Executive Orders

Under Kyrie's bed, Prez marched back and forth in front of Aether and Snow Queen. "As you know," he said, "Kyrie has been unsuccessful in hosting an evolution ceremony where we actually evolve during it."

Aether nodded. Snow Queen just hummed.

"And as you know," Prez continued, "the three of us are next up to evolve."

"Yeah!" Aether said. "And you have first dibs, right?"

"I do," Prez said firmly. "And that is why I've called you here for an important meeting."

He stopped pacing and glared at them.

"Do not ruin this for me."

Aether frowned. "Uh, okay?"

"Hang on," said Snow Queen, and ze took a step forward. "What are you talking about?"

Prez huffed. "I just want to make sure my evolution goes smoothly."

Snow Queen narrowed zir eyes. "And you think we'll be a barrier to that?"

"No offense intended," Prez said. "You are my dear friends, but with the evolution ceremony happening today, I want to make sure everyone knows their role."

"So that's our role, huh?" Snow Queen growled. "Don't ruin it? That's it?"

Prez took a step back. "Is that a problem?"

"We've been friends ever since Kyrie caught us," ze continued. "I knew you didn't think highly of us, but I did think you actually liked us."

Prez's eyes widened. "Snow Queen, of course I like you!"

"Do you have any proof?" Snow Queen turned away. "Because I'll be waiting to see it."

Ze stormed away while Prez stared with his mouth open. He closed it, shook his head, and turned to Aether. "You don't believe what ze said, do you?"

Aether's ears drooped. "I don't believe it," he said, "but… I think ze had a point in saying it."

"Aether–"

"I'm gonna go check on zir," Aether said, and he ducked out from under the bed and rushed out of the room.

Prez's ears drooped. "What did I do…?"

---

Aether caught Snow Queen's scent and followed it outside the cabin. His heart jumped, remembering Kyrie's orders to not go out alone. He saw zir tail disappearing into the bushes, so Aether gave chase.

Snow Queen, probably because ze heard him coming, started running.

"Oh, no," Aether said. "Queenie! It's just me!"

"Keep up, then!" Snow Queen shouted over her shoulder. Aether sighed and increased his pace.

They ran farther than Aether had ever gone before, past the forest trails and where the strong wild pokémon lived. Aether shoved down his anxiety and kept running, barely managing to keep Snow Queen in his sights.

Eventually, ze stopped. Aether stopped next to zir, panting. "Where are we?" he asked.

This deep in the forest, the canopy was so thick that Aether couldn't see the sun. He took a step further and realized that the ground sloped down into a ditch. Snow Queen went past him and carefully climbed down, disappearing inside a large burrow.

"Queenie, I don't think…"

He cut himself off and decided to just follow.

The burrow was cold and dark. Aether shivered and ran a few steps to catch up with his friend. "What is this place?" he asked.

Snow Queen glanced at him. "I found something here," ze said. "Let me show you."

Eventually, the tunnel opened up into a larger dug-out cavern. Aether felt stone under his paws. He exhaled, watching his breath come out in clouds, staring at the center of the room. "Is that…?"

The boulder was half-buried and decorated with delicate tendrils of frost. Aether took a step closer. Snow Queen brushed past him and placed zir paw on it.

"This is where I can evolve," ze said. "I was waiting for Prez, because he had first dibs… but I'm not sure I want to wait anymore."

"'Cause of what he said, huh?"

Snow Queen growled. "He acts like he's so much better than us. Like he's the leader. We're not a team, we're just friends–or so I thought."

Aether walked up to zir. "You know Prez has always seen things in a weird way," he said. "Not always a bad-weird, just different. He does like us, and we are friends. You know that, right?"

Zir ears drooped. Ze didn't respond.

Aether continued. "He probably just has a different perspective of our friendship, right? One where he is the leader, but not in a giving-orders way, just like… a taking-charge way."

"Is that different?" Snow Queen said.

"Yeah! Giving orders means you can't say no, but taking charge is just like…" Aether struggled for words. "…he's making suggestions, I guess? We can say no."

"It doesn't feel like I can."

Aether nuzzled zir side. "But you are saying no, right? Prez doesn't get first dibs anymore."

"That's true," Snow Queen said. "I wonder how mad he's going to be."

And just like that, zir body was enveloped by a white glow.