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voids-colourful-creations · 5 days

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Take it With You -- A Pearlina Fic

[Read on Ao3!]

Rated: T Relationships: Pearl/Marina Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion Content Warnings: Standard Octarian Propaganda stuff, Knives in kitchen context. Words: 3.8k

Summary: Even after all the time she's spent up here, there's still more than a few things Marina finds strange about Inklings. Even when she thinks she understands everything, Pearl finds a way to flip her world upside down. (Now that Pearl knows everything Marina's been hiding, maybe that's fitting.)

Inklings were… strange, in their pride. It was one of the things Marina found herself endeared by from the start.  When she’d been in training, when she’d been working, designing— it was all in service of the Greater Goal. The work had been glorious, their task virtuous… but the technicians? Their value was defined by what they could produce, for the sake of their future.  

Inklings weren’t like that, and Marina was enthralled. Oh, they were vain and selfish, she had known that from the start. Octolings were everything Inklings weren’t, Marina had heard growing up.

“There’s no in-between. You are one of us, a righteous Octoling soldier, and they are Inklings.”

Even the name itself was an insult, when spoken in the right mouth.

“Where they are lazy, we are diligent. Where they are scattered, unorganised and listless, we are driven, unified.”

Yes, yes, just as she’d been told.

But with laziness came freedom and relaxation. A lack of unity could just as easily been seen as a beautiful cocktail of different ideas and expressions.

Startlingly, Inklings were self assured. That, Marina hadn’t been prepared for. Inklings were bold and brash and bright. Inklings could be wrong , all the time, without a care in the world. They’d laugh and joke, no regard to their errors beyond a minor correction, if any. It took a while for it to sink in for Marina, but to be wrong was no failure, no stain on an Inklings pride. Shame instead, came in different ways. One’s appearance was important, as was skill in turf, general “vibes” so to speak. But mainly, an Inklings pride came in the same thing that drew Marina to them in the first place.

It was so starkly different to what she’d been accustomed to. A pride you chose for yourself? Unthinkable.

“You must wear everything you do with pride, ours is a noble cause, our work as a collective.”

The flooders weren’t Marina’s to be proud of, so much as her teams. Not that she was all too proud of those things nowadays…

 To do whatever you want, whenever you want. There would be no one to answer to, and nothing to hide. Was that what it meant to be an Inkling? Everything about yourself was to be flaunted, everything you do something to be proud of, or at minimum entertained by.  Inklings simply… did as they wanted.  

Pearl shone so brightly in that regard. She never apologised. She never backed down from her desires, from displaying herself in the most vivid manner possible. Pearl was always doing whatever she wanted, how she wanted, when she wanted.  It was strange how Marina found she didn’t mind it, mainly.  Inklings were selfish, yes, but Pearl was selfish in a way Marina couldn’t help but admire. And Pearl, her Pearl? Her selfishness was pure in the end. How could anyone fault her for living as she pleased? Even otherwise, it would be hypocritical to say a thing. At least, in Marina’s eye.

Wasn’t it her selfishness that pushed her here? The call for more, for the sun on her face and a thousand new colours she’d never seen before?

That same selfishness caused her to be ever enthralled by Pearl’s own.  All’s to say, Marina had seen Pearl apologise maybe twice in the three years she’d known her. Always a casual, though sincere thing, quick and easy and done.

That’s all there was to it… but .

Now, Pearl knelt at Marina’s feet. Head down, voice muffled, the only words she spoke were simple.

“I’m sorry.”

At that moment, the first thought that struck Marina hit her straight through the chest.

“Oh. She really means it.”

Quickly followed, naturally, by Marina’s own flustering reply.

“W-what for? Pearlie, stand up, it’s– what are you saying? Come inside at least!”

Tentacles brushing against the door frame, Pearl looked up to meet Marina’s eyes. Despite this, her posture remained the same, body pressed against the floor.

The edges of sunrise settled on her back, lighting her up in rosy hue. Had it really been that long? A full day then, since Eight had surfaced– 24 hours. Marina could’ve sworn it hadn’t been that late she’d been working, but the night was quickly slipping away from her grasp.

Pearl didn’t say anything, biting the edge of her lip. Slowly, she brought herself up to standing, though wavering still in the doorway.

Despite her height, Pearl’s figure shielded Marina from what little sun shone in. A soft ring of light surrounded her, blurry at the edges.

“You sure?” Pearl asked, tentative.

Marina opened the door wider, as far as it would go.

“Come in, let’s... let’s talk over breakfast.”

