Pokémon Pokemon: Legendary Adventures

[Flyg0n]

Finally we've reached the pentultimate chapter of Legendary Adventures. I know it seems fast but trust me its 100% legit and worth it, and its gonna be awesome. I have been building up to this for all this time and planning this ending to go just like this.

Enjoy!

---

Koamaru Averon gripped his pokeballs tightly as he faced down Mt Coronet, swirling with a great darkness. Finally, the time had come. He’d been training hard these past few months, pushing himself and his team to their limits. Lifting, running, dodging, attacking, they were at peak form.

His Crobat had grown to at least 6 feet tall when standing and his wings were huge. Hazard, his Joltik, could now sustain blasts of electricity for an hour straight, enough to kill several men. Rascal was 20 feet tall and weighed a ton, which was 2000 pounds. Anubis had grown bigger and heavier and could vanish into any shadow and set anything on fire. Flurry had become a full grown Walrein that weighed half a ton and Scrapper's punches shattered the sound barrier every time he swung. Koa had finally beaten every gym and even taught his pokemon to get really good at all their moves. They’d trained so hard they could use all they’re moves now. 20 or 30 moves each at least.

Echo knew: Cross Poison, mean Look, Screech, Poison Fang, Confuse Ray, Air Slash, Venoshock, Haze, Super Toxic Air Strike (ffusion of Toxic Air Slash Mean Look ), Aerial Ace, Sludge Bomb, Shadow Ball, Sunny Day, Hyper Beam, Giga Drain, Steel Wing, Thief, Payback, X-Scissorr, Dark Pulse, Pluck, U-Turn, Hyper Beam, Searing Hypnotic Poison Soak (Venom Drench and Sludge Bomb and Sunny Day, basically drenches them in burning POISON and lowers their defensive powers and stuff), Roost, rest, and Endure.

Hazard knew: Bug Bite, Giga Drain, Gastro Acid, Electro Ball, Super Thunder Absorbing Blast (Electroball Energy Ball, Charge Beam, Gigan Drain fusion), Thunderbolt, Poison Sting, Double Team, Gastro Acid, Infestation, Lunge, Light Screen, Rain Dance, Swift, Sucker Punch, Multi Sucker Lnge Sting (fusion of double team and poison sting and Lunge and sucker punch and he always hits first and reatreats after poisoning them), Agility, Thief, Slash, DIscharge, String Shot

Rascal knew Ancient Power, Slash, Dragon Claw, Dragon Pulse, Ancient Iron Dragon Dance (Fuses Dragon Dance and Ancient Power and Iron Defense and Dragon Pulse, she basically boosts all her stats and blasts them with dragon rock energ), Charm, Iron Tal, Head Smahs, Earthquake, Earth Power, Crunch, utrage (she trained really hard and is never confused), Close Combat, Super Power, Zen headbutt, Dark Pulse, Thudner Fang and Ice Fang and Fire Fang and Psychic Fang and Dragon Fang, and Scale SHot Bulldoze, Sandstorm, Round, Hyper Voice and Play Rough and Close Fairy Super Outrage (fuses outrage and play rough and Close Combat and Super power and Outrage to frenzy attack and she trained hard so there's no recharge)

Anubis knew a lot of moves too, and the rest of his pokemon also knew a ton of moves.

Kitto also was there.

Koa began climbing. It was hard, the weather was harsh. But he was ready. They saw a lot of wild pokemon, and a dangerous Garchomp tried to challenge them, but Koa easily beat it back. Anubis helped keep them warm by spamming Sunny Day and radiating a lot of heat.

Many days later, he finally reached the very peak. A broken temple lay before him, shattered pillars framing the once holy grounds as gray skies blanketed the stone in murky tones. He slowly walked across it, his boots resounding ominously against the rock.

Finally he reached the end, and pulled out the Azure Flute, and played it.

Golden light cascaded from the heavens, splitting opened the darkened skies like the shell of the universe itself cracked. For a moment, galaxies and stars whirled beyond a torn veil. A four-legged figure wreathed in blinding light stepped down through the sky toward him, light itself bending to its movements and forming a staircase beneath the legend.

"Arceus."

Koa breathed the Name more than he spoke it. It thrummed through him, fear and excitement and awe mingling together and pressure building in his ears, building and building, until he could hardly draw breath. His knees met cold stone and he found he could not move.

Delicately, as if each movement risked tearing the fabric of the world, Arceus stepped onto the ground before Koa. White was not a color it was an entity. All things he’d seen before now were an imitation of white, and a shadow of power. This was true power. The Original One.

My child. You have finally come.

“I have.” The words spilled from Koa’s mouth. He could speak nothing more, only bring himself to answer. The pressure in the air felt overwhelming. Was this what it meant to be in the presence of a true legend? To even try to gaze into The Original One’s eyes for longer than a moment was to be swallowed into a blazing red abyss.

Tell me your desire.

Koa gazed at Arceus. He couldn’t have lied, even if he wanted to. Couldn’t say anything other than what he meant. “To capture a legendary. To wield their power myself, to change the world and prove the bonds between human and pokemon can overcome all.”

A humm filled the air, lilting and tingling up through the soles of his boots and his knees, jostling his thoughts, and a smile tugged at his lips unbidden. He blinked.

Arceus was... laughing?

Ever so gently, he tapped one golden hoof onto the stone. One by one, each of Koa’s teammates emerged. They surrounded him in a semi-circle, gazing up at Arceus, eyes glistening with some emotion. Reverence, but not shock or awe.

Have you not yet seen the truth, child? Do you not realize?

Numbly, Koa could only shake his head. He gazed around at his pokemon, distant confusion swirling through him amongst the pressure and presence that seemed to increase.

The legendaries you seek aren’t out there. Arceus gestured with one leg, angling its head to the Sinnoh below them. They are here. It reached out and tapped Koa on the chest, over his heart.

A shock of pure wild energy flooded Koa and for a moment, he felt as if time and space were unraveling before him. The sensation faded the instant Arceus drew back, but it felt like an eternity.

With a booming voice that filled the air and rang in koa’s very soul, Arceus continued. The real legendaries were the friends you met along the way.

Sweeping one leg to gesture to Koa’s team, Arceus took a step back.The pressure around Koa abated and he looked around him.

One by one, his team transformed. Echo’s formed shimmered and became pink, then melted away to reveal Mew. Hazard grew and grew until he became Raikou. Rascal shimmered and transformed into Regirock. Anubis turned into an Entei, and then Flurry to a Suicune. Finally, Scrapper became a Lucario.

“Wow,” he said, awed. Now he understood. The Regirock he’d seen in the cave where he found Rascal’s fossil, the Raikou outside Celestic, Entei in Amity.... All the time his team had been legendary pokemon!! Echo had been testing him as a Mew back then!

“But... Lucario isn’t a legend...”

Arceus laughed again. “Isn’t it?”

Koa blinked. “I don’t think so...”

Arceus gazed down at him, and its eyes narrowed. “Lucario was a prominent pokemon in the legend of Mew and the Tree of Life. Surely that counts?”

Koa winced awkwardly. He still couldn’t find the power to lie. “Well yeah but that's not the same as being a legendary or mythical.”

Arceus stamped a hoof with a resounding BANG. “You have five legendary pokemon. This one is special. It has Aura power. And it's...it’s... the first Lucario ever made. An Alpha Guardian Aura Master Lucario. Is that enough for you?”

Koa nodded quickly. It was an impressive Lucario. Its fur was fine gold and it was twice as large as any other Lucario and had glowing red eyes and a bluish aura. "Sick."

But... somethign was... off. he looked around. "Arceus. My friend, Kitto..."

Arceus red eyes twinkled. Do you not recognize me in this form?

"Recognize you?"

Again, Arceus chuckled, though this time in a more familiar way.

And then Kitto was standing before Koa, and Arceus was gone. Kitto spoke, but his voice was Arceus, and Arceus was Kitto. "Come on, Koa. Haven't I always said to pay attention to your surroundings?" He gestured to his hair. "White hair?" He pointed to his eyes. "Red eyes?"

Koa gasped. "Y-you're... Arceus?!"

Kitto grinned, red-eyes flashing. "Duh!"

"You were with me the whole time." Peace washed over Koa. Of course... the legends had been with him all along. Arceus had meant it when he said that. It made perfect sense! Arceus had been guiding him all along.

"Naturally," Kitto-Arceus said with a grin. "After all you never saw me and Arceus in the same place, did you?"

Koa nodded in understanding. "Sick."

Of course. Once more, Arceus stood before Koa. Though now, he seemed warm. Familiar.

Now. There is one more task that must be seen to. I must grant you back your full memories.

Chills ran down Koa. “My full memories?”

Arceus dipped its head. Yes. Have you ever wondered why you felt so drawn to this mountain? To legendary pokemon, to prove yourself?

“I thought it was just because of my suppressed childhood trauma and compulsive perfectionism giving me a distorted sense of self making me believe catching a legendary was the only way to absolve myself of sins I didn’t even commit.”

The Original blinked. “....No.”

He continued quickly. The truth is far more than you know. You have a great destiny.

Around Koa, the air fell still, the world holding its breath as not a gust of wind blew or cloud moved.

Slowly, Arceus bent low and touched its great muzzle to Koa’s head.

Awaken.

Awaken and remember who you are.

Remember your name.

Koa's mouth moved as Arceus spoke. His voice overlapped as memories flooded into him, a lifetime worth of memories.

“Ash Ketchum.”

Ash opened his eyes and looked into Arceus’, for the first time able to hold its gaze. “I remember.”

After losing at the Lily of the Valley, Ash’s friends had turned on him. Infernape had turned on him. They’d berated him for his humiliating loss, mocked his dream of being a Pokemon Master. Infernape had been angry because he’d never be known as Pokemon Master’s pokemon and ran away. Pikachu was tired of getting close and losing.

Even when he’d gone home to Kanto his mother said she thought his dream was stupid.

And then they’d ganged up on him and killed him. But then Mew had come down and saved him, and revived him with Ho-Oh’s help. The legendaries had always loved Ash for all the times he’d helped them, so they happily returned the favor.

Yet that didn’t change the shame and doubt Ash had felt, wondering if his friends were right. If he could ever be a master, be strong enough. And it didn’t change that Tobias had swept through him, that he’d been powerless.

So he’d asked the legendaries for something different. A second chance. To be sent back to the world, to Sinnoh, as a regular trainer. Reincarnated. And for his memories to be sealed away.

Do you see? This is why you always wanted to catch a legendary, because of Tobias. And this is why you shorten your name to three letters, because A S H and K O A. And why both your names use the letter A. Arceus said.

Ash understood. And now he’d accomplished his dream. He could go back now, with his team of legendaries by his side and show the world what a Pokemon Master really looked like. He'd provedthat he could do it.

“Sugio!!! Thanks Arceus!I made so many awesome friends!”

Arceus' voice sounded different when he spoke next. Kind of like Tom Wayland maybe. “Ahhh yes good, welcome back Ash Ketchum.”

“Yeah, glad to be here! I’m a real Pokemon Master now! My goal was totally not about friends or a metaphor for my never ending journey to see the world, it was always about being epically strong! I see that now.”

Ash started to return his pokemon, then stopped. Something made him sad. Koa had been such a cool guy...

“Arceus... can you and Dialga and Palkia do me a favor?”

A glimmer of a smile appeared in Arceus' eyes and Palkia and Dialga swam out of two portals to stand next to Arceus. “What would you like, Pokemon Master?”

Ash whispered his idea, and Arceus nodded.

The three legendaries brought forth their powers and then a teen about Ash’s age shimmered into existence. He was about 5 foot 7 and wore a red leather jacket with white highlights and gold buttons. He had green cargo shorts and black hiking boots and black fingerless gloves. Hiseyes were hazel brown eyes and light skin. His bue hair was spiky and fell partly across his forehead.

“Hey Koa!” Ash said. He'd felt so bad about the other life he lived, reincarnated into. So he'd asked Arceus to bring him back as his own person. Koa felt like...

Koa blinked. “Hey...” he said. He grinned, then looked around. “Wait where-”

Arceus, Dialga and Palkia used their power again. Koa’s team reappeared around him, in mortal forms. Echo the Crobat, Hazard the Joltik, Rascal the Tyrantrum, Anubis the Houndoom, Scrapper the Breloom, and Flurry the Walrein.

Ash grinned. The two locked eyes, and Koa grinned as understanding washed over him.

Not only had they accomplished their dreams, but they had gained something. Found something.

Become more.

Brothers.

---

Thank you all for reading Legendary Adventures! I think this is the last time I'll ever write about Koa. He was so much fun but now that i revealed he was an isekai reincarnator Ash Ketchum with sealed memories an he's been split into becoming his own person I really want to write about Ash! There's just not enough Ashfics out there that have Ash be a cool Pokemon Master and now Ash has a team of legendaries. I want to really explore Ash and Lucario so I'll be putting Koa on the shelf to focus all my attention on that.

Once again, thanks all for reading and I hope you enjoye this conclusion! I worked really hard to finish the fic satisfyingly and I know I did a good job.

 

[Flyg0n]

Spoiler: AN

Hello everyone! I am happy to announce Legendary Adventures is once again back with an update, and good news! While this past year has been hectic and chaotic and filled with many things, I have been steadily working hard on this story still, particularly in the last 4 months.

I am proud to say I have a strong backlog drafted, and will be updating at the beginning of each month for at least the next 6 or so months, and barring any terrible events, will be able to maintain that pace I hope.

Since it's been so long, a quick recap (skip if you don't need one):

When we last left Koa and Kitto, they had just returned from Iron Island, where they were training together. A strong storm and strange tracks showed Koa that there was a Zeraora on the island, whom he ran afoul of one night after an impulsive act.

He then found himself in contention with a trainer nicknamed Fossie, who believed legendaries were a threat and even tried to attack the Zeraora that showed up on the island. Shortly after, Koa and Kitto had a dangerous encounter with Team Blackout, who was trying to kidnap electric-types en masse, before switching to trying to contain a Zeraora. It seems Blackout was hired by someone to do so... In the ensuing battle, Rascal evolved at a key moment to turn the tide of the battle!

They returned home to Canalave, and Koa reunited with his cousin Blake... of course, Koa ends up falling into a familiar argument with him, about Blake's opinion toward Koa catching a legendary, souring things between them.

Nonetheless, Koa remains determined as ever to pursue his goal, and after training, plans to challenge Byron again, this time with his newly evolved Tyrantrum.

Team:

Echo (Male Crobat) [Inner Focus]

Hazard (Male Joltik) [Compound Eyes] Wears an everstone pendant

Anubis (Male Houndour) [Flash Fire]

Rascal (Female Tyrantrum) [Strong Jaw]

Scrapper (Male Breloom) [Effect Spore]

Flurry (Female Spheal) [Thick Fat]

---

Breathe in. Breathe out.

The referee's voice rang out across the field. "Koamaru Averon vs Gym Leader Byron will be a one on one match, no substitutions."

Koa took the fossil ball from his belt, running his thumb over the helix symbol embossed on it. He could almost sense Rascal's eagerness. Up in the stands, Kitto sat flanked by Jackie, Kaze and the rest of Koa's team. Flurry bounced up and down in excitement, while the others watched with an eager gleam in their eyes.

After a glance between both participants, the referee continued. "The match is over when one side is unable to battle."

Far across the field, Byron stood with his arms folded, his expression evaluating. Koa met it with a determined grin. "We've got this, Rascal," he whispered softly.

"Ready?" the referee called.

Koa and Byron both called out in acknowledgement, and the referee gave the signal to begin. They tossed their pokeballs simultaneously. The familiar shape of Byron's Bastiodon faded into view, and he gave a loud bellow. At nearly the same moment, Rascal emerged, looming over Bastiodon, fixing him in a predatory gaze.

To Koa's surprise, she didn't let out a roar, instead opting to glower down at Bastiodon and let out a low, threatening rumble.

Byron gave a low whistle. "Not bad, kid! You weren't slacking on the island, I see." He nodded, then shot Bastiodon a look. Some kind of unspoken communication passed between the two. "First move is yours."

Koa nodded and met Rascal's eyes. A hungry gleam blazed in them, and she gave him a nod. He returned it with a grin as his heart began to race with excitement. "Let's win this."

She snorted, as if to say 'obviously', and fixed her gaze on Bastiodon, who looked unfazed.

First, test the waters. "Rock Slide!" Koa called.

"Curse!"

Stones formed above Bastiodon, just as he hunkered down, faint ghostly energy flaring around his form. The barrage of rocks clattered on top of him and across his back. Bastiodon grunted, shaking his head, but appeared mostly unharmed.

Rascal snorted irritably.

Byron's voice was level and calm. "Curse, again."

Koa snapped out a command before Byron finished speaking. "Rock Slide!" Was Byron hoping to shore up defenses to outlast Rascal? Koa was hoping to tease out more of Bastiodon's arsenal, but he had a backup plan too.

Bastiodon braced as a deluge of rocks tumbled down from above, half burying him. He winced, but from the telltale purplish pulse, it was evident Bastiodon had gotten off the counter in time.

Rascal gave another snort and flexed her claws.

Koa held back a frown, analyzing Byron's face. It might as well have been carved from stone. There was more to this than simply defending. Maybe he could force Byron's hand...

"Rascal!" She glanced back at him, and he locked eyes with her. "Rock Slide!"

"Keep it up."

More stones battered Bastiodon, and he winced as he once again braced himself. The stones now surrounded him completely, immobilizing him. Rascal acted in an instant, slamming a foot into the earth. Earth energy cracked the field. It erupted under Bastiodon, rattling him.

Trapped.

Koa and Byron's commands rang out simultaneously.

"Earthquake!"

