Routes in this world were a catch-all term for the winding roads that connected population centers through vast stretches of undeveloped lands. They varied widely, and never was that more evident than stepping out onto Route 5. The last route she'd traveled through, the badlands, had been a dusty and hostile environment. Trainers could easily be swept away by the rolling storms, burying them in dirt and clay.

In comparison, Route 5 was a playground.

Tanya shook her head, remembering that she had just passed a literal skatepark. It had been built directly outside of the city and adjacent to the route. Children and adults of all ages had been rollerskating across its painted cement surface. They performed tricks and stunts that she was only vaguely able to remember the names of. Occasionally, one would tumble, earning either laughs or sounds of concern.

All the activity reminded her of the cyclist shop that was their base. Traditional bikes would be out of place there, but variants like a BMX would work quite well. With such a market, she was surprised the shop had fallen into such disrepair. It was probably a consequence of their current management being unable to see the potential.

Speaking of the punks, they'd been acting strangely. For one, they never seemed to be idle. Their hands were always occupied; whether it be a broom or clipboard, they always looked busy. Then there was the way they'd fall into an almost unnatural silence when she neared. It wasn't every time, but more than once she'd walked in on them only to have them completely clam up. The most concerning aspect was their numbers. They were multiplying. At last count, there were now six of them.

Using Emma's words as guidance, Tanya was not blind to what these developments may have meant. In a rare act of charity, she'd cornered Faust and Lillian, warning them to stay away from that sort of trouble. The boy had laughed in her face while the girl looked almost constipated. That type of reaction did not spur confidence, and she once again considered the threat their continued existence posed. It was only Ralts' constant assurances that kept her at bay. She did not enjoy being put in a position of being reactive rather than proactive, but she viewed it as an investment in Ralts' development. If nothing came of the punks' actions, then there was no harm done. However, if they did draw them into trouble, then it was a teachable moment for the Pokemon, showing the importance of dealing with issues in their infancy.

Setting those thoughts aside, Tanya reviewed her goals for this outing. Her first objective would be completed today, collecting the plants for that herbalist. The second, procuring a firearm, would have to wait for tomorrow. She wasn't sure how long it would take, but the poacher was allegedly located on Route 7 and that was past where she would be making camp tonight, Camphrier Town.

"Hey, watch out!"

Reacting to the abrupt shout from ahead, she barely spared the incoming roller skater a look before scooping up Ralts, who had been walking down the dirt path with her.

The teen zoomed past, continuing down at a speed that could easily result in a broken neck.

This wasn't the first near miss they'd encountered while scaling the rolling hills of Route 5. The first couple of times she'd had to stop the dragon bringing up their rear from chomping down on the offender.

It seemed, even without the skatepark, this area was a popular site for skaters. She had to imagine the park was built in an effort to stop reckless skaters going up and down these hills. It was just a shame they'd overestimated the intelligence of their local adrenaline junkies. Why they could not be satisfied owning creatures able to level buildings was a mystery to her.

Tanya placed the Pokemon back down and then reached over, snatching away the device in her tiny white hands.

"What did I say about watching where you're going? I'm confiscating your phone. You'll get it back at the end of the day."

It wasn't one of the models the punks owned and she wasn't sure how Ralts had gotten it. She'd just shown up with it one day, reading at the table like Tanya often did. Tanya suspected this was another effort at emulating her.

Ralts looked up at her indigently, holding out her open palm.

'Necessary,' she conveyed, along with a feeling of seriousness.

Tanya scoffed, placing the phone in her hoodie's pocket.

"You can play with it later. I know this area is rather civilized, but we shouldn't foster bad habits like letting your guard down on routes."

The hand reminded out, and Tanya noticed the puffing of the Pokemon's cheeks.

'Work, not play.'

As someone who'd caught multiple employees at their desk preaching the same, Tanya knew a lie when she saw one. She must have been playing one of those mobile games or something.

"Then you can work later," Tanya said, not giving in to Ralts' demands.

