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Lights, Cameras, Action! / Songe del Roze	By : RainbowOfLight Category: Pokemon > Threesomes/Moresomes Views: 326 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: This is a nonprofit work of fiction any resemblance to real life figures is purely coincidental, and all recognized trademarks are property of their respective copyright owners. All characters will be treated as having their canon ages.

Chapter List
- 1-Prologue: Setup I
- 2-Prologue Final: Setup II
- 1
- 2
Pornography, “The explicit literary or visual depiction of sexual subject matter/any display of material of an erotic nature.”
Such an odious blight of a word it had evolved into over the last century and a half.
Anyone could face severe ostracizing from the public at large if they were seen or heard having anything to do with whatever that word was applied to.
Moral standing in the eyes of the people was God in a world becoming increasingly ruled by erotophobes and genophobes who lived and breathed "purity culture" above all else.
Too often was it where one's name was immutably smeared a pitch black tar no matter their standing in society for no other reason than that they were caught having or having made "indecent material".
Those burned the worst by the offended masses were those who shone the brightest but flew too close to the sun in slipping into the dark where their fame dearly paid for it with interest.
No one understood this phenomenon more than Diantha—Pokémon Champion of the Kalos Region second, internationally acclaimed actress first and foremost.
Diantha ruled as the "Silver Screen Queen" in her home region since her start years ago, her career a narrative of humble beginnings begetting a meteoric rise that shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon, and she came to understand the industry like the back of her hand. Stardom like hers, the kind that alighted all it touched with its sheer refulgence, was a blessing and a curse. It afforded her many things in life she could ask for if she wanted them as few would deny a queen talented in battle and performance so to speak, but there was very little she truly wanted from such a position that she did not already have or that she she could have without it, and it brought with it complications that made managing what she did have more difficult. Often did others forget that she was not a pure angel sent from on high, that she was but a human who was found in the right place at the right time to become the woman she was now, and so she spent a regrettable amount of time keeping a shroud over her to hide her radiance among the people instead of displaying it fully for them all to bask in her glow, unable to give them everything they wanted without going well beyond what she could give. She knew full well the rise and fall of countless stars who plummeted from the skies because they could not contain their light and burned too bright, and even that paled compared to those that were rechristened with the unflattering moniker of a "baleful star" because they stared too far into the dark.
Diantha, unbeknownst to the public at large, did not just stride under the morning sun and moonlight but toed the line between basking under their rays and venturing further into that "lightless zone" where what you gave off was the only light in that place. She was careful, so careful and meticulous, when she first marched into the dark, set hard rules for what could and what could not be for her to be in this place, and unwise it was to beguile a queen of such integrity to one's own satisfaction. But...there was one, exactly one, who did just that—claimed her stark white undergarments cast too much glare for the cameras in a scene she played as a femme fatale working an interrogation scene, and so she had them removed under the strict stipulation that what they concealed would remain so without them. Never again would she work with such an untrustworthy sleaze of a director once the truth of his lies were revealed in the underground film screens—her eyes wide and mortified when there laid the Silver Screen Queen's trimmed womanhood in just enough sight for all to see during that film's debut screening. And yet, that one moment that had made her face catch white-hot fire with indignant, betrayed fury...it sparked a movement like never before.
So bold and audacious it was for the time, directors and actors left and right, man and woman, they flocked to that moment of stolen dignity unaware of the scene's true deceitful making and took to it like a wildfire to scores of dry brush. It became something of a golden standard among explicit scenes augmented by it having been Diantha and her stellar performance breathing an unprecedented life into the medium, shone throughout the underground and resounded loud as the tolls of a cathedral's bells before worship. It was redone, emulated, permanently married to the consciousness of erotic genre, and though it stayed behind closed doors for consideration of the actress's public life being affected, Diantha had transformed adult movie forever.
And so, slowly, with consoling from her beloved whose eyes alone should have been privy of her full bloom as well as encouragement of those who the scene sparked a light into, Diantha carried on in this dark place with her outdoor splendor, dabbling in a growing number of erotic works that made waves in the deep blue each time she dipped her toes in. In time, she had grown accustomed to, even comfortable with, a private night life of adult movies. She still had hard rules and high standards for protocol to follow, not keen on attracting the likes of he who first deceived her, but everyone knew now to be respectful to all involved with nothing short of explicit consent from all participating parties. So it was that Diantha walked the dual life of a daylight and moonlight actress with every project she starred in made to shine like diamonds.
...
...
Diantha had read the entirety of the transcript she was handed for her next large role.
"Large" was underselling it—she would be playing the female protagonist of what was not only a lengthy five-arc series but one that would be broadcast to the public at large, and that was not even getting into the fact that it would be an adult work on top of all of that.
It was, simply put, a boundary-crossing, envelope-pushing work.
As a first, she hadn't even met the director in person yet and only received correspondences from them signed with just "J.R.II"—why she hadn't properly met them first was beyond her, perhaps a lapse in judgment during the late night she was contacted for this project.
She could always turn down the project if she ever felt uncomfortable with it, but the professional in her voiced to at the very least seek out this "J.R.II" and meet with them to see for herself if this was something worth putting a significant amount of her time into.
She has long since embraced the idea of transforming what may have been basic cheesecake flicks into art and exploring the more beautiful and honest side of sex through film media, but this work was something else.
Only the most ambitious or the most foolish would attempt a work of this caliber, and the actress part of her was keen to see who it was behind this entire thing to gauge how serious they were and if she needed to rescind her participation.
And there she felt it, a soft and gentle hand upon her shoulder that always did wonders easing her tension away.
She had never wanted for fame or riches in these sorts of works as she had plenty of both, and seeking to slake carnal thirsts or find thrilling flings had never registered in her mind—not with her beloved who would keep her happy 'til the end of her days and vice versa.
She felt the pulse of her love course through her, attuned to her thoughts and feelings to a keen point, and she felt the need to apologize for these films she would venture out to and star in if because of a small feeling that only her love should have been witness to such a private side of her.
The two turned to each other and met in a gentle embrace, powdery blue eyes meeting ruby red ones, and their fingers entwined for a spell before pulling apart.
"I doubt we'll have any issues with you walking beside me this lovely evening?"
She took her love by her hand and stepped out into the moonlight, watching it transform her into an angel of the night with her deep verdant hair and alabaster skin wrapped in a green and white dress, a colorful stone in both of their necklaces shining in unison.
...
...
The night air was cool, slightly nipping at the heels of Diantha and her love as they took to the streets incognito. Very little activity was going on so late into this time of day, the perfect time for unscrupulous acts to be carried out under the cover of darkness. Diantha and her partner were not worried of an attack at the moment; few would try to mug someone so nondescript, and none would make it past the combination of psychic and fairy power subtly kept just underneath the surface. Now, getting to this location to meet with "J.R.II" was another thing entirely as it involved quite a bit of travel—the kind that would leave you sore in the morning if you went by foot, so Diantha and her partner stood and waited for one of the few late night running taxi to come by and take them to as close to their destination as they could get since it was not located too close to much of the major roads, routes, towns, or cities in the region.
