The Lord-Regent Treehouse's Story

Lukas listened intensely as they made their way onto Route 5. Another couple was walking along the path when they saw the Champion, giving him an enthusiastic wave. He waved back.

"Okay," he finally said after a bit of thought, "So you did have a falling out. Yet you still have friends on the inside, I take. Well, you may be happy to know that Team Skull has changed since the last time you were probably here.

He went on to explain his own adventures and how he took down Guzma and the Aether Foundation during his Island Challenge, explaining how Guzma was actually hired by the former Aether Foundation President, Lusamine, to give them a reason for the Aether Foundation's presence in the region when in reality it was all a staged conflict by the higher-ups. "Since they've been defeated, Guzma has stepped down as the leader of Team Skull and they've been working on rebuilding Po Town. They're still a group of rough dudes, but they're not nearly as bad as they were when I was travelling through."

There was a lifting of his face as an idea came to mind, "Hey...I haven't been there in a while to see how progress has been. You wanna check it out with me? It'll get you some distance from those mercs and whoever that Cloyster was. And you can meet up with some old friends...including this O.G. Lee you met earlier."

“That’s good to hear,” Radegast commented on Lukas’ word on how Team Skull had changed since he last saw them.

The boy seemed to have a nice ice. At least, it seemed nice at-first. However, Radegast’s stomach began to growl and his eyes were getting heavy. “I would, except I haven’t been home in a while,” Radegast really wanted to see more of the Treehouse, see how it had changed, see if the homemade bed was still as surprisingly comfortable as he remembered. “Plus, I haven’t had rest for the past… twenty-some hours…”

There were also assorted small-time hassles, such as paying fees for a boat ride to Ula’ula and back. Lukas probably would offer it, but Radegast was quite tired of getting special treatment. He was frankly sick of it. He was a boy of the wild, after all. His body and blood had grown quite accustomed to the wild, and it felt out of place amongst other humans.

“I’m gonna take a rain check, to be honest… but thanks for the offer.” Radegast was beginning to feel fatigue finally catching up to him. The only rest he had gotten between skydiving, training a few hundred surfing soldiers, riding an ice-cold Articuno, navigating a jungle, climbing a rock wall, and experiencing the tension of Weyloran’s clan and the Zoroark who seemed intent on all but screaming his identity to the world without proper evidence. All this while carrying a backpack, a folding bike, and Roxie’s guitar gift among all the supplies they had. All Radegast wanted was a nap.

“I’ll be seeing you,” Radegast slurred as he dismounted and folded his bike. He then headed straight into the jungle, ignoring any and all paths save his own. It would be tough for an inexperienced human to follow in Radegast’s footsteps. Metronome and Elder swooped on either side to make sure he didn’t fall down.

In the shadow of the hundreds of canopies, Reggie emerged once more from his ancient wood-finish Pokeball. “Young Radegast,” Reggie greeted firmly, yet politely.

“I get the feeling you won’t listen if I ask you not to do that again.” Radegast muttered, referring to the curb-stomping it had delivered to Weyloran.

“It is not proper to mumble when speaking to someone,” Reggie chastised.

“It’s to keep the conversation private,” Elder chimed. In truth, it was because Radegast was growing more and more tired.

Reggie eyed the Gengar. The forest was bound to be home to at least one pair of unwanted ears, “Tactically sound,” it eventually admitted, and continued in a low voice, “My trainer was the First, not you. There are no orders, only the Family, and that Cloyster attempted to murder you.”

“I’ve taken worse than that spike,” Radegast huffed.

“He did,” Metronome added.

“He really did,” Elder also added.

“And you encourage this?” Reggie asked incredulously.

“I’m saying I can take care of myself,” Radegast replied, “Otherwise I’d have been in the dirt within the first month.”

The Aegislash hummed thoughtfully, “Despite your current situation, you have survived on your own with only your friends for six years. You have experienced and survived far more than the average trainer who ever went on a Pokemon journey. It appears we, the family, have neglected to acknowledge that when you were found.”

“Hey, we all forget things from time to time,” Radegast jabbed Elder with an elbow.

“Yeah, I remember,” Elder nodded, “In Unova.”

“We’ll find her,” Radegast nodded, “Now that Absolute’s in the green, we’ll head back as soon as we’re able.”

They arrived at the rock wall that led up to the volcano. Radegast’s tough hands gripped the same handholds as before, but he found climbing to be more difficult than last time. Reggie huffed when it had offered to help only for Radegast to refuse. “Everyone needs help eventually,” The Aegislash hummed.

Despite the fatigue, Radegast made it to the Treehouse, where everyone else had already arrived. “Hey dude,” Vorpal, the Alakazam, was still sprawled in the same lawn chair as he was when they had left. It appeared that Vorpal hadn’t even moved from the spot.

“Suh dude?” Radegast slurred as Metronome and Elder took a seat in a second lawn chair. Radegast tapped on the other pokeballs and everyone else began milling about in the Treehouse cave.

The sixteen-year-old stepped through the door, and was immediately greeted by Jakob. “Master Radegast,” he bowed low.

“Is there a place to sleep?” Radegast asked.

“Ah, but of course,” Jakob’s eyes lit up in an oddly giddy excitement, “We’ve moved your old bed to one of the dormitories upstairs.”

Chrome happened to be close by, and translated. Radegast asked, “Dormitories?”

“We have kept ourselves afloat by being a safehouse for many a wild Pokemon,” Jakob explained as he led Radegast and Chrome upstairs, “We barter seeds, berries, and labour in exchange for a place to lay low. Seeing as you’re the founder and designer, I can’t possibly ask you to pay-“

“The kitchen is lacking,” Radegast interrupted, “Tomorrow I’ll go grocery shopping.”

“B-but sir, you don’t have to,” Jakob stammered. They had arrived at a room at the far end of the hall. A thin layer of dust had collected on the handle, which the Dartrix had quickly flicked away with a feather.

“And?” Radegast smirked.

Jakob hiccuped, “Of course,” he regained his composure, “You are as generous as you are stubborn, as I have heard.”

“Tomorrow, though,” Radegast repeated as he pushed through the door.

“Have a well-earned sleep, Master Radegast,” Jakob called. Chrome simply said “Good Not-night.”

Radegast entered a room that had been well-maintained, but had never seen use. A bed frame carved with blades and subsequently lightly burned and lathered with lynseed oul sat in the corner, with a large sack of Mareep cotton to comprise the mattress and a smaller similar sack for a pillow. The blanket was the same one Radegast had stitched together back when he was a member of Team Skull.

The rest of the room was rather simplistic, with light flooding into the room from a small window showing the entire front of the Treehouse grounds. Radegast noticed a small suspended platform on the ceiling in the centre of the room where a light would typically go, which he imagined was for some sort of lamp in the dark of night. There was a chair with a desk, an end table next to the bed, and a bookshelf, empty save for a single book, a bundle of homemade candlesticks with filed bottoms, and a candlestick holder the candles were fitted for. The single book appeared to be very old, but Radegast recognized it.

“How the hell?” Radegast wondered as he picked the book off the shelf. It looked about a hundred pages thick, a short story by comparison, but it had many beautifully drawn pictures on almost every page. The book was a collection of short stories. Looking at the inside cover, Radegast knew it was the book he had left behind when he ran from home. “How the hell?”

“That would explain where it went,” Reggie hummed, having just appeared again.

“You know about this?”

“It had gone missing the same day as that,” Reggie’s eye darted towards the end table next to the bed. On top of it stood a framed photograph.

Radegast approached the end table and examined the photo. It was a candid shot of him and Margriet, building a sand castle on the beach. Their faces were not visible, for they were focused on the sand. Radegast’s hair was really quite short, he looked barely a day over five, but the muscle definition was already there, even before he got to training to fight on his own.

“I guess I should not be angry,” Reggie commented.

“You know… I’d like to hear the story about how they stole these out from the Estate,” Radegast snickered.

Reggie’s steel turned red, and wordlessly returned to his pokeball. Radegast left the wood-finished piece on the bookshelf and he unpacked his things. He would sort through it all later.

In the meantime, he undressed and slipped under the covers of the comforter. He fell asleep immediately.

“Radegast,” the teacher barked, “Pay attention. You’ll need to know this when you become a Pokemon Trainer.

The creed repeated: A sword is not the hammer that forged it, but the hand that wields it.

“He’s got the blood of two of the strongest trainers of our generation, he is destined for greatness!”

I am the hand, not the hammer.

“What will his starter be? I think a Dratini will make an excellent companion, don’t you?”

I am the hand, not the hammer.

“I think a Magikarp more suits him. Together, they will break beyond their potential and lay waste to the Leagues. He has the potential, I know it!”

I am the hand, not the hammer.

“Radegast, be reasonable.”

“I am the hand, not the hammer!”

The hand shot up, but the boy’s eyes shot open.

Radegast had slept several hours more than usual. By the time he awoke, the sky was a blended orange and blue. The morning sun covered a strip of the cliff with a sunbeam, where Suros and Vorpal lay sprawled on the ground in relaxation. The sixteen-year-old swung his legs over the edge of the Mareep wool bed- which had been shockingly (no pun intended) comfortable. The boy had rested soundlessly and very well, though his eyes felt heavy as they slowly adjusted to consciousness.

He hadn’t seen the dream ever since he left home, and now it’s back. He didn’t want the dreams to come back. His head turned, his gaze drifted from the ceiling to the bookshelf, where the Reginald Coat of Arms rested in a pokeball. “Reggie, is that you doing it?” Radegast rubbed his eyes. The Aegislash did not answer. “Reggie,” Radegast repeated firmly.

The Aegislash emerged wordlessly. The single eye in the quillion block blinked and stared at Radegast. “You still believe in Tarma’s old quote,” it said with a mildly accusatory tone.

“What else can I believe in besides blind servitude?” Radegast growled. “I thought out of everyone in my family, you’d understand. Uncle at least somewhat understands…”

“Uncle also somewhat understands your importance in the future.”

“How would you know anything about the future when you’re comprised entirely from the past?”

“You can discover patterns with the past.”

“Did I exist before in the past? Of course not.” But someone thought they did, long ago. Otherwise they wouldn’t have painted his likeness in an undiscovered cave. Radegast hoped Maxin was alright. He wished he would’ve joined the rescue operation, but everyone else was bent on forcing the issue, and now he was safe in this room, having this conversation with what may as well be all of his ancestors. “Being born doesn’t grant privilege.”

“That is not how the world works.”

Radegast sat up in his bed. It was then that he noticed a distinctly human-made chair in the corner, which he had missed because the door had blocked his line of sight before. “No, of course not… How the world works is people send their kids off into the wilderness at ten years old, where they send creatures to fight tooth-and-nail for their own amusement or for personal gain. You don’t think that’s fucked up?”

“Take it from me, it was far worse back when the Family was large and held immense military might.”

“I can’t stand seeing people get hurt.”

“The trainers don’t get hurt in battles… nowadays…”

“Ain’t talking about just trainers.”

The Aegislash harrumphed. “What of the gym battles? You saw them get hurt multiple times and you never batted an eye.”

“I support the choices my friends make,” Radegast replied, “I refuse to order them around, even if I were capable.”

“You deny your destiny-”

“Look dude,” Radegast stood up from his bed, “If you’re gonna spout off nonsense about destiny, you might as well leave me alone and go back to Uncle. They could use your strength since they declared war on those psychic dudes and all that.”

“… I may…”

“What’s stopping you?”

“My choice to remain with you as the next heir.”

“So… you’re gonna use this position to pester me endlessly about something I don’t care about?”

“Someone has to care about it.”

“It’s my so-called “destiny.” I wouldn’t bother anyone about their “destiny”, so why should they bother me about mine? You know the phrase “do unto others as you would have them do unto you?” You remember that, right?”

“…” Reggie remembered, because he was the one who taught a six-year-old Radegast that. “I see…” It emitted a sigh like rumbling window panes in the wake of an immense bass hum.

Radegast sat back down on his bed, and he brought the framed photo into his hands. He stared at the photo, at the sand castle, and young Margriet and younger himself. “Real talk: I’m super happy for her,” Radegast confessed, “She did what she wanted… and I did what I wanted. Why am I the bad guy if I did nothing wrong?”

“What you wanted was what you thought was right,” The Aegislash hummed, “Right and wrong have always been subjective. I don’t live for such things, only the Family.”