***

The kettle hissed and whined on the counter, but Pearl remained silent, perched up on the bar stool at Marina’s kitchen island. Marina busied herself, fretting around this way and that. A fruit might’ve been good, if she had any left that weren’t starting to rot. Maybe some muffins were left over? No, all gone…

The past few days had been a whirlwind, As Eight grew closer and closer to the surface, Marina’s time became more and more consumed by her rescue.

Now, she could breathe easy knowing Eight was breathing fresh air. That she’d made it safely, fully and completely free. With their dedication, all of theirs, Eight was safe. Inkopolis was safe.

...But Marina’s kitchen hadn’t been quite as lucky.

Tip-toeing around the counters, Marina swept up crumbs and shuffled about cutlery, trying to make things look ever so slightly more presentable. It helped very little, but at least Pearl would see her making an effort? The last thing she wanted was to look lazy in front of her...

Pulling open the fridge, she fished out the last two apples, and set them on the island behind her. She shut the door with her body, leaning against it as she moved towards the drawers. From the top, she retrieved two knives, serrated. From the second, a large wooden cutting board, heavily marred with jagged lines.

These followed the apples, gently set down beside them.

Dragging over another stool, Marina sat herself across from Pearl, pulling the basket of oranges set on the table's edge between them.

“Alright.” She said, taking a deep breath, “How about you take the oranges, and I’ll cut up the apples?”

Pearl nodded, quiet, and took an orange from the basket, alongside one of the knives.

Content, Marina took the remaining knife, and placed her apple down on the cutting board.

“So...” Marina began, carefully cutting her apple exactly in two, “What’s wrong?”

Pearl seemed startled for a moment, tearing her eyes away from the orange and over to Marina.

“What?”

“...Inklings don’t usually come apologising on hand and knee at daybreak because things are going peachy,” Marina said, ‘and you don’t usually come apologising at all.’ She thought, but kept the rest of it to herself.

From the way Pearl shifted in her seat, Marina almost wondered if she’d heard it anyway.

“I... it was just– Earlier, there was more important shit goin’ on. With Eight, and all the helicopters and... you get it.”

Marina nodded quietly. Methodically, she began to slice her apple halves into thirds, a total 6 pieces.

“But I wasn’t gonna just... Worm my way outta apologisin’!” Pearl’s thumb dug into the slit in the orange she’d created, tearing open a seam.

“For what?” Marina asked, voice faint.

Pearl made a quiet noise, neither a groan nor a breath. Just something… caught. By now, a sense of dread had begun pooling in the back of Marina's throat. She could tell where this was going, but she was still hoping she might be wrong. If she played dumb, then luck might favour her. She could delay this a little longer.

“For chattin’ ‘bout you with Cap while ya weren’t there.”

Just a little longer... even a few more moments.

“And lookin’ through that file,”

Even if she’s only lying to herself, only pretending things could stay the same...

“Digging into all your past junk. Everythin’ you didn’t wanna tell me ‘bout.”

Please, don’t say any more. Don’t say it.

“Finding out you’re an Octoling. And that you used to be in the military, I guess? And all of it. I really am sorry, Marina.”

Ahh...

Now she’d done it. The facts spilled out and sticky, laying on the table between the apples and the oranges.

No more going back.

“You’re sorry?” Marina asked quietly. She pulled an apple slice forward, singling it out from the rest. Cupping it in her palm, she began to score the surface of the skin.

“Hell you take me for?! ‘Course I am! I’d already made up my mind I wasn’t gunna go digging into ya shit if you weren’t gonna tell me yourself, then I find out all this stuff anyway. I shoulda kept my mouth shut or sumthin’.”

Marina shook her head, tentacles bouncing lightly.

“No, no, that’s-- I can’t blame you for that. You weren’t digging into anything, it all just kind of... happened.”

Pearl rolled her eyes.

“Sure, I guess. Feels like ya cutting me way too much slack.”

Chunks of orange peel began to pile up on the counter, Pearl’s peeling the furthest thing from even.

“I couldn’t… It wouldn’t be fair to blame you for that. Not for just… reading the information you were given. I- you don’t have to worry about it.” Marina’s voice had grown to a whisper, somewhere along the way.

“I wasn’t worried ‘bout that!” Pearl bit back, a frustration audibly growing in her throat as she half rose out of her seat. Calming herself just as quick, she sat back down, “Gaah, you’re so off. You’re too nice, ‘Rina… It wasn’t that. I just…”

Pearl sighed, dropping her partially peeled orange onto the counter. She leaned over the table, propping herself up by the elbows and leaning her head in her hands. Staring towards the marble countertop, puddles of orange juice reflected her expression.

