Emerging from the call booth, I must have had a slightly lost look to me because Dilan asked, “Hey, how much do you know about Deino and Beldum? Like, their species?”

I blinked in surprise at the sudden question before thinking about it. After a few moments, I hummed in surprise, “Now that I think about it, probably a lot less than I should. Why?”

Dilan shrugged, “I had time to think while I was waiting out here. Why not head towards Sandgem and talk to Professor Rowan? If there is anyone who is going to be able to tell you about some pokémon from other regions, it’ll probably be him.”

I paused for a moment before slowly nodding, thinking it over. “That’s… That’s a pretty good idea, actually,” I admitted, “I don’t want to mess up just because I don’t know something basic about them. Thanks for the suggestion!”

He waved my thanks away, “No problem, it’s basically my job to offer advice if I can.” He started leading me through the building once more as he continued speaking, “Anyways, I just wanted to say good luck with whatever you decide to do. I’ve seen a lot of potential trainers quit because they went through stuff way milder than what you dealt with. Good on you for not giving up.”

I thanked him quickly for his compliments, and before I knew it, we were back in the main lobby of the Ranger building. Dilan looked around before saying, “Well, we’re pretty much done with all the official stuff for this incident. Remember the Ranger contact info, and don’t be afraid to call for help,” He took a breath, “Otherwise? Good luck.”

He held his hand out to me. I shook it firmly while thanking him one last time for his help, which didn’t do anything but make him laugh and tell me it was his job. And a few minutes later, I was watching as the door closed behind Dilan.

After a minute, I shook my head and made my way out of the large building. Walking back onto the street, I was swiftly reminded of how busy the streets were. I couldn’t help but feel slightly overwhelmed after spending so long alone. It took me a few moments to remember which way Anna and I had come from when we came to the building, but eventually, I managed. Doing my best to walk with the crowd, I looked desperately for signs to help navigate my way around the almost monotone grey city.

Nonetheless, I managed to slowly make my way towards the city's outskirts, following what signs were pointing in the direction of Sandgem Town. Anna and I had entered Oreburgh around noon, but even though the day was closing, I still wanted to start heading out towards Sandgem. I wasn’t quite ready yet to be back in a big city. Using the slowly dying light, I began walking down the league road towards Sandgem.

As the sun set, I was just starting to leave behind the rocky terrain for softer dirt and grass. I was just glad that my camp wouldn’t be on hard stone for once. Going through the familiar motions, my little campsite was set up quickly, and my pokémon were released soon after that.

Ladon glanced around at the surroundings, seemingly surprised for the first time as he was no longer seeing the stone and rock he had been surrounded by since his hatching. While we weren’t in a forest proper, there was still scattered tree cover, including the small copse I’d chosen for the night's camp.

On the other hand, Adamant was flitting to and fro, delightedly examining every inch of the trees. Once the two had settled down a bit more, I explained where we were heading and what had happened at the Ranger station. Ladon didn’t mind overmuch, but he did let out a satisfied huff when I told him that both he and Adamant were now officially mine and no one could do anything about it.

Adamant seemed much more interested, making me start to wonder just how intelligent the not-so-little Beldum really was. Then again, I supposed that was why I was heading to Professor Rowan, to find out more about the two of them.

Compared to our time in Mt. Coronet, the next three days of travel to Sandgem Town passed with ease and in comfort. I had both Ladon and Adamant training as we walked, taking advantage of the ease of travel. Ladon continued training how fast he could form attacks and slowly made progress on learning Dragon Dance. On the other hand, Adamant continued working on Confusion and Iron Head. We passed only a few other travelers on the road, but I did make sure to return both of my pokémon, so there were no issues.

After so long spent in dark tunnels and caverns, I couldn’t help but revel in the few days spent on the road. The grassland interspersed with copses of trees was gorgeous and a welcome change. We walked along a small river for almost a full day of travel, we walked along a small river. I would glance over every now and then and spot the occasional water-type in the river.

Eventually, we arrived in Sandgem at around noon after three days of travel. The small town was a welcome sight. I estimated around a few hundred houses and buildings, varying between one or two stories. The majority were wooden and in all kinds of styles, making me chuckle as I noticed the difference between it and the monotone of Oreburgh.

