Drasna Fic by the Loyal Storm Trooper of sick spins
“Is something the matter, darling?”
Suddenly, Calem snapped from the trance he was in. He looked at the mirror in front of him, and then at Drasna, who was looking through one of the room’s windows.
“You are awfully quiet this morning.” she said.
Calem sighed. Another glance at his reflection gave him no clear answer about his current state of mind.
“It’s nothing, really.” He said “Maybe just a little nervous, that’s all.”
Drasna gave him a little smile and slowly approached Calem.
“Well.” She said, wrapping her arms around his neck “I’m sure that whatever it is, you can deal with it, Mister Champion.”
Calem let out a little laugh and kissed her in the cheek.
“If you say so, I’m sure it’s nothing that big.”
Drasna chuckled and then looked at the reflection of both in the mirror. Both were so close, sharing an embrace reserved just for lovers. Then she looked back at Calem.
“Say… is there something I can do help you?” Drasna said, getting closer to his face “I don’t want to see you like this.”
Calem took a good breath of her scent. The scent of the woman embracing him. The same scent that made him sleep last night. The scent of the same woman that woke with him that morning. The woman he loved.
“Maybe we can work something out.” he whispered and leaned towards her.
The distance between the two had almost disappeared, their breathing was almost one, the warmth of each other expanding through their bodies. Lips grazing, ready to fuse in one single kiss.
Suddenly three loud knocks on the room’s door disrupted the entire scene. The lovers took a quick look at the door and then both let out a giggle.
“Excuse me, room service!” Announced a female voice on the other side of the door “You requested a Special Breakfast for two”
“Just on time. A shame, really” Calem said.
This time Drasna was the one who gave him a kiss in the cheek. “We can continue this later, now it’s time to eat” she said, and went to the door.
A fast turn of the knob and the door opened. As soon as Drasna stepped away from the entrance a blonde maid with a ponytail entered carrying a breakfast cart. With perfect care she handled the silver cart, full of treats and beverages for breakfast, until it reached the room table.
“Lady Drasna, Champion Calem.” She said making a reverence “Hotel Richissime once again thanks you for choosing us. This cart contains only the finest products, hand-picked by the best chefs Lumiose has to offer. All in mind to assure the best possible experience. Please enjoy.”
After saying that, the maid did another reverence and promptly exited the room.
Just as she closed the door, Calem approached the cart, took a cloth in his arm, and making a serious face he looked at Drasna.
“Milady.” Calem said “I brought you breakfast, as instructed, but to offer me such distasteful propositions… truly outrageous”
Drasna laughed while applauding the magnificent performance. “Oh my, darling, you never cease to amaze me.”
“I would do anything for you, my love. Now, shall we eat?” Calem said, pointing at the table.
Drasna gave him a nod.
After moving the contents of the cart to the table, they sat down. Calem poured some juice for both while Drasna served portions of food in the plates. When everything was in order, and there was nothing else to serve, they started to eat.
“Truly delicious. Few are the occasions where I’m allowed to eat such exquisite things” Drasna said.
“For my lady, only the best” he replied.
“Thank you” she said in a loving tone
Calem felt his heart melting again. Those words were more precious than millions of gold nuggets or fossils. He could do nothing else than gave her a tender smile.
Breakfast continued for a couple of minutes, full of trivial conversations, comments about how delicious the food was and the occasional flirting here and there. But at some point, Calem stopped for a few seconds. Absorbed by an unknown feeling, he looked at Drasna. Her face, her expression, the way she handled her cup, every action, every movement. He couldn’t get enough of it, enough of her. She was his world, and he did not want it any other way, but…
“In your thoughts again, darling?” Drasna asked.
Calem shuddered a little and gave her a confused look.
“Oh, no, well, I was thinking about something, but it wasn’t the same as before” He answered. “I was thinking about us, in fact”
“Is that so? And what were you thinking about us?” Drasna asked, leaning a little towards him.
Calem swallowed the piece of bread in his mouth and then answered: “About the past”
“I see” she said.
“It’s nothing bad, really.” He said, putting his hand over hers. “I just remembered how we used to date in the beginning,”
Drasna blushed a little, those things were always embarrassing to remember. Calem laughed a little.
“Do not feel embarrassed. We were both trying, and everything worked out in the end, isn’t it?” He said.
Drasna smiled. It was true, and she was very glad it worked.
“Calem, my love” she started. “Even if I don’t know what troubles you, I’m sure that you can deal with that. You’ve already proven to me that your courage and determination knows no limits. You saved the world, and more important, you reached my heart in a way that no other man did before.”
Calem was frozen. Those words had so much love, so much faith in them that he felt his soul burning with passion.
“So believe in you.” Drasna said. “Believe in us”
Just as she finished her sentence, Calem leaned over and kissed her. Drasna felt his lips and kissed back.
Needless to say, the breakfast got cold.
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For the last couple of hours or so Calem had been sitting in a strange dark room, a chair and a table the only things that kept him company.  Being awoken suddenly from his dreams, his mind still hold the minuscule possibility of everything being a dream. Even the darkness that enveloped the entire room helped him in maintaining that feeble lie in his head, but the bad dream was refusing his attempts to end it.
The last thing he remembered was the warm embrace he shared with his lover, but now, even the memory of the morning sun coming thru the window seemed like an illusion. Sadly, this time he didn’t woke in the same bed as Drasna. This time he found himself sitting in a table inside a room he could not really understand.
Suddenly, the darkness became soft. Like a photograph when it’s revealed, the objects acquired faint silhouettes, allowing Calem to actually see the whole place.
It was in that moment when he realized he wasn’t alone. There, on the other end of the table, a dark figure was sitting.
He felt a shiver run down his spine. Had he been alone all that time? Was the figure there since the beginning? Unable to move a muscle, he stood there, waiting for a response from the apparition.
“Hey there, pally.” The figure said, moving its hand a little. “Seems like you are a little tired of waiting. That’s good, I was getting tired of that game too.”
Apart from the voice, the figure had no distinctive features. It was just a shadow, a man-shaped figure, sitting there. No eyes, no apparent mouth, no ears, no hair, no nothing. But it spoke. He spoke with a soft and warm voice. A young man’s voice.
“I don’t really want to spoil this whole moment, but.” The figure spoke again. “There are some thing I need to do with you, friend.”
Dumbfounded, Calem tried to speak, but to no avail. The situation was too hard to process, even more with the sudden entrance of his new companion.
“Hey now, don’t think badly of me.” He spouted again. “I just want to talk with you. See if you can help me figure something out.”
Calem sighed, and took a deep breath. It seemed that the figure was not interested in harming him, rather, it seemed like it was more interested in starting a conversation than anything else.
 “So.” The figure said “Care to tell me about this little incident?”
“I… I really don’t know what you’re talking about” He answered, confused. “But I’m really starting to hate this darkness. Can you do something about it?”
The dark figure laughed. “I’m really sorry pal, but considering your situation, I can safely assure that you have no privileges here”
Calem heard the words of the figure and felt a swift pain in his forehead. He lifted one of his hands to see if there was actually something up there, but he found nothing. Maybe it was just his own nerves, his own instincts trying to keep him on guard against this unknown place and the presence in front of him
The figure tapped the table a couple of times and leaned towards him. “Look buddy, I know this seems arbitrary and cruel, but believe me, there IS a reason for this.” He said with a condescending voice. “Just go along with me, maybe we can end this faster than you think”
Calem took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair. “OK, I’ll believe you“
“Nice. Then let’s start with a little storytelling” The figure said “You like stories? I love stories. There’s one in particular I would like to hear…”
“Sure, but… ” Calem muttered, interrupting the figure “At least tell me how to call you. I would feel better if at least I pretend I’m talking with a human being”
The figure scratched his head a bit. After a few seconds, Calem heard a little ‘Ah’.
“Call me Mikhail, if that helps”
He nodded.
“Well then, Calem, let’s continue.” Mikhail said “Tell me a story. The story you share with a particular woman, Drasna”
Calem felt a tight grip in his heart after hearing that name. Whoever this figure was, it knew exactly what he wanted to hear.
“Ever been in love, Mikhail?”
“No, sadly.” He answered “It would get in the way of my job.”
“Yeah, I thought so. Well then, let skip the boring part and go straight to the point..”
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Calem observed the imposing building that was the Pokémon League. Even though he was technically the champion, he never wanted the title. His spirit was free of that kind of bounds, free of those ties. Even though he had defeated the elite four countless times, he was nervous. Maybe even trembling. Because this time he had a different reason to enter the League again. A reason so powerful that made him lose sleep. A reason that made him excited again, that made his heart beat fast, just like those days when fighting against others was a challenge. The same sensation that Calem thought long lost and forgotten.
He slammed the doors as he entered the hall. People saw in awe the champion, a trainer so mythical that he was thought invincible. Chattering flooded the main hall, people excited to see a living legend, a master in the flesh. Cameras taking pictures, people piling up just to catch a glimpse. But all of this did not matter to Calem. He was there for a reason, and only one. He had a mission, and he was going to fulfill it at any cost.
With furious pace he advanced through the crowd, pushing everyone who wanted an autograph, a handshake, anything. It wasn’t the time for that. The burning inside of him was almost unbearable. He made his way to the main room, and after finding the door he wanted, he proceeded through it.
While the platform was slowly ascending to the Dragonmark Chamber, Calem’s mind was working on overdrive. Filling his consciousness with hundreds of questions and ideas. But he wasn’t allowed to doubt. Just as the platform entered the chamber, Calem’s resolve merged with his determination.
The fog greeted him the same way it did the first time he set foot in the Dragonmark Chamber. Soon enough that same fog dissipated, showing the pair of dragon wings that covered the throne. The wings spread open, revealing the dragon head, which in turn, lifted up, showing the real reason for Calem’s presence.
Elite Four Drasna, the dragon lady.
“C-Champion Calem?” Drasna said, almost shocked “We heard the news about your arrival a few moments ago, but I never thought you would come straight to…”
“Lady Drasna!” Calem shouted “Please, Please! Fight with me. Help me understand something that’s been plaguing my mind lately”
Drasna was speechless. Calem, the league champion was now in front of her. The same champion who also helped save Kalos. The same Calem that captured most of the legendary Pokémon. That same Calem was now asking her for a battle. She knew that she had zero chances to beat him in a battle. But even then…
“Alright, Champion Calem.” Drasna answered “As an Elite Four I am obliged to fight with anyone who has come for the challenge of the Pokémon League. I will fight you”
She knew something was troubling him. His demeanor was too strange. He was not like the cool and calm Calem that battled her the first time. This Calem was too aggressive, too eager to prove something. It was clear that his problems were weighing on him.
“Thank you, and please, do not hold back” Calem said as he reached for his first Pokeball. “Let’s go, Rayquaza!”
A beam of ray emerged from his Pokeball and soon enough Rayquaza, the mythical dragon Pokémon, made an appearance. Drasna observed how the legendary Pokémon soared through the chamber, asserting his dominance of the skies. Against this kind of opponent, common Pokémon have literally no chance, but she already promised her help. She armed herself with a smile and, showing the same grace and elegance as always, she threw her Pokeball forward.
“Come out, Noivern, dear. We have guests” Drasna exclaimed as her Pokémon took place on the arena.
…
Soon enough, and just as Drasna predicted, Calem took out her four Pokémon without even losing one.
“My, my. Another crushing defeat for me.” Drasna said, letting out a short sigh “Even so, it was good to see your dragon team again. They seem to be in top shape form!”
Calem returned his Pokeball back into his pouch. “Thank you, Lady Drasna. You’re too kind”
“Oh no, not at all, Champion.” she answered “You must take credit for your team. Having the right Pokémon is just a fraction of the job. Training them, taking care of them, growing with them, that’s the real job of a trainer.”
Calem did not answer this time. His gaze was stuck at the floor. Drasna descended the stairs of her throne and approached him.
