Errands

"Recent claims have been made that the mysterious Ghetsis has been spotted in Nuvema town. What the terrorist leader would be doing in such a backwater town is unknown at this time, but we at Ninetales News are committed to reporting any news we hear about Plasma. Our priority is your safety, so if you have any information regarding the organization, please-"

Hilda flipped off the news, staring at the empty screen for a long second before sighing. Ghetsis in Nuvema? What could he be doing there? As she stood up, Hilda thought about what Ghetsis could be after there. The town was incredibly small, it could hardly even be called a town even. After her mom died, Hilda hadn't had much of any reason to return to her home there, except for the funeral. The house was still technically hers, was Ghetsis snooping around her house? Hilda banished the thoughts from her mind as she entered her closet, turning her thoughts to the dinner she'd been volunteered for. Most of the clothing hung up in the closet was Bianca's, but a small section was still devoted to her stuff. Hilda began to sort through the hung up clothes, but her mind kept drifting back to Plasma and the increasingly worrying news that she'd seen. The entire two years since Plasma initially struck had been filled with news reports about Plasma higher-ups, and Hilda had chased every lead for the first six months. Only about a third of them had led to anything, and yet she still kept the Ninetales station playing almost constantly, hearing the newscasters continue to report news about Plasma and, of course, Hilbert.

Every program that praised Hilbert and extolled his virtues made her wilt slightly inside. Having known the boy for nearly her entire life, Hilda knew just how uncomfortable attention made Hilbert. So much so that on their journey, he'd always make Hilda, Bianca, or Cheren challenge the gym leaders before him. Once he'd become the champion and defeated Plasma all in one fell swoop, he'd begged Cheren to take over for him, but Cheren had been adamant about not taking it from him. Bianca and Cheren had at least been there for Hilbert when he had started out his new career. Hilda sighs again and glances down at Sif, holding up a jean jacket with a questioning look. Sif nods slowly, scanning it and scampering off. Soon enough, the small White and Gray rodent comes back holding a folded pair of black ripped jeans. Hilda accepts the jeans and changes quickly, slipping into a white T-shirt to wear under the jacket. She stands in front of the mirror, nodding to herself as she looks at the outfit. Hilda grabs her baseball cap with the Striaton Rufflets logo emblazoned on it, as well as her bag.

"Alright Sif, time to go." The Cinccino squeaks and hops up onto Bianca's bed as Hilda steps out of the closet, rifling through her bag for the Pokeball. She finds it and taps it to Sif's head, returning the pokemon to its enclosure. Hilda descended the stairs and opened the door to the backyard. Hilda looked around at the Pokémon in the backyard, marching over to the majestic red bird that was perched on a fallen tree.

"Libi, time to go!" The red bird lifted up its head, squawking indignantly as Hilda wok it up from its nap. The Braviary regarded her as she placed one foot on the base of one of the bird's large wings, swinging herself up onto the large avian, the bird's eyes never leaving her the whole time.

"We're going to Undella first. I have some errands to run." The Braviary squawked again, standing up fully and shaking itself up. The national bird of Unova spread Its wings and shook them out, before bending its powerful legs and leaping up, flapping its large wings to stay up. Hilda hung onto Libi's neck, no longer as afraid to fly without a saddle. As N had been so quick to point out those years ago, Libi very much hated wearing a saddle. But no matter how many times Hilda went flying, the sensation of lifting off, and the view of the ground as Braviary made wide circles to gain altitude never ceased to amaze her.

As Libi crested over the hill Hilda and Bianca's house was tucked behind, a construction site immediately caught Hilda's eye. Another skyscraper was under construction. Hilda grumbled as Libi gained even more height, beginning to level off just under the clouds. Mistralton was slowly becoming just like Castelia, chock full of tall buildings and industrial complexes. When the airport was first constructed, people hadn't been planning on sticking tall buildings everywhere in the town, so Skyla was locked in the middle of a legal battle as the Collress association was pushing to demolish the runways in lieu of more laboratories and tall buildings.