While Diantha eyed some of the establishments that were currently closed until morning's next light, her partner picked up on something barreling its way toward them with wild abandon and only a second to prepare for. A raised hand, a gust of power, and the speeding stranger was stopped dead in their tracks.
"Wh-whoa, hey—put me down!"
Diantha recognized that voice as did her partner, and the startled owner of it was quickly released from the psychic hold—landing ungracefully on their feet before toppling over flat on their keister while their Pokémon partner was considerably more graceful.
"Yeouch! You coulda let me down a little more gently..."
"Ash Ketchum?" Diantha found her voice at last, addressing the boy who nearly steamrolled her down. "What an interesting time and place meeting you here."
"Huh? Oh, hey Diantha!" Diantha extended a hand and helped the boy up to his feet. His Pikachu chittered happily seeing Diantha and her Gardevoir since they last saw each other. "Fancy running into you here!"
"I should say the same—well, I did—but it is good to see you again since the Coronation. How is everything going for you these days?"
"Super! Me and Pikachu have been training since the Coronation to make sure we stay in top shape for our next battles!" Diantha had a laugh at that. Young Mr. Ketchum had not changed much since she first met him and last saw him—a battling trainer at heart he was.
"I see. You were most impressive during your showing against Leon. I almost feel rather vicariously vindicated by your victory if I might say so." Ash responded with a scratch of the back of his head, grinning like it was no big deal but still felt touched by the compliment.
"Man, that was easily one of the toughest things I've ever gotten into my whole time adventuring to become a Pokémon Master!"
"'One of the toughest', you say? I daresay defeating Leon in a Pokémon battle is easily the most challenging thing one can accomplish to do as a trainer. Ah, well, there's other things besides battles, of course, I myself should know."
"You mean acting, right?"
"Well, not quite, but acting does carry its own array of challenges."
"Huh, I guess it does." It was then that Ash suddenly remembers something and stiffened up with a start. "Oh, shoot, I'm gonna be late!"
"Late? For something at this time of night?"
"Yeah! Believe it or not, I was actually asked to star in a series!" That was a shock to Diantha hearing that Ash Ketchum was already about to take part in some sort of series not too long after his victory in the World Champion Coronation tournament.
"Oh, well, congratulations! What is this series about if I may ask?"
"Um, I think it's about a warrior or something who travels the world and ends up in another strange land to meet with someone important who changes his life. I think I got the directions, but I got a bit lost and don't have the flyer..." At that, Diantha had to—just had to—tsk and click her tongue.
"Now, Mr. Ketchum, it is quite paramount for you to arrive on time when casting starts, else, you might lose your spot."
"Darn! I knew it was important, but the Pokémon who gave me the flyer for the series didn't give me good directions, so I was hoping they were on the flyer—I'm running back to grab it and hurry so I don't miss this!"
"Ah, I see. Well, then, I hope you're able to find your way soon, Ash."
"Thanks! I'll probably catch you later!"
"Pika-Pi—!" And there went Ash Ketchum, boy wonder and Kanto's Rising Star, dashing off into the night. In that quick moment, Diantha wondered if she should have went with him to make sure he wasn't going to miss out on what was probably his first outing on television, but right on cue, a Corviknight eventually came fluttering down with a Galarian black cab's handles in its talons, stopping before the pair with the gentleman on its back climbing down in slow, careful fashion. He was not dressed much like the typical aviators who ordinarily directed the Corviknight in flight, wearing a long and pitch black coat that fell all the way down to his ankles where one could see his polished shoes clearly not meant for prolonged aviation duty, and a similarly jet black top hat rested atop his head with a cloth hanging down from the back to cover his neck. Diantha couldn't see his face very well as he wore a mask that covered everything that his dark pince-nez glasses didn't, and stranger yet were his white-as-snow cloth gloves on each hand.
"Tidings of the night, Madame," the gentleman greeted. "Have you your fare and destination ready?"
"We do," Diantha pulled out a handful of bills and handed them to the man, though Diantha found it hard to tell if he was looking at the money she pulled out or something else. "We are looking to get as close to this spot as possible as it does not appear to have any dedicated flying taxi available in that area." The gentleman more clearly inclined his head to look over the map to where Diantha had pointed at, seeing a great manse within a more heavily forested area. At this, the gentleman then suddenly fished out the money he was given and returned it to Diantha who was all but confused at the gesture.
"If your destination is this location here, I need not accept your fare."
"...Why is that?"
"You are Madame Diantha, Champion of Kalos, correct?" Diantha took pause at the man identifying her despite keeping her identity under careful wraps.
"...I am, yes."
"Then no fare is necessary. I can transport you there straightaway as that is where we will stop."
"...Alright, then. I shall trust you on this."
"Much obliged, Madame." Diantha wanted to ask what gave her away but held her tongue until they arrived at their destination proper. In no time once Diantha and Gardevoir were seated, the gentleman climbed back aboard the Corviknight which took off into the sky steady and made way for their destination. Diantha and Gardevoir found the cabbie rather snug for space, but that was all fine for the two of them.
"Comfortable, dear?" Gardevoir responded to Diantha with a simple laying her head on her partner's shoulder, a soft hum of contentment with the comfortable ride with their hands together. "That tells me that we are in decent hands for now, at least."
No bumps, no sudden brakes, the ride was a steady and smooth journey over the dense forested area toward their destination. Well-trained was the Corviknight indeed, Diantha admiring its skill and strength in handling the cabbie in the sky. Soon, the view of their destination came into view, and it both looked nothing like how she expected a location for filming to take place yet exactly as the map depicted it: a grand castle-like cathedral structure that looked far more ominously Gothic than what was probably intended, spanning what had to have been quite a number of acres in the middle of all the forest expanse, its exterior a stark black noticeable even in the deep night and jutting up into the sky almost as if to impale whatever fell from the heavens upon their tops. Gardevoir did not stir so uneasy, but the mere appearance still put her off a fair deal, and Diantha could only agree—while the ride on the way to their destination did nothing to set her off, once they made it could turn out to be a different story.
...
...
"We have arrived, Madames." Diantha had to admit that an increasingly overwhelming sense of unease seized her just from looking at the building's sheer front entrance. Bolts upon bolts, lock upon lock, an intricate web of security measures that ill-befit a cathedral—what should be an open and safe place for people to congregate. Gardevoir telepathically intoned to Diantha that there was more to the door; metal backed by fae enchantments that could withstand all but the most disastrous fires or quakes short of an ultimate weapon blowing it down, and additional locks and chains invisible to the naked human eye raced across the frame as the handiwork of a Klefki.
