Harsh sunlight fell upon Gareda’s scales, much as it did on the road she and her entourage walked on. Tension hung in the air. There was always tension in the air when Gareda was around. Her presence kept the Soldiers with her silent. Even Vli and Luffy didn’t dare small talk, not when there was a job they had to do.

They entered the gravel wastes of the Kronn Province. Gareda kneeled to inspect the path. Tracks of varying sizes ran from her feet all the way to a hill in the distant dark, their destination unclear.

“Vli.”

The Toucannon in question fluttered to her side. “Yes, lord Gareda?”

“How old are these tracks?”

Vli landed and pecked at the dirt, keeping his wings firmly sheathed. Gareda’s sensors picked up a flare of fear coming from behind. None with a green cloth were the cause; they were mere witnesses curiously looking on. They were here only to do a job, little more.

“Hm… some of these tracks appear to be quite old, but there are a few in particular that seem very fresh. One of them clearly belongs to an Oshawott, my lord.”

‘Bingo.’ “Then we’re getting close. Tell about the other tracks.”

Vli rubbed his beak with a wing. “Hmm… well, we have two tracks here that belong to monster-like Pokemon… One about medium sized, the other gigantic. No doubt that the other one’s with the Oshawott. Then we have one last track, which-”

“You’re all out of your minds! You don’t know what you’re even doing!”

“Hey, shut it!”

Gareda bared her teeth. ‘Great. Red headed bastard has to run his mouth right now of all times…’

She stood back up and turned her eyes towards the other Soldiers. Luffy and a few others were standing around yelling at the Druddigon they had brought with them. Said Druddigon grunted and growled his way through everything coming at him, even the clawfuls of sand a Golem was throwing in his face. Gareda shook her head, then straightened her scarf before stomping her way towards him, arms ready.

“Bunch of stupid- NGH!”

Drops of blood shot out of the Druddigon’s nose as Gareda struck him square in the snout with her elbow. He was knocked sideways, landing on his knees and growling as he struggled to recover from her blow.

“Grr… Hit me all you like, nothing changes, nothing! You’re all f-” He was cut off by a swift kick to the nethers. “GRAAH!”

The Druddigon fell onto the ground beside the road, the sand scraping past his scales and burrowing its way through his skin. Gareda scowled at the sight. Sand between the scales was miserable, let alone the hot sands of the Kronn getting in there. She felt sympathy. For herself, that is.

‘All this arguing and fighting back when all I asked for was a day’s help. I even promised extra money for the damages, the little runt. Leave it to a Druddigon to be this damn stubborn over nothing.’

“Grr…grr! Vine Crested bastards, you think you can get away with anything…”

Gareda kicked a pebble into his face. “Listen, you red headed fool. Scream all you want to the contrary, we know you’ve been aiding the traitors in the Alliance. Consider yourself lucky we haven’t thrown you into prison yet.” She rolled the drake onto his belly, then pressed one foot in between his wings.

“My patience with you is running thin. Either you do as we ask, or there’s a damp hole in the ground with your name on it. Understood?”

The Druddigon didn’t budge. “I have a name, you witch…”

Gareda rolled her eyes. “Do you want to be declawed on top of that, Lance?”

“Alright, alright! I’ll do whatever you want, just get your damn foot off me!”

“If you say so,” Gareda deadpanned.

Two Fearow screeched overhead as Lance got up. They were circling in the air right above the Druddigon, hoping to score a meal. The sensors on the side of Gareda’s head picked up an awful lot of relief coming from above. She growled, shook her head, then signalled to the Soldiers with a nod.

Without a word back, a Magneton with green markings on its heads pointed all six of its magnets skywards. A fierce discharge from the magnets sent twelve bolts of lightning spiralling into the air, striking the Fearow from all sides. One dropped straight towards the ground, the other screamed out and desperately flapped its wings to stay aloft.

The Golem from earlier got beside the road, kicked up a hunk of gravel and flung it up at the fearow. The gravel broke apart as it slammed into the remaining Fearow’s chest; it fell to the ground just like the other one did.

“Could’ve been good practice,” Vli cackled.

By now, Lance was wobbling on two legs as he dusted off the scales on his chest. “Look, I don’t even know how to help you here. What in the world can I possibly even do? I’m just some town bumpkin, you idiots.”

Gareda placed her claw atop Lance’s head, and forced him to look out over the gravel landscape stretching out to the region beyond the sight of a dragon’s eye.

“Why, we have the long, grueling task of finding a little Oshawott waddling around in this sandbox. You’ve interacted with him yourself. You admitted as much,” Gareda grumbled as the fin on her arm slowly made its way to Lance’s neck. “You know who he is. Where would we find him?”