"Metal Burst!"
Rascal raised a foot and brought it down. Koa's eyes widened as he realized a moment too late what the move was. As Bastiodon withstood the attack again, he opened his jaws and let loose a blast of shining energy. It slammed into Rascal, knocking her off her feet and throwing her to the ground.

Bastiodon grunted and shifted within the pile of rocks. Koa winced at the blow. It'd hit hard after those two earthquakes. Still, his goal of trapping Bastiodon had worked. Now if he could just...

"While he's still trapped! Get up and use Ice Fang!"

Rascal staggered to her feet, glowering in annoyance.

Byron cracked a grin.

Rascal charged forward, jaws glowing with icy energy. Her strides devoured the distance between them.

Byron gave no command. What—?

As Rascal was yards from sinking her jaws into Bastiodon, Byron spoke. "Stone Edge."

The rocks burying Bastiodon shifted slightly and a 'thud' rang across the field as Bastiodon brought a foot down. Rascal accelerated. Koa's gaze raked the battlefield to see where the attack would come from.

And then Bastiodon flew into the air.

Koa's jaw dropped as the Stone Edge came from underneath Bastiodon, launching the massive pokemon straight up out of the rocks. Unable to slow in time, Rascal crashed into the void left behind by Bastiodon and tripped, slamming jaws first into the Stone Edge.

"Polish!" Almost before he landed a few feet away, Bastiodon's scales rippled with silvery light. Rascal still looked slightly dazed as she tried to rise, and Byron called again. "Rock Polish!"

Koa blinked and shut his mouth, shaking aside his shock as Rascal got back to her feet, equally wide-eyed and surprised.

Bastiodon gave a deep cry, eyes glimmering with triumph. Despite the beating he'd taken, he still looked tough.

"Did you think it would be as simple as bombarding us with earthquakes?" Byron bellowed, a competitive grin on his face.

"No, but I wasn't expecting Bastiodon to be a flying type."

Byron nodded. "Bastiodon came up with that one himself. We save it for the best challengers."

Rascal snorted in annoyance, though the gleam in her eyes belied her excitement and Koa found himself grinning in spite of his frustration. Stone Edge to fly... he'd never have expected that.

"Okay, Rascal, ready?" She nodded. Time for the next phase.

Bastiodon took off, and Rascal lunged after him in pursuit, claws glowing. A furious dance began, Bastiodon utilizing his unnatural speed boost to try and evade Rascal, while she pelted him with rocks and slashed him with her claws.

Every time she dealt a solid blow, Bastiodon would retaliate with a Metal Burst or use a distanced Stone Edge to attack. Still, Koa could see that every blow was hurting, chipping away at Bastiodon's bolstered defenses.

Koa narrowed his eyes and studied Bastiodon. Despite his short legs he was moving quickly and had the advantage of being comfortable in his own body, much more than Rascal, and was utilizing turns to stay out of range. Rascal had the edge in raw power, but she was tiring too, given her strength was her offense.

Still, if she could just... There!

"Ahead!" Koa called.

Rascal seemed to understand. A small cluster of rocks formed and slammed down, just as Bastiodon leaned into a turn. Just as he hoped, they crashed down just in front of Bastiodon, diverting him. The attack wasn't strong, but Koa's only goal had been to throw Bastiodon's momentum off, and it had worked.

Bastiodon stumbled and flinched, briefly stunned.

Rascal skidded to a stop, breathing heavily.

"Quick, Earthquake!"

The explosive surge of earth energy sent Bastiodon skidding backwards, but Byron's counter came even faster, and Bastiodon was clearly ready for it. "Metal Burst!"

The silver glow formed in front of Bastiodon's jaws and he charged at Rascal, faster than Koa even thought. Rascal lunged to the side, juking the still charging Bastiodon—

"Stone Edge!" The attack came from under Bastiodon as he ran, launching him too fast for Koa's eyes to follow, right at Rascal in a perfect intercept path—

Crack!

The sound snapped through the air as Bastiodon impacted Rascal hard enough to actually knock her off her feet and throw her across the field. She smashed into one of the boulders on the field and slumped to the ground for a second, dazed. With lumbering steps, Bastiodon advanced on her.

Koa tensed. "Rascal!" he shouted.

From the sidelines, the referee angled herself to get a better look at the Tyrantrum.

"Rascal, can you fight?" Koa called.

Bastiodon narrowed his eyes and lowered his head, ready to deal a finishing blow.

Rascal's eyes snapped open. A wild, frenzied light shone in them. She let loose a sound from her jaws that made the hair on Koa's arms stand on end and made his heart race. A feral roar, as she had when fighting Blackout.

She charged. Bastiodon bellowed and sent a rock spire erupting towards her. With a swipe of a glowing claw, she knocked the Stone Edge aside, then swung at Bastiodon, knocking him so hard he staggered and collapsed.

Koa almost beamed. A certain KO in Bastiodon's state.

She didn't seem to notice, swinging her claw against and slashing the downed Bastiodon's plated skull. Koa's eyes widened. What—

Flames surged from Rascal's maw. Then she snatched Bastiodon up by the frill of his skull and shook him like a houndour shaking a rattata before flinging him across the field into a boulder. Bastiodon fell still.

Koa opened his mouth to congratulate her, but was drowned out as she planted her feet and lowered her massive head to loom over Bastiodon. Her lips curled back. Then her jaws parted and she roared, a great bellowing cry of dominance and primal anger.

Bastiodon didn't get up. Byron returned him wordlessly, then nodded.

A weighty sigh escaped Koa and his chest unknotted. Rascal still stood over the spot where Bastiodon had vanished, a hungry glint in her eyes. He jogged toward her and reached out to put a hand on her leg, only for her to spin abruptly and snarl at him, the light of battle still shining in her eyes.

He flinched back, and the look in her eyes faded, replaced by a triumphant gleam. Koa tried to relax, but for a brief nagging moment it was hard to shake the unease. He'd won, and won well, but Rascal herself seemed out of sorts...

A loud and delighted shriek erupted from the stands, courtesy of Echo, followed by the rest of his team and Kitto clapping. Koa waved in appreciation.

Rascal basked in the praise for a moment, then leaned down and tapped her pokeball, returning herself.

"Take a rest," he murmured, "you earned it." He turned as Byron approached.

"Good battle," Byron said with an approving nod. "Even without learning Fire Fang, your Tyrantrum would have won." Despite the approval, there was a challenge to his tone. "And most importantly, you were more in sync with her. For most of the battle."

"Thanks," Koa replied earnestly. He still felt uneasy given how savagely she'd ended the fight. And it was hard to miss the pointed tone Byron had.

"Mind if I ask how she evolved?"

Koa shifted on his feet. He didn't really feel like recounting everything. "It was, uh... tough battle," he began carefully.

Byron gave him a knowing look. "Iron Island, Team Blackout, right?" At Koa's surprised expression, he added, "Look, kid. I ain't here to lecture you. I'm a gym leader, I stay apprised of what happens around my city. You don't gotta tell me everything, just the gist."

Koa frowned. "We got dragged into a fight with Team Blackout. It was getting... rough. She was a Tyrunt, and someone was about to attack. I think... she would have lost. But she was protecting me too. And angry. I guess that was the final push for her."

"I see," Byron murmured, nodding. He folded his arms and stared for a moment into the distance. "Evolution is different for every pokemon. And every circumstance is unique. My Bastiodon evolved from a little Shieldon to protect me from a territorial Steelix. But the experience changed him. As strong as evolution made him, it also deepened his protective instinct into worry and over-protectiveness, for a time."

Byron met Koa's gaze with a firm stare. "The circumstances of a pokemon's evolution can have a significant impact on them."

"But my other pokemon..." he began.

Byron quickly shook his head. "It's not like what you're thinking, and it's different for every pokemon. Especially pokemon revived from a fossil. They still carry buried instincts from an ancient time, when fighting for survival looked much different than it does today."

He folded his arms as he continued. "Think of it like this. Humans get to change and grow little by little, day by day. And getting stronger is a slow, ponderous process." He gestured to Koa's team, watching still from the sidelines.

"A pokemon can go from being two feet tall to towering over everyone and having an entirely different body in the blink of an eye. They're designed for it, but it can be challenging too. Evolution is complicated for pokemon. It's not just physical for them. It can be emotional, mental and something more. Like a rite of passage. A change of..." He let out a thoughtful sigh. "It would be like a bit of lead becoming gold one day."

Koa nodded, even though the lead analogy felt lost on him. "So Rascal evolving like she did... could have affected her negatively somehow?"

"Possibly," Byron said with a nod. "Imagine going for a jog one morning, then suddenly you come home and you're twenty feet tall and can kick through a wall. It would be jarring. Evolving under stress can have a big impact. Every pokemon has different reactions."

The mental image of himself as tall as Rascal and being able to kick through walls made him chuckle inside. "Okay... I think I understand. Thank you."

Byron seemed to approve, patting Koa on the shoulder. "One more thing, kid. Remember. Pokemon aren't like humans. They're smart, but their instincts are different. Especially for her. She's the ruler of a world that doesn't exist anymore, where survival was won through strength and skill. That's why there's regulations around reviving fossil pokemon."

Koa forced himself to meet Byron's steely gaze so the gym leader knew he was serious. "I'll keep that in mind."

Byron clapped him on the shoulder. "Good, I'm glad you're aware, kid. I'm sure you two will be fine, I can tell she cares a lot about you and you care about her. If you ever need more advice, though, feel free to call me or my son, Roark. He's great with fossil pokemon as well. He told me about your little tussle with that Cranidos of his." He reached into the pocket of his pants and withdrew a case.

"That aside, I'd say you've earned this." He took out a badge and held it out to Koa.

Holding back a wide grin, Koa accepted it, nodding in thanks. Another cheer went up from the stands where his team sat. One step closer.

Byron made his way off the gym field as Kitto and Koa's team descended from the bleachers. Almost immediately, Echo and the rest of the team piled around him, shreeing and squeaking in congratulations.

Rascal emerged from her ball again of her own accord, clearly delighted to bask in the praise. Flurry in particular was gazing up at Rascal, eyes shining with admiration. She butted up against Rascal's leg and clapped her fins together. Rascal replied by bumping her gently with her snout and snorting, ruffling her fur.

Koa privately wondered if Flurry was a little envious and excited in her own way to evolve and grow stronger. She didn't seem to be obviously close, but she was much stronger than the little baby who'd emerged from that egg so many weeks ago.

Scrapper pumped his fist in the air, then playfully socked Rascal in the thigh, only to draw back and shake his fist. She huffed lightheartedly, looking smug, as if to say, 'Now who's tougher?'

Hazard chittered dismissively at that. Despite his feigned disdain, Koa could see the pride and respect from the little electric type, and he was sure Rascal noticed too, as she dipped her head to him.

Then Anubis stepped up, his eyes narrowed, and met Rascal's gaze. He barked what seemed to be a congratulations as well, before snorting and giving a low rumble. Was that... disapproval? Rascal seemed to tense, then shifted, a flicker of annoyance forming in her eyes.

Before Koa could reflect on Anubis's behavior, Kitto came up and ruffled his hair. "Congratulations!"

Jackie came up with Kitto and gave Koa a fist bump.

Koa spoke, grinned. "Thanks! It was closer than I thought it would be, honestly. I really wanna help Rascal work on dodging and getting used to her new body, though." Rascal huffed, but nodded in agreement.

"Jackie can put her through some paces later, I'm sure. Still, that was good thinking, disrupting his momentum. Byron's Bastiodon is really something."

A sudden thought occurred to Koa and his gaze shifted briefly to Jackie. "Oh yeah, you must have fought him before, right, if you got your badge here?"

Kitto nodded. "It was a while ago. The real issue was working on Jackie's endurance and only striking when we had a sure hit. No wasted movement. We had an offensive advantage but Jackie had to work hard to knock out Byron's team."

Jackie punctuated Kitto's remark by slamming his fists together.

As he listened, Koa took out his badge case and added the newest one, taking a moment to admire the set. Two left. Amusing that it was the same two Kitto hadn't gotten yet. "Any chance you're gonna challenge the last two gyms?" he asked curiously. "I'm about to surpass you, you know."

"Not a chance. Of you surpassing me. But maybe I'll pop over to the last two cities and get them before you anyway." Kitto grinned, his eyes flashing teasingly.

Koa chuckled and shook his head, though he realized that getting his badge meant he'd be hitting the road again soon, and so would Kitto. He'd gotten used to Kitto's presence in their time at Iron Island. And Scrapper would probably miss his favorite training partner...

Not a thought he wanted to dwell on. Better to worry for now about celebrating their victory. "I'm gonna—"

A loud growl cut off Koa, and he turned to see Rascal and Anubis glowering at each other, bodies tensed. Anubis gave a sharp bark, his tail lashing in agitation. Rascal rumbled dangerously, then slammed her tail on the ground. Flurry rolled between the two, squeaking plaintively to try and break them apart.

Anubis stamped a paw down and made a motion with his head to dismiss her. Her face fell and she drew back. Rascal glanced at Flurry, then Anubis. Then she rose up, staring down disdainfully at Anubis.

Before Koa could decide how to intervene, Rascal promptly gave a final irritated huff and returned herself to her pokeball. An awkward silence fell for a moment between the remaining pokemon, with Flurry looking particularly crestfallen, then Anubis padded over and returned himself as well.

Koa winced internally and saw Kitto frown as well.

"What was that?" Kitto murmured.

His brow furrowed. "I guess Rascal wasn't in the mood for Anubis giving advice on her battle performance," he murmured. He reached down and patted Flurry comfortingly. "Don't worry, they'll work it out."

All of his team had had their moments before, and he remembered how Anubis had taken a while to get used to the others. He felt sure that they would inevitably simmer down. If they were still mad later, maybe he'd try to talk to them, but he wanted to give them their space too, given how stubborn Rascal was.

"Anyways," he said, turning to Kitto. "I figured I'd get the team something special to celebrate for dinner. Care to join?"

"Only if you're not cooking," Kitto retorted, elbowing Koa.

Koa shoved him back. "Ha ha. Just for that I'm burning your portion."

"Sure, I'll join. I could go for a good meal."

Koa grinned. "Great! I actually have a recipe I want to try." Scrapper chirped, his eyes glowing in excitement, and tugged on Koa's jacket. He turned to Scrapper, briefly surprised to see how excited he looked. "Oh yeah, you can help if you want."

Returning his team, save for Hazard, Koa started towards the gym's exit, his thoughts turning towards his plans for dinner, and beyond. They walked in amiable silence until they neared the exit.

An exhibit in a glass case in the lobby caught Koa's eye. Among a set of fossils sat a fossilized impression of an Unown that resembled a question mark. One of the rarer Unown variants.

Koa paused by the door, frowning in thought. "Actually, you can go on ahead if you want. I have something I want to do first..."

After bidding temporary farewell to Kitto, who was going off to explore the area around the town more and train, Koa changed direction from buying food, and instead made his way to the pokemon center. Seeing the Unown impression had sparked an idea of someone else who might be able to offer help.

Ten minutes later, he was in front of one of the screens in the pokemon center lobby, and the phone was ringing. Just when he was preparing himself for the disappointment of Dragonwood being too busy, the line picked up and his friendly face appeared on screen.
"Koa!" he exclaimed, his gaze lighting up. "I have to say, I wasn't expecting to hear from you, my boy. How have you been?"

"Good!" he replied, finding himself smiling. "I defeated Byron today, thanks to my Tyrantrum." Dragonwood gave his congratulations and Koa continued. "I actually wanted to get your opinion on something," he said carefully.

"Oh! About legendaries?" Dragonwood asked, his eyes gleaming with interest.

The hesitancy in Koa's chest eased and he nodded. "Do you think everything that's been happening with the legendaries could just be some kind of mental trick? Like illusions from a Stantler or Misdreavus?"

Dragonwood raised an eyebrow, looking surprised. "Hm... Not personally, no. I admit that's... not quite the theory I expected to hear from you."

"Oh no," Koa said, shaking his head. "Not me. I was at Canalave Library and ran into someone. You know Callahan? He suggested the idea."

"You met Callahan?" Dragonwood's gaze sparked with curiosity. "Fantastic researcher in his day. Quite the showboat, but he's got the knowledge and experience to back it... shame he's put so much time into his seminars instead of research," he murmured.

"You know him?"

"Of course! The researcher's world is a small one when it comes to legends these days. His work on the myths of Johto is unparalleled. Shame about the incident with his partner. We used to be good acquaintances, in fact, though he's been preoccupied lately, I think. 'Internal illusions' is not my prevailing theory, but I suppose it's not impossible. Of course, one would need to account for the damage caused as well..." He trailed off, briefly lost in thought, then looked back at the screen. "I take it you are of a differing opinion?"

Koa nodded hesitantly. "If it was just an illusion, like Zoroark, it wouldn't have power. And it's not the actual legendary. I... I saw two Entei at Amity, I'm sure of it. But... it was strong. My Houndoom was hit by its attacks and it was hurt pretty bad, more than ordinary battle damage."

Dragonwood nodded, listening intently, and Koa found himself grateful for someone else to turn to. "And I don't think a Ditto could hold a form like that, it would require too much power and skill. And someone catching Mew and controlling it is hard to believe."

Even Rocket had supposedly never managed, only finding a hair of it. Of all the legends, Mew was especially elusive, given how it could teleport at will, disguise itself and even turn invisible. By comparison, many other legends were easier. It was part of why Galactic had managed to have the Lake Spirits caught...

"Hm. Yes, I agree... Occam's razor would state that a fake legendary is more likely than tricking people through mass illusions..." Dragonwood hummed in thought for a long moment, gazing off into space. Finally he looked back at the screen. "So what is your theory?"