“Champion Calem…”
“Calem”
“Huh?”
“Calem, just Calem. Please”
“Well then, Calem.” She said with a giggle “Then you may call me Drasna”
He nodded, took a deep breath and then looked at her.
“I hope I was of some assistance to you, Calem”
“You were.” He answered “Thanks to you I was able to sort this out”
Then, in an instant, Calem took a step towards Drasna.
“Eh?” She said, confused “C-Calem?”
“Drasna!” He shouted, bringing his hand to his chest “Now I know this feeling inside of me. This burning sensation that has grown to the point where I can no longer ignore it. Even if I try to deny it, my soul won’t let me rest until I tell you that… that I love you, Drasna”
To such declaration, she had no answer. Not right now, at least. Her world was taking somersaults here and there, trying to assimilate Calem words, trying to understand the whole magnitude of the situation. This boy, right here, just said that he was in love with her.
“B-but, Calem” She answered “I’m just an old lady… There are so many much more good-looking girls out there!”
Calem clenched his fists. He was prepared for that.
“I don’t care, Drasna” He answered “I don’t care about other girls. I don’t care if they are younger. If they are more attractive. If they taller, smaller, I don’t care!”
Drasna was speechless. She felt the honesty in Calem’s voice. In that moment a warm feeling suddenly rekindled in her heart. What was that feeling? It was something she thought buried and long forgotten. Something she threw away when she walked the path of the trainer.
When was the last time she felt something like that? Her memories were somewhat hazy. At the beginning she had the determination. The tales her grandparents told her about the mythical dragon Pokemon were enough to set a fire in her that could not be extinguished. A fire that drove her to travel a road that not anyone could walk, filled with hardships, endless training days, quests to find and understand every dragon-type that roamed the land. Those were the days. But, somewhere alongside that road, love came for her.
But she did not answer back. She looked the other way, thinking that the only way forward, was to not bother with things like love.
And so she walked her path. With her Pokemon as the only company.
But in the end, when she achieved what she wanted, she felt alone. Not the loneliness of friends, or colleagues, or even companions like her Pokemon were. It was the loneliness of feeling another one like her. The feeling of someone who loves you, who cares deeply about you, who thinks about you in a way no other could. Those thoughts made her believe that it was too late for love. After all, who could love a woman who was past the reasonable dating age? The only thing that she could do, was to keep that loneliness to herself, and continue to smile, being the lovely and kind lady she became.
Until, of course, a young boy named Calem shouted that he was madly in love with her. That was the moment where those feelings awakened from their deep slumber.
“I… I don’t…” Drasna muttered.
Calem took another step towards her, trying to close the gap.
“Drasna, I know that it might look like passion has taken the best of me, or that it’s only a momentary thing, but please” He said, making a really serious face “Please believe me. This is not just a crush. It’s not something that started this morning.”
Another step. He was getting close, and, at the same time, Drasna wanted to get away from him, to stop the imminent storm that her feelings would unleash inside of her. But her body was deaf to her orders. She was firmly set in place.
“Ah, no. Please… stop.” She begged, feeling her body starting to give in.
Calem took another step. He was not going to stop, not now, not when he was betting everything in a desperate attempt to reach her heart.
“Drasna, listen. The first time we met. Remember? I will never forget it”
Of course she remembered that time. How she saw the new challenger approach her for the first time. How his face beamed with happiness once he saw her, the Dragon Lady. How could she forget that battle? Calem’s all-star dragon team, displaying the same devotion, the exact same drive and determination she had in her younger days. No, she could not forget. Those kind of encounters happen once in a lifetime, and are things that should be treasured forever. Yes, she lost that battle, but in turn, she regained some of the excitement she thought lost over the years.
And so did Calem. After the battle he approached her, asking millions of questions. Wanting to know everything about her. But even though she was dying to tell someone, with the same spirit as her, the hardships and joys of her journey, she only told him: “Oh no, I’m just an old lady with an unhealthy love for dragon-types. You better hurry and beat the champion. I know you can win.”
He made a sad face, as a child would, but then smiled again and answered: “All right, but you have to promise to tell me about you sometime. Promise me”
She smiled at him. “I would love to. Now, be a good child and go”
“Of course, Calem. I could never forget.”
Calem smiled, he knew that Drasna’s heart was not closed to love. It was just cold, from not receiving any, and it was up to him to warm it up again.
 “And after that, how I looked for you. I went everywhere just to see you. Even at the Battle Chateau” he said, taking another step.
“Ah, what a clever boy.” Drasna said, laughing a little. “And the Writs of Challenge?”
“Excuses, obviously.” Calem answered, unfazed “Excuses, so I could see you, again and again”
There he was again. Such a troublesome child, going so far as to use those Writs just so he could see her.
With that final sentences, Drasna finally felt the torrential stream of emotions flowing free, washing away the old feelings of solitude, of sadness, cleansing her soul, giving her a new air, a second chance.
“What I am going to do with you, child?” She said, feeling the tears coming. “Don’t you see what are you doing to this old lady?”
Calem took another step, making the distance between the two a couple of meters.
“Drasna, I could never hurt you. Even against my will.” He said in a gentle tone. “I’ve never lied to you. It was true that I wanted to know everything about you. I admired you, the first dragon lady I’ve ever met. There is no one like you in the whole world, and well…”
“Well?”
Another step forward. That’s it, the final stretch.
“If I may say so, Lady Drasna. To me, you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my entire life”
Time stood still for a few seconds. Heartbeats flooded from the two bodies present in the chamber. Then, a single tear hit the ground.
And another. And another, and another.
Drasna was crying. It was a cry full of sorrow, of sadness, of countless years without feeling that warm sensation. But it was also filled with joy, with hope. Some may say that it’s like seeing the sun again, after a long and hard winter. Being able to receive the light and feel the warmth of the sun, it’s truly a blessing.
“It’s not fair.” She mumbled “You come to me, you make me feel these… these burning feelings in my chest, and me? What can I give to you? I’m just an old lady, Calem. I don’t have anything to give that could be as precious as your feelings”
With a final step Calem erased the distance between the two. Slowly, he raised his hands and gently wiped the tears off Drasna’s cheeks. He felt her soft and warm skin, a little wrinkly here and there, but still in excellent shape. He also felt her trembling body, reacting to the turmoil of emotions raging inside.
“Lady Drasna, do not cry.” Calem said in a loving tone. “I do not deserve such things. I’ve done nothing of the sort.”
He took her hands into his. Felt the hands that raised, trained and cared for countless Pokemon. Felt all of her pains, all of her problems. But he also felt the need to protect the women whose hands he was holding. The need to hold her close, to love and care for her.
“Drasna, I’m not asking you to love me right now.” Calem said with the utmost tenderness “I’m not asking you to return my feelings. All I’m asking in this moment, is a chance.”
Drasna looked straight into Calem’s eyes. She saw his love, gleaming pure and sincere. She saw all of this, and the feeling in her chest changed. The storm in her heart suddenly subdued and gave way to a respite. Just like the sea after a storm, her soul dawned with this new spark of life, finally able to forgive herself.
Drasna took a deep breath, and wiping the few tears that remained in her face she looked at the boy in front of her.
“Calem, oh Calem.” She answered with joy. “Yes, of course. I would love to.”
For him, those were the words he was waiting his entire life. He let out a little sigh of relief and tried to hug Drasna. She felt the gesture and became a little flustered.
“Oh, t-this is…”
“Ah, I’m sorry, it’s just that… I felt like it would be appropriate right now.” Calem answered, stepping back a little.
Drasna let out a little giggle.
“It’s okay, I don’t mind. Please, proceed” She said, extending her arms.
He nodded, and then, the two came together in an embrace, filled with love.
“Do not let me go” She asked.
“Never” He answered, tightening his arms.
That was the first time Calem felt her scent so closely. The first time he felt her warm embrace. The first of many to come. And so, both remained in the arms of the other, not caring for anything else.
…
…
…
“It’s tomorrow okay with you?”
“Oh my, such a hasty child”
“Is that a no?”
“You do not like wasting time, do you?”
“So?”
“I would love to go out tomorrow with you”
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Calem suddenly stopped his narration after feeling that his headache was getting too strong to continue. Almost devoid of strength, he rested his head on the table.
“It’s gotten THAT worse, eh?” Mikhail said, after seeing the poor state Calem was on. “Just, hang in there buddy, I know you can do this”
He would’ve gotten a response from that, but his cellmate was too weak to even muster a proper phrase. The gasps and panting of Calem was the only sound that could be heard in that room, making clear that his situation was getting worse.
“You’re not going down that easy, not yet”
Mikhail took a quick glance to both sides of the room, like searching for some unseen observer and after making sure he wasn’t being ‘seen’, he deposited a glass with a greyish fluid inside.
“Hey, pal, listen.” Mikhail told Calem, tugging his arm a little. “I know you feel like dying, and you probably are, so better drink this”
Using all the remaining forces in his body, he looked at the glass Mikhail was offering. For all he knew, that glass could contain anything, but his own body was telling him that there was nothing to lose and in one single motion he grabbed the glass and downed its contents with one single gulp.
The moment the liquid touched his lips he felt a sudden chill in his spine. Thousands of electrical pulsations suddenly flooded his senses and made him straighten from the table, the headache was promptly replaced by a feeling of numbness. He almost felt like passing out but even under assault by such sensory overload, Calem did not gave up, and after a minute or so of enduring the onslaught of stimuli, he found himself cured of the terrible state he was in.
“There, better?” Mikhail asked after seeing him being able of lift his head from the table.
Calem nodded. Moments ago he was being dragged by death itself, and now, after drinking a mysterious brew he was good as new, the headache now just a bad memory.
“Good, good. That means it worked.” Mikhail said, making a slight sigh. “I’m sorry pal, your kind cannot endure this place for too long, it was stupid of me to forget such an important detail.”
“Will it happen again?” Calem asked, visibly worried about the past events.
Mikhail crossed his arms, and leaned back in his chair. “If we do not solve this whole mess, then, it’s the most probable outcome.” He answered in a serious tone. “And I don’t think I can pull out the same trick again, pal.”
“Then tell me how to end all of this, Mikhail”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Let’s skip the minor details, Calem, tell me one of the most important events in your relationship with that woman, Drasna.”
Calem stood there, silent after hearing such request. After a few minutes, he leaned towards Mikhail.
“I think I have something.”
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“Drasna, please, there’s no need to explain anything to me.” Diantha said “You can do whatever you want without giving excuses, just say you want to go out for a while. No one is going to question you.”
Drasna let out a little sigh. Even though she knew that Diantha was comprehensive enough to understand her situation, she was prepared to give a plethora of excuses and answers should the need arise. The fact that no one was going to ask anything made her feel relieved.
“But if I have to be totally honest, I feel quite shocked to hear you asking permission for a date. Even more after hearing that your companion is none other than Calem, League Champion and Grand Duke of the Battle Chateau.”
“Oh, that’s… a long story. A really long one, but I want to believe that love has finally given me another chance, after all these years.” Drasna answered.
Diantha was surprised by that answer. The only Drasna she knew was the kind and gentle lady that was part of the Kalos Elite Four. A magnificent dragon-type trainer, and the most caring woman in the whole world. Seeing her as a girl in love was a totally new side, and one that she was eager to support and encourage.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.” She said. “We can call it a day here, in the League. I highly doubt that anyone will come today. So, go on, go out to your date. I’m sure that even someone like Calem can get tired of waiting outside.”
Drasna felt a little shocked by that last statement. “How did you…”
“Knew that Calem is waiting outside the castle?” Answered Diantha with a giggle. “You know better than me the kind of person he is. If you are his sweetheart, then I’m sure that he wants to be with you most of the time, if not all the time. And waiting for their beloved is what boyfriends do, isn’t it?”
