Pokémon Bloodstone | An Orre Fanfiction

Chapter 88: Double Agent

Hydreigon flew Ruby Jane to Agate Village. She and Whitby got soaked in a burst of rare rain while they waited for the bus to the house, because there was no GPS to guide Hydreigon there. The bus never came. Ruby Jane asked a grocery store cashier if he knew the way. He pointed to a customer, whose face and hair were hidden by a baggy hood, raiding the reduced rack.

'He lives on Poliwag Creek Road. And he's the nicest guy ever. He'll take you.'

Hebon accosted the reduced raider before Ruby Jane. He told him that he might as well take his hood down because everyone recognised his Charizard, but Ruby Jane didn't until she heard that. She wanted to run away. Leon would know exactly who she was. Both he and Hebon saw her before she could turn to leave.

'She wants directions,' the cashier called, 'To Poliwag Creek Road.'

Leon looked horrified, but it wasn't because he was judging her.

'Directions? From me?'

'I've come to see... Chalcedony... at your house...'

'Oh! Your Pokémon can help me carry all this shopping, then. I'd get lost on my way out of the shop, but Charizard knows the way!'

Hebon shook his head. 'I'll just drive y'all. I don't even know how you're coping with all those guests, Leon. My own kids are more than enough for me.'

'I wouldn't say I'm coping as much as I'm cooking...'

Charizard and Hebon's Yanmega helped carry their bags full of tins and vegetables to his pickup truck. Leon politely made conversation with Ruby Jane on the short drive.

'Have you ever taken on any Pokémon Gyms? Your dad's told us all about how strong you are!'

'I have a few Unovan Badges... but it wasn't really for me.'

'Oh, well. There are all kinds of ways to love Pokémon.'

Feet thumping to pop music floated from the house's slightly ajar windows. Leon smiled.

'I hope your lad likes dancing.'

Jazlyn was with Lyric that evening. Before joining Cipher, she was a cheerleader and auditioned to dance for the regional football team, Orre Prospectors. Camden wouldn't let Alfie pass up on the cheerleading class. They both had pom-poms. Leon couldn't help laughing. Alfie was about to give him the middle finger before remembering there were three toddlers present.

Whitby didn't have any close friends. He was painfully shy. Ruby Jane was reluctant to leave him, even for a moment, but Chalcedony couldn't talk to her yet.

'Camden's Arena Trap!' he announced, 'Prevents escape!'

Ruby Jane hoped that if she joined in, Whitby would, too. He tentatively crept to Camden's side. There were no free pom-poms, but Camden shared one of his.

'We're gonna cheer for my dad! He plays football! He's the quar-ter-back!'

It wasn't clear whether Whitby was enjoying himself, or if he even knew whether he was or not, but he clumsily followed his new friends until Camden and Lyric fell asleep on the floor. Whitby accepted the Poké Ball-print blanket Leon offered to him. He fell asleep, too.

Chalcedony was as exhausted as the kids were. Ruby Jane sat at the foot of her bed.

'Wow... this is the goth chamber of my dreams.'

'My dad – Ruhul – painted everything. It was all pine when I bought it.'

'I'm glad you're on good terms with him.'