The room was darker when his eyes cracked open again. Shadows swallowed the corners, the soft hum of air-conditioning louder than it should've been. His head was heavy, his limbs unwilling.
My pulse kicked uneven. I tried to push myself upright, but the couch seemed to swallow me whole, pulling me deeper. My vision doubled, then blurred, swimming back and forth until the outlines bled into nothing.
I don't know how long I sat there before the door burst open.
"Arata?!" Mira's voice cracked through the haze, sharp, sudden.
I jolted, from the sudden call,
Mira walked in,
"Come on, champ." Mira's voice was bright, too bright, as she slipped an arm under mine and pulled me upright. My legs stumbled, heavy, refusing to carry me. She steadied me with surprising ease, guiding me toward the door.
I mumbled something, but even I couldn't hear the words.
The hallway blurred into the car, the glow of city lights streaking past the windows. My head lolled against the cool glass, Mira's hand warm and steady on my shoulder.
"First time always hits hard," she teased gently, her voice softer now,
The last thing I remembered was the cool window against my temple, the city lights stretching thin, and the weight of a night that felt too full of things I wasn't supposed to know.
_________________________________________________________________________
Light stabbed through my eyelids.
I groaned and turned my face into the pillow, hoping it would smother the ache rattling behind my temples. My mouth was dry, my throat raw. When I finally cracked my eyes open, the world tilted slightly before settling back into place.
This wasn't my room.
The bed was wider, the sheets smoother, the air carrying the faint smell of lavender and polished wood. A tall window stretched open to the morning, spilling gold across the floorboards. For a moment, I wondered if I'd dreamed everything—the party, the noise, the music pounding in my chest, the water splashing against my skin. Some feverish blur that never happened.
But then I sat up, slow, careful and saw my duffel bag by the dresser. My jacket draped neatly over a chair. Even my shoes lined up side by side, as if someone had thought to put me in order while I collapsed.
The mansion. Rin's mansion. Right.
Pieces of the night drifted back like shards of broken glass. The ballroom. The toast. Mira dragging me into the pool. The DJ's voice shouting over the beat. The car ride. The lounge.
I pressed my palms into my eyes until sparks danced behind them.
"Ugh." The sound scraped out of my throat as I let my hands drop. My body felt heavier than it should, the air itself pressing against me with that weighty silence only big houses carried.
The mansion was awake, though. I could hear it in the distance: footsteps on polished floors, the clink of glass, a door opening and closing somewhere far below. That quiet hum of wealth where life kept moving around you, whether you joined it or not.
My eyes fell back on the duffel bag. The sight grounded me, steadied the fog in my mind for just a breath.
I forced myself upright. My skull felt stuffed with cotton, every heartbeat thudding too loud behind my eyes. My body complained at the shift, and for a second, I almost dropped back into the pillow, let the world wait. But hunger, and the nagging thought of my Pokémo pulled me forward.
The duffle sat where someone had placed it, neat against the chair. I stumbled toward it, bare feet whispering against the carpet. Kneeling, I pulled the zipper open and fished out my belt.
The familiar weight of Pokéballs against my palm steadied me more than anything else had. Ceaser. Livia. They'd be hungry, restless after the night. That thought alone was enough to shake me awake.
I slung the belt across my waist and dug deeper, pulling out a fresh shirt, jeans, socks. My usual clothes, rumpled.
Dressed, I forced myself toward the door. The handle felt cold, solid. I turned it.
The air smelled faintly of polished wood and something floral. A carpet stretched down the hall, patterned in soft gold and deep crimson, muffling the sound of my footsteps. The walls were paneled in dark oak, their surfaces broken by framed paintings landscapes, portraits of stern men and elegant women in formal dress.
I drifted, one hand brushing the wall for balance. My head still throbbed, my stomach sour, but I kept moving. At the stairwell, sunlight spilled in from a towering window, cutting through stained glass and scattering colour across the carpeted floor below.
I took the steps slow, clinging to the banister.
Halfway down, I nearly collided with someone.
