said. "I didn't know you were getting a roommate!"

"Neither did I..." Janine said. "But it's all worked out for the best! Whitney knows her way around the city, and she's very kind."

"Oh, please, Janine, you're making me blush!" Whitney said. "...Wait a sec, is that your dad on the phone? The one who's a gym leader and who's trying out to be an Elite Four member and who's basically, like, a celebrity!? Can I talk to him, pretty please!? I need to ask if he'd like to make a special guest appearence on my biweekly podcast-slash-radio drama-slash-cooking show--"

"I've...gotta go, Father." Janine said, trying to make sure Whitney didn't swipe the phone out of her hands. "Love you. Talk to you soon!"

"Love you, Janine!" Koga said. "Enjoy the city, OK? I promise, you're gonna make so many good memories there!"

__

"Ooh, looking for a job?" Whitney said, noticing Janine sitting at the kitchen table, looking at a page full of job listings in the newspaper. "What's on your mind, hm? Maybe you'd like to be a performer, like myself? I can give you some pointers! Street performers do quite well here in Goldenrod--you can play music like me, or sing and juggle, or even be one of those people who breathes fire or swallows swords!"

"Er...I'll pass..." Janine said. "Doesn't sound like my kind of thing..."

"Oh, you don't have to start with swallowing swords!" Whitney said. "Maybe you could just start with, like, daggers or kitchen knives or whatever!"

"I'm thinking of getting a job where I don't have to eat pointy things for the public's amusement." Janine said. "I'm...not as outgoing as you are, Whitney. I want a more private job. What do you think of this? Some fancy restaurant is looking to hire a waiter. I think I'd make an OK waitress."

"What? A waiter? Boring!" Whitney said. "C'mon, you're a young woman in the big city! The possibilities are limitless! You could be literally anything you've ever wanted here, and you're gonna settle for some stupid waitress job!? You do realize you're just gonna have to deal with a bunch of pretentious, annoying, rude tourists all day, right?"

"I don't know, it doesn't sound like the worst job in the world." Janine said. "And the pay's pretty good too! Have you ever heard of this restaurant, Whitney? 'Bistro Aureate'?"

"Hm...yeah, I think so..." Whitney said. "It's some ritzy Kalosian restaurant over in the Harbor District. The food's expensive, so it only attracts pretty wealthy people...but y'know, I bet that means the tips will be pretty decent. And, hey, now that I think about it, it sounds kinda romantic, right? A small town girl moves to the big city, and she starts off working long hours as a waitress, serving the rich all day and all night. Then, in the blink of an eye, she experiences a meteoric rise to fame and fortune, after being looked down on all day by snobby, rich tourists! Yeah, that's a great story! It will make a great anecdote in my autobiography! Never mind what I said earlier, Janine, this is a great idea! You should apply."

"Um...alright?" Janine said. "It says I have to go and apply in person, though."

"Ooh! That's perfect!" Whitney said. "We can make a little day trip out of it! I've been wanting to give you a big, formal tour of the city anyways! Consider it my way of initiating you into city life! I'll show you where all the cool, fashionable youth of Goldenrod hang out! Oh, and I can even show you where I work!"

"That's right, you said you're an intern at the Radio Tower, right?" Janine said.

"Yup! It's one of the city's biggest tourist attractions!" Whitney said. "Most people have to wait in a long line and pay to get a tour of the tower, but as your roommate, I'll let you take a look around for free! ...Just don't tell my boss. If anyone asks, you're a janitor or a secretary or something, OK?"

"Er...alright?"

"Perfect!" Whitney said. "Oh, this is so exciting! We'll leave first thing tomorrow morning! How about seven in the morning?"

"Seven in the morning!?"

"If you want to see everything, we gotta start early!" Whitney said. "Don't worry, if you're sleep-deprived, I'll schedule a thirty-minute stop at one of the city's bus terminals for you to take a nap!"

"How...generous...?" Janine said. "Fine, we can leave at seven. I would like to get a proper introduction to all the major sights of Goldenrod."

"That's the spirit!" Whitney said. "Don't you worry, Janine! I think you'll find I'm pretty much the world's best tour guide! No one knows this city better than I do!"

__

"Wait a second...where are we?" Whitney said, squinting at the subway map. "Huh...yeah, OK, we may or may not be just a little, tiny bit...lost. But not to worry! Let's head up these stairs, and I'm sure I can pinpoint exactly where we are!"

"Alright..." Janine said, a bit exasperated. This was the third time that morning Whitney had made such a promise, but to no avail thus far. After leaving the subway platform and walking up the stairs, emerging onto the bustling, crowded, yellow brick streets of Goldenrod, Whitney scanned her surroundings and then gasped excitedly.

"Ah, look! That's Circlet Tower!" Whitney said.

"Circlet Tower...?" Janine looked to where Whitney was pointing. In the distance, further the down the huge boulevard where they found themselves, was a huge skyscraper, bigger than any that they had seen all day. The tower almost looked like a huge, thick antenna, as it was conical in shape, narrowing the further it climbed into the sky. The building was ornamented with various large balconies which wrapped around the tower and appeared at around every tenth story or so. Each of these long balconies were circular and painted gold, giving the appearance that the skyscraper was surrounded by numerous gigantic golden hoops. At the very top of the tower was a huge flag, on which was displayed a logo of some kind, consisting of three interlocking yellow circles.

"That's...quite an interesting-looking building..." Janine said, not sure what to make of the impressively tall yet undeniably gaudy look of the tower. "You said it was called Circlet Tower?"

"Yup, it was just built in the past year or so." Whitney said. "Everyone in the city was talking about it. It's the tallest skyscraper in Goldenrod by far--it's over eighty stories tall from what I've heard! It houses the headquarters of this huge, international company--the Golden Ring Corporation."

"The Golden Ring Corporation?" Janine said. "I've never even heard of them..."

"Neither had I." Whitney said. "No one in the whole city seemed to know who they were until they suddenly built this huge tower out of nowhere. They're a very mysterious company, but from what people have gathered, they seem to collect and sell information."

"What kind of information?"

"All kinds of stuff. People's purchase histories, health records, geographic location, age...they've collected personal data on billions of people by tracking what people post on social media and what kind of websites they use. They then sell this data to other companies."

"Is that even legal?"

"I...guess so? I agree, it sounds shady. And I guess the company knows that all their practices aren't exactly above board, cause from what I've heard, they're very cagey about all sorts of stuff. Like, they don't allow anyone inside Circlet Tower who doesn't work at the company--no tourists or journalists or anyone else. People have asked the city to investigate them, but they've refused to take action. Word on the street is that the Corporation has bribed the Goldenrod Police Department to make sure they turn a blind eye to whatever shady activities they have going on in there."

"Wow...I had no idea!" Janine said, staring at the imposing tower, with its gold rings glimmering in the late morning sunshine. "That sounds...kinda scary, honestly..."

"Yup, but hey, what are we gonna do about it?" Whitney said, yawning. "As shady as the Corporation might be, at least their tower serves as a convenient landmark. It's located just above the Harbor District, which means we've gotta be close to the Radio Tower and to that restaurant you want to apply to. C'mon, follow me! I know where we're going!"

"Er...sure..." Janine said, dashing after Whitney who took off down the boulevard. "Whatever you say..."

__

Soon enough, the two of them arrived at Bistro Aureate. It was even fancier than Janine was expecting, mimicking a Kalosian chateau in architecture and located right next to Goldenrod Bay's bustling harbor. Walking inside, Janine and Whitney found the restaurant to be dark, enigmatic, and elegant, with a pleasant savory smell in the air. A maître d' wearing numerous golden rings on his fingers greeted them when they entered the bistro and, when Janine asked about the job listing, he handed over an application and guided the two of them to an empty table. Janine filled out the rather long application, while a waiter brought them a complementary plate of Lumiose galettes for her and Whitney to snack on. Whitney wanted to give a galette to Stella and sent her out of her ball, despite the restaurant's strict "no Pokémon" policy. Hiding Stella beneath the tablecloth and slipping her galette after galette, her cover was nearly blown when the mischevious little Cleffa decided to use Metronome. The random move Stella then used turned out to be Gravity, and the table began to levitate miraculously off the ground. Stella chirped happily as Whitney and Janine scrambled to hide what happened from the clearly suspicious wait staff, who were a bit confused as to why the two girls were leaning on top of the table, trying to weigh it down as if it was about to float away at any moment. Ultimately, the two were able to avoid being thrown out. Janine then handed her finished application to the maître d' and tried to hurry Whitney out of the restaurant.

"Let's go before you and Stella decide to cause another scene!" Janine said.

"Wait, hold on!" Whitney said, stopping before they left the restaurant. Something caught her eye--a flyer, hung on a bulletin board next to the restaurant's entrance. "Janine, look at this! 'Are you a musician looking for your first gig? Contact the Annulus Club! For a small fee of 50,000 PokéDollars per song, you can perform on stage at one of the city's busiest and most esteemed social clubs. Call the number below for more information.' Janine! Don't you realize what this is?"

"Yeah, it's a total scam!" Janine said. "I thought clubs were supposed to pay musicians to perform, not the other way around. Allowing anyone to perform so long as they pay a fee...that sounds more like karaoke or a high school talent show than an actual gig."

"No, no, Janine, you don't get it!" Whitney said. "This...this is it! This is my chance! This is moment I've been waiting for, the chance for me to get my big break! If I perform at this fancy club and really wow the crowd--which, of course, will be no problem for someone as talented as me--then all the city's rich socialites will be talking about me. 'Oh my, did you see that girl, Whitney, perform at the club last week? It was rather divine!' 'Pip, pip, cheerio, that beautiful young woman, Whitney, she had the voice of a Meloetta, I'd daresay!' ...Or however rich people talk. I don't know! The point is, they'll all be talking about me, and soon enough, some well-connected talent scout is gonna hear about this promising, uber-talented young woman who--gasp, shock, horror of horrors!--doesn't even have an agent! Naturally, I'll be flooded with calls from talent agencies asking--nay--begging me to let them represent me! And just like that, I will have finally secured my ticket to pop stardom! What do you think, Janine? Am I brilliant, or am I brilliant?"

"I think you might be crazy..." Janine said, sighing. "Are you seriously going to fork over 50,000 PokéDollars for some bogus gig at a no-name club?"

"Duh! Of course I am!" Whitney said. "What else would I spend that money on?"

"Groceries, rent, the fare for the subway..."

"B-O-R-I-N-G!" Whitney said, as she grabbed a pen and notepad from her bag and began to jot down the phone number. "Ever heard the phrase, 'You've got to spend money to make money'? This is an investment in my future! When I'm rich and famous, Janine, I'll be living in a luxury penthouse apartment in Castelia, with private chefs at my beck and call, able to take a private jet anywhere, anytime. And when interviewers ask me, 'Miss Whitney! Just where did you get your start!?' I'll get to tell them, 'Oh, my first gig was at a little social club in Goldenrod. My roommate told me I was crazy for doing it, but look who's laughing now!'"

"Riiight..." Janine said. "Well, at the risk of you ridiculing me on national television in twenty years' time, I'm going to say again that this is all a scam..."

"You say 'scam', I say 'opportunity.'" Whitney said. "Look out, Annulus Club! I'm gonna give you a show you will never forget...once I get in contact with my bank about taking out a small loan, that is."

__

After leaving the restaurant, Janine and Whitney stopped to grab lunch at a big marketplace full of food stalls at the heart of the Harbor District. They bought two traditional Goldenrod noodle bowls, prepared with butter, oil, a spicy Tamato berry sauce, and ground black Apricorn. The two ate their bowls as they wandered through the streets of the city, with Whitney leading Janine towards the Radio Tower. Upon arriving, Whitney had Janine wait outside.

"I've gotta go inside and make sure the coast is clear for me to give you a private tour." Whitney said, walking into the building. "I'll be back in a few minutes. Stay here, alright?"

"OK." Janine said as Whitney walked through the front door. Janine leaned against the facade of the tower, watching the busy street located outside the tower. "Radio Square" as it was called was one of the busiest streets in the city--four usually-congested boulevards converged on the one spot, meaning that at any given moments, hundreds of people might be crossing the square. All around the square were flashing billboards, advertising all manner of products and services, from Fresh Water to the latest PokéStar Studios film now in theaters. Stretching around the base of the Radio Tower was a long, electronic news ticker, which displayed illuminated headlines from around the world. The soundscape of the square was deafening and overwhelming--people chatting and shouting, horns and sirens blaring, the sound of the live radio broadcast being played from a loudspeaker mounted to the wall right next to the Radio Tower's entrance. However, in all the cacophony and visual clutter, there was one sole thing which caught Janine's attention. A strange girl, with long lavender hair. Janine thought she was one of the square's many street performers due to her strange costume--a poofy pink princess dress. The girl was walking slowly past the Radio Tower, her heels click-clacking on the pavement and a strange blue Pokémon perched on her hat. Janine noticed as she drew closer that the girl's dress was rather dirty, and she looked exhausted, having big dark circles under her eyes. Suddenly, the girl collapsed onto the ground, falling to her knees and clutching her stomach.

"H-Hey!" Janine said, rushing over to her. "Are you alright, miss?"

The girl looked up at her with large, desperate eyes, seemingly on the verge of tears.

"Please..." The girl said. "Do you have any food to spare...?"

"Yes, here!" Janine said, quickly handing her the half-finished bowl of noodles in her hands. "Please, take it! You need it more than I do!"

The girl quickly mumbled something that sounded like, "Thank you", before beginning to slurp up the noodles voraciously, foregoing the chopsticks entirely. She then let the blue Pokémon accompanying her eat some of the noodles, as well as a Togedemaru which she sent out of a strange Poké Ball she had with her.

"Here, take this as well." Janine said after helping the girl stand back up. She handed her a fistful of PokéDollars. "This should be enough for you to purchase a few meals..."

"Th-Thank you..." The girl said, bowing to Janine before turning around and beginning to walk away. "Thank you so much!"

"Hey, wait a second!" Janine called after her. She wanted to get more info about who this girl was, where she was going, and if she needed any more help. But the girl either didn't hear Janine or ignored her, as she continued to walk away without turning back. Janine was just about to go after her when Whitney reappeared.

"Alright, we're all good to inside!" Whitney said. "Come on! ...Hey, Janine? You OK?"

"...Yes." Janine said, trying to find the girl in the crowd of people in the square, but failing. She turned around and followed Whitney into the Radio Tower. "I'm fine. It's nothing. Let's go."

Chapter Text

"Master Orro! I know...I know there is little chance you will hear me out and heed my words. But please...I beg you to reconsider! Your plans would bring only misery and ruin upon this city and its people!"

Orro stared down at the caged Pokémon.

"I remember when I was a boy..." He said, leaning down until he was eye level with the Pokémon, with only the thick golden bars of the cage separating them, "All the adventures we used to go on. Oh, those were good times. Simpler times, when simple things could satisfy me, could bring me true pleasure. Now, however, my dear friend...there is only one thing I want."

"...The throne? The crown? The title?"

"Not the title. Not the symbols. I don't care about those hollow signifiers. My friend, I merely want power. A chance for me to bend everything and everyone to my will...to make my will destiny."

"Orro! This isn't right--!'

"...Perhaps it's not. But I've long since realized that this is the only way...the only way to heal the world...and myself."

"Orro--!"

Orro turned his back on the Pokémon and walked out of the room. Slamming and locking the door behind him, he then walked over to the mirror which hang on his bedroom wall. He always tried his best to look dapper and presentable; the perfect picture of what a powerful CEO of an international company should look like. Finely-combed hazel-colored hair; a pinstriped cyan suit with a blazing red tie, a silver lapel pin, and platinum cufflinks; and, of course, several huge, sparkling, gold rings on his fingers. Each ring housed a different gemstone--ruby, sapphire, emerald, diamond, pearl, lapis lazuli, opal. He admired the unique patterns and colors of each gem before adjusting his tie and walking out of his bedroom. He walked across the hall to his office, which consisted of a large room, empty of all furniture save his imposing wooden desk, the same one he had ever since he was a small-time merchant with barely a PokéDollar to his name. On top of the desk was a mountain of paperwork which he wasn't looking forward to sorting through, so instead, he decided to linger by the huge window of his office. It provided him exclusive access to the best view of Goldenrod; no one else got to admire the city's beauty from such heights. He alone got to stare down on them all from atop Circlet Tower.

The buzzer sounded. A group of his men talked into his office--the same people he sent to recapture the runaway.

"Boss..." The men all said, bowing to him, clearly terrified. "We heard you were looking for us...?"

"Indeed." Orro said, walking over to his desk and grabbing a paperweight--a large, weighty crystal ball. He tossed it from hand to hand as he began to pace around his office. "I wanted an update on your progress regarding recapturing the runaway."

"Ah...sir, the thing is..." The leader of the men said. "We still need some more time."

"More time? I've given you three days to complete this assignment! Have you boneheads made any progress on recapturing her!?"

"Well, sir, we...we did find her!" One of the men said. "Last night...we had her cornered in an alleyway. But...she got away..."

"Got away...?" Orro said softly before raising his voice to a thunderous volume. "Got away!? She is a teenage girl who possesses nothing but two weak Pokémon! How did she manage to defeat all of you and escape!? How!?"

"It...it was the strangest thing, Boss! She used some kinda magic trick!" The man said, looking around to his fellow goons to have them back him up. "Right guys? She...she used this weird magic trick to escape!"

"A magic trick?" Orro said. "What are you babbling about!?"

"She...she suddenly changed into this weird costume, and her Pokémon got a lot stronger." One of the men said. "And...she used this weird, like, magic wand thing to shoot lightning bolts at us, and--"

Orro tossed the crystal ball paperweight towards the men. They all ducked, and the ball sailed right over their heads and shattered on the wall behind them.

"Do you think this is funny!?" Orro screamed. "Is this mission--our Corporation's mission--some kind of joke to you!?"

"N-No, sir! Not at all!"

"Then enough with this ridiculous talk of magic tricks and wands and whatnot and tell me what actually happened!?"

"He's telling the truth, Boss!" Another of the men chimed in as the others all nodded. "We all saw it, clear as day! She and her Pokémon suddenly transformed. They used some kind of superpowers to beat us! I swear! We're telling the truth!"

"...You're all fired." Orro said. "All of you. Get out! Get out of my office. Get out of my tower! Never show your face here again! Do you understand me!?"

"Y-Yes, sir! Of course!" All the men began to babble and stutter before dashing out of the office, terrified of what might happen to them if they upset their now former boss any further.

"Idiots..." Orro mumbled under his breath as they all fled from his office. Sitting down at his desk, he picked up the phone and dialed the number of his secretary.

"Hellooo, Boss!" Jasper said, speaking in his usual too-chipper, irregularly upbeat tone, practically humming as he picked up the phone. "What can I do for you, siiir?"

"I don't care how many people it takes." Orro said. "We have to recapture the runaway, fast. Otherwise, our plans for Neo Crystal Goldenrod will never come to fruition. Round up our Corporation's finest and have them patrol every street in this city. Don't stop until they find her and return her to her cell!"

"Of course, sir!" Jasper said. "I'll see to it! Don't you worry! Good niiight!"

Orro hung up the phone. He leaned back in his rolling chair and sighed. He spun around and stared out his window once more at the city. His city.

"Once again..." He said, grinning. "Once again, everyone shall call me 'Your Radiance.'"

Chapter Text

"Ohhh baby, baby, baby!" Whitney screeched as she strummed her pink guitar clumsily. "Don't say maybe, maybe, maybe! I've got Cute Charm like a Clefairy! Can't heal this status condition with any berry! I feel very, very, verrrrrrry...attracted to you! So don't make me blue! And tell me you love me toooooooooooo! ...Well, Janine? What do you think? Pretty great, right?"

"Er...yeah!" Janine said. She was in the kitchenette brewing some tea for them while Whitney sat on the sofa in the apartment's living room. "It was certainly a very...um...unique performance. You'll definitely stand out from the crowd. And those lyrics...I mean, it was really impressive how they...rhymed."

"Thaaanks!" Whitney said. "I actually wrote the lyrics myself, if you can believe it! It was, like, a divine spark of inspiration or something! I was just sitting in a café a few days ago, and bam! The lyrics just came to me, and I had to hurry to scribble all of it down on a napkin! Mark my words, Janine, in ten years, that napkin will sell for, like, a gazillion PokéDollars, and it will be displayed in a big fancy museum eventually, and the tour guides will all say, 'Here is the napkin where world famous pop idol Whitney Valor wrote down the lyrics to her first ever hit song!' And everyone will ooh and aah and take photos and nod and smile and think to themselves, 'Gosh, that Whitney, what a humble and relatable origin story she has! She is so down-to-earth and cool and hip! I should definitely listen to all her music and buy all her overpriced merchandise and go to all of her concerts and cosplay as her at conventions and roleplay as her on internet forums!'"

"...Y'know, Whitney, the extremely specific natures of your fantasies never cease to impress me..." Janine said as she brought her a cup of tea.

"Thanks! I get that a lot!" Whitney said. As Janine sat down and began to drink her tea, Whitney got up and went to the fridge, returning with a handful of Pinap berries, a carton of Moomoo Milk, a bottle of Soda Pop, and a Rage Candy Bar. She began to combine each of these disparate ingredients with her tea as Janine watched with horror as she diluted her perfectly fine cup of tea.

"What are you doing!? You're ruining the tea with all that junk!"

"Oh, don't worry, Janine, I read about this online!" Whitney said. "If you add hand-squeezed Pinap juice, milk, soda, and chocolate to a cup of tea, it creates a super special elixir that is supposed to make your singing voice sound better."

"Really...?" Janine said, sounding skeptical.

"Yup! I mean, come on, would someone post that on the internet if it wasn't true?"

Janine raised an eyebrow.

"OK, OK, maaaybe they would!" Whitney said. "But it's, like, totally, a hundred-percent backed up by science!"

"How so?"

"Well, the Pinap berries give you vitamins which, like, make your vocal cords stronger. And the milk, um...it, like, gives you calcium, which makes your teeth stronger, so that you can sing better. And then the soda...because of the carbonation, the bubbles actually build up in your throat and, um...that helps you sing. And the chocolate is supposed to...er...it...it's just science, Janine! It'll help me sing better, one-hundred percent guaranteed!"

"Suuure..." Janine said, keeping her eyebrow raised. "Maybe it will help you. But can you even drink that disgusting concoction without vomiting it all back up?"

"Oh, please, this looks delicious!" Whitney said, showing Janine the tea, which possessed a dubious whitish-yellow color, bubbled like a witch's cauldron, and had little chunks of chocolate floating in it. Whitney then raised the cup to her lips. "Down the hatch!"

"...Well?"

"Y-Yeah..." Whitney said, grimacing. "Delicious...mmm, mmm, mmm, sooo...good...er, excuse me for a minute..."

Whitney then jumped off the sofa, ran to the bathroom, and very loudly spat up the horrible thing she just drank into the sink.

"You know, on second thought, my singing voice is so good, I don't need any kind of enhancement." Whitney said, grinning as she dumped the contents of her teacup down the sink. "...Oh, look at the time! I gotta get dressed, or I'll be late to my gig at the club! You're gonna be there, right?"

"Yeah, I'll be there." Janine said. "I've got nothing better to do today. What's the name of this place again?"

"The Annulus Club." Whitney said. "Make sure to dress nice, it's a very classy establishment! Oh, and just a spontaneous fashion tip for you, Janine...'dressing nice' does not equal dressing like a ninja."

"What? Oh, come on, this is how I always dress!"

"Don't you have, like, a nice suit or a dress or anything else?"

"...Can I at least wear my scarf?"

"Ugh, fine! You can wear the scarf, but don't you dare show up to my show wearing socks and sandals, for crying out loud!"

"What's wrong with socks and sandals?"

This time it was Whitney's turn to raise an eyebrow.

"OK, fine, I get your point!" Whitney said. "I guess I'll have to stop by a shoe store on my way over there, then."

__

"The Annulus Club..." Manaphy said as they and Amethyst approached the building. It was a suitably grand and elegant-looking building, designed to match its dapper clientele, with huge darkened arched windows; a large fountain in front of the building; and a giant, flashing marquee hanging over the entrance, on which was displayed a logo that was very familiar to Amethyst, three interlocking illuminated golden rings, signifying that the club was owned and operated by the Golden Ring Corporation. "...Milady, are you sure this is safe? This place belongs to the enemy! If we waltz right in there, we might very well be recaptured!"

"We have no choice, Manaphy." Amethyst said. "I'm tired of running. We need to go on the offensive. If all goes according to plan, we won't even have to do any fighting. We'll sneak in and see if we can gather any info about the Corporation's plans. In order to figure out how to stop them, we need to figure out what it is they're even up to."

"That's true, but...are you sure we'll find that kind of information in here?" Manaphy said. "What if sneaking in here is just a waste of time?"

"Even if it is...we have to start somewhere. Compared other places owned by the Corporation, this club is small, and probably won't be that heavily guarded. We can slip in, take a look around, and then leave before anyone notices."

"Still...Marchioness, I don't like the idea of you putting yourself in danger!"

"Manaphy...that's a risk we'll have to take. If we want to fulfill our mission, to accomplish what we came here to do...we have to take this risk. If we have to fight, then we shall fight. With you and Ferra at my side, I know we can win."

"...Alright, milady, you win. I see your point. Tell me, when do you think would be the most opportune moment for us to sneak in?"

"In a couple of hours, when the evening show begins." Amethyst said. "That's when this place will the busiest. Everyone will be distracted, so it will give us a prime opportunity to snoop around and see if we can learn anything."

"Let's just hope that whoever they have performing tonight will be good enough to hold everyone's attention." Manaphy said, glancing up at the marquee to read the list of people who will be peforming this evening. "Let's see...it seems like they have three acts tonight. Two bands, 'Oran and the Berries' and 'The Flash Fire Four', and then a solo act, some debut singer named Whitney Valor. Do any of those names ring a bell?"

"No...I'm sure that none of them are celebrities or anything like that." Amethyst said. "From the research I've done on this place, it seems like the people who perform here actually pay the club to rent out their stage for an hour or two. The club makes a huge profit by charging an arm and a leg to down-on-their-luck musicians who cannot get a gig anywhere else, and also by pandering to pretentious, wealthy people in the city who want a high quality dining experience, complete with live entertainment. The only problem is that, more often than not, the live entertainment is pretty awful...but I suppose the food and the atmosphere is good enough that rich folks still flock here regardless."

"I see..." Manaphy said. "Well then, the best we can hope for is that they distract everyone with how laughably bad they are."

"Yes." Amethyst said. "Hopefully."

__

As night fell on the city, Janine stepped off the subway platform and went up the stairs, arriving in the Harbor District. The Annulus Club was only a few blocks away, and even before stepping inside, she felt out of place. Lining up outside the club were a number of well-dressed prim and proper socialites. A burly bouncer stood at the entrance, checking to make sure everyone was on the guest list before letting them into the club. Janine felt as though she stuck out like a sore thumb, wearing a sparkly purple dress she borrowed from Whitney's closet that didn't fit her well, cheap red heels she had purchased just a few hours prior and which had already caused her feet to blister, and the same flowing pink scarf she always wore, upon which could be found many obvious coffee and tea stains. She noticed the socialites shooting judgmental glances in her direction as she made her way through the line. The bouncer looked her up and down and seemed skeptical that she was on his list.

"Um...I'm here as a guest of one of the performers, Whitney Valor?" Janine said. Whitney had told her that she had put Janine's name down on the list, as performers at the club got to invite a couple guests. Janine nervously tapped her foot as the man scanned the list before giving her a thumbs up and silently moving out of the way. Janine thanked him sheepishly and stepped into the dark, quiet club. Round tables draped with white-as-snow tablecloths were set up around the room, all surrounding a dais on which the performers played. Janine walked in on the act right before Whitney finishing up their last song; a group apparently called 'The Flash Fire Four' who stumbled through a less-than-stellar jazz medley before unceremoniously being shepherded off the stage to no applause or fanfare. It became clear to Janine that none of the snobby rich people who came to this club were actually interested in the live entertainment; that was merely a side hustle for the club, another stream of revenue. The sound of socialites chattering amongst themselves nearly drowned out the sound of the music entirely.

Soon enough, a waiter wearing a bright red bowtie appeared at Janine's table and handed her a menu. Just before she was about to order something, she thankfully noticed the eye-popping prices. A proper meal at the club would have cost her nearly as much as her monthly rent. She quickly handed the menu back to the waiter and said she only wanted some iced water. He looked a bit surprised, but merely bowed to her and went to go get her some. It was, at the very least, high quality water in Janine's opinion, a lot better than the stuff from the tap that she was used to at the apartment. She sipped her water and patiently waited for Whitney to take the stage.

__

"Hmm...looks like we'll have to find another way in." Manaphy said as they and Amethyst noticed the bouncer guarding the front door of the club. "No way we're getting past that guy undetected."

"Follow me." Amethyst said as she ran around the side of the building. Walking through a narrow alleyway, they began to climb up the building's fire escape. Picking the lock on the second story window with one of her hairpins, Amethyst and Manaphy then entered the club, finding themselves in a dressing room, to be used by the performers at the club. A girl with pink hair with a Cleffa on her shoulder was in the dressing room, standing in front of a mirror and doing her makeup, totally oblivious to Amethyst and Manaphy's entrance. When she grabbed a guitar and began to sing a raucous, unpleasant song with indecipherable lyrics, Amethyst and Manaphy seized the opportunity to sneak out of the room. They arrived in a dark hallway. The smell of food wafted up the air vents from the kitchen directly below them.

"Come on." Amethyst said, looking both ways to make sure no one else was in the hallway. "Let's take a look around."

__

After several minutes, an MC climbed up on the dais with a microphone to welcome the club's next act.

"The Annulus Club is proud to present..." The MC glanced down at her notecard. "...Miss Whitney Valor, who will be performing three songs from her debut album, 'Cute Charm Like a Clefairy.'"

There was scattered applause among the audience members, with Janine clapping extra loud to try and make up for everyone else's lack of enthusiasm. Whitney then came skipping onto the stage wearing a frilly pink dress and a huge, sparkly, pink bow in her hair. Stella accompanied her, similarly dolled up with a dress and bow.

"Hellooooooo, Annulus Club!" Whitney said, grabbing the microphone and screaming into it, causing many in the club to cover their ears from the volume. "Toooooonight, you have the immense pleasure of witnessing the debut performance of the future queen of pop...me! Please, I must ask everyone in the audience to refrain from taking any videos or photos. I will be available after the show for autographs and fan meet-ups. Now then, who's ready to blast off into the future of music!?"

"WE ARE!" Janine screamed and applauded even louder, attracting many bewildered glances from her fellow audience members, who were entirely silent and seemed to be more annoyed with Whitney, if they regarded her at all. "Yaaaaay! Goooo, Whitney!"

"Thanks, Janine!" Whitney said, smiling at her. "That's my roommate! Everyone, give her a hand!"

The room was silent.

"...Er, alrighty then...tough crowd, I see." Whitney said, grabbing her guitar and sitting down on the stool set up on the dais for her. As she clumsily strummed the opening notes of the song, Stella began to hop and dance around the stage. She also began to randomly use the move Metronome over and over again, and thus became a bouncing ball of destruction, as she began to use moves like Flamethrower, Thunderbolt, and Earthquake, which shook the building so harshly that multiple people began to tumble off their chairs. Meanwhile, Whitney began to sing with all the grace and elegance of a Murkrow with a nicotine addiction. "Ohhh baby, baby, baby! Don't say maybe, maybe, maybe! I've got Cute Charm like a Clefairy! Can't heal this status condition with any berry! I feel very, very, verrrrrrry...attracted to you! So don't make me blue! And tell me you love me toooooooooooo...!"

__

"Nothing in here either..." Amethyst said after checking the last room on the second floor, only to find it was just another dressing room, containing no clues or info. "Ugh, maybe you were right, Manaphy...maybe this was just a waste of time."

"Do not despair yet, milady!" Manaphy said. "I think I know of another place to look."

"Where?" Amethyst said, as Manaphy brought her a piece of paper he found in one of the drawers of the dressing's room vanity. "What is this? A map...?"

"A map of this building." Manaphy said. "Look, milady, this building has a basement. A rather large basement by the looks of things. There's a single staircase that leads down there, located in the kitchen."

"But the kitchen is probably full of people." Amethyst said. "How are we going to sneak through there undetected?"

"I'm not sure." Manaphy said. "But we might find a way if we keep searching this building. Please, Marchioness Amethyst...do not give up hope yet! We've already come this far!"

"...Right." Amethyst said. "Thanks, Manaphy. Let's keep looking."

__

"...I'll be Illumise and you can be Volbeat!" Whitney said. "And we can dance together to this funky beat! We can be in love, in love, in love, in loooooove! I promise I'll be kind to you, as kind as a Pidoooooove! ...How'd you like that one, folks? I call that song, 'Love Like a Pidove'! I know...genius, right?"

Janine again applauded loudly and cheered. Everyone else in the audience was looking on with horror as the innocent little Cleffa on the stage continued to use moves at random. In just the last song alone, Stella had ruined many of the club member's nice clothes by using Mud Shot, drenched many of their expensive meals with cold water by using Soak, and caused many in the audience to begin levitating by using Telekinesis. Members of the club's security team were too frightened to go anywhere near Stella, allowing the show to go on, despite how much of a disaster it had been.

"Alright, we'll be taking a quick break before I begin my final song." Whitney said. "It just occurred to me during my last song that I totally forgot to tune my guitar! Whoopsie! Luckily my abundance of natural talent made it sound good regardless. Give me just a couple minutes to figure that all out, folks. Head to the bathroom, grab a drink, contact your local florist and place an order for a bouquet of roses to shower me with as you chant 'Encore! Encore! Encore!' ...No matter what you do, make it quick! Seeeeee ya soon!"

Whitney sat down on the stool once more and began to frantically look up 'How to tune a guitar' on her phone, fiddling with the instrument for the next several minutes, all while Stella continued to hop around the stage, now using the move Fire Spin. The club's manager and a group of waiters were walking around, offering everyone a free dessert as compensation for suffering through this disaster of a show. One of the waiters wheeled a huge cart full of cakes and pies. Covering the two-tiered cart was a long white tablecloth. As the waiter with the cart passed by Janine, something so strange caught her eye that she thought for a moment she was just imagining things. On the lower tier of the large cart, entirely obscured by the white cloth...there seemed to be the silhouette of someone crouching down, hiding on the cart as it was being rolled around the dining room. Janine blinked, and then--as the cart stopped in front of her table and the manager offered her a big chocolate torte on the house--she glanced down and saw the white cloth being jostled. All of a sudden, a small Pokémon stuck their head out from underneath the cloth. Janine and the Pokémon made eye contact for a split second, causing the Pokémon to panic and quickly retreat behind the cloth once more. Janine looked around at the manager and the waiters, none of whom seemed to notice the sudden appearance of the hidden Pokémon. She accepted the torte, and as one of the waiters took it off the cart and placed it on her table, Janine suddenly remembered why she felt as though that Pokémon looked familiar. A small, blue Pokémon with amber eyes and long antennae...that had to be the Pokémon who was accompanying that strange girl she saw the other day outside the Radio Tower, the one in the puffy dress who Janine had given some food and money. That blue Pokémon who was sitting on top of that girl's large beret...it was the first and only time Janine had ever seen a Pokémon like that. Could that mean that the same girl was here, in the Annulus Club, hiding beneath that cart?

