Luce eventually makes his way out of Eterna Forest.

"Freedom!" Cheryl cheers, stretching tentatively as she grins. "Finally, we'll get to sleep on a proper bed."

Honestly, Luce feels the same. Even here and back in the other way, city people through and through cannot handle too many days of camping at once. He's at his limit.

He flexes the fingers of his arm for a bit. He was finally healed enough to have it out of the cast-- he has Chansey to thank for that-- and now he had to work on getting it back in shape. 

It feels great to have two hands again.

The entrance to Eterna City has a few more travellers and Bug Catchers standing around-- which is how they found the route again to begin with.

(It's a relief that the forest, realistically, is slightly more populated than the haunted nonsense that was in the game for design purposes. Who knows how long more they would be stuck here otherwise?)

"I'll be leaving here, then," Cheryl says, taking Luce's hands in his (Luce is embarrassed to admit he flubbed at the sudden contact) in excitement. "I hope we meet again, Luce. Safe journeys, alright?"

It's all Luce manages to do to nod and awkwardly wave as she goes.

Well, that's that. 

The next time they meet will probably be... gameplay wise, the Battle Area, right? Man, that's pretty far. He wonders what else would change, though.

Chimchar on his shoulder and Psyduck toddling by behind him, Luce takes a breath and follows the road toward the exit.

He's greeted by a large fishing pond. The path forward is led by a platform bridge, where fishermen sat around, crowded by curious Pokemon and children alike.

Luce makes his way through, taking in the sights. After so long under the canopy of the trees, seeing a wide open sky feels like a marvel. Chimchar obviously adores it as well, as he points happily at the sky, at interesting clouds, and squeals in excitement.

Psyduck mimes something vague, probably some words for pretty things, but she doesn't have flexible arms and fingers for precise words. She's very passionate, though, and that's all that matters to Luce.

The road to Eterna is straight from here, and it doesn't take long at all to get to the entrance.

"City!" Chimchar signs, and Luce echoes happily. 

Tall buildings, the ever-present greenery. Luce takes a full breath of the fresh air of Eterna, grateful to finally in something resembling civilisation once again. See? He's perfectly capable of traversing Eterna Forest with a casted arm, without (mostly) a lot of help from other people (Cheryl doesn't count.) 

Alright then, since it's midday, they should check into the Pokemon Center first, then...

"LUCE!"

A figure all but soars right over, crashing into him with some semblance of a hug action. With a soundless squeak he's thrown off his feet and they go rolling, plunging right into the pond to the horror of a few Fishermen and Bug Catchers that saw the happening.

Chimchar jumps off his shoulder just in time to avoid getting pulled in, so he stands on the bridge of the pond all flustered and panicked, squeaking for any passers-by to help.

Psyduck simply yawns. She's joined by a Piplup a moment later, to which they just nod at each other in mutual resignation.

Somewhere overhead, a Starly sighs.

-

They're scooped out by a Girafarig and someone's Kadabra.

Someone then sets up a fire with their Growlithe (Chimchar helped as well,) and a Mothim helped to mostly dry off their coats. Luckily, their bags are waterproof, so no damage to worry about there.

Barry hasn't stopped laughing yet, and Luce is in the process of giving him a lecture about reckless dive-bombing out of nowhere.

"Thanks!" Barry waves to the trainers that helped them mostly dry off.

Luce was in the middle of point number five of how he could've hit his head, but he just sighs and gives up in lieu of being polite.

"Really sorry for the trouble," Luce signs, to which a Psychic waves him off in a 'no worries' manner.

So that brings these waterlogged children back to attention.

"Been a while, Blair," Luce signs with a smile.

"Been a while my arse, Luce!" Barry says, expressions finally morphing into displeasure, "I was waiting for you in Oreburgh, you know!" Apparently pretending to be mad, he crosses his arms and looks away with a huff.

Luce sputters out an apology, then, "I got caught up adventuring Floaroma."

