Prince of Po Town (Pokemon Isekai)

Chapter 18 The Visitor

Ian awoke to the sensation of someone poking his cheek and opened his eyes in a startled fit, seeing Tupp looking over him nervously. "Sorry bro, they just wanna see you."

"What?" Ian asked, still half asleep.

"These peeps yo, they wanna see you," Tupp said.

It took a moment for Ian to process what Tupp meant, but Ian jolted up as he remembered the events of the prior night. Oh yeah, I told Plumeria where I'm really from. Why do I feel like that was a mistake? Ian slinked out of his sleeping bag and smiled as he saw his Pyroar asleep nearby, acting as an organic space heater. Soreness wracked Ian's body as he remembered the ridiculous hike from prior day. A muffled snoring noise drew his attention, and he traced its origin to the bedroom where Selene, Rapp, and Plumeria had taken up residence.

"Lieutenant Ian Cougar?" The elegant, lady-like voice of Irida spoke into the living room from the open door, flanked by a shirtless Gaeric.

Ian turned back around, realizing he had a pretty bad case of bedhead from sleeping on the floor and made eye contact with Irida, who awaited him with a big smile. "Sorry, my bad," Ian croaked from dehydration as he stumbled to the front door, where he noticed Hyde awake on the one couch in the room, watching carefully.

"It is okay, Lieutenant, we are calling upon you so hastily after dawn," Irida said. "Especially after such an arduous journey."

Ian nodded. "Thank you for your patience, Lady Irida."

Irida shook her head daintily. "No need for formality. You are a welcome guest, Ian. The reason I am here so early is we have harvested our crops, and request that Sawsbuck work its magic upon them once more, if that is agreeable."

"Of course, gimme a minute and I'll be right out," Ian said.

"Very well, you have my thanks," Irida said with an even bigger grin before stepping back from the doorway. Ian shut the door slowly, careful to not mess up Plumeria's careful diplomatic posturing.

"Pssst!" Hyde whispered. "Who the fuck was that?"

"Irida," Ian said lowly as he went to retrieve his Poke Ball belt and get his shoes on. "She's the head of the Pearl Clan."

Hyde nodded happily. "Yo, all that stuff I said about Mina a couple nights ago?"

"Yeah…?" Ian said.

"Forget it, you can have her. That Irida chick puts her to shame, yo," Hyde said.

Ian shrugged, then smiled as he realized something. "I see you have a type."

Hyde paused for a bit as Ian secured his belt around his waist. "Yeah, you right."

Ian licked his palm and tried to make his hair slightly presentable before re-opening the door where Irida stood in her traditional red garb with white shorts and a red and white sash flowing from her waist to the back of her shins.

"Shall we, Ian?" Irida asked, offering her hand.

Ian gulped. "Sure-"

"Yo, you taking Pyroar, bro?" Tupp called.

"Uh, you guys want it to keep heating the room?" Ian said, hoping he wasn't insulting their host.

"Yeah!" Tupp yelled back.

Ian gave Irida a sheepish grin and mouthed a quick "sorry" before stepping outside, noting Irida's hand had dropped as if withdrawing the invitation. She's hot but I don't think she's after me for my charming personality. The cold morning air hit his tank top clad body hard, as if enhancing the aches and pains of the prior day's hike along and subsequently sleeping on the floor.

Irida led Ian along the muddy path, with Gaeric following behind carefully. "Your Sawsuck truly is a wonder, Ian," Irida noted. "The Pearl Clan would like to extend its hospitality to you and the rest of your squad for as long as you and Sawsbuck would like."

Yup, here it is. "That's very generous of you, Irida," Ian said. "But any agreement will have to be made by Plumeria, She is my boss after all."

Irida giggled slightly. "Of course. In the meantime I would like to ask that you allow Sawsbuck to be maximized to its ability. May we call upon you two every three hours for the duration of your stay?"

Ian shrugged. "I don't see why not. Does this include during the night?"

"Only until the crops are fully grown, for harvesting in the dead of night would be rather difficult to say the least," Irida giggled at her own bit of humor, which Ian gave a sympathy chuckle to.

"Sounds good," Ian said as the trio continued on.

"You know, it is rather comforting to be with someone else who has fallen through space and time," Irida stated.

Ian gulped. Here we go. Play dumb. "I remember you mentioning something like that last night."

"Indeed. This shall be easier for you to understand, but we are not of this place, and we are not of this time," Irida explained. "Our home is a land called Hisui, which is supposed to be far away across this great ocean, where the sun sets. Councilwoman Nui tells us our land sounds a lot like what is called Sinnoh in this world and time."

Ian nodded, pretending to be surprised by the revelation. After the bombshell about Keahi and the Ultra Rift, hearing stuff I know almost instinctively is a lot more boring than I thought it would be. "Interesting," Ian lied as they came upon the raised beds. Ian could feel Gaeric giving him an expectative look, and Ian released his blessed stag from its Heal Ball. Sawsbuck bleated happily, its furry leg warmers bounced with every step, while the recently trimmed back plantlife suddenly sprouted with growth. Lian called these tateroots, right?

Curiosity got the best of Ian and he opened his mouth. "I'm a bit curious about something. I understand I came here in an Ultra Storm, but you all came together as a whole clan? How'd that work?"

Gaeric cleared his throat, clearly warning this was not a welcome question.

"Unfortunately that is a sensitive topic for us in the Pearl Clan, something we do not share with outsiders," Irida explained. "I pray you don't feel insulted, for not even Councilwoman Nui knows the details of our arrival here."

Ian shook his head. "I don't feel insulted at all," he said with a grin. "I didn't mean to pry. You know what they say, 'curiosity killed the cat' and all."

Irida covered her mouth as she gave a genuine giggle. "Such a cute saying. I may have to borrow it."

"It's all yours," Ian said as the trio reached the end of the raised beds, the Pearl Clan's crops grown about halfway across the board.

"Well thank you Ian, thank you Sawsbuck for your abilities. Words can not describe the debt we owe you two," Irida said, taking a slight bow to the blessed stag, who appeared quite pleased with himself, sporting a cheeky smile. Don't get any bright ideas, Sawsbuck. I remember you almost pissing yourself when Litleo hissed at you.

"And Ian," Gaeric began. "Have you ever considered riding your Sawsbuck? It looks mountable."

Something about that phrasing sounds dirty. "Oh we've done plenty of riding together. Sawsbuck got most of us up that Sneasler Wall of yours safely. I just like to keep this blessed stag on the down low," Ian explained.

"Down low?" Gaeric asked.

"Like, unseen…" Ian answered.

"Ah, I see," Gaeric said.

"Would you not demonstrate it for us, Ian?" Irida asked curiously.

"Don't gotta ask me twice," Ian said excitedly. Sawsbuck's now brown vines reached for Ian's limbs as he jumped on Sawsbuck's side. Once comfortably mounted, Sawsbuck galloped exuberantly, eliciting gasps of surprise from their spectators. Show off. Ian grinned and gave his blessed stag a nice scratch behind the ears, making Sawsbuck bleat with joy. Goodness knows you've earned it dude.

Sawsbuck galloped to the dilapidated, muddy road and continued on to Team Skull's temporary residence. "That's some mighty fine riding there! Almost puts Wyrdeer and me to shame," Lian called out to Ian as he rode past.

Ian brought Sawsbuck around, stopping beside Lian. Wyrdeer? Wasn't it Mai from the Diamond Clan that had- oh wait, some time might've passed since the events of Legends Arceus. "Hey man, you know of any berry trees nearby? I wanna go get some breakfast for my people."

Lian nodded. "Up here? There's a couple Chesto Berry trees just a little up the summit trail, but those things are foul."

Ian smiled reluctantly. "Better than nothing." There was one Chesto Berry tree in Elk Grove and Ian remembered Grillz complaining about having to crack open the outer husk whenever he had to prepare it. He did say something about boiling them if one was really desperate.

"I was just about to head that way actually, seeing as there's an Ultra Storm forming just up the summit trail," Lian said.

"Ultra Storm? Count me in," Ian said. "Our group just so happens to be the Ultra Storm specialists of Team Skull."

"Specialists?" Lian asked. "Usually I watch 'em from afar since they're dangerous, but you guys actually go in them?

"Yup," Ian said confidently. "Never know what you're gonna see in them though. Usually there's an Alpha, and sometimes people show up in them."

"People?" Lian asked in surprise. "Are you serious?"

Ian nodded. "That's how I got here, dude. Went to sleep one night, woke up on top of my mattress in an Ultra Storm. Rest is history."

"Oh… You have your memories from before and everything?" Lian asked.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I?" Ian asked.

Lian grimaced. "I witnessed someone come out of an Ultra Wormhole. They had no memory of where they came from, or their previous world, just like Ingo," Lian said. "But you came out of an Ultra Storm and kept your memories?"

"Yeah," Ian said with a shrug.

Lian paused as he contemplated something. "That also means people are just appearing in there while asleep, with hostile Pokemon around them?"

Ian shrugged. "Not all of the time."

"We should really be checking these things out then," Lian said.

Ian shook his head. "You guys can't exactly take people in. Po Town was gonna have to stop until Sawsbuck got involved," he said, proudly patting his blessed stag on the back of his neck.

"I might have to join you and see how it's done, if you would have me," Lian said.

Ian nodded. "We're short a team member, so you'd slot in nicely." I wonder what Pokemon he's got besides Wyrdeer. Ian eyed Lian's belt with three apricorn balls and three modern Poke Balls. Interesting. "I'll head back and get some stuff ready," Ian said, ushering Sawsbuck forward.

"It'll be cold up there, want me to get you some layers?" Lian asked loudly.

"That'd be great!" Ian called back as he directed Sawsbuck to the guest house. After dismounting and kicking the mud off his shoes, Ian made his way into the front room where Selene and Rapp now joined Tupp and Hyde. Ian noticed the same muffled snoring noises from the other room and smirked as he realized who the culprit was.

"Morning Ian," Selene said with a yawn.

"Morning Selene, Rapp," Ian said back. "Anyone interested in hitting up an Ultra Storm with a Pearl Clan guy?" Ian asked.

"Without Bis Sis? Count me out," Rapp said.

"You already know," Hyde said, pointing at his swollen ankle as Smoochum continued breathing cold air onto it.

Ian grimaced. "Well, breakfast will be grabbed along the way."

"Yes please," Selene said.

"I'm down!" Tupp said excitedly.

"Are we going with a full squad?" Selene asked.

Ian shrugged. "We don't have to go in if it gets too hairy. And honestly, we usually just end up with four people inside it anyways."

"Okay, cuz remember, I'm just doing this because of an early breakfast," Selene said, then turned to Rapp. "Probably better we don't mention the Ultra Storm part."

Ian turned to Hyde, realizing the first thing that would happen when they left. Hyde picked up on Ian's suspicion and spoke up. "Promise me nothing bad happens to them and I'll just say you went for breakfast."

"You have my word," Ian said assertively. Hyde nodded and leaned back in his chair.

***

Ian, Tupp, and Selene followed Lian, bundled up in matching Pearl Clan uniform sweaters as they hiked up a sharp incline.

"Remind me why we did this again?" Selene asked bitterly. "It still hurts from hiking yesterday."

"The Chesto Berry trees are just up ahead," Lian said, pointing up the trail. "And apologies if these Pearl Clan uniforms aren't the most comfortable, we do not have access to all the new material you modern-ers have."

"It's warm, and that's all I care about," Selene said, hugging herself as she did.

"Yeah," Tupp said with a little too much enthusiasm. You're not gonna get her to like you by being her little puppy dog, Tupp.

Ian turned his attention to the peak, with his eyes going to the Ultra Rift which had come even closer into view. From most places he'd been on Ula'Ula Island, it just seemed like a twinkling light, but being so close allowed him to truly view it. The Ultra Rift wasn't just swirling dark clouds surrounding a bright light at the center, it was like there had been a wound in reality itself, and ultraviolet puss constantly leaked out of it. All sorts of otherworldly colors swirled on its shifting edges, blue, yellow, red, then a vein of various colors like a distorted rainbow flashed and were gone, replaced with a green streak of light, making Ian feel uneasy all the while. The longer he looked at it, the more ominous and foreboding it felt. It was like something beyond the rift was staring back at him. Not gonna lie, when I pictured it, I thought it would be like the Space-Time Rift from Legends Arceus, just Ultra Wormhole-ified. But this is something else entirely.

"There are those trees!" Lian called out.

Ian brought his attention off the Ultra Rift, feeling more at ease instantly. He readied Sawsbuck's Heal Ball and felt his stomach groan demandingly. Selene whipped out a couple of folded up plastic foraging bags Ian remembered having when he found the Zygarde Cell.

"Chesto Berries, yuck," Selene said as she hurried over to the tree.

"Wait," Ian said, considering something. "Are you sure you want to bring full foraging bags to an Ultra Storm? We should just grab these on our return trip."

"So you just wanted lackeys for your little Ultra Storm trip, great," Selene complained bitterly. Ian spied Tupp staring at him as if warning him. Ian gave a sheepish smile and continued on.

"You see the tip of the Ultra Storm ahead?" Lian asked.

"Yeah," Ian said, hoping to change the topic.

Selene groaned, clutching her surely aching tummy. "C'mon, I'm so hungry…"

"Chesto Berries are really rough, their outside's like eating bark," Ian said. "Even if we picked 'em we'd have to do something to make them at least slightly edible."

"Worst breakfast trip, ever," Selene grumbled. "And Big Sis wouldn't approve of this short-staffed Ultra Storm thing… Speaking of Big Sis, what were you two talking about last night when she kicked the boys off the patio?"

"Yeah bro, what was that all about?" Tupp asked.

"That bitch of a councillor, Nui, tried to turn Plumeria and I against each other," Ian said, before suddenly remembering Lian was present and might resent him calling Nui a bitch.

Lian chuckled and smiled at Ian. "She really is. Damn shame Irida and Ingo let her be a councillor," Lian said.

"Yeah…" Ian said, returning his attention to Tupp and Selene. "We just had to make sure we're on the same page." Not technically a lie.

Selene grimaced. "You sure that was it? She seemed really shook up about something. She didn't go to sleep for a while."

"How could you tell?" Tupp asked.

