iseult smiled back at his enthusiasm, knowing.

then, as he talked, her smile began to falter.

”you have done this before, right?”

it sounded like maybe the answer was no, he hadn’t—but it couldn’t be too difficult to figure out. she peered past him at the dash curiously.

”i’ve never driven a car, either.” nor had she been to an arcade.

he hit the gas, and they were off. definitely much faster than the ferry. nearly white hair blew off her shoulder and went wild in the wind. she reached up to retie her lavender ribbon at the back of her head.

JAMES BAKER

”with all due respect, luck plays no part in skill. do not reduce your victory, mr. sullivan. you are a champion, and the world has seen it.”

though the volume was low, his name from the television speakers caught her trained ear. she glanced up at the screen, and then smiled back at him.

”you deserve the recognition.”

she nodded at her father’s name, as then as he trailed off, she assumed the direction of his thoughts. surely, they were drifting in the same direction as many did upon the realization. it meant she was, technically, a princess. being that it had often been something their opposers utilized to argue against their place in the region’s modern politics, frustration battled harder with her family pride as she grew further into adulthood.

she was pleasantly surprised at the mention of league HQ, rather than the implication of her bloodline.

”i do. i’ve been working as councilman GABRIEL BLACK ’s assistant while i continue school. it’s given me plenty of opportunity to witness the inner workings of hoenn’s politics; however, much of it is just answering emails.” she raised the phone in her hand with the softest chuckle.

”i imagine you frequent HQ as well, given your responsibilities? the region’s military has been quite active in recent years.”

John Sullivan

”aquarium tropical. yes, that sounds right,” she agreed. ”i’ll have to go next time i visit home.”

the aquarium was magical. her enchanted gaze wandered between swaying seaweed and schools of fish, looking for beautiful, easily recognizable scales. the babineaux family was famed for its army of fire-types, and iseult had grown to have a great fondness of them. she still found herself fascinated by the beauty of water-types—especially milotic.

”my father brought me here. he told me were fleeing danger.” it was a detail that hadn’t been shared with the public. her father was well-known to many rockets. trouble had erupted for him in galar. ”he didn’t specify what the danger was. he says he doesn’t like to trouble me with such details. i should focus on my education.”

she sighed.

”all the issues that plague this region have taken over my thoughts. i will stay here for the foreseeable future, doing what i can to aid—but my heart remains in kalos.” 

a moment later, the silhouette of a massive serpentine form sparkled through the distant murk.

”oh, i think that’s a milotic there!”

she pointed, stopping to watch.

”and you, barnaby? what brought you to hoenn, with all its troubles?”

BARNABY FINCH

her eyes remained on him, careful not to drift to the mess that littered the floor. she would carry things for him; however, she would not pick them up off the ground. it would set the wrong precedent for someone of her status.

”i do, thank you.”

at his question about the rest of the council, she nodded, recalling the day she’d met the senior councilman in the breakroom. she hoped he had enjoyed the sandwich. she hoped even more that the gesture would be remembered regardless.

”i’ve met some of the staff, and councilman FERNANDO SILPH , so far. our conversation wasn’t long.”

she gave a small smile, then, with a touch of humor.

”he did express that he felt you had cut in line for an assistant—but don’t tell him i told you, of course.”

GABRIEL BLACK

she nodded, ”it is.”

not only was iseult unaware of the shady business between her father and the calcifets, but she was also unaware of councilman black’s similar association with team rocket. if it was not for the hint of confusion and suspicion still lingering in her eyes, it might have seemed as though she was finally in the know.

her family? proud?

”they are.”

there was an element of smugness that tainted her smile, then. and what of remiel, she wondered? an ambassador—but had he been sent here by his mother, same as his sister? despite her own similar situation, baseless and deeply ingrained judgment stirred as he straightened his tie.

look at him. so self-important.

but her smile fixed, and her voice was sweet as she took his arm.

”of course. perhaps you could tell me about your proposed solution? i’m very curious. this region is most certainly troubled.”

Remiel Calcifet

iseult agreed whole-heartedly. she didn’t allow it to escape her lips, but her her smile turned up in a knowing manner.

”i imagine you’ve attended far more than that.”

her hand fell back after the squeeze, her cordial smile lingering.

”mr. black is a very busy man. i think i can find it in my heart to forgive him.”

ANA STONE

iseult gave him a stare with a touch of tentativeness. a look that figured they’d get flagged down. it wouldn’t be much of a problem for her, but she knew her friend was more strapped for cash. a fine might be devastating.

smiling at the owner and giving an appreciative nod, she approached their small vessel. after a moment, with no expressive cue of meaning, she decided on a name: ”mauvaise idée.”

at danny’s question, she shook her head.

”cezanne is not easily intimidated. he was bred and trained to be fearless.”

the ninetales was soundless as it boarded the boat after its girl. it would follow her to the ends of the earth, protective as anything or anyone could be. iseult went to work securing the eggs as well. when they were safe, she looked up.

”so, how do you do this?”

JAMES BAKER

she kept up with things. maybe that made her a fan.

”a week? surely not.”

her gaze followed his finger to his cheek, and the scar beneath his ee. a hood didn’t cover that—not well enough, anyways. sometimes, a particular feature on a person’s face could be quite memorable. all it had taken was the right turn of his head, a certain angle of light.

”it works sometimes,“ she assured knowingly, ”but like i said, you made an impression.”

there was no look of surprise on her face that he found her familiar.

”you might be thinking of my father, ingolf babineaux. the politician? well, he’s retired now...” she smiled. it was not just one politician, but an impressive line of them, tracing all the way back to old royalty—but she wasn’t going to elaborate to that extreme. not at that moment.

”i’ve been on tv a time or two myself. just little things with my father, though, mostly.” in silent support, off to the side somewhere. waiting for her time to come; however, as she got older, the press did occasionally turn her way. 

John Sullivan