Lance’s breathing intensified rapidly as the fin buckled the scales in his neck. “Listen, I can’t say anything for sure, alright? I’ve only been around the lad for one day, how could I-”

“Enough excuses. Tell me where he’d be.”

Gareda casted a shadow over Lance. She raised her head and nodded towards Luffy, who stood fidgeting with her claws waiting for something to do. Neither said a word as the Magmar got behind Lance, breathing hot air down his neck. Vli threw himself over Gareda’s tail towards Lance’s side right after, leaning forward until his beak was an inch removed from the Druddigon’s head.

Lance grimaced. Only one direction wasn’t blocked off; all to be seen there was sand and gravel.

“Alright, alright… listen, there’s no chance, and I repeat, no chance in Giratina’s distortion that the lad would make it out here on his own, yes? Fat chance he’d ever abandon that dimwitted Charmander pal of his. Doesn’t matter that kid’s as dumb as a bag of bricks! Even for a kid he’s a fool, yet the Oshawott will stick with him, alright?”

“And anyone else with him?” Vli asked.

“Wasn’t talking to you!” Lance shouted. Vli tilted his beak away; Lance’s eyes widened as the fin dug deeper into his neck.

“Answer him, unless you want to be gutted like a Magikarp.” Gareda growled.

“Grr… no, he won’t abandon them either, alright?” Lance grumbled. “Lad struggles to spit water. Lad can barely stand up on two feet, let alone survive out here! No one his age lasts out here for long, if I didn’t bail him out when he ended up in the wrong Mystery Dungeon once, he’d be a goner by now!”

“Hm? What were you doing in the same dungeon as he?” Vli forcefully pecked the drake on the chin. Lance spat at Vli’s feet.

“Gathering food from the village! ‘S what happens when you take all of it for no reason!”

‘Great. That moron of a Shiftry’s incompetence knows no limits.’ Gareda stomped with one foot; cracks appeared in the ground as a result. “Enough of this already. We’ve heard what we’ve needed to, and every second we stand around here is wasted time. Everyone, I want the roads to the north combed. Search far and wide, and stop anyone you encounter. Ask them if they have seen any Oshawott or Charmeleon recently!”

Lance gritted his teeth. “Charmeleon…?”

Gareda pulled her arm away. “Yes, Charmeleon. Ask if there’s anyone else with them as well! Keep yourselves fed and hydrated, no Alliance member is to be taken lightly, yes?”

“Yes ma’am!”

“Good!” The Garchomp pointed a talon towards the north. “Vli, you must inform Spice Hills to do the same. They are undoubtedly heading to Drasal. If our troops there can cut them off, we’d save ourselves a big headache. Yes?”

“Leave it to me, Lord Gareda.”

“Understood, everyone?”

“Yes, ma’am!”

“Move your arses!”

Most of the Soldiers got moving, a handful staying behind with Gareda to watch over Lance. Vli left for the north, while Luffy moved last with the column. She turned her head to wink towards Gareda, who chuckled and winked right back.

‘What a charmer. Now to see if she can deliver.’

“Blegh, how long do I have to stay with you, anyway?” Lance whined, now that a good chunk of the Soldiers were out of hearing range.

“Until the evening at least,” Gareda replied, much to the Druddigon’s dismay.

“What?! Why?! What for?! Who do you think you are to treat a Pokemon that way? I have people counting on me back home!” Lance shouted towards the Garchomp, who didn’t budge. She felt no need to come down on this particular outburst; most of her Soldiers weren’t around to hear, after all.

“They can wait one afternoon.”

“Grr! This is ridiculous! You take our food, you take people as well! Tell me, what has our village done to deserve this? What hate do you have for Greenfield to do all this to us?”

“Hmph.” ”Gareda crossed her arms. “You’re far from the only one whose village is suffering.” ‘Far from the only one, my friend…’

* * *

A lantern shone in the darkness, as a carriage made its way across a blackened landscape. Not a star was visible, for the clouds had smothered them. No Kricketot dared to chitter, for reasons one could only begin to guess.

Cast in the light were five Soldiers, each bearing a green cloth around their neck or wrist. One Machoke was pulling the carriage, one Magnezone floated overhead, an Espeon and Leafeon were keeping pace behind, then a Toxtricity was shuffling his way through the grass next to the path, lazily strumming his chest all the while.

Their cargo were a Raichu and a Pikachu, both with their arms bound and their cheeks tapered with rubber. The Raichu’s chest was swollen. Neither said anything.

