EPISODE 24: One Door Closes, Another One Opens!*

My heart was pulsating in a fast beat as I rushed as soon as possible to Lake Acuity. It is the lake nearest to the city I currently live in, somewhere near our headquarters. I couldn't understand why they would contact me at such a late time. It was also strange that they only contacted me. Perhaps I did not correctly hear Lilith's statements. I think she said Team Rocket's ally rather than my ally so why would her organization contact me only?

This is what the letter states, "Luna Evergreen, I know you're quite busy as from above, I can see you battling with another young woman. Well, I'm sorry to bother you but I no, I mean we, need your help. I am requesting you to visit me in the nearby lake, Lake Acuity. If not, it's fine and I will understand why. I only wanted to discuss important things with you, I hope you'll come.

-RS"

The name is of the author is also anonymous which means it could be Lilith or her daughter Emily, perhaps this was the responsibility of one of the grunts of the Rebirth Society? Whatever it is, it's surely important and might be a calling for a huge problem to come.

I arrived at the lake. The lake lied silver in the bright light of the moonlight, not a perfect ovoid like a looking glass of old, but irregular like an ink-splat on aging concrete. The rippled water ran right into the crevices, washing the soil from the rocks. Around the edges were pines, chaotic in their spacing but never more than a few feet without a tree. It sat like the regal crown of Earth.

It was cold, I can tell by the result of placing my hand in the water. I can see my reflection, even waving it. I took a stroll in the lakefront and saw a tree separated from the others. On that tree lies a woman leaning upon its timbers. Her hair was flapping because of the soothing wind as her eyes gazed upon the lake. There were tears falling off her eyes. Nearby was a small jet, a way of transportation.

I walked to her, the crunching sounds of my feet were loud that it was able to grab her attention.

"Luna, well it has been a year since we last met. Glad you came, at first I thought you were going to leave me here, staring at the waves." her voice was brittle like delicate glass. I recalled, it was no other than Emily staring into the lake. She has changed a lot except for her hair color and eye pupil. I recognize that pilot attire she's wearing, it belongs to Lilith.

"Emily? Why had you called me?"

"Why bother? You're going to be scolded anyway. I woke up Charlotte by throwing a stone through her window, she went out for a moment to go the bathroom after waking up and saw your door opened."

"You did what?!"

"Well, our organization kept on spying on yours, and I remembered you so I went to Snowpoint City after receiving news that you're planning to establish headquarters here. So, um, I saw you fighting the detective and I wanted to tease you by going to your warehouse and waking up Charlotte."

"You have no idea how hard she'll scold me!"

"Hehe, anyway. I called you since I needed your help," she said softly. I walked to her and sat beside her. Together, we watched the waves move.

"What for?"

"I don't know what to do."

"Huh?"

She clung to my shoulder tightly and cried all of a sudden, saying, "Mother's dead, Luna. She died a week ago because of a heart attack. As her daughter, I became "heir" to the "throne" and now look at me? Captain of a hundred ships? If only Ebony didn't suicide."

"Lilith? This is a joke."

"Do my tears prove anything wrong. My tongue does not speak lies, you know that. Actually, I have a meeting with the other captains today but I left, well, escaped would be more appropriate. Ever since I became leader, my tasks increased, I get to spend less time with my Pokemon, plus I'm more stressed than usual. It's great to see this view once in a while."

"Sorry about your loss," I uttered softly.

"Thanks. Well, I don't really have anyone to talk you aside from money, funds, renovation, technology, except for you. Ever since mother made a treaty with Team Rocket, she changed. She talked to me all the time, and she was more of a mother but then, one night a heart attack struck her."

"I see. Um, well, there is nothing much I can do but to give my deepest condolence. Trust me, being a leader is great despite all that stress. Don't you want that? Everyone looks up to you, that seems like a big win. Well, if you were to focus on stress it would be a loss but think on the bright side!" patting her shoulder, I inspired her a bit in hopes of calming her mourning spirit.

"But what if I fail everyone else? You know? What if I don't meet their expectations? The Rebirth Society is not like any other organization. My people can revolt against me. All they have to do is to blow up my ship and for a new captain to take charge."

"Are they angry at you?"

"N-no."

"Then everything will be alright, it means you're doing something right at least. Just do what you do, there's no need to act like your mother or be like her, just be you and handle things in your own way." the two of us smiled when suddenly Charlotte flashed to the scene.

"There you are!" she yelled loudly.

"I was looking everywhere for you, even meeting Zinnia. She told me you went to the lake! Do you even know what time it is?!" Charlotte scolded me, giving me another sermon.

"S-sorry."

"What do you mean sorry?! Don't tell me you always wake up in the middle of the night just to- oh, hi Emily, long time no see- just to enjoy the waves?!"

"Okay, okay, I'm going to sleep. Goodbye Emily, I hope you get to handle things." I stood up from the ground, patting her shoulder one more time.

"That's our little secret." she murmured to my ears.

"I got it." I winked back.

"What were the two of you talking about anyway?" Charlotte conversed in and queried.

"Sorry Charlotte, but it's a secret." I winked at her.

"Well fine, keep it a secret, you better wake up at nine, nothing below the said hour! This will restore your energy!"

"Yeah, yeah, I will." I rolled my eyes and followed her footsteps as we returned to headquarters.

This is where me and her parted ways for now. She continued to star to the beautiful lake of Acuity while I bore the secret about her dead mother. Our ties between our organization is still fortified.