INTERLUDE - How He Lived

His entire life, he had only known the volcano. Up here was only the heat, the hunt, and fierce competition.

Heat rose from Turtonator's shell and sulfur glimmered off of it, giving the cave a warm yellow hue. He lay completely still as he awaited prey, but none had come in three days. His shell was cracked, almost split into three different pieces, half of his scales had been peeled off and there was a gaping hole in his plastron. Turtonator had almost been mortally wounded after challenging a stronger member of his species further up the volcano after growing overconfident. The battle had barely lasted two minutes. Flames so powerful they glowed white had melted off his scales and they had fused to his flesh. Explosions so grand that the mere shockwave caused him to freeze in fear and that his opponent had used to propel himself up in the air and jump so high that it was like he was flying. Even through all of his agony, Turtonator cursed his weakness. When he recovered, he would challenge that Turtonator again, but for now? He needed to rest and recover. Down here, he did not have enough sulfur to strengthen his explosions, and competition with other Turtonator for the meager amount present was fierce. Life was hard, but it was all he had ever known since he'd been born. No parents had been here to raise him, so his experience shaped who he was, and who he would always be.

And so, he stood still as he waited for an unsuspecting weakling to wander by and die by his explosion. He couldn't conceal himself well, but even Pokemon could make mistakes and slip. He had seen it many times before. After all, he had lived for slightly more than seventy years on this mountain, and he planned to live for centuries more. He would conquer this entire volcano and sit on his rightful throne at the summit. He would be the strongest and take what was rightfully his.

Turtonator's eyes narrowed.

Steps. There were multiple individuals… perhaps two. His tail flexed and he readied himself to strike. Something tensed in Turtonator's back as he activated his Shell Trap, and its red hue intensified.

He barely had time to see what it was that he was targeting before everything exploded. He slammed his tail against his fractured shell and his body contracted. Turtonator nearly passed out from the pain— the strain from exploding his wounded shell. He heard another crack form and breathed out a stream of flames to distract himself from the pain.

This would take months to heal, but he would starve if he did not eat.

When the smoke, ash and sulfur lingering in the air cleared, a Pokemon covered in white and purple fur stood there unharmed, along with a human hiding behind the psychic barrier it had created. Turtonator knew of these Pokemon— Oranguru, they were called. It was covered in soot from head to toe. He had only heard of them, however. They did not usually venture up this volcano, and humans almost never went so high up.

The human wore some sort of cloth over his face and studied Turtonator. He shared most humans' tanned skin, but this one was stockier than usual. The boy's eyes stopped when he glazed over his wounds.

Every wild Pokemon knew that trainers were bad news. They were slippery and liked to use tricks to win instead of using their own strength. Turtonator snarled and gathered a Dragon Pulse inside of his snout, amassing as much energy as he could before letting it loose. The turquoise stream of energy was warped by the heat and dissipated in a single stroke of Oranguru's fan. Turtonator's eyes bulged as rage bubbled inside of him. More tricks!

"Calm down! Calm the hell down!" The human yelled. "What in the Tapu's names happened to you?"

Turtonator did not hesitate, but his next attack was also easily stopped. Such weaklings!

"You look bad, my brother. I don't want any trouble, but I think I should heal you. I've got these," the human said, presenting some sort of strange metallic bottle. "It's a potion that'll get you all healed up. My name's Kamaile. Kamaile Nalanie. I don't want to hurt you, I'm just exploring the volcano."

If Turtonator had been in any state of fight back, he would have, but he was barely conscious at this point. He had used the last ounce of energy and poured everything he had left into this attack, and he'd failed. He stumbled and nearly fell down on the ground.

"Keep that shield on me, Oranguru," Kaimaile said.

A cold feeling spread across Turtonator's wounds, and the pain soon faded. It did not disappear, and his scales did not regrow, nor did his shell mend, but at least he could rest easy. He'd been in so much pain these last few days, and now that it was gone only a sense of freedom remained.

The dragon blinked a few times and fell asleep.

—

When Turtonator awoke, his first thought was surprise at the fact that he was still alive.

Good evening, abrasive one.

The fire type scrambled to his feet and saw that the human was sleeping. Kamaile, he had called himself. Oranguru stared at him with a look of amusement that annoyed him to no end.

What do you want with me, coward? Turtonator snarled. I could burn you to smithereens right now. Turn you and your master, he said, spitting out that last word. To ash.

Do it then, Oranguru said, dipping his head. He was lazily fanning his face and barely paid any attention to him now that he was awake. It would be all for naught, since I am capable of protecting Kamaile from all harm. A simple spell will put you to sleep.

So you were the one who put me to sleep? He raged. You miserable—

You collapsed from exhaustion. I recommend rest if you want to recover. Potions can only do so much.

The fire type's eyes settled on Kamaile's sleeping form, and after deliberating with himself for a few seconds, he sat on the hot, rocky ground. They sat there in silence for at least thirty minutes, not trusting each other but content to live and let live. Turtonator considered leaving, but it pained him to admit that he was intrigued by this Oranguru. The human, he did not care about much. Kamaile was still asleep even after all of his commotion. The soot on his face had been washed off, but that could never be the case for long in the volcano. A fresh coat had fallen on his face and stuck to his sweat.

Turtonator finally broke the silence. Why did he not wake when I yelled at you? Is there a problem with his head?

He cannot sleep without my help, he explained. Why do you care, abrasive one?

I do not. If that is all, then, I will take my leave. Do not cross paths with me again, or you will die by my flames.

Goodbye, the psychic said with an annoying smile.

Turtonator did not answer as he strode off.

—

Two days later, he encountered Kamaile again, this time higher up in the mountain. He had managed to eat and his wounds no longer hurt at all, but using Shell Trap in his state would be catastrophic, so his main method of fighting was hampered and there was nothing he could do about it. As he melted off a chunk of sulfur hanging to the ceiling and opened his mouth, letting the contents drip inside, Kamaile showed himself. Oranguru could barely contain a mocking laugh that he hid behind his fan. Despite being made of leaves, it didn't even burn.

"You… you're that same Turtonator!" Kamaile yelled. "I recognize your wounds! How have you been doing? Do you need more potions? I'm almost out because I healed a bunch of Pokemon on the verge of death from different fights on the way here, but I have a few left."

Tell your trainer that he should not speak to me so freely, Turtonator told Oranguru.

The psychic translated and Kamaile… laughed.

That hadn't been what he had expected. Far from it. Turtonator attacked them before storming off further up the mountain. Anything to get away from these two annoyances. Oranguru never struck back. He only defended, and for some reason, that angered him all the more.

—

A week later, Turtonator almost died.

The Turtonator he had fought all those days ago had lost to another challenger and had traveled to the lower levels to heal his wounds. A fierce battle ensued. Now that he was injured, they were on a slightly more equal footing. His opponent's shell had been utterly destroyed and was unusable while his entire layer of scales had just disappeared. They exchanged blows for nearly thirty minutes until Turtonator won.