A woman in a neat black-and-white uniform, no older than mid-thirties, paused at the landing with a tray of folded linens. She blinked at me, surprised, then dipped into a graceful bow.
"Good morning, young master," she said softly.
The title startled me. I wasn't sure if it was habit or some rule of the house, but the sound of it made me fumble.
"Uh… morning," I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. My voice was hoarse. "Sorry, um… do you know where I can feed my Pokémon?"
The maid tilted her head slightly, studying me with polite patience. "Of course. Mistress instructed us to ensure you are well cared for. If you'll follow me?"
I nodded gratefully, more relieved than I wanted to admit. My legs felt unsteady on their own, having someone who knew where they were going was a blessing.
She led me down the last of the stairs, through a wide hall lined with arched windows. The light grew warmer as we walked, and soon we passed through a pair of glass doors into the open air.
The mansion's scale revealed itself again.
The main building stood proud, a sweep of pale stone walls climbing into gables and towers. Ivy crept up the sides, trimmed neatly where it met polished windows. Balconies jutted like resting wings, their iron railings black against the morning sky. The roof was steep, tiled in slate that shimmered faintly under the sunlight.
Gardens stretched in every direction rows of sculpted hedges, marble statues half-hidden by rosebushes, fountains that sang quietly as water spilled from carved basins. Gravel paths wound like rivers through the greenery, splitting off toward distant stables and smaller villas I could barely make out.
And beyond all of it, the land kept going. Fields rolled outward, green and gold, framed by wooden fences and dotted with trees heavy with summer leaves. The horizon seemed impossibly far, the sky a pale blue canvas above it all.
I stopped walking, caught somewhere between awe and disbelief. I'd seen big estates before, sure, but this… this was something else. It didn't just look rich. It looked old, enduring, like it had stood here long before me and would stand long after.
The maid slowed, waiting for me to catch up. "The ranch is on the south grounds. It's best to take a buggy it's a fair walk otherwise."
"Right," I said, though I wasn't sure my voice carried right. My throat was dry.
The buggy's quiet hum rolled over gravel and stone, carrying me out of the mansion's shade and into the open grounds. Morning sunlight poured over everything lawns cut so neatly they looked painted, hedges trimmed to sharp lines, marble statues glimmering pale in the light. For all that grandeur, though, it was the space that struck me most. Acres upon acres of open green, broken only by tidy white fences and the occasional grove of trees.
The driver didn't say a word, only slowed as we passed one stretch of pasture. A cluster of shapes moved beyond the fence. At first I thought they were torches flames burning in the daylight but as we drew closer, the flickering shapes solidified into manes. A herd of Ponyta, their fire-lit coats grazing calmly in the grass, their flames licking the air like banners.
The buggy eased to a stop beside the main gate of the enclosure.
And there, by the fence, stood a woman, tall and striking, her posture straight with the kind of poise that came from both discipline and self-assurance. Her figure was fuller and graceful The curve of her thighs, strong beneath the fall of her riding trousers, hinted at a body still active, still powerful. Dark hair, streaked elegantly with silver, caught the sunlight and framed a face sharpened by time into something commanding rather than softened.
Lady Kasumi
She turned at the sound of the buggy's approach.
Her eyes, amber, clear, steady, fell on me with quiet weight. They didn't narrow or soften, just observed, as if measuring how I carried myself after last night. And in that instant, I became acutely aware of the faint throbbing in my temples, the taste of dry cotton in my mouth, the way my shirt clung in a way that screamed I hadn't quite pulled myself together.
"So," she said, her voice smooth, low, threaded with quiet authority. "You're Arata."
I slid awkwardly out of the buggy, nearly misjudging the step, and dipped my head. "Yes, ma'am. I—uh—sorry if I… showed up less than presentable yesterday."
The corners of her mouth curved, not quite into a smile but into something like understanding. "It happens. First time in this house has a way of overwhelming."
Heat crept up the back of my neck. I glanced away, toward the Ponyta herd. Their manes flared and shimmered in the light, each flicker a reminder of something untamed, raw, alive. Easier to focus on them than on her unshaken poise.