“Can you stop messing around already?”

“Pfeh? What’s yer problem?”

“You messing around’s our problem, alright! It’s darker than my Umbreon partner’s lung dropped in black paint, you’re electric, and you’re not even making any light for us!”

“Pfah! Ask the bundle of magnets there for some light if you want some so bad!”

“I am watching the road. I cannot illuminate more than one vector around us.”

“‘S that even mean? He’s just lazy!”

“Not as lazy as you… why don’t you come help me pull the cart?”

“It’s useless, Machoke. He won’t budge.”

Raichu raised his head from the side of the carriage. The temptation to let it fall back onto the side arose right back up, much like the previous times he’d tried over the past few hours. Aching, hurting, as if the bone and muscle was screaming at him. Pleading with him. But he had to stay strong.

Speedy glanced beside him. His son was resting against his arm, the fur under his eyes stained and soggy, The past few days had been nothing but misery for him. The beatings, the screaming, the struggle to cope with being taken from his home, and processing the real chance he may never see it again had all worn on him. Speedy too had suffered, yet he hadn’t broken. He couldn’t break. Not for Junior.

Thus the Raichu persisted through pain, keeping his head upright as best he could. All the respite he got was keeping his eyes half closed to appear asleep. The Soldiers keeping him under tight wraps hadn’t bothered him since nightfall. They were distracted with the dark, and that was one of two lights he had.

Suddenly, the wind cried out in pain. The second light died out; there went one beacon of hope. Speedy’s eyes widened; his ears perked up as did his eyes dart around - the void had wasted no time in spreading right up to his nose.

“What happened?”

“The lantern went out, Espeon.”

“Yeah I see that! Hey you, Magnezone, go stoke the thing up! Quickly!”

“Allow me to make an attempt.”

A few sparks shone from the Magnezone’s magnets. Brief flashes of light went over the area, then disappeared just as quick as they had arrived.

“Something is not right.”

“What’s wrong?”

“The lantern does not cooperate with me, Leafeon. This may take a little longer than anticipated.”

“Uhh… guys? I’m starting to have a really bad feeling about all of this…”

“Quiet! You’re the cowardliest Machoke there is, boo hoo a little dark, grow up! You’re not a toddler anymore!”

“H-hey! I mean it, this is not a joke-”

“Eh… I think I see somethin…”

The Toxtricity’s mohawk sparked up. He pointed a few fingers ahead into the unknown, cautiously shuffling forward over the grass. Speedy’s ears went down. It was quiet. Too quiet. There was no other noise he could hear. What was happening? Why had everything gone as quiet as sleep… and so dark?

“There… what is…?”

“...”

“What are you seeing, Tox? Lemme guess, seeing stars again, are we?”

“...”

“Answer me, Tox!”

“...!” A thud came from the darkness. It sounded as if someone had fallen onto the grass with the grace of a rock.

“Tox? Hello?”

No answer. Espeon looked towards the rest of the group. “Uh… what just happened? Can someone look what happened to Tox? I think he might have tripped…” He blurted out back to back, ears pressed firm against his head as eyes and tail went back and forth.

“Th-there’s something out there, I can feel it…” Machoke muttered.

“I will go. Watch the prisoners, they-”

A red light suddenly appeared in the darkness, hovering towards the confused Soldiers with glowing intensity. Slow but steady, the light - no, the eye approached until it reached the edge of where the lantern once shown. There, it didn’t brighten. It didn’t budge. It remained exactly where it was, glaring at the Soldiers and their prisoners from far, far too close.

“G-guys…?!”

“We may have a problem here-”

Magnezone was cut off by a charging sound coming from the light. The outlines of two large hands were nourishing a glowing sphere; within an eye blink it shot straight ahead, exploding directly in the Magnezone’s body; it was thrown back and crashed into the side of the carriage.

“We’re under attack! UNDER ATTAC-”

“Aah! AAAAAAGH!!!”

“HELP! NO! SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME-”

Two more bodies dropped on the floor without grace, the sound hitting Speedy like a winter’s chill. His heart beat against his ribcage, trying to break free… and run. His whole body wanted to run, but couldn’t. His own terror had frozen him solid, let alone trying to break through the binds.

Junior was sobbing, trying to curl up in his father’s arms. There was no way out. Not even for their eyes. They watched on as the light closed the gap. One Soldier left standing… or kneeling.

The Machoke’s breaths rang through the air like a cold wind stirring, His feet shifted. Was he looking for a way out? Trying to fight back? Whatever his actions’ intent, they were hopeless. A gasped scream shot out of his throat as the eye lunged at him, pinning him tight.