He stood over the other's defeated corpse and roared in fury. The fact that someone had defeated what was an unsurmountable barrier for him enraged Turtonator to no end, and he wanted nothing more but the get stronger. More strength, more power, more. He would never have enough. He slammed a foot against his opponent's destroyed shell and let loose a Flamethrower toward the cave's ceiling.

For at the essence of a dragon was a desire to hoard power and never let it go, even if he had to fight off the entire world to do so. Even if he had to fight Pokemon he had no chance of winning against. It was trial by fire, and he had been bathed in flames many times.

The battle had left him nearly dead, bleeding from every orifice and barely conscious. The site of their fight had been scorched black and molten rock still remained, pooling in every hole and crater formed by the battle. Kamaile arrived hours later after it had all cooled off. Even this high in the volcano, Oranguru kept him shielded from the heat. Turtonator had never seen a psychic type capable of shielding someone from the elements this well.

So many powerful opponents that he would never be able to beat.

Perhaps dying wasn't so bad. Kamaile said something, but his voice was far away now. Turtonator felt peaceful as he began to let himself drift off to sleep, but the human pulled out one of those devices they called Pokeballs and tapped his forehead with it.

His vision went dark for a few seconds as a feeling of free fall shook him, and he awoke in a completely new world. A mountainous field full of volcanos that seemed to stretch on and on with no end, except he was the only one there. What was this? The inside of a Pokeball? It seemed like the environment had been tailor-made for him and him alone.

He was too wounded and tired to explore, but he felt at ease here— more than he'd been when outside, at the very least. He drifted off the sleep right where he stood.

Another falling feeling jolted him awake as he was yanked out of the safety of the Pokeball— lights, humans with pink hair, Pokemon he had never seen flanking them, needles, voices, screams, orders. Everything here was new, and it was confusing. Turtonator flared up, but a strange Pokemon pricked him with a needle and he fell asleep again.

The next time, he woke up for good. He was outside, on some sort of beach as he was released from his Pokeball. Everything had happened so fast that Turtonator had no idea how much time had passed or what was going on. His body was as good as new and even his shell was back together, although he still felt some strain when he moved. Kamaile Nalanie stood in front of him, not just with Oranguru but with the rest of his Pokemon. A Drampa, a Lurantis, a Mudsdale and a Mandibuzz. He had seen them all before at different stages of his life, but it was the Drampa that caught his eye. Their species were fierce rivals with Turtonator and often competed with each other when they crossed paths, even if it seldom happened unless a Turtonator was driven out or a Drampa was driven inside of a volcano.

"You must be confused," Kamaile said. "I'm sorry, but I had to catch you to save your life. I was out of potions and they wouldn't have been enough anyway. Oranguru told me that you'd get yourself killed, but I didn't expect you to actually do that."

Turtonator was dumbstruck. He'd been caught? Him? By a mere child, at that? The rest of the Pokemon silently observed, gauging his reaction.

"I can bring you back to your volcano and release you if you want," he said. "I'd have to hurry because I want to get to this trial before I swing back to my home in Paniola, but I can do it right now. Just say the word, and I'll bring you back and release you, but I have another proposition. If you want, you can stick around too."

Oranguru! Tell him that he shouldn't be so simple-minded! That's not how you recruit a Pokemon! Lurantis yelled, rubbing her sickle-shaped petals together.

It worked for Drampa, Mandibuzz cawed. Why not for him?

Drampa's a simpleton that can barely think for herself, she said.

Oranguru transmitted the message, and Kamaile scratched his head.

"I mean, I don't see anything wrong in being honest. It'd be no hard feelings if you wanted to leave, but Oranguru's taken an interest in you and Drampa has too after I told everyone about our adventure. I don't really have a lofty goal or anything like that… I want to travel the world, really. Alola's too small for my liking, so we're leaving in a few months when the year ends. I don't know where yet, though."

Turtonator blinked, his mouth agape as he stood in the soft sands. There was only the sound of the waves and the occasional flying type to keep him grounded. This was still like a dream to him. Like he was still asleep. Barely a few minutes ago— he'd been inside of the volcano. His home.

And now he was being asked to join a human. Barely any time had passed from his point of view.

If I can grow strong enough to conquer the volcano, I will join you for a time, he finally answered.

Yikes. He's an edgelord, Mandibuzz sighed. Never mind, go back, I don't want him.

Be a little more accommodating, Oranguru said before relaying his message to Kamaile.

"You want to conquer Wela?" He said, looking far off in the distance. Turtonator turned around and noticed the huge volcano. All of his life, he had lived here, but it looked so small now. "I'm not that much into fighting, but my Pokemon are pretty strong and are obsessed with battling. We can help you train up, if you want."

That was certainly true if Oranguru's skills were anything to go off of. Turtonator accepted to join Kamaile's team.

It would be the most consequential decision of his life.

—

Weeks later

Turtonator heaved on the ground as Drampa stood triumphantly over him. The battle had been close. He'd dominated his fellow dragon until something inside of her snapped and she turned the battle around. Unlike most dragons, Drampa did not have scales. They had skin— tough skin, but skin nonetheless. It was charred and the cloud-like fur on her tail and arms was charred black. Kamaile worriedly fumbled through his bag and started to apply Burn Heals to her skin.

Why do you fight like that, Turtonator? Oranguru asked. He'd been presiding over the fight. Kamaile hadn't lied when he said he wasn't interested in fighting. All of his Pokemon trained on their own, which Turtonator preferred, and they were the ones that were going through the trials, not him.

Trials were… confusing. They'd participated in one around a week ago and won. It had been this entire process of living in a powerful Pokemon's land, seeking it out and convincing it to fight with a gift. These were called Totem Pokemon by the humans because they were larger than normal, but Turtonator knew there was more to them. Slowly but surely, over the years, they changed their environment to their liking. When he'd fought that Lurantis, he knew that it could have made swift work of them if it wanted to. It had just been a friendly fight to pass the time, and it was happy to cooperate with humans in exchange for them not encroaching on its territory and occasional offerings, both from trainers wanting to challenge it and the locals.

The thought of someone playing with them like children had enraged Turtonator, but there was nothing he could have done. Lurantis had been too strong, and Kamaile's own Lurantis was still fawning over the damn thing like a love-struck child.

What do you mean? He finally responded.

I have assessed you these past few weeks and realized you are squandering your potential. You are quite possibly already the most powerful out of all of us, and yet you employ nothing but brute force.

Might makes right, he said. Tricks do not matter if you can blow past them with raw power.

Even. I. Have. Trick, Drampa slowly said. Safeguard. Extrasensory. Light Screen. Mist. All. Counter. You. I. Won.

Bah! What truly countered me was that enraged state of yours during the second half. I had heard that Drampa were known to go insane in battles, and now I have seen it first-hand, Turtonator spat. Next time, I will win.

Mandibuzz landed on the beach and cooed when Kamaile petted her head. He enjoyed camping and sleeping on beaches whenever he could, and most Alolan islands were small enough for the beach to be a few hours away at most if the terrain was navigable enough. He could see what Kamaile called Ula Ula in the distance, which was Alola's largest island.

