A gentle breeze passed the flowing trees of Route 102. The rustling of grass moved with the slow sway of the wind. And, within its centre, sat Ellie and her Mudkip. Alongside the criminal she had the unfortunate job of subduing. Mightyena had been captured, secured with a copious amount of tape holding its Pokeball closed. But, the young girl still watched the grunt intently. He could've woken up in that very moment, and Ellie needed to be at the ready. As did Mudkip. Despite their fatigue. And, injuries on both sides.

  A Potion, shared between the two of them, slowly worked its magic for healing the small bite wounds they were given in the fight. Ellie around her shin, and Mudkip all over. Ellie could only wonder how Mudkip still trodded around the place like nothing ever happened when, in contrast, she could barely keep walking on two legs. Mightyena's jaws had some strength to them. Ellie learned that first hand. Its why she'd secured the Pokemon first thing after calling the police. Couldn't risk another fight with the ferocious dog.

  Finally turning her eyes away from a grunt for the moment, just as Mudkip took its turn of inspecting the thief closely, her eyes took in the scene around. Fishing in her pocket for her phone, she attempted another call. But, Lucas hadn't picked up, once again. Ellie collapsed back into the comfort of the tall grass, groaning. All she was left on was a text from half an hour ago, sent by Lucas, asking if she was ok. Ellie'd responded that she was, leaving out the details about her injury. Best not to cause panic. A motto that Lucas clearly hadn't took to heart, ignoring every one of her texts and calls. Trusting he appeared in one piece was all she could hope for.

  A light rustling sounded from just behind Mudkip, attracting the Water type's attention. Its trainer soon followed, looking over her shoulder. A shadow hung in the darkness, moving slowly. Closer towards them with every slight step. Mudkip growled, but didn't attack. Especially as the figure stepped out into the moonlight, clenching two Pokeballs. His eyes danced around the scene, panting. Ellie shot up to her feet, wincing but ignoring the pain for now.

  "Thank goodness, you're ok!" Ellie cried out, moving further towards Lucas, a slight limp behind her movement. Mudkip barked too, nuzzling into his leg. But, Lucas didn't respond with a rub under the chin, or a pet on the head, or even a berry. He responded with a loose stare, glancing to the Water type, then quickly to the grunt, then just as quickly to Ellie. The two Pokeballs dropped to the floor, but only one rattled open.

  Torchic burst out, standing on two legs, chirping. But, its second cry came to an abrupt end. Poisonous ooze wracked at its side, the acid of Mareanie's attacks still eating away at its feathery coat. Not even good rest had done away with it. Lucas dived to the ground, catching Torchic just as its body seemed destined to hit the floor with a hard thud. Ellie's body moved quickly, even to the cost of her own healing injuries.

  "What happened?" she managed to mutter, throwing her duffel bag to the floor. Mudkip barked at Torchic, who cooed gently, communicating between each other. Their short conversation turned Mudkip towards the grunt, keeping its eyes even more focused on the criminal, charging up a Water Pulse.

  "A-a lot-" Lucas huffed out between breaths, throwing his own backpack to the floor. The poison had seemed to eat away at Torchic even more than Lucas had anticipated. He cursed himself for not healing it first, before making a run for Ellie. To report everything, tell her everything, make sure she was okay. Seeing her safe and sound right in front of her was a relief. But, a relief that brought a tumble of thoughts crashing to the forefront of his mind. Of how he neglected his partner to help someone who can handle herself.

  Torchic cooed, staring at Lucas. The gentle cry awoke Lucas from his thoughts, glancing towards his partner. A hand rested on its chest, ruffling the Pokemon's feathers. He believed he deserved a much harsher cry, but wouldn't dwell on it. Not now.

  "It took poison damage from a...Venoshock?" Lucas recounted, trying his best to remember what she commanded. It sounded like a familiar move. But, he couldn't be exactly sure. His mind hadn't drifted to the moves used when he was fighting for his life.

  "Alright..." Ellie huffed through a hefty breath. Her eyes gazed upon the wound, finding purple poison still sticking to the side. Her hands shook, looking up to Lucas. "Do you have an Antidote you can use? I'll handle it after all the poison is gone."

  "I think so-" Lucas responded, throwing all the items from his backpack onto the ground. His hands fished through the mess in his backpack, while Ellie rummaged around in her bag, attempting to retrieve the medical kit she kept handy. Lucas found the poison medicine first, a yellow bottle with a spray cap at the top.

  Flipping Torchic onto its side, wound facing up, the medicine settled onto the poison. The purple trickling liquid started to fizzle away, poisonous bubbles that previously brewed on the surface settling underneath Torchic's feathers. Torchic fought back the urge to cry every second. Its ambitions to show strength melted away. The medicine helped. But, every bubble popping sent a splurge of acid over its side. Paining its size, until the last boil petered out.

  A bandage slung into Ellie's hand, finally seeing the poison settle. Around and around the wraps went, securing the dressing with a small swat of tape. Her eyes upturned towards Lucas. "What about that Zorua? Is it ok?"

  Lucas' hands shook. His eyes did the same, glancing towards the Poison stained ground.

  "N-No-" the boy croaked, returning Torchic then slamming the other Pokeball against the floor. Out appeared a Zorua. A horrible, mangled excuse for the Pokemon.

  Ellie thought Torchic's injuries were bad enough. But, Zorua's made Torchic's look like a scratch. Its fur was being burnt away every second, cruel poison pooling down its side. Yet, the Pokémon refused to faint. The pain kept it awake, in spite of how much Zorua just wished to rest.

  "W-what in God's name..." Ellie covered her mouth, feeling vomit beginning to bubble in her mouth, before swallowing it back down. Her hand outstretched to touch Zorua, wipe away its poison. But, her other hand twisted her wrist, jerking it away suddenly.

  "H-how do I stop something like this?" Lucas's voice trembled, turned his gaze up to Ellie. Begging for help with just his eyes. But, it seemed like she had as little ideas as Lucas. Her trembling hands prevented her even touching near the inflicted injuries, too. was half as willing to get her hands dirty cleaning the poison from its fur.

  Without any options, or other ideas, Lucas sprayed the entirety of the antidote over Zorua's body. No inch went untouched by the magic in a bottle The poison stopped bubbling, sliding off of Zorua's fur onto the ground. But, the burns from the poison remained, eating away at a tufts of fur scattered around its body. Lucas' gloves hands wiped away the remaining poison, dripping onto the leaves of grass below. But, even with the poison fixed, the damage had already been done. Splashes of Potions wouldn't even do much now.