(Wait, how did this turn into him giving an apology?)

"Blair! Don't manipulate me!"

Barry pries open one eye. "Well, as long as you're safe," he mutters, barely heard. His eyes dart up and down Luce's figure before nodding. "And if you're fine enough to sign so much, your arm's fine as well," another sagely nod to himself. "Alright."

Luce pauses for an incredulous moment.

Then, "I am still angry at you," he clarifies, just in case it needs to be said.

Barry grins widely before holding his hands before him in a prayer. "I'm sorry! I'll treat you to a meal or something! Oh, and I booked a dorm in the Center. Want a tour of Eterna since I got here first?"

Oh, the usual currying of favours! 

Luce sneers at his blatant attempt at buttering him up, but Barry only chuckles, reaching up to adjust Luce's scarf so it covers up better even in its drenched state.

Chimchar takes the moment to climb up Luce's shoulder, before pouncing right over to Barry's arms. As usual, he adores the living embodiment of his own spirit. 

"Oh hey little buddy! Doing well I see," he greets. His attention is turned to Psyduck, to which he crouches down and attempts to pet, but pulls away when Psyduck shows clear skepticism toward him. "And who's your new friend?"

"That's Doozy," Luce signs, though the annoyed look is still present on his face, before pointing at Chimchar and fingerspelling, "Spitfire."

Chimchar cheers happily at that, to which Barry looks on in surprise at first. His expressions quickly melt down into content a moment later, and he rubs the chimp under the chin as an acknowledgement.

"So your name's Spitfire now, huh buddy? That suits you alright," he then crouches down to greet the Psyduck. "And yer apparently a Doozy, eh?" he chuckles at the familiar term, "I'm Barry. Nice meeting ya, Doozy!"

Psyduck huffs at that, a seed of recognition sowed. She still doesn't let him pet her, but she nods at Admiral, to which the Piplup nods back.

Piplup, however, approaches Luce and bows, to which Luce bows back before really thinking. 

He crouches down when Admiral extends a hand, and he takes it like a handshake. The Piplup then nods in satisfaction, and returns to Barry's side, clinging onto his pant leg once again.

(Oh, Luce can't take this. How can a Piplup be this adorable?)

Chimchar nuzzles up to Barry, their energies colliding perfectly as they begin their plan to charge through town.

Barry takes Luce by the wrist as they're then dragged off into the city.

Psyduck and Piplup clumsily toddles behind them (the two trainers then return them to their Poke Balls before they get separated) as they run across the buildings.

Luce is introduced to the various little things in the city, from the bike shop (where the owner still isn't there, he spitefully mutters,) to the Gym where there are only female trainers for now (though the Gym Leader is one heck of a tomboy, apparently-- Luce chops him on the head for the objectively rude remark).

And through the tour, Luce found himself watching Barry more than he was watching the sights. Their previous ire was so naturally forgotten, it was almost so sweet.

(And though Luce doesn't notice it, Barry steals glances at him too every once in a while, enjoying his fascination over the little things he was so sure Luce would love to see, too.)

(Like the colorful colony of bug Pokemon behind the gym, or the little gap through the Galactic Building's fences he found while trying not to burst in and demand the Bike Shop owner.)

Being bombarded by Barry's seamless desire to fill his world with noise, Luce found comfort in just soaking in this energy, being filled with this companionship that, though he didn't really notice-- he really missed this while travelling alone.

They weren't going to forget about their argument. It's just something that doesn't matter, because they still wanted each other's company so badly they were desperate to forget it just to get the moments back with them. 

"See? I wrote it down when the guy told me about it," Barry says, showing off his journal. He always wrote in short sentences and phrased notes, but for the inscription he learned recently, he wrote them down in full, and even filled in the blanks with research of what the missing words could have possibly been.

He had six full pages of just his ramblings about the statue. He was so incredibly passionate about it, but he was still stumped on the Dia and Pal portion of the text.