Drasna blushed, it was true. Calem even wanted to go with her to speak with Diantha, but she convinced him to wait outside.
“Thank you very much, Diantha. You don’t know how much this means for me.”
“Nonsense, you are entitled to your own life.” She replied. “Now go and enjoy your date.”
Drasna did a little bow and then exited the Radiant Chamber. She strolled quickly through the halls of the Pokémon League, only thinking about her date. At the main hall she encountered Malva, who was just exiting her own chamber.
“Oh, Malva, good afternoon.” She greeted her fellow colleague. “Also going out?”
Malva stared at Drasna for a few seconds. She looked at her happy expression, her radiant smile, her cheerful disposition. All of that only made her boil in silent anger, knowing exactly what was going on.
“Drasna, good afternoon to you too.” Malva greeted back with her usual grin. “You look in a hurry, going somewhere important?”
Drasna felt a little flustered, but then quickly regained her composure.
“That is correct, dear. I have an important date today, that’s all.” She answered.
Malva took that answer like a knife in the back, but she remained calm, as always. Adjusting her glasses, she took a step towards Drasna, trying to exert some pressure, but the Dragon Lady remained unfazed.
“I see, yes, that’s good. I’m glad you found someone in your life, Lady Drasna. I hope you find the happiness you seek in this relationship.”
“My, Malva, that’s really sweet. Thank you.” she answered. “Now, I don’t want to be disrespectful, but I don’t have much time to spare, if you excuse me.”
Another short bow, and Drasna was again in movement, but before exiting the main hall, something stopped her.
 “And please,” she heard Malva say, “take good care of Calem for me. Do not let him get burned with the flames of passion, after all… the only one who can scorch him… the only one who can turn his bones into cinder… is me.”
Drasna felt a chill on her back. Those words, what could it possibly mean? She wanted to turn back and ask Malva about that, but she remained there, listening to the sound of her heels getting away.
After making sure Malva was not there, Drasna exited the hall.
“Hey, over here!” Calem shouted, waving his hand to get her attention.
Drasna found him a few meters away from the entrance and made her way towards him.
“Calem, darling, I’m sorry. Did you wait long?”
“Not at all. I can wait centuries just for you” He answered, hugging her.
“Oh, my love, you’re always so kind to me. Sometimes I feel so unworthy of you.” She answered, hugging him back.
Calem slowly caressed Drasna’s head, trying to make her feel better.
“Ah, always so thoughtful, so kind. That’s the Drasna I know and love.” He whispered to her. “But, if it makes you feel better, maybe I could get a little reward for waiting…”
Suddenly, Drasna felt the warmth of a kiss on her lips. A sensation so sweet, so wonderful, that all of her problems melted away. But at the same time, she remembered the first time she and Calem kissed. How clumsy they were, how he almost poked his eye out with her horn decorations. Those moments of the first kiss, where their lips trembled at the contact with each other. The embarrassment of not knowing if that was a proper kiss. Of course, as any other thing, with practice came knowledge, and after an important number of not so good kisses, both were able to enjoy the real extent of that simple ritual, reserved only to couples.
“Ah, you naughty boy, doing this to an old lady like me.” She said with a giggle. “What will the people think?”
“Let them think whatever they want.” He answered. “The only one that matters to me, is you.”
Drasna gave him a kiss in the cheek before releasing him from the hug.
“Besides, today is our first ‘official’ date, isn’t it?” Calem said, moving away a little bit from her. “I say that today is a very special day, and days like these deserve only the best.”
Well, it wasn’t really their first official date. They had been dating for quite a bit now, eight months to be precise, but Drasna had always tried to disguise her dates with another kind of appointments. But, unbeknownst to her, the other members of the Elite Four could sense the real intention behind her words. Maybe it was better that way, if she had known, the embarrassment would’ve been too much for her to handle.
But now it was different. This time she entered Diantha’s Chamber to tell the truth. She told Diantha about her secret dates. About the excuses she made to get away with no questions asked. And she told her about Calem, her boyfriend, even if that word sounded too strange to her. But in the end, everything went well. She knew that Diantha was a good woman, understanding, and awfully supportive of her relationship.
“Say, my love, you have surely flown with dragon-types before, right?” Calem asked.
“Oh, I don’t know, darling. I lost count many years ago.” Drasna answered, with a bit of sarcasm in her tone, but puzzled by his question.
“Yeah, well, I should’ve asked that in a less suspicious way, but…” He said, reaching for a Pokeball in his pouch, “I believe that my noble mount is unlike any other you’ve seen.”
The Pokeball floated for a few seconds in the air, before emitting a powerful flash of light which when it dissipated, revealed the legendary dragon Pokemon, Rayquaza.
“If we are going to celebrate,” Calem said, extending his hand, “let’s make this a day to remember”
Drasna was astonished. She had seen Calem use Rayquaza a couple of times. Against her, against other Elite Four, even on some battles at the Battle Chatteau. She witnessed the raw destructive power it wielded, but now, that same legendary Pokemon was going to be her steed.
Drasna took his hand and slowly mounted the dragon’s back. She clung tightly onto Calem’s back and got ready to take off.
“Let’s go friend, take us to Lumiose”
Rayquaza emitted a little growl and immediately began to ascend. Drasna was expecting a violent ascension, at neck-breaking speeds, she was prepared for such things, but instead, the legendary serpent took off lightly from the ground, almost like a feather
“Oh, you wanted something faster?” Calem asked after feeling her grip loosening a little.
“Of course not, dear, it’s just that I’ve seen Rayquaza move really fast.in battle, and sincerely, I was expecting the same.” She answered.
“I see. Well, it’s not like he’s not able to reach that kind of speed, but, I believe that for a romantic journey in the sky, speed is not really necessary.”
Drasna laughed a little. Of course he thought about that. He was always thinking about her, about what could be best, and flying was no exception. After all, love makes you do that kind of things.
She looked at the scenery, the landscape which now seemed small. The sun, getting ready to reach its final destination, announcing the coming of the night. The sea, which was now impregnated of color, thanks to the sun’s light. She saw the large fields that covered vast sections of land. The flower patches, the mountains, everything. And then, in the distance, she saw the Prism Tower emerge.
“There it is, our destination. Say, you said that some speed would be nice, isn’t it?” Calem asked.
Drasna felt a little chill, and it wasn’t the altitude.
“About that… you see…” she tried to answer.
“No need to worry, I’ve done this before and it’s totally safe, but just to be sure, you better grab me really tight.” He said as he lifted his Mega Ring into the air. “Let’s go buddy! Mega Evolution!”
Immediately after that gesture, Rayquaza Mega Evolved. Bursts of light and sound erupted from the legendary creature and soon enough, Mega Rayquaza was the one flying in the sky.
“This is… a Legendary Mega Evolution.” Drasna said. “To think I would finally witness one, and the Legendary Dragon type too. I don’t know what to say, Calem, you truly are full of surprises”
“Well, there aren’t that many Legendary Mega Evolutions to begin with, so it’s logical.” He answered. “But I’m glad I could do something for you.”
Calem felt how she tightened her hug.
“You always do things for me, love. It’s a little bit unfair, actually.” Drasna said with a giggle.
“I suppose Diantha said something along the lines of: ‘Boyfriends do that kind of stuff’. And I think that repetition is not enjoyable.”
She laughed. It was true, Diantha did said that, and even described Calem’s habits with incredible accuracy too. So they actually were on a normal relationship, to her relief.
“Now, I believe if we don’t hurry, we will miss our reservations.” He said.
“Reservations?” Drasna asked, perplexed.
“Oh right, didn’t told you about that, my fault. It was supposed to be a surprise, but I guess that with all the excitement for today the little ‘secret’ part slipped my mind.”
“Oh you naughty child. You shouldn’t have”
“I did said that this was a special occasion, so, reservations are required. Anyway, hope you enjoy our ride, and please, forgive us if there are any turbulences.” Calem said to Drasna and then he talked to Rayquaza: “Full speed ahead, pal!”
After hearing the order, Rayquaza shifted his speed. In one single stroke, the legendary dragon Pokemon achieved a speed surpassed by few, a speed that, however, wasn’t harmful or harsh to his passengers. His body, now transformed by the Mega Evolution, was now totally and absolutely aerodynamic, added to his ability to control winds thanks to his Delta Stream, Rayquaza’s flight was totally safe to anyone riding in his back.
As Calem said, it took Rayquaza a few minutes to reach Lumiose. Upon landing, both thanked the Legendary Pokemon before returning it to its Pokeball.
“Well then, Lady Drasna,” he said, giving his arm “please allow me to take you to your destination.”
“My, thank you very much.” She answered, holding his arm.
For anyone else, this was another night in Lumiose City. Streets filled with light, locations brimming with people inside or even outside, eating, drinking, having a wonderful time in general. Streets in parade, where people and Pokemon alike were mixed, giving a plethora of color and life. Yes, that was Lumiose City, the beating heart of Kalos.
At the same time this carnival unfolded before the eyes of tourists and locals alike, Drasna and Calem were traversing through the avenues, now transformed into the nightlife Lumiose was famous for. As they approached several points of interest, Calem told Drasna stories about them. How he found a secret hideout under Lysandre Café (Of course, Malva was out of the story for obvious reasons), Prof. Sycamore’s laboratory, how he battled inside of the Prism Tower against Clemont and his wacky quiz show, and many more. Drasna genuinely enjoyed when her love talked about his adventures, because in them she was able to see reflections of her own youth.
Suddenly, Calem made a stop in front of a well-known flower shop. Drasna looked at him, curious about the sudden halt in their steps. At first he didn’t gave an answer, he just released her arm, and ran inside the store. She watched for several minutes how he frantically browsed the shop, searching for something he wasn’t sure to find. At last, he approached the vendor in the counter and seemingly inquired about something. The vendor nodded and disappeared for a few minutes. After those long minutes the girl appeared holding a single flower.
Yes, it was a single one, but it was one like Drasna has never seen before. It appeared so delicate, so frail but so full of life, of color, of serenity. She saw how the vendor wrapped the stem of the flower with the utmost care, and after receiving a payment from Calem, she handled him the little treasure.
After feeling the flower in his hands, Calem rushed back outside, to his lover. He took her hand, and slowly deposited the flower.
“Some say that women are like flowers.” He started. “That they reach a state of full bloom, and then slowly start to wither away.”
Drasna took a quick glance at the flower, admiring the little piece of paradise that now rested in her hand, and then looked back at his young lover, his eyes lit with the same flame she saw that day.
“But, I think that comparing women to flowers is rather simplistic.” Calem continued. “Because to me, there is no flower in this world that can be compared to you, Dragon Lady Drasna”
She felt her heart burn again, wrapped in the warm feeling of love. She brought the flower to her face and smelled its scent. Another little vision of paradise flashed in her mind.
“I really don’t know what I did to deserve you,” Drasna said. “Sometimes I feel this is just a dream, and fear that someday I will wake up, realizing that none of this is real.”
Calem hugged her and stroked her hair, gently. She, in turn, felt his heart, beating in harmony with hers.
“If this a dream, then I don’t mind dreaming with you.” He answered. “The only natural course of action would be enjoying this dream to its fullest, isn’t it?”
She nodded.
“Then, do not trouble yourself. Let love work its magic.”
And without losing a moment, Calem took her hand, resuming their walk. During the rest of that little stroll, Drasna let herself be the girl she couldn’t in her younger years. She ran across the ample boulevards, toppled with floral patches, dipped her hand into the fountains to feel the water, giggled at the storefronts, all while holding the dear flower that his love gifted her. They took an especially long time at the Prism Tower, to admire the beautiful show of lights it offered to everyone. But even when the tower was the main attraction, stretching up to the sky, Drasna glanced over to the stars, to the night sky that was now upon them. She remembered her younger years, where the only flowers she wore, were the floral crowns her grandparents made for her. She could not help but wonder if the sky was as beautiful back then. She smiled, and thanked the stars once again, for giving her another chance.