"But why...?" Janine said, watching the waiters roll the cart back into the kitchen, still none the wiser about the stowaways they were unknowingly transporting. Janine glanced back up at the stage and saw that Whitney was still absorbed in the task of trying desperately to figure out how to tune a guitar, having caused many of the instrument's strings to break in the process. Realizing she had some time, Janine got up out of her seat and began to follow the cart into the kitchen.

__

"...The coast is clear." Manaphy said, sticking his head out from under the tablecloth once more to find that the dessert cart had been left unoccupied in the kitchen's walk-in freezer.

"We made it!" Amethyst said, as she crawled out from under the cart. "I cannot believe our crazy little scheme worked! I thought for sure we would be spotted by somebody!"

"...Actually, I think we were." Manaphy said. "One of the customers saw us, but she didn't say a word. In fact...I think it was somebody we know."

"Wait...who?"

"That kind woman in the strange outfit, who gave us some food a few days prior." Manaphy said. "I think that was her."

"Huh...what are the odds of that?" Amethyst said. "Well, I guess we should be glad she didn't snitch on us. Let's get moving. According to the map, this freezer is located really close to the stairs to the basement."

"Alright!" Manaphy said, hopping onto Amethyst's beret. "Let's go!"

__

Sneaking into the kitchen, Janine spotted some hooks located by the door, on which were hung various chef hats. By putting one on and merely acting as though she had every right to be in the kitchen, none of the cooks or waiters said a word as she casually strolled across the room. She followed a few steps behind the waiters pushing the cart and watched as they stowed it away in a big walk-in freezer before walking back out. Janine ducked behind a nearby kitchen island, hiding from the waiters as they walked away. Once they were gone, she stood back up and walked over towards the freezer door. She didn't even get the chance to grab the handle when the door suddenly swung open and nearly slammed right into her, though she managed to hop backwards to avoid it. Out of the freezer walked that strange lavender-haired girl and her blue Pokémon. She and Janine stared at each other in silence for a moment before Janine spoke,

"You!" Janine whispered. "I was right...it's you! That girl I met outside the Radio Tower."

The girl remained silent, seemingly terrified that Janine was about to rat her out to the club's staff.

"Don't worry, I'm not gonna have them kick you out." Janine said. "I just want to know what you're doing here. Did you come looking for food?"

"N-No!" The girl said. "I didn't come to steal anything, I swear!"

"...Listen, I promise, you can trust me, alright?" Janine said. "I just want to provide you with help, if you need it."

"I-I'm fine!" The girl said, suddenly dashing away. She headed down towards a narrow staircase located next to the freezer door. 

"Wait, hold on!" Janine said, chasing after her. "What's going on here...!?"

__

"Hmm...I wonder where she could have gone?" Whitney said. She had finally been able to tune her guitar and was now waiting for Janine to return before playing her final song...only her roommate was nowhere to be found. Stella, meanwhile, was still bouncing around the stage, using Metronome. Whitney sighed. "Stella...do you have any clue where Janine is? I want to wrap up my performance and go grab dinner. I'm starving!"

Stella apparently heard her trainer and, at that very moment, suddenly used the move Odor Sleuth. Stella suddenly hopped off the stage and, with her entire face pressed to the floor, began to track Janine via her scent.

"Wait, Stella!" Whitney said. "Where are you going!?"

Whitney followed Stella across the dining room, with various people--terrified after having seen what Stella was capable of--quickly moved out of the Cleffa's way, terrified. Stella led Whitney into the kitchen and then to the same staircase that Janine had traveled down just a few minutes prior.

__

"What is this place?" Manaphy said.

"I have no idea..." Amethyst said, puzzled as she looked around.

In trying to outrun the strange woman in the purple dress--who Amethyst was convinced was going to snitch on her to the club's staff and have her kicked out--Amethyst ran down into the basement in an attempt to find a place to hide. However, when she arrived in the basement of the club, she found not the dark, narrow, storage room she was expecting, but a spacious, well-lit room. Most peculiar of all was the thing hanging from the ceiling; a huge, curved, metallic tube, seemingly made out of gold, suspended from the ceiling with thick steel wires. The basement seemed to contain just one segment of this strange golden tube, for there were two large holes that looked like cave entrances drilled into opposite sides of the basement's walls. The tube emerged from one of the entrances into the basement, before exiting through the other entrance on the opposite side of the room. It was an absolutely bizarre sight. What use could this giant golden tube have, and why was it located here of all places, in the basement of a supper club?

"Hey! Stop right there!"

Amethyst suddenly noticed she was not alone in the room. A group of three men were standing on top of the tube, dressed in suits and with golden rings on each hand, reminding Amethyst very much of the men who were chasing her through the city's alleyways a few nights prior. They held tools such as hammers and wrenches, seemingly performing some kind of maintenance on the tube. They hopped down onto the floor as Amethyst turned to run.

"You're not getting away!" One of the men said, tossing a Poké Ball into the air. Out of it popped a snarling Herdier, who blocked the stairway. The Herdier barked and snapped at Amethyst, causing her to back away from the stairs. The other two men sent out their own Pokémon; a Houndour and Furfrou. The three Pokémon encircled Amethyst and Manaphy.

"We're surrounded!" Manaphy said.

"Didn't you see the sign--only employees of the Golden Ring Corporation are allowed down here!" One of the men said. "This is highly confidential! Now that you've seen what we're up to, we have no choice but to capture you and bring you to the boss."

"No...!" Amethyst said.

"Back away from her!" Someone screamed.

Janine, who was running down the staircase, saw Amethyst surrounded by Pokémon. Jumping off the steps and landing gracefully at Amethyst's side, she then sent out Flora.

"What's going on down here?" Janine said. "Why are you attacking this girl!?"

"Hmph...I guess we've got another intruder on our hands." One of the men said. "No matter. We can easily deal with the two of you!"

"Make that three!"

"Whitney...!?" Janine said, turning around to see Whitney running down the stairs, rushing after Stella. 

"Oh, another little girl has come to play, hm?" One of the men said, sneering. "Fine! We can handle a three-on-three battle!"

"Janine!" Whitney called to her as the Herdier turned around and began to snap at her ankles. "What is going on here?"

"That's what I'd like to know!" Janine said, glancing over at Amethyst.

"There's no time to explain!" Amethyst said. "Please! You two have to help me fight them! They want to kidnap me and lock me up again!"

"Again...!?" Janine said. "Fine, fine, we'll help you!"

"Yeah! I may have no clue who you are or what's even going on right now..." Whitney said. "...But these guys seem like total creeps! Let's take them down!"

"Houndour!" One of the men called. "Flamethrower!"

"Quick, get back!" Janine said, grabbing Amethyst's hand, yanking her and Manaphy out of the way of the attack. She and her Venonat hopped backwards, avoiding the flames that the Houndour spit out and landing over at Whitney's side.

"Take Down!" Another one of the men said to his Herider. The Herider ran towards Amethyst, but Manaphy used Bubble Beam to knock them backwards.

"Charge Beam!" The final of the three men said, commanding his Furfrou. Static began to erupt from Furfrou's fur and they soon blasted a beam of electric energy from their mane towards Stella, who nimbly rolled out of the way of the attack.

"We've got to fight back!" Janine said.

"But how!?" Whitney said. "Their Pokémon seem, like, wayyy too tough for us to take on!"

"...There's only one way we can win." Amethyst said, tossing her Poké Ball into the air and sending out Ferra. "Listen, you two. Things are about to get a little weird but just...stay calm, OK?"

"What are you talking about--?" Janine said.

"Radiant Heart Bond Metamorphosis!" Amethyst said. Manaphy suddenly hopped off of her beret and blasted a beam of light from their antennae. The three enemy Pokémon backed away as Janine, Whitney, Amethyst, and their Pokémon were showered in light. In the blink of an eye, the light faded and they had all transformed into their Whole-Hearted Formes. Amethyst and Ferra looked just as they did during the previous battle in the alleyway. Janine's new outfit featured thick, round, red sunglasses, resembling the eyes of a Venonat; a long, fuzzy purple scarf; new ninja-esque armor that was also dark purple in color; purple fingerless gloves; and huge, pink Venomoth-like wings attached to the back of her armor. Flora too had sprouted wings reminiscent of her evolved form; had longer antennae which radiated some kind of rainbow psychic energy; and larger eyes which now blinked pink. Whitney, meanwhile, now wore a huge pink-and-brown bow on her head resembling the ears of a Cleffa; a frilly pink dress decorated with a number of stars; a flowing scarf resembling the tail of a comet; and tall, sparkling pink heels. Stella's ears became long and floppy able to be used as wings and her short tail was now longer as well, resembling a comet's tail, looking much like Whitney's new scarf.

"Wh-Wh-Wh-WHAT!?" Whitney said, looking down at her new outfit and at her Pokémon's new appearance. "What the heck is going on here!? I mean, I'm not complaining, I look super cute right now, but--"

"What did you do to us!?" Janine said. "Whitney and I and our Pokémon...we just transformed!"

"These are your Whole-Hearted Formes, the true power unleashed thanks to the bond you share with your Pokémon!" Amethyst said. "With your new powers, we should be able to win!"

"New powers...?" Janine said. Suddenly, the wings on her armor began to flap and she found herself floating off the ground. "H-Hey! I'm flying!"

"What the hell is going on here!?" One of the men said. He and both his sidekicks were clearly just as surprised and weirded out by all of this as Janine and Whitney were.

"Try screaming, 'Ultra Psy Star Shuriken!'" Amethyst called to Janine as she floated higher and higher into the air.

"What!?" Janine said. "Why would I--!?"

"Just trust me!" Amethyst screamed back.

"Er...Ultra Psy Star...Shuriken!" Janine screamed. Her purple gloves suddenly began to glow and two ninja stars suddenly materialized in her palms, seemingly radiating with some kind of psychic energy. "Ah! These are...shuriken!"

"Enough of this nonsense!" One of the men said. "Herdier, Take Down!"

Herdier leaped into the air, looking to headbutt Janine and knock her out of the sky. She tossed the shuriken at the Herdier, with both of the stars bursting on impact and knocking Herider backwards, landing on the ground with a thud.

"Th-That actually worked!" Janine said.

"Hey! No fair! Show me how to use my cool new superpowers!" Whitney said to Amethyst.

"Alright...try yelling, 'Super Swift Comet Kick!'" Amethyst said.

"Right!" Whitney said. "Super Swift Comet Kick!"

Midway through screaming the words, Whitney's brand new high heels suddenly began to glow. She lifted up her left foot and kicked the air, and out from her shoe came a flurry of pink stars which flew across the room and collided with Herider, who was again knocked over, causing him to faint.

"Awesome!" Whitney said. "Pretty cool, huh?"

"We're not scared of you or your weird outfits!" One of the grunts said. "Furfrou! Giga Impact!"

Furfrou began to charge at Flora.

"Ah! Flora!" Janine said, still struggling to control her wings and land.

"Quick! Yell, 'Psycho Radar Blast Beam!'" Amethyst said.

"Psycho Radar Blast Beam!" Janine yelled. Flora's eyes began to rapidly flash pink before she suddenly blasted two rainbow-colored lasers from them, each of which struck Furfrou, knocking them backwards and causing them to faint.

"Stella! Hold on!" Whitney said. Stella, eager to get in on the action herself, began to hop over towards the enemy Houndour.

"Try saying, 'Galactic Impact Meteor Mash!'" Amethyst said.

"Galactic Impact Meteor Mash!" Whitney screamed. Stella's floppy ears began to glow and, with a hop, she suddenly flew several feet into the air before diving down towards the Houndour, spinning around and leaving behind a trail of pink sparkles. She then collided directly into the Houndour, despite their best efforts to avoid the attack and knocking them out in a single hit.

"Dammit!" One of the men screamed. "We...we don't have any Pokémon left!"

"Oh, boooooys!?" An unknown voice suddenly called out. "What is going on in here, hm?"

Everyone glanced up to where the voice was coming from. Out from one of the holes in the room's wall through which the tube passed, a man stepped out, walking along the top of the tube. He had a similarly dapper style of dress as the other members of the Golden Ring Corporation, having a white suit with purple pinstripes, a large red bowtie, a scarlet bowler cap adorned with a Talonflame feather, and (of course) multiple golden rings on his fingers. He had long, shoulder-length red-orange colored hair and bright violet eyes. On his shoulder was a Purrloin, who (just like her trainer) glared down at the Janine, Whitney, and Amethyst with a sly grin.

"Ah, Secretary Jasper!" One of the grunts said.

"Good to see you." Jasper said, jumping down from the tube and landing at the grunt's side. "I was doing a routine inspection of the tunnels when I heard a bunch of commotion. Are these three oddly-dressed girls, perhaps, intruders in need of disposal?"

"Yes, sir." The grunt said. "I apologize! Our Pokémon are too weak."

"Not to worry, not to worry!" Jasper said, smiling. "I'll take care of this. Alexandra, it's your time to shine, baby!"

The Purrloin on his shoulder meowed and jumped down onto the floor.

"Hah! This guy seriously thinks a little Purrloin is going to stop us!" Whitney said. "Super Swift Comet Kick!"

Whitney lifted her leg and, with a swipe of her foot, sent a number of stars towards the Purrloin, who deftly dodged each one with a roll.

"Alexandra is not to be underestimated, dear girl!" Jasper said. "Night Slash!"

Alexandra let out a hiss before hopping into the air. Dark energy burst out of her claws as she dug them into Stella, who was nearly knocked out from the attack.

"Ah! Stella!" Whitney yelled.

"Ferra, Twirling Electromagnetic Bolt Ribbon!" Amethyst said. Ferra blasted a series of gray beams from her tail, each of which honed in on Alexandra. However, the lithe Purrloin dodged each of these beams as well and rushed towards the Togedemaru.

"Shadow Ball!" Jasper called. Alexandra charged up a large ball of dark energy between her paws then, with a twirl, sent it flying towards Ferra, who was sent flying backwards.

"Ferra!" Amethyst said, rushing over to scoop up her Togedemaru in her arms. "...This Purrloin is too powerful. We need to retreat!"

"Retreat?" Jasper said, giggling. "Oh, no, no, no...I don't think so! Alexandra, use Slash!"

Alexandra charged at Amethyst and began to swipe at her multiple times with sharp claws. Amethyst quickly moved her shield around to fend off the feisty Purrloin, who relentlessly searched for an opening.

"Quick! Tell your Cleffa, 'Thirty Yard Lunar Teleportation!'" Amethyst said.

"R-Right...!" Whitney said. "Stella! Thirty Yard Lunar Teleportation!"

Stella got back to her feet and began to flap her long ears. Suddenly, the three trainers and all their Pokémon became cloaked in a pale blue light.

"What's going on here...!?" Jasper said as Alexandra--similarly perplexed--backed away.

Before their very eyes, the trainers and their Pokémon were all teleported exactly thirty feet directly upwards. In the blink of an eye, they escaped the club and found themselves suspended in the air, several feet above the building. They began to fall, but before any of them panicked, those members of their party with wings (Flora, Stella, and Janine, who finally figured out how to control her flying abilities) were able to carry the rest of them to safety. Landing on the rooftop of a nearby building, each of the trainers almost immediately collapsed to their knees, left out of breath and exhausted from the fight. Their transformations suddenly wore off just as Janine found the strength to stand up, walk over to Amethyst, kneel down, look her right in the eye, and say...

"OK..." Janine said. "Please...explain to me...what the fuck just happened to us!?"

Chapter Text

Approximately thirty mintues after the abrupt end of their battle in the basement of the Annulus Club, Janine, Whitney, and Amethyst found themselves at a street corner diner, each with a plate of fries and artificial Tauros beef burgers in front of them. They had been quiet upon arriving in the diner, still processing all of the strange things that had happened to them that evening. The one who broke the silence turned out to be Manaphy, who was riding on Amethyst's hat and used their telepathy to communicate with Janine and Whitney.

"Sooooo..." Manaphy said. "...Is this a bad time to reveal I can talk to humans?"

"...Huh?" Whitney said, looking around the dining room. "Who said that?"

"Up here!" Manaphy said, waving at them. "I'm using telepathy to speak to you. Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Manaphy, a knight of the Radiant Realm of Lucia, and sworn guardian of the Marchioness Amethyst."

"...I see." Janine said, glancing back down towards her plate of food and continuing to eat as if this was totally normal. "Nice to meet you."

"You don't...seem too surprised?" Manaphy said.

"Well, it's been a very strange night." Janine said, sighing. "Honestly, meeting a talking Pokémon is one of the more normal things that I've experienced this evening."

"Fair enough." Manaphy said. "...Marchioness? I think it's time we give these two a full explanation of what is happening here."

Amethyst, who had spent the whole meal thus far staring down at the floor, now made eye contact with Janine and Whitney. She opened her mouth to speak but could not find the words.

"Forgive the Marchioness, she can be a bit shy around strangers." Manaphy said. "Milady, I do think we can trust these two. They risked their lives to protect us. We owe them an explanation."

"...Very well." Amethyst said. "Greetings. My name is Amethyst...Sovereign Marchioness of the Radiant Realm of Lucia."

"Nice to meet ya!" Whitney said, reaching out and shaking her hand. "Er...but what do all those words mean...Sovereign Marquess of the something-or-other?"

"Of the Radiant Realm of Lucia." Amethyst said. "It is the country I rule over...though you wouldn't be familiar with such a nation, for it exists only in a parallel world..."

"A parallel world?" Janine said.

"Are you familiar with the idea that of alternate dimensions...other versions of planet Earth that follow different timelines, where the course of history took different turns?" Amethyst said. "I come from an Earth not too different from this one, in Parallel Dimension CR-121400."

"CR-121...what now?" Whitney said.

"That is merely its scientific name." Amethyst said. "There are perhaps endless alternate dimensions and timelines which can be accessed through means of spacetime travel, such as wormholes. I am from an alternate Earth in another dimension. There I rule over a country called Lucia, as its Sovereign Marchioness."

"I see..." Whitney said, her eyes widening. "Wow! So...you're like a queen! I suppose that explains why you're dressed like that!"

"I suppose you could put it like that, yes." Amethyst said.

"Wait a minute..." Janine said. "If you're from an alternate dimension...how are we speaking to each other right now? Surely the language spoken in your world if different from the one spoken here in Johto."

"Indeed it is." Amethyst said. She suddenly pointed to the sparkly brooch she was wearing on her chest. "Thanks to the power of the Crystal Brooch, I am able to overcome the linguistic barrier between us and speak to you without issue."

"Ooh! It's sooo pretty!" Whitney said. "So...this thing is like a magical artifact that lets you understand all languages!? That's so cool!"

"Indeed...but it's not magic." Amethyst said. "Perhaps that's what it seems like to the people of this world. But in my world, there is abundance of crystals that--when worn--grant a number of powers to the wearer. Universal communication is merely one such power."

"...Do these crystals also grant people the ability to change into weird outfits and suddenly gain access to superpowers?" Janine said.

"No...that is not the crystal's doing." Amethyst said. "That is thanks to my loyal knight, Manaphy. They have the ability to use Heart Bond, a special manuever which creates a strong psychic connection between a person and their Pokémon. If that trainer and Pokémon share a strong enough bond, they will each transform into their Whole-Hearted Formes, granting them both strange new powers."

"I see..." Janine said. "Manaphy...I have heard of such a Pokémon before. My father had me study Pokémon mythology from around the world as I was growing up, as part of my training as a ninja. According to legends, there are Manaphy who exist in this world, though they are said to be extremely rare and have never before been documented by scientists. The legends also speak of Manaphy being able to use a special move called Heart Swap...though I've read nothing about a move called 'Heart Bond.'"

"That is most interesting..." Amethyst said. "Manaphy are a very common species of Pokémon in my world, and each of them have the ability to learn Heart Bond. The Lucian government has organized what is called the Order of the Blue Heart, an entire squadron of Manaphy knights who protect and fight alongside members of the Lucian royal family."

"It is a shame that members of my species are so uncommon in this world!" Manaphy said. "How have the humans of this dimension got along without our guidance!?"

"...OK, I think I've been keeping up so far." Janine said. "You're Amethyst, a ruler of some country in another world called Lucia. And the Pokémon you have with you is called Manaphy, and they serve as your knight."

"Indeed." Amethyst said. "That is correct."

"Alright, then that just leaves me with one important question..." Janine said. "...Why have you come here, to our world?"

Amethyst again fell silent.

"Does it have something to do with why those strange men were trying to kidnap you back there?" Janine said.

"...Yes." Amethyst said, clearly a bit hesitant to broach the subject. "It's...it's all a bit complicated. But essentially...I am here on a quest."

"A quest?" Whitney said.

"Yes...from a dear friend." Amethyst said. "Someone who I love and trust...they contacted me one day and told me to come here to this world, to thwart the devious plans of a man named Orro. Do you know of him?"

"Nope." Whitney said. "Can't say anyone of that name rings a bell."

"You might know him better as the CEO of a large company, the Golden Ring Corporation." Manaphy said.

"Ah! Yes! I've heard of that!" Whitney said. "...Wait, so the boss of a giant, shadowy, multi-national, billion-dollar corporation is secretly evil? ...Yeah, I guess that kinda makes sense."

"This Orro guy...what exactly is he planning on doing?" Janine said.

"...He wants to take over Goldenrod for himself." Amethyst said. "He wants to rule over it as his own personal kingdom--called Neo Crystal Goldenrod."

"Huh?" Whitney said. "He wants to become, like, the king of Goldenrod?"

"Indeed...he wishes to the absolute monarch of this city." Amethyst said. "To make sure no one interferes, he is planning on transporting this entire city into an alternate dimension--Parallel Dimension NL-487493. It is an entirely blank realm, devoid of all life, with endless unoccupied space for him to found his empire upon. He plans on uprooting Goldenrod and sending it through a portal to Dimension NL-487493. Then, he will use the immense wealth and influence he has already garnered in this city in order to declare himself king."

"Wh-Wh-WHAT!?" Whitney said. "You're joking...right?"

"Sadly...no." Amethyst said. "And what's even more frightening is his vile plans are rapidly approaching fruition. I have been sent to this world to stop him, but I am running out of time to save your city."

"How exactly is he going to create a portal to teleport the entirety of Goldenrod into an alternate dimension?" Janine said.

"I'm not sure." Amethyst said. "My only source of information on this matter is my dear friend...the one who warned me of Orro's plans and who sent me to this world to stop him. They didn't know how Orro was going to achieve his vision...and so I do not know either."

"OK...and who exactly is this 'dear friend'?" Janine said.

"They're...um...just someone I've known, my whole life." Amethyst said. "They are an advisor to the royal family who...has immense knowledge of the occurrences of parallel dimensions."

Janine fell silent, clearly a bit skeptical at this vague explanation.

"I swear...I'm telling you the truth!" Amethyst said. "I know it may seem far-fetched...to think that your city is on the brink of ruin. I don't truly understand what's going on myself. I have been trying desperately to piece together clues about what Orro's plans are, and how I can stop them. But so far, I have not come up with anything. But I know...I am absolutely certain that my dear friend would not lie to me. They are extremely trustworthy. They've never lied to me before. If they say your city is in danger...then I believe them."

"...Janine?" Whitney said. "What do you think?"

"I...I don't know..." Janine said. "I mean...on the one hand, I am willing to believe almost anything I've been told after all the bizarre things I experienced tonight. But...a billionaire CEO creating some massive portal to suck Goldenrod into an alternate dimension so he can rule over it as a king? That everything else I've gone through this evening seem tame by comparison."

"I know it's hard to believe." Amethyst said. "But your city is in danger...and I need your help. I need allies, people who are familiar with this city and who can assist in my investigation. I have already seen tonight that you are capable fighters who share a strong bond with your Pokémon. Please...would you be willing to help me?"

"Amethyst..." Whitney said, suddenly taking the girl's hand and smiling at her. "I...I trust you. Even if I can't be of much help to you...I still have to try, if it means that the city is facing such a threat."

"Thank you..." Amethyst said, bowing her head to her. "I am in your debt, Miss...er, I don't believe I've learned your name yet?"

"Just call me Whitney, no 'Miss' necessary." Whitney said. "And this is my roommate, Janine."

"Nice to make your acquaintance..." Amethyst said. "...Miss Janine, please...would you be willing to help me?"

"...I don't know if I fully believe you yet." Janine said. "However...I also don't know what you'd have to gain from lying with us. Tell me, Marchioness, where have you been staying since you arrived in the city?"

"Ah...that is...er, well, it's a bit embarrassing to admit but...for the past few weeks, I have been living...in the streets." Amethyst said. "I have no home here in Goldenrod, I'm afraid."

"What!?" Whitney said. "That's awful!"

"...How about you come stay with us?" Janine said. "Only if you'd like to. Whitney and I...our apartment is pretty small, but there should be enough room for you. Regardless of whether you're actually some superhero from another dimension or not...I won't allow someone as young as you to sleep on the streets."

"R-Really!?" Amethyst said. "Miss Janine...you would be so kind as to offer me a place to stay!?"

"Of course." Janine said. "I'm sure Whitney wouldn't mind."

"Nope, not at all!" Whitney said. "So long as you're OK with sleeping on the couch, you're more than welcome to stay with us."

"Trust me...a sofa sounds wonderful after sleeping on park benches for so many nights in a row." Amethyst said. "Thank you, Whitney and Janine! From the bottom of my heart...thank you!"

"...Well, we better head back and show you to your new home." Janine said, yawning and glancing at her PokéGear. "It's getting really late. We'll talk more about all this 'crazy billionaire trying to take over the city by transporting it to an alternate dimension' business in the morning..."

"Agreed!" Whitney said. "Come on! Let's pay and get out of here! If we're quick about it, we can catch the last train back to Azalea Street."

"Train...?" Amethyst said. "There are trains in this city?"

"Yeah." Whitney said. "The subway."

"I have not seen any trains..." Amethyst said.

"They're underground." Janine said.

"Underground!?" Amethyst said. "I never would have guessed!"

"Wait a minute...if you haven't been using the subway, does that mean you've been getting around the city on foot this whole time!?" Whitney said.

"Yes, I have." Amethyst said. "This place is a veritable labyrinth, I must say. The cities of Lucia are laid out in a far more organized manner. I'd like to have a word with whoever planned this city."

"I'm pretty sure no one 'planned' Goldenrod at all...this place is like a billion years old!" Whitney said.

"More like a few thousand years old, but Whitney has a point." Janine said. "Oh, never mind! We're wasting time. Come on, we've got a train to catch!"

Chapter Text

"Your Grace!" Jasper said, walking into Orro's office. As usual, his Purrloin--Alexandra--was riding on his shoulder. Both Jasper and his Pokémon bowed as they approached the desk where Orro sat. "You called, sir?"

"Indeed I did." Orro said. "I did not want to have to trouble you with this trifling matter, as I know you have your plate full with overseeing the construction of the Great Ring. However, as everyone else in this company has proven unsuccessful in completing this simple task, it must fall to you now, Secretary Jasper. I know, with your battling prowess, you won't fail me."

"But of course, Your Grace, you can rely on me for anything." Jasper said, grinning. "Tell me, what is it you would like me to do?"

"It's about the runaway." Orro said. "All of the men I have sent to track her down and recapture her have failed thus far."

"So...you'd like me to retrieve her, then?"

"Yes. Think you can handle it?"

"Naturally, Your Grace...such a task is mere child's play for someone as strong as I!" Jasper said. "Actually, I believe I have already run into her the other night."

"You...You have!?"

"Yes. During my routine inspection of the tunnels, I ran into a trio of troublemakers, outsiders who were intruding on our property. One of them was a teenage girl with purple hair, who had a blue Pokémon with her. Alexandra and I tried to stop them, but they all managed to miraculously escape."

"I see..."

"But never fear, Your Grace!" Jasper said. "That was a mere fluke. Now that I know the stakes and know the capabilities of the enemy, I shall concoct a foolproof plan to make sure that--when I find that girl next--she will not be able to escape. Just you wait, milord. I will bring her to you. I will always fulfill any order you give me, any mission you task me with. Just say the word, sir, and I shall make your wish a reality."

"...I am confident that you will not fail me, Jasper."

"Have I ever done so in the past?"

"No. Not that I recall."

"Then why would I start now?" Jasper said, scratching Alexandra's head as she purred. "You have nothing to fear, Your Grace. Nothing to fear at all."

Orro fell silent and stared down at his secretary, who was still bowing to him. Orro remembered when he first met Jasper. He had been traveling with his Pokémon, in an aimless era of Orro's late youth when he went to world after world, dimension after dimension, trying to find someplace where he might fit in. It was in a vast desert world, wandering across the scorching wastelands, that Orro and his Pokémon stumbled across a mewing Purrloin. The Purrloin led them to a nearby oasis, where they found a young man with long orange hair, passed out from sunstroke. Orro gave him some water to save the man's life. When the man awoke, Orro learned his name was Jasper, a mercenary who wandered the desert, offering his services to the cruel warlords who inhabited his world. He was traveling across the desert when he fainted, and thought for sure he was going to die...only for Orro to save him. Jasper swore an oath of loyalty and subservience to Orro right then and there, swearing to spend the rest of his life serving Orro as his faithful right-hand man. They visited many parallel worlds, where they took on various different roles; captain and navigator, commander and orderly, ruler and advisor, and now CEO and secretary. In every world, in every timeline, Jasper always remained loyal to Orro. If anyone could recapture the Marchioness, it was Japser and Alexandra.

"Your Grace...I must say, it pains me to see you sitting at a mere desk." Jasper said. "A throne suits you much better."

"...In due time, Jasper, I shall have a new throne, much grander than the old one." Orro said. "I shall have an entire world, all to myself."

"Wherever and whenever that world may be, you can rest assured, Your Grace, that I shall be there with you, to help you govern your new world."

"I look forward to those days..." Orro said. "But in the meantime, Secretary Jasper, we must focus on the task at hand."

"But of course, but of course!" Jasper said, rising from his knees. "I shall begin my search for the girl tonight--this very hour, in fact."

"Good luck."

"I don't need luck." Jasper said, turning his back to Orro as he walked out of the office. "All I need is my sharp wit...and Alexandra's sharp claws. Farewell, Your Grace."

"Farewell." Orro said, watching him leave before getting up out of his rolling chair and walking over to the window. He stared down at the city below, all the buildings illuminated in the darkness of night by a million flashing lights. "Amethyst...wherever you may be hiding...just know that you are not safe. I will find you."

Chapter Text

When Janine awoke on the air mattress in the apartment's living room, she was a bit shocked when she looked over at the sofa and saw someone sleeping on it. It took her a minute to remember what had happened last night.

"Right..." She whispered to herself. "We've got another roommate now, I guess."

Janine got up and went to the kitchenette, preparing some pancakes and coffee. The smell of the food lured Whitney out of her bedroom. Wearing her usual pajamas--a hooded pink onesie designed to resemble a Miltank--she was followed out of her room by her actual Miltank, Pinky (who, as usual, was trailing hay all over the floor) and Stella, who sat on Pinky's head, chirping happily at the sight of Janine.

"Morning, everyone." Janine said, leaning down to pat the Cleffa on the head.

"Good morning!" Whitney said as she piled pancakes onto a plate, before looking over at the sofa and doing a double take just like Janine did. "...Oh, yeah! I forgot, we've got a third person living with us now."

"Yeah." Janine said, pouring Whitney some coffee. "Last night was pretty...hectic, to put it lightly."

"Agreed." Whitney said, tearing off a bit of a pancake to feed to her Pokémon. "But I've got to say...it's pretty exciting, y'know!? I've always wanted to be a superhero!"

"What?" Janine said. "Don't tell me you'd actually be willing to go through that whole Heart Bond transformation thing again!"

"Duh, of course I would!" Whitney said. "Don't be such a stick in the mud, Janine! Our outfits were so cute! ...Though I will say, next time, I could do without the whole crimefighting part of it. Just wearing the costume is enough for me."

"Unfortunately, crimefighting kinda comes with the territory of, y'know, being a superhero." Janine said. "I, for one, am not about to willingly go through all of that again. It was so frightening, suddenly changing appearance and gaining all those weird powers."

"What!? Oh, come on, that was the coolest part!"

"Easy for you to say! You didn't suddenly gain the ability to fly and nearly hit your head on the ceiling!"

"You're seriously gonna complain about being able to fly!?"

"...OK, fine, yes, it was kinda cool." Janine said. "But the point still stands. I'm never doing that again! Amethyst can stay here as long as she pleases, that's fine by me. But I haven't agreed to form some kind of superhero team with you and her."

"Well, that's fine, I'd probably just overshadow both of you anyways." Whitney said, before she noticed the letters sitting by the door. "Ohh! The mail's here!"

"What'd we get?" Janine said as Whitney went to get the letters.

"Hm...ugh, just a bunch of boring stuff!" Whitney said, going through the pile of letters and tossing many aside. "You can just toss those."

"...Whitney, these are our electricity and water bills." Janine said, picking up the letters that Whitney discarded.

"Yeah, like I said, toss 'em!" Whitney said, yawning. "You think I've seriously got time to think about something so inconsequential as an electricity bill right now? If they shut off our power, I'll just have Stella run on a little wheel to keep the lights on."

"Look at her little legs! That's borderline Pokémon cruelty!" Janine said, setting the bills on the counter. "OK, what else did we get?"

"This one's for you!" Whitney said, folding up one of the letters into a paper airplane and sending it Janine's way. When she grabbed and unfolded it, she found the return address was listed as none other than Bistro Aureate.

"Oh, this must be about my application!" Janine said, tearing open the envelope and reading the letter inside. "...Ah! Yes! Look, Whitney, look! They hired me!"

"Congrats!" Whitney said. "...Soooo does this mean I get a discount if I go there?"

"Why would you get a discount? I'm the one whose gonna work there."

"Haven't you ever heard of a roommate discount?"

"That's...not a thing."

"It will be, when I become mayor and get the legislation passed by the city council!" Whitney said.

"Riiight..." Janine said. "Anyways, this is so exciting! They said I can start later this week!"

"You'll have to tell me how good the food is." Whitney said, sorting through the last of the mail. "I've gotta see if it will be worth it to bribe you into stealing some for me...oh, hey! Look at this!"

"What's that?" Janine said, looking over at Whitney, who was holding up another envelope.

"A letter from my mom." Whitney said, shaking her head. "Man, who sends letters these days! She could just give me a call, y'know! But she's soooo behind the times."

"I...kinda remember you saying you don't have the best relationship with your mom."

"Yeah...but there might be, like, some money in this letter, so I'm gonna open it up." Whitney said, tearing open the envelope and reading through it, before scrunching up her nose. "Ugh! Boring!"

"What'd she write?"

"She just wants me to come to this Sinnohan cultural festival."

"A festival? That sounds kinda fun."

"That's how they trick you!" Whitney said. "They rope you in with the promise of food and music and whatever--but it's all sooooo boring if you actually go. Every year, a bunch of people in Goldenrod who have roots in the Sinnoh region get together and throw a big celebration in honor of their culture. Nothing wrong with that, but my mom forced me to go to them since I was a kid, and they were always insufferable!"

"I didn't know you were Sinnohan."

"Yup! But I was born and raised here in Goldenrod." Whitney said, smiling. "We're descended from members of the Pearl Clan! My grandma and grandpa both migrated to Johto a long time ago, though. But we've still got family over in Sinnoh. My cousin's actually a gym leader there!"