"That was a good showing from you both. I didn't know you'd learned to master Dragon Pulse that much, Drampa," Kamaile praised.

Simple. I. Copy. Turtonator.

Oranguru translated, as he always did.

"Still, that was really good. The next trial will be a walk in the park if you guys are this powerful. Only three more, and we have our seven. Mandibuzz, Lurantis wants to talk to you."

The dark type nodded and flew off toward the woods. It had taken a while for Turtonator to understand that Kamaile let his Pokemon be truly independent. He had expected a trainer to keep him in a Pokeball for days until he was needed for a fight.

You need to battle smarter, not dumber, Oranguru said, fanning his face. You have many tools at your disposal, do you not? Why stay focused on Flamethrower and Dragon Pulse?

Because they work, that's why, he hissed. Do not lecture me. I am a dragon, not a child.

Dragon. Child. Same.

You would insult your own kind? Traitor! He spat.

She is saying that your mind is too simple to be that of a dragon. She is essentially trash talking you, he smirked.

What would you have me do, then, oh, smart one, the fire type said with sarcasm dry enough to fit in a desert. You talk so eloquently after all.

You. Slow. Predictable. Movement. Rapid Spin.

What about you? You can barely walk longer than twenty minutes! He exclaimed.

And yet she has tricks to counter that, Oranguru said. You do not. If you want to conquer that volcano, you will have to be smarter than that.

Turtonator roared, spitting out a stream of flames high into the sky and demanded a rematch. Drampa agreed.

He lost again.

—

The fifth trial was a major roadblock for all of them. They had opted to travel to Poni island because it was the only one Kamaile had never been to. The land was dominated by an enormous canyon flanked by two mountains that had been split down the middle, and it was where they currently resided. Their camp was protected from the sun that Oranguru and Kamaile complained so much about. Turtonator and the rest of the team enjoyed the heat very much, however. They had all been throwing their heads against that enormous Kommo-o. He was an exigent, unforgiving Pokemon, and if they won, they would be given one of its scales as proof, but they had lost and been chased away for the last three attempts.

"I think we should keep trying," Kamaile smiled. "He's the toughest, so if we win against him, we'll win everything. It's not like there's a Conference or anything at the end of the year, so we can take our time. We won't be missing out on anything."

That boy needs more backbone, Mudsdale said. He did not even attempt to direct us during the battle.

You're being too harsh on him, Lurantis chided. His passion lay in exploring. We cannot ask more of him other than letting us battle. We always knew Kommo-o would prove a tough opponent.

"I appreciate that, Lurantis," he smiled, giving Oranguru a thumbs up. "Sorry, Mudsdale. I know you want more from me. In better news, look!"

He pulled out a map of the world with a widening grin and pointed to a chain of island that Turtonator recognized as Alola. The isolated island chain stood in the middle of the ocean in between two large continents. The dragon couldn't read, and it was the first time he'd ever seen a map, but it was hard to miss the sense of wonder in Kamaile's eyes.

"I bought this in secret yesterday while you guys were training. I had Oranguru bring me all the way back to Seafolk Village for it."

So you knew? Traitor, Lurantis teased.

Why spoil the surprise? Oranguru shrugged. You love those.

I don't care, just let him finish about the map! Mandibuzz screeched.

"I'll hurry it up, then. I don't really know where to go, so I'm going to let you guys pick. Anywhere works as long as the region's safe enough. We don't want to go to Orre, at least not yet," he said, pointing to a patch of desert that must have been a hundred times the size of Alola combined.

He pointed to each region and named it for them, giving them some of their characteristics, but he would let them have the final decision.

Galar looks nice and flat. It would be ideal for me, Mudsdale said. Good land to graze as well. And I'm sure their mud is exquisite.

Ew, Lurantis grimaced.

Shut up! Flat is boring! Mandibuzz squawked, flapping her wings. Pick something with some mountains, at the very least. There are some good ones everywhere, but Sinnoh has the tallest ones.

Sinnoh. Cold. Not. Good.

Personally, I think Kanto would prove a nice challenge, Oranguru said. But I am more amenable than most. Anything goes. What about you, abrasive one?

Turtonator snorted. Oranguru really liked the nickname and had never stopped using it, even now. His eyes darted throughout the map, but there was only one choice that had caught his eye.

Johto. The land looks harsh, but it will make for good training. I am sure that after going through it, I will be ready to conquer Wela.

It was still strange, to give his home a name. All of his life, he'd referred to it as the volcano. It took a while to get everyone on the same page, but Oranguru joined his side and quickly convinced a majority. Mandibuzz had gotten enamored with Mount Silver as quickly as she had with Mount Coronet, Drampa was content to follow Oranguru's vote and Mudsdale thought it would toughen up Kamaile.

"It's settled then. We're going to Johto this summer!"

Turtonator restrained a smile as the rest of the Pokemon cheered.

This was… this was nice.

—

In the end, they never got past Kommo-o, but the numerous battles against the enormous beast got them plenty of experience for the coming trip. They would go via airplane— machines that Turtonator had sometimes seen fly over Wela when he walked the outside slopes of the volcano. Kamaile had said a prayer to each Tapu deity before leaving, and so had Oranguru. The rest silently watched as they did. Turtonator was too proud to pray to some god, even if he knew their existence to be real.

He'd never seen them in person, but their interventions were a well-known fact to each Pokemon and human in the region, even if they hadn't shown themselves in almost a decade. It was customary for humans to pray and thank a Tapu when first stepping on their respective islands, but also when they would leave and not be back for a long time.

Turtonator spent a long time inside of his Pokeball, but when he was ripped out of the comfortable embrace of his digital volcanos, what first hit him was how dry and dim Johto was. There was no constant sun to warm his scales, no pleasant humidity to cling to his snout. A part of him almost thought his flames would be weaker here than in Alola.

The city they had landed in was apparently called Goldenrod, the largest city in the region. Kamaile was already giddy to start exploring the wilds, especially to get away from the stares people gave them. Alola was isolated from the rest of the world, so Pokemon like them weren't often seen outside of the islands. Mandibuzz was the odd one out here, but she enjoyed the attention, and so did Turtonator. In a few months, they'd take this region by storm. After all, this region had a system that the fire type had been a fan of ever since Kamaile had explained it to him. Badges that showcased your strength to the entire world. What else could he ask for?

It took a few weeks for them to get settled in the region. Kamaile signed up for something they called the Gym Challenge, and they decided to fight a human female called Whitney as soon as they could. Kamaile wanted to run along and dash toward the Lake of Rage or Mount Mortar, but he knew that this was important to them. Compromise was key in their relationship.

Turtonator had been wrong when he thought that it would take a few months to take the region by storm. They crushed her in their battle, going 4-0. Turtonator swept through her entire team by simply making it too hot for her normal types to stand next to him and had gotten them their first badge. Needless to say, they were disappointed, but the region didn't see it that way. They saw an Alolan and his Pokemon having the potential to go the distance.

