Hi everyone! Welcome to my blog! I'll be posting lots of random stuff... about my life, my fandoms, my stories, and even science stuff! XD Also spoilers ahead so be careful!
Hometown: Geosenge Town, Kalos (Moved to Mesagoza, Paldea 5 years ago)
Gender: Female (she/her)
Orientation: Demiromantic/Demisexual
Pokemon team:
Feraligatr (starter) - Kagura
Gardevoir (gift) - Anya
Talonflame (first catch in Lumiose) - Kohaku
Absol (first rogue mega) - Gudako
Diggersby*
Raichu*
Steelix*- Silverman
Garbordor* -
Excadrill* - Kamina
* These pokemon rotate around depending on her battles
Personality: Mostly introverted, will eventually open up when she becomes friends, enjoys the thrill of Pokemon battles. Can be dense as hell when it came to socializing and especially romance.
Likes:
Pokemon battles
her pokemon,
quiet moments by herself,
team MZ,
AZ and Floette,
Corbeau (more than like but she hasn't told him)
exciting and fun unexpected moments,
good coffee (Noveau’s is her personal fave),
good chocolate and pastries (she has a secret obsession with Kalosian chocolates)
Dislikes:
being made to socialize against her will,
sour things,
coffee that wasn't done properly,
instant coffee,
small talk
Small Background/Story:
She is originally born and raised in Geosenge Town but she and her family were forced to move somewhere else after the Ultimate Weapon leveled her town. They decided to move to her extended family in Mesagoza, Paldea.
It turns out she and everyone else in Geosenge were saved by Zygarde without anyone realizing it. She saw a flash of green before everything went black.
In Paldea, she attended the Naranja/Uva Academy and even managed to get all of the seven badges but never got to Champion Rank.
She struggled with the Treasure Hunt and couldn't find anything that she would consider her treasure. It was until the director suggested to her to try to visit Kalos again as seems to be quite homesick. She would have to update them monthly by sending in reports. She took this as an opportunity to go on her own even if it is just a tourist. Also just a reason to get away from her lovingly yet overbearing family.
Her first stop was Lumiose City as a guide and to participate at the exciting Battle Royale that she's heard a lot about.
She could have turned Urbain down but was just excited about the prospects of doing something she's not familiar with even with her bag getting stolen and stuck in a Battle Zone for sometime. Also because she was a little too shy to say no especially to someone who was really nice to her.
Her Gardevoir was given to her by her grandparents as a Ralts as a small companion for her new journey. She liked how bubbly Totodile now Feraligatr was and kinda had an empty headed look too and picked it. Those two became her longest companions in her journey and have grown attached to her and have made it very clear that they will be hostile towards anyone who tries to harm her. Talonflame and Absol have joined that group too.
She has.... Complicated feelings about Lysandre and Team Flare. She is angry at them for effectively destroying her home and nearly killing her family and friends from that town. But a part of her feels like that anger has sort of simmered over time. It went back once she ran into L but was conflicted when she realizes that there was more than what was known in public. Especially when she found out that he has amnesia of all things, and that he looked and felt so different than before. Essentially she wants to be angry and hate him for everything but can't bring herself to.
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media literacy would automatically go up 100% if people knew how to consume stories without self-inserting themselves into the characters' shoes. "if i were him..." you're NOT. you may relate to his story, his past, his traits, his quirks, his identity but the moment you start treating the story accepting what you feel/think as what the character feels/thinks, you're misunderstanding the story.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
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a scrapped page (might rework it/ draw more if I find the motivation... which is lacking despite the brainrot lol) There's a whole scene in my head where LLysandre (could be applied to L as well I suppose) heads back down into the sewers in his black suit, and talks to Zygarde. This is after everyone from his old life is gone, and for this page specifically I reckon it's Corbeau's funeral.
The chat with Zygarde was him wishing he could numb himself into his purpose/punishment, become an unfeeling, completely balanced, "perfect" tool for the world's benefit, now that he knows what evil he is capable of and will avoid. Part of his redemption/atonement involves balancing of his own self wellbeing, so... that emotional support will regularly be in the form of a constant Zygarde, at least until he gets more strength to weather 3 millenia's worth of grief and hope.
Had a passing thought of L/LLysandre (AU where "L" has all his memories as Lysandre) having body dysmorphia/wanting his ginger hair back, but having complicated thoughts about "being" that mistake. Anyway, my last comic of 2025, Happy New Year everyone!
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So.... I saw this comic a while back by @nartothelar and I got inspired by that one panel there that I wrote this fic and I couldn't stop thinking about it.
That and I recently found out the difference between Au revoir and Adieu...
So here it is! I hope you all enjoy! And there's one scene in this fic in particular that I took inspiration from a certain anime/manga. Tell me if you do figure it out :3
Under the cut due to its length
Ao3 Link
Title: Adieu, to you too...
"Pokémon Trainers. I come to you by the Holo Caster to make an important announcement. Listen well. Team Flare will revive the ultimate weapon, eliminate everyone who isn't in our group, and return the world to a beautiful, natural state. Unproductive fools are consuming our future... If nothing changes, the world will become ugly and conflicts will raze the land from end to end. I repeat. We will use the ultimate weapon and wipe the slate clean. I'm sorry, those of you who are not members of Team Flare, but this is adieu to you all.”
Corbeau had lost count on how many times he had played this message on his Holo Caster. He had lost count of how many days ago (or weeks) since this message was played to everyone in Kalos. He had lost count… on how many times did he let himself zone out as he replayed this message over and over and over…
He played the message again…
“Pokémon Trainers. I come to you by the Holo Caster to make an important announcement. Listen well. Team Flare will revive the ultimate weapon, eliminate everyone who isn't in our group, and return the world to a beautiful, natural state.”
Philippe let himself into the newly constructed boss’s office without saying a word, on the other hand he carried a small stack of papers for his new boss to look at. He heard that message from the Holo Caster again… he lost count on how many times he had heard this message from his new boss’s Holo Caster as well…
“Unproductive fools are consuming our future... If nothing changes, the world will become ugly and conflicts will raze the land from end to end.”
The new second in command to the boss would like to comment about that, but at the same time… he didn't really know what to say. What would he say?
“I repeat. We will use the ultimate weapon and wipe the slate clean.”
“Hey boss!” Their newly hired grunt had come in from behind Philippe, he seemed quite pleased with himself as he showed a folder for the boss to look at, “I got ya the files you—-”
And without even a second, the enraged Corbeau had flung his Holo Caster from across the office and it hit the doorframe just next to the surprised grunt.
Philippe shook his head, he had warned the grunts beforehand that their new boss has been in a bad mood since Lysandre fired the Ultimate Weapon a few weeks ago. It wasn't wise to come in like this. It wasn't like any other time he was angry at anything.
This was something else entirely.
"I'm sorry, those of you who are not members of Team Flare.”
But this is adieu----"
Adie—
Ad—
Adieu—"
The force at which Corbeau flung his Holo Caster at had caused the device to become dented on one side and made the recording stutter.
Philippe silently sighed as he opened his hand to the grunt, gestured to him to give him the folder instead.
The terrified grunt then meekly said a “sorry” and handed the folder to Philippe. He then bowed and scurried away from the office.
The dented Holo Caster then shut itself off.
And with a groan, Corbeau stood up from his chair and walked to his new couches and sofa set up and sat on the long couch. He pulled out the glasses from his face as he massaged the bridge of his nose. He felt a migraine was coming…
“Philippe?” He finally acknowledged his second in command in his office, “Is that more work again?”
He sounded more exhausted than Philippe thought.
“Yeah boss…” Philippe responded loud enough for his boss to hear.
“Just… leave it at the desk…” Corbeau groaned in pain again with his new migraine. “I'm not really feeling good enough to deal with anything right now… and this damned message is driving me insane!”
Philippe picked up the dented Holo Caster and sighed as he placed the papers on his boss’s ever growing pile of papers.
“I'll…” He paused for a second at first but decided to continue anyway. “I'll get us some coffee sir…”
“Yeah… sure…” Corbeau gave a wave of his hand to let Philippe go.
As he left the office, The new Rust Syndicate boss began rubbing his temples as the migraine settled in. He hated this. He hated it more than he should.
Or was it that he wanted to hate it more than he should…
He doesn't even know anymore. Corbeau wished he could have just understood why this all happened in the first place. And how could he? How could the man he had idolized to the point of shaping his own ideals after his do….
Do all of this?!
THIS!!
Philippe came into the office with a tray with two cups of coffee. Both made specifically to their tastes…
He placed his boss’s coffee on the table in front of the sofas and took his own cup while putting the tray down. He then sat next to Corbeau on the couch. The young boss barely reacted to the weight.
“Tell me Philippe…” Corbeau began as he fiddled with his glasses. “Where do you think this whole thing began?”
Philippe knew immediately that he was referring to that incident.
“l'm not sure sir…” He could only answer in lament. “Everyone in Kalos was just as surprised as you were after all…”
“Were they?” Corbeau thought out loud as he picked up his coffee cup and took a sip.
The smell of the coffee brought him back to the days where he would frequent Lysandre cafe when he was just starting out with his own business ventures, before he was the leader of the Rust Syndicate, before he had a lot of ambitions, before… everything else that had just happened.
He remembered when he would stop by at the cafe when he was there by himself to catch up on things. To discuss issues but also to bring up any other topic Lysandre wanted to talk about.. He would still thank him for supporting him in his life and his business ventures. For helping him become who he is now.
He remembered the smiling face of the man he looked up to as he poured the milk onto his own coffee.
That smile…
He wondered…
“Was he being genuine at those days I wonder…” Corbeau thought to himself, out loud for Philippe to hear, “Whenever I visited him in his cafe… so we could talk about anything… Anything he wanted…"
"But by then… Has he already thought about it?”
Philippe didn't answer, he just took a sip of his coffee.
“Was he already that far gone, before I noticed?” Corbeau didn't expect an answer… he took another sip of his coffee and kept remembering… “That he had planned this all along behind everyone's backs?”
Philippe truly didn't know how to answer that question.
“How far long ago was it?” Corbeau contemplated, “Since he decided that the world wasn't worth saving anymore?”