—

Dressed up in his pants and an undershirt, and his change of clothes stored in the drawer in the end table, Radegast hauled his backpack downstairs and began unloading supplies into the Treehouse. There was a pantry lined with never-melt ice- likely imported from Ula’ula’s cold mountaintop. Inside there, Radegast stored the many drinks he still had in his backpack. Ten fresh water, twenty lemonade, and two Moomoo milk. He also stored the kitchen utensils in assorted cupboards in the kitchen, where he also familiarized himself with the layout.

“Hm…” Radegast hummed.

“Mmm,” the snake-like voice of Jolder buzzed like a playful growl, “I do love a man who can cook.”

“You hungry?” Radegast asked, unaware of the innuendo.

“Oh yes.”

“A’ight, let’s see…” Radegast looked through the closet, “We’ve got some Pinap… some Nanab… Lots of Oran, Pecha… and…” For a moment, Radegast’s face displayed revulsion. “What’s this?”

“Oh, a previous lover,” Jolder hummed as Radegast pulled out a petrified Salandit corpse, thawed, yet preserved by the cold of the ice box. Radegast stared at the Salazzle. “He did try to kill me,” She added with gracefully rolling eyes.

“As much as I don’t like killing, I like wasting even less,” Radegast recalled the first time he tried Salandit. “I’ve learned this from a guy who cooked Qwilfish,” Radegast explained as he gathered utensils after laying the Salandit on the cutting board. “Qwilfish aren’t nearly as tasty or filling, though.”

Jolder honestly wasn’t expecting the human boy to actually start cutting into the Salandit’s hide. She reeled back in horror with a hissing shriek. “By Arceus!”

Radegast flinched at the sound. Jakob burst into the room with a blue flash. “What’s happening?” The Dartrix demanded, “Who’s attacking the Lord-Regent?!”

“I might!” Jolder squawked.

“I’m so sorry dude!” Radegast rose his hands, dropping the knife on the countertop, “I didn’t think you’d object!”

“I…” Jolder glanced at Jakob, “Darling, he’s… preparing meat.”

“Really?” Jakob pondered aloud incredulously, “You prepare meat?”

“Well, yeah.” Radegast shrugged. He spoke as if he didn’t know he was doing something wrong. ”We’ve come across bodies on our travels. My buddies are cool with meat.”

“You don’t think to bury them?”

“Seels, Joltiks, and Fletchlings aren’t herbivores,” Radegast shook his head. “I know for a fact that Dartrixes and Salazzles eat Rattata, given their abundance on Alola. Plus this Salandit will probably go bad if we don’t prep it soon.”

Jakob and Jolder once more exchanged glances. “Well…”

“Do you want me to cook brunch or not?”

In all honesty, Jakob did want to try Salandit, see how they differed from small Rattata he often caught. Jolder had eaten Salandit before, only raw, and shortly after attempted (re: failed or incompetent) mating. She was like a mantis in that way.

“If you need assistance,” Jakob offered after a moment’s reluctance.

“If you could help, that’d be really awesome, actually,” Radegast handed Jakob the dutch oven he had bought, “I dunno where we gather fresh water, but I need this filled up to about here,” Radegast indicated by pressing his finger on the inside wall. It was rather low in the dutch oven, but Jakob did not question the amount.

“I will get North to assist me,” Jakob bowed low and headed out with the dutch oven.

Radegast nodded and turned back to the meat with the knife. His eyes then met Jolder’s. The Salazzle still seemed uncertain. “You okay?” Radegast asked softly.

“It was startling, coming from you,” Jolder admitted, “But like I said, I love a man who can cook.”

“You ever tried cooked Salandit?” Jolder shook her head. “It tastes great even if you prep it wrong, though you get poisoned if you do,” Radegast spoke the words so naturally that it sounded like he learned this fact from experience.

“It seems strange,” Jolder also admitted, “Seeing this happening to a Pokemon.”

“Look at it this way: Some day, I’ll be another Pokemon’s meal,” Radegast said, “It’s just the circle of life.”

—

Jakob and North soon arrived with the water. “Thanks,” Radegast nodded as he set the dutch oven on the potbelly stove. With some wood and charcoal inside, Radegast had politely asked Jolder to light the fire within.

“Very dashing,” Jolder purred, “Jakob, darling, you should take some pointers from this boy.

Jakob ignored Jolder.

“Let’s see,” Radegast muttered to himself, “For something this size, I’m gonna need four cups Pecha juice, two cups of Kebia berry chunks, and a Pinap berry for later.

“We have Pecha and Pinap,” North reported, “We have no Kebia. We will need to make a trip to the berry orchard on Melemele.“

“That, we will,” Jakob nodded, “I’ll get Thoth and we’ll go.”

“I’ll come with you,” said Jolder.

“Take your time,” Radegast called as they left. He then returned to preparing the Salandit. He added the Pecha juice to the water as it all came to a boil, and Radegast added some chopped onions. On the cutting board, the cuts did not actually result in any bleeding, but once it was in the water, faint purple residue leaked out as the meat absorbed the Pecha juice. The onions subsequently turned purple as they absorbed the poison. When each piece of onion became completely purple, Radegast pulled them out with a slotted spoon and tossed them into the stove fire, where the poison was burned away.

The process was slow, but Radegast had nowhere to be. At one point, he had to add more chopped onions to continue absorbing the poison, and the absorption rate had only decreased as the poison ran lower and lower. Shortly before Radegast began pulling out the last few chopped onions and tossing them into the fire, Jakob and the rest had returned with a basket of Kebia berries.

“Thanks,” Radegast smiled as he got to chopping the Kebia berries.

—

The Salandit preparation went on all morning, with Pokemon milling in and out of the Treehouse grounds. Some new Pokemon arrived, and conversed with Jakob and the others about assorted things- namely why there is a human in the kitchen. When told the jist of the situation, almost all of them approached Radegast and said something along the lines of “Thank you for founding this sanctuary,”

To which, after translation from Chrome or Doc Holiday, Radegast always responded with something along the lines of “No problem, dude,” Among the visitors were the two Ariados, the same ones who had fashioned new bandaging back when Radegast first came to Alola. They talked at-length with Jakob in the dining area.

Eventually, there came a time when Elder, the Operative, and Rage were teaching Thoth, Metronome, and Vorpal how to play Rummoli. At this time, Radegast poked the Salandit with a knife, and examined the Pecha-water concoction closely, which now had Kebia chunks added in. After a quick nod, the sixteen-year-old grabbed two sets of tongs and lifted the Salandit out of the dutch oven. “Now comes the actual cooking,” Radegast announced.

“BY THE ANCIENT ONES!” Rage bellowed, “I’D ARGUE THE POISON FROM LAST TIME WAS WORTH NOT WAITING SO LONG!”

Radegast placed the Salandit on a bed of tin foil.

“It wouldn’t have mattered to me,” North flatly stated as he emerged from the back room.

Radegast lay a lot of slices of a Pinap berry all across the Salandit. He laid down so many slices that the entire top was covered with overlapping Pinap rings.

“OF COURSE IT WOULDN’T YOU CUR!” Thoth and Rage roared in unison. The two of them then shot typical rival glares at each other.

“Ah, here we go,” Radegast removed the plate from the pot-belly stove so the fire could lick at the Salandit. The sixteen-year-old placed a rack over top of the hole, added some other seasonings for flavour, and wrapped the whole beast up in the tin foil. Radegast then set the foil-wrapped Salandit over the stove. “Now we wait another… better make it thirty-two minutes.”

“I have set my internal clock to thirty-two minutes,” Doc Holiday had arrived seemingly on-cue.

“Excellent,” Radegast smiled, “Now to get to work on the sides.”

The sixteen-year-old used the second plate on the pot-belly stove to roast some gathered nuts. He added those to a tossed salad of greens, which was subsequently garnished with the juices from the Kebia fruit chunks. “Kebia actually neutralizes the poison it absorbs, but keeps a bit of the neutralized juice,” Radegast explained when Doc Holiday asked about it. “Only a little bit, though. Kinda like how birch bark has residue that can make a functional, if short-lived sun screen. It adds a bite to the flavour, which we add… here.”

He squeezed a bunch of Kebia chunks, where the juices flowed like a rather thick liquid over the large bowl of salad. Radegast repeated this process until all of the Kebia chunks were properly juiced and tossed into the fire as well. Radegast then washed his hands in the now-mild dutch oven water, and dried his slightly Pecha-smelling hands on a towel.

Shortly after, Doc Holiday’s timer went off, and Radegast peeled the tin foil off after covering the pot-belly stove once more. The smell quickly filled the room, and every mouth watered, except for North and Doc Holiday, for obvious reasons.

Not unlike a roast pig, the Salandit, which had grown plump from absorbing the Pecha, onion, and the Pinap juices, sat on hot pads in the middle of a large low table made from bamboo and vines, with a top slab of wood sanded and stained to a fine finish. The table reminded Radegast of the banquet table his parents often used to host dinner parties with other powerful people. It was very traditional Fuscia City furniture, only made with Alolan materials.

The large salad bowl sat next to the Salandit. Radegast stood over the rather low table, and began cutting the choice meats. Plates were filled and passed around, and bottles of human beverage found in the ice box were poured into well-crafted bamboo cups.

It was all delicious.

TWELVE YEARS AGO

The Estate was a large oriental-styled manor, with clay shingles overlapping each other to form a rooftop, perfect save for the sakura petals that oftentimes landed after riding the winds from the gardens out back.

Surrounding the grounds was a tall, ten-foot wall, which zig-zagged through choice areas to maximize the protective effectiveness, on incredibly sturdy ground, with a frost wall dug another ten feet deep. One would find it very difficult to dig under the wall.

Despite being the easiest way, climbing over the wall posed it’s own challenges. The front yard and the side yards were clear, save for paths snaking through beautiful flower gardens. Facing inward from the grounds entrance, one would see a single enormous tree standing high above on the right side of the front yard. Behind the house, where the most dangerous wilderness reigned directly outside of the walls, the raised plantlife made the front yard gardens seem lame and insignificant by comparison.

At the farthest point in the back of the garden, on an elevated platform, an ancient tree stood, looming over the entrance to a somewhat crumbling stone entrance. The stone had grown many layers of moss over the generations it had stayed there. The Estate had been destroyed and rebuilt many times, but the Catacombs had never fallen.

The Catacombs were a descending spiral of tunnels filled with coffins lining the walls. Many of those coffins were empty, for those who would’ve owned them were absorbed by the Coat of Arms. The most recent coffin that had a body was five hundred years old. The name associated with it was “Draco Reginald, the Peaceful”.

Jakob’s head popped over the wall with a light hoot. He held both eyes open, which scanned the area for signs of movement. At the Estate- an enormous two-story house- at least two guards in nice suits strolled around the gardens. Some struck up conversation, but all of them kept one eye on their surroundings.

The spherical shiny Rowlet hopped on top of the wall, and adjusted his stance. He then spread his wings and fluttered over to the ancient tree overlooking the catacombs. “Hoot-oot?” The Rowlet chittered. The guards did not seem to take notice… yet.

The Rowlet glanced down at the catacomb entrance. No guards posted there. The Rowlet hopped excitedly in place, and he swooped down. Jakob flapped his wings rapidly to slow his descent, and landed on the edge of one of the troughs that directed water away from the tunnel entrance.

As usual, the hole where a stone had crumbled into dust was still there- barely enough to allow the Rowlet through. Jakob helped himself, as he usually did.

The interior smelled of stale water and stone. The Rowlet’s tiny taloned feet tapped lightly on the stone as he happily descended into the depths of the dead halls. Jakob passed by each plaque, reviewing the ones he had read before, and only stopping to read the ones he had missed.

“Fargo Reginald IV, Saviour of Lavaridge” Jakob hooted, his voice lightly echoed, When the Volcano erupted and threatened to wipe out the town in Hoenn. The tale was short and sweet on the plaque, but it filled the Rowlet with kid-like wonder all the same.

“Orson Reginald, the first of his name, the Peacemaker of Johto.” Long, long, very long ago, Kanto and Johto were at war. The actions of Orson from Kanto and his future wife from Johto had formed a peace agreement. Next to Orson’s tomb was a more intricately designed tomb, labeled “The love of my life, Barbara Reginald.”

What was not written was that Orson was actually the Supreme Commander of the Kanto armies, and he had claimed Barbara (among other political and resource gains) in exchange for peace between the two regions. As they say, history was written by the victor, and much of that truth was lost in the generations that passed, especially in the fires four hundred years ago.

Jakob did not know the nasty aspect of Orson’s history. He only read the plaque, and his imagination filled with heroes fighting for truth, justice, and peace between entire regions.