"Just two more hours and we can set up camp for tonight," Kamaile said.

It was just him and Turtonator tonight. Not even Oranguru, who always shadowed him, was out of his Pokeball. This land was called route 36, and to Turtonator, it was a boring slope upward that was often broken up by a patch of woods. Meanwhile, Kamaile's eyes were sparkling. He looked at everything and gasped. A Sudowoodo masking itself as a tree caused him to laugh, and the rock type ran away in fear.

"We're coming in on six months now, you know? Six months since you joined us. What do you think about us?"

You are alright, he responded. Good, even. Our goals might not be aligned, but you help me grow stronger.

Kamaile blinked at the answer. "I guess it's hard without Oranguru here," he laughed. "I expected a nod or a head shake."

Turtonator nodded instead.

"I've had them for years. I had no idea that you had to be fifteen to start this challenge stuff in other regions. There are no rules like that in Alola," he explained. "I hope you don't feel left out."

Feeling left out when Oranguru harassed him about technique every day, Drampa and Mandibuzz taunted him to no end, Mudsdale kept criticizing his behavior and Lurantis talked his ear off about whatever beautiful tree she saw that day? That would be impossible. Still, he only shook his head. There was no point in talking when he wouldn't understand.

"I know you think I just like to explore, but I want to do more than that. I want to see everything the world has to offer before I go," he grinned. "I'll even go to Orre when we get strong enough. Apparently, some stretches of desert there are so uninhabitable that even Pokemon steer clear. Doesn't that sound fascinating?"

Fascinating, no, but if anything, it sounded like a nice challenge. Turtonator smiled when he imagined the battles ahead.

"You're the only one that'd look excited over that," he chuckled. "That's a plan for the future though. I'm not going anywhere near there until I'm sure we're good enough."

He paused as he crouched under a low-hanging tree branch. The route was getting loud the deeper they went as the cries of Wurmple filled their ears. Something glowed in the distance— a group of Volbeat following a single Illumise higher into the sky.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

"I'm glad you decided to join us. You know, I was trying to reach the top of the volcano when I found you, but I realized I would have died when I saw you standing over that other Turtonator…" he sighed. "We've got so far to go, still. Maybe I should start getting more involved in battles."

Mudsdale would be over the moon if he heard something like this. For his part, Turtonator disliked being ordered around, but he'd be willing to put up with it if it meant he'd grow quicker. If there was a command he disliked, he could always ignore it.

The fire type scared off a few aggressive Dustox with his bulk, and Kamaile finally released Oranguru for protection. A single Poison Sting could be deadly to a human if it stabbed them in the right place. They were such a fragile species that Turtonator wondered how they'd lasted this long. Kamaile released the entire team once he started setting up camp, and Turtonator drifted off the sleep in a corner.

He awoke to a soft tap of Oranguru's fan.

Follow me, abrasive one.

Must you always bother me, Oranguru?

The orangutan rolled his eyes. I've never seen a Pokemon as lazy as you.

The dragon stood up and yawned, but he followed Oranguru and exited the grove. He already knew what the psychic wanted. It was another test. Another spar, like the hundreds they had before. Only Drampa came close to the number of battles they had.

Try not to burn everything. I do not want to have to extinguish all those flames, he sighed. Ready?

Yes.

Turtonator flexed, heat bubbled under his scales and through his shell as the grass under his feet caught fire. Oranguru simply stared and waited for him to attack, but the slight glow in his eyes meant that he had activated Future Sight.

Despite his lazy behavior, Oranguru was a ruthless fighter that even Drampa couldn't stand up to and Kamaile's oldest companion. Only Turtonator could hope to win against him, but he lost more often than not. He was improving, though, especially since the psychic had taught him to use his head in a fight and not rely on the same old tactics. The fire type stomped a fiery foot against the ground and a rock jutted out of the ground under Oranguru's feet. The normal type's Future Sight faltered for a second, and he immediately spat out a Flamethrower.

Oranguru waved his fan, and an enormous wave of psychic energy disrupted the flames until they fizzled out, and another one of his tricks compelled Turtonator to use the move again. Instruct. A very annoying move that always got the better of him. Turtonator roared, and another stream of flames flew toward Oranguru, who flipped to the side and held out a hand. The terrain grew blurry, and the psychic suddenly got behind Turtonator in a single step.

The dragon flared up and slapped his tail, activating a Shell Trap that had come faster than Oranguru expected. The explosion bruised him and his fur caught on fire, but he pushed through and began to assault Turtonator's mind. He snarled as his thoughts and actions grew unfocused and the temperature slowly lowered.

In barely a minute, he'd been bested.

Another win for me, Oranguru smiled. You did well this time, but you still do not know how to counter Trick Room.

It's difficult to counter these annoying tricks, he angrily said, his head still pounding.

Why not take advantage of it? He asked. There are tales of Trick Rooms being able to only affect the user, but I am nowhere near that skilled yet. You never move during your battles. You only stand and attack. You have grown smarter, but you do not use your full potential.

Hah! Don't get a big head just because you won, Turtonator jeered. I have been winning more consistently and I am progressing quicker than you. Soon, I will surpass you.

Perhaps. And yet, you still feel the need to be insecure about it, he mocked. He easily pushed Turtonator away with another wave of his fan when the dragon tried to attack him for his words. What do you think of Johto, Turtonator?

I am not too impressed so far, but surely stronger opponents will come.

You better be alert, abrasive one. Tough times are coming ahead.

Turtonator paused. You worry too much.

I worry just the right amount, he said, finally drowning out the flaming grass. Go back to sleep, if you wish.

I will. Good night.

Needless to say, sleeping with a dull headache wasn't enjoyable at all.

—

I wish we could battle Morty right now, Lurantis sighed.

He wants to go to the Bell Tower, so that'll have to wait, Oranguru said.

Ecruteak City was one of the oldest settlements in Johto along with Blackthorn, and it showed. The city wasn't arranged like the grids of Goldenrod, but a mishmash of different paths, alleys and twists. Buildings were built in the traditional Johto style, with low symmetrical roofs sloping gently downward. They were made of intricate, wooden frameworks that made each building different than the last. The streets were wider than they'd been in Goldenrod, and there were no cars here. People walked on foot, flew, or Teleported everywhere they needed to be.

Not that Turtonator cared much. Kamaile just couldn't stop boasting about the city, and he was getting tired of it.

The Bell Tower stood tall in the background, its frame surrounded by beautiful orange trees that seemed to be stuck in perpetual autumn. Dead leaves that somehow hadn't lost their color littered the ground, but there was a clear path that led them to the tower. There was also the Brass Tower, but that one was a burned-out husk. A shell of its former glory where ghosts lurked and struck at anyone who got near. No one but approved personnel and groundkeepers were allowed in, and Kamaile hadn't gotten permission to go despite begging for hours. He still took a picture from afar, however.