“I…” Philippe did try to think of an answer but words still failed him, “I don't really know sir…”
“No one knew…” Corbeau sighed again as he counted on his fingers… “Not you, not me, not the rest of the syndicate, not his friends, not those kids that beat him…”
“I don't even think Team Flare knew!!!” Corbeau raised his voice as he slammed the coffee cup on the table. “Let alone the rest of Kalos!”
Philippe remembered some of the news he'd seen. There's too many to recall, but most were about the captured Team Flare members yelling at the authorities that they didn't know anything let alone about activating the Ultimate Weapon. Of course most of the general public thought they were just lying.
Why wouldn't they?
Corbeau on the other hand groaned more from the migraine as he kept digging further back into his memories. He cursed to himself silently. He wished he was more observant. He wished he could have noticed something. Anything!
Until he went further back…
“You have quite the spirit don't you, boy?” Lysandre patted the glaring Corbeau's head. He was just a little boy back then, all alone in a big city called Lumiose and clutched his only friend back then, a Venipede that decided to follow him all around.
“What’d ya mean by that?!” Corbeau almost spat at this rich looking guy. In his experience, rich people were just annoying snobs that looked at him as if he was an insect pokemon like his only friend. I ain't afraid of ya, if that's what yer sayin’”
“Hahaha! No, I definitely didn't mean that…” Lysandre gave out a genuine laugh as far as Corbeau could tell, which felt weird to him, “I apologize for my… members’ behavior towards you. You're only a child after all. So where are your parents anyway?”
“I ain't got any. The only one I have left is Venipede.” He muttered as he clutched Venipede closer to him. The pokemon, despite having tiny feet, still tried to hug him back.
“Oh my! I am deeply sorry to hear that.” Young Corbeau didn't understand this. Why was this rich guy so… sympathetic? That wasn't something he ever expected a reaction from.
“Then come in, come in!” Lysandre gently pushed him into the very red looking place that he can't even read the name of. Or really let alone see it properly. “The storm is only getting worse and I can't have you getting a cold.”
Corbeau was even more confused. But for once… for once he felt warmth that isn't from any fires or fire type pokemon…
“Chef! Give us your best croissants and some hot chocolate for this boy as well!” He heard this rich red haired guy say to someone. He's been wondering what the ever loving hell he was doing. He heard the word croissants… he thought of that flaky bread thing that's shaped like a C.
“Yes sir Mr. Lysandre sir!” He heard the chef say happily. But now he heard the rich guy’s name
“Ly– Lysa.. what?” He tried to say. It sounded weird.
“It's Lysandre…” Lysandre corrected him as he patted him on the head. “Don't worry, you'll get to say that properly soon…”
Corbeau shook his head. He thought to himself that he didn't need to overthink about that now. There's no need to. It's already done.
To him and to everyone else in this world. Lysandre nearly ended it all. All because the world didn't align to his ideals of beauty… and that included him. That included the Rust Syndicate. That included everyone else he decided to leave behind…
“Philippe…” Corbeau began as he lazily waved his hand to get his second in command’s attention, “You should get home for today. And let everyone else in the Syndicate go home too. Take the rest of the day off. We all need it.”
“Boss…” Philippe said in concern. He knew his boss had the tendency to let things get to him like this.
“Because starting tomorrow…” Corbeau puts the glasses back on his face, “We will start cutting the Syndicate from any relations to Lysandre and his companies to the point where people wouldn't even think we had a connection to them in the first place.”
Even to this day, Philippe is still at awe at how Corbeau handled himself. The young boss was in a bad mood and had a migraine to boot and yet he still thought of the Syndicate’s future…
“If I may, boss…” Philippe began as Corbeau turned to face him. “I don't have as much of a connection as you have to Mr. Lysandre. But he still assisted the Syndicate even before we met. So I was naturally distraught by the news…”
“Boss!! BOSS!!! Are you here??!!! Did you see Mr. Lysandre’s message?!” Philippe burst through the doors of Corbeau's temporary office. He rushed in there as quickly as he could as he saw Lysandre's message in his Holo Caster. He felt his blood run cold when he first heard it and then his thoughts shifted to his new boss, Corbeau. He couldn't even imagine what he would think about this…
And in the office he saw him but he heard no response from him.
Corbeau sat on his newly purchased office chair, Holo Caster opened in his hand as the message had already finished playing and it just left the holographic image of Lysandre just standing.
But the new Rust Syndicate Boss just stared at the image.
“Boss?” Philippe started to walk closer to him.
His face was filled with shock. Eyes wide as he stared at the Holo Caster. Or was he staring at all?
“Did you hear me boss?” Philippe asked him again. There was no response, and yet Corbeau is still there… still sitting down… no response came from him.
“Sir??” Philippe asked again with a little higher voice, as he hoped to get him to turn to face him. No response. The boss just continued to stare…
He noticed that he really wasn't staring at the image.
“Can you hear me boss?” Philippe asked again as he laid his hand on his shoulder.
No response.
He then looked to see that his boss’s eyes were still there. It just looked like there's no life in them, it looked empty…
Philippe started to panic.
“BOSS??!!” He started to grasp his shoulders and shook him. The Holo Caster fell from his hand with a thunk on the floor. “Are you okay?! Can you hear me?!”
No response again.
“Boss! Sir!! Corbeau!!!” Philippe tried again. He was left with no choice.
“CORBEAU!!!”
A slap across his cheek. Philippe had to do it. Any punishments be damned, he was too worried about Corbeau right now to just stand by and do nothing.
A gasp and a blink then the new Boss of the Rust Syndicate finally started to move.
The second in command let out a huge relieved sigh. “Thank Arceus you're okay sir…”
“What was I??” Corbeau managed to say. He looked up to the man holding him. “Philippe? What happened?”
“You were…” Philippe tried to formulate his words. “I wanted to talk to you about Lysandre’s message but when I got here, you were unresponsive. Forgive me for the rash action, but I had to slap you awake sir.”
That's where Corbeau felt the sting on his cheek. He knew of Philippe’s strength, and this slap was still him holding back. But it was still enough to shake him awake from his stupor.
“Philippe…”
“I know boss… Mr. Lysandre is…"
“But I would be lying if I said that we couldn't be here now if it wasn't for his help…” Philippe lamented that memory. He had never seen Corbeau like that at all. The man that had bested him in business to be reduced to such a state…
“You're right, Philippe…” Corbeau said as if all of the stress, pain, and anger has washed all away from his face. “But we are still the Rust Syndicate. That time in our past is over.”
Philippe couldn't believe it. But that's probably why Corbeau is now the boss.
“And don't you worry…” He continued, “I'll make sure to work myself, you, and every single person in this Syndicate. To. The. Damn. Bone.”
He emphasized the last four words. He meant every bit of it.
It was amazing to Philippe how he could regain his composure back so quickly. And yet it makes that stupor episode much more terrifying.
“It is our job to clean up the messes no one wants to do after all…” Corbeau emphasized as well. “It's all to make this world a more beautiful one. But not the way Lysandre wants it. Rather what the world wants it to be…”
“Of course sir…” Philippe was heavily relieved.
“Remember Philippe, and make sure every single grunt remembers as well.” Corbeau stood up from the couch and walked towards his second in command, “Lysandre didn't make the Rust Syndicate. We did. Every single one of us, from me, the boss, down to that new grunt I scared off.”
Philippe let out a soft chuckle as he thought of the poor grunt that scurried away like a baby Venipede.
“Make sure to give him a bonus for witnessing that, by the way…” Corbeau reminded Philippe. “He didn't deserve to see that from me.”
“I'll be sure to do that, sir.” Philippe nodded.
“And one last thing…” Corbeau's eyes softened, something that is rarely witnessed by anyone. “Head home, Philippe. Get some rest. I…”
“I need some time alone… if you don't mind…”
Philippe understood and just smiled sadly at him. He couldn't sway his boss, especially at this time...
“Of course boss… See you tomorrow.” Philippe patted his new boss at the back as encouragement. He then placed the dented Holo Caster on the table next to Corbeau’s already cold coffee, and made his way out of his office. And let the boss be on his own for now.
Corbeau then let out a sigh once he knew he was by himself. He then looked at the Holo Caster he threw out of anger and grumbled, “That idiot…”
He fell back on the couch and let himself sprawl over. He took his glasses off his face and just laid it on the table without even bothering to fold it close.
He gave it a good tap and turned it back on.
Despite his poor eyesight, he still managed to reach for the broken Holo Caster.
"Pokémon Trainers. I come to you by the Holo Caster to make an important announcement. Listen well."
He was always impressed by how durable this tech was. He knew Lysandre was always insistent on making his devices last a long time…
"Team Flare will revive the ultimate weapon, eliminate everyone who isn't in our group, and return the world to a beautiful, natural state. Unproductive fools are consuming our future... If nothing changes, the world will become ugly and conflicts will raze the land from end to end."
Yes… Corbeau knew it was ugly.
He knew Lysandre was right. He, of all people, have always been exposed to that kind of ugliness… as Lysandre puts it. He grew up witnessing it after all.
“Yeah… I'm not Team Flare after all. And we will never be…”
"I repeat. We will use the ultimate weapon and wipe the slate clean. I'm sorry, those of you who are not members of Team Flare."
“But this is adieu to you all.”
“And adieu to you too…” Corbeau covered his eyes with his hand as he tried to hold back something he'd been holding back for so long.
“Adieu…” Corbeau bit his lip as the tears started to fall from his eyes.
Pokemon Legends ZA Fanfic: The Feeling of Gratitude
All right! This story idea was all consuming in my head for quite sometime. So I thought, post the ideas in tumblr and most likely never touch it again....
Guess who touched it and wrote it anyway?
I've been wanting to see and write more about Lysandre and Corbeau ever since I finished the Pokemon Legends ZA post game.
Now I have to wait till Dec. 10 until the DLC comes out and I wanna see more of the short poison king dammit!
But I guess I should just post the fic and let it speak for itself. I'll post it to Ao3 Later...
This fic also contains my Harmony OC. I still need to write up and post her details here but I thought I may as well share it there in the fic.
MAJOR SPOILERS FOR POKEMON LEGENDS ZA! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
Summary: Before L leaves Lumiose City, Harmony asks him for one last favour. It's for someone who wants to thank L for everything he's done...
“Au revoir, my friend!” L turned around and bid farewell to Harmony as he planned to set off on his new journey.
“Wait! Lys– I mean, L!” Harmony reached for him and grabbed his arm, “Wait. I want to ask you for a favour."
