Sophia Danvers
Mesalon Hospital
Slowly backing away from Hammer, cringing at the puff of snow which couldn't have helped the detective's mood any, she watched him reach for a Pokeball with a Conkeldurr sticker. She felt the blood drain from her face. He wouldn't. Surely he wouldn't. Not on TV...
Thankfully, the camera man was able to convince him otherwise. As the detective stormed from the room, followed by the camera crew, Sophia let out a breath that had caught in her throat.
"Y-Yeah..." she responded to Rheese as he took the opportunity to ease himself out of bed.
"Sounds like an idea." With a quick glance behind her to check that Alex was following, she headed out into the hallway.
They'd managed to evade Hammer... hopefully. The difficult part would be getting past his fans.
Amber Pine
Mesalon Pokecentre
Listening to Nyxx's words, Amber nodded.
"I know," she said.
"It's a risk all trainers take. But the important thing is, we got out of this." She sat down, wishing she felt as reassured as she sounded.
Rationally, she knew the answer was to become better able to face danger. She thought over her plans for the day - spend some time training, and maybe challenge one of the other beginner trainers to a battle.
An excited squeal from Nyxx snapped her from her thoughts. Amber looked up to see a woman she knew she'd seen somewhere before. She studied the face of Nyxx's mother for a few moments. Then it clicked. That was where she'd known the name Hollow from.
"Ohh! Mistress Hollow. I've seen some of your videos... You see, I'm studying Pokemon's battle styles, but contests seem like a good way to explore how their moves can be used. Especially combined." Her eyes gleamed at the thought.
"I'm Amber, by the way."Solanna Delacloude
Outside Mesalon Hospital
It was all coming back to her... No, not all of it. That was the worst thing. Scenes flashed through her mind like a nightmare. Waking up outside the Pokecentre. Learning days had passed. Cameras in her face. Endless questions she couldn't answer, because the incident itself was a total blank.
Her skin became clammy. Her breathing sped up. She had to force herself not to hyperventilate. She couldn't break down. This wasn't who she was. This wasn't who she should be. That image she projected of the carefree, fearless girl, on the back of a Rapidash, performing all sorts of leaps and tricks before a cheering crowd, enveloped in the fire horse's flames but never getting burned... Why couldn't she live up to that, for the sake of whoever had been involved in the most recent Team Noble incident?
Or why couldn't she be more like her idol, Mistress Hollow? What would she do in this situation? The eternally sunny Mistress Hollow wouldn't freeze up, that was for sure.
"Cott?" The Whimsicott in her arms gave a concerned squeak.
Solanna stared blankly at the door. Somebody had been hurt. She should be helping. Her experience should be a reason for her to help. She tried to step forward... and instead, turned and ran.
The idea people had of her was wrong.
Rushing into the lobby of the Pokecentre, Solanna stopped in her tracks again. That wasn't... That couldn't be...
"Mistress Hollow?" she blurted when she finally managed to speak. Glancing down at herself, she cringed. Since childhood, she'd wanted to meet Mistress Hollow, but not like this, not covered in mud and a hair's width away from breaking down.
"Uhh... Hi!" Solanna's smile was, in all likelihood, more of a grimace.
"I-I can't say I expected to meet you here!" She looked away, unable to meet her all-time role model's gaze.
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