“You were so skittish when we met. Can’t tell if ya remember that. Back when you were new here, new to the fucking– surface, I guess. Cod… You were so eager to learn about all my shit, everything about Inkopolis and Inklish and whatever junk. But whenever I asked you about your stuff, your town or family or whatever…”

Pearl’s palms shifted forward, covering her face as she finished speaking.

“Your expression… it broke all my hearts, I guess. Like, a little sad and sorta scared? I hated it every time. I never wanted to make you feel like that, so I just– stopped asking. Was never my business anyway.”

Pearl took a deep breath, pulling her hands back to reveal her face once more. She looked over towards Marina, seeking her eyes. Marina remained focused on the apple slices in her palms.

“I meant what I said an’ all.” Pearl continued, “Back in the chat with Cuttlefish, but like… when we met, too. I don’t care where you’re from or what you’ve done. But still, I’m sorry. For finding everything out that you didn’t want me to know.”

Marina cradled an apple slice in one palm, carefully running the knife up under its skin.

“It— it’s not like I didn’t want you to know, exactly… It’s just…”

She trailed off again. The feeling infuriated her even as the words remained caught on the tip of her tongue.

“’S’cool.” Pearl mumbled, “I get it an’ all. It’s my bad anyway, even if I don’t know what I did exactly. Just… I’m sorry— ”

The strain of the past few days was audible, Pearl’s voice unable to withstand the weight of her words.

“I’m sorry you didn’t think you could trust me with this.”

With that, finally, Pearl was entirely silent, satisfied.

The orange lay long forgotten on the table.

“I trust you!” Marina pleaded, her voice cracking ever slightly, “Pearlie, I promise I do.”

Her fruit was quickly abandoned, callously dropped from her hand as Marina reached across the table. Towards Pearl’s hands, towards Pearl .

“You don’t have to!” Pearl replied, but it sounded less confident than she had hoped.

“You don’t have to,” She repeated. “I just… never wanted to make you feel like you couldn’t— ”

“Pearl! ”

Marina snatched up Pearl’s hands, yanking them close. Pearl jolted forward, nearly bumping heads with Marina over the table.

“I never thought I couldn’t trust you. It isn’t your fault. It’s all mine.”

Pearl only looked at her, face unreadable.

Marina squeezed Pearl’s hands for a moment.

“At first, I just didn’t know how to say it. Forget the right way to explain, I could barely string an Inklish sentence together properly! But after that, I started to… I started putting things off. I was never scared of what you would say, Pearlie… I was scared– I.”

Marina grit her teeth, looking away from Pearl’s face and downwards. Staring at the discarded fruits on the table, she whispered,

“I guess I was scared of me.”

She didn’t look up at Pearl, but she felt her grasp tightening, a deep tug at her. Pearl remained silent, as Marina began to speak again.

“Seeing everything up here, being up here, with you and the light and everyone. It felt so fresh. Inklings invent themselves again and again, everyday! We— I never thought I had that, I guess. It felt like a dream, becoming someone entirely new. Someone loved for her music , someone who spent every day in the sunlight, someone who was partners with someone like you…”

Marina teared her eyes away from the table, and back towards Pearls. If Pearl saw the tears edging Marina’s eyes, she didn’t say anything.

“If I told you everything, I’d break what I built here. I’d have to admit everything I was, everything I did. A-And not just that… I didn’t want you to pity me. I didn’t know if Inkopolis would still like me, if I would even be safe…”

Marina’s breath hitched for a moment, but her words just kept tumbling out of her mouth without her even thinking.

“Once you leave, you can’t ever go back. I betrayed everyone by leaving, my friends, my family, all of them. And the worst part is I would do it again, without a second thought. But even if I knew you would stand by me, no matter what… I just didn’t know if I could, too. I’m sorry, Pearl.”

Marina heard her hearts pounding in her ears louder than anything else, all her words coming out in a rush. Everything she’d been afraid of saying aloud, of even thinking about for so long; everything all unravelled before the sun had even fully risen.

She took a breath, focusing on the feeling. Absentmindedly, her fingers stroked Pearls, still held in her grasp. Pointed tips skimmed against blunt edges.

“Cod, ‘Rina… how long have you been holdin’ onto that? Well, actually never mind, I get it. Just...”

Pearl’s fingers ran along Marina’s, repeating her motions back to her.

