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Ghetsis' mere presence shoots a sting in Anthea’s chest even if he's lost everything that made her fear him.
All his power, his influence, and anger.. Fizzled out into a pathetic husk of a man. Seeing him lose everything should've been enough for her. And yet this fact brings no closure.
Even now she struggles to speak to him, she's only done so when spoken to. The tracks for her train of thoughts have been laid out long before they entered the visitation room. It may be doomed to crash, but…
She is not staying quiet anymore.
"Tell me, after all those years we've spent in the castle.. Everything we've done for N—For you... Did we mean anything at all?"
Anthea pressed her hand on the glass that separated them. The building rage fed into her desire to breach the space between them. For what? Not even she's sure. She just wants to see if she could do something. He looked more like an animal in a cage than a prisoner.
She waits for a response, only to be met with cold silence.
"Of course it didn't, we were never part of the big picture.” Anthea winces, her hand slowly slipping down.
“You just needed something to smoothen the edges of your plan. If N was never a son to you what would that even make us?"
From where she stood, Concordia noticed that her sister's hand was placed over Ghetsis' neck. Her Gothitelle hovered closer to her trainer as though sensing her anger—her desire to harm.
She had a bad feeling about this.
"Tools... Variables... Pokémon... Children.. They're all the same in your eyes.. I should've known this sooner."
No matter how many scathing words she threw, the pathetic man just wouldn't meet her eyes. He just sat in his cell with his head lowered and arms crossed. There wasn't a shred of guilt or remorse, only annoyance.
He was just trying to soak up her words until the visitation period was over. But Anthea refused to let up.
"But now you're left with nothing. Other than those poor wandering children still under your spell. It's only a matter of time before they leave you, for they'll see who you truly are—"
Gothitelle glowed with psychic energy in response to her strong desire. It enveloped Ghetsis' body with it and levitated him off the ground, making sure to pull up his head.
"—A small, cowardly, and mad fool trying to don the ill-fitted robes of a king who sits upon a throne built on lies overlooking a kingdom made of sand and rubble."
For the first time ever, Anthea saw something else in his cold, crimson eyes—a glint of fear.
In this moment, for the first time ever, he was at her mercy, not the other way around.
---
She's lost count of the amount of times she and her sister have been scorned and hurt for their supposed incompetence. Each time she'd somehow muster up the hope that deep down, he still loves them.
Perhaps it was just to cope, but at some point she believed that one day, the four of them will be a family.
As time passed, their roles became more and more clear. She and Concordia were never meant to be daughters of Harmonia, and N was never meant to be their little brother. They were caretakers of the King. The sages dubbed them the goddesses of love and peace respectively, and they were venerated to a degree.
But neither ever felt the full extent of the prestige. Their purpose ended the day N was crowned. Had Team Plasma not crumbled, what would become of them?
That was the question that rang in their minds ever since they were freed. Finding a purpose after feeling like your whole life ended felt unattainable, even now when they have a new mission to see through the end.
Yet it was one that still binded them to Team Plasma.
---
Concordia was startled by her sister's outburst. This was the first time she'd seen all the resentment within her erupt in such a way. She thought that she would bottle up her feelings and talk it out together like they always did. Never once did the thought of rebellion crossed her mind, for it was unbecoming of a goddess.
In truth, she was just afraid.
After every confrontation she and her siblings faced, she learned to shy away from conflict. Eventually she learned how to compose herself in such a way where she wouldn't be the target of Ghetsis' abuse. And though he won't be able to do anything to Anthea, she knew she couldn't just stand by and watch.
As for Anthea, he had him right where she wanted. He's facing her. It took some force, but he's finally facing her and he's afraid.
“Right now you look like the very same hurt Pokémon you brought in for him.”
Putting him in his place didn't feel good at all. Not when he still hasn't bothered to react in a way that's substantial for her. He's just squirming in the air, like prey trying to break free. It felt revolting to her.. The man didn't even appear human to her in this moment.
Which means she won't regret whatever she does to him next.
"I struggle to even call you Father." Anthea spat, words laced with venom.
Without thinking, she gestured a command for Gothitelle to use an attack on him. As the Pokémon readied a psyshock, Concordia's hand gently squeezed her sister's shoulder.
Anthea whipped her head towards the touch, startling Gothitelle enough to break its hold on Ghetsis, which made him drop to the ground.
"... Have you gotten everything out of your system, Anthea? I don't think it's worth saying anything more. You'll waste your breath." she gently smiled and with both hands began massaging the tension out her sister's stiff shoulders.
Anthea was now facing away from the trembling mess of a man. Without him within her vision, she was able to slowly pull herself out of her rage.
She was beyond grateful for her sister's intervention. Without it, she would've seriously harmed Ghetsis, and though she wouldn't regret it she too would end up caged in a cell.
"Yes. I've made my peace."
She hasn't, she never will.
One thing the three of them will never obtain is closure for all the things they had to endure. Even though he's locked up and lost any and all ambitions to do anything, she feels that they will never get justice for being robbed of a proper life.
But they have a long life ahead of them and many opportunities to live how they want to. They could use their freedom as they see fit and not be bogged down by the past.
Visitation hours barely ended and the pair walked out. There wasn't a moment where they stopped to look back. Even with the angered barking that boomed from behind them. It was all just passing noise.
Though they left feeling worse than when they entered, they at least took solace in the fact that this will be the last time they'll ever see their 'father'.