"Really?"

"Yeah, but she's a Fighting type specialist." Whitney said. "Considering how much I love Normal types, I can't say I have much fondness for Fighting types...but Maylene's cool. We're a lot alike. I haven't seen her in years though! I should give her a call."

"Well, are you gonna go to this festival?"

"I don't want to...but I probably have to."

"Why?"

"Cause if I don't, my mom will get mad. And she'll never let it go."

"You don't live with her anymore." Janine said. "Why do you have to appease her?"

"It's just...how it's always been." Whitney said, sighing. "Our relationship, that is. Y'know, like, I wanna make her happy, make her proud of me, or whatever. But there's a lot of things that she wants and expects of me that I...I just don't want for myself. I don't know...it's complicated. I'll figure it out, Janine, don't worry. I don't want to burden you with this..."

"Whitney..." Janine said. "You're not burdening me, OK? If you want to talk...let me know. I'd be happy to."

"...Thanks." Whitney said, smiling and nodding at Janine. "But...I'm serious. I got this handled. If it's what my mom wants, I'll just suck it up and go to the festival, I guess..."

"Festival...?"

Janine and Whitney looked over at the sofa. Amethyst had sat up and was apparently eavesdropping on their conversation.

"There's a festival going on?" Amethyst said.

"Yes...but the boring kind of festival!" Whitney said. "Trust me, it's nothing you'd be interested in."

"There's...a boring kind of festival?" Amethyst said.

"Apparently." Janine said, smiling at her. "Come and sit down at the table, Amethyst. I'll serve get you a plate of pancakes."

"Pardon me!" Manaphy said, sitting on top of Amethyst's beret, which she was still wearing despite the fact that she had gone to sleep. "You shall refer to my lady as 'the Marchioness' or 'Your Radiance' or 'Your Grace' or--"

"Manaphy...it's fine." Amethyst said, as she got off the couch and walked over to the table. "We're not in Lucia anymore. I'm not royalty here. I'm...just an average girl, I suppose."

"Speaking of...we desperately need to get you to a clothing store." Whitney said.

"Hm?" Amethyst said. "What's wrong with my dress?"

"Nothing's wrong with it." Whitney said. "But...how do I put this? People in Goldenrod don't really dress like that. You look like you're on your way to perform in one of those fairs where everyone dresses up like medieval Kalosians. And plus...that dress has seen better days. It needs a good wash, and a tailor to patch up those holes."

"Oh...I see." Amethyst said, looking down at her dress. "Yes...I suppose it has gotten a bit dirty. I simply didn't have anything else to wear, however. I didn't exactly have much time to prepare a suitcase full of clothing before I was transported to this world."

"Well, don't worry!" Whitney said. "We'll stop by the Department Store and I'll get everything sorted out!"

"I will have to accompany you, then." Manaphy said. "I must make sure that whatever outfit you pick out for the Marchioness is in line with the strict dress code for Lucian royalty!"

"Dress code?" Whitney said, groaning. "Man, what's the fun of being an absolute monarch if you have to follow silly rules like a damn dress code!"

"Here you are." Janine said, setting down a plate of pancakes on the table in front of Amethyst. "Eat up, kid."

"Er..." Amethyst said, picking up one of the pancakes and watching the syrup drip off of it onto her plate. "What are these things, again? This is food, correct?"

"Of course it's food!" Whitney said. "What, they don't have pancakes where you're from?"

"Regrettably...no." Amethyst said. "What a bizarre culinary creation...the people back on my world would be fascinated by such a thing."

"Well, feel free to take some back home with you and put them in the royal museum or whatever." Janine said. "But for now, eat! I'm serious! You need energy, kid!"

"Alright, alright..." Amethyst said, taking a bite. "...Huh...these are actually...quite tasty, I must say..."

"Wow, maybe you're not so snobbish after all." Whitney said.

"Pardon me, Miss Whitney!?" Manaphy said. "Did you just dare to imply that the Marchioness is snobbish!? How dare you insult Lucia's radiant ruler!?"

"Stand down, Manaphy." Amethyst said, yawning. "It's too early for this..."

"Ah...yes!" Manaphy said, bowing their head. "My apologies, Your Radiance!"

Pinky walked over to where Amethyst was sitting and poked at her legs with her hooves. Amethyst looked down at the Pokémon and jumped in fright.

"Eek!" Amethyst said. "A...A Miltank!"

"Huh?" Whitney said. "What's wrong? Never seen a Miltank before?"

"You've got to admit, Whitney, it is a bit surprising to find a Miltank living in an apartment of all places." Janine said. "I can understand her shock."

"You...you let this beast live here, in your own home!?" Amethyst said. "In my world, Miltank are extremely rare Pokémon, widely regarded as one of the most deadly, destructive, and power creatures in all the land!"

"Whaaaaat?" Whitney said. "For real?"

"Indeed!" Amethyst said. "In Lucia, there is a popular folktale, 'The Evil Miltank King', about a tyrannical monarch who controlled an army of Miltank. With them, he steamrolled entire villages, denuded the grasslands, and destroyed so much farmland that it led to the death of thousands!"

"...Wow." Janine said. "Who knew Miltank were capable of such things?"

"Don't you worry, Amy." Whitney said. "Pinky's a kind Pokémon. She won't hurt you...or steamroll your village or decimate your crops."

"...Amy?" Amethyst said.

"Oh, yeah, that's your new nickname!" Whitney said. "I got tired of saying 'Amethyst'--that's, like, soooo many syllables. Amy is a lot simpler. And it's cute too!"

"You dare give the Marchioness a nickname!?" Manaphy said. "How uncouth!"

"...Manaphy, what did I just say?" Amethyst said, sighing. "Amy, hm? Well...I suppose...I don't hate it. It's just...odd. I've never had a nickname before."

"Well, I suppose people are a bit afraid to give nicknames to monarchs." Whitney said. "If they don't like the name, they might have your head chopped off!"

"What!?" Amethyst said. "I...I would never order such a thing, under any circumstances! Are the monarchs who reign in this world so tyrannical that you'd assume I'd do something so terrible!"

"It was just a joke, Amy, no worries!" Whitney said.

"I am at my wit's ends with you!" Manaphy said. "Your 'jokes' are upsetting the Marchioness greatly!"

"My apologies, Fi-Fi."

"Fi-Fi!?" Manaphy said.

"Yeah...that's your new nickname!" Whitney said. "Can't let Amy have the all the fun, right?"

"Fi-Fi!?" Manaphy said. "How...how demeaning! How childish! I am a Knight of the Sacred Order of the Blue Heart, sworn by oath to protect the Lucian monarchy under all circumstances! And yet you dare to call me some humiliating nickname like Fi-Fi!?"

"OK, OK, break it up." Janine said, sighing. "If we're all going to be living together, we can't be fighting like this."

"Janine's right, we're wasting valuable time." Whitney said, standing up and rushing over to her bedroom. "We need to get over to the Department Store, pronto! Fashion revolutions take lots of time. If we don't get to the store soon, we might be there until closing!"

"Fashion revolution...?" Amethyst said.

"Yup! That's what I'm about to put you through!" Whitney said. "Prepare yourself, Miss Marchioness! You've never had an advisor like Whitney Valor. I can't tell you a single damn thing about how to run a country or foreign diplomacy or economics...but when it comes to fashion, there's no one smarter! Chop chop, everyone! Finish eating and get dressed! We're leaving in ten minutes!"

Chapter Text

"I'm not quite sure if I'm wearing this right..." Amethyst said. She was inside a small fitting room, near the back of a fashion boutique at Goldenrod Department Store. Janine and Whitney sat on a bench outside the fitting room, waiting for her to finish putting on the clothes Whitney had picked out for her.

"What do you mean?" Whitney said. "It's a pullover. You just pull it over." 

"Pull it over what?" Amethyst said.

"Just stick your head and arms through the holes." Janine said.

"Oh...OK!" Amethyst said. "Hmm...you know, this is actually quite comfy!"

"Come on out so we can see you!" Whitney called.

"Right!" Amethyst said, opening the fitting room door and stepping outside. Whitney had decided to give her a casual outfit, that was both fashionable in a subtle, understated way...and also affordable, given she didn't have much money to invest into her "fashion revolution." Amethyst now wore a lavender pullover hoodie, jeans, bright pink sneakers, and the Crystal Brooch (which Whitney had transformed into a barrette thanks to the clever use of a safety pin and hot glue). Slung over her shoulder was a tote bag, pale blue in color, patterned with stars and crescent moons.

"Ohh my goodness, you look sooo precious!" Whitney said, clasping her hands in delight at the sight of Amethyst. "Here, spin around!"

"OK..." Amethyst said, slowly rotating around so Whitney could get a better look at the whole outfit. "Do you...really think I look good in these clothes...?"

"Oh, absolutely!" Whitney said. "I'd say this fashion revolution has been a total success...not that I was expecting otherwise! You agree, right, Janine?"

"Yeah." Janine said. "Those clothes suit you well, Amy! I think you look great. But the real question is, do you like them?"

"Hm...?" Amethyst said, tilting her head a bit to the side, not seeming to understand the question. "What do you mean?"

"Do you feel comfortable in those clothes?" Whitney said. "No hard feelings if you don't! We can always put them back and try some other options out."

"Oh...n-no!" Amethyst said, suddenly smiling. "I love them! These clothes are so comfortable...and so light! It's so much easier for me to move now that I'm not wearing a big, frilly dress! I just wish I had clothes like these back in Lucia..."

"Do people in your world not wear hoodies or jeans?" Whitney said.

"Perhaps some people do..." Amethyst said. "But certainly not Marchionesses. I was always expected to dress in fancy dresses and the like.  I never much liked such clothes, though. But I didn't have a choice...my mother and father demanded I dress only a manner suitable for my royal status. Every day, my advisors and ladies-in-waiting picked out an outfit for me. I never got a say in the matter..."

"That's awful!" Whitney said.

"It...is?" Amethyst said.

"Yes!" Whitney said. "Not being able to choose the clothes you wear, being forced to wear stuff that makes you uncomfortable...it can be really stifling!"

"I...I suppose you may be right..." Amethyst said. "I never really considered that before..."

"Your Radiance!" Manaphy called, rushing over to her after having wandered off to browse the store. Whitney--not wanting Manaphy to interfere with her fashion revolution--had sent them off to the costume jewelry department on the other side of the store. They returned carrying a number of rings and bracelets they felt were befitting of a monarch. They nearly dropped their jewelry haul in shock, however, when they laid eyes on Amethyst. "Ah...what did they do to you, Marchioness!? That outfit is entirely unsuitable for someone of your station!"

"Manaphy." Amethyst said. "Don't worry. I like these clothes!"

"Like them!?" Manaphy said. "No, no, no, this simply won't do! I'm afraid Whitney is brainwashing you, milady!"

"Oh, hush, Manaphy." Amethyst said, rolling her eyes. "I needed new clothes anyways. And besides, with this outfit, I can better blend in with the locals and avoid detection from Orro's goons."

"I...I suppose that's true." Manaphy said. "Fine! You may wear these clothes for now, I suppose..."

"It's not your decision to make!" Whitney said. "Amy can wear whatever she wants to wear!"

"Guys, please, can we not have another screaming match in the middle of this Department Store?" Janine said. "I'm hungry. Let's go to the food court."

__

The next day, the group went on another excursion to buy some groceries, with Amethyst shocked by the size and variety of Goldenrod supermarkets and Manaphy loudly complaining that the food that Whitney and Janine were buying for Amethyst were unbefitting of "Her Radiance's regal, delicate palette." Upon returning to the apartment, Amethyst and Manaphy went to lay down on the couch, while Janine and Whitney noticed a piece of paper had been slipped under their door. On the top of the page, in big bold letters, was written; "An Urgent Notice to Residents of Meowth Court Apartments."

"What's this?" Janine said, grabbing the notice off of their door and reading it. "...Huh. I guess the Apartments been bought out by a different company."

"Whoa, really?" Whitney said. "Man...that was sudden. Does it say whose purchasing this place?"

"Nope...all it says is it's being bought by 'a local real estate company.'" Janine said. "I wouldn't worry too much, though. It says they're going to keep rent the same."

"Well, that's a relief." Whitney said. "...Hey! Amy! What are you doing?"

"Huh?" Amethyst said. Whitney had looked over and caught Amethyst sorting through the contents of a box full of Whitney's stuff that had been left on the coffee table, still not unpacked despite the fact that it had been several weeks since they first moved into the apartment. "Oh, I'm just looking through your things."

"You can't just go through other people's stuff without their permission!" Whitney said.

"Why not?" Amethyst said. "This is a common practice in my world."

"Really?" Janine said.

"Yes." Amethyst said. "It is customary for one to rifle through your friend's boxes, closets, dressers, and pantries. In Lucia, such behavior is perfectly normal."

"I guess they have no concept of privacy in Lucia." Whitney said, sighing.

"What is this...?" Amethyst said, pulling out a small video game console from the box. It was a handheld system, purple in color and rectangular in shape, with a dusty screen. "What a most peculiar looking gadget."

"Careful, Your Radiance, it could be a bomb!" Manaphy said.

"Why would I have a bomb!?" Whitney said.

"Who knows what you might have in your possession?" Manaphy said. "I've gotten the sense that you are quite a wily character."

"'A wily character?'" Whitney said. "If you're gonna insult me, just call me stupid or crazy or something. You talk like you're two hundred years old!"

"...Oh, my!" Amethyst said, pressing a button on the console that ejected the game cartridge. "I...I think I broke it!"

"You didn't break it, silly." Whitney said, walking over and grabbing the device. "This is a Rotom Boy."

"A Rotom Boy?" Amethyst said. "Is...it sentient?"

"What? No!" Whitney said. "It's just a device you can use to play video games."

"Video games...?"

"You guys don't have video games in your world!?" Whitney said. "Oh, man, you Lucians must be bored out of your mind. Here, let me show you how to use this thing. Janine, grab me some batteries, please."

"Alright." Janine said, fetching some batteries from a kitchenette cabinet and handing them to Whitney. Whitney opened up a slot on the backside of the console and inserted the batteries. She then pressed a button and the screen lit up, with 'ROTOM BOY' appearing in colorful letters on a white background.

"Ah! This...this is witchcraft!" Amethyst said. "Manaphy! Are you seeing this!?"

"Yes, indeed!" Manaphy said, using their arms to cover Amethyst's eyes. "Avert your gaze, Marchioness! Whitney is trying to blind you with this mysterious contraption!"

"Shh!" Whitney said as the Rotom Boy logo disappeared from the screen and was replaced by the menu for a video game, called "Magnemite Mania", accompanied by a catchy chiptune theme that Whitney immediately began to hum. "Oh, I used to play this game all the time when I was a kid! It's called 'Magnemite Mania.'"

"A game?" Amethyst said. "You can use this thing to play some kind of game...?"

"Not just one game, but a bunch!" Whitney said, pressing the start button and causing the game to begin. "Here, look at this! This is a very simple game. These different colored Magnemite fall down and you have to link them up. You've gotta clear rows of them before they get to the top of the screen, or else it's game over. And on the harder levels, you'll have to deal with Magneton too, which adds, like, a whole different layer of strategy to it!"

"I...I see..." Amethyst said, watching Whitney play. "That does look like fun...can I try?"

"No, Your Radiance, don't do it!" Manaphy said. "Nothing good can come from you playing these so-called 'video games.' Why don't we play a traditional Lucian game instead, like 'Bullet Seed Blitz'?"

"How do you play that game?" Whitney said.

"Oh, it's quite simple." Manaphy said. "Everyone picks a number between one and ten, and whoever picks the lowest number has seeds spat at them by the other players."

"...Y'know, the more I learn about the culture of your world, the more questions I have." Janine said.

"I'm not playing any game that involves me getting spit on." Whitney said, handing the Rotom Boy to Amethyst. "Here, Amy, why don't you play? Don't get frustrated if you can't get the hang of it at first. Just keep at it, and I'm sure you'll figure it out."

"Alright!" Amethyst said. Gluing her eyes to the tiny screen, she began to play the game, all while Manaphy continued to beg and plead with her to stop, insisting such a game would corrupt her young mind. Whitney and Janine watched over her shoulder.

"Hey, you're pretty good at this!" Janine said as Amethyst cleared several rows of Magnemite. Janine mussed her lavender hair, causing Amethyst to smile. "Nice job, kid."

"You've got a knack for this kind of thing, I guess." Whitney said. "Are you sure you've never played this game before?"

"No, never!" Amethyst said, not taking her eyes off the screen. "...I wish we had these devices back in Lucia, though. This is so much more fun than Bullet Seed Blitz or watching Dudunsparce jousting matches."

"That's blasphemy!" Manaphy said. "Dudunsparce jousting is one of Lucia's finest traditions, milady!"

"Hush...I've got to focus, Manaphy." Amethyst said, leaning forward so that her nose was practically touching the screen.

"Well, have fun, kid." Janine said. "I've gotta go to work."

"Work?" Whitney said. "I didn't know you were starting today."

"My manager at the Bistro called me this morning and said I could come in today to start my training." Janine said. "I'll be back later tonight."

"Alright." Whitney said. "I was gonna make some mapo tofu for me and Amy. I'll make sure to set aside some for you when you get home, OK?"

"...Thanks." Janine said. "But you don't have to do that just for me, Whitney. I can make my own dinner when I get home."

"Oh, nonsense!" Whitney said. "I'm already going to be cooking for Amy. I'd be glad to prepare some extra for you to have when you get back."

"Alright." Janine said. "As long as you're sure..."

"I'm one-hundred percent positive!" Whitney said. "Now go on, Janine! Go and earn us a big fat paycheck! I know I was acting all blasé about our bills yesterday...but I really would like to have, like, running water and a functioning stove and stuff."

"Don't worry." Janine said, grinning at her. "I'm sure everything will turn out alright..."

__

Orro didn't usually eat out. But he needed to get out of Circlet Tower, at least for tonight. Being in his office around the clock, mulling over his plans, waiting to hear from Jasper that he had successfully recaptured the Marchioness...he felt suffocated by anxiety. He was so close to achieving his dream, on the cusp of obtaining the absolute power he always dreamed of. But so long as Amethyst was still at large...then there was a chance it could all come crumbling down. Everything he worked so hard to achieve, it could all be undone by the actions of a mere child. To ease his worried mind and distance himself from his work, he ventured out of the Tower and decided to go to a nearby restaurant--Bistro Aureate. He owned the place, of course, though the connection between the Golden Ring Corporation and the Bistro was not widely known to the public. He found it useful to obscure the true size of his empire, just how much land he truly owned and controlled in this city, otherwise he would attract the attention of nosy journalists or pesky private investigators. Despite this, when he walked into the restaurant, the maître d' and the managers of the Bistro recognized him instantly.

"Sir, it's an honor to see you!" One of them said, ushering him to a large table near the back of the dining room. "Sit down, sir! We'll bring you whatever you'd like--all on the house, of course."

Orro, naturally, ordered the most expensive entree and drink on the menu--synthetic Tauros strip steak and a tall glass of Cianwood Grepa wine, aged for forty-five years. He was not particularly craving steak and wine, but he ordered them regardless, simply because he could. He always took a great amount of pleasure in buying the most expensive thing, even if its not what he wanted or needed. He always desired status symbols, always reveled in the idea of owning and controlling the nicest things in the world, those things which cost the most amount of money and time and labor to produce. Let everyone else look on him with envy. To him, those bewildered, covetous stares were tastier than any steak. And what made the taste even sweeter, even richer, was the memories he had of living in desperation, in poverty.

His parents came from a faraway region, a desert land with little opportunity, luxury, or hope. They settled in Goldenrod and raised their son in a dingy tenement, living in an apartment that was barely bigger than a shed. They had only one nice thing to call their own--an heirloom piece of pottery, a long-necked bottle, colored red and purple and gold. His father told Orro that this artifact--which he referred to as a "Prison Bottle"--had been passed down through their family for generations, dating back centuries prior, to a renowned ancestor of theirs who (much to Orro's disbelief) was apparently a king. Orro was skeptical of this story, wondering where all the wealth and influence of this supposed ancestor had gone in the past several hundred years. But the more research he did into the Prison Bottle, the more he wondered if the story might be true. He spent a lot of time at the Goldenrod Public Library, free to access by all residents of the city. Growing curious about the Bottle, he decided to look into its origin by reading several books at the library. He soon came across a lead--a book mentioned that, in ancient times, pottery called "Prison Bottles" were made in large numbers by artisans who lived in Orro's home region. Such bottles were used by kings to capture and control a powerful kind of Pokémon said to live only in said region--a Pokémon called Hoopa. Every book Orro read, however, insisted that Hoopa was just a legend, of course. No scientist had ever found any evidence that it existed. Still...as Orro read the mythology surrounding Hoopa, learned about its mysterious abilities--such as how it could infuse golden rings with a dark energy to open portals to parallel worlds--his imagination began to race. What if the Prison Bottle in his apartment contained such a Pokémon? And what if he could use that Pokémon's power to accrue the sort of power he always desired? With that Pokémon at his side, he could find a world to rule over, discover a place where he was a king...not just some lowly peasant.

And the rest, of course, was history.

"...Sir?"

Orro looked up. Standing next to him was a waitress, a purple-haired young woman. He could tell from her nervous demeanor that she was new.

"Your steak and your wine, sir." The waitress said, setting his food and drink down at his table spot.

"Ah, thank you." Orro said.

"Is there anything else I do for you, sir?"

How he loved that question.

"No, no, that will be all." Orro said, smiling at the girl and then reaching into his jacket. He grabbed a wad of bills and handed it to her. "Here you are. A tip."

"Oh...sir! This is very generous...are you sure?"

"Yes, I am certain." Orro said. "I am sure you need this money far more than myself."

"Well...thank you!" The waitress said, bowing her head to him as she pocketed the money. "If there's anything I can do for you, let me know, OK?"

"Will do!" Orro said, waving as the waitress turned around and walked off. He leaned back in his chair and laughed. How he loved this feeling--of lording over others, watching a peasant's eyes widen as he dangled a fistful of bills in their face. Soon enough, everyone in this city would be looking at him like that and bowing their head to him in awe and in terror, just as that poor waitress had.

That was his ideal world.

__

In hindsight, Janine should have realized much sooner there was a connection between the Bistro and the Golden Ring Corporation. 

But as she rode the subway back home that night, she didn't even consider the possibility that her measly job was connected with the larger plot that Amethyst and Manaphy were involved with. It had been a long shift, but Janine found she didn't mind being a waitress. It was usually a tiresome and thankless job, but generous tips from the fancy Bistro's rich patrons--such as that mysterious man who ordered the steak and wine--allowed her to bring home quite a good amount of money. She recounted the occurrences of her first day on the job to Koga, calling him on the train.

"I see." Koga said. "Well, I'm glad you have found a well-paying job. I do wish you could have found employment in a field where your ninja skills could come in handy more often...but I suppose such jobs are in short supply in present times. Truly it's a pitiful thing!"

"Er...yes, I'd have to agree." Janine said. "But it's not like there's no overlap between being a ninja and being a waitress. They both involve deception."

"Oh? How so?"

"Well, as a ninja, you wear disguises to sneak into places in order to gain intel or steal something valuable. And as a waitress, you have to pretend that you don't hate rich, snobby, spoiled customers in order to coax them into tipping you. So, y'know...similar premise, different execution."

"I see. True enough, I suppose." Koga said. "What else is going on, Janine? How is Whitney?"

Janine tried her best to explain to her father the situation regarding Amethyst and Manaphy. She left out the part about them magically transforming into superhero alter egos and engaging in a fight with a gang of goons in the basement of a supper club, both because she felt it would be too hard to explain and would worry her father too much. She merely told him that she and Whitney were looking after a homeless girl who they met while exploring the city.

"That's very noble of you." Koga said, a tangible warmth in his voice. "I'm very proud to hear you're doing such a generous thing, Janine. "

"Thank you." Janine said. "I...thought you might be mad, that we let some total stranger stay in our apartment."

"Not at all! I trust your judgment. Janine...you ought to know, there are very few people in the world who would consider doing something so kind. You should be proud of yourself, for doing something so selfless. I'm glad I have such a nice and magnanimous daughter."

"I...I'm just a bit worried. I know...this kid's probably been through a lot. Whitney and I...we both want to give her a place where she can feel comfortable, where she can relax...where she doesn't have to feel like she's all alone. But...I'm not sure if I'll be able to provide that for her."

"Well, just try your best, Janine. It may be difficult, especially at first. But I know you have a good heart. You will do the right thing. You will find a way to make it all work."

"...Thanks." Janine said. "I guess I'm lucky I have such a great model to imitate when it comes to being a good caretaker."

"Oh. And who would that be?"

"Duh! You, Father!"

"What? Me?" Koga said. "Oh, no, no, no. I...I am not one to emulate. I am flattered but...I am by no means an expert when it comes to being a caretaker."

"I'd beg to differ." Janine said. "You know a lot about being a ninja and Pokémon battling...but when it comes to parenting, you're a true expert. I mean it, Father."

"Janine..." Koga said. "You're going to make your old man cry!"

"...Ah, this is my stop!" Janine said, looking out her window. "Gotta go. I love you!"

"Love you, Janine!" Koga said. "Don't worry! Everything will work out! And if you ever need any help, just call!"

"I will." Janine said. "Bye!"

"Goodbye, Janine."

__

Janine walked into the apartment and found it dark, to her surprise, that Amethyst was still awake. She was sitting on the couch, in the exact same spot where she was when Janine left for work, still playing on the Rotom Boy.

"Amethyst!" Janine whispered, walking over to her. "Why are you still awake? It's nearly midnight."

Amethyst didn't respond. She stared at the bright screen of the device, mindlessly matching Magnemite. Janine could tell that she truly did have a knack for this, just like she predicted. The score displayed on the top of the screen was beyond comprehension--six digits long. She had clearly been playing for hours. Manaphy had already fallen asleep, laying on the beret on her head, the one aspect of her old outfit that Amethyst insisted on keeping.

"Amy...it's time for you to get some sleep." Janine said, taking the device out of her hands.

"H-Hey...!" Amethyst said in a weak voice. "Give it back...I was in the middle of...playing...!"

"You've gotta get some sleep, kid." Janine said. "It's way past your bedtime."

"What bedtime...? You guys...didn't give me a bedtime...!"

"Well, I'm giving you one now. You can play more in the morning. Right now, you've got to go to sleep."

"I...I...don't...wanna..."

Despite her protestations, Amethyst slowly began to close her eyes. Within moments, she drifted off to sleep. Janine smiled and gently draped a pink throw blanket over her.

"Goodnight, kiddo." Janine whispered. She then went to Whitney's bedroom, to see if her roommate was still awake. She indeed still was. She was laying in her bed, wearing her Miltank pajamas, cuddling with Stella as Pinky slept in the pile of hay next to the bed. Whitney was jotting down lyrics in a big spiral-bound notebook when Janine entered.

"Janine!" Whitney said as Janine walked in.

"Shh!" Janine said. "Amy's sleeping."

"Oh...sorry!" Whitney said, lowering her voice to a whisper. "How was work?"

"Fine." Janine said, sitting down on the bed and yawning. "I'm just exhausted, though."

"There's mapo tofu in the fridge."

"Did Amy eat it?"

"Yeah. She really liked it, actually."

"Good." Janine said, smiling at Whitney. "I wasn't too worried. I know you're a good cook."

"Aw, thanks!" Whitney said. "You should go and have some. Just put it in the microwave for a minute or two. It heats up well."

"I'm not too hungry, actually..." Janine said. "I really just want to go to sleep."

"Oh, Janine! You really ought to eat! Especially after working such a long shift..."

"I'll be sure to have a big breakfast tomorrow."

"Well...OK, I guess. As long as you're sure."

"I'm sure." Janine said, standing up. "Goodnight, Whitney--"

Janine was about to walk out of the bedroom, when Whitney suddenly reached out and grabbed her by the wrist.

"Wait!" Whitney said. "If...if you're not gonna go eat...you should stay here. With me."

"Huh? But I'm tired...I need to go to the air mattress in the living room and sleep..."

"But there's a perfectly fine bed right here." Whitney said, grinning. "And someone to share it with, too!"

"Wh-Whitney!"

"...If you're not comfortable with the idea, then that's totally fine." Whitney sat up and moved closer to Janine, pressing her nose against her arm. "But...I'd really like it if...you slept with me tonight."

"Are...you sure?"

"Of course!" Whitney said. "I...I really, really like you, Janine..."

Janine grinned. She got back on the bed and laid down.

"I like you too." Janine said, smiling at her.

Whitney giggled. She lifted up Stella, who was sleeping at her side, and placed her onto the pile of hay, next to Pinky.

"Make yourself comfortable." Whitney said. "And just be warned...I'm a cuddler."

"I don't mind." Janine said as Whitney wrapped her arms around her waist and pulled her close.

"Ohh...you're so warm, Janine..."

"Er...thanks?"

"It was a compliment!"

"I said thanks, didn't I?"

"You said thanks with a question mark."

"Whatever." Janine said. "You feel warm too."

"Thanks!"

They grew quiet and imbibed in this moment of closeness, of warmth, of togetherness. Janine buried her face in Whitney's chest, felt her roommate's chest rise as she breathed deeply in and out, in and out. Whitney, meanwhile, began to play with Janine's hair, pulling out the clips and pins until it sprawled out, giving Whitney plenty of space to run her fingers through it.

"...Hey, Janine?" Whitney said.

"Yeah?" Janine said.

"Do you think...it'll be OK?"

"Depends on what you mean. What's 'it'?"

"I mean...the whole thing of us...taking care of Amy. It seems like she's got some pretty serious stuff going on. And...y'know, I'm used to taking care of Pokémon, but I don't know the first thing about raising a kid. It feels like forever ago since I was a teenager. How do you even look after one properly?"

"Well, for one, you probably shouldn't let them stay up until midnight playing video games..."

"Huh...? Oh, yeah...sorry about that! I...kinda got wrapped up with writing lyrics."

"That's OK. Like you said, Amy seems to be dealing with a lot. It's OK for her to stay up late and have a little fun. Just not every night..."

"Agreed!"

"But...to your question, Whitney...even though it'll be scary, I think we'll figure it out. So long as we stick together."

"Yeah! Definitely. We make a damn good team, Janine! With our powers combined, taking care of Amy will be a piece of cake!"

"Maybe not 'a piece of cake'...like, I think it'll be difficult, especially when it comes to money and stuff like that. But I know we're doing the right thing. And I know...so long as I've got you with me, we can make it work."

"...I'm really glad we became roommates, Janine."

Janine laughed. She kissed Whitney on the forehead.

"Yeah." Janine said. "Me too."

Chapter Text

It had been three days since Amethyst came to live at Whitney and Janine's apartment. That morning, Amethyst was sitting on the couch, playing "Magnemite Mania" on her Rotom Boy, not removing her eyes from the screen, even as Manaphy did everything in their power to try and get her attention.

"Your Radiance, I do not mean to call into question your wise judgment..." Manaphy said. "However, perhaps it is best if we got off this sofa today and continued our investigation around the city? It was certainly a good idea to take a few days to recover, after having lived on the streets for so long. But time is running out--we need to find out what Orro plans to do, and stop him."

Amethyst didn't seem to hear them. She continued to mash buttons, lining up row upon row of Magnemite. Finally, Manaphy used their telekinesis to lift the Rotom Boy out of her hands.

"Hey! I was just about to beat my high score!" Amethyst said.

"Marchioness Amethyst, I insist that we continue our investigation!" Manaphy said. "There will be plenty of time for games later!"

"...Fine, fine, you're right, Manaphy." Amethyst said, sighing. "I just don't even know where to start looking..."

"Gooooood morning, Amy and Fi-Fi!" Whitney said, walking into the living room with Janine following her.

"Morning." Amethyst said.

"What do you want for breakfast, kid?" Janine said, walking over to the kitchenette's pantry. "Muffins or pancakes?"

"Ohh, pancakes, please!" Amethyst said. "I've grown rather fond of your world's strange delicacies, I must say."

"While Janine's making them, you need to get up and get dressed!" Whitney said. "No more being a couch potato, Amy!"

"For once, we are in agreement!" Manaphy said. "Amethyst and I shall continue our investigation of the city. Do you, perchance, know of any place in this city where we might glean some valuable insight into Orro's activities?"

"Hmm...nope, can't say any particular place comes to mind." Whitney said. "But Janine and I were going to the Goldenrod Public Library later today. Maybe there'll be some info there?"

"That's not a bad idea." Amethyst said. "There might be some kind of records about the Golden Ring Corporation and their business dealings."

"There's gotta be something there about the Corporation." Janine said, firing up the hot plate on the kitchenette counter. "It's a huge library, with thousands and thousands of books."

"Yeah, it's super impressive!" Whitney said. "I love the Library! I remember going there all the time as a kid with my mom..."

"I must say, I am a bit surprised." Manaphy said. "I didn't think you would have any kind of fondness for a library, Whitney."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Whitney said.

"Merely that a library is a place favored by...shall we say, intellectuals and academics." Manaphy said, smirking. "And I don't think you fall into either of those categories."

"Oh, you little, blue--!" Whitney said.

"Remember what I told you?" Janine said. "No swearing when Amy's in the room."

"...You little, blue...dummy!" Whitney said, rolling her eyes. "I love to read! Romance novels, memoirs by famous musicians and trainers, books on Pokémon care and battling...I read quite a bit, I'll have you know!"

"I'll believe it when I see it!" Manaphy said.

"You know, you should check out some books too, Amy." Janine said, pouring batter onto the frying pan. "I'm sure you've missed a lot of school since you came here to this world."

"School?" Amethyst said. "I've never been, actually."

"What!?" Whitney said. "You guys don't have school in your world!? Man, that's awesome! I wish I was born there instead of this crummy dimension!"

"No, no, we have school." Amethyst said. "But I never attended it. I am a member of the Lucian royal family, after all. I was raised in the palace, taught by my governess and a number of private tutors."

"Well, a bunch of stuffy old tutors aren't a good enough substitute for proper schooling." Janine said. "It's not just about what you learn, but it's also about being around other kids your age and socializing with them."

"That too is a rather foreign concept to me." Amethyst said. "I never had any friends near my age growing up. It was not since I came to this world that I even encountered someone who was younger than--I don't know, perhaps forty-five years old, or so."

"That's crazy!" Whitney said. "I can't believe your parents kept you so sheltered! That's not healthy at all!"

"Well...they were always very busy." Amethyst said. "They had very urgent business to attend to--overseeing the Realm and governing it and whatnot. There was hardly enough time for them to spend with me. Oftentimes, it seemed like they only cared about me insofar as I was their successor, the person who was next in line to the throne. They wanted me to be safe and healthy so that I could take over at a moment's notice, in the event of some horrible disaster or tragedy. But to make sure I was kept safe and secure...I'm afraid I was never allowed to leave the palace walls."

"Goodness, that's awful!" Janine said. "Well, don't you worry, kid! As long as you're here with us, we'll try and show you a bunch of different places."

"Yeah!" Whitney said. "The library is just the first stop! We can also take you to museums and the theater and some arcades and all kinds of different spots around the city."

"What's an arcade...?" Amethyst said.