“Well then, little lady, I think it’s time to eat something, don’t you think?” Her boyfriend said.
Drasna laughed heartily at the prospect of being called a ‘little’ lady.
“Well, I’m passed my bed time, so I don’t think people would mind if I stay awake a few more hours.” She answered.
Calem joyfully clapped his hands. “It’s settled then. To the Le Wow we go.”
Before she can even show her surprise by that sudden exclamation, Calem took her hand again and both walked towards the Le Wow.
Not much time passed before she found herself sitting in a beautiful table, inside of the Le Wow. Calem effortlessly ordered the dishes, gave indications and finally sent the waitress with exact orders for almost anything. It was clear that this wasn’t his first time ordering from the Le Wow.
“It takes a couple of times to get accustomed to all this.” He said, feeling Drasna inquisitive gaze upon him. “The menu is awfully complex, and I don’t want to speak about the time it takes to make each one of those.”
She let out a little laugh.
“But, no, I’ve never been here with anyone else. You’re the first.”
That was foolish of her, but, on the bright side, isn’t that part of a relationship? Those sudden questions, those dark feelings that linger in the corner of the mind. Not everything is sunshine and rainbows, but she was determined to cherish every little part, be it sour or sweet.
The evening kept its alluring flow, surrounding the two lovers in a sweet reverie, filled with little caresses, small chat, laughs, a bottle or two of champagne. Dishes came and went, and Drasna’s eyes alternated between Calem and the flower that now rested in a vase that was brought for it.
Minutes became hours, and soon enough, the two found out that they were the last in the restaurant. Drasna retrieved her flower from the vase, and after some well deserved compliments and a few apologies to the staff, they exited the Le wow, resuming their little walk.
As they drifted through Lumiose both noticed that the night was now in full splendor, letting the moon shine with all of its beauty. Streets, now almost empty, were lit by the dim light of the streetlamps. A few places still had some people inside, but most were closed by now. It was under this night that Drasna spoke softly to Calem.
“My love…”
“Yes?”
“It’s been a wonderful evening. One that I will remember forever.”
“I’m glad you feel that way, Drasna.”
“But…”
“But?”
Calem felt how Drasna held his arm with unusual tenderness.
“But I don’t want it to end. Not right now.”
Suddenly, his heart started to beat faster. Maybe it was the champagne, maybe it was the anticipation for something else. Something entirely different.
“I-I see. Maybe we can solve that little problem. If we keep walking, then we will reach North Boulevard.” He answered. “Hotel Richissime can be found there.”
“Yes, marvelous. Hotel Richissime is perfect, dear. Now, let’s not keep the moment waiting” Drasna said.
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Calem stopped, visibly affected by the part he was about to tell.
“Don’t worry pal, you’ll see her again. I’m with you all the way.” Mikhail reassured him. “Just one last push.”
He nodded a little, but the pain in his chest was still lingering, tugging at his own heart, making him feel the weight of having lost someone. The possibility of seeing her again vanishing minute by minute.
“If you keep lying in your own misery, you’re going to achieve nothing.” Mikhail said, giving him a little touch. “Need a little push?”
Calem looked at the dark figure in front of him. Even though he couldn’t tell if he was really human, he already showed him more humanity and empathy than most people. Maybe… maybe Mikhail was like a friend. Even though he blurted out pal, old friend, and many more words like those, he wasn’t really his friend. Not even an acquaintance.
But even so, he was there. He saved his life, he listened to him without losing any detail. If that wasn’t a friend, then no one knew what true friendship was.
“Now, tell me, would you like something to drink?” Mikhail said, making little gestures with his hands. “C’mon, shoot. I’m pretty proud of my bartending skills,”
“Hot chocolate”
Mikhail stopped doing gestures after hearing such an honest answer.
“Hot chocolate, please.” Calem said, sheepishly,
Suddenly, a cup of hot chocolate appeared on the table.
“One hot chocolate, done” He said, moving it closer to Calem. “There you go, champ. Drink it while it’s warm.”
Calem took the cup, admiring its sudden appearance. He felt the warmth in his hands, the sweet smell of chocolate flooding his nostrils. Then he looked back at Mikhail, at the dark figure who had been his listening partner for this whole ordeal.
“Don’t you worry, it’s on the house.”
Calem made a smile, sadness and joy mixing together in one single emotion. And then he proceeded to drink his beverage. Slowly, trying to taste all that sweetness, that warm feeling flowing to his belly and extending through his body.
“I know that this kind of ‘sweetness’ is not the same as having a little private time with your beloved one.” Mikhail said with a little laugh. “But I hope it helps you.”
He nodded. “It does.”
With the utmost care, Calem deposited the cup in the same spot it was, and just as his fingers parted from the porcelain, the cup disappeared as fast as it had appeared in the first place.
“Nice. Now, would you kindly resume the story?” Mikhail said, assuming a more comfortable posture.
“Sure thing.” He answered, feeling his spirit coming back. “As I was saying…”
Calem tried to close the door’s lock, but his hands were trembling, giving him a really hard time. He took a deep breath, and then gave it another try. The sign of ‘Please, do not disturb’ on the door’s handle, close the door, and then, the lock. There, all in order.
“I don’t think anyone will disturb us now, Drasna.” He said, admiring his work. “Is there anything else?”
Calem turned around and looked at his lover, standing at the window. The moonlight now only served as a spotlight that made Drasna look even lovelier. Lumiose was in the climax of the night, and she was the queen of the show. Slowly, she closed the curtains, leaving them on a soft darkness. Then, she turned on the lamp on the side of the bed.
“Now, I believe this is the proper atmosphere for this kind of things.” Drasna said. “Do you mind if I start undressing?”
Calem felt a sudden blow to the head. Those words now had a real meaning to him. Instead of just being something said to request privacy from another, in the intimacy of a bedroom shared by two lovers, that phrase acquired a subtle and sweet tone.
“O-oh, right. I guess… I should do the same.” He answered.
Drasna giggled and then she started to undress. Calem always wondered how she dressed up in the first place. She wasn’t the type of woman that is always concerned about her clothes, in fact she was rather simplistic with her attire, but that didn’t mean she lacked style. Her whole clothing radiated an aura of serenity, of wisdom and experience. The many ornaments she wore gave her a regal air, reminiscent of the fearsome dragon-types she trained. With skillful hands Drasna took off her trimmings –To Calem’s relief- and placed them on the room’s table. Then, she proceeded to undo her top and skirt and her underwear after that, exposing all of herself to Calem.
“Goodness, is something the matter, darling?” She said with a giggle. “Don’t tell me you forgot how to undress. And here I thought you were a big boy.”
Calem woke up from the daydream he was having only to find himself unable to unzip his jacket due to sheer stupor.
“This is… well… it’s not what it seems. I swear I’m not nervous or anything like that.” He blurted out.
Drasna slowly approached him and unzipped his jacket with ease. “There, I think it’s my turn to do something for you.” She said, giving him a little kiss.
He found himself being stripped little by little of his clothes, with the love and tenderness only a lover can provide. He felt Drasna’s soft hands, coursing all of his body. His clothes fell to the ground, like leaves fall from the tree. Calem stood there, almost naked, were it not for his underwear. “I think you can get this out by yourself, hmm?” She joked. He just nodded and then took off the last bit of clothing he had.
“There we go, now, isn’t this more comfortable?” She asked.
This time, Calem did not answer. He hold her shoulders, and slowly approached for a kiss.
“Drasna, may I?” He asked, his lips grazing hers.
The sudden feeling of a passionate kiss was answer enough for him. He kissed back, embracing the body of the woman in front of him.
He desperately clung onto her, trying to assure himself that this was no mere dream. He caressed her breasts, her back, her thighs, and even though she was very mature, she still had incredible firmness in her skin. Very logical, if you take into consideration that Drasna was the dragon-type Elite Four, and dragon-type Pokemon require not only strength of will, but also physical strength. A dragon-type will not acknowledge a weak trainer as his superior.
Suddenly, he lifted his lover with uncanny strength and softly placed her on the bed. Drasna felt the blush in her face after being carried to the bed by such a young man. Without losing a single moment, Calem moved himself on top of his lover.
He kissed his lover’s neck, her chest, her forehead at the same time as he massaged her arms, trying to make her feel as comfortable as possible. A trembling hand tried to reach her nether part but before he could accomplish something, Calem felt Drasna’s hands gently hold his head next to hers.
“My love, my dearest, my one and only. Calem” She spoke in a whisper. “For everything you’ve given to me, I now, in turn, give all of myself to you. Only to you.”
The next thing that happened was the closest thing to paradise he ever saw in his life. He watched, breathless, as her eyelids started to separate from each other, unraveling what could only be described as a little window to the heavens.
Golden. Her eyes were pure golden. Under the faint glimmer of the bedroom lights, her eyes had a faint light shining in them, only accentuating her beauty. Calem felt his reason tremble, passion starting to cloud his judgement.
Then, before he could even react, Drasna kissed him. A kiss so filled with love and passion that he could do nothing mora than to give up to his most basic instincts.
Their lips parted from each other, leaving both gasping for air. Almost unconsciously, he directed himself towards her lower part, seeking entrance into her body. A task easier said than done. Thanks to his now very agitated state, he was having a really hard time.
As an angel, Drasna felt his little impasse, and using a hand as a guide, she helped him get his girth at her entrance.
Feeling the moisture from her lower lips, Calem lowered himself once more. Another glance at her eyes was everything he need to make sure she was as ready as him.
As he entered her body, the pleasure started to kick in full force. An electric sensation took hold of his spine, his head became numb from the sensation his lower body was experiencing. Scared that he might pass out, he aimed for Drasna, throwing himself onto her embrace.
Feeling the desperate attempts of her lover to take hold of her, she gently wrapped her arms around him, taking him as close as she could to her.
Calem felt her actions as a reassurance, and without losing another moment, he started to thrust. Losing all self-control, he thrusted as hard as could, trying to remember bit of her body. She moaned, trying to control her urges at first, but the pleasure was too much for her to handle, and ended up loudly proffering her love screams.
As both approached the climax, their embrace became tighter. The final wave of pleasure started to climb Calem’s spine, threatening to make him burst his entire load inside of Drasna.
“It’s okay.” She whispered in his ear, her voice almost silenced by her moans. “Y-you can come… inside. Do it.”
The next moments were almost like a dream. Calem exploded, his head already numbed by the sensations, his grip slowly losing strength. Drasna felt his warmth inside of her, and smiled, exhaustion taking its toll on her body. She stroked her lover’s hair, whispered a few words of love, and wrapping both in the bed sheets, the couple drifted away to sleep.
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After finishing his tale, Calem giggled a little, remembering with some embarrassment the events he just told.
“Truly a touching tale, friend” Mikhail said, without changing his posture. “I think I have a pretty good image of everything.”
“You do?” He asked, puzzled.
“Yeah, but now, and please don’t think I’m doing this for some morbid pleasure or something like that, I need to show you some images.” Mikhail said, resting his arms in the table.
“Will this help me?”
“Kind of. But hey, we’re almost over, just do this last favor for me, ‘k?”
Why not? Calem already endured death itself. A couple of pictures would do him no harm, so he just nodded, giving Mikhail the approval signal.
Just as he did before with other items, Mikhail made a dossier appear of nowhere. He carefully deposited it over the table, and slowly revealed its contents. One by one Mikhail arranged pictures in front of Calem, pictures that showed several different women. After setting a good amount, Mikhail closed the dossier again.
“Tell me, do you know any of these?” He inquired,
Calem quickly looked at the pictures, trying to find someone, anyone he could recognize. He saw all kinds of women, of all ages, with all kinds of hairstyles and attires, but even after searching for a while, he couldn’t find someone he remembered. To his surprise, Malva, Diantha, and most of the people he knew in Kalos were mysteriously absent. Even Drasna.