"Don't you think it's strange? It's almost homonymous to Diamond and Pearl," he says, then a moment later, "just like us, huh?"

And though that was a little embarrassing, Luce had to nod at the cool parallelism. There was, after all, a universe where their names were those very words. It's not a stretch to say the box legendaries were based off of a similar criterion as well.

(Maybe it's not a good idea to tell him about the actual Pokemon names yet.)

Finally, they arrive at the Pokemon Statue, but they don't find the old couple and teenager that Barry spoke of yesterday. Instead there's a Galactic grunt stationed near the bottom of the adjacent steps, and a man standing before the structure.

He doesn't seem to have noticed the two Dexholders yet, but from the way Luce tenses, Barry senses something incredibly amiss. Luce always had better instincts-- it was Barry's job to react accordingly. So he closes his book, and systematically pulls them all just slightly out of sight.

Chimchar, feeling the tension as well, clings closer to Barry's head, watching the man with growing curiosity.

"Time and Space, in an intertwining spiral," Cyrus mutters to himself, "corresponding to the revered legends of Sinnoh, the beings of Time and Space themselves... It seems there is much more to be uncovered, regarding the truth of it all."

And then he turns around, to which Luce and Barry freezes in spot. 

The walkway is narrow toward the stairs, so Cyrus pauses just before them, fixing them with a stern, glacial look. It's in this close distance that Luce takes in his features-- his shoulders pulled straight, his gaze tilted upwards-- and yet, there was that eternally exhausted drag in his arms, the sunken holes that gorged into his eyes...

"Pardon me," his words are unemotional-- and he doesn't once look at the two children in the eye. His next words came as an order-- "Stand aside." 

Barry reacts first, tugging Luce to his back so they stood in a single file-- and Cyrus, taking this removal of obstruction as a good sign, simply moves on forward. 

The Galactic grunt that had been stationed on the other end of the stairs simply stays put-- they don't turn around, they don't glance over-- they simply stand where they were, arms folded behind them-- and waits. 

Did he even register their presences? Were they just nuisances he was going to forget about immediately? That was most likely so, but Luce found it hard to tell. 

It's only when he's far in the distance that Barry mutters, "geez, what's with that guy?"

And yeah. Seriously, what is with that guy? Evil team leaders were so haunting sometimes. Instead of a response, however, Luce unintentionally sneezes.

Everyone in the vicinity jumps in horror. 

Chimchar actually leaps from Barry to Luce, and Luce instantly feels three times warmer. Is this why Barry wasn't bothered by their drenched clothes?

"Yikes! Alright, alright, public bathhouse that way!" Barry yelps, taking him by the arm. "Better not catch a cold in summer now!"

Luce promptly doesn't mention that summer in Sinnoh is pretty darn chilly in the evenings, but right now, a bath is exactly what he craves.

Days sleeping in a forest really makes you miss the luxuries of a town, huh. 

-

"Seriously, what were you thinking, going up against the Galactic crazies?" Barry lectures him. He hasn't stopped the scolding ever since they exchanged stories while soaking in the baths.

"The girl's Papa was in danger," Luce insists, breaking away just to slot in a few Pokecoins for the vending machine. "You went up against them with Dawn too, didn't you?"

Chimchar peeks up the vending machine flap, squeaking in surprise when a glass of cold milk comes clattering down. He takes it curiously, then hands it to Luce in an inquiring manner.

Barry folds up the sleeves of his shirt, then retrieves the now dry and warmed scarves they've sent to the communal launderer from the laundry basket, which he hands to Luce after taking a moment to identify the colours. 

"Well, I wasn't alone and my arm was not in a cast, maybe that's why the situations differ--" Barry absentmindedly signs Dawn's new sign name for Luce's information. "Y'know what. Do something as reckless as that again, I'm fining you ten million."

Luce signs something inappropriate, and Barry gasps dramatically.