"Oh, it's a place where people go to play video games!" Whitney said. "And not the kinda simplistic games you can play on your Rotom Boy. No, they've got whole cabinets with giant screens, to play really complex and colorful and flashy games!"

"That's possible!?" Amethyst said. "Oh my! I need to see such a magical place!"

"Not gonna happen!" Manaphy said. "We don't have anymore time to waste! We cannot allow silly games to impede our investigation any longer!"

"Breakfast is ready!" Janine called, bringing a platter of pancakes to the kitchen table. "Let's eat, then we'll head off to the library, OK?"

__

The Goldenrod Public Library was built well over a century prior. It was housed in a huge, multi-story building made of the same yellow Sun Stone bricks which line the city's streets. Outside the entrance to the library, standing guard on either side of the steps leading to the front door, were the library's two famous golden Noctowl statues, representing wisdom. Entering the large building, they found themselves in the library's large, bustling first floor, consisting of the checkout counter, a coffee shop, and a large section full of publicly-available computers and printers.

"The collection of books is located on the upper levels." Janine said. "Come on, Amy, let's go--er, Amy?"

"What are these things!?" Amethyst said, running over to one of the computer desks. An elderly man was sitting at the desk, printing out some paperwork on the computer. Amethyst practically shoved him out of the way to get a look at the screen. "Whoa! This screen is huge! I wonder if this device can play games like my Rotom Boy. Just imagine 'Magnemite Mania' on a screen as big as this!"

"Careful, Your Radiance!" Manaphy said. "This machine might not be safe!"

"Amy!" Whitney said, as she and Janine chased after her. "You can't just run off like that!"

"Er, sorry about that, sir!" Janine said, smiling at the bewildered old man. Janine grabbed Amethyst's arm and tried to lead her away. "Come on, Amy, let's not bother strangers--"

"Incredible!" Amethyst yelled as she watched paper emerge from the printer, located right next to the desk. "This paper...it contains a mirror image of the contents on the screen!"

"Yup, that's what printers tend to do." Whitney said, grabbing her other arm and also trying to lead her away. "Let's go, Amy!"

The old man, deeply confused by Amethyst's behavior, stared at them as they dragged Amethyst away.

"Amy!" Janine said. "I mean it! You can't just walk up to a stranger and start snooping around on the computer they're using!"

"A 'computer'..." Amethyst said. "So that's what that machine is called. I wish we had something like that in Lucia. It seems like a magical device!"

"I can show you how to use one later." Whitney said. "But for now, we've got to go find some books."

"Yes, we cannot fall victim to anymore distractions, Your Radiance!" Manaphy said. "We need to see if any book in this library contains info about the Golden Ring Corporation."

"We can ask one of the librarians at the front counter." Janine said. "They should be able to look up if any books in their collection contain info about the company."

"While you guys look into that, I'll go check out some other books." Whitney said, checking the list of books she and Janine wanted to check out. "Let's see...I want to read that new memoir by that Galarian musician, Piers. Oh, and also that new novel, 'Love and Hardship on My Pokémon Ranch', I've heard it's a page turner! And...did you put this book on the list? 'Of Swords and Soulmates'?"

"Yes, that was me." Janine said. "It's this new historical romance novel, about a Kantonian samurai who falls in love with a Johtonian ninja when the two regions are at war."

"I'll find it for you." Whitney said. "Let's go find our books, then when we're done, we can all meet up in the library's coffee shop!"

__

The café in the library--called 'The Hoothoot Roost'--was a small, cozy place, full of people grabbing a coffee to enjoy while they read the books they just checked out. Waiting on Whitney to be done finding the books on her list, the other three had entered the coffee shop. Amethyst and Manaphy found a seat at a table near the back of the shop and began flipping through the huge book that the librarian had helped them find. Janine went stood in line and returned with drinks for all of them--coffee for herself and Whitney, and Berry Juice for Amethyst and Manaphy.

"Can I try some of your drink?" Amethyst said. "It smells delicious! What did you say it was called? 'Kaw-fee'?"

"You're too young to be drinking coffee, kid." Janine said. "Sorry."

"Don't you dare patronize the Marchioness like that!" Manaphy said. "As Lucian royalty, she is entitled to whatever she wishes!"

"Well, we're not in Lucia, are we?" Janine said. "You need to wait until you're older to start drinking coffee, Amy. It's bad enough to develop a debilitating addiction to caffeine when you're an adult. Someone your age...I mean, what do you even need caffeine for? You've still got so much youthful energy in you..."

"You act like you're decades older than me or something!" Amethyst said. "I'm not a kid! I can handle it!"

"...Alright." Janine said, sighing and handing her cup over to her. "I'll let you have one sip. Careful, it's hot. Don't burn your tongue."

"I won't!" Amethyst said, taking a big gulp of coffee...before immediately spitting it out onto the table, causing many others in the coffee shop to stare. "Ugh! Gross! This stuff tastes awful! The humans of this world get addicted to such a foul beverage!?"

"It's an acquired taste." Janine said.

"There, there, Your Radiance." Manaphy said. "Here, take some of my Berry Juice to wash that horrible taste out of your mouth!"

"Hey, I'm here--!" Whitney said, walking into the coffee shop and approaching the table. "...Oh. What happened?"

"Amy just had her first sip of coffee." Janine said. "It's not important. Did you find all the books we wanted?"

"Yup! I checked them out and they're all in my bag." Whitney said. "What about you guys? Did you manage to find any books about the Golden Ring Corporation."

"Sort of." Janine said.

"Here, let me show you." Amethyst said, handing over the book they found to Whitney.

"Whoa, this book is huge!" Whitney said, flipping it over to read the title. "And heavy too! Let's see...'Public Records of Land Ownership in Goldenrod City'...? Wow, that sounds bo-ring!"

"Well, we weren't exactly trying to find some entertaining bestseller." Janine said. "This was the only book in the library's collection that makes reference to the Corporation."

"That's kinda spooky." Whitney said. "Given how big the company is, you'd think you'd find something more than just one book."

"Yeah, but it's like you said, the Corporation's very secretive, so it sort of makes sense." Janine said.

"I wish we could have found something else." Amethyst said, sighing as she frantically sipped berry juice to wash the coffee taste from her mouth. "I don't think that book will be too useful. I'm afraid we wasted our time coming here. All that is in there is a big list, of all the parcels of land in this city and who owns them."

"The city government publishes these records every few months." Janine said. "Apparently there's some kind of law stating these records have to be made available to the public. If you look at the front cover, you can see this volume was published just a month ago."

"Yes...so it's pretty recent." Whitney said. "And look, next to each piece of property, it lists who owns it, as well as the address. Do you know that means?"

"What?" Manaphy said. "I don't see what kind of valuable insight we can gain from poring through such meaningless data..."

"...Hey, Amy!" Whitney said. "Why don't I show you how to use a computer?"

"...Huh!?" Amethyst said. She smiled and her eyes began to glow. "Ah! Yes! Absolutely! Let's go!"

__

"OK, so...how do I play 'Magnemite Mania' on here?" Amethyst said as she, Whitney, and Janine took a seat at one of the computer desks.

"I'll show you how to do that later." Whitney said. "For now, we're going to be playing a different game...I call it, 'Detective.'"

"Detective...?" Janine said.

Whitney pulled up a website containing a digital map of the city. Users can input an address and place a pin in the virtual map. Whitney looked flipped through the multiple pages of the book with the addresses of all the land owned by the Golden Ring Corporation. She typed them into the computer and pins began appearing all over the map.

"I want to see if we can gain any clues by visualizing the land owned by the Corporation on a map." Whitney said. "Maybe we can deduce something by looking at that info."

"...Hey, wait a second!" Janine said, as a pin appeared on the map. "I...I know that address! '720 Bayside Avenue'...that's where Bistro Aureate is!"

"Wait...what!?" Manaphy said. "So...Bistro Aureate...is owned by the Golden Ring Corporation."

"I guess so." Whitney said.

"I can't believe it!" Janine said. "I'm working for a bunch of creeps who are trying to kidnap Amethyst!? That's it! I'm gonna call them and quit, ASAP!"

"Wait, no!" Amethyst said. "Don't you realize what this means...we have a perfect opportunity!"

"What do you mean?" Whitney said.

"We have a spy on the inside!" Amethyst said. "Someone who has unrestricted access to a building owned by the Golden Ring Corporation. That's very valuable!"

"Ohh...I see what you mean!" Janine said. "Man, I've been a spy this whole time, and I didn't even know it. My ninja skills are really on point, I guess."

"...Wait, hold on!" Manaphy said as Whitney placed the last of the pins in the map. "Whitney, could you zoom out so we can see the whole map? I think I just noticed something...disturbing..."

"Sure, but what is it that you...noticed...?" Whitney said, her voice trailing off. Each of them stared dumbfounded at the computer screen as they looked at the full extent of the map. The pins formed a near perfect circle around the perimeter of the dense, populous core of the city.

"It's...a ring." Janine said. "All the land they bought...forms a big ring around the city."

"...No." Amethyst whispered. "No...it can't be. But...how did I not realize it sooner...!?"

"Amy?" Whitney said. "What's wrong?"

"Orro's plans..." Amethyst said. "I think...I just figured it all out!"

Chapter Text

"Hoopa?" Whitney said.

Janine, Whitney, Amethyst, and Manaphy left the library and went to get lunch at a nearby bakery. Amethyst discussed her theory regarding the Golden Ring Corporation's plans while they ate Kalosian-style baguettes and croissants.

"I've heard of that Pokémon before." Janine said. "In my study of mythology. It's a mythical Pokémon, never before documented by scientists."

"Perhaps it is mythical in this world...but where I am from, it's a very real Pokémon." Amethyst said. "I've met them, and I know the powers they have."

"Indeed, I can confirm that the Marchioness is telling the truth." Manaphy said. "Hoopa is real. And I know Orro has them in his possession."

"And do they have the power to open portals across space and time, as the myths about them state?" Janine said.

"Yes...they are capable of doing such a thing." Amethyst said. "They can infuse any ring made of pure gold with dark psychic energy in order to create a portal."

"What does this have to do with what we discovered looking at all the Corporation's property mapped out on the computer?" Whitney said.

"Think about it." Amethyst said, pointing to the picture they printed out of the pins on the map, forming a near perfect circle. "We know that Orro wants to take Goldenrod into a different realm--the blank world, Parallel Dimension NL-487493. I think I know how he plans to do that. Remember when we went into the basement of the Annulus Club? We saw one section of what appeared to be a massive, underground golden tube. What if that tube runs through the basements of all these properties? And what if that tube were to form a huge golden ring, located underneath the city?"

"...Orro could use Hoopa's power to turn the ring into a portal." Janine said. "And then transport Goldenrod into that alternate dimension!"

"Exactly!" Amethyst said. "It's just a theory but...it all makes too much sense."

"Whoa!" Whitney said. "So, like, there's just a giant golden ring, several miles long, built right beneath the city!?"

"It's safe to say that segments of the golden ring are already completed and installed, yes." Manaphy said. "But look at the map. There are still a few blank spots in the circle, property that the Golden Ring Corporation has yet to buy up and install a segment of the ring beneath. It's safe to say, I think, that we still have some time before the ring is completely built and can be used as a portal."

"Well, I guess our first order of business is to confirm if our little theory is correct." Janine said.

"But how do we do that?" Whitney said.

"Luckily..." Amethyst said, grinning at Janine. "We already know someone who has access to a building owned by the Golden Ring Corporation. Someone who, maybe, would be able to sneak us down into the basement of said building...?"

"Bistro Aureate does have a basement." Janine said. "I've never been down there but...I know where the stairs are."

"Would you be able to use your job as a waitress to sneak us in there?" Manaphy said.

"...Maybe." Janine said. "It wouldn't be easy, but I think it could be possible, so long as we're stealthy."

"Oh, I'm the picture of stealth!" Whitney said. "Out of everyone here, no one can stealth better than me!"

"...I'm literally a trained ninja!" Janine said. "And I'm pretty sure 'stealth' can't be used as a verb."

"So you're a ninja and a grammar teacher too?" Whitney said. "What do you know anyways, Janine!?"

"Stay focused, everyone." Amethyst said. "I'm sure, if we come up with a good enough plan, all three of us can sneak down into the basement and snoop around without getting caught."

"Wait, wait, wait, all three of us?" Janine said. "Listen, I'm happy to help you sneak down there, and Whitney too if she wants to help you investigate. But I don't want anymore trouble. Suddenly transforming and having to fight those grunts...it was frightening! I'm not sure I'm ready to go through all of that again..."

"Aw, come on, Janine!" Whitney said. "I seriously don't get you! Most people dream of getting to be a superhero--especially a superhero who can fly!"

"Well, not me." Janine said. "I moved to the city to live a quiet, peaceful life. I know...I don't have what it takes to be any kind of hero, super or otherwise. And even if I wanted to help in your investigation, Amy, I'm worried I'd only get in the way..."

"That couldn't be further from the truth." Amethyst said. "I won't pressure you into do something you feel uncomfortable with...but I would like to say, Janine, that I think you would be a great help in our investigation."

"Yeah, I think so too!" Whitney said. "You're literally a ninja! Sneaking around places and fighting people--that's, like, your bread and butter!"

Janine fell silent. She looked at Amethyst--this poor girl, trying her best to navigate an unfamiliar world, facing insurmountable odds as she tried to complete a mission with unimaingably high stakes, pitting her against a multi-billion dollar corporation. Then she looked at Whitney--a girl who was almost exactly the same age as Janine, who had no sort of ninja training--or any combat training whatsoever--and yet was so eager to help Amethyst, so courageous and generous despite the dangers that certainly awaited them.

"...You really think I could be helpful?" Janine said, sighing.

"Yes." Amethyst said. "I know so."

"Well...alright then." Janine said. "If Whitney's in, then I guess I'm in too."

"Yay!" Whitney said. "Operation Bistro Break-In is a go! I'm gonna order us some more croissants, and we can get to planning our grand heist!"

__

The very next day, they went forward with their plans.

Janine walked into the restaurant, wearing her regular work uniform--a wine-colored vest, a black skirt, and a golden bowtie. She walked over to one of the tables she was assigned to wait and found Whitney, Amethyst, and Manaphy there--just as they planned. Now that they knew they that the Golden Ring Coroporation was in charge of the bistro, Janine had instructed them to wear disguises. Whitney said she would handle it and had a perfect disguise in mind for both of them. When Janine walked to the table, however, she saw both of them were dressed as usual, except Whitney was wearing a fake, bushy mustache, and Amethyst was given a pair of sunglasses, as well as a top hat instead of her usual beret, which Manaphy found significantly less comfortable to ride on.

"'Ello there!" Whitney said in a mock Galarian accent. "Ye must be our waitress, then. Right-oh! Pip pip!"

"...Whitney?" Janine said. "Why are you talking like that?"

"Whitney?" Whitney said, swirling her fake mustache. "I don't rightly know what you're bloody on about, miss stranger! My name's Sir Niles Numelhump! And this is my daughter, Lady Ambrosia Numelhump! Say hello, Ambrosia!"

"...Hi, Janine." Amethyst said, in her normal voice.

"Amethyst!" Whitney whispered to her. "I already told you! You have to do a Galarian accent!"

"And I told you, I don't know what a 'Galarian accent' even sounds like!" Amethyst said. "I'm from a different world, remember!?"

"Oh, yeah..." Whitney said, before gesturing to Manaphy. "Erm, and I almost forgot to mention! That blue creature, riding upon fair Ambrosia's hat, that is her...um...her pet Squirtle, Shelldon! He looks a bit different than most Squirtle because he...lost his shell! And he's diseased."

"Diseased!?" Manaphy said. "Hold on a second! You calling me an ugly Squirtle was not part of the plan!"

"This is ridiculous..." Janine said, sighing. "You guys don't have to be secretive with me. It's everyone else you need to worry about."

"Better safe than sorry!" Whitney said, her eyes scanning the dining room. "You never know who might be eavesdropping."

"Whatever." Janine said, pulling out her notepad and beginning to scribble down Whitney and Amethyst's order, which they already decided upon beforehand. "Just keep a low profile and wait until I give you the signal, alright?"

"Right-oh, Miss Waitress!" Whitney said. "And make sure to send out my tea piping hot!"

"Got it..." Janine said. Whitney winked at her as Janine walked back towards the kitchen. She tore the page from her notepad and handed it to the chef. "I've got an order for two steaks and a bottle of wine."

"Alright." The chef said. "I'll go grab the wine--"

"Er, actually, can you let me do it?" Janine said. "The manager said he'd like me to familiarize myself with the cellar's layout and where everything is."

"Well, alright." The chef said, not suspicious in the slightest. "Just be careful. It's dark down there."

"Understood." Janine said, dashing over towards the staircase near the back of the kitchen. Walking down it, she found herself in the cellar, a place she'd never been before. It was indeed dark, and a lot smaller than she was expecting. The wooden walls were lined with shelves, on which were stacked multiple bottles of fine, dark, well-aged Cianwood wine. If there theory was correct and the Corporation was constructing a massive golden ring beneath the city, then Janine thought there should be another lower level to the building, where the ring could be found. However, this cellar seemed to be the only basement the bistro had. That was until Janine began to walk around. She carefully stepped along each wooden tile on the floor and noticed an every so slightly different feeling to one of them. A wooden tile near the center of the room seemed to feel...lighter. As if there was no solid ground beneath it, unlike the other tiles. Using a knife she smuggled out of the kitchen, Janine kneeled down and began to pry at the edges of the tile. Sure enough, she was easily able to lift the tile up, revealing it was actually a secret hatch door. There was a square hole beneath it, where Janine found ladder leading down to a hidden, lower level of the bistro.

Janine quickly put the tile back over the hole. Grabbing a bottle of wine, she walked back upstairs to the kitchen and brought it to Whitney and Amethyst's table. Whitney was continuing to twirl her mustache while Amethyst played her Rotom Boy.

"Ambrosia! It is rude to play video games at suppertime!" Whitney said as Janine poured some wine into her glass.

"You're not my dad!" Amethyst said.

"The last thing we need is for you two to cause a scene in the middle of the restaurant..." Janine said. "I've found a passageway to a lower level in the cellar, just like I expected. We need to move onto the second part of the plan; getting you two down into the cellar so we can explore it. Are you guys ready for phase two?"

"I'm ready!" Whitney said. "And what about you, Ambrosia?"

"Yeah, sure..." Amethyst said, too focused on her Rotom Boy to pay attention. "Whatever."

"Alright!" Janine said. She rushed over to the restroom on the other side of the dining room. Walking inside, she found it full of customers, just as she suspected. Walking over towards the mirror, she cleared her throat.

"Now where is that Spinarak at!?" Janine loudly announced, pretending to search around the bathroom for the Pokémon. Just as she planned, once everyone in the bathroom heard there was a Spinarak, they all rushed out. When the restroom was cleared out, Janine exited. She waved to Whitney, who nodded and then began to get up, dragging Amethyst along by the arm. Amethyst, meanwhile, still had her eyes fixed on the Rotom Boy's screen.

"Come along, Ambrosia!" Whitney said as they neared the restroom. "Let us use the lavatory before supper!"

Janine ushered them inside the empty restroom, then closed and locked the door.

"Thank goodness I don't have to talk in that accent anymore!" Whitney said, coughing as she tore off her fake mustache. "It was starting to hurt my throat."

"Gimme that, kid." Janine said, grabbing the Rotom Boy and placing it in her bag. "No time for games. We gotta focus."

"Fiiiine." Amethyst said, groaning.

"But how do we get from this bathroom to the cellar?" Manaphy said.

"Through here." Janine said, climbing up onto the sink counter and pulling a grate off the wall. "The vents connect all the rooms in the bistro. It should be big enough for you two to climb through."

"Ugh! We seriously have to climb through the narrow, dirty, dusty vent!?" Whitney said.

"Do you want a megalomaniac billionaire to transport this city to another dimension and rule it as a dictator?" Manaphy said. "Or do you care more about not getting your dress dirty?"

"Just cause I have to do something, doesn't mean I don't have the right to complain about it!" Whitney said, climbing onto the sink and giving Amethyst a hand. Soon enough, they both crawled into the air ducts.

"I'll head down to the cellar and help guide you." Janine said. "Just follow my voice and you guys will be there in no time."

"Make it snappy, Janine!" Whitney said. "I'm gonna get claustrophobic from being in here for more than, like, five minutes!"

"I'll be as quick as I can." Janine said, putting the grate back over the hole and then rushing out of the restroom. Returning to Whitney and Amethyst's table, Janine grabbed the wine bottle and went back to the kitchen.

"What are you doing with that bottle?" The chef said as she walked in. "Didn't a customer order it?"

"They didn't like the flavor." Janine said. "They sent it back and wanted me to get them another kind instead. I'm going back down into the cellar to grab it."

"Picky, picky, picky." The chef said, sighing. "By the way, we had a customer complain about a Spinarak in the bathroom...you know anything about that?"

"Nope." Janine said. "I can check it out in a moment though."

"Great." The chef said, returning his focus to the steaks on the grill. "Thank you."

Janine nodded to him and then dashed down the stairs and into the cellar. She climbed up on one of the shelves until she reached the air vent on the wall. Taking off the great, she then began to call to Whitney and Amethyst.

"Whitney! Amy!" Janine said. "Can you two hear me?"

"Janine!?" Whitney said. "We hear you! We'll be right there!"

In just a few seconds, Whitney and Amethyst both appeared. They came tumbling out of the vent and, soon enough, were all in the cellar. While Whitney put the grate back over the hole, Janine once more used her knife to reveal the hidden passageway.

"OK, here we go!" Janine said, grabbing onto the first rung of the ladder and beginning to descend. "Watch your step."

The ladder ended up being rather tall, but after a few minutes, they found themselves in a dark, narrow hallway. The place was full of cobwebs and they could hear the pitter-patter of Rattata scurrying around.

"Ugh..." Amethyst said, beginning to shake. "This place is spooky...and it smells awful too!"

"Don't worry." Janine said. "Just hold my hand, kid. We'll be out of here soon enough."

"...OK." Amethyst said, taking Janine's hand and following behind her. "Thanks."

At the end of the hallway, they entered a spacious, well-lit room, much like the one they found beneath the Annulus Club. And indeed, running through the room was a huge, slightly bent rod of shimmering, pure gold. Janine scanned the room, looking for any grunts. Once she realized it was empty, she gave the signal, and they all entered and began to look around.

"There's some stairs over here!" Whitney said. "They'll let us get up on top of the golden tube."

"Right." Janine said, beginning to scale the rickety steel steps. "Let's see if this gold really does form a ring."

Stepping onto the huge golden rod, it was more than large and relatively flat enough for them to walk comfortably upon it. They walked into one of the tunnels on the side of the room, which the golden tube ran through. Passing through the tunnel, they soon found themselves in another huge, lit room just like the last one, located in the basement of another building owned by the Golden Ring Corporation. They kept walking, through tunnel after tunnel and basement room after basement room. They finally stopped when they entered the fifth basement room on the other end of one of the tunnels, finding it to be identical to all the others.

"This is definitely a huge ring." Janine said. "Amethyst's theory was correct, it seems."

"I was hoping we would be proven wrong..." Amethyst said, sighing. "But...I had a feeling..."

"Don't be discouraged, Your Radiance." Manaphy said. "Let us focus on trying to find solutions?"

"Why don't we just try and destroy the ring?" Whitney said.

"And how exactly will we do that?" Manaphy said. "We could hardly make a dent in a huge ring of solid gold that it several miles long!"

"Well, maybe we could call the police, and they could do something...?" Janine said.

"Goldenrod PD is in the Corporation's pocket, though." Whitney said. "It's widely known throughout the city. The chief of police is just another flunky. And so is the mayor, and every other person with authority in this city. And besides, who's gonna believe us when we tell them there's a massive ring made of gold located underneath the city that is going to be used as a portal to transport Goldenrod to an alternate dimension? They'd probably lock us up, thinking we've gone insane or something!"

"Hmm..." Janine said. "Well, there's got to be something we can do..."

"There's only one way." Amethyst said. "Now that we know this is Orro's plan...the only way to stop it...is to take Hoopa away from him."

"Huh?" Whitney said. "Oh, yeah, Hoopa! You mentioned them earlier. Do you know where this Orro creep is keeping them?"

"If I had to guess...Hoopa is locked up within Circlet Tower." Amethyst said.

"Wait a second..." Janine said. "I've got a question. So...Hoopa and Hoopa alone has the power to turn this huge ring into a portal, right? If that's the case, then Orro will need to have Hoopa be obedient to him, otherwise they won't comply with his orders to turn this ring into a portal."

"That is correct." Amethyst said.

"And yet...you say that Orro has Hoopa locked up?" Janine said. "If Hoopa is Orro's prisoner and he has to hold them hostage...then why would Hoopa follow Orro's orders? It sounds to me like the two of them are enemies..."

"Their relationship is...complex." Amethyst said. "I know that Hoopa believes that Orro's plans are evil. I know that...beyond a doubt. However, Orro and Hoopa are...very close. They have known each other for a very long time. Hoopa has a good heart but...if Orro breaks them down, deprives them of food or uses violence...then Hoopa might be coerced into doing as Orro demands."

"The Marchioness is right." Manaphy said. "We do not know how long Hoopa will be able to sustain imprisonment and abuse until they're forced to give in and cooperate with Orro's plans. It's a race against the clock. Hoopa's resilience and those gaps in the ring we noticed when we mapped things out at the library...those are the only things preventing Orro from activating the portal. We need to act quickly and break Hoopa out of their cell!"

"Right." Amethyst said. "I suggest we get out of here and start planning a raid on Circlet Tower--"

"Not so faaaaaast! You're not thinking of leaving so soon, are you?"

"That voice..." Amethyst said. "...Chancellor Jasper! Show yourself!"

Janine and Whitney turned around. Out of the darkness of one of the tunnels connected to the basement came the same man they encountered in the basement of the Annulus Club, accompanied by his Purrloin.

"What good luck I have!" Jasper said, laughing as he walked along the golden ring, over towards Amethyst. "I've been looking for you all over, Your Radiance! I have orders from King Orro to return you to your cell. Imagine my surprise when one of the grunts monitoring the tunnel's security cameras contacted me and told me they found you and your pals, wandering around on the Great Ring. This time, I shall not fail! I shall capture you and bring you to His Grace!"

"No!" Janine said. "We won't let that happen!"

"Yeah!" Whitney said. "If you wanna take Amy, you'll have to get through us first!"

"How amusing!" Jasper said. "Mere mortal humans from this dreary realm, challenging me to a battle!"

"We escaped you once, we can escape you again!" Janine said.

"I don't think so!" Jasper said, gesturing to the brooch he wore. "Marchioness Amethyst, I'm sure you recognize this..."

"A Ruby Brooch..." Amethyst said. "You did indeed come prepared, I see!"

"What does a Ruby Brooch do?" Whitney said.

"They cast an invisible forcefield which prevents anyone in a nearby radius from teleporting." Amethyst said. "We have no choice. We'll have to fight...at least until we can break that Brooch!"

"I'd love to see you try!" Jasper said. Alexandra jumped off his shoulder as he reached into his jacket and pulled out two Poké Balls, tossing them into the air. A Meowscarada and Meowth popped out of them. "Opal! Amber! Capture Amethyst and kill the others!"

"We have no choice, we have to transform and fight back!" Amethyst said. "Everyone, send out your Pokémon and get ready!"

"Right!" Janine said. "Go, Flora!"

"Go, Stella!" Whitney said.

"Go, Ferra!" Amethyst said. "Radiant Heart Bond Metamorphosis!"

Manaphy raised their antennae and blasted a radiant beam into the air. The light rained down and surrounded Janine, Whitney, Amethyst, and all their Pokémon. When the light faded a moment later, they had all transformed into their Whole-Hearted Formes, ready to fight.

"The bonds we share with our Pokémon..." Amethyst said, raising her scepter. "...They shall give us the strength and courage to defeat you!"

"How pitiful, thinking you can frighten me with a costume change!" Jasper said. "Everyone, get ready for battle! Alexandra, Fury Swipes!"

Alexandra jumped off Jasper's shoulder and ran over towards Janine.

"Ultra Psy Star Shuriken!" Janine shouted. Two purple shurikens consisting of psychic energy manifested in her glove. She tossed them both at the rapidly approaching Purrloin, though Alexandra swiftly dodged each of them as she closed in on Flora, preparing to scratch her.

"Take to the skies, Flora!" Janine called. Flora flapped her newly-grown wings and, with a kick of her feet, pushed herself off the ground and into the air. "Psycho Radar Blast Beam!"

"Dodge it and use Dark Pulse!" Jasper said. Flora blasted rainbow beams from her blinking eyes. Alexandra again swiftly dodged this attack. Raising her paws, she charged up a large ball of dark energy, and then lobbed it at Flora, spiking it with her tail as if it was a volleyball. Flora attempted to dodge it, but was struck and knocked out of the air. She landed on the floor several feet below the golden tube.

"Ah! Flora!" Janine called, as she watched her Venonat go into a tailspin before colliding with the ground.

Meanwhile, Jasper's other two Pokémon were facing off against Whitney and Amethyst. Opal the Mewoscarada approached Ferra, preparing to use Night Slash. Amethyst jumped in front of her Togedemaru and raised her spiked shield, blocking Opal's attack.

"Super Team-Up Electro Spike Artillery!" Amethyst called, raising her shield. Ferra jumped up on top of the shield and hoisted her lightning rod tail into the air. Amethyst twirled the scepter she held in her other hand, releasing a series of lightning bolts which Ferra absorbed with her tail. Bursting with pink electric energy, Ferra then spun around and blasted a series of spikes from her back, each of which collided with Opal, knocking the Mewoscarada backwards. Opal was nearly knocked off of the golden tube, but was ultimately able to claw her way back on top of it before falling.

While this was occurring, Amber the Meowth rushed over towards Whitney and Stella. Amber used Pay Day, with her fur bristling before she launched a series of small, metallic coins from under her fur towards Whitney and Stella. Stella raised her large, floppy ears to absorb the damage of the attack.

"Super Swift Comet Kick!" Whitney said, kicking the air and launching a series of stars from her boots. The stars collided with the coins, shattering them before they got a chance to hit them. "Stella! Galactic Impact Meteor Mash!"

Stella began to flap her long ears and then hopped upwards, taking flight. Circling around the golden tube, she then collided straight into the Meowth. Meowth was knocked backwards, but quickly regained their balance. Upon making impact with Amber, Stella hopped back over to Whitney's side. Amber rushed towards her, looking use Iron Tail, with her long, curled tail becoming coated with metal.

"Super Swift Comet Kick, again!" Whitney said, blasting another cluster of stars towards the Meowth. However, Amber dodged each of these with a number of hops. She then slammed her iron-coated tail down onto Stella, dealing massive damage to the little Cleffa.

"Gah! His Pokémon are so powerful!" Manaphy said as Alexandra, Opal, and Amber all returned to Jasper's side.

"Are you giving up already!?" Jasper said, cackling as Opal and Amber once more began to run towards Amethyst and Whitney repsectively. "I expected a bit more, but I won't complain if you want to make this easier for me!"

"The only way to win is by using our Special Bond Maneuvers!" Amethyst said.

"Special Bond...what now?" Whitney said.

"They're special moves you can use with your Pokémon when you are both in your Whole-Hearted Formes." Amethyst said. "They take a lot of energy to use, however. We must use these Maneuevers sparingly or else all our energy will be used up, and we'll suddenly revert back to our normal formes. Whitney! Quickly, say, 'Super Team-Up Soothing Metronome Lullaby!'"

"Er...alright!" Whitney said. "Stella, get ready! Super Team-Up Soothing Metronome Lullaby!"

Both Whitney and Stella were suddenly surrounded by a harsh pink light. Stella's long ears suddenly stood straight upwards. She began to slowly and rhythmically move them from side-to-side, producing a loud ticking sound.

"Now, sing!" Amethyst said. "Hurry! That Meowscarada is about to attack!"

"Um...OK!" Whitney said, clearing her throat. The voice which came out of her mouth did not sound like hers at all; it was angelic, harmonious, and beautiful. "Ohhh baby, baby, baby! Don't say maybe, maybe, maybe! I've got Cute Charm like a Clefairy! Can't heal this status condition with any berrrrrrrryyyyyyyy!"

Opal rapidly approached Whitney, preparing to dig her claws into her. However, as soon as the sound of Whitney's voice hit her ears, she suddenly closed her eyes and lowered her claws. She fell asleep, falling backwards and beginning to snore loudly.

"What!?" Jasper said. "Opal! Wake up and kill that pathetic girl!"

"Radiant Scepter Spark Barrage!" Amethyst said. She twirled around her scepter, producing a number of spheres of electric energy. She then used her staff to bat them towards the Meowscarada. Each sphere collided with Opal and sent her flying off the tube. She landed on the ground below, fainted.

"No!" Jasper said. "This isn't possible! Amber! Use Return! Kill that helpless little ninja girl!"

Amber began to run towards Janine, who was still leaning over the side of the tube, calling to Flora below. Flora had gotten back onto her feet, but her wings were too badly damaged for her to fly back up to the battlefield.

"Janine! You've got a perfectly fine pair of wings!" Amethyst called. "Fly down there and get her!"

"Er...a-alright!" Janine said, taking a deep breath. Focusing her attention on the beating of her wings. She hopped off of the tube, dodging the attack by the approaching Meowth. She opened her eyes and was amazed to find herself flying around the large room. She dove downwards and grabbed Flora by her antennae. "I've got you, Flora! Don't worry!"

"Now, say 'Super Team-Up Shadow Lurking Double Veno-Strike!'" Amethyst screamed as Janine flew back up towards the tube.

"Super Team-Up Shadow Lurking Double Veno-Strike!" Janine said. Suddenly, while in midair, both Janine and Flora disappeared in a puff of smoke. Everything was silent for a moment as Jasper and Amber both looked around, trying to see where they had gone. In the blink of an eye, Flora suddenly appeared in front of Amber in another burst of smoke. Flying at full speed, she collided into the Meowth. Amber was knocked backwards, but was caught by Janine, who also suddenly appeared out of nowhere. She tossed the Meowth into the air and then threw several psychic shurikens at her, each of which burst into a cloud of energy upon striking Amber. After sustaining multiple hits from the shurikens, Amber fell down to the floor of the large room just as Opal had, fainted.

"This...this can't be!" Jasper said. "Impossible! My precious Pokémon losing to the likes of you--!"

"Ultra Psy Star Shuriken!" Janine said as she and Flora landed next to Amethyst and Whitney. With perfect aim and precision, Janine tossed a shuriken at Jasper. The star collided with his chest and shattered the Ruby Brooch.

"The Brooch is destroyed!" Amethyst said. "Let's get out of here!"

"Oh no you don't!" Jasper said. "Alexandra! Don't let them get away!"

"Thirty Yard Lunar Teleportation!" Whitney called.

Stella began to flap her ears, covering herself and all of her allies in a veil of pale blue light. A second before they were teleported away, however, Alexandra suddenly hopped onto Amethyst, digging her claws into her hair. When Stella teleported them away, they took the Purrloin with them as they vanished and reappeared on the streets above.

"AHHHHHHH!!!" Amethyst screamed as Alexandra panicked and tried to get her claws out of the Marchioness's hair. "G-GET THIS CRAZY PURRLOIN OFF OF ME!"