“Hmm?” L turned back, “And what would that be?”
“There's… There's someone I want you to meet.” The trainer began as she returned Zygarde back to its ball, “Someone wants to talk to you personally.”
“Oh!” L felt nervous, a lot of people he thought would want to talk to him, are people who do recognize him and were (justifiably so) angry at him. He could only apologize to people like that as he could barely remember anything still, “Are you sure?”
“Yes!” Harmony smiled at him, as she realized what he was thinking. “He… he has something crucial to say, and I think you should at least listen to it.”
L paused. He didn't know what to say at first, especially since it came from Harmony herself. She had every right to hate him as she was from Geosenge Town, where the Ultimate Weapon that he fired, which led to everything here now. She managed to sort out her own feelings about it and now she's here telling him about someone else.
“I… I suppose I should at least hear him out.”
“YES!!” Harmony pumped her fist into the air, “I'll call him right now! Hold on!”
Her rotom phone pulls out to immediately call him.
At the Rust Syndicate building, Corbeau's phone flew out of his pocket to show him the incoming call.
“Hmm? Harmony?” He saw her request for a video call of all things, he answered the call. “What could she want at this time? She knows I'm busy…”
“Hey Corbeau!” Harmony cheerfully greeted him. Corbeau does smile back as he does in his own way miss her and was delighted to see her again, especially this happy.
“Sorry for the bother, I know you're busy.” She began apologetically, “But… there's someone… someone important, that I want you to meet.”
Harmony gestured to her rotom phone to move slightly next to her. And the phone revealed someone that made Corbeau froze on the spot.
And Philippe was quick to notice, “Something wrong sir?”
“Harmony…” Corbeau managed to say, “Give me an hour…”
Harmony beamed in response, “All right! See you then!”
After she hung up, Corbeau quickly stood up and told Philippe, “Philippe, bring in the next appointment ASAP, I don't care what they say, we need to have that done in the next hour.”
“Sir…” Philippe understood, “Was that?”
“Yes…” Corbeau answered him, “It seems we finally get our opportunity that we've been asking for."
“That’s good!” Harmony was glad as she returned her phone back into her pocket. “I knew he would say yes!”
“That man…” L began, “He was one of your allies yes? During Ange…”
“Yeah…” Harmony knew that was his answer, “You really don't remember him, don't you?”
L took the hint and was nervous again, “Was he someone I knew from my past?”
“It's a bit of a walk to the Syndicate's office.” Harmony offers, “I can tell you along the way. So let's get out of this Wild Zone.”
L nodded and followed her out.
Harmony began telling him what she had heard about Corbeau’s story. She knows she shouldn’t but, circumstances right now would tell her that this would be necessary. She continued on how Lysandre gave him a lot of aid, in both just to support him and in his business ventures, and how it led him to eventually becoming the head of the Rust Syndicate. An organization dedicated to protecting and improving Lumiose City even if it meant using underhanded methods.
“There are indeed some things that require… a more forceful approach.” L agreed as he recalled whatever hazy memory he had, “But there are times where I do wonder if it can go too far.”
“It can be yeah…” Harmony added, “But I don’t really think Corbeau would ever let himself or anyone do that.”
“I see…”
“He has a Gyarados too by the way…” Harmony added, “He uses poison type pokemon and poison moves.”
“But Gyarados…” L was surprised as it didn't make sense to him…
“Isn't a poison type nor able to know any poison moves yeah…” Harmony smiled hoping he understood what she meant. “Kinda like yours. Well except he has a Mega Scolipede instead…”
L didn't have anything else to say about it. His Gyarados was from his old team. That part he does remember and he could mega evolve it too. But he wondered to himself if that was intentional on Corbeau's part…
“Here we are!” Harmony announced as they arrived in front of the Rust Syndicate building. “Looks like we’re a bit early though…”
The trainer waved at the grunts that were posted by the door, and they in turn waved back as they gave her a smile.
“You seem to be friendly with them…” L commented.
“Yeah, they’re not as bad as some people claim they are…” Harmony responded, “Wait until you meet their boss though…”
“Corbeau, was his name right?” L continued, “Hmm… to be honest I still can't recall his name from my memories… Even though I wish I could…”
“You don’t have to…” Corbeau interrupted them as he stood by the entrance with the grunts already greeting him with their bow. “Lysandre…no– L, It’s good to see you again… After so long…”
L saw the man in front of him. Despite his stature, he exuded a commanding presence that he rarely saw in anyone… It… reminded him of something… a feeling from long ago… He couldn't describe it yet…
“It hasn’t been an hour yet, Corbeau…” Harmony commented as it interrupted L’s thoughts, “Are you really that excited to see him? You never were that excited to see me.”
The trainer left a chuckle and stuck out her tongue playfully and the mob boss simply glared at her for a second that immediately shifted to a soft smile. L concluded immediately that Corbeau must harbour some deeper feelings for her. Especially for the way Harmony had lightly teased him.
“The appointment ended a little early..” Corbeau lied, he didn’t really entertain the guest, he was too anxious so he immediately had it rescheduled, “So I came to see if you two have come. And good thing I did… Come in.”
Corbeau gestured to his guests to enter the building and into his office.
“Feel free to sit on the couches.” He offered as he turned to Philippe who was surprised by their guest, “Philippe, please fetch us some tea if you could.”
“Uhh… Yes!” Philippe managed to utter from his surprised state as he walked towards the door, “Of course, boss.”
“That wouldn’t be necessary…” L tried to dismiss their hospitality as he felt that he didn’t deserve it. As he still couldn’t remember him… “There is no need to fuss over me…”
“Please, I insist…” Corbeau added, “At least even some water would do some good.”
The boss nodded at Philippe who understood the assignment and quickly left the office.
The whole room fell silent as neither of the two wanted to start the conversation.
So Harmony started it for them by sitting on one of the singular couches closest to Corbeau’s desk, “Have a seat L… They’re real comfy.”
“Thank you…” L said softly as he sat on the other singular couch next to Harmony’s
“Told ya I’d help you out with this…” Harmony bragged as she waved at Corbeau to join them.
“And so you did…” Corbeau sighed as he felt the weight off his shoulders as he sat on the sofa opposite to them, “I just didn’t expect it to be now.”
“I brought some refreshments, boss…” Philippe came back with glasses of water and tea and placed them on the table. He then walked behind the sofa and stayed in his position behind Corbeau.
“Thank you…” L smiled at Philippe as he took the glass of water and drank it.
“You’re welcome… Lysandre, sir..” Philippe began as he gave a smile, “It has been a long time since we've seen you…”
Corbeau shot a glare at Philippe who just responded with an apologetic smile.
“Of course…” L sets the glass down back on the table, “Though, I must sincerely apologise to you both… as my memories of my past have been foggy.”
“Like I said, I didn’t expect you to.” Corbeau responded as-a-matter-of-factly “It has been long before we last spoke. Longer than before you fired the Ultimate Weapon…”
L frowned but expected it. Now it was Harmony that shot a glare at Corbeau.
“Don’t expect anything Harmony.” Corbeau responded to the glare, “You of all people should know that…”
Harmony only sighed to herself. She knew he was right.
“Harmony has shared a bit about you,” L began, “and how I was a part of your life as you were growing up…”
“She did, did she?” Corbeau once again looked at Harmony who only responded with a smile and a shrug back at him. “Well unfortunately… she did not tell you the full story…”
“She didn’t?”
"I didn't?"
“I was merely an orphan living in the streets Lumiose.” Corbeau began, “All alone in the world, with only whatever rags I could find to wear and a Venipede as my only friend…”
“That is until you showed up… You apparently heard about a child who was being a menace around your signature cafe. At that time, I didn’t care for whom that place belonged to, I only knew that it was the best place to scrounge up leftovers and even some money if I was lucky. I could barely even see you as eyesight was that poor. So to you I must have been glaring like a wild Arbok. But even so… you said that day… that my eyes seemed to have a fire that burned eternally…”
Corbeau continued to tell his story. L listened intently and used it to try to remember anything about the man in front of him.
Images of memories still weren't forming and yet there were sparks… Sparks of emotions that he felt that seemed to be from long ago. Was it— relief? Pride? It wasn’t even self pride. It was towards Corbeau if anything. Feelings came forth in place of images from memories.
“As I said before for the third time…” Corbeau continued as he kept his composure, “You don’t have to remember. It has been so long since we spoke properly after all… So there is no need to push yourself in remembering, I’d rather have you remember it naturally if anything. Who knows, maybe this is a way to see things in a different perspective.”
“I sincerely apologise…” L was deeply saddened by his inability to remember.
“But… as much as I want things to be different…” Corbeau continued, “I’m still unable to forgive you for what you did five years ago… not just to me but to everyone in Lumiose… Geosenge… and the entirety of the Kalos Region.”
“I know…” L has already heard that many times. He expected that reaction, despite not remembering most of it all.
“But!” Corbeau suddenly spoke louder, startling L and Harmony, as he looked at Philippe, “There is one more thing… Philippe, let them in!”
“Yes, boss!” Philippe pulled out his rotom phone and pressed a few buttons. Within minutes, almost every grunt in the Rust Syndicate poured through the office (that can fit) and surrounded them.
“Mr. Lysandre… no… L!” Corbeau began as he bent his knees, clasped them with both hands, and bowed at the same time to L, “As the boss of the Rust Syndicate, as a trainer, as myself…”
“Thank you… Thank you for everything you’ve done for me! And thank you for everything you've done for Lumiose, and to the Kalos Region and the people in it!”
“Thank you!”
“Thanks!”
“Thank ya, sir!”
All the grunts said their gratitude in one way or the other as they bowed like Corbeau to L.
“I humbly thank you for everything as well sir…” Philippe said as he did the bow as well.
Harmony didn’t say anything else but copied everyone else and did the same bow. She was just way too impressed to ruin any moment.
“I swear….” Corbeau began again while he was still at his pose and everyone else fell quiet as they heard him start. “I swear… to ensure that the beauty of this world will continue to flourish and as the boss of the Rust Syndicate, that I will continue to clean up anything that becomes dirty so it can show its true beauty!”
“Because… I… I wouldn't be able to be here now if it wasn't for you….”