"Allow me, Madames." The gentleman stepped forward and fished into his coat pockets to pull out a set of keys—some visible and others invisible to ordinary human sight, and he slotted each single invisible key into their respective locks to unlock them before he moved on to the ones that Diantha could see with ordinary keys. Before long, he had the entire set of locks undone, and then he reached into his coat again to fetch a tall cane from inside it. Cane in hand, he rapped on the door a few times then tapped it against the ground once, and finally, there was a shift. Gears whirring and latches hissing out steam heralded the great door's opening, slow and groaning with the heavy slab rising from the ground. Diantha and Gardevoir felt their breaths hitch in their throats eyeing the bottom of the door as it lifted, that it was lined with sharp spikes that promised intruders a very painful end. Diantha was about ready to withdraw herself from whatever would be going on behind this door—this nearly went beyond mere confidentiality for filming this project and veered very close to a declaration on the owner's end to kill whomever and whatever just to protect what went on inside from the outside world. Eventually, the door reached its apex, allowing Diantha and her partner passage underneath it for however long it designed to remain open, and the gentleman who opened it stepped forward and stopped just shy of the inside of the place then turned to the two ladies with a formal bowing gesture.
"Right this way, Madames." Diantha and Gardevoir merely stood in stunned silence for a spell, sharing concerned looks with each other on if they were still ready to do this. They hadn't formally started filming anything yet, and it was not too late to back out, but to do so now without even having met the director of this series project would send a message that could have its own implications across the adult industry. Diantha chose, after much deliberation and communicating with Gardevoir, to swallow down the oppressive unease threatening to swallow her, and seeing her partner do so made Gardevoir follow in her example.
"...Thank you, kind sir."
"The pleasure is mine, Madames." The gentleman waited for Diantha and Gardevoir to step inside first before trailing behind them, Gardevoir keeping her eyes roaming around to make sure no unpleasant surprises awaited them as Diantha kept her eyes ahead, and not five footsteps past the great door did the gentleman stop and fetch for his keys again. Again, he pulled up an invisible key as Gardevoir telepathically informed Diantha and used said key to slot into the opened invisible padlock and twist the key. The padlock locked itself, and the door that hung high behind them was much quicker to close than to open, shutting itself with a resounding slam in the narrow hallway space before each of the locks that were undone quickly fastened themselves back into place but on the other side. Diantha and Gardevoir had to stop themselves from thinking the word "trapped" even if it looked an apt description for how they felt in this moment, and as Gardevoir would then quickly tell Diantha, it seemed as though even the hallway itself was soundproofed with the steel lining it throughout. More fae enchantments were detected in the walls, likely lending to the lack of sound coming through and presumably to add additional fortification, and much like the steel door outside, Gardevoir could detect nothing else through them with the metal blocking her psychic sight. The only thing the two could do was press forward and see where the hallway led to, and just in case things turned out to be far worse than Diantha hoped, she made sure that Gardevoir was not the only companion with her as her hand drifted to her lower hip.
"Our destination lies ahead, Madames."
"...Yes, of course. Lead the way."
"As you wish." Diantha felt much less comfortable with the gentleman at her back in this place, relieved that he took her cue to move to the front where she could keep an eye on him while Gardevoir moved to her rear in case anything happened. The gentleman led the way down the expansive hall, confident in where he was going, while Diantha and Gardevoir were hard pressed to see anything in the increasing darkness until candles burst to life at their sides, illuminating the hallway with bright blue flames. At this, Diantha had one hand on a Poké Ball, ready to call forth her Goodra in case an attack was imminent, and Gardevoir steadily gathered up and stored power under the surface to let loose at a moment's notice; attacking the gentleman now before anything happened would not have been self-defense should Diantha find herself under trial, but better safe than sorry.
"Our destination at last, Madames." The gentleman stepped past the arched clearing of the hallway and gestured for Diantha and Gardevoir to step through after him, and they both eyed him looking to see if there was any ill intent in him to be found. Gardevoir found none as she had found nothing before, and motioning to Diantha, the two of them stepped forward into the space the gentleman entered. When they made it through, their eyes could not believe what they were seeing: a vast space stretching far and wide that seemed so much bigger on the inside than the outside made it out to be, reaching up dizzying heights with icy stained-glass windows beaming moonlight into the area that motes of light danced in the rays of. Much of the architecture was pitch-black with faintly glowing blue edges, the sort that was most prominent centuries ago holding up even now as lanterns and candles lit with blue flames gave light to the darkness, and multiple stairs climbing up every story with magenta carpets hanging from the blue cobbled flooring and tapestry hanging from above that looked almost like glass. If they didn't know any better, they would have sworn that the architecture made it look as though they were actually outside and that the stained glass windows were actually floating in the air.
"Welcome to the Rhondshrym Estate, Madames." Said estate looked like it came right out of a work of fantasy and not merely some ordinary piece of land; ethereally beautiful and haunting in its Gothic cathedral trappings, it was clearly the work of master architects from a bygone era with little who could match their craft in the present day. Diantha and Gardevoir found themselves in complete awe of their surroundings, their earlier unease having abated for the moment as they took in all the details. Before they could look at it for longer, the gentleman who led them in stepped forward and bowed solemnly in preparation to speak.
"I shall away for a spell so I may gather the necessary paperwork for you as well as to inform the producer of your arrivals. In the meanwhile, you are free to converse and mingle with the others who have gathered here in the atrium."
"Others? Right, I surmise that the two of us would not be the only ones here in this great space."
"Quite. Do forgive my momentary absence, I shall return posthaste."
"Take as much time as necessary." The gentleman walked away toward the atrium's grand staircase and began his ascent as Diantha and Gardevoir looked around to see who else was present. Off to the right, their eyes beheld surprise in them once more as the sheer number of others present was made quickly apparent. Looking less like a gathering and more like a congregation, the two of them could make out a large number of gym leaders from the various different regions and even some elite four. Diantha immediately caught the sight of Siebold, Wikstrom, and Drasna, her fellows in the Kalos Elite Four, all speaking with each other, and glad that she had familiar faces to talk to, she and Gardevoir made their way over to them to see how things were going.
"Well met Siebold, Wikstrom, Drasna." The three Elite Four trainers recognized the voice of their champion and each greeted her arrival.
"Ah, well met, m'lady. Fancy meeting you here," came Siebold's greeting.
"We were just discussing you, in fact," was Wikstrom's howdy-do.
