It turned out the ice they had stepped on was actually part of a huge sleeping Avalugg. It slid out of the water and back onto the ice, leaving in its place a large hole that quickly froze over. Cynthia held on to Cyrus as the beast rose to its full height, a staggering four meters off the ground.

"We've woken it up," gasped Cynthia.

Cyrus was very much in awe. "From up here, it looks as big as a cargo train." Weavile and Milotic looked so small as they trailed the Avalugg down below. "And about twice as big. Watch out for the edge."

She frowned. "I've flown higher on Togekiss."

Avalugg yawned, letting out a roar as it shook its entire body. As it did so, Cyrus drove the metal spud into the ice on its back.

"Hold on to that," he said.

Normally, inland Avalugg were not as large as this one. There were freshwater Avalugg and saltwater Avalugg, the latter of which were found along the polar circles. Saltwater Avalugg were massive, constantly eating icebergs and haranguing whaling boats. Some were said to have torn apart whole ships. Freshwater Avalugg, on the other hand, were only slightly bigger than the average sports utility vehicle.

They braced themselves as the beast began to pick up its speed. Avalugg were surprisingly nimble despite their size, especially once they got going. After it came to an abrupt stop and bent down to stretch, it shook itself again, much more violently than before. It was enough that Cynthia was thrown right off the creature's back. One second, she was in the air, the next she was in the water, gasping at the sudden shock of cold.

Cyrus cursed. "I told you to hold on!" He did not even need to signal to Weavile, who, together with Milotic, raced to rescue Cynthia from the water.

Crobat, he had once told her, had been his longest Pokemon partner, one he had raised from a Zubat. He had been so surprised when it evolved into a Golbat and it gained eyes. All this time it could see.

In response, she had told him she had been terrified of bats as a child, especially after a group of Zubat had attacked her. Such had been her own fault for exploring Mount Coronet alone. That was when she met a certain Gible. Since then, she had forgotten the last time she had been so afraid.

Chapter 51 excerpt

The drive to Veilstone gym felt like an eternity. Cyrus was at the wheel while Cynthia sat stiff in the passenger seat, aimlessly staring out the window. The streets were empty of both cars and people, and eerily dark. Most every shopfront was closed by now, save for the 24-hour convenience stores.

Once she realized they were close to the gym, Cynthia spoke up. "I just feel so responsible."

"If anything, it's my fault," said Cyrus. "Besides, we don't know anything yet for certain."

"I didn't mean to drop everything and rush over there, but I can't exactly go back on my word now."

"No, it was only right."

"You're just trying to make me feel better, aren't you?"

Cyrus balked at that. "You're welcome?"

Another silence fell between them. Cyrus considered himself just as mad about it all as she was. He wondered if she understood, but he found her inaccessible. He found it was better to leave it, lest he become mad at her, too.

Chapter 50 — In the Stooped Starlight

Chapter 49 -- Outer Limits <excerpt>

After Cynthia left the gym, she met up with Cyrus at a nearby cafe as usual. Their meetings were businesslike now in their regularity, as regular as his breathing was whenever she fell asleep with her head laying on his chest. Never would she have ever imagined falling into such a pattern. All patterns ended eventually, as she knew, though usually she was the one to who would try and break them.

As she approached, he looked so odd to her today. She was so used to analyzing him, every part of him, that so much that a hair out of place on his head would alarm her for one reason or another. Had she obsessed over him so much that she had finally grown tired of him? Not even those memories of their nights together could allay her strange sense of irritation. In fact, it was the last thing she wanted to think about now.

It didn't help that they hadn't spoken since the day he called her while she was at the lakefront, and she hadn't messaged him since either, at least until this morning. The first time it had been accidental; she had simply been so tired. But the next few times were on purpose. It had all started after she called him back to report on what had gone down with the trainer.

"You shouldn't have done that," he had said. "What if the trainer was wearing a wire?"

She had laughed. "It was just a kid, Cyrus. One who doesn't know who I am, apparently. Besides, if the little twerp takes my advice, we might not be hearing from them for some time."

"Advice?"