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The relief Luka feels upon seeing Remiel Calcifet safely carried away surprises her. She’s not heartless, so of course she doesn’t want him to be hurt, but it’s rather troubling nonetheless.[break][break]

Her Hatterene scoffs and smacks her with her claw, which— while excessive— effectively snaps her out of it. Right. There are more important things to focus on now, and Remiel is no longer her concern.[break][break]

Still, what is she to do? She can’t idle, that’s for sure. Flicking the ghostly reigns of her Spectrier, the pair charge off once again, with Sugar perched behind her and Parfait gliding alongside them. All around them, Hoopa arms emerge to cause random acts of destruction— Parfait tries throwing up barriers of protect to allies and enemies alike, but without knowing where the arms will emerge from next, her shields are all but useless.[break][break]

It’s so frustrating! Eva Morales’s call to action resonates with her, but what should she do? Instinct tells her to defend and heal, but their leaders are urging an attack. Her steed whinnies, looking for direction, but Luka is momentarily frozen as her mind twists itself in knots to figure out a course of action.[break][break]

That is, until another equine gallops past them. It’s a fleeting interaction, but the coaching from Keldeo is enough to steel her resolve. That’s right— they can’t afford to hesitate now. Even if she makes the wrong choice, it’ll be better than doing nothing![break][break]

She wishes she could pat the mystical pony on the head and thank them, but they don’t have time for that. Instead, Luka urges her team forwards, bracing against the blistering snow and ice. ”Parfait!” she yells over the storm, ”Try to slow those arms down!”[break][break]

Her Hatterene nods in understanding, and unleashes multiple thunder waves wherever the arms appear. Again, it’s difficult to predict where they might emerge, but if they can manage to hit even one perhaps they’ll be able to start slowing the beast down![break][break]

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”Ooooh, those are fighting words! Don’t worry, we’re going to do our best! Right, Sugar?”[break][break]

Luka’s Sylveon mewls in agreement, the tips of her ribbons curling into little hearts as she steps onto her side of the field. It’s more of an adorable display than an aggressive one, but perhaps that’s an effective strategy in it’s own right. If they keep looking cute, it’ll be harder to hit them![break][break]

”Well then, let’s get started! Good luck, Monsieur! Let’s put on a great show!”[break][break]

Sugar bolts onto the field to make the first move, her ribbons extending and curling around her lithe body as she runs circles around the Arcanine. Close combat isn’t her style— instead, she quickly fires off a dazzling gleam towards her opponent. The burst of sparkling light might be easy to evade, but hopefully it’ll keep Topaz at a distance as she’s forced to dodge it.

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”That’s not what I meant.”[break][break]
Briefly, Luka’s gaze shifts to the door behind him. It’s shut tight, and she isn’t expecting any more meetings today. They’re alone in the confessional booth she’s made for him.[break][break]
Her eyes return to Remiel’s face, a vast green sea so intense and deep they might just swallow him whole.[break][break]
”I mean, what did you do in Rocket? You said they called you Admin Fox. I imagine someone would have to be pretty involved to earn that kind of title.”[break][break]

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He's right. After the way he'd treated her he really doesn't deserve her sympathy, much less the time she's granting him now. As Luka continues to stare at the prince she wonders why she can't bring herself to hate him; it would be justified, surely. Perhaps it's a manifestation of her own stubbornness, an unwillingness to fall into the cycle of hatred and revenge that continues to propel the conflict between factions.[break][break]

She doesn't want to be another cog in the war machine.[break][break]

But Remiel had allowed himself to be one. He'd been an instrumental part, in fact. And no, he'd never told her why. Shortly after his first confession she had fled, the grief and betrayal too much for her to bear. Since then, all she had was speculation, and it's eaten away at her.[break][break]

So she listens silently as he answers her while her hands, hidden under the table, twist restlessly in her lap.[break][break]

"I see..." For now, she tries to keep her expression neutral. But she can't help but feel a stab of disappointment. She had naively hoped that he had simply been dragged into it, that he had been blackmailed, forced in against his will. To know that he had chosen Rocket of his own volition pains her almost as much as when he'd first revealed it.[break][break]

"What do you mean, you lost yourself? What did you do?"[break][break]

She's determined now to know the worst of him. It's only then that she'll be able to decide if there's anything good left.

