PARAGON

  Unknown Enemy Arc [3]

  Chapter 89 : Headless

  Cynthia’s heels clacked as she paced down the steps of her jet.

  She didn’t appear exceedingly tired like N had when he returned, nor did she seem physically injured like Ash and Sabrina had been. Ash wished that was enough for him to breathe a sigh of relief, but if anything, it only made him more bewildered.

  Where had she been all this time? And why had she gone radio silent?

  “Welcome to Paragon Island, Riley,” Cynthia said, raising a hand. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be here for your return and arrival.”

  “Don’t be,” Riley said. “I don’t know much about your operation here, but I do know it’s supposed to be discreet, so I apologize for intruding. I promise I won’t speak a word of this to anyone.”

  “Oh, I’m not worried about that. But since you’re here, please do join us inside. We have lots to discuss.”

  Cynthia swept through them, her signature sable coat billowing behind her.

  “Wait!” Zinnia demanded.

  Cynthia turned.

  Zinnia scowled. “Where have you been all this time?”

  Cynthia’s eye glinted. “Taking care of business. Come. I’ll tell you all about it inside.”

  As she continued back to base, the other members of Paragon glanced between each other, bewildered, but ultimately followed.

  “Is Sylvester not with you?” N asked, walking up beside Cynthia.

  “Sylvester…” Cynthia murmured. “Sylvester. He’s in the field. I can’t discuss the nature of his work, but we may not be seeing him for some time.”

  “Did he say anything about Anabel?” Sabrina asked.

  Cynthia glanced over at Anabel’s severed arm. “I’m sorry. I don’t believe so. How is your recovery?”

  “Going well,” Anabel grumbled. “I was just about to take to the field.”

  “I’m glad to hear that. I’ll need all hands on deck for what’s upcoming.”

  “Ughhh, I’m tired of cooking,” Zinnia groaned. “Where’s the maid?”

  Cynthia brought them to the main situation room and swiftly took her seat at the head. The other members of Paragon filled in their usual seats, while Riley awkwardly seated himself near Ash and Sabrina.

  “First things first, thank you for your reports, Ash and Sabrina,” Cynthia said. “And I’m glad you two and Riley found your way back to us safely. It sounds like you were on quite the excursion.”

  Ash nodded. They’d worked together on the write-up the evening they’d returned, and it was then that Ash found out how Sabrina always got hers done so quickly. It turned out she could use her telepathy to extract her record of her assignments almost instantly, then Alakazam helped her transcribe it. It was times like that that made Ash wonder how he’d come this far without a single psychic-type.

  “As much as I’d like to hear the story from you personally, I’m afraid we have more pressing matters.”

  Cynthia clicked her remote, turning on the screen behind her to display an array of headlines from articles on current events. Ash drank them up greedily, reading as fast as he could to piece together everything he’d missed.

  “The world has changed, far more than even the public has realized,” Cynthia explained. “What’s being reported in the press barely scratches the surface of the most important movements being made right now. And as unsavory as it is to say, most of what I’m referring to has to do with politics.

  Riley bristled, clearly disturbed at the possibility of Rota’s tragedy being leveraged for political gain.

  “Unfortunately, the party exploiting Rota’s tragedy the most right now is the Pokémon League,” Cynthia said. “Or, elements within it.”

  “The Pokémon League?” N wrinkled his brows. “What do you mean?”

  “Ash, Sabrina, and Riley, I don’t expect you to be aware, but the others should. The League is making a power grab right now under the guise of security and national defense.”

  “Are you talking about the expansion of their partnerships with the regional governments?” Anabel asked.

  “Yes.” Cynthia faced the three who’d just returned from Hisui. “The League has always had a relationship with the government, but shortly after you three disappeared, they held a joint press conference at Indigo Plateau with the R9 and announced that League personnel would begin to take senior positions within each region’s national defense and intelligence apparatus. This was also when they announced they’d be leaving the World Champion seat empty, leaving some to speculate it may later be filled by a government operative.”

  “At the risk of asking the obvious, what’s wrong with that?” Ash asked. “You’re still a Champion of the League, right?”

