[attr="class","star1tsu4"]

[attr="class","star2tsu4"]"You really wanna know that now? C'mon!"[break][break]

The young man pulls at her wrist, lifting her up out of her chair in one fluid movement. Before she knows it, she's on her feet, running down the hall alongside him.[break][break]

"Your friend paid them off. Don't worry. I ain't a lunatic."[break][break]

He seems defensive, but in his mind he's just covering the bases. The girl doesn't pay it any mind at all. Didn't even question whether they were still alive. [break][break]

"Long as you can get me out, I don't give a shit!"[break][break]

"Hey! Language!"[break][break]

The way he says it is so forceful she recoils, quickly recovering.[break][break]

"... A-a… crap."[break][break]

The way the man looks back at her, she doesn't know if that's any better. His severe attitude aside, they rush through the hallway. He seems to know where he's going, til he pulls her into a broom closet.[break][break]

Panting, he grabs her by the shoulders.[break][break]

"Tsubaki… Baki? Listen. This guy squeals, you're toast no matter what I do. You do know where his room is, yeah?"[break][break]

Maybe it's the running, the confined space. The closet is sweltering, the heat steals her voice. Still, she manages to speak after taking a few seconds to collect herself.[break][break]

"I-I thought you had a plan already…!"[break][break]

"No time. Needed answers, figured you had 'em. So, do you?"[break][break]

By the look in his eye, he earnestly believes that. All the defense mechanisms she'd built up in Kanto, hiding your intentions, watching for any little tell, and nothing - absolutely nothing - triggers when she looks in his eyes.[break][break]

So why does she feel so…?[break][break]

"I-I know where his room is, yeah. But, wait! Tell me, first - who're you?"[break][break]

The man sighs impatiently. He seems exasperated that he's gotta explain anything at all.[break][break]

"Don't got time for my life story. I'll explain it in due time. But, name's Gabe. Gabe Navidson. Now, you gonna lead us to that room? Or do I gotta figure it out myself?"[break][break]

Something in the way he says it leaves no doubt. He'd do it. He has all the conviction of a saint. But he rests his trust on her, the worst of the worst, the least trustworthy girl.[break][break]

Why?[break][break]

"... Guess I don't gotta choice, do I? Let's go."[break][break]

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[attr="class","star1tsu4"]

[attr="class","star2tsu4"]She opens the door, peeking down the hall for signs of guards.[break][break]

"All quiet."[break][break]

"Seems like they haven't been alerted yet. Good. Don't wanna make this any messier."[break][break]

The man steps out of the closet behind her, shutting the door carefully. With that, he lets the girl take the lead.[break][break]

"Right. Tohru's room."[break][break]

"You don't gotta remind me!"[break][break]

Tsubaki whispers under her breath. She gives a surprised double-take as Gabe says the name, the man who likely sold her out. Either a lucky guess, or he'd done his homework. [break][break]

Either way, she declines to comment on it, creeping down the hall without a sound. Every deft footstep of hers is matched by enough sound from the man their cover'll be blown if they cross anyone. [break][break]

But, miraculously, they make it to the second floor without incident, stopping directly outside the door.[break][break]

"Shh! … This is it."[break][break]

"Alright, Baki. Stand back."[break][break]

Baki turns, eyes wide.[break][break]

"Wait, what're you gonna–?"[break][break]

The door crumples inward on its hinges with two well-placed kicks. No subtlety at all, the man bursts his way inside, leaving Tsubaki to cover the hall to make sure nobody heard a thing.[break][break]

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[attr="class","star1tsu4"]

[attr="class","star2tsu4"]"Matsubara Tohru! You're under arrest! Go quietly, and we can work things out!"[break][break]

Gabe charges blindly into the room, hand on his hip. It's the spur of a moment decision, but he narrowly ducks a blow, and tackles the man inside against the wardrobe. The mirror affixed to the door shatters, sending shards of glass through his back, and he lets out a scream.[break][break]

"... Gaahh!!"[break][break]

"That's not all that quiet."[break][break]

Gabe shoves his forearm against the man's neck, pinning him against the dresser as he calls back to his partner in crime.[break][break]

"Baki, search his compartment. I'm gonna take him aside for questioning."[break][break]

Gabe pulls out a drawer and grabs a few socks, shoving them in the man's mouth so he can't call out for help. Then he spins him around, pinning his hands behind his back. There's disgust in his eyes as he looks down at him, but as he looks at Tsubaki again, it disappears entirely.[break][break]