Then, the lantern suddenly came back to life. Light was cast back over the area; Speedy and Junior shut their eyes from the flash; Junior didn’t reopen, Speedy forced himself to. At the front of the carriage, Machoke was on his knees, gasping for breath as a Dusknoir held him by the neck.

“Anything to say for yourself?”

The ghost’s voice made Speedy’s tail and ears poke up. “...Hein!” .

“P-please… M-mercy… I didn’t do anything wrong, I-”

“Typical.” The Dusknoir rolled its eye, then tightened its grip over. “Repeat after me. I did not see anything suspicious tonight.”

“I, I-i didn’t see anything s-suspicious t-tonight!”

“When I wake up, I will know no more than what my comrades know.”

“W-when I wake up, I-i… I-i will know no more, than what my c-comrades know…”

“Should I not follow this simple instruction, I will accept the inevitable consequences.”

“S-should I… not.. follow… accept the consequences…”

“Goodnight.”

A purple shine came out of the Dusknoir’s hand. One eye blink later, the Machoke fell on the ground. There was no joy, or glee, or any triumph from the Dusknoir. He simply pressed two fingers against his antenna, his ectoplasm stirring as he turned to the carriage and floated over. Junior buried his face in his father’s chest.

“Quite the stint you’ve gotten yourself in, Speedy.”

“h-Hein? What are you doing, Hein?” Speedy asked, entirely exasperated.

“Getting you out of here, nothing more. It’s the least I could do,” the Dusknoir said. “Now hold still.”

Hein’s fingers slipped in between the ropes keeping Speedy bound. They constrained on the other side as the ghost pulled. Speedy watched the Dusknoir’s eye with bated breath, when sudden heat from the usually cold fingers almost made him jump out of his fur. The ropes broke loose; the scent of burnt fibre reached his nose after.

“There. Are your hands bound as well?”

Speedy moved his paws in front of his face. “Not at all,” he deadpanned. Two hands approached his face; both ribbed the rubber wads off his cheek. Speedy breathed out in relief, before helping his son get loose as well. Junior’s eyes were fixated on the Dusknoir towering above him.

“Dad, I’m scared…”

“Don’t be. It’s just ol’ Hein, that’s all, heheh.” Speedy wiped at his brow. “He’s just as much of a Greenfielder as you are?”

“He’s scary… Who is he?”

The ghost leaned forward. “Settle down. Grownups are talking here,” he said with an echo. And so Junior didn’t dare reply. Speedy bit his lip. He’d usually stand up if someone talked down to Junior. Hein was the exception to the rule. Not to mention, a question had been resting on his tongue for a while. When he ultimately went through with asking it, out it came in a very weak voice.

“Hein... What are you doing this for?”

The Dusknoir tilted his antenna back. “Unfinished business. That is all.”

“That is all?”

“Nothing you will find interesting. And that is all you need to know.”

“Okay…”

Having tossed the charred bits of rope away, Hein put his hands in the air. The darkness surrounding the carriage faltered, and in it’s place came a moonlit night. Beyond Hein stood a tall forest; behind Speedy was a wide, open plain. Ahead on the road, the lights of a town glistered in the distance. From where the carriage came, the road disappeared through a bend into the forest.

“I suggest you find a place to hide. Yourself and your son,” the Dusnoir echoed, to which Speedy looked away, one cheek sparking.

“I wouldn’t know where. Except…”

“With the Alliance?” Hein filled in.

“Yes,” Speedy sighed. “With the Alliance. I’d… rather not take my kid there.”

Hein shook his antenna. “Not much choice, I’m afraid. We’re both wanted men now,” he said, much to Speedy’s astonishment.

“...You’re headed there too?”

“Unfortunately, yes. The situation calls for it, I’m afraid to say. Working alone is my preference… usually speaking. Watching from the shadows is not an option at this time.”

“Alrighty then.” Speedy looked off towards the village in the distance. It appeared so peaceful, so inviting to spend the night at. The buildings were all painted in a blue that stood out in the moonlight.

“I will get going now,” the Dusknoir echoed. There was no time for goodbyes, not even a wave, for the ghost disappeared into the ground and whisked away. Speedy groaned as he received a poke in his arm.

“Dad… who was that?” Junior asked.

“An acquaintance. He’s… a strange man. That’s all you should know.”

Junior’s head sank. “Is, is what he said true? Can we not go back home?” he asked, eyes shining in the celestial light. Speedy shook his head.

“I’ll figure something out, son. Don’t worry.”