I want to protect her. I'm not sure why—maybe it's her cute demeanor, or maybe it's something else—but I just want to protect her, Ava thought as she reached for the door after Melia. As Ava entered the lab, Melia yanked her behind a bookshelf.
"I've never seen her before, but I've heard her voice. I want to see if she has something to do with this," Melia whispered into Ava's ear.
The red-haired woman standing in front of Professor Jenner's desk spoke in an annoyed yet seductive tone. "You know, I don't appreciate being hung up on like that. It was very rude, and I should report you for misconduct."
Jenner stared at her tiredly, then huffed. "People walked into the room, Madelis. What did you want me to do?"
"Lock the door? That would've prevented all of this from happening." Madelis glanced around. "Not that it particularly matters; Zetta should be picking Melia up very soon."
Jenner's eye twitched subtly. "Yes…"
"Why so glum? You knew this was going to happen."
Anger flashed across Melia's face, and Ava tugged on the collar of her sweater and whispered, "Not yet."
"From the moment we gave you the job of looking after Melia as she grew up, we made it very clear," Madelis continued, her tone shifting to something more belittling. "Melia was only going to be with you temporarily. Once she grew up, you'd only have to return her to us."
Jenner huffed harder, with a bit of strain in his throat. "I haven't forgotten. I've never forgotten."
"Hmm…" Madelis stared at the professor whimsically. "Well, for your sake, I hope that's the case." She sighed. "I told you that getting attached would ruin you, and it looks like it has." Madelis let out a small huff. "Just look at it as a sacrifice. We'll have our lives back after this. It'll all be over… in due time."
Melia slowly stepped out from behind the bookcase. "I knew it…" Her face twisted with anger and sorrow.
"M-Melia, you made it!" Jenner smiled. "Thank goodness!"
"Yo." Ava peered past the bookcase.
"And Ava too…" Jenner added, less enthusiastically. "I knew it was wise to leave you in—"
"Jenner, what the hell are you playing at?! Melia is supposed to be at Goldenwood Forest! What is she doing here?!" Madelis flung her arm wide with a small bow.
"Been there, it was awful. Big motherfuckin' Gyarados, so we came back. Also, Zetta needs stronger coffee; he looked dead tired."
"Who the hell is this?!" Madelis pointed toward Ava.
"I knew the moment I found the Snag Machine in the briefcase. You gave it to me today of all days, 'to punch in a code when things got sour…'" Jenner stayed silent, looking away from Melia with a pained expression. "You gave it to me because you knew! You knew this would happen! Yet…" Melia's sorrow turned to confusion as her anger shifted to disbelief. "You sent me on my way anyway… And you got Ava involved too?" She huffed and snapped her head back. "After all these years… You weren't my real father. You never told me the truth!" Her panting filled the room.
Jenner stood up behind his desk, gesturing for calm with his hands. "Melia, please lis—"
"I AM DONE listening to you! Everything you've done was to set me up!"
Madelis turned to Melia so quickly she created a small breeze. "Enough of this! I don't understand what's going on, but I'm ending it." She tossed out a Houndoom. "Come to me, Houndoom!"
I-I shouldn't get involved, Ava thought, leaning against the bookshelf.
"I'm not scared of you! Hapi, come out!"
"Houndoom, use Nasty Plot!" The Houndoom howled loudly.
"Hapi, use Metronome!" Togepi waved its small hand back and forth, beginning to glow white until… both it and Melia popped out of existence.
"You have got to be kidding me. Fantastic!" Madelis started jogging towards the entrance but stopped at the door and turned to Jenner. "I'm not letting this go unpunished! Neither will she." Madelis ran through the door, yelling, "Attention, Team Xen members! This is your beautiful and gorgeous Xen executive speaking~! Our target has been lost once more. However, all hope is not lost! Melia should be…" her voice finally faded out.
"This… This is a disaster." Jenner rested his face in the palm of his hand. "Everything that's happening… It wasn't supposed to go this way. If Madelis hadn't come now of all times… Ava, I—" Jenner was interrupted by a masculine voice from behind the door.
"Professor!" Ren burst through the door. "Professor, this is bad! There are Xen Grunts all over the city! Venam is fighting off as many as she can, but—"
"You two, listen to me very carefully. Team Xen is after Melia. If they find her, it'll be over for all of us. I need you two to leave and find her immediately! East Gearen and the forest are off-limits. She could've gone in the direction of Route 2. The railnet east of here will be able to take you to Route 2 without any problem—" Jenner was cut off by a stern feminine voice.