She stepped closer to the fence, her fingers brushing the wood like someone familiar with its grain. "Do you like them? The Ponyta."
"They're beautiful," I admitted
That earned me a warmer look, as if I'd passed some invisible test. "They've been bred here for generations," she said. "Strength tempered with discipline. We don't raise wild tempers here."
I nodded, shifting my weight. "Makes sense."
"Rin spoke of you," she said, her voice warm. "She said your team is strong, which is quite unusual for your age."
She shifted, her hand brushing the fence rail with absent ease. "I trained once, too, when I was younger. Thought it would be my whole life, until… life had other plans."
I blinked, surprised. "You were a trainer?"
"Not long," she said, nostalgia shading her tone, "but long enough to understand the weight of that path. To see what it asks of you." Her gaze lifted back to me, steady and searching. "May I? I'd like to see the ones Rin spoke of. Words are never enough."
For a moment, hesitation sat heavy in my chest. Then I nodded. "Sure."
My fingers found Caesar's ball first. It always felt heavier than it should, as if his stubbornness clung even in stasis. The flash of light burst, and then the little dragon landed with a firm thud in the grass. Caesar's tusks gleamed in the light as he shook himself once, head tilting sharply, eyes narrowed in suspicion.
Beside him, Livia emerged in a burst of sweeping wings and scattered feathers. The Pidgeotto lifted her head, feathers catching the sun in warm shades of russet and cream. She gave one strong beat of her wings, stirring the air, before folding them neatly and settling with calm precision.
The air shifted with them there. The Ponyta seemed to notice, heads lifting from the grass, ears pricked, flames crackling faintly higher.
Rin's grandmother inhaled slowly, her eyes widening just enough to betray her surprise. "So it's true," she murmured. Her gaze lingered on Caesar first, sharp with amusement. "An Axew, Ooh.. Look at the way he glares. He thinks I've already challenged him."
As if on cue, Caesar gave a small snort, stomping one foot into the dirt.
"Don't take it personally," I said, a little sheepish. "He doesn't… warm up easily."
Her smile deepened, indulgent, not insulted in the least. "Then Rin was right about him. Fierce." Her gaze shifted to Livia then, softening. "And this one, your Pidgeott,o she has an elegance to her."
You've done well," she said finally. And it wasn't flattery. It was a judgment, passed down from someone who knew what she was looking at.
Heat crept up my neck before I could stop it.
"Thank you," I murmured, almost too soft.
Her eyes lingered, then softened further, warmth breaking through the appraising sharpness.
The bins of feed smelled faintly sweet, mixed grain and berry pulp blended into pellets. A stablehand wheeled them over and left us, bowing slightly to Rin's grandmother before heading off toward the barns. She didn't move to help or instruct; she simply lifted one brow in my direction, curious to see what I'd do.
Caesar was already pawing at the dirt, tusks jutting forward like he intended to carve his own meal out of the ground if I didn't hurry. Livia, more patient, tilted her head toward the buckets, her amber eyes sharp and steady.
"All right, hold on," I muttered, crouching down to scoop a handful. The pellets clattered into a shallow dish, and Caesar lunged before I even set it down, his stubby arms clutching the rim as if someone might steal it from him. His little jaws snapped, tusks clicking against the feed with ferocious focus.
"You'd think I starve him," I said, though my voice carried a note of pride I couldn't quite hide.
Rin's grandmother's laughter drifted low. "Dragons never know when enough is enough. Their hunger matches their pride."
"Tell me about it."
I set another dish for Livia, this one balanced on a post so she could perch while eating. She fluttered once, landing with grace, and dipped her beak neatly into the dish. She was precise, plucking pellets one by one, feathers rustling with content rhythm. Compared to Caesar's ravenous chomping, she looked like a noble at a feast.
The Ponyta herd had grown curious, too. A younger one trotted over, flames burning low and harmless, its soft nose pushing toward the dishes.