“Shin Reginald, the Great Ninja.” Founder of the Old Fuscia Martial College, where he experimented and discovered leaps and bounds in the studies of poisons and antidotes, and also founder of the style that changed and evolved into what Kanto’s current Gym Leaders now practice. His wife’s tomb was labeled “Keeper of the Great Antidote.” Shin’s school itself was long gone, but many styles of martial arts that incorporate traditional methods use the same methods first applied there, especially those designed to hone one’s resistance to toxins.

“Horace Reginald, the Kraken.” Long ago, he and Kyogre did battle on the sea. The reasons have been lost, but the two fought to a stalemate, and the Kyogre granted Horace “The Boon of the Sea”, where he and his kin would find a friend in the seas for generations to come.

“The Jaguar” The name itself had been worn away, but the nickname and the story remained. Since it was right after Horace, the Rowlet imagined the name was “Horace II”. The Jaguar was a cunning Reginald who had become a Master Thief, and hired himself out to those who wanted to improve their security.

“Florence Reginald, the Family Man.” Out of all the Reginalds, Florence never did battle, but he had fathered and raised twenty children between three wives- all of whom had died in childbirth. The man had worked day in and day out to ensure the twenty children were all capable of forging their paths in the world.

All twenty children had tombs of their own. All of them were empty.

Jakob froze when he suddenly heard a distant sound, far deeper into the Catacombs than he had dared to explore. The sound repeated, and the Rowlet identified it properly. It was… sobbing.

A wildling’s intuition would’ve told Jakob to just get out of there, but the Rowlet lightened his footsteps and continued to descend. He passed by more empty caskets. Names began to repeat, with greater and greater number. Horace, Orson, Fargo, and then new names came about. Jeffry, Lexx, Jon, Drummond, Wesker. Most and more dead Reginalds from centuries long past. All the while, the sobbing grew more and more prominent.

Then Jakob arrived. He was close to the bottom, where mining and construction equipment remained stored in an as-of-yet unused tomb, preserved with the presence of salt slabs,

There was a boy, with short brown hair, sitting on his knees in front of a freshly carved casket, labeled “Gregorovich Reginald, the Lion”. This nickname was probably due to the incredible mane of hair the expertly carved likeness seemed to imply. The one who was once Gregorovich seemed to be an extremely burly, immensely strongly built and fearless man. Jakob didn’t want to get close. The boy had in his lap, an open hard-cover book. Teardrops had wet the open page somewhat.

“Radegast?” A soothing voice called. Jakob flinched and darted into the nearest tomb to hide.

A stunningly beautiful woman in a flowing black funeral dress stepped down the stairs. “You’ve been down here for a while now. What’s wrong?”

“Grandpa said… said he’d show me how to… how to…” The young boy couldn’t get his words out between the tears trickling down his face.

“Sweetie…” The woman crouched down to hug the child, “Come along now. We can talk outside in the gardens. You like the gardens, right?”

The boy sniffed. “Yeah…”

“Come on, up we go,” The woman lifted the small boy into her arms. “Your father’s been worried about you.”

“Mom, why did Grandpa die?”

“Well…” Jakob watched as the woman ascended the steps gracefully, “Some things are beyond our control, Radegast. This place reminds us that if we want to go fast, we go alone- but if we want to go far, we go together.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means Grandpa never left. He’s here, and here,” she tapped a finger on her chest, and then the young boy’s chest. “Just like all of the others here,” she then gestured to all of the caskets they passed. “They’re all with you.”

The woman’s voice seemed to having a soothing effect. Next Jakob could see, the boy had gone limp, fallen asleep. The Rowlet hopped back out and began reading the Lion’s story, carved into the plaque.

The Rowlet had lost track of time, and he didn’t notice two hands grab Jakob’s spherical body. “Back again, are we?” The man’s voice asked.

The Rowlet squawked and struggled. “Easy there, tiger,” The harsh voice laughed, “Not many humans wanna come down here, let alone Pokemon,” The man turned the Rowlet around to face him. The man himself had long brown hair, combed and flowing around his ears. Rowlet recognized the man, called “Tarma Reginald” at the funeral- which Jakob had eavesdropped on.

Tarma glanced at Gregorovich’s casket, and back at the shiny Rowlet. “You seem to understand who we are, doncha?”

Jakob was too frightened to reply. “Well,” Tarma placed Jakob down on the ground with surprising gentleness. “Best you head out before one of the guards comes along. They’re proper trainers- the lot of ‘em. They might try to capture you- foreign as you are.”

Jakob shivered in fear. Tarma cleared his throat, “Alright, let’s go.” Something about the voice seemed so commanding, the Rowlet felt his wings extend before he could even process what was being said. Before he knew it, the Rowlet was flapping in mid-air, at eye-level to this youthful-looking man. “Forward march, kid,” Tarma chuckled, “More like forward flap, eh?”

Jakob began to fly back through the tunnels. He left Tarma behind. At-first, he felt nothing but fear for his life, but with that man’s voice, Jakob felt he could take on Groudon itself.

That feeling…

The Rowlet squeezed through the hole once more, and flapped up into the ancient tree once more. Why would I let myself be captured by a schmuck when I wish be a part of that boy's life?

—

ONE YEAR AGO

“Ten weeks prep… Can’t get any more ready, can you?”

“No way, man.”

“Alright, synchronize watches, 2000 hours, in 3… 2… 1… Sync.”

The Dartrix, Alakazam, and Lycanroc simultaneously clicked their watches- which they had “borrowed” from a shady dealer back in Alola. They were cheap watches made to be “sold” as authentic priceless pieces, but they were functional nonetheless, and perfect for their less “intensive’ mission.

Thoth wore an all-black suit, and a muzzle to keep him from talking. Evidently he couldn’t lower his personal volume all that much. Still, communication would not be possible when they split off, so the muzzle was merely a precaution. It also helped that Jakob and Vorpal wore black suits and muzzles of their own. The two others shortly slipped their own muzzles after synchronizing their watches.

Wordlessly, Thoth and Jakob vanished into the forests while Vorpal began to head straight for the Wall close by. The ten-foot wall would be insurmountable to most humans, but a psychic-type who could levitate himself…

The Alakazam’s eyes were covered with a strip of fabric, for he was watching for guards through the walls through his psychic sense. This also provided him with the advantage of being totally invisible in the dark. Vorpal continued to hover slowly as he watched for the guards near the Estate back door to leave.

The Reginald Estate gardens were dark, save for the lights in the windows. It had rained earlier, and filled the air with scents. Two sentries in suits stood by the back door.

Reaching position in 3… 2… 1… The Alakazam softly rested himself. He kept his psychic connection open for Jakob and Thoth, who replied in turn…

Reaching position in 3… 2… 1…
I have visual on BD-Guard.
I have visual on Half-Window.
I HAVE VISUAL ON GARDEN GNOME.

Even Thoth’s thoughts were loud, Vorpal already knew. The “garden gnome” was more like a Bellsprout figurine, but “gnome” made a more efficient codename.

Commence Gnome De Gras, on my mark, in 3… 2… 1… Mark.

The air filled with a ceramic clunk. The two guards at the back door flinched and produced their pokeballs in one hand, and handheld torches in their left. They fired up their beams of light and began heading to the Eastern side. “Fuckin’ hell, is it that gnome again?” One guard muttered, “Shame the missus didn’t wanna glue it down after the fourth time…

BD-Guard moving to location. You’re clear to move in, Jakob.

A shadow flickered by the back door, and soon flickered close to a half-opened window.

Absol-User is in the room.
Perfect.
HAVE ARRIVED AT SECOND POSITION.
Absol distraction on my mark, in 3… 2… 1… Mark.

No sound seemed to signify any distraction, but the boy’s head jerked as he caught something in his peripheral vision. The boy stood up and began to move towards the window on the West side.

4 seconds Jakob, go go go.

The shadow slipped into the room, and darted across the carpeted floor as quickly as it could. immediately after Jakob vanished around the doorframe, the boy turned back. The boy turned back, his eyes brimming with suspicion.

I think they’re getting on to us.
WE’VE KNOCKED THEIR GNOME AROUND QUITE A LOT. THAT THING’S BUILT PRETTY STURDY.
Cut the chatter. It’s all going to plan. Let me know when Absol-user summons the Absol.
He just did. The Absol had an early nap, good luck for us.

—

Marth emerged, yawned and stretched. “What’s the matter?”

“Past couple of weeks, I’ve seen something move past my window,” Logan hummed as he turned back towards the window.

“Sure it wasn’t a Pidgey flying past?”

“At the same time every night?” Logan pointed out the clock. 8:02 PM.

“And last time we investigated, we found nothing.”

“Marth, it’s in your nature to sense disaster. Do you sense anything?”

“I didn’t last time, I dunno how it’d be different this ti-“ Marth paused, and his eyes widened.

—

Shit, the Absol sensed us. Why did it sense us this time?
SHOULD WE ABORT?
Can’t, Jakob’s still in there. Jakob, do you read?
Moving to Vault Door in 3… 2… 1…
Jakob?
I hear you, but the Absol-
Sensed that we’d actually pull it off- which means it would have been a real disaster this time.
But that means at-best, you have twenty seconds to-
Oh hell, the door’s locked.
LOCKED? WHY?
Doesn’t matter, Thoth. Jakob, you have three seconds to get out of that hall before Stairs Guard turns the corner.

—

I figured, Jakob thought as his eyes darted up and down the corridor. The closest open room, the one that didn’t lead back to Absol-User, was the room directly next to Vault Door. Jakob zipped to that room and stole a glance inside within two seconds.

A human girl was inside, a young girl typing on some complex human machine (re: computer). The Dartrix had no choice, either risk this human girl, or certainly get caught by the Stairs guard. Without skipping a beat, the Dartrix weaved past the crack in the open door.

—

What are you doing!?

To Vorpal’s astonishment, the human girl did not turn immediately, giving Jakob enough time to slip towards the bookshelf that hid the corner away from the door. Vorpal watched as the Dartrix hid within the tiny corner space, two more seconds before a knocking came at the girl’s door.

“Margriet,” Stairs Guard spoke, “Dinner is ready.”

“Thank you, Percy, I’ll be right down.” Margriet switched off the monitor and began to head towards the door. Her peripheral vision failed to notice the short figured dressed in black that was barely visible behind the bookshelf.

Dude Jakob I almost lost my lunch.
Forget that, where’s Absol-User?

Vorpal had lost track of Absol-User when he was on the edge of his seat. When he checked, he knew what to answer.

Lost track.
He’ll be following Absol’s disaster nose, going straight for the Vault Door.
I have an idea. Thoth, we need a disaster, pronto.
YOU GOT IT!

—

Logan and Marth stepped along the upstairs corridors, passing by Margriet and Percy. “Dinner’s ready, Logan,” Percy said as they passed by.

“Thanks Perc, but I’m gonna check something out first. Marth’s on to something here.” Logan and his Absol approached Radegast’s room as the other two headed down the stairs.

“Something happening here?” Logan asked as he produced his key. The Missus had ordered the room locked so that the boy’s room could remain preserved and untouched. Only once a week did Celadon herself go in to clean up the place, to make it the same as when he had left. Logan recalled the times the strong woman displayed uncharacteristic weakness and sorrow whenever she performed that weekly “ritual”. However, if Marth’s disaster senses were tingling, and it involved this room, Logan had to find out before it happened.

… Until a loud crash rang through the halls. Logan had just opened the door when the shriek and shouts filled his ears. Marth’s mane stood on-end. “I fuckin’ knew it!” Logan growled, “Let’s go, Marth!” Together, the two of them turned-tail and bounded down the stairs.

—

In the light, the figurine appeared to be a stylized Bellsprout. Also in the light, the figurine was in pieces, having slammed onto the table after being thrown through the dining room window. The Garden Gnome, which the BD-Guards had just taken care of and returned to their positions from, was now in shards, spilled across the assorted servings of the meals.

Marcus and Celadon stood up, both of them understandable enraged. “Logan!” Marcus barked, “What did Marth see?”

“He saw too late, sir!” Logan called as he and Marth soared out the door, “They won’t get far!”

“Percy, Greg,” Celadon ordered, “Sound the alarm. We’ve got a prankster who really needs to quit.”

—

Thoth! Dude you gotta get the fuck outta there!
HEADING INTO THE BACK GARDEN! READY FOR THE PSYCHIC JUMP!
Jakob, once we do this, you’re on your own.
Understood. Get yourselves out.
Thoth, Psychic Boost on my mark, in 3… 2… 1… Mark.

The black-garbed Lycanroc braced himself for the jump. As soon as his legs extended, he felt an extra force amplify his jump, which sent him hurtling over the wall and into the wilderness. The Alakazam leaped from the ancient tree after the Lycanroc.