Chapter Text

"Unbound from your narrow clay prison

Emerge, oh keeper of golden ring portal!

From ancient slumber, you now have risen

And lend your power to I, a mere mortal!"

Orro had brought the old book he had found in the library home to his apartment. It was the middle of the day, both his parents were off working. He was all alone. The ancient, thick tome which contained the rhyme said that all a human had to do to release a Hoopa from their Prison Bottle was to recite those words. He was skeptical, of course, but he had to try it out for himself just in case. He spoke the words, then waited, staring at the Prison Bottle which sat on the shelf right next to the apartment's front door. A minute passed. Then two, then three. He nearly gave up, closing the book and shoving it into his bag, to drop it back off at the library, feeling stupid for having tried in the first place. Then, suddenly, the bottle began to shake. He heard a popping sound, and a plume of purple smoke suddenly emerged from the bottle's nozzle. The smoke began to swirl before fading suddenly, revealing the Pokémon described in all the books--a small, devious-looking creature with a large grin, bright amber eyes, and hands disconnected from their body, which carried two golden rings.

"After so many centuries, at long last...I have been released from my prison!" Hoopa said, bowing down to a stunned Orro. "Dear human, you who released me, please! Grant me the pleasure of knowing your name."

"I...I...I'm Orro." Orro said, stepping backwards, holding up his hands. "Are you...Hoopa?"

"Indeed, I am!" Hoopa said. "Do not fear me, dear boy. I am eternally grateful to you, for you have finally set me free! Lord Orro...from this day forward, consider me your humble servant! I shall grant any wish you have. My power is yours to wield as you see fit!"

"R-Really...?" Orro said. "Is it true? I read in a bunch of books...you can open portals to alternate worlds...?"

"Indeed, I can." Hoopa said. "It was because of the destructive potential of such a power that myself and all my brethren were sealed away so long ago! But behold!"

Hoopa tossed one of their golden rings into the air. It rapidly expanded in size, comparable to that of a hula hoop. It began to levitate in midair. The hole at its center was suddenly filled with a flat plane of purple psychic energy.

"Whoa!" Orro said. "Is...is that...a portal?"

"Indeed." Hoopa said. "So long as I have a ring made of solid gold, I can infuse it with my power to instantly transform it into a portal to another realm."

"Incredible..."

"Look inside, milord." Hoopa said. "See firsthand the boundless potential of my power!"

Orro stepped cautiously over towards the portal floating in the middle of his living room. He stuck his head inside and was shocked by what he found; a whole new world, with tiny emerald islands floating in a vast pink sea. Hoopa snapped their fingers, and suddenly the portal's destination transformed into another world entirely; a moon-like planet with huge white craters, but also huge, magma-spewing volcanoes. Hoopa continued to show Orro new possibilities, new frontiers to explore; a world where waterfalls flowed upwards, a world with jungles made of ice, a world populated by gigantic Butterfree whose wing flaps produced huge gusts of wind, and so on. Orro stumbled backwards, removing his head from the ring portal and finding himself back in the apartment.

"Milord..." Hoopa said, again bowing to the boy. "Your wish is my command. Where shall we go?"

"...Anywhere but here." Orro said. "I...I'm tired of living in poverty. I'm tired of living with parents who are too busy working to pay any attention to me. I...I want an adventure. I want to try and find someplace where I...belong. Where I feel like I have some kind of control over my life..."

"Then let the journey begin!" Hoopa said, snapping once more. "Come along, milord. No matter what may happen...I shall be completely obedient to you from now on!"

__

Hoopa had made that promise to a younger version of Orro, nearly forty years ago (measuring by the flow of time in this world, at least). They had intended to keep it. Even as Orro began to walk down an increasingly darker path in life, even as he made a few questionable decisions which shook Hoopa's belief that his master was a morally-redeemable man...it mattered not. Hoopa had pledged obedience to Orro, and they meant to stay true to that pledge. They meant to,t hat is, until they found out Orro's plan for this city called Goldenrod, how he wished to rule over it as its monarch by transporting it into an alternate dimension.

Hoopa ought to have seen something like this coming. Truthfully, Hoopa began to have suspicions about Orro's lust for power ever since they first arrived in CR-121400, where they made a semi-permanent home in the Radiant Realm of Lucia--one of the many countries of that world. That day was also but a distant memory to Hoopa now, as they had stumbled across Lucia after just a couple years of wandering through random dimensions, trying to find a place to call home. If Hoopa remembered correctly, they came to Lucia not too long after they rescued and recruited Jasper, the desert mercenary, to their party, along with his Purrloin. Something about Lucia appealed to Orro. Perhaps it was its abundance of natural beauty, with shimmering, multicolored crystals of all shapes and sizes jutting out of the ground as if they were trees, along with giant lakes of water as clear as glass and snow-capped mountains that looked like huge, frosted layer cakes. Or perhaps it was the country's system of governance, where one monarch had absolute power over all of the realm's affairs--a kind of political system Orro preferred. In hindsight, Hoopa wondered if Orro might not have been looking for a home to call his own, but rather a throne. Regardless, Orro, Hoopa, and Jasper came to reside in Lucia.

And now, so many decades later, here they were, in an entirely different world. Hoopa now spent all day within a tiny golden cage. The only interruption to the monotony was the daily visit from one of the Corporation's grunts, who would show up and give Hoopa their daily meal. The only thing propelling Hoopa's desire to survive was the chance that Orro would pay them a visit, as he was wont to do on very rare occasions. It seemed hopeless at this point, but Hoopa thought that there was still time for Orro to be convinced of the immorality of his plans. In Hoopa's eyes, there was still a chance for Orro to see the error of his ways and come to his senses, before he destroyed so much and ruined the lives of so many innocent people. No matter what anybody else thought, Hoopa knew that Orro was good at heart. Or, at least, he had been good at heart. That twelve year old boy who freed Hoopa from the Prison Bottle all those years ago--he had been innocent then. Misguided and foolish, yes, but innocent, and ultimately good. Hoopa had spent enough time with Orro to recognize that there had once been goodness in his heart. Perhaps it wasn't fully dead yet. Perhaps there was still time for Hoopa to save Orro--and, by extension, save all of Goldenrod. They just needed an opportunity to talk with him and say the right things...

The morning after the bistro heist and ensuing battle, Hoopa got another such opportunity. They awoke easily from their restless sleep when they heard someone wrapping on the bars of their golden cage. They thought it was the grunt, who had come to deliver their daily rations. But when they opened their eyes, they found their former master leaning over the cage, glaring down at them.

"Hoopa." Orro said. "Wake up."

"Orro...!"

"Hmph." Orro grunted. "You used to call me, 'Lord Orro' and 'Your Grace', you know. Where have your manners gone?"

"Where have your morals gone?"

"Snarky as ever." Orro said. "I assure you, my morals are very much intact. It's just that, compared to what this cruel, corrupted world defines as 'moral'...my convictions seem positively villainous."

"By any and all metric, you have become a villain, Orro. And it for that reason that I no longer wish to serve you."

"How disappointing." Orro said, though his face betrayed no such sign of disappointment. "I was hoping we could have done this the easy way."

"You should have expected this outcome!" Hoopa said. "You know where I stand. You know that I think your plans for 'Neo Crystal Goldenrod' are evil! And yet you expected me to bow down and obey? I assure you, even under duress, I will not yield to you. You can starve me, you can beat me...but I refuse to participate in your nefarious plot to make this city into your own personal kingdom!"

"So, all your former loyalties to me truly are dead, it seems." Orro said. "No matter."

"No matter...?" Hoopa said. "What do you mean 'no matter'!? Without me, your goals cannot be achieved! You need the power of a Hoopa to infuse the Great Ring with psychic energy and transform it into a portal."

"Indeed, I need the power of a Hoopa..." Orro said, grinning. "But not you specifically."

"Wh-What...?"

"You are one of many, Hoopa." Orro said. "True, your species is not common, especially in this world. But other alternatives can be found, if you know where to look...and if you have enough money."

"What are you talking about...?"

Orro whistled. A grunt wheeled a cart into the room. On it were placed a dozen Prison Bottles. Orro pulled a book out of his bag, the same one he read all those years ago as a child. He turned to a bookmarked page, cleared his throat, and recited the familiar rhyme.

"Unbound from your narrow clay prison

Emerge, oh keeper of golden ring portal!

From ancient slumber, you now have risen

And lend your power to I, a mere mortal!"

Out of the dozen bottles came a dozen Hoopa. Each of them immediately bowed down to Orro, their liberator, just as Hoopa had done when they had first been freed by Orro.

"But...but how...?" Hoopa said.

"It's not impossible to find more Prison Bottles." Orro said. "True, most of them are precious family heirlooms...or, otherwise, they are contained in world-renowned museums or the personal antique collections of eccentric millionaires. But everything has a price. All I had to do was buy up all the Prison Bottles I could find...and now, I have a veritable army of Hoopa who are able to do my bidding. They can turn the Great Ring into a portal, even if you--my dear, old friend--are unwilling to do so."

"No..." Hoopa said. "No! Please, Orro! Don't...don't do this!"

"In just a few weeks, the last gaps in the Great Ring shall be filled." Orro said as the grunt who wheeled in the cart collected the various Hoopa in a number of Master Balls. "At the very moment the last segment of the ring is installed...I shall use the power of my loyal Hoopa to transform Goldenrod into Neo Crystal Goldenrod...my own realm, my own Lucia which I can preside over forever and ever!"

"Orro!" Hoopa pleaded as Orro began to walk out of the room. "Do you truly have no love in your heart for anything or anyone in this whole city? Are you really willing to go through with this and ruin so much for so many!?"

"...I care not how much is ruined for how many." Orro said, exiting the room. "So long as I am content...so long as I am allowed to feel OK, for the first time in my life...I am willing to make any sacrifice."

Chapter Text

"Don't worry, I can handle this!" Whitney said. She knelt down next to the cage to feed Alexandra a spoonful of artificial Magikarp pâté. "When I was growing up, my family had a feisty little Meowth who was always scratching and biting. I'm sure a little Purrloin is no problem for an expert like me--"

Alexandra hissed and scratched at Whitney's hand, drawing blood. Whitney screamed and dropped the spoon. She ran over to the kitchenette counter, where Janine helped her bandage the wound.

"What's her problem!?" Whitney said. "All I tried to do was give her some breakfast!"

"Well, to be fair, we did kinda, sorta kidnap her from her trainer..." Janine said.

"On accident!" Whitney said. "We didn't mean to take that Purrloin with us when we teleported out of there!"

"Try explaining that to Alexandra..." Manaphy said, resting on top of Amethyst's beret, while she sat on the sofa playing her Rotom Boy.

After teleporting away from Jasper, Janine, Whitney, and Amethyst found themselves above ground in a secluded alley, devoid of people. After Flora used Sleep Powder to pacify Alexandra, they ran off to the nearest Poké Mart to purchase a carrying crate to transport Alexandra in. They weren't sure what to do with the Purrloin, but they knew they simply couldn't let the Pokémon roam the streets all by herself. Still, she certainly was not pleased to wake up and find herself in a cage, in the apartment belonging to the people she was trying to kill just a couple hours ago. She continued to growl and hiss at her captors until, finally, giving up for the time being and going to sleep.

Janine, Whitney, Amethyst, and Manaphy, however, all found it impossible to sleep after their exhilarating, life-threatening battle with Jasper, so instead they stayed up the rest of the night. Janine prepared them all a very early breakfast while they plotted their next move.

"So...we've gotta break into Circlet Tower and find Hoopa, right?" Whitney said, staring out the window, watching the radiant sun rise over Goldenrod as she ate a bowl of cereal. "That's the only way we can stop Orro's plans."

"Yes, we must take Hoopa away from Orro, before he can use their powers to turn the huge ring underneath the city into a portal." Manaphy said. "We have no time to waste. We should make preparations to break into the tower immediately!"

"Immediately!?" Janine said, groaning. "I'm still exhausted from our last battle..."

"Yeah, and we also need some time to come up with a plan!" Whitney said. "This isn't going to be like the bistro heist, where we have someone working on the inside who can help us break in. We've got to be super crafty in order to get past all the security measures I'm sure they have..."

"I agree with Janine and Whitney." Amethyst said, yawning as she nibbled on a piece of toast, getting crumbs all over her Rotom Boy's screen. "We need time to rest and come up with a plan."

"But Your Radiance--" Manaphy said.

"We can afford to take a short break." Amethyst said. "Remember the record we found in the library? There are still a few gaps left in the ring that the Corporation is constructing. We have time. The worst thing we can do is charge in there, tired and unprepared, and end up getting captured. Then the city is doomed for sure."

"...Perhaps you have a point." Manaphy said. "Fine! I shall agree to a short break."

"Thank goodness!" Whitney said. "I'm gonna spend the day catching up on all the sleep I lost last night--"

Suddenly, her PokéGear began to ring.

"Huh? Who could be calling me this early--?" Whitney said, opening the phone to see who was calling. Her eyes widened and she immediately shut the phone once more. "Oh, shit! Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!"

"What is it!?" Janine said. "Who's calling you?"

"My mom..." Whitney said, sighing. "I totally forgot, today is the day I'm supposed to go to that stupid festival!"

"Festival?" Janine said. "Oh, yeah, the Sinnoh Cultural Festival she invited you to."

"Ugh...this is gonna suuuuuuuck!" Whitney said. "I don't wanna gooooo..."

"Then why don't you just stay home?" Amethyst said. "At least back in Lucia, once you move out of their home, an adult is no longer beholden to their parents. Is the custom different here on this planet?"

"I wouldn't say so." Janine said.

"Not if you're from a Sinnohan family!" Whitney said. "You guys don't get it! In Sinnohan culture...things like this are different. If I don't show up, my mom will be pissed. I need to go. Or else she'll be super disappointed in me..."

"Can't you just call her back and explain to her you're feeling tired and you don't want to go--" Janine said, but Whitney cut her off.

"If you want to have that conversation with her, knock yourself out!" Whitney said, laughing bitterly. "But trust me, I know if I try and make some kind of excuse, she'll just get even more mad. I could be on death's doorstep and my mom would still expect me to show up to this stupid festival! I...I have to go...even if I don't want to..."

"Would it be easier if I went with you?" Janine said.

"Huh?" Whitney said. "Janine...are you sure?"

"Yeah." Janine said, smiling at her. "I wouldn't mind. I have nothing else to do today. I want to be there and help you, Whitney. I can see that you're really upset about all this..."

"It...it would be nice if I had you there with me..." Whitney said. "And I don't think my mom would mind. She still thinks I have no friends or any kind of social life whatsoever. She's always telling me to bring along a plus-one to these events..."

"Great!" Janine said. "Then it's a promise! I'll come with you."

"But...Janine, are you absolutely, 100% sure about this?" Whitney said. "These festivals are super boring. And my mom can be...kinda hard to get along with..."

"I'm not going because I think it will be fun." Janine said. "I'm going to support you, Whitney. So don't worry about it! I'll be there."

"Me too!" Amethyst said.

"What!?" Whitney said. "Amy...?"

"You...you've both shown me so much kindness and happiness in these past several days..." Amethyst said. "I want to try and repay the favor! So...if you think you would benefit from me being there, Whitney...then I will gladly accompany you!"

"Of course I'd be happy if you were there too!" Whitney said. "Thank you...Amy, Janine...I just...I don't know what to say...I'll have to make this up to you both somehow!"

"Don't worry about it." Janine said. "Like Amy said, it's only right that we support you, after all the kindness you've shown us."

"...Well, first things first, if you guys really do wanna come to the festival, you certainly can't go dressed like that!" Whitney said. "Everyone who attends is expected to dress in traditional Sinnohan clothing! Let me go check my closet. I'm pretty sure I've got old clothes in your sizes."

__

After a few hours of Whitney meticulously plotting everything out, their outfits for the event were selected. Whitney would be wearing a traditional Pearl Clan kimono, which was red and white in color. She accessorized with large white bracelets, as well as a pearl necklace and pearl earrings. For the first time since Janine had met her, Whitney went out in public without wearing any kind of scrunchie in her pink hair, instead choosing to wear it down, as was Pearl Clan tradition. Janine, meanwhile, wore a purple headscarf adorned with pearls, along with a long-sleeved frilly white shirt paired with pink hakama. She was also given an old folding fan used by Whitney, upon which was painted in ink a scene of a Clefairy, dancing in front of the full moon. Finally, Amethyst wore floral-patterned silk dress and a light pink happi over it, upon the back of which was emblazoned the insignia of the Pearl Clan. Instead of her usual beret, she wore a traditional Sinnohan straw hat decorated with Gracidea flowers, which Manaphy found significantly more difficult to ride upon.

"Well?" Whitney said. "Don't you feel like you just hopped out of the pages of a Sinnohan history book? I must admit, my ancestors wore some cute clothes! Oh, and by the way, if my mom asks, you two are totally from Sinnohan families."

"Wait, what?" Janine said. "We have to lie and say we're from Sinnoh?"

"My mom will be mad otherwise." Whitney said. "She doesn't like it when I spend time with people who aren't Sinnohan..."

"Your mother sounds quite strict..." Amethyst said.

"Yeah...but that's just kinda how Sinnohan parents are, I guess." Whitney said. "It's a cultural thing, very different compared to other regions. Like, here in Johto, people are pretty laid-back and kinda go with the flow. Then over in Kanto, there's a lot of modern technology and big cities, and so a lot of people had adjusted to modern living. In Sinnoh...well, there are big cities, yes, and people live in modern ways. Like, we've got Internet and coffee shops and all the kinda stuff you'd find in a big city like Goldenrod. But...I don't know, there's still that sense of loyalty you have to your clan...your family. Obey your parents, respect your elders...that kinda thing is drilled into you at a young age. And we're also taught not to trust outsiders. Outsiders from your family, yes, but also outsiders from Sinnoh more generally. There's a reason a lot of the Sinnohan people who emigrated to big cities like Goldenrod all tend to cluster together in their own neighborhoods. So that's why...my mom would be pretty mad to learn I was hanging out with people not from Sinnoh..."

"I see..." Janine said. "Well, don't worry! We'll try and keep up appearances."

"But how are we supposed to act like we're from Sinnoh?" Amethyst said. "Janine at least has the benefit of having grown up in this world. I've literally never even heard of a place called 'Sinnoh' until a couple days ago!"

"I'm not expecting you two to speak perfect, fluent Sinnohan or whatever!" Whitney said. "Just drop in some subtle clues from time to time. Like, for instance, when you introduce yourself to my mom, bow like this--hands clasped, shoulders back, slow and steady. Oh, and if the topic of school comes up, you've got to assure my mother that you're very studious and that you're going to college. Or secondary school in your case, Amethyst. Education is a big thing in Sinnohan culture--it's not like Kanto or Johto where most kids are allowed to take a break from school and go on a big adventure when they turn ten. Sure, some kids in Sinnoh do that, but older people like my mom still look down on people taking breaks from or not completing their schooling. So, for all intents and purposes, you two are both still definitely in school, and you will be until you get a fancy degree in some lucrative career. Hm...OK, let's see, what else? Oh, yeah, Sinnohans never take any milk or sugar in their coffee, and we grab the cup with both hands instead of picking it up by the handle. And if anyone brings it up, you guys are descended from the Pearl Clan, and you worship Palkia at your local shrine. Yes, that should be enough little details for you to pass as Sinnohan, I think..."

"Sounds like a lot to remember..." Amethyst said.

"Just follow my lead, and you should be OK." Whitney said. "Alright, we really should get going! The festival is starting over on Coronet Street in about an hour..."

__

Coronet Street was located in the heart of Goldenrod's largest Sinnohan neighborhood, Little Oreburgh. The area of the city was named as such by Sinnohan immigrants because of the coal-powered electricity plant which used to be located at in the neighborhood. The power plant's operators sought out Sinnohan immigrants from the Oreburgh area to work at the plant due to their familiarity with working with coal. Eventually, immigrants from all over Sinnoh--not just in the vicinity of Oreburgh--began to arrive in the neighborhood called Little Oreburgh. The coal-powered plant was soon replaced by a large hydroelectric dam, part of a larger effort to provide Goldenrod with newer, more sustainable forms of energy. Still, the large Sinnohan population remains. Some Sinnohan families living there had just arrived in Johto recently, while others had been living in Johto for generations. Regardless, once a year, they all gathered for the large Sinnoh Cultural Festival on Coronet Street.

Stepping off the subway platform and up the steps, Janine, Whitney, and Amethyst emerged onto Coronet Street. The wide street was crowded with people wearing traditional Sinnohan clothing. Lights and paper lanterns were hung from the roofs of nearby buildings. Numerous tents and stalls had been set up along the street, housing attractions and food. Large troupes of puppeteers paraded around the street, controlling huge paper mache representations of important Pokémon in Sinnohan mythology--Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Cresselia, Darkrai, Azelf, Uxie, Mesprit. In the center of the street was the main attraction for the festival's attendees--a large ring had been set up for performers. Traditional Sinnohan dancers performed on the huge, circular, wooden platform, as well as musicians playing well-known Sinnohan folk music. However, the main event were the battles--both Pokémon battles fought in the traditional Sinnohan style, as well as martial arts, which were an important cornerstone of Sinnohan culture. As Janine, Whitney, and Amethyst shoved their way through the crowd surrounding the ring, trying to find Whitney's mother--who had promised to meet her daughter in front of the ring--two Sinnohan judoists did battle for the crowd's amusement.

"My goodness, that looked like it hurt..." Amethyst said watching one man pick up the other and toss him to the ground. Everyone else in the crowd cheered loudly at this display of strength.

"Don't worry, that guy will be fine." Whitney said. "They're mostly just putting on a show right now--neither fighter is really trying to hurt the other one too badly. That's what my cousin, Maylene, told me once. She's a master of Sinnohan judo--she's got a black belt and everything."

"Wow, and she's a gym leader on top of that?" Janine said. "Impressive."

"Yeah, and she's a couple years younger than me." Whitney said. "She's a pretty accomplished kid...oh, and speaking of my family, I think that's her! Mother! Mother, we're here!"

Janine and Amethyst followed Whitney to the back of the crowd, where they found a woman who--at least in Janine's opinion--did not look much like Whitney at all. She was a short and thin woman, wrapped in an orange kimono. She had long reddish-grayish hair adorned with shining pearls and a pendant shaped like the Pearl Clan's insignia which she wore as a necklace. Her mouth formed not the familiar, warm smile Janine so often saw on Whitney's face, but rather a stolid frown, paired with the icy gaze of narrowed ruby eyes. As Whitney hugged her, she stared not back at her daughter, but at the company she brought along, rendering automatic judgment of these two total strangers.

"Hello, Mother!" Whitney said, kissing her mother on the cheek.

"...Whitney." Her mother said, finally looking at her daughter, shaking her head. "Your kimono has a coffee stain on it."

"Ah...does it?" Whitney said, looking down to the spot on her dress her mother was pointing to. "Huh. Guess I'll have to wash it when I get home..."

"Who are these people?" Her mother said, continuing to glare at Janine and Amethyst, who stared back at this grumpy old woman, clearly a bit frightened.

"Just some friends of mine." Whitney said. "They're also Sinnohans, so don't worry."

"I see..." Her mother said. Clearly still a bit suspicious of them, she nevertheless bowed to both Janine and Amethyst and introduced herself. "Greetings. I am Kana Valor the Third, of the Veilstone Sect of the great Pearl Clan of Sinnoh."

"Ah...yes...hello!" Janine said, bowing just like Whitney taught her. "I'm...um...Janine. Janine Nightseeker."

"And I am Amethyst." Amethyst said. "Amethyst...um...Amethyst Crystal."

"Janine Nightseeker? Amethyst Crystal?" Kana said, scoffing. "Those don't sound like Sinnohan names to me. What sect and clan are you two from?"

"Er...you know...the...the one...in the west?" Janine said.

"The Canala Sect?" Kana said.

"Yes! The Canala Sect!" Janine said, laughing nervously as Whitney stared at her. "Sorry. Totally slipped my mind."

"I'm also from that one...the Canala Sect, or whatever." Amethyst said.

"Are you two related, then?" Kana said, raising an eyebrow."

"Yes! Janine and I are sisters!" Amethyst said, suddenly wrapping an arm around Janine's shoulder. "Isn't that right?"

"Indeed!" Janine said, smiling. "We're sisters!"

"You're sisters...yet you have different surnames?" Kana said.

"Er...well...um...she's adopted!" Janine said.

"What!?" Amethyst said. "...Oh, I mean...yes! Yes, yes, I'm adopted! Hence my different surname..."

"I...see...?" Kana said. "Whitney. Your friends are strange..."

"I assure you, Mother, they are very kind." Whitney said. "You shall see. They are bona fide Pearl Clan members, just like you and I."

"Hmph...I'll believe it when I see it." Kana said, before pointing at Janine. "I would like to have a word with your parents, girl. What kind of Sinnohan in their right mind would give their daughter a trashy Kantonian name like 'Janine'?"

"Trashy!?" Janine said.

"I cannot stand this trend of Sinnohan children being given non-Sinnohan names." Kana said, sighing. "When my dear Whitney was born, you best believe I was very much against the idea of giving her that name--'Whitney'! I wanted a more traditional, Sinnohan name. Like Akari or Calaba or Irida...any of those would have been perfect! But her father was insistent. He'd heard that name, Whitney, on some Johtonian radio show he used to listen to. And he wouldn't compromise. He said, 'Our daughter shall have a Johtonian name, so she can fit in with the people of this society and will not be ostracized like you, I, and other Sinnohans.' I never understood what he meant by that. Like so many other Sinnohans who came to live here in Goldenrod, he was so unbelievably eager to give up his culture!"

"...Mother?" Whitney said, clearly uncomfortable. "Can we...perhaps...not talk about Father right now--?"

"Oh, just wait until you hear what he went and did this time, Whitney!" Kana said, apparently not hearing her daughter. "He called me out of the blue, for the first time in months! You know how he moved to Unova and married that other woman--the one from Orre. Well, imagine my surprise when he told me he was having another child with her! Can you believe that!? Another child, at his age! I would daresay he has enough by now--!"

"Mother, please!" Whitney said. "I...I don't want to talk about him right now..."

"I am your elder, and I shall talk about whatever I please to talk about!" Kana said. "Now, hush, dear Whitney, and pay attention! Another battle is about to begin."

Everyone standing around the platform watched as the two judoists left the stage and were replaced by two trainers, both wearing kimonos. They began a Pokémon battle for the crowd's amusement; an Espeon versus a Jolteon. Many in the crowd, including Kana, cheered and applauded as the two Pokémon landed blows on one another. Janine, however, did not let the battle distract her enough to prevent her from noticing Whitney's discomfort. Whitney stared down at pavement, clearly uncomfortable in her mother's presence. Janine took a step closer to her, took her hand, and whispered in her ear.

"Don't worry." She said. "I'm right here, Whitney. OK?"

"...OK." Whitney said. "Thanks."

When the battle concluded and both trainers left the ring, Kana turned her attention back on her daughter. Whitney quickly let go of Janine's hand and took a step away from Janine.

"Well, what did you think of that?" Kana said. "Marvelous, yes? Truly some very talented trainers, keeping the old Sinnohan school of Pokémon battling alive."

"Yes, Mother."

"Look at me when I am speaking to you, girl." Kana said. She placed a finger on her daughter's chin and tilted her head upwards until their eyes met. "Why do you seem so tired?"

"I...didn't get much sleep last night..." Whitney said.

"Well, I can hardly imagine why you'd do such an irresponsible thing like that..." Kana said. "If you had gone to college, then certainly, I could understand why you were up so late..."

"Mother--"

"...But since that is not the case, I cannot understand why you'd be struggling to sleep." Kana said, shaking her head.

"I was just...working a late shift..." Whitney said.

"Yes, yes...where are you working these days?" Kana said. "At that infernal Radio Tower, yes?"

"Yes, Mother."

"You ought to get a better job than that, if you don't plan on going to college soon." Kana said. "There's nothing you can learn in that line of work, girl."

"I've actually learned quite a lot about music from interning there..." Whitney said.

"You're still on about that music nonsense!?" Kana said. "I must say, Whitney, I thought even you would have abandoned such a childish dream long ago..."

"...Yes, Mother." Whitney said, bowing her head. "I apologize."

"You really must go back to school." Kana said. "There's no good reason for a girl your age to not be a student. You know, I spoke with Maylene's mother just the other week. On top of being a gym leader and her martial arts training, she still manages to take classes at Veilstone College. Did you know that? And she's younger than you, Whitney! You simply have no excuses."

"Yes, Mother." Whitney said. "I apologize."

"Whitney--" Janine said, wanting to speak up. However, Whitney quickly jabbed her leg with her shoe and shot her a glance. Her instructions were clear; don't say a word. Escalating things with Kana would only make the situation worse.

"You, Miss Nightseeker, you certainly must be a student, yes?" Kana said, turning to face Janine.

"Er...yes, ma'am." Janine said, looking to Whitney.

"Well, I do hope that you follow in your friend's footsteps, dear." Kana said, placing a hand on Whitney's shoulder. "You simply must go back and finish school. It's what we do--as Sinnohans."

"Yes, Mother."

"And what about you, Miss Crystal?" Kana said, addressing Amethyst. "You are a student as well, right?"

Amethyst fell silent. She looked at Kana, then at Whitney, then back at Kana.

"...No." Amethyst said.

"No?" Kana said. "You are not a student either, then?"

"I think what Amy means is--" Whitney said, but Amethyst cut her off.

"No, I'm not a student." Amethyst said. "But it doesn't matter! Just because someone isn't in school, that doesn't mean they're wasting their life, or their life has no value."

"Excuse me!?" Kana said.

"Amy!" Whitney said.

"Your Radiance, perhaps you shouldn't address this lady with such a tone--" Manaphy said, but still she continued.

"The way you talk to your own daughter...it is disgraceful!" Amethyst said. Others in the crowd began to stare at them as she raised her voice. "Whitney...she's one of the kindest, sweetest, and most generous people I've ever met. She's my friend, and I won't let you sit here and speak that way to her!"

Kana slapped Amethyst, causing many in the crowd to gasp.

"Is that any way to talk to your elder, you stupid little girl?" Kana said. "I will not tolerate such disrespect!"

"How dare you!?" Janine said, taking Amethyst's hand and pulling her away from Kana. "You speak to your own daughter like that, and then you go and slap a young girl? Amy is a hundred percent right! Your behavior is disgraceful!"

"Janine! Amy!" Whitney said, beginning to cry. "Please! Stop--!"

"No!" Janine said, pointing to Kana. "I'm not gonna sit here and try and play nice with you anymore. I want you to apologize for the way you've treated Whitney, right now!"

"And who are you to make such a demand of me!?" Kana said. "Such haughty, arrogant brats! To think my daughter would keep such company!"

Kana took Whitney's hand and tried to lead her away.

"Come along, Whitney." Kana said. "I forbid you from spending another moment in the presence of these two."

Whitney kept her feet firmly planted on the ground. Her mother was unable to move her, no matter how hard she tugged on her arm.

"Whitney!" Kana said. "I'm giving you an order! Let's go!"

"...You need to go." Whitney said. "I...I won't let you talk to my friends like that...in the same way you talk to me."

"Oh, now my own daughter has turned against me!?" Kana said. "Honestly! After all I've done, all I've given you, all I sacrificed for you, this is how you treat your own mother--"

"Go!" Whitney said. "Get out of here, Mother. Get away from my friends...and me."

Kana seemed to be at a loss for words. She glanced around at Janine and Amethyst, scoffed, then spun around and walked away. The nearby members of the crowd parted to let the old woman through as she made her exit. Whitney, meanwhile, continued to cry. Janine and Amethyst hugged her.

"It's OK, Whitney..." Janine said. "Everything's OK. We're right here..."

"G-Guys..." Whitney said. "You...you were lying..."

"Huh?" Amethyst said. "Lying?"

"Saying all those things, about how I'm kind and generous..." Whitney said. "I...I don't know...how or why you came to think about me that way. The truth...the truth is...I've always just been a selfish asshole..."

"That's not true!" Janine said. "You are the most selfless person I know, Whitney. Don't let her plant those kinds of lies in your head, OK?"

"Yes...she was truly quite a wicked individual!" Manaphy said. "I must apologize, Whitney, for not sticking up for you like the Marchioness did..."

"It's...it's alright..." Whitney said. "Amethyst...I'm so sorry."

"What are you apologizing for?" Amethyst said.

"You stood up for me." Whitney said. "And got hurt."

"Oh, never mind about me!" Amethyst said. "I don't care if she slapped me a thousand times...I couldn't just stand there and let her berate you like that!"

"Are you sure you're feeling OK?" Whitney said. "She didn't hurt you too bad, I hope..."

"What? That weak slap of hers?" Amethyst said, laughing. "We fought for our lives last night against a trio of crazy Pokémon who wanted us dead! Trust me, I wasn't even phased by that slap."

"Good..." Whitney said. "It...it was a mistake coming here...and bringing you two along. Let's go home..."

"Agreed." Janine said, taking Whitney and Amethyst's hands. "I can order us a pizza, and we can all watch a movie. How does that sound?"

"Great!" Amethyst said. "But...what's a movie?"

"Oh...well....it's a bit hard to explain." Janine said. "You'll see."

"Wait, wait, wait, they don't have movies in your dimension either!?" Whitney said. She seemed to have gotten her usual spunk and enthusiasm back. "Wow! No video games, no movies...man, Lucia sounds like a boring place! We've got so much to teach you, Amy!"

They took the train back to Azalea Street, back to that cramped little apartment which Whitney now considered to be her one, true home. As she and her roommates lounged on the sofa, eating pizza and drinking soda, all while loudly commentating on the cheesy superhero flick they chose to watch--Whitney no longer had any doubts. She knew, for the first time in her life, that she was free.

Chapter Text

"So let me get this straight..." Orro said, standing up at his desk. He towered over Jasper, who sat across from him. Glaring at his secretary, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly. "Not only did you fail to capture the Marchioness, but you also allowed her and her friends to kidnap your most powerful Pokémon?"

"Well, I suppose that's partially true--" Jasper said before Orro slammed his fist on his desk, knocking over a mug of coffee, which splattered all over his paperwork.

"Idiot!" Orro said. "How...how could my most loyal, most competent pawn fail me!? How!?"

"You didn't let me finish, Your Grace." Jasper said, grinning. "It's true that the Marchioness and her two handmaidens escaped. However, what isn't true is that they kidnapped my dear Alexandra. On the contrary, sir, while I cannot say that I expected Alexandra to accompany them when they teleported out of that basement, it is--the more I think about it--actually a positive development."

"What are you babbling about?" Orro said.

"I've known Alexandra since I was a child." Jasper said. "I know she is capable of executing our mission in my stead. I have no doubt that my dear Purrloin has killed or is plotting to kill those two girls who seem to be protecting the Marchioness. She has briefly inconvenienced herself in the short term to make our mission much easier in the long term. My pursuit of the Marchioness will ultimately lead me back to my dear partner Pokémon."

"You seem rather confident in the abilities of a little Purrloin..." Orro said.

"Your Grace, you know what my Alexandra is capable of." Jasper said. "You've seen it first hand."

"True...she is much stronger and more crafty than the average Purrloin." Orro said. "Still, I cannot see this as anything besides a resounding failure."

