The Anistar Chronicle

Chapter 6: Taken Aback

She knew her name wasn't Blossom. That was a fact. She knew her real name floated through her head daily, along with thoughts of old friends and childhood dreams. But she wasn't a kid anymore. None of this mattered. Not even Max Maple mattered. All that mattered was what Alabaster was going to tell her.

"What's wrong?" He was gorgeous. Older and strikingly handsome. Admittedly too old for her, but it didn't stop her from daydreaming about his glassy, green eyes and dimpled smile. "You seem down."

"W-What?" She took her elbows off the table and shook her today head. "I'm fine, Alabaster. Really."

He glanced at her suspiciously, but shrugged and ended his train of thought with a short, "Well alright. But I'm here if you need me, Blossom."

"Thanks."

He sat and swivelled on the desk chair. They were the only ones in the meeting room. "So we have bad news."

Great. That was just what she needed, right now.

Alabaster continued, "Remember your first mission? How you and Pembroke looted the factory?"

She groaned. Already pretty sure of what he was about to say next. "...Yeah?"

"They don't know it was you. But they're starting to link us, as in Team Lumière, with the crime. Among others that we're responsible for."

"The popo's onto us?"

He laughed, the mood in the desolate room suddenly brightening. "Yeah, you could say that."

But Blossom didn't feel like laughing with him. She wasn't trying to be funny - some people are just born sarcastic. She was one of them. "Oh. Wonderful."

The older male's eyes narrowed in concern. "Alright. Just what is up with you? Boy troubles, little Blossom?" He nudged her.

"Eh. You could say that. But he's just a friend."

"All of the best relationships start out as friendships. Trust me, I would know."

She snapped inside. She was jealous of this man who was very much too old for her and probably looked at her the way parents look at their six-year-old kids' 'girlfriends'. But she was jealous none the less. But she wasn't going to let him see this. "I would never date him! Never in a million years! And you have a girlfriend?"

"Nah. I'm a too big of a dork for that." She wanted to tell him that he shouldn't have been so sure. "But my cousin from where I'm originally from used to act the way you do. He worked for Team Rocket, he's quite a bit older than me. I really looked up to him." She had a harrowing thought in the back of her mind that she might have met Alabaster's cousin. On multiple occasions. "He worked with a girl. She was pretty as hell, but quite a handful. They were best friends, despite their arguments. Some of them were really serious, they said they hated each other, once."

She felt like her brother was telling her a fairy tale like he used to do when she was little. Little and sweet and innocent. "Then what?"

Alabaster had a knowing grin. "They got over it. They started out as 'just friends' and now they're married with twins."

"What's your cousin's name?"

"James Kojiro, why?" She should have recognised those eyes. Only one family would have such enticing forest-like jewels. And she had hated Team Rocket's Jessie and James when she was younger. But now she was starting to empathise with them a lot. Jessie and James. Who would have thought? A lot of people actually.

"I knew him when I was a little girl."

"Small world, isn't it?" He rubbed her shoulder. "If I was you, I was patch things up with this boy. What happened, anyway?"

"We went to the beach with our Pokémon. I was having a fantastic day. But then I admitted something to him. It was really stupid."

"What was it?"

"Well. He told me I have a pretty name-"

She got cut off. "Oh, he is SO into you-"

"Shut up, let me finish!" She was starting to simmer down. She liked talking to Alabaster like this, maybe there was no need for a romantic relationship with him, after-all. She was definitely sure he saw her as a little sister, now. This entire conversation was confirming her suspicions. "And I felt really bad. You two are the first real friends I've had in a long time."

"Poor Pembroke."

"And Pembroke, then!" He was acting like a brother. But that was okay. She liked having a brother, it was a feeling she missed. "So I admitted to him that this isn't my real name."

"...And?"

"He asked me what my real name is."

"You told him?"

"No. You see that's where it all went wrong. I got upset and I ran away. He hasn't called me and I haven't called him. I miss him, he's my best friend."

"Why did it upset you?"

This was getting personal. "I associate my real name with home. Lumiose City, where I was born and lived until I was sixteen. I miss my brother and my parents. I ran away because-" She felt awkward trying to explain this.

"It's okay. I'm listening."

"-Because I felt like I wasn't good enough. My grades dropped. So did my confidence. I was so unhappy I eventually just got up and left. They still don't know where I am. They think I'm missing. I cut my hair so I looked different, I didn't want anyone to find me. I wanted the old me gone."

"I understand. You're really not alone in this. But, my love, you need to accept the past, it's the only way you can make it to the future. The future will always be brighter. And besides," he said, "I'll tell you my name if you tell me your's."

"Okay." She just hoped it wouldn't hurt too much to say it.

"I'm Jacob Tristian Marzipan-Kojiro. Or Jake." His name was Jake.

There was no going back now. "Bonnie Monica Bergamot."