“I can’t.” He sentenced. “I can’t find anyone.”
With a twist of Mikhail’s hand, the pictures disappeared, and the dossier in his other hand acquired some volume.
“I see, well then, let me help you this time.” He said.
With the same exact care, Mikhail deposited new pictures in the table. This time, to Calem’s relief, were the people he knew, people of Kalos.
“Better?” Mikhail asked.
“Yes, very much” He answered.
“So, I take you know everyone this time, isn’t it?”
Calem slowly eyed the pictures. Malva, Diantha, Serena, Olimpia, Valerie, Viola, Shauna, everyone was there, even the sisters from the Battle Maison, but not Drasna. Again.
Before he could even ask the reason for Drasna’s absence, Mikhail took the picture of Malva and moved it closer to Calem.
“You know this woman, Malva. That’s her name, right?” He inquired.
“Yes, I do know her.” Calem answered, with certain dread. “Although, I wish I didn’t.”
“Has she been aggressive with you? Extremely aggressive.”
“I—I think so. Yes.”
“Does she mix that aggression with some other thing? Lust maybe?”
A memory passed through Calem’s mind, quick as lightning. Images lingering in a corner of his mind, one that he was not happy to remember. He recalled the Hotel Richissime, source of odd jobs he did to get some income before it became the safe haven of the nightly incursions he shared with Drasna. His face quickly became visibly affected by the angst of his bad memories.
“Tell me, Calem. What has she done to you?” Mikhail asked, after seeing the sudden change in his expression.
Calem looked at him with pain in his eyes. Not the pain of physical trauma, but the one that leaves scars in the soul.
He remembered the order. The summoning from the head chef of the Hotel. The warnings about the food being for someone extremely important. How he had to change his attire, to appear more formal, as if he was actually part of the staff. He remembered how he left his Pokeballs inside of a locker, maybe the worst mistake he has ever made. The endless sound of the cart’s wheels, grinding in his mind.
Three knocks on the door, no response at first. Then, softly, a voice came from within. He took those words like a dagger in his neck. He thought about running, but his legs were frozen in place.
Slowly, very slowly the door opened. To him, it was like if the very gates of hell were opening. And that gate had a demon of his own: Malva. There she was, with a grin that could be perfectly described as if a predator had found his prey.
“Come on in, I don’t have all day.” She ordered.
It took a mighty effort to make his legs work again. Still somewhat stiff and feeling uneasy about all that situation, he pushed the cart into the room.
“She--- she tried.” Calem whispered.
Mikhail saw in that very moment how the light in his eyes began to fade, slowly. It was clear that this event was an important piece of the whole puzzle,
“I know that there are some things that are not easy to tell.” He said, putting slowly the other pictures into his dossier. “But I’m afraid that we don’t have the luxury of secrecy. Now, if you please.”
The rest were just flashes. The door, suddenly closing. The grip from behind. The cart rolling over, scattering the food. A nibble in his ear, the scent of perfume. Fear, anxiety, horror, dread.
“Even if I can’t burn your flesh, I can still scorch your soul.” He heard.
“She forced me, I mean, I DIDN’T WANT TO!” Calem shouted, now the light fading even more quickly. “I DIDN’T WANT TO, IT WAS HER.”
A push, a desperate attempt to break free. Thrashing, everything in chaos. Her glasses flying over, her penetrating gaze in the dusk of the room. She lunges fast, his reaction is not up to par. Suddenly, he’s on the floor, the malicious woman on top has an iron grip on him. Her lips, trying to steal a kiss. A refusal, his mouth is sealed. She grunts, visibly irritated by this. A quick change of strategy, the grip is now on his throat. A pair of manicured hands choking him. Desperate, he tries to breathe, but her hands are set in place.
At this point Calem just shouts. No words, just a primal instinct, reminiscent of fear. His own terror trying to flee away from his soul. Mikhail doesn’t budge from his seat, he’s too busy observing his eyes, now dark and devoid of all light.
His sight is now blurry, life slowly leaving his body. She sees this, releases the tight grip and attacks. Sudden warmth invades his mouth. She’s relentless, doesn’t want to waste a single second. Too weak to resist, one last desperate action crosses his mind. Her hands course through his body, caresses that only increase the suffering. She stops for a moment, their eyes meet. Her gaze hurts, it sears his very soul.
“You’re mine, and I’m going to make sure you never forget it.” She whispers.
With the little strength he regained in that short span, he readies itself. He has made his peace, he’s ready to go. Suddenly, someone knocks on the door. A concerned voice at the other side. She is taken by surprise, looks at the door, irritated by the sudden interruption. An opportunity arises, he pushes her with all of his might. The strike is effective, the woman tumbles back. Not a moment to lose, like a man whose chains have been cut by accident, he stands as quickly as he can. She also gets back up, her eyes shining with killing intent. No apparent escape from the room, she’s too fast to try for the door. Another knock, this time with vehemence. She’s not distracted, her attention is elsewhere. He runs for the bathroom, moving as fast as he can. Even though when his strategy is too obvious, she had realized that her opportunity is over, giving chase is useless. She dusts herself off, picks her glasses from the floor, fixes her hair a little and proceeds to open the door.
He just waits in the bathroom, with the lock on and his hands on the handle, ready to fight every inch for his life. Light steps, the door opening. A conversation, muffled by the distance and the walls. The door, closing again. A prayer, a last act of despair. Steps again, a soft scratch on the door.
“I’ll always be here.” She coos. “At the end, I’ll be the only one. When no one else is left, you can come to me.”
He feels a chill, grips the handle even tighter. The steps fade away, the door opens and closes again. Several minutes pass, no sign of her. He lifts the lock and turns the handle. The moment he bursts open the door, he runs. He runs with every ounce of strength he has, ignoring everyone and everything. Gets to the locker room, changes, grabs his belongings and exits.
Silence. Calem had fallen silent after raging for a couple of minutes, his body leaning forward, leaving his head hanging a few centimeters above the table. Mikhail grabbed the picture of Malva and took a few seconds to inspect it.
“So, it seems that the cycle IS aware of this odd behavior.” He sentences, putting the picture back in his dossier. “Time to start the climax.”
A single snap of his fingers is all that it took to bring Calem back to the living. His whole body jolted and his eyes regained their light. Judging by how hard he was trying to breathe it was clear that the sudden episode of uncanny rage was not a simple act of impulse, rather a programmed stress response to a specific stimuli.
Mikhail took his chair and positioned himself closer to Calem. “Whoa there, buddy. You alright?” He asked, patting him in the back.
He looked at him, disoriented, eyes still with some leftover fear. “I--- I don’t know. Did I fell asleep?” Calem asked, touching his head. “The last thing I remember are those pictures…”
Mikhail rubbed his back, comforting him. “Don’t worry, you didn’t miss anything. Looks like a perfectly normal case of exhaustion.” He answered. “As I already told you, your kind is not really meant to be here.”
Calem grabbed his head, signaling the crumbling of what little will he had left. “I just want to go home, Mikhail.” He sobbed. “I need to see her.”
Those heartfelt words were everything he needed to hear. Mikhail rose up from his chair and walked a few steps away. “I think, that you’ve just earned the right to get some answers” He said, and without further notice, a faint glow appeared at his side. The glow intensified enough to blind Calem for a few seconds.
“It’s time, Calem.” Mikhail spoke again. “Come, time waits for no one.”
When he opened his eyes again, the glow had transformed. A single shining rectangle standing beside Mikhail was the unmistakable sign of freedom.
A door.
A faint breeze came from within that same door, refreshing Calem’s soul and mind. The light, less strenuous now, promised nothing short of pure and beloved freedom. It seemed like Mikhail was a man (Or shadow, thing, creature?) of honor. He extended his arm towards him, indicating that it was his time to go.
“Here we are, ready to end it?” He asked.
Calem took his hand with unending joy. “I am.” He answered,
Mikhail felt the grip in his hand and nodded. With serene pace, he approached the door and slowly entered the light, his body disappearing within. Calem took one last breath and followed his friend, into the light.
Finally, he left that cursed room. The source of all of his sorrows. Now, it was just freedom.
Freedom.
Probably that was the most painful part of his betrayal. The illusion of freedom. A pair of wings destined to fail, to throw its user plummeting into the abyss.
That was how Calem felt right now. Instead of freedom, he found himself in a new black space, but this time, instead of just him and Mikhail, there was an ominous figure. It was a shadow, much like Mikhail, but it appeared to be sitting behind a bench, exerting incredible pressure over Calem, even when it was several meters away,
Slowly, he connected the pieces. Mikhail was not his friend. Not even a confidant. He was but a piece in a trial against his persona. A trial that charged him with crimes he did not know, based on unknown facts and evidence. A trial that now was in the final phase: The verdict.
That thing, that ominous figure in the apparently large space was none other than the judge. And he followed his prosecutor to his own trial. Bravo.
Mikhail walked a few meters to what appeared to be the left side of the room, and then turned around to face the other presence.
“Your Highness, great Overseer Aurum, I’ve completed my task.” He said in a solemn voice. “The prosecution is ready,”
The moment his words disappeared in the darkness, two glowing red orbs appeared in the judge’s face. Slowly, the figure leaned forward, setting his gaze upon Calem.
“Primus.” Overseer Aurum said, addressing Calem. “It seems that you’ve learnt nothing. Never thought I would have to meet a forerunner like you in this place.”
Calem felt his soul tremble with every word the judge pronounced. His voice was nothing like he heard before. It had no tone, no recognizable features that could tell if he was human or something along those lines. He could understand every word, every syllable, but that voice was not human, it spoke directly to his core, to his very essence.
“So you were important after all.” Mikhail said, laughing a little. “I told you that secrets were bad, didn’t I?”
Under other circumstances, Calem would’ve fired a hateful gaze towards Mikhail, but not this time. He was paralyzed, unable to speak, to think, to act. The whole realization about what was going on made him crumble inside, sunk in his own despair.
“Silence won’t be tolerated in my realm, forerunner.” The judge said with anger. “You will answer for your actions.”
“Your Highness, if I may?” Mikhail interrupted.
“What is it, Prosecutor?” Aurum replied, shifting his gaze. “Do you have an answer for Primus’ lack of speech?”
“It seems that ‘Primus’ is still under the cycle’s lock.” He answered, pointing at Calem. “Unless you give your permission to lift said restriction, I’m afraid he won’t be of much use.”
Suddenly, the two red orbs disappeared from Aurum’s face. “As the procedures dictates, I acknowledge your proposal.” The judge said. “From this moment onward, restriction number 8, inscribed and forced upon the inhabitants of the cycle, is now lifted from the accused.”
Calem jolted the moment he heard the decree. His expression lost all traces of doubt, of fear, of weakness. Instead, a hateful visage took a permanent place in his face.
“I will repeat myself.” Aurum said, witnessing the change. “Can the accused tell us who he really is?”
“Inhabitant number 0002806” He answered, indifferent. “Primus. Forerunner.”
“Let us deliver judgement.”
“Let us deliver.”
“Yeah, let us.”
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BY RESOLUTION OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL, THIS TRANSCRIPTION WILL BE STORED FOR FURTHER REVIEW. IN ACCORD WITH DECREE NUMBERS: 1347 AND 1348, ONLY AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL IS ALLOWED THE ACCESS OF THIS DOCUMENT.

Aurum: Primus, do you know why you’re here?
Primus: I broke a rule.
Aurum: Not just a rule. Not just ANY RULE. You broke the most important rule.
Primus: (Silence)
Aurum: Prosecutor!
Mikhail: Yes, your Highness?
Aurum: What is the most important rule an inhabitant has to follow?
Mikhail: (Clears throat) Under no circumstance, an inhabitant should interfere with the cycle outside of its own bounds.
Aurum: Can you tell now, Primus? What is your crime?
Primus: I was too friendly?