After a lengthy queue, Kamaile was allowed on the property. He clasped his hands together and offered Ho-oh a prayer before entering, as did the rest of the tourists or people that wanted to enter the tower. This prayer was even more demanding than the usual one he did with the Tapus, however. He got on his knees on the outside stairway and bowed until his head nearly touched the floor.

Pfft. Religion. What a waste of time, Turtonator rolled his eyes. Why worship some deity and lower yourself to such an extent?

Religion. Good, Drampa said. Larger. Than. Yourself. Comfortable.

The dragon returned to praying and bowed her head, as did Mudsdale and Lurantis.

She says that it is comfortable to believe in something larger than yourself, Oranguru translated. Ho-oh is an interesting Legendary, as Gods go. It does not hesitate to show itself to humans and sometimes perches on top of the tower for a few minutes. When it does, a human in Ecruteak is said to be blessed with eternal happiness and a long life. Wouldn't you pray for a chance at that?

Meaningless stories, Turtonator shrugged. The Legends are real, but they are selfish actors. We are nothing to them, and they would not hesitate to kill us all if they could. I do not see a need to pray to that. I will seize that power for myself and get as close to them as I could.

That is like a child saying it will move a mountain, Oranguru smirked.

What about you, then? I do not see you praying.

Oranguru closed his fan and pointed at Turtonator. Prayer is a personal thing. I do not see the need to prostrate myself. You view religion as evil, but it is not. It has been used for evil in the past, but it is just a crutch we can lean on. A promise for something more. A life after death.

A life after death? Turtonator frowned.

In this region and Kanto, it is said that when humans or Pokemon die, they are judged for their actions by Ho-Oh. If you were a net positive in the world, you become one of its feathers and reincarnate when you are shed and fall to the ground. If you caused more evil than good, there is only oblivion that awaits you.

Right. Now. You. Negative, Drampa complained.

My apologies, Drampa. We will let you finish your prayer in peace, Oranguru said.

What is oblivion? Turtonator asked after everyone's prayers were finished. Is it a place?

What were things like before you were born? Oranguru asked with his usual smirk. To me, that is oblivion. Billions of years passed in an instant until you were born. Others think it is something else. The people of Blackthorn, for example, believe in hell. A place where you are judged for your sins for a set amount of years until you are released back into the world as a spirit. Ecruteak's sects thought that to be too depressing, I assume.

Which one do you believe in? he asked.

That is private, abrasive one, he responded after a long pause.

This hell business sounds bad, so I'll take oblivion, Lurantis said, breaking the tension. Drampa, will you be able to crawl all over those stairs?

Silence. You. Annoying.

Oblivion was more of a comfort for Turtonator than reincarnation was. He wanted his life to be special. For it to have meant something and for him to have achieved all of his goals in the few centuries he had. His species lived for around two to three hundred years, so there was plenty of time left. If he was reincarnated, then his life would have meant nothing. It would have just been another in a series of however many he had lived through so far. His life belonged to him and him only. He internally cursed at the Legends for playing games with things that did not belong to them.

Turtonator was stunned as the entered the Bell Tower. Soft, ethereal light filtered through stained glass windows, casting vibrant hues of red, blue, and green onto the ancient stone walls. It was as if a dozen rainbows were shining through the building and were permanently etched into the structure itself. Towering statues of Ho-oh were arranged next to each wall and a giant central pillar rose into the next floor. A few bald Sages dressed in blue robes walked the halls to answer any questions people had. Visitors were only allowed to be on the first floor, but there was enough here to satiate Kamaile's hunger for exploring new places. Despite the amount of people and Pokemon that were packed inside of the tower, there was still a quiet reverence. People knew not to disturb the peace here.

"What do you think?" Kamaile asked with a whisper.

Turtonator's head swung away from the statue he'd been glaring at. Oranguru waved his fan, letting him know that he was here to translate.

I think it is a waste of time, he answered. Even if he didn't respect this place, he was not insane enough to yell here. Not when he felt pressure for simply staring at Ho-oh's statues wrong. I could be training instead.

Oranguru smiled and relayed his words.

Kamaile smiled. "You might be old, but you still think like a child, Turtonator. You see competition where there is none. You do not have to fight everything."

I do not fight. I simply disapprove.

The man shrugged. "I think it's a waste. Even if you aren't religious, so many stories and legends have been packed into this place. We're in a building a Legendary sometimes roosts at. Do you realize the magnitude of that?"

I… perhaps I was too quick to judge, he said. I envy Ho-oh's strength, that is all.

Kamaile patted him on the arm. "You dream big. Ho-oh is capable of creating life itself through its sheer will. That's just… it makes me think of how small we are in the grand scheme of things. I know you hate that feeling."

Exactly, he nodded. You can climb, climb, climb, but you will never reach the true top. Only something that feels like it. Alas, I am bound to mortal powers.

"At least you're our strongest in terms of raw power. Soon, you'll overtake Oranguru for the number one spot," Kamaile said as his hand traced the outlines of one of the statues. He almost gasped at the touch, and a tear streamed from his face. "S—sorry. I'm just— just overwhelmed."

Turtonator nodded as Oranguru rubbed his trainer's back. He'd known that he had liked to explore and that he'd prayed to the Tapus, but his fascination with Legendaries went beyond that.

"My true goal is to meet a Legendary," he sniffled. "That's why I want to explore the world. I want to see one and learn what it feels like. I don't care if I'm vaporized afterward. I don't care if it's the last thing I do."

And we will grow in strength to keep you from being vaporized, Oranguru said. I do not care how unlikely that feat is. We will do it.

The entire team nodded, and Kamaile wiped away his tears.

For the first time, Turtonator felt compelled by something larger than himself. A dream that went beyond strength or power. Something that mattered so much to someone that it could drive them to tears.

He thought it was beautiful.

—

Months had passed, and they'd stalled out at the seventh gym. Both Clair and Patton— the late Pryce's successor— proved too much for them at this stage. Turtonator despised feeling so stuck, but they lacked something that would propel them to the eighth gym level, and despite racking their brains together for answers they didn't know what it was. Kamaile seemed content with their progress, however. He kept saying that six badges was a respectable number and that they'd do better next year. Of course, they weren't planning on staying in Johto. They had explored it all. The caves, Ilex Forest, the Whirl Islands, the Lake of Rage, the Ice Path… they'd seen everything there was to see except Mount Silver, which had proved too challenging. The Pokemon there were beyond what they were capable of. It was akin to the highest levels of Wela, but throughout the entire mountain. Needless to say, they had escaped, and thankfully with no casualties. Oranguru had Teleported them out.

Kamaile despised Teleporting, even when it'd save time. He wanted to savor every single bit of the journey, which was why they were currently backtracking to Goldenrod instead of Teleporting there. For him, being able to travel anywhere instantly killed the magic of journeying places.

Their next region had already been decided a day ago through the same system. They had voted and picked Sinnoh. Turtonator didn't like the sound of it one bit. He found Johto too cold already, and Sinnoh would be on another level. He had voted for Hoenn, given that the climate there was tropical and it had a volcano where he would have finally been able to feast on sulfur again. Alas, Lurantis had been charmed by Eterna Forest, Mudsdale by the marsh next to Pastoria, and Mandibuzz by Mount Coronet, leaving the rest of them with split votes.