  “I am, though for how much longer that will last, I’m not sure. In short, by filling the government with private operatives, the regions are essentially outsourcing out their duties to the League. Ash, you were crowned World Champion two years ago. What if, beyond accolades and attention, that position also granted you, say, the keys to the kingdom for any region on the planet? It’s easy to see how this could be abused, especially since private citizens like League members aren’t beholden to the same standards as policymakers and politicians. We’re already seeing corruption seep into the League’s lower ranks…”

  “Like an unofficial but official new arm of the government, huh?” Zinnia muttered.

  Riley raised his hand. “I apologize, I’m not too in the know when it comes to politics. What is the R9?”

  “The R9, or Regions Nine, is an intergovernmental forum that represents all nine regions of the world,” Anabel explained. “It’s through the R9 that most of the diplomacy between the regions is conducted, and there are several sub-councils within it. Basically, it’s like an unofficial alliance between all nine regions.”

  “Right,” Cynthia said. “And it was the Security Council, composed of Kanto, Hoenn, and Unova, that was responsible for making the decision to partner with the League.”

  Cynthia clicked her remote, bringing up images and video clips of the summit at Indigo Plateau. Ash saw her in attendance alongside the other Champions, along with various other dignitaries and leaders he didn’t recognize.

  “In the past few months, we’ve seen an unprecedented amount of turnover of gym leaders. The rule of the strong is fast approaching, and surely, not everyone who takes the mantle of the League will be an honest actor.”

  “So what are you proposing?” Ash asked. “I mean, nothing you’ve said sounds illegal, and it seems like this is what the people of the world want right now to feel safe.”

  “I’ve identified three objectives,” Cynthia said, pausing the screen. “First, I’d like to know who specifically was responsible for this decision and its implementation. It came down far too quickly after what happened in Rota for it to have been a response to the will of the people. This was a topdown decision.”

  “Do you have anyone in mind?” Sabrina asked.

  “Not one name, no. But after learning of the Plates and Platebearers, I don’t think we can rule out their involvement. Zinnia, I think you’d be best suited for this task. We’ll need reconnaissance performed at Indigo Plateau, and anywhere else the League has centralized its leadership.”

  Zinnia snapped a lazy salute.

  “Second, I’d like to increase our influence and gain better visibility within the League itself. I don’t want to be blindsided by another development like this, and that means we need more senior positions within it. As I said, I’m not sure how much longer I can keep mine. I’ve never been the most cooperative with the League, and it seems like they’re tightening their ranks now. Sabrina, if possible, I’d like you to revisit your old gym and…politely ask for your position back, or win it back by force, if necessary. Anabel, I’m charging you with an Elite Four seat of your choosing, and Ash… Would it be too much to ask to have you settle for Champion?”

  Ash grinned. “I can’t promise they’ll take me back after the stunt I pulled last time, but sure. It’ll be a good opportunity to see Iris and Alain again.”

  Sabrina scowled at Ash, and nodded at Cynthia. Anabel smiled and stretched in her chair, eager to get off the island and do something.

  “Third, we need to pin down the whereabouts of AZ’s weapon. I’m very concerned about how quickly the League was able to squirrel it away, and with so many coming in and out of the League now, it’s paramount that we find it. As for a lead, Champions Lance and Diantha were spotted in Geosenge a few days after the attack. N, I’ll leave that to you.”

  N nodded. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let it out of my sight in the first place. This is my blunder.”

  Cynthia shook her head. “No. Without your help, there would have been many more dead in Rota. You two made the right call.”

  Riley nodded in agreement, then turned to Cynthia. “Cynthia, if I may. I’d like to help, if possible. I’ve decided to help Ash on his journey as a Platebearer, and if he’s working with you, then I’d like to do the same.”

  Cynthia smiled. “Excellent. Of course we can always use more help. Ordinarily, I’d put you through a trial by fire like I did for the others, but we’re a bit short on time. Will you help Zinnia investigate the League?”

  Riley bowed his head. “I would be glad to.”

