Pokémon: Out of the Woods | A Galar, Unova & Sinnoh Fanfiction

Chapter 25: Old Friends

A dented blue car awaited an Incarnate Air flight at Phenac City International Airport. Unlike Air Orre, the Unovan airline was early. A famous actress and her two year-old son were amongst the disembarking passengers. Only one fan asked for an autograph. When Jamie wound his window down to wave to Galatea, another man suddenly recognised them both and was about to rush at them, but Jamie's Zoroark grabbed Galatea's son and slammed the door. Jamie drove. The man was left in his exhaust smoke.

'Hey, Nick. We finally meet.'

'Hello... Jamie...'

'Got a music request?'

'He loves Euphoria,' Galatea replied, 'Especially the new album.'

'I've got plenty of that.'

Jamie's wife, Raidne, was a huge Euphoria fan. All of their albums were in the car. Zoroark slotted the new one into the stereo. Nick's face lit up.

'I like this song.'

'You'll get on with Raidne, then.'

Jamie was so busy that he only had time to jump in the car, but Raidne remembered to fill a basket with crayons, paper and snacks. Nick happily began to draw a Pokémon battle.

'So, Galatea... are you still up for it? Are we going "there?"'

'Not really... but it's now or never... isn't it?'

'It was a rhetorical question, really. You wouldn't be here if you weren't ready.'

'I appreciate this, Jamie... and I know I've said it before... but I'm sorry.'

'Asterid's the only innocent victim in all of this. You don't owe me an apology.'

They were best friends once. They went through a lot, from bullying to Team Plasma's last revival, together; but as Galatea vehemently pushed Asterid away amidst an identity crisis, Jamie was lured into Cipher. Even if he hadn't been offended on Asterid's behalf, he couldn't stay friends with Galatea. She could talk to Pokémon. They would have told her exactly what was happening. The problem wasn't actually that he would have been outed as the Grand Master of Cipher. He was ashamed of the abuse he endured. He didn't want anyone to know. So, for several years, they stopped speaking. It was no surprise that they both turned to alcohol to numb themselves. It took Galatea a little longer, but they were sober now. She had one apology left to make. That person was in Orre.

Their child-friendly small talk was cut off by Galatea's buzzing phone. There were only two exceptions to her 'do not disturb' mode: Neptune and Nick's father, who knew not to bother Galatea unless the emergency involved their son. He was with her, so it had to be Neptune.

'You can answer it,' Jamie said, 'I don't mind.'

'Dad? What's up?'

'Hey, Galatea...'

'Oh no... you sound worried.'

'I am, I guess...'

'Rigel...?'

'That and... you know Triton's been trying to call you, right?'

'Is it important?'

'It's "International Police business." I don't think it's worth bothering you for, but he insists...'

'OK, I know I've been ignoring him, but... this really is a bad time.'

Galatea told no-one but Jamie that she was going to Orre. They didn't need to know.

'But I guess I'll worry if you don't tell me...'

'Where are you at? Autumn dropped in at the theatre, but–'