"And hello to you too, Gardie," Drasna spoke, walking up to and shaking hands with the Pokémon. "We were becoming concerned that neither of you would show for one reason or another. I was just about to ask these darling little ones if they could call for you." Drasna gestured to and affectionately petted the two Swablu perched on opposite shoulders of hers. "I would have sent this one instead as it is indeed a dark night out, but, well... He is a little too impatient and rougher with message delivering." Drasna gestured to her Noivern with its two Noibat broodlings atop its shoulders within its tuft, it responding only with an acknowledging, somewhat indignant huff or hiss to Diantha's ears. "Oh, he's quite gentlemanly, assuming you're punctual, that is."
"Well, I am here now, right? Saved your Pokémon quite the trip trying to find me." Diantha felt so much of her earlier tension all but completely subside seeing her associates none the worse for wear and in good spirits, though a question did beg in her head. "Although, how exactly did you all get roles for this series project? I must admit, I have not yet formalized my participation in this considering the, well, content for one until I spoke to the director, and I had no idea that you were all participating in this, let alone with so many other high profile figures in this room." Diantha and Gardevoir both took sweeping gazes across the room over the many others present.
"Ah, yes, well, you see..."
"We have not yet formalized our participation either," Wikstrom answered in place of Siebold. "We voiced our concerns to the gentleman who brought us here that we would have preferred to wait for your arrival first before making any decisive calls ourselves."
"Very understanding and accommodating, that one is," Drasna said. "He gave us no trouble for it at all and merely asked us to give our final answers once we were ready to do so, and until that came, we had kept to ourselves waiting for you to come, dears."
"I see. Well, thank you for your patience, we'll not have you wait for much longer. We simply need to know who the director of this series shall be to make certain that we'll participate. Still, something about seeing all of these other people here strikes me as quite curious..." Diantha wondered who could have such pull to assemble what had to be the single biggest all-star cast through these many individuals, and Gardevoir's telepathic message was how even the likes of Lusamine was present among the large crowd of people gathered.
Even her, Aether Foundation's current president? I was under the impression that she is married with children... The thought of such a figure being present could only mean that there was some major involvement from her regarding the series either as a sponsor or, more worryingly to Diantha, as a participating actress herself.
I cannot imagine that she would be here without some significant role for her to play in the production given her status and position... Diantha and Gardevoir quickly spotted a man next to Lusamine, a dirtier shade of blonde hair with a noticeable tan and looking to have seen slimmer days yet presented himself professionally, and they immediately guessed that he was Lusamine's formerly missing husband Mohn. That much was a small relief that this wasn't some clandestine participation on Lusamine's end without her husband knowing, but the matter of their children stood. They were far from the only married couples present as Diantha spotted the likes of Cianwood City's gym leader Chuck with his own wife next to him along with Mauville City's gym leader Wattson who similarly stood with his wife, bantering with Chuck.
"Truly a colorful cast of characters, is it not?" Siebold quipped. "Like a spread of the finest dishes one could order at a five star eatery."
"That's certainly one way of putting it," Wikstrom observed. "Many faces I would have not expected to see here are in the mix, not the least of which includes every Pokémon Champion in all the regions gathered here besides Lady Diantha. Wallace, however, is none too surprising a participant, at least not in comparison to his mentor Juan also being present."
"Even the elderly such as Agatha, Bertha, and—oh my! Is that Sir Drake?" Drasna exclaimed in surprise. "Heavens me, now he is certainly not one I would have counted on to be present at all, man of the sea he is, but it's not unwelcome I must say."
Diantha and Gardevoir eventually parsed that every single gym leader, Elite Four member, and Pokémon Champion from each region they knew was in attendance, and the question again gnawed at her as well as how the flying taxi cabbie recognized her immediately. Speaking of which...
"The paperwork, Madames." Right on cue, there came the gentleman from before with just two sheets of paper in his hands, what Diantha assumed were copies of the contract she and Gardevoir would sign. Diantha and Gardevoir were sure to go over the entire thing first to make sure no hidden or otherwise obfuscated terms were placed in the papers. Seeing none, and both curious and concerned over the contracts' relative terse language of conditions, Diantha and Gardevoir turned their attention to the gentleman.
"The terms and conditions are agreeable in and of themselves," Diantha started, "however, some questions remain."
"As you may."
"You recognized me immediately even as I took to great pains to conceal my identity to avoid unwanted attention. What gave it away?"
"Our Corviknight, Madame," was the gentleman's answer. "He was trained on images of you gathered from various sources in the newspapers as well as that we could find on the Internet along with foreknowledge of your predispense toward incognito walks throughout the city to ensure we would locate the genuine article herself. His eyesight identified you before we landed."
"I see. And lastly—and I must stress this—this project is a grand undertaking for any director to try, I myself should know this as an actress working with many types in my time. Before we commit to anything in this contract and finalize our participation, we must know who the director is regardless of who else has agreed to this. You will tell me who that is, won't you?"
"But of course, Madame. You shall know the director of this project. However, I believe that it would be of great import to also introduce to you the producer who shall oversee the director and everything within this work. And with that, I shall away only once more to bring the producer to you so he may inform you properly of the state of affairs of this project."
"Is the director not present...?"
"He is. There is a protocol to introduce the producer before the director here, and so I shall make ready for that at immediate haste if you may."
"Very well, you may bring the producer to us as well.
"Much obliged, Madames." With that, the gentleman once again departed, leaving Diantha with her Elite Four associates for the time being.
"My, my, very stiff, that one," Siebold remarked. "He could use a fine meal to liven his spirits, perhaps?"
"His is the protocol that comes with military background and nobility if the latter of such exists in this age," Wikstrom observed. "Everything in his posture suggests adherence to values that come with the upbringing of war veteran offspring as well as working closely with the elites of society in the way he holds himself and carefully chooses his words. Mayhap even the finest dish would fail to crack his level of composure."
"He is quite proper," Drasna noted. "Almost strictly so. Poor young man must relax every so often." Diantha would be inclined to agree, though the nature of the gentleman wishing to first grab the producer before the director as an expected move to make given the lack of the director's mentioning the man's name so far. It was then that Diantha and Gardevoir noticed each of the champions were breaking off from their groups and converging in with each other for their own discussion. Feeling a spot of champion-to-champion conversation coming on, Diantha made to greet the others with Gardevoir at her side, bidding a brief parting to her own group for a moment. Naturally, before she made her way over proper, Diantha could see Cynthia glance out the corner of her eyes mid conversation with Iris and notice the other woman approach before she could say hello.
"Well met, Diantha," Cynthia greeted, causing Iris to notice the Kalos champion as well.
"How is it that you always manage to spot me before I can so much as get in a single hello?" Diantha and Gardevoir greeted Cynthia and Iris with respectful bows, Cynthia responding in kind.
"A preternatural ability to sense the aura of others, thanks to having a Lucario and Togekiss in my company...is what I would be saying if I had such an ability. Really, I just heard your footsteps."
"Hey there, girlfriend!" Iris bounded up to Diantha with a wave, her Haxorus breaking out of dragonspeak with Cynthia's Garchomp to follow its trainer. "Haven't seen you since the World Coronation Tournament!"