"I assure you, despite this minor hiccup, our plans are proceeding perfectly." Jasper said, standing up and beginning to walk out of the office. "In the meantime, Your Grace, I shall continue to track down the Marchioness. But rest assured...we will be victorious. You shall be the king of this golden city. I am certain of it."

"...Leave me, Jasper." Orro said, sighing. "Resume your mission. Next time, try not to disappoint me."

"I wouldn't dream of it, Your Grace." Jasper said, bowing as he bid his king adieu.

__

"Heeeeeeeere comes the airplane!" Whitney said, sticking a spoonful of food through the bars of the cage, aiming for Alexandra's mouth. The Purrloin hissed and scratched at her hand, causing her to drop the spoon and jump backwards. "Ouch! Hey, you stupid Purrloin, I'm not trying to hurt you, I'm trying to feed you!"

"Leave her be for now, Whitney." Janine said, sighing as she sat on the couch next to Amethyst, who as usual was playing her Rotom Boy. "We can't force her to eat."

"I just don't get it!" Whitney said. "I've tried everything. Pâté, kibble, berries, poffins...everything I can think of that a Purrloin would like to eat! And still she refuses."

"She probably doesn't trust the food we're trying to give her." Janine said. "She still thinks we're enemies..."

"...Poor little Purrloin." Amethyst said, sighing as she looked up from her game to Alexandra, who was laying down in her cage once more. "She's got to be starving. She hasn't eaten in days..."

"What can we do?" Whitney said. "If she won't eat, she won't eat."

"But we can't just let her die." Janine said. "We've got to think of something."

"Maybe we should take her to see a nurse?" Whitney said. "There's a Pokémon Center right down the street. Someone there might know how to help her."

"That's not a terrible idea." Janine said. "We've just gotta be super careful while transporting her. Here, I'll have Flora use Sleep Powder on her so she won't make a fuss while we move her..."

No one noticed it, but Alexandra's ears perked up when Janine said "Sleep Powder." The clever little Purrloin, remembering what happened last time that Janine mentioned this move, suddenly concocted a plan.

"Go, Flora!" Janine said, sending out her Venonat. "Sleep Powder!"

Flora produced a cloud of yellow powder and scattered it over the cage. Alexandra closed her eyes and flopped over, pretending to go to sleep, all while plugging her mouth and nose with her paws in order to avoid actually inhaling any of the powder. She laid perfectly still as Janine picked up the carrying crate.

"OK...she's asleep." Janine said. "Amethyst, get your shoes on. We're going to the Pokémon Center."

__

Carefully transporting Alexandra in her crate out of the apartment building and onto the streets of Goldenrod, they soon arrived at the Pokémon Center a few blocks away. Walking into the lobby, they met with a nurse at the front desk.

"I see..." The nurse said, looking down sadly upon the supposedly sleeping Purrloin. "So this little girl isn't eating?"

"No." Janine said, quickly fabricating a story. "She's...a stray! We just picked her up off the streets a few days ago. We've tried to feed her, but she won't accept any food from us it seems."

"We may have to use an IV drip then." The nurse said. "Bring her around back to my office. I'll perform a check-up right away."

Janine, Whitney, and Amethyst followed the nurse into a small room behind the counter. Setting Alexandra's crate down on the table at the center of the room, the nurse then unlocked the cage and grabbed the seemingly unconscious Purrloin.

"Wake up, little buddy. It's time for a check-AAAAAAAHHHH!!!"

Suddenly, Alexandra's eyes opened and she scratched at the nurse's face. Screaming, the nurse stumbled backwards as Alexandra jumped out of her arms, landing on a nearby window sill.

"She's awake!" Janine said. "Quick, someone catch her!"

All three of them ran over towards the window and tried to catch Alexandra. However, the Purrloin jumped over each of them and ran out of the office's front door. They gave chase, following the Purrloin out into the hallway, passed the front counter, through the lobby, and then back out onto the busy city streets, where they nearly lost sight of her due to the crowds. Manaphy was able to float upwards and keep an eye on Alexandra. They saw her run into a stairwell at the end of Azalea Street.

"We...we lost her...!" Janine said, trying to catch her breath as everyone congregated outside of the Pokémon Center once more.

"No, I saw her!" Manaphy said. "She ran down a staircase leading underground, at the end of this street."

"She went...into the Underground?" Whitney said, looking dismayed.

"The Underground?" Amethyst said.

"The Goldenrod Underground." Whitney said. "It's this big series of underground tunnels, located beneath the city. They were originally constructed as an extension for the city's subway system, but after those plans fell through, they were repurposed into underground walkways, full of shops and attractions. It's always swarming with tourists..."

"Still, we've got to go look." Janine said. "Whitney, can you go and check if that nurse is alright? Amethyst and I are going to head into the Underground to try and find Alexandra."

"OK, I'll be there soon." Whitney said, rushing into the Center. "Good luck."

"Let's go!" Janine said, taking Amethyst's hand and leading her down Azalea Street. "We've got to hurry. Alexandra...she's in serious danger. She hasn't eaten in days, and now she's all alone in this busy city. If we don't hurry, she might get hurt!"

"Right!" Amethyst said. "Don't worry, Janine! We'll find her! I know we will!"

__

Running down the staircase at the end of the street, Janine and Amethyst found themselves in the Goldenrod Underground's Central Tunnel. It was wide, well-lit, had white tiled flooring, and numerous stalls and storefronts lining its walls, giving the impression of a vast underground mall. Amethyst peered curiously into the many stores as they passed--there was a photography studio, a Pokémon salon, a food court, a PokéGear store, and seemingly every other business one could think of. Janine, meanwhile, questioned a number of merchants if they saw a Purrloin pass through.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I did!" An old woman selling herbs at a small stall said. "That little Purrloin caused quite a stir. She ran past here at top speed. She was heading down the Central Tunnel. I believe I saw her take a right turn, into Grimer's Tunnel."

"Grimer's Tunnel?" Janine said.

"It's another one of the Underground's tunnels, just a short walk north." The woman said. "You can't miss it. There's a large Pokémon adoption center there."

"I see." Janine said. "Amethyst, come on! Let's go!"

__

Alexandra had indeed dashed through Central Tunnel, assuming that her captors were still pursuing her. After running right past the old woman's herb stand, she took a right turn into Grimer's Tunnel. She charged straight down the Tunnel, only to find a dead end--at the end of this tunnel was an elevator, gated off from the public with a chain, a sign reading "ELEVATOR TO SEWERS - CITY WORKERS ONLY BEYOND THIS POINT" hanging next to it. Alexandra turned around and ran into a nearby building--a Pokémon adoption center. Such centers were a common sight all across the city. They were operated as non-profits, with the aim of finding new homes for domesticated Pokémon who were--for one reason or another--left without a trainer. This adoption center, like many others, was given a space in an area with high foot traffic, with the government subsidizing the usually high rent that would come with a commercial business setting up shop in the Underground. The adoption center was full of people, who wandered around the large room, full of Pokémon looking to be adopted. Most of the Pokémon were able to roam freely about the building, but others had to kept in specialized enclosures. Pokémon like Magikarp and Goldeen--for instance--were kept in a series of large fish tanks. Alexandra stumbled across a large sandbox at the center of the room with a heat lamp hanging over it, used as a spot for desert-dwelling Pokémon to reside. Climbing into the sandbox, she found a number of Trapinch, Sandshrew, Diglett, and Geodude lounging on the warm sand, seemingly undisturbed as she began to cover herself with sand, looking to hide as she was still under the assumption that the three girls who kidnapped her were still on her tail.

As she laid perfectly still beneath a small dune of sand, the texture as well as the heat couldn't help but remind the Purrloin of decades-old memories. She had been born in another dimension, a parallel world where the planet was a vast desert. She was a member of an ancient dynasty of Purrloin and Liepard who were fierce warriors, entrusted to the humans of the small village community where she grew up to serve as their companions in comabt. Alexandra had been chosen by a young mercenary from the village, a boy named Jasper. With him, she had wandered the desert wasteland, assisting him as he served as a sellsword in numerous conflicts, which were frequent in that desperate, war-torn parallel earth. She continued to follow him after he joined forces with Orro and they arrived in Lucia, and then later when they came to this world to reside in Goldenrod. Ever since the day he first adopted her, Alexandra had been at Jasper's side. Sure, he had treated others cruelly. In many cases, he used Alexandra's strength in order to enact cruelty and violence on others. But he always cared deeply for his partner Pokémon, even as she grew older and less capable in combat. Having been separated from him for a number of days at this point, she was absolutely distraught. She was trained as a tool for war...yet, like all Pokémon in all worlds, she felt a deep bond with her trainer and wanted nothing more than to see him again.

She didn't even realize her long purple tail was sticking out of the sand until a hand reached out and touched it.

__

"What is it, Amy?"

Janine ran over when Amethyst called. They had entered the Pokémon adoption center to look around for Alexandra on the advice of the old herb merchant. Amethyst had happened to glance into the sandbox at the center of the room and found what looked to be the tail of a Purrloin sticking out of the sand.

"Do you think it could be her?" Amethyst said, reaching out to touch the tail.

"Wait, Amy, hold on, we don't want to scare her--" Janine said, but was too late in stopping Amethyst from laying a hand on the tail. As soon as one of her fingers so much as grazed the Purrloin's purple fur, Alexandra leaped out of the sand. Spinning around midair, she scratched Amethyst, hissed, then jumped out of the sandbox and ran towards the building's exit.

"Wait!" Janine said as she and Amethyst continued to give chase, causing a scene in the building as they ran after their Purrloin. "Alexandra! Stop! We don't want to hurt you!"

Alexandra ran out of the building and back out into the tunnel. There, she saw the previously closed off elevator now had its door open. A city worker, wearing a hardhat and carrying a flashlight, had taken down the chain and called for the elevator. Alexandra made a beeline towards the elevator and ran inside of it just as the doors began to close. The worker didn't even notice Alexnadra until the elevator ride was halfway over.

"Huh?" The worker said. "Hey! A Purrloin! Where'd you come from!?"

As she kneeled down to try and pet the Purrloin, Alexandra hissed once more and scratched the woman in the face. She screeched in pain. There was a dinging sound, and the elevator doors slid open. Alexandra hopped out of the elevator, into a dark, foul-smelling passageway. The worker, meanwhile, pressed the button to return to Grimer's Tunnel, looking to contact her supervisor about the Purrloin who got into the sewers.

__

"Where did she go?" Amethyst said as she and Janine searched outside of the adoption center for Alexandra. "We saw her run back out here, but then it's like she just vanished!"

"Look over there!" Manaphy said, noticing the city worker stepping out of the elevator, which scratch marks on her face. "On her face...!"

"Hey! Excuse me, miss!" Janine said, rushing over to her. "Pardon me! Have you seen a Purrloin--"

"Did I see a Purrloin!?" The worker said, scoffing as she gestured at her scratched-up face. "Yes, I did! That's where I got these beauty marks. Is that little pest your Pokémon!?"

"Er...sorta." Janine said. "Where did you see her last?"

"She rode the elevator down with me into the sewers." The worker said. "She hopped out of the elevator before I came back up here, to place a call to my supervisor."

"Can we go down there and look for her?" Amethyst said. "Please! It's an emergency."

"...You know what? Knock yourself out." The worker said. "It'd make my job a hell of a lot easier if you caught her for me."

"Thank you, miss!" Janine said, pressing the elevator button.

"Just be careful down there." The worker said. "It can be dark down in the sewers, so watch your step. Oh, and also watch out for wild Pokémon too. Zubat, Rattata...and especially those damned Grimer. They're nasty little creatures. They get very territorial and will attack anyone who's not a part of their little gang."

"We'll be fine." Janine said, as the elevator doors opened. "C'mon, Amy! Let's go!"

__

Alexandra wandered aimlessly through the dark corridors of Goldenrod Sewers, totally lost and with no clue of how to get back on the surface. Her sprint quickly slowed to a jog, then a crawl, and she finally collapsed entirely. She was exhausted, the results of her multi-day hunger strike finally catching up with her. She was about to pass out, when a horrid smell caused her to wake up. Much worse than the regular stink of the sewers--it was almost like a mass of rotting garbage was moving towards her. She wasn't entirely wrong, for when she opened her eyes, she saw she was surrounded by a horde of Grimer. Plugging her nose with her paws, her eyes became watery as the leader of the horde--a gigantic Muk--began to move towards her. She closed her eyes, bracing for an attack by the huge Pokémon. The Muk raised his giant, slimy arm...before suddenly being struck by a bright beam of psychic energy.

"Hold it right there!" Janine said. "Get away from that Purrloin, you jerks!"

Alexandra lifted up her head, shocked at what she saw. It was two of the girls who had held her as a prisoner for several days. One of their Pokémon, a Venonat, had been the one who fired the Psybeam at the Muk in order to save Alexandra.

The Muk let out a groan and directed all his Grimer minions to begin attacking Janine and Amethyst.

"Psybeam, again!" Janine said. Flora's eyes blinked rapidly as she blasted a number of beams at the approaching Grimer.

"Manaphy! Bubble Beam!" Amethyst said. Manaphy jumped off of Amethyst's beret and blasted bubbles at more of the Grimer. Soon enough, they cleared a path towards Muk, who was still standing over Alexandra. The Muk opened their huge mouth and used Sludge Bomb, firing a giant glob of toxic goo at Manaphy, who flew towards the Muk. Manaphy quickly dodged the attack, however.

"Ice Beam!" Amethyst called. Manaphy blasted a crystal beam from their antennae, striking Muk directly.

"Zen Headbutt!" Janine called. Flora surrounded herself in a veil of psychic energy and then charged into the Muk, knocking them backwards. The Muk slowly but surely got back up, however, still able to fight...that is, until Alexandra also got back up and delivered a critical hit Night Slash to cause him to faint. As she landed back on the ground after landing her attack, Alexandra began to lick the grime off her paws.

"Awesome!" Amethyst said. "Nice job, Alexandra!"

Alexandra spun around and hissed at the two of them once more. She began to run away once more, but then stumbled and crashed onto the ground.

"Oh, no!" Janine said, rushing over to Purrloin along with Amethyst. "Alexandra!"

"Is she OK?" Amethyst said.

"...She's exhausted, I'm sure." Janine said, leaning down to see that Alexandra's eyes were barely open and her breathing was shallow. "She needs to eat something, ASAP."

"...Alexandra." Amethyst said, also leaning down next to the Purrloin and looking into her eyes. "Listen. I...I understand. You don't trust us. You think we're your enemy. But...that's not true! We don't want to hurt you. We don't hate you. And we don't want you to suffer like this. I promise...you can trust Janine and Whitney. When I first arrived in this world...I was also skeptical. But I know now...they are kind. And if you let them, they will help you. Me too. Even if you are Chancellor Jasper's Pokémon...I promise, I will help you. So...please, Alexandra!"

Amethyst reached into her bag and pulled out a pouch of dried Oran Berries that she had packed as a snack. She grabbed one of the berries and held it towards Alexandra's mouth.

"Please...eat!" Amethyst said, tears in her eyes.

Alexandra stared at the berry for a long time in silence. She then took a reluctant bite. Her small fangs dug into the blue berry and then swallowed it.

"Good girl." Amethyst said. "Oh, Alexandra..."

"I think she's gonna be OK, kid." Janine said, placing a hand on Amethyst's shoulder and smiling at her. "C'mon. We gotta get her back to the Pokémon Center."

__

Alexandra allowed Janine to pick her up and carry her to the elevator and out of the sewers. Arriving back in the Underground, they found Whitney desperately searching for them in the Central Tunnel.

"There you guys are!" Whitney said, rushing over to them. "I was looking all this place for you--ugh, what is that smell?"

"Us." Janine said. "We all just got done fighting a horde of Grimer in the sewers."

"Gross..." Whitney said. "Would it be too selfish of me to say I'm kinda glad I wasn't there to help?"

"Sorta, but I understand where you're coming from." Janine said, sighing. "The important thing is that Alexandra is OK. We need to get her to the Pokémon Center."

"Hopefully they'll let Alexandra back in, after she caused such a scene the last time." Whitney said.

To their surprise, the same nurse who had been attacked by Alexandra earlier opted to see her again when they brought her back to the center. This time, Alexandra did not resist when she was brought in for a check-up.

"Hmm...well, despite her being malnourished and dehydrated, I don't see any other concerning signs." The nurse said to Janine, Whitney, and Amethyst when she was done. "I'm going to keep her here overnight, just a precautionary measure. But tomorrow morning, you should be able to come and bring her home."

"Good!" Amethyst said, walking over to Alexandra, who had fallen asleep on the examination table. "Don't worry, Alexandra. We'll be back soon. Feel better, OK?"

Alexandra purred softly in her sleep as Amethyst giggled.

Chapter Text

"OK...I know I shouldn't be saying this, given that we all just became friends and everything..." Whitney said. She was petting Alexandra gently as Amethyst hand-fed her some berries. "...But man, Alexandra kinda...smells..."

"Well, she did wander into the sewers of one of the largest cities in the world, and then got into a fight with a bunch of Grimer on top of that..." Amethyst said.

"If you want to try and give her a bath, go right ahead, Whitney." Janine said as she prepared lunch for everyone--an old Fuchsia recipe for spicy yakisoba. "I'm sure the hostile Purrloin who just yesterday became OK with the idea of trusting us would absolutely love if you tossed her in a bathtub full of water."

"We should at least get some air freshener or something if she is gonna live here long-term." Whitney said. "Y'know, maybe I'll pick some up when I go to the Department Store later today. They're having a sale on clothes, so I gotta go and see what I can find."

"Ooh, can I go with you!?" Amethyst said. "I wanna use my allowance money to buy a new Rotom Boy game. Janine told me there's a used game store there that sells them for cheap!"

"Yes, there is, but..." Whitney said. "...I didn't know you got an allowance."

"I'm giving her one." Janine said. "Just a little spending money. I figured, if Amy is going to be stuck in this world for the time being, she may as well be allowed to have a little fun."

"Wait, where are you getting that extra money from?" Whitney said. "I thought you quit your job at that bistro."

"I did." Janine said, sighing. "But when I told my dad that I was out of work, he insisted on sending me some money to me, even after I told him we'd be able to afford rent and groceries and all that. He's a bit overprotective like that..."

"I see." Whitney said. "You said your dad was a gym leader. I bet he's got plenty of money!"

"You'd think." Janine said, scooping yakisoba from the pot where she was cooking it into bowls, before bringing them to the table. "The Indigo League pays him a decent wage, but nothing extravagant. Apparently, the wages are kept pretty low so that only people who are really passionate about training Pokémon apply for the job. They don't want people doing it for the money. My dad is able to supplement his income, though, by offering ninja training courses."

"Ninja training courses?" Amethyst said. "What does that mean?"

"Well...there's been a long line of ninjas in my family." Janine said. "My father gave me ninja training growing up--lessons in stealth, tossing shuriken, constructing and using smoke bombs, all that kind of stuff. When I grew up and he ran out of stuff to teach me, I guess he sort of missed being a teacher though. So he offers ninja classes to the local kids in Fuchsia."

"But, wait a minute...what even is a 'nin-ja'?" Amethyst said. "I don't think we have those in my world..."

"Oh, it's like...someone who sneaks around places." Janine said. "There used to be a lot of ninjas here in Johto. During wars, they would, like, sneak into enemy camps and assassinate rival generals and stuff like that."

"J-Janine!" Amethyst said. "You're an assassin!?"

"What!? N-No!" Janine said. "I've never killed anyone. That's the kind of stuff ninjas used to do though, back when they were more common. I've never, like, served in a war of anything. But my ancestors did."

"I see..." Amethyst said. "It's a shame that, because of the circumstances of the era where you're living, that your ninja skills are sort of going to waste..."

"I don't think that's the case, actually." Janine said. "Sure, ninjas may not be a common sight today. But training to be a ninja has helped me in a lot of ways. Like, back at the Annulus Club and Bistro Aureate, I definitely put a lot of the stuff my father taught me into practice."

Janine suddenly got an idea. In just a few days, they planned to raid Circlet Tower. All of them would need to be super stealthy and combat-ready. Perhaps it would be for the best if Janine wasn't the only one in their group who had some ninja training...

"Janine?" Whitney said. "What's wrong? You kinda spaced out there..."

"Oh, nothing, I was just thinking." Janine said, grinning. "I think I have an idea about how to prepare for our mission in Circlet Tower."

__

After lunch, when Whitney and Amethyst left to go to the Department Store, Janine sat down on the sofa. To her surprise, Alexandra hopped into her lap and allowed herself to be pet while Janine was making a phone call.

"...Janine!" Koga said, upon answering the phone. "Hello, my dear! How are you!? Are you feeling OK!? Do you need some more money? Are you eating enough? You're not sick, are you?"

"I'm fine, Father." Janine said, smiling. "I was just calling you for some advice."

"Advice?" Koga said. "Well, I suppose I am somewhat equipped to fulfill such a request. Advice on what, Janine?"

"Let's just say, hypotethtically, I wanted to give a quick, one-day crash course in ninja training to some friends--" Janine said.

"Ninja training!?" Koga said. "Did you say ninja training!?"

"Yeah...for Whitney and Amethyst." Janine said, quickly trying to think of an excuse. "Just, like, for fun. That's the reason why..."

"...Don't worry, Janine, I'm on my way!" Koga said.

"Wait...what!?" Janine said.

"I'll call you when I get there, OK?" Koga said, suddenly hanging up.

"Wait! F-Father! Father!?" Janine said. Alexandra looked up at Janine, concern in her eyes. Janine continued to pet the Purrloin, wondering what her father meant. He was all the way in Fuchsia. Surely he wasn't actually thinking of coming all the way to Goldenrod, right...?

__

Janine should have known she was wrong. He was coming to Goldenrod. Much later that night, as Janine and Whitney sat on the couch and watched watch a movie (with Alexandra laying on Janine's lap still), while Amethyst sat next to them, absorbed in her new video game, there came a knock at the apartment door.

"Father!?" Janine said, opening it, shocked to see her father standing there.

"Hello, Janine!" Koga said, hugging his daughter. He was carrying a suitcase and had his Crobat, Nightwing, perched on his shoulder, who flapped his wings happily at the sight of Janine.

"What are you doing here...?" Janine said.

"You said you needed some guidance for ninja training." Koga said. "I came as quick as I could! You know, thanks to the Magnet Train, you can get from Kanto to Johto in no time these days! Technology truly is incredible, wouldn't you say?"

"Is something wrong, Janine--?" Whitney said, getting off the couch and wandering over to the door, her eyes widening as she saw Koga. "Ah! Y-You're...Koga! The gym leader!"

"You must be Whitney!" Koga said, bowing to her. "I have heard so much about you! I must thank you for being such a kind and considerate roommate to my dear Janine."

"What's going on?" Amethyst said, also getting up and going over towards the door. "Who is this?"

"My father." Janine said.

"Greetings! My name is Koga." Koga said. "You must be Amy, yes?"

"Yes." Amethyst said, smiling and curtseying. "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Koga, sir."

"What a polite young girl!" Koga said, reaching into his suitcase and pulled out a big bag full of snacks and candies. "Here, this is for you, Amy! Lots of fun, exotic snacks from Kanto! You should try the Pewter Crunchies...I find they are quite addictive!"

"Thanks!" Amethyst said, before reaching up and tapping Manaphy on the head, who was sleeping on her beret. "Manaphy, don't be rude! Wake up and greet our guest!"

"Huh...what...?" Manaphy said. "What's going on...?"

"Oh, my!" Koga said. "Do my eyes deceive me!? A Manaphy...! I thought such a Pokémon only existed in legend!"

"Manaphy, this is my father, Koga." Janine said.

"Ah...hello there, sir!" Manaphy said. "I am Manaphy, knight of the Lucian Order of the Blue Heart!"

"I see! And it can communicate with telepathy as well!" Koga said. "Fascinating! Truly fascinating! Pleased to meet you, Manaphy!"

Alexandra purred as she rubbed her head against Koga's leg.

"Oh, and who is this little cutie pie!?" Koga said, kneeling down to pet the Purrloin before reaching into his pocket, pulling out a pouch of Poké Beans, and offering the Purrloin a handful. Alexandra eyed them suspiciously for a moment before beginning to eat some. "What a good little Purrloin! So kind and gentle!"

"If only he knew..." Whitney muttered under her breath.

"Father...it is nice to see you." Janine said. "But when I called you earlier, I only wanted advice on ninja training. I didn't need you to come all the way here to Johto!"

"Oh...really?" Koga said. "Hm...I suppose I didn't think of that. Well, it's not a big deal. I had nothing going on...I was more than happy to travel here and help you out! But...is it OK if I stay?"

"Yes, of course." Janine said, smiling. "Even if it's not quite what I had in mind...I think you'll be a great help!"

"Good, good!" Koga said. "Whitney! Amy! Listen up! Tomorrow, you shall begin your one-day crash course in ninja training, taught by my genius daughter and yours truly!"

"Wait...ninja training!?" Whitney said. "I never signed up for ninja training!"

"Oh, yeah...I sorta forgot to mention it!" Janine said. "But I thought it might be helpful for you two to learn some rudimentary ninja techniques."

"Sounds like fun!" Amethyst said. "Count me in!"

"I do agree that some training in that area would be advisable!" Manaphy said.

"...Well, OK, if Amy's on board, I guess I am too." Whitney said, sighing. "But...it's not gonna be like...difficult, right?"

"The things that are the difficult are the things that are most worth doing." Koga said. "Remember that, dear Whitney. But fear not! I shall keep the course very simple and accessible for newcomers. Just a straightforward, twelve hour class."

"T-Twelve hours!?" Whitney said.

"Yes...I know, far too short to cover the basics of ninja training." Koga said. "I would have liked to do a full week of eighteen hour training days, but given the limited amount of time, we will have to settle for this, I suppose. You three better get to sleep! That's rule number one of being a ninja...remember to conserve your energy! The best ninjas have a consistent, healthy sleep schedule!"

"Where do you plan on staying, Father?" Janine said.

"At that hotel across the street." Koga said, grinning. "It seems like quite a luxurious establishment. They have free coffee available to all guests in the morning! I'm more of a tea fan myself, but free is free! That's rule number two of being a ninja; if you are offered something for free, take it. Not really applicable to being a ninja...but still, an important life lesson regardless. Farewell and good night, my dear daughter."

"Good night, Father." Janine said, a wave of happiness rushing over her as she felt her father's warm, familiar embrace before he departed. "See you tomorrow."

__

"Rise and shine!" Janine said, walking into Whitney's bedroom. "Time for ninja school!"

"Ugh...Janine...?" Whitney said, yawning as Stella--who she was cuddling like a stuffed animal in her sleep--also began to wake up. Whitney looked over at her alarm clock. "It's...not even six in the morning..."

"Rule number three of being a ninja!" Janine said. "Productive days begin with early mornings! Get dressed and come eat a hearty breakfast, OK?"

"Fine...fine...I'm coming!" Whitney said, yawning.

In the living room, Koga was cooking up a storm, preparing artificial Pidgey egg omelets, a mixed berry fruit salad with a vinaigrette, bagels with Moomoo Milk cream cheese, and bowls of baked Poké Beans. Amethyst, even in her time as Marchioness, had never seen such a sumptuous spread of food. She and Manaphy eagerly sampled everything that Koga prepared. Whitney joined in, suddenly not too bothered at having been woken up so early. As the sun rose over the city, Koga and Janine laid out their plans.

"We shall be heading to National Park to conduct our training regimen." Koga said. "The ample green space there will give us plenty of room for our exercises."

"Ugh...there's gonna be exercising?" Amethyst said.

"How else are we going to master the techniques and maneuvers of ninja-hood?" Janine said.

"But don't worry--not all of our class will involve physical challenges." Koga said. "Physical skill is a critical part of a ninja's work, but equally important is the cultivation of a ninja's mindset. There shall be mental challenges as well."

"I'm afraid I won't succeed in any physical or mental challenges." Whitney said. "Is there a cuteness contest?"

"What makes you think that's where you'd succeed?" Janine said, teasingly.

"Hahaha..." Whitney said sarcastically and rolling her eyes. "Hilarious. Y'know what, just for that, I'm gonna ace all these challenges, just out of spite."

"We'll see about that." Janine said. "I think Amy's gonna run circles around you."

"Of course she will!" Manaphy said. "The Marchioness is an extremely accomplished athlete, as well as the most accomplished scholar and intellectual in all of Lucia."

"...Wait, I am?" Amethyst said.

"Why does she get a cheerleader and not me?" Whitney said.

"You've got Stella." Janine said, pointing to Stella, who was sitting on Whitney's lap. "She'll cheer you on, I'm sure."

"But Alexandra is on my side!" Amethyst said, picking up the Purrloin and placing her on her lap.

"Hey! Why don't we let her pick what side she supports, hm?" Whitney said.

"Now, now, it's not a competition." Koga said. "This is about learning. We should celebrate our classmate's accomplishments, not envious of them. That is rule number four of being a ninja."

"Are you guys just making up these rules as you go along?" Whitney said.

"Yes, we are." Janine said. "But remember rule number five of being a ninja; having fun!"

"None of this sounds like my definition of fun..." Whitney said.

"Well, the life of a ninja is full of contradictions." Janine said. "You are supposed to silent and invisible, and yet you hold such an important and invaluable position, tasked with performing such singlehandedly turning the tide of battles and even entire wars. Poetic, isn't it?"

"I'm not sure." Whitney said. "I failed Literature class in high school..."

"Enough of this chitchat." Koga said. "Hurry up and eat. We're leaving for the Park in twenty minutes!"

__

National Park was located north of Goldenrod and was just a short train ride away from Azalea Street. When they arrived, the sun had only just risen over the brick pathways and carefully-maintained lawn of tall grass. Janine and Koga assigned their pupils to do some warm-up exercises in front of the fountain at the park's center. Koga took out a small boombox he had brought with him to play motivational exercise music as the group stretched and did jumping jacks.

"Hop like a Skiploom!" Koga called. "Let your legs burn, like a Magby just used Ember on them! Make your whole body as flexible as a Hitmonlee's legs!"

"I'm a Skiploom....I'm a Skiploom...I'M A SKIPLOOM!" Amethyst screamed as she did jumping jacks before beginning a new chant as she began to stretch her legs. "I'm a Hitmonlee...I'm a Hitmonlee...I'M A HITMONLEE!"

"Excellent! That's spirit, Amy!" Koga said. "Whitney! Try copying her! Scream 'I'm a Hitmonlee!' as you stretch! It will give you extra motivation!"

"But...but I'm not a Hitmonlee!" Whitney said. "I'd rather be anything than a big, ugly, mean Fighting type who bullies poor, little, cutie pie Normal types!"

"Alright, then use that anger to motivate you!" Koga said. "Scream 'I'm not a Hitmonlee!'"

"OK..." Whitney said taking a deep breath. "I'm...not a Hitmonlee...I'm not a Hitmonlee...I'M NOT A HITMONLEE!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!"

"Wonderful!" Koga said. "We'll make ninjas out of you after all!"

__

"Alright, now, let's practice our backflip!" Janine said. She effortlessly did a backflip on the pavement, complete with a hop and a spin off the ground before she landed on her feet. "It's easy! Whitney, you start."

"OK, no, it's not easy to do a backflip!" Whitney said. "I definitely disagree. Doesn't it take a lot of practice?"

"Yes, but there's no better time to practice than right now." Janine said. "...But you might want to move onto the grass. Doing it here on the pavement may be a bad idea when you're just starting out."

"Alright...here goes nothing!" Whitney said, getting a running start. Once she was on the grass, she turned around and jumped, holding out her hands...only to crash land against the ground. "OWWWW! Ow! Ow! Ow! Owwwwwww!"

"Are you alright, Whitney?" Janine said, helping her up.

"Y-Yeah...I'm fine." Whitney said. "But I told you! It's not easy!"

"Seems like Stella's got the hang of it." Koga said, pointing to the Cleffa, who was effortlessly performing backflip after backflip on the pavement.

"Oh, cut that out you little show-off!" Whitney said, recalling the Cleffa to her Poké Ball and beginning to walk away. "I'm taking a quick snack break. I think I saw a hot dog stand in the distance as I was laying on the ground."

By the time she returned with a hot dog, she found Amethyst performing numerous backflips in a row on the pavement.

"What!?" Whitney said. "This is totally unfair! How can I be the only one who's unable to do a backflip!?"

"You must let a sense of joy and freedom guide your body." Koga said. "Amethyst has mastered that philosophy."

"Yes...I find it very freeing to be able to do backflips like this." Amethyst said. "Back in Lucia, the backflip is considered a very obscene gesture. If you backflip in front of someone, you're likely to get slapped...or worse."

"Oh, my..." Koga said. "I had no idea there was a place where the backflip was considered such a rude thing to do."

"It's liberating to get to do it so freely here, though!" Amethyst said as she continued to backflip. "I feel like I'm taking out my rage against all the people who have wronged me over the course of my life. This backflip is for my governess, who made me write the fifty-seven letters of Lucian alphabet backwards every time I misbehaved during a lesson! And this backflip is for that lousy knight at the annual Dudunsparce jousting tourney a few years ago who cheated and made me lose a bet!"

"She's on a power trip..." Whitney said. "Should we stop her?"

"No." Koga said. "Let her relish this new, fleeting freedom. Let her backflip all day and all night, while she still can..."

__

"Next up is our lesson in stealth!" Koga said. He took out a big bag full of dead autumn leaves and scattered them across the pavement in a long line. "I collected these leaves last autumn in my backyard. They will be your judges in your stealth. Tread upon these leaves without making a sound--not one crunch or crack or anything. Any tiny sound can give you away to the enemy. The key is to be light on your feet...and also to wear the proper shoes. Has everyone put on the sandals I passed out?"

"Yup." Whitney said. "Though I wish they came in a cuter color than tan..."

"These sandals are specially designed to minimize the noise of footfall." Koga said. "Whitney, why don't you start? Try and walk over these leaves, without making a sound."

Whitney took a deep breath then stepped carefully across the line of leaves. After nearly a minute of steady steps, she made it across and then let out a loud cheer.

"Hah! I did it!" Whitney said. "Take that, leaves!"

"...Not quite." Koga said. "True, I could not detect the sound of the leaves crunching. But I could hear your breathing, for instance, how you inhaled sharply before taking a step. And that's another thing--you must work on your speed. Being as quiet as a slumbering Ferroseed means nothing if you cannot also move at the speed of an Accelgor!"

"Moving across the leaves quickly, but without making a sound?" Whitney said. "Is that even possible?"

"Indeed, it is." Koga said. "Given you are willing to practice, that is. Come on, let's keep going. Make another attempt at it, Whitney! Do not get discouraged!"

__

"OK, time for our next challenge, ninjas-in-training." Janine said, having set up a number of large foam blocks on the grass, each spaced a few feet apart. "Jump from block to block. Try to make as little noise as possible, and try to be quick about it. Remember what we practiced? Hop like a Skiploom!"

"Like a Skiploom...like a Skiploom..." Amethyst said, taking a deep breath before running and jumping towards the first foam block. "LIKE A SKIPLOOOOOOOOOOOM!"

"Your Radiance, be careful!" Manaphy said.

Amethyst continued to shout as she jumped quickly from block to block. As she leaped off of the last one, she did a flip in the air before landing right in front of Janine and Koga, who waited for them at the end.

"Nice work, kid!" Janine said. "What was her time, Father?"

