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this day was supposed to be perfect…the day team magma…the day maxie, had dreamed of for so long.
as courtney watches the night sky burn bright with the heat only capable of being brought by groudon itself at such a time of night…she feels a sense of pride, of peace, of joy. it’s too hot…she’s sweating…it’s horrible, it feels like hellfire.
but here, with her trusted grunt at her side, she watches the blazing drought in awe…for leader maxie…for team magma…for the future of humanity as they know it!
this is it…this right here…this is everything she’d ever wanted, her hopes, her dreams, her pain, her love, she helped make this happen.
zinnia, her 'most trusted grunt’ and an undercover self serving 'agent' if you will, is in a much different position…
this won’t last…it can’t. everything set up perfectly, the moment this heat dies it’s go time. for my people, for the region, for aster, for me….it’s almost showtime
she thought, her mind going a mile a minute as she nearly toppled over in these thick layers in this heat…
this…would never last…
a bright flash lit up the sky, pure power, undoubtedly stronger than anything they’d witnessed with they’re own eyes….
in an instant….the heat cracked, shattered like glass as the temperature dropped, the drought fading, team magmas work…breaking.
courtney couldn’t hold back the slight gasp that whispered past parted lips, she jolts the slightest bit back, shock filled her features…
“h-huh..?” the admin stammered…a rare reaction from the normally stoic young lady. “…no…impossible.” the slightest wavering tone inched into her monotone
zinnia tried to bite back the grin that tugged at the corners of her lips…this was going just perfect for her
till zinnia had her own moment of surprise…
the sparkling snow that fell from the destruction of groudons heat…
her eyes widened as she looked up into the glittering night sky…
“huh…the stars are falling…” zinnia's voice was hush, in utter disbelief? perhaps rather starstruck awe…
it’s like the sides had switched, courtney’s victory ruined, zinnia’s loss fading into her own victory that neared.
stress echoed into a strained hum as courtney looked up, her gloved hands reaching forward slightly to cup the dazzling dust.
a movement zinnia mimicked much more openly.
“this…this can’t be happening…” a shaky whisper..
“isn’t it beautiful, mistress courtney?”
zinnia couldn’t hold her tongue, this sight is a once in a life time thing! and it was so perfect. she nearly forgot to tack on her 'admins' title on the end
“it’s….” courtney’s words fell short, she hung her head.
dammit no, don’t let an underling see you cry. not now not ever. admins don’t cry. admins are strong.
“…mistress courtney?”
sure…zinnia was gonna betray the team, use them for her own purposes, but she wasn’t a monster.
she placed a hand on courtney’s shoulder, a soft gesture she’d normally save for those who hadn’t attempted to destroy the world…but that pain in courtney’s voice put a dagger in a very specific soft spot.
that tone is one that zinnia never wants to hear from her own lips…
terrorist or not she cannot deny courtney’s passion…
zinnia would let her disguise slip, just this once, to comfort her 'admin'.
because arceus knows zinnia would want to be comforted if she were in courtney’s shoes…
the sudden touch caused courtney to freeze where she stood, her mind raced
is it my fault? did i miscalculate? no…no i couldn’t have…arceus this is humiliating- i have to…i must….things need to be fixed. this can’t be over.
the soft touch, followed by an even softer hush of her name, no formality tied to it, grips her from her panicked ideals.
“courtney…”
there’s no disappointment nor shame tied to zinnias tone.
it’s not too late for her you know…
courtney turned to the side, looking away from the open seas she had hoped would just go away. her eyes shut tight. her body tense. zinnias touch unwavering.
before courtney entertains anymore of zinnias antics, even if they chiseled away at her stone expression…she regains her composure
inhale…exhale…
she lifted her head, straightened her posture, pulling her shoulders back, her eyes glued to the ground.
zinnias palm slowly drifts away…
with a mere hum, courtney wordlessly walks away into the dazzling night.
leaving zinnia with a conflicted mind….
the stepping stones are set, i’ll save the region, i’ll do my duty, and i’ll do it a thousand times over if i must…
…but where is she going…?
…what could she possibly do now.
…stubborn loyalty, yet so fragile…
if things were different maybe..?
…watching the stars fall…maybe we aren’t so different…