An Ideal Hero

     My partner abuses my lowered guard in her presence to snatch my faithful hat from me, plopping down a likewise red and white stocking cap in its place.  Momentarily, I’m taken aback, the words forming in my mind to ask her what in Arceus’ name she’s doing, dolling me up like a Delibird.

     Then, I see the bright beaming smile on her face and the identical hat atop her head.

     I’m not much for holidays, this one being no exception.  I’d rather be doing something more worthwhile with my time than contribute to the mandatory celebration of an event of artificial significance.  By the same token, I don’t need a designated date to give someone I care about a gift.  But seeing this girl in front of me practically radiating Christmas cheer...

     Well, maybe it couldn’t hurt to let myself get roped into some of this nonsense.

     With a sigh of resignation, I reach for the brim of my cap on reflex, tugging on plush fabric in its place, refusing to acknowledge the growing warmth in my cheeks.  “...If you insist, I’ll see if I can avoid playing Scrooge this year.”

      Gasp!  What have you done?!  The laws of this world cannot abide this profani-

      Oh.  Well, if you insist, I supposed it’d be rude not to.

@intcrpol

Continued from:

The room was spotless and immaculate, every surface polished to a mirror shine. Elegant and minimalist furnishings were strategically placed in this sterile environment, pleasing to the eye but devoid of any discernible personality. Despite the wealth of open space, Shirogane seemed to take up every inch of it with his presence, oppressive and looming with just the slightest hint of menace, even when seated at his desk. The anemic excuse for a smile pulling at his thin lips spoke of unvoiced disdain, the air of a man who had never once been surprised by anything in his life.

The boy young man helped himself to a glass of incredibly expensive brandy, standing proud and reciting meaningless words with a confidence that was positively gauche.

He supposed Blake deserved his moment after earning the allegiance of the legendary dragon, Zekrom- No small feat, indeed.

“All warfare is based on deception,” Ginjiro replied quietly, steepling long and spidery fingers beneath his chin. “Controlling perceptions is always more efficient and effective than controlling by force. I wouldn’t be so hasty to make assumptions about your enemies, however weak and scattered they appear.”

Whether the Champion would take his advice to heart or not remained to be seen, but with any hope, Blake would exercise more caution in the future. One never could be overly suspicious, simply prepared.

“Did you have anything of value to report, or did you simply miss my glowing hospitality?”

    His cautioning words remind too much of the sages, but for the wrong reasons.  Where they spewed empty platitudes to public to blind them to their true intentions, I know the Inspector is doing nothing but restraining how acerbic his words could be for me.  Considering a young punk like me shouldn’t even know he exists, I consider that quite the courtesy.  He and that eastern general aren’t wrong.  All warfare is based on deception.  By that same token, “the principle on which to manage an army is to set up one standard of courage which all must reach.”

     That’s the reason why I’m stopping myself from visibly retching as the worryingly costly liquor singes my innards.  It’s why I don’t correct people when they call me the Champion, even if I never got the chance to battle Alder myself.  It’s why even though the man who wants me dead has a squad of magical ninjas that can appear from thin air and surround me with out any warning, I’m acting like I’m the king of the world.

     Because right now, in the midst of the turmoil left in the wake of Team Plasma’s offensive, Unova needs a hero.  So long as the legendary dragon of ideals has a say in the matter, that hero’s me and regardless of my own opinion on the matter, I need to act like it.

     I set the glass down on Shirogane’s desk, a remark about coaster usage assuredly on the tip of his tongue as I try to get down to brass tacks as requested.

     “I didn’t want to trouble Looker anymore than I already have, so I came to give my brief to you in person.  As you’ve already been informed, all of the sages of Team Plasma are now in custody... save for one.”

     Looking out the office’s window, I stare down into the bustling streets of Castelia city below us.  Odds are, someone’s down there watching, waiting for me to walk out of the building and see where I’m headed next.  Even with Team Plasma formally disbanded and the majority of the criminal organization behind bars, thanks to their sheer numbers, we couldn’t have got all of them.  There’s no telling how many grunts I personally sweeped are still out there, taking orders from the real problem here.

     Ghetsis Harmonia Gropius used his son to convince nearly the entire Unovan public to release their Pokemon and leave themselves completely defenseless.  As if such an outlandish plan working wasn’t terrifying enough, he left nothing to chance.  His science team would’ve hacked into the PC system and released everyone’s Pokemon by force if I hadn’t smashed up their work space on my way through the castle.  Ghetsis is a cunning, ruthless manipulator, willing to do anything to achieve his goals.  After I derailed a whole childhood’s worth of devious machinations, I can only imagine killing me places somewhat highly on his to-do list.

     ❛ Right! That explains why a lot of GYM LEADERS who specialize in FIGHTING-TYPES really have this built. But don’t you also have LUCARIO? Wait, then…o-oh I didn’t expect you to have a nice built. That’s impressive, HILBERT. ❜ 

     Some interest is perking up in her eyes, almost enamored about the possible built lurking behind his sweater. Maybe HILDA’S excitement was leaning towards those impure thoughts.

     So you know whenever you’ve got something that manages to grab a Purrloin’s attention and they start shuffling in place, preparing to pounce?  Right now, I feel like that something.

     “C-Come on, Hilda.  I wouldn’t be any good as a trainer if I didn’t put in the same amount of effort as my Pokemon.  ...You’re not in bad shape yourself, y’know.”