There was a wide beach beyond the town that led out to a bay and eventually to the ocean. Seeing the small town with the faint glimmer of sparkling water behind it was beautiful. I waited a few moments, letting Ladon and Adamant take it all in as well, knowing I would need to return them as we got closer to the town.

Examining the town closer, I could quickly pick out what could only be the pokémon lab. A building much larger than any other in town and one of the few that was built from concrete, the building had a dozen different electronic instruments on top, making it easy to find.

Almost reluctantly, we began hiking closer, and eventually, I returned Ladon and Adamant. Moving through the town, I was pleasantly surprised by how friendly the people were, often saying hello and wishing a good day to all and sundry. I couldn’t resist and felt myself get infected by the generally cheerful atmosphere, smiling a little wider.

I quickly made my way through the town, the lab being large enough to be seen from just about anywhere in the town. Arriving in front of the distinctive building, I let out a breath before entering.

The inside was marked by a small welcome area with hallways leading to the left and right. A young woman in a lab coat was walking through as I entered. She looked at me curiously, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. “Hi, can I help you?” She asked politely, clearly looking me over and taking note of the two pokéballs.

I hesitated for a moment before shoving it aside, “Um, yes, hopefully. I was hoping to talk with Professor Rowan? A Ranger in Oreburgh suggested I talk to him about my pokémon to get a better understanding of them, that sorta thing?” I saw her eyebrow raise, “I don’t know if I can just walk in or if I should make an appointment or something?”

She smiled, “No need for an appointment, at least not for right now. I can go let him know.” She turned to point down the left hall, “If you head down there and go through the second door on the left, that should be a waiting room for you. The Professor should get to you relatively soon; we’re not too busy at the moment.”

I nodded, “Thank you, umm,” I squinted to see her name tag, “Thank you, Ms. Hidston.”

She smiled, “No problem, no problem at all.” She nodded at me before continuing on towards the right hall. I glanced around one more time at the brightly lit and clean interior before heading towards the left and quickly ducking into the second door on the left. Inside was indeed a waiting room of kinds. There was a couch against one wall, with a small table in front and two chairs across from it. Beyond that, there was a good fifteen by fifteen foot square of empty space that I could only assume was for pokémon to be released into. I contemplated releasing them both right away but decided not to; no need to surprise anyone who entered.

After only about ten minutes of waiting, the door opened abruptly. Striding in was a tall, older man. The white hair and thick mustache made his face a stern visage with hard lines. He was wearing what looked like the undershirt and pants of a suit, with a lab coat in place of the suit jacket.

He looked towards me with a critical edge in his eye, “Hello, I was told you were recommended to speak with me by a Ranger? Who exactly are you and why?”

I blinked at the brusque tone before immediately categorizing him as the sort who doesn’t want to waste time. “My name is Daniel Earnhart. I was teleported to Mt. Coronet without pokémon when the teleport was disrupted. Through a very complicated series of events, I managed to escape the mountain with two pokémon.”

He frowned for a moment, looking me over before nodding slowly. “Alright, now, why are you here to talk to me?”

“Both of the pokémon I have are from other regions and are somewhat rare in their home regions as well. I was told that if anyone could tell me what I needed to know, it would be you.” I saw the curious cast of his expression and added, “One is named Adamant and is a Beldum. The other is Ladon; he’s a King Deino.”

For a brief moment, genuine shock showed itself on his face. He shook himself ever so slightly before clearing his throat, “Alright then, let them out,” He gestured at the empty space in the room.

I released them both, letting them look around curiously. Professor Rowan raised an eyebrow as he saw Ladon’s almost five-foot height. He started walking around them, causing Adamant to spin in place as they watched him. “Hmm, Adamant, was it?” He asked while gesturing towards them. After getting a quick nod, he continued, “Adamant is too light-colored. They need harder metals and ores in their diet. Their psychic ability seems to be rather strong, though, given the ease of its movement.”

I quickly made a note on my pokégear to get harder metals for Adamant before returning my attention to him. “Ladon… He needs more food with each meal. King’s are bigger and require more. Not too much more; try one and a half times more with each meal.” I noted that down as well.

The Professor looked at both of my pokémon before chuckling for a moment. “Interestingly, you have two pokémon who I’m going to give you very similar advice for.” He glanced at my inquisitive expression before continuing, “The Beldum line is a hive mind. Metang has two minds working as one, while Metagross has four. Practice multi-tasking with them should help them manage both the increased mental capacity and psychic strength in the future.”