—

The Dartrix garbed in black had rushed out of the girl’s bedroom as soon as the Absol-User’s footsteps headed down the stairs. Jakob wasted no time getting to the previously locked door. Now it was somewhat ajar, and Jakob slipped through.

Jakob tried to think “I’m in,” but Vorpal was already telling Thoth to get ready for the Psychic Boost.

Jakob, once we do this, you lose your eyes in the sky.
Understood. Get yourselves out.

Jakob stepped quickly through the room. His eyes scanned the clean bookshelves rapidly. He didn’t have much time at all. He wanted to grab something- anything- to bring back to the Treehouse. A flash of light filled the otherwise dark room with red. Jakob froze and looked out the window.

The Reginald man’s Palkia stood in the garden, bellowing angrily as it’s pearl-like pauldrons glowed, and filled the garden with light. The Dartrix regained his composure somewhat, and returned to focusing on the bookshelves. The plan went south real fast, and it was only going to get worse. As quickly as he could, Jakob grabbed two things that were directly next to each other: a picture frame, and a familiarly aged hard-cover book.

Jakob slipped those two items into the satchel on his back, and grabbed one final item on the way out. It appeared to be some kind of Trainer’s Card case. It was small enough, and it was on the way.

Once more, he was out in the hallway. The house deserted rapidly of guards, but that only meant they had the entire Estate surrounded, searching for the source of the disturbance. That Palkia made leaving out the back way too risky. The front door was too well-lit… What was left?

Jakob glanced to the right, and to the left. The East and Western ends of the corridor had windows- and both of them were closed and locked. Still, Jakob headed to the Eastern window, on the opposite side of where the Bellsprout figuring had come crashing through the downstairs window.

Of course, Jakob’s proposed escape route was already a dead end. His feathered wings were too weak to get a firm grip on the locking mechanism. Breaking the window would only call attention directly to him, and that was the last thing he needed.

The longer he waited, the more and more ground the guards covered. The Dartrix could almost see the seconds tick by, closer and closer to sealing his fate. No-doubt word is spreading to the guards farther down, at the main gate.

Jakob was grateful for the muzzle at-least. It kept his beak from grinding together in his rapidly accelerating state of panic. Shame it did nothing to ease his heartbeat.

Come on… come on there’s gotta be something… There’s gotta be something…

Jakob headed down the empty corridors, which ultimately formed a square leading all around the Estate. The Dartrix checked any door that was unlocked, any signs of an open window. However, as their ten weeks preparation told them, only Absol-User kept his window half-open regardless of the weather.

—

“Palkia, I don’t care how you do it, but I want that prankster back here so I can give them a stern talking-to about respect!” Marcus was visibly angry, as was Celadon.

Palkia, a prideful, if robotic-sounding beast, hated that someone had humiliated his master, not since the damned Boy…

“What if it was him?” Margriet found herself asking.

“Then he’s done,” Celadon flatly stated, “Done running from his duty and destiny.”

Margriet felt a chill in her spine at her mother’s words. She thought she’d be used to it by now, but she still had memories of the warmth Celadon once had. She hoped her modelling gig would take her to Unova for a good long while. It would be nice to get away from this tense air. Right now, the tension was beginning to bleed through with this relatively simple prankster.

Marcus’ Palkia roared as it slashed the air with it’s claws. Holes in space opened, revealing different views within the forest. Palkia was searching, utilizing his particular talents.

—

WHAT THE HELL?
Whoa dude! hit the deck!

The two of them dropped to the ground and shifted around to get leaves and dirt on top of them. no sooner had they stopped moving entirely did a flash of light signify the opening of a window through space. On the other side, a ferocious Palkia gazed through, eyes careful for detail.

For the longest time, the window seemed to remain open, hovering above the hiding individuals.

Maaan this is some crazy shit dude
DON’T EVEN THINK, VORPAL!!!

Eventually, the portal vanished, and another one appeared somewhere close by.

OKAY, LET’S MOVE!

The two of them shook the dirt from their cloth coverings, and they continued rushing through the wilderness. They were a few minutes run from reaching the safety of the Safari Zone, and they heard shouts and the barks of Houndour behind them.

—

There was no way out of the house, save for the overexposed front door and the Half-Window, Jakob confirmed. However, most of the outside shouts had died down for reasons the Dartrix couldn’t confirm.

The heavy growling and ethereal hums of the Palkia’s movements and space-rending abilities still filled the outside air… It was rather loud, in fact. This gave Jakob an idea.

He had only one shot at it, though. Once more, he returned to the East window, and procured several Razer leaves. He waited with his wing raised, timing the space between savage tears into space. When he heard the roar once more, the Dartrix threw the leaves with all his might.

The leaves bounced harmlessly off the window and vanished as the energy dissolved them.

Fuck.

Jakob backed up, and prepared himself.

5… 4… 3… 2…
Jakob burst into a run.
1…
He leaped
The roar sounded
His body slammed against the window, and it gave way.

“Holy shit!”

NOOOOO!

Jakob flapped his wings as quickly as he could. Using the retained momentum, he barely cleared the wall and dropped into the forest.

“Intruder, East-side! East-side! I didn’t get a good look, but he was in all-black!” The same voice called. The Palkia’s subsequent roar signified that he was now focusing on a newly acquired target.

Jakob landed, and pushed himself back up, only to stumble. His left wing throbbed with a terribly pain. Adrenaline spiked to dull the pain, however, and the Dartrix knew he had been made. Before he could give them a chance to clear the wall, the Dartrix began to bound through the wild forests on his rather long legs.

A Raikou’s shriek complemented the Plakia’s robotic hum, and Jakob knew he was about to get one of the fastest land beasts after him soon enough.

However, while the roar had stunned Jakob’s senses, it did not stun Jakob’s legs. Soon enough, Jakob felt his next foot forward meet no ground.

Off to the east side of the Estate, deep in the forests, was a wildling cave. Jakob tumbled into it, He hit his wing once more, and the pain multiplied. It was only thanks to the muzzle that the Dartrix did not howl in pain and reveal his position. Though that did not stop the terrible, muffled moan of agony, which did not leave the tunnels.

Up above, where the quasi-light of the handful of stars bled into the entrance, the shouts got louder and louder. Jakob cringed as the pain continued to course through him. This is it, Jakob thought, I’m done… I’ve been caught… The hole was large enough for a human to fit through. The Reginald Guards would absolutely consider it a place to search. They had enough forces to keep any wildlings living inside in line. They’d find him withou-

No… Did Radegast ever give up when he fought on the human playground? Jakob’s mind suddenly flooded with memories as a Rowlet. He watched Radegast as he walked to and from that large human building called a “School”, where the boy grew up and held fast in his ideologies- the ideologies that Jakob admired, the ideologies that made the Reginald boy such an appealing human to a wildling like him.

He remembered the time Radegast had pummelled the four bullies in the grounds, after many days of receiving such pummelling, laying, barely conscious, and the parents only saying “He will learn from this, and become stronger, and finally understand that this is how the world works.”

They’re wrong… We are… individuals. Jakob forced himself back onto his feet. He felt shards of glass from the picture frame slide to the bottom of the satchel. Pain and adrenaline surged through the Dartrix, and he began to take a few steps into the tunnels.

We are free!

The Dartrix limped as quickly as he could deeper and deeper, as the voices high above grew louder and more clear. We are free until we let their spherical prisons lock around us, and nothing will stop us!

—

“Logan, with me,” Margriet called as she dismounted and recalled her Raikou.

“What is it, Ma’am?” Logan asked.

Margriet pointed out the crevise. The dirt and stone around it had been disturbed and scraped, as if someone had just recently tumbled in. “We got ‘em.” Logan smirked, “Marth, find us a way down.”

“Yes sir!” The Absol darted down the hole with expert agility. Shortly after, a Reginald Guard arrived to tie a rope around the nearest, sturdiest tree. He then snaked the rope down the hole, and Logan began climbing down carefully.

“You should stay up here, the Reginald guard recommended.”

“It’s my home too,” Margriet barked, “I’m coming down after Logan.”

“As you wish, Miss Reginald.”

—

An Absol’s pur filled the tunnels behind Jakob. Shortly after, two pairs of padded feet and a pair of human shoes began filling the tunnels with sound. Jakob grit his beak together to dull the pain and he picked up his limping pace. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck.

Jakob spotted light pouring from the left in a fork, and the Dartrix made it his life mission to reach it before his pursuers did. When he arrived, his heart sank.

The exit was a narrow crevice in a cliff wall. Far below, a now-dry ravine was filled with thick grass. It was not enough for Jakob to squeeze through… and he was out of options…

… Well… all save for one, but it was the mother of all gambles.

As quickly as he was able, Jakob unsuited himself, removed the muzzle and watch, and wrapped everything within a haphazard cloth covering. He then squeezed the bundle of everything unnatural through the crevice and watched it drop down into the ravine.

Satisfied, Jakob slumped against the wall, and slid into a seated position on the floor. Shortly after, the Absol arrived.

“A Pokemon?” The Absol inched closer cautiously.

“Holy shit it’s injured.” Logan arrived with a flashlight. “Hey, you okay?”

“No…” Jakob grunted, “This human… all in black… came running by, shoved me down… Broke my wing, couldn’t get back up…” This isn’t going to fuckin’ work. I’m hurting all over now man. I’m screwed, and I’m gonna die, or worse, get captured.

“What is that, a Dartrix? Weird sight in Kanto,” Logan noted.

“I sense great pain,” The Absol said as she turned to place a paw on Logan’s shoulder- an easy task, given that the human boy was crouching down to navigate the tunnels, “Overwhelming pain. We need to help him.”

“If you say so, Marth. Let’s get him outta here.”

Marth complied, and hoisted Jakob over his back. Jakob’s adrenaline finally ebbed and he lost consciousness.

—

“It is unusual, but I wouldn’t say it’s impossible. Some Rowlet and Dartrix have been known to migrate by stowing aboard ships in search of Ratatta, only to find out they couldn’t return to their main land until the ships arrived here.”

“I guess he’s just gotten used to hunting Rattata around the Safari Zone then. How’s his wing?”

“We’ve mended it properly, but the poor thing shouldn’t be using it for a few days. Does he belong to any of you?”

“I dunno. I’ve got a lot on my plate already, training Magmatron.”

Jakob’s eye opened, and he spotted that Absol-User boy talking with a pink-haired nurse. The Absol’s eyes met Jakob’s, and the Absol approached.

“I don’t want to be captured,” Jakob slurred, “I just wanna go home…”

“Easy there,” Marth said, “You know, you smell kind of familiar.”

“Do I?”

“Yeah. I think I’ve seen you following Radegast around a few years ago. Got the same colour feathers and everything.”

“I liked that boy,” Jakob found himself saying. He didn’t want to reveal much, or else risk compromising his cover.

“Well, you’re one in a million,” Marth replied cautiously, “Don’t let the Reginalds hear you say they. They know Pokespeak.”

“He’s awake, oh, that’s good.” Logan felt relieved. “Listen buddy, your wing’s all fixed up, but you gotta stay off it for a couple days or the muscles’ll tear again, understand?”

The Dartrix nodded, and hooted happily.

“Did you want to come back to the Estate with us? Having you around would be pretty cool,” the Absol asked.

“No,” Jakob shook his head, “I’d have liked to join that boy I once saw… but I dunno where he’s gone now… and I’ve been away from home for far too long.”

Absol glanced at Logan, who nodded. “Your reasons are your own,”

“Oh!” Marth chimed as he picked out a pamphlet. “Can you read human speech?”

“I learned to while stranded here,” Jakob half-lied. He did learn to read as a Rowlet when he was actually stranded here. He found his way home by reading the timetables for ships leaving for Alola and stowed aboard one such ship in the past.

The pamphlet was exactly the same thing as Jakob suspected. “Next one’s gonna be in a few days,” Marth continued as she tapped a claw on the schedule for the next two days. “This one’ll take you straight to Melemele.”

Jakob recognized it- it was exactly the ship he, Vorpal, and Thoth were planning to take home. Jakob nodded. “Thank you… you…”

“I’m Marth,” The Absol greeted, “You’ve got a weird smell to you, but I think all grass-types smell weird.”

“I’ll work on it,” Jakob joked, and the two of them laughed.

—

The Dartrix was dropped off by the crevice where he had fallen in before. He waved goodbye to Logan and Marth with his good wing, and remained around until they vanished from view.

… Hoooooollllyyyy hellllll. The Dartrix sat down once more, his legs finally began to shake in a nervous breakdown.