  Zinnia pursed her lips. “My turn to take on the rookie, huh?” She glanced at N and smirked, and Ash scowled at her.

  “So what’s Sylvester working on?” Sabrina asked.

  Cynthia’s storm-gray eyes glittered. “As I said, I can’t speak about him. I’m sorry.”

  “More secrets again already?” Zinnia grumbled. “I thought we were past that.”

  Cynthia’s face was a mask. “Secrets. Yes, right. I’m sorry, but I can say no more.”

  “Is he safe at least?” Anabel asked.

  “I suspect so.”

  Ash stared at Cynthia. She was wearing the face she always wore when she was hiding something. Absentmindedly, he glanced over at Sabrina.

  And found her already looking at him.

  An unspoken question passed between them, but Ash shook his head.

  Sabrina was asking if she should read Cynthia’s mind.

  “I’ll need about three days to finalize plans and coordinate everything,” Cynthia said, standing. “Please ready your pokémon and prepare for your assignments.” She clicked her remote and turned her screen off.

  Ash watched as she swept out of the room and headed upstairs toward her office

  A silence settled over the table.

  “That

  “That’s it?” Anabel said.

  “What do you mean?” Riley asked.

  “You three just got back from time traveling. I’d think she’d be a little more interested.”

  “She’s got a lot going on,” Zinnia mumbled. “She can’t just indulge herself. Doesn’t stop the secrets though I guess.”

  Ash’s brows tightened. “I thought she was starting to be more honest with us. Maybe not.”

  “What could Sylvester possibly be doing right now?” Anabel said, leaning back in her seat. “Besides what she just assigned us, what else even is there?”

  “Maybe he found a Plate,” N suggested. “Though I’m not sure why she’d need to hide that from us.”

  “It’s the same thing as before,” Sabrina muttered. “When she told us about the woman who helped her create the Paragon Organization. She brushed past the woman’s name without any good reason. Same as now. Brushing past Sylvester’s mission without telling us why.” She looked up. “Why wouldn’t she?”

  “Or why couldn’t she?” Ash said. “Before we…left…she said she wanted what was best for us, and for the world. Is this the same?”

  Zinnia snorted. “We’re all talking like she’s not right upstairs right now. Why don’t you get those legs moving and ask her?”

  “Are you not curious, Zinnia?” N asked.

  For a single moment, Zinnia’s eyes flashed like anger, but it was gone by the time Ash had realized.

  “Let’s have a little faith in the woman. She’s dealing with a lot more than we are. Are any of you thinking about the state of the world, and the powers that govern it, and how to slip the Paragon Organization among them?” Zinnia’s gaze swept the table. “I don’t know about you all, but…” Her voice faltered and her gaze dropped. “But…she saved my life. And bringing me here to meet you guys…” She raised her head, but scowled and turned away. “Anyway, I’ve had enough of the nonsense. Ash and Sabrina are back, Cynthia is too, let’s try not to fuck this up again, okay?”

  N pursed his lips. “Burying your head in the sand like this… It’s unlike you, Zinnia.”

  Zinnia raised a brow. “Oh? I seem to recall you once telling me you don’t make a habit of questioning your benefactor. This is quite unlike you, N. Should we all huddle up and start talking about you behind your back?”

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  N closed his eyes. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

  Ash stood from his chair. “Trust goes both ways. Let’s get ready as she said. As you said, we’re all together again now. Whatever happens, we’ll handle it together.”

  Zinnia cracked a thin smirk. “Let’s have a battle, Ash. It’s been awhile.” As she marched out of the conference room, she whipped around. “Sorry you had to see that, Riley! Just a bit of family business!”

  Once she was gone, Anabel sighed. “Family business, huh? She cares about us too much.”

  “We’re all she has,” N breathed, shiny with sweat after Zinnia’s scolding. “And I’m no different. I am too reckless with those things I cannot afford to lose. Zinnia has far more empathy.”