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Luka continues to stare at Remiel as he speaks. She's not quite sure what she's looking for in his face, but she doesn't find it. For a fleeting moment she finds herself missing his smile, but she shoos that thought away before it can fully manifest.[break][break]

There's a part of her that wants to scoff and say well, you did this to yourself. But despite the best efforts of Remiel, of Rocket, and of Hoenn itself, she hasn't lost her kindness yet.[break][break]

"I see," is all she says at first. "That must be very hard."[break][break]

A silence falls between them. It's thick and heavy, like a shroud. But after a few moments Luka parts the curtain and asks the question that's been on her mind for almost a year.[break][break]

"Why did you join them?"

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Oh, that's horrible. Has he been practicing dad jokes in his spare time?[break][break]

It still elicits a small laugh though, and it's not pity! Rather, Luka is just glad to hear someone else having a good time.[break][break]

While they share pleasantries, Sugar plods onto the battlefield and begins her own preparations. However, unlike Kama, these merely involve a long, languid stretch and a bit of preening. Her ribbons curl around her as she sits and blinks over at her opponent, eyes bright and attentive.[break][break]

"Mmm...I guess we're ready as we'll ever be! Good luck!"[break][break]

The battle begins with a flurry of action. Kama moves so quickly that Luka can barely make out her blurred form. Sugar leaps to her feet and sprints forwards as well, though the sudden leap takes her by surprise. In the time it takes for her to relocate her opponent, there's a prominent opening for the Scyther to strike.[break][break]

However, she's quick to retaliate. One of Sugar's ribbons spools out, attempting to grab the Scyther by the leg and pull her out of the air. But her attack is two-pronged; she launches a shadow ball at the same time, giving the oversized bug two obstacles to try and avoid.[break][break]

It seems that she's not fast enough, however, and the attack against her strikes, sending her tumbling backwards.

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Did he name his Froakie Ribbet-san?[break][break]

That's so cute it should be illegal.[break][break]

"Well, I'm sorry!" she shouts back from across the field. "But you're distracting
too!"[break][break]

She points an accusatory finger at him. "Being gap moe is...eugh! No licking!"[break][break]

The sentiment is shared by Luka's Sylveon, who immediately drops the Froakie in an attempt to get away from that long, slimy tongue. She sends another dazzling gleam their way and hopes that'll put more distance between them.

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"I will, then. It's a promise!"[break][break]

Frankly, she probably needs the company as much as Illeana does. This little competition has helped break her out of her self imposed isolation, but one day isn't enough. She's lonely— she wants friends. Real friends, not just coworkers or acquaintances, which is all she seems able to hold onto these days.[break][break]

"Ah-" It's only seeing the other woman's flush that she realizes her words could be taken as an insult. "Sorry, sorry! I mean, I'm not much of a battler either. This is definitely good practice for us..."[break][break]

Her smile is apologetic, though she gets the impression there's no hard feelings. Thank goodness! Her Sylveon huffs a little as she steps up though, clearly taking umbrage with her trainer's assessment. Luka might not have much faith in herself, but Sugar is far more self-assured.[break][break]

She sprints onto the field as soon as the first volley of attacks are fired. One shadow ball is ducked under, but the second manages to graze her side. With a yip of surprise she stumbles, but uses her ribbons to keep her balance. When the third shadow ball speeds towards her she launches her own dazzling gleam in retaliation, trying to blast the attack away with one of her own.

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"She's being greedy." Luka clicks her tongue, but her tone remains airy and lighthearted. Sugar mewls, as if in agreement, and continues to rub against Remiel's leg. Despite everything that happened between him and her trainer, it seems she's willing to forgive as long as that means more petting.[break][break]

Speaking of Pokemon antics, Luka's attention turns next to the Golett playing with her stapler. That inspires another breathy laugh, but she makes no effort to stop them. It's clear that when it comes to spoiling Pokemon, she's often the guilty party.[break][break]

"I've been here for...mm. A few months, I think," she answers once she's no longer distracted. "It's a bit strange having my own office." The simple phrase reminds her that she's here to work, and like a switch being flipped, she quickly shifts back to business mode.[break][break]

"Right. So...you said you'd be willing to lend some dragons? We don't want to intimidate our guests, so some that are friendly but still tough would be ideal."[break][break]

She stares at him over the lip of her laptop screen. "We doubt Rocket will be brazen enough to attack with so many civilians and families around. But I'm sure they don't think too highly of the amnesty program, so we can't be too careful. There's...a chance this might put you in danger." Her eyes bore into his. "Do you still want to do it?"