  "This is a Pokémon Centre job," Ellie muttered through the hands clasped around her mouth. Lucas cringed, his foot grinding into the ground. Maybe, if he'd dealt with it earlier, things would've been different. If his strength didn't pale and be proven inadequate, he could've done it. Saved Zorua, its family, from all the pain and anguish that Lucas could barely bare to see.

  But, nothing to be done for now. With a heavy heart, Zorua was returned back to its Pokeball. The two made eye contact as it slipped away into its confines. But, Lucas couldn't stay staring for long. The pain in its eyes was too much.

  "Sorry..." Lucas muttered into the Pokeball, letting his body collapse to the ground.

  "What did Zorua show you?"

  "Its family. Captured in one of those nets."

  Lucas' voice shattered.

  "I tried...I really did."

  Ellie's hands clenched, tensed under the weight of Lucas' words. Her throat went coarse, opening but never uttering anything. He hadn't said it. But, what he meant wasn't hard to figure out. Shame had just kept the words he wanted to utter locked in the back of his throat. Then, promptly swallowed to never be spoken again.

  "The police will be here soon. They'll find Zorua's family," Ellie spoke finally, her voice soft enough to speak. She didn't know for sure if what she spoke of would turn to truth. But, she hoped of bringing some comfort, regardless of whether her conviction would come to fruition. Even for a moment. But, the boy seemed unconvinced. Leaving a trail of blood on the grass, Lucas's head arched up, sitting on his knees and glancing at Ellie.

  "I don't think they will. They're gone now. Deep underground, probably."

  "Lucas...your nose-" Ellie pointed to the centre of his face. Lucas rubbed his finger underneath. A trail of crimson lined the broadside of his finger, seeping deep into his nail.

  "Oh." was all Lucas could muttered in response, bringing a palm to rub the rest of the blood from his face. Every time his palm rose to swat away the blots of blood dripping down his face, it seemed only more blood spilt onto his hands. Ellie's hands scrambled through her bag again, finding a couple balls of cotton and handing them to Lucas.

  "How'd this happen?" Ellie asked. She'd expected Lucas to care more. It certainly painted a bloody picture of how that fight had went, with his nose bleeding more crimson than she'd ever seen from a nosebleed before. Lucas stuffed the cotton up his nasal, stopping the flow of blood for now. The boy pressed slightly against his nose, feeling the sting for a moment, then releasing his nose from the grasp of his fingers.

  "Nose got stomped when I tried to save Zorua's family." Lucas began, laying back, holding his hand to his pained forehead. "How long ago did you call the police?"

  "Around twenty minutes ago. They'll be here any second."

  "Great, thanks." Lucas dryly responded. Ellie would've taken it as sarcasm. But, Lucas sounded without the energy to say anything in his usual chipper tune. So, it was likely a sincere gesture. Ellie didn't make a fuss of it either. She wanted to be left in silence as much as Lucas probably wanted to. To reflect on the scene in silence, gathering their own thoughts about what had happened. Not that there was anything to do, either. Tents all packed away, night settling, Pokemon injured. To run into the night would be foolish now, with only Mudkip by their side.

  The Water type growled up at the moon. Ellie tilted her head towards her starter, its barks echoing through the swaying trees of the route. Lucas jerked up too soon, holding his head in pain, his vision slightly tilting with the sudden movement of his neck. But, he ignored it for now, expecting another one of those thieves to come running out from the bushes. Coming to snatch up Mudkip, finish the job by stealing Zorua, Torchic. But, those thoughts were just that. Thoughts.

  "I think that's the police," Ellie muttered, pointing to the sky to which Mudkip barked at. She settled the Mud Fish, bringing it comfortably into her arms. Lucas hustled in step beside Ellie, glancing up to the open air. Two looming birds shot down from the sky, Ellie waving to make their presence known. It became clear why Mudkip had been crying out earlier. If they had to fight the two Flying types, they'd have been buried in only a moment. But, the Pidgeot and Swellow that descended from the air were friend, rather than foe. As were the two officers that dismounted from the backs of their Pokemon.

  "You're the kid who called in about a thief, right?" one asked, looking between the two of them. Her partner walked to the thief, lifting an arm, then letting it drop lifelessly to the earth again. Once he was sure the man had been knocked unconscious, he worked to handcuff the person responsible.

  "Yes. He was after a Zorua, and attacked us with a Mightyena when we fought back against him," Ellie explained, pointing to the metallic devices that sat adorned the man's belt. "They threw out these things. Turned into nets when they made hard contact with anything."

  "Nets?" the male police officer spoke, his eyes settling upon the belt wore around the man's waist. His fingers gently grabbed at the metallic device, before shuddering and jerking away. A mild electric shock rose through his body, backing off. "What on earth are those things? How are you meant to throw 'em if they shock you?"

  "Maybe through the gloves?" Ellie had suggested, walking forward to the two, but stumbling down into the grass, the bite mark sending her entire leg to fall. The officer ran to catch her, managing to hold her upright.

  "Hey, easy. You're injured, aren't you?" the officer guessed. As much as it could've been a mistake caused by fear of nervousness, it was much more likely to be of some kind of injury. Looking down at Ellie's bandaged shin, then to the blood that soaked the two cotton swabs stuck in Lucas' nose.

  Ellie coughed, attempting to retort. "Yes, but we still have to-"

  "No, you don't have to do anything. You've already been tremendously brave. What you need is to get checked up on at the Pokemon Centre, then get some rest."

  "But, before that..." Lucas cut in, pushing the cotton balls further into his nasal, then letting Ellie lean against him. His arm raised, pointing to the path he had previously trailed through the route. "There's a toppled tree that way. That's where a family of Zorua were stolen."

  "Thank you. We'll take it from here," she spoke again, Pidgeot fluttering to her side. "Pidgeot will take you to Oldale. I'll call someone to accompany you to the Pokemon Centre."

  No more words were needed. Ellie, stumbling slightly, was the first to mount Pidgeot. Mudkip crawled into her lap, but soon returned to its Pokeball. Ellie couldn't risk Mudkip falling off of Pidgeot. Not with the day they'd already had. So, Mudkip resigned back to its capsule, as Lucas hopped on behind Ellie, arms wrapped tight around her.

  "Pidgeot, keep them safe," the officer muttered to her Pokemon, who nodded fiercely with affirmation. She took a step back from her Flying type, letting Pidgeot flap its wings rapidly. It rose into the air quickly, then sped off high above the trees, the light of the moon faintly illuminating their path to safety...

  The flapping wings continued for what felt like forever, the sound beating against Lucas' ears. Even when his mind wanted to rest, the beating against his ears held steady, waking him every time he closed his eyes. His body jerking up again, as he kept himself from slumber, Lucas' eyes falling upon the night sky.

  Even the moon had been clouded away, until only the blackest of nights seeped through the route, cold darkness passing below. Only the occasional sway of a tree poked its head up from the abyss, following the path of the wind. Lucas glanced over Ellie's shoulder, his eyes attempting to mark light in the coming distance. Something did appear. So faint Lucas could've explained it as fatigue playing tricks on the mind. But, Ellie's back seemed to straighten at the sight of light far away. Couldn't have only been him.

  "Not long now..." she muttered to a weary Lucas, reminding herself as much as she reminded him. They were both getting ansty with the desire to touch ground once more. Neither had tracked the time they spent in the air, but with how time seemed to slow in consciousness of it, neither bothered to track the time it would take for them to reach the light in the distance. That was too much energy spent on an pointlessly arduous task.

  Some length of minutes and seconds later, the outskirts of Oldale finally revealed themselves. An extremely plain town, so much so that the bright, radiant light of their streets were the best landmarks for it. A place of residence first, then a place for trainers or tourists second. The only real amenities were usual Pokemon Centre and Pokemart, expected of those small towns dotted around the region really. Flower beds littered the streets, dotted outside of every house and building. Then, at the very centre of the town, sat a circle of neatly trimmed yellow and green flowers. Beautifulness that the two would've taken a moment to behold, had the night not blacked most of them out.

  Towards the edge of the town sat a small building with a flattened roof, and a blue Pokeball drilled into the side. But, it wasn't illuminated like either the Pokémon Centre or Pokemart. Pidgeot decided to make it their destination, jerking its body and swooping down to the ground. The bursting wind smashed through the two of them, Lucas clinging tightly to Ellie, while Ellie clung tighter around Pidgeot's neck, closing her eyes.

  Then, the breeze passed through one final time, as Pidgeot descended to the ground, touching the Earth triumphantly. A man appeared from the darkness as they touched down. Ellie drew her Pokeball cautiously, not getting off of the Pidgeot just yet. Her eyes shot to the man, waiting for another sign of life. Of trust.

  "Jeez, you've had a rough day." the shadow joked. Perhaps it wasn't the best time for it. But, he sought to release the tension in the air regardless. Stepping into the light did just that too, revealing his blue, pristine uniform. Neat, ironed out, with a badge pressed onto his breast pocket. Pidgeot eased up at his touch, and Ellie breathed a sigh of relief.

  "Sorry..." she muttered, the first to get off of Pidgeot. Though, Lucas jumped soon after to support her, letting Ellie lean against him for support.

  "No offense taken, I've been told you've went through something tough." the man whistled, gesturing to follow as they walked from the police station, Pidgeot trotting patiently behind them. "I've been told to take you to the Pokémon Centre, for your Pokémon and to check on yourselves. We'll give you access to a room each, too."

  "We have our own passes, from the professors," Ellie muttered in response, the man nodding with keen interest.

  "Sent by the professors, are you? Means you'll have only started recently then. Horrible luck."

  "Yes it...is-" Ellie responded, grimacing in pain mid sentence, her shin's pain catching up once more. The man stopped for a moment, looking between the two, and offering Ellie another shoulder to lean on.

  "Sorry kid, didn't notice your leg," he apologized, moving further toward the bright red lights on the other side of town. His eyes glanced to Lucas, asking, "You've been quiet. What's up?"

  "My Pokémon need healing. Fast."

  "Right, well, I'm sure you saw it when you first rode in. It's only a few more minutes away."

  Lucas would've complained about the time wasted just walking there. But, Pidgeot looked just as tired as the two of them. Flying full speed for a full route took more than a little bit of energy, and it was afforded a break as much as the two were.

  Just as the man said, a few minutes later, they strolled upon the automatic doors of the Pokémon Centre, screeching open. Inside, a small boy hovered near the front reception, idly chatting with the Nurse Joy stationed there. She glanced up at the sliding doors, expecting a stray Pokémon to have wandered in. This late at night, there wasn't usually anything of note. But, realizing her mistake, she dismissed the boy immediately, running out the door, making eye contact with Lucas as he did. The police officer did most of the talking as they strolled to the front desk.

  "Need a checkup on these kids, they've been injured by a couple Pokémon."

  "But, please, heal up my Pokémon first," Lucas begged, scurrying through his backpack and throwing the capsules onto the receptionist desk.

  The police officer placed a hand on Lucas' shoulder. "Kid, you should get treated fi-"

  "They've been badly poisoned. A thing called a Mareanie. Please." Lucas begged once more. His eyes remained fixed upon Nurse Joy, not breaking for a moment. Like he hadn't heard the man's plea. Nurse Joy took a glance between the three of them. Ellie cautiously slid her Pokeball onto the table, nodding with affirmation. Nurse Joy sighed.

  "Please wait one moment," she muttered, disappearing into a back room of the Pokémon Centre. The officer sighed, looking at the two.

  "Alright, now that's done with, you'll be brought in for questioning tomorrow. If you don't feel safe walking to the police station, I can come collect you."

  "I think...I think we'll be ok, we can walk ourselves." Lucas looked to Ellie for affirmation, and she nodded, adding, "Thank you."

  "You two take care, alright? Rest up," the police officer muttered, waving and turning to the door. The two waved back, then collapsed onto their stools. Soon, Nurse Joy reappeared, gesturing for the two of them to follow her to a back room to get themselves patched up.

  In the back of the darkened Pokémon Centre, a Pokeball rattled from side to side. Tossing and turning, like the steel itself struggled to go to sleep. But, only the fox inside found itself restless. It tipped back and forth, repeatedly rocking from its tray. Then, it fell, smashing against the ground.

  Zorua emerged, its fur tattered but healed. The taste of the poison still hung on every inch of its skin, a deep itch. But, at least the burning had disappeared. Compared to earlier, Zorua felt like Arceus had blessed it with new life. But, mentally, the fox felt stagnant. A deep pit in its stomach opening. A result of its restlessness. Not a wink of sleep had allowed its mind to rest, insomnia gripping Zorua so tight it could barely breathe. It sought a cure.

  Zorua's eyes glanced to the metal ball. It jumped away, hissing on instinct. But, the Pokeball remained unmoving, and a realization smacked Zorua like a Revavroom.

  That thing, device, machine, whatever, was its own.

  The boy had captured Zorua at its weakest. That should've been enough cause for Zorua to declare it a false capture. Shatter the Pokeball, rip it to pieces and throw it away. Escape from here, break free from its confines. But, a more present issue remained. Where would Zorua go beyond that?

  Even more pressing. Why didn't Zorua want to break free yet?

  Zorua shivered as the breeze of the cold night's air entered through the window, blowing against its ebony fur. Normally, it would huddle up to the warmth of its family. That would fight away the chilling cold of the night, wrapping Zorua in a furry blanket of love. But, Zorua couldn't have that anymore. It needed someone else. Only one came to the mind. The boy.

  Zorua would have to brave the night to find him. But, with only one hope of sleeping, what choice did it have?

  Through an ever so slightly opened door, Zorua emerged from the back room into the bright light of the Pokemon Centre. Even into the deepness of night, they still insisted on having the sharpest lighting imaginable. Nor did whoever running the place have the thought to dim it a little. Zorua's eyes took a moment to adjust, losing sight of its Pokeball for a moment, as it rolled away from Zorua. But, Zorua soon caught it, just as it made a metallic click against the side of a desk.

  Another click followed. The clicking of feet against the floor, shifting their attention to the small clatter heard behind. Zorua cowered behind its Pokeball, but it did little to hide its form. Breaking into an Illusion at this point wouldn't work either. It'd just spread confusion. So, Zorua waited, as Nurse Joy gently dropped down to be on a face to face level, smiling with a gentle glow in her cheeks.

  "Are you lost?" she asked, extending a hand to Zorua. The ball tilted as Zorua's weight moved back, cautiously avoiding her hand. But, at the first sign of hesitation, Nurse Joy retracted her hand slowly, every movement soft and slow as to not alarm the Dark type.

  "You've went through a lot today, haven't you?" she asked again, her hand remaining pressed at her side. Zorua hesitantly nodded, its coat shaking and revealing patches where the poison had eaten away at its fur. Nurse Joy glanced around, asking, "Do you want to see your trainer?"

  Trainer. Zorua froze at the mention of the word. But, that's how things are now, isn't it? That boy was Zorua's trainer. And, as much as Zorua hated it, the Dark type craved warmth. Even if it came in the form of someone who...

  Who did nothing wrong...

  ...

  Zorua nodded again. Nurse Joy did the same, jumping up to her feet. A yawn tugged at the back of her throat, begging to be released. But, she wouldn't allow her fatigue to be seen just yet. Especially now that she had a purpose, beyond standing idly and waiting for something to happen. Her shoes gently tapped against the floor, Zorua tilting its head for a moment, then jumping into a run when it realized she wasn't stopping. She lifted a trapdoor for herself, leaving the comfort of her desk, while Zorua slunk under with ease, appearing on the other side. But, it stayed put, letting the nurse lead the way.

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  Up the stairwell, advancing through the long corridor of near identical rooms. Zorua felt a shiver run down its spine, the world around seeming so large compared to its rather small home, nestled deep under the forest floor. Nurse Joy marked every window as she walked past, turned opaque as soon as it was closed and locked. A feature for privacy more than anything. Although, occasionally, there would be the tired trainer who'd forgotten to fully shut the door, or lock it at all, leaving the windows opaque. Nurse Joy made sure to close the doors of those who had forgotten.

  And, of course, the boy who Zorua sought had left his own door unlocked.

  Collapsed on the top of the bed sat Lucas. His head had barely even hit the pillow when he completely wiped out. No change of pajamas, no removing his shoes, no keeping his backpack tucked safely under the desk. It seemed that after his checkup, all he could think to do was sleep. Which meant he didn't take caution on cleaning up his nose before he went to bed.

  Smashed and bruised by whoever attacked him that night. And, now, it leaked blood all over the cream white pillow, dripping in a long line all the way down to the sheets below. Nurse Joy sighed at the sight of the mess, holding the door open to let Zorua in. It trudged into the room slowly, glancing around. The lamp had been left on to the side of the room, yet a good chunk of the room lay still covered in shadows. But, Zorua could still make out the shape of a large bed in the centre. It crouched, then leapt onto the bed, stumbling slightly to adjust to the bouncy surface. Then, its eyes glanced to its new trainer, finding a stream of blood dried on Lucas' face. Panic set in, diving over, clawing him awake.

  "Hey, hey-" Nurse Joy attempted to hold Zorua back. But, before she could lay her hands on the Dark type, Lucas' eyes had already opened. Zorua glanced at Lucas' face, marking his awakening. Then, a deep groan echoing through the room as he rolled his way from unconsciousness.

  The stinging pain of his nose was the first thing to hit him as he awoke. The second was the much weaker sting of claws against his arm. Third was the presence of a person standing over him. A shadow casting over him, blotting out the light from the lamp.

  Lucas' heart thundered in his chest, backing away. Well, until he had no space to back off to, and smacked his head into a wall.

  "Woah, easy, I'm not here to hurt you," Nurse Joy spoke softly, cringing as Lucas held the back of his head in pain. Then, once his eyes fully settled to take in the form of who stood over him, his head settled back into the comfort of the pillows.

  "Sorry...sorry..." he groaned back, before wincing and clenching his nose again. His eyes then darted to the only other moving thing in the room. Zorua, clinging tightly to his sheets. Lucas jumped up again. Zorua gave the same response. Seems they startled each other. Then, they both froze, staring into each other's eyes.

  "Zorua wanted to see you," Nurse Joy muttered, pulling up a chair next to the bed and turning the lamp to shine closer to Lucas' face, and the bed. "I have other duties to attend to, and I'm sure you'll wanna get some rest. So, I hope you don't mind if I don't clean up the blood until morning."

  "Blood?" Lucas sat up, brushing the underside of his nose. Then, his eyes glanced to the pillows, crimson lines dragging down the centre of one of them. He sighed, as Nurse Joy handed him a few anti septic wipes she happened to have handy. "Thank you. Sorry for the mess."

  "Don't worry, we have much worse messes to clean up a lot of the time. A few trails of blood won't matter much," Nurse Joy explained, watching Lucas carefully as he cleaned the blood from his nose. Then, once satisfied, she stood up from the chair. "I won't stay for any longer. I know you'll want all the sleep you can get."

  "Thank you," Lucas croaked, voice still left deep from waking up. And, with an accustomed friendly smile and wave, Nurse Joy exited the room. The door slowly creeped closed, shuttering any external light from the room, then clicking into place.

  Lucas let himself collapse back into bed, head in hands. He groaned again. A much longer, guttural groan. Now he'd have to task himself with the arduous task of getting back to sleep, all while his nose reminded him every moment of the events of yesterday.

  Zorua shifted beside him, its fur tickling against Lucas' arm. Lucas glanced to the Dark type, planting itself close to Lucas' hand, but not quite touching it. Lucas waited for another action, but Zorua just remained there, sharing eye contact for a moment then just as quickly breaking its stare. His fingers gently tapped against the surface of the mattress, thinking of what to say. Every thought dragged back to the day before. He couldn't escape it. So, aloud he spoke it.

  "I-I'm sorry."

  Zorua's eyes drew closer to Lucas again, staring into his eyes once again. This time, it would be Lucas avoiding eye contact. Guilt wracked him for even having to look into those soft eyes. Instead, he fidgeted. Doing whatever he could to take his mind off...this. But, even when he couldn't see it, he could feel Zorua's stare. His mind remained rooted in that dark place. Refusing to break away from what was. Even for a second.

  "I'm sorry I couldn't help you."

  Zorua's eyes began to water. Lucas could see the faintest drip of tears falling onto the duvets from the corner of his eyes. Then, before he knew it, the Dark type rushed into his chest. Its face nuzzled against his shirt, soaking the blue fabric with its tears. Lucas' hands jittered for a moment. His eyes threatened to leak water too. But, this wasn't about him. He fought the tears back, reaching up to comb the ends of Zorua's ears. Letting Zorua get it all out.

  "It must be so hard. I can't imagine what you're feeling. But, I promise, you'll see your family again," Lucas spoke as softly as he could. Zorua's claws went digging into his legs, settling into his lap. Surprisingly warm, and comfortable. Once the tears had dried out, Zorua looked to Lucas. It wasn't the same. An extremely different feeling to sleeping when surrounded by the fur and fluff of its family members. But, when Zorua met his eyes, they carried a similar warmth. A warmth akin to family.

  Maybe...

  Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.

  Zorua settled its head down. Lucas' hand continued to gently pat down its fur, easing it into sleep.

  "We'll get stronger. I'll get stronger. So, one day, we can beat those guys and find out where your family is."

  "And, you'll work with me too, right?"

  Zorua flicked up an ear, looking to Lucas for a moment. Then, it trudged to the edge of the bed, diving off and hitting the ground. Lucas peered over the edge of the bed, to find Zorua clawing the Pokeball to the side of the bed. Lucas reached down, grabbing the Pokeball, and dropping it onto the bed. He'd almost forgotten that he had captured Zorua until this moment. He'd expected Zorua to reject it. And, some part of the Dark type still wanted to. But, more than that, it wanted answers. Justice. Something to fight for. And, someone to fight beside.

  "I'll take that as a yes?" Lucas asked, a small smile tugging on his lips. Zorua responded with a nod, matching with its own smile. Lucas let out a sigh of relief, ruffling the top of its fur.

  "Alright. Until we see your family again, we'll be partners. But, for now..." Lucas set the Pokeball beside the bed, gently lifting Zorua back onto his lap. Zorua cooed, then settled its head down, laid on its paws. Lucas smiled, settling down into bed too, letting his head hit against the pillows. The guilt, the worry. All that could wait until tomorrow. For now, all they needed was to rest.

  "Goodnight..."

  "Ngh..."

  To the daylight shining in his eyes did Lucas finally awake from his slumber. Morning had finally fully crept through the window. Through the blinds and curtains drawn, unable to keep out light's forces for much longer. After letting out a dry and long groan, the boy rubbed his eyes, then under his nose. When he drew his finger back into his line of sight, however, no trace of crimson remained. It hadn't happened again, luckily. Although, the duvets and pillow still did have marks of blood. He'd apologize for that later. Although, when he'd apologized earlier, he hadn't really gotten anywhere.

  Once his mind settled with the memory of what had passed, it picked up the pieces to recollect the present. Zorua should've been sat on his lap. And, there it was, idly sleeping, its chest weaving up and down with steady breaths. Its ears flickered slightly, its claws dug deeply into the duvet. A reflex it seemed, keeping itself grounded. Zorua had only taken a liking to Lucas' lap, too. It hadn't drawn his arm in closer to cuddle, or moved further up his body so that Lucas breathing too heavily may upset its slumber. But, it also meant Lucas stayed put. Until Zorua woke up. Lucas had no idea how long that would be. But, optimism spoke that he'd be up and at them in no time.

  His hand carefully slid past the Dark type, taking careful mind not to flick the top of its head or ears with the arching motion of his hand. It slid off the side of the bed, feebly grabbing at the straps until Lucas managed to pull his backpack from the floor. He slipped out his phone, then ever so carefully hung the backpack on the handle of the bedside drawer. With a flick of his finger, his phone whirred to life.

  First thing to show up was the time. Much later than Lucas had expected. But, he couldn't be blamed for that. Sleep eluded him for so long, so, to compensate, he had to sleep for a while too. Then, underneath that, a group of texts from two certain individuals. Mom and Harry. Lucas took to answering Harry first. A single reel. Hm. Lucas took a deep breath. A bit sudden. But, Lucas couldn't phrase it better. Giving it thought would just hold him off from sending it anyways.

  i got attacked last night

  A couple minutes passed, Lucas staring at the ceiling. Was that the right way to approach that? Should he have even told Harry about that? He's on his own adventure. Lucas didn't want to mess that up or make him fearful. A small ping came from Lucas' Rotom Phone. One he quickly silenced, checking in a panic whether Zorua had awaken. But, it was still soundly asleep, much to his relief.

  bro you can't just send me that with no context

  didn't know how else to talk about it

  what happened

  found a zorua disguised itself as Torchic

  scratched me

  ran away, then came back chased by someone

  followed zorua and found a woman on a big drill

  she stomped on my nose, poisoned torchic, then left with the zorua's family

  the one who scratched me was the only one left, and it was poisoned

  The speech bubbles came up, then they settled immediately after. Coming to terms with what he'd just said. Lucas couldn't blame the sentiment, he'd have no idea what to say if Harry came to him like that. But, everytime the speech bubbles settled, they came back again, rephrasing a million thoughts rushing into one. Until, one simple thought remained.

  is everyone okay?

  my nose is beat up, and Ellie got her shin's bitten, but we're fine

  torchic should be okay, and zorua's sleeping on my lap

  i'm so sorry that happened to you

  tf were those guys doing?

  idk, we've gotta go to the police to answer questions soon

  as long as you're safe, that's the most important part

  yeah, i'm alright rn

  Silence dwelled between the two of them. Lucas started scrolling on instinct, taking his mind off of things. Then, he sent the first one he could see to Harry. Barely even watched it to the end before sharing it.

  you can't just say you've been attacked then send a reel 2 secs later man

  Lucas chuckled, setting down his phone after one final reel sent. Then, his eyes settled upon Zorua, still sleeping soundly on his lap. It may take a while for him to bring himself from bed. But, he'd savour the moments in silence, with only Zorua's breathing sounding through the room.

  A polite knock echoed through the room. So much for silence. A voice called from the other side.

  "Lucas? We've gotta go the police station!"

  Zorua's yawned, eyes flickering open and trailing towards the door. Lucas cupped its face gently, brushing the fur on its cheek, then setting it to one side of the bed. Well, now the fox had been disturbed from its slumber, no point wasting any more time lying in bed.

  "Gimme a sec!" Lucas responded, although he heard no response back. Presumably, she just set herself down next to the door and waited. Lucas didn't want to keep her waiting, however. Throwing on a fresh set of trainers clothes, he bundled his old clothes into his bag, then slung the backpack over his shoulder. His eyes glanced back to Zorua. Its Pokeball now rested in the palm of his hand, but Zorua showed little interest in being active. Only in the allure of sleep.

  "You wanna rest in here?" Lucas asked, rolling the ball onto the bed. Zorua looked at the capsule, its body jittering.

  "It's the only way you'll be able to get more sleep, if that's what you want," Lucas added. Which seemed enough to convince Zorua to go into the place it so despised. Wouldn't be conscious of being in there anyways if it was fast asleep. The ball rattled, and Lucas shrunk it down, then turned his attention to the door, throwing it open.

  "Hi, sorry for the wait, Zorua fell asleep on my lap and I didn't want to wake it," Lucas half lied. A valid enough excuse, even if oversleeping would've happened regardless of an interruption from the Tricky Fox.

  "Oh, is it in it's Pokeball now?" Ellie asked, as Lucas spun it on one finger, nodding. Mudkip trodded by her side, nuzzling into the previously bitten leg. But, there wasn't much of a sign of damage, beyond the bandage shaped bulge underneath her leggings.

  "Has your leg healed?"

  "Well, just about. A Chansey Egg, Potions, and a bandage kept it all under control. How about your nose?"

  "Nosebleed in the middle of the night. But, fine," Lucas said, moving forward not to dwell on it any longer than he needed to. "For now, I just want to get Torchic, and get this police interrogation over with."

  "The feeling's mutual," Ellie groaned, falling in line, step by step with Lucas as they wandered down the corridor.

  "I believe that's all the questions we have for you."

  The room let out a sigh of relief. Finally, its over. Ellie and Lucas had spilled their guts, every tiny detail they were asked about, going down on file and recorded as witnesses. A long, and quite boring process. Not to mention having to recall the dangers, perils and heartache they felt going through the memory. But, it would have to be done if they wanted any kind of justice for Zorua. Small as it may have been, with only the one criminal in their possession. And, no trace of the remaining Zoruas.

  "Does this mean we're free to go?" asked Ellie.

  "Yes, of course, I'll show you to the exit," the officer who collected them the previous night spoke, getting up from his chair and offering a hand to lift them out of theirs. Then, they left the darkened room, their eyes struggling to adjust to the even normal amounts of light just outside the room. "If you have any questions about anything, I can try and answer them. About the case," the policeman offered. The least he could do, really. They were the ones affected the most, so deserved to receive any information.

  "What happened with the guy who attacked us?" Ellie asked first. Last time she'd seen him, it was in the hands of a police officer. But, anything could've went wrong. And, even if they did manage to get him back to the police station, there was no guarantee of any information from him.

  "Got nothing from him," the officer confirmed Ellie's suspicions. "A whole lot of silence, then occasional snarls, then saying he'll..." the man paused, looking at the two of them. "Well, that's not for you two to worry about. Point is...didn't get much from him. Your testimonies do prove helpful though."

  "What about the hole left by the drill? Does it lead anywhere?" Lucas inquired, his mind drifting back to the metallic monster digging its way up from the Earth.

  "Well, our first theory was that the hole was dug by a Pokemon. But, you've said it was a drill, which makes more sense for how big it was. My colleague flew down there, but said there wasn't any clear path. Just dirt walls. Must've had a Pokemon cover their tracks."

  "So, no clues?"

  "None, really. Sorry, kid," the policeman apologized, reaching the front of the police station. "We'll be putting our everything into getting to the bottom of this. But, justice is slow."

  "What happens if we run into anyone like them again?" Lucas asked.

  "Give us a call. Or, any of the other police stations. We'll handle it." the policeman glanced down to Lucas' Pokeball, adding. "If we find anything relating to that little one's family, we'll give you a call, too. So they can be reunited."

  "Thank you," Lucas answered.

  "Just doing our jobs." the policeman waved, the automatic doors shuttering afterwards, leaving Ellie and Lucas on the outside. Ellie glanced between the doors, then to Lucas, asking,

  "A huge drill? For a family of Zorua?"

  "Apparently." Lucas glanced to Ellie's eyes, finding her deep in concentration, thinking on the event for any more information. "I'm not lying, if that's what you think."

  "Oh, no, of course not! I'm just amazed..." Ellie muttered, returning back to her thoughts. "All that for Zorua."

  "Yeah. And I let them get away with it."

  "Well, that's..." Ellie paused, her body tensing up. Lucas looked to the floor, not catching Ellie staring at him for a moment. Fumbling with the straps of her bag, she finally moved an inch forward, then shortly after, took a large step forward. "I...need some stuff from the Pokemart. You'll come along, right?"

  "Yeah, I'll tag along. Will be good to let out my Pokemon for a little bit, too," Lucas said, swinging his backpack around, drawing two Pokeballs. Out popped Torchic first, springing out of the Pokeball, landing with a chipper tune to its cry. Despite the circumstances, and the condition it had been left in, Torchic recovered remarkably well. No scuffs of the poison residue remained on its fluffy coat of feathers. Lucas smiled, scrubbing his hand gently against Torchic's top feather, then letting the Fire type sling itself onto his shoulder.

  His eyes settled upon Zorua. Its Pokeball didn't rattle, nor shake. Resting in its Pokeball, making up for lost sleep the night before. Or, maybe taking the time for its brain to adjust to its new environment. Either way, Lucas kept the Pokeball sealed. With a promise only to let out Zorua when it was absolutely necessary. Namely, when they reached the Pokemart.

  Ellie's Pokeball shook within her bag without much of a warning, the red beam of light leaking out of a hole in her bag, then spilling its contents onto the pavement. A happy and healed Mudkip, rubbing against both Lucas' and Ellie's legs with its spiked cheeks.

  "Just taking a trip to get you some food, and stock up," Ellie muttered to her Pokemon, wincing as she crouched down, but ultimately making it to one knee and giving her starter a gentle stroke on the head. Mudkip chirped, trodding on ahead as if it were to the one to be taking the lead, when in fact it had no clue where it was going.

  Still, a Pokemart would be hard to miss. Especially in a small town like Oldale. It wasn't black as night anymore, but the blue neon lights still stuck out like a sore thumb. Especially in contrast to the floral and antique looking houses that littered the streets. A large white and blue building, with its only rival in scale being the Pokemon Centre standing closeby. A shop for all your needs. That's what it was branded as, and what it became known for.

  "Have you ever been in a Pokemart?" asked Ellie, breaking the silence between them. Lucas considered the thought for a moment, combing through the back of his mind, attempting to claw back any distinct memories of walking around the place. But, his mind drew blank.

  "Maybe when I was really, really young? But, nothing that I can particularly remember," Lucas answered finally, as the automatic doors of the Pokemart swung open, revealing a child clinging onto a trolley, happily pushed along by her mother. Lucas smiled for a moment, then returned to the thought. "There was supposed to be one opening in Littleroot, right?" Lucas asked, assuming Ellie would know more about it than he did.

  "I remember Brendan and May talking about it. Didn't end up going through. Disputes about land, as well as a few protests from the locals." Ellie recalled, from what little she could remember about the conversations. She had been old enough to listen to those types of conversations, but too young still to care. Although, a Pokemart would've been cool to have, Littleroot had all the amenities it needed to survive on its own. The small shops were plentiful, each selling their own needed commodity. It wasn't as convenient, but it fit Littleroot's environment much more than a giant, neon coloured mini mall. "So, it'll be your first time, then, right?"

  "I guess so," Lucas muttered, finally walking through the automatic doors into the wide expanse of the Pokemart. Ads on TV had always played plenty for the Pokemart. As well as on whatever social media Lucas had made his favourite that day. But, nothing truly compared to being there in person.

  "Jeez...its huge," Lucas muttered, a smile tugging on Ellie's lips as he said it. Then, she took a deep breath and moved on, muttering back,

  "Yeah, it's pretty big."

  "I-ok-" Lucas quickly moved to step into line with her, Torchic pointing with its top feather at anything interesting within its line of sight. Which, turned out to be a lot of things. One product after another, Lucas having to disappoint his Pokemon by not buying food very obviously meant for the consumption of humans rather than Pokemon. Although, occasionally, Lucas ended up caving himself, dropping his food into a basket he'd found discarded around the Pokemart.

  "I can tell you've never been in a Pokemart before," Ellie muttered with a half smirk, shaming Lucas into putting down whatever he was looking at through only her expression and snarky tone.

  "There's a lotta stuff! And, it's not like I have any idea where the important stuff will be either." Lucas' arms thrust out, throwing out jazz hands to exemplify the length of the corridors. "How on earth do I have any idea where anything is kept?"

  Ellie pointed a single finger up. Lucas squinted, looking to the ceiling.

  "Ah, I get it," Lucas responded, reading the large signs that hung over every aisle, detailing what was kept in each section. "So, what did you need again?"

  "About the same as you. Healing stuff, berries, food supplies, that's about it. Anything you want?"

  "I'd like a toy for Zorua. Torchic's got it's little Pokeball on a stick that it runs after and I can use. Zorua might like it, but I think it would appreciate something it could cuddle into."

  "Should we do that first then?" Ellie asked.

  "Nah, we can save it 'till later," Lucas muttered, conscious of awaking Zorua from its deep slumber too soon. Give it the best opportunity to rest while they both had the time. Ellie shrugged with no objections, and the two moved forward. Ellie lead the way most of the time, even in spite of Lucas now knowing where he was going. Stocking up on food supplies, mostly canned stuff that's easy to put together when you're out in the wild, as well as food supplies for the Pokemon. Oran Berries for a certain Water type, as well as Sitrus Berries for both Torchic and Zorua. Zorua might've had a preference, but Lucas knew it'd eat whatever anyways.

  Next came medical supplies. Lucas made sure to stock up on a greater amount of Antidote this time. Only when Torchic had been poisoned for the fifth time by a Wurmple did he realize the amount of Antidotes you'd need to traverse through the early routes. Then, followed by less medicine for the other types of status conditions. Heals for Paralysis, Frostbite, and burns. A few stronger Potions for when they were really needed. Then, a couple Revives. Although, they hoped to never have to use them.

  "Time for the toy section, then?" Ellie asked, placing the last of the Potions into her basket. Lucas nodded, placing the basket onto the ground. Then, akin to knocking an egg against a bowl, Lucas hit the button of the Pokeball against the basket. Zorua popped out just as he had imagined, sitting comfortably on top of all the supplies. Zorua looked around, dazed and confused. Its ears flicked up, then it raised itself to its four paws. Then, just as quickly, it fell to its knees, wobbling as Lucas grabbed the handle of the basket.

  "There we go!" Lucas lifted Zorua up, the Dark type quaking slightly. But, ultimately, it became used to the sensation of being in the air, nestled into the basket. Ellie snickered, watching Zorua slowly dig its way between the Potions and Antidotes, yawning and settling down once more. Lucas chuckled. "Big sleeper, I guess?"

  "It's cute while it's sleeping though." Ellie moved over, a gentle hand coming to breeze over Zorua's fur. Its ears twitched at the slightest touch, hissing and pushing Ellie's hand away. Ellie's hand jerked away, Zorua eyeing her for a moment, looking up and down. Then, it settled down into the basket again, shuttering its eyes. Ellie chuckled, looking at her hand. "Maybe not so cute when it's...like that-"

  "You did better than me for a first time." Lucas laughed, showing off the slit in his hand from where Zorua's claws had clutched his skin. But, now, the same hand stretched over Zorua's head, stroking the back of its ears comfortably. Zorua didn't react. "Must be a trust thing."

  "From the research I did on the Pokedex, they're a little timid. So, maybe its just a matter of time."

  "I'm sure it'll grow to love you, and it'll love me even more when we get to the toy section!"

  Lucas would've rushed over if he could. But, Zorua swinging in the balance of his basket prevented him from doing such a thing. So, he resigned to wait and slowly walk side by side with Ellie, until they reached the section for Pokemon toys. Lucas tilted Zorua's head upwards, gently helping its eyes to adjust to the scene in front of it. A litany of options presented itself in front of the Tricky Fox.

  Chew toys, shaped in the forms of Pokeballs, bones, or even other Pokemon. Slowpoke Tails and Magikarp being the only two stocked at this particular Pokemart. To the side of those chew toys lay Torchic's favourite, stacks of sticks with Pokeballs attached to the end. An occasional plush Pokeball, and a few balls for chasing. Torchic ended up taking an interest in a few of them, but Zorua? It lifted its head, scanning the display. Then, just as quickly, it grew disinterested, shutting its eyes and flopping back down into the basket of goods.

  "Nothing?" Lucas asked, shaking Zorua. But, it gently pushed his hand off its fur, settling further down into the basket. Guess that was all the confirmation he needed. "Maybe a human toy would be more suiting of Zorua," Lucas suggested.

  "You're just saying that to go to the toy aisle, aren't you?"

  "Maybe."

  "Child."

  But, despite the remark, Ellie held no objectives to wandering to the toy section. Browsing the collection of toys that Lucas was likely too old for, but enamoured with regardless. Torchic was one and the same with its trainer too, trodding from his shoulder and jumping on and off of the shelves, browsing to its hearts content. Then, it stopped when it came to a display bin of plushies.

  Zorua's eyes flickered open. Then, they widened. The basket melted away beneath its feet. Any thoughts of resting did too. It dove from the basket, throwing itself right into the centre of the plushies. Lucas, feeling the weight of his basket slip, glanced around to track where Zorua had went. Torchic pointed him in the right direction with the motion of its head, just to its side.

  "There you...are..."

  Zorua laughed, tears flowing down its face, snuggled in from all sides. Warmth flowed fresh through its body. Its claws gripped tightly to the plushies, throwing them around in the small display case. A couple stray glances from parents landed on the two of them, but Lucas didn't have the heart to stop Zorua. Especially knowing what it was going through.

  A plushie case filled to the brim with other Zoruas.

  Four sat there. Zorua took to them each like they were family. The same mischievous look plastered on every one of their faces. Zorua was happy. Even playing pretend for a moment satisfied Zorua unlike anything else. But, while Lucas watched on, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. That twinge turned into a torrent, washing over his entire body, so intense it nearly knocked him down. His eyes vacantly stared at Zorua.

  Glimpses of what might've happened started to flood his mind. If he had just been strong enough to carry his own weight. Taking back the Pokemon. Beating that Mareanie. Saving Torchic and Zorua from their poison riddled states. The bleed from his nose only served as a mark of that. The failure to do what was needed of him in the moment. This is how Zorua should've been.

  But, a false imitation would never replace the real thing. Those fake smiles, smirks plastered on each one of the plushies, unrelenting and unreal in their own way. They should've been filled with warmth and joy, to smother Zorua and keep it safe. But, now, Zorua tangled with the uncanny, and felt comfy in its companionship. For, what else did it have?

  "Lucas?"

  A soft hand placed on Lucas' shoulder awoke him from his thoughts. Lucas turned, his eyes still vacant, staring into Ellie's. Her eyes went wide at the sight of them. Lucas realized his error soon enough, shaking his head as life returned to his expression. A smile coaxed its way to believability, spreading across his face.

  "What's up, Ellie?"

  "You? You...You're okay, right?" she asked, looking at Zorua, distracted enough not to pay any attention to their conversation.

  "Of course! Zorua's found something that it likes!" Lucas exclaimed a little too high, spreading his arm out so that Torchic could join him on his shoulder. But, upon claiming its trainers shoulder, Torchic pecked at the side of his head repeatedly. "Ow, ow, ow! What's that for?"

  "I think for not telling the truth." Ellie folded her arms.

  "I said I'm okay."

  Lucas answered more firmly, hoping it would be enough to settle Ellie. It did cause a jump in her heart, hearing the hint of finality weigh on his words. But, she didn't want to leave it pressed down.

  "You blame yourself, don't you?"

  Lucas froze, turning his attention back to Zorua for a moment. Happy, as it should've been. Surrounded by its brothers, sisters, parents, whatever else.

  "It's hard not to," he admitted. As much as he tried to logic his way out of it, Lucas couldn't shake the feeling no matter what he tried. Ellie sighed.

  "You couldn't have done anything about it."

  "You weren't there."

  "Lucas, you can't take on the entire world yet. You've had your Pokemon for, what, three days? You did well enough."

  "It doesn't feel that way."

  "Of course. But, if you didn't set out to help Zorua when you did, all of them would've been captured." Ellie pointed to Zorua. Alive, breathing, and thriving. Even in its own world. "You helped this little one escape from that life."

  Lucas looked to Zorua. For the first time since it had dived into the pile of plushies, Zorua looked back. Then, it closed its eyes, tilting its head and smiling. A smile so radiant, it felt contagious. Scratching Zorua behind the ears, he crouched down to talk eye to eye.

  "I'm guessing you want one of these to cuddle into?" Lucas asked. Zorua firmly nodded. It scanned the four plushies again, finding one with a small defect in its leg. A small strand of lining that wasn't sewn quite so correctly. So, Zorua chose that one, cuddling into it tightly. Lucas gently brought the two up, placing Zorua and its cotton blooded brother onto the basket.

  "We'll just have to get stronger," Lucas muttered, his hand clenching into a fist.

  "Of course. That starts with building up our teams" Ellie said, walking ahead to the checkout lane. Lucas, tilting his head with curiosity, followed alongside.

  "Is that a sign you have something in mind, perhaps?" Lucas asked, goading Ellie into a speech with absolute ease.

  "I'm glad you asked." Ellie snapped her fingers. Her Rotom Phone slipped from her pocket, scrolling through slowly, attempting to trace where she had previously been, making small talk in the meantime. "Are you familiar with the Pokemon Ralts?"

  "Ralts? I think my Mom's talked about them a bit. She seemed to be a fan. They evolve into Gardevoir, don't they?"

  "Mhm. And..." Ellie flipped her phone around. A shoddily taken photo appeared on the screen. Unfocused, with a canted angle to the shot that rendered the focus of the image to the left rather than the centre. Looked akin to those old videos of Mews found underneath trucks, or a black Haxorus storming around a forest. But, you could vaguely make out the shape of a green helmet, and a pristine white dress. "This is a picture of it."

  "You sure you can't get a better one?"

  "I could. But, this one's better."

  "How so?"

  "This one was taken on Route 102. Just a few moments after I got up from bed."

  "Route 102's the next route isn't it?"

  "It sure is, which means..."

  Ellie posed with her fist clenched, while the other hand holding her basket draped at the side. Mudkip hopped onto her head, chirping.

  "I'm gonna catch it!"