“You know I’ll accept ya, no matter what. But that’s not ‘cuz like, I think you’re some perfect angel, or something. Where ya came from, what you’ve done, that shit matters , yeah? But like, it matters cause it’s part of you. And I love you. So it’s… fuck, I’m not good at this kinda thing.”

Pearl bit her lip, pulling Marina in closer.

“It’s just you at the end of the day. I like the you in front of me the best outta all of them. I like that you’re a perfectionist, even if I also kinda hate it sometimes. I wanna know shit about ya, cause it’s you. But you’re still fucking you , even if you’ve done a bunch of stuff, or been through a bunch of stuff. Probably both. You’re still my ‘Rina, who has awful taste in movies and drools when she sleeps, even if you were ‘Combat Engineer Iida’ before.”

Marina leaned in further, closing the gap and pressing her head against Pearl’s, eyes closed.

“And I’m glad you’re here. I don’t care if it’s selfish, I want you up here with me , making music and goofing off. If your family and friends are anywhere near as nice as you, I bet they’re glad for ya. That you’re up here, doing what ya want and being happy. …I mean I think you’re happy? I hope so.”

Pearl sighed, and Marina could feel the air brushing against her face.

“If you don’t think you can forgive yourself, you don’t haveta. I’ll always love ya enough for us both. I think Lil’ ‘Rina deserves to catch a break though, so maybe give her that. If it wasn’t for her, I mean, I never would’ve gotten to meet the you I have today. And you today is fucking awesome, so she must’ve done something right.”

And that was what ended up breaking Marina, so when the tears began to streak down her face she was so close against Pearl’s that they ran down hers too.

“Aw ‘Rina,” Pearl murmured, “That can’t be the thing I say that makes you cry, that’s gotta be one of the lamest compliments I’ve ever given you…”

Marina laughed, still slightly starved for air, still crying. She pulled back, leaning away from the table.

Pearl mirrored her, a soft smile on her face.

Without words, she opened her arms up, inviting Marina closer.

Stumbling slightly as she slid off her stool, Marina tiptoed around the island. Gently, she walked into Pearl’s awaiting arms, still standing as Pearl perched on the seat. As Marina made contact, Pearl’s arms pulled her in close and tight.

Marina rested her head on Pearl’s shoulder, and Pearl tilted her head against Marina’s.

“Thank you,” Pearl whispered in Marina’s ear, “For telling me that. You never have to but— thank you.”

Marina squeezed her tighter.

“Oh, Pearlie… I really never wanted to hide it all from you. But I wouldn’t trade being up here, being with you— not for anything. And if being on the surface means letting go of my history, I was more than ready… if I can only have one, I chose you.”

Pearl scoffed, warm breath against Marina’s back.

“Well that’s stupid, who told you ya had to do that? ”

Marina suddenly froze.

Who had told her that? Who had gotten it so ingrained in her mind, created this inalienable truth?

It had been just another part of growing up, hadn’t it? A fact as true as the cruelty of Inklings, the unobtainable sun.

But a stream of sunlight glittered through Marina’s window just to get in her eyes. Pearl's grip around her was warm and comforting.

It wasn’t true, was it?

“No one, I guess. Or everyone. Inklings and Octolings are just… too different… they don’t mix. You were either a noble Octarian working for the cause or… or…”

And she’d known it, all along she’d known, but never before had she really said it aloud. Let herself believe it.

“Or you were against them. A traitor.”

The words she’d been afraid of didn’t sound scary anymore. Even as she spoke them, Marina didn’t find herself believing them.

Pearl laughed, sharp and biting.

“The biggest thing you could do to betray them would be to go against that black-n-white style in the first place. We got a whole rainbow of colours to work with!”

And Marina knew it, because she'd truly seen light for the first time when she’d come here. But Pearl had been the first person to really show her a rainbow.

Overcome with emotion, Marina lifted Pearl right into the air, still clinging onto her tightly.

“Whoa– ‘Rina!”

On instinct, Pearl clung tighter, wrapping her legs around Marina’s waist. In tandem, the tentacles on Marina’s head enveloped around Pearl, winding around to support her back.

“You are nothing like they said you would be,” Marina said, smiling down at Pearl.

“Hard to capture this much greatness in words, I know,” Pearl smiled back.

A beat. Only the call of birds in the distance as the sun crept further into view. The rhythm of heartbeats, 6 all in unison.

“We alright?” Pearl asked.

“We’re all right. We’re wonderful.” Marina replied.

Pearl sighed heavily in relief.

“Well thank Cod for that. Don’t know what I woulda done if I’d really hurt ya like that.”