“I….” L tried to say something but words failed him. Tears began to well in his eyes. “I thank you…”
“I still cannot remember you…” he continued as he blinked to try to wipe away the tears, “But I… I am grateful that back when I was still just giving… that it yielded something quite beautiful. I… I just wish I would have seen that before everything that had happened.”
“It's all right…” Corbeau straightened himself up, and extended his hand to L, “We shouldn't let our regrets of the past eat us up, and instead use it as fuel to continue on forward.”
“Well said…” L grasped his hand and shook it.
The grunts began to cheer happily and clapped.
“Well, you are always welcome to stay here at the Rust Syndicate building for as long as you like, until you want to start on your journey again.” Corbeau offers as he knew that L wouldn't stay for long, now that everything has been settled in Lumiose.
“That wouldn't be necessary…” L shook his head, “But thank you for the offer.”
“Heh… I knew you'd say that…” Corbeau turned to walk to his desk and pulled out a small envelope from one of the drawers. “Then here, at least take this.”
“What is it?” L asked as he took it and opened the unsealed envelope.
“Its details…” Corbeau smirked as he started to explain, “About a certain someone… someone that you, of all people, should remember eventually…”
Putting back Corbeau’s business card back into the envelope, L pulled out the paper and unfolded it.
What he saw made L’s eye open wide… and even his closed one to open slightly.
“I've kept tabs with him…” Corbeau explained, “Ever since that day, five years ago… At first it was just general surveillance, but more information kept on piling up about you and him, so I just kept on it.”
Harmony went closer to see what caused L to react like that.
Amongst the papers, was a clipped picture of a man that L knew… he knew very well..
“Au… August… Augustine….” L muttered as the tears once again started to flow out of his eyes, hazy yet familiar memories forming in..
“He’s…”
“Professor Augustine Sycamore… he was the main authority when it came to Mega Evolution studies.” Corbeau continued, “And he was, no… he still is a very close friend of yours.”
L’s tears began to flow harder as he shakily grasped the papers on his hand harder… “Augustine… Sycamore…”
Corbeau's expression softened, “Like I said we kept tabs on him. That paper shows where he is currently, as of yesterday at least. I can't guarantee what he is doing now or where he is now. But if you need a destination, I'm sure this would at least give you a guide.”
But before Corbeau could continue, he felt a warm hand on top of his head.
“Thank you…” L spoke again as he patted Corbeau on the head ever so gently, “Thank you for this…”
Corbeau didn't say anything. The unexpected action had caused him to freeze on the spot. His eyes were still wide open.
“Hey!” Young Corbeau reacted as he felt that hand on his head the first time. “What are you doing?!”
“It seems you're not familiar with this.” Lysandre found it amusing as he ruffled Corbeau's hair, “I just gave you a pat on the head. It’s a compliment! It means that I have seen and recognized your will to live, despite having nothing but the clothes on your back and your Venipede friend. You, little one, have quite a wonderful spirit! It's something that is quite rare these days… It is as if your eyes contained a fire that burns eternally!”
Tears began flowing out of Corbeau’s eyes while he still kept the shocked expression on his face. His own memories came back to him as he continued to cry silently.
“Boss?!” Philippe was shocked to see him react like that.
“Corbeau?!” Harmony said out of concern, “Are you okay?”
The rest of the grunts were shocked too as they began to mutter their own concerns.
“Oh my!” L immediately retracted his hand when he realized what he just did. “I… I apologize… I don't know what came over me! It seems I just acted on my own without thinking…”
“Did you remember something?” Harmony quickly asked him.
“No….” L replied as he looked at his hand. That feeling again came back. Stronger. That sense of pride towards Corbeau after what he did for him. That act of gratitude… that envelope he gave him…
He felt… proud of him. Very proud of him…
His hazy memories… still can't conjure up past images of memories of him with Corbeau, but he still felt that old pride and confidence towards him. That was it.
“Thank you…” Corbeau finally said to him. Tears continued to come down from his face. He pulled out his glasses to rub it away. “ It's good to know. It's good to know that even after everything, you're still there…”
“The Lysandre that saved me back then… never left…”
Corbeau was confused at first. He reached out to touch his head. He wondered why would a rich man like him would even do anything for a street kid like him. Let alone pat him on the head as if he was… well… proud of him?
Why would he be proud of him?
“Do I really need to repeat myself?” Lysandre chuckled as if he read his thoughts. “I just believe that you have the potential to do something beautiful to this world…”
“I do?"
“Of course! Why wouldn't I be wrong?”
L then recognized it again and repeated his action. He patted Corbeau on the head again. “Thank you… My memories are still faded but this sense of pride towards you seems to have come out. I am grateful to remember that even back then, I was more than just a villain.”
Corbeau nodded in response, “If you ever need anything, my contacts are in that card.” He referred to his business card that he snuck into the envelope. “And we'll do our best to help you out with anything.”
“I shall keep that in mind.” L smiled.
“Then I suppose I won't keep you here for long.” Corbeau waved his hand to tell his grunts to move aside. And they all followed suit.
“You're gonna let him go already, Corbeau?” Harmony asked him without any intent of changing his mind.
“Lysandre always had something to do. He always wanted to keep on his dream of making a beautiful world.” Corbeau replied, “I can't stop him. No one can.”
“But for now…” L looked at the envelope and tucked it back into his inner jacket pocket, “It seems there is someone I need to meet…”
“Thank you. It was good to see you again…”
“Likewise…”
L barely got any proper memories back to him after that emotional visit. But, what he got instead was a sense of great fulfillment!
Pokemon Legends Z-A fanfic: Thirty Seconds, too long/too short (Corbeau x Harmony)
Spoiler warning on the last stretch of the story of the game!
Posted on Ao3
Here we go! Guess who wrote a fanfic after finishing Pokemon Legends ZA last week even though she's buried with many life things and other fanfic ideas... This is a regular occurance
But, I finished it and here we go!
Guess who also really liked a certain poison short king of a yakuza/mafia within that game?
Yeah thats what this fic is about...
That and me cheesing through some battles with Absol that knows Perish Song.
I stuck with the name Harmony as this was the name of the MC that i used to play the game with. Its much easier for me to write it in my opinion... But she's basically a reader insert if you wish it to be.
Summary: Corbeau and Harmony meet up to face a Mega Gardevoir and a Mega Gallade. Harmony has a plan that will definately give Corbeau a heart attack. But the time is of the essence and not a second to spare. Though both wish they could have at least 30 seconds to each other... just to confess.. you know...
I may update it in case i notice any minor issues like grammar.
@k-chips Here it is!
__________________________________
As if on cue, Harmony quickly dashed into the Galerie de la Lune to join Corbeau's side at the next round of battling Rogue Mega Pokemon. She panted for a second before saying, “Sorry I'm late!”
“About time you showed up!” But there wasn't a hint of annoyance at Corbeau's voice, it was more of a relief, knowing that Harmony was doing well despite everything she had to face until now. “By the looks of it, these friendly Rogue Mega Pokemon have been waiting for you too.”
In front of them was a Mega Gardevoir and Mega Gallade. The two Pokemon cried out as they ready themselves to battle.
“I think it's time we work together again. Been a minute since we did, eh?” Corbeau turned to face Harmony, who only responded to him with a nervous nod.
“Don't worry…” Corbeau smiled at her as an attempt to reassure her with the danger up ahead. “Me and Scolipede have your back.”
Harmony smiled back as she felt some relief, but it didn't remove all of the tension that she was feeling about the whole thing…
Mostly knowing that what she was about to do would possibly give Corbeau a heart attack.
But there was no time to argue, especially with the two Rogue Megas ready to fight them.
“Corbeau…” Harmony began as she let her Absol out of the pokeball. “You’re not gonna like what I have to do, but this is the quickest way to beat these Rogue Megas, so just trust me on this okay?”
Corbeau raised an eyebrow as he wondered what she meant by that. He knew time was of the essence so they had to take care of the Pokemon as soon as they can, but what she could have meant—
“Absol! Use Perish Song at those two! Harmony quickly issued her command as her Absol charged right in between the two Rogue Megas and unleashed its deadly Perish Song.
Corbeau quickly mega evolved his Scolipede and had it charge in as well with Earthquake. He's not sure if Perish Song would work on the two Rogue Megas but it was worth a shot. It would certainly cut the battle short for thirty seconds.
And without blinking, Harmony recalled Absol back to its ball and started running towards the two Rogue Megas.
“What in the–?!” Corbeau was shocked to see Harmony doing a reckless move… all by herself!
“Just trust me, Corbeau!” Harmony yelled out as she managed to get the attention of the two Rogue Megas and it began to follow her instead of the Scolipede. “It worked with the other Rogue Megas!”
Mega Gardevoir unleashed a Moonblast attack and Harmony quickly rolled over to avoid it just by a hair.
“Just keep attacking it!” Harmony told Corbeau as she kept on running around the area to continue the distraction.
“Scolipede! Gunk Shot!” Scolipede fired off the attack at the Mega Gardevoir.
“Come on out Feraligatr!” Harmony pulled out her ace Pokemon and quickly mega evolved it. “Surf!”
Harmony ran away from the wave as she tried to catch her breath.
It was cut short when the Mega Gallade took the damage but still rushed in to attack her with its blade.
Harmony once again rolled away, but Corbeau was faster as he grabbed her away from the Mega Gallade.
Corbeau quickly commanded his Scolipede to charge straight into the Mega Gallade.
The pokemon then picked it up with its horns and tossed it to the side.
“Are you insane?!” Corbeau finally yelled out as he helped her stand up. “Why are you letting those Pokemon chase and attack you?!”
“Feraligatr, Liquidation!”
“Scolipede, X-Scissor!”
The two Pokemon rushed in to attack the Rouge Megas.
“This is the quickest way to stop these Rogue Megas!” She explained. “We don't have much time! Who knows what could happen if we fight them any longer! Especially with the Rogue–”
“Feraligatr, Ice Fang!”
“Use Protect, Scolipede!”
Harmony then used the commotion to stand up and started dashing around again.
“Using Perish Song and running away is the plan then?!” Corbeau tried to get some explanation out of her, “We don't even know if it would work!”
“Trust me! I've used this before!” Harmony kept on luring the two Rogue Megas away from everyone, “Just wait, it's almost over!”
“What do you mean?!”
And about thirty seconds had passed… and Mega Gardevoir and Mega Gallade, despite just having full strength and energy left to battle, both fell onto the ground. The two Rouge Mega Pokemon that had tried to off them have fainted.