"An actress's work is never done, Iris. Good to see you too, maturing into a splendid new champion of Unova as well."
"Aw, thanks! You really mean it?"
"Absolutely."
"Look who finally joined the party." The voice came from none other than Lance, Pokémon Champion of Kanto, and tailing him were the other champions of their regions—and his cousin Clair. "Here we were thinking you wouldn't show. That'd have been a bummer."
"Pardon my tardiness, I was...ahem, preoccupied with handling other important matters." As soon as she said it, Diantha could already hear her love's thoughts—liar, she'd say, and Diantha needed not turn to see Gardevoir eyeing her with a faint and knowing smile.
"Important, huh? Why's your Gardevoir looking like she's about to rat you out?"
"Who can say but herself? You would have to ask her yourself on what it is she thinks I was doing."
Whom, Diantha could make out in her head, and she knew that Gardevoir was smiling ever so slightly more just from her tone.
"Oh, stop it, you." Diantha shared a laugh with Gardevoir, teasing but content to keep that part of their private lives out of the public eye.
"Another one, Cynthia?" Iris was voicing her disbelief that Cynthia snuck another Casteliacone and whom froze when caught like a deer in headlights. "Brah, you gotta lay off the ice cream a bit."
"Goodness, you're starting to sound like my Garchomp."
"Good! Somebody's gotta be making sure a champion'a in tip-top shape, and if it's not your grandma then it'll have to be your Garchomp!" Said Pokémon swiveled toward its trainer the moment it heard Iris say she snuck yet another ice cream cone for a snack, and Cynthia's attempt to compose herself to look cool and collected didn't look as impressive when being scolded by her own Pokémon growling warnings at her.
"Your Garchomp is making you diet?" came Lance's raucous laughter. "Oh, wow, that is so rough!"
"Ahem, well, they are right that I do need to watch my sugar. I will confess to having had a few—" The snort that came from Cynthia's Garchomp who was now inches from its trainer's face put that little white lie on ice. "—several ice cream cones tonight already. The others also warn me to watch what I eat as well, not just Garchomp, but Garchomp is the most, erm, insistent on the matter. All but my Spiritomb warn me against too much ice cream at any rate."
"I'm surprised you don't have any cavities given how much you love snacking on ice cream." Poor topic for Diantha to bring up, it seemed, as the normally calm Cynthia now wanted to avoid everyone's attention while her Garchomp merely glared at her. "Oh... I, er—"
"It's just one," Cynthia hashed out. "It's new, just discovered it yesterday... My grandmother is going to kill me."
"Better get that filled in if you haven't already," came Steven Stone's suggestion. "Rustboro's got some of the best dentists our side of the regions, and I can recommend a few choices if you really need—"
"I'm fine but thank you." Clearly not one to dwell on the topic, Cynthia was, so move on from it they did with Wallace casually strolling up to Diantha with his characteristic charm.
"Absolutely lovely to have you here with us tonight, fair lady Diantha." Easy was his smile and tone flowing like silken water, his bow graceful as he got on one knee and partook of the other champion's manicured hand with his own for a chaste peck. "We were never properly acquainted at the World Coronation Tournament, I regret, but I must say that meeting you in person at last splashed a dash of warm colors in me—oh?" The man of Sootopolis didn't get many more words in before he felt himself simultaneously pushed and pulled away from Diantha. Clearly, this was the work of an unamused Gardevoir right beside Diantha. "Ah, did I upset your fair partner?"
"Do forgive my erstwhile disciple, Madames." That voice belonged to Juan, Wallace's former mentor. "All that I know, I imparted unto him. You have my sincerest apologies if he has made you feel uncomfortable." Obvious were the similarities between student and teacher with the older gym leader's voice a smack of octaves lower still sounding just as if not smoother than the younger champion's, nevermind their flowery yet warm professionalism evident in their gestures, one of dainty flamboyance and the other of dandy class. If Wallace was a rich vanilla extract, then Juan was that deep molasses to compliment. "In any event, we are most delighted to finally meet with your esteemed personages, Madames."
"The pleasure is mine, I assure you." Etiquette begot etiquette, Diantha knew, so one or two such gestures merited a curtsy of her own—though the kiss upon her hand might have been overdoing it a bit much. "Say, Wallace, you weren't at the World Coronation despite being a champion?"
"Ah, yes, for I had not yet been anointed the title with Mr. Stone holding it then."
"It was afterward that Mr. Stone then bequeathed his noble title to Wallace following the tournament," Juan explained after Wallace. "I myself have taken up my pupil's position at Sootopolis's gym."
"Interesting." Right then, Diantha noticed Claire, Lance's cousin who ran Blackthorn City's gym among the other champions. "Claire? You've become a champion too? I was not aware that Kanto and Johto held separate leagues."
"They didn't until after the World Coronation Tournament," Claire said. "Figured it was about time I moved up as Johto's Champion. I already have my own successor ready to take over my old post once that happens."
"It because she lost a bet against me so she can handle her losses easier as champion than as a gym leader," Lance threw in, unrepentant about it and immediately earning an annoyed grimace from Claire.
"No one needed to know that, Lance."
"Well, best of fortunes to you in this new endeavor, Claire. I look forward to a proper spar once that happens."
"Likewise, Diantha. You'll find my dragon Pokémon much harder to tame than your average dragon user." Claire's confidence was nothing if not legendary, and Diantha liked to see that in a trainer who was sure of their skills. She knew of Claire's own victories in the Indigo League, being talented enough to regularly take on the Elite Four and lose only to Lance, that being the only thing holding her back from joining the Elite Four otherwise. Still, she was also infamously a sore loser when it came to everyone but Lance, trainer after trainer sharing "horror stories" of needing to further prove themselves to the increasingly exasperated elders of Blackthorn's dragon tamers once they beat her in a fair match. Perhaps becoming champion would do her some good to learn a bit of humility and acceptance in loss.
Just before Diantha could converse further, she received a sharp psychic signal from Gardevoir whose attention was further from the crowd of gym leader's and champions, more where he other Elite Four were, and Diantha saw exactly why.
It was her.
It was Malva.
Former Fire-type Elite Four specialist of Kalos, disgraced after her ties to Team Flare were revealed to the public after its leader Lysandre's downfall.
Agent Looker was the one her booked her into a prison stay when she turned herself in with Team Flare's dissolution.
She who had advanced the team's plans to harvest the power of Zygarde and wipe all life beyond Team Flare itself clean from the planet.
She who carried on as the HoloCaster's anchorwoman and member of Kalos's Elite Four with no one the wiser to her true allegiance.
She who should have still been in prison.