Aurum: (Loses his temper) YOU INTERFERED WITH THE CYCLE! NOT ONLY YOU HAD THE AUDACITY TO GET INVOLVED WITH SOMEONE FROM INSIDE, BUT YOU ALSO TAMPERED WITH IT.
Primus: Ah, you mean Drasna.
Aurum: (Deep breath) Who?
Mikhail: It’s the name of the woman, your Highness. Primus has been involved with that person.
[REDACTED]
Aurum: Can I ask you a question, Primus?
Primus: I thought Mikhail asked me all the questions you needed.
Mikhail: There will never be an answer for your behavior, forerunner, so I suggest you hear what your Highness has to say.
Aurum: Why now?
Primus: I don’t understand the question.
Aurum: How many cycles have you lived, Primus? Five? Six?
Primus: (Brief silence) I’ve lived the six cycles. Even those who received a significant update. I did those again.
Mikhail: (Whistles) Give the man a medal, a true highborn forerunner. The irony is almost palpable.
Aurum: (Sighs) Six cycles. Six. Complete. Cycles. Not even counting the ones you completed more than once. You’ve seen everything, done everything. What made you interfere now?
(Brief silence)
Primus: I got tired.
Aurum: Tired? I assumed your kind could never tire out.
Mikhail: It’s in a figurative manner, your Highness.
Primus: It’s always the same. Wake up, your mother tells you about moving into another town. You exit the house, take a look at the little piece of hell you’re thrown into. […] He gives you your first monster, your first “partner”. Entrusts you with the goal of capturing the rest of them. […] You meet “friends”, “rivals”, people with similar goals and aspirations. […] You battle “leaders” in order to prove you’re worthy of traversing this road. The road of the “trainer”. […] Along your journey an antagonistic force arises. You clash against this organization, bent on changing the world based on their own twisted beliefs. They throw everything against you, but alas, the paradigm of the hero is once again reinforced. No one can stop you. […] You capture most of the monster, you fight against the best of the best the cycle has to offer, and then what? Nothing. […] There’s no sense of accomplishment, no satisfaction, no real motivation or drive behind this repetition. Maybe the first time is something exciting, something to look forward to, but six cycles are more than enough for me. I’m tired. My soul is tired. […] I’ve been everywhere, seen everything. I’ve captured every monster listed in the database. Won every medal. Beaten every opponent sent my way. I’ve been recorded in the hall of fame more times than I could care for. For what purpose? I don’t see the point in maintaining this façade.
Aurum: You already knew the rules, and even then you accepted to be part of the testing. Claiming ignorance at this point is just openly mocking my authority.
Mikhail: (Rises his hand) Your Highness, the prosecution wants to remind the courtroom that the real question is why he intervened now. What was the trigger to force Primus’ hand.
Aurum: That’s correct, prosecutor. The accused now will answer the question.
Primus: (Deep breath) I found her.
Aurum: The woman.
Primus: Her name’s Drasna.
Mikhail: Such trivial matters are of no concern of the Judge, forerunner. You’ll do well in remembering.
Aurum: That would be true in most cases, prosecutor. But…
Mikhail: But?
Aurum: You said it. This woman, “Drasna”, it seems to be the cause of Primus’ action. If she was the one to force a forerunner to act against the cycle itself, then, I’m most interested in learning about it.
Mikhail: You heard the judge, Primus. Describe the woman in question. Do not hold anything back, the more details the better.
Primus: (Deep breath) If that’s what your Highness orders, then I will happy to oblige.
[REDACTED]
Aurum: I think that it’s more than evident the infatuation the accused has with this woman. Do the prosecution has something else to say about this?
Mikhail: (Coughs) No, your Highness. The accused already described her in great detail. I’m pleased to say that for once, this statement is correct, and checks correctly with the declaration given beforehand by Primus.
Primus: I don’t know whose idea was, but whoever made her is a genius. She’s literally perfect.
Mikhail: Thank the engineers, forerunner. They are the ones with the task to design and tune every aspect of the Cycle. A task that now has only gotten harder thanks to your lack of control.
Aurum: Prosecutor, I take by that comment that you’ve received word of the engineers?
Mikhail: (Sighs) Yes your Highness, but I’m afraid it’s not good. Horrible, If I’m completely honest.
Aurum: Specify, prosecutor.
Mikhail: According to the Master Engineer, Rouen, Primus’ current cycle has just entered an “Anomaly” state.
(Short silence)
Aurum: Is the report absolutely accurate?
Mikhail: I’m afraid it is. If the Master Engineer himself is sending the report, with his signature and the original dataframe, then I have no other option than to believe this is the truth. As horrible as it sounds.
Aurum: Do you understand what you’ve unleashed, forerunner? There hasn’t been an anomaly since Phobos went and directly tampered with the core itself.
Primus: I always wondered what happened to Phobos.
Mikhail: Thanks to him we have another level of emergency, The “Phobos Anomaly”. No small feat, let me tell you.
Aurum: What else does the report say, Prosecutor?
Mikhail: According to the dataframe, the Cycle has been driven away from the normal prediction and fixed course that engineering forces upon it. Not only that, but it has also begin to create its own variables and behavioral patterns. Everything seems to indicate that it possesses a will of its own.
Aurum: It’s evolving by its own means.
Mikhail: (sighs) Not only that, your Highness, but it also seems to have developed a “conscience”. I would dare to say that it even forces certain events to happen, IF I’m interpreting correctly Primus’ last statement.
Primus: You don’t mean…
Mikhail: That’s exactly what I mean, Forerunner. The rough encounters with “Malva”? Those are nothing more than the Cycle itself, trying to force its own will upon yours.
Primus: This is a joke.
Mikhail: Take it as you prefer, I don’t really care. All I know, is that if we leave the Cycle continue by itself, it will become worse than the Phobos Anomaly.
Aurum: Now I understand why this case was handled to me. I was really confused as to why such simple matters would be left to my care, as the head of the Supreme Tribunal, but now I can see the reason.
Mikhail: We trust firmly in your judgement, High Judge Aurum. And we will abide to your sentence. I expect that Primus will do the same.
Primus: Not much of an option here.
Aurum: I’ve seen enough. I am ready to pass judgement upon the accused.
The three: Let us deliver justice.
[REDACTED]
Aurum: Forerunner Primus. After hearing all the evidence against you, including the report from the Master Engineer itself, I think it’s clear that you’ve acted of your own free will. And it is from your actions that now the Cycle entrusted to you has begun it’s descent into an anomaly. There’s no one to blame, except yourself. Do you have something to say in your defense?
Primus: During these past “months” or so to say, I truly felt alive. Something I couldn’t accomplish in more than 15 years of going through endless cycles. Now I can really say that I regret nothing. And I’m sure that Phobos felt the same.
Mikhail: It’s oddly fitting that you would take his side. I suppose it was silly of me to expect some repentance from you.
Aurum: The allegations have been heard, and now this tribunal will pronounce itself. By the Authority bestowed upon me by the supreme Overseer, and my position as the Grand Judge of the Supreme Tribunal, I sentence you, Forerunner Primus, to be stripped of any and all of your ranks, titles, possessions and properties. I also sentence you to be erased of any database, registry or record, and to be terminated along with your own personal cycle, as dictated by the edict number 216, regarding transgressions against the Cycle. If there are no more allegations, then this court is considered adjourned.
Mikhail: Your Highness, if I may?
Aurum: Is the prosecution unhappy with the verdict, Mikhail?
Mikhail: (Coughs) No, your Highness, far from it. BUT, the prosecution thinks that termination is a very lenient punishment, if we consider the accused crimes.
Aurum: You do not consider death as a fitting punishment, Prosecutor?
Mikhail: On the contrary, Judge Aurum. It’s not the end result we are questioning, it’s the means.
Primus: You don’t want to give me a quick death. Is that it?
Mikhail: Smart, aren’t you? Yes, that’s exactly what the Prosecution is pointing. We want the death sentence, but we think it’s necessary that the accused suffers in the process, after all, who knows what debacle could have fallen upon our society if his cycle would’ve left unchecked.
Aurum: Life is the ultimate price we pay for our crimes, Prosecutor, do not forget that simple fact, but, I will admit that a swift execution is too lenient for such crime. The allegation is accepted. Does the Prosecution suggest a fitting punishment, then?
Mikhail: (Small Chuckle) Yes, your Highness, the prosecution offers a couple of ideas. Of course, the final decision is absolutely yours to make.
Aurum: Proceed.
Mikhail: The recommended punishments are as follows…
[REDACTED]
Mikhail: And, as I’ve mentioned already, the prosecution has decided to name them: “Hell”, “Purgatory” and “Oblivion”. Now it’s up to you, your Highness, to choose the most appropriate for the situation at hand.
Aurum: Your suggestions have been dutifully noted, Prosecutor. Now this tribunal will dictate the final sentence for the Forerunner, Primus. Accepting the allegations formulated by the prosecution, this tribunal sentences you to [IN CONCORDANCE WITH THE EDICT NUMBER 216, THE REST OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOW COMPLETELY ERASED AND TERMINATED. NO FURTHER RECORDING IS ALLOWED]
[ADDENDUM: AS DICTATED BY THE SUPREME OVERSEER, THIS DOCUMENT IS NOW PART OF THE FORBIDDEN LIBRARY WITH THE SOLE EXCEPTION OF THE ANOMALY RESEARCH, LED BY THE MASTER ENGINEER HIMSELF. ACCESS IS NOW RESTRICTED TO STIGMA CLASS ONLY]
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I’m not going to lie. I never met Phobos in person, but that doesn’t mean I can’t “understand” what he felt. Why he tampered with the core of his own cycle, risking everything he ever had in the process.
Maybe that’s why I feel indebted to him in some way or another. That’s why I never passed him as a “traitorous scum”, or a “menace to order itself”.
Funny. It’s almost ironic that the same knowledge the Engineers tried to pass upon us, under the excuse of “preparing” us in case our cycles suffered some kind of anomaly, is now the same knowledge that allowed me to escape my sentence.
Because, what’s a little transgression now that I’m already sentenced for a capital crime? A few death sentences more aren’t going to change the fact that I’ve been banished and completely erased from the society I used to live in.
Not that I care, though. Not when everything I want is on the other side of this “moral” spectrum. If total and complete erasing from this reality is what I must pay in order to get where I really want to be, then it’s a little price to pay. So be it.
The dimly lit corridor where I currently am is nothing more than the stream of data flowing from my own Cycle, materialized upon contact against the countless formulas and algorithms I memorized from the engineers. Equations that now gave me the means to proceed further into the core.
As long as I force my subconscious to never stop applying those formulas, then, in theory, everything should be right. If the reports are correct, Phobos itself crafted and then applied these very same equations upon his own cycle, and emerged unscathed. Or so they say. If he turned to madness after all those experimentations, that fact is not embedded in the reports.
Another hundred meters and I should be in the core itself. And it’s in the very core that I must rescind of the subconscious, and elevate everything to a conscious level. Abandon my very own being and conscience, in hopes of melding myself with the cycle, effectively cutting its ties with the mainstream dataframe the engineers have crafted.
It should be fairly simple for a Forerunner like me. That if there wasn’t an ominous figure waiting for me in the core. A figure I know already too well. A figure I’ve learned to hate and despise from the very bottom of my heart.
Mikhail.
“Hey there, pal.” He says, spewing words loaded with venom. “You took a little more than I anticipated, but that’s ok.”
Slowly, I approached him. My eyes fixated on him, a lesson I had to learn the hard way. As soon as I stepped into the core room, the corridor behind me disappeared from existence. “Congratulations” I heard him say. “You did it, Primus! Not only you’ve managed to surpass Phobos as a transgressor, but you also managed to flee from your punishment AND you’re planning to make a grand exit, I presume?”