Koa exhaled. "Well... If it's faking or imitating a legendary, then maybe..." He trailed off, wondering if his theory sounded stupid. "...There's myths about the Original One and the Thousand Arms, right? About the creation of the world and legendaries? Maybe someone created something resembling a legendary." The thought was a chilling one, but it made some degree of sense, if the goal was luring out real legends.

Dragonwood looked surprised, but intrigued. "Arceus and Unown?" he tapped his chin, gazing into the distance as he recited, "At the birth of the universe, the Original reached out with a Thousand Arms and shaped endless chaos into finite Order."

The passage was familiar to Koa, one he had read before in its many variations and translations and speculations. First dismissed as an exaggerated myth, then passed off as a metaphor, and then only much later thought to be closer to a poetic but somewhat literal description of Arceus and the Unown.

As much as the idea unnerved him, it'd been the only theory to pop into his head that wasn't about illusions or hallucinations. "There's stories about how they can alter reality or form new things, right?" He even remembered one about the origins of humans being related to them.

"Yes, that's true. You know, a friend of mine told me about a legend of a small village that had an encounter with a group of Unown. Just five of them cast the village into eternal night, until the spell was broken. And you aren't the first to find an ancient plate in ruins with Unown."

Koa nodded. Right, the plate… Arceus plates... "So you think it is connected?"

"They could be..." Dragonwood shook his head slowly. "Though in all my years I have never seen Unown do such a thing, nor heard of it in history. Altering environments, yes. Making new pokemon? Legendary ones? Not in recorded history. So much about the actual creation of the legends is still unknown, pardon the pun," he said, chuckling. "I am not sure if they could just create another. Or even sure that they are truly the ones who created the first legends."

That made Koa raise an eyebrow. "You think something else made legendaries?"

"I do believe Arceus did, but the exact mechanics... well, that I am less confident about. Historical legends only mention the thousand arms shaping the universe. Perhaps there is more to it than we know." Dragonwood gestured to the lab behind him. "Even in the short few months I have studied the Unown you helped me catch, I know very little... Whatever power they wield doesn't seem to be the kind they access of their own accord or even at my request."

"Of their own accord?" Koa blinked. "You mean you think they can't even choose to use it if they wanted?"

Dragonwood shook his head. "Truly, I'm not sure. While they're quite happy to hang around my lab and mooch off my food supply, they do not seem interested in doing much more. Perhaps it is indeed some other power needed to form legends, not Unown. I suppose it could be they need Arceus to do so." His mouth twisted into a wry grin. "Though they do make fun companions for game night. Particularly Scrabble. I have yet to win a single match against them. However... Personally I suspect they have found a way to cheat."

Koa chuckled at the thought. Brief relief and disappointment alike flickered through him. He'd hoped he'd made progress with his theory but it felt like he was once again in the dark, back at square one. "So you don't think someone could be using Unown?"

"I wouldn't dismiss it entirely, though as for if it is more or less unlikely than psychic projections or illusions... It would theoretically take a large number working in tandem and under someone's control. To acquire so many feels unlikely. Even catching the group I did was a feat, and I can't for the life of me get them to do much."

"What else could... could fake a legendary, then?" He felt like he'd wracked his brain a thousand times over. He'd even considered the outlandish theories about the regis having been created by humans (which he was sure they weren't, Regigigas had done that), before tossing aside the idea. But if someone had discovered a way of making one, or something like one..

There was a long pause as Dragonwood seemed to consider. "Perhaps I don't have an immediate answer but I happen to have access to additional research not available to the public or available in any library. I'll review what I have and get back to you if I find anything."

Excitement and apprehension swelled inside Koa. It wasn't exactly a lead, but it was something, at least. And if Dragonwood could find something, maybe it could lead him to the truth. "Thank you," he said earnestly.

"While I have you, Koa, there's something you might be interested in." Dragonwood moved away from the screen for a moment, and there was the sound of some shuffling and moving about, before he returned, holding a leatherbound journal.

"You've heard of 'mizumi no michi'? Or as it's called, the 'Way of the Lakes'?"

Koa tipped his head. "Yeah... that was a Hisuian practice, right? A way to gain favor...? Those seeking guidance would make a trip to each of the ancient lakes and perform a ritual to honor the lake spirits. Supposedly at the end of the journey one of the spirits would appear to them and bestow them some kind of gift or wisdom."

"Exactly right!" Dragonwood beamed. "I've recently come into possession of a journal with specific details about an ancient traveler undertaking the quest many centuries ago. I'm not able to make it back to Sinnoh, but I thought of you, if you're interested in stopping by the lakes as you complete your gym battles and recording anything you find?"

Koa fidgeted, glancing away from the screen for a moment. "I..." He was about to try and say he was too busy, which was only half true. The idea of actually seeking out the lake spirits on purpose made his skin crawl.

Truthfully the idea had crossed his mind even before his journey, but he'd always envisioned himself being much stronger before he properly encountered a legendary, and the lake spirits certainly weren't on the list. Zeraora had been an impulse. A terrible one at that.

Yet there was an allure behind the idea too. If they did actually show up, if the pilgrimage was real and he met one, maybe they could help... Maybe—

Why would they want to have anything to do with you? Doubt gnawed at him. He wanted to just refuse. Dragonwood had been kind, though, and he liked the professor. He liked helping him. What harm could it do to try, just for research?

"If it helps, consider it a trial run if you ever feel like joining my lab one day," Dragonwood said brightly. "I'll see to it that you're compensated for your time as well."

Koa chuckled awkwardly. "You don't have to, but sure, I'll help." He made himself smile and pushed down the lingering doubt. It was conveniently on his way, considering the lakes were near his last two badges.

A giddy grin came over Dragonwood's face and he clapped his hands together. "Excellent! I'll have a copy of the pages sent to you with the instructions and supplies. It's a bit involved, but it's very fascinating..."

For the next while Koa whittled the time away discussing the task, until the professor had to excuse himself.

"Once again, I appreciate you helping with my research, Koa! Even if you find nothing, it will be a valuable experience."

Koa smiled warmly. "Happy to help." A flicker of hope grew in him. He hung up and exited the pokemon center with a bounce in his step. The prospect of additional news from Dragonwood was at least something. Not to mention perhaps it would be possible to contact Sinnoh's lake spirits. Maybe, just maybe, he could try and ask for their help to find out the truth.

After leaving, he beelined towards the pokemart. The prospect of visiting the lakes filled him with a new excitement, and he was eager to make preparations to leave Canalave. Hazard on his shoulder, he restocked his traveling supplies first, making sure to grab a few small containers of spices to keep while journeying and plenty of potions.

This time of year, there would be more trainers on the road with the league conference slowly approaching, and it'd give him plenty of opportunity to redouble his training.

Once he'd picked up everything he thought he'd need, he stopped by the food mart before heading home. By the time he'd finished shopping (and dragged Echo away from the aisle with honey, only after buying their second fanciest jar), it was later than he'd expected. His stomach was protesting the wait, and he almost wanted to cave and just order takeout, but he figured this would be his last time cooking in a kitchen for a while.

Kitto met him as he arrived back at his house. While his team made themselves comfortable around the house and outside, Koa headed into the kitchen with Scrapper. He set out his recipe, and then his ingredients.

It was a simple one, a spicy honey curry. He still wasn't overly fond of cooking, but he did enjoy treating his team. It was one blend of flavors he thought they'd all like. And he'd found a variety pack of donuts on sale for dessert. They were iced with a variety of berry-based flavors, ranging from sour to dry, bitter and sweet.

He pulled out a stool and handed a knife to Scrapper, who quickly got started chopping vegetables. Letting his mind wander, he started pulling out some pans for cooking, briefly grateful for Blake's fastidiousness and well-stocked kitchen.

Outside, he could see Flurry and Echo in the yard, playing what appeared to be a game of tag. The sight made him grin. As he kept watching between trying to prepare the dinner, he realized it was too coordinated and deliberate for a game. Echo would dive at Flurry at different angles, and Flurry would roll or hop to the side to dodge. She'd also retaliate with bursts of ice and water.

She was training. In a rather unusual way too, from what he could tell. Instead of her usual antics of rolling around the battlefield, she was staying fairly still, minimizing movement. Why would she-

She's training to evolve, he realized. For when she became a Sealeo. She'd need to be accustomed to a whole new body.

His thoughts turned back to his conversation with Byron.

"You ever think about how weird it would be to evolve?" he mused out loud as he watched Flurry and Echo.

Kitto stopped the game of cards he'd been playing with Jackie and glanced up. "Not often," he admitted. "Downside of being human," he added with a chuckle.

Koa hummed in reply, his thoughts drifting. Anubis had grown a little bigger and Rascal had gotten much bigger. But Echo had gotten eyes, then extra wings and Scrapper changed completely. Flurry would change a lot from her little round body when she became a Sealeo. And eventually a Walrein. What would it be like, to be a pokemon and know that one day everything you had grown accustomed to could change in an instant? He wondered what he'd feel like if he suddenly didn't have legs or arms one day. Or if he really did triple in size like Byron had said.

He couldn't help but think about Avis's Glameow, who must have liked her lithe body. And of course, Hazard, who clearly enjoyed his form.

"If you could be any pokemon, what would you want to be?" The question came to Koa somewhat unexpectedly, but it'd always been a fun curiosity. It was a common conversation topic among trainers, and the subject of many a questionable personality test on Buzzybuzz-feed.

"Hitmonchan, obviously," Kitto replied immediately. He glanced at Jackie with a smirk. "I'd beat you for sure then."

The Hitmonchan 'hmphed', rolling his eyes and crossing his arms.

"So you'd want to evolve? If you were a Tyrogue?" Koa set up the pan on the stove, glancing over to see Scrapper organizing the vegetables into neat piles. The Breloom ever so carefully extricated a single errant piece of pepper from the pile of chopped onions and moved it back to the pile of peppers.

Kitto leaned back, rubbing his chin. "I'd say yeah. But that's not such a huge change from Tyrogue. Not like some pokemon. What about you?"

Koa dumped the vegetables into the pan and gathered up the seasonings he'd bought. "I thought about being a Manectric or something, but it'd be neat to be something really cool. A dragon or something with wings, like a Salamence. I'd like to fly."

"That uh... blue dragon from Hoenn? Doesn't it start without wings?"

Eyeing his seasonings, Koa sniffed them experimentally before sprinkling some in. "Yeah. That's what would make it fun."

Kitto coughed lightly, inclining his head toward Koa. "Overseason," he said.

Koa nodded and added more curry powder. "If I was a pokemon I think I'd want to evolve. Get bigger and stronger. It seems cool, you know?"

Hazard, who watched from his perch on top of the toaster, clicked his mandibles and then made a disdainful chitter. Overrated.

Scrapper turned around and stuck his tongue out at Hazard. The two had a stare down for several seconds, until Scrapper ended up blinking first. Hazard triumphantly fluffed out his fur, pride in his gaze. Scrapper scowled and muttered under his breath. Something about Hazard being a cheater and 'compound eyes', was the impression Koa got.

He suppressed a laugh and turned back to his cooking. "I think the gym battle must have gotten Flurry excited to evolve. Maybe her training like this means she's getting close." He poked at the vegetables as they sizzled in the pan, trying to judge if they'd cooked enough. "What about Jackie, how did he evolve?"

Jackie and Kitto shared a glance, a gleam in Jackie's eye. Scrapper turned to listen with interest.

"I'll tell you under one condition."

Koa narrowed his eyes. "What?" he asked carefully, wondering what Kitto could have in mind. Hopefully not some crazy training idea...

He grinned slyly. "You don't burn dinner."

Koa's eyes widened and he glanced at the pan of food, only to see Scrapper carefully holding it off the stovetop and giving him a pointed glare.

The Breloom jabbed Koa in the side and barked sharply before thrusting the pan at Koa.

He took it sheepishly and added it to a large pot of stock. "So? Tell us."

Kitto leaned back in his chair and shared a glance with Jackie before running a hand through his hair. "We met ahh... good couple years ago. I was traveling through Johto alone—"

"Alone?" Koa asked curiously. "Why—"

Kitto gave him a withering glare that said, 'Let me tell the story,' before continuing, "Alone, when one day I stumble across a clan of wild Tyrogue. Apparently they were lining up to challenge trainers traveling on the route, to try and find a trainer. Strongest to weakest, and they'd have contests every day to decide who was first." He smirked and pointed at Jackie. "He was just a Tyrogue. Weakest in the whole clan. No chance of making it anywhere, much less finding a trainer." A playful note crept into his tone.

Jackie rolled his eyes.

With a smirk, he continued. "I figured I'd help a little and offered to train him. We trained for a time but... it didn't help." Kitto's voice grew serious. "Jackie couldn't use a lot of moves and tired quickly."

Koa raised an eyebrow. It was hard to picture the tough Hitmonchan being a weak Tyrogue with barely any stamina.

"His chances of even evolving were low. Long story short, we figured out a new way to fight, but when the time came to battle a trainer..."

Jackie punched his fists together.

"Guess Jackie found me more impressive than the other trainer, heh. So he fought me instead. Hand to hand. I won, that didn't sit right with Jackie so he evolved and knocked my lights out. When I woke up we decided we worked pretty well together. We've been traveling ever since."

Koa chuckled and shook his head. Somehow, 'got punched out by a newly evolved Hitmonchan after fighting him' felt exactly right for them. The memory of his own desire to catch a Tyrogue so long ago came to his mind. I wonder how things would have gone if I did. Perhaps he would never have ventured into the marsh and met Scrapper. A grateful smile crossed his face as he glanced at the Breloom.

Now more than ever he understood what Rowan and Blake had been trying to subtly (or not so subtly) get him to see when he'd been obsessively planning his team.

As he continued to cook, a question nagged at the back of his mind and he got sick of ignoring it. "So what are your plans? I'm gonna head north soon to visit that bug festival, after I stop by Lake Verity."

Kitto hummed, chewing thoughtfully before sharing a glance with Jackie. "If it's no particular bother, we could join you."

Koa was caught off guard momentarily before he grinned. "Sure." A hint of excitement and relief colored his reply. He'd be glad to have a traveling companion and sparring partner. Scrapper chirped in excitement and fistbumped Jackie.

The ever-strengthening scent of the curry pulled him from his thoughts and he turned down the heat. He grinned triumphantly as he looked over at Kitto. "Not burnt!"

Dinner was a brief but tasty affair, with his team quickly devouring their portions and everyone more absorbed with eating than talking. Koa was pleased to see that all of his team clearly enjoyed their portions much more than some of his prior cooking attempts.

After dinner, his team returned to their balls to sleep off their meals, and Koa set to packing, then tidying the house. To his dismay, the cleaning proved much more time-consuming than he expected. He'd underestimated just how much dirt and mess his team had made.

Kitto pitched in, along with Jackie, which he was thankful for. They worked in companionable silence for a time. Koa was in the middle of wiping off the counters when Kitto spoke.

"Are you going to call Blake before we leave?"

He stiffened. The argument flashed to the forefront of his mind, and he scrubbed the counter more than necessary. Why should he? Did Kitto think he somehow needed to handle it? Blake had been the one acting out.

Snorting, Koa shook his head. "You mean is he going to call me?" He shot Kitto a pointed look, but he was busy wiping the table.

Kitto tucked the chairs under the table. "Look," he began carefully. "I'm just saying—"

Without meaning to, Koa rolled his eyes. "Saying? There's nothing to say. You heard him."

Silence ticked away as Kitto crossed to the corner and grabbed a broom. "I did. And I'm not trying to tell you who's wrong." His voice was unusually clipped. "And I never said you have to apologize."

Koa's hand curled into a fist and he turned his back, focusing all his attention on throwing out the napkin he'd used.

"Your cousin—"

"You don't know him." Words slipped out through gritted teeth. He could feel the knot in his chest tightening and tightening. "There's nothing to talk about and it's not your—" Not your business. Clenching his jaw, he bit the sour words off guiltily. Kitto didn't deserve his ire, and he didn't want to repeat the way he'd behaved before.

"It's— It's not... It's complicated."

Kitto stopped sweeping and gave him a glare that pinned Koa in place. "I know. But I know he cares about you. I know he's not perfect but I can see that much. So as I was saying" – his voice dropped to low, punctuated sentences – "I was asking if you're going to talk to him. That's it."

Unable to look at Kitto anymore, Koa stared at the empty sink, wishing for all the world he could jump out the window and forget this conversation happened.

The myriad emotions that he always nudged aside began to bubble up. He grabbed a wet glass from the rack and a towel and began drying it, wishing he could wipe away the tension in the air as easily as the water. How many times had he and Blake done this? "What's the point?" he muttered at the already dry glass. He put it in the cabinet and began drying another. Blake would never understand, never agree with his goal. He couldn't...

When he looked over, Kitto was standing with his back to him, sweeping. "Someone who cares about you is a rare thing, Koa. I... I know it can be complicated. But all I'm saying is that you shouldn't take that for granted." His grip on the broom tightened. "Not that you are but even if you don't agree, you don't have to be enemies."

Koa blinked, somewhat taken aback by the somberness of Kitto's tone. He opened his mouth, half ready to blurt something out, then quickly closed it. Blake's history wasn't his place... He shook the thought away. "Yeah." It was all he could say. "Yeah, I get it."

He stared out the window, blanking out his train of thought before it could veer into any dark corners. "...I'll try."

XXX

By the time they finished, even with Kitto's help (and Echo's less helpful but well intentioned assistance later), Koa felt more than tired enough to turn in early for the night. Once he'd set up the spare bed for Kitto, he could feel the weariness in his bones.

Without a second thought, Koa practically collapsed onto his bed, mumbling a 'good night' to Kitto.