There was another yell from ahead of them. It was one she knew, and her hand snapped out, clamping around the base of Mawile's black jaw. Holding the Pokemon like a turnip, Tanya looked back to see a skateboard continue down the hill. She would not be surprised if it reached the city in the valley below.

"Do I want to know where you got that board from?" Tanya asked the Pokemon, not placing her down.

Mawile raised a finger to her chin and gained a contemplative look before shaking her head.

"Thought so," she commented idly, straining her ears and hearing what sounded like a child crying in the distance. She looked to the side, seeing where the forest began. "We're deep enough. Let's head off the path and find those herbs for Melody."

She didn't want to explain to a parent why her Pokemon had requisitioned their child's toy.

Again.

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"These are ordinary purple flowers, not bugwort," Tanya explained to a Bunnelby while holding out a printed-out picture of the plant she was after. The rabbit's arms were crossed and its leg thumped on the ground as it waited impatiently. "Please look again at the bulb. They look nothing alike."

She was seated in a newly formed clearing, behind a newly felled log. On the oak were a series of small wicker baskets. Each contained different packaged goods with a small place card in front of them.

Tanya could think of better things to do than to wander the forest and hope to stumble on the herbs they needed. Her team did not live here and while she was certain they could source the bugwort if they needed to, it was much easier to have it delivered to them. To that end, they'd set up this temporary shop.

"Bunn, bunnelby!" The rabbit angrily explained, its ears twitching.

It was heartening to know it was not just her team that had problems picking fights.

"And we thank you for your prior business. However, we cannot accept those flowers in exchange. Unless you have other items to trade on your person, please step aside for the next customer. If you are still dissatisfied, I'll refer you to our complaint department."

The thumping stopped, and its eyes strayed to Tanya's right side, where a bored dragon sat. Of course, only someone like Tanya who had spent time with the Pokemon could tell the Pokemon was bored. To anyone else, Gabite would have appeared to be a single wrong look from mauling something.

Gabite yawned, displaying her rows of teeth. Her clawed hand scratched her side before it pointed up.

"Ite, gabite."

That was correct. Gabite was general security. Complaints were handled by Mawile. It was a tad redundant, but much easier than dealing with the fallout if she excluded the Pokemon. To her chagrin, it seemed she'd wasted effort.

"Pardon me a moment," Tanya excused herself. She stood and walked a few paces to the base of the tree Gabite had pointed at. Her foot reeled back, aura rushing through the limb. "Attention!"

The tree shuddered at the impact and Mawile flopped out of the tree, landing at Tanya's feet face first. Had this been one of her soldiers, they'd be standing at attention right now.

Mawile, on the other hand, was still sleeping.

"How much did you say that motorcycle was?" Tanya dryly intoned.

The Pokemon's head perked up, and she looked around with bleary eyes. She rubbed them with her balled fist and got up, looking for said vehicle.

"We have a complaint," Tanya said, ignoring the bait she'd laid out. "Deal with it." Mawile's eyes cleared up, and she nodded. With her trademark grin, she stepped around Tanya, searching for their unhappy customer.

She'd be searching for a while, as it, along with half of their potential customers, looked to have fled.

"Stand down," she ordered, taking her place behind the log. "And stop sleeping on the job. It's unprofessional."

Just because their customers were wild Pokemon didn't mean they should provide anything but their best level of service. Word of mouth was their main driver of business and while they would not be here for long, who was to say they'd not try this again in the near future?

Her eyes strayed down to the basket behind their improvised counter. They'd had a productive few hours. A forest this size was a treasure trove of vegetation. Their primary goal was bugwort, but she saw no reason to reject the berries and herbs offered to her for trade. It was not without cost on her end, as the junk food she'd purchased from the city wasn't free, but she was getting the better end of the deal.

"Next, please," Tanya called to the family of bears next in line. "How can I help you?"

A Pancham ran up to the counter. Its face barely crested the log and Tanya watched as it lifted its nose, sniffing one basket before scurrying to the next. Following it were the lumbering steps of a Pangoro. It was smaller than the one she'd seen compete against that Charizard, both in height and muscle mass. The coat was duller as well, lacking that shine that came from regular grooming. For all that, there was a light in the Pokémon's eyes that promised fierce retribution should anything happen to its cub—or cubs—as Tanya barely spotted another Pancham hiding behind the larger Pokémon's leg.