"What is this world turning into Libi..." Hilda muttered as the bird soared through the sky, the wind whipping through Hilda's hair and threatening to steal her Rufflet's cap. Rumors had even begun to surface that the executives of the Collress association were making plans to pave over White Forest and build a new city, but Hilda had yet to follow up on them. That seemed far flung, even for the ambitious company. Hilda inhaled sharply as Braviary suddenly swerved to the side, narrowly avoiding a large Skarmory that was jetting through the sky. Hilda shook her head and laughed slightly. Stuff like that was why people were turning to teleportation as their travel method, but Hilda preferred flight. Besides, the cost to get a license for teleportation was pretty high, and Hilda's funds were devoted to other endeavors. Such as... Hilda felt Libi begin to dive, the powerful muscles rippling on the bird's back as the wings worked to keep them from descending too rapidly. The Braviary got centered above the small town below and began to do its signature, wide circles as it got low enough to the ground that Hilda could make out the faces of the people gathering around the landing pad.

"Hilda's here." Even as Hilda was touching down, she could hear the phrase rippling through the crowd, intermingled with other muttered words. Hilda climbed off Libi, patting the large bird gently as she glanced around uncomfortably at the gathered townsfolk. Finally, an older man who Hilda recognized from her visits stepped forward out of the crowd.

"Well, here on another wild Swanna chase? Or have you brought us more trouble." The man spoke with a cold edge to his words as he looked at Hilda with a hard gaze.

"I'm just here to drop off a gift. I'll be in and out. Promise." The man stayed silent for a moment before speaking.

"Well it's not as if we'll be able to stop you anyways. In and out." Hilda nodded thankfully, but the man just turned away and begin to leave, the crowd parting to let him through.

"Let's go Libi." Hilda muttered to the bird, before returning it to the Pokeball. She began to follow the elder through the gap, keeping her eyes down to avoid the accusatory glares from the gathered people. Hilda made her way over towards the small house on the beachfront, still feeling the burning gazes of the townsfolk burning into her back. She knocked on the door sharply, glancing around as she does. After a few moments, the knock is answered by a tall woman with striking blonde hair.

"Hilda! I was wondering when you were going to show up, I was beginning to worry you'd forgotten." The woman smiled at her, beckoning her inside. Hilda took the invitation gladly, entering the house quickly and tossing her satchel onto the couch. The woman frowned and shut the door.

"Oh boy, rough reception?" Hilda groaned and slumped down into one of the dining room chairs.

"It always is, Cynthia. Always. I understand why, but it just gets... tiring." Cynthia slid into the second chair smiling sympathetically.

"I get it... well, I don't really, but I am sorry for you. The people just... don't see all the work you've done to make up for it." Hilda shook her head.

"It's still not enough, Cynthia. I appreciate what you're saying but... anyways. I'm not here to commiserate about the Undellans. I have that Snivy egg you were wanting." Cynthia's eyes lit up as Hilda said that, and immediately locked onto the Pokeball Hilda held up.

"Finally, the elusive Snivy..." Cynthia reached out and took the pokeball, looking at it reverently. Hilda snorted.

"It's not like it's a mythical Pokémon or anything." Cynthia's eyes left the Pokeball and looked at Hilda reproachfully.

"Right, just an incredibly rare, endangered species..." Hilda held up her hands, conceding the argument. Cynthia was a quite... interesting person. Two years ago, Hilda would never have imagined that she'd be one of Cynthia's closest friends, Hilda had grown up watching Cynthia's battles on the TV for Arceus' sake. But Hilda wouldn't trade the friendship for the world, and that wasn't just the fangirl talking. Hilda was shaken from her thoughts by Cynthia poking her in the shoulder again. Hilda looked up to see a devilish grin on the woman's face. Uh oh.

"So who's the lucky fellow?" Hilda's mind whirred for a moment before looking down at her clothing. It wasn't even that different from normal.

