Evangeline closed her compact with a soft sigh. She didn’t even cry anymore – She wasn’t entirely sure what to think about that. Was she so emotionally hollowed to it that she just had no reaction anymore? It was barely even a footnote anymore; it meant even less than it used to. Sure, she used to wail and cry before, but at least it was something. A reaction to show that she was still there... But what did she have now?
“Ah?” Evangeline was snapped out of her thoughts by a soft hand on her leg. Looking down, she noticed Angelina patting her leg, giving her trainer a bright smile. Ms. Avery sighed softly, soon returning her Mawile’s smile, “You know that smile of yours is painfully infectious, don’t you?” Angelina simply grinned coyly. Evangeline gently placed her hand over Angelina’s as she returned to her thoughts. What was it he had said earlier?

[i]Cigar smoke swirled in sedated, leisurely waves around the room as Evangeline redressed herself. He chuckled wryly at her flank, taking another long, decadent drag of his claro, "Not keen to stay today, either?"
“... No. I have things to do.”
"Visiting your sister again, are you?" Ms. Avery paused, nodding gently. He shrugged, indifferently, and reclined slowly into his pillows, "Please give Angelina my regards, then. As you always do, I'm sure." She nodded once again.
There was no Angelina – Evangeline was an only child, she knew that full well; and deep down, she had the feeling he knew as well. But it was an excuse to leave as quickly as possible, and Evangeline would snatch it up whenever she could. As Evangeline reached for the door handle, she was stopped by the sound of his voice, "Oh, and Evangeline, my dear..." he smiled a thin, sardonic simper, "You might want to steer clear of Goldenrod station... just for a little while." Evangeline didn’t reply for a long moment – She wanted desperately to be out of that cloying, smoke-filled room. But curiosity set her feet in the ground and pushed the words out of her mouth.
“Why?” He chuckled, that smug grin of his evident in the voice that spoke.
"I couldn't possibly say," he replied, caustic smile unwavering, "Of course, as the mayor of this fine city, I'd never associate myself with their likes..." he chuckled, almost darkly, "But from what I've 'heard', Team Rocket might be making an appearance there... and what they plan on doing might just remind this windy little city who they ought to be paying protection to..." he trailed off, "... allegedly, of course." Evangeline clutched the handle and pushed the door open.
“... Right. I’ll keep that in mind.” 
"I'll see you later... [/i]darling.[i]" The door closed behind her without any reply from Ms. Avery.[/i]

“And what they plan on doing might just remind this windy little city who they ought to be paying protection to...” Evangeline murmured, “What could they have planned this time, Angelina?” The Mawile’s expression soured at any reminder of him, her shoulders rolling in an uncaring shrug. Evangeline tittered humourlessly, “My sentiments exactly. Knowing them, it’s probably just another random theft. Perhaps we should go and warn some people, tell them to keep their pokeballs close.” Angelina looked up at her trainer with a look of concern.
“Ma-wile...” Evangeline countered her Mawile’s concerns with a simple, coy grin.
“Yes... But he says a lot of things, doesn’t he?” Just as Evangeline found Angelina’s warm smile infectious, so too did Angelina find her trainer’s coy grin catching. 
“Ki-hihihi~” Angelina snickered mischievously as the two trotted towards Goldenrod Station...

They didn’t get far. A deafening roar pierced the air as smoke billowed from the station, the scent of ash and fire being carried on the wind. Evangeline and Angelina exchanged a look that conveyed a simple meaning:
[i]“They wouldn’t... Would they?”[/i] The pair rushed towards the station – Or whatever was left of it.

Of course it wasn’t a pretty sight. It looked like a warzone, the smoke rising high to the sky. Hurriedly she pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and clamped it over her mouth, her eyes slowly scanning the ruined landscape. The debris of what used to be the Pokemon centre. The sound of tears, of despair. The smell of death, clinging to the air around her. The stench of burning flesh would have been enough to make Evangeline sick to her stomach if she weren’t so... Frozen. She simply stood catatonic, her free arm hanging limply by her side. It took all her will to keep the handkerchief pressed to her face. 

[i]“And what they plan on doing might just remind this windy little city who they ought to be paying protection to...”[/i]

This was just a reminder – They weren’t trying to start a conflict with anyone in particular, they were just telling everyone who ruled Goldenrod. Evangeline had to keep from dropping to her knees as the realisation came crashing down on her – The realisation of what she was truly involved in. Scant hours ago she had been in the same room as the man who ordered all of this, the man who could erase more than a dozen lives with a simple wave of his hand. “... My god.”
[i]“They would.”[/i]