The Anistar Chronicle

Chapter 3: Our Former Selves

Blossom still had around 2 hours left before she needed to meet back up with Uppity Acacia and Dreamboat Alabaster. She knew she could have stayed at the lost hotel for a little longer, but she didn't regret leaving. She had got a guy's number. Not just any guy - an outsider. One who was interesting and was traveling the world.

She knew Pembroke had gone to loot the factory, she decided to make use of her spare time and follow suit. It was oddly quiet: you would expect to see people, cars, trucks maybe, but there were none. Blossom pulled out Rotom's Pokéball, "Rotom, come out!" she said, but not too loud. The Pokémon floated in the air beside its trainer. It was excited to help her out and so, it made a lot of noise. "Shush, Rotom! We need to be quiet, okay?" Rotom nodded (well as best as it could nod). She tested the main door to see if it was unlocked, it was. Either Pembroke was the reason for this, or the factory workers had gotten very careless when leaving the building.

She discreetly pushed the door open and entered, her trusty Rotom close behind her. She saw a deal with a fan on it, "Rotom, take the form of that fan!" but that still wasn't what she was looking for. Her light eyes scoured the corners of the ceiling. "Rotom, use thunderbolt and try and take out that security camera!" The electrical device fell to the floor, absolutely fried. "Good job. Your new form should come in handy." Blossom tutted slowly and shook her head - Pembroke must have entirely forgotten about the cameras. They were no longer a problem, though.

Rotom, now a flying-electric type for the time being, followed her up a metal staircase. When Blossom caught Rotom, she did it because of its ability to change shape. The idea of being confined to pokémon who only has the grass or ghost typing seemed awful to her, so she compromised.

At the top of the staircase, she reached a door, "Ah, jeez, it's locked." She groaned, fiddling with the handle. Before her next move, she looked for more cameras, she saw one on the outside walk of the room and declared, "Rotom, thunderbolt!" The camera crashed to the ground after a loud, shocking sound occurred. The electricity in those things must have been powerful, but not as powerful as her Rotom. "I'm still not sure how we're going to get in here, though." She thought to herself for a minute and played with her hair, which she had cut to her shoulders shortly after leaving home, it used to fall to the small of her back. "Try using air slash on it, maybe? Just remember to be agile, we just want the lock off to get inside, okay?"

Rotom looked back at her reassuringly before accidentally knocking the entire door inwards. It glanced at her, clearly concerned and anxious. "Rotom, it's okay, I know you tried. That's the all that matters." She allowed herself to laugh, slightly, "Besides, I'm a terrible person, we work for Team Lumieré, don't worry about it." Rotom called down again and they both ventured into the room. There was another camera, which Blossom respectively made Rotom take out.

There didn't seem to be much there apart from a small box containing some Great-balls, a sofa, a drinks machine and a coffee table. She came to the conclusion that this must have been some sort of lounge. Not really expecting, she kicked the drinks machine and felt inside the dispenser compartment. She didn't find a soda, but what she did find was a key. "Why would somebody just leave it there? Maybe there were trying to hide it? But from who?" She looked at Rotom, still in the shape of a fan, confused.

She left the room and carried on down a raised metal corridor, which was fitted with similar rooms, making sure to leave no evidence of her being here. She didn't find Pembroke until she reached the end up of the corridor. "Pembroke!" She whisper-shouted, even though there really was no need to be quiet. This building was currently as dead as a Team Plasma meeting. "You left the cameras on! They will have recorded footage of you!"

He went a dark burgundy hue, "Ah, jeez." He scratched the back of his head, "Sorry, Blossom. But either way, what do you suggest we do about them?"

"Don't worry about it. My little Rotom here got rid of them with some thunderbolt and flying attacks." She took out Rotom's Pokéball again and rolled it around in her palm. "Speaking of which, you've worked really hard, Rotom. Thank-you! I think it's time to switch back to your normal for but-" she was interrupted by the pokémon leaving the fan. The fan crashed back down onto the bridge-style corridor below them and broke into many pieces. "-be careful." Blossom wiped some sweat from her brow. She rolled her eyes at how reckless Rotom could be at times. "Nevermind. Come back, Rotom." She withdrew the pokémon and put away the ball.

"I looted the rooms and got as many balls as I could carry." She turned to her associate. "This is the last one. Have you been in?"

Pembroke shook his dark blue head, "It's the only room that's locked."

"I found a key in a vending machine earlier." She watched him visually question her, "I know right! A vending machine of all places." She tried the key in the lock, but it wouldn't budge. "Nevermind! I have another idea!"

"You're not gonna use a hair pin, are you? You know that never works."

"And ruin my hair?" She looked at him as if he'd just invited her to a cordless cliff-dive. "Do you know how long it takes to style my hair?" She raised a hand, not to slap him (although she wanted to), but to show off her sleek, black, acrylic nails. They were longer than a Meowth's claws. He saw her hand but was still perplexed, "Watch and learn." She put a nail (conveniently filed into a point shape) into the keyhole. She twisted her finger about until she heard a highly pleasing unlocking sound. She stood up straight and proudly opened the now unlocked door.

"Well, bloody Nora." Pembroke exhaled as he followed her in.

The room was the exact same as the others. A few different types of Pokéballs sorted around the room, desks, chairs and other boring things. Blossom found a purple box on a desk. She rushed over. "Hey, Pembroke! Maybe this is what the key's for." She tried it and "Correct, again! Man, I'm on a roll today!"

There was a Master-ball inside, presumably the only one In Kalos. "Wow."

"Wow, indeed." She quickly took it. "It makes sense that they would want to hide this... But why a vending machine."

"It's one of life's mysteries."