"She didn't start snoring," Selene teased.

As the group continued their ascent, Ian noticed he could see his breath in front of him. We're really getting up this thing. Good thing we got these Pearl Clan sweaters on. "Oh it's so cold…" Selene whined before cozying up closer to Tupp, who hesitantly put his arm around his crush. Ian smirked as he saw the blush begin to form immediately in Tupp's face. Happy for you, bro.

A loud booming sound drew the party's attention as the Ultra Storm wholly manifested up ahead of them. "So Lian, how close do you usually get?" Ian asked.

"Not much closer than this," Lian answered.

It's what a hundred feet to the Ultra Storm? Maybe one fifty? "Well, let's get our Pokemon ready here then," Ian said.

"Anyone here use an Alpha?" Lian asked.

"Nope," Tupp said quickly, with Selene quickly echoing the sentiment.

"I have one but I'm not using it," Ian said. "It keeps trying to eat me."

Lian chuckled, "They are usually like that in the beginning… Well, here goes. Come on out Lord Kleavor!" Lian tossed the apricorn Poke Ball into the air, and while Ian knew what to expect, it still made his jaw drop as Lian's Kleavor manifested.

The brown mantis emerged with a fierce battle cry, as tall as Ian even though it was hunched over with its axe-hands resting on the ground. Ian noticed dozens of nicks and scratches on the nearest battle axe, and Ian's eyes were then drawn to the glowing, red eyes of the Alpha Pokemon, making him gulp nervously.

"Remind me to never piss you off, Lian," Ian half-joked.

Lian chuckled proudly. "You hear that Lord Kleavor? Over a hundred years later and you still got it."

Ian noticed Selene now squeezing Tupp, shivering with fear. And maybe the cold too.

"How do you usually do these things?" Lian asked.

"Usually we pair up, each member having one Pokemon out," Selene explained.

"I call Selene!" Tupp announced, giving her light pat on her arm, making Selene giggle.

"So that's you and me then, fellow deer rider," Lain said. "Lord Kleavor's a feisty one, I'd recommend using a ranged attacker since you're paired up with us."

Ian nodded. It's also probably best I don't risk Sawsbuck getting hurt, considering it's the Pearl Clan's meal ticket for the day. "My Pyroar's gotten better, but he still has an ego."

Lian shook his head. "Anything else?"

"Yeah." Ian grabbed one of his Poke Balls and tossed it into the air, revealing his Wartortle. The turtle eyed the Alpha Kleavor for a moment before turning around, sporting his signature scowl. "Good morning Wartortle."

Wartortle croaked demandingly before patting its underbelly. "We'll get breakfast after this," Ian promised. Wartortle gave a more hostile croak before turning around and beginning to waddle to the Ultra Storm before everyone else.

"Funny little guy you got there," Lian said.

"He's a bit dramatic. Saved my ass a few times already though," Ian replied proudly, beginning to follow his waddling turtle.

"I wonder what Pokemon could put dents in a shell like that?" Lian said, eyeing the scrapes and holes in Wartortle's shell.

"Someone said only something like an Alpha Gyarados could do that."

"Sounds terrifying…" Lian said. "I hope that's not the Alpha that meets us in there."

Ian smiled. "I'll already be gone if that happens."

Tupp and Selene followed side by side, with Tupp having Gumshoos out and Selene her Passimian. Finally get to see that thing in action. "We ready?" Ian called out to the group.

"Yeah," Tupp said, checking with Selene.

"Remember, we're short-staffed, if things get too hairy we can dip. This is mostly just to show Lian what's up," Ian explained.

"And to help you with your Alpha poop obsession," Selene teased.

"What?" Lian chimed in.

Ian shook his head. "That's not important. Let's go!"

Gumshoos and Passimian dashed in quickly, their trainers not far behind. Kleavor went in a bit more slowly dragging its axes on the ground as Wartortle waddled hurriedly in an attempt to keep up. Once through the fog-barrier, he noticed a couple Pokemon already had appeared, what he recognized as a Stunky and a Farfetch'd. Farfetch'd squawked the moment it saw Lord Kleavor and took to the skies, its signature leek being held in its beak. Stunky got low, peering at the oncoming Alpha aggressively.

"Uh oh, sorry Stunky," Lian said. The massive Kleavor suddenly dashed with otherworldly agility and jumped into the air, spinning as it did before landing where Stunky had been with a loud crash. Stunky's spry, purple form scurried away quickly, with Kleavor pulling its axes out of the dirt.

Minutes passed, and besides some flowers dropping out on an Ultra Wormhole and a blue bird Ian recognized as Cramorant emerging before flying away quickly, little of note happened over the time. Ian spotted a number of Shards dotted the ground, which Ian wanted to investigate but knew securing the area was more important.

"This is not too bad," Lian observed, eyeing the rest of the Ultra Storm.

"Having Lord Kleavor makes a lot of difference," Ian said. As if on cue, a large Ultra Wormhole began forming a good twenty feet ahead of them, and out dropped a hulking boulder of a Pokemon with glowing red eyes. An Alpha Geodude.

"That's what I'm talking about! Lord Kleavor, let him have it!" Lian called out.

Kleavor was already charging the newcomer, axes at the ready, when Geodude roared mightily, pounding Ian's eardrums. Kleavor appeared unaffected and took to the skies. Suddenly Geodude launched a sizable rock at the leaping Alpha, striking it midair and causing Kleavor to fall to the ground with a great thud.

"Wartortle, Water Pulse," Ian ordered, trying to not draw Geodude's attention. Wartortle sprung into action and fired off its rings of Water Type Energy which struck Geodude directly, causing it to roar in pain with a deep, guttural growl. Geodude's blaring red eyes focused on Wartortle and another sizable rock manifested in its hand before Geodude launched it at tremendous speed. Wartortle retreated into its shell just in time as the rock struck Wartortle's battered shell, bouncing off it and making the boulder change course slightly, flying past Ian and Lian before crashing into a dirt mound and rolling along.

Wartortle emerged from its shell a little dazed and clumsy, but it quickly regained composure as Geodude had launched itself at Wartortle with another fierce battle cry. "Water Pulse, one more time!" Ian called out. Wartortle stared down the approaching Alpha and fired more rings of Water Type Energy, striking the mighty Alpha midair, causing it to fall to the dirt and roll lifelessly forward. Wartortle clumsily side-stepped the rolling Pokemon, and Ian pumped his first. "Great job!" Ian commended.

Wartortle gave a proud croak and signaled Ian to give it some sort of reward. "I don't have any food, dude," Ian said. "I promise-"

Wartortle turned around, crossing its little arms as best it could. I get you, bud. Alpha Geodude had already begun getting pulled into another Ultra Wormhole as Lord Kleavor approached hesitantly, eyes still aglow with red.

"Nice work Ian," Lian said.

Ian shook his head. "You and Lord Kleavor gave us a good opening," Ian said. "It was our job to take advantage of it."

A few minutes later, the party re-grouped on the other side of the Ultra Storm, and Selene folded her arms, eyeing Ian bitterly. "You got your poop and your shards, can we go now?" Selene demanded.

Ian sighed. "Yeah…" I guess I can come back for the Stardust later.

"What in the world of Almighty Palkia is that!?" Lian asked aloud, causing the three Team Skull members to turn their attention to where Lian was pointing. Further up the slope was a floating behemoth, a blue-grey Pokemon with someone clad in white sat comfortably on top of it. The Pokemon floated above the ground steadily as it made its way down an incline Ian knew even Sawsbuck would have trouble with.

"Hey, who goes there!' Lian called out, waving his arms.

Ian looked closer and realized the floating, blue-grey behemoth was a- Metagross! "Lian, what are you doing?" Ian asked nervously.

"Maybe he knows about the guy in black we saw going up the slope yesterday," Lian replied.

"Lian, the Pokemon with that guy, it's incredibly strong," Ian said.

"That's a Metagross! Lian, Ian's right on this one. We don't want to mess with him," Selene said.

The figure atop the floating Metagross appeared to acknowledge Lian's call and directed his Pokemon to head to the group of four.

"You ain't got nothing to worry about Selene, me and Golbat been working on some startegies' yo!" Tupp said, pumping his fist.

Quite possibly the worst thing you could throw against one of those, Tupp. But I like the spirit.

"Anything but that, Tupp," Selene said delicately.

"Oh… alright," Tupp said, readying his Gumshoos Poke Ball once more.

"Should we get our Pokemon back out?" Lian asked.

"He's already got Metagross out," Ian said. "We can at least even the playing field-" Ian was caught off by the sound of Selene's Arcanine giving a howl as it manifested and eyed the approaching Metagross and trainer. Ian initially reached for Pyroar, but as Lian released Lord Kleavor once more, he realized Sawsbuck's Leech Seed could be helpful. He sent Sawsbuck out and waited. As the trainer grew closer, Ian saw the man wore a grey, scientific lab coat, a pair of sunglasses, and had blonde hair with a bizarre looking strand of dyed blue-grey hair running across the top of his head. Ian felt a shiver crawl up his spine as he realized who it might be. Colress!?

The man took his sunglasses off, confirming in Ian's mind the stranger's identity. "It appears two of you recognize me. Do I have that right?" The man said formally.

"Doctor Colress?" Selene exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing here? I thought you worked for the Aether Foundation?"

Colress grinned, but the longer Ian looked, the more his skin crawled. Ian also noticed Colress' Metagross had a jewel embedded atop the silver "X's" between its eyes. A Mega Stone… "Young man behind that incredible Sawsbuck, you appear to know me as well?"

Ian nodded. "Yeah, I do."

"Ah, a fellow Unovan. I hardly expected to meet another one here of all places," Colress said with his off-putting smile. "And young lady, to address your question, I think I have some explaining to do."

"You sure do," Lian said.

"But first, may we all put our Pokemon away? I'm getting slightly tense," Colress asked as he left his perch on top of Metagross.

Selene recalled her Arcanine unprompted, with Tupp following her lead. Lian held his Poke Ball stubbornly. Ian leaned over to Lian and began whispering. "He's got a Mega Stone on that thing, we're toast if this turns into a fight anyways."

Lian gasped, sudden fear in his eyes. "A Mega Stone? Like Breon's Tyranitar?"

Well that explains why everyone's afraid of him. "Yeah, I guess."

Lian tensed a bit before recalling Alpha Kleavor, with Colress doing the same for Metagross.

"And young man with that splendid Sawsbuck, can I request you keep it out of its ball? I have never seen a member of its species quite like it. And if it makes you all feel more comfortable, that is completely fine as I have no hostile intentions for you," Colress said.

Ian shrugged. "Okay, since you're fine with it."

"You gonna explain why you ain't at Aether, yo?" Tupp asked bluntly.

"Of course!" Colress answered. "I believe due to the anomaly at the top of the mountain, I may have fallen through an Ultra Wormhole to get to this world."

"You're a Faller?" Selene asked.

"That is the proper term," Colress said. "I was employed at the Aether Foundation in my world, and President Lusamine's experiments may have had a miscalculation or two."

"President Lusamine?" Selene asked in shock.

"Ultra Wormhole?" Lian asked. "Seriously?"

Colress smiled his unsettling smile and gave a nod. "Indeed young man. May I ask where that accent is from? I'm afraid I've never heard it before."

"Hisui," Lian said.

Colress' eyebrows rose, and Ian noticed a slight discoloration on his skin above Colress' right eyebrow. Scar or something? "That would explain such an impeccable specimen like that Alpha Kleavor of yours," Colress said.

"And one more question," Lian said. "How long has it been since you emerged from the Ultra Wormhole?"

"Hmm…" Colress pondered the question. "Probably twenty minutes? Maybe thirty?"

"So you haven't seen anyone else up here?" Lian asked.

"You are the first people I have looked upon in this world," Colress said. "And speaking of people, may I assume you folks have a residence or campsite nearby?"

"Maybe," Lian said.

"May I share it with you for a short while? I would be happy to pay for the privilege," Colress said, removing a strap from his shoulder and reaching into a metal, rectangular prism on his back. Ian realized Colress was swiping on it like a tablet. What the?

Selene approached Lian. "He's a good guy, you don't have to be so defensive."

Lian's gaze held on Selene for an uncomfortable amount before he finally relented. "I've heard Councilwoman Nui speak of the Aether Foundation, she's a big fan."

"Wonderful!" Colress said with a smile as the metal thing in his hands glowed and a hunk of gold Ian recognized saw most would in this world would call a Big Nugget manifested in his hand. "And here is my payment for the shelter." Colress then tossed the Big Nugget lightly, landing just in front of Lian, whose eyes widened in amazement. I wonder how much food that buys from Driftwood.

"Woah, what kind of Silph Bag is that?" Selene asked in amazement.

"Top of the line," Colress bragged. "Now, forgive me for asking, but what is this phenomenon happening behind you?"

Ian turned around, remembering the Ultra Storm was still going. "It's an Ultra Storm," Ian answered.

"An Ultra Storm?" Colress asked, observing it with a grin on his face. "Fascinating."

"Dr. Colress, can we get going? We got breakfast waiting for us on the way back," Selene asked.

"But of course!" Colress said happily. "Lead the way. It would be good for me to take some shelter and get my bearings in this new world."

"Yeah," Lian said, turning around and leading the way.

Sawsbuck walked beside Ian and Colress immediately got next to Ian. "Pardon my fascination with your Pokemon, but I have never seen its like before."

Ian smiled, accepting the compliment. "Neither had I until it happened."

"How did it happen, if I may ask?" Colress asked.

"Uh… it's a bit of a long story," Ian said.

"How long is the journey to shelter?" Colress asked.

"Ten, fifteen minutes?" Lian replied.

"Then we have plenty of time," Colress said with an unsettling grin.

And so Ian began explaining the story, how they went to do some recon on a convoy, they were spotted, and Surge and his Zapdos. Ian was surprised Colress didn't ask any questions concerning Zapdos and what Ian assumed was its iconic trainer. Although maybe he's just really interested in Sawsbuck. He started explaining the events that unfolded upon entering the Lake of the Sunne when Selene interrupted.

"There's breakfast!" Selene called out, pointing at the Chesto Berry trees amidst the grey rock of the mountainside.