Jakob! Do you hear me?
My Arceus, it’s so good to hear you again.
WHAT HAPPENED, JAKOB, YOU CUR! WE THOUGHT YOU WERE CAUGHT!
I’m fine guys… and I can’t believe it…

Jakob moved through the forest, giving the other two instructions for rendezvous. Eventually, he met the Lycanroc and Alakazam on the cliff edge above the ravine.

“So where’s the stuff, man?” Vorpal asked.

Jakob pointed a feather down into the ravine. “Best I could do on short-notice. It should still be down there.

The three of them took the better part of the day finding a way down the ravine. When they had arrived, they found a pack of Ratatta cautiously nibbling at the cloths.

Thoth bellowed wordlessly, sending the Ratatta into a scatter as they saw the Dartrix. The three of them rushed toward the bundle and threw the shredded scraps off. The Trainer Case was unscathed, but the book had a dent on one corner, and the picture frame was busted. The picture itself was otherwise completely fine.

Jakob slipped the photo into the book to protect it, and slipped both the book and the Trainer Case under his good wing. The three of them then ascended from the ravine, and began heading North once more. They had a couple of days to reach Vermillion City to stow away, and that meant they couldn’t take a rest stop.

It was going to be a hell of a run… but they had evaded capture, and had something to add to the Lord-Regent’s Villa.

Shea cut his way through the Lush Jungle, he was following up on some rumors about a discolored Fomantis in the area. Shea knew a lot about these "shiny" Pokemon and if he could find one in the wild it would be gold for his show. His camera on his shoulder was recording as Widowmaker, his Aegislash, made him a path. Jade, Shea's Mawile, toddled behind him as she made her way over the uneven jungle floor.

"Here we are in the Akala Jungle," said Shea to his audience. Shea whipped out a hand held camera and pointed it at himself, "In my travels here in the Alola region I have heard from locals that there lurks a 'shiny' Fomantis in this very forest." As Shea entered a clearing he spied the entrance to a cave on a plateau. Shea pointed the camera at the naturally occurring phenomenon, "You guys see that? If I was a rare Pokemon, I'd hide in there. Wait..." It was at that point Shea noticed what looked like a house overlooking the Jungle. The explorer turned the camera back on himself, "You guys see that house? I wonder if it belongs to an adventurer like myself. I guess we're going to go see if I can make my way up there." Shea grabbed Swift's Poke Ball and released her from her spherical home, "Alright girl, see what that house is about. I'll be on my way there shortly."

Swift took off, flying over the jungle as Shea continued to talk to his audience. The Talonflame flew fast over the canopy of the Jungle as she made her way to this mysterious house on a cliff. She arrived quickly at the building. She circled for a few minutes, looking around, making sure that the place was going to be safe for Shea and the rest of his Pokemon. After determining that there were no traps Swift swooped down to the bottom of the cliff where Shea now was.

"Alright guys, we're gonna stick to the shoulder cam for the climb," said Shea as Swift returned to him, "Are we good girl?" The bird nodded. Shea returned Swift and Widowmaker to their Poke balls and readied himself for his climb. Jade climbed onto Shea's pack. "Okay girly, but strap in." Jade grabbed a couple of straps that were hanging loosely from the pack and clipped herself to it.

Shea put his hand on the rock face and began his ascent.

“So that’s how we got your stuff in your room there,” Jakob concluded, with Doc Holiday doing the translation over the monotone magnetic hum of Chrome.

Radegast was still giggling like a madman at the thought that the ugly old Bellsprout garden decoration was now in pieces. “That thing always freaked me out as a kid,” the boy managed to take a good few breaths before anything bad could happen, “At night, I swear the eyes followed me wherever I went.”

“So you’re not mad?”

“Reggie’s pissed,” Radegast continued to laugh, “I think it’s a riot that you fooled Logan. Then again, I remember he was a cool guy. Probably didn’t think your fast stumbling through the cave meant anything.”

The time frame, admittedly, was pretty suspect. However, it worked out by a fair amount of luck and utilizing Logan’s kindness to their advantage. All in all, it was an interesting tale to tell around the table while eating custom salad and Salandit.

“Anyone else got stories?” Radegast asked.

“Well, North here used to have a trainer,” Doc Holiday replied, “Probably why he’s so strong. Metronome, you already know her story. Thoth, Jakob, and Vorpal go way back, even before that heist. Jolder’s relatively recent, though.”

Rage went on to tell them about the time he and Radegast met a tribe of Graveller, where Radegast donned a suit of ancient armour and did combat against Graveller and eventually Rage himself. Many laughed when they imaged the Lord-Regent punching a Graveller in the teeth. “We should get this armour,” Jolder suggested as a joke, but Doc Holiday hummed thoughtfully amidst laughter.

“How’d you like cooked Salandit, by the way?” Radegast asked.

“It was an absolute treat,” Jolder replied.

“It tasted better than last time, probably ‘cause you knew what you’re doing,” Crystal added.

“Oh stop it, you’re making me blush,” Radegast joked.

The meals was rapidly finished. Plates, cups, and utensils were gathered up and brought to a large basket. There was no running water in such an out-of-the-way estate, but the Jungle was home to fresh waters filled with scavengers that would love to clean remnants off from plates. Essentially, an all-natural dishwasher. Every day, if there were any dirty plates, Thoth and Jakob would bring the basket over to one of the many freshwater ponds- whichever one was most clean- and do that particular chore.

Exposure to the mass amounts of Pokemon talking allowed Radegast to pick up on certain things. He may not know Pokespeak like the rest of his family learned to do, but staying at the Treehouse was certainly causing a change in that respect.

“Dudes,” Vorpal suddenly said, “Yo I’m sensing some dudes comin’.”

“More guests?” Radegast felt a little bad. They had only prepared enough for everyone currently present, and every bowl was empty save for bits of bone and stem- which the Operative nibbled at with her mandibles.

“Fear not, sir!” The Operative saluted, “I have prepared a suitable defence before brunch was ready!”

“Wait, what?” Jakob asked, although Elder and Crystal were already on their way out the door.

—

The cave entrance, where the treehouse could be visible at certain angles, was lined with near-invisible silk thread, charged with an electrical trap stored in cocoons woven outside of an intruder’s immediate vision. Elder and Crystal glanced over the edge as they hovered, soon joined by the Treehouse caretakers and Radegast’s friends.

“Ho there!” Elder called down to a tall, burly man, who appeared to be climbing up the slope.

“Humans aren’t allowed in the Treehouse,” Jakob reminded Elder, “With exception, of course.”

“Well, let’s see what the guy wants,” Radegast shrugged as he too looked over the edge. “You doing okay, buddy? Need a rope?”

Shea's climb was going well when he swore he heard a Gengar. Shea turned his eyes skyward and saw not only a Gengar, but also what looked like a teenager. Shea was shocked at first, but figured that it made sense that somebody lived in the house he saw. The explorer considered climbing the rest of the way without help, but why risk injury?

"Yeah, I'm good," called Shea, "The name's Shea Deadman. Saw your house and thought I'd introduce myself. Also, a rope would be lovely!" Shea decided to make a little more progress in the mean time. The big man was carrying a 25 pound Mawile on his back and if he sat too long he would definitely lose his grip.

Jade made some noise. "Yeah, I don't what to think either," responded Shea, not knowing what she was saying.

Radegast was about to head back to the house to search for a rope when the Operative began weaving together a coil of silk threads woven together into a rope. Jakob also pointed out the Treehouse's lack of rope in storage. Soon enough, the silk rope was completed, and Radegast and Rage together threw the rope down and began hauling Shea up the cliff wall.

"What brings you around here? It's not often that people go deep enough into the Lush Jungle, let alone find this place. It's supposed to be a wildling reserve, mind," Radegast said as he jabbed a thumb towards the Pokemon bed & breakfast, "but I'd rather not see a bro fall down, you know?"

Shea gladly accepted the Galvantula-spun rope and he did his part to get to the edge of the cliff. Once up, the big man took a minute to catch his breath. In the meantime Jade unbuckled herself from Shea's backpack and dropped to the ground. The Mawile made her way to Shea's side and examined the other Pokemon that were gathered around her partner and the strange boy that seemed to live in a house in a cave.

Shea switched off his shoulder camera out of respect for his hosts, "I was told by some locals that there was a discolored Fomantis out here and I wanted to film it for my show. I got side tracked when I saw the lovely house here." Shea took a breath, "So I sent my Talonflame to scout out the area while I hiked up to this cliff and climbed it, and then we met." Shea facepalmed, "I haven't even introduced my lovely partner Jade."

The Mawile did a little pirouette and said hello in Pokespeak.

The greeting from the Mawile almost sounded like Common to Radegast, given how long he had spent in the wild. A simple greeting would’ve become common knowledge for anyone who even lived near Pokemon, but Radegast was rather surprised how quickly he understood it now.

“Well, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t take any photos of this place,” Radegast said, “We’d rather this not become a tourist attraction.”

At the mention of another Talonflame, Suros did nothing but continue to roost on Radegast’s shoulder. At her size, it may have almost looked comical. However, Radegast’s shoulders were broad, and had defined musculature from six years of being a wildling himself. “Still, a Fomantis, eh?” Radegast asked with interest, “Discoloured too, like shiny?”

Jakob and Thoth exchanged glances. Radegast caught it, but still replied, “Haven’t seen one recently. Personally, I just got back home from a trip. Though seeing as you’re just interested in photographing it…” Radegast smirked towards the shiny Dartrix and the midnight Lycanroc, “Maybe you could help him meet the guy?”

“We have not seen this Fomantis recently either,” Jakob replied with a shake of the head.

“NOT FOR A MONTH!” Thoth mirrored Jakob’s movements.

“Shame,” Radegast shrugged, “Sorry we couldn’t be of help, man.”

“Well, I’d love to stay and be a host,” Radegast scratched the back of his head awkwardly, “But me and the guys, we gotta head out and get stuff done.” He gestured towards the building. “We’re trying to keep this place away from human society, a safehouse for wild Pokemon. I’d hate to chase you off, but I need to ask you to head off on your business. Capiche?”

With the Pokemon Snapper sent off, Radegast’s friends returned to their pokeballs, and the Caretakers remained behind. Only Jakob took it upon himself to join the sixteen-year-old.

“I would be my pleasure to show you around Alola.”

“I’ve actually been all over Alola already,” Radegast chuckled, “But I’m sure it’s seen changes- what with Skull apparently disbanded and all.”

“It would be my pleasu-“

“You’re repeating yourself,” Radegast could tell now. To him, the Dartrix speaking almost sounded like human speech. Weird… “Let’s head out!”

With Elder and the Dartrix as his apparent “Partners”, Radegast, with his new identity, slid down the mountain on a well-worn slide. Radegast had left his backpack and most of his gear in his room, so he left wearing his light gray shirt, his cargo pants, and his shoes. He kept his leg satchel, which held his necessities- toiletries, harmonica, battle supplies, and key items. Across his back, the guitar was slung. The notebook and two disks remained in his backpack in his room. Reggie’s pokeball replaced Elder’s often-empty one, which was also left at home.

The trio headed through the Lush Jungle once more, heading South this time. They made their way towards civilization once more.

“You look familiar,” The ship captain stared long and hard at Radegast’s face as he spoke a rough and salty tongue. “You happen to be with Team Skull?”

“Not since a year or two ago,” Radegast shrugged.

The Captain shrugged. “Good on you, kid,” he said before heading up the gangplank. “We’ll be setting sail in thirty. Just gotta square away the cargo.”

“Thanks for letting us stow away, man.”

“Are you kidding? We need strong arms like those guns you got there. Talk with the Quartermaster. He’ll get you to work.” The work turned out to be loading cargo into the lower decks and securing them down with solid knots. Radegast did it himself, without even bothering Rage to help.

Radegast’s knotting skill came from his years travelling, when he had to make repairs on old packs and tools, he always gathered together vines and long thin branches and tied them together. The ropes used aboard the vessel were far easier to work with from his perspective. Even the Quartermaster was impressed at the sixteen-year-old’s skillset and dexterity with his hands.

“I thought you looked familiar, Dreads, was it?”

“Yessir. You got a nice new boat since last time, Captain.”

“The Catch 22 is a wonderful ship, but sometimes I still miss Kahuna’s Pride.”

They put Radegast to more work scrubbing the decks. Jakob simply gaped in awe at this idol among wildlings brought down to such lowly manual labour. “Do they not know who he is?”

When the Dartrix was about to object, Elder gently put a hand on his shoulder. “That’s kind of the point,” he whispered.