"Twenty seconds." Koga said, looking at the stopwatch in his hands. "Excellent work, Amy! It seems like you're a natural-born ninja!"

"Aww, thanks!" Amethyst said. "Hear that, Manaphy? I'm a natural-born ninja!"

"That may be, but you still have bones that break, like any other human being." Manaphy said. "Do be more careful in the future. Isn't there a 'ninja rule' for that? Being careful?"

"Hmm...no, not that I can thing of." Koga said.

"I thought they were all made up in the first place!" Manaphy said.

"Isn't everything made up, when we break it all down to a philosophical level?" Koga said. "Truly, I think we are perchance delving into weighty topics of existentialism and epistemology with such a statement..."

"P-Perchance...!?" Manaphy said. "Never mind. I'm too exhausted to have this debate..."

__

"Now, it's time for our mental exercise challenge!" Koga said as the group sat in a circle in the grass, in the shade of a large tree. "This will test your wit, as well as help you to cultivate the mindset of a ninja. OK, for the first test, take a look at this image and tell me what you see."

Koga held up a piece of paper, onto which was drawn in ink the silhouette of a Pokémon.

"Oh, oh, it's a Lopunny!" Whitney said, raising her hand. "You can see its two long ears."

"That's not a Lopunny!" Amethyst said, shaking her head. "It's a Swanna. Those two things aren't ears, but the open bill of a Swanna, obviously!"

"You are correct, Whitney." Koga said.

"Ha! I knew it!" Whitney said.

"...And Amy is correct too." Koga said.

"Haha! ...Wait, what?" Amethyst said.

"This ink drawing can be interpreted in a number of ways." Koga said. "A Lopunny's ears, a Swanna's bill...those are just two of many correct answers."

"Wait, what does this have to do with being a ninja exactly?" Whitney said. "This seems like something my therapist would make me do..."

"This drawing should serve as a reminder to you all that there are numerous correct answers to many problems." Koga said. "It is a lesson all ninjas must learn; listen to everyone and seek alternative solutions. There can often be many entrances to the same fortress or many different ways throw a single shuriken. If we do not consider different perspectives, we will never find the most effective answer."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it, listen to each other and everything." Amethyst said. "Enough with the lovey-dovey, 'everyone is right' trick questions--give us a question with one correct answer so I can beat Whitney!"

"And here I thought I was competitive..." Whitney said, rolling her eyes.

__

"Alright, you two." Koga said. The sun was beginning to set over National Park. "It is time for your final exam. Pass and you shall both graduate from Koga and Janine's Single Day Ninja Dojo Training Program. But if you fail...well, actually, there's no consequences. You just have to try again. So don't feel stressed! Let us begin!"

Whitney and Amethyst took a deep breath before beginning to race down the obstacle course laid out before them. They began by backflipping over a hurdle. They then tread silently yet quickly over some of the autumn leaves. Next came the foam blocks, which they hopped across speedily. And lastly, they landed in front of Janine, who asked them a number of questions that they had studied earlier.

"What material are traditional Johtonian shinobi shōzoku made of?" Janine said.

"Mareep wool dyed black!" Whitney and Amethyst said in unison.

"What is the first rule of throwing smoke bombs?" Janine said.

"Make sure not to aim them at allies." Whitney and Amethyst said, again in perfect unison.

"And what is the most effective emergency method for sharpening a shuriken mid-mission?" Janine said.

"Use the whetstone contained in your bag!" Whitney and Amethyst said at once.

"...Congratulations." Janine said, bowing her head. "You have both passed."

Whitney and Amethyst cheered and hugged each other as Koga approached.

"Excellent work!" Koga said, drying his eyes. "It brings a tear to my eye...oh, they grow up so fast! My dear pupils...allow me to treat you to dinner, as a graduation gift!"

__

They rode the subway back into the city and went to a nice restaurant near the apartment building. After it was over, they all bid farewell to Koga.

"Do you really have to go, Mr. Koga?" Amethyst said. "I wouldn't mind if you stuck around and gave us a second day of ninja training. It was...kinda fun."

"I'm glad to hear it, but sadly I must depart for Kanto tonight, Amy." Koga said. "I must return to my gym. If I'm gone too long, the Indigo League will take notice and dock my salary...again. But not to worry! You do not need my training, both you and Whitney have proven today you are capable of mastering the way of the ninja by yourself. And besides, you have Janine here with you if you have any more questions or need any further guidance."

"Well, thank you for everything, sir." Whitney said. "Safe travels back to Kanto!"

"Yes, safe travels!" Amethyst said

"...Bye, Father." Janine said, hugging Koga.

"Goodbye." Koga said. "...Are you sure you'll be OK, Janine?"

"Huh?"

"It's just..." Koga said. "...I sense there is something that you are stressed about."

"It's...it's nothing." Janine said, still not sure how to explain the whole situation regarding Amethyst and the Golden Ring Corporation to her father.

"Well...regardless, I know you'll be able to figure it out." Koga said, smiling at his daughter. "Just stay the same strong, courageous, kind young girl that I know you are...and I know you can overcome any obstacle."

"Father..." Janine said. "...Thank you."

After he left on the subway, heading to the Magnet Train station, Janine turned to Amethyst and Whitney.

"Tomorrow...we're going to Circlet Tower." Janine said. "...To put an end to this and save the city! I know we can do it!"

Chapter Text

"Bring Alexandra along?" Whitney said. "Why?"

"It's just the right thing to do." Amethyst said. "Even if the Golden Ring Corporation is our enemy...the fact is that Jasper is Alexandra's trainer. She's clearly quite anxious to be separated from him. You've seen how she paces around the apartment..."

It was true. Though Alexandra had opened up to the trio and let them pet her and feed her, she still acted in ways that displayed she was upset. The conclusion they drew was that she was nervous about being separated from her lifelong trainer.

"Amy's right." Janine said. They were all sitting on the couch, eating ramen while they planned for their raid on Circlet Tower. Alexandra was sprawled out on Janine's lap while she pet the back of her left ear. "Alexandra deserves to be reunited with her owner."

"So we are just going to hand over an extremely dangerous Pokémon to the enemy?" Manaphy said.

"For once, I agree with Manaphy!" Whitney said.

"Guys...we have to do this." Janine said. "Unlike the Corporation, we care about what happens to humans and Pokémon. We can't be selfish like them. We'll take Alexandra back to the tower. Presumably, she will recognize the place, as that seems to be where she was living. I think she'll be able to find her way back to her owner."

"...I guess you're right." Whitney said, sighing. "It's probably for the best. Alexandra does seem to miss that Jasper guy...though I can't imagine why! He seems pretty annoying to me."

"I suppose I've been outvoted." Manaphy said. "Still, if the Marchioness believes this is what needs to be done, then I have no objections."

"Good!" Janine said. "So, step one of the plan will be bringing Alexandra back to her home. Then, step two will commence. Whitney, did you get the stuff?"

"Yup!" Whitney said, grabbing her bag and taking out a number of items. "I stole all this stuff on the job at the Radio Tower. It was surprisingly easy...they don't have a lot of security measures there."

"What are these?" Amethyst said, picking up one of the lanyards that Whitney brought.

"These are press passes." Whitney said. "All Goldenrod Radio journalists where them when they're on the job. These will make us look like real news reporters! That will be our disguise, so we can sneak in with no one being any the wiser!"

"But wait a minute..." Manaphy said. "I thought you told us that the Corporation is very secretive and doesn't allow journalists into the Tower."

"True, but what if the person guarding the front entrance happened to, for instance, get an email from their boss telling them to let a trio of journalists in?" Whitney said. She then pulled out a sheet of paper from her bag. "I printed out this list of contacts. They're email addresses belonging to various important people that are stored in a database by Goldenrod Radio, in case they want to reach out to someone for a story. And look, they've got what looks to be the official email address of the Corporation's CEO, Orro."

"But how?" Amethyst said.

"Maybe a disgruntled former employee leaked it?" Whitney said. "Or maybe it was floating around online somewhere? Who knows? But somehow, Goldenrod Radio got a hold of it, and we can use it to make it look like we're sending an email from Orro's official account. See, I know a thing or two about how email spoofing works. You may say, 'Whitney, isn't that illegal under Goldenrod municipal law?' To which I respond, yes...but also, this guy is apparently trying to abduct a whole city into another dimension to rule over it as a dictator, so who's the bigger threat here? Anyways, with a bit of good ol' fashioned technological wizardry, I can spoof this email address and make it look like the messages I'm sending are coming from Orro. That's our ticket to getting in."

"Which leads us to the rest of the plan." Janine said. "OK, so first..."

__

The next morning, they all got up bright and early. After eating a big breakfast, they put Alexandra in her carrying crate and set off towards Circlet Tower. One quick subway ride later, they stood in front of the giant skyscraper, towering over the surrounding city. They snuck around behind the building, where they found a number of dumpsters and a loading dock for trucks. Alexandra clearly already recognized where she was, as she began to meow loudly and scratch at the bars of her cage. Amethyst set the crate down and opened the door.

"Welcome home, Alex." Amethyst said. She pet the Purrloin as it stepped out of the cage and looked up at the tower. "Be a good little girl, OK? No matter what happens...we're friends. I promise."

Alexandra looked up at Amethyst and then over at Janine and Whitney. She let out a meek meow, which they all interpreted as her saying thank you. She then jumped onto one of the dumpsters and then entered the building through an open window.

"Alright, that's our good deed done for the day." Whitney said as she passed out their press passes. "Phase two starts now. Janine, it's your time to shine."

"Right." Janine said, walking around the side of the building, back towards the front door. She peered through the large glass door and got a good look at the expansive lobby. It had a huge, ornamental fountain at the center of it. Beyond it was a large reception desk, manned by a solitary worker. Other than him, there seemed to be no one else in the lobby. Janine quietly and quickly opened the door before immediately ducking out of view. She crawled over towards the large fountain and hid behind it. Janine raised her head slightly and saw that the man at the front desk had looked up to try and get a view of who was entering the building. When he failed to notice anyone, however, he shrugged and went back to work on his computer. Then Janine had to wait. She braced to wait a long time, but thankfully, just a few minutes later, the man got up and went to use the restroom located next to the desk. While he was gone, Janine sprung to her feet and ran over to the desk. She navigated to the email tab and took a look at the email address used by the desk worker. She then quickly ran out of the lobby, meeting up with Whitney and Amethyst outside the building. She gave Whitney the email address of the desk worker and she quickly drafted him an email, pretending to be Orro.

"...OK, it's been sent." Whitney said. "The guy at the front desk should have just gotten an email from his boss telling him to let three dashing young journalists into the Tower. Let's not keep him waiting, ladies! Remember what we rehearsed? I'll do the talking. You two just smile and nod."

Following Whitney back into the lobby. They walked around the fountain and up to the front desk with total confidence.

"May I help you?" The worker said, not looking up from his computer screen as they approached. "Circlet Tower is not open to the public."

"I'm correspondent Winnie Rolav, with Goldenrod Radio." Whitney said, smiling and showing off the fake ID attached to her lanyard. "We're here to interview a representative from your company."

"There must be some mistake." The worker said. "GRC employees don't give interviews. It's against our company policy. Besides, aren't you all a bit young to be journalists? Especially you, with the beret? You look like a teenager!"

"She's an intern!" Whitney said. "And she looks very young for her age."

"Sure..." The worker said, clearly suspicious.

"If you could just check your email, I think you'll see we've been granted permission to enter." Whitney said.

"Right, well, I'll be the judge of that--" The worker said, going to his email inbox. He raised his eyebrows and was clearly shocked when he saw the message waiting for him. Whitney grinned. He fell for it--hook, line, and sinker. "Oh...you...you three have been in contact with our CEO?"

"Yes!" Whitney said. "He gave us special permission to enter and conduct the interview."

"Well, then, go right ahead!" The worker said, suddenly smiling, looking a bit frightened. He pressed a button which unlocked the doors leading to the rest of the Tower. "Sorry about the confusion, ladies! Enjoy your visit!"

"Thanks!" Whitney said, waving to the man as they entered the door. They made eye contact with two burly security guards standing on the other side. The guards glared at them, but let them pass and enter one of several elevators at the end of the small corridor that the door lead to. When the doors closed, all three of them let out a huge sigh of relief. "It...It worked! It actually worked!"

"Nice job, team." Janine said. "Now, we initiate phase three!"

"Right!" Whitney said. "To the eightieth floor. That's where you think they're keeping Hoopa, right, Amy?"

"...Yes, but...there's one problem..." Amethyst said, looking at the long list of numbered buttons next to the elevator door. "There's no button for floor eighty. It only goes up to the seventy-ninth floor."

"Hm..." Janine said. "Perhaps the eightieth floor cannot be accessed by normal means. There must be some hidden way to enter it. Orro must want to keep whatever he has up there a closely-guarded secret."

"Alright...then to the seventy-ninth floor!" Whitney said, pressing the button. The elevator began to ascend rapidly  "Hoopa, here we come!"

After several minutes of waiting, the elevator soon came to a stop on floor seventy-nine. When they stepped out, the trio found themselves before a sea of cubicles. The sound of people rapidly typing was deafening. Everything else was silent. By every metric, it looked to be a totally normal office. Almost too normal...

"This way." Janine whispered to the others. They quickly snuck over to a janitor's closet near the elevator that Janine found was unlocked. They closed the door and looked through a window out at the office. "OK...this may look like an average office or whatever. But there's gotta be a secret staircase to the eightieth floor somewhere in here..."

"Oh, look!" Amethyst said. She pointed to a door on the other side of the spacious room, down the aisle created by the large maze of cubicles. They were large, solid, steel double doors, with a plate attached to them, identifying the rooms as "Corporate Archives."

"Corporate Archives...?" Whitney said. "Hiding an entrance to your secret lair in a place so boring that no one would ever want to enter...it's brilliant!"

"It's worth taking a look." Janine said. She noticed a janitor's cart sitting in the room along with a number of other supplies. "Here, grab some of this stuff. We'll pretend like we're janitors."

Janine grabbed the cart while Whitney took a mop and Amethyst a broom. They slowly inched their way out of the closet before confidently walking down the aisle, hoping not to attract any attention from the dozens of office workers clicking away at their computers. It turned out they had nothing to worry about. The workers were so absorbed in their tasks that none of them even looked up as the three of them passed. When they reached the door to the archives, Janine found it was locked.

"Not to worry." Janine whispered, removing a clip from her hair. "My father trained me in the art of lockpicking. This simple lock should be no trouble at all..."

Sliding the pick into the lock and jostling it around, Janine soon heard a click and was able to open the door. The three rushed in, closed the door quickly, and let out another sigh of relief. The lights soon turned on automatically, revealing a giant room. The walls were lined with giant bookshelves and filing cabinets.

"Alright, let's look around for a secret entrance." Janine said. "It could be anywhere, so leave no stone unturned, alright?"

After several minutes, Whitney spoke up.

"Guys, over here!" She said. Janine and Amethyst rushed over and found her standing in front of one of the room's many huge bookshelves. On them were giant, thick books labeled "Earnings Report" followed by the year, going back decades. However, when Whitney tried to take one of these books off the shelf, she was unable too. "Look, these books aren't real! I think this may be a clue."

"...Here we go!" Janine said, kneeling down to look at the very bottom row. In a small gap behind one of the fake books, she noticed a small red button. "Should I press it?"

"I mean, who wouldn't?" Whitney said.

"Good point." Janine said, pressing the button. They stepped back and waited for a few seconds. Then, suddenly, the bookshelf sunk into the floor, revealing a hidden passageway behind it.

"Bingo!" Janine said. "We're so close, I can feel it!"

Walking through the revealed corridor, they found it led to a spiral staircase. They soon arrived in a peculiar, palatial-looking room. The floors were made of marble and looked like a chess board, with black and white tiles. Sitting at the center of the room was a golden statue of an Arcanine with a large golden ring in its mouth. The large room was the connecting point for two hallways. Following the left hallway, they found themselves in a spacious office suite, complete with a large desk and a window with a view of the city far below. The room was empty and the lights were off. Janine, Whitney, and Amethyst wandered around the room to search for clues.

"This must be Orro's office..." Janine said.

"Look, I found a hidden room, I think!" Whitney said, finding a string hanging from the ceiling. She pulled on it to open a hatch door built into the ceiling and a ladder fell out of it. Climbing up, they found a small, cozy attic space that they assumed was Orro's bedroom. A giant oil painting of what the man presumably looked like hung on the wall and stared down at them with a sly smile.

"He lives here?" Whitney said, examining a shelf full of identical-looking, purple, antique bottles. "Huh. Kind of a small bedroom for someone who fancies himself a king."

Amethyst wandered around the small bedroom and noticed something on the nightstand. A photo of Orro...and her. Shocked, she snatched the photo to take a closer look at it. Her lip trembled as she wondered why he would have such a photo still...?

"Find something, Amy?" Janine said.

"Er...no." Amethyst said, laying the photo down on the nightstand. "We're wasting time. Hoopa's not in here. Come on. Let's look somewhere else."

"Amy's right." Whitney said. "There's still another room on this floor."

Descending the ladder, they left the office and walked back down the hallway to the room with the golden statue. They then went down the right hallway and found, at the end of it, a room much larger than that of Orro's office. It was pitch black until Janine found the light switch. When she did so, they found that the gigantic room oddly had bare walls and no decor. The only thing inside of it was a small golden cage, sitting on a wooden stool at the center of the room. Inside of it was a slumbering Pokémon. They were small and ghost-like in appearence, with pink and purple colored fur.

"Hoopa!" Amethyst shouted in surprise. She ran over to the cage and grabbed its bars, rattling it until they woke up.

"...M-Marchioness...?" Hoopa said, slowly opening their large amber eyes. "Marchioness! Your Radiance! You...you came! You actually came!"

"I did." Amethyst said. "Just like I promised."

"...Oh, and Captain Manaphy came along!" Hoopa said, looking up at her beret.

"Greetings, milord." Manaphy said. "It is a pleasure to see you again."

"And who might these two be...?" Hoopa said, staring at Janine and Whitney, who stared at Hoopa, shocked and unsure what to say.

"Don't worry, they're my friends!" Amethyst said. "They are residents of this world who have agreed to help me."

"I'm Janine." Janine said, approaching the cage and kneeling down so she was eye level with Hoopa. "Nice to meet you."

"Ohh, what a little cutie!" Whitney said. "I'm Whitney! You wouldn't happen to be a Normal type, would you?"

"Er...no..." Hoopa said. "...Janine, Whitney, I must thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for assisting the Marchioness and coming to rescue me."

"No worries." Janine said. "We want to save Goldenrod just as much as anyone."

"Speaking of...Your Radiance, I must tell you something!" Hoopa said. "The situation has grown even more dire, I fear. Your father...I fear his plans may be unstoppable."

"Wait, wait, wait...Amy's father?" Whitney said. "Amy, what are they talking about...?"

"...Orro." Amethyst said, sighing. "Isn't it obvious? Orro...he is my father."

"What!?" Janine said. "I...I don't understand..."

"I'm sorry that I didn't say anything earlier." Amethyst said. "There is so much I need to explain to you two...but for now, we need to get out of here with Hoopa."

"Right, let's transform and teleport out of here!" Whitney said, as she, Amethyst, and Janine all sent out their Pokémon. "We can discuss everything afterwards."

"OK...Radiant Heart Bond Metamorphosis!" Amethyst said. Manaphy blasted a beam of light from their antennae, which created a luminous forcefield around the group. In the blink of an eye, they transformed into their Whole-Hearted Formes.

"Thirty Yard Lunar Teleportation!" Whitney called. Stella began to flap her ears. Everyone waited to be cloaked in light and suddenly be teleported away...but no matter how hard Stella tried, she seemed unable to use the move.

"What...?" Amethyst said. "N-No! We're too late...!"

"Indeed you are, dear Marchioness!"

Everyone spun around and saw Jasper walking down the hallway, approaching the group with a wicked grin on his face and a new Ruby Brooch resting on his chest.

"So, it's true." Jasper said. "Intruders slipped in, right under our noses! I suppose we underestimated you. We'll have to invest in some better security measures in the future--"

"Ultra Psy Star Shuriken!" Janine said. She tossed a shuriken at Jasper, aiming for the Brooch. However, he jumped out of the way of the attack and immediately sent out his two Pokémon; Opal and Amber.

"You'll have to be more clever than that this time!" Jasper said. He suddenly grabbed the lapel of his cream-colored overcoat and revealed, inside of the jacket, he had numerous Ruby Brooches pinned on the interior fabric. "I have come prepared."

"...Secretary Jasper? What is all this ruckus about?"

"Ah, Your Grace!" Jasper said. "Just in time! Come and greet our rude little guests...or should I say pests!"

"Father..." Amethyst whispered as Orro shoved Jasper out of the way as he came walking down the hallway. Everyone grew silent as he stared down at Amethyst with an inscrutable, frowning expression.

"Ah...Amethyst, my dear daughter..." He said, smiling coldly. "At long last you have arrived."

"I...I didn't want to believe it was true." Amethyst said. "What Hoopa told me about your plans to...to abduct this city and become its king..."

"Be a good girl and step aside." Orro said. "Set down Hoopa's cage and come with me. I'll show you and your friends to your bedroom in the basement. I just had it cleaned this morning."

"My bedroom?" Amethyst said. "You mean the cell you kept me in!?"

"Enough of this attitude." Orro said. "I am your father. I am your king. Obey me. Be a good little girl and obey!"

"No..." Amethyst said. "No! You...you are not my father!"

"...What a foolish, ungrateful child." Orro said, shaking his head. "I hoped I wouldn't have to do this the hard way..."

"Hey! You creep!" Whitney said. "Don't you dare talk to Amy like that!"

"Amy...?" Orro said.

"Amy's our friend, and we won't let you kidnap her again!" Janine said.

"Hm...so, Amethyst, you made friends during your stay in this city?" Orro said. "How cute. Sadly...your little handmaidens must die, right here, right now. I will not allow anyone to interfere with my plans to become the king of Neo Crystal Goldenrod!"

"No!" Amethyst said. "I...I won't let you!"

"Then a fight it shall be." Orro said, reaching into his suit and grabbing two Poké Balls. He sent out his Pokémon; an Arcanine and Dachsbun.

"Orro...don't do this!" Hoopa said. "I brought your daughter here to try and talk some sense into you! Won't you listen to her!?"

"I shall not entertain the foolish opinions of a mere child..." Orro said. "I know that the path I walk is a righteous and virtuous road. Even if the idiotic populace of this city doesn't realize it at first...this is what is best for them. One day, they shall all think of me as a hero, a savior, their benevolent sovereign, King Orro the First--King Orro the Great! Obsidian! Flamethrower!"

Orro's Arcanine blasted a pillar of fire from their mouth towards Flora and Janine, who flapped their wings to quickly fly out of the way of the attack.

"Psycho Radar Blast Beam!" Janine said as she landed. Flora flew towards the Arcanine and blasted a laser beam from her blinking eyes. The Arcanine, however, dodged the attack by hopping out of the way.

"Opal! Night Slash!" Jasper called. The Meowscarada ran towards Whitney, raising her claws and preparing to slash at her.

"Super Swift Comet Kick!" Whitney said, kicking the air and unleashing a barrage of star-shaped projectiles from her shoes. They collided into Opal and knocked her backwards.

"Radiant Scepter Spark Barrage!" Amethyst said, raising her scepter and blasting a number of electric spheres at Amber. Amber dodged each of them before closing in on Amethyst and prepared to use Slash on her. Amethyst, however, deflected the attack with her shield.

"Ultra Psy Star Shuriken!" Janine said. Amethyst tossed her shield into the air, with Amber clinging onto it, her claws dug into the metal. While in midair, Janine tossed a number of shuriken at the shield, striking the Meowth multiple times. Amber lost her grip on the shield and went flying across the room, landing at Jasper's feet. The shield, meanwhile, fell downwards and was grabbed out of the air by Amethyst once more.

"Hmph...tough as ever I see!" Jasper said, the corners of his smiling mouth twitching. "No matter, no matter! We won't lose!"

"Obsidian! Flamethrower, again!" Orro called to his Arcanine before turning his attention on his Dachsbun. "Copper! Get ready!"

Copper the Dachsbun let out a bark as Obsidian turned toward his allied Pokémon and used Flamethrower on him. Copper did not take damage thanks, but instead, his body grew tougher and darker in color. He let out a determined howl as the flames surrounding his body faded.

"Now, use Giga Impact!" Orro said. Copper dashed towards Janine and headbutted her in the stomach with his hard-as-iron head. Janine let out a loud grunt of pain as she was knocked to the ground.

"Ah! Janine!" Amethyst said, before raising her scepter. "Ferra! Super Team-Up Electro Spike Artillery!"

Ferra absorbed the electric energy discharged from Amethyst's scepter. She then spun around and launched a number of spikes from her back. They collided with Copper, but did little damage, shattering on impact with Copper's hardened body.

"Opal! Slash! Kill that purple-haired ninja girl!" Jasper screamed. Opal rushed towards Janine, who was still struggling to get off the ground after being knocked down by Copper.

"No!" Whitney screamed as the Meowscarada flew towards Janine and prepared to sink her claws directly into Janine's neck. "JANINE!"

Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, Alexandra hopped onto the battlefield, landing on Janine's chest as Opal closed in on her. She used Sucker Punch, raising a paw and jabbing quickly at Opal's stomach. The Meowscarada stumbled backwards and Alexandra took the opportunity to leap onto her and use Fury Swipes directly on her face. Opal screeched loudly and flailed her arms before finally knocking Alexandra off of her. Alexandra landed gracefully in front of Janine, hissing at Opal.

"A-Alexandra!?" Jasper said.

"What!?" Orro said. "What is that damned Purrloin doing here!? And why is it attacking your Pokémon, Jasper!?"

"Alexandra! Come here!" Jasper said, rushing towards her with open arms. As he did, however, Alexandra backed away slightly, looking up at him with anger. She hissed at him as she stood in front of Janine, declaring her intent to continue to defend her. "Wh-What!? I don't understand...Alexandra, those are our enemies! Why are you defending that ninja girl!?"

"Alex is our friend now!" Amethyst said. "She won't let you hurt Janine!"

"Hmph...this is ridiculous!" Orro said. "Obsidian! Copper! Dispose of that pesky Purrloin!"

Obsidian used Extreme Speed. In the blink of an eye, he rushed over towards Alexandra. He headbutted her before grabbing her with his fangs. Shaking the Purrloin around, he then tossed her in the air. Copper then used Dazzling Gleam, blasting a luminous pink beam of energy from his mouth, striking Alexandra. She fell to the ground with a thud, fainted.

"Alexandra!" Jasper cried and kneeled down next to his Pokémon. "Are you hurt!? Oh, my little baby--!"

"Enough with your babbling, Jasper!" Orro said. "Get up and help me kill them!"

Jasper looked down at his partner Pokémon, then up at Janine, and then turned around to look at Orro.

"Galactic Impact Meteor Mash!" Whitney said. Flapping her long ears, Stella took flight. She flew towards Jasper and knocked him to the ground. Janine then ran over and grabbed his overcoat.

"Ultra Psy Star Shuriken!" Janine called as she tossed the jacket into the air and tossed a number of shuriken at it, causing all of the Ruby Brooches inside of it to shatter.

"Thirty Yard Lunar Teleportation!" Whitney said as Stella landed at her feet. Stella flapped her ears again...but still, nothing happened. "Wait...what is it this time!?"

Orro laughed. He pulled down the collar of his shirt to reveal he was also wearing a Ruby Brooch.

"Of course, I came prepared as well." Orro said, grinning. "It's time to finish this! Jasper, on your feet!"

"Y-Yes...Your Grace...!" Jasper said, stumbling as he got back on his feet, still clearly in pain. He returned Alexandra to her Poké Ball before barking orders to his Pokémon. "O-Opal! Amber! Don't...don't give up! Energy Ball! Throat Chop!"

Opal leaped off the ground, spinning around in the air and blasting a flurry of green spheres of energy towards Amethyst. She raised her shield and blocked many of them, but the final sphere was able to strike her directly on the head.

"Amy!" Janine screamed as Amethyst stumbled backwards, dropping her shield. Amber then rushed towards Amethyst. She quickly climbed up her body and raised her paw. She jabbed it quickly into Amethyst's neck, left exposed despite her armor. Amethyst screamed in pain as she fell to the ground, hit her head, and fainted.

"No! Amy!" Whitney said. "AMY!"

"Extreme Speed! Thunder Fang! Target that Manaphy! They are the source of their power!" Orro said. Manaphy, who had leaped off of Amethyst's beret as she collapsed, tried to run in the opposite direction. However, Obsidian quickly closed the distance between them and grabbed Manaphy in his jaw. He then tossed Manaphy into the air, prompting Copper to jump upwards. Electricity burst from his fangs as he jumped towards Manaphy and bit them harshly. Landing on the ground, Copper shook Manaphy around savagely in his electrified jaw before tossing them to the ground, fainted.

"Manaphy!" Janine said. Suddenly, light began to surround Janine, Whitney, and their Pokémon and they were suddenly transformed back into their normal formes. "N-No! We've lost our powers!"

"Surrender now and become our prisoners." Orro said. "...Or be put to death. The choice is yours."

Janine and Whitney looked at each other. They moved closer to one another as Orro's Pokémon both slowly walked towards them, growling and baring their teeth. Clasping Whitney's hand tightly, Janine bowed her head.

"We...we surrender..." Janine said. "Just...don't hurt us...please!"

"Excellent." Orro said, grinning as he walked over to them. "Bow to your king, handmaidens. Bow!"

Janine and Whitney got on their knees as Orro approached. He leaned over them, his grin growing larger and more maniacal.

"Peasants who dare interfere with the affairs of their monarch..." Orro screamed in their faces. "...shall be punished! To the dungeon with you! Now! Your king demands it!"

Chapter Text

"Oh...my poor little Purrloin..." Jasper said, cradling Alexandra in his arms. He pet behind her left ear, causing her to purr happily. He had just healed her up from the previous battle and they were both relishing in the joy of their reunion. "I'm so glad you're safe. I'm so glad you're home. We've been through so much...too much...for anything to keep us separated. Whatever you want, I promise. I'll do it..."

Alexandra looked up at him and meowed. She looked at him then just as she had looked at that purple-haired ninja girl, who she inexplicably tried to protect during the battle. Jasper couldn't help but wonder what had happened to Alexandra while they were apart. What had those three girls done to earn the trust of his beloved Purrloin...?

The door opened. Orro walked into his office and sat behind his desk, opposite to Jasper.

"Your Grace..." Jasper said, bowing his head. "Forgive me. I had to tend to Alexandra's wounds. What happened with Hoopa and the prisoners?"

"Hoopa has been returned to their cage, while the Marchioness and her two little friends have been safely stowed away in the basement cell." Orro said. "They shall be held down there until we can achieve our goal."

"Your Grace...forgive me, I still fail to understand why..." Jasper said. "...Why you spared them? Why did you offer them surrender? You could have killed those two girls guarding the Marchioness right then, right there...and yet you let them live and become your prisoners?"

"I would not expect a mere pawn to understand." Orro said. "During the course of the battle, I realized that those two--Amethyst's guardians--they were much more capable fighters than I had initially thought. They are just the kind of pawns I will need to amass once I abduct the city and begin the work of cementing my rule."

"Pawns...? You would have those two girls as your minions?"

"Indeed." Orro said. "A monarch needs a robust standing army, full of powerful warriors who will snuff out any threat to their monarch's rule. Those two are prime candidates, I think."

"Do you truly believe they will join our cause, however?" Jasper said. "I do not see how that is possible."

"Oh, it is more than possible." Orro said. "Despite what you may have heard, Jasper, the human will is a flimsy thing. With the lightest amount of force, it can be snapped like a twig. Everyone in Goldenrod--not just those two girls--shall soon lose grip on their long-held convictions and beliefs. I will eviscerate their aspirations and utopian ideals, and have them all accept me as their one true king. If I cannot convince two mere girls to join me, then how shall I ever convince an entire city?"

"Yes...Your Grace..." Jasper said. "Forgive me. I did not mean to question your plan..."

"Now, then, Secretary Jasper..." Orro said. "...Or perhaps it is time I restore your former title, 'Chancellor Jasper'? We are on the cusp of creating the Radiant Kingdom of Neo Crystal Goldenrod, after all. The final segment of the ring shall be installed before the day is over. It is time we abandon this veneer of corporate vocabulary and embrace our true roles--that of monarchical governors, ruling by royal right and royal might. Chancellor Jasper! Here is your first demand from King Orro the Great of Neo Crystal Goldenrod!"

"Yes, Your Grace!" Jasper said, standing up from his seat, still carrying Alexandra. He was ready to leap into action and do whatever his king told him.

"Dispose of that Pokémon of yours at once." Orro said, pointing to Alexandra.

"Wh-What...?"

"She has proven herself to be untrustworthy." Orro said. "She is a threat to us. She must be eliminated. I care not how you do it. Just get rid of her."

"Y-Your Grace..."

"You dare defy my order?"

"Your Grace--"

"Why are sitting here, babbling and whining like this?" Orro screamed. "I am your king! When I tell you to do something, you do it!"

"Your Grace...please! Alexandra...Alexandra is the only friend I have in this world--"

"Apparently not." Orro said. "You saw her earlier today, how she tried to protect one of those girls guarding Amethyst. That damned Purrloin is not on our side. And so, she must be disposed of like the trash that she is."

"Y-Your Grace..."

"Go!" Orro said, slamming his fist on his desk. "Fulfill your duties, Chancellor!"

With tears in his eyes, Jasper looked down at the Purrloin in his arms. He spun around and walked out of the office. Entering the hallway, Alexandra suddenly hopped out of his arms. Sniffing the ground intently, she began to wander off.

"Alexandra!" Jasper said. "Come back here! Where are you going...!?"

__

When Orro said they would be sent to a dungeon, Janine and Whitney both expected a place that was very dark and drab. However, the place that the Corporation's grunts brought them to in handcuffs--along with the still fainted Amethyst--was decorated to look like the bedroom of a princess. There was a large canopy bed at the center of the room with glittery lavender curtains. A golden chandelier hung from the ceiling. In the corner of the room was a giant chest full of dolls and other toys. In the other corner was a giant bookshelf, with children's books in some kind of indecipherable alien script. The grunts seized each of their Pokémon before locking them inside the cell. After about an hour of trying to break through the thick steel door, Janine and Whitney gave up. They sat on the bed until Amethyst finally awoke.

"Amy...!" Janine said. She and Whitney both hugged her. "You're OK! Oh, thank goodness..."

"Janine...Whitney..." Amethyst said. "It...It's over...isn't it? We lost..."

"I'm not sure..." Whitney said. "...But it is looking pretty bad right about now..."

They all fell silent. After a few minutes, Amethyst cleared her throat.

"I owe you all an explanation." She said. "No more secrets. No more omissions. Here it is. The full story...of me, of Orro, of the royal family of the Radiant Realm of Lucia...

"Once upon a time, there was a lonely young boy named Orro. He grew up poor in a gigantic metropolis called Goldenrod. One day, he met a Pokémon thought only to exist in myth and legend, named Hoopa. Hoopa and the boy became friends and--using Hoopa's special powers--they traveled to a number of parallel dimensions and had all sorts of grand adventures. On a vast desert planet, they rescued a young swordsman named Jasper, and his loyal partner, Alexandra the Purrloin. Jasper swore an oath of loyalty to Orro and followed him and Hoopa on their adventures.