"And then?" Colress asked, clearly invested in Ian's story still.

"Let's get these berries first," Ian said.

Colress took one look at the tree and grimaced. "Chesto Berries? We're humans, let's eat like it." Colress then grabbed the high tech Silph Bag on his back and scrolled through the tiny screen at the top, then manifested a dozen wrapped up protein bars into midair before falling on the ground.

"Real food!" Selene cheered as she grabbed two. Colress tossed a couple bars to each of the three boys and grabbed one for himself.

"Thank you sir," Ian said, quickly unwrapping his protein bar and taking a bite.

Lian eyed Colress suspiciously, holding his two wrapped bars in his hand. "Ah, cautious, I understand young man," Colress said, assuaging Lian's concern by opening his own bar and taking a bite. "I am but a surprise guest, I cannot fault my host for being suspicious."

Lian had already opened his protein bar and took a loud bite in response. "And Selene," Ian began. "Can I get those foraging bags? I still want to pick these Chesto Berries for our buddies back at the guest house."

"Sure," Selene said, taking a huge bite of her second bar as she pulled the folded up foraging bags from her pockets. Sawsbuck got its vines ready and began delicately taking the blue Chesto Berries from the trees as Ian put them in the foraging bags.

"The vine work…" Colress said in admiration, having finished his protein bar. "Truly wondrous. But back to your story, if I were seated I would be at the edge of it."

Ian gulped down the last of his protein bar and began explaining being cornered and Tapu Bulu's appearance and subsequent blessing upon Sawsbuck. "A truly incredible sequence of events," Colress said as Ian concluded his story. "I have heard of Legendary Pokemon blessing other lower level Pokemon, but never this," Colress explained. "And young man, I realize I do not know your name."

"Oh, sorry," Ian said. "I'm Ian."

"Now Ian, would you mind if I gave this blessed Sawsbuck a scan with my Omnitron?" Colress asked.

"Sorry, I have no idea what that is," Ian said.

"To be expected, think of it as something that reads a Pokemon's passive energy conduction levels," Colress explained.

"I can speak gibberish too, doc," Tupp chimed in, earning a playful smack on the arm from Selene.

Colress eyed Ian expectantly with his hands on his high tech Silph Bag's screen- or is it a prism? "Sure," Ian said, seeing little harm in allowing a scan.

"You have my gratitude," Colress said, pressing a button and manifesting something that looked like a bulky Game Boy Advance with an antenna in his hand. Colress directed the antenna at Sawsbuck and a series of beeps and computer-adjacent trills began sounding. Colress gasped as if his heart was being overwhelmed. Astounding! I have only seen greater levels in Legendary Pokemon," Colress said in amazement. That means he's analyzed Legendary Pokemon… Like multiple of them, right? So Black 2 and White 2 did happen in his world? I'm getting even weirder vibes from him.

Colress appeared to catch his words and cleared his throat. "Apologies, my newfound friends, the scientist part of me can be a bit overwhelming," Colress explained.

Selene giggled. "You remind me a lot of the Dr. Colress from our world."

"Then I shall be delighted to meet him…" Colress said, his "Omnitron" as he called it now pointing to the terrain ahead. "And such vibrant Leylines on this mountain! Oh this almost too much," Colress said with an off-putting laugh.

"Leylines?" Selene asked.

"The backbone of special natural energies, the energies that likely made Pokemon able to channel Type Energy, as most call it," Colress answered quickly before returning to his Omnitron's screen. "There must be a Confluence nearby."

"And there's Makamae Town!" Tupp called out, pointing ahead.

"What a quaint little town," Colress said with an amused grin. Colress then pointed his omnitron to the party's right. "Pardon, but is there a landmark of some sort that way?"

"It's the old mine," Lian said. "And with all due respect Mr. Colress, my town's hospitality will be decided by the council members, not me."

"Fair," Colress said. "I see you still have my payment."

"It'll be presented to them," Lian said, lifting up the hunk of gold.

The group of four entered Makamae Town, where a number of Pearl Clan members milled about in the brisk morning air. In front of one house, Ian recognized Irida, Ingo, and who he suspected was Councilwoman Nui speaking robustly.

"Council members!" Lian called out as they approached. "I've picked up someone while on the summit trail. He wants to pay for our hospitality."

The three councillors turned abruptly and inspected the odd looking stranger. Lian then tossed the Big Nugget of gold to their feet. "Is that real, Lian?" Iridia asked.

Lian nodded.

"Doctor Colress, what are you doing up here?" Nui said excitedly.

Colress chuckled lightly. "Apologies everyone, I seem to have arrived in this world in an Ultra Wormhole, and many people seem familiar with who I am in this world, although I am not with them."

Nui gasped. "Well if you are a fraction of the brilliant man in this world, then we offer our hospitality for as long as we can bear."

Colress bowed his head respectfully, stealing a curious glance at Ingo. "I thank you all."

Nui turned to the other councillors, who nodded hesitantly. "Perfect, I have a guest room in my cottage if you would like."

"I would be honored, ma'am," Colress said, following Nui, Irida, and Ingo as she led them away.

"Let's get these Chesto Berries back to our peeps," Selene suggested, taking one bag from his hand, with Tupp opening his hand to take the other, which Ian was fine with giving.

"There's no kitchen in the house, where can we boil them?" Ian called out.

"We got a bath tub," Tupp said, cheeks reddening as Ian remembered who'd taken a bath the night before. Tupp, you perv.

"Wouldn't there be some Muk residue still?" Ian called back.

"Oh yeah…" Tupp said, turning back around and catching up with Selene.

Lian cleared his throat. "You got a moment, Ian?" Ian nodded, and Lian looked around to make sure there were no eavesdroppers. "That Colress guy is really suspicious."

Ian nodded. "Very."

"I didn't want to call him on it considering that Steel Pokemon can Mega Evolve, but he said something that triggered an alarm for me," Lian explained. "He said he came from an Ultra Wormhole, but remember me telling you folks that come out of those have no memory?"

Ian nodded. "Yeah…"

"So that doesn't line up. And there haven't been any Ultra Storms besides the one we were at, and it was so fresh he couldn't have come from it," Lian explained.

"Yeah, what are you getting at?" Ian asked.

Lian leaned in close, hushing his voice to a whisper. "What if he came from the Ultra Rift itself?"

Oh.

Chapter 19 Tug of War

As Ian made his way back to the house, Lian's speculation replayed in his mind. From the other side of the Ultra Rift? That opens up so many questions. First and foremost, has anyone gone in and come back? Is it a physical place on the other side or does it just send off somewhere random like a roulette ball?

"Ian, not you too!" Plumeria barked from the guest house's patio, pointing at his Pearl Clan sweater.

"Oh, yeah… It was just really cold where we went," Ian explained.

Plumeria grimaced and beckoned him to come closer. "They're probably going to try to get you to stick around with Hyde while we're gone."

"Wait what?" Ian asked.

"Irida's agreed to house Hyde if you and Sawsbuck stay another night," Plumeria said. "They'll probably ask if you can stay with Hyde, but I'm not letting that happen. So don't give them any hope that might work."

"Fine, but if I have to take the sweater off, can we at least do this inside?" Ian asked.

Plumeria rolled her eyes. "You already know what I want to talk to you about."

"You want to talk about that more?" Ian replied.

"I promised to keep your secret and I will. But I spent half the night thinking about what you said and I need some answers on things," Plumeria said.

Ian sighed. I really shouldn't have told her. The Pearl Clan would take me and not ask a damn question… "Okay."

"Take that sweater off and follow me," Plumeria ordered.

Ian shivered without the layered sweater on as Plumeria led him to a tree a good hundred feet away from the guest house, still visible from the patio if anyone came looking for them. "So what do you need to know, Big Sis?" Ian asked.

"Besides everything?" Plumeria teased, causing Ian to grimace. "I'm just joking, c'mon. Since when do you get so glum?"

Ian rolled his eyes. "Since I just told you my deepest, darkest secret and I didn't realize I would feel so vulnerable on the other side of it. Which is why I didn't want to tell you-"

"Alright, alright," Plumeria said, putting on a near smile. "Then before we start this, I want to say thank you for saving my ass in front of the council last night. You are likely the sole reason we have shelter here, and I need to acknowledge that."

Ian nodded, still grimacing. "You're welcome and thank you."

Plumeria noticed Ian still seemed displeased and her expression soured. "So you said something about Irida and the Pearl Clan before, but last night you said something about Surge too. Which means that real, existing people in this world were what, characters in the games you played?"

Ian sighed. "I really wish you weren't so perceptive."

Plumeria grinned smugly. "That's why I'm everyone's Big Sis. And remember, this perception of mine goes both ways."

"Well it's sure going one way right now," Ian grumbled.

"C'mon Ian, I'm trying to be cool here. I'm trying to be understanding," Plumeria pleaded. "Please stop dodging my questions."

She did just come to the realization that someone in a different universe knows actual people from a fictional source, that's gotta be a whole other level of existential crisis. "Sorry."

"Thank you," Plumeria said diplomatically as she took a deep breath. "So I don't know how far that knowledge of actual people in this world goes. But they were actual characters in your video games as a kid?"

Ian nodded. "Yes."

"How many video games were there?" Plumeria asked.

Ian paused as he thought about the right way to answer the question. "Okay, so Plumeria there are going to be really complex, confusing answers to really simple questions, and I want you to know I'm not lying to you, I'm just trying to explain potentially really stupid concepts as honestly as possible, and it will not be easy."

Plumeria giggled nervously. "That's quite an answer. How about this, what places do you know about?"

"Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos, Alola, Galar, Paldea…" Ian paused. "Is Orre a thing?"

"Orre?" Plumeria asked. "Oh, southwestern part of Unova, yeah."

"Okay, those are the places I know kind of the broad strokes of… But I also had no idea Unova had made Alola its vassal-state or whatever," Ian explained.

"I hear you," Plumeria said, looking at him expectantly. "You did say Alola."

Ian nodded. "Yes, but it's different from here."

"How s-" Plumeria paused as she eyed an oncoming figure suspiciously. Ian turned to see Colress, still clad in his grey lab coat approaching.

"Greetings Ian, Team Skull leader," Colress called out as non-threateningly as possible.

"Greetings!" Plumeria called back, waving back before whispering subtly to Ian. "What's the deal with this guy?"

"It's complicated," Ian whispered back.

"My apologies for interrupting, but Ms. Selene directed me out here! I wish to speak with you, Team Skull leader," Colress called back.

Plumeria folded her arms. "You're Dr. Colress, right? I wasn't able to hear much, but she had nothing but good things to say about you, sir."

Colress smiled and shook his head. "There is no need for such formality. I am about to ask a favor of you after all. May I ask your name?"

"Plumeria," she answered.

"Like the flower. Pretty, but poisonous to anyone who wishes it harm," Colress said. "I have already been acquainted with Ian and his wonderful Sawsbuck."

Ian nodded. "Dr. Colress."

"My host, councilwoman Nui has informed me your group is heading to one… Palmer's Ranch? And that it would be just outside of Malie City. Is that correct?" Colress asked.

"Yeah…" Plumeria said.

"May I join your party's expedition that way? I will be happy to provide compensation in treasure and provisions," Colress said.

"What kind of treasure and provisions?" Plumeria asked.

Colress whipped his high-tech Silph Bag around and pressed on the screen, where the light blue version of a Star Piece manifested in Colress' hand. A Comet Shard!?
"I will happily pay this to you at the onset, and for the safe journey I can provide some more compensation," Colress said. "Nui also informed me it is a three to four day journey on foot to Malie City. I happen to have ninety days of provisions for myself and six Pokemon, meaning I can supply your entire party for the duration of the journey."

If he was doing something with Aether, why does he just happen to have so many provisions? Not to mention all of these treasures.

Plumeria's jaw dropped. "Uh… sure. You don't need to get there immediately, do you?" Plumeria asked.

"I heard of the deal brokered with Irida," Colress said. "I can supply the party for up to fifteen days if need be."

"That won't be necessary," Plumeria said. "We're hoping to leave tomorrow morning, if that's okay with you."

"Of course. Just please don't leave without me in case I oversleep. I have had a rather bizarre day," Colress said with his signature off-putting laugh. "Now, I'm going to go back to your guest house as I promised breakfast for the rest of your team members and their Pokemon."

"Thanks, but we're good for right now," Plumeria said sweetly.

"Actually, my Pokemon could use some food as well," Ian volunteered.

"Splendid! Another chance to see that wonderful Sawsbuck," Colress gushed.

Plumeria growled lowly at Ian as she glared daggers at him. "Fine," she groaned before stepping to Ian's ear. "This conversation is not over."

"Yeah," Ian grumbled.

***

Ian watched curiously as Colress took a pellet with various shades of blue and held it out in his hand to Ian's Sawsbuck, who eagerly gobbled up the trifling portion. Sawsbuck eyed Colress expectantly for a few moments before Colress shook his head. "And one, two, three…"

Sawsbuck bleated in shock as something happened in its stomach. Sawsbuck then cheered happily, prancing back to Ian. What the? Colress sniggered comically, sounding more evil as he did. "I find it hard to believe a fellow Unovan has never seen condensed Pokemon food like that," Colress said.

Unsure of what to say, Ian remained silent.

"Hm, curious," Colress said, his tone almost haunting. "Imagine technology like the Silph Bag but for food. Pokemon of Sawsbuck's size require many thousands of calories per day, and it is so hard to carry that much food, even with a Silph Bag."

Ian nodded "Makes sense. Plus it'll make feeding my Tyrunt a lot easier."

Colress gasped in surprise. "Tyrunt you say? I was an intern on the first fossil resurrection project. Ironically I have gotten so few opportunities to interact with the fruits of my labor. May you present it?"

Ian grimaced. "Well, I gotta feed the rest of my team first and then get far away from town. Tyrunt's a freshly caught Alpha and it keeps trying to eat me."

"Ohohoho," Colress chuckled. "How quaint. I've never seen an Alpha Tyrunt before, you must show me. I beg of you, Ian," Colress said.

"Of course, considering you're providing the food…" Ian said.

Colress gave Ian a friendly pat on the back that made him almost shiver. "Oh there is no need to feel that held over your head."