They spent that summer in Goldenrod building their strength by battling trainers or each other, and they had all huddled to watch the Conference at Indigo together. Some water type specialist had won, but lost to Koga. Turtonator wished he could bring about the destruction wrought by those Pokemon, but he was still far from being able to come close to that level of power.

They landed in Jubilife the day after that battle. Even in summer, Sinnoh was cold, or at least Kamaile thought so. He wore long-sleeved shirts and another layer above that while the natives went around with short sleeves. When they swung by to Sandgem to visit, some people were even going to the beach. They all took great offense at what Sinnohans called a proper beach. This dreary piece of sand and cold, dull water were a sight for sore eyes. Mudsdale, for his part, wasn't even on the sand. He was too scared of getting his feet wet, which was surprising for a stoic Pokemon like him.

Still, Drampa enjoyed soaking in the water.

Try. Water. Cold. Feels Good, she said.

"Absolutely not," Kamaile answered thanks to Oranguru. "You're all free to do whatever, but I'll guess no one else wants to try this beach. I'd rather die, honestly."

A strange force pushed Turtonator forward, and a wave washed under his feet. He shivered at how cold the water was and turned, his eyes locking onto the culprit.

"Nice one, Oranguru," Kamaile smirked. "Okay, don't look at me like that, I've got nothing to do with— no, don't attack him, this is a public beach! We don't want to hurt or disturb any locals!"

The Flamethrower died in Turtonator's snout, and he left the water. Mandibuzz landed on Drampa's back and preened her feathers while Lurantis and Turtonator stood together.

Excited for another fun year? She said, covering her mouth with a scythe. I have a good feeling about this one. I think we'll reach the Conference.

And we will win it, Turtonator nodded. Together.

Look at you, getting all sentimental. How unlike you, she giggled. I like it, though. You're better this way.

Hah! If better means I have gone soft, then sure, if that is your criteria, he snorted.

We all love hardened Pokemon with softer sides. Just look at Mudsdale. When he lets it slip, it's very amusing, is it not? It's the same for you.

When you put it like that, he sighed. I see that perhaps you may be right.

I've been talking to Oranguru about convincing Kamaile to get us a new member this year, she said. Wouldn't a little baby be cute?! Lurantis squealed. She spun around, unable to contain her excitement. We can raise it all together. If it were up to me, we'd find it in Eterna Forest, but Drampa's being annoying about it and wants variety. No more grass types.

Drampa's right. A water type would be good, Turtonator nodded. You saw what that human did at the Conference a few months back. Raising a child is of no interest to me. We need a powerful member from the get-go that won't spend months playing catch up and wasting our time.

Pfft. You say that, but I'm sure when you see it, you'll be completely enamored.

In your dreams. Turtonator do not raise their children. They are thrown in danger from birth and only the strongest survive, he smiled. That is how it should be. We have all lived so far because we are strong.

He looked at the entire team and a feeling of pride swelled in his chest.

Weren't you the one who almost died in Wela?

The feeling disappeared, and Turtonator grimaced as he walked off.

What? You can dish it out but you can't take it?! Lurantis teased.

The dragon grunted. I'm going to sleep. Don't follow me or I'll glass this entire beach.

Time passed, and the Circuit began. Roark, Byron, and Gardenia quickly fell.

—

"Finally, we're at the foot of the beast," Kamaile said. "The tallest mountain in the world."

Mandibuzz excitedly screeched and flew in circles high overhead. This wasn't the first outpost they had been to, but they were all excited for the challenges ahead. Eterna Forest had proved disappointing, especially with how Turtonator was kept inside of his Pokeball almost the entire time there because Kamaile had been scared that he'd burn the entire thing down if he was let out. It was true that he might have sparred with Oranguru or Drampa, but the former had gotten so good at extinguishing fires at this point that Turtonator doubted it would have been an issue.

Ugh. More caves, so annoying, Lurantis sighed. Oranguru, tell Kamaile that I want to rest.

The grass type soon returned to her Pokeball, leaving only Turtonator, Oranguru and Mandibuzz out. They went deeper into the outpost. They turned quite a few heads here, and many had heard rumors about them. Turtonator basked in the attention. He stood tall and made his shell gleam in the sunlight.

"We're probably going to spend a day here to resupply, rest and then go in," Kamaile explained. His eyes were still transfixed on the mountain. "Arceus, it's like I'm looking at a living thing. We'll stick around longer on the other side so Mandibuzz can go have fun on the cliffs for a few days."

Knowing her, she'll bring back a lover, Oranguru laughed.

"Those only last a few days too," he grinned. "Maybe one day, she'll settle for something long-term, but that's a long ways off. I'm gonna check in at the Center, so I'll let you out later, Turtonator. Chill out for a while."

The fire type acquiesced, and darkness claimed him.

—

Nonsense! Turtonator screamed. Why shackle himself with two weaklings?! They'll only slow us down, and we won't be able to challenge ourselves if we keep to the safer parts of the cave!

You know how Kamaile is, Oranguru said. He's incapable of not helping people, and those kids will die if they go alone.

That's not our problem. They can die for all I care, he snarled. The weak die. That is the law of the world.

And yet, was it not you who lived thanks to him? The psychic mused. He helped you, just like he is helping them. Mount Coronet will always be there, but lives are precious.

Turtonator huffed, turning away from Oranguru in an attempt to hit him with his tail. The normal type easily jumped over the appendage and laughed. That haughty laugh that Turtonator still disliked after two years spent with them. It was as if he was above everything.

"Is your Pokemon alright, dude?" One of the humans asked. His name hadn't even registered in Turtonator's head. "He's glaring at me, I think."

They had just entered Mount Coronet, and Kamaile was about to recall Turtonator for the time being. He had just shown up with these two at the last second and now they were going to waste an incredible opportunity for growth. The two strangers looked green. Young and innocent, but mostly terrified. They were not worth the trouble and would only hold them back.

"Yeah, sorry. He's alright," Kamaile said. "Let me speak to him for a second. Oranguru, follow me."

Kamaile motioned at Turtonator and got a few dozen feet away.

"Oranguru, translate," he muttered through clenched teeth. Turtonator's eyes twitched. He'd never seen him this frustrated before. "Turtonator. I know this is tough for you, but these two… they needed help. They'll get themselves killed up here, and they were brave enough to ask for help. It takes guts to admit that you can't do something. More than you would know."

Turtonator knew this had been a jab at him, but he ignored it.

So? Again, I fail to understand how that is our problem. We didn't waste our time with this back in Johto.

Kamaile's shoulders sagged. "You've got a good heart, Turtonator. Don't let your goal cloud your kindness. When people ask for help, I help. That's how I am, and you've known that. The world's a dark place, but good deeds can make a difference. I want to be a force for good."