Here she was in the flesh, shooting the breeze with Karen who made humoring Malva look easy with everyone knowing the woman's history, and if only that was Diantha's only issue beyond feeling so betrayed by having trusted someone like her. Malva had her fair share of film appearances like Diantha, not as much, but she knew how to act, and she knew how to take a scene way too far. Diantha and Gardevoir remembered that one film they saw her feature in years ago, Malva in the role of a teacher who had her eyes on a young student of hers, but Malva had went way out of line in improvising the scene where the teacher's affairs with the student was caught; the teacher and student were supposed to be clothed in the scene even if their bodies were obscured by the school piano they had made their move, but Malva took the scene a step further in ignoring that part which left the boy playing the student bare below his waist and Malva herself foregoing her everything. The scandal the Kalos League faced over Malva's performance in that movie, moreso after the director and producer of that film were both jailed for unrelated offenses shortly afterward, had Diantha and the others roiling for months in assuaging the public that Malva's actions did not reflect their views as a whole. Diantha still remembers the calm yet scathing reproach she gave Malva who insisted she did nothing wrong that day.
And here she was again, free as a bird from the jail she was recently put away in.
Diantha had so many questions buzzing in her head at once, warning sirens going off, the instinctual need to confront and call out the woman who abused the trust of so many in advancing Lysandre's genocidal madness under their noses. A hand in her shoulder warned her against making a scene, to observe and keep a close watch on from a distance. Diantha knew Gardevoir was looking out for her and to keep her safe from falling into whatever trap or scheme Malva could be running, and Diantha heeded Gardevoir's counsel to remain calm...
...which lasted about all of five seconds before Malva took notice of her former colleague and responded with a sly grin and flirty wave followed by blowing a kiss her way as if they were still friends. Not even Gardevoir was willing to let that slide, but reckoning would have to wait—for the bells tolled from the upper floors and ceiling as though church service was about to begin.
Everyone's attention was brought to the sounds surrounding them, the atrium falling silent beyond the ringing until another noise took hold in the space. Great doors a story high slowly opened, and past them stood two individuals facing the crowd with Pokémon behind each one. They took their time making it too the stairs, and when they did, everyone noticed right away that one of the two individuals appeared to have difficulty making it down the stairs with the other person at their side the whole time, and only when the pair fully made it down the lengthy stairs did anyone realize why that was so.
Is that the producer...? Diantha was as much surprised as all the rest of the gatherers seeing the two make it before them, and the contrast could not be any clearer between them: one of the two was the same gentleman from before having discarded his mask so his pale and gaunt features could be made out, still wearing his dark pince-nez glasses and pitch-black suit from before with his cane in hand while the jet-black gloss over his lips was a stark contrast to nearly everything surrounding it along with his slicked wavy hair reaching down to his shoulders; he was a picture of Goth aesthetic yet still managed to look a complete gentleman; the man beside him, however, was the more notable appearance with how he appeared almost as if he had just risen from a sick bed with his drab brown overcoat and washed -out beige trousers, but from his long and disheveled gray hair reaching down to his ankles from where he sat atop his powered wheelchair, his mustache and beard covering him so where it was hard to tell a man was underneath it all or that he had age-old scars with one racing across an eye even cloudier than the other already blind organ, and his visible intravenous drip administered to him even here painted a portrait of a man not long for this world. Behind the two were Pokémon who told a different story themselves—a Corviknight (the same one who ferried them here Diantha recognized) with chinks and scratches alongside battle gouges dashed across its impressive coat of armor and carried itself proudly behind the gentleman, yet the elderly man next to him had an pristine Aegislash closely attending him in silent observation.
There was a great pause before anyone dared say anything, and that was all they were allotted before the crackling of an old radio-like device sparked to life somewhere under the elderly man's thick beard.
[WELCOME. ONE AND ALL. TO THIS HISTORIC SITE. WHERE WE SHALL BREAK NEW GROUND. TREAD NEW WATERS. IN MAKING HISTORY.]
Everyone present could hardly contain the wincing in them. The electronic voice that greeted them was far from that of what anyone would have expected, sounded worn down even in the radio itself sounding out of function half the time, and the voice it brought forth sounded raspy and in desperate need of water and lozenges.
[I ADDRESS YOU. AS THE PRODUCER OF THE SERIES. THAT SHALL BE FILMED. JACQUEMONTII RHONDSHRYM.]
Diantha took exceptional pause at the name, and she was far from the only one.
Jacquemontii Rhondshrym? The Jacquemontii Rhondshrym himself? The man was no ordinary producer but a legendary movie director who rocked the world of film and cinema with his avant-garde storming into the medium with bold, gripping, and deeply profound tales that moved hearts and proved the merit of storytelling that ventured into the nitty-gritty recesses of society. His films were the absolute golden standard one should strive for in explicit adult media but that no other could ever truly capture as whatever genius his brain held was unique to him and him alone, fueled even more by his experiences as a war veteran in a handful of overseas conflicts away from home then further solidified into their unmatched present form by his subsequent marriage to the love of his life. If Diantha was the Queen of the Silver Screen who captured the day, then Jacquemontii ruled uncontested as the Lord of Deep Night Cinema for a longer period of time than her own career. Diantha herself found her calling into entertaining explicit film having been spurred on by one of his movies, so there was a sense of understanding that she had this man to thank for her finding her own in this business flip side to her usual fare. But...to see him so brittle in his advanced age, withering away as he was now in spite of all his achievements in movies and beyond where he truly could be called a hero in the wars he fought and bled in...Diantha would never take the fallen Lysandre's words to heart about preserving beauty eternal and kept true to her words about not fearing age taking much of her beauty away while looking forward to what roles she would have then, but she would never wish something so horribly damaging to any one person once age caught up to them and their sunset years were all too quick to usher them out the door.
[I STAND HERE. BEFORE THE NEXT GENERATION. AS A GUIDE. AN ADVISOR. FOR THIS WORK. MY TIME. AS DIRECTOR. HAS ENDED.] Again, the room was stunned into silence with the man behind the greatest explicit films stating in no uncertain terms that he is not the director, and before too much shock could take over the space, the Gothic gentleman stepped forward to address the crowd.
"I, Jacquemontii Rhondshrym the Second, shall serve in Ser Father's place as the director of this project. Vested within my breast is the will I carry from my Ser Father, my departed Madame Mother, and my departed dearly beloved sister Jeanette Rhondshrym to accomplish this grand undertaking in the medium of film, come what may in the future." The reveal of this same gentleman as the director himself inheriting his father's position, waiting until after his father introduced himself and stated his role, that and his high sense of formality, spoke of his clear deference to his old man in a way that spoke to deep respect even as the son himself looked to be reaching his fifties yet kept enough of his prime energy and youth in comparison to his aged sire. "A tale decades in the making, beginning with my Ser Father and departed Madame Mother as a joint work, shall now be put from its completed script into film at last."