Ceaser let out a sharp bark half-growl, half-protest his tiny body stiff with indignation. The Ponyta flared its mane in response, a quick lick of heat rolling over the fence.
"Hey," I crouched, resting a hand gently on Ceaser's back before he did something reckless. His scales were warm, the muscles beneath them coiled and tense. "Good," I murmured, scratching just below his jaw.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Rin's grandmother watching. Lady Kasumi's arms were folded lightly, lips curved in something between a smile and appraisal.
"You're attentive," she said softly, her voice carrying even through the rustle of grass. "But tell me, Arata, how are you in battle?"
The words hung there, deceptively casual.
My pulse kicked. This… this was it. My turf. My comfort zone. Pokémon battles weren't parties, weren't politics, weren't awkward breakfasts in strange mansions. This was where I understood myself, where I knew who I was.
Kasumi lifted her hand in a small gesture. A maid stepped forward, bowing slightly. She looked delicate in her uniform, wiry rather than strong, but her eyes, sharp, unblinking, carried focus.
"I would like to see a match," Lady Kasumi continued, tone even. "Not a test, not an ordeal. A simple battle. If you would indulge me."
I nodded slowly, already reaching for my belt. My blood stirred with anticipation. Finally. This is something I can do.
I turned toward the dishes where Livia was finishing the last scraps, her beak clicking against the plate. "Livia, come on. Time to stretch your wings."
She looked up, head tilting, then launched into the air with a proud cry, feathers catching the sun.
The maid unclipped a ball from her apron, no hesitation, no nerves. With a flick of her wrist, it burst open.
A flash of light, then water hit the grass with a splash.
I froze.
Seadra.
Its body coiled, fins cutting sharp lines as it floated in its conjured puddle, scales shimmering blue and silver. Narrow eyes locked on us, predatory.
My breath hitched. Seadra? Here? These weren't common. I'd only ever read about them Cerulean Gym prized them, and in Johto, Blackthorn's dragon tamers sometimes kept them. They were rare, dangerous, proof of serious pedigree.
I side-eyed Lady Kasumi. She only smiled faintly, knowing, like she'd been waiting for my reaction.
My throat tightened. "So… that's how it is, huh?" I muttered under my breath.
Then I squared my shoulders, lifted my hand, and called, "Alright, Livia let's show them what we've got!"
She shrieked, wings spreading wide, and the battle began.
The maid's voice cut sharply: "Seadra, Water Pulse!"
The dragon exhaled a shimmering orb, water rippling outward as it launched. The pulse distorted the air around it, light refracting into fractured rainbows.
"Move!" I shouted.
Livia tucked her wings, diving low in a graceful arc. The pulse shot past her, bursting against the grass in a splash that left droplets steaming in the sun.
"Steel Wing!"
Her wings flared metallic, catching sunlight as she swept upward. The sound was like a sword cutting through water. She slammed against the tail end of the dispersing pulse, breaking it apart with a spray that drenched both Pokémon lightly.
The maid's eyes narrowed, but she didn't falter. "Twister!"
Seadra whipped its fins in a tight spin. Air spiraled instantly, water lifting off its scales as the clearing turned into a whirling column. Grass bent and flattened.
"Stabilize!" I barked. "Use Gust to break it!"
Livia beat her wings furiously, wind surging outward to meet the cyclone. The two currents collided, creating a buffet of swirling mist. It tugged at my clothes, snapping Ceaser's patience as he let out another bark from the sidelines.
The Ponyta snorted uneasily, flames flickering higher, but I was locked on the clash.
"Push through!" I called.
Livia banked, wings slicing, forcing the twister to unravel. The mist exploded outward, sparkling in the sunlight, and for just a second, it looked like glitter raining over the paddock.
The maid's jaw tightened. "Dragon Breath."
Seadra's throat glowed green-blue before it spat a beam of energy.
I scoffed under my breath, quiet but certain. Please. I've watched Ceaser cough up Dragon Breaths twice this size in practice.
"Low and fast!" I snapped.