The battle was just as over as it started.
Corbeau could not believe what he just witnessed.
“See?” Harmony breathed a sigh of relief as she recalled Feraligatr back to its ball. “Told you, it was quick.”
The Rust Syndicate boss then recalled his Pokemon back to its ball and began charging towards Harmony. He then suddenly grasped her shoulders so hard that it made her yelp in surprise.
“Corbeau—”
“Don't you dare do that again!!” He yelled at her as he thought of the worst back then. But then he sighed as he saw her shaking just ever so slightly from his grasp. “At least… without a better plan than just running away and barely avoiding attacks… please…”
He knew telling her to stop was futile, especially at the situation they were all in. He couldn't argue with the fact that despite the danger, the wild plan did work…
“I'm sorry…” Harmony then relaxed at his grasp. Despite the crushing grip he had, she still felt safer with him. “But like I said, we can't just stay here forever battling… not with that monstrosity of a tower possibly killing us all.”
“I know… I know…” Corbeau sighed. Though a part of him wished he could keep battling by her side. “You just… worry me, with your recklessness. That's all…”
“Yeah…I'm so–” Harmony couldn't finish her apology as Corbeau then smashed his lips against hers.
He wanted to do this to her for a while now, especially after his loss to her in their Promotion Match… But after everything that has happened in the past few hours. And that Rouge Mega battle earlier… and saw her basically risk life and limb for that reckless tactic… It dawned on him that he could lose her at any moment and that thought scared him.
It scared him more than the Rouge Megas they had faced. It scared him more than the giant living tower that just appeared. It scared him more than anything else…
He had closed his eyes shut as he wanted to savor this feeling of kissing the woman he started to have deep feelings for, and about thirty seconds later, he pulled away. Not even giving Harmony any time to react. He then turned away to hide his slowly reddening face.
She was still right. They can't be here forever…
”I've got my grunts waiting up ahead…” He said as he turned his face just to look at her then quickly turned back and hoped that she didn't see anything, “Come on, let's get moving.”
Corbeau then walked away as he left Harmony with her back to the wall… shocked.
But she quickly shook her head and followed Corbeau out of the Galerie.
She caught up to Corbeau as Philippe had caught up to the rest of the Syndicate in front of her.
“Sorry I'm late, boss.” Philippe apologized.
“You were supposed to put up a ladder here.” But now Corbeau's attention had shifted to the lack of ladder that he had asked for. “So tell me– why don't I see one? Am I just an idiot who can't spot a big old ladder?!”
“Well, we tried setting up a ladder boss.” One of the grunts began to explain nervously. “We even tried the Holovators and—”
“And what?!” Corbeau raised his voice, clearly annoyed at the incompetence in display, “All your “trying” doesn't seem to have resulted in anything to show!”
“Well uhh…” the other grunt then explained as he lowered his head in shame, “Rogue Pokemon busted them up, boss. They smashed everything.”
“Guess we gotta do something about this ourselves, then.” Corbeau sighed as he turned to face Philippe.
He gave him a nod and then finally turned to his grunts. His annoyed expressions have disappeared and now replaced with his commanding air.
“Rust Syndicate! Time to show our mettle!”
The grunts then did their signature bow and shouted in unison, “You got it boss!”
Harmony was always impressed at how Corbeau handled his Syndicate’s grunts despite everything. Even more so in this situation.
Philippe then walked to her and brought his fist out for a fist bump.
“Once you choose your path, there’s no turning back. The only way is forward.” He then gave her a smile as he put his full trust at her and her skills.
Harmony smiled back and connected their fists together for the bump.
The next few moments were the strangest… and the funniest she's ever witnessed so far.
With Philippe on the ground on one knee, he firmly held the grunt’s legs to keep them steady. And the rest of the grunts followed suit. One by one, each of the grunts climbed on top of one another, and held on to each other steady and firmly… even with some shaky legs in the process…
The human ladder is finally complete…
Harmony could not believe what she just saw… and all in the while tried not to laugh at the ridiculousness of it.
Corbeau, on the other hand, was very proud of his grunts for their success.
“Y’know how Mega Evolution’s an expression of the bonds between Pokemon and people?” Corbeau smirked with pride. “Here’s an expression of the bonds between the members of the Rust Syndicate! A human ladder!”
“Boss! Mr. Corbeau!” The final grunt at the top yelled out in fear, as she desperately tried to reach to the top and fail with only her fingers touching the top of the windowsill, “We've fallen off the straight and narrow, and at this rate, we're gonna fall short here too!”
“Looks like we're one rung– I mean… one person– short…” Corbeau sighed again as he shook his head.
“What do we do now?” Harmony asked him, worried.
“Only one thing to do…” Corbeau then lifted his head as he walked to the human ladder, “My grunts are giving their all– and as their leader, I need to give just as much… and then some!”
“Don't you worry about me.” He told her as he predicted that she would indeed worry about him. He turned to face Harmony and did the signature bow to show his respect towards her and the Syndicate and to help steel his and everyone’s resolve!
“My word’s my bond, and I'm not breaking either, tonight!”
Just as Corbeau said, he climbed up the ladder all the way to the top. As the grunt then firmly held on to his ankles, the Rust Syndicate boss then grasped onto the roof and pulled half of his body up to stabilize the ladder as much as his strength would allow.
“This is our highest calling! Literally!!” Corbeau yelled out to Harmony to reassure her, “No need to hesitate! Climb on top!!”
“I mean it— don't dilly dally. You'd better climb up quick, ‘cause I don't know how long we'll last!!”
Harmony stifled another chuckle as she began climbing up the human ladder, and tried to not hurt the grunts as much as she could. She kept apologizing along the way while the grunts kept reassuring her that it's okay, with one of them told her to “go get ‘em!” as to encourage her to move forward.
She then finally reached the top and breathed a sigh of relief. As ridiculous as the human ladder was, she was afraid for herself and the Syndicate’s safety at that moment. She was glad to finally have stable and not squishy footing…
She quickly turned to look at Corbeau who was still holding on to the roof.
“Go get ‘em, Harmony!” Corbeau grunted as he gave her a smile, and was ready to let go.
Except…
Harmony quickly knelt onto the ground and held on to Corbeau on his shoulders before he could let go and smashed her lips onto his.
Corbeau was shocked, as he stopped and held on to the roof again. Despite what has happened, he couldn't believe that the woman he loved had kissed him back, effectively answering his feelings towards her. He smiled as he let her kiss him deeper.
Harmony couldn't stop thinking of the Rust Syndicate’s boss ever since they battled at their Promotion Match together. She knew she had a crush on him, but hesitated on it, as she knew of his position in Lumiose society but mostly on the fear that he might not feel the same way.
But with everything she had done in the past few hours, with everything on the line, with the looming threat just about to explode on all of them…
What's the harm in using thirty more seconds of a quick yet furious kiss, gonna do?
“Thank you…” she breathed out as she finally broke the kiss. She still desired more… but it will have to do for now…
For once everything is finally over…
“I love you…” Corbeau reaffirmed his feelings to her, “Now go! We can continue this later!”
Harmony, the unexpected upstart trainer of Lumiose city, and now possibly the Savior of it, beamed right back at him, full of renewed passion and confidence to face this mission head on…
“Love you too!”
And then she dashed right out to face her next challenges with a brighter smile… as she knew what she would have after this is all over.
And Corbeau gracefully let go of the roof.
His rotom phone shot out from his pockets as it instinctively caught him to prevent his fall, and so did others who were further along from the human ladder.
“Everyone all right?” The Rust Syndicate boss asked his subordinates as he dusted himself off. They all responded with a collective “yes” and “all right boss”.
“Good.” He knew they were all right, he just had to make sure…
Corbeau looked up at the roof tops even though he couldn't see her anymore. But he knew that if anyone in this city could accomplish the near impossible tasks at hand… despite her ridiculous plan earlier… she could do it…
She could save Lumiose from this threat once and for all…
“Also…” Corbeau pushed his glasses up to adjust them, “Breathe a word of what just happened and I will personally ensure that this would be your last assignment. Are we all clear?”
The grunts and Philippe beamed right back at him, did their signature bow, and shouted with a resounding, “Yes sir, Mr. Corbeau, sir!”
No one from the Rust Syndicate that night did as they were instructed.
After all, as dumb some of them may be, they all knew it was only a matter of time that the two would finally confess to each other and later on, finally be a couple.
Pokemon Legends ZA Fanfic: The Feeling of Gratitude
All right! This story idea was all consuming in my head for quite sometime. So I thought, post the ideas in tumblr and most likely never touch it again....
Guess who touched it and wrote it anyway?
I've been wanting to see and write more about Lysandre and Corbeau ever since I finished the Pokemon Legends ZA post game.
Now I have to wait till Dec. 10 until the DLC comes out and I wanna see more of the short poison king dammit!
But I guess I should just post the fic and let it speak for itself. I'll post it to Ao3 Later...
This fic also contains my Harmony OC. I still need to write up and post her details here but I thought I may as well share it there in the fic.
MAJOR SPOILERS FOR POKEMON LEGENDS ZA! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
Summary: Before L leaves Lumiose City, Harmony asks him for one last favour. It's for someone who wants to thank L for everything he's done...
“Au revoir, my friend!” L turned around and bid farewell to Harmony as he planned to set off on his new journey.
“Wait! Lys– I mean, L!” Harmony reached for him and grabbed his arm, “Wait. I want to ask you for a favour."
“Hmm?” L turned back, “And what would that be?”
“There's… There's someone I want you to meet.” The trainer began as she returned Zygarde back to its ball, “Someone wants to talk to you personally.”
“Oh!” L felt nervous, a lot of people he thought would want to talk to him, are people who do recognize him and were (justifiably so) angry at him. He could only apologize to people like that as he could barely remember anything still, “Are you sure?”
“Yes!” Harmony smiled at him, as she realized what he was thinking. “He… he has something crucial to say, and I think you should at least listen to it.”
L paused. He didn't know what to say at first, especially since it came from Harmony herself. She had every right to hate him as she was from Geosenge Town, where the Ultimate Weapon that he fired, which led to everything here now. She managed to sort out her own feelings about it and now she's here telling him about someone else.
“I… I suppose I should at least hear him out.”
