[Marco POV, Phenac City]

Phenac City was a city built after a man found a way to draw water in the form of a water fountain. This man, who eventually became the mayor, ensured that the fountain grew into an oasis in the desert. A few homes were built, a shop was set up, and the mayor was content. As it grew larger, the mayor needed to find ways to ensure the population had jobs and entertainment so it wouldn’t end up like Pyrite Town. With that, the stadium was born and Phenac City became the oasis town that flourished in the desert.

Now, it was more than a simple oasis town. I walked in to find myself in a version of Las Vegas filled with magical pocket monsters. At least, I think this is what Las Vegas was like. I’d never been, even when I lived in California.

‘So, what are we going to do while we wait for Araceli?’ Nautilus asked as we walked through the swarm of people wandering from one neon lit building to the next.

“We’re getting food. I exhausted all of my supplies while we were in the distortion world,” I replied, looking for a restaurant with the smallest line.

‘How did a month’s worth of food last you three?’ he asked. ‘I’m sure you didn’t stop making the recovery cookies since they’re essential for training.’

“The Distortion world was weird man,” I stopped to try and grasp what it was like. “Time seemed to move normally, but it felt like I was constantly rushing. I can’t really explain and telling you that a waterfall was moving upwards instead of down can’t compare to seeing it defy everything you thought you knew about them. But to me, it felt like a month at most.”

‘And all of you grew very strong in such a short period of time? I want in,’ he said, a glint of excitement marring his stoic face.

“You’re not gonna comment on the time shenanigans going on in the Distortion World?”

‘Why? It’s not like I’m ever going there?’

“What if Tapu Lele decides to throw me there again?”

Nautilus scowled at the mention of the Alola guardian. ‘Let her fucking try that again and she’s gonna end up like a smashed egg.’

“Hey, at least I got something good out of it,” I said with a grin.

‘Enlighten me, will you. How could being pushed through a portal to the unknown and being separated from your very first Pokémon and friend?’

My grin turned into a smirk as I said, “I met Giratina.”

Nautilus’ eyes widened and his beak slightly opened at the mention of the Legendary’s name.

“And he blessed me. He gave me and the team, you included, a boost to our training efforts so we’d grow ever stronger… And he gave me my own ability,” I said smugly, staring the goth squid in the eyes. The look of shock was priceless. I just had to…

*click*

“Ha, now I’ll be able to see this whenever I want,” I said, forcing Nautilus out of his stupor.

‘You’d better delete that, or else I’ll…!’ Nautilus started as he rushed to take my phone. I closed my eyes and concentrated on disappearing, feeling a bubbling sensation just below my heart spread throughout my body. The heat from all of the passing bodies disappeared, along with the breeze that was gently blowing through.

‘Marco?! Where’d you go?’ Nautilus looked around frantically, not being able to find me in my spectral state. It felt odd, to say the least. I couldn’t figure out how to move for a bit because I didn’t have any muscles.

After a minute or two, I realized I needed to just… will myself in a certain direction or orientation in order to move and turn. All of that took quite a bit of energy, so I soon began to feel tired. Once I focused back on Nautilus, I noticed he was on the verge of tears. I could feel my chest tighten as my heart felt like it was being tugged in multiple directions. Poor guy, he was definitely left traumatized by the whole thing, once again being separated from his family. Except, this time, he didn’t know if we were dead or alive for three months. Three months of not knowing what had happened to us or if we would ever come back.

With a thought, I reappeared right in front of him, feeling like absolute shit for forgetting that he had to go through that. Nautilus punched me as a few tears rolled down his face.

“I’m sorry, buddy. It completely slipped my mind that Tapu Lele separated us; that you, once again, were separated from your family. I’m sorry for making you relive that,” I said softly.

‘You can be a jerk sometimes, you know that?’ he responded with another punch, this one much harder than the others. I nodded in agreement, both of us standing and simmering in the sentiments for a bit.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“But you have to admit, that’s some cool shit I can do now,” I said softly, looking at my starter.

‘Tch, dumbass,’ he rolled his eyes as a smile grew. ‘Of course it was cool, you just blinked out of existence like a Gengar.’

“Haha, I knew you’d like it.”

As we continued to joke around, we found ourselves in front of an establishment that promised a buffet large enough for a Trainer and their full team of Snorlax. That was going to be perfect for all of us. I just hoped they had some good options for Colada. Unlike Tetsu, she couldn’t just absorb the nutrients from foods or minerals. The treats I made for her were specialized in the sense that they were just containers of energy, not actual food. The others could eat them as well, but preferred the flavorful cookies and meals I made for them.

I guess I should count myself lucky that Colada didn’t need to eat very often. Everytime she fed on the unfortunate souls that found themselves in front of her, she could go about a month or two without absorbing more. But we were about a month and a half past her last meal, so I’d have to find out if they had some options for her.

Before I could walk in, a redhead walked up to me with a maniacal grin plastered on her face. My crazy sense went off and broke itself as she introduced herself.

[Random POV, Phenac City]

*buuuuUUURRRRRp*

“Damn bastards! I was going to pay tomorrow!” I shouted at the bouncers that kicked me out of the bar. I always pay the day after back in Celadon City, they can call any of the bars there! Eh, whatever. I’ll just find somewhere else that respects their customers.

*buuuurrp*

*ring* *ring*

My damn phone couldn’t stay in one place as I tried to answer the call. Why do they have to make technology so confusing? And this isn’t even a model with those pesky ass Ghost-types.

*ring* *ring* *ring*

“Who’s this?” I demanded as I stumbled through the streets. Most of the other people moved out of my way, disgust on their faces. As if they could even begin to understand what fun is.

“Where are you?” a smooth, authoritative voice sounded out, almost sounding like-.