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Curiously, Tanya did not spot anything in their paws, indicating they'd come empty-handed. She wasn't the only one to notice, and Gabite's feet shifted wider.

Tanya's eyes flickered to the side, and to her immense frustration, she spotted Mawile curled up in a ball and slumbering once more. It had been mere seconds, and if this trend continued, she was putting limitations on the Pokemon's midnight strolls.

Before she could wake her up again, the Pancham in the lead began speaking.

"Pan! Cham? Cham?" Its attention was scattered, and it pointed at one item after another, asking questions without pausing for answers. "Panch? Am??

"My personal favorite is the Couriway Chewies," Tanya lied, giving out the name of their most expensive item. "We sell them separately and in the variety pack right there." She pointed to a basket at the end. "That one gives you a selection to choose from. As for our sourest, that would be the Saffron Sours. Those are only sold in packs of five."

She paused there, choosing not to answer any of the other questions. Her attention went back to the solemn Pangoro, and she asked the burning question.

"Do you have any items to trade?"

If the answer was no, then it did not matter how big those black panda eyes grew. At best, they'd walk away with nothing. At worst, they'd crawl.

"Pang, oro," the Pokemon's deep voice rumbled out.

Information?

Carbink had been sent out into the woods with very specific and simple instructions. He was to solicit business, spreading the message that they were willing to trade sweets for the bounty of the forest. However, she'd also told him to inform any would-be customers that they were willing to trade goods in exchange for sightings of red-clothed humans.

She just hadn't expected that to actually work.

"That's right," Tanya replied cautiously. "I'm afraid we can't simply take your word for it. My associate will have to verify your claims as true."

Otherwise, any random Pokemon could come along and take them for a ride.

At her words, the Pangoro's eyes narrowed. It chewed on the weed between its lips, mulling over her stipulation.

"Pan!" The bold Pancham ran up to its larger caretaker. It jumped up and down, whining petulantly. "Cham! Pan!"

It ran around the leg, pulling the other Pancham out and making it so they both stood in front of what Tanya now recognized was their mother. The two cubs stood hand in hand, one far more eager than the other, crying demands.

The affair was noisy, and Tanya watched the Pangoro's eyes twitch. She huffed, taking a large paw and sweeping the pair to the side before stepping closer.

"Pangoro, pang."

An agreement? That increased the odds of her claim having credence.

"Very well," Tanya acknowledged, turning to the left and calling out in a loud voice. "Ralts! Your assistance is needed."

There was a rustling, and Ralts stumbled out of the brush. Both her arms were occupied, one with Mimikyu and the other with a wooden plank. She fixed her posture quickly and measured steps brought her to Tanya's side.

The plank in her right arm took on a purple hue before floating out, displaying itself to Tanya. She reached out, grasping it delicately. Her hands trembled, fingers tensing instinctively, only to be forced slack.

Carved on the inch-wide piece of wood was 'Pixies' Depot.'

What the hell was that?!

She refused to have that name follow her in this life. It would not be allowed. Anyone who mentioned it would find their kneecaps blown out.

It took every ounce of her self-control to not snap the thing in two. Because as much as she wanted to, she could feel the expectation wafting off of Ralts. It was matched only by the pride the Pokemon radiated in relation to Mimikyu, the one who volunteered to make a store sign.

That stupid doll.

How much was Mimikyu worth again? The answer was a lot, and through a herculean effort, Tanya plastered a smile on her face.

"Good work, you two," she said, her eyes nearly tearing up. "It's very… intricate."

It was the only compliment she could find. The name was horrible, but it had been carved with an attention to detail she could reluctantly admire. There were even sketches of them on the bottom, adding a flare to the piece.

Righ, Flare. She set it to the side, putting it somewhere she'd not have to see it.