"How'd you-" Cynthia brought up a hand to cut Hilda off, still grinning like the Cheshire Purrloin.

"Hilda, honey, we've been friends for well over a year now, and never have I seen you wear that jean jacket... except for when you brought Hilbert to visit me." Cynthia smirked at Hilda, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Also, Bianca may have texted me asking me to help you with your hair." Cynthia winked as Hilda groaned.

"Bianca you snitch." Cynthia snickered as Hilda cursed the girl's name.

"Fine, so I'm going to dinner with Hilbert in Opelucid-" Cynthia's grin widened.

"And I don't want to look like I just wrestled a Garbodor, so I wore something a bit nicer. It's not even like I'm wearing a dress or anything!" Cynthia shook her head, that blasted smirk still stuck to her face.

"Hilda, hun, the only time I've ever seen you wear a dress was for that Pokémon league ball in Johto, and that was required to get you in the door. This is your equivalent of 'black tie'." Hilda grumbled at the statement, glancing around the room for an escape. She was startled, though, by Cynthia's hands running through her hair as the woman started to finger comb it.

"What're ya'-" Cynthia tugged on a knot with her fingers and cut Hilda off with a yelp.

"Bianca asked me to do your hair. You need to start putting it up before you fly, or it'll keep getting frazzled every time." Hilda sat motionless, taking the hair styling and comments on how she should care for her hair better with gritted teeth. Finally, Cynthia stepped away and hummed in approval.

"There, that should do." Hilda grumbled as she stood up, glancing in the small mirror Cynthia had up on her fridge. Cynthia had wrangled Hilda's hair into a ponytail that started near the top of her head. Hilda snatched her hat back up and fastened it around the hair, Cynthia had managed to start the ponytail right at the place where Hilda normally had the opening on her hat, so that she could still wear it comfortably. And Hilda had to admit, her hair was a lot smoother than it had been before. Cynthia sure knew how to handle hair, apparently. Hilda sighed in defeat.

"Thank you, Cynthia. It's not even a date, you know." Cynthia smirked again.

"Sure it's not. You'd better be going now, if I know you, and I do, you have plenty more errands to run before tonight." Hilda nodded, her mind instantly shifting to the tasks she still had at hand.

"Right, thanks Cynthia, I've got to be off now." Hilda made towards the door, snatching up her bag along the way.

"See you at the tournament?" Cynthia grinned, a competitive light appearing in her eyes.

"You bet, you'll be seeing me showing you Unovan's which country is superior!" Hilda grinned right back, swinging the door open.

"Not even, last year didn't everyone of your competitors besides you go zero for five?" Cynthia opened her mouth to retort, but Hilda let the door swing shut, smirking slightly. But as soon as she took a few steps away from the beach house, her smile dropped.

"Let's get out of here Libi." She muttered, dropping the pokeball with a flash. The bird Pokemon squawked sadly, feeling her trainer's subdued attitude. As Hilda climbed back up onto Libi and took off towards Lentimas town, the elder who had greeted her let out a sigh of relief as she flew away.

000

Hilbert picked through the racks of shirts that were set up in the store, trying to pick out one that felt right to him.

"Hilda doesn't like too fancy clothes, does she?" He pushed aside another black and white dress shirt, grunting in slight frustration and spinning the peruse the other side of the aisle. A quiet clearing of the throat made Hilbert pause, as he looked to his left and noticed a young couple, maybe two years older than him, standing next to him with their Xtranceiver's out.

"Um- hi, so- um-" The girl shoved the guy lightly as he stuttered out a sentence.

"Do you think we could- me and my friend- my girlfriend that is- could we get a picture with you?" Hilbert cringed internally but nodded, wincing at the squeals of delight that came from the two as they crowded around on either side of him. Both of them held up their Xtranceivers at the same time, and Hilbert put on a forced smile as he first looked to one, then the other as the two squealed again and thanked him multiple times. Hilbert grunted again, turning away from them to go back to his shopping. A snort of laughter made him turn the opposite way, and his heart skipped a beat as his eyes met Hilda's.