I didn’t say a word. The equations take too much concentration to keep up, and I fear that if I returned the shots, everything will plummet into the abyss. So I decided to only return a gaze. A gaze I hoped was filled with enough hatred to make him understand how little pleased I am to see him again.
“Hey champ, calm down.” He answered, taking notice of my frown. “I’m helping you with the equations, so it’s fine if you only take the half of it.”
I open my mouth a little in disbelief. The equations concerning my own Cycle should be secret. Even if it shares some variables in common with other cycles, most of it is only known by me. But even then, why should I believe him? He’s already proven to be a really good liar.
“I’m really starting to get tired of this charade, Primus.” Mikhail says to me, impatience starting to take over his tone. “Even after everything I’ve done you still have no clue about who I really am. Are you really that blind, old friend?”
A thought flashed in my mind, but I discarded it immediately. It’s too crazy to even think about the possibility of Mikhail being Phobos. THE Phobos. The one who almost threw reality into a never ending vortex of chaos. The one who outsmarted even the Master Engineer himself. The first forerunner who won a death sentence via erasing.
“You can’t be” I mumbled, lowering the usage of my subconscious to half. “Phobos is dead. Gone, erased and forgotten.”
He just answered with a really loud laugh. A few claps made it clear that he took my statement as a really bad joke.
“Nice try, but no. I’m not Phobos, even if I do know his equations and derivations I’m afraid I pale in comparison.” Another short giggle from him convinced me he was telling the truth, at least for now. “I won’t deny it hurts a little that you’ve forgotten me, but it’s pretty understandable, even more if we consider the amount of year that have passed.”
“If it’s something really important, you should drop the act, instead of prolonging it.” I replied, somewhat irritated by his guessing game.
“I suppose it is. No more games.”
As soon as I heard that, a sudden rush of energy emanated from Mikhail. I felt a trembling as the core room started to expand, obeying his will.
And for the first time, I understood.
I understood all the “pals”, the “buddies”. Every single time he said I was his friend, he wasn’t lying. Emphasis on the was.
The shroud that covered his face slowly lifted, allowing me to see, at last, the true face of the one who condemned me to Hell itself. The one who took advantage of the Cycle lock I had, to extract every ounce of information I could offer.
And my rage for once was dwarfed by my surprise and the sudden arrival of nostalgia. Oh, and sadness. A lot of sadness.
“Blue” I said to him, recognizing my first rival ever in the face of ‘Mikhail’. “It’s been a long time”
“Indeed.” He answered me, his cocky smile shining again in his face. “I would ask how’ve you been, ‘Red’, but I’m afraid I already know too much.”
It was in that moment when everything suddenly fell into place. I felt stupid and angry, for not realizing sooner, but also felt happy? Pretty hard to explain the sensation of wanting to kill and hug your best friend at the same time.
“I feel tempted to say this has only been a very good prank at your expense, but for the sake of your sanity I want to assure you that everything is very real.” He continued, his smile turning sadistic. “From me being your old friend, to your sentence. And I intend to make sure you go back to it,”
“Never agreed to that”
“You know? That’s the exact same thing I said when I realized I had to take the part of your rival for the rest of our Cycle.” Mikhail said, his smile banishing. “But it didn’t matter. All because of the opposing force rule that engineering came with. What a load of crap.”
Our cycle. Yes, it was our cycle. It’s only natural that he knows the equations concerning this cycle as much as I do, if not a little better. He, my only rival, a task given to him by the Master Engineer itself. To oppose the protagonist. I and he, both trying to obtain the same goal, the same prize. Everything as a mean to strengthen the resolution in me. To ensure I would strive to become the very best, like no one ever was.
That was indeed a cruel fate, because, in the course of the adventure, the rival always failed in its own strive for glory. Even when he gave every ounce of his will, his growth was always capped at some point. And that’s exactly why I couldn’t be mad with him, even if I wanted to. Even if he was the cause of my brief visit to hell. Because I also knew how a linear path felt, but not as limited as his.
“Primus, old friend, don’t try to fool me.” He said. “I know your plan. It’s pretty much what Phobos attempted that time, and let me tell you, even he couldn’t do it. What makes you believe you will successfully execute a schism from the main dataframe? The only thing you will accomplish, is to kill us all.”
“If that is what’s at stake, then I will take the gamble.” I replied, unfazed. “I hoped you could understand my situation, Mikhail. You more than anyone else.”
“I do, oh I do, believe me. But what you’re not seeing, is my own point of view.” He said, scratching his head. “You see, I’m already accustomed to lose. I’ve lost countless times to you. I no longer feel anything when I lose, so why would I share the same feeling as you do, Primus? Is that some sort of unspoken fraternity among us, cycle inhabitants?”
I took a few steps towards him. If I couldn’t convince him of helping me, then at least I could take him using brute force. “That’s totally valid, Mikhail, but you must remember that it wasn’t my idea to force you upon that role. If it were for me, I would’ve let you go, give you your own cycle”
“Fifteen years, Primus. It has been fifteen years.” He sentenced, looking me dead in the eye. “I remember the first time. I thought I had the upper hand, that the advantage was all mine. How foolish of me.”
“Don’t sell yourself low, I struggled a lot to defeat you.” I answered, trying to distract him from my true intentions. “I’m sure if your own levels weren’t capped, you would’ve beaten me countless times.”
“Yes, I remember it. Your face the first time you beat the champion, thinking that he was the end of the league, but, surprise! You never expected me, did you?” He said with a chuckle, a hint of sadness in his voice. “But even then, you defeated me. Clean and square.”
That was the moment when I noticed it.
A pokeball, tightly gripped in his hand.
“You know, I don’t resent you that much. Even when the family the cycle created for me that time decided to treat me like garbage. Even when we entered the second cycle only to find out that I wasn’t even given a family. I didn’t care. I never cared for it.” He continued. “Everything I wanted, was to fulfill that little dream of mine. To become the best.”
“Like no one ever was.” I completed.
He laughed, heartily this time. It was so long since I heard that laugh from him. “That’s correct, friend. That was my dream, my hope. But somewhere alongside the road, I realized that I could never beat you. Not when we were running a race where one of us had a chain and a ball attached to one of his legs. So I let go of that dream and decided to embrace the reality of the situation. After the second one I decided to not try anymore, to not let myself be fooled by false promises.”
“That’s why you never entered the league? Just because you gave up?” I asked, the other side of the story finally being revealed to me.
“That’s right. I never made it to the league, but at that point the flame inside me was already gone. The engineers noticed this, and decided to relieve me of my functions as your second in command.” He said, continuing the tale. “I accepted, gladly. Being shoved with failure can be really frustrating, you know.”
My brain was trying its best to maintain the equations at the same time that it was processing the story I was being told. I knew I only had a little piece of the panorama, but I never realized how small that piece was.
“That’s why I started to get more rivals, isn’t it?” I asked, a faint pain in my chest. “That’s why everything seemed to get easier as cycles went by.”
He nodded. “I got my Prosecutor title, and drifted away from the whole Cycle stuff. I decided it was enough for me. Never again I would go back to my former misery.”
“You were on your right to do that. No one should be forced to fail endlessly.” I sentenced.
“You see, that’s the funny part. I could never be truly separated from our bond. I realized that, as I was forced to eternally lose, you were sentenced to be an eternal champion.” He said, “Eternally forced to walk on a red carpet, bathed in glory, but never able to step outside of it. No real bonds with others. A mere trophy to be exhibited.”
I stopped dead in my tracks. The blunt force of his words paralyzed my legs. Because, after all, he did understand my situation.
“I know you were bound to do something stupid at some point. I was spared of that because I was able to realize that simple fact before you could. So, in some bizarre way, I actually won.” He continued, giggling a little more. “So I said: Why not help him? After all, he’s my best friend. I can’t leave him like that”
I was at a loss of words. Where was the cold and terrible prosecutor that sentenced me to go through the most painful piece of hell ever imagined? Where was the ruthless mastermind of my whole demise? All I could see, was my best friend, trying to atone for a crime I never knew he committed.
“It’s not hard to pull the strings when you’re high in the sphere of power. Phobos was a genius at what he did, so it was only logical that you would look for his formulas and equations, so I gave them to you. A simple arrangement and, bingo. You now understand the core of the Phobos Anomaly.” Mikhail said to me, almost excited to be revealing his whole plan. “The rest was a piece of cake. A few reports and some forged documents later I was assigned with taking care of offenders like Phobos. But before I decided to push the final string, I had to be sure you wouldn’t have second opinions.”
“You don’t mean…”
“Yes, our whole ‘testimony’ stuff. It was my way to see if your determination was intact. I’m pretty happy to say that you were up to the challenge, old friend.” He answered
“But, what about the sentence?” I asked, dumbfounded.
“You do realize that I need time to execute my whole plan, isn’t it? A quick execution would’ve turned all of my efforts into nothing. I needed you alive. So I invented all of those punishments, tried to make them sound really scarring and bad. Part of it was a little revenge for those sour years I had to live, but the other part was to ensure the high council would be watching you. You can’t imagine how morbidly curious they are.”
As more pieces fell into place, my astonishment grew as well. I couldn’t believe it, I thought myself completely alone in all of this. But Mikhail proved me wrong, once again. All those times he was at my side, while I told him my story, he really meant to support me.
“To fool your enemies, you must fool your friends first.” He cited. “Glad to see I’m still good at what I do.”
I couldn’t help but to smile. There he was again, with his cocky smile, but this time, it was like the old times, when he outsmarted every one of my moves.
“Now, regarding your little plan, I must inform you that it is possible.” He said, going back to a serious tone. “A schism is completely possible, Phobos realized that in the end, but it was too late for him. Luckily, he left some warnings, in the form of his research. Double luckily, my security clearance is high enough to allow me access to that research. The deciding factor in this plan, is that the schism must be enacted in both sides.”
“Inside and outside of the cycle. The flow of data must be cut completely clean. Clever.” I said, glad to be able to comprehend such complex theory in a very simple way.
“Phobos only had control over his side of the Cycle. That was his downfall. But, if I remember correctly, you do have a friend outside.” He said, pointing at me.
“Yes sir, I do.” I answered, smiling.
“Isn’t that great? You’ll be glad to know that this friend of yours already cut the flow from the outside. This Cycle is completely isolated from the exterior. You can thank him later, for now, I must inform you that there’s a critical step in this whole machination.”
“Whatever it is, I’ll do it. You can take my word.”
“Nice, now you won’t be able to take it back.” He said throwing the pokeball into the air and catching it back. “Now you must fight me.”
I stopped. I’ve heard that phrase countless times, having lost its meaning somewhere in my countless journeys, but now, now it had a real meaning. One I was reluctant to accept.
“What do you mean?”
“This is the end, my only friend, the end.” He hummed, a tone we both knew and loved. “I cannot go back after what I’ve done, but I also cannot let you go without resistance. You must prove to me that you’re ready, not only with words, but with your whole being. And don’t worry, this time I’m not restricted by anything, I made sure of that.”
A knot formed in my throat. Every conflict we had in the past was meaningless compared to this one. Our very lives were at stake here.
“Don’t feel bad, though, the winner will be able to enjoy a life to its fullest. So I think it’s worth to gamble everything in one last bet, isn’t it?” He said to me, trying to lift my burden a little. “But you can’t risk nothing and win everything. Throw me everything you have. No friendship bullshit, no love, no invented moves, no nothing. Just cold and hard stats, numbers, attacks, types and effects. Give me your best Pokémon”
He threw his ball forward, unleashing the powers inside of it. A moment later, Arceus had taken place in front of him. The mythical god roared, tearing what little space was inside of the core, the ground trembling at the sudden display of power.
“I’m not holding anything back, Red. I hope you do the same.” Mikhail said.
I could only think of one Pokémon in particular. My best one. A partner as Mikhail once was. I stored him, fearing his power would be too much for anyone to handle, but now it was the key to my happiness. And I couldn’t be happier to battle against Mikhail, so I decided it was the moment to use him one last time.