I disagree, the dragon said. But you are free to do what you wish. I am sincerely disappointed in your actions, Kamaile. I thought you to be able to stand on equal grounds with me, but you are not what I thought you were.

The Alolan clenched a fist. "You don't mean that," he sighed. "Look, we'll talk later and sort out our difference, I'm sure we can find common ground. For now, we've got to get going."

—

A few days had passed, and Turtonator had come to a conclusion.

Mount Coronet was boring if you did not stray off the beaten path. Apart from a few challenging Rhydon and a stray Onix, there had been nothing there to pose a challenge. Lurantis made quick work of all rock types before Turtonator could even have his fill. No one dared to attack them. Pokemon could usually tell they were terribly outmatched with a single look. The cave's ceiling stretched high enough for Mandibuzz to fry freely thanks to her eyes having adapted to living in the dark. Mudsdale and Drampa were too slow to be out while they traveled and were not well adapted to the uneven terrain.

You grow restless, Oranguru noticed. Do you want a battle, abrasive one?

You pose no threat to me any longer, Turtonator said with a hint of nostalgia. I have learned all your tricks. I can counter them and win with my eyes closed.

The psychic type nodded. And yet, I am the only one that can still get your blood pumping.

There's no point. I will wait until we reach Fantina. Lurantis says that she is the strongest Gym Leader in this region. At least she will pose a challenge.

How powerful are you now? he asked. Compared to the Pokemon that lurk at Wela's summit?

The dragon blinked. I do not know. I have never been that high, he said. I would say that I would make quick work of the Turtonator that beat me when you first found me.

That strong, eh? You progress the fastest out of all of us. Drampa is jealous.

If she wasn't so lazy, she would keep up, Turtonator snorted. Wela will be mine one day.

When will you leave, then? When you are strong enough?

Turtonator stared at Oranguru who scratched his ear with a foot.

What? It is a good question to ask, he continued. Since you plan to conquer the volcano, you will not be with us forever.

I am nowhere near powerful enough to even think about leaving, he said. The thought hadn't crossed my mind.

Oranguru smirked. Of course, it hasn't.

Don't be so smug, you insolent fool. I know what you are thinking. That I have grown too attached to this group to ever leave. You could not be more wrong.

The psychic waved a foot. Of course, of course. You're a big, strong, independent dragon who won't let bonds and friendships hold you back.

I will have you know that—

The dragon nearly bumped into Kamaile, who had stopped in his tracks. The other two humans whose names he had still not bothered to learn also stopped. A large group of strangely dressed humans— around fifteen of them were in front of them and seemed just as surprised to see them. A man with blue hair arranged like horns seemed to be their leader.

"Uh, hello? Can we help you?" Kamaile asked.

"Commander Saturn? I thought this was a trainer-free zone? Have we gotten lost?" One of them asked.

"Silence," the Commander groaned. "We were going up… the theories are true. We are being kept away from Spear Pillar. Brute forcing our way through should be possible, but in a high-stakes situation where every minute counts… we will need the Lake Trio to allow us to navigate Mount Coronet. Anyway, grunts, kill them. Team Galactic can't be seen here."

Kamaile gasped. "Wha—"

Turtonator's heart sank when dozens of Pokemon appeared all at once. He barely had time to react when the first Golbat lunged at him at speeds faster than any of the wild ones that lived in the caves, but he roared and immediately fought back, burning the bat with a Flamethrower. Mandibuzz was engaged in fighting in the sky that Turtonator could only get a glimpse of every time an attack illuminated the cave's ceiling.

Oranguru, keep—

I am on it, he said, a barrier appearing around Kamaile. At the same time, he waved his fan and an Arbok and Diggersby fell to the ground. The snake writhed on the floor until it fell unconscious and the ground type clenched at his head with his huge ears and slammed itself against the ground to distract itself from the pain.

"Stay back!" Kamaile told the two trainers as he released his entire team. He hadn't even realized they had already run off.

Turtonator flared up in anger and the stone below his feet began to melt. These little rats hadn't even tried to help! He grunted in pain when something hit his shell, but activating a Shell Trap was second nature to him now. He blew up whatever it was and spat out a Flamethrower, slowly panning toward each trainer, but they had psychic types for protection.

"Mandibuzz, Oranguru, Don't let them through!" Kamaile yelled.

Turtunator roared. Even after all of this, he still wanted to protect those worms? The flying type battled with a pair of Golbat while Oranguru supported her with beams of psychic energy that she was immune to. Once they were all dealt with, Turtonator sprung to action.

Mandibuzz! He yelled. Target the psychics!

On it!

The flying type dove close to the ground and little shards of darkness fell onto the trainers. The Commander sighed and released an Exploud, who yelled so loudly that Turtonator felt his entire body vibrate. The sound reverberated through the cave and dissolved the shards, but some of them bounced back toward Oranguru. Lurantis quickly jumped and slashed them, apart before they could reach Kamaile's barrier, her sickles glowing with a neon green. The Galactic grunts closest to Exploud fell to the ground with blank stares and blood seeping from their ears because of the loud screams.

Mudsdale couldn't bring out his full potential without collapsing this section of the cave, but he still fought, ramming into any Pokemon that got close. He trampled over an Elektrike and crushed it until it was paste. Drampa struck from afar, but she was already in her berserk state. There were just too many of them to fight. Occasional orders came from Kamaile, who always kept an eye out for their blind spots, but they were making a majority of the decisions.

A scream from Mandibuzz snapped him out of his battle-high and made him realize how beaten up he was. He labored for each breath, his shell was on the verge of splitting, and just standing hurt. He was growing weaker each minute, and he couldn't help but wonder if he'd been poisoned by something. Mandibuzz fell as a group of flying types swarmed around her. Oranguru tried his best to push them away, but he was too focused on keeping Kamaile protected. Thunderbolts, Flamethrowers, Water Pulses and more broke against his shield and each one was weakening it slowly but surely. He forwent his fan and simply punched a lunging Persian with a glowing fist.

Mandibuzz cried out until she crashed on the ground, and Pokemon swarmed around her like famished animals. Kamaile tried to recall her, but there were too many of them blocking the Pokeball's homing system.

I'm going! Turtonator yelled.

He retracted into his shell and spun forward with Rapid Spin, grunting as a dozen attacks slammed against him. He spun into the group of Pokemon, burning them in the process, but he couldn't make the environment too hot. Not when Mandibuzz was—

Mandibuzz was—

She was dead. Her entire body a mess of broken bones, burns, missing feathers and a broken neck. She lay lifeless on the ground at Turtonator's feet, but he did not even have time to mourn or acknowledge Kamaile's cries. Another set attack, this time from a Toxicroak and a Grimmsnarl that had come out of Saturn's Pokeball. The fighting type was too quick for Turtonator's eyes to track, but he kept his distance to not get burned, opting to hit him with Mud and Sludge Bombs. Grimmsnarl was slow, but he was strong. The fairy type locked eyes with Turtonator with a sickening grin as his hands wrapped around his body and did not burn. He squeezed and Turtonator felt agony spread through his arm as his scales were crushed under Grimmsnarl's bulk.