I felt my eyes widen before hurriedly noting it down, along with a few ideas that came to me just from that information alone. Professor Rowan waited a minute before speaking again, “As for Ladon, the Deino line is surprisingly similar. There are two kinds of his future evolutions. Zweilous and Hydreigon have either one mind controlling every head, or they have a different mind for each.” He looked at me seriously, “You should find out which it is as soon as you can once he evolves. I’ve seen trainers get bit because they don’t recognize that there is more than one mind in their pokémon.”

I nodded solemnly, locking eyes with Ladon in a silent promise I hoped he understood. I made sure to write it down as well, along with a monthly reminder so that I would remember no matter what. Rowan looked them over for another few minutes before nodding in satisfaction.

“They’re in good shape otherwise. Growing and developing well,” He looked me over appraisingly for a moment, “I’m glad to see you’re taking care of them.”

I swallowed for a moment beneath his heavy gaze, “They’re my pokémon, sir, that makes it my responsibility to take care of them just as they take care of me.” For a moment, I could swear I saw a slight smile on his face.

“Good. Alright, that’s about the extent of the advice I can give you. Give me your contact information. I’ll get in contact with my Hoenn and Unova counterparts to see if there is anything else and send it to you.”

I blinked in surprise for a moment before quickly relaying my pokégear number to him. “Thank you, sir, this should help a lot… I had no idea for pretty much any of this….”

He chuckled before gesturing for me to return Ladon and Adamant, something I did quickly after locking eyes with each of them quickly. He started walking towards the door, and I followed, “It’s good to admit what you don’t know. Too many trainers assume they know it all and either get hurt or hurt their pokémon.”

I nodded in agreement with that, having heard the stories of people treating their pokémon the wrong way and getting hurt just as much as the incidents of pokémon abuse. I was going to respond as we walked into the lobby but were interrupted as the door to the lab was flung open.

Stomping in was a girl roughly my age. Long, dyed blue hair tied back rested beneath a white hat. She wore a black shirt with a pink skirt and tough-looking hiking boots; she marched into the lab looking frustrated and resigned.

“Professor! Can you believe the nerve?! Both of the other starter trainers disappear without so much as talking with each other?! What kind of behavior is….” Her voice trailed off as she saw me standing beside the professor. “Who are you?” She asked, a little demandingly.

Rowan raised an eyebrow at her, “Dawn, is frustration an excuse to be rude?” I watched the girl, Dawn apparently, wince.

Her shoulders slumped after a moment, “No, Professor. I just… They both disappeared before I could ask if I could travel with one of them….”

The Professor’s voice gentled slightly, “That’s quite unfortunate, but still no reason to be rude.” She nodded in acceptance after a moment.

I cleared my throat, “I’m Daniel, by the way. Daniel Earnhart.”

She looked at me again, “Sorry, just….” She let out a breath, “Just a bit frustrated, is all.”

I glanced at Rowan before looking back at her, “I mean… Um, you were looking for someone to travel with?”

She nodded slowly, “Yeah, I was. Thought it would be more fun to go on my journey with someone than alone.

I shrugged, “I’ve had more than enough experience with the going it alone thing already. I wouldn’t be opposed to traveling with someone?” I offered, realizing as I spoke how true it was. After Mt. Coronet, I really didn’t have much interest in traveling alone anymore.

She narrowed her eyes as she looked me over, stopping for a moment on my two pokéballs before glancing at the Professor. After a moment, she made a humming sound. “How about we get to know each other a little more first before deciding anything?”

I nodded, “Sure, that sounds reasonable.” I glanced through the glass doors behind her to see the darkening light outside, “How about you show me a place to get food in town, and we talk there?”

She agreed after a moment, “Alright, fair enough. I’m Dawn Hikari. Good to meet you.”

I was about to respond again when the Professor cleared his throat, “Well, I’m glad to see this seems to be working itself out. I’ll be going back to work now. Good luck to the two of you, yes?”

“Thank you, Professor, for your help,” I said quickly. Dawn thanked him as well before he made his way back into the lab.

She glanced back at me, “Alright, let’s get going before the sun sets, follow me.”