Ian did his best to show a genuine smile. "Thanks…"

Ian released Pyroar and Wartortle next, and Colress gasped in amazement as he saw the cracks and punctures on Wartortle's shell. "Have you run afoul of an Alpha Gyarados?" Colress asked curiously.

"Well, I think Wartortle did. There was an Ultra Storm off Po Town's coast earlier in the day that I caught him. We think he came from the Ultra Storm, and there was likely an Alpha Gyarados out there," Ian explained.

"Really? Let me check…" Colress said, bringing out his bulky omnitron once more. He swiped on the screen a few times before pressing on something, then aimed the device's antenna to Wartortle, and the omnitron began making clicking and popping noises like a tool from his world being used to detect radiation. "Yes, that's quite a bit of Ultra Static. Your Wartortle definitely came through an Ultra Wormhole…" Colress then pointed the device at Pyroar and Sawsbuck, and the same clicks and pops came from the omnitron. "Fascinating, all of your Pokemon out here are Fallers…" Colress moved to put the Omnitron in his lab coat but the sensory mode was still on and the antenna pointed right at Ian, and he heard more pops and clicks from the machine. Colress' eyebrows rose for a moment before he put the omnitron away. "Come, let us see this Alpha Tyrunt of yours."

Ian led Colress close to where Plumeria had taken him for their private chat, and Colress made sure no one was around before speaking up once more, his tone much more serious. "I apologize for the accidental analysis Ian, but do your friends know you're a Faller as well?"

Ian nodded. "They do. They picked me up outside of the Ultra Storm I emerged in."

Colress smiled, his grin looking ever more sinister. "A truly fascinating young man you are, Ian."

"Thanks…" Ian said with a nervous laugh, readying Tyrunt's Ultra Ball. Colress gave him two food pellets and got beside Ian, getting his omnitron back in his hands.

Ian took a deep breath and tossed the Ultra Ball fifteen feet out. The six foot tall baby tyrannosaur manifested with an angry roar, its dark eyes full of menacing rage. Thankfully its red Alpha eyes aren't back. Tyrunt took one step toward Ian, and he threw the varied, blue-colored pellet at his problem-child Alpha. Tyrunt's mouth was already open and foaming drool when the pellet landed comfortably on its tongue. Tyrunt suddenly gave a higher pitched cry, and Ian felt the ground begin to shift underneath him. He dove out of the way, and rocky cylinders erupted from the ground. Rock Tomb? Shit. Wartortle already had an Icy Wind fired when Ian looked back up, and Tyrunt gave a pained yelp. Ian got to his knees and tossed the pellet to Tyrunt's open mouth, which got to Tyrunt's mouth just in time before its jaws snapped shut. Ian got the Ultra Ball ready and beamed Tyrunt back, heaving a sigh of relief.

"Quite a feisty one, young man," Colress said. "In my opinion, you should get an Ice or Steel Type Pokemon to help break in your unruly Alpha."

Ian shrugged. "Well Wartortle's got Icy Wind…"

Colress grimaced, unhappy with the suggestion. "An Ice or Steel Type would be more beneficial. I think there is a Leyline Confluence in the mine just outside of town I'm hoping to explore before we leave. I would be happy to take you with me and help you capture one, if you'd like."

Ian shrugged. "That sounds like a good idea actually."

"Perfect," Colress said, turning his attention back to the town, where Ian noticed a familiar figure approaching. "It looks like you're being summoned."

Ian nodded, seeing Irida walking toward them in her dignified elegance. "I'll let you know, maybe get Lian and Tupp involved too."

"Lieutenant Ian!" Irida called out, waving her arm. "I'm afraid the third hour is fast approaching."

Ian nodded, recalling Pyroar and Wartortle and moving to hop on Sawsbuck's back. "Oh, there is no need to hurry, Lieutenant," Irida explained. "Strolling would be just fine."

"Okay," Ian said as Sawsbuck's support vines retreated from his waist. Ian gave Colress a goodbye gesture and made his way to Irida. "And you don't have to call me lieutenant, I'm not addressing you formally after all."

"Well, it is your rank after all, correct?" Irida probed.

"Not entirely," Ian said. "We don't really have one, but Hyde messed up his ankle and Selene smelled worse than an outhouse, so Plumeria picked me to be her number two for that meeting."

"A decision that ended up earning my vote," Irida said. "And that is not mentioning you dove on the proverbial sword for Plumeria in front of us." Irida paused, seemingly deciding on her words very carefully. "Does Team Skull treat you well, Ian?"

"Well enough," Ian said.

"Your blessed Sawsbuck keeps them fed, and your self-sacrifice is commendable. I would believe you have more than earned an elevation in rank at the very least," Irida said.

Ian shrugged, trying to side-step what he could. She's going to do her best to chip away at my loyalty here. "No, I understand where they're coming from. I haven't even been around for three weeks while Selene is a good trainer and has seniority."

"There you go with that humility again, Ian," Irida said with a dazzling smile and the faintest hint of desire in her eyes. Ian felt his heart stir. She's pulling out all the stops. "A very admirable trait in a follower. And in order to lead, one must learn to follow, first."

"I might have to steal that line next time Plumeria tries to suspend me," Ian said with a dumb grin.

"Suspend? Whatever for?" Irida asked.

I might have stepped in it. Damn her good looks and vulnerability hunting instinct. No wonder she's the leader of the Pearl Clan. "We were tasked with going into an Ultra Storm and when a powerful Alpha Pokemon came out of a wormhole, I fought it instead of fleeing." Something tells me if I mention Crawdaunt's mobility or Rylee it's just going to give Irida more to latch onto.

"Was anyone hurt?" Irida asked.

"No," Ian said.

"Then it was a perfectly calculated risk. A suspension seems to be the exact opposite of the example a leader should make," Irida said, making eye contact with him, her deep blue eyes promising endless possibilities. Ian felt blood rushing through his body and figured his cheeks were reddening by the second, and he looked away, realizing they'd reached the raised beds, and a dozen Combee or so buzzed around the crop row.

"Where'd these Combee come from?" Ian asked, shifting uncomfortably.

"They are workers for Palina's Vespiquen," Irida answered. "They are supposed to accelerate crop growth, They do pale in comparison to your Sawsbuck, however," Irida explained.

"Not their fault," Ian said.

"And there's Palina now," Irida pointed out. Ian spotted a tall woman with light brown hair, decked out in Pearl Clan attire with a Vespiquen beside her, monitoring the buzzing squad of Combee around the raised beds. Ian recognized the woman as Hisuian Arcanine's Warden.

"Lina! Allow me to introduce someone," Irida called out, her signature tone of dignified authority oozing through her words.

"Ah, the one who has put Vespiquen and I to shame," Palina replied with an amused smile. Ian and Irida made their way to Palina, and Palina looked him up and down and gave a slight grin. "So this is Lieutenant Ian and his blessed Sawsbuck. I may have to find a new role if you stick around for a bit."

Ian shook his head. "I don't think that will be necessary."

"Hm, about you not sticking around?" Palina probed.

Ian shook his head. "No, just uh… about the new role thing."

Palina eyed Irida for a moment before returning her attention to Ian. "Irida, have you broached the subject we spoke of earlier?"

Irida scoffed. "I have not. It was merely a request I made to Plumeria which she declined to answer at the time. It would be unfair of me to go behind Plumeria's back." I can guess where this is going.

"Then let me do it instead," Palina said with a light giggle. "Ian, we have agreed to house that grumpy, injured young man while your squad descends the mountain and crosses the desert. We were wondering if you would stay with us during the trip."

Irida cleared her throat. "We have also heard Dr. Colress has agreed to supply provisions for the journey as well, making you a bit unnecessary…" Irida paused deftly, her gaze locked in on Ian's own. "...for them."

Ian smiled nervously. "Ladies, I'm flattered. But Plumeria's my boss, and whatever she says, goes."

Palina gave a quick "hmph" and folded her arms. "Ever the loyal man." Ian caught Palina giving Irida a quick look before focusing on him again.

"Of course, Ian," Irida said. "It is not fair of us to go behind Plumeria's back." Irida began to step away before stopping and turning to Ian once more, that mesmerizing look of wonder in her deep blue eyes. "I do hope she appreciates the loyal man you are, Ian Cougar."

Ian gave as big a smile as he could muster, cheeks still warm from blushing. "It's something like that."

Irida began stepping off gracefully and when Irida got out of earshot, Ian opened his mouth. "That was probably the nicest ambush I've ever been a part of."

Palina giggled lowly. "I see why she fancies you."

Ian rolled his eyes. "You're pouring it on a little thick here."

"Hm?" Palina asked.

Ian shook his head, remembering contemporary slang from his world would go over the head of time-travelers in this one. "The over-complimentary nature of what you're doing. You all are being really heavy handed with the praise."

"Too perceptive after all," Palina said. "Please do not resent her for it, she had her heart broken by a former enemy turned lover that not all of us were ready to accept."

Adaman? Yeah they did bicker like a married couple. And it was hinted that Palina had a thing for Basculegion's Warden from the Diamond Clan, right? What was his name again? "With the way you're speaking, I find it hard to believe you weren't accepting of it," Ian observed.

Palina scoffed. "A keen eye, almost too keen," Palina giggled lightly before continuing. "You are right though, I was the fiercest advocate for the match. My own love lies buried in time now as well. Perhaps it is our punishment for attempting the ritual without the Diamond Clan's assistance."

Ritual? Is that what Irida and Gaeric didn't want spoken about earlier? "Ritual?" Ian asked curiously.

Palina shook her head. "Something sacred I am not allowed to disclose," Palina did a quick scan of her surroundings and leaned in, hushing her voice to a whisper. "Irida blames herself for our being in this place, in this time. The guilt crushes her more than the heartbreak I think, and the only relief to such crushing guilt would be full security for us all. That is why she covets your Sawsbuck so. I even overheard her speaking with Ingo and Gaeric of a proposed alliance, with a diplomatic marriage at its center."

A marriage alliance? Like some Game of Thrones shit? Yeesh. "That's not exactly how things go nowadays. People marry for love," Ian said.

"Irida would sacrifice even her own happiness to ensure our clan's safety and security," Palina stated. "It is that dire for her."

Ian nodded. "I see… And Palina, I won't say anything about what you've told me. I don't want to get you in trouble."

Palina laughed lowly. "A truly loyal man would tell his leader anything about a different faction's plans that might involve him."

Ian chuckled. "Oh, I thought you were talking about Irida marrying someone from our side. Hopefully it's not that asshole Hyde," he joked.

"Hyde?" Palina asked. "Oh, the grumpy, injured one I saw on the patio not long ago?"

"Yeah."

"I'll jump off the mountain before I let Irida marry that man," Palina said.

***

Lian, Colress, Tupp, and Ian marched single file up a small, paved incline, Ian and Tupp once again clad in Pearl Clan sweaters. "Yo Ian," Tupp began. "You sure Big Sis was okay with us wearing these again? Not to mention leaving without saying anything…"

Ian shrugged. "Too late to ask for permission now."

Tupp laughed. "She gonna be pissed when we get back yo."

Ian grinned. "Not at me, she's gotta be nice to me while we're here."

"Really? Why's that?" Tupp asked.

Lian cleared his throat. "Because the Pearl Clan desperately wants to keep Ian's Sawsbuck around."

Colress laughed in agreement. "They would be fools if they didn't."

"Oh…" Tupp said. "Imma be real bro, I don't think Big Sis gonna play that game."

Then I'll just go to Malie City- Ian eyed Colress and remembered how suspicious the scientist seemed. On second thought, maybe scope him out a bit more, if he stops being weird it would be nice to get some startup capital from him for Sawsbuck research though… "We'll definitely see," Ian said.

"Here's the mine entrance!" Lian called out.

Colress already had his omnitron device out, and Ian noticed light blue streaks of color dotting the screen, with a silver sliver of a line. "It is rare to find Leylines of such vibrant energy…" Colress said. "Oh glorious confluence, show me your wonders…" Colress practically chanted like he was having a religious experience.

"What kind of Pokemon usually hang out here?" Ian asked as they approached the sizable tunnel entrance.

"Besides the usual Zubat and Yungoos? Mostly Ice Pokemon," Lian said.

Peering inside, Ian noticed the walls had small patches of ice dotting the walls before Lian took the first step into the mine. While it is cold here, it's not nearly cold enough for ice to still be on the walls. Maybe it has something to do with the Ice Type Pokemon here.

"Magnezone, give us some light," Colress ordered bluntly as he tossed a unique looking Poke Ball in front of him. The bulky, floating magnet Pokemon with one eye quickly erased the shadows as the tips of its magnets began to glow. Ian noticed the ball itself looked a bit like a Premier Ball in the front but had a black and red section on its back, along with a red stripe going halfway to the button at the center.

"Yo, what kinda Poke Ball is that?" Tupp asked.

"A Timer Ball," Colress answered quickly before placing it inside his lab coat and re-focusing on Ian. "Remember Ian, Ice or Steel Types would be very beneficial," Colress said as he looked up from his omnitron.

"I hear you," Ian answered, noticing Tupp giving him a strange look."What?" He whispered, to which Tupp turned away. He might think I'm getting too close to Colress…

The deeper into the mine the group of four and Magnezone got, the icier the walls got. Ian caught a glimpse of a green blip of light on a ceiling, which he knew meant there was a Zygarde Cell. Something tells me I don't want to bring that up around Colress, I'm not sure what kind of guy he is yet. Colress would occasionally take out his omnitron and point the antenna around, but he remained steadfastly vigilant for any sign of movement.

"There," Colress whispered, pointing further ahead where what looked to be a ball of blue-ish ice rolled along the floor of the mine until the ball jumped into the air a couple feet, the Pokemon revealing itself to have limbs and a white underbelly. An Alolan Sandshrew? Neat.

The Pokemon quickly noticed the party and gave a panicked cry and turned to roll away. "Pyroar, chase that down!" Ian yelled out as he sent Pyroar's ball down the tunnel. His majestic, bright-maned lion manifested with a roar, the loud noise echoing off the walls and forcing the rolling Alolan Sandshrew to stop and cower.

"This Pokemon would be perfect for training Alpha Tyrunt, Ian," Colress informed. "But on behalf of our ears, I request you do not have Pyroar use Hyper Voice in this confined environment."