"That's enough," the voice commanded, then an oddly colored Gothitelle appeared between Ava and Jenner. "Do not be alarmed by the Gothitelle. They're just… a companion."
"Who's there? Show yourself!" Ren demanded, looking for the voice.
Ava shook her head. "I would prefer if you didn't, Crescent. She's not part of Team Xen," Ava reassured Ren.
"Hm." The hum expressed a minute twinge of displeasure before a Gothitelle cried something. "Professor Jenner… How irresponsible and horrible to try and send children to clean up a mess you made. It enrages me to even think about what Ava could've gone through if I hadn't… Where is she?" The door closed with Ava dashing through the exit.
Ava ran into the street, repeating, "I gotta find Venam, go to Route 2."
An orange-haired woman stopped running after passing Ava and turned around. "I don't mean to eavesdrop, but I heard you mention Venam's name!?"
Ava slid on the wet concrete as she stopped, then eyed the orange-haired woman. She looks like she judges everyone… Could be Xen. Ava lifted Char between her breasts and whispered, "Tackle her if she gets too close." She then looked at the woman with an annoyed expression. "You're not Xen scum, right? If so, I'll have to ask you to wait your turn."
"Attitude," the woman responded, amusement slipping into her voice. "I'm Karrina, the local gang leader."
I'm not surprised by this; it just makes sense why she loves Pecha Berries, Ava relaxed her posture. "Why do you know where Venam is?"
Karrina crossed her arms, her serious expression deepening. "Gangs exist for the same reason as Gym Leaders: to keep the city safe. So when Xen stormed the streets and I got word one of their admins was holed up in the abandoned factory bridge, I contacted her immediately. But she ran over before I could fully explain the situation."
"Is it that bridge right by the train to Goldenwood?"
"Yeah, I could lead the way—"
"I need you to tell a black-haired boy, Ren, to go to Route 2." Ava ran past Karrina, then turned around and shouted, "That's far more important right now; our friend is in grave danger there!" Karrina debated chasing Ava but decided it might be best not to, with the sound of running becoming more evident.
Ava huffed as she stood in front of the factory. "For something abandoned, it looks well-maintained." A borderline insane laugh came from inside, making Ava hop back. "Well, at least I don't have a fear of clowns." Ava nudged the door, peeking her head into the dim factory. Looks good enough, plus Venam is standing right there, so… She took a step inside, her footsteps masked by Venam's voice. "Yo," she whispered behind Venam's ear.
Venam held back a jump. "What are you doing here?"
"Has anyone told you that running off by yourself is a bad idea?" Ava sighed. "For fuck's sake, Venam…" she added, trying to mask her anger as she reached for a Net Ball in her pocket, her eyes looking past Venam.
"Listen, I'm—" A voice blared before Venam could finish. "This place still has an alarm system?!"
"Jenkel, who are these two?! You absolute idiot! You left the door open even after I told you to shut it?!" a female voice yelled into the ear of a spiky green-haired man in a lab coat.
"Oops." Jenkel smacked his lips, turning away from the neon green-haired girl.
"You're supposed to be more competent than this! Whatever, just take care of them. I'm warping out of here!"
I don't need to start something, Ava keeps her Ball hidden as she and Venam walked toward the two voices.
"Is… that a Musharna?" Venam said, raising a brow.
"You're not turning that thing into a Rift Pokémon. I can't let that happen"
"Rift Pokémon? Well, doesn't matter. You've all seen too much!" The professor adjusted his glasses. "But that's okay, huheuhe… YES! It's QUITE. ALL. RIGHT!" His manic laughter made the two trainers' eyes dilate. "I guess I'll just have to test my experiment out on you two."
Ava scrunched her face. "This guy's a dumbass," Venam and Ava said simultaneously. Jenkel sent out two Munnas. "Go, Swaws…" Ava stopped herself. Wait a damn minute! Melia is currently at risk… but so is that Musharna. Ava darted her eyes around the ground.
"Ava? Now's not the time to get cold feet!" Venam reached out to Ava's shoulder as her Ivysaur fainted.
"Melia is more important." Ava turned around and grabbed Venam's hand. "We need to go find Melia on Route 2. For some reason, Team Xen is hunting her down!" Ava switched the Net Ball for a Luxury Ball.
Venam's eyes widened with anger as she snatched her hand away from Ava. "Why didn't you start with that?!" Venam bolted towards the door. "HURRY UP!!"