"Young man you did not just say that to me!" he sets a hand at his heart as if he'd been hurt. He still takes the glass bottle of milk when Luce hands it to him, though. Chimchar imitates Luce, to which Barry gasps in exaggerated offense once again. "Stop that!"

Luce sticks out his tongue at him. Chimchar mimes after him again, but this time Piplup smacks him as a warning.

Luce hands them both little glasses of warm milk (because they sell these things in Pokemon sizes and he thought they were incredibly cute,) and they sit down on the bench to carefully sip in their corner, holding it like children would their bottles.

(Psyduck, though she enjoyed the water very much, went right back into her Poke Ball after that. She was going to sleep, because she was now content and lazy.)

"She said she was a commander," Luce informs him, even though Mars didn't particularly say she was one at all. "She was really strong. I couldn't beat her, but she let me go."

"A leader? There are ranks?" Barry gapes. "Geez. They call themselves workers finding a new energy source, but all they've been doing is violence! Did I tell you yet that they stole my TM?"

No, he did not.

"You lost one?"

"Yeah, they stole Return off of me. Now we match!"

"Not a good thing, Blair."

"Yeah, yeah. Isn't it funny though? We're both such losers we lost one of the first things we were given right after we started. Oh! I also got Rock Smash and Stealth Rock! Admiral and Sergeant can't learn either, so we can try teaching Spitfire or Doozy."

"That was your prize, you sure you want to use it on mine?"

"Of course it's fine! If it bothers you, you can find me a new one to replace it."

Luce swipes his scarf back on, and Barry plants his hat back on his head. They then scoop up their bags, and are all ready to go.

Chimchar follows along with Piplup by his side, licking his lips happily as he finishes his milk. Piplup still had a way to go, but it was probably struggling because of its beak. (Luce finds a straw at the reception on their way out for him.)

Barry had finished his drink by throwing it back like a shot of whiskey, which Luce found highly amusing. Much like Piplup however, Luce was taking his own drink slowly.

It was so strangely natural how they worked together to get their clothes changed and things tidied-- they spoke a lot over each other, but they moved in the same way Lucas and Barry always did when they shared baths or went out together in Twinleaf. Prompt, quick, and efficient. They didn't need conversation to tell each other these things.

(Speaking of things they were given at the start of their journey...)

Luce takes out his Pokedex as they walk, to which Barry takes out his as well.

Exchanging data between Pokedexes are possible, and the initial goal of the encyclopedia is to fill its pages and have that help in the journey, so they definitely have to share what they could while they had the chance.

"Oh... those devices!"

Their flow of conversation is abruptly halted when someone approaches them, expressing clear interest in the very technology they held in their hands.

Barry's first reaction is to put the devices down and turn around defensively-- but his expressions fall out of alarm when they see her-- a tall, unassuming woman. 

Luce, though, nearly drops his glass of milk.

"Is it a Pokedex? Wow... sure brings back some memories," she says, keeping her distance as if she'd suddenly realized it was apprehensive to approach so suddenly.

"Uhm... may we help you?" Barry asks.

"Oh, pardon me. I'm Cynthia," she says, and Luce internally freaks the hell out. How did he forget about this encounter? Why is he panicking? It's only the coolest woman in the franchise and the hardest Champion in the history of the-- "may I know your names?"

"I'm Barry," he says as Chimchar climbs up his shoulder to watch the lady curiously. He gestures at his friend as Piplup takes the chance to cling to Luce's pant leg, "and my pal here is Luce."

"Barry and Luce, are you? I'll be sure to remember that!" she repeats. A smile blooms right onto her features, almost sheepish, "I'm sorry, this might seem so random of me-- I'm just quite excited to meet Pokedex holder, you see. Professor Rowan is an old friend of mine... ah, I'm rambling, aren't I?"

Yes, indeed she was.

It was awkward, for a strange lady to come up and suddenly begin speaking to them like that. It's not uncomfortable, but it's certainly out of the blue.