However, to his dismay, sleep escaped him once he was lying down. With the only company being the dark room and Kitto's steady breaths, his mind was free to wander. His thoughts danced between legendaries and Blake and Team Blackout and a thousand other things he didn't want to dwell on. Unconsciously, he brushed his fingers across the Ho-Oh feather. His Ho-Oh feather.

Tomorrow, he'd be back on the road, traveling. But not alone. His gaze drifted to Kitto, who looked to be fast asleep. His thoughts turned again to their brief conversation earlier. He'd never seen Kitto like... that before. Emotional, in a different way than his blazing passion. Koa wasn't sure what to make of it.

For a second, he was struck by the thought that he knew so little about Kitto before they'd met. About his past... And he knows nothing about you. Maybe better to leave things be. Questions usually invoked questions.

And yet... He had sounded troubled earlier. It was an odd contrast to his usual calm and confident demeanor. What doubts and fears did he carry? Koa was used to thinking of him as confident, passionate and determined, but after their talk tonight, he wondered what lay beneath the surface.

Kitto had always had his back. Maybe he could return the favor somehow. He wasn't sure how, but if he could, he wanted to.

Eventually, exhaustion got the better of his racing thoughts, and he drifted off to sleep.

---

AN: Well well, it seems Koa has some fears and secrets of his own he wishes to keep in his past... What could they be?

And perhaps Kitto has more struggles than he often lets on.

Next chapter: A visit to a certain lake nearby...

Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed. I am committed still to finishing this fic, and writing it the way I want, so I can finally craft the sort of fic I wanted to read. I have many plans and surprises laid out, and I hope readers enjoy them.

Expect chapter 30 near the beginning of June, as Koa sets out from Canalave towards new places, including fulfilling a goal for Prof Dragonwood, even if he is oddly reticent and uneasy about visiting the lakes...

 

[Flyg0n]

Welcome back! I hope you enjoyed the last chapter. Koa earned his gym badge from Byron, although Rascal seems to still be adjusting to her evolution. Koa has also received a mission from Prof Dragonwood to visit Sinnoh's sacred lakes to perform an ancient ritual. What will he find there?

Team:

Echo [Male Crobat]

Hazard [Male Joltik]

Rascal [Female Tyrantrum]

Anubis [Male Houndoom]

Scrapper [Male Breloom]

Flurry [Female Spheal]

---

Chapter 30: Verity Verity I Say Unto You​

Koa's eyes snapped open and he glanced at his Poketch to check the time. Just before six am. He'd beat Scrapper to the punch. He'd spied Jackie training with the Breloom the night before, so maybe they'd tired each other out. With a grin, he crept out of bed, doing his best not to disturb Kitto yet.

A pair of yellow eyes cracked open in the darkness overhead. Echo, who was hanging from his ceiling fan, eyed him curiously. Koa made a shushing motion, and Echo closed his eyes and went back to sleep. He wanted his team to be well-rested before they started traveling again, and there was no need for them to be awake yet.

Downstairs, the house was still. It felt oddly empty without Blake but Koa pushed aside the twinge in his gut and focused on the errands he still had to run. And how hungry he was.

After scarfing down a few bites of leftovers to tide him over, he headed out the door. Rascal dozed in the side yard, her huge bulk taking up most of the space. Blake's Scyther was glaring daggers at her sleeping form, which was crushing the grass in the yard.

To his surprise, Flurry of all pokemon was tucked against Rascal's ruff, looking comically tiny next to the ancient pokemon. Not surprising, given how starry eyed she'd been seeing Rascal's battle against Byron.

Halfway down the walkway, he stopped short. Anubis was laying in the corner of the yard, eyes wide open and gaze locked on Rascal. The Houndoom's brow was furrowed and his gaze locked on Rascal. His head rested on his paws and tension kept his body still.

Koa whistled to him.

Anubis blinked and turned to look. His thin tail wagged as he spotted Koa and after a final glance at Rascal, he rose to his paws and loped over. He bounced a little on his paws as he nuzzled Koa.

Grinning, Koa scratched Anubis behind the horns and stroked his fur. It always amused him to see Anubis' cheerful side come out when he was alone. "Want to come on a walk?"

Anubis huffed and glanced back at Flurry and Rascal.

"I could use the company," Koa added. Which wasn't entirely a lie. No sense letting Anubis stew in his thoughts if something was bothering him. He got the sense Anubis wasn't thrilled about Flurry being so interested in Rascal.

Anubis gave a soft bark in agreement and nuzzled Koa's hand with his warm, wet nose.

With the Houndoom by his side, Koa set out into the city.

XXX

The morning slipped by faster than Koa expected, thanks to Anubis keeping him company. Canalave was quiet this time of morning, which made navigating and running his errands easy. He finished last minute shopping, restocking his stores of food, potions and berries. There was even time to pick up some new traveling clothes, this time ones that were higher quality, made with spinarak thread.

Finally, he swung by the pokemon center to pick up the package Dragonwood had sent over. The nurse handed him a sturdy, lightweight wooden crate. Inside were several neatly wrapped objects: Clippings from particular rare plants, a special bowl, an assortment of flowers and stones and a single Pumkin berry.

Koa waited patiently in the pokemon center as Anubis sniffed the package thoroughly, snuffling all around and inside it. Finally the Houndoom looked expectantly at Koa.

"It's for the lake spirits. Remember Dragonwood?"

Anubis nodded intently.

"This is for that research I'm helping him with. There's a special ceremony to honor them by creating an arrangement of flowers and stones. The rocks are from the caves they supposedly reside in, and the flowers and plants are from ancient Hisui." He held up a journal from the box. "And some kind of blessing I'm supposed to say."

Koa packed everything away into his bag as Anubis watched. He got the impression that while Anubis wasn't one to be into the ceremony, he was nonetheless intrigued on Koa's behalf. "I'm hoping maybe Mesprit might show up. It's... It's a longshot but maybe it can help tell me something about all this stuff with Entei."

With the streets still empty, Koa found himself keeping up conversation with Anubis as they made their way to their next stop.

"The ceremony is kind of strange. People don't really worship legendary pokemon like they used to. I mean, a few areas do. Celestic, Hearthome." He grinned down at Anubis. "The region your species is from, Johto, is still pretty big on it in some places. But mostly people respect and revere them."

He frowned. "Or well, they used to."

Anubis gave a low whine and cocked his head questioningly.

Koa patted his head. "I'm fine. It's just... annoying. Everyone is blaming them for all those attacks. Like the thing that attacked us in Amity."

The memory made Anubis growl and snort a puff of smoke. Bringing it up made a shiver crawl down Koa's spine and he reflexively rubbed his wrist where he'd sprained it.

A mystery for later. Dwelling on the past wouldn't do any good.

Getting his other errands done quickly left just enough space to squeeze in an early walk-in at the barbershop. His hair was growing a bit too long for his taste, and he didn't want to linger in Jubilife getting it done. And if he waited any longer than that he'd end up with hair long enough for a ponytail.

The barbershop was empty of customers so he found himself alone with the barber, whose name tag read Argento. Anubis settled down to wait in the lobby while Koa took a seat on the barber's chair. Soon the steady snip of scissors filled the silence.

To his dismay, Argento felt it necessary to break it. "So you're a trainer?" he asked, his tone amicable.

Koa almost nodded, then stopped himself. "Yeah."

Snip snip."So how long you been training? Got any badges?"

Koa tapped his hand against his leg, under the chair cloth. "Uh... A few months now?" He hadn't really been keeping track, he realized. "I just got my sixth badge," he added, unable to help himself from grinning proudly.

Argento paused for a moment, and Koa saw him nod in the mirror, evidently impressed. "Takes most trainers almost six months to get that many badges. Pretty impressive."

Warm pride filled Koa, and he shot Anubis a grin where he lay in the waiting area.

"Who do you have for your last two?"Snip. Argento tilted Koa's head forward and he resisted an impatient sigh.

"Yeah. I'm going to Sunyshore and Snowpoint next."

Argento snipped away at the top of Koa's hair, measured, then snipped again. Koareallyhoped he wasn't cutting too much. He swore some barbers were like Weavile with how much they enjoyed snipping things.

He gave a low whistle. "Can't say I envy ya. These days I don't feel safe traveling anywhere. Especially not so far by foot. What with all this news of legendary pokemon attacking people. Only a matter of time before the next one."

Bristling under the chair cloth, Koa almost turned around to glare at Argento before he stopped himself. "Legendary pokemon aren't attacking people. Besides there's no proof it was them, just sightings around the areas. It's something else."

Almost as if he didn't hear, Argento pressed on. "And Amity Square of all places! And then Snowpoint Temple! Not to mention all those thieves around. Blackout or whatever they call themselves. Bad omens if you ask me. Maybe legendary pokemon ain't so keen on humans anymore. Or they're fighting Sinnoh's beasts. Them regi-things."

Koa stopped himself from rolling his eyes.

He snipped away as he continued. "Nothings been right since the mountain got that curse on it I tell you, and it's all 'cause of whatever happened up there. Galactic and all. Probably the work of legendaries too."

Anger and some other emotion churned in Koa's chest, and a pit began to form in his stomach. Of coursetheyhad to come up. He gritted his teeth.

Out loud he simply said, "Uh huh."

"Just yesterday I met a couple trainers who are planning to take a break, and I had a Ranger in here telling me they've been doing extra patrols on routes." Argento tilted Koa's head back and kept on.

From the waiting area came the whisk whisk of Anubis' tail lashing back and forth across the tile. From the corner of his eye he could see Anubis watching, head raised.

Koa uncurled his grip on the fabric of his cargo pants. "Mhm." Debating the guy trimming his hair probably wasn't a good idea.

Either Argento had nothing more to say, or he got the hint. Regardless, a few minutes later, the barber pronounced the haircut complete.

Looking in the mirror, Koa was forced to admit he'd done an excellent job. His hair was short, but not too short, spiked at the top with bangs falling across his forehead. Though he could have done without the enlightened commentary. Leaving a good size tip, he hurried out of the shop and into fresh air.

His steps slowed and he stopped on the sidewalk, thoughts drifting with his gaze, until both settled on the distant shadowed peak of Mt. Coronet.

In the light of the early morning sun, some of the perpetually dark clouds around the upper levels appeared paler. Streaks of white snow showed through, though the very peak was still obscured.

What would he find, when he reached the top?

Blake's face, twisted with dismission, flashed through his mind. And with that, an image of Zeraora, looming over him in the storm. His stomach churned. What if Blake's fears were founded? What if Argento really was right? Humanity had done terrible things to legendary pokemon...

Blinking, he shook himself from the pit of emotions threatening to overwhelm him, unclenched his fists and kept walking.

Anubis gave a soft whine, and followed after.

XXX

A shiver of excitement ran down Koa's spine as they exited the city's south gate and stepped into the familiar forest south of Canalave. Though the path to the lake from Canalave wasn't an official Route, it was still traveled enough that there was a distinct trail, winding through the trees and over the grassy hills.

Before leaving, Koa had made sure to leave Blake a simple note detailing his plans. Sleeping on Kitto's words had made them less bitter, but he couldn't bring himself to call him yet.

The early morning sun warded off the chill from the lingering sea breezes and filled Koa with warm excitement. Echo glided above him, alternating between darting in and out of the trees and perching on Koa's backpack. The Crobat seemed especially full of energy today.

Kitto had only Kaze out, riding attentively on Kitto's shoulder. "So this...way of the lake thing, what exactly is it?" he asked as they walked. "Some kind of... summoning ritual?"

Koa quickly shook his head. "Not really. It's more ceremonial. A way to pay homage and respect to the lake spirits. You can't really summon a legendary like that, not these ones at least." Groudon and Kyogre had the orbs and Rayquaza sort of could. And of course therewereways to coerce Palkia and Dialga... "But there are stories from history where some legends have pacts with humans that they honor."

"Lugia and Ho-Oh with the bells," Kitto said, nodding in understanding.

"Right," Koa said with a nod. "The ceremony can't really physically force them to appear, but it might encourage them to show themselves. Especially since they've been more reclusive lately."

Kitto snorted. "You think it'll work? I don't get the impression legendaries would be keen on appearing after everything that's been going on. I've heard what those Galactic bastards tried to do."

A knot tightened in Koa's throat for a moment.Everything always came back to them.The last act in a long string of terrible atrocities. The breadth and depth of what they'd nearly pulled off— An image of red chains, a storm cloaked mountain peak and an ancient broken temple rose to the front of his mind.

Swallowing down his disgust, he continued on, managing to sound mostly unaffected. "It might work. The ritual could encourage them to come out of hiding. Plus, the lake spirits have always been close to humans. I'm hoping one of them might be inspired and appear, maybe... maybe give some advice or something."

If Kitto noticed his unease, he didn't say anything. "Sounds like a plan. Tell me more about these lake spirits. They must be important if Hisuins had a whole ritual for them."

"They're only important toeverything," Koa said, excitement sparking in his chest. "You know the story of how Arceus created the universe? Well supposedly when Arceus first created time and space and everything else, he placed his own soul and veryessenceinto a single egg. From that one egg, the three of them were born. Each of them represents a part of the soul. Knowledge, emotion, willpower. There's even an old legend that they're responsible for making the first humans.

And because they're born from Arceus, they have the power to control Palkia and Dialga." He faltered, then quickly added, "But more importantly to keep them from fighting..."

Or to use them.He continued quickly, skirting around the spiral of thoughts that threatened to overwhelm him. "And together with Arceus, they were the ones who granted a spirit to all of creation."

Kitto gave a low whistle. "Made by Arceus huh? Guess they're really strong then. You planning to battle one if they show up? Maybe catch it?"

"Definitely not," Koa said quickly. Catch one of them? The thought made him shudder. "They are strong, but not as strong as a lot of other legendaries in battle. Or raw power. The influence they have is what makes them so special. Wiping memories, erasing emotions, draining energy... Calming legendaries... They're unique. That's part of what makes legendaries different from mortal pokemon, they have some kind of influence that sets them apart."

He found himself smiling as he fell into easy conversation with Kitto about legendaries. After putting up with the barbers ramble it felt nice to ramble.

"If it wasn't for them we couldn't do anything. The world would look totally different. If any mythical or legendary from Sinnoh would appear to a human, they probably would."

Kaze gave a soft chirp from Kitto's shoulder, and Kitto nodded before turning to Koa. "...Mythical or legendary? There's not really a difference-"

Koa stopped and stared at Kitto. "Excuse me?" It was a longstanding debate among various professors exactly how 'legendary' pokemon were classified. Some claimed that all pokemon with unusual power and singular existences were legends, while others draw distinctions within the group.

And as far as Koa was concerned, there very much was a difference. Granted, it was hard to answer what that difference was until he had a chance to learn more but...

Still an important distinction. Even if not one that he usually thought of as a big deal. Especially since he personally counted them both as cool and would catch either. Mythicals were still special like legendaries and were like legendaries. It was a technical one, mainly. But he could not abide the idea of someone thinking they were actually interchangeable.

"They're the same," Kitto said simply. "Mythical and legendary just refer to the same kind of pokemon that are rare and possess unusual power-"

"No they are not!" He said indignantly. "What, isLugiaa mythical? Don't tell me you're one of those people who think there's no real difference."

Kitto narrowed his eyes, a playful light dancing in them. "If I said I did?"

Koa stared back. "You'd be wrong." The distinction was real and it was important and as much as he respected Kitto he couldn't help but feel utterly betrayed by the idea that he would fall on the wrong side of the debate.

"Okay, whatisthe difference then? Because it sounds like it changes all the time and they're all just strong, unusual pokemon with strange powers and origins. I mean you called that Zeora guy both, didn't you?" Kitto waved his hand.

Koa felt quite sure Kitto was mispronouncing Zeraora on purpose to annoy him, and resisted the urge to correct it. "I'm not talking about... aboutcolloquially," he said hotly, scrambling for the word he wanted. "I'm talking abouttechnically."

Kitto shrugged. "And they both are different from ordinary pokemon and have weird powers. The. Same."

Koa stopped walking and glared at him. "Is not!" he said. "I know more than you about this. I've read practically every book in the library about this!"

"Oh?" Kitto said with a grin. "Then tell me, what is the difference?"

Biting back an impulsive retort, Koa took a moment to consider. "Scope, for starters. Throughout history, pokemon like Celebi and Manaphy usually guard small areas, like particular seas or forests. Also their level of influence is more limited. Plus, several historical records indicate them appearing later on, after legendary pokemon like Groudon or Kyogre. Like Shaymin."

Kitto gave a mock laugh. "That's it? Mythicals have little territories and legendaries big ones?"

He glared pointedly. "No. There's evidence of their powers potentially being different, and their origins are too." Or well, he thought so, but he didn't plan to tell Kitto he was 'kind' of sure.

Kitto paused for a moment to eye him, grinning. "Welll... I suppose you do know your stuff. Guess you're not as dumb as you look."

Rolling his eyes, Koa shoved him before retorting, "wish I could say the same about you."

XXX

The trees finally thinned and Koa emerged onto the shore of Lake Verity. Glistening blue water spread out before him, so far he could only barely see the other side. The water lapped gently on the rocky shore, the sound broken up by the occasional chirping of Starly. Some yards away, a small colony of Bidoof gnawed at some trees. They turned to stare at the approaching strangers, dark eyes gleaming with suspicion.

Taking a deep breath, Koa started down toward the shore. Kitto had chosen to wait a short ways further inland, not wanting to disturb the pokemon or the ceremony. To think that less than a half a year ago he'd been not so far from this lake, starting his journey. Stopping a couple yards from the water's edge, he crouched in the damp sand and set down his backpack.