Marina’s smile shifted to a smirk.

“Mm~? Cried maybe?”

Pearl blushed ever slightly, ink crowding her face before she could hide it. She tore her gaze from Marina’s.

“Nu-uh! Don’t say that, you’ll ruin my image.”

Marina spun around in place, twirling Pearl along with her.

“Hmm~?” Marina said, bouncing on her heels, “I think you’ve already done quite a bit of that yourself, no? I mean, apologising to me on hand and knee right at sunrise?”

Pearl shrugged.

“That’s the way Octolings do it, ain’t it? Or did Cap steer me wrong?”

Marina leaned forward, kissing Pearl on the forehead.

“Exactly how we do it.”

Pearl tilted her head up, pecking Marina on the cheek as she pulled back from her own kiss.

“You know me, always acin’ it first try.”

Marina’s tentacles wrapped around Pearl tighter, bringing her in ever closer.

“Wanna put that to the test? Now that everything’s out in the open, there’s a million things I’ve got to share with you~”

“Mm, looking forward to it. But uh… first… Much as I hate to say it,” Pearl glanced over towards the island.

Long since abandoned orange pieces lay atop one another in a pile, alongside half carved apple sea-bunnies. Apple and orange blended together into a sizable lake of juice on Marina’s kitchen island.

“Should we finish up all… that?”

Marina took in the mess on the counter, surveying it alongside the general disarray of her kitchen.

Dust particles sparkled slightly as they drifted through the air, gliding through a beam of light coming in through the kitchen window. Pearl shifted slightly, holding onto Marina tightly with seemingly no intent of leaving her arms soon.

“Let’s leave it. I’m sure Eight would appreciate some company for their first proper breakfast on the surface. We can introduce them to waffles.”

Pearl sighed contently, “Sounds good to me. But let’s be real, Eight definitely gonna be a pancake kind of gal.”

“Ha! You wish. We’ll just have to get both and let her choose.”

“Should we throw some toast in there to be safe?”

“Let’s give ‘em a full buffet! Bring Cap and Three along too, it’ll be fun.”

Words exchanged and punctuated with laughter echoed in the apartment as Marina and Pearl headed out the door, Pearl still clinging onto Marina just for the hell of it. A vibrant selection of colour danced across the early morning sky as they proceeded out, a dozen hues of pinks, purples and oranges. Ebbing and flowing, no colour stayed quite the same for long, all mixing and merging before streaking out in distinct colours. Climbing ever higher, the sun cast brightly upon a new morning in Inkopolis.

As Marina and Pearl headed out to greet it they left discarded fruit and cutlery in their wake, alongside a singular, merged shadow.

[End]

#voids fic #splatoon #pearlina #pearl houzuki #marina ida #marina iida #off the hook #octo expansion #splatoon 2 #splatoon fic #splatoon fanfiction

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voids-colourful-creations · 13 days

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Noblesse Oblige -- A Lillie Fic

[Read on Ao3!]

Rated: G Relationships: Lillie & Selene Pokemon Sun and Moon/USUM Content Warnings: N/A Words: 2.5k

Summary: Lillie and Selene venture out into Lush Jungle chasing after a rumor they've heard from Hau. Some things can be found lurking in the leaves, but others will have to be found within yourself.

Written for the FairySteelZine!

---

Lush Jungle certainly lived up to its name. Every tree and fern seemed to curl in amongst each other, thick leaves and twisted vines melding together in patchwork harmony.

It would be unfair to call it overgrown, Lillie thought. Lush Jungle was grown exactly as much as it was supposed to be. It was wild, unrestrained, free to grow as it pleased; the roots disregarding human-made paths.

In an odd way, Lillie envied it.

She and Selene made their way through Lush Jungle at a steady pace. The midmorning sun dappled through the gaps in the leaves, odd shadows trickling across their uneven path. The light breeze danced along, toying with Lillie’s hair, the island challenge amulet on Selene’s bag. Fairy Pokémon fluttered about, rustling the leaves in the distance.

Still, as magical as the jungle seemed, Lillie doubted the “super-cool fairy-princess Pokémon hiding in the jungle” that Hau claimed to have seen was actually real.

Selene however, had no such reservations and thus, Lillie found herself knee-deep in jungle flora.

Not that she really minded.

“Ah.” Selene said, coming to a sudden stop.

Lillie stumbled slightly, bumping into Selene’s back.

“Wha—? What is it?”

“There.” Selene said, pointing off into the distance.