"Deluxe! Make a firewall!" Deluxe created a wall of flames as Ava followed suit. "Stay right there!" she shouted, looking back at the confused scientist. Then she continued running, catching up to Venam and passing her. Not fast enough, not fast enough. NOT. FAST. ENOUGH! Ava thought agitatedly before doubling back for Venam, scooping her up in one swift motion, and bolting towards the train station right by Venam's house. In a blur, the two entered the train just as the doors began to close.
Venam's face turned green, her cheeks puffed out. "Ava, she's gonna throw up!" Ren screamed from the corner of his seat.
"Shit!" Ava scrambled through her bag until she found one for drinks. "Here! Here!" She shoved the bag in front of Venam.
Venam vomited into the bag, her heavy breathing filling the cart once she was done. "THE FUCK ARE YOU ALL LOOKING AT?!" Everyone's heads snapped to the front.
"Venam, you need a minute?" Ren asked as he knelt beside her, rubbing her back along with Ava.
"MELIA DOESN'T HAVE A MINUTE!" Venam shouted, her pained stare fixed on Ren.
"Ava, can you buy me and Venam a minute?" Ren dragged Venam to a reserved room as she insisted she was fine.
"So… puberty, am I right?" Ava laughed nervously.
Once the train reached Route 2, Venam bolted out the door with Ren following. "What about Ava?!"
"Amethyst Cave is just to the left!" Venam shouted over her shoulder, stumbling as she ran.
I don't know why you don't think I can keep up… Ava sighed. "Welp!" She did her usual hops before sprinting after the two.
As Ava entered the dimly lit cave, Venam turned to Ren. "Ren, you said that Melia would go to Sheridan Village to seek safety, right?" Ava spotted a hooded man walking across the bridge. "Which way is Sheridan from here?"
Ren and Venam walked past Ava, distractedly talking to each other. "North. We just have to keep heading in this direction."
Ava looked at the hooded figure, her expression softening from cautious to cautiously pained. "She… didn't pass you… did she?"
The hooded figure replied with an exhausted, raspy voice. "No, your friend hasn't gone to Sheridan."
Venam looked at Ava, then at the hooded man. "Do you know him?"
"No, but he looks like he knows something," Ava replied.
"Then it's some Team Xen goon lurking around!" Ren stepped up to the man, Pokéball in hand.
The figure looked at Ren, then at Venam. "Your friend, Melia, was it? She hasn't gone down this path… She went to the mines below."
Venam's face scrunched with confusion and anger. "Why in the world would she go to the mines below!?"
… She didn't go to the mines. She was SENT to the mines… Ava shook her head. "She was scared… She probably wasn't thinking straight…" Ava's statement was met with a feminine scream echoing through the mines. The group jumped, then looked to their right as Venam bolted down the cave.
"It doesn't matter anyway; it's hopeless," the hooded figure said, resting on the bridge's railing.
"It's not hopeless! We can still make a difference!" Ren argued bitterly before chasing after Venam and the scream.
"So young. So naive. The truth is the harshest teacher known to man," the man said loudly enough for Ren to hear as he ran away.
Ava looked at her clenched fist. "Maybe it is… but…" Ava swallowed her sadness, letting her rage surface. "But denying it is what allows humans to become greater than themselves and others. Look no further than the airplane…." Ava chased her companions.
As Ava reached the bottom of the steps, she heard Venam command her Seviper, "Use Our Kiss!" She noticed a group of Joltik scurrying.
"I get it's a cave, but why are there so many?!" Ava bumped into Ren as she tiptoed around them.
"Yeah, they're not native to the cave either… There weren't any here a few days ago," Ren replied, intrigued.
"We need to find Melia…" they said in unison, Ren's voice low and slightly depressed, Ava's subtly angry.
"I'll check across the bridge right here…" Ren chuckled, a bit stressed.
"If you wanted to get rid of me, you could've just asked," Ava replied starkly as Ren crossed the bridge. She saw Ren smile despite having his back turned. ... I hope Melia survived. These two would be broken if anything happened to her. Ava continued her dash, passing Venam. Once she crossed the bridge, Venam called out to her.