Another scream from Kamaile rang out.

Turtonator was too terrified to turn back. Too scared to see who had fallen.

Your fear is delicious, Grimmsnarl mocked. He licked his lips, revealing sharp fangs. That Drampa is dead. Oranguru is soon to follow—

Something in Turtonator broke.

Flames poured out of every crack in his scales and the ground under Grimmsnarl turned into molten rock and he sunk slightly into the magma. His feet burned as Turtonator engulfed him in white flames that illuminated the entire cave. Toxicroak blurred back and another Hyper Voice from Exploud shook him. Grimmsnarl closed his eyes and went limp, but Saturn recalled him. The dragon ran forward, determined to break against the psychic wall that kept them protected. He would burn it all. He would burn those that killed his comrades and he would make their deaths agonizing.

Kamaile said something, but he did not listen.

He slammed against their shields with all of his weight and he ignored the pain that prickled all over his body. Flames licked the barriers, and the grunts looked at him with a feeling of pure terror as the barriers began to burn.

SNAP OUT OF IT!

Oranguru spoke into Turtonator's mind and he turned back. It was just as that disgusting fairy had said. Drampa was dead, and Lurantis and Mudsdale were barely standing. The grass type had lost one of her arms and she struggled to breathe in the scorching environment he himself had created. Toxicroak and a multitude of other Pokemon had opted to focus on Kamaile and his weakened friends instead of him.

They needed his help.

He screamed, blowing up his shell on the grunts' faces before he began to run back. The sheer amount of pain was like someone had peeled his entire shell off. He didn't even want to look at what state it was in.

Kamaile knows we cannot win this, Oranguru explained. His voice was clear, even through all the fighting. He wants to spare us. Place us in Pokeballs.

Absolutely not, Turtonator said as he bit down on a Purugly's neck and burned her entire head. It will be costly, but he can still be saved.

He has made up his mind.

Tell him to change his damn mind, then! Put him to sleep and let us finish these scum off! They might kill us anyway if we are left in our Pokeballs!

I have tried. We were speaking throughout the entire battle. I can try to hypnotize him, but it will take focus. The barrier is barely holding on.

It is the only choice— he cried out when something cold hit him in the arm. He flexed and melted off the ice. Do it.

Oranguru's barrier went down, exposing Kamaile to the elements. His skin burned and turned red under the immense amount of heat. The psychic's eyes turned pink as he waved his fan in front of his trainer.

"Oranguru, no!" Kamaile yelled.

Lurantis rushed toward him, but a beam from her Pokeball placed her to safety. He recalled Musdale next, who'd been on the verge of sinking into a mud pit and drowning because of how heavy he was.

Turtonator felt like he was about to die, and just like that time in Wela mountain, he felt peaceful. If he gave up now, he'd no doubt drift off to sleep forever and join whatever afterlife it was that Kamaile believed in.

He tore apart a Flaffy and burned her until she was ash, but when he turned back to Oranguru, the psychic stood over Kamaile's corpse, his body hunched over the man as he cradled him.

What had happened?

He was— he was gone? It was like he'd been stabbed in the back by something. Poison and blood dripped out of his wound.

There had been no last words?

Just… nothing?

He was dead.

Turtonator hadn't even seen how it happened.

Still, they could not give up. The grunts were slowly retreating in batches of Teleport, and were recalling their Pokemon. The attacks would stop when they were all gone.

Oranguru, snap out of it! Turtonator yelled. You—

I cannot live without him. I have seen him grow from a child to a man. He is my entire life.

The psychic's fan glimmered pink and his face twisted in rage. His lips and eyes twitched, he bared his teeth. For the first time since they had met, he was angry. The psychic type rushed toward Toxicroak, screaming until his voice broke and his lungs ran out of air. He waved his fan, creating a wave of psychic energy that rattled Toxicroak and lifted him into the air.

I will break every single bone in your miserable little body.

First was the two arms, then the legs. Turtonator tried his best to shield Oranguru from incoming attacks. The psychic went slow. Too slow, but he said nothing. Toxicroak deserved his wrath, but Oranguru had known Kamaile longer than any of them had. He would choose how his murderer went.

Toxicroak was recalled into his Pokeball.

Oranguru's face slowly turned toward Saturn. He had lost everything. Tears streamed from the corner of his glowing eyes and his lips quivered as he began to sob.

"Kill that ape, Excadrill," Saturn raged, his face contorting. "He harmed Toxicroak."

The ground under Oranguru collapsed. Turtonator slipped and fell into the hole and onto Oranguru. Something that must have been Excadrill tore through them both, its metallic claws digging inside of the psychic type's body until he lay completely still. Turtonator turned upright and his eyes widened when he realized the state Oranguru was in. Minced.

He'd been minced. There was nothing left. A misshapen mass of fur, flesh and entrails that made Turtonator sick to his stomach. His precious fan had been cut into a thousand pieces.

When Turtonator climbed up, everyone was gone.

He stared around at the destruction that had been wrought. Drampa and Mandibuzz's corpses were still there. He hadn't managed to save even one of them alive. They were all gone, and he was the only one alive. The only one. Why him? Why hadn't he died? Why was he the only one that lived?

One hour ago, he had everything.

Now he had nothing.

Nothing.

Nothing.

Nothing.

Nothing.

Nothing…

Turtonator approached Kamaile's body and stared. He did not cry.

He raged.

His trainer and the nearby Pokemon's corpses caught ablaze until they were ash. His heartbeat was like thunderclaps in his ears. His pain, his grief, his sadness, all melted away and were replaced by anger. Each breath he took spewed flames and poison in the air. Turtonator's hands trembled as the air around him warped from the sheer amount of heat. Each step, burning away more of the ground and his bones grinding against each other. His vision was red and blurred at the edges. In that moment, reason and logic were cast aside, replaced by an unbridled fury that seemed to transcend his very essence. It was a visceral, all-consuming rage that defied words, an overwhelming force that threatened to consume and burn him entirely. He scanned the cave for anything alive that he could burn.

Who was at fault?

Humans. Trainers. Team Galactic.

If Kamaile hadn't been stubborn. If he hadn't brought these two waste of lives to follow them, then they wouldn't have slowed them down by asking to rest so many times. They could have avoided Team Galactic entirely. Their weakness had killed him, Mandibuzz, Oranguru and Drampa. They had killed them.

A primal roar tore from Turtonator's throat, a guttural expression of the sheer fury that consumed him. It was a sound of defiance, of unyielding determination to confront the source of his anger head-on. Every fiber of his being screamed for release— the cathartic release of violence and retribution.

—

He stayed there for days, guarding the remaining Pokeballs with his life. He did not dare release his comrades, not when they were on the verge of death and their safe refuge was the only thing keeping them in stasis.

He attacked anything that dared approach, human or Pokemon. His lair had turned into a sea of ash and magma.

Two days later, Rangers came. They tried to attack him, but failed. They took the Pokeballs instead.

They were all gone now.

He had nothing