"Close the door, lock it. Whatever you do, don't answer unless I knock four times. Don't want you getting in trouble before I'm finished."[break][break]

Something about that is disturbingly relieving. She nods, letting Gabe drag the man away to a different compartment, locking and latching the door before she begins to pour over all the evidence.[break][break]

"... traces of cyanide, I knew it…"[break][break]

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[attr="class","star1tsu4"]

[attr="class","star2tsu4"]It's an hour or so til she hears the knock. [break][break]

Bam-bam-bam-bam.[break][break]

In the meantime, some shouts and commotion has filled the hallways, but nobody has come to check on her yet. Or rather, Tohru.[break][break]

"Baki. It's me. I'm alone, lemme in."[break][break]

She confirms he's telling the truth by looking out the peephole, quickly opening the door and dragging him inside before slamming it shut again.[break][break]

"Where've you been? Where's Tohru?"[break][break]

"Tohru's… gone overboard. We'll tell them he fled after we confronted him with the evidence. You DO have the evidence, don't you?"[break][break]

Baki stares at him for a second, not sure what to make of that. She takes notice of a fresh blood stain on his shirt, and decides now's not the time.[break][break]

"Yeah. He's the one who did it. Poisoned someone I had every reason to wanna get rid of, tried to pin it on the poison specialist. But… shit, you're–"[break][break]

"Hey. Language."[break][break]

"... you're bleeding. How'd you know it wasn't me? How'd you know it was Tohru?"[break][break]

"Complete shot in the dark. You just don't look like someone who'd do that, to me."[break][break]

Baki sits on the bed and stares up at him, long and hard. He's damned lucky the guy he tossed overboard wasn't smart enough to dispose of the evidence, or then what would they tell the authorities?[break][break]

"You're stupid. Flat out brain dead."[break][break]

"Yep. But I'm all you got."[break][break]

With that, he smiles. He knows damn well what he's doing, smiling at her like that. [break][break]

She can't help but smile back, much as it pains her.[break][break]

[attr="class","star3tsu4"][attr="class","rouxcredittsu4"]♠

[attr="class","star1tsu4"]

[attr="class","star2tsu4"]Episode II: An Imaginary Sea, Redux[break][break]

Floating…[break][break]

At the bottom of hell, even devils are forgotten. [break][break]

"Quiet…"[break][break]

There's nothing here but an empty expanse. An abyss in all directions. Crushing totality, inky blackness. It's cold and lonely at the bottom. [break][break]

Though she tried her hardest to reach this place, she wasn't expecting it to be so black. Was this what she sought out this whole time?[break][break]

Nobody to be scared of, nobody to hurt her.[break][break]

Nothing at all, the world dyed black.[break][break]

"... I won't be... I won't be forgotten. I won't."[break][break]

The voice echoes out into the void.[break][break]

No response.[break][break]

At least, at first…[break][break]

She can see it. A distant star, something impossibly bright, though so incredibly distant. It dots the abyss like a pinprick, growing all the while.[break][break]

She stares at it.[break][break]

"Am I…"[break][break]

Going crazy. Of course she is. [break][break]

There's nobody down here.[break][break]

But, the light rushes toward her all the same. She can hear his familiar voice, too. Shouting something. But she doesn't know what he's saying.[break][break]

She listens intently, holding her breath, trying to still even her heart, til she can hear it…[break][break]

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[attr="class","star1tsu4"]

[attr="class","star2tsu4"]"Baki! … Baki! … Bakiiii!"[break][break]

He's screaming her name over and over, the light of a star illuminating the black.[break][break]

"... Gabe?"[break][break]

"Bakiiiiii!! … Where are…? … Bakiiii!!"[break][break]

She can hear more than just her name now, the words of the messenger filling the void. Til there's nothing left but his voice, nothing but the light of Sol, his treasured companion, she fixates on his voice and his voice alone.[break][break]

The abyss is beaten back by his approach.[break][break]

"Baki! There you are! Thank goodness! Sol, bring me in!"[break][break]

The man stands on his Charizard's back, scooping the girl up in his arms. One look over, and he can tell something's off.[break][break]

"Baki… you think I'd forget you down here? You're the one who's forgotten, idiot! Hoenn's your home now, don't abandon it so quick!"[break][break]