After a moment's hesitation, Koa withdrew the copy of the journal pages Dragonwood had sent over. He'd already read through the packet twice before. It was short, little more than a few pages compiled. The author never named himself, instead focusing on his journey and explaining he only wished to provide instruction to others seeking knowledge and understanding of the world.

Little sketches of local pokemon and plants filled much of the page, along with sketches of the lakes and what appeared to be fanciful drawings of the lake spirits themselves. The prayer itself was recorded in neat, looping handwriting towards the bottom of the page.

Alongside it were detailed instructions on how to prepare the ceremonial arrangement and the berry offering to go with it. The names of the berries were different, but Professor Dragonwood had identified them as Yago, Touga and Pumkin berries. For Azelf, Uxie and Mesprit respectively.

Particular detail was given to the ceremonial arrangements preparation. There were apparently three main parts to each, and each was slightly different depending on the lake. Verity's included a selection of flowering plants that were tied closely with different kinds of emotion.

Joy, excitement, sadness, hope, fear, anger.

After preparing the arrangement, the pilgrim would place the berry in the midst and recite the blessing. The blessing wasn't only about the words, though, but was to 'come from the soul', according to the author. A "prayer from the heart".

He read through the words of the blessing one last time.

Where water meets earth, lay forth the Spirit's favored offering.

Close thine eyes to the world, turnback upon the gift and look not.

Bare thy soul, Speak softly truth from the heart and seek with unselfish intent;

Valor to face challenges unyielding,

Compassion to grant to the broken,

Wisdom to act upon the truth.

Spirits, grant to me these attributes and guide my steps.

Supposedly after finishing, ancient travelers would turn around again to face the lake and find the berry gone. He had no idea if it actually worked exactly like that, but he guessed he'd find out soon.

Koa set down his backpack and retrieved the Pumkin berry, along with the rest of the supplies from Dragonwood. Though the actual arrangement was simple, the significance was important. The pilgrim was meant to reflect upon the particular spirits' attribute as they prepared it. He laid everything out neatly. With the journal as a guide, he carefully began assembling the offering.

Hardly had he begun before there was a 'click' and a flash of light, and Echo emerged from his ball. The Crobat gave a soft trill, then settled down beside Koa, quietly observing.

Seeing Echo behave so seriously was certainly different, but he was glad of the company. He soon turned his thoughts to reflect on the subject of his task.

Mesprit represented emotion. Empathy. The ability to connect through shared feelings. To feel emotions. Like... Zeraora's burning gaze flashed through his thoughts. As did the memory of that night in the storm, when he threw that ball.

Desperation.

His grip on one of the plants he was weaving together tightened. Stupid. Stupid stupid move. As if Zeraora would even blindly accept the capture when he'd donenothingto earn it. And it went against everything he planned.Shows what kind of person you are.All he'd wanted in the moment was to show Fossie, show the world, they were wrong.

...Would Mesprit sense he had made a mistake with Zeraora? But Zeraora had forgiven him. Would that be enough? How much did legendaries even commune with each other anyway? There was so much researchers still didn't know...

He paused, holding a branch above the clear bowl.

Deep in the back of his mind, a tiny voice whispered.This is a mistake.

A soft touch against his arm and a chirp jarred him from his thoughts. He glanced over to see Echo peering at him, yellow eyes glowing in the sunlight. With the tip of one large wing, he poked Koa in the chest.

Not wanting to speak, Koa nodded. Now wasn't the time for fears. He had to focus on his goals. He was here as a favor to Dragonwood, his friend, and to learn about Mesprit.

Mesprit.

Emrit to some. It was said to be the reason humans and pokemon alike could have a spirit. A soul. It was thanks to that very influence he'd bonded with Echo, and Hazard, and the whole rest of his team. Learned how to be a better trainer thanks to them. Kitto and him had different goals, but they shared a passion and a drive that linked them.

Without Mesprit, he'd be... Just emotionless. Like-

Blinking, he turned his thoughts back to the task at hand, tucking a leaf back into place among a cluster of pink flowers. Emotion drove him, gave him strength in the face of the doubts and skepticism he'd heard much of his life.

And yet... Too much emotion was just as dangerous. That flash of desperation had made him throw a ball at Zeraora. Getting caught up in emotions made him lash out at Kitto, fight with Blake, rush into danger.

Let anger fuel your fists, not your mind.

Attack and defend.

Reaching out, Koa ran his hands through the fluff of fur upon Echo's head, scratching him behind the ears. He gave a cheerful chirp. If Mesprit could show him anything, it was how to balance emotion. To have none or be solely consumed by them would be to hurt others. But acknowledge them, that was what allowed him to grow.

As he considered the thoughts, he put the finishing touches on the arrangement. It was a bit clumsy but still an aesthetically pleasing arrangement of branches and plants wrapped delicately within a round clear bowl. The pink and red flowers and silvery gray bark of the branches evoked the colors of Mesprit.

Pushing down any lingering worry, he turned around kneeling on the damp earth. Echo turned around as well, and closed his eyes. While the Crobat couldn't bow like a human, he did lean down to rest on his forewings, head facing the ground.

Still smiling, Koa closed his own eyes. His fingers reached up to the feather he carried, warm against his skin and soft still to the touch. The image of Ho-Oh soaring above him filled his thoughts. Whyhim...?

Exhaling, he listened to the sounds of the lake as he tried his best to empty his mind.

In a whisper, he repeated the words in the blessing, focusing on each one, on what it meant and what it signified. Focused on Mesprit, and his desire to meet legendary pokemon, his dream of climbing Coronet, his deepest desire to catch a legendary pokemon.

Emotion. Empathy. Connection.

Balance.

He waited another few seconds, then took another breath and rose to his feet, turning around.

The berry hadn't moved.

Xxx

Koa wasn't entirely sure how long he had knelt on the shores of Verity, back to the water, watching the damp sand darken the knees of his pants. Echo had rested a wing against his side, and he had felt sure Kitto was probably watching him, but he had lingered anyway.

Logically, he'd known there was a slim chance of Mesprit appearing. But logic was a poor salve for the burn of disappointment.

Eventually, whether it was five minutes or fifty, the rapid-fire angry chattering of wild Bidoof and warning shrees of Staravia lurking in the trees made him get up. Echo shot them uncharacteristically dirty looks and seemed ready to fight, but Koa had held out his hand.

"No fighting, not here," he murmured.

Echo chattered irritably and fluttered his wings. Returning Echo to his ball, Koa held up his hands in a pacifying gesture and walked back to the treeline, leaving behind the offering. He returned to Kitto and shook his head. He was grateful when Kitto made no attempt to question him further.

Silence reigned for a few minutes as they wound their way through the woods, angling toward Route 218 and Jubilife. Koa tried his best not to dwell on why Mesprit hadn't shown. It wasn't uncommon, many times the lake spirits would wait until the entire pilgrimage was done, so that was probably why.

It didn't mean anything.

"So I bet I know a story about legendaries you don't." Kitto grinned in a suspiciously smug way as he walked, hands folded behind his head.

Worries briefly forgotten, Koa shot him a narrowed stare. "No way," he retorted, almost automatically. Kitto wasn't even into legendaries like that, how could he-

Kitto turned to walk backwards and face Koa. "What do you know about the guardians of Johto-" he held up a finger as Koa started to protest "-before they moved to Johto?"

Koa's eyes widened and his hand went to the Ho-Oh feather tucked into his jacket. "Wait, you know the tale of the ashes of Orre?"

As much as he hated giving Kitto the satisfaction of being right, he couldn't resist. Kitto was from Johto, which meant he could have actually heard something Koa hadn't. Especially more about Lugia and Ho-oh's history. As large as Canalave's library was, there were plenty of folklore and tales about legends outside Sinnoh that he'd never had a chance to hear or read.

"I do." Kitto 'tsk'd. "I'm shocked you don't Koa. I thought you knew everything." Kitto's playful smugness almost made it not worth it.

Almost.
He aimed a playful kick at the back of Kitto's leg. "Yeah well, it was kinda hard to fly over to Johto when I was eight and catch up on the local legends."

Dodging, Kitto smirked and said, "if you brought a suitable offering, the elders at the Bell Tower would tell this tale to the keen of heart and open of ear." He smiled and deepened his voice as he began. "A long time ago, long before they flew the skies of Johto, they were said to have protected another land. Lugia and Ho-Oh soared across the endless desert..."

The story swept Koa and his fears away, and the rest of the hike passed by in a breeze.

XXX

The rest of the day passed by quickly, and before long they'd made it over halfway to Jubilife City, having managed to hike back northeast through the wilds and to Route 218. A fair few trainers were on the road, traveling either to or from Canalave, and Koa had a chance to get in battles with all of his team a few times.

Kitto had several battles as well and caught more than a few trainers off guard with Kaze's unexpected battle style. The little Pidgey was growing to be a formidable force, even without being able to fly.

Constant battling slowed their progress but Koa was happy to get back to training, especially with Flurry. They made it within a day's hike of Jubilife before deciding to camp for the night.

His time in Canalave had given him plenty of time to discuss future training plans with Kitto. Between Rascal adjusting to her form and Flurry potentially evolving soon, he wanted to make sure his team was at their top of their game. So they'd decided to work on something Kitto called 'kinesthetic' training.

Moves were only good if you knew how to move, Kitto had explained.

The training involved honing his pokemon's movement, agility, efficiency and overall spatial awareness. Or proprioception (he was learning a lot of new words from Kitto, he realized).

So while Kitto worked on dinner, Koa began drilling with his pokemon on some katas that Kitto had helped him adapt for their bodies. Scrapper could do almost the same ones Jackie did, but the rest of his pokemon were harder. Echo and Rascal proved particularly tricky.

Echo was a cheerful and eager student, at least.

Rascal hated it even more than Koa did.

She had to stand absolutely still and focus on moving each part of her body, flowing down from the tip of her snout, to her arms and then careful steps with her legs and moving her tail.

One minute in she exploded into a furious roar that made Koa stagger and cover his ears. Anubis wobbled and shot her a dirty look from his crouched position with one foreleg out. Ignoring him, Rascal stomped toward Koa and stopped before him with a whining growl.

"Rascal-"

She stamped her foot and huffed loudly, before fixing Koa with a plaintive glare. Her maroon eyes burned with frustration.

Koa sighed and shook his head. "No. No battle training until you finish these. Just like everyone else."

At that, Rascal snorted and stared pointedly at Flurry. She spun in a tight circle and chirped encouragingly to Rascal, gaze shining.

"When you're as agile as her then you can stop," he retorted.

She growled, holding his stare for another several seconds before finally relenting and stomping back to her spot a few yards from Anubis. The ground trembling almost unbalanced the Houndoom again, who gave her a disdainful look.

Rascal ignored him.

To Koa's relief, she spent the rest of the brief kata training without complaint. With the first portion done, he moved into dodging and agility training, letting his pokemon work in groups and watching their movements. His goal was to trim down their wide dodges and huge leaps so they could conserve more energy in battle. Be light, quick and move only as much as they had to.
No using moves, only moving their bodies while the other half of his pokemon tried to attack them. They worked in pairs, alternating in their roles of dodging and attacking.

Flurry with Echo, Hazard and Scrapper, and Anubis with Rascal. Hopefully it would give the two an excuse to work out some of Rascal's frustration. He was beginning to notice a pattern in the way Anubis seemed to express disapproval at Rascal's new attitude since evolving.

Rascal didn't seem very happy aboutthattraining either, until after a solid half hour into working she managed to successfully fake out Anubis so hard the Houndoom actually face planted.

Anubis was annoyed at first, but gave her a begrudging congratulations, which she remained smug about all through the rest of training. By the time they turned in for the evening, after a hearty meal, his team were all thoroughly and pleasantly tired.

Flurry also seemed to be watching Rascal with a new admiration (still to Anubis' annoyance), and he guessed she was looking forward to her own evolution. Seeing his youngest team member so motivated brought a smile to his face.

And it renewed his own resolve to help his team as much as he could. Throwing himself into their training was a suitable distraction from his lingering chagrin over what happened at Lake Verity.

Xxx

A soft touch brushing his cheek woke him the next morning. Blinking groggily and stifling a yawn, he reflexively raised his arm to check the time - 5:58am - before turning to see what woke him.

"Flurry?" he mumbled sleepily. He could just make out her shining dark eyes and pale snout in the early morning twilight. What wasshedoing up this early? Even Scrapper wasn't up yet.

There was a gleam in her gaze that he hadn't seen in her before. With a soft squeak, she nudged him again.Wake up.

He had a nagging feeling he knew what she was asking. "Wh... you wanna train?"Please say no please say no plea-

Flurry nodded eagerly.

Great.

Still, it was hard to resist that eager look in her eyes, and he hated to make her sad. "Okay okay, I'll get up," he muttered. With another yawn, he pushed Echo off his chest. The Crobat promptly rolled over, flopped onto his back, and kept sleeping. "Lucky," he muttered.

Once he'd woken up fully and gotten out of his tent, he made his way to where Flurry was waiting. The dawn light cast shadows across the forest clearing they'd picked for their campsite. He remembered how Flurry had been practicing with Echo before, trying to train for her evolution.

"I know you're looking forward to evolving, right?" he asked, turning to her.

She was already doing her own sort of warm-up, rolling side to side and stretching her flippers. At his question, she paused and nodded enthusiastically, bobbing up and down.

"Well let's keep working on your movement training then. We'll start with drilling your dodging and blocking then we'll keep working on your skills with Rollout. Got it?"

With a determined squeak, she hopped forwards into the clearing.

Koa retrieved a set of rubber training balls from his backpack and took up a spot opposite Flurry. "Alright remember, try to move as little as possible. If you can't dodge, try to block or deflect it." Tossing a ball up and down in his hand, he took aim, waiting to make sure Flurry was ready, then lobbed it at her.

She rolled to the side and the ball bounced into the bushes behind her.

"Great!" he called. He picked up two balls next, testing their weight, then threw them in rapid succession. The first she dodged again, but the second came quick after. She spun and smacked it aside with her tail, then fired a jet of water at it mid-air, sending it careening into a tree.

Koa took three balls next, throwing two before saving the third. Just as she finished rolling away from the first two, he threw the third. It hit her on the side and bounced off, and she gave an annoyed bark.

"Try to focus on keeping your momentum. Throw your weight around and move with it," he called, remembering what he had Kitto had discussed the day before.

She gave a cry of acknowledgement, her brow furrowing in determination.

They continued to drill, until Scrapper woke up a short time later and joined them. With two pokemon, he was able to work on Flurry's dodging and stamina even more. Scrapper would throw rapid blows for her to block and dodge, and Koa would help test their reflexes by trying to hit them with a surprise attack.

Eventually, Hazard and Echo joined them as well, and it got really fun. Hazard took Koa's side in trying to throw attacks at Flurry, Echo and Scrapper, and it became a proper tussle. Scraper would rush at him with punches and Flurry made generous use of her water to try and hit one of them.

More than once he ended wet and laughing, soaked by a jet of water from Flurry. Scrapper was kind enough to pull his punches. Mostly. At least he could tell Kitto he practiced his own dodging today, he reflected.

Just as they were winding down their training and Koa was pausing to catch his breath (and envying his team's stamina), a loud snarl interrupted them.

Koa spun towards camp and spotted Rascal glowering down at Anubis, who met her glare with a steely one of his own. The two pokemon stood almost nose to nose. Rascal's tail swished side to side, her claws flexing. Anubis stood his ground, tail stiff and pointed upright.

Around Koa, the rest of his team fell silent as they watched. He tensed, but waited, not wanting to get in their way yet.

Rascal snorted, then turned her back on Anubis and lay down. Whatever Anubis had said, the dismissal from the Tyrantrum was more than clear.

Anubis narrowed his eyes. Then he barked and stamped his paw.Get up.

All he got in response was a huff.No.

The tension in the air thickened as Anubis glared. The Houndoom's derogatory glare lingered for a few more seconds before he shook his head, stance relaxing. Wrinkling his nose, he stalked off and sat with his back to Rascal, keeping watch on the camp.

Koa relaxed slightly. At least they hadn't fought. Anubis had had his problems in the past, but that had been when he first joined. Until recently he'd been getting along well with the team. This felt completely different. He clearly had a problem withRascal. No doubt it had to be tied to Rascal's behavior during the gym battle...

Koa made his way towards camp, resisting the urge to say anything, or press the issue. Patience. If Rascal had taught him anything, it was that.

"What was that about?" Kitto murmured, looking over from the katas he was practicing with Jackie.

He rolled his eyes. "Someone doesn't appreciate Rascal's... attitude," he said with a rueful grin. "Ever since Rascal's gym battle they've been like this." Or had it started before that? Since Rascal evolved maybe, and that training session...

Kitto nodded thoughtfully, his own gaze turning to his Pidgey and Hitmonchan. "You know, I have to say Koa. Sometimes I don't envy you. I don't know how you handle six pokemon."

Koa snorted, glancing at Rascal and shaking his head. Even if he wouldn't trade her for the world, she sure was a handful. "I can always trade you one," he said with a wry smirk.

"Not on my life," Kitto said.

"Anyway... I'm gonna see how they handle it before I try to get involved."

Hazard chittered in dismissive agreement from his spot on Koa's shoulder, then hopped off and trotted over to settle down on his solar battery pack.

Koa scanned the clearing. Brown, yellow, blue, green and black. He frowned. It wasn't like Echo to wander off. Well at least not when breakfast was nearly ready.

As Koa scanned the area again, understanding dawned on him. "I'll be back in a bit," he called to Kitto, setting off toward the north.

It didn't take very long to reach his destination.

An old but familiar tree, bark slick with honey, with a familiar purple shape crouched in front of it. A nostalgic shiver ran down Koa's spine as he gazed upon the tree, yellow-leaf branches swaying in a gentle breeze.

