Sandwich Making (Self insert x Arven)

[7] Cassiopeia

A/N: There's a week-long timeskip because I don't want this story to be a million chapters long, and it's easier on my busy schedule. Also, in this chapter there's two battle skips because I didn't feel like writing those out. Nemona's battle was long and tedious to write. Maybe I'll edit them in afterward, but for now just imagine a kick-ass battle scene I wrote. Enjoy!

It had been a week since lunch with Arven. In that week, I'd made up my mind and taken on more of the Titans in a flurry of determination and anticipation. The only one that stood in our way now was the Titan known as the False Dragon Titan. I had no clue what to expect, and neither did Arven.

I'd taken down Eri, the final Team Star boss. After that battle, Cassiopeia (who'd been assisting me with Operation Starfall) revealed that they were actually Team Star's leader, and had set this up to disband Team Star. They told me to meet them at Uva's schoolyard for a final showdown.

Arceus knows what else Cassiopeia is hiding.

Finally, the Elite Four. It took me multiple tries, but I had managed to pull through and beat all four of the Elite Four, then Geeta. La Primera wasn't terribly hard to beat (Champions like Leon had put up more of a fight) but she still offered me a challenge.

Nemona had immediately challenged me to a battle, but of course I demolished her. Maybe I should be La Primera instead of Geeta.

Right now, I was racing up the steps of Uva Academy. The moon shone down on everything, casting everything in a silver glow. Cassiopeia. I'll find out who Cassiopeia truly is, and I'll take 'em down.

Uva's front gates came into focus, and I saw a familiar figure standing in front of them, their back to me. They had a strikingly familiar pompadour, which caught me off guard.

"Wait... Clavell? You're Cassiopeia?!" I cried, gripping one of my Pokeballs tightly. "Why- how- wh-what-?"

"...I guess I'll have to reveal my true self to you, Z." Clavell said, turning to face me. In a fluid motion, he pulled off the pompadour wig and his student uniform, revealing that he'd been wearing his actual uniform underneath. "I'm sorry I had to deceive you for so long, Z."

Totally fooled me, teach. I thought, rolling my eyes. "Director Clavell, why... How are you Cassiopeia?"

Clavell's expression was troubled. "Admittedly, I am not Cassiopeia. I do not know who they are. Alas, I as the headmaster of this school must protect this student. If you can beat me, I'll let you go up to the schoolyard to take on Cassiopeia."

I bit my lower lip anxiously. "If that's what it takes to find Cassiopeia.." I raised the Pokeball and thrust it towards Clavell. "Then I'm gonna crush you into the earth."

Clavell nodded, the moon's light caught in his glasses, preventing me from seeing his eyes. "So be it."

[battle timeskip, if I end up writing the battle scene I'll edit it in lol]

Clavell returned his last Pokemon. His face was emotionless, and he nodded. "You're a very strong trainer. It's no surprise that you've come this far."

"Let me through, Clavell." I huffed, clipping my Pokeball onto my belt. "I'm not above pushing you out of the way."

He grinned. "Very well. Go on and beat whoever Cassieopia is."

I ran past Clavell, dashed over to the elevator, and pressed the "schoolyard" button. I hopped from one foot to the other, anxiously anticipating my battle with Cassieopia. The elevator seemed to move slower the faster my heart beat. C'mon, c'mon, c'mon...!

As soon as it opened I practically fell out of the enclosed space, Stumbling to the center of the field, I rapidly looked around the field, trying to see where Cassieopia was.

"H-hey there, Z." Penny's familiar stutter came from behind me, and I spun around.

"Penny! What're you doing here?"

Penny smirked, which was an expression I've never seen on Penny before. "Looking f-for Cassiopeia?"

"Yeah, actually. How do you..?" Something about Penny's expression made me realize that she herself was Cassiopeia. "It's you! You're Cassiopeia, Team Star's big boss.. It's all been you?"

Penny nodded. "I-it's always been me. Even after all you've done... a-all the effort you've put in.." she swaggered past me, and took on an uncharacteristically aggressive stance. "I'm gonna t-take you down."

I took a few steps back. "But.. you put me up to beating Team Star! Why are you trying to stop me from doing that?"

"Even though I put you up to this.. I'm not g-going down without giving you a challenge."

I smiled slightly. "Bring it on."

[Yet another battle skip- just know it was a one-sided thrashing]

Penny dropped to her knees and put her head in her hands. "I.. expected this.. B-but.. My Veevees.. Team Star.. I've failed all of them. I couldn't even protect us f-from the bullies.."

I kneeled down on one knee and put my hand on her shoulder. She looked up, her face red and her eyes teary. "I just want you to know.. That I think you did this for a good reason. It didn't turn out very well, but you protected innocent students from being mercilessly tormented." I paused, struggling to find more words. "Even though this is how it turned out.. I'm so proud of you."

Penny's eyes overflowed with tears, and she collapsed into my chest. She sobbed, her words a confusing current of what pushed her to do this, how stressed and guilty she felt, and how glad she was it was over.

I held her for as long as she cried, comforting her. I know exactly how you feel, Penny.