He pulls her from the Sea, the Charizard beneath him spreading his wings wide. He flies and flies, while Gabe tends to the girl swallowed by the abyss. [break][break]

[attr="class","star3tsu4"][attr="class","rouxcredittsu4"]♠

[attr="class","star1tsu4"]

[attr="class","star2tsu4"]"Your hands're cold. Sol will warm you right up, so just hang in there. I gotcha. Don't worry about those sad things. [break][break]

"This place'll poison you if you're not careful. Not talking actual poison, but regrets, resentment, all your negative emotions. You surrender to them, you'll get stuck in the past, forget the bright future that awaits you. [break][break]

"So, hang in there, Baki. Okay?"[break][break]

She nods slowly, flitting in and out of consciousness. [break][break]

Somewhere along the way, a giant, pulsing organ passes overhead.[break][break]

Somewhere else, white ghosts flutter in flocks, singing like angels.[break][break]

All the while, Gabe doesn't let her go, til more familiar sights come into view. Sights of this world. Of Hoenn. Though, they feel like a dream.[break][break]

"We're here, Baki. You still with me?"[break][break]

Gabe sets her down on hard rock. He doesn't waste time, shuffling through a bag and talking to someone else. [break][break]

"She's in rough shape, Kyle. Nihilego sting. Didn't have an antidote on me. Didn't have time to grab any before I jumped in after her. Thank goodness you're here."[break][break]

"Anytime, champ. Every protag needs his right-hand man."[break][break]

It's kyle lopez's voice. She recognizes it.[break][break]

"I'm no 'protag'. That would've been Navy. Just living in his shadow now. If only he was here."[break][break]

Michael Navidson would've done so much more for the people of Dewford. Gabe just dove into the sea after this girl, leaving them to fend for themselves without their Champion.[break][break]

Gabe kneels down, administering the antidote. [break][break]

It takes thirty seconds before Tsubaki's eyes flutter open, and she looks up at the both of them. She's greeted by the sight of Gabe and Kyle staring down at her intently, watching her.[break][break]

"You both look stupid."[break][break]

The relieved smiles, a round of laughter shared between the three of them, is a heavy contrast to the bloodshed above. [break][break]

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[attr="class","star1tsu4"]

[attr="class","star2tsu4"]"You need a recap episode on what's happened since you were gone, buddy?"[break][break]

Kyle calls out to Gabe as he climbs onto his Charizard. Tsubaki tends to her Noivern a little ways away, readying her for the flight.[break][break]

"I'm offended, Kyle. Thought you knew me. [break][break]

"You think I watch recap episodes?"[break][break]

He offers a smile, digging his heels into his Charizard's side. The enormous pokemon roars, letting out a jet of flame and flapping his wide wingspan a few times to get airborne. Turning over his shoulder to make sure Baki's behind him on Tsutsuji, he calls out to Sol.[break][break]

"We've gotta stop Rocket from reaching the bottom of the cave! Whatever you do, don't let 'em pass!"[break][break]

The charizard lets out a terrifying roar and takes off like a rocket into the dark of the cave, lighting its way as it flies. Tsutsuji flaps her wings wildly, trying desperately to keep up.[break][break]

"We're on bodyguard duty. Protect the champ, no matter what."[break][break]

Her voice a raspy whisper, Tsutsuji understands intuitively, their hearts as one. They hurtle towards the frontlines further up, sounds of battle echoing through Granite Cave.[break][break]

[attr="class","star3tsu4"][attr="class","rouxcredittsu4"]♠

[attr="class","star1tsu4"]

[attr="class","star2tsu4"]Sol cuts a swathe through the battlefield. Jets of flames cordon off sections of the front from one another, and light the cave accordingly. Seeing their champ ride in on his oversized Charizard, League morale begins to soar.[break][break]

The dark of a beast's shadow is beckoned to the light, a pillar of flame erupting beside him and his gengar. Sol, the light of the sun, burns hotter than the ghost can withstand, and it shrinks back, leaving its master wide open.[break][break]

Baki shatters the man's ear drums with her Noivern's directional Boomburst, sending him flying. [break][break]

And then they move on to the next. [break][break]

A masked Amor Rose's dragonite aims a thunderpunch at the Charizard, and it turns downward, flapping its wings and sending it careening toward the ground with a massive hurricane that fans its inferno. By the time the dragon can correct, Sol's fangs are already embedded in its arm, and the two can do nothing but attempt to wrestle one another from the air.[break][break]

