“Cindy, get in here!” shouts Ezma through the doorway.
Mayor Azumarill looks at the contract in her paws, examining it one last time before setting it down. “Now it makes sense why she’s been doing all of those things; harassing Zach, yell at Luther Lucario, and all those other events…” She lets out a sigh. “This is my fault… I should’ve kept an eye on the guild more…”
Ezma turns to her. “Good, I’m glad you admit that. Because coming from me, it might’ve been ugly…”
“What do you mean? You’re just as guilty, Ezma! This is your guild, and you have much more responsibility over them!”
“Mayor, please…” The mew faces the doorway and sees the celebi fly up to her. She presents the other letter to her. “Cindy, what’s this?”
Cindy takes the message and flies into the room with it, looking at it. “It looks like some piece of paper with Mayor Azumarill’s signature on it…” She reads into it. “Oh no, I’m being watched because of my actions?” she asks, sarcastically. Cindy turns up to meet Azumarill’s gaze. “Why didn’t any of you tell me this?”
“Cut the shit, Celebi!” shouts Mary. “We spoke with the high council leader, Shirley Lilligant, and she states you’ve been committing a lot of bad things all over the region.”
“Cinthia,” starts Ezma. “If you don’t improve your behavior now, they’re going to have you removed from the guild.”
“You’ll lose your support and respect,” adds Mary.
“No, I won’t,” Cindy says. “Every-mon loves me! And I won’t be kicked out.”
“Then, you should keep doing bad things,” utters Ezma in a mean tone. “Because you want to know what else every pokemon likes? A criminal celebi locked away, doing hard time!”
The water pokemon picks up the contract and walks over with it to the celebi. “Now, this is a contract we need you to sign.”
“I’m not signing anything!” Cindy turns and starts away.
The mayor grabs her by the head and forces her to look back at her. “Don’t fly away from me! You are going to sign this contract, and you are going to make up everything you’ve done!”
“What’s the point?!” Cindy spurts, flying away again. “No mon takes my side! It’s all too hard!”
“Cinthia Celebi!” Mary looks at Ezma. “Ezma, do something! You’re her master!”
“All right…” The mew floats out and catches up to Cindy. “Listen, I know it all sucks. But, you still have to do things you don’t want to do… Everyone does.”
“Why should I?”
“Why?! Cindy, that’s part of being in a guild. If you don’t like it, why not leave? You plan to go back to the circus with your sister?”
“You kidding me? I don’t miss that hellhole one bit! It’s too dirty, and all the pokemon are just testy.”
“Oh really? And what would you do if you are barred out of the guild? Cindy… When I picked you to be a part of the team, I had high hopes and plans for you.”
“Why bother, Ezma? Everything’s changed, and I don’t find it all the same anymore. Not like when I started.” She tries to fly away for a third time.
Ezma grabs her arm and forces her to stay. “Don’t say that! You just have a hard time adjusting because you’re a perfectionist. I was a lot like you when I started. I struggled to maintain a good status with my master because I didn’t like any of it. But that didn’t give me a reason to stop. I pushed myself to work hard and earn pokemon’s respect because I wanted to prove him wrong!”
“And how did that work out, Master? Becoming a lonely leader of a guild of pokemon with no background in fighting or rescuing?”
“Cindy… you’ve proved you aren’t that when I took you in. Jay and the others as well. You wouldn’t believe the strings I had to pull and the things I had to do to keep you in and make you a great guildsmon. Not to mention for the others… While I agree with most of your opinions, you can’t keep flying off the handle anymore… Pokemon are starting to notice a bit more. You’re not the only one, however… The rest of the team is also at risk... This applies to everyone!”
“What do you want me to do…?”
“Just sign the contract… Lay low for a while… Don’t draw any attention from anyone. Do as you’re told.”
“Who do you think I am? The runt riolu?”
“I’m not asking you to be the runt… I’m asking you to comply and do everything. If not for me, then do it for Jay and your children…”
Cindy lets out a sigh. “Fine… But that runt better not be in my way.”
“You won’t need to worry about him much longer, Cinthia. Now, come on.” Both pokemon float back into the office together. Around the corner, Betty remains still, having peeked and eavesdropped.