She tucked, rolling under the beam. It skimmed her feathers, leaving faint trails of smoke where the energy licked too close. She snapped out of the dive with a shriek, hovering sharp-eyed and ready.
The maid didn't hesitate. "Aqua Jet."
Water surged around Seadra as its body streamlined, rocketing forward like a living spear.
"Meet it!" I roared. "Steel Wing, head on!"
Livia's wings gleamed silver as she charged, her cry splitting the air. The two collided mid-field water and steel, fluid and force. The impact cracked like thunder, spray exploding outward as both Pokémon were thrown back.
Livia flared her wings to steady herself, droplets scattering like jewels in the sunlight. Seadra whipped its tail, regaining balance, eyes narrowing.
My grin tugged sharp.
"Now Gust!" I ordered, seizing the moment.
Her wings blasted air, forcing the droplets back toward Seadra like a rainstorm in reverse. The dragon hissed, forced to shield itself in a whirl of its fins.
But I could see it: an opening.
"Quick attack, now!"
She rocketed forward, body shimmering white, and slammed against Seadra's side. Seadra reeled, coiling tighter, but didn't drop.
The maid's lips pressed into a thin line. "Agility!"
Seadra darted suddenly, its body blurring as it weaved through the air. Fast, faster than I expected. It circled Livia in sharp bursts, fins cutting tiny whirlpools in the puddle with every twist.
I clenched my fist. "Don't let it outmaneuver you. Track it, stay sharp!"
Livia's eyes followed, her head darting with each feint. The tension coiled tighter, the battle narrowing into a dance of speed and timing.
The maid struck suddenly. "Water Pulse point blank!"
Seadra spun midair, blasting the orb almost directly at Livia's chest.
"Deflect!" I roared.
She twisted, wing braced metallic again, and caught the attack at an angle. The force threw her sideways, feathers scattering in the spray, but she stayed airborne.
I grinned despite the adrenaline. "Good girl. Now, let's turn it around. Gust full power!"
Livia's wings snapped wide, the downbeat like a hammer blow. A storm of wind howled across the clearing, flattening grass and whipping the water into sprays. Seadra bucked against it, fins straining, body twisting just to keep upright.
"Steel Wing, finish it!" I barked, heat rushing through my chest.
Livia folded into a dive, silver flashing across her feathers as she drove herself forward like a lance.
The maid didn't back down. Her jaw set, voice sharp. "Dragon Breath!"
The beam burst from Seadra's mouth, but I caught it immediately, thinner, ragged at the edges, the kind of shot that came from exhaustion, not strength.
"Cut through it!" I snapped.
Livia's wing cleaved down, slicing the weakened stream in two. Sparks spat off her feathers, crackling where the energy bit too close. She hissed, wings trembling under the strain, but she didn't break stride.
Momentum carried her straight through, slamming into Seadra's side with a metallic crack.
The dragon reeled, body rippling with the impact as it crashed into the shallow puddle beneath. Water exploded upward, glittering arcs cascading across the field before raining down in a heavy curtain.
When the spray finally settled, Seadra floated shakily, sides heaving, eyes narrowed but weary. Its body trembled just to stay aloft, the last flickers of strength clinging to it like a candle in the wind.
Livia landed gracefully, folding her wings, feathers damp but gleaming in the sun. She let out a sharp cry, chest puffed.
The field was silent except for the Ponyta's restless nickers.
The maid inhaled slowly, then exhaled, shoulders loosening. "That'll do, Seadra." She recalled the dragon in a flash of light, bowing lightly toward me. "You're better than I expected."
I stroked Livia's neck, pride swelling in my chest. "It's her," I said softly. "She knows what to do."
When I glanced up, Lady Kasumi's eyes met mine. She hadn't said a word through the whole battle, hadn't needed to. Her faint smile, the measured way she inclined her head, said enough. Approval.
Heat surged in my chest again different this time. Not adrenaline. Satisfaction.
I had proven myself, not with words, not with appearances, but with the only thing that had ever really mattered to me.
My turf. My team. My way.