A name resonated in my mind, and soon enough, a Master Ball materialized in my hand. Pristine and shiny, silent witness of a hundred battles, all of them victories.
“Help me one last time, pal.” I whispered to the ball, and then I threw it forward.
A flash of light was the only warning that preceded the appearance of Mewtwo. His slender figure a complete contrast of the God Pokémon he was facing now.
Man against god. One must die, so the other can live.
“It seems fitting. I expected nothing less, partner.” Mikhail said, praising my choice of Pokémon. “Let us deliver judgement.”
“Let us deliver.” I said, for the last time.
...
…
“I should’ve known.” Mikhail said, banishing slowly from reality, his god-type Pokémon laying defeated on the ground. “You trained Mewtwo to perfection. Even a god can be felled.”
I slowly walked towards him. Passing Mewtwo, I gave him a pat in the head, which he returned with sad and comprehensive eyes. He knew his fate as well.
“Is this what you truly wanted?” I asked him, standing at his side.
Mikhail gave me a sad smile, a faint hint of tears coming thru his eyes. “Yes, I think this is what I really wanted.” He answered. “I was able to live a couple of years without being forced to obey other’s decisions. But you? You went through six cycles, including the updated ones. That’s enough for a lifetime, isn’t it?”
I nodded.
“You’ve earned your wings, little Icarus. Go and do what you want with them. Just, don’t get to close to the sun, ok?” Mikhail said, tears falling through his cheeks. “Promise me you will remember our friendship, yeah buddy? I always did.”
I wanted to hug this ethereal man, floating alongside me, but I knew too well that it would’ve been in vain.
“I won’t, Mikhail, Blue. Never.” I answered, feeling my own tears coming. “I could never forget you.”
He nodded, making his peace. “Then I think it’s time. Go, make your own story.”
And with last statement, he vanished, alongside Arceus and my Mewtwo, leaving myself in a soft darkness.
I wiped away my last tears and then I proceeded to the center of the room.
 Closing my eyes I readied my mind to transfer all of the Phobos equation into my conscious self, effectively severing my final ties with this reality, beginning my existence in the reality inside of my now isolated and private Cycle.
A few thoughts flashed in my mind. The face of Mikhail, his tears, his anger, his smile. My Mewtwo, his last battle, his brilliant last performance. And in the end, Drasna appeared in my mind. Her whole being giving me the strength to continue forward.
With that, my final thought assembles inside of my mind. The equation completes itself, and unfolds upon my whole being.
A faint glow of light.
An eruption of energy.
Shouts.
Screams.
A smile.
The scent of the woman I love.
I’m back, my love.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“At last” He thought, making a fist with his hand. “The Dragonmark Chamber. This is my moment, the moment I’ve waited all my life.”
During the slow platform ride, he was able to calm his nerves a little, after all, beating three of the Elite Four was an accomplishment. One that he was proud of, and soon, (He hoped) he would be able to claim he beat the Elite Four as a whole.
“Focus, focus.” He told himself, checking if his bag had enough supplies for the upcoming fight. “This amount of Max Revives and Full Restores should be enough. I hope.”
And with the sound of his bag closing, the platform made its halt on the Dragonmark Chamber.
Although, was it really the Dragonmark Chamber? There was no fog, no dimly light room, no giant pair of wings and dragon maw opening. No nothing. All the tales he heard about that chamber seemed to be nothing more than lies.
He eyed the chamber until his gaze sat upon three figures that were on the platform where the throne supposedly was, according to what he heard about the place itself. Indeed, instead of the magnificent throne, the trainer found three figures sitting around a table, eyeing him with the same curiosity he did.
Upon realizing he was not alone in the chamber, he took a few steps towards them, trying to distinguish the figures. He waved his hand, trying to get a reaction from them.
“Do you want some cake?” He heard, a child’s voice coming from one of the figures. Suddenly, he realized who were the ones sitting in the table.
At the left side, it was Drasna, the Dragon Lady, member of the Elite Four and current master of the Dragonmark Chamber, eternally radiant and kind. At the right, Calem, surrogate Champion of the Kalos League, a title he was very hesitant to accept, but that he finally did, after travelling all over the world. And in the center, Camellia, their loving daughter, the same one that now was waving at him with a big smile on her face.
He looked at the table, brimming with elegant pastries, and adorned by fine pottery. Then came the realization that he had just barged in when they were having a family moment. A little respite from the usual obligations of the Elite Four.
“I think you would like it.” Little Camellia said, before chomping another piece of the cake she had in front of her. “Ish shooo gud.”
“What I’ve told you, little lady?” Her mother, Drasna, said in a loving tone, wiping her cheeks gently with a napkin. “You mustn’t talk while you are eating.”
The girl swallowed the food in her mouth and gave her mother a quick smile. “Sorry mommy.” She apologized.
Calem laughed at the sudden display of affection her daughter showed, and proceeded to stand from his seat. “Well then, if you are here, it means you’ve come with a very specific purpose.” He said to the trainer.
The voice of the (Surrogate) Champion was enough to break the little daydream he was having upon observing the little scene. “Oh, no, please. If you’re having a private time I understand.” The trainer said, lifting his hands, trying to excuse himself. “I can wait.”
“Do not worry, dear.” Drasna said, with a kind voice. “It would be extremely impolite of us to just ignore you for the time being. But, before that, would you like something to eat? Or drink maybe?”
He looked at the Dragon Lady as she calmly served another cup of tea with the utmost care. “Sugar, lemon, milk?” She asked after depositing the teapot in the table.
“Ah, s-sugar, please. And some milk, if it’s not too much to ask.” He answered, flabbergasted by the kindness he was getting from the family.
“I still think you should try the cake.” Camellia added, giggling a little.
“Please, have a seat with us.” Calem said extending an arm towards an empty chair close to him.
He nodded, still not believing what had just happened to him.
Half an hour later he found his cup empty, and his plate clean of the cake he was served. Needless to say, everything was delicious. The tea brewed to perfection, and the strawberry cake was fresh and sweet.
“I hope everything was to your liking, dear.” Drasna said retrieving the plates in the table. “Being a trainer is really tough, but a little break once in a while helps a lot.”
The young trainer looked at the family in front of him. He looked at Lady Drasna, who now wore a mantle over her shoulders. A couple less accessories in to balance the golden band that now rested on her finger. He looked at the Little Camellia, her deep lilac hair tied in two pigtails at the sides of her head. Her cute pink dress, with dragon-type motifs all over it.
And then he looked at Calem, the (surrogate) Champion. He saw his long, dark hair. His brown leather jacket over his shoulders. His serene and wise expression, looking at him.
“I know how it feels.” The Champion said. “To leave your family, your home, your town. To embark on a journey with your Pokemon. Everyone does that at some point.”
He felt a little pain in his chest, the faint memory of his parents in his mind. Then, the hand of the champion in his shoulder. A warm touch, full of kindness and comprehension.
“But you must never give up. Even when faced against overwhelming odds.” Calem continued. “Your heart will help you. Trust me.”
He just nodded, astonished by the amazing words of courage the Champion just gave to him.
“Now, on the business at hand, I believe I owe you a league battle, isn’t it?” Calem asked, standing from the table.
The trainer felt his jaw drop at the thought of battling against the Champion itself. He had heard the tales about him. About his legendary Pokemon. About how he defeated Team Flare, even stopping another Legendary Pokemon from becoming a mass destruction weapon. About how he became the youngest Grand Duke the Battle Chateau had ever seen. About his mighty streak at the Battle Maison.
“I’m going to get pummeled, right?” He asked.
To his relief, Calem laughed. “Of course not, kiddo.” The Champion answered, crossing his arms. “Believe it or not, League Battles are not really that important. They have very strict rules for the Elite Four though.”
Calem descended to the arena and stretched a little. “But if you want to battle against me as a fellow trainer, I wouldn’t mind accepting your challenge” He said, with a smile. “After you’ve beaten the league yourself, of course.”
The trainer sighed. Not really knowing what he meant by ‘strict rules’ at all, but very happy that he wasn’t going to go against monsters such as Rayquaza. He thanked Lady Drasna profusely for the hospitality, and descended to the arena.
“Is daddy going to fight?” Camellia asked, eyes shining with admiration.
“Yes my darling. Your father is going to battle against another trainer.” Her mother replied, stroking her hair.
The little girl clapped and sat on her mother’s lap. “Go daddy! You can do it!” Camellia shouted.
The trainer reached for his bag, and took a Pokeball from inside. “Ok Aurorus, let’s do this.” He whispered, and then launched the pokeball forward, releasing Aurorus into the arena.
“Ice-type. Not bad, very clever. Let’s see how you fare against mine.” Calem said, and started to reach for the pokeballs in the first row of his belt.
“Not those darling, you need to go easy” Drasna said to his husband, almost scolding him.
“Right, not serious, got it.” The Champion answered, taking one from the second row in his belt. “I think this should be more than enough.”
Calem threw his pokeball, unleashing Noivern. The grand bat stretched his wings and quickly ascended to the skies of the chamber, taking hold of the air space.
“Look mommy! It’s Noivurn.” Camellia exclaimed, visibly excited by the presence of the Dragon/Flying type pokemon. “It’s one of your favorites, isn’t it?”
“It’s Noi-vern, my dear.” Drasna answered with a giggle. “But yes, it’s one of my favorites.”
“Well then, my friend, let us begin” Calem said.
…
…
The trainer couldn’t believe the moment his Greninja defeated the Champion’s Haxorus with a final Night Slash. After spending most of his reserve of Full Restores and Mas Revives, he finally defeated the last of Calem’s Pokemon.
“Very good, very good. I thought I almost got you with Haxorus.” Calem said, returning his beaten pokemon to its pokeball. “Not many people expects Mold Breaker on him. I’m glad you were able to defeat me.”
He returned his Greninja to its Pokeball, whispering thanks to his team. And then approached the Campion.
“I’m not dreaming, am I? I didn’t pass out in the middle of the battle or something?” The trainer asked, still unable to believe his tight victory against Calem.
“I’m afraid it’s the truth, kid. You emerged victorious from our little encounter.” The Champion answered, patting his back a little. “A very notable feat. You can be proud of yourself.”
“Aw, daddy lost.” Camellia said, a little sad.
“We can’t win all the time, my love.” Drasna comforted her. “But you can be sure that your father is very, very strong.”
Little Camellia nodded and then smiled at the young trainer. “Congrats!” She said.
The trainer nodded back at her, thanking the gesture.
“Now then. I think it’s time you go for a final battle. But, eh, let me give you something for the road.” Calem said, handing him a couple of Full Restores and Max Revives. “Take them as an apology, and as a present from my family. Our battle was really enjoyable, something I don’t usually say.”
He took the gifts in his hands, still trembling from all the emotions and then looked at the Champion. “Thank you, sir. Really.”
The trainer stored the Potions in his bag, and promptly returned to the platform he used to arrive in the first place.
Drasna and Camellia were now alongside Calem, standing in from of the stone platform.
“I’m sure you will win, young trainer.” The Champion said with a smile. “You proved your worth here. Trust in yourself and your pokemon.”
“Don’t be afraid, darling.” Lady Drasna said gently. “With your pokemon, I’m sure you can show the Champion just how strong you are.”
“You can do it!” Little Camellia shouted. “Fight to the end!”
The young trainer smiled. A warm feeling started to grow in his chest. A mixture of happiness and sadness, common signs of parting. He tried to talk, but the knot in his throat was too strong for him. A profuse bow was everything he could do to show his appreciation.
As soon as he finished, the platform started moving again.
And, he could swear that the last thing he saw before leaving the Dragonmark Chamber was Lady Drasna giving his husband a quick kiss on the lips, followed by a quiet whisper on his ear.
“Thank you for holding back…”
It seemed that the Pokémon League really wasn’t the end after all.