"One day, the party arrived in Parallel Earth CR-121400 and stumbled across a small yet wealthy and powerful country--the Radiant Realm of Lucia. It was a magical place, where crystals grew from the ground like trees and grass. Soon after arriving in Lucia, Orro encountered a ghastly scene in the town square of the capital city. A young girl was surrounded by bandits who wished to kidnap and ransom her. Orro--who was, at that time, a dashing young man--jumped into the fray. He saved the young girl and chased off the bandits. But this girl...she was no ordinary person. No, her name was Gatea, daughter of the Marquess--the ruler of Lucia. Gatea naturally fell in love with the gallant young man who saved her life and her father, the Marquess, was so pleased with the boy's actions that he appointed him as a knight of the realm, with Jasper becoming his ever-loyal page. When they were both old enough, Gatea and Orro married. They had a child together--a young girl who looked much like her mother. They named her Amethyst.

"Soon after Amethyst's birth, the old Marquess died. Gatea succeeded him to his throne and became the new Marchioness of Lucia. However, tragedy struck just a few years into her reign. She suddenly grew ill with an incurable disease. She quickly perished. Amethyst, being a mere child at the time, was naturally unfit to rule. So it was decided that her father, Orro, would rule Lucia as Marquess Regent. And so, for fifteen years, as Amethyst grew up, her father ruled over Lucia. Jasper was appointed Chancellor of the realm, assisting the Marquess as he presided over a dark age in Lucia's history. Obtaining the power he always desired corrupted Orro. He wanted more. The tiny realm of Lucia wasn't enough for him. He wouldn't be satisfied, he decided, until he could rule over Goldenrod, the very same city where he languished in poverty during his youth. So, he conducted a plan. He stole the precious gemstones which were so abundant in Lucia. Using portals created by Hoopa--who was still a close friend and advisor of Orro after all this time--he smuggled unfathomable amounts of gems out of Lucia. He practically bankrupted the realm with his act of grand theft. He took those gems he stole back to the world where he came from and sold them for massive profit. He used that money to build up a massive company--the Golden Ring Corporation--which began to amass great amounts of land and power in Goldenrod. Meanwhile, back in Lucia, the people were outraged and word soon spread that the king was responsible for the theft of Lucia's supply of gems. They stormed the Crystal Palace and threatened to behead the king. Orro, Jasper, and Hoopa escaped into a portal. Orro began to live in Goldenrod full time as the enigmatic CEO of the Golden Ring Coroporation.

"But what happened to the daughter he abandoned--Amethyst? For many years, the young Marchioness-to-be had been neglected by her father, locked away in her bedroom, out of sight, out of the way. When the Crystal Palace was besieged by the angry public, they found Amethyst and forced her into exile, declaring an end to the millennia-old bloodline of Lucian marquesses and marchionesses. Young Amethyst, with no one at her side but her loyal knight, Manaphy, began to wander around the Lucian countryside, seeking temporary shelter with benevolent strangers who allowed them to stay in their homes as a boarder or temporary laborer. Soon, however, she would be forced to leave, knowing there would be trouble if she stayed in one place for too long. Two sad years of this elapsed. And then, one night, as Amethyst and Manaphy were sleeping in a field, a portal opened up in the sky above them. Out of it came Hoopa, who Amethyst recognized at once. Hoopa had often come to play with and entertain the young Marchioness throughout her childhood. She considered them a dear friend. They had appeared to give her a grave warning...

"Hoopa told Amethyst of a plot. Her father, Orro, wanted to transform Goldenrod into his own personal realm, which he would rule over as a dictator. Hoopa had long since grown disillusioned with Orro. They had seen firsthand how the young, innocent boy they once knew became corrupted with power. Worried that his plans would cause suffering for countless people and Pokémon alike, Hoopa tried to talk some sense into his old friend. Orro, however, refused to listen. So Hoopa returned to Parallel Earth CR-121400 and sought out Amethyst. Hoopa thought that the only person who may be able to convince Orro to stop was his own daughter. Amethyst was skeptical...but she didn't want the innocent people of Goldenrod to be subjected to her father's cruelty and tyranny. So, she traveled with Hoopa through a portal and came to Goldenrod. She and Hoopa scaled the Circlet Tower to speak with Orro. Father and daughter faced each other for the first time in years, and despite her pleas and tears, Amethyst was unable to convince him to change course. He had both Hoopa and his own daughter imprisoned, identifying them as threats to his plot. For many weeks, Amethyst resided in this very cell, which her father had decorated to look like that palace bedroom which she spent so many hours imprisoned within as a child. He wished to break her...but she wouldn't be broken. After many, many hours of scratching and punching at the lock on the cell door, she was able to break free and eventually escape from Circlet Tower. She was pursued by the GRC's grunts through the streets of Goldenrod...until one day, she came across two kind young women, who agreed to let her live in their apartment and help her save the city. 

"Sadly...this is where the story ends." Amethyst said, tears rolling down her face. "The Marchioness and the two women who agreed to help her...stuck in the same cell...trapped. Helpless. Unable to do anything as they brace for the city they love to be transported to another dimension...to become the plaything of a maniacal despot, starving for power..."

Janine and Whitney again embraced Amethyst. Janine tried to think of what to say. There seemed to be no words left...nothing to hold onto, no reason to believe that there was hope left. They were trapped, just as Amethyst said. They could try and break through the lock of the cell door, though Amethyst said that had taken weeks, and Orro had certainly taken extra security measures for the cell ever since Amethyst's previous escape attempt. Could they truly escape the Tower before the Great Ring was completed and Goldenrod was abducted...? It seemed hopeless...

Hopeless...

Just stay the same strong, courageous, kind young girl that I know you are...and I know you can overcome any obstacle.

The words of her father. They came to mind, suddenly. What he told her just before he left. Was it really not even a day ago that she had seen him...? And was it true that she would never see him again...?

"No..."

"Janine...?" Whitney said.

"No..." Janine said, shaking her head. "This...this isn't the end. There's still hope! Even if things seem bad right now, we've still got to try!"

Janine hopped off of the bed. She ran over to the cell door. Removing her hairpin, she jammed it into the lock and attempted to pick it. After a few minutes of trying, however, the pin snapped in half as she tried to pull it out.

"Dammit!" Janine said.

"...Watch out, Janine!"

Janine scrambled to get out of the way as Whitney ran into the steel door, slamming herself against it. She didn't even make a dent, despite the force of the impact. However, she got back up and did it again. And again. And again. Janine soon joined her as they tried to ram down the door.

"Don't...give...up!" Whitney said. "We can't give up!"

"...Right!" Amethyst said, getting off the bed and lining up with them on the opposite side of the room to the door, preparing to charge at it. "Let's GO!"

The trio ran at full speed and rammed into the steel door. This time, the door began to move when they slammed into it. For a moment, they wondered if they had succeeded in knocking the door down. However, as the door flew open, they saw it was not their doing, but rather Jasper, who had opened the door with a key.

"Y-You!" Whitney said, getting into a fighting stance. "Have you come to kill us or something!?"

"No!" Jasper said. "Lower your voice! I...I've come to...to set you free..."

"Wait...what!?" Amethyst said. "Chancellor Jasper...is this a trick!?"

"No!" Jasper said. "It's not even my plan..."

"What do you mean--?" Janine said. Suddenly, Alexandra emerged from behind Jasper's legs. She walked over and nuzzled her head against Janine's legs, clearly glad to see she was OK. "...Alexandra! You're alright!"

"...Alexandra led me here and...basically demanded I set you free..." Jasper said. "I don't quite know what you did with her while she was separated from me. But...if she trusts you...then I do too. Alexandra is the only person I've ever been able to trust. For too long, I've been a pawn of Orro's. It took Alexandra to help me wake up and come to my senses. His plan...is evil. And the power he has promised me in return for helping him...it will not make me happy. I've decided to listen to Alexandra...to trust her. And that means...I must trust you three as well."

"Jasper..." Amethyst said. "...Thank you."

"Thank her...not me." Jasper said, pointing to his Purrloin, before reaching into his jacket and grabbing a number of Poké Balls. "Here, I was able to grab your Pokémon. Take them and leave this place, at once! I'll go and distract the guards. You have no time to lose...in just a few hours, the very last segment of the Great Ring will be installed. Orro has other Hoopa...Hoopa who are still loyal to him and will use their powers to activate the Great Ring as soon as it is completed. You must go to where the last segment is being installed and stop Orro, somehow."

"Do you know where the last segment is being installed?" Janine said.

"Yes, I have the address written down..." Jasper said, looking down at his palm. "Let's see...the last segment will be installed in the basement of...'245 Meowth Court Apartments, Azalea Street.' Do you know where that may be?"

"...Yes." Janine said. "It rings a bell."

Chapter Text

Thanks to Jasper's distraction, the group were able to get out of Circlet Tower. They went to the nearest subway station and hopped on the next train to Azalea Street. As they sat in the car, they prepared for the battle ahead.

"Thank goodness you're OK..." Amethyst said, hugging Manaphy upon sending them out of their ball. "I was worried they had done something horrible to you!"

"Do not worry, Marchioness." Manaphy said. "I promise, I shall never abandon you! No matter what those fiends had tried to do to me, I would have survived for your sake! I intend to finish what we've started."

"Good to see ya, FiFi!" Whitney said, petting their head.

"Ugh...I thought you forgot about that nickname..." Manaphy said.

"I'll never let it die!" Whitney said. "You'll always be FiFi to me, FiFi!"

"OK, OK, enough bickering." Janine said. "We've got to brace ourselves for what's to come."

"Right..." Whitney. "The final battle. One way or another, it all ends here, tonight. To think that the last segment of the Great Ring was being constructed right beneath our noses, in the very place we've been living all this time."

"We'll head down to the basement and try to find where they're installing the last segment." Janine said. "And then we'll...we'll...I don't know..."

"You don't know?" Amethyst said.

"I mean, we've already been defeated by Orro and his Pokémon before..." Janine said. "Fighting him again might just be a waste of time."

"But what else can we do besides fight?" Whitney said.

"...Change his heart." Amethyst said. "Break his will."

"What?" Janine said. "A change of heart...is it possible?"

"Maybe." Amethyst said. "I'd say it's our best bet. We just need to get to him and...try and convince him that what he is doing is wrong."

"...Alright." Janine said. "Even if we don't have a clear plan...we'll try it, Amy. We'll try and change his heart..."

__

Arriving on Azalea Street, they found a large crowd of people congregated outside of the apartment building.

"What's going on?" Janine said, approaching one of the members of the crowd, recognizing him as one of their neighbors.

"I dunno." The man said. "No one knows. The fire alarm just went off and we were all told to come outside. But it's weird...no firefighters have shown up yet. And there doesn't seem to be a fire..."

"Let's go." Whitney said, beginning to shove through the crowd. "We have no time to waste."

Janine and Amethyst followed Whitney as they trudged through the huge crowd. Reaching the front door, they found a number of GRC grunts standing there, blocking the entrance.

"No one's allowed inside the building--" The grunt said, but was interrupted when Whitney slapped him in the face. Janine then grabbed him by the arms, spun him around, and slammed him down onto the pavement. Members of the crowd began to gasp as the fight broke out. The other two grunts stepped forward to fight back, but Manaphy began to spin around and use Bubble Beam, knocking both of them to the ground as well. With the grunts knocked over, the trio went through the front door and noticed the door to the basement located in the lobby was wide open. As the three grunts got up to chase them, the trio ran through the door, slamming and locking it behind them. They ran down a large staircase, entering the basement.

"I had no idea this place had such a large basement..." Whitney said. "To think all of this was right underneath our apartment the entire time!"

"Let's go ahead and transform." Janine said as they reached the bottom of the stairs. "This place is probably swarming with grunts!"

"Right! Radiant Heart Bond Metamorphosis!" Amethyst said. One last time, Manaphy blasted a beam of light from their antennae. In the blink of an eye, the three transformed into their Whole-Hearted Formes and began to run down the hallway. Bashing down a door at the end of the dark, dusty corridor, they found themselves in what seemed to be a long-abandoned ballroom. In the center of the room, four grunts stood guard.

"Hey!" One of the grunts said, turning around as they entered. "Intruder Alert! Everyone, get in position!"

The four grunts all sent out their Pokémon; a Houndoom, Smeargle, Stoutland, and Midnight Forme Lycanroc. Janine, Whitney, and Amethyst all sent out Flora, Stella, and Ferra respectively.

"Super Swift Comet Kick!" Whitney called as the Stoutland began to rush towards her. The stars released from her kick smashed into the large Pokémon and sent them flying backwards.

"Ultra Psy Star Shuriken!" Janine called. Materializing numerous shuriken made out of psychic energy in her gloves, she tossed them at each the Lycanroc approaching her. The Lycanroc was also knocked backwards by the attack, landing on their back.

"Radiant Scepter Spark Barrage!" Amethyst called, twirling her scepter and launching a number of electric spheres at the two Pokémon running at her; Houndoom and Smeargle. Houdoom was struck and knocked away, but Smeargle spun their tail around used Teleport. They vanished for a second and then suddenly showed up behind Amethyst. They then raised their foot to use Mega Kick, knocking Amethyst to the ground.

"Ah! Amy!" Janine screamed. "Flora! Psycho Radar Blast Beam!"

Flora's eyes blinked pink rapidly before she launched a rainbow laser at the Smeargle. They used Bounce to try and dodge the attack, but were caught off guard by Stella.

"Galactic Impact Meteor Mash!" Whitney called. Stella flew upwards and crashed directly into Smeargle. Smeargle fell several feet and landed with a thud, fainted.

"Get up and attack!" One of the grunts called as the three remaining Pokémon slowly recovered from their attacks and got back up.

"We cannot waste too much more time battling them!" Amethyst said. "We've got to hurry! It's time for our Special Bond Maneuvers!"

"Right!" Janine said. "OK, Flora! Super Team-Up Shadow Lurking Double Veno-Strike!"

Both Janine and Flora flew upwards and disappeared in a puff of smoke. A second later, Flora emerged from hiding, right in front of the Houndoom who was charging towards them. Flora headbutted the surprised Houndoom, launching them into the air. Janine then appeared in midair in another cloud of smoke, right above the Houndoom. She dived down and crashed into the Houndoom, sending them crashing to the ground and leaving them fainted.

"Super Team-Up Soothing Metronome Lullaby!" Whitney called. Stella wiggled their long ears to produce a ticking sound. Whitney then began to sing. "Ohhh baby, baby, baby! Don't say maybe, maybe, maybe! I've got Cute Charm like a Clefairy! Can't heal this status condition with any berrrrrrrryyyyyyyy!"

The Stoutland approaching them suddenly began to doze off. Their eyes shut and they tripped onto the floor, snoring loudly.

"Super Swift Comet Kick!" Whitney called as she hopped into the air. She performed a flurry of kicks, releasing a barrage of stars, each of which crashed into the sleeping Stoutland and sent them flying backwards. They crashed into the wall on the other side of the room and fainted upon landing on the ground.

"Super Team-Up Electro Spike Artillery!" Amethyst called. She began to spin her scepter, unleashing a huge bolt of electricity which Ferra absorbed with her lightning rod tail. Her electric whiskers flared up as she then spun around and launched a series of electrified spikes from her back. All of the spikes raced toward the approaching Lycanroc. They used Shadow Claw to break some of the spikes before they made impact, but the final few spikes struck Lyncanroc in the chest. They too were knocked to the ground, fainted.

"Let us pass!" Amethyst said, raising her scepter.

The grunts exchanged a glance, clearly frightened. They stepped aside as the trio ran through the door on the other side of the ballroom. They rushed down a winding hallway and then down another staircase. They then arrived in another room; a dining hall, containing a long table with a white cloth draped over it and dusty plates still set out, presumably from the last time someone had eaten here many decades prior. Atop the table stood two familiar Pokémon; Obsidian the Arcanine and Copper the Dachsbun. Their trainer was nowhere to be seen, however...

"Dammit!" Whitney said. "I was hoping we wouldn't run into these assholes again..."

Both Pokémon let out loud barks as they hopped off the table and prepared for battle. Obsidian used Flamethrower on Copper, browning and hardening their body just like last time. Dachsbun ran towards Janine to use Headbutt. This time, however, Janine was ready. She backflipped out of the way and spun around to counterattack.

"Ultra Psy Star Shuriken!" Janine said, tossing a series of shuriken at the Dachsbun. Each one, however, simply shattered on impact. Copper quickly turned around and charged at her again.

"Twirling Electromagnetic Bolt Ribbon!" Amethyst called. Ferra jumped upwards and began to spin around. From her tail, she blasted a ribbon of gray electric energy. The bolt coiled around Dachsbun's body. Copper absorbed most of the damage from the attack, but was left paralyzed.

"Watch out!" Janine called to Whitney as she noticed Obsidian charging towards her. Whitney looked over her shoulder at the approaching Arcanine and jumped up on the nearby dining room table to avoid the attack. Obsidian then spun around and used Flamethrower on the table cloth. The cloth quickly became engulfed in flames. Whitney jumped off it once more.

"Super Swift Comet Kick!" Whitney called, kicking the air and unleashing another flurry of stars. Obsidian dodged many of them with quick hops, but one star struck him in the snout, knocking him onto his back.

"Galactic Impact Meteor Mash!" Whitney called. Stella, who had been sitting on the ground, waiting for orders, suddenly flapped her long ears and began to fly. She twirled around in the air before diving towards Obsidian and striking them directly in the chest. 

"Radiant Scepter Spark Barrage!" Amethyst called as she spun around her scepter. Obsidian was targeted and struck by a number of electric spheres. After being barraged by them, he stood up and bared his teeth, determined to continue the fight. However, his legs began to tremble and he suddenly collapsed to the ground, fainted.

"One more to go!" Janine said as they all turned their eyes on the paralyzed Dachsbun, who had gotten back to his feet and charged at Amethyst. Amethyst raised her shield in time to block the headbutt that Copper had hoped to deliver. Copper bashed his hardened head against the shield over and over again, hoping to break through and attack Amethyst. Finally, he grew dizzy and stumbled backwards. Manaphy, sitting on Amethyst's beret as usual, saw an opening for an attack.

"Hydro Pump!" They screamed as they unleashed a torrent of raging water from their small mouth. Copper was knocked backwards and landed on their stomach. Still paralyzed, they were unable to get up.

"Let's finish this!" Amethyst said. She reached out and took Janine and Whitney's hands. "Everyone! Say, 'Bonded Souls Tri Attack' then raise your hands in the air."

"Bonded Souls Tri Attack!" They all called in unison as they raised their hands. Out of their balms burst three beams of energy; one dark purple, one lavender, one pink. Each beam struck Copper, piercing his defenses at last, and leaving him fainted.

"Come on!" Amethyst said, struggling to catch her breath but still rushing across the room to the door on the other end. "If Orro's Pokémon are here, he must be close!"

__

"It's almost time..." Orro said. His army of loyal Hoopa levitated behind him as he stood below the final segment of the Great Ring. Two Machoke were using ropes to hoist the last segment in place, whereupon the three grunts in the room would weld it to the rest of the ring. All that remained was Orro giving the orders to one of his Hoopa to turn the giant ring into a portal. The city would be sucked through the portal and arrive in Parallel Dimension NL-487493. Then the real work began...

He thought he was imagining things when a number of shuriken flew over his head. They sliced the iron cord that was being used to suspend the last segment. The huge tube of gold came crashing to the ground. More shuriken came flying out of nowhere, striking each Machoke and grunt directly on the head. Each of them collapsed suddenly as Orro spun around.

"What's going on here!?" He screamed. Out of the darkness stepped three people he barely recognized; his daughter and her two guardians.

"Orro!" Whitney said. "We cannot allow you to take Goldenrod for yourself!"

"This city is full of corruption and greed, yes, but also, it's full of innocent people!" Janine said. "It's full of hopes and dreams and love!"

"And we will not allow you to steal all of it for yourself!" Amethyst said. "...Father."

"Amethyst..." Orro said, the corner of his mouth twitching.

The twelve Hoopa behind him sprung into action. They charged up and tossed Shadow Balls at each of them. The three of them, however, flipped and jumped to dodge the attacks. Janine retaliated with more Ultra Psy Star Shuriken. Whitney launched stars with Super Swift Comet Kick. And Amethyst raised her staff to use Radiant Scepter Spark Barrage. Each of their attacks made impact, and when the dust cleared, all twelve Hoopa laid on the ground, fainted, proving to be quite lousy fighters.

"No..." Orro murmured. He spun around and stared down at the fainted Hoopa, then over at the collapsed last segment of the Great Ring. "No...no...no...NO! I...I will not allow you to...to defeat me...!"

Orro rushed forward and grabbed Amethyst by the throat. He tossed her to the ground and screamed in her face.

"I AM YOUR FATHER!" He thundered. "I AM YOUR KING! I AM THE KING OF THIS CITY! I REFUSE TO BE POWERLESS ANYMORE--!"

Suddenly, Alexandra onto his back and began to scratch at him.

"GAH!" He screamed as he stood up and began to flail. As he stumbled backwards, Alexandra hopped off of his back. Janine ran towards him and pinned him to the ground suddenly. She held a shuriken up to his throat.

"You evil, despicable, vile man...!" Janine said, resisting the urge to spit on his face. "How dare you speak to Amy like that!?"

"I-I am not a man!" Orro said, laughing uncontrollably. "I am no mere mortal! I am a king! I am a god! I...I am unstoppable!"

"No...you're a human alright..."

Jasper stepped into the room. Behind him floated another Hoopa--the one they found imprisoned in the golden cage.

"Jasper! Hoopa!" Amethyst said as she got back to her feet.

"You two...!" Orro said, as he began to grin. "M-My minions! My loyal knights! Come, free me from--!"

Jasper kicked him in the eye. He writhed on the ground in pain as Janine continued to hold him down firmly.

"We do not serve you any longer." Jasper said. "You are the king of nothing! Not I, not anyone, not Lucia, not Goldenrod...nothing!"

"Orro..." Hoopa said, floating down until they were eye level with their old trainer. "My old friend...Orro...please, listen to reason."

"I AM REASON!" He screamed. "Reason is whatever I think!"

"His ring." Hoopa said, looking to Janine. "Grab one of the golden rings from his finger."

Janine nodded. She slipped a golden ring he wore on his left index finger. Handing it to Hoopa, they used their powers to expand it in size until it was roughly as big as a necklace. They then used their powers to turn the ring into a portal--or, perhaps more aptly in this scenario, a window into a point in spacetime.

"What...what is this...?" Orro sputtered as he was forced to look through the portal.

"Your home." Hoopa said. "A small apartment in Goldenrod, many decades ago. Look there, on the sofa. Two parents, reading a story to their son. They are poor, they are powerless...but I think they are happy. Don't you agree...Orro...?"

Suddenly, Orro grew silent. Wide-eyed, he stared through the portal at this moving portrait of his younger self, with his parents, at one of the very scarce moments in his life when he felt happiness, warmth, belonging.

"The scarcity of that feeling..." Orro said. "...That is precisely why I had to go out and chase it!"

"And did you really think it would come from conquest?" Hoopa said. "No empire, no throne, no fortune, no groveling populace can ever fill the hole in your heart."

Orro fell silent again. A singular tear fell from his left eye.

"At last...I think you understand." Hoopa said.

"No..." Orro said. "I don't. It's clear to me now...I don't understand a thing..."

He looked over at his daughter. She had taken several steps away, clearly frightened of him..

"I don't understand a thing..." He repeated. "I never learned...never learn..."

"But there is still time, old friend." Hoopa said. "Still time to let the goodness in your heart shine through."

"...No." Orro said. "No...it is...it is over...everything is over..."

"Only if you choose for it to be." Hoopa said. "After all I have seen in our travels together...across so many different dimensions and worlds and time periods...I like to think that hope never dies. It can fade if we let it...but hope never dies."

Orro closed his eyes. Janine and Jasper backed away as he stood up slowly. Hoopa took the golden ring portal in front of him and expanded it, until it was big enough for him to walk through. Hoopa changed the destination where it led to; a vast grassland in a faraway dimension.

"It's a great big universe out there, my friend." Hoopa said. "Go. Continue to explore it some more. You may just find the answer you seek after all..."

Orro's eyes widened even further as he stared at the tall grass swaying in the wind on the other side of the portal. Possibility, they seemed to whisper to him, possibilities endless and infinite...

"...Farewell." Orro said, unable to make eye contact with any of them; Hoopa or Jasper or Amethyst. He took one step into the portal, then another. "I'm off...to finish my journey."

He vanished then. As soon as he was gone, Hoopa shrunk the ring back down to its original, tiny size. It became nothing more than a simple piece of jewelry as it landed on the ground, clinking on the concrete floor. Hoopa lifted up the ring in their hand.

"I hope you find it...old friend."

Chapter Text

Everyone in the diner fell silent as soon as the song on the radio was cut off and replaced by the voice of a news anchor.

"Live from outside Meowth Court Apartments, this is Goldenrod Radio News." The anchor said. "It has been two hours since International Police agents raided the apartment complex after a call from a still-unidentified anonymous whistleblower, who revealed the existence of a segment of a large golden ring running beneath the city in the building's basement. Investigators have entered the basement and confirmed the veracity of these reports. Numerous employees of the Golden Ring Corporation have been arrested as investigators have discovered that segments of this golden ring run through the basements of various GRC-owned properties across the city. The purpose of this ring is still unknown. Investigators also discovered a dozen members of an unknown species of Pokémon within the basement of the apartment complex. All of these Pokémon have been taken into custody by the International Police. Lastly, at this hour, the chief of the International Police has announced they will open an investigation into corruption within the Goldenrod Municipal Police Department and municipal government following reports that the city government is in collaboration with the GRC and has suppressed previous attempts to investigate the Corporation's actions. Keep listening to Goldenrod Radio as we will be bringing you live, up-to-the-minute updates as this developing story continues to unfold."

The anchor's voice cut out and music began to play over the diner's speakers once more. Everyone began to chatter again about what they had heard. The twenty-four hour diner--located right down the street from Meowth Court Apartments--was full of residents of the Complex who had been told to leave the premises by IP agents until further notice. Sitting at a booth table in the corner of the restaurant was Janine, Whitney, Amethyst, Jasper, Hoopa, Alexandra, and Manaphy. After teleporting out of the basement upon Orro's disappearance, the group found it was now dark outside...and that they were very hungry. They rushed into the diner and ordered a huge spread of pancakes, burgers, and ramen.

"Ohh...I'm stuffed..." Whitney said, laying face down on the table. "I cannot remember the last time I went that long without eating!"

"It was a very long day..." Janine said, sighing. "But now...it's over. And it seems like the International Police is handling the investigation well."

"I bet they're really appreciating that anonymous tip I left them!" Whitney said, winking.

"Hey, Jasper deserves some credit too!" Amethyst said. "The IP never would have been allowed to investigate if he hadn't contacted the Goldenrod Police Department first."

Before Whitney contacted the IP to tell them to investigate the Great Ring, Jasper had called the mayor of Goldenrod and the Goldenrod chief of police. Even though it was the middle of the night, the two of them picked up almost immediately. They recognized Jasper's number, as he was the one who had organized the handing over of bribes to them previously. When he got them on the phone, Jasper told them that the GRC would be terminating payments to the government and police department. Without the monetary incentive to safeguard the GRC, the Goldenrod police allowed the IP to enter the apartment building and investigate, whereas previously they would have prevented the agents from being deployed within their own jurisdiction. When money was no longer part of the equation, the Corporation's house of cards came tumbling down very quickly.

"Oh, no...do not praise me." Jasper said. "This is just the beginning of my penance..."

"Still...we must thank you." Janine said. "We never would have gotten out of that cell if you hadn't come along. Because of you, the city was saved. So...thank you."

"Like I said earlier...she is the one you should be thanking." Jasper said, petting Alexandra. "It was the bond between a Purrloin and her trainer that saved this city. It's truly incredible, if you think about it. Amazing things can come from the bonds between people and Pokémon. That's what I find so interesting about your world. Unlike the desert where I grew up...this is a place where humans and Pokémon are taught to work together to forge a better society."

Jasper stood up then. Alexandra climbed onto his shoulder.

"I want to learn from the people of this world how to be a good trainer..." Jasper said. "...And how to be human, as well. I have decided to stay here in this world and set off on a journey. The bond between me and my Pokémon set me on the right course. I want to see where else it might take me."

"Jasper..." Amethyst said. "You're leaving?"

"Yes..." Jasper said. "Like Orro...I have much to think about and discover. I cannot do it by staying here, in the same place. I must go out in the world and do some amount of good...to try and make up for all the bad I have done. But before I go...I think there's someone who wants to say goodbye."

Alexandra leaped onto the table. She walked around to Janine, Whitney, and Amethyst, allowing each of them to pet her. She meowed and purred happily at them before jumping back onto Jasper's shoulder.

"Bye, Alex!" Amethyst said. "Safe travels, to both you and Jasper!"

"Thank you." Jasper said. "If we ever meet again...I hope you will find I have become a better person...someone who has found out what the bond between humans and Pokémon truly means. Farewell..."

"Farewell..." Janine said as he turned around and walked out of the restaurant's front door, turning back only briefly to smile and wave one last time.

"...Do you think he'll be OK?" Amethyst said.

"I think so." Janine said. "Now that he's free from Orro...I think he'll be able to lead a better life."

"Uggghhhhh..." Hoopa said, groaning and turning over on their side. They had stuffed themself with pancakes and now had a stomach ache.

"Are you alright, Lord Hoopa?" Manaphy said. "The food of this world takes some time to grow on you..."

"Y-Yes...I can tell..." Hoopa said. "I feel like I could go to sleep right here, right now."

"I think we all deserve some rest." Janine said, yawning. "We just have to wait until the IP agents give us the--"

"All clear!" An agent said, bursting into the diner. "Everyone has been cleared to return back to their apartments!"

Everyone in the diner cheered and applauded. Paying their bills, they all lined up at the front door and made a mad dash back home. It took half an hour for them all to finally get back to their warm, familiar, beloved apartment. Manaphy and Hoopa had drifted off while riding on Amethyst's beret. She set her beret down on the ground gently before jumping onto the sofa and dozing off. Janine was about to lay down on the air mattress, when Whitney suddenly grabbed her hand.

"Hey..." She whispered. "...Why don't you sleep in my bed tonight?"

Janine smiled and led the way to Whitney's bedroom. Pinky was asleep in her pile of hay on the floor, none the wiser to all the big adventures they went on that day. Janine and Whitney jumped onto the bed. Holding each other, it did not take long before they both feel asleep. As they did, Whitney let out a sigh and squeezed Janine tightly.

"You're alive..." Whitney said. "I'm alive. Amy's alive. Everyone's alive. We're OK. Everything...is gonna be OK..."

"Yeah..." Janine whispered back. "Everything's OK..."

"Janine?"

"Hm?"

"I...I love you..."

"I love you too."

"...Let's never do anything this exhausting ever again!"

"Sure..." Janine said, laughing a little before drifting off. "That's a promise I'm willing to keep..."

__

The next morning, Whitney and Janine awoke to find Amethyst had already gotten up, had breakfast, and gotten dressed.

"Amy...?" Whitney said, walking into the living room. "You're up already?"

"Janine, Whitney..." She ran over and hugged them.

"Hey, what's wrong, kid?" Janine said. "Are you...crying...?"

"I've got to leave..." Amethyst said.

"What are you talking about?" Whitney said.

"I realized it when I woke up this morning..." Amethyst said, drying her eyes and smiling at them. "I'm free. My father is gone...and I am no longer his prisoner. I'm no longer the Marchioness of Lucia. My mission from Hoopa is done. I am free...free to do what I want."

"And what would that be?" Janine said.

"...For a long time, I wasn't sure." Amethyst said. "But...you guys told me that, in this world, when kids reach a certain age, they go on a journey with their Pokémon."

"Yes." Whitney said. "They go out into the world and do all sorts of things. Battle gyms, participate in contests, capture and befriend all different kinds of Pokémon...the possibilities are endless."

"I like this world." Amethyst said. "I want to stay here, and see more of it. I want to know what it's like to be free too. I've been sheltered for so much of my life...my father's precious gem which he refused to let go. For the first time in my whole life...I am free to explore and...be my own person. I didn't even know that I...I could do any of that...until I met you two..."

"Aww, Amy!" Whitney said. "...I think it's a wonderful idea for you to have your own Pokémon journey."

"Yeah." Janine said. "You've already got some loyal and powerful partners to help you out too."

"Indeed." Manaphy said, having woken up along with Hoopa on the beret. "Marchioness...or, perhaps, I should just call you 'Amethyst' now. I am here...just like always. No matter what you where you go, I shall follow."

"Manaphy..." Amethyst said, scooping up her partner Pokémon and hugging them. "Thank you. My loyal knight...from this day forward, your service to me is over. Your only job now is to be my traveling companion, OK?"

"Of course, milady!" Manaphy said. "Er...I mean, of course...Amethyst!"

"...And what about you, Hoopa?" Amethyst said, smiling at them. "I could use a Pokémon as wise and powerful as yourself on my quest..."

"You want me to come with you...?" Hoopa said. "Even after all the trouble I caused you?"

"Of course!" Amethyst said. "You are a dear friend to me. I would be honored if you would join me on my journey."

"...The honor is all mine." Hoopa said. "How exciting! A new journey! New faces, new places, new sights, new sounds...oh, the possibilities are endless!"

"...But for today, you're ours." Janine said, grinning as she embraced Amethyst. It was now her turn to cry. "That's all I ask. You can embark on your own journey tomorrow, Amy. But...let us be with you for just a little while longer, so we can figure out how we can possibly say goodbye."

"Janine..." Amethyst said. "Of course! I'd be happy to stay here one day more..."

"Yay!" Whitney said, embracing both of them. "Amy's going on a big trip! Huzzah! Group hug! We're so proud of you!"

"Thanks..." Amethyst said. "Thank you both...for everything..."

__

During Amethyst's last day in Goldenrod, Janine and Whitney took her to the Department Store to buy her everything she could possibly need for her journey. Then, they came home, and spent the rest of the evening watching movies, playing video games, and talking about their hopes and dreams and where they hoped the future would take them.

The next morning, they all woke up early. They took the train north, to the very edge of the city, where the forest route north to Ecruteak began. Standing on the border between nature and metropolis, they embraced one last time.

"Call us if you need anything." Janine said. "No matter how small, I promise...we'll be there for you!"

"And make sure you visit us sometimes!" Whitney said. "You'll always have a place on our sofa, OK?"

"OK..." Amethyst said. "I promise! I'll be back before you know it!"

She turned around and took a few cautious steps east, towards the luminous orange sun, rising in the distance. She then took a few more steps, then a few more, a few more. When she stopped and turned around, she noticed that Janine and Whitney had grown small in the distance. Still, she could see them waving and smiling.

"When I grow up..." Amethyst whispered to herself. "...I will try my best to be as kind and courageous and strong as you two..."

She turned around and allowed herself to weep some more.

"Manaphy...Hoopa...let's go!" She said. "There's a big, beautiful world waiting for us! Onwards!"

"Onwards!" Manaphy echoed.

"Onwards!" Hoopa echoed.

Amethyst took another step towards the sun.