“Archer?” I asked, sobering up immediately.

“Seems you still recognize my voice, Ariana. Good, we need you in Kalos,” he said, a glint of approval in his voice.

“Is Giovanni hiding there,” I said mockingly. To think he was still putting his faith in the one that abandoned the group in our most crucial moment.

“Ha, to think we spent so long chasing after some that gave up so easily,” he replied, a fanatical tone creeping into the words. “No, I want to offer you a chance to grow truly powerful. To help bring a new force into the world, an end to the League’s monopoly on power. What do you say?”

His words paused my movements. He was never one for grand words like this, nor did his calm demeanor ever break when talking about Team Rocket. To be so invested, maybe there is something to invest in. I looked around before answering, seeing a bulky man and his Malamar conversing before the man suddenly blinked out of existence. The Malamar looked around for its Trainer before he appeared just as suddenly as he disappeared.

I knew Psychics and Trainers like Bruno could do things that were nothing short of incredible, but this was more than teleportation. It felt different and more sinister. It was the perfect catalyst that struck a fire within me.

“Ariana?”

“Where do you want me to fly to? It seems as if this new force is already expanding in ways I never thought possible,” I said, a grin spreading on my face.

“Come to Santalune Forest. Next week there will be a demonstration for us being done by the benefactor of the group I’ve joined,” he said. “It is going to be magnificent.”

“I’ll be there, don’t you worry,” I giddily told him before hanging up.

And here I thought the rest of my life would be spent becoming a new regular at different bars and helping men lighten up their wallets and Pokéballs. Now, I would witness the birth of a new group that, hopefully, would not be limited by the petty goals of a short-sighted leader. Now, I wonder if that Trainer is part of the group as well. I guess I should go say hello to a possible co-worker.

“Hey there. You wouldn’t happen to be traveling to Santalune Forest anytime soon, would you?”

[Marco POV]

“I’ve been thinking about it, but I’m not too sure if it’ll be worth it,” I bullshitted. Someone comes up to me and vaguely asks me if I’m planning to travel to a location in another region? You bet your ass I’m finding that shit suspicious. With the smell of alcohol, messy red hair, ruffled up clothes, and crazy smile, God’s natural red flag here looks like she starts bar fights for a living. Definitely shady.

“Oh,” her eyes widened in expectation before her smile changed into a more seductive one. “Wanna protect me as we make our way over?”

“Fuck off, you’d probably take my shit the moment I fall asleep,” I told her.

“Oh, how rude. And to think I’d let you explore my temple,” she said with a pout.

I rolled my eyes. Maybe she was just plain old crazy and there wasn’t an actual event happening soon.

“But if you’re going out to Santalune, take me with you. It’s not something I’ll want to miss,” she said with a wink.

Or maybe not.

She then walked towards the airport found at the edge of the dock. Sounds like something is going on back in Kalos. I wonder if it has anything to do with that weird feeling Nautilus and I both got on the way here. Well, in any case, we were still starving. So I walked into the buffet, Nautilus right behind me, and went over to the young host that was in charge of seating people.

“Hello, welcome to Snorlax Heaven, where you and your Pokémon can eat as much as you want for just 600$ per Pokémon or person. How many will be enjoying culinary heaven today?” he asked cheerfully. A masterfully crafted customer service personality.

“Hi. Do you have options for Pokémon that don’t eat food like the rest of us? I’ve got an Aegislash that doesn’t really eat like the rest of us,” I asked.

“Not to worry. We’ve got unlimited specialized dishes for just 650$ per Pokémon, which is dishes for Pokémon like the Grimer and Trubbish lines. We also have a hunting ground for 500$” he answered.

“Awesome. Can I get one of my Pokémon to do the hunting ground and a table for eight as close to the hunting ground as possible?”

“Of course we can. That will be a total of 5,700$” he said. I grimaced at the price, but it was an all-you-can-eat that was available for Pokémon. And we were going to get our money’s worth.

A waiter walked us over to a table that was set right at the edge of a small grassy plain. There was a small pond in the distance and a tiny little forest further away. The fact that all of this was part of the building may be why everything was so expensive, but I can only assume that they offset costs by letting wild Pokémon live and multiply here. That way they always had a fresh supply of ingredients. Well, it doesn’t get fresher than living and breathing about 60 meters away from the kitchen.

I let Colada out and told her to go wild. I then released the rest of my crew out, including Hawlucha and Skorupi. Hawlucha attempted to start a fight, but I slapped her into the seat and told her I was treating everyone to a buffet. Her look of confusion disappeared when I told her she could eat as much as she wanted until she couldn’t anymore.

Skorupi looked a bit uncomfortable surrounded by everyone, but Ra took care of that by shielding him a bit and talking to him directly. Ah, the perfect big brother. Hestia sat next to Ra, seething in jealousy because of the lack of attention she was getting. Hawlucha was next to Hestia, taking up that end of the table. I was to Skorupi’s left, followed by Nautilus, Tetsu, and Kippie.

With all of us seated and cups, or bowls, of water in front of us, it was time for us to decide what to eat. Fried rice, ramen, steaks of all kinds, veggie bowls, soups, malasadas, tacos, curries, they had everything. An Indeedee and Mr. Mime walked over to take our orders after about 10 minutes. I started off with some fried Farfetch’d and mashed potatoes, the others going for whatever caught their fancy. Nautilus went for his signature pasta with meatballs, Kippie ordered several servings of sweet malasadas, and Tetsu asked for metal and cereal. Ra had a difficult time choosing between the Alolan veggie bowl and dry Tropical curry, so he ordered both. Hawlucha excitedly requested a spicy Mareep curry, and Skorupi, the last to decide, settled on a bowl of miso Pidgey ramen. All we needed to do now was wait for the food.