Jakob paused for a moment, then found himself once more. “Of course, he’s a good friend, and I’d love to help.”

Radegast wouldn’t have any of it, though. For one, he liked the labour. For two, Jakob’s feathered wings were simply not strong enough to hold a mop properly. After much insistence, the Dartrix found that out the hard way. Radegast soon found himself smirking while scrubbing the deck on his lonesome once more, with Jakob grumbling to himself.

Elder liked this boat, for it did not ask him to return to his pokeball during boarding. Since the empty pokeball was back at the Treehouse, that would’ve made things complicated.

Before Jakob could start feeling seasick, Ula’ula came in viewing range. “We’re here!” the Quartermaster shouted from the bridge. “Best get ready to dock, Dreads.”

“Aye-aye!” Radegast returned with a salute. Elder chuckled at the sight.

Malie City looked exactly the same as it did last time, only there seemed to be far more people milling around the streets. From the top deck, Radegast could see some sort of enormous structure sitting atop the tall, tall mountain known as Lanakila. “That’s new,” he muttered.

“The Pokemon League?” The Quartermaster overheard, “Yeah, it is pretty new. We only recently got ourselves a region champion.”

I’ve met him already, Radegast wondered just what it was about him that seemed to attract the attention of such powerful people. He didn’t much like it.

Unloading the ship’s cargo at Malie Port took somewhat longer, as Radegast was somewhat fatigued from the initial loading as well as the deck-scrubbing. Soon enough, the work was done, and the Captain paid Radegast a bonus for a job well-done. One thousand Pokke was slipped into his money pocket.

“I think a malasada is in order,” Radegast jerked a thumb at the closest malasada joint. “Reggie, keep yourself hidden,” he added to no one in particular.

A populated city like this, I’d only come out if attacked. Worry not, young Reginald.

Radegast nodded as he, Elder, and Jakob entered the place.

Visiting the malasada place served three purposes. The first was to appear very normal, very inconspicuous. A trainer-looking type entering a small joint for a bite to eat was incredibly normal, especially with the Pokemon League high above in the mountain and all. The second purpose was to gain information on recent events.

“Alola!” Radegast greeted as naturally as he used to greet before. He spread both hands apart in the traditional Alolan wave.

The clerk at the desk returned the greeting gesture and word. “How can I help you today?”

“I’m not much a fan of malasadas, actually,” Jakob shook his head.

“No?” Radegast shrugged as he turned back to the clerk. “Two of your specials then, if you’d be so kind.”

“Absolutely.” The lady gave Radegast a tabletop trinket with a big bold number carved into a wooden disc. The trio headed to an empty table and took a seat.

As soon as he took his seat, the door chime rang once more. The third reason walked right in. “Yo, I’m dyin’ for a special, na’am sayin?”

“He’s with me,” Radegast called.

“Dreads?” OG Lee’s smile widened enormously as he beheld his old buddy Dreads. “Daaaayum dude seems like only yesterday!”

“That’s ‘cause it was yesterday,” Radegast chuckled.

“Yo this is great, I gotta show you Po Town. Last I was there, we’ve been makin’ progress cleanin’ up the place, makin’ it respectable. You down for checkin’ it out?”

“Hell yeah dude.”

The malasadas arrived shortly afterward.

“So how’s things, man?” OG Lee asked, “Haven’t seen you an’ yours for over a year.”

“I’ve been outside of Alola, travelling the world,” Radegast replied.

“I gotcha, findin’ yo purpose in life n stuff.”

Something like that, “I dunno man, life purpose don’t seem my style. I just wanna do me, ya know?”

“Tru dat man… Mmm, this place always got the best malasada.”

“I was always partial to Melemele’s place,” Elder chimed in.

“Next time we’re there, we’ll get some of that,” Radegast replied, “Wait, I understood that.”

“Shit dude, you learnin’ Pokespeak n’ all? That’s rad!”

“Just picking up on things over the years,” Radegast chuckled.

“Yeah, if he tried and trained, he’d probably be speaking our language by now,”

“So who’s the owl?” OG Lee asked.

“Friend of Elder’s,” Radegast half-lied.

“He yours?”

“Yep,” Radegast full-lied. Elder winked at the Dartrix.

“Damn dude, you always findin’ the rare types. Dat Seel of yours, can’t find ‘em on Alola at all.”

“Excuse me,” a man suddenly approached. OG Lee glanced at the man, confused, with his mouth half-full of dough.

OG Lee quickly chewed and swallowed. “Sup, dude?”

“You know what’s “sup”, “dude”. You may have folks around here fooled with your “Reskull” rebranding, but I know troublemakers don’t ever change their tune.”

“So you want a battle?” Radegast asked as he stood up slowly.

“Yeah,” the man replied. Radegast could smell something rank in the man’s breath.

“Then we should take this outside,” Radegast glanced at OG Lee. “If you’re gonna mess with my friend, you’ll have to get through me first.”

The man stared down at Radegast, being a whole foot taller. However, when Radegast rose his hands together to crack his knuckles, the man then saw the scars that covered the sixteen-year-old’s arms and knuckles. OG Lee then noticed them too, and gaped.

“Personally, I wanna give peace a chance.” Radegast murmured loud enough for the man to hear, though his face was still friendly and bubbly, the Reginald voice bled through well enough., “But my buddies could use the training. We doin’ this or what?”

The man seemed somewhat sobered up (or disturbed) by the sight of Radegast’s scars, inflicted by many a Pokemon creature. “Nah,” he slurred, “I’ll come back later… with my pokemon… and stuff…” He left, and Radegast soon sat down once more. The two of them quickly paid and brought their food outside, wrapped in light paper.

“Dude how’d you get those?” OG Lee asked as they headed down the street.

“This one was from an Absol,” Radegast indicated a recent scar that he had received when he was tackled by Marth back in Castelia. It was a relatively light scratch, but there was a scab that was healing over. “This one was from an Octillary, this one was from a Tangela, and these ones…” Radegast noted the scars over his knuckles. “I got in a fight.”

“I thought we got Pokemon so we don’t gotta fight.”

“Yeah, but I dunno man. I like doing things by my own terms.”

“I hear dat. We’re doin some real good, but we’re doin’ it our way, the Team Reskull way.”

“How’s Po Town, exactly?”

“Still in plannin’ stages, really,” OG Lee scratched the back of his head sheepishly, “Mainly just gettin’ the dudes at the waste treatment to ship the proper boxes over so we can sort out the garbage properly. That means we also gotta get a bit of funds together. Some o’ da boyz are battlin’ for cash prizes at the Battle Tree over on Poni Island. There’s this one kid, Hau- really lay the smack-down on us over and over again, him and that super-strong champion kid. Makin’ it a little hard to get the funds together. Rest of us are spread out, doin’ odd jobs n’ stuff.”

“I’m sure you guys will get it all together.”

“Yeah, but it’s sure hard without the Boss.”

“Guzma’s gone?” Radegast could hardly believe it. He and Guzma’s Golisopod used to wrestle for kicks. The Boss was the keystone that gave the entire group their strength. How was Reskull going to ascend the challenges of its goals without such a leader?

OG Lee nodded, “Dunno where he’s gone, tho. I’m not sure if you wanted to see him again after what happened.”

“Prolly not…” Radegast finished his malasada, which miraculously became somewhat bitter. “I am sorry about what happened, though.”

“Water under the bridge, man. If anythin’, you gotta apologize to Boss, it’s him you wronged, not us.”

“It’s just the awkward air you guys had to experience,” Radegast replied, “I’m no stranger to being witness to shit like that.”

“As you say, but like I said, water under the bridge.”

The two of them headed out of town. Radegast took one look at the rocky terrain ahead of them and whistled low. “Good thing I didn’t bring my bike.”

“Yo, you got a bike? Well, I guess that makes sense, how you roll and all. Doesn’t look like any of the Mudsdales are available, though. Looks like we gotta-“

Radegast was already stepping confidently over the rocky terrain. “Yo what?!”

“You know those ledges people jump off from as shortcuts?” Radegast called back, “I really don’t get why no one thinks to climb’em again.”

LATER

With Elder fully recovered, Radegast and his two “bodyguards” disembarked on the ports of Konikoni City. The familiar Fuscia City-style architecture was always a welcome sight to the sixteen-year-old. There was always a part of him that misses home, but not nearly enough to return to the Estate anytime soon.

“Looks sturdy enough to withstand earthquakes, but those tiles look really dumb,” Elder criticized the architecture, much to Radegast’s amusement.

The sixteen-year-old passed by the stone shop, garnering stares from eligible ladies who happened to spot the mature, strong look of Radegast. The wildling boy, being oblivious at the time, simply passed by before any of the girls could call out to him.

Dumbass.

“We’ll need to pass through the Diglett Tunnel,” Jakob hooted, “The humans have made great progress into building a highway between this town and the one further north, but it’s still incomplete.”

“Still,” Radegast shrugged. He first heard of the project when they were just beginning to carve out the two entrances and secure the immediate walls for a safer work environment. “Anywhere else you wanna stop by?” Radegast asked, however.

“The graveyard,” Elder chimed, “I’d like to gather some news from the eyes and ears there.

Jakob nodded, “We do not have consistent communication with the Ghosts of Akala, even though they do witness much. That would be a good idea if we are to optimize our security.”

The tunnels were long and winding, but also wide and open in areas. Many trainers came here to train, and most of them Radegast tried to avoid.

However, there were some who wouldn’t take “no” for an answer, and the team had subsequently wiped them using their unfamiliar tactics. Normally trainers would try to make reads and call out counter-maneuvers upon hearing the commands of the opposing trainer. However, with Elder at the helm, and Radegast as silent as a statue, that slight advantage made all the difference in many cases.

By the time they left Diglett’s Tunnel and entered Heahea City, the entire crew were, at-best- half-capacity. They had gotten in a lot of unfortunate brawls as they travelled… Suros, on the other hand, was still perfectly fresh- since she didn’t partake in any fighting. Jakob refused to fight as well, instead opting to simply stand by the side of the Lord-Regent as a last line of defence… At least, a last line that wasn’t Suros… or Arceius-forbid, Reggie.

“That was good training,” Elder smirked as he hovered. His leg leaked ectoplasm from a particularly nasty hit, and the Operative had spun together a sash to stem the bleeding. Radegast had wondered why a ghost needed to stem the bleeding, but then he wondered how a ghost could bleed in the first place.

I guess it’s the same reason why Pokemon centres can heal everyone universally, Radegast concluded. Sometimes I wonder how exactly it all works…

They arrived at the Pokemon Centre, and Radegast got the crew in their respective pokeballs. The healing session in the machine was quick and efficient, and the group was once more at full strength. The group was out of their pokeballs (sans Reggie) and formed up around a cafe table. Radegast himself needed a rest after all the walking they had done since arriving at Akala. Radegast had acquired a pencil and a card from a nearby public shelf and he began crunching numbers on what the Treehouse could use, including estimates on prices he had seen.

“Let’s get some coffee,” Crystal suggested.

Radegast smirked. He hadn’t had Alolan coffee in the longest time. Most of the crew seemed to miss the taste as well. Plus, he had accumulated a good haul of prize money- specifically another 5280 Pokke. He had used the Amulet coin Margriet had given him in order to bring a bigger haul. “I think I’ll buy a batch to bring back home,” Radegast said as he added that to the numbers. In total, Radegast had 8320 Pokke to work with.

“Excellent idea, Sir Dreads.” Jakob bowed low, “I couldn’t have suggested better myself.”

“I did say earlier that the dough we get is going towards home.” Radegast held up a fist towards Jakob. The Dartrix eyed it, puzzled.

Rage glanced between the two of them, and moved in to return the fist bump. “YOU MUST LEARN IT, FRIEND-JAKOB!”

“I see,” Jakob clenched his feathers into an awkward looking fist and bumped it against the sixteen-year-old’s own. “A strange gesture, I must say.”

“Everything’s strange to someone,” Radegast replied.

Margriet and Logan disembarked their vessel. It had landed around the same time as a different ferry, one that had come from Ula’ula.

“Getting Charizard registered on these pagers would really help us find him,” Logan noted, more to himself than anything.

“Any word on that bird?”

“Nah, we got work to do-“

Logan paused as he watched people disembark from the Ula’ula ferry. “Is that…” He wondered as his eyes caught a sight exiting the nearby Pokemon Centre.

There were the dreadlocks, back in the ponytail, but coloured differently. From a distance, he thought he was just seeing a tourist who happened to have the same hair. There was, however, no mistaking that jawline. A Reginald jawline- similar to Margriet’s, except stronger. Most people wouldn’t remember such a subtly unique jaw, but a Reginald knew their own. Logan gently tapped a hand on Margriet’s shoulder and pointed out the boy. As he did so, a Gengar phased through the door, and the bodyguard had noticed a shiny Dartrix that walked with an unusually straight-laced gait.

