May glared at the man before her, her eyes red-rimmed. Through gritted teeth, she said, "Lin Hao, stand right there. I'm going to yell at you for three days and nights first."
The blizzard on Mt. Coronet had stopped. Sunlight slanted through the thick clouds onto the rubble strewn across the devastated summit.
Lin Hao stood in silence for two seconds, then ventured, "Can we do it in installments?"
"No!"
"Then how about a discount?"
"Lin Hao!" May raised her hand in fury, ready to hit him.
Pikachu jumped off Lin Hao's shoulder and spread those short little arms in front of him, crying loudly, "Pika, pika!"
Seeing Pikachu protect him, May froze with her fist in midair. She bit her lower lip as tears fell. "You two. Each of you is more trouble than the other."
Lin Hao bent down and scooped Pikachu into his arms, offering some earnest advice. "You hear that? Try fewer dangerous stunts from now on."
Pikachu tilted that little head with an innocent look. "Pika?" Lin Hao sighed helplessly. "Forget it. Just keep eating."
Pikachu nodded vigorously. "Pika!"
Watching the pair interact, May realized all her earlier emotion had been wasted.
Steven trudged over, exhausted, his tailored suit torn and remnants of snow clinging to his blond hair. Behind him, Metagross's red light flickered, still in battle mode.
He glanced at Cyrus being escorted away, then turned to Lin Hao. "The League has confirmed it. Team Galactic's main forces have all been captured. Using the list, they also wiped out all of Team Rocket's hidden bases in Sinnoh."
Lin Hao nodded approvingly. "Great. Does that mean I can clock out?"
Steven's eye twitched. "You just saved Sinnoh, and the first thing you say is that you want to clock out?"
"What else would I