Lillie peered over Selene’s shoulder, gaze following her fingers. Very faintly, through the weave of trees and plants, was a bright glint. Something silver. Something metallic.

“Let’s go.”

Selene grabbed Lillie’s hand, pulling her forward through the brush.

They stumbled to a stop at the edges of wreckage, a clean circle that flared out into the jungle. Lillie touched the tip of her toe to the ground; there was still smoke curling off the now-dry grass. The trees and bushes in the immediate area had all been knocked over, splintered apart, or burnt. The smell of gasoline and embers mixed with the scent of earth and grass burned Lillie’s nose. Bright light shone down in a ring, a break in the trees allowing the sun to pour down across the wreckage. Lingering at the edges, Morelull and Comfey poked their heads out from where they hid in the leaves.

And there, in the centre of it all, was a large, strange creature.

A Pokémon… probably.

It was all metal, but its silver body had a green sheen, somehow a shade alien to all the greenery around it. Its body was clearly mechanical, yet something about it resembled a human. Sheets of metal suggested cascading hair, a layered dress. Its needle-like neck unnerved Lillie, seeming so fragile in comparison to the sturdy bamboo stalks on either side of it. One lay against its side on the right, propped up by the rest of the body. The other; the left, lay flat against the jungle floor, obscuring the base of where the creature sat.

A Pokémon: metallic and alien, and yet somehow beautiful.

Selene sucked in a breath. “Rotom. Who’s that Pokémon?”

At the sound of its name, Rotom Dex zipped out of Selene’s shoulder bag, hovering in place in front of her.

“Bzzt. Scanning.”

The display circled for a moment before loading to a page as Rotom read aloud.

“Celesteela, Bzzt. The Rocket Pokémon. Witnesses have seen it burn down a forest by expelling gas from its two arms. An Ultra Beast.”

“Celesteela…” Selene whispered, tucking the words in under her breath. “Thanks, Rotom. Back to sleep.”

“Bzzt. Zzz.” And Rotom zipped itself back up into Selene’s bag.

Lillie turned to Selene, asking for elaboration wordlessly.

“UB: Blaster. Ultra beast. Dangerous. Wicke told me.”

Even without touching, Lillie could feel Selene bristle beside her. There was an undercurrent layer of electricity that ran through Selene’s veins when she was preparing to fight, that energy now crackling to the surface. Without Selene even prompting it, Primarina flickered out from its ball. Its flippers brushed against the dirt, the Pokémon looking towards its trainer for the signal.

Perfectly in sync, as always.

“Ah—no!” Lillie squeaked out, pulling back on Selene’s hand.

This time Selene startled, whipping her attention over to Lillie. Primarina did the same. “What?”

Heat rose to Lillie’s face, but she tried not to care. “That… that Pokémon! You can’t fight it!”

“Why?” Selene asked. She wasn't angry, Lillie knew. She was always unflinchingly sincere. “I know you don’t like battles but—”

“Not that!” Lillie interrupted, embarrassed blush growing. “I—I’m sorry, but! It doesn’t want to fight!”

Selene stared Lillie down. She wore the same neutral expression as always, asking without words for Lillie to explain herself.

“I—It—it looks hurt! See, right there!”

Lillie pointed out at it, towards the left stalk. When Selene squinted she could see a jagged tear that slashed deep into the creature. Instead of any wiring or casing peeking out from the inside, all that spilled out was darkness.

“Ah…” Selene hummed. She held back; Primarina did the same.

She was still tense though, Lillie still felt that static in the air.

“It doesn’t look like it wants to fight…” Lillie repeated, voice cautious.

It wasn’t that she thought Selene wouldn’t listen. It wasn’t that she thought Selene would argue, or even disagree.

But…

Selene was the strong one. Selene led the charge, iron will and nerves of steel. If something needed to be done, Selene was doing it. It was always Selene. Never Lillie.

Selene looked Lillie up and down, then nodded towards the Ultra Beast. “Alright then. What do you want to do?”

Lillie didn’t move for a moment, only blinking in place. “What?”

“Your move,” Selene replied, waving her arm out. “Directions?”

Lillie felt the weight of expectations pass onto her shoulders like a brick. But at least it was a solid weight, it was a weight Lillie wanted to try and carry. She wanted to prove she could handle it.

“A-alright!” Lillie called, plunging her arm into her bag.

Her fingers curled around the Heal Ball at the bag’s bottom. It was smooth, the feeling of grasping it still unusual to Lillie. She could feel Nebby’s breathing, its soft body brushing up against her wrist. Nebby was sleeping now, and Lillie was grateful. Taking a breath, Lillie tossed the ball up with a gentle flick of her wrist.