"Gotcha," Ian said. "Everyone, stand back! Pyroar, Flamethrower!"

Pyroar let out a low roar before streams of flames poured out of its mouth. Sandshrew rolled to the side in a panic, avoiding the initial fire. Pyroar re-directed however, and a high pitched squeal was all Ian heard before he heard nothing but the sound of Pyroar's pulsating flames. "Enough!" Ian called out, a pang of guilt in his chest.

Pyroar's stream of flames ended, and the icy Sandshrew was sprawled out on its belly on the mine's floor, surrounded by water and steam. Sorry little one. Ian made his way to the fallen armored rodent and grimaced. This seemed a bit overkill.

Footsteps came from behind him and Colress stood beside him. "Is there anything you are waiting for?" Colress inquired.

"No just…" Ian thought on it. "I'm thinking if one of Pyroar's Flamethrowers can knock it out, maybe it's not right for dealing with Tyrunt," Ian lied. In truth, I feel really bad for this Pokemon.

"A thoughtful assessment, but remember young Ian, Alolan Sandshrews are four-times weak to Fire Types, and their Special Defense is pitiful compared to its physical Defense. Does Tyrunt have Fire Fang in its arsenal?" Colress asked.

"I don't think so…"

"Then go ahead and capture this Pokemon. Once it has served its purpose or if it is as weak as you suspect, you can simply release it," Colress explained frigidly.

Ian's grimace tightened. So many things wrong with that statement, so many things that go against the whole vibe of Pokemon…

"Bro, you catchin' this or what? This things looks kinda cool…" Tupp said.

Ian shook his head. "No, I should have it," he said. Mostly to just prove Colress' assessment wrong. Ian reached for one of his spare Poke Balls, thinking the white Premier Ball would be fitting, and dropped it onto Sandshrew's sprawled out, unconscious body. The ball quickly took the Alolan Sandshrew in and shook softly for a second before going limp.

"Very well Ian," Colress said coldly. "Now, I believe there is a confluence up ahead that I'd like to analyze, if that would be okay with everyone?"

"Uh… sure?" Tupp said uncertainly.

"I'll give you extra portions for lunch," Colress said.

"Oh hell yeah! Let's find this Kung-Fu-ence!" Tupp said loudly.

It was a mercifully short walk, and Ian noticed the eerie, icy light blue glow in the wall coming up. "There we are…" Colress said as he got his Silph Bag out once again. Something resembling a blowtorch manifested in Colress' hands, which he pointed to the icy, crystalline wall. Four, red laser beams hit the crystalline wall with a high, mechanical hum as he started carving into the icy crystals, which didn't appear to melt.

"Hey, wait a second!" Lian called out.

"Not to worry, these crystals shall regrow in short order," Colress said. "It is a very vibrant confluence."

Lian scowled as he watched on, with Colress carving out two full, diamond shaped crystals. Upon finishing, Colress admired his handy work with an ecstatic grin. Colress then turned to Ian and presented one of the icy crystals. "I apologize for not having a Z-Ring handy, but one of these Z-Crystals should be perfect for you and that new Sandshrew to keep Tyrunt in line when you do get a Z-Ring."

Ian's jaw dropped, being presented with what he now realized was in fact a fully fledged Z-Crystal. "Woah…" Ian said in disbelief. "Thank you…"

Colress smiled wickedly. "Perhaps when we reach Palmer's Ranch, we can inquire about a Z-Ring."

Ian smiled nervously, realizing the gift likely had a string or two attached. Don't tell me he wants to try to get me to come with him too?

***

When the group of four returned, Ian kept his eye out for Plumeria, hoping to avoid her as long as he could. This worked until he passed an innocuous house and a door got shoved open and Plumeria roared from the patio deck. "Where the hell have you been, Ian?"

"You in deep shit now bro," Tupp observed as he began cowering away from Ian.

So much for thinking she'd be on good behavior. "What do you need, Plumeria?" Ian called back.

"For you to take that fucking sweater off, first of all," Plumeria snarled as she stormed over to him. Ian began pulling the sweater off, and by the time he was done, Plumeria swiped it and threw the sweater at Lian. "Leave," she growled at Lian, who promptly did so.

Colress chuckled lightly and whispered a quick "good luck" before leaving Ian alone in the street with Plumeria.

"We went to this mine covered in ice-"

"To avoid me, right?" Plumeria demanded. "I'm trying to have one fucking conversation with you and all you do is duck me every chance you get."

Ian grimaced, seeing the rage in Plumeria's intense eyes. "Okay, I'm sorry-"

"Sorry's not cutting this one," Plumeria spat.

Irida's delicate voice called out from the house Plumeria had exited from. "Lady Plumeria, is something amiss?"

"We're FINE!" Plumeria snarled before turning to Ian and whispering in an even more menacing tone. "Come with me, now."

Plumeria remained silent and tense for the walk down the street. Tupp was right on this one. Once the duo arrived under the tree outside of town, Plumeria turned around and glared at him.

Ian opened his mouth first. "I thought you said you wouldn't get mad."

Steam nearly came out of Plumeria's ears, but she kept her voice in check even though he was clearly in her danger zone. "I meant when it came to your secret Ian, not this game of tug-of-war I'm now playing with the Pearl Clan over you and that damn deer of yours."

"Fine," Ian said.

"I already know you were basically canoodling with Irida earlier," Plumeria said.

"What?"

"She's trying to get her claws into you for Sawsbuck, Ian, that's all."

"I'm well aware of that," Ian said.

"You wearing their sweater is just encouraging them," Plumeria explained.

"It's fucking cold up here," Ian replied.

"You've come face to face with Tapu Bulu, fought off an Alpha Crawdaunt and an Alpha Galvantula, but you draw the line at wearing a sweater?" Plumeria demanded.

Ian threw his hands up in confusion. "They're completely different things-"

"Ian…" Plumeria said, a strained calm coming over her. "...I am trying really hard to keep things together here."

Ian nodded, seeing the struggle in her eyes. "Okay…"

"I really don't like being in vulnerable positions like this," Plumeria said.

"Is there anyone who does like it?" Ian asked.

Plumeria's whole face sank, trying her best to hold back another tirade.

"Sorry, my bad," Ian said, relenting.

"We need the Pearl Clan to look after Hyde, but they're trying to take you with them, and five days with Irida on her knees begging for you would make any guy crack," Plumeria explained. "We need you Ian. Po Town needs you…"

Ian shook his head. "You need Sawsbuck. Not me."

"You're a package deal, you always have been," Plumeria said, and she sighed as inspiration hit her. "Don't tell me that whole Tapu Bulu situation, the blessing thing, did you intend that to happen from the start? Did that happen in your damn video games?"

"What? No-"

"You're not bullshitting me?" Plumeria demanded.

"No, that was completely different, that's never happened before," Ian pleaded. "Tapu Bulu was about to chop my head off but Deerling pleaded for me, or at least I think it did," Ian said. "I really figured I was a goner there."

Plumeria grunted, dissatisfied with the answer. "And the Alpha Poop? What is that?"

"I think it's… like Pokemon steroids," Ian said uncertainly. "They can make a Pokemon stronger, that's all I know."

"What were they in your video games?" Plumeria asked coldly.

"Experience 'Candy,'" Ian answered. "They were a pretty unbalanced mechanic…"

"What?" Plumeria asked.

Ian shook his head. "Forget I said anything. What were you going on about earlier this morning?"

"When I was being nice and not yelling at you?" Plumeria began. "Funny what you respond to."

Ian rolled his eyes. "I think it was 'Surge?'"

Plumeria pointed at him. "Yeah, Surge! So, real people in this world were characters in your video games. You also said you knew about Alola, explain."

"Uh… that's a lot..."

"Try," Plumeria said simply.

"Where do you want me to start?" Ian asked.

"You said something about Aether being bad?" Plumeria said. "Start there."

Ian nodded. "Okay, so things diverge from this world and the one I'm familiar with-"

"Your video game world…"

"Yeah," Ian replied. "So, the Aether Foundation wasn't run by Mohn, it was run by Lusamine."

"Lusamine's a scientist? I thought she was just a supermodel…" Plumeria said.

"So in the Alola I knew, Mohn was experimenting with Ultra Wormholes, and got taken away by one," Ian said. "Lusamine became the president, and while trying to get him back, got obsessed with Ultra Beasts. So she started experimenting with a Pokemon called Cosmog, which can open up Ultra Wormholes."

"There's a Pokemon besides Lunala that can do that?" Plumeria asked quickly. "That's if the legends are true."

"Solgaleo can do it too-" Ian paused, realizing what Plumeria meant. This world is a Moon version of things, not a Sun version. No wonder I was so sleepy when I came over from the Ultra Storm, they're twelve hours apart and I was on a different day/night cycle! How'd I not realize that earlier?

"Solgaleo? What the hell is that?" Plumeria asked.

Ian sighed. "So… Lunala is the moon legendary, right? Solgaleo is the sun legendary, but I think we're in a 'Moon' universe…"

Plumeria shook her head. "You lost me…"

Ian took a deep breath. "I shouldn't have brought it up. How about, I promise I will talk about relevant things. If you press me you're just gonna get really stupid answers."

"Fine. Cosmog can open Ultra Wormholes?" Plumeria asked.

"Because Cosmog evolves into Lunala," Ian answered.

Plumeria's eyebrows rose. "It evolves into a legendary?"

Ian nodded. "Yeah."

"Aether was doing these bad experiments… Did people know about it?" Plumeria asked.

"Not really," Ian said, realizing where the topic was going to go and did his best to dance around it. "Aether had a proxy group do their dirty work. Everything was about getting Cosmog back, but as discreetly as possible."

"Who was the proxy group?" Plumeria asked.

"Nobody important," Ian said.

"C'mon Ian, answer me," Plumeria said.

Ian frowned. "You don't wanna know…"

Plumeria shook her head. "Who was it, Ian?"

Ian exhaled uncomfortably. "Team Skull."

Plumeria's eyebrows rose. "You're joking…"

Ian shook his head. "Trust me, I wish I was."

"We're just Aether's little puppets? That goes against everything Team Skull stands for," Plumeria said.

"I know what you mean, and I don't think you guys knew exactly what you were after-"

Plumeria was taken aback, "So we weren't just puppets, we were idiots too? Not even mentioning you're talking like it was me… Wait, who was in Team Skull?"

Ian grimaced, then turned away. "You don't want to know…"

"Well I really do now," Plumeria said.

"Can we change the question?" Ian asked.

"No."

"Fine then…" Ian said, turning around and facing the tree. "Guzma, you, Rapp, and Tupp."

"Me? You're serious?" Plumeria asked. "Even a fictionalized version of me went along with that shit?"

Ian nodded. "You weren't evil, you just looked out for people. And I never asked for your name when you cornered me outside of the Ultra Storm. You remember that?"

Plumeria gasped as the realization. "Shit, yeah, I do… So, we were like, bad guys?"

Ian shrugged. "Not like that. Besides, it was just in that world, not this one obviously. But it was just a story about an Island Challenge and Cosmog, no mention of the government…" Ian paused seeing Plumeria beginning to tense. "...and now you're mad, aren't you?"

"Ian…"

"This is why I didn't want to tell you!" Ian shouted.

"Why? Cuz my stupid little evil henchmen brain wouldn't get it? Is that it?" Plumeria demanded.

"Honestly, I wish you were dumber! We wouldn't be doing this-" Ian paused as he realized he'd grossly misstepped.

Plumeria looked at him with pure, unmitigated rage. "What'd you say, pizza boy?"

Ian clenched his fist, realizing it was the first time she'd used Guzma's mocking nickname for him. And it's not just that she used it, it's how she's used it. He sighed, trying to de-escalate. "Look, we're both mad, we're both in very vulnerable spots right now-"

"Repeat it. I want to hear it again," Plumeria said with an eerie softness. A calm before an eruption.

"It was honestly a compliment," Ian said.

"Sure didn't feel that way," Plumeria said before spitting over her shoulder. "So this is what we get for taking you in? Giving you shelter, giving you the Poke Balls to go catch that fucking deer? Even though you've lied to us every step of the way…"

"Plumeria, you know it's not like that-"

"That's why you were so reckless," Plumeria accused. "We'd give you warnings, but nope, we're idiots who get used by anyone with money! We're just a bunch of clowns to you!"

Ian shook his head, cracking a smile in disbelief.

"And there it is, laughing at the clowns. Is that what you've always thought of us?" Plumeria demanded.

"Of course not. I'm one of you!" Ian pleaded. "Look, I told you I didn't want to talk about this, that you didn't want to know, but you kept pushing me-"

"Oh so this is my fault?" Plumeria demanded.

"You told me be to be honest, you told me you wouldn't get mad, and here we are, I'm being honest, and you're fucking mad! Great fucking leadership, Big Sis!" Ian shouted.

Plumeria marched up to him, so close he could feel her breath. "Don't you dare call me that, you ungrateful little shit."

"I've answered every single one of your questions, knowing exactly where this would lead. If anyone's the idiot here, it's me," Ian said.

"Nice try," Plumeria said gravely. "Enjoy kissing Irida's ass tonight, pizza boy." Plumeria then raised her middle finger, eyes full of venom. "Wait, does this mean the same thing in your world as it does in this one?"

"I think so," Ian croaked.

"Good," Plumeria said, turning around and holding her middle finger up to the sky as she stormed off.

Ian finally got sick of watching her walk off and turned back to the tree, knocking his head against the trunk. How far away is Malie City, exactly?

Chapter 20 Exhale

After being summoned to have Sawsbuck work its magic on the Pearl Clan's crops, Ian took a seat on a rather uncomfortable boulder a couple dozen feet away behind the raised beds, his back turned to Team Skull's guesthouse and the rest of Makamae Town in general. The sun was starting to set in the west, and looking east all he saw was darkness. Ian felt a rather biting chill hit him with the breeze and debated releasing Pyroar out of its ball but decided against it. Something about the cold seemed fitting, almost comforting from latent anger still flowing in his veins. Not long after, Ian's tranquility was broken with the sound of approaching footsteps. He turned, seeing Tupp and Selene coming toward him.

"Hey Ian," Selene said delicately. "How you feeling?"