“Guess we didn’t need the Charizards after all,” Margriet hummed.

As they moved after Radegast, Logan had the sneaking suspicion he had seen that Dartrix before. They couldn’t use their Tauros rides quite yet, as the docks were currently flooded with milling passengers. It took them a while to catch up.

—

The two of them finally caught up to Radegast somewhere along the path north from Hau’oli City. The majority of the population had been left behind, leaving only several citizens moving up and down the straight path, heading to the Thrifty Mart, or the Ranch, or as far north as the Lush Jungle. When Margriet whistled after her brother, Radegast turned. Elder and Jakob glanced back at Margriet, and then up to Radegast. “Lord-Regent?” Elder asked.

“Who is…” Jakob recognized them, “Ah! The Family!” He hooted excitedly.

“Jake,” Elder said as he read Margriet’s expression, “I don’t think they’re here for a party…”

At-first, Radegast was shocked that he had been found so easily by his family. The shock faded into general confusion. “Mar… What are- What are you doing here?”

Margriet stared at her brother. The hair was dyed and the eyes had coloured contacts applied, but there was no mistaking the jawline or the subtle differences only a sister would pick up on. It was definitely her brother who was about to make his way towards the Lush Jungle.

“It’s about Max…” Margriet didn’t really know how to break the news… but it all starts with a beginning.

Radegast held a hand up. Seeing his sister so… reserved, so like stone. There was only one explanation as to why such a strong trainer was so shaken. “Maxin…” He repeated quietly. For a moment, he seemed amused. No, I’m just assuming the worst. He can’t be…

“They killed him,” Margriet finished.

Can’t be… Speechless and thoughtless, the desperate smile vanished. Radegast clenched his teeth as the full meaning rushed through his head, turning the simple thought around and around until it spread like cream in coffee. One uniform thought that flooded his being. I couldn’t promise anything… I wanted to, deep-down… but in the end it didn’t even matter.

Margriet continued, “The Family’s… moving against the Psychic Rebellion, bringing together all allies we have. It’s… the first time something like this has happened since The Scorpion.“

Radegast nodded. Even today, only remnants of the carnage of the Scorpion’s early years as the Coat User could be found. What Reginald history remained of that time universally referenced terrible combat between powerful families and factions, where even the trainers engaged in combat with steel blades and ancient armour. The fact that any records remained were a miracle compared to what remained of their enemies. All the Reginald’s enemies left behind were bones.

In particular, a very bloody war between four families throughout Kanto, conducted ages ago, sometime between The Tenth’s Son and the Fargo line. Four entered, one remained, and the other three have long since been dust, only recorded in Reginald records for a posthumous final insult. It was not the brightest bit of Reginald history, but that was why they called Samson Reginald, the living patriarch at the time, “The Scorpion”.

“Son of a bitch…”

“Daddy said you’re not to join the fight.”

“Uncle too?” Margriet nodded. Radegast sighed as he sat down on a nearby rocky outcrop, his face was in his hands. He cursed under his breath, and again, and again.

“I knew it’d be worse unless you heard it-”

“Sooner, rather than later…”

“But still…”

There wasn’t really much the siblings could say to each other. Despite different careers, different outlooks, they did have a penchant to finish each others’ sentences when they were younger.

Logan stood at-attention, even when Margriet sat down next to Radegast and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Radegast.”

“B… Bad news is still news,” Radegast snorted as he clenched his eyes shut.

For the longest time, they sat there. Radegast silently sobbed, and Margriet tried so hard to be strong. It wasn’t fooling Logan, who forced himself to stare at the ground or risk tearing up himself.

“I’m heading off now,” Margriet said after a while, “Uncle told me to spread intel to the Alolan authorities.”

“Don’t let me keep you then…” Radegast barely held composure. “And… Thank you, Margriet.”

The older sister looked at Radegast for a moment, and wordlessly turned and left. Logan- ever her shadow- followed suit.

Elder and Jakob approached hesitantly. They kept their distance, but they heard everything. “Lord-Reg… Radegast?” Elder asked.

“I’m no Lord-Regent…” I need to earn it… I need to stop them… They’ve killed innocents…They cannot get away with this.

“Let’s get back to the Treehouse,” Jakob said quietly, “We’ll collect our thoughts there.

—

Margriet and Logan continued on towards the Thrifty Mart, aiming to reach the Volcano path leading up to the Trial Captain who would be able to register Charizards for them. Radegast, on the other hand, continued walking North towards the Lush Jungle. His face appeared suddenly gaunt, with eyes that lacked a shine. Elder and Jakob walked on either side, with looks of concern on their faces.

Despite the sharp decline in spirit, Radegast still managed the climb up the mountainside towards the Treehouse. When they arrived, the Crew appeared out of their pokeballs.

“Lord-Regent,” Crystal said, “Are you…”

She didn’t need an answer. The sixteen-year-old had salt caked over his cheeks, and there was more to come. “I need to lie down,” Radegast said weakly.

Suros simply gazed at Radegast as he entered the treehouse. Everyone else remained outside, silent. They didn’t know what to say, and only Suros knew the feeling. After Radegast entered the house, Jolder looked at Jakob, with a look that asked just what the hell happened on their trip. The Shiny Dartrix informed the rest, met with a unanimously horrified reaction, even from Thoth.

“That’s worse than Project Siren,” Metronome muttered.

“You going to talk to him?” Elder asked Suros. If there was anyone who could comfort the Lord-Regent with their experience in loss, it was the Talonflame.

The bird shook her head, “It’s a lot to deal with all at once. Keep an eye on him, but… it’s a lot of information to process. You shouldn’t add to it… not yet.”

Elder nodded. He never knew loss himself, because he was the one who was lost.

“I’ll take firssst watch,” Jolder softly announced.

Suros walked to the memorial, Vorpal returned to his lawn chair with eyes wide and strikingly unnerved. The rest milled about outside, while Rage entered the house to get the Rummoli board. They planned to play outside tonight.

—

Laying on the bamboo bed, Radegast held dark thoughts, thoughts of avenging Maxin, thoughts of him doing to that Zoroark what he did to the Ursaring. All of them felt satisfying to imagine, but also terrifying.

Radegast clutched his head with his hands as he tried to dispel such awful thoughts. NO! I’m… me. I’m not some destined warrior. Reginald is a name…

“You persist,” The Aegislash hummed, “You were always a stubborn boy.” The Aegislash had emerged from its pokeball, from the belt Radegast left on the counter.

As Radegast gazed up at the single eye of the sword, something clicked in his mind. His grief had suddenly taken a back seat to… something else.

“But you do have a sense of right and wrong in the world,” Reginald hummed, “That makes you a warrior.”

Radegast sighed as he slumped on his back. “Tell me something, Reggie,”

“Yes?”

“How would you feel if we fused?”

“I would not advise it.”

“I asked how you’d feel, not how you’d think.”

“Aren’t they the same thing?”

“Do you remember the name of the First Reginald?”

The Aegislash was silent for a moment, “No.”

Your original trainer, and you don’t remember his name, Radegast huffed, “Did he ask you to keep his first name a secret?“

The Aegislash did not respond.

Radegast nodded, “I accept that I am stubborn, but so are you. When I asked you how you would feel, I already knew the answer.”

The Aegislash eyed Radegast carefully. “You do?” He spoke with a twinge of amusement.

“You would feel ecstatic,” Radegast replied, “You miss fusion.”

The Aegislash did not reply. The aura of amusement had vanished like heat in the winter. Radegast wasn’t done, though, “You revel in the power of the soul link, and take a great joy in overwhelming the family’s enemies with your combined strength.” The Aegislash still did not reply. “You hate being the Coat of Arms, you hate cutting fusion off like a drug fix, you hate being powerful.”

The sixteen-year-old turned his head so his eyes met the Aegislash’s own. “I’d hate to be you, and that’s why it hurts me to see you hurt.”

“It hurts you to see me hurt,” The Aegislash repeated.

“It hurts me to see Pokemon hurt, people too… Everyone.”

For a good long while, the room was silent. Radegast sat up on his bead, where he began examining the scars on his shirtless body. Many of them, he received trying to help a panicking wildling. Nearly every time was later apologized for, and every time, Radegast shook his head and said “No problem, man.”

Finally, the Aegislash spoke. “You are the first Reginald to figure me out.”

Not even Tarma? Radegast wondered if Reggie had a different name, one prior to being known as “the Reginald Coat of Arms”. Most everyone called him the Coat, or Reginald. His father didn’t approve of Radegast’s nickname a long time ago, but Uncle Tarma had adopted it. “It’s cute,” He had heard Uncle say to Marcus.

“It makes me glad that you understand me when none had since Mario, the First.”

“Doesn’t change the fact that we can’t ever fuse, though,” Radegast said. Mario Reginald, eesh, that’s a bit of an embarrassing name. No wonder he kept it hidden.

“No, but I fear we may need that power in order to defeat them… at least… with as few casualties as possible.”

Radegast nodded in agreement. “We need more time at least. Ideally I don’t wanna lose ten years off it. Is there a way to fuse that doesn’t involve soul-linking, or that side effect you do?”

“It would have to be a soul as powerful as my amalgam.”

Radegast considered the implications. Would he need to learn how to absorb the souls of living things? No, unacceptable. “What about some kind of shield, or reinforcement, that blocks absorption while maintaining connection.”

“It such technology existed, how would we test it to see if it works the way you hope?”

“Well… I’m not an expert in things that have never ever happened…” Radegast finally managed a weak chuckle, “But I’d be willing to find a way, so you can be happy again.”

“Happy?”

“You’re a Pokemon as well, you’re an individual as much as the smallest Ratatta to the biggest Wailord. Family serving aside, you’re still a person.”

“I… I appreciate it.”

“FRIEND-RADEGAST! HOW ARE YOU FEELING?” Rage was the first to blurt as the sixteen-year-old lumbered through the door.

“Better,” Radegast replied as he stepped aside to let Reginald through. “I’ve been doing some thinking, and I think it’d be good to get everyone together to brainstorm.”

The group formed up rather neatly, though most of them continued their Rummoli game.

“So…” Radegast began, “I’m thinking of fusing with Reggie-”

“Are you insane!?” Elder blurted. Suros dropped to her side, utterly petrified. The only ones who didn’t have an adverse reaction were the Treehouse Caretakers. Though Jakob did seem rather grim.

“What’sss the matter?” Jolder asked the Dartrix.

“That Aegislash there,” Jakob replied as he pointed at the ancient blade and shield with the unique design, “Is the Reginald Coat of Arms. He’s so powerful that a Soul Link would tear the bonded human apart. Master Reginald… you should reconsider.” The rest of the Caretakers seemed to collectively make expressions of concern when they understood the implications.

“If you’d let me finish,” Radegast smirked as he reached over to pick up Suros, “I’m thinking of fusing with Reggie, which means I want to find a way to negate that exact issue Jakob brought up.” Elder and the others still stared at Radegast, seemingly unable to believe their ears, “In order to figure out how to do that… I think we need to go over exactly how a Soul Link works- at least, as it was discovered, and see what we can do from there.”

The Aegislash produced a dry erase marker, matching eraser, and a whiteboard. Radegast began drawing a diagram on the Soul Link, as he remembered way back in school.

“Most people require a great deal of training in order to consider trying out a soul link with ordinary Pokemon.” Radegast whipped together a quick diagram.

“Soul link is in Reginald blood, though,” Jakob replied.

“Indeed,” Radegast nodded. He finished a second diagram and set it down in front of him for the rest to see. It was a reasonably detailed diagram on the connections made through a soul link. “What happens here in a normal Soul Link is that the energies of both human and Pokemon flow through each other, a ring of power that streams between them.”

The sixteen-year-old then indicated the second diagram, which had a caricature of the Aegislash in place of the Pokemon. “This is fusion with Reggie. As you can see, instead of a coursing river, it’s a river feeding into a whirlpool, siphoning more from the human than the human can siphon in turn from the Pokemon. That’s what kills us Reginalds so quickly.

“The good news is that the flow can be bolstered or altered through equipment, Remember the Pokken Club?” Elder nodded, recalling the Synergy Stones. “If there’s something that can bolster one’s ability to link souls, logically there must be something that can limit it.”

“A way to plug up the whirlpool, perhaps?” Crystal asked, “To allow this hypothetical river to properly flow back to you?”