“YES!!” Harmony pumped her fist into the air, “I'll call him right now! Hold on!”
Her rotom phone pulls out to immediately call him.
At the Rust Syndicate building, Corbeau's phone flew out of his pocket to show him the incoming call.
“Hmm? Harmony?” He saw her request for a video call of all things, he answered the call. “What could she want at this time? She knows I'm busy…”
“Hey Corbeau!” Harmony cheerfully greeted him. Corbeau does smile back as he does in his own way miss her and was delighted to see her again, especially this happy.
“Sorry for the bother, I know you're busy.” She began apologetically, “But… there's someone… someone important, that I want you to meet.”
Harmony gestured to her rotom phone to move slightly next to her. And the phone revealed someone that made Corbeau froze on the spot.
And Philippe was quick to notice, “Something wrong sir?”
“Harmony…” Corbeau managed to say, “Give me an hour…”
Harmony beamed in response, “All right! See you then!”
After she hung up, Corbeau quickly stood up and told Philippe, “Philippe, bring in the next appointment ASAP, I don't care what they say, we need to have that done in the next hour.”
“Sir…” Philippe understood, “Was that?”
“Yes…” Corbeau answered him, “It seems we finally get our opportunity that we've been asking for."
“That’s good!” Harmony was glad as she returned her phone back into her pocket. “I knew he would say yes!”
“That man…” L began, “He was one of your allies yes? During Ange…”
“Yeah…” Harmony knew that was his answer, “You really don't remember him, don't you?”
L took the hint and was nervous again, “Was he someone I knew from my past?”
“It's a bit of a walk to the Syndicate's office.” Harmony offers, “I can tell you along the way. So let's get out of this Wild Zone.”
L nodded and followed her out.
Harmony began telling him what she had heard about Corbeau’s story. She knows she shouldn’t but, circumstances right now would tell her that this would be necessary. She continued on how Lysandre gave him a lot of aid, in both just to support him and in his business ventures, and how it led him to eventually becoming the head of the Rust Syndicate. An organization dedicated to protecting and improving Lumiose City even if it meant using underhanded methods.
“There are indeed some things that require… a more forceful approach.” L agreed as he recalled whatever hazy memory he had, “But there are times where I do wonder if it can go too far.”
“It can be yeah…” Harmony added, “But I don’t really think Corbeau would ever let himself or anyone do that.”
“I see…”
“He has a Gyarados too by the way…” Harmony added, “He uses poison type pokemon and poison moves.”
“But Gyarados…” L was surprised as it didn't make sense to him…
“Isn't a poison type nor able to know any poison moves yeah…” Harmony smiled hoping he understood what she meant. “Kinda like yours. Well except he has a Mega Scolipede instead…”
L didn't have anything else to say about it. His Gyarados was from his old team. That part he does remember and he could mega evolve it too. But he wondered to himself if that was intentional on Corbeau's part…
“Here we are!” Harmony announced as they arrived in front of the Rust Syndicate building. “Looks like we’re a bit early though…”
The trainer waved at the grunts that were posted by the door, and they in turn waved back as they gave her a smile.
“You seem to be friendly with them…” L commented.
“Yeah, they’re not as bad as some people claim they are…” Harmony responded, “Wait until you meet their boss though…”
“Corbeau, was his name right?” L continued, “Hmm… to be honest I still can't recall his name from my memories… Even though I wish I could…”
“You don’t have to…” Corbeau interrupted them as he stood by the entrance with the grunts already greeting him with their bow. “Lysandre…no– L, It’s good to see you again… After so long…”
L saw the man in front of him. Despite his stature, he exuded a commanding presence that he rarely saw in anyone… It… reminded him of something… a feeling from long ago… He couldn't describe it yet…
“It hasn’t been an hour yet, Corbeau…” Harmony commented as it interrupted L’s thoughts, “Are you really that excited to see him? You never were that excited to see me.”
The trainer left a chuckle and stuck out her tongue playfully and the mob boss simply glared at her for a second that immediately shifted to a soft smile. L concluded immediately that Corbeau must harbour some deeper feelings for her. Especially for the way Harmony had lightly teased him.
“The appointment ended a little early..” Corbeau lied, he didn’t really entertain the guest, he was too anxious so he immediately had it rescheduled, “So I came to see if you two have come. And good thing I did… Come in.”
Corbeau gestured to his guests to enter the building and into his office.
“Feel free to sit on the couches.” He offered as he turned to Philippe who was surprised by their guest, “Philippe, please fetch us some tea if you could.”
“Uhh… Yes!” Philippe managed to utter from his surprised state as he walked towards the door, “Of course, boss.”
“That wouldn’t be necessary…” L tried to dismiss their hospitality as he felt that he didn’t deserve it. As he still couldn’t remember him… “There is no need to fuss over me…”
“Please, I insist…” Corbeau added, “At least even some water would do some good.”
The boss nodded at Philippe who understood the assignment and quickly left the office.
The whole room fell silent as neither of the two wanted to start the conversation.
So Harmony started it for them by sitting on one of the singular couches closest to Corbeau’s desk, “Have a seat L… They’re real comfy.”
“Thank you…” L said softly as he sat on the other singular couch next to Harmony’s
“Told ya I’d help you out with this…” Harmony bragged as she waved at Corbeau to join them.
“And so you did…” Corbeau sighed as he felt the weight off his shoulders as he sat on the sofa opposite to them, “I just didn’t expect it to be now.”
“I brought some refreshments, boss…” Philippe came back with glasses of water and tea and placed them on the table. He then walked behind the sofa and stayed in his position behind Corbeau.
“Thank you…” L smiled at Philippe as he took the glass of water and drank it.
“You’re welcome… Lysandre, sir..” Philippe began as he gave a smile, “It has been a long time since we've seen you…”
Corbeau shot a glare at Philippe who just responded with an apologetic smile.
“Of course…” L sets the glass down back on the table, “Though, I must sincerely apologise to you both… as my memories of my past have been foggy.”
“Like I said, I didn’t expect you to.” Corbeau responded as-a-matter-of-factly “It has been long before we last spoke. Longer than before you fired the Ultimate Weapon…”
L frowned but expected it. Now it was Harmony that shot a glare at Corbeau.
“Don’t expect anything Harmony.” Corbeau responded to the glare, “You of all people should know that…”
Harmony only sighed to herself. She knew he was right.
“Harmony has shared a bit about you,” L began, “and how I was a part of your life as you were growing up…”
“She did, did she?” Corbeau once again looked at Harmony who only responded with a smile and a shrug back at him. “Well unfortunately… she did not tell you the full story…”
“She didn’t?”
"I didn't?"
“I was merely an orphan living in the streets Lumiose.” Corbeau began, “All alone in the world, with only whatever rags I could find to wear and a Venipede as my only friend…”
“That is until you showed up… You apparently heard about a child who was being a menace around your signature cafe. At that time, I didn’t care for whom that place belonged to, I only knew that it was the best place to scrounge up leftovers and even some money if I was lucky. I could barely even see you as eyesight was that poor. So to you I must have been glaring like a wild Arbok. But even so… you said that day… that my eyes seemed to have a fire that burned eternally…”
Corbeau continued to tell his story. L listened intently and used it to try to remember anything about the man in front of him.
Images of memories still weren't forming and yet there were sparks… Sparks of emotions that he felt that seemed to be from long ago. Was it— relief? Pride? It wasn’t even self pride. It was towards Corbeau if anything. Feelings came forth in place of images from memories.
“As I said before for the third time…” Corbeau continued as he kept his composure, “You don’t have to remember. It has been so long since we spoke properly after all… So there is no need to push yourself in remembering, I’d rather have you remember it naturally if anything. Who knows, maybe this is a way to see things in a different perspective.”
“I sincerely apologise…” L was deeply saddened by his inability to remember.
“But… as much as I want things to be different…” Corbeau continued, “I’m still unable to forgive you for what you did five years ago… not just to me but to everyone in Lumiose… Geosenge… and the entirety of the Kalos Region.”
“I know…” L has already heard that many times. He expected that reaction, despite not remembering most of it all.
“But!” Corbeau suddenly spoke louder, startling L and Harmony, as he looked at Philippe, “There is one more thing… Philippe, let them in!”
“Yes, boss!” Philippe pulled out his rotom phone and pressed a few buttons. Within minutes, almost every grunt in the Rust Syndicate poured through the office (that can fit) and surrounded them.
“Mr. Lysandre… no… L!” Corbeau began as he bent his knees, clasped them with both hands, and bowed at the same time to L, “As the boss of the Rust Syndicate, as a trainer, as myself…”
“Thank you… Thank you for everything you’ve done for me! And thank you for everything you've done for Lumiose, and to the Kalos Region and the people in it!”
“Thank you!”
“Thanks!”
“Thank ya, sir!”
All the grunts said their gratitude in one way or the other as they bowed like Corbeau to L.
“I humbly thank you for everything as well sir…” Philippe said as he did the bow as well.
Harmony didn’t say anything else but copied everyone else and did the same bow. She was just way too impressed to ruin any moment.
“I swear….” Corbeau began again while he was still at his pose and everyone else fell quiet as they heard him start. “I swear… to ensure that the beauty of this world will continue to flourish and as the boss of the Rust Syndicate, that I will continue to clean up anything that becomes dirty so it can show its true beauty!”
“Because… I… I wouldn't be able to be here now if it wasn't for you….”
“I….” L tried to say something but words failed him. Tears began to well in his eyes. “I thank you…”
“I still cannot remember you…” he continued as he blinked to try to wipe away the tears, “But I… I am grateful that back when I was still just giving… that it yielded something quite beautiful. I… I just wish I would have seen that before everything that had happened.”
“It's all right…” Corbeau straightened himself up, and extended his hand to L, “We shouldn't let our regrets of the past eat us up, and instead use it as fuel to continue on forward.”
“Well said…” L grasped his hand and shook it.
The grunts began to cheer happily and clapped.
“Well, you are always welcome to stay here at the Rust Syndicate building for as long as you like, until you want to start on your journey again.” Corbeau offers as he knew that L wouldn't stay for long, now that everything has been settled in Lumiose.
“That wouldn't be necessary…” L shook his head, “But thank you for the offer.”
“Heh… I knew you'd say that…” Corbeau turned to walk to his desk and pulled out a small envelope from one of the drawers. “Then here, at least take this.”