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Hah! Sugar's eyes narrow smugly at the opposing Pikachu, and she wiggles her ribbons in a Sylveon's version of the middle finger. Take that, you chunky rat![break][break]

"Ehe...well, thank you! I-I have a lot of faith in her, really! It's just..." Just herself that she lacks confidence in. But if she wavers, she knows the connection between herself and Sugar will suffer. She toys with the hem of her sygna suit, a tactile reminder of their bond, and nods.[break][break]

"Okay. O-okay! Let's do this!"[break][break]

Just like Tofu, Sugar seems exceptionally riled up as they face off against each other. She yowls as sparking electricity courses throughout the field, and fires off her own dazzling gleam in retaliation. Racing around the field, she tries not to let her paws touch the ground as much as possible, but it seems impossible to avoid every branching stroke of lighting...

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"Well, Hoenn is a special place." For better or worse, it seems to sink it's teeth into everyone who comes here. "If you've managed to find a home here, I'm very happy for you!"[break][break]

She grins again, and in that smile is everything that Tsubaki seems to hate. Luka doesn't seem to notice, and frankly, she'd be quite bummed to learn that her brand of obnoxious cheerfulness has no power here. But not everyone is here to make friends— some are simply here to battle, and it would be rude of her not to proceed.[break][break]

"Ah...r-right, right! Okay Sugar, I'm counting on you!"[break][break]

Her opponent strikes first, and with a powerful attack right off the bat. "M-melt?! Ew...S-sugar, try to avoid it! Use, um..." [break][break]

Ugh! It's grade school stuff, but she can never remember what poison types are weak against. "Try shadow ball!"[break][break]

As the serpent's gaping jaws near, Sugar tries to elegantly dart out of the way. She slides underneath the undulating body and aims a bursting shadow ball upwards, hoping to knock back the Arbok just far enough to avoid the fangs that yearn to sink into her flesh.

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The spaces between his words are filled with the sound of nails on a keyboard. If Remiel watches her as she types, he’ll see glossy pink lips silently sounding out the words she transcribes, a habit so instinctual now that she doesn’t even notice it.[break][break]

Once she’s finished, she glances idly back up at him. ”Mn? Oh, yes, I think it will. It fits in with the theme we’re going for, I think. Looking towards the future— that kind of thing.”[break][break]

What would he put in his envelope, she wonders. What does the Remiel in front of her want now? Back in the day she might have had the semblance of an answer, but now all she knows for certain is that she really doesn’t know him at all.[break][break]
It’s only then, in the midst of her musings, that she notices Sugar’s antics. A soft chuckle breezes past her lips, the only sound she’s made today that sounds genuine, not layered behind professional artifice. ”Ah…I’m sorry about her. I can get her off, if you’d like.”[break][break]

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The silent iceland is a frigid, desolate wasteland. It's no place for a girl like her to explore on her own. So when Luka had mentioned her intentions to visit, it was insisted that she take someone capable with her. And so Isaac Merlo had been drafted to serve as her bodyguard— part of his service for the amnesty program, apparently.[break][break]

"Thank you for coming with me today, Monsieur Merlo."[break][break]

Luka shivers slightly as she sits astride her Spectrier, so bundled up in coats and scarves that she looks like a fluffy little marshmallow. The tip of her nose, one of the only parts of her face that can actually be seen, is already pink from cold. Her eyes, too, are visible, and they crinkle at the corners in what appears to be a smile, though her lips are hidden beneath her scarf.[break][break]

Although her opinion of him has changed since finding out why he was in the amnesty program, Luka is doing her best to keep an open mind. He had always been kind to her— heck, he had helped her out when she was at her lowest. Her bond with Sugar wouldn't be the same without him. And she's always believed in the good in people, no matter what. Perhaps that's why, despite her past, she's more willing to forgive than most.[break][break]

"H-have you ever been here before? I knew it would be...b-but I didn't expect it to be t-t-this cold."[break][break]

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