Quietly, Koa approached and sat down beneath the tree, next to Echo, crossing his legs. The Crobat was unusually quiet, brow furrowed in thought. He acknowledged Koa with a soft chirp.

Koa reached out and stroked Echo, running his fingertips through Echo's fluffy fur. "It's been awhile, huh?"

Echo hummed in agreement, then shuffle-crawled over to pull himself into Koa's lap. Smiling, Koa wrapped his arms around him, marveling for a moment that Echo seemed to have gotten even larger since evolving.

For a time, they sat together in silence, Echo seemingly content not to move or do anything. This time, Koa didn't mind sitting still and letting his thoughts wander.

He still had so very far to go, but he'd come so far too. It was strange to look back and remember that moment he'd stepped off the route and found a lone, weakened Zubat.

One choice...

And then somehow, on his return home, that same Zubat had found him. He blinked, a fondness squeezed around his chest and knotted around his throat. His grip on Echo tightened a little, but he found himself smiling.

He swallowed thickly before craning his neck down to look at Echo.

"Thank you Echo... for choosing me. You're one of a kind."

Echo shifted in his grip, turning around, to gaze up at Koa. He blinked back, yellow eyes watering with emotion. Then he wrapped his wings around Koa. Koa pulled him close in turn.

His first partner. His best friend. His starter.

Koa and Crobat. Yeah, he liked the sound of that.

---

AN: The story Kitto tells Koa is a shortened version of the short story on my profile, From the Ashes (minus the middle bit, iyky).

And that concludes chapter 30! I would consider this a sort of wrap up for the mini-intermission that consisted of 28-30, covering Koa's return to Canalave, acquiring his 6th badge, visiting the lake and setting out once more.

Koa has come full-circle, in a way, from his sentiment in the early chapter of hating the idea of Koa and Crobat so much. And he has done his best to perform the ritual, but with no response. Who can say why...

Meanwhile, Rascal and Anubis seem to be developing some tension, while Flurry's excitement for evolving increases. She's not far off yet!
And of course I couldn't resist the urge to have some fun writing a cheeky arguement about legendaries and mythicals. I know the in-game distinction is nebulous and a little silly, but I do have an in-universe one... it just may not come up yet. :3

I seeded in quite a bit of foreshadowing and fun plotstuffs into this "arc" that I hope will make this story fun to reflect on when they come to fruition. A few keen reviewers have already begun picking up some clues and speculations in very interesting ways... I don't want to give anything away but I am excited for future chapters!

Thank you for all the kind comments and returning readers. You all make me smile and I hope you continue to enjoy it.

 

[Flyg0n]

Hello everyone! Apologies, I had hoped to get this chapter out sooner but I wanted an extra round of polish on it for the battle and aftermath. I am pretty happy with the result and I hope it'll be enjoyable! It was fun coming up with a strategy.

Also, a brief cameo from an old face.

Team:

Echo [Male Crobat]

Hazard [Male Joltik]

Rascal [Female Tyrantrum]

Anubis [Male Houndoom]

Scrapper [Male Breloom]

Flurry [Female Spheal]

---

Chapter 31: A Lanturn For the Worse​

Warm yellow light from street lamps and shop windows bathed the streets of Jubilife, warding off the twilight gloom. Groups of families out for errands mingled with trainers chattering in pairs of twos and threes. Koa caught snatches of conversation as he and Kitto headed for the pokemon center.

Most of it was mundane - what gym leader a trainer was fighting next, what a family planned to eat for dinner. But every now and then he picked up anxious chatter about legendary pokemon, how they were displeased with humanity, how someone was stirring them up, how they were dangerous.

"Don't travel alone."

"The League ought to drive legendaries away!"

"I bet it's all because of those space loonies a few years ago."

"Messing with them needs to be illegal."

Koa let the comments roll off his back, focusing instead on the idea of a nice comfy bed at a pokemon center. Even just one night before continuing to Floaroma would be amazing. A hot shower, getting to use an actual washing machine, and a proper mattress.

He planned to spend the night, then continue north to make it to Floaroma. The festival was in a few days but he had enough time to take it easy. It was only a couple days hike, especially once you got out of the Ravaged Path.

His legs burned from all the walking the last few days. Lounging around Canalave for so long hadn't done his muscles many favors. He grinned as they rounded a street corner and spotted the familiar red roof.

"Last one there buys dinner!" he shouted to Kitto, breaking into a run. He had a good headstart, he was sure he could-

Thundering footsteps sounded behind and then Kitto swept past a moment later. "Cheating never pays, Koa!" he shouted, grinning over his shoulder.

When Koa arrived, breathless and panting, it was a full two seconds behind Kitto, who was standing with his arms folded, looking smug. "I'm thinking... something big and fancy for dinner."

Koa groaned.

XXX

To Koa's relief (and his wallet's), Kitto was kind enough not to break his bank. A hot meal from a diner did wonders, even if he did have to pay.

"So what do you want to do after the festival?" Koa asked as he picked at the pecha pie a la mode they were splitting. "I have to get my last two badges but..." he let the question hang as he studied Kitto curiously. So far, the older trainer had seemed content to tag along, but he also didn't want Kitto to feel obligated.

Kitto slid the plate closer to himself and took a generous bite, waiting until he was finished chewing to answer. "No plans. It'll be fun to watch you get stomped by the next gym leader. And I do need to sweep that ice-type gym leader in Snowpoint, so we're heading the same way."

Koa grinned. "Don't be so sure. Candice has come a long way I hear." Despite being the second youngest next to Maylene, Candice had risen up in the ranks of Sinnoh's gym leaders and there were even rumors she could take up a mantle in the Elite Four in a few more years. Not only that, but she'd pushed Cynthia pretty far during an exhibition match last year. He was actually looking forward to the chance to test himself.

And of course, there was Sunyshore.

"Guess we'll see then," Kitto replied with a confident grin.

XXX

Staying in the pokemon center meant he was able to do some much needed laundry and quick restocking afterwards. While he waited for the laundry to finish, he settled on top of the machine and pulled out his phone. As long as he was waiting, he might as well make use of time to catch up properly with Avis.

He was sure she'd probably heard about his run in with Blackout by now, but knowing her she'd also want to hear his side of everything. Plus it was a good way to pass a little time, and maybe by now she'd heard something else helpful.

She gave him the usual friendly chewing out for not reaching out to her sooner. Still, it felt nice to have another person he could safely explain everything to. Between his run in on Iron Island, and information they got from Silas and Minerva, Looker and Avis had apparently managed to help round up several scattered members of Team Blackout.

"But I have some... news you won't like," Avis said, sighing.

Koa tensed slightly. "What?"

"I know you're really into this issue with the legends and these attacks. And this is important to you. But there's just not enough evidence yet that it's criminal activity or falsified attacks." Koa bristled internally. What more did they need?

"Eyewitness reports suggest that they are real. One trainer was even able to try and test for a Zoroark illusion. There's been faint remnants of hairs resembling a Suicune found around the Snowpoint Temple attack."

Unease settled heavy over Koa. He hadn't known that. Most of the information was being kept quiet, and all the official reports only warned trainers to stay vigilant. He'd scoured a few message boards but gotten sick of the stupid opinions and given up. "At least that confirms it's not a Zoroark," he muttered sourly.

Zoroark illusions didn't leave physical traces. Not that he'd ever thought it was one. Although he would bet the police wouldn't rule it out entirely. A Zoroark could have been providing cover for another pokemon, if those were planted hairs... He ran his hand down his face.

His thoughts turned to that night outside Celestic. It'd been raining so hard, he wasn't sure if he'd missed anything or not. Aside from the second howl of a Raikou. And of course it was too late to know if there were any at Amity. All he knew for sure was the two Entei he'd seen, and the power behind the attack. Those had all felt real.

Avis continued. "The International Police only investigate human crimes. Wild pokemon problems usually fall under Ranger jurisdiction." She paused. Koa tensed in anticipation of the news. "Legendary pokemon attacks don't have a code or procedure officially. In Hoenn, yes, and even Kanto. But Sinnoh hasn't had anything like this in years. Not including the Coronet restrictions."

Shaking his head, Koa added, "and nothing about legends from another region." He'd looked that one up and double checked what reports he could find. Yes, some trainers reported spotting Kanto's storm birds as far out as Kalos, but targeted attacks like this from other legends didn't appear to have a precedent, not for a long time.

"A few isolated attacks in Sinnoh by legendary pokemon from Johto isn't a priority right now for the IP. Catching the rest of Blackout, dealing with investigations in other regions, and whatever else Blackout stole, that's what we're focusing on. Unless something changes, it's Ranger business now."

Of course. Koa drummed his fingers on the washing machine, feeling the buzz under his fingertips. There really wasn't enough evidence there was human criminal involvement. No matter how convinced he was. "Yeah, I get it." He stared down at the floor.

"What about Zeraora though? And whoever Blackout was working for?"

Avis sighed. "We are still investigating that. But just because someone is bankrolling them and wanted a Zeraora doesn't actually prove for sure that it has anything to do with these attacks."

Koa groaned. Circles upon circles, always questions and no answers. "What about Alola? Did you find out anything about what they took from Aether?" Aether was just some distant pokemon conservation foundation, as far as he knew. Maybe that would give a clue...

Avis fell silent, and he could almost hear the gears turning in her head. "I won't lie Koa, Aether folk are sure... odd. But as far as I can tell, the only things Blackout actually stole are copies of proprietary research. Information related to plates and discs, type energies. Valuable to someone maybe, so it could just be about corporate secrets. But I'm no biologist."

"Okay but what about the two-"

He could almost hear Avis shake her head before she interjected. "I know what you're going to say. But there's not a 100% consensus on how many beasts Johto has. We don't know there aren't multiple. Not to mention we can't even disprove a factor such as Mew yet."

Gritting his teeth, Koa bit back his argument. No matter his personal belief, it was true. "It's not freakin 'Mew," he muttered irritably.

A snort of amusement came over the line. "I'll take your word on that, but I don't know what the Rangers think."

Koa made a non-committal noise of acknowledgement, and for several moments they sat in silence, contemplating their own thoughts. Thefts of pokemon of different types, some mystery person who'd hired them, attacks from legendary pokemon and Zeraora getting almost kidnapped. And medical research from Aether? How was it all connected? Was it even connected?

"You sure this isn't about trying to give legendary pokemon a bad name...?" Avis said finally. "So far they have been targeting these sacred or special locations, right? Amity, the Celestic mural, the Temple in Snowpoint. Someone could be using a device to mimic them-"

He shook his head, then added, "No... I mean, I don't think so." The thought had crossed his mind before, and seemed likely, but the more he'd given it thought and floated the idea to Kitto he wasn't quite sure. "I guess it could be, but wouldn't whoever was doing this just stage more attacks? That would be a lot easier, right?"

"Yes, I see your point," Avis said, in her usual matter-of-fact tone. "It is possible whoever is doing it thinks that would be too suspicious, so they're spacing the attacks out..." She exhaled. "Or perhaps, these aren't related. A mythical like Zeraora would go for plenty on the underground markets. This could just be about money and power."

"It could be...I don't know... The only thing I do know is that it's not really legendary pokemon behind this," he said quietly. Why Johto's? Why here? They weren't even the strongest.

Shivers ran down his spine. He had seen the strongest, knew what happened when someone went after the legends at the top. A shadow, and a cursed mountain. Shaking his head he diverted his thoughts as Avis spoke again.

"I know. I trust you, even if you are a little bit of a nerd about them. And biased." He could hear the teasing note in her tone. "But think practically for a second. Not everyone feels or thinks the same about legendary pokemon after everything that's happened in past years. Is it such a stretch to think a few of them got upset with humans?"

"Yes-"

Avis cleared her throat. "Is it a stretch for other people to come to that conclusion?"

A heavy weight settled across Koa's shoulders. "No." Zeraora was proof enough that some weren't thrilled with all humans. The knot in his chest returned. He clenched his fist. "Don't you ever just get sick of it? Just because this is how it is doesn't mean this is how it has to be."

"Yes, I do," Avis said, her voice steely. "I am sick of it, sick of people who only ever hurt everyone around them. All the time, every day. That's why..." she hesitated, as if considering. "...I'm glad there's people like you, who care." There was unexpected conviction to her tone.

It caught Koa off guard, to think that someone else actually cared in some form. Even if she personally wasn't trying to catch a legendary, it mattered to her.

"But..." She let the word hang, making sure she had his attention. "I have to remember that it's not all up to me. The whole world isn't on my shoulders. I can't fix every bad thing." Despite the conviction in her voice, he detected a waver as well. A feeling he knew all too well, trying to convince himself of something.

He swallowed. "Yeah, I know. Thanks," he stammered awkwardly. "Wouldn't want to be a criminal either, with you after them," he said wryly.

Things will change, he vowed silently. Even if I have to make it.

"Thanks." There was a level of gratitude to her tone that was new. He briefly wondered if she harbored her own doubts about her goals. She always came off as so fearless. "And cheer up! I know the Rangers are looking into it. Plus, if Zeraora was at Iron Island, that means some of the other legendaries are doing things, right? You're not completely alone in this."

"Yeah, you're right." For the rest of the conversation, they made idle chatter, swapping stories. She was excelling at her training as a member of International Police and was getting along well with Looker, apparently. Her Lampent had evolved into a Chandelure and she'd been assigned a Froufrou to train with for tracking.

Froufrou was a bit of a diva, according to Avis, but just as hardworking at tracking as it was at grooming.

After a few more minutes, he bid Avis farewell, promising again to be cautious and keep her updated. Although as she said, him being cautious was about as likely as a Primeape looking peaceful.

"Primeape are peaceful though, when they're asleep," he said smugly.

Avis snorted. "Yes, exactly." She hung up before he could try to think of a smart retort.

XXX

Kitto made him do drills and sparring before bed, to Koa's disappointment, even though he was grateful for the training. He'd planned to go to bed early, but then after training, he and Kitto found an old school black and white movie about a giant Tyranitar taller than a skyscraper.

It had escaped some kind of lab and gone on a rampage. The movie was set before the era of trainers being common. Only the power of a group of people united with pokemon had been able to stop it. All in all the movie was actually surprisingly good. Koa had never really watched movies without color before, they'd just felt... old. But the humans in the movie were captivating.

The movie had been made before the innovation of stable dynamax technology, and Kitto started explaining all the tricks they used to achieve the effects of Tyranitar looking gigantic. Apparently most kaiju films had been made in Kanto and Johto, until dynamax technology became common in Galar, and they became a main competitor in the movie market.

A fact Kitto seemed passionately annoyed by. Koa had always thought Galar's kaiju movies were just really cool because the battles looked real, but Kitto staunchly maintained that there was an artistry and grittiness that was lost.

"It's about the sets, Koa. Those took hundreds of hours to construct!"

Koa got far too absorbed in arguing with him about the nuances and by the time they got to the end, it was long past midnight. In the end, Kitto forced him to admit old kaiju movies were better, under the stipulation that he would agree that there was a difference between mythical and legendary pokemon.

Koa had eventually reluctantly agreed, given how Kitto pointed out he had seen way more kaiju films than Koa had, and had been born first.

It made Koa think about what would happen if he ever traveled out to Galar and had a 'dynamax' battle in one of those crazy stadiums they used. He'd have to try that sometime. Rascal being a hundred feet tall was a terrifying thought though.

That night he dreamed of riding a gigantic Hazard into battle. Which for Hazard meant being as big a house instead of a skyscraper. It was a fun dream until a giant Rascal twice Hazard's size started chasing him all through a giant version of a diner.

XXX

The next morning, he and Kitto set out from Jubilife, following the main road north out of the city. Despite the early hour (Flurry had once again woken him for some training unfortunately), the city was already beginning to awaken. Trainers and their pokemon out on the streets, some heading towards the trainers school, others simply passing through or stocking up on supplies.

His thoughts wandered as they navigated between Bibarel and Floatzel and occasional Turtwig or Chimchar trotting alongside their trainers. Fairly soon, they reached the north route leading out of the city.

The route changed to a packed dirt road framed by low fences and fields pockmarked with small ponds. Koa took a deep breath, enjoying the fresh air. It felt oddly nostalgic to be back. Just some months ago he'd been here with just a Zubat and Joltik, filled with arrogant determination. Now he had a full team of strong pokemon who had shaped him into a real trainer.

They hadn't made it very far down the route when they were interrupted.

"Hey! Fancy a battle?"

Koa turned and saw a girl his age in a rather fancy looking outfit. Heeled boots, long flowing pants and a vest over a shirt with a ruffled neck. Teal hair cascaded out from under a decorative wide-brimmed hat. Definitely not usual trainer attire, or traveling attire. Her hair looked... oddly familiar.

He realized after a moment that he was staring at her and hadn't said anything. "Sure," he said with a shrug. Maybe he could let Rascal get a practice fight in.

The trainer narrowed her eyes slightly and frowned, then tipped her head as she sized him up. "Hold on... Do I know you, Red Jacket?"

Koa stared at her. The voice and face did feel familiar, but it didn't feel like anyone he really knew, given how small his 'friends' list technically was. Still, the voice and the attitude... His eyes widened. "Hilda? From the license exam?"

She sniffed and frowned deeper. "Hilgar," she corrected pointedly. Her scowl softened into an amiable smirk. "But I can't blame you, can't say I remember your name. Colto...? No wait, don't tell me. Colson? Omura? No wait, Kody."

Koa grimaced, then snorted. "Not even close. Koamaru."

Hilgar gave a neutral shrug and looked expectantly at Kitto.

He held up a hand in greeting. "Kitto."

She nodded to Kitto, then Koa. "Nice to meet you, good to see you again." A smirk returned to Hilgar's face. "So you want to battle or what?"