“Clefairy, come out! Please!”

In a flash of light, Clefairy materialized, standing vivid pink against the forest floor.

The nearby fairy Pokémon skittered a bit, turning their attention to Clefairy while keeping their distance from the girls as a whole.

Lillie crouched down to meet Clefairy at eye level. “Clefairy, go and use Life Dew on Miss Celesteela, please.”

Clefairy looked towards the beast, then back to its trainer.

After a moment of hesitation, it nodded, and began walking closer.

Selene bristled.

“Selene?”

“Nervous.” She replied. “Steel. Not good with Fairies. Don’t want Clefairy to get hurt.”

Lillie felt her stomach turn for a moment, the heat of the jungle only making her that bit more nauseous.

Still. Clefairy could do this. Lillie knew she could.

And she believed in Celesteela, too.

As Clefairy approached, it raised its arms up, a soft blue glow materializing in the air above it. Energy clouded together, forming a crystalline water droplet. It seemed to flicker forward, settling above Celesteela’s head before splashing over her.

Lillie held her breath.

What if the move wasn’t strong enough? What if Celesteela ended up hurting Clefairy? It would be all Lillie’s fault for trying to help and-

“Look.” Selene’s voice, strong and sturdy, sliced evenly through Lillie’s anxiety.

A Comfey flitted out from its perch in a tree. With a colourful array of petals, Comfey used Floral Healing. The pink and green flowers glowed with energy before making contact, light seeping into the wound.

With a little squeak, a particularly small Morelull crawled out from under a log. It latched onto the side of the metal stalk, slowly crawling its way up towards the wound. Once it got there, the Pokémon glowed brightly. A shining beam of pink light scattered down from the bright sunshine as Morelull used Moonlight.

Each move mixed into a vibrant illumination, pouring into the dark gash in Celesteela.

Glowing, the area around the injury appeared to grow, metal plates converging together, until all that was left was smooth steel.

Lillie breathed a sigh of relief. The fairy Pokémon chittered among themselves, evidently just as relieved.

“There…” Lillie’s voice came quiet, gentle smile stretching across her face. “Does that feel better?”

A pause. After a moment, Celesteela’s head bowed down, then back again. It was nodding, Lillie realized.

“Ah—wonderful!” she said.

Lillie had only taken one step forward towards her Clefairy and Celesteela, still several meters away from being able to even touch the Ultra Beast.

But the second she got closer, a metallic scraping sound emitted from Celesteela’s mouth and Lillie jolted back. Selene bristled again, taking a step of her own closer to Lillie. Her fingers twitched at her side, prepared to send Primarina forward at a moment's notice.

“Wait a moment!”

Lillie whipped her head around, braids bouncing across her back with the motion. “Selene, please, I—”

She turned her head back towards Celesteela, craning her neck up to meet its gaze. Or tried to, its expression baring permanently closed eyes.

Its mouth however, or at least what Lillie assumed to be a mouth, turned downward in a frown.

It was subtle, Lillie realized, its expressions mild and unassuming.

“Celesteela…” Lillie tried, raising her hands above her head, “I’m not going to hurt you, I promise! Is something else wrong? I can help you—I just need to get a bit closer to see…”

Even as she tried to convince Celesteela, Lillie could hear her own voice trembling.

No wonder Celesteela wasn’t listening to her, she was hardly even a trainer. Maybe she’d directed Clefairy wrong and the injury hadn’t healed right? Maybe Celesteela didn’t like her because of how close she’d been to Clefairy, the fairy’s aura clinging to her? Maybe Celesteela could just sense that she wasn’t a strong enough trainer to help.

Lillie gritted her teeth. Even if she was weak, she wanted to help Celesteela.

“Clefairy, please try and get closer to Celesteela’s fallen stalk if you can. But be gentle!”

“‘Lefairy!”

Clefairy gave a quick nod, then slowly walked towards Celesteela.

Lillie held her breath, prepared to cover her ears in case Celesteela began screeching again.

Instead, the sound never came, and Clefairy proceeded behind the fallen stalk.

Then after a moment, buzzing softly, a tiny Cutiefly rose out from the folds in Celesteela’s dress. It floated around for a moment, disoriented. Its tiny wings beat particularly hard, still dipping slightly despite its efforts.

The Comfey squeaked, spinning around in a loop before darting over to Cutiefly. It wound its flowers around the tiny fairy bug, lifting it up and escorting it over to where the Morelull sat on Celesteela.