“A dam, essentially,” Radegast nodded, “Though I’m not sure how we’d be able to pull this off without limiting Reggie’s power boost exponentially. I’ve got a lot of thinking to do, so I’m gonna head to sleep.“

“I SHALL GATHER FOOD FOR BREAKFAST TOMORROW!” Thoth announced

“THE HELL YOU WILL!” Rage and Thoth glared daggers at each other, and then they clapped their hands together in a brotherly fashion, “NOT WITHOUT YOUR BETTER TO WATCH YOUR BACK, YOU WHELP!”

“IT WILL BE I WHO WATCHES YOUR BACK, MONKEY-PIG!” The two of them handed their cards to non-players and headed down the cliffside.

“You doing alright, Suros?” Radegast asked.

“… I am, yes.”

Radegast hummed, “You won’t lose me. I promise you.”

Suros hiccuped, “You don’t make promises you can’t keep, even when you want to.”

Radegast nodded as he stood up, with white board in hand, “Yeah… sucks, doesn’t it…”

Everyone had spread out once more to think and sleep. By the time Rage and Thoth returned with a haul of berries for tomorrow, Radegast was the only one still awake, laying in his bed. He thought long and hard as he stared at the bamboo-lined ceiling. It’s kind of like two gravity fields pulling on each other, making them orbit around each other. The difference is really scale, where Reggie’s gravitational pull is like a planet compared to a user. But that means… to take advantage of the hypothetical planet while negating that gravitational pull means to break the laws of physics as we know it.

Or rather, the laws of Soul physics- Radegast stifled laughter at the idea. Well, maybe that doesn’t sound too absurd. I imagine that sort of thing can be studied, since we can observe Ghost-type Pokemon.

Aegislash is a ghost-type, and so is Elder. Radegast considered the possibility. Elder would probably work as the initial test for a soul link protector before I try it with Reggie… but he’d have to be cool with it first. Still, that’s one important issue figured out.

Maybe some kind of suit? Radegast thought back to the Graveller Tribe, and their traditional duelling system that provided combat armour to humans to let them stand on equal ground with the overwhelming strength and toughness of a Graveller. They could be a good start… but they’re so far away, all the way in the wilds, between Johto and Hoenn… If that kind of suit has protection against psychic signals, then modifying it to protect against Spiritual damage wouldn’t be impossible… probably…

Oh wait, but it’s still not solving the real problem… the problem of breaking the laws of soul physics. Radegast pondered if such a thing would be impossible after all. Well, there are mice that can discharge incredible amounts of electricity, and there are Pokemon capable of bending space-time on a whim. The idea of breaking physics doesn’t seem all that far-fetched, no pun intended.

Still… such things seem nearly impossible to achieve. Maybe there are other options? Maybe if I got used to the Soul Link, I’d… fare… Radegast fell asleep mid-thought.

—

Margriet and Logan arrived near the top of the volcano. “Just a little longer,” she panted, with Logan looking none the better. They both sweat from the long climb. “It’ll all be worth it,” she repeated.

Tinted windows, bulletproof
The slip knot fixing rope to noose
To the grave stone grinder of cold steel
The passion that blinds me so I feel - yuh!
Can’t let it go, no it flows through our veins
Blows through our tunnels and rattles our chains
And they all fall down - yuh!

The blade was in his hand, moving before the thought. The light deflected off the mirrored flat. His eyes were gone, his muscles bulged with adrenaline. The steps were light, but planted on the earth with a terrible thunder. The ground cracked beneath a titanic approach.

He rose his sword and entered a stance. He was close enough. The machine thrummed to life as it readied a second shot. “Kill the human!” a voice called, but he did not hear. There were only the chanting lyrics pulsing in his brain as he moved up.

The blade came down, and the machine was split in two. The slices decayed and turned to dust. The figures all around turned the colour of dead leaves. Everything rusted away. No, not everything, he realised. It wasn’t his environment; it was he who was disintegrating.

The void welcomed him with cold indifference. He felt a phantom sensation of standing up, though he did not move. Then they appeared. The men and women around him were blue, and soulless. They met him with eyes that could not see. One man with the mane of a lion inched forward without moving a muscle. “You’re… dead.”

—

While his mind burned, the body was rested, and the eyes opened to take in the sight of the steel-reinforced bamboo ceiling above his head. Radegast sat up in his bed and rubbed his eyes.

“There’s the most important question, though,” Radegast muttered as he stood up and got dressed. Reggie was in his unique ball, as usual.

“A warning, I bet…” Radegast grimaced, “What happens if I fail.” Such a powerful presence, its aura caused those who slept nearby to experience memories in the form of dreams. “That was grandpa, wasn’t it…?”

“Talking to yourself, Lord-Regent?” Crystal asked as she hovered out a door.

“Do you guys see the visions?” Radegast asked. Crystal took a room directly next to Radegast. If she felt Reggie’s aura, maybe others did too.

“What kind of visions?” Crystal asked.

“Displays of power, falling into a void, being greeted by spent souls announcing you’re dead?”

Crystal huffed, “That Aegislash is impressive. I’m sure Absolute would agree.”

“I hope it hasn’t caused anyone a lack of sleep,” Radegast lumbered down the stairs.

“We could always talk about it over breakfast,” Crystal chimed, “What’s on the menu?”

Radegast checked the Never-Melt Ice pantry for the haul Rage and Thoth acquired. There were a great deal of fruits, vegetables, and nuts, as well as other groceries they had bought beforehand. “I think something simple,” he replied as he pulled a couple of packaged pie shells from the pantry, as well as cutlery and other ingredients.

The human was focused the whole morning, peeling and chopping fruits and nuts, creating fruity sauces to combine with the solid ingredients. He closed up the two pie shells, and turned to see most of the gang was at the table.

“Oh!” Radegast’s eyes widened as his trance was snapped, “Good morning!”

“BRING ON THE GRUB, FRIEND-RADEGAST!” Rage bellowed.

“I just need to get the oven started,” Radegast nodded towards Suros, “Could you help, please?”

“Of course!” Suros chirped as she walked over to the oven. She emitted a short jet of flame, similar to a welding torch. Radegast lit the potbelly stove and put the pies inside the racks. With careful maintaining of the fires, Radegast expertly baked the pies in an oven not exactly meant for baking.

He sat in a stool, watching the flames flash and lick at the air beneath the elevated pie crusts. The smoke escaped through the chute quickly before it could infuse an unusual taste in the crust. As he sat, his mind once more went into the fires with the pies.

A good ten minutes passed, and he brought them out to test them. They were very satisfactory. He sliced the pies into eight sections each. Easily enough to feed the crew with some seconds for whoever wanted one.

As they ate, some glanced at Radegast. “Something on your mind, Lord-Regent?” Elder asked, “Besides the whole fusion thing, I mean.”

“It’s less about the fusion thing,” Radegast replied after he swallowed a bite, “And more about how you guys feel about… well, my sudden shift in focus.”

The group had joined Radegast because he was merely a wandering boy, with no clear objective other than to enjoy life- the same as everyone else. Maxin’s death had brought out a different side, a more distinctly traditional side, the Reginald side. However, he still looked like a sixteen-year-old boy, stubborn and tough.

Now that he had this idea- this crazy scheme- and he hadn’t asked the most important question of all. “Are you guys okay with this? If not, well, you remember our MO.”

Completely free to choose your own path, if you ever want to split, it’s perfectly fine. We are the Wild.

“That may be true, Sir, But where we go, we go together.” Operative hopped onto the table.

“That’s why I’m asking. Are you guys okay with this shift in focus?” Radegast asked, “I mean, I’ve only ever wanted to hang out, and you guys have always made the calls on where we go, what we do.”

“Everything you did was for us, I think it’s only right we return the favour.”

“Not to mention if you succeed, we’d get to see that crazy sword-fighting back then.”

“Don’t think I forgot about my promise, Elder,” Radegast continued, “In studying bonds, I figured finding what you’re looking for would provide some insight. That should be our first…”

Vorpal hovered through the front door, with a concerned look on his face.

“What is the matter?” Jakob asked.

“Somethin’ ain’t right out there,” Vorpal replied, “Lush Jungle’s dead quiet.”

With such an abundance of life, such an idea seemed an impossibility. Radegast stood up and headed out the door, followed by everyone else,

“Did you hear anything last night?” Elder asked.

Vorpal nodded, “It was raining, but I did hear a roar in the distance. It was something big.”

“Probably that one guy’s Rampardos,” Jakob crossed his wings as he lowered his head in thought, “Haven’t you met him, Jolder?”

“Yess,” The Salazzle replied, “Boorish and crude. Not a ladiess man, I’ll say that much.”

“Grass grows, birds fly, sun shines, and Rampardos roars,” Elder chuckled, “He might be the reason for the quiet.”

“Yeah…” Vorpal agreed, “I dunno man, the roar did happen hours ago…”

“Did you see something?”

“Out that way,” Vorpal pointed towards what Radegast recognized as Lana’s trial location, “Saw a ferry park there for a few minutes, and then it left.”

“Strange.” Ferries weren’t supposed to park there- it was dangerous to the Pokemon that lived in the area.

“Should we check it out?” Radegast asked.

“I’m down,” Crystal replied as she hovered over and re-entered her pokeball. The rest of Radegast’s friends- save Elder- followed suit.

“Guess we’re decided,” Radegast chuckled.

“And your so-called soul-searching?” Elder smirked.

“Equally as important as yours,” Radegast replied, “But I have a feeling someone out there needs help.”

—

North and Jolder joined Radegast this time around. The Salazzle seemed keen on wrapping herself around Radegast’s body like a snake. The sixteen-year-old didn’t think much of it, but Jakob did raise a fuss about it.

“It’s not like I’m poissoning him,” Jolder argued as she loosely wrapped her tail around Radegast’s torso. “Ooh, pretty sstrong stomach, I can tell.”

“This is disrespectful towards the Lord-Regent!!” Jakob flapped his wings in anger, sending feathers everywhere.

“Jealouss, aren’t you?” This only made the Dartrix somehow angrier.

Radegast glanced at Elder in confusion, but the Gengar was merely stifling laughter.

The Salazzle was surprisingly light, which made traversing the jungle only as easy as it usually was. “Do you get along with Jakob?” Radegast asked.

Jolder replied with an unusual air of melancholy. “He’ss my betrothed. He’ss already ssworn himself to another.” Elder glanced at Radegast. “He’ss never met you before, but sswore service to you, and wantss to help you any way he can. It issn’t fair.”

“Why do you stick with him if he doesn’t return your feelings?” Elder asked, noting that it was going to be a long walk through Lush Jungle.

“Becausse he doessn’t respond to my advanscess,” Jolder replied, “Sso… professional.”

Elder scratched his head, but something clicked in Radegast’s mind. “I get it,” Radegast replied.

“You do?” Elder and Jolder asked, respectively incredulous and curious.

Radegast nodded, “How did you two meet, anyway?”

Jolder hummed, “I’ll tell you later.”

Within the minute, they arrived at the clearing in Lush jungle reserved for what Jakob referred to as “The Ragged Bone Man.” There were signs of a struggle. Elder in particular noted the gravel that had been shifted around with tell-tale signs of a root-like attack, as well as drag marks everywhere.

This was all evidence that someone had stolen the trailer that was usually here. “Where is Ragged Bone Man?” Jolder asked more to herself than anyone else. She rose her head and slithered off Radegast’s toned body. “Hello?” She called. North- ever a silent professional- moved forward to search for the old man.

It was amazing that Radegast and his crew were able to investigate for as long as they had without interruption. However, just as quickly as they began to search for clues, a barge of a man stepped into his line of sight.

"Excuse me, sir. This is a closed investigation. No one allowed at the crime scene except authorized personnel."

Despite Radegast's size, the police officer just about dwarfed the younger teenager, very narrowly in height, but absurdly in width. His aviator shades were a classic touch to the whole "cop" look, but it felt out of place on the face of this man. Especially with the long, flowy brown hair billowing out of his cap and the lack of a mustache. His form held to that of a man who meant business as his arms were crossed and his stance felt empowered. Like he belonged there. Like Radegast didn't.

There were less people now than there had been earlier, but there were still some cops patrolling the area, checking to see if they had missed something. Everything was taped off from the entry way, but there was a lack of tape stretching across the perimeter, assuming they didn't think a sixteen year old would come barging in from the jungle. A couple people glanced their way, but realized the "bouncer" of the Force had it covered and went back to their duties. As for the overall look, nothing had changed except for the obviously apparent fact that the trailer was indeed gone.

The name badge on the officer's uniform read "Thatch".