  For a man who could hear the voices of pokémon, and had made it his mission to understand humanity, it was quite a thing for N to say. But perhaps he wasn’t wrong. For as callous as she was, Zinnia took great care not to rock the boat that was the Paragon Organization. She valued what she had, and protected it accordingly.

  “She has blind spots,” Anabel responded coldly. “I did too, and it cost me this.” Her stump twitched as she raised her shoulder. “If she wants to protect what she has, then she’d be demanding to know where Sylvester is and why Cynthia won’t tell us.”

  As Anabel stood, Sabrina stood with her and offered her arm.

  “Read her mind?” Anabel asked as they walked out.

  “No,” Sabrina said.

  “Let’s meet Zinnia outside,” Ash said to Riley. “If you’re gonna be working with her, better get to know her.”

  “Are you saying I should battle her?” Riley asked.

  “Why not? She’ll probably force you to anyway.”

  As they left, N remained in his seat, tapping his finger on the table. His other hand curled around the Light Stone at his neck.

  As challenged, Ash battled Zinnia to a stalemate until none of their pokémon could continue. As predicted, she challenged Riley immediately after, before healing any of her exhausted pokémon. As expected, she lost horrifically.

  “Your Aerodactyl is supposed to be a distant relative of the dragon,” she said, unconcerned at her loss as she strode right up to Riley’s stone beast to get a closer look at it. “I wonder if it knows anything about the Great Dragon…”

  “I can have Lucario ask him later,” Riley offered, recalling Aerodactyl. “Though I wouldn’t get your hopes up.”

  “Have you been treating your own pokémon since Sylvester’s not around? Ash asked, clutching the pokéballs of his pokémon Zinnia defeated. She didn’t seem in a hurry to heal her team.

  “Of course. Don’t tell me you can’t handle that without your maid.”

  Riley raised a hand and summoned an orb of Aura. “I can provide some healing as well, if you don’t mind.”

  “Oooh.” Zinnia stuck out a finger and moved to touch it, and when Riley didn’t move his hand away, she took that as a sign that it was okay. “Hmmm, it doesn’t really feel like anything.”

  “Well, it is just energy right now. Its texture changes greatly depending on what I intend to use it for.”

  “Pretty versatile stuff, huh?” Zinnia said, waving her hand through it.

  “The most versatile substance in the world, arguably. Every pokémon attack is shaped from raw Aura after all.”

  Seeing Riley and Zinnia getting along, Ash breathed a sigh of relief. As Riley began the treatment of Zinnia’s pokémon, under the blank stare of Aster the Whismur, Ash left his pokémon behind to be treated next, and bid the two goodbye for now.

  “Say hi to Sabrina for me,” Riley called, and Ash’s face warmed as he walked away.

  “Give us a second, would you, buddy?”

  Pikachu squeaked and jumped off Ash’s shoulder, giving a motivating chirp before running back toward Zinnia and Riley.

  I don’t need any motivation, we’re just talking, Ash thought, walking back to base.

  He found Sabrina waiting for him in a hallway with tall windows that pointed toward Riley’s healing session, exactly where she said she’d be waiting for him in her telepathic message.

  Ash’s heart clenched when he saw her, and he glanced away before he could stop himself. “Where’s Anabel?”

  Sabrina faced the window. “The medicine makes her drowsy so she’s resting.”

  “Hm.” Ash exhaled, placing himself beside her. “So what did you want to talk about?”

  Ash wasn’t looking directly at her, but he could see her squirm out of the corner of his eye, and her head turned away from him.

  “I just wanted to say sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you that.”

  Ash paused. “Asked me that… Asked me what?”

  “About Cynthia. About reading her mind.”

  Ash’s eyes flicked toward her. “Did you ask me that?”

  Sabrina turned to him, her brows knit.

  “I didn’t think we were so close we could exchange words with a single look.”

  Sabrina’s eyes didn’t leave him. “Unless you can read my mind then I guess we are.” The moment she finished her sentence, her face reddened, but she still didn’t look away.

  Ultimately, it was Ash who broke eye contact first, turning back toward the window. “R-Right. I don’t think it’s something you needed to apologize for. And either way, it’s my fault to begin with. You asked because you knew I wanted to know, right?”