And yet, the champ leaps from the back of his Charizard, punching the masked man so hard his mask shatters. [break][break]

"Baki!"[break][break]

"Already on it!"[break][break]

Tsutsuji swoops underneath them, Tsubaki catching Gabe with her own dragon as his Charizard struggles to best a true dragon. With the aid of a violent bolt of lightning from another beast's Luxray and a leaping tackle from a third's Kommo-o, the Charizard is dragged downward.[break][break]

"Sol! Hang in there, buddy!"[break][break]

Baki flies him in close, but there's little he can do. Even his most prized pokemon, majestic in flight, can't withstand the collective effort of three Rocket Beasts.[break][break]

[attr="class","star3tsu4"][attr="class","rouxcredittsu4"]♠

[attr="class","star1tsu4"]

[attr="class","star2tsu4"]"Baki… hold your breath. It's about to get real hot."[break][break]

He instructs her, but as she opens her mouth to ask what he's talking about, the back of her throat is burnt. She quickly realizes what's going on. He'd confided in her in secret, something was special about him.[break][break]

Unlike anyone else in history, he'd been chosen by a God.[break][break]

"HO-OH!! I BEG YOU!! [break][break]

"ANSWER MY CALL"[break][break]

The cave is engulfed in flames that make the Charizard's own look paltry in comparison. The chime of a bell, and a gigantic fireball rises from the man's own heart, shaping itself into the form of a legend.[break][break]

It flaps its wings once, buffeting everyone back. And then, the Charizard rises as if from the ashes, tearing his way through the pokemon that brought it down.[break][break]

"Sol! You're alive!"[break][break]

He sounds almost surprised, as if he hadn't known if that would work. Turning back to face Tsubaki, he seems overjoyed. [break][break]

"Did you see that, Baki? Get me in close enough to ride him!"[break][break]

She gives him a concerned look, the way he's almost too into this. Revived or not, Sol still suffered immense pain. [break][break]

Does he not realize that? Does he not care? [break][break]

She can't voice it. The man's too single-minded to focus on anything else but a battle when he gets like this. [break][break]

It'll fall on deaf ears.[break][break]

"You got it, Champ!"[break][break]

Tsutsuji swoops in, carefully weaving through the gap the bird made of flames broke through the front line. Gabe drops, without a care, landing on his Charizard's back while he still grapples with the masked man's Dragonite. [break][break]

Only when he feels his master on his back does he feel at ease enough to lift the pokemon and slam it down on the hard, granite ground. A jet of flame to ensure it stays down, and it turns to look at the Gengar, the Luxray, and the Kommo-o. [break][break]

They stare warily, but none of them approach.[break][break]

The entire battle has stopped, to stare at a pokemon come back from the dead.[break][break]

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[attr="class","star1tsu4"]

[attr="class","star2tsu4"]"You can either turn back now, or keep fighting," Gabe offers. His Charizard roars, and flaps its enormous wings. [break][break]

Half of the contingent turns, not sure what to make of an enemy that can raise itself from the dead. [break][break]

How do you kill something that rises from the ashes?[break][break]

The dragonite is the first to rise, the dragon tamer the first to order another attack, fighting to the end.[break][break]

"C'mon, then!"[break][break]

The remaining Rockets focus their aim on him again, Baki tearing through the skies and terrorizing their attempts to knock Gabe off his flying chariot. [break][break]

Over and over again they try to put him down to no avail, til eventually they are beaten back, turning and running with tail between their legs. [break][break]

It's not even morning when the invading army breaks, fleeing Granite cavern nearly two hours after the first avatar demonstrates his abilities. [break][break]

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[attr="class","star1tsu4"]

[attr="class","star2tsu4"]Later, back at home, Gabe puts his arm around her shoulder, squeezing her. The girl doesn't say a thing, staring at the ground. [break][break]

"Good job, Baki. Glad I had you to back me up. Would've been lost without you."[break][break]

"Gabe, you… you didn't have to do that. To Sol, I mean."[break][break]

The man's smile doesn't falter in the least. He reaches up and turns her chin, to look her in the eyes. They're fiery as ever, full of life. [break][break]

"Do what? Sol loves fighting. You saw how eager he was."[break][break]

Baki looks down, shifting uncomfortably.[break][break]