"That's right-- here, I'm sure this will be of use to you two," she retrieves a disc from her pouch-- a silver-coloured Technical Machine that Barry took out of curiosity. "It's the Hidden Machine known as Cut. It's essential for budding trainers, after all."

First of all, how did she know they were newbies?

Barry however, is thrilled. "Seriously, we can have this?" he asks, apparently out of energy to be skeptical of the strange lady. "Thanks so much, Miss Cynthia!"

"Don't worry about it! Nothing makes me more excited than the thought of new Pokedex owners traversing the region," she assures him.

She then casts a glance in the direction of the Pokemon Statue, and she doesn't miss the way Luce looks over in anticipation.

"Have you two already seen the statue of the ancient Pokemon?" Barry lifts his head, so Cynthia takes that as a sign to continue. "According to myths and legends, it was once a very powerful Pokemon-- who knows? Maybe the Pokedex is capable of capturing the data of such Pokemon as well."

That makes Barry speak up.

"Wait, Miss Cynthia!" he couldn't quell the pressing suspicions anymore, "what exactly are the significance of Pokedex holders? Why are you emphasizing it so much?"

Luce already knows the answer to that, but he steps forward, eager to hear her answer.

They barely knew Cynthia-- and yet, for the games, simply because they held Pokedexes, she was willing to lead them around in various events, and even held their hand through the Distortion World later on.

(Why?)

Cynthia's smile never falters.

"Pokedex owners have always been involved in world-changing events," she explains. "From the day it was first created and passed down from Professor Oak-- the existence of the Pokedex has been in the center of world-affecting calamities. And their holders, though young, have been at the center of these efforts to save the world."

Luce already knew this-- it was just main character syndrome, plot convenience, those things-- and yet, hearing it made his blood boil.

Because-- he had taken the Pokedex, feeling it a privilege, feeling it such an honour, such a beautiful gift. And yet, the truth was that it was a symbol of a hero, and they had been plunged into the perils of region-wide disaster with 'fate' as a justification.

(This was just how the world flowed-- if you held a Pokedex, people will show up and aim to cause harm to the world. Events will then take place around him, and he would get dragged in. Left with no choice, they had to take action.)

(Even if they were children, this was fate and destiny and nothing could defy those heaven-defined roles in the world.)

"I'm sure Professor Rowan felt the pull of fate when he gave you your Pokedexes-- it's just not something humans can defy," Cynthia says, even though she had just told them their existence and journey was an indirect indicator of an oncoming calamity to soon befall the region.

(This was bullshit.)

(All Luce ever wanted was to have a Pokemon Journey.)

"With all due respect, Miss Cynthia," Barry interrupts her, and Luce had a moment to realize he had pushed the Hidden Machine back into her hands in refusal.

He then forced the fakest smile he's ever mustered in his life at her.

"If a series of coincidences like that really happened, it'd be awesome. Me and Luce here? We're fine right where we are." Saying so, he takes Luce by the wrist as if to prove a point. "Plus, this idiot gets in enough trouble without worldwide calamity giving him more excuses to. Right?"

At the sudden address, Luce juts out a nod before really registering it.

Cynthia is simply stunned by his response. Perhaps she had completely understood the underlying passive aggression he'd shown-- and perhaps she had never honestly considered that side of the story herself.

So when the words came, she didn't know how to take it all in at once. 

He had even pushed the Hidden Machine back into her hands, which in this society of veterans generously leading the newbies, is a rejection of the harshest sort.

She simply stood there, mildly flabbergasted as he spieled.

"Anyways, thanks Miss Cynthia, but no thanks," Barry finishes. "We've got a Pokemon Gym to get to, so please excuse us. Have a nice day, miss."

She doesn't manage an apology before they've rushed off, Pokemon hot on their heels and headed straight toward the Pokemon Center without once looking back.

Okay, that sort of hurt.

But she really couldn't blame them.