  “I…” Sabrina’s voice trailed off.

  “I’m sorry too. It’s just… Something seems off.” Ash rubbed his neck. “I don’t know, maybe I’ve just been out of it for too long.”

  “Do you miss them?” Sabrina said quietly.

  Ash closed his eyes, banishing visions of their Hisuian friends from his mind before they could coalesce. “Of course.” He chuckled. “It’s weird, isn’t it. None of us died and nothing tragic happened, but it feels that way, doesn’t it?”

  “We weren’t supposed to be in the past for so long. Humans aren’t even supposed to time travel.”

  “It’s in the past now. It always was.” Ash’s brows tightened as he hardened his gaze. “We need to look ahead again.”

  When he turned to face Sabrina, neither of them were blushing, and Sabrina nodded.

  “On that topic, I think we’ll have to postpone our…thing. I’m sorry.” Ash scratched the back of his head, trying and failing to keep eye contact with her.

  “Can’t you just say date?” Sabrina pouted.

  Ash sighed and nodded. “Yeah. Our date.”

  Sabrina stuck her bottom lip out in dismay.

  Three days later

  “He said we have to postpone our date.”

  “What a jackass,” Zinnia drawled, shoveling a handful of popcorn into her mouth.

  “Be nice, Zinnia.”

  The three girls were in Anabel’s room, with Anabel and Sabrina on the bed, and Zinnia eating on the floor.

  Anabel had been furious upon learning Sabrina had waited three days to inform her about the new “development,” and she’d called this meeting immediately to address it. Admittedly, they’d been fairly busy the last three days, especially Anabel and Sabrina, reacclimating themselves to the field, but now, they had some down time, and that had been when Sabrina had finally decided to deliver the unfortunate news to Anabel.

  Anabel sighed and caressed Sabrina’s hand. “Sorry, Sabrina. I know you’ve been looking forward to this…for a long time.”

  “Not that long!”

  “We all saw the way you looked at him,” Zinnia barked.

  “All of us except for her,” Anabel whispered, leaning close, and Sabrina smiled.

  “I heard that.” Zinnia dumped another handful of popcorn in her mouth. “N didn’t realize either.”

  “Oh, he didn’t?” Anabel asked innocently. “And how, pray tell, do you know that?”

  “That guy’s a bonehead. Of course he didn’t know.”

  “Mmm.” Anabel leaned back in her bed. “Peas in a pod you two are then. You get each other so well.”

  “Don’t make me laugh. And we’re talking about Sabrina here.” Zinnia turned around and glanced up at her. “So, what do you like about him?” Despite her not being the subject of the conversation and her voice being steady, Zinnia’s face was bright red. Romance was as foreign to her as it was to Sabrina.

  “I…I can’t say that.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because…it’s too embarrassing.” Sabrina buried face in one of Anabel’s many pillows.

  “We’ll get those details in a later meeting, Zinnia,” Anabel declared as if it was a foregone conclusion. “Why don’t you tell us when you started liking him.”

  They’d started this conversation just after lunch, but it was late afternoon when it finally concluded. It was time for another dose of medicine for Anabel—one of the last—and Zinnia offered to get it for her.

  As the door shut behind them, Sabrina turned to Zinnia and pumped her fist, feeling a renewed sense of confidence in her ability to absorb and administer love advice after their talk. “Good luck with N!”

  Zinnia looked appalled, yet she was blushing all the same. “How many times do I have to say it? That pretty boy is not for me! No chance! Zero percent!”

  Before Sabrina could respond, Zinnia took off down the hall, leaving her alone.

  Sabrina smiled warmly. She hadn’t even realized how much she’d missed her friends until she had them back. And after her adventures in Hisui, now more than ever, she felt like she had something she could contribute to conversations.

  Once things settled down in the world, she wanted to return to this peace.

  Ash and Riley had been outside last she heard, so she started toward the door, but before she got there, she ran into N in the hall leading to the main living room. His arms were folded and he was leaning on the wall as if waiting for her. He looked up when he heard her approaching.