"Was wondering if you'd ever get to it," Koa said with a grin.

She slipped two pokeballs out of her pocket and spun them smoothly between her fingers. "Good. We're doing a double battle, I'm trying to train a couple of my pokemon up."

Show off, Koa thought. But then he thought she'd said something about being a coordinator, which would explain it. "Sounds good to me," he said, grinning. He already knew precisely which two of his pokemon he wanted to use. A battle would be the perfect way to help Rascal and Anubis.

"I'll let you have first move, Red Jacket," Hilgar said with a cocky grin once she'd taken up a position in a clearing off the road.

Koa studied her for a moment, wondering what she was up to, then shrugged it off. He'd just have to adapt to whatever she was planning.

Four flashes of light arced through the clearing as they released their pokemon. Anubis and Rascal appeared on his side and the two traded tense looks.

On Hilgar's side, a yellow and black reptilian pokemon appeared alongside a Lanturn. The yellow one hissed and flared a frill around its neck. A few seconds later Koa recalled the name of the other one. Heliolisk. Electric type, he was fairly sure. And Lanturn was water and electric. Not the best matchup, but he could make it work.

Heliolisk's scales shone in the sunlight, looking freshly polished, while Lanturn swayed rhythmically side to side, showing off its form. Both looked clean, lean and perfect examples of their species.

It was hard not to notice the contrast. Rascal's scales were scuffed and chipped and she bore faint scars and missing scales still growing in. Anubis' dark fur was slightly shaggy and the bands on his paws were dented and scratched.

So that was what contest pokemon looked like.

Koa took a few seconds to run through what he remembered about the pokemon. The Lanturn would be less mobile on land, so he could try and exploit that. Heliolisk was probably fast, so he could try to slow it or counter when it struck. The water part would be a slight problem for Anubis, but at least Rascal would have a resistance.

"Ready?" Kitto, who'd agreed to officiate, called from his place on the sidelines.

Hilgar affirmed she was ready, and Koa did the same.

"Begin!"

At a quick command, Koa's pokemon sprang into action. Rascal flexed her claws, then brought her foot down. A mass of rocks rose to her command. With a flick of her snout they shot across the field.

Simultaneously, Anubis braced all four legs and loosed a beam of dark energy at the two pokemon, sweeping it across the field.

In response, Hilgar's pokemon snapped into motion.

Heliolisk zigzagged away from Anubis' attack, moving so fast it was hardly more than a yellow streak.

Lanturn swung its antennae in an elegant flourish as it fired lances of water at the rocks. Half of them shattered on impact, but Lanturn didn't have time to strike down the entire mass. The power behind Rascal's attacks was simply too great.

The first volley of attacks grazed Hilgar's pokemon; rocks battering them and dark energy knocking them back. Anubis barked to Rascal, but she snorted and turned away with a swish of her tail. She paid her teammate no mind, instead focusing on preparing another attack.

Lanturn struck a pose, then parted its maw and loosed a jet of water at Rascal.

Pivoting, Anubis nailed a dead center strike on Heliolisk just as Rascal shot a huge boulder through Lanturn's water blast, sending it sliding back. Not bad. A feral grin of triumph crept across Anubis' jaws.

Both attacks hit home and he could see bruises where they'd struck. He narrowed his eyes. Her pokemon looked winded already. There was a clear power imbalance but Hilgar seemed completely unruffled though. Maybe it was a coordinator thing?

"Now!" Hilgar cried out with a dramatic flourish. "Let's dance! Electric Terrain Heliolisk. Make it rain, Lanturn!"

Lanturn formed a sphere of water in its mouth then fired it into the sky. It exploded in a shimmering wave of blue. Dark clouds blossomed outwards, covering the battlefield. Then a steady drizzle began.

At the same time, Heliolisk's whole body glowed like a lightbulb and its frills flared out. It hissed and slammed its claws down onto the earth. Waves of electricity arced across the dampened ground.

Anubis gave a low rumble, glaring at the sky as if he could will the rain away. He turned back to his opponents, now looking suspicious.

Rascal huffed, ignoring the weather and the sparking ground under her claws. Clearly she didn't care about whatever strategy was happening.

Koa did. Heliolisk now stood fully upright, frills spread, looking ecstatic as it danced about in the rain. Rain also meant whatever water moves Lanturn planned to use would be even stronger. But maybe he could take advantage too...

"Let's go for another Rock Slide, spread!" he called before turning to Anubis. "Wait until Lanturn is distracted and slip in with Thunder Fang." Even if Lanturn was part electric-type, Anubis could take advantage of the field for his own uses.

Rascal slammed her foot down again, summoning the stones, this time smaller ones but a greater number. Then she sent them flying with a feral bellow. Heliolisk scurried frantically about, weaving between them to dodge. Except by now the strength and breadth of Rascal's attacks had grown since Iron Island, and escape was no simple task.

For every rock Heliolisk dodged, two more pinged off its scales.

Lanturn, who was much less mobile, took the brunt of the strike. Even as it did its best to hold out and charge its own attack, Koa could tell it was hurt. Each blow did a number on the fish.

He grinned. His earlier assessment was right. Neither pokemon seemed especially strong. A few more hits...

Lanturn continued to charge itself with electricity, clearly determined to strike anyway. Its antennae began to pulse, slowly at first, then faster. Sparks from the terrain trailed across the earth toward it as if magnetized, and were absorbed into its body.

What- Thunder. "Anubis, now!"

Moving in a blur of black fur, the Houndoom lunged across the field. A rock slammed to the ground just in front of him and he stumbled, swerving around it and losing some momentum. Sparks formed around his jaws. Heliolisk moved to intercept for its teammate but recoiled as Rascal sent more rocks its way.

Anubis leaped over the lizard and sank his jaws into Lanturn's tail just as it summoned a massive bolt of lightning on Rascal.

"Dragon Claw!" Koa cried desperately.

She raised her claws. Green energy flared to life around them a split second before a blinding bolt came down. Koa looked away just in time, but the resulting thunderclap still left a faint ringing in his ears.

When he looked back, he saw Rascal had blocked the brunt of the attack, but her claws were left somewhat singed and twitching from the electricity.

Koa wiped rain from his eyes and frowned. Her pokemon were weaker defensively but that attack had been strong. Her combination of weather and terrain gave her a powerful edge.

He blinked and looked across the field at Anubis, who had his jaws clamped on Lanturn's fin with Thunder Fang.

Heliolisk wore a mad grin, and Lanturn looked sadistically delighted.

A pulse of yellow energy flowed from Anubis' jaws across Lanturn's scales. Anubis let go, staring open jawed as the scratches and scrapes from the rock slide vanished.

Volt Absorb. Koa realized a moment later, a sense of dread and annoyance rising in him. Now I know how trainers feel when they use fire attacks on Anubis, he thought.

"That's my favorite look in the world," Hilgar said with a cocky grin. "Now, Parabolic Charge and Surf!"

Heliolisk drew up electricity from the ground, flaring its frills again and setting them aglow. Then electricity exploded from its body across the entire field, shocking everything. Rascal, Anubis and even Lanturn. Golden light arced back around from the three pokemon to Heliolisk.

A towering wall of water followed that surged across the field, splashing over Heliolisk at the same time. It slammed into Anubis, carrying him off his paws and into Rascal. At the same moment, Rascal hastily stepped back and braced as water and one wet Anubis crashed into her chest.

Anubis rose to his paws and growled, matching Rascal's own growl. A moment later Rascal shook herself, sending water scattering onto Koa and Anubis. Anubis shot her an angry look that she rolled her eyes at.

Shaking his head, Koa blinked away water in his eyes once again.

Both Heliolisk and Lanturn looked positively smug and renewed from the dual attacks. Lanturn had struck a pose, showing off the shimmering blue sheen of its scales. Contrasted against the gray skies, the water-type's whole body appeared to glow.

Meanwhile, Heliolisk had bowed grandly. Rain and water from Surf beaded on its sandy yellow scales before just... melting away. At the right angle, it made the electric type's skin almost appear to shine.

Volt Absorb...And Dry Skin. That explained everything.

Koa gritted his teeth. The full scope of her strategy dawned on him quickly. Huge water attacks that helped Heliolisk. Electric attacks that could restore Lanturn and hit the enemy. And they boosted each other's attacks with weather and terrain.

"No more electric attacks," he muttered to Anubis.

Anubis huffed and loped away, shaking himself as steam sizzled off his damp fur.

Shaking her head, Rascal stamped the ground and shot Anubis an irritated glare, as if to say 'thanks for healing it' and rumbled something, to which Anubis pointedly barked back. Shut up.

Koa's mind turned immediately to Rascal's newly mastered Earthquake, except that was no good with Anubis on the ground. But he needed to take them out fast and hard. In a battle of pure power they could have easily won, but if Hilgar kept healing... She might be able to win.

Maybe he could take down one of them. Alone, either would be much less of a threat. Possibly even useless...

Koa gathered himself. "Anubis, drive them apart with Dark Pulse! Rascal, get in there and use Ice Fang!"

Rascal thundered forward as Anubis let loose a beam of dark energy at Lanturn, trying to aim between it and Heliolisk.

Heliolisk zigzagged to try and avoid the attack, and Aubis tracked the lizard with his attack. It zigged, then zagged just as Rascal closed in. She cut across the field to try and get closer, only to abruptly cut right in front of Anubis.

Immediately, Anubis snapped his jaws shut, but the damage was done. Dark Pulse glanced off Heliolisk and struck Rascal's leg.

Snarling furiously, Rascal stumbled, then whipped around and clamped her jaws on Heliolisk as it tried to zip under her. It thrashed and hissed in pain as frost coated its scales.

"Surf!" Hilgar called.

Lanturn was too close for Rascal to dodge in time and Koa could only watch as the wall of water crashed over his pokemon again, drenching them more. By now the battlefield had transformed into a gooey, muddy mess.

As Anubis rose to his paws he growled, smoke rising from his nostrils. Heliolisk, refreshed from the water, thrashed harder in Rascal's jaws.

This was his chance. "Flamethrower!" Koa shouted.

Embers danced around Anubis' jaws as he took a deep breath. Heliolisk screeched in a panic, flaring its frills and shocking Rascal, who promptly flung the lizard up into the air.

A torrent of fire streamed from Anubis's mouth, bathing Heliolisk as he fell. And bathing Rascal just as Heliolisk hit the ground.

Rascal roared in annoyance and lunged out of the way, stumbling. Koa winced. Not great.

Looking singed and worn, Heliolisk tried to scurry away, back towards Lanturn. Not as hurt as it could have been though. Stupid rain. It almost made him want to teach Anubis Sunny Day.

Hilgar's voice took on an edge. "Rising Voltage!"

As it stumbled away, Heliolisk planted its claws. The sparking earth answered Heliolisk's command.

Twin bolts of electricity surged from the earth, wrapping around Rascal and Anubis and shocking them. Twin howls of pain came from the two as the enhanced attack struck their already dampened bodies.

This time, they were left panting.

He had to end this somehow, break the cycle. Think! He had to do something. Bad luck that of all his pokemon, these were two of the most ill-suited for this match.

Anubis was quick, but chasing Heliolisk through mud it was clearly accustomed to navigating would be folly. Flamethrower had little power in this rain.

"Rascal, Ice Fang!" His best bet was trying to freeze one and slow it. The mud was less hasslesome for something as large as her. If Rascal could slow one, Anubis could finish it.

Rascal shot Anubis a deathly furious glare then thundered across the field after the Heliolisk. Koa could practically see the frustration rolling off Anubis, but he brushed it off. Now wasn't the time. They had an advantage and needed to press it.

Koa's gaze snapped to Anubis. "Cut off Heliolisk and keep going after Lanturn!"

Nodding, Anubis took off, splashing across the field. Shadow and flame flickered around his jaws and he began firing bursts of dark energy at Lanturn and flames at Heliolisk.

Weakened, Heliolisk stumbled and seemed to slow. Rascal closed in, jaws glowing icy blue-

"Electrify, guard!"

With a devilish grin, Heliolisk raised its claws and fired a stream of yellow energy at Rascal, hitting her dead on, bathing her in a glow but failing to slow her at all.

At nearly the same moment, Lanturn heaved itself forward with a mighty leap, landing and sliding in front of Heliolisk.

Anubis' Dark Pulse slammed into the water-type's side as it landed, but it withstood the attack. From its new position it perfectly shielded its teammate from Rascal.

Electrify...? Oh. Koa started to call out.

Anubis frantically barked to get Rascal's attention.

Too late.

Rascal's jaws, now cloaked in sparks, sank into Lanturn instead. A healing glow washed over it, undoing any damage from Dark Pulse.

Anubis spat embers into the soaked ground and snarled. His glare lasered in on Rascal.

Hilgar's next command came before Rascal had a chance to get away. "Soak 'em!"

A glowing orb of blue energy bloomed above Lanturn's raised fins. With a twirl, it threw the attack. It splashed down on Rascal, coating her scales in a blue-ish, watery substance.

"Back off, Rascal!" he called. "Get distance and keep pressing!" It was all he could do for now. His annoyance was growing. He recognized the technique Soak. By concentrating pure water aura in a specific way, it could alter a target's natural defensive barriers. Which meant Rascal was vulnerable to electric attacks now.

His team might be stronger in raw power and more used to fighting, but Hilgar's were a much better duo. They were perfectly in sync with each other's tactics, used to how the other fought and moved. Every movement and tactic from one supported the other.

Overhead the drizzle was beginning to lessen, and underfoot the ground sparked less. Still, he suspected both the terrain and rain would last a bit longer.

"Press the attack!"

As Rascal struck back with a deluge of rock and Anubis with streams of fire, Heliolisk took shelter behind Lanturn again. Flames battered Lanturn and spilled over onto Heliolisk, who cried out. Lanturn shook its bruised head and knocked away rocks with its tail.

Hilgar didn't seem too perturbed. "Parabolic Charge, Thunder!"

Koa swore under his breath as Heliolisk discharged another field sweeping burst of electricity that Lanturn promptly absorbed before raising its fins and bringing down a massive bolt of electricity on Rascal. Golden energy surged back to Heliolisk as it once again regained its strength.

The Tyrantrum roared and staggered from the two charged blows, far more than she normally would have. Eyes blazing with fury, she started to charge at the duo. Anubis gave a sharp bark, calling her back and telling her to calm down.

She whirled and fixed a disdainful glare on him.

Above, the drizzle began to disperse. The sparks disappeared from the ground, leaving only muddy earth.

Finally. "Focus, guys! Anubis, create some cover!" Anubis snapped to attention, nodded diligently and rushed in, this time focusing on alternating between short bursts of flame and shadow.

If he could disrupt them before they got started again- "Rasc-"

As he turned toward the Tyrantrum, he saw her glowering, still seething with irritation. She let out an earth shaking roar. A flicker of orange energy formed around her feet. She raised one leg.

Then she brought her foot down and used Earthquake.

Koa's cry of warning came too late and died on his lips as his body was rattled. Waves of energy surged across the field. The ground shattered. Earth ruptured. Mud exploded everywhere as the earth heaved and tossed Lanturn to the side.

Heliolisk was thrown, flailing, into the air.

And Anubis was thrown violently aside and landed on the broken, wet earth in a dazed heap.

Both Hilgar's pokemon looked stunned while Anubis lay on his side, unmoving. Koa's mind buzzed uncomprehendingly.

Hilgar seemed caught off guard, but quickly recomposed herself. "Rain Dance, Terrain!"

The two staggered to their feet. Slowly, Anubis raised his head, his eyes snapping back into focus as he struggled to get his limbs under him. Rascal snarled viciously, lowering her head and raising one foot again.

Before Koa could tell her to stop, she used another Earthquake.

Neither Lanturn nor Heliolisk rose again.

Nor did Anubis.

Rascal roared her triumph to the skies. For the first time, the sound inspired shame in Koa instead of elation. He bit his lip and frowned, then returned both of them.

Across the field, Hilgar did the same. He could see she looked a bit chafed at losing, but satisfied too.

She flounced over to him. "Well, I can't say I expected you to KO your own pokemon. Bold strategy, but it worked. Congrats." She stuck out her hand.

Pushing aside his worry about the battle, Koa managed a grin. "Thanks. You had a pretty sick strategy there. Must be a menace for other trainers."

Hilgar chuckled. "It really is fabulous, isn't it? My opponents get so annoyed. We tend to do more contests than anything, so I've been working on getting them tough for the battle sections."

Koa nodded in understanding. "Well they're certainly doing well."

"So what have you been up to these months? Didn't you say something about being a... Dark type trainer? No wait..."

"... Legendary Researcher," he corrected, remembering the half truth he always defaulted to. Researcher. The word felt bitter on his tongue more than ever before.

"Oh. Ohhh," Hilgar said, recognition seeming to finally click in her mind. "Yeah, now I remember you." Her nose wrinkled and she frowned. "You're still planning on doing that? Even with everything going on?" she waved her hand vaguely as she said 'everything'.

He tensed. "Yeah, I am."

Hilgar frowned, and he could see from the way her lip curled she didn't think highly of his choice. Then she shrugged. "Well, whatever floats your gogoat I guess. Dunno why you'd want to though. Sounds to me like all they do is break and burn stuff. Can't believe what happened in Amity. Horrid."

Koa found himself squeezing his hand into a fist. He exhaled slowly, then spoke. "It's actually more complicated than the news reports say." He paused for a moment, meeting her eyes. "The first attack at Amity wasn't actually Entei for starters."

Hilgar barked out a derisive laugh. "Then how come they found Entei tracks?"

How come you're such a muking idiot?

"I read the news and saw the reports," she continued. "A friend of mine was near Amity at the time too. Entei was spotted like the day before or whatever."