Morelull trilled, glowing a vibrant pink and using Moonlight once again, this time on Cutiefly.

The Cutiefly buzzed loudly. It darted over towards Comfey, then back to Morelull, much faster than before.

All three Pokémon erupted into ecstatic chitters, Comfey twirling about so fast it became a blur.

Cutiefly flew up, hovering close to Celesteela’s face. Gentle, it pressed against Celesteela’s cheek. Comfey followed slowly behind, soaring up to the spikes protruding from the side of Celesteeela’s head. With one final twirl, it bestowed its wreath of flowers, dropping the ring on one of the spikes. Morelull settled for gently headbutting the side of Celesteela’s stalk.

“They’re thanking it…” Selene mused quietly.

Understanding washed over Lillie in waves as she watched the scene unfold.

“Oh, Celesteela… you were protecting that little Cutiefly?”

Again, Celesteela hesitated for a moment… and then nodded ever so slightly. The flowers on its head swayed back and forth with the motion.

Lillie approached again, and this time Celesteela didn’t stop her.

“Even when you were already hurt… you wanted to protect it, didn’t you?”

Lillie felt her heart clench for a moment. There was something about it that just pulled at her.

“For a Steel Pokémon… It gets along so well with fairies. Not Steel-like at all…” Selene mused.

Lillie couldn’t help but envy and admire Celesteela at the same time. A strong princess of steel, someone able to protect others.

“Celesteela,” Lillie whispered, “You’re…”

“Just like you.” Selene filled in, stepping forward to place a hand on Lillie’s shoulder.

“Huh? Selene, I—”

“It’s tough. And protects little Pokémon. Even when it’s hurting…”

Lillie looked to her feet, heat rushing over her face. “But I’m not—”

“Just like you,” Selene repeated. “You and Nebby. Graceful and tough.”

Lillie looked up, meeting Selene’s smiling face. “I—really? But—”

“No buts!” Selene shoved her palm over Lillie’s mouth. “Take the compliment!”

And finally, Lillie laughed, the sound spilling out from behind Selene’s hand. “Thank you, Selene.”

Selene just grinned, removing her hand to sling her arm around Lillie’s shoulder. “Anytime.”

Clefairy walked back over to its trainer, content with its work.

“Good job, Clefairy. You did great.” Lillie murmured, bending over to give Clefairy a gentle pat on the head. “Return for now.”

Selene looked up towards the sunlight beaming in from the hole in the forest canopy. The vibrant light had begun to tint orange; sunset was soon approaching.

“We should go. It’ll be night soon.”

Lillie nodded, though couldn’t help but feel the slightest twinge of disappointment.

“Yeah… you’re right…” Stepping back, she gave one last look towards Celesteela. “I-it was nice to meet you, Celesteela! Take care of yourself!”

“Hope we meet again.” Selene added, and recalled Primarina to its ball.

With that and a deep breath, the girls turned and began to walk away.

Celesteela hummed again, a lighter noise this time. Lillie turned, attention caught.

“Celesteela?”

Comfey flitted down to Lillie. With its tiny hands it grabbed one of her braids and tugged her backwards.

“Wh—whoa! Wha— hey!”

Lillie stumbled back, until she was just close enough to touch Celesteela.

“Celesteela?”

Celesteela looked down at Lillie, a wide smile on its face.

Selene and Hau had talked about connecting with their Pokémon before, knowing what they were trying to say without words. And for once… Lillie thought she understood it, too.

“Celesteela…” Lillie began hesitantly, tightening her grip on her duffle bag. “Would… would you like to come with me?”

Celesteela nodded.

“Ah! I want you to come too! Then—”

“Here.” Selene pressed a Poké Ball into Lillie’s hand. Actually, when Lillie looked closer, a Moon Ball. “This fits best.”

Lillie smiled. “Thank you…”

Gently, Lillie pressed the Moon Ball against Celesteela. In a shocking light, Celesteela dissipated, leaving Cutiefly and Comfey to swoop down and catch Morelull before it fell to the forest floor.

The ball in Lillie’s palm shook.

Once.

Twice.

And a third time, letting off a set of star-shaped sparks.

“I—I got a Celesteela!” Lillie cheered, hugging the ball close.

Selene leaned over, hugging Lillie. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you!”

Selene pulled away, leaving one arm around Lillie’s back. “Now. Go brag to Hau.”

Lillie pulled back, laughing. “Selene!”

“No. We gotta. Come on.”

Pulling her forward, Selene and Lillie ran off through Lush Jungle, laughing all the way.

[Ending!]