"Knock it off Pij." Hilda smirked and grinned, revealing a row of sharp teeth that belonged to the illusion fox pokemon, Zoroark. The Pokemon made no moves to change it's form though, and Hilbert rolled his eyes, forcing himself to turn away from the illusory form.

"I'm trying to get some shopping done, I can't show up to the date wearing... this." Hilbert waved down at his current attire, a green T-shirt with a picture of Rayquaza in the forefront, and a pair of cargo shorts with an unidentified red stain on the left leg. Pij snorted again, the fox making it's best imitation of laughter. Hilbert slid a shirt aside and found a dark blue overshirt with undone buttons. He held it up to his chest, glancing at Pij. The Pokemon looked him up and down before grinning, which was a slightly disturbing expression as Hilda's face followed the movement of the fox underneath. Hilbert nodded, snatching up a grey Tee to go under it, before making for the changing rooms.

Hilbert stepped out a moment later, and Pij clapped his furry hands together in approval. Hilbert gave a quick spin and began to head to the cashier, still wearing the clothes he picked out. He set the money down on the counter, after checking the tags, but the cashier quickly slid it back across towards him.

"No no no, I can't charge the champion for his clothes!" Hilbert pinched the bridge of his nose as Pij snickered behind him.

"Please, sir, I insist."

"No, I insist. It would bring great dishonor upon my shop if I were to charge you."

"No please, seriously, these are expensive. I can't just-"

"All the more reason for you to take them free of charge!" Hilbert rolled his eyes and walked out of the store, leaving the cash on the counter.

"Sir, please!" The cashier called after him, but Hilbert sighed and began to pick up his pace. As he glanced over his shoulder to make sure the man wasn't chasing him, he bumped right into someone walking the other way, sending them both to the ground. Hilbert quickly stood up, dusting himself off, and extending a hand to the person on the ground.

"Hey, are you alri-" Hilbert's voice cut off midsentence as his eyes met the strangers. A flicker of recognition flashed in the figure's eyes before the red haired woman quickly sprung up to her feet.

"Perfectly fine." The woman began to walk away quickly, walking back in the direction she had just come from. Hilbert narrowed his eyes, tracking her with his eyes as he wracked his memory, trying to place the face. Finally something clicked, and before Hilbert realized it he had started running after the woman, yelling.

"Hey, get back here!" The woman turned and her eyes grew wide as she saw that Hilbert was chasing after her, before the woman quickly burst into a sprint as well, running full speed away from Hilbert. The woman clearly knew her way around town, and despite Hilbert's faster speed, the woman managed to weave through the crowds much better than he did, especially as people began to notice Hilbert and recognize the champion's face. Hilbert growled as he saw the ginger slip down an alleyway, and pushed his way through the crowd, sprinting towards the alley opening. He rounded the corner, and stopped cold. An even more familiar face greeted him as he breathed heavily, the woman from before cowering against the back wall. A short figure wearing a black robe was crouched In front of the woman, his face obscured by a mask covering his mouth and nose, as well as a bandage wrapped around his forehead.

"I am afraid that we can't afford for you to take this one captive. She carries a vital piece of information for our lord." The man spoke in his eerie, flat tone. He held up a Pokeball, as the woman scrambled back to her feet.

"Th-thank you." The woman stammered out before running off further down the alley. Hilbert itched to chase after her, but the masked man in front of him dropped his Pokeball, the capsule being engulfed in red light as a tall, regal Bisharp stood up. The metal samurai regarded Hilbert with a gaze almost as cold as the one the man had.

"Well," Hilbert began, hearing the heavy steps of Pij catching up to him.

"I thought this was over already Zariel." The man didn't respond, but reached his hand out and the Bisharp took a step forward, brandishing its sharpened arms. Hilbert sighed, rolling his eyes at the man's signature silence.

"Pij, show them exactly why they've been hiding for the past two years." The black and red fox grinned, stepping forward to meet the metallic samurai.