He wrestled his tone into something resembling level. "There were two Entei's, a fake one and the real one." He quelled his instinctual annoyance with some effort. Hilgar couldn't know that.

"Wait seriously? How do you know?" Hilgar asked, narrowing her eyes.

"I was there. In Amity, when it was burning. I saw them both." Or rather he thought he had, but he didn't plan to mention that. Mostly he tried not to think too hard about that afternoon, about the fire and staring down the cold eyed beast. He pressed on. "One nearly took my head off, the other came and drove it away."

Her eyes went wide. Whatever refute she'd had prepared in her mind seemed to fade from her lips.

At least she seemed to be listening, even if she still looked skeptical. Koa stared stubbornly. "I mean, think about it. Even if a legendary had a problem with humans, they have no reason to target historical monuments and peaceful parks. They could just attack humans, not places with pokemon. That's what humans do."

She folded her arms, looking like she was actually considering his words. "What, you're saying those attacks were done by humans? Someone's going through all the effort of faking attacks by legendaries? That's absurd, what would even be the point?"

Koa stared back defiantly. "Power? Money? Just like any other group. Doesn't matter. It's not the act of real legendary pokemon. Someone or some group is behind this." He stated it firmly, managing to avoid snapping.

"'Something'," she said, making air quotes. She huffed. "Okay but don't they say new Enteis spawn or something everytime volcanoes erupt? Sounds more like probably one of them went crazy and blew up Amity then."

Are you descended from a Slowpoke?

His jaw clenched."That-" is the most moronic thing I've ever heard! He ungritted his teeth. Restrained himself. Remembered how Cade had spoken so long ago. "That's actually a common misconception. Only one singular Entei exists, it was resurrected by Ho-Oh and became a legendary about two centuries ago. It has been known to appear around volcanoes near eruptions or be drawn to them, and early researchers thought that it was a different Entei each time."

Nevermind that Callahan had claimed otherwise. He met her gaze evenly. "Not a real Entei, not even Entei at all, which means some group of humans is behind this."

This seemed to give her pause, and for a moment she actually seemed to be listening. "Well if they are, they sound pretty stupid to me. Nothing good will come of that. I mean, look at how that mess in Hoenn went down." She rolled her eyes. "Spirits, last thing we need is some new wack job cult bombing another lake. People need to just leave legendaries alone."

Bombing a lake. Koa held back a wince and pushed down a stir of anger at the memory of Galactic's handiwork.

Unconsciously, he found himself shaking his head. "Just because evil people have used their power doesn't mean we shouldn't... learn about them. Understand them more." He caught himself before he could say 'catch'. That was one argument he didn't feel like having.

"Anyways," he said quickly, "It's not them, and that's what matters. Between other legendaries and Rangers, they'll figure out who's really behind this." Or I will, he vowed. But Hilgar didn't need to know that.

"I suppose, yeah," she said with a shrug. "Though if you ask me, they're probably getting tired of us. Anyways, I guess we'll find out if you're right. Still think it's pretty nonsense but... Have fun chasing your folktales I guess."

Koa couldn't help but roll his eyes. He bit back the argue to fight the point further. One day, he vowed, he'd be able to. Once he had a legendary on his team. Actions to back up his words. Until then, nothing he said really mattered.

Only what he did.

XXX

After the battle, Koa found a clear spot off the main Route and asked Kitto to wait for him. Kitto said nothing, simply nodding in understanding before making himself busy training a short distance away.

Then he sent out his team, bracing himself. His other four members were surprisingly quiet as they emerged from their pokeballs, as if they knew. They probably had seen from their pokeballs.

As soon as Rascal and Anubis emerged, Anubis whirled around and barked sharply at the Tyrantrum, his eyes blazing. Koa could still see the caked earth and scrapes marring Anubis' fur from Rascal's attack, and a bit of his horn was chipped. Nothing that wouldn't grow back in a few days, but still...

Rascal snorted dismissively. We won, who cares?

Anubis clearly cared, and gave a low snarl. He stamped a paw on the ground and spat a few embers into the ground.

Koa stifled a sigh. Desperate gambits to win were one thing, but what Rascal had done was another. For a brief moment, an old fear resurfaced. Did she not trust him anymore in battle? No, that couldn't be it-

A huff from her broke his train of thought and she turned her snout up at Anubis. The Houndoom stared at her with a look of unnerving, steely coolness he'd never seen on him before. Around Koa, the rest of his team tensed and fidgeted uneasily, suddenly aware of the tension ratcheting up.

Sunlight glinted off Rascal's eyes as she gazed down at Anubis tauntingly, head held high. Lording her greater height and size over him. There was a challenge there, a command to back off. Let it go.

Anubis met her challenge with one of his own. He parted his jaws, letting flames gather and lick out from between his teeth. His lips curled back and a snarl rumbled from his chest. His eyes shone so coldly Koa felt a chill down his spine.

Everything grew still.

Rascal lunged. Green energy flared around her claws as she swiped at Anubis. Clearly, Anubis had anticipated the attack. He dodged neatly almost before Rascal moved. A stream of fire bathed Rascal's face, though she managed to shake it off. Fury shone through her and she opened her jaws.

Stones slammed down from above, pelting Anubis, who staggered wearily before recovering. Koa didn't have time to issue a command before Anubis retaliated with a pulse of dark energy, striking Rascal in the chest. The force and power actually chipped her scales, but she played it off anyway with a snort, then roared in challenge.

In a blur of dark fur, Anubis leaped up and latched onto Rascal's arm, jaws sparking with electricity. Rascal's roar shifted from triumph to pain. She twisted and spun, throwing Anubis off and sending him tumbling across the ground.

Behind him, Koa heard Flurry squeal in alarm.

Rascal stomped towards Anubis.

Heart pounding in his ears, Koa lunged forward, putting himself between the two pokemon. "Rascal-"

Her gaze turned from Anubis to him, a fearsome roar of primal rage bursting forth at the interruption. She swung her head toward him with such force that it slammed into Koa's chest, knocking him back.

He fell to the ground with a gasp of surprise. Fear quickly usurped his shock. That look in her eyes was so unlike the stubborn little Tyrunt he'd known-

And then a blur of blue fur appeared in front of him, a physical barrier between him and the rampaging fossil pokemon. Instantly, Rascal recoiled sharply, alarmed. She stepped back, tucking her claws in.

Koa blinked in surprise, realizing it was Flurry protecting him. She had planted herself firmly on the ground, her flippers spread and the telltale blue glow of ice in her jaws. From the corner of his eye, he saw Anubis rise to his paws and shake his head.

His heartbeat hammered in his fingertips as he reached out to place a calming hand on Flurry, his eyes still locked onto Rascal, whose expression had become unreadable.

He felt rather than heard the low beginning of a growl forming in Anubis' throat as he advanced, having noticed Flurry now facing Rascal. With his other hand, Koa reached out to Anubis in a pacifying gesture.

"That's enough." The firm steadiness of his own voice surprised him. It didn't match at all the tremor in his chest or the tightness in his throat.

Slowly, Koa rose to his feet, still watching Rascal. "You're both still hurt from the battle. You're in no shape to fight. Rascal, go wait over there while I check on Anubis. Anubis, stay close." It was all he could think of to say. He couldn't even begin to figure out how to address the actual problem, or what Rascal had done, or Anubis' attitude.

Rascal stared at Koa, her jaw tensed and claws curled. Then she turned and walked some yards away without further protest. The tension in Koa's shoulders finally unknotted.

Falling into rote routine, he began to pull out healing supplies from his medicine kit. He was distinctly aware of Kitto watching closely, but grateful that he wasn't trying to say anything yet. Koa wasn't sure he knew what answers to give. He set to tending to Anubis first, since he'd been worse off.

The Houndoom was tense all over, still bristling from the fight, and Koa took his time checking him over, spraying his wounds and giving him a few Sitrus berries for strength. He took his time to groom his black fur thoroughly, until he felt Anubis finally begin to relax under the touch of the brush.

He scratched behind his horns and under his chin, just how he liked, and soon enough his tail was wagging back and forth like a whip and he looked more like his usual self. Finally, Koa sat back and patted him on the head.

"Rest for now," he said quietly, before returning him.

Koa could feel the stares from his team, and Echo fluttered over to perch on his head. "I'm okay," he murmured, stroking him.

"Go wait with the team. I have to talk to Rascal." Koa could feel Echo's reluctance, but eventually he gave in and flew back to join the others. Flurry looked... Annoyed, in a way he'd never seen the usually cheerful water-type look. Scrapper looked downright angry and Hazard seemed troubled.

Beyond them, he saw Kitto's red gaze watching intently. Kitto tipped his head to the side but Koa shook his head in response. He didn't want to pull Kitto into this. Rascal was his responsibility.

Steeling himself, he started towards her. She was laying down, back to him, tail curled inward. Aside from the rise and fall of her sides, she was barely moving. Not even her tail was twitching, and she felt subdued. Like she'd formed a wall around herself.

"Rascal." He tried to catch her eye, but she made no acknowledgement of his presence. "Rascal." She looked away, staring off into the distance without so much as a huff or growl.

Biting his lip, Koa decided not to push. After all, she was the one who'd taught him to give her space. Instead, he uncapped a potion and started treating her. Fortunately, her hide was quite tough and she'd suffered no more than a few dents and nicks and a couple lost scales.

The entire time, she didn't acknowledge him, but she did shift to allow him better access to the patch on her chest. Lastly, he scraped out the dirt in her crest as best as he could manage, buffed out her scales, then sat back. The whole process had taken near a half hour, but at least she looked less tense.

His thoughts turned back to the first time he remembered seeing her like this. She'd almost lost to Byron, and not long after evolving... "You know, losing some battle against a trainer isn't that important. I hate losing too, but it's... It's not that important. I won't be mad."

Not worth attacking a teammate like that. Was this what Byron meant? But then, she'd deliberately used Earthquake. Twice. Not a reflex, not an accident.

This time, she replied, but only to give a huff and look away.

"We're a team. The only way we can get stronger is together, but that'll never happen if you can't work together." He reached out and gently rested a gloved hand on her haunch.

Still no reply. A tiny spark of annoyance flared in him. He didn't know how to get through to her. Scrapper had been caught up in trying to be perfect and blaming himself, but at least he'd been receptive... How could he help Rascal if she didn't even want to try and open up?

He stifled a sigh. "Can you at least apologize? I mean, you'd be mad too if Anubis attacked you," he said pointedly.

Rascal shifted, angling her massive head to look at him, then grunted. I'll think about it.

Probably as close as he could get, for now. Maybe he could try again tonight. Taking out her ball, he returned her, then trudged back to his team.

Once he'd made sure they were okay, he returned them and started once more down the road.

Silence reigned as they walked and Koa ruminated in his thoughts. When Byron had mentioned her having trouble from her evolution, this wasn't what he pictured. He'd mostly imagined some special training to help her adjust to her size, learning some new moves, that sort of thing.

Not... This.

"It's just... I don't know how to help!" His words burst out, like a cracked dam giving way. "I want to help. And be a good trainer, and encourage her but it's so— she's so frustrating. I can tell something is bothering her but she's just so... So..." He heaved a sigh.

"Stubborn? Thick-headed?" Kitto offered. He stared at Koa, eyes glimmering. "Yes. It is hard trying to help someone who doesn't want to listen or talk."

Koa blinked and stared at Kitto, trying to decipher the peculiar tone of his voice. Almost teasing, but not quite. Knowing? Amused? "...Yeah. That." He pushed a hand into his pocket, his other reaching up to brush the feather tucked safely into his jacket. What kind of trainer had pokemon who didn't even want to talk to them?

"I'll give her some space, but I can't ignore it forever. Maybe I just need to remind her she doesn't have to win everything or handle everything on her own. Maybe she feels like she has to, you know? But she's not alone... " he trailed off as he realized he'd rambled more, blurting out all his thoughts.

Kitto made a noise halfway between a snort and a chuckle and shook his head slightly. A slight smile tugged at his mouth and he ribbed Koa playfully. "Whatever it is, I trust you'll figure it out. Pokemon take after their trainers, I'm sure she'll come around."

Koa couldn't shake the feeling Kitto wasn't saying something, or that he himself was missing something obvious, but decided he didn't feel like digging. His thoughts were far too distracted with Rascal anyway.

XXX

Even though they could probably make it to Floaroma before nightfall, he didn't feel like rushing. Taking it slow would give him time to keep training. For the rest of the day as he traveled, he broke up his time between training, battling and traveling. Kitto got several battles in, and Jackie got a chance to keep testing his combo move.

By the time they reached the Ravaged Path, the sun was close to setting, and Kitto pointed out they might as well make camp early so their pokemon could rest. Koa didn't mind much, since he was looking forward to trying to talk to Rascal again.

All through their hike he'd been turning the problem over in his mind, trying to figure out what her problem was. How to help her. Kitto hadn't had any specific ideas, and had pointed out dragons and fossils weren't his specialty. But he had made a good sounding board as Koa ranted.

He had come to one conclusion - as patient as he'd learned to be in the past, he really couldn't wait for her this time. Not after what happened. Hazard and Echo agreed too (Scrapper seemed like he thought punching the problem out of her would work, which Koa wasn't sure about).

Although he wasn't sure exactly what he'd say yet, he had the loose shape of an idea forming...

Not long after they'd made camp, Koa stood just inside Ravaged Path, a little ways off the trail. A lantern set beside him offered a bit of light against the shadows from the growing twilight outside. His team was outside the cave with Kitto and he was alone. He'd realized that before when he'd talked to her, the whole team was still around, well nearly within earshot. Privacy couldn't hurt, and maybe it would help her feel more at ease.

Taking a deep breath, he tapped her pokeball. She emerged and blinked, looking around at the cave before staring at him.

Koa gestured to a large bowl of food he'd set up, then sat down and picked up his own plate from where he'd set it beside him. In the absence of a proper plan or rehearsing lines, he'd decided that eating a meal with Rascal in private would be more comfortable than trying to interrogate her.

As he began to eat, she stared at him, her stony gaze shifting into confusion when he made no attempt to question her. Finally, hesitantly, she began to nibble her food. Eating seemed to relax her, and soon she was chomping away contentedly.

If only he could feel that. Despite Koa's efforts to make sure Rascal was comfortable, that didn't make it easier for him to navigate the issue.

He waited until he was almost half through before speaking. "I know evolving during... that fight must have been hard." Koa had tried not to think too much about that battle and focus mostly on the aftermath, how they'd saved Zeraora and all those electric pokemon.

But facing a Rapidash again like that must have stirred up old memories. His own back still bore the faint scars, though they were no more than a pale mark visible if you squinted. He could still see the faint scar across Rascal's own scales.

Rascal sniffed disdainfully and kept eating, dismissing the notion. Koa couldn't tell if she genuinely didn't care or was brushing it aside.

"And I know you really want to grow stronger. We still owe Cade and Gabite a rematch. Especially now that you evolved!"

Her tail twitched and she nodded again, not meeting his eyes. He could sense the wall between them still. He stifled a sigh and took a bite of his meal to give himself time to think.

He swallowed. "I think you're sick. And you're probably my strongest pokemon. But like I said, it's okay if you lose a gym battle or to some trainer. Just like before against Cade, we'll keep working on it, okay? No need to go wild, or knock out one of your teammates to win." With an attempt at a grin, he added, "At least not without warning them."

Rascal made a noise like rocks tumbling down a slope, then gave way to a whine, a noise she hardly ever made. ...Guilt. She really did feel truly bad about what happened. Was that part of it then? Angry, guilty and upset that even after evolving she'd nearly lost battles?

He thought back to what Byron had said about evolving, and about how challenging it could be. It had probably felt amazing to evolve and turn so much stronger, and he'd been so happy for her. But all that strength wasn't infallible either. And he felt sure Anubis wouldn't hold a grudge...

Koa set his plate down, then reached out and patted her on the snout. "It's okay, Rascal. You know, just because you evolved doesn't mean you'll never lose again. And if you apologize, I think Anubis will forgive you." He paused, hoping his words were sinking in. She was flexing her claws and actually looking at him now, at least.

"And next time you feel yourself getting angry..." He frowned, searching his thoughts for the words he wanted.

"I know you get angry sometimes, and I do too, but you can't let it take over. You have to... take a deep breath and push it down, you know? Any emotion that gets too strong or clouds your thoughts, try to put it aside. That way you can think clearly. Okay?" It was how he'd always done it, maybe she could learn it too.

She gave him a doubtful look, clearly not sure she could do it, but then nodded.

What was it Kitto taught him...? "Just let your emotions fuel your uh... claws, not your mind."

Again, she nodded, her huge nose wrinkling slightly as she seemed to be concentrating on his words.

Koa slowly let out his breath, the knot in his chest loosening slightly. It wasn't a perfect end, but that was fine. It was a start, and that was what mattered.

Together, they finished their meal in companionable silence, then Koa gathered his things. With Rascal by his side, he returned to the warm glow of the campfire and the rest of the team.

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An: I am sure Koa's advice to push down your anger is good and solid and won't have repercussions for anyone.

Double battles are fun! Also a heck and a half to write, wow. But they give so many options for combos and I have been dying to try this one out. I came up with it years ago and tried to use it in game but its trickier in-game than in writing. It is very fun in writing though. Can you imagine how annoying that strategy would be? Not useful individually but together a hassle.

Hopefully as fun to read as to write.

Of course, Koa was further hampered but his pokemon beefing with each other. A different combo of mon definitely could have done better, but where's the fun in that ;) ?

On that note, it was fun trying to write Koa's pokemon being mad at each other. I hope to explore more of their individual relationships with each other and this evolved naturally into a conflict that I liked.