  “N?”

  He was biting the inside of his mouth, and his face was pale.

  “Sabrina,” he said quietly, approaching her. “Do you have a minute? I want to ask you something.”

  “Sure…” It was unlike him to look so upset. “What’s wrong?”

  N’s eyes twitched, his breathing unsteady. “When’s the last time you saw Cynthia?”

  Sabrina thought for a moment. “This morning. Why?”

  Even though she was on the island just like the rest of them, she remained confined to her office for almost the entire time, not joining them for meals or conversation. Sabrina had only seen her briefly in the kitchen this morning after waking up for her usual training with the sun, but she’d darted off back to her office with scarcely a word.

  N opened and closed his mouth several times, as if trying to decide what to say. “Have you noticed anything strange about her?”

  “I mean… Everything about her is strange. But we’re in a strange time.”

  N shook his head. “I meant, have you noticed anything strange about her?”

  Ah.

  Sabrina’s chest thumped and she frowned. Should I tell him?

  His eyes were pleading, and honest.

  Sabrina swallowed. “Ah…well… Actually, there was…something I put inside her… A bit of psychic energy, like a needle…

  N frowned. “A needle? Why…? No, never mind. Please continue.”

  “She found it shortly before the attack on Rota. I said I’d take it out, but she told me to leave it in. That psychic needle…I noticed it’s no longer there this morning, so maybe she decided to take it out herself…”

  “I see,” N mumbled. “That would make sense.”

  “What makes sense?” Sabrina said, her anxiety rising. “What are you saying about her?”

  “Where are the others?” N asked quickly. “Anabel is in her room, but…?”

  Sabrina took a few deep breaths, forcing herself to calm down, but N’s alarm was not making it easy. “Zinnia was getting Anabel’s medicine… Ash and Riley were outside near Sylvester’s day care, I think.”

  N nodded, exhaling shakily. He met Zinnia’s eyes and brushed his temple with his finger. “Can you hear me?” he whispered.

  Sabrina nodded once.

  Without looking away, N spoke silently. We’re being watched.

  Sabrina frowned. By Cynthia? What do you mean?

  N ran his fingers through his hair. When she first arrived three days ago, I had my suspicions. She had a voice I could hear where before she did not. It spoke differently from her mouth. It spoke of us. Evaluating us like some sort of machine. About our condition, our strength, and…our trust, or lack thereof, in her. It was so quiet I thought I was imagining it… but when I pass her office, I hear it. N inhaled sharply. She is reporting on us.

  Sabrina felt her mouth go dry. To who?

  I don’t know. Perhaps the Alolan woman she spoke of before.

  I’m sure it’s for a good reason. Cynthia told us before—

  N shook his head, cutting her off. Slowly, he leaned closer to her until his lips were beside her ear.

  “The person who returned to us three days ago isn’t Cynthia,” he whispered.

  Sabrina shivered, his breath condensing in her ear. As he withdrew, she saw fear in his eyes.

  “What should we do?” she breathed. “If it’s not her, then how did she get on the island?”

  “I don’t know. If it is that woman, then perhaps she’d already—“

  “N. Sabrina. Are you ready to move out?”

  Ice shot through Sabrina’s veins and she spun around.

  Cynthia stood at the other end of the hall, basked in shadow.

  Sabrina’s heart hammered in her chest. Had she heard them? What was she going to do? What was she capable of?

  “We’re ready,” N called, raising his voice. “Shall I get the others? Sabrina just told me Anabel took some medicine, but it isn’t the kind that makes her drowsy anymore so she should be ready.”

  “I would appreciate that, thank you.”

  Cynthia began walking toward them. Her hands were in her pockets, and already, she’d taken her eyes off them, her destination behind them, perhaps. That was the way to the front door.

  Despite what he’d offered, N remained rooted in place, a bead of sweat dripping down his neck. Sabrina remained as well, her eyes frozen on Cynthia.

  I can’t turn my back to her. I can’t turn my back to her. But…!