"Doesn't really matter," he croaked.

"In the first hour since she came back from your altercation thing, Plumeria put a hole in a wall, bawled her eyes out, and cussed out Hyde like three times," Selene said with a giggle. "And she took another one of my tampons, in case you were wondering what might have made her so… mad."

Ian shook his head. "No offense, but do you really think I'm gonna just wipe away all of that bullshit she said because she's PMSing?"

"Well, no…" Selene mumbled.

"She been talking to the old boat captain guy for a while now," Tupp added. "Real serious and shit."

Ingo. Probably formalizing some sort of transfer or something.

"What were you guys even talking about anyways? Plumeria's been really quiet about that. Was it the stuff she was talking to you on the patio about last night?" Selene asked.

At least she's being quiet about it. "In a way," Ian grumbled.

"Any chance you'll fill us in a bit on it?" Selene asked.

"If I did, you'd probably be having the same issues Plumeria's having with me," Ian said hopelessly.

"Oh… What if I promised not to get mad? That I wouldn't tell anyone?" Selene asked.

Ian shook his head, defeated. "She said the same thing."

"Oh… I'm sorry Ian," Selene said.

"Yo bro, you know why they call it PMS?" Tupp asked.

Ian eyed him curiously. "Why's that?"

"Cuz 'Mad Cow Disease' was already taken!" Tupp answered, breaking out into a laughing fit.

"Tupp, what the fuck?" Selene said, giving him a punch on the arm.

Laughter slipped out of Ian's face, breaking his melancholy, if only for a few moments. "Thanks bro," Ian said, extending a fist bump.

"Pardon this unscheduled stop everyone," the old voice Ian recognized as Ingo's called out. "If I may have some private time with Ian, it would be greatly appreciated."

"Uh… sure?" Tupp said, joining Selene as they departed.

Ian watched Ingo carefully. The older man with the train conductor hat and Pearl Clan sweater approached with a serene calm Ian found almost suspicious and took a seat next to Ian on his resident boulder. "I apologize if I am intruding, Ian," Ingo said. "But I felt a need to get involved."

"So, am I getting kicked out of Team Skull?" Ian asked, meeting the gaze of Ingo's silver eyes.

"Not that I'm aware of," Ingo said. "I'm not here on any Pearl Clan business, if you can believe me. It's just when I see something blocking the track ahead of good people, I feel compelled to clear it no matter who they are."

Heh, train terms. "No offense sir, but you barely know me. How do you know I'm a good person?"

"Well, first, how you dove on the sword when you and Plumeria appeared before our little council. Not even a day has passed since, and I understand why Plumeria did not want to disclose your Sawsbuck's abilities," Ingo said. "And second, the fact that you are still here, still conflicted about words spoken in anger."

Ian exhaled, realizing the depths to Ingo's observation.

"You must be going through so much, young man," Ingo continued. "You said you have been in this world for three weeks. And it appears you have retained your memory from whence you came?"

Ian nodded. "Yeah… I heard you were actually in a similar situation, just not quite having all of your memory." I'm not sure I have the patience for him to explain his backstory right now.

"Mmmm…" Ingo said. "You have sharp ears. A vast majority of my earlier life's memories are gone. When I dream I see hints and flashes, fleeting visions, close enough to grasp, but they become just out of reach when I get my hands on them…" Ingo paused. "But I have come to speak to you today not to tell you my life's story or my troubles, although I may share them…" Ingo paused and changed his tone to a brisk, authoritative one. "Look into my eyes, Ian." Ingo hunched over, focusing his intense gaze on Ian, and Ian kept his sullen eyes locked in with Ingo's silvery pair. After a good ten seconds of study, Ingo broke eye contact. "Whatever it is that torments you Ian, it shows in your eyes."

Ian swallowed his tongue, realizing the elder in front of him was someone worth listening to every word.

"I would see the same torment in my own reflection during my early days in the Pearl Clan. And I saw the same pain in the eyes of a young man named Rei, back in Hisui," Ingo explained. That was the name of the Legends Arceus protagonist, right? The male one at least. "He was a good friend. Younger than you when he arrived in Hisui. I didn't know him for a while, but he was always looked at with suspicion by many of comrades in Jubilife Village. Yet he persevered, he used his vast knowledge, knowledge that only made him more suspicious to his comrades…" Ingo paused. "I suppose you know how that feels?"

Ian gulped. "Yeah… Did Plumeria tell you anything specific?"

Ingo cleared his throat. "Nothing specific, she told me she was sworn to secrecy, which I must respect. But she did tell me that you told her a small fraction of knowledge you did not want to discuss, yet she pushed you, and that fraction of knowledge did trouble her greatly. It troubled her in ways she could not comprehend."

Ian nodded. "That's fair…"

Ingo then put his arm around Ian's shoulder, embracing him, his voice wavering with genuine emotion. "And if that small of a fraction upset her so, I cannot fathom the burden you carry now, young man." Ian felt his eyes begin to water and he closed them, trying to blink back the tears. Ingo squeezed his shoulder tighter, as if reminding him he was not alone. Ian tightened his throat to stifle any sobs that wanted to make themselves known, and he just sat there for who knows how long, inhaling, exhaling, and letting the emotion wash over him.

Finally Ian developed the strength to speak. "Thank you, Ingo… I really needed that."

"You are more than welcome to it, anytime my young friend," Ingo said. "Would you indulge me telling a short tale of my early days with the Pearl Clan?"

Ian nodded. "You have my full, un-divided attention, sir."

"And you have my thanks," Ingo said, retreating his arm from Ian's shoulder and tipping his hat out of respect. "When I first arrived in the Pearl Clan, I knew so very little. I recognized so few Pokemon, but somehow, seeing them in action, in battle, and interacting with them, holding them, petting them, it was like I had done it all my life. I knew Type matchups yet couldn't say what Type most Pokemon were… It was even more baffling to me than to my own comrades. Irida's predecessor, a very forthright man, finally had enough of my 'suspicious fables' as he called them. I was cast out for a night, but I did not return the next morning, nor the morning after. A woman, the Lady Cogita of the Ancient Retreat took me in and heard my story. She comforted me when I told her of the knowledge I apparently knew but did not consciously know, and of how much it pained me."

Ian nodded, waiting on every word.

"When I finished my tale, she told me that I was not the first to befall such a situation, and that I would not be the last. She claimed to have seen a number of people like me over her long life. Some would go off into the wilderness, trying to make sense of things. She rarely heard from them again. But the ones who took it all in stride, who soldiered on and sought purpose in their new, and so different lives, would find peace with their truths, whatever they were."

Ian nodded solemnly.

"And so I will tell you what she told me, and what I told young Rei when he and I had a conversation not unlike this," Ingo said, the words weighing heavily. "Follow wherever your heart leads, and once there, commit to doing the most good you can. You will not solve the world's problems, but you will find peace and purpose in doing so." With that, Ingo arose from the boulder, and for the first time in hours, Ian did as well. The two embraced a short time, no words needing to be exchanged.

"Can I ask… What can you remember of your… former life?" Ian asked meekly.

"Of course… Images of buildings that tower into the sky, loud machines rumbling by and… a man… A man clad in white, very much like the clothes I woke up in Hisui in, all those years ago. For so long I thought it was me I was seeing, but Rei had a different thought that stuck with me… He said it might have been a brother of mine. After that it was like something unlocked, I remembered standing side by side with someone very much like me, locked in combat, with smiles on our faces. He had some great, muscular brown beast, and I, a dark blue creature made of stone…" Ingo paused. "I know in my heart that figure is my brother, and the more I see of this world, the more it is like the one Rei described, and where he believed I might truly be from. Part of me thinks that figure, my brother, may still be out there…" Ingo sniffled as a slight tear fell down his cheek."... looking for me."

"Sir, have you thought of looking for him?" Ian asked.

Ingo shook his head quickly. "A little… but the Pearl Clan, my people, we are in dire need. Perhaps he is out there, but I am needed here. If I were to leave for my own selfish purpose and by an act of providence, find him, and then find out a terrible fate befell my beloved comrades here? I would not be able to smile again. Therefore I cannot leave them until I know they are safe and secure…" Ingo cleared his throat. "But enough of that sad talk, I reckon your ears have tired by now?"

Ian shook his head. "No, not at all."

Ingo chuckled lightly. "I did put some thought into it, but I realized looking for my brother, whose name I know not, and whose garb seems to be irregular in this world, would be like hunting for a Cherubi tree without knowing the fruit the tree bears."

Ian felt a small, hopeful grin sneak onto his face and words came to him. "Ingo, we may have just met, but when this is all done, when the Ultra Rift closes up, and the Pearl Clan has found a true home, I want to help you find your brother."

"It will be harder than finding a Zorua in the Fieldlands, I think," Ingo replied.

"I think I'll be able to help narrow it down at least," Ian said, his smile widening.

"Regardless of your ability, I would be honored to have you, when this is all said and done…" Ingo turned his attention to the Ultra Rift to give it a look.

"At the beginning of this I thought you were going to try to recruit me," Ian said.

Ingo shook his head with a knowing laugh, and turned around one last time. "It would have been an insult to the memory of our late, great hero, Rei." Ingo tipped his hat and turned back around, heading back into town, the sky having now darkened significantly overhead. The Ultra Rift shown beautifully atop the summit, with Ian allowing himself to be mesmerized by the rainbow pattern of colors it had cycled into. Ian kept his arms folded, observing the bizarre phenomenon as Ingo's words replayed in his brain. It was like getting advice from a guru or something… To think, out of all of the people I could've met in this world, it's a guy who not only has some first hand experience of what I'm going through, but actively knew someone who may well have been going through exactly this situation too…

Ian's reflection lasted for some time before dainty footsteps hit his ears. "Ian Cougar?" Irida's soft, angelic voice asked.

"Has it been three hours?" Ian asked.

"A little while past it actually," Irida said. "But I wanted to give you space."

Ian nodded. "I appreciate it."

"I've heard you and Lady Plumeria got into a fierce argument earlier," Irida said.

"That we did…" Ian said.

"Pardon me for being so forward but, I feel inclined to tell you. If Team Skull ever does you wrong, we would happily accept you Ian," Irida said.

Ian felt a snarky reply about her Sawsbuck fixation take root in his mind, but he figured he best avoided it. She might become my boss if Plumeria's pissed enough at me. "I appreciate it."

"And not just for your Sawsbuck. Lian and Ingo both have high praise for you," Irida said.

Ian nodded. "When did Ingo tell you that?"

"Earlier today," Irida said. "Why do you ask?"

"I just spoke with him."

"This is where he went off to?" Irida asked.

"Yeah… You know, after the blow up with Plumeria and before I spoke to Ingo, I thought I was going to just go to Malie City and be done with all of this… The Ultra Rift, Surge, Breon… all of this nonsense," Ian explained.

"And has that changed?" Irida asked.

"It might have… I'll need to sleep on it," Ian answered.

"Well I do have a spare room with a bed made just for you, since I believe Plumeria will not have you at the guest house tonight," Irida said.

"Probably for the best," Ian said.

"There is a pot of tea ready to be heated up by my Ninetales, should you wish," Irida mentioned..

"Thanks…" Ian said. "But I'm not much of a tea guy." A chilling wind swept over him, and Ian realized what was needed. He felt around his belt for Sawsbuck's Heal Ball in the nighttime darkness and released his blessed stag. "Let's do a once-over and finish up for the day, bud," Ian ordered.

Sawsbuck sprung into action, its whitened form dancing like a ghost in the light of the moon and Ultra Rift.

"I shall await on my front balcony for you, Ian," Irida said, stepping away.

***

Irida awoke him at the crack of dawn for more Sawsbuck use, and when he finished up, Colress awaited him in the middle of the street with his signature unsettling grin. "Up bright and early as well, Ian?" Colress asked.

"Yes indeed," Ian said. "The Pearl Clan needs its Sawsbuck fix."

"Would you care for some breakfast for you and your team?" Colress said.

"I'm allowed to have it?" Ian asked, still not sure what was happening with him and Team Skull.

Colress scoffed. "Of course! Your Sawsbuck is the main reason I asked to be escorted by Team Skull in the first place."

"Oh… Bad news, Plumeria and I had an argument yesterday and I'm not entirely sure I'm going with them now…" Ian explained.

Colress took a quick look around to make sure no one was nearby and closed in on Ian, smiling creepily. "How foolish of them. Were you planning on staying here, if that's the case?"

Ian grimaced. "I wasn't sure…"

Colress snickered wickedly, making Ian get goosebumps. "I will mention you would be most welcome to join me in Malie City. Back in true civilization. Assuming you were interested in that."

"That's something I haven't ruled out…"

Colress suddenly turned and waved exuberantly to something behind Ian. "Oh, my Team Skull friends! When do we depart?"

"After Sawsbuck's next blessing, a little under three hours from now," Plumeria's voice said bitterly. Ian turned around, seeing Plumeria flanked by Selene and Rapp. She pointed directly at Ian. "We need to talk."

Sounds like a breakup's coming. "Okay."

Plumeria led Ian a few dozen feet away. Plumeria pivoted and turned to Ian, her eyes stoic. "I shouldn't have yelled at you yesterday."

Ian nodded. "I shouldn't have shit-talked your leadership."

Plumeria nodded. "I know it's not an excuse, but I've been PMSing real hard the past couple days. Doesn't help we're the Pearl Clan's bitch. I'm feeling very vulnerable, and you're feeling very vulnerable. So I'll explain like this…"

Ian folded his arms, but indicated she should continue.

"We need you Ian. Po Town needs you. This whole fuckin' expedition's pointless if you leave. So… even though I have thousands of questions I want to ask you, I promise I will only ask about what's needed, and I will not press you for further details about what you know," Plumeria explained. "I clearly can't handle it."

Ian grimaced, remaining silent.

"And I know I said that before, but your leaving destroys us, so I'm effectively at your mercy now too. I promise I will trust you and I will trust your judgement about what you disclose. I also trust that you won't abuse this power over me," Plumeria said coldly.

I'm still not sure if I want to stick around long term, but going with them gets me to Malie City's outskirts and I'll get more time to scout Colress. "Okay," Ian said hoarsely.