“What is it?” L asked as he took it and opened the unsealed envelope.
“Its details…” Corbeau smirked as he started to explain, “About a certain someone… someone that you, of all people, should remember eventually…”
Putting back Corbeau’s business card back into the envelope, L pulled out the paper and unfolded it.
What he saw made L’s eye open wide… and even his closed one to open slightly.
“I've kept tabs with him…” Corbeau explained, “Ever since that day, five years ago… At first it was just general surveillance, but more information kept on piling up about you and him, so I just kept on it.”
Harmony went closer to see what caused L to react like that.
Amongst the papers, was a clipped picture of a man that L knew… he knew very well..
“Au… August… Augustine….” L muttered as the tears once again started to flow out of his eyes, hazy yet familiar memories forming in..
“He’s…”
“Professor Augustine Sycamore… he was the main authority when it came to Mega Evolution studies.” Corbeau continued, “And he was, no… he still is a very close friend of yours.”
L’s tears began to flow harder as he shakily grasped the papers on his hand harder… “Augustine… Sycamore…”
Corbeau's expression softened, “Like I said we kept tabs on him. That paper shows where he is currently, as of yesterday at least. I can't guarantee what he is doing now or where he is now. But if you need a destination, I'm sure this would at least give you a guide.”
But before Corbeau could continue, he felt a warm hand on top of his head.
“Thank you…” L spoke again as he patted Corbeau on the head ever so gently, “Thank you for this…”
Corbeau didn't say anything. The unexpected action had caused him to freeze on the spot. His eyes were still wide open.
“Hey!” Young Corbeau reacted as he felt that hand on his head the first time. “What are you doing?!”
“It seems you're not familiar with this.” Lysandre found it amusing as he ruffled Corbeau's hair, “I just gave you a pat on the head. It’s a compliment! It means that I have seen and recognized your will to live, despite having nothing but the clothes on your back and your Venipede friend. You, little one, have quite a wonderful spirit! It's something that is quite rare these days… It is as if your eyes contained a fire that burns eternally!”
Tears began flowing out of Corbeau’s eyes while he still kept the shocked expression on his face. His own memories came back to him as he continued to cry silently.
“Boss?!” Philippe was shocked to see him react like that.
“Corbeau?!” Harmony said out of concern, “Are you okay?”
The rest of the grunts were shocked too as they began to mutter their own concerns.
“Oh my!” L immediately retracted his hand when he realized what he just did. “I… I apologize… I don't know what came over me! It seems I just acted on my own without thinking…”
“Did you remember something?” Harmony quickly asked him.
“No….” L replied as he looked at his hand. That feeling again came back. Stronger. That sense of pride towards Corbeau after what he did for him. That act of gratitude… that envelope he gave him…
He felt… proud of him. Very proud of him…
His hazy memories… still can't conjure up past images of memories of him with Corbeau, but he still felt that old pride and confidence towards him. That was it.
“Thank you…” Corbeau finally said to him. Tears continued to come down from his face. He pulled out his glasses to rub it away. “ It's good to know. It's good to know that even after everything, you're still there…”
“The Lysandre that saved me back then… never left…”
Corbeau was confused at first. He reached out to touch his head. He wondered why would a rich man like him would even do anything for a street kid like him. Let alone pat him on the head as if he was… well… proud of him?
Why would he be proud of him?
“Do I really need to repeat myself?” Lysandre chuckled as if he read his thoughts. “I just believe that you have the potential to do something beautiful to this world…”
“I do?"
“Of course! Why wouldn't I be wrong?”
L then recognized it again and repeated his action. He patted Corbeau on the head again. “Thank you… My memories are still faded but this sense of pride towards you seems to have come out. I am grateful to remember that even back then, I was more than just a villain.”
Corbeau nodded in response, “If you ever need anything, my contacts are in that card.” He referred to his business card that he snuck into the envelope. “And we'll do our best to help you out with anything.”
“I shall keep that in mind.” L smiled.
“Then I suppose I won't keep you here for long.” Corbeau waved his hand to tell his grunts to move aside. And they all followed suit.
“You're gonna let him go already, Corbeau?” Harmony asked him without any intent of changing his mind.
“Lysandre always had something to do. He always wanted to keep on his dream of making a beautiful world.” Corbeau replied, “I can't stop him. No one can.”
“But for now…” L looked at the envelope and tucked it back into his inner jacket pocket, “It seems there is someone I need to meet…”
“Thank you. It was good to see you again…”
“Likewise…”
L barely got any proper memories back to him after that emotional visit. But, what he got instead was a sense of great fulfillment!
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An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Pokemon Legends: Z-A (Video Game), Pocket Monsters | Pokemon (Main Video Game Series)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Fuladari | Lysandre & Karasuba | Corbeau
Characters: Fuladari | Lysandre, Seika | Harmony (Pokemon), Karasuba | Corbeau (Pokemon), Gypso | Philippe (Pokemon), Sabi-gumi | Rust Syndicate, Original Female Character(s)
Additional Tags: thank yous, gratitude, Major Spoilers, I have been wanting to write this, theres hints of corbeau x harmony in it but its not the focus so i didnt tag it, post game spoilers, this Harmony is an OC of mine that I still have to write properly about so yeah, Corbeau wanted to thank Lysandre for everything so here.
Summary:
Before L leaves Lumiose City, Harmony asks him for one last favour. It’s for someone who wants to thank L for everything he’s done…
So.... I saw this comic a while back by @nartothelar and I got inspired by that one panel there that I wrote this fic and I couldn't stop thinking about it.
That and I recently found out the difference between Au revoir and Adieu...
So here it is! I hope you all enjoy! And there's one scene in this fic in particular that I took inspiration from a certain anime/manga. Tell me if you do figure it out :3
Under the cut due to its length
Ao3 Link
Title: Adieu, to you too...
"Pokémon Trainers. I come to you by the Holo Caster to make an important announcement. Listen well. Team Flare will revive the ultimate weapon, eliminate everyone who isn't in our group, and return the world to a beautiful, natural state. Unproductive fools are consuming our future... If nothing changes, the world will become ugly and conflicts will raze the land from end to end. I repeat. We will use the ultimate weapon and wipe the slate clean. I'm sorry, those of you who are not members of Team Flare, but this is adieu to you all.”
Corbeau had lost count on how many times he had played this message on his Holo Caster. He had lost count of how many days ago (or weeks) since this message was played to everyone in Kalos. He had lost count… on how many times did he let himself zone out as he replayed this message over and over and over…
He played the message again…
“Pokémon Trainers. I come to you by the Holo Caster to make an important announcement. Listen well. Team Flare will revive the ultimate weapon, eliminate everyone who isn't in our group, and return the world to a beautiful, natural state.”
Philippe let himself into the newly constructed boss’s office without saying a word, on the other hand he carried a small stack of papers for his new boss to look at. He heard that message from the Holo Caster again… he lost count on how many times he had heard this message from his new boss’s Holo Caster as well…
“Unproductive fools are consuming our future... If nothing changes, the world will become ugly and conflicts will raze the land from end to end.”
The new second in command to the boss would like to comment about that, but at the same time… he didn't really know what to say. What would he say?
“I repeat. We will use the ultimate weapon and wipe the slate clean.”
“Hey boss!” Their newly hired grunt had come in from behind Philippe, he seemed quite pleased with himself as he showed a folder for the boss to look at, “I got ya the files you—-”
And without even a second, the enraged Corbeau had flung his Holo Caster from across the office and it hit the doorframe just next to the surprised grunt.
Philippe shook his head, he had warned the grunts beforehand that their new boss has been in a bad mood since Lysandre fired the Ultimate Weapon a few weeks ago. It wasn't wise to come in like this. It wasn't like any other time he was angry at anything.
This was something else entirely.
"I'm sorry, those of you who are not members of Team Flare.”
But this is adieu----"
Adie—
Ad—
Adieu—"
The force at which Corbeau flung his Holo Caster at had caused the device to become dented on one side and made the recording stutter.
Philippe silently sighed as he opened his hand to the grunt, gestured to him to give him the folder instead.
The terrified grunt then meekly said a “sorry” and handed the folder to Philippe. He then bowed and scurried away from the office.
The dented Holo Caster then shut itself off.
And with a groan, Corbeau stood up from his chair and walked to his new couches and sofa set up and sat on the long couch. He pulled out the glasses from his face as he massaged the bridge of his nose. He felt a migraine was coming…
“Philippe?” He finally acknowledged his second in command in his office, “Is that more work again?”
He sounded more exhausted than Philippe thought.
“Yeah boss…” Philippe responded loud enough for his boss to hear.
“Just… leave it at the desk…” Corbeau groaned in pain again with his new migraine. “I'm not really feeling good enough to deal with anything right now… and this damned message is driving me insane!”
Philippe picked up the dented Holo Caster and sighed as he placed the papers on his boss’s ever growing pile of papers.
“I'll…” He paused for a second at first but decided to continue anyway. “I'll get us some coffee sir…”
“Yeah… sure…” Corbeau gave a wave of his hand to let Philippe go.
As he left the office, The new Rust Syndicate boss began rubbing his temples as the migraine settled in. He hated this. He hated it more than he should.
Or was it that he wanted to hate it more than he should…
He doesn't even know anymore. Corbeau wished he could have just understood why this all happened in the first place. And how could he? How could the man he had idolized to the point of shaping his own ideals after his do….
Do all of this?!
THIS!!
Philippe came into the office with a tray with two cups of coffee. Both made specifically to their tastes…
He placed his boss’s coffee on the table in front of the sofas and took his own cup while putting the tray down. He then sat next to Corbeau on the couch. The young boss barely reacted to the weight.
“Tell me Philippe…” Corbeau began as he fiddled with his glasses. “Where do you think this whole thing began?”
Philippe knew immediately that he was referring to that incident.
“l'm not sure sir…” He could only answer in lament. “Everyone in Kalos was just as surprised as you were after all…”
“Were they?” Corbeau thought out loud as he picked up his coffee cup and took a sip.
The smell of the coffee brought him back to the days where he would frequent Lysandre cafe when he was just starting out with his own business ventures, before he was the leader of the Rust Syndicate, before he had a lot of ambitions, before… everything else that had just happened.