  Cynthia’s heels clacked against the floor as she paced toward them, her long strides swiftly closing the gap. Soon, she would be within arm’s length.

  “Oh, Cynthia!”

  Ash’s voice rang out from behind Cynthia, and Cynthia wheeled around.

  Ash and Riley stood at the other end of the hall, sweaty from whatever they’d been doing outside.

  “Oh, hey, Sabrina and N too! Are you guys ready for dinner? Riley and I were gonna get started on that soon.”

  “We’re moving out now, Ash,” Cynthia said coldly. “Please ready your pokémon and prepare—“

  “Wait,” N said, his hand closing around the white stone that hung from his neck. Slowly, his eyes shifted to Cynthia. “Cynthia, if you’d oblige a slightly unusual request of mine, I’d like to see one of your pokémon right now. Any one of them will do.”

  Cynthia frowned. “That is unusual. Why do you want that?”

  At the end of the hall, Riley’s brows furrowed in confusion, but Ash had a poker face.

  “I’d just like to see one of your pokémon, please,” N repeated. “Roserade, or perhaps Glaceon would be plenty fine. No need to deploy any of the larger ones.”

  Cynthia’s belt was lined with pokéballs, but her hand didn’t move. She glanced at N and Sabrina, then at Ash and Riley, then took a step back to reposition herself so she could see all four of them.

  Sabrina’s eyes glinted as she extended her psychic feelers toward Cynthia. Time to fulfill Ash’s request.

  But before she could, a thin spear of lightning shot down the hallway between them, a blinding flash racing over the walls.

  It hadn’t even been close to hitting Cynthia, yet her body twisted away from it, flipping into a crouch on the floor.

  At least, that’s what Sabrina thought it was for half a second. In reality, she looked more like she was standing on all fours, but facing upright. Cynthia’s feet and one elbow rested on the ground, her torso was curled at an unnatural angle, and her hair and facial expression had both frozen.

  Her skin bubbled, and a sheen of deep purple rippled over her form. Her clothes and pokéballs melted into purple slime as her limbs fused to her body.

  The next lightning spear would have hit her square in the chest, but her form curled out of the way, oozing up the wall and across the ceiling in a blur. The last of her human elements vanished as her body coalesced into a single mass.

  Before Sabrina could process what she was seeing, it leaped toward her.

  She ducked and N threw himself against the wall as it raced past them.

  “A Ditto!” N snarled. “After it!”

  Ash threw his third thunderbolt as he ran toward it, but it swerved out of the way.

  “Sabrina!” Ash roared.

  “Right!”

  Sabrina’s eyes flared and she seized upon the creature with a psychic hold. But shockingly, it dodged her grasp too, and she splintered the floor instead

  “Get out of the way!”

  Ash blitzed down the hall, electricity burning on his form, and he jumped, hanging over the Ditto like a specter. Before it could dodge again, Ash unleashed a torrent of blazing fire straight onto it. Flames licked up the walls and smoke filled the hall, making Sabrina’s eyes water and her throat burn.

  “Did you get it?” N yelled.

  Ash waved his hand, and the fire vanished, along with the smoke. “I…I think—“

  From the ashes of the disintegrated hall, Ditto reappeared, sliding along the ground until its entire form had come back together.

  “Impossible… It dodged that…?” Riley breathed.

  Its simplistic face grinned, and it leaped up, its entire body shrinking down into a glowing ball, before reforming into the shape of an Abra.

  Sabrina’s eyes widened.

  With a snicker, Ditto vanished in a flash.

  “Teleport,” N cursed.

  “Sabrina!” Ash said, but she was way ahead of him this time.

  The skin around Sabrina’s eyes cracked, violet light seeping through as she extended her field of consciousness miles outward from Paragon Island. But no matter how far she went, even as her sight eclipsed the mainland, she could not sense its presence.

  Swallowing, Sabrina shook her head. “It’s gone.”

  Next — Chapter 90 : Unknown Enemy

  I almost titled this chapter “Imposter,” but I felt that would’ve been too on the nose. Shoutout to Kyoyaiba lol