"Ralts," Tanya spoke, directing the Pokemon on her new assignment. "Pangoro here says she witnessed individuals who might have been with Team Flare. Can you verify?"

The psychic turned, as if only now noticing the existence of the large bear. Tanya's hand reached out, taking a twig that had gotten caught in the Pokemon's hair during her entrance. It occurred to her that the dark typing might cause Ralts' some issues. She didn't voice her concerns, allowing Ralts to make the determination herself.

'Understood,' Ralts sent before setting down Mimikyu and waddling around the counter.

The two Panchams ran up to her, one dragged by the other. At two feet, they were double the size of Ralts. One could be mistaken for forgetting that as pinkish-red eyes caused the two to shrink back, fleeing behind their mother, who snorted.

Ralts' horn glowed, and Pangoro nodded. The bear Pokemon fell back, its weight falling to the ground and causing the counter to be jostled. Sitting upright, it leaned forward, offering its head to Ralts.

Hands were soon laid on the furry white head, and Ralts stood rigidly.

They waited, the sounds of the forest being the only sign of time passing. She got an inkling that things were not progressing, yet she made no moves. It was not that she didn't want to help, but that she had no method of doing so.

Her pack, which had remained propped up against the counter, fell to the side. Curiously, both the Mega Stone and Keystone tumbled out.

This was no coincidence, and she eyed Mimikyu.

Tanya understood the message, if not the logic. Deciding to trust the cryptic ghost, she grabbed the two and walked over to Ralts.

Eyes blinked open and Ralts gazed at the Mega Stone before reaching out, clutching it in a palm. Her right hand took Tanya's left, and soon both of theirs were placed on Pangoro's head.

'Mother,' the word rammed into her head, causing her to sway and tighten her hold on the Keystone. 'Together, Mama.'

Tanya did not know what that meant, but her aura surged in response, and in the next instant, she was elsewhere.

Her stomach grumbled, protesting at its emptiness.

She ignored it. Her cubs were fed.

Prowling through her territory, she traversed to where she knew a grove would be.

There she could satiate herself. This time, she would make sure to bring back extra. The cubs would not eat her out of a meal again.

Raised voices in the distance caused her to fall to all fours. Scents traveled to her nose, bringing with them the knowledge of who intruded into her domain.

Humans.

Dangerous foes and unexpected allies.

A younger version of herself had been in their care for a time after she'd broken an arm in a dispute.

She proceeded cautiously, taking care to not make a noise in her approach.

Peaking through a bush, she spotted them. Flaming red hair with matching dress, they babbled in their tongue.

No, argued.

There was a leader among them, and he berated his underlings. With her distance, she could not make out the words. She considered getting nearer, but that was senseless.

She had cubs at home.

Whatever their issues were resolved, and the leader stomped past, his followers trailing after him.

Tanya gasped for breath, dropping the stone.

That was… that wasn't her.

Ralts had shown her images before, but this was something else. These were scents and emotions. They were full-blown memories, causing her to forget herself.

Gardevoir.

This was exactly what Gardevoir had done to her.

Tanya grew conscious at the stare directed her way, and her mind superimposed the image of the older physic Pokemon onto her Ralts.

She dashed the image aside.

Ralts was Ralts.

Her hand went down, ruffling the green locks.

'Mama, stop,' a burst of embarrassment came from the diminutive Pokemon.

Tanya cracked a smile at that, and she didn't get a chance to evaluate that before another voice broke in.

"Pang," Pangoro said, standing on two legs again. "Oro?"

Her mind went to work, sorting through the memory she'd received. It told her that Team Flare had been in the area and they were likely searching for Yveltal. She could sense the memory was from months prior. Which meant it contained no actionable information and wasn't terribly useful.

Still, she wouldn't back out of the reward. She wanted the wild populace to be on alert, and if it cost her some cheap junk food to accomplish that, it was well worth it.

"Pang, or–" Tanya's tongue froze, and she restarted in English. "Yes, that's acceptable. Have the cubs start selecting what they want. I'll tell them when to stop."

Maybe she would allow them a little extra. She was feeling generous today.