Luce turns back briefly in time to catch her burying her face into her hands, in clear regret as she finally soaked in the moral discrepancies of everything she'd just said.

(And just a little Luce took it in as well.)

(Because this ethical dilemma was never a factor he thought much of in the games, and he wasn't sure if he approved of it anymore as a part of his journey.)

(He's sort of glad he has Barry to pull him along.)

-

"Trainer Luce and Trainer Barry? Your Pokemon are all healed."

"Thanks!"

"Thank you."

They don't speak of Cynthia when they reach the Pokemon Center.

Maybe it's because Barry felt the exact same way Luce did (but how could that be? Barry didn't know the same things Luce did. Or was it that even without knowing all this, anyone without a hero complex felt the same way about being plunged into danger purposefully by adults?) but Luce couldn't exactly be sure.

They finally reunite with Starly as they leave the center, and he lands quietly on Barry's shoulder without making any other sign of acknowledgement.

"Oh, look who decided to show up," Barry mutters. He still introduces him patiently to Psyduck, though. "We're about to take the Gym Challenge. Think you're up for it, Sarge?" The Starly huffs, and Barry rolls his eyes, "yes yes, I know, you were ready yesterday."

Luce chuckles at that.

"Gym Challenge?" Chimchar asks, to which Luce nods happily. He then sparkles with untamable glee at the sudden realization that he's finally getting that gym battle they've skipped over last time. "Fight! Fight! Excited!" Chimchar mimes, overenthusiastic.

Barry bursts into laughter at the sight, and Luce joins a moment later.

The two water Pokemon, who were neither interested nor awake enough to be curious about the gym battle, were sound asleep in their Poke Balls. Seriously, it's only midday, but they're very lazy little things.

(And gosh darn it, Luce still loves them very much for it.)

"I wonder how long the Bike Shop Owner's gonna be gone," Barry complains. "It's almost like he's held captive there or something." 

Then, "Ah."

Luce facepalms.

Yes, according to the story, right about now the Bike Shop owner is being tormented for his Pokemon in the Galactic Eterna Building. But as you know, if you don't think about it, it's not happening and you don't have to get involved. Unfortunately, Barry realized it.

They stopped in the middle of their walk, simultaneously turning with defeated, absolutely unamused looks toward the towering Galactic Eterna Building in the distance.

Then, "no!" he yells. 

Luce crosses his arms and waits, letting him rant to himself. 

"No, we are NOT playing hero. I swear to shiny Clefairy slot machines, we are not going straight into a dangerous cult building to save a person because we are children and we do not have the strength nor the wits to--"

He stops himself and seems to internally go through an identity crisis, before groaning into his hands in pure frustration.

Sympathetically, Luce signs out in a sagely manner, holding back his resigned laughter. "You notice it, you're not going to stop thinking about it."

"Shut up!" Barry yelps.

"I am literally not talking."

"You know what I mean! Be quiet!"

So Luce lets him have that, even though he is physically incapable of saying a word anyways. Barry seems to think long and hard about it, mostly stubbornness and the desire to go as far away from Cynthia's image of Pokedex Holder (Dexholder Heroes?) holding him back from the morally right decision.

Finally, Barry points at the gym and declares, unnecessarily loudly, "okay, Gym first!"

Luce nods. Alright then, he's the moral compass, he will allow this. 

He doesn't chase for an explanation, but Barry gives him one anyways. "Beat the gym first, and if the Bike Shop owner still isn't around, we ask the leader and the trainers inside for help! Sounds right to ya?"

And yes, that's quite a fair solution.

They're being heroes, but at least they don't do it with just the children. 

Gardenia is young as well, but not as young as Barry and Luce, and she's a Gym Leader, so she should count as a responsible party. 

Definitely isn't a flag for future involvement. 

Luce doesn't think anything can escape from this main character hellhole, but it's far more amusing to find new ways to avoid it only for morality to drag them back in anyways.

Maybe he's got a hero complex after all.