CELESTIA

Chapter Twenty-Five Facing Shadow

"This time, you battle the gym leader first, Sophia," Lucius said once they settled down in the room they rented. "What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't let you go first? Besides, I think your team looks excited and prepared for this."

"Okay I'll go first," She said. "After I take a shower." She stood up and made her way to the shower while Lucius lay in bed to rest for a while.

"Uhm.. Celestia?" Prince called from his poke ball. I was also inside my poke ball so I turned to see him. I noticed that everybody in their poke balls were asleep except Prince and I.

"About the other day.." He started.

"Yeah?" I responded, waiting for him to continue. In fact I was surprised that Prince was still talking to me after I revealed my true identity.

"You're really tough," He said and I knew he was struggling to say the right words.

"Thank you.. I guess.." I told him awkwardly while avoiding eye contact with him. I didn't know what else to say. Prince and I haven't been talking since after the incident.

"What's the matter, Celestia?" Lucius suddenly asked. I looked to see him still lying on the bed but he was looking at me. I guessed he noticed the sad expression on my face. Prince perked up upon hearing Lucius's question and it embarrassed me a bit.

"I don't know, master.." I telepathically answered him while making sure Prince wouldn't hear my telepathic conversation with Lucius. "Why is Prince still talking to me? Isn't he afraid or disgusted with me or something? After knowing who I am? I mean.. I don't know.. I feel weird."

"Celestia," Lucius sat up from the bed and leaned closer to my poke ball. "Remember the time when I found out? When the rest of the team found out? We were scared at first but over time, we realized that you are who you are right now. I'm sure it's the same with Prince. I guess he's still coming into terms with what you're capable of and he's trying not to make you feel.. Awkward and afraid of it."

I slowly glanced at Prince who was silently listening to Lucius.

"He's talking to you because he wants to know you better so you could trust him. Ain't that right, Prince?" Lucius asked.

"Gallade!" He nodded and smiled, agreeing a hundred percent. Meanwhile I remained silent to process everything in my head.. Yeah.. Maybe master Lucius's right and I'm just overthinking again. And then a small smile appeared on my face.

"Okay," I telepathically said with a shrug.

"That's my Celestia!" Lucius happily said. "You're surrounded by us, your family. So there's nothing to worry about. What matters is that we're around."

I just smiled and then Sophia finally came out of the shower in fresh new clothes and damp hair.

"We shall continue talking, okay, Celes?" Prince smiled as Sophia picked up her stuff with her pokémon. The sight of Prince being carried away like that was kinda cute, like a puppy in a bag and his owner picked him up.

"Okay," I smiled back at him before I went out of my darn, cramp poke ball to stretch and move around.

"See ya, Lucius," Sophia gave him a kiss before leaving and Lucius waved Sophia goodbye as she left. Afterwards, it was just him and I and our team alone again. As quiet as it was, Lucius had to find something to pass the time while I was just staring out at the window, enjoying the view. Lucius looked around the room and found a PC so he opened it up to view some of the pokémon he captured over the course of his journey. He also checked up on his old team until he noticed Shadow who still looked withdrawn and mad about his loss against Celestia during that one time we went training. Lucius thought that if he brought Shadow out to confront Celestia, he was sure they could make peace with one another. So Lucius selected Shadow, withdrew him from the PC and summoned him from his poke ball.