He remembered when he would stop by at the cafe when he was there by himself to catch up on things. To discuss issues but also to bring up any other topic Lysandre wanted to talk about.. He would still thank him for supporting him in his life and his business ventures. For helping him become who he is now.
He remembered the smiling face of the man he looked up to as he poured the milk onto his own coffee.
That smile…
He wondered…
“Was he being genuine at those days I wonder…” Corbeau thought to himself, out loud for Philippe to hear, “Whenever I visited him in his cafe… so we could talk about anything… Anything he wanted…"
"But by then… Has he already thought about it?”
Philippe didn't answer, he just took a sip of his coffee.
“Was he already that far gone, before I noticed?” Corbeau didn't expect an answer… he took another sip of his coffee and kept remembering… “That he had planned this all along behind everyone's backs?”
Philippe truly didn't know how to answer that question.
“How far long ago was it?” Corbeau contemplated, “Since he decided that the world wasn't worth saving anymore?”
“I…” Philippe did try to think of an answer but words still failed him, “I don't really know sir…”
“No one knew…” Corbeau sighed again as he counted on his fingers… “Not you, not me, not the rest of the syndicate, not his friends, not those kids that beat him…”
“I don't even think Team Flare knew!!!” Corbeau raised his voice as he slammed the coffee cup on the table. “Let alone the rest of Kalos!”
Philippe remembered some of the news he'd seen. There's too many to recall, but most were about the captured Team Flare members yelling at the authorities that they didn't know anything let alone about activating the Ultimate Weapon. Of course most of the general public thought they were just lying.
Why wouldn't they?
Corbeau on the other hand groaned more from the migraine as he kept digging further back into his memories. He cursed to himself silently. He wished he was more observant. He wished he could have noticed something. Anything!
Until he went further back…
“You have quite the spirit don't you, boy?” Lysandre patted the glaring Corbeau's head. He was just a little boy back then, all alone in a big city called Lumiose and clutched his only friend back then, a Venipede that decided to follow him all around.
“What’d ya mean by that?!” Corbeau almost spat at this rich looking guy. In his experience, rich people were just annoying snobs that looked at him as if he was an insect pokemon like his only friend. I ain't afraid of ya, if that's what yer sayin’”
“Hahaha! No, I definitely didn't mean that…” Lysandre gave out a genuine laugh as far as Corbeau could tell, which felt weird to him, “I apologize for my… members’ behavior towards you. You're only a child after all. So where are your parents anyway?”
“I ain't got any. The only one I have left is Venipede.” He muttered as he clutched Venipede closer to him. The pokemon, despite having tiny feet, still tried to hug him back.
“Oh my! I am deeply sorry to hear that.” Young Corbeau didn't understand this. Why was this rich guy so… sympathetic? That wasn't something he ever expected a reaction from.
“Then come in, come in!” Lysandre gently pushed him into the very red looking place that he can't even read the name of. Or really let alone see it properly. “The storm is only getting worse and I can't have you getting a cold.”
Corbeau was even more confused. But for once… for once he felt warmth that isn't from any fires or fire type pokemon…
“Chef! Give us your best croissants and some hot chocolate for this boy as well!” He heard this rich red haired guy say to someone. He's been wondering what the ever loving hell he was doing. He heard the word croissants… he thought of that flaky bread thing that's shaped like a C.
“Yes sir Mr. Lysandre sir!” He heard the chef say happily. But now he heard the rich guy’s name
“Ly– Lysa.. what?” He tried to say. It sounded weird.
“It's Lysandre…” Lysandre corrected him as he patted him on the head. “Don't worry, you'll get to say that properly soon…”
Corbeau shook his head. He thought to himself that he didn't need to overthink about that now. There's no need to. It's already done.
To him and to everyone else in this world. Lysandre nearly ended it all. All because the world didn't align to his ideals of beauty… and that included him. That included the Rust Syndicate. That included everyone else he decided to leave behind…
“Philippe…” Corbeau began as he lazily waved his hand to get his second in command’s attention, “You should get home for today. And let everyone else in the Syndicate go home too. Take the rest of the day off. We all need it.”
“Boss…” Philippe said in concern. He knew his boss had the tendency to let things get to him like this.
“Because starting tomorrow…” Corbeau puts the glasses back on his face, “We will start cutting the Syndicate from any relations to Lysandre and his companies to the point where people wouldn't even think we had a connection to them in the first place.”
Even to this day, Philippe is still at awe at how Corbeau handled himself. The young boss was in a bad mood and had a migraine to boot and yet he still thought of the Syndicate’s future…
“If I may, boss…” Philippe began as Corbeau turned to face him. “I don't have as much of a connection as you have to Mr. Lysandre. But he still assisted the Syndicate even before we met. So I was naturally distraught by the news…”
“Boss!! BOSS!!! Are you here??!!! Did you see Mr. Lysandre’s message?!” Philippe burst through the doors of Corbeau's temporary office. He rushed in there as quickly as he could as he saw Lysandre's message in his Holo Caster. He felt his blood run cold when he first heard it and then his thoughts shifted to his new boss, Corbeau. He couldn't even imagine what he would think about this…
And in the office he saw him but he heard no response from him.
Corbeau sat on his newly purchased office chair, Holo Caster opened in his hand as the message had already finished playing and it just left the holographic image of Lysandre just standing.
But the new Rust Syndicate Boss just stared at the image.
“Boss?” Philippe started to walk closer to him.
His face was filled with shock. Eyes wide as he stared at the Holo Caster. Or was he staring at all?
“Did you hear me boss?” Philippe asked him again. There was no response, and yet Corbeau is still there… still sitting down… no response came from him.
“Sir??” Philippe asked again with a little higher voice, as he hoped to get him to turn to face him. No response. The boss just continued to stare…
He noticed that he really wasn't staring at the image.
“Can you hear me boss?” Philippe asked again as he laid his hand on his shoulder.
No response.
He then looked to see that his boss’s eyes were still there. It just looked like there's no life in them, it looked empty…
Philippe started to panic.
“BOSS??!!” He started to grasp his shoulders and shook him. The Holo Caster fell from his hand with a thunk on the floor. “Are you okay?! Can you hear me?!”
No response again.
“Boss! Sir!! Corbeau!!!” Philippe tried again. He was left with no choice.
“CORBEAU!!!”
A slap across his cheek. Philippe had to do it. Any punishments be damned, he was too worried about Corbeau right now to just stand by and do nothing.
A gasp and a blink then the new Boss of the Rust Syndicate finally started to move.
The second in command let out a huge relieved sigh. “Thank Arceus you're okay sir…”
“What was I??” Corbeau managed to say. He looked up to the man holding him. “Philippe? What happened?”
“You were…” Philippe tried to formulate his words. “I wanted to talk to you about Lysandre’s message but when I got here, you were unresponsive. Forgive me for the rash action, but I had to slap you awake sir.”
That's where Corbeau felt the sting on his cheek. He knew of Philippe’s strength, and this slap was still him holding back. But it was still enough to shake him awake from his stupor.
“Philippe…”
“I know boss… Mr. Lysandre is…"
“But I would be lying if I said that we couldn't be here now if it wasn't for his help…” Philippe lamented that memory. He had never seen Corbeau like that at all. The man that had bested him in business to be reduced to such a state…
“You're right, Philippe…” Corbeau said as if all of the stress, pain, and anger has washed all away from his face. “But we are still the Rust Syndicate. That time in our past is over.”
Philippe couldn't believe it. But that's probably why Corbeau is now the boss.
“And don't you worry…” He continued, “I'll make sure to work myself, you, and every single person in this Syndicate. To. The. Damn. Bone.”
He emphasized the last four words. He meant every bit of it.
It was amazing to Philippe how he could regain his composure back so quickly. And yet it makes that stupor episode much more terrifying.
“It is our job to clean up the messes no one wants to do after all…” Corbeau emphasized as well. “It's all to make this world a more beautiful one. But not the way Lysandre wants it. Rather what the world wants it to be…”
“Of course sir…” Philippe was heavily relieved.
“Remember Philippe, and make sure every single grunt remembers as well.” Corbeau stood up from the couch and walked towards his second in command, “Lysandre didn't make the Rust Syndicate. We did. Every single one of us, from me, the boss, down to that new grunt I scared off.”
Philippe let out a soft chuckle as he thought of the poor grunt that scurried away like a baby Venipede.
“Make sure to give him a bonus for witnessing that, by the way…” Corbeau reminded Philippe. “He didn't deserve to see that from me.”
“I'll be sure to do that, sir.” Philippe nodded.
“And one last thing…” Corbeau's eyes softened, something that is rarely witnessed by anyone. “Head home, Philippe. Get some rest. I…”
“I need some time alone… if you don't mind…”
Philippe understood and just smiled sadly at him. He couldn't sway his boss, especially at this time...
“Of course boss… See you tomorrow.” Philippe patted his new boss at the back as encouragement. He then placed the dented Holo Caster on the table next to Corbeau’s already cold coffee, and made his way out of his office. And let the boss be on his own for now.
Corbeau then let out a sigh once he knew he was by himself. He then looked at the Holo Caster he threw out of anger and grumbled, “That idiot…”
He fell back on the couch and let himself sprawl over. He took his glasses off his face and just laid it on the table without even bothering to fold it close.
He gave it a good tap and turned it back on.
Despite his poor eyesight, he still managed to reach for the broken Holo Caster.
"Pokémon Trainers. I come to you by the Holo Caster to make an important announcement. Listen well."
He was always impressed by how durable this tech was. He knew Lysandre was always insistent on making his devices last a long time…
"Team Flare will revive the ultimate weapon, eliminate everyone who isn't in our group, and return the world to a beautiful, natural state. Unproductive fools are consuming our future... If nothing changes, the world will become ugly and conflicts will raze the land from end to end."
Yes… Corbeau knew it was ugly.
He knew Lysandre was right. He, of all people, have always been exposed to that kind of ugliness… as Lysandre puts it. He grew up witnessing it after all.
“Yeah… I'm not Team Flare after all. And we will never be…”
"I repeat. We will use the ultimate weapon and wipe the slate clean. I'm sorry, those of you who are not members of Team Flare."
“But this is adieu to you all.”
“And adieu to you too…” Corbeau covered his eyes with his hand as he tried to hold back something he'd been holding back for so long.
“Adieu…” Corbeau bit his lip as the tears started to fall from his eyes.
“Adieu to you too.. you foolish old man…”
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