Plumeria sighed with relief. "Thank you Ian. Good news is you won't have to deal with Hyde until we come back, which should be a plus."

"Just make sure he doesn't get too flirty with Irida," Ian said.

Plumeria rolled her eyes. "Dumbass can't even stay in a chair for a week and not start problems." Plumeria held her fist out, eyeing him expectantly. Ian fist-bumped her hesitantly, studying her face for anything off. "Also we should have a code word."

"What?" Ian asked.

"For when I need to ask you a that kind of question," Plumeria said.

"Okay…" Ian grumbled. He initially started thinking on what the code word would be, but decided this was a Plumeria thing.

"Considering I never called you this, but it wouldn't raise suspicion to any party members, I'll say 'Coogz,'" Plumeria suggested.

Ian shrugged. "That works."

He turned to leave and took a couple steps before Plumeria meekly said "Coogz."

Ian turned back around with a scowl. "What?"

Plumeria stepped closely to him, hushing her voice to a whisper. "Do you know who this Colress guy is? He gives me the creeps."

"He was a bad guy in Unova, the top scientist for the evil team. He developed a machine that used a Legendary Pokemon's power to cover a whole city in ice."

Plumeria's eyes widened. "Oh…"

Ian shook his head quickly. "He went through a redemption and basically became a good scientist here in Alola."

"So, he's okay now?"

Ian shrugged. "I'm really not sure. Still scoping him out. Lian thinks he likely came from the Ultra Rift actually…"

"Oh… Has he said anything about it?" Plumeria asked.

Ian shook his head. "He said he came from an Ultra Wormhole, but he has his memory so that kind of rules that out…"

"Yeah," Plumeria said as she exhaled. "So, I figured he was bad news, but he seems like a 'big picture' guy. We're small fries to him. We can escort him, get paid, and never have to deal with him again."

"That's not a bad idea," Ian said.

"Okay, one more thing, not a 'Coogz' thing, I swear," Plumeria said.

Ian gave her an annoyed look.

"Has he tried to recruit you to go to Malie City with him?" Plumeria asked.

"...Yeah."

Plumeria sighed, her eyes already telling defeat. "Dammit." Plumeria began trudging back to the guest house, and Colress took the initiative and closed back in on Ian, his unsettling grin even wider than before.

"So I take it you'll be making the journey with Team Skull?" Colress asked.

Ian nodded. "Yeah, looks like it."

"Very good. Now let's get you some breakfast, I would like to see how your new Sandshrew deals with that Tyrunt."

Ian gulped. "I actually wasn't able to introduce myself to Sandshrew yesterday."

"Ah, those dreadful emotions getting in the way of progress," Colress said, a hint of disapproval in his glare. Colress manifested more condensed Pokemon food and Ian took a good handful. "And some protein bars for you."

Ian gave a thankful nod and got to work releasing his team. Sawsbuck came out first, followed by Wartortle and Pyroar. After feeding his original three, he noticed Colress pointing his Omnitron's antenna at each of his Pokemon as they ate. "Pardon me Ian, but what moves are you aware that Sawsbuck knows?"

"A lot…" Ian replied. It's pretty cool the four-move-limit from the games isn't a thing here. "Horn Leech, Leech Seed, Tackle, Double Kick, Bulldoze, Bullet Seed, Sand Attack, Zen Headbutt, Agility… and oh yeah, Megahorn," Ian recalled.

Colress chuckled as he eyed his omnitron. "That is not everything Sawsbuck is capable of at this time."

"Really?" Ian asked.

"Sawsbuck is also capable of the moves Take Down, Worry Seed, Charm, ohoho," Colress said, adjusting his glasses. "This blessed stag of yours also can use Throat Chop and Synthesis."

Ian's eyebrows rose. "Oh, a healing move like that? That's dope."

"And Throat Chop is a very strong move that should come in handy," Colress said.

"Hey Sawsbuck, wanna strut your stuff? I got your biggest fan here…" Ian teased. Sawsbuck bleated happily and pranced for a bit before his white snow-white antlers became enveloped in Dark Type Energy. Sawsbuck then charged forward at full speed before lowering itself temporarily and lunging forward with unnatural speed, jerking its antlers like a crowbar. Once the darkness faded from Sawsbuck's antler, his blessed stag circled back around with its tongue out, quite pleased with itself.

"Gnarly," Ian said excitedly before turning to Colress. "So, for Synthesis… how exactly does that work? Will Sawsbuck never need a Pokemon Center again since it heals depending on how sunny it is, right?"

Colress snickered mischievously. "How studied are you in Pokemon sciences, Ian?"

Ian shrugged. "It was pretty spotty…"

Colress gave a subtle eyeroll. "There may be different terms here but I'll tell you the ones from my world. Each Pokemon contains a pool of supernatural energy within their bodies we call the Spirit Core. Those supernatural energies that make Pokemon above regular biologics are what we call Corelight. Corelight is channeled into one of eighteen types of Lamina."

"Lamina?" Ian asked. Wait, eighteen? Is that the energy that makes a Pokemon move a certain type? "Like the Type Energy?" Ian asked.

"Type Energy? How crude," Colress observed. "But yes, 'Type Energy,' if that makes it easier for you. A Pokemon may only use a move like Synthesis, Recovery, Moonlight, et cetera, once every few hours. Using moves like those to repair bodily tissue so rapidly is incredibly draining on Corelight. It is why Pokemon often cannot use their most powerful moves in rapid succession. Their supernatural energies, or Corelight, needs to recharge."

"Okay… And what of Z-Moves? Those are vastly more powerful than most moves, wouldn't that drain a Pokemon of its energies?" Ian asked.

Colress' eyebrows rose in surprise. "A good pivot, no wonder you fascinate me so…" Colress paused. "But yes. Z-Moves are spurred by Z-Crystals, which amplify the power of the Lamina and the Corelight. But the amplifier is just that, it's an external amplifier. The Pokemon channels the same amount of Corelight to make the move happen, leaving its reservoir of Corelight likely still very well intact."

Ian nodded. "Okay, I think I get it."

"So Sawsbuck won't be using Synthesis all of the time, and Pokemon Centers are still gonna be a regular thing?" Ian asked.

Colress nodded. "Precisely. The healing machines in Pokemon Centers also rejuvenate the Pokemon's Corelight."

Oh, so this Corelight stuff is basically the real world mechanic for PP in the game. Got it. "Okay, thank you…"

"I assume it's time to get to Sandshrew and Tyrunt?" Colress said.

"Oh yeah," Ian said. "Well, I want to get acquainted with Sandshrew a bit before I throw it at Tyrunt."

Colress nodded. "Fair."

Ian grabbed his Alolan Sandshrew's Premier Ball and eyed Sawsbuck, Wartortle, and Pyroar. "Ready to meet a new team member?" Sawsbuck and Pyroar gave cries of affirmation, while Wartortle gave a dissatisfied croak. "Well here goes, nice to meet you, Sandshrew!" Ian called out as he tossed the Premier Ball into the air.

Out came the metallic, icy rodent. Alolan Sandshrew eyed Ian curiously as it chittered and squeaked, turning to its new environment and companions. It squeaked in amazement as it made eye contact with Sawsbuck, who bleated lightly. Sandshrew then turned to Pyroar and gave a frightened squeak before trying to curl up into a ball, incompletely though as it pulled against the metallic part of its shell. "Hey there little guy, I'm Ian," he said, kneeling down to comfort Sandshrew.

"Little girl," Colress corrected, now re-focused on his omnitron.

"Little girl, I mean," Ian said, extending his hand with one condensed pellet of food on it. "Pyroar's not gonna hurt you anymore. It honestly felt like overkill. I'm sorry for that."

Sandshrew slowly, carefully opened back up. Looking into Sandshrew's dark, suspecting eyes made Ian realize there was a tinge of blue in them. Sandshrew stuck one of its claws into the condensed food pellet and popped it into its mouth. A few seconds after chewing and swallowing, Sandshrew jolted suddenly before getting onto its back, exposing its pale belly and running one of its little claws over it soothingly as it cooed.

"Well you're a happy girl," Ian said, slowly letting his hand caress Sandshrew's softer tummy. Sandshrew let out an even more satisfying coo.

"And Tyrunt?" Colress asked.

Ian eyed Colress nervously. "Uh… I don't know, maybe I can give Sandshrew some time before it has to deal with Tyrunt…" Ian said. "What moves does it have?"

"Hmm…" Colress said, pointing its antenna at the Sandshrew. "So as suspected it didn't come through any sort of Ultra Wormhole or Ultra Storm. It has… oh, that is nice…"

"What?" Ian asked.

"Its ability is Slush Rush. Doubling its speed in snowy weather or when Snowscape is in effect," Colress explained. "Very rare, but an exceptional ability."

Ian smiled at Sandshrew, giving her a nod of acknowledgement. "Snowscape? Not Hail?"

"Hail?" Colress asked in befuddled amusement.

Oh wait, that changed in the Scarlet and Violet. I only played through Violet a couple times, my knowledge on that game's pretty spotty.

"Snowscape increases Ice Type Defenses quite a bit while active," Colress explained. "Unfortunately for your Sandshrew, it has not learned Snowscape yet."

"Oh well, that'll be for later then," Ian said with a casual shrug.

"Not if I have anything to say about that," Colress said, whipping out his high tech Silph Bag. He swiped a few times on the little screen and then finally found what he was looking for, manifesting a clear case with a light blue disc inside of it. Ian realized it looked like a bigger version of an old PSP game disc. I never had one but I saw them a couple times.

"And here we are, a Snowscape Technical Machine. You never know when half a decade's worth of research into Ice Lamina will come in handy," Colress said with a proud grin. Ice Type Energy research? Oh yeah, he built the machine that Team Plasma used to cover cities in ice… Oh.
He brought the case with the light blue disc to Sandshrew and placed the disc near its body. Sandshrew began to suddenly glow with Ice Type Energy as the TM disc did as well with a slight hum. After a few seconds, disc and Pokemon returned to normal, and Sandshrew gave a curious series of squeaks as it got upright.

"Hey Sandshrew, Snowscape!" Ian ordered.

Sandshrew began to glow with Ice Type Energy once more and it crossed its arms for a moment before stretching them out in one motion. Suddenly frost, snow, and slush began emanating from Sandshrew, spreading in a radius reaching twenty feet in every direction. Sandshrew jumped in shock from its own ability, and nearly lost its balance, and Ian noticed a faint pulsing Ice Type Energy appearing on its body. The defense buff from Snowscape, by the looks of it. "Let's see what you can do, Sandshrew!" Ian called out excitedly.

Sandshrew cheered as well and suddenly it slid a good ten feet in a second and a half, with Sandshrew losing her balance and falling over, giving an embarrassed squeak. "Gonna take some getting used to, right girl?"

Sandshrew started practicing maneuvers within Snowscape's radius, and while Ian watched, Colress cleared his throat. "The other moves would be Scratch, Defense Curl, Mist, Rollout, Fury Cutter, Metal Claw, Mud Slap, Powder Snow, Crush Claw, and Ice Shard. Also Snowscape now."

Ian nodded. "Thank you sir."

Colress shook his head. "No need to 'sir' me Ian. Those days are long behind me."

Ian nodded. "Gotcha."

"So, are we ready for Tyrunt?" Colress asked.

Ian tried to quash his fear, but even Sandshrew could tell something was up as it stopped to look at him. "Might as well…" Ian said, readying Tyrunt's Ultra Ball. "Sandshrew, you should get a Defense Curl in while you can." Sandshrew nodded and obeyed, its thick, outer armor glowing with Normal Type Energy. "Tyrunt, time to eat," Ian said, trying to sound confident.

Tyrunt manifested from the ball with an angry, fierce roar, eyeing its fellow team members with rage. It suddenly slipped on the icy terrain from Sandshrew's Snowscape and tumbled over, hitting the cold ground hard. It gave an annoyed snarl, but Ian noticed something he did not expect. Alolan Sandshrew was pointing at the fallen Tyrunt and eliciting a series of squeaks that reminded Ian of- Laughter? Is Sandshrew laughing at Tyrunt? I don't think that's gonna go well.

Tyrunt got up in a furious rage, roaring a battle cry as it charged Sandshrew. Sandshrew quickly slid away, but Tyrunt continued charging it. Sandshrew quickly ran out of ice, and it now stood helplessly as Tyrunt closed in, jaws open.

"Sandshrew!" Ian called out, desperately reaching for its Premier Ball.

"Hold it, Ian," Colress warned. "Let us see what unfolds."

"Tyrunt's gonna eat Sandshrew whole!" Ian fired back.

Colress gave a knowing, sinister laugh. "I would like to see it try." Something about Colress' tone didn't sound like he had total confidence in Sandshrew, but that he literally wanted to see it.

"Tyrunt, stop!" Ian called out desperately. Tyrunt dove its head down as Sandshrew curled into a ball with another Defense Curl, and Tyrunt took Sandshrew into its open mouth, growling and groaning as it bit down on Sandshrew's armor. Sandshrew's panicked squeals could be heard between Tyrunt's savage growls, but Sandshrew remained curled up and in the grips of Tyrunt's mouth. Tyrunt lifted its head up to get gravity on its side, but Sandshrew remained stuck.

Tyrunt gave a savage battle cry and tensed, biting down with all of its might. Ian watched in morbid fascination as Tyrunt's monstrous growls slowly became more and more bewildered. Tyrunt tried to chomp down on Sandshrew once more, squeezing its jaws together stubbornly before the Alpha stopped, a higher pitched groan coming from it.

"What the…?" Ian asked.

Tyrunt spat Sandshrew out of its mouth, and a fragment of one of Tyrunt's razor sharp teeth fell to the ground. Ian watched on in amazement as Colress chuckled. "Do not worry Ian, Tyrunt's tooth will grow back good as new by tomorrow."

Sandshrew uncurled itself and began pointing and laughing at Tyrunt once again. What a little troll.

Tyrunt backed away, fear in its eyes for once as Sandshrew continued teasing it. Tyrunt snapped aggressively but realized its display was not received like it was supposed to. Ian noticed Sawsbuck, Wartortle, and Pyroar all watching on, seemingly amused. I see I'm not the only one who's gotten a bit de-sensitized being here.