"That doesn't mean it's okay to just… just…"[break][break]

"Just what, Tsubaki?"[break][break]

"Just… let him die over and over."[break][break]

Her heart's in her throat by the time she gets it out. [break][break]

Everyone could see it but him. [break][break]

He'd fought off the bulk of the Rocket forces single-handedly, but that's because so many of their own had stopped to stare in horror at what was happening.[break][break]

Had he not seen it? Was he not paying attention? [break][break]

"He didn't die, Baki. Dying is final. But Sol's still alive, got him right here. So what're you so upset about, huh?"[break][break]

He gestures to his belt, trying to pull her close. She pushes him away, and only then does his smile finally fade.[break][break]

"C'mon, what's going on with you? We won, isn't that what you wanted? To protect your new home!"[break][break]

"... This is… this is insane, you know that, right? Rocket is gonna focus everything it has on killing you now it knows you're chosen. If it even can."[break][break]

"They were doing that anyway! I'm the champ!"[break][break]

"Everyone, on both sides, watched you kill Sol over and over for no reason–"[break][break]

"To save Dewford, Baki!"[break][break]

"And you're just… acting like some pro athlete that won a game, instead of…"[break][break]

"We did win! How do you want me to act, Baki!?"[break][break]

She can't say anything else. She turns to leave, leaving the chosen behind.[break][break]

He stands there, genuinely stunned.[break][break]

"Baki! Baki!! [break][break]

"... What's wrong with you?"[break][break]

The man sits on the edge of his bed alone, sighing.[break][break]

He takes his Charizard's ball in hand and stares down at it intently for a long while, in silence. [break][break]

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[attr="class","star1tsu4"]

[attr="class","star2tsu4"]Episode III: Greetings Galar[break][break]

The scoured landscape of a dream lies in front of them, a battlefield marred with bodies, blood, and rust. Ten long years of battle come to a head, with King Navidson leading the charge against the poisonous morass. [break][break]

Where venom takes life, the fire in his breast brings it back to life. A kingdom in defiance of entropy finally takes its first steps toward eradicating the threat once and for all.[break][break]

"Gabe, this is suicidal."[break][break]

Baki protests as Gabe makes his way from their chambers to his Charizard's roost. He turns to give her that eternal smile he's so famous for, putting his hand on her shoulder to reassure her.[break][break]

"That's why I need to be the one to do it - I'm the only one who can."[break][break]

The woman recoils at that, but slowly, she nods in agreement. [break][break]

"Baki, I'll need your help getting close. You're our expert on the Sea, Dewford Gym Leader. You can navigate us to the core, can't you?"[break][break]

The look of life in his eyes is daunting. Like staring into the sun, it hurts to face him long enough. The way he pierces through her, boils everything she is down to her core, with just a glance… it's uncanny. [break][break]

Nevertheless, she refuses to look away.[break][break]

"Gabe, what if Ho-oh can't bring YOU back? She affects the world through you, after all. If you die, then…"[break][break]

Gabe runs his thumb along her cheek, and she shrinks in his presence. Going against what he says always feels wrong in the moment, no matter how correct it seems when he's not in the room. [break][break]

"Put your feelings aside for a moment, think about this rationally. I'm the best option. Everyone has a chance of not coming back, my chances of success are just the highest. It's the best course of action. As King, I owe it to everyone to make the best decision. I have to do The Right Thing."[break][break]

Baki freezes, unable to argue. Whatever her heart says, he sees right through it. It's as if being able to read the hearts of living things has desensitized him. He doesn't acknowledge things like fleeting emotions anymore.[break][break]

So instead she merely stares back into his eyes, so honest they burn. Just being seen by him, it feels like she's on fire. [break][break]

"Besides, Baki. I quit being afraid of death the moment Raikou killed me with a thunderbolt. Not about to start now."[break][break]

He rarely speaks of the ashen one he rides into battle. Fierce beyond belief, he is a hollow shell and nothing more to the man. The genuine article resides elsewhere, darting between glens and rivers, delivering thunder wherever he roams.[break][break]

Gabe takes her into his arms, steals her lips. Then he turns to climb his Charizard, beckoning Tsubaki to join him.[break][break]

"Whatever's right by Galar and Hoenn, Baki. We'll save this world and the next."[break][break]

Baki climbs up, feeling his warmth. It's the only thing that's comforting, dread pressing down around her.[break][break]

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