"Ava! Melia really did come down here. The grunt I just defeated spilled the details… A Xen Admin is chasing her down!" As Venam got closer, her expression deepened into sadness. "She's somewhere down there…"
Ava rubbed Venam's shoulder. "Then we'd better keep looking—find her before Xen does." When Venam looked over at Ava, she saw a confident smile accompanied by an affirmative nod. "Let's keep searching!" Ava threw her arms up like she was partying in a club. "If I were a smart gal, I'd say she's on the floor below us, but since I'm a betting type, I'll say she's on the floor below us right now."
Ren nodded with an obviously forced smile. "Then let's get down there!" With those words, the group ran down another set of stairs.
Once they reached the bottom of the staircase, they felt a vacuum-like force pulling them down a tunnel. "No…!" Ava whispered as the smell of decay reached her nose. Ava looked at her friends, trying to hide her worry. We need to hurry, she thought as she jogged in that direction.
When the group reached the source of the vacuum-like force, they encountered Zetta, holding something in his hand that dripped a red fluid as he looked at the rift in front of him. "Who are you? Where is Melia?!" Ren agitatedly questioned, his focus solely on Zetta. He looked Zetta over. "You're a Xen Admin, aren't you?"
Venam looked into the rift. "And just what is that blob of energy?" Ava's eyes darted between Zetta and the rift.
"That's a rift. It overflows with some type of energy that mutates and decays Pokémon…" Ava stepped forward.
"If only you hadn't interfered at Goldenwood Forest…" Zetta commented in a low voice through gritted teeth. "All of this could've been avoided…" Zetta's eyes flicked to Ava.
"Avoided? What are you talking about?" Ren's voice lowered as his eyes widened, focusing on the object in Zetta's hand.
Ava's eye twitched. Zetta turned to face the group, hiding the dangling object behind his back. "It's your fault. We were all too late. Melia…" Zetta's pause made Ava's breath hitch. "Melia is dead."
The young trainers stepped back; Venam's eyes grew red, Ren grunted as he clenched his jaw and looked away, and Ava's wide eyes stared into Zetta's tired, infuriated eyes, her anger barely masking the pain of the news. "Bullshit…" Ava mumbled.
"...What?! That's not possible! You're lying!" Venam regained her balance. "T-This is just a trick to get us to give up and leave!" Venam stuttered and stumbled.
I… We know he's telling the truth. That scream… it was Melia's, wasn't it? Venam… Ava reached out to Venam, but Zetta finally revealed the item in his left hand.
"While I was on my way down here, I heard a massive crash." The rift flexed as the bag was presented to the trainers. "When I got to the scene, all I saw was a broken bridge and a Galvantula gnawing on this!" He pushed the bag forward, emphasizing the "this."
"Do you really think we're going to believe this obvious red herring?!" Ren refuted through gritted teeth as he angrily stared into Zetta's infuriated eyes. "I'm not going to ask again. Where is our friend?!" His fist clenched.
"Ren…" Venam shakily, yet quietly spoke up. "Stop," she fretfully whimpered.
Ava shook her head, clenching her fists. "What?" Ren muttered, noticing the others' reactions.
"This is Melia's handbag. Professor Jenner got it for her birthday," Venam breathed deeply. "Last year." Venam looked up blankly at the bag, then exhaled, stepping closer. "It was custom-embroidered with Hapi on the side of it…" She looked over at Ren and Ava. "There's just no mistaking it."
Ava stepped back. "No…" Ren softly said, his disbelief extinguishing the anger in his eyes and voice.
Venam stepped backward until she was in the same spot she had been when they arrived, her eyes never leaving Zetta. "It's all your fault! It's Team Xen's fault Melia is gone!" Venam angrily declared.
Zetta sighed, turning around and shaking his head slowly. "It's over… She was our main target. This is a massive failure on my part…" Zetta moved toward the rift as it pulsed. "When I go back to HQ, I know damn well that this'll be the end." The rift widened as Zetta turned back around. "But I'm not going down alone." Zetta raised his hand, commanding the rift to move forward. "I'll take you guys with me!"
"Bring it on! Show us what you got!" Venam demanded.
"!" Hearing Venam's words, Ava darted her focus from the rift to Venam. "Venam, wait!"
Zetta chuckled as the vacuum-like power of the rift increased. "Come to the grave with me!" Zetta's crazed eyes fixated on the group as the rift flew forward, lifting Ren and Venam off their feet.
"Wh-what?!" Venam stuttered as she and Ren were anchored only by Ava holding onto their legs.
Come on! Focus on your footing, don't let them go, and maybe you can get us out of it! As Ava readjusted her stance, the rift pulled in her leg before sucking up her, Venam, and Ren.