"Here, let us feed Tyrunt and be done with it," Colress reminded Ian as he held out two condensed brown food pellets.

"Yeah…"

***

A couple hours later, Ian had his backpack on and his camelbak filled, heading to the guest house with Colress where the rest of Team Skull was preparing for their descent down the eastern face of Mount Lanakila when he noticed Irida, Ingo, and Nui approaching. "Come to wish us off?" Ian called out.

"Yes," Irida answered politely.

"Mostly just you two," Nui said, a hint of mischief in her tone.

Ian and Colress paused as the council members met up with them, notably out of earshot of the other Team Skull members. Irida opened her mouth first, and Ian was once again blown away by the serenity and deep blue of her eyes. "Ian, on behalf of the Pearl Clan and all of Makamae Town, we owe you so much but can only say thank you for the time being."

Ian nodded. "You gave us shelter and helped us. That's more than enough."

Nui cleared her throat. "I suppose I must apologize for the hostility I showed upon your arrival, Ian Cougar. You should not be held accountable for the sins of your predecessors, and I have to admit I'm still surprised that not all Team Skull members are bad." Nui paused, and a knowing grin came across her face. "Although I shouldn't be, considering Tapu Bulu put a blessing on your Pokemon. This island has no Kahuna still, and while you will certainly never be that, you have given me hope that Tapu Bulu does in fact know what it's doing."

Ian smiled uncertainly at the attempted compliment and nodded his head like a pseudo bow. "I appreciate the kind words, ma'am."

Irida stepped forward, extending her hand to his, which he met, her eyes feeling like they were piercing his soul. "And I hope to see you again, Ian."

Ian nodded. "Thank you."

Ingo stepped forward and shook Ian's hand as well. "Young Ian, I hope you are able to find your place, wherever that may be."

Ian gave Ingo a full bow with his head. "Thank you sir." Ian then smiled. "And no matter what happens, I am gonna see you again."

Ingo chuckled lightly. "I look forward to that day."

"Looks like our private time is up," Irida said quietly as Ian caught Plumeria approaching.

"Come to see us off?" Plumeria called out, a hint of aggression in her voice.

"Indeed, but we have become distracted," Irida said with a playful giggle.

"That's fine," Plumeria said, clearly not believing her own words. "So we're expecting to be gone for about a week's time, hopefully just six days. We appreciate you watching over Hyde while he heals," Plumeria said.

Irida nodded. "There will be a Driftwood Guild member who stays there tomorrow night, please make sure he's aware and will be hospitable."

Plumeria nodded. "Oh he will be, I assure you." Plumeria paused, but remembered something. "He asked if he could have some glue? There's a compartment on his watch that's a bit loose and he wants to make sure it stays together."

"Glue?" Irida asked.

"Glue? For a watch?" Nui asked, befuddled.

"It's very important to him," Ian said. "His late brother's last gift."

"Oh," Nui said, calming her tone. "Normally I wouldn't, but that seems a noble enough cause. I should still have some from a few Driftwood orders ago."

"Thank you, councilwoman," Plumeria said. "Thank you again for everything, and hopefully us and Sawsbuck will be back soon enough."

Irida eyed Ian, still as dazzling as ever. "We look forward to it," she said conclusively.

***

The descent was far easier than the ascent, and the one rough stretch of terrain was easily handled by Colress' floating Metagross, which got each of them paired up with to ride on. Plumeria was silent with him the whole way, although Colress and Tupp ensured there was always some sort of conversation ongoing. Ian did spot another Zygarde Cell three-quarters of the way through the trek.

It was late afternoon when the group finished the descent and Plumeria decided to set up camp next to a quaint waterfall. The moment Ian's shoes hit sand he felt the air become dryer somehow. Looking back up to Mount Lanakila, Ian grimaced as he thought about having to ascend it to Makamae Town again. I might just go to Malie City on that alone. After setting up camp, with Colress breaking out a very high tech, pre-constructed tent from his Silph Bag, Tupp approached Ian with a big grin on his face. "What do you want, Tupp?" Ian said skeptically. "When you're smiling like this and Selene's not involved, something's up."

Tupp nodded. "Yo bro, we here in the Haina Desert. Maybe we could look for some Pokemon."

Ian shrugged. "Actually not a bad idea." Ian got the Great Ball, Ultra Ball, and Poke Ball from his pack and showed them to Tupp. "Any preference on which one?"

Tupp shook his head. "Whatever's best for the Pokemon yo."

"Let's go ask if Plumeria lets us go out for a bit," Ian said. Not that Plumeria can refuse me, in all honesty. Ian went to the girls' tent where Plumeria and called for Plumeria, who poked her head out of the tent's flaps that functioned as a door seemingly in the middle of something.

"What?" She questioned.

"Tupp and I wanted to go look for a Pokemon to catch around here if that's cool," Ian asked.

Plumeria nodded quickly. "Sure. Selene and Rapp are doing the same thing actually. Don't go too far off, Breon's people patrol the southern part of the desert, and there's supposed to be an Alpha Krookodile den in the northern section."

"Thanks Big Sis," Tupp said.

"Bye," Plumeria simply, re-zipping the flaps of her tent together. Oh yeah, if she's PMSing and just hiked down a mountain…

Tupp turned to Ian with a dumb, excited smile. "Alpha Krookodile? Maybe there'll be a Sandile or something I can catch."

Ian rolled his eyes. "As long as we don't mess with the Alpha I'm okay."

Tupp nodded. "Deal."

The duo headed north in the late afternoon sun, with Ian catching sight of a spinning Baltoy and a couple flying Vullaby overhead.

"You want that Baltoy, yo?" Tupp asked.

Ian shook his head. "Hyde's got one, I've seemingly got him off my ass for now and I don't need any reason for him to get pissed off."

"You right," Tupp said. "While you were gone, all Hyde could talk about was that Irida chick. He's down even worse than I am for Selene."

Ian chuckled. "As long as he's got something to distract him from me. And I noticed you've been closer with Selene lately, how's that going?"

"I dunno bro, she was checking out that shirtless Pearl Clan dude all the time we were there," Tupp said.

Ian shrugged. "Gotta start working out more then."

Tupp nodded. "Yeah. Especially once we got more food coming through."

The duo continued on, and Ian spotted some Alolan Diglett's shifting through the sands in their way. "One of those?" Ian asked, pointing to Tupp.

"Nah bro, those things mess up the foundations of homes," Tupp said. "Whole of Po Town'll be on my ass," Tupp answered. Thankfully it didn't take long for something to catch Ian's eye up ahead. The sands shifted a good thirty to forty feet ahead, and Ian caught a glimpse of an orange creature rooted in the sand. Is that a Trapinch?

"Look at that yo!" Tupp said, pointing to the Trapinch disturbing the sand surrounding it. "That thing looks dope."

Ian readied the empty Poke Ball and almost handed it to Tupp but something caught his eye buzzing in the sky up above. The insectoid Pokemon had a green body with even darker green wings as it glided in the air easily. "Hey Tupp, look up."

"What?" Tupp asked.

Ian pointed at the Vibrava. "That's all you."

"What? Bro, why don't you want it?" Tupp asked.

"I already got a Dragon Type," Ian said. "I don't want to double up on types if I don't have to."

Tupp nodded, but realized something. "But you got Sawsbuck and Pyroar."

"I was under a time limit, remember?"

"Oh yeah…" Tupp said, focusing now on Vibrava.

Ian handed Tupp the Great Ball instead, and pointed up to Vibrava. "You're probably gonna want to use Golbat for this. Get to show me how far you and it have come."

"Yeah bro, let's go Golbat!" Tupp called out, throwing his Poke Ball to the sky. Golbat appeared with a raspy wheeze before locking onto the opposing Vibrava and engaging it. Vibrava took a moment to notice the large bat flying its way, but once it did, it fired a blast of dark blue energy. Dragon Breath?

Golbat barrel rolled away from the oncoming attack and continued closing in. Tupp…

"Alright Golbat, Toxic!" Tupp called out. Golbat wheezed once more, seemingly vomiting dark purple barbs at Vibrava, who dove to dodge. Vibrava's flight path got unsteady, and Ian noticed one of the barbs had in fact hit home.

"Excellent, Tupp," Ian said.

"So tell me why Golbat's had that the whole time," Tupp said lowly before shifting his voice. "Now, back off and use Air Cutter!"

Golbat did as ordered, putting some air distance between it and Vibrava. The green insectoid Pokemon charged at Golbat this time as Golbat fired an Air Cutter, which Vibrava adeptly dodged while still keeping its momentum and slamming into Golbat, Dark Type Energy around its mouth, causing Golbat to screech in pain. Oh that's Bite, maybe even Crunch…

Once released from Vibrava's mouth, Golbat fell motionlessly from the air for a couple seconds before regaining initiative, flapping its wings angrily. Vibrava manifested a couple stones which it then launched at Golbat. Ian tensed, remembering the practice exercise Tupp had shown him a few days back that Grimsley had been coaching him.

Golbat spun away from the oncoming stones and already had its wings glowing with Flying Type Energy as it fired another Air Cutter. The flying wedge of light blue Type Energy smacked into Vibrava, knocking it back. Ian pumped his fist excitedly, while Tupp kept his focus on the opponent, a proud smirk forming on his face.

Vibrava bounced back quickly and fired another Dragon Breath at Golbat, who dodged and tried the same maneuver again, this time with Vibrava dodging it. The two airborne Pokemon continued this dance of launching ranged attacks, dodging, and firing more off for a good minute and a half with neither side getting hit, but Vibrava was noticeably starting to weaken. This is textbook, Tupp.

Finally one of Vibrava's manifested stones smacked Golbat in the wing, crippling the bat as it fell back to the sand. Tupp recalled it before hitting the ground, but he tensed up. "It's gonna just flee if I get Gumshoos out."

Ian shrugged. "Maybe just keep your distance with Sobble. The poison's ticking it down."

Tupp nodded. "Okay…" Tupp exhaled deeply as he held Sobble's Poke Ball in his hand. "Just like practice, yo." The Poke Ball opened, and Sobble emerged with a determined cry. "Sobble, on your toes!"

Vibrava seemingly scoffed and charged the little amphibian. "Water Gun and roll!" Tupp ordered. Sobble fired a small blast of Water Gun at Vibrava that came at Vibrava so quickly the charging Pokemon was unable to dodge. It took the attack, barely changing course, and Sobble leapt out of the way, letting Vibrava swoop by, unsuccessful in its attack. Sobble fired another short stream of Water Gun as Vibrava repositioned, connecting once more. That's gonna add up, just don't get too cocky bro.

Vibrava's balance got unsteady, but it turned back around and its wings began glowing with Normal Type Energy. A wave of energy fired from Vibrava's wings, and Ian recoiled as the sound flared pain in his brain. Sobble cried out, clearly hurt, but steeled itself after the initial burst and got its head back in the game. Sobble then darted forward. Vibrava fired a Dragon Breath, and Sobble stopped suddenly and fired a Water Gun as Dragon Breath hit the empty ground in front of it.

This stream of Water Gun hit Vibrava square in its eye, causing the flying insectoid to cry out in pain as it began falling to the ground. Its wings flapped desperately, but it no longer had the strength to keep itself airborne. Sobble fired a longer, continuous stream of Water Gun, pelting Vibrava with more water. Vibrava collided with the sand, making a dust cloud from the impact, and Tupp hurried over right next to Sobble and tossed the Great Ball at Vibrava.

The ball bounced off Vibrava and opened, absorbing the Pokemon into itself. It shook once, twice, three times, but went still. "YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Tupp shouted in celebration. Sobble jumped on Tupp's leg and crawled up to his head, knocking Tupp's skull cap off his head as it celebrated as well.

Ian hollered as well, rushing to Tupp as he smacked Tupp's shoulder. The boys' jubilation lasted for a few minutes as Tupp celebrated his Sobble and newly caught Vibrava. Eventually they left the scene, heading back to camp as waves of euphoria overwhelmed the best buddies. As the campsite came into view, Tupp turned to Ian, talking hushedly . "This is just the beginning, yo. Imagine how strong we'll be in a few more weeks, even months!"

Ian smiled nervously, remembering he wasn't exactly sure if he'd be around for more than a few days. "Yeah…" He said, doing a bad job of hiding his unease.

"Hey Big Sis!" Tupp called out as Plumeria got up from crouching on the ground. "I caught a Vibrava!"

Plumeria tilted her head in surprise, folding her arms. "Really? You did?"

Ian nodded. "He was great. Got it poisoned with Golbat, stalled it out by dodging, then Sobble came in, kept dodging and finished it off." Tupp showed off the Great Ball proudly.

"Not bad at all, numbskull," Plumeria said. "And here I was worried when Ian gave you that Sobble I'd have to intervene in case it was getting abused."

"What?" Tupp asked.

"Nothing," Plumeria said quickly. "It's a flyer, something we'll be able to use if it evolves." Plumeria turned to Ian, her intense gaze implying something. Oh yeah, the EXP Candies.

"Plumeria!" Selene's desperate voice called out from south of the campsite, notably by herself.

The group of three turned to see Selene struggling to run, panting heavily. "These guys came, they took Rapp!"

"What?" Plumeria called back in shock. "Rapp's-"

"Kidnapped?" Ian asked aloud.

Selene collapsed against the sand. "Yeah…"

"Where'd they go?" Plumeria demanded.

"That way…" Selene said, pointing south, to where a few miles away laid the ocean and… Haina Town. The whispers of what Breon did to prisoners and concubines rushed back to Ian and he wordlessly grabbed Sawsbuck's Heal Ball and released it, his blessed stag manifesting in its summer form, with vibrant green bushes having taken root on its antlers.

"Ian…" Plumeria called out as Sawsbuck's vines helped Ian mount his Pokemon.

"How many are there?" Ian asked.

"Three. Toucannon's following them at a distance, look for it in the sky," Selene said.

"Got it!" Ian called out as Sawsbuck immediately leapt into motion, clouds of sand forming in their wake.

"We'll back you up!" Plumeria called out.

"Sawsbuck…" Ian whispered intensely. "Let's go." Sawsbuck burst into even faster than normal speed, Ian's eyes focused on the horizon for Selene's Toucannon.