[PARDON. THE DELAY. IN REACHING OUT. BEFOREHAND. MUCH HAS TRANSPIRED.] Diantha and some others also knew well the tragic history of the Rhondshrym family, that on the eve of Jacquemontii Sr. and his wife Yorna Rhondshrym's thirty-fourth wedding anniversary, terrible illness claimed her life where before she had been a bill of health. Jacquemontii and his two children had retreated from the public eye for a time and had halted some projects of his to grieve in the time since, and just when they seemed to have recovered from their loss, the same illness had claimed the daughter years later in a single night. Medication meant to save their lives had not developed for a other handful of years. The surviving men of the family had all but seemed to vanish from the world stage completely, and here they now stood, ready to make another work at last.
"I must first ask, before we begin, if all participating parties understand the nature of this work, what it entails, the roles to be performed in it?" Diantha studied the room for reactions across the many individuals gathered in the atrium: some of the fresher faces such as Jasmine from Johto's Olivine City and Roxanne from Hoenn's Rustboro City blushed and became bashful in response but showed a willingness to participate despite the content the series would involve, some more surprising faces such as Sabrina from Kanto's Saffron City and Brycen from Unova's Icirrus City remained neutral which spoke to their professional approach to the project given their prior experience in acting at Pokéstar Studios, and others like Wallace and even Lusamine with her husband expressed eagerness or anticipation in looking forward to playing their roles—to say nothing of that predatory gleam in Malva's eyes even if the actual work itself would have otherwise made her groan and deride it as "trashy teenage wish fulfillment". No one had voiced any misgivings on what it was they all signed up for which Diantha supposed was a blessing at least, but something about this all bothered her: she was informed that she would be performing along a co-star with whom she would feature as the female protagonist and them as the male protagonist, but surely they would have already been here if they were or at the very least greet her, although she herself was late to be completely fair to them. "I beg your pardon, sirs, but may I ask who precisely I am to be performing alongside for this series?" Diantha felt it better to get that out the way immediately and be spared having to guess and wonder herself.
"Ah, yes, your co-star. Now that you mention it... Ser Father, has our male lead arrived yet?"
[OUR MALE LEAD. THE RISING STAR. IS ABSENT?]
"It appears so. This is quite irregular. I believe he was the first to be contacted among our cast and agreed to participate, yet he does not appear to be present. Shall I ask for Corviknight to search for him?"
[CORVIKNIGHT MAY SEARCH. AT YOUR DISCRET—] The elder Rhondshrym stopped when the Aegislash at his side leaned in to whisper something unearthly to the man, and Diantha noticed the chill that went down Gardevoir's spine in that moment. That usually means something was well and truly amiss, and so Diantha switched into high alert to see what was going on more clearly.
[WE HAVE. GUESTS?] The Aegislash nodded in response. [ALLOW THEM. ENTRY.] Out from the Rhondshrym son's inner coat pocket floated out a Klefki, jingling the keys in its loop and flying toward the hallway with great speed, and Diantha just thought about something.
"Excuse me, but the locks on this estate's front door?" She turned to the director for an explanation for the invisible keys Gardevoir had picked up on. "I noticed that you seemingly unlocked the door with keys and something else I couldn't see? Might you elaborate on that?"
"Klefki's fairy-type powers," was the plain response. "It uses its magic to line the steel walls with additional protection against special attacks, and in the case of the door, it casts its Fairy Lock to keep intruders from barging in or escaping out should something be stolen in the latter case. It has produced specialized invisible locks and keys that only me and my Ser Father use for additional security, although I myself cannot see them without these glasses that Ser Father crafted with Klefki before his vision had deteriorated to an advanced stage of blindness as of late."
"Oh, I...pardon me, I apologize."
"No apology is necessary, Madame. You asked, and I answered."
"However, how does Mr. Rhondshrym make his way around the estate with his impaired vision? Do you guide him around? I do not see a walking stick of any sort on him."
"Neither is necessary. Ser Father possesses—"
[OUR GUESTS. ARRIVE SHORTLY.] came the elder's electronic voice. The director's Klefki returned and nestled itself back into his inner coat pocket, and everyone waited to see who had entered.
"—s•••y, I •• n•• q••t• ••ed t•—•g•!" "O•d••ar•ly • ••u•dn'• c•m•la••, bu• r•nn•n• a• •y •ge i•n'• ••v•s••l•!" "Yo• a•e •o •on•a •et t•rn•• ••w• •or t••s, h• •a ••!" "N•t h•lp••g...!" "Wha• k•nd of f•lm w•• th•s •gai•?" "I ha•e no i••a—I •••t g•t ••• d••ec•i••s!" Multiple voices. Multiple footsteps. More guests than had been anticipated, and they were getting much closer by the second. The two Rhondshrym men squinted into the dark hallway, the Corviknight besides them cocking its head. Eventually, all was illuminated, shock and confusion took over the whole of the atrium's other occupants at the guests' arrivals, and Diantha was at a complete loss for words.
No.
It can't be.
Not him.
Not him and his friends.
Not his actual mother too.
Not Kanto's newest "Rising Star".
Not Ash Ketchum.
...
...
Time seemed to grind to a screeching halt the minute that Ash Ketchum walked into the room, the top-ranked trainer crowned Monarch of the Masters 8 in the World Coronation Championship calling the entire atrium's attention on him.
"Whoa, this place is like magic! Right, Pikachu!"
"Pikachu!"
"Goodness, it looks so much bigger on the inside than out!" Ash's mother Delia marveled at the wide space. Why, it almost appears that we stepped into another world!"
"I'll say!" came Professor Oak wheezing from having ran to keep up with everyone else. "It quite appears to be a 'pocket dimension' if that is the correct term—almost as though this is a Poké Ball but for places. And this architecture too...I would wager it dates back a fair seven centuries ago at least."
"Geez, THAT old?" Gary quipped. "Hope everything doesn't crumble to dust the moment someone sneezes on anything."
"Now, now, Gary, this style of architecture remained quite popular for a variety of reason, one of which is its surprising durability alongside its strikingly beautiful design such as those stained glass windows floating above us."
"Wait, those are floating?" Ash asked.
"Indeed they are, hard as it may be to believe, and yet, light still filters from them as though the light from the outside world finds its way into this space."
"Huh. That's pretty cool, I guess."
So the windows are floating... That made more sense to Diantha and so did other things, but it disturbed her how easily everyone had just walked into an interdimensional pocket space without realizing it. How the fact itself didn't bother Ash Ketchum, his mother, Professor Oak, or any of Ash's friends who just walked into the place was beyond her, and the only small consolation was that Gardevoir was keeping a constant check on their surroundings for anything afoul about the place and has yet to find anything wrong.
