[attr="class","katherine"]
Both Cait and Celebi are likely able to tell that someone is nearby, watching. Innocently though, for Katherine never attempts to hide her presence or sneak behind the duo. There’s admiration in her eyes, reverence that taints her heart with a verdant seed of envy.

This type of power, these blessings - they all had that effect on her. She couldn’t bear seeing them without feeling this way. Each deity that had chosen to bestow a blessing upon a human managed to irk her in that sense, where she’s left with a single question: why?

Why are they doing it?

But it’s almost routine for her to bottle these feelings and keep them under lock and key, tucked away where they cannot misguide her. It’s hard, but most things in life are. Kat simply pushes onwards.

When Katherine finally decides to step closer, she does so while releasing Florges out of a capsule, waiting for the fairy-type to emerge so they can aid Cait and Celebi. A light, pink mist spreads from the top of the Florges’s flower, slowly purifying nearby flora from the toxins that contaminated them.

“I hope we’re not disturbing you two,” Her tone is soft and lacks the malice that she may hold towards the duo, “We’re here to help.”


notes:

[attr="class","katherine"]
The AROMATHERAPY mist continues to swirl gently and spread until the very moment in which Celebi invades the mind of Katherine’s fairy. It’s frail and untrained in such areas, leaving itself defenseless and unprepared to resist the influence of the legendary.

Katherine can sense that something is wrong, but she does not address it just yet.

“It has. I’d even say that the city needed someone more…” She pauses for a brief moment, mulling over her words. “Modern with their approach.” You could say that Kat’s implying that Cait was too hippie for their city. “It’s doing well now, but I am sure I don’t need to tell you that.”

Her attention drifts back to Florges who’s already kneeled before the Legendary in front of it. Katherine steels her stare, locking her eyes with her partner’s.

Despite not uttering a word, her command is loud and clear: rise.

And it does, ever so slowly, regains its footing. It may have felt overwhelmed by the presence of a god, but Katherine exerts her own aura that directly speaks to the mind of the Pokemon.

After all, it had seen what she’s capable of and what her ire spells for its future. It knows better than to upset her.

”I’ve heard that you retired. Did you have a change of heart?”


notes:

[attr="class","katherine"]
The overwhelming support in Cait did not vanish overnight, regardless of Katherine’s claims. It took time and subtle actions, but fortunately, an opening was left for the Rocket by Celebi’s blessed.

People were most satisfied when the only hands that could reach into their pockets were theirs. It was a weakness - because Cait’s taxes did work, but the people of Mauville just weren’t willing to admit it.

So they were given exactly what they wished for: a person who’s bold enough to dismantle things without looking back. And that’s who Katherine was. Destruction came easy to her. Healing, however, did not.

And for that reason, Cait and Katherine were like night and day.

“Ah, I see. That’s good. I’d hate to hear that someone as capable as you is letting their talents go to waste.” She’d despise anyone that dumb. To have a god standing by your side - as your equal - it is the highest of gifts. Abandoning such a fate so easily is not something she’d ever understand, but she’d heard a tale of someone who’d committed this sin.

From the god who’d been abandoned, no less.

Florges’s FLOWER VEIL continues to shroud its immediate surroundings with a calm aura, one that promises protection— speaking entirely against what Katherine stood for, what she believed in.

“Then I suppose it’s my duty to ensure that you don’t spend too much time on official missions like these. Florges and I will help in healing this place.”

The gym leader gestures with her hand for the fairy-type to continue with its AROMATHERAPY, further healing the environment of any toxins that remained.


notes:

[attr="class","katherine"]
Katherine's brow quirks in response, surprised by the fact that Celebi did not mind such mundane tasks.

Perhaps not all gods were the same. She’d envisioned in her mind a single archetype they’d all fit. Proud, meddling beings who had enough power to tear this region asunder if they so desired. And yet, some of them appeared to be benevolent and kind, for reasons beyond her understanding.

It’s confusing, but questioning it seemed like a waste of time.

“You are underselling yourself, Cait.”

But the compliments she showers Katherine with, regardless of whether she means them or not, are like music to her ears. They manage to draw an honest smile upon the gym leader's lips.

“I may have a city, but I can assure you that no man or woman who has a god standing by their side lacks relevance or importance.” It’s not up for debate, as far as Kat’s concerned. The Rocket stands still for a moment or two, falling silent as she contemplates whether if Cait was truly this humble or simply blind.

For now, she opts to believe the former of the two options.


notes:

[attr="class","katherine"]
“Yes.”

Katherine can’t help but smile at Cait’s words, a half-cheeky grin revealing itself for a brief moment before being diluted into a plain, average smile. It’s almost as if she’d just heard a crude joke.

“Let us hope.”

But unlike her predecessor, Katherine doesn’t truly care for whatever peace Arceus weaved for them in the strings of fate. She’d hate for things to turn boring now— after everything she’d witnessed in the past few months.

No, it seemed too unlikely.

“You took the words right out of my mouth, Cait.” The smile remains, persistent. “After all, who knows how long it’ll be before our help is needed elsewhere.”


notes: