The transition to the other side of Clink's portal was instantaneous. Aggron kept all his momentum and skidded to an eventual stop, leaving deep gouges in the neon colored grass. He hunched low with one arm still tightly wrapped across Steven's midsection and snarled, ready to take on any foe that had followed or was waiting for them on the other side. But when all that greeted him was a warm breeze and fluttering clouds in a pink-hued sky, Aggron froze, momentarily confused, until a gentle pat on his arm caught his attention.
"Ah, I think we're safe," said Steven, slightly muffled from where he was pinned against his overprotective partner.
Aggron snorted in surprise and relinquished his hold, letting Steven get his feet back underneath himself. He gave an apologetic thump of his tail when Steven couldn't hide his wince well enough.
"It's nothing," he reassured his partner as he pressed a hand against his side. "Just a bruise. You know I've had worse. Besides, it definitely would have been a lot worse if you hadn't done that."
Aggron rumbled something half-sarcastic, half-sincere, and Steven gave a quiet laugh, suddenly very aware of the post-adrenaline rush giddiness that made his legs feel like gelatin. He took a tentative step forward and finally got a look at their current surroundings.
"Fascinating," was all Steven could muster, as the pair of them swept their gaze over the alien landscape. Unnaturally green grass, a permanent dawn-like sky, and mountains upon mountains of... were those keys? "Something tells me we're not on Kunolo Island anymore."
Though, the landscape wasn't totally empty. Trainers and their pokemon were scattered about the too-green meadow, and the reality of their situation came crashing back down. The floating sensation Steven had been feeling vanished and only left behind a jittery anxiousness and the hammering of his heart against his ribs. They weren't on Kunolo Island any more because they had to flee--
Odette! He turned to his left to see Enora tending to her wounds. Wes! He was flat on his back in the grass, blinking muzzily at the sky. Mitch, Violet, Laura, they were there as well. Jade, Seb,
Wallace! Gods he was okay, well, as okay as he could be with Victoria curled protectively around him, but he was awake, and here and
safe, and--
Steven went down the list in his head, the racing of his heart slowing with each name he saw. It seemed like every trainer from the
Trousselin had made it.
But there was no room for relief as a small, tinkling voice spoke up over the murmurs and groans, and Steven realized with amazement that Clink was speaking.
Speaking, and he could understand them.
“I’m sorry for dragging you all here but it was all I could think of. This is... this is my fault. If I’d realized sooner or paid more attention... You don’t have to join me. But I’m going to get help and I’m going to rescue Xavian, and all those trainers who are hurt because of me.....”
"Your fault?" Steven repeated, incredulous. "No, I don't think-- wait!"
Clink was already on the move, floating away from the group, and Steven frowned. Orzo had fooled
all of them, and even if he hadn't, there wasn't much any of them could have done anyway. Not if that battle they'd just escaped was any indication. But it sounded like Clink had a plan of some kind, and after getting a glimpse into that portal of the trainers who had been taken, he would be
damned if he didn't do everything in his power to get them back. Especially because it was
his lie that sent them to the Maw, where everything went horribly, horribly wrong. If there was anyone to blame for what happened to Xavian...
Steven drew in a sharp breath, aware of how tightly he'd been clenching his fist. Aggron rumbled a low question, and Steven shook his head. No, there wasn't room for that kind of thinking. He needed to take some of his own advice he'd shared with Kimiko. What's done was done. Keep moving forward. He met Aggron's gaze and nodded, a determined look on his face. Aggron nodded back and followed Steven as he took off after Clink in a light jog.
They caught up to the little steel type just as Mitch's Mightyena padded up to Clink and gave a mournful whine. Aggron stopped at her side and looked down at her, then back at Clink. She was quiet, but he'd heard what she said.
"She's right, y'know." he chimed in before Clink could protest, fixing them with a steadfast glare. "You're not the maniac who's been disappearing people. Anything that bastard did he chose to do all on his own. That's not on you."
Aggron curled his tail around behind Mightyena in a show of solidarity. They weren't going to back down and let Clink bury themselves in misery. Not here, not now. Not with so much at stake. Mightyena might not be a steel type, but she sure as hell had the heart of one.
"Clink..." Steven began. "I'm sorry, too. About Xavian. About everyone." He'd watched as Xavian hurtled into that portal just the same. The wound of having your partner ripped away, the emptiness left in their absence, it still burned fresh in Steven's mind. It was something no person should have to endure.
But he'd seen Orzo's portal, he'd seen
inside that portal. The missing trainers were there. His gaze fell to where Mightyena sat staring up at Clink. She and Mitch were here with them now. That alone was proof enough for him that the others could be rescued. Xavian could be rescued.
"Please, if there's anything we can do to help bring them back, tell us. You won't have to do this alone."