Speaking of Ash's friends, he certainly brought in a number of them with him: another young man just slightly older than him taking everything in with his sketch pad, a girl she recognized as a new coordinator from Hoenn with a much younger bespectacled boy next to her, another pair of girls who wore striking opposites of feminine blue and tomboyish red coordinator outfits whom Diantha may have seen perform in Sinnoh somewhere, another girl with her white cap and red shirt blue overalls style Diantha swore was familiar to her from somewhere with a boy her age beside her, a girl in yellow and green that Diantha noticed was now in a mutual frienemy stare down with Iris, and even Clemont from Lumiose City's gym with his little sister Bonnie was here with Ash which surprised Diantha having thought he was already present for the film instead of just showing up. Others such as a group of varied youngsters around Ash's age with all six of them seeming to be from Alola given their different yet distinct fashions, and both Goh and Chloe, Ash's most recent traveling friends, also came in with him. Just when Diantha thought to herself how it seemed like someone was missing out of those she knew, she spotted her, the girl from Vaniville Town who traveled with Ash when Diantha first met him—Serena was her name, and she didn't do much to stand too close to Ash but clearly stood closer to him than most of his other friends. Truly a colorful cast of youths had assembled tonight, and all the assembled gym leaders and Elite Four members and champions with other assorted people in the project could only wonder what in all of Arceus's name was going on.
"Well, now! Ash, you've certainly got your work cut out for you in your series premiere for acting—I spy many a gym leader is also participating in this!"
"Oh, dear, so many gym leaders you say, Professor Oak?"
"Indeed, Delia. This I can tell is going to have production values unlike anything we've ever seen before! Sadly, I can't remember he last time I sat down and enjoyed a good movie since when the first talkies or picture shows came out."
"Better not blow your shot before you can fire it, Ash," Gary teased with a light shoulder punch. "That'd be real embarrassing after being crowned 'Monarch' of the Masters 8."
"Aw, cut it out, Gary!" Ash lightly punched Gary back with the two sharing laughs, and from Ash's side of his group did more recognition take place.
"Candice? Is that you?"
"Zoey?"
"Omigosh, it is you!"
"Hey!" Coordinator and gym leader ran up and embraced in a hug like schoolgirls, laughing high pitched all the while. "Wow, how have you been?"
"Heh, you know, kicking contest butt obviously! You?"
"Oh, you know, gym leader stuff. Classic."
"Girl, you need to get out more."
"What's it look like I'm doing!" Zoey and Candice's friendship would have been enough to dispel the awkward air Ash brought in with him for its pure glee, but it was not to be for much longer.
"So, hey, Ash told Dawn—she's right over there by the way—"
"Hey, Candice!"
"Right back at ya', Dawn!"
"—so, naturally, I wanted to check it out myself when Dawn asked if I wanted to come with. Like I'd miss this. I mean—Ash! In big series stuff! Can you believe it!?"
"Ash?" Candice raised an eyebrow and looked behind Zoey to see the Pallet Town boy right behind Zoey with his other friends and family. "Oh, wow, so he's here too?"
"Yup! Sorry for running late, I got some weird directions at first and had some stuff to do."
"So you're the one who's missing from this! Cool! Now we're all here to get this thing started! You're not gonna believe this, Zoey, but this series we're about to do, it's..."
Confusion first registered in Candice.
"It's...um..."
Then delayed recognition of who exactly was here talking to her.
"I mean..."
Realization came next knowing Zoey wasn't invited for this series.
"Uhhh..."
Zoey was not told about what kind of series this was.
"Ah ha, well..."
And Zoey was about to find out.
"I, ah..."
To watch her friend give meaning to "shoveling snow from coniferous country matters" on the big screen.
"Urk..."
And like that, Candice became one with her type specialty.
She froze.
"Hey, you feeling okay, Candice...? You're looking a little pale..."
"I am? Ha ha, I am! I, you know, that's how we ice-types go, a teensy bit pale in the complexion, right? Ha ha, ha..."
"Now you're turning red. You sure you're feeling alright?"
"Never better! Ha ha, um," Candice wanted an out, and she desperately looked for it until her eyes fell on the one who put her on the spot like this. "Hey, Ash, I totally didn't know you were inviting some of your friends with you...?"
"Ash!?" The shocked voice who only just found out about Ash's arrival then hid herself, but Ash followed it to a trio of sisters who stood petrified at his eyes, hastily moving out of the way as though his very gaze had contagion and thus condemned their littlest sister to wilt under his view.
"Oh, cool! Hey Misty! Pretty neat seeing you a part of this series thing too!" The first thing Ash noticed, though, was that Misty was much less enthused to see him in return—she looked mortified, in fact. "Uh, Misty? It's just me, you know." That only made her shrink away more and whimper, so her sisters finally took pity on her and shielded her from Ash's attention, though they each held an equal amount of embarrassment and shuffled uncomfortably. Ash was finding this reception weird then saw it wasn't just Misty and her sisters; he spied Brock who clearly looked like he was fawning over the Viridian City Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny before he and them all stopped to stare, and Iris had forgotten her mock beef with Clair who shared in Iris's silent dread. He couldn't see it, but Anabel of Hoenn's Battle Frontier was silently thanking Arceus for Ash being here for another chance to ask him about all the things she's longed to, and Wallace for his part looked rather interested in seeing where this was all going with his mentor Juan curious but more concerned with the reading in the room. Lusamine and her husband Mohn, both completely wishing they could just die right there, tried making themselves less conspicuous not for Ash's recognition of them but of someone else he brought with him—two specific someone elses who came in with him.
"Uh, guys? What's with the funny looks? Am I...not in the right place...?"
"You did remember to get the address and see what kind of series this was going to be, right?"
"I only got directions, Gary—the Pokémon who gave them to me didn't tell me what kind of series this was."
"Really, Ash, blaming the Pokémon for you not knowing that?"
"Hey, I—"
[MY. APOLOGIES.] Ash heard a static radio-like voice come from the elderly man who slowly approached him on his powered wheelchair with the gentleman beside him. [YOU ARE. UNAWARE?]
Ash turned to face the elderly man and noticed the way the old man eyed him with suspicious bewilderment, the younger Goth-looking guy's confusion more obvious with a look of discomfort coloring his pale face. The Corviknight besides the younger man cocked its head looking equally lost as to what is going on as the men did, and to the other side of it was—
"Oh, there's the Pokémon right there! Are they yours? Maybe I can ask you what's up."
"He could be the director, in fact," Delia posited.
"It seems so. We're all eager to learn more about this series Ash will be starting in along with...oh, goodness, the name of the actress escapes me, but I know she's the Kalos Champion."
Diantha watched all of this unfold from a moderate distance away from Ash, and then their eyes met each other as dawning between them arose. There was but one though to describe how she felt in the moment.
She did not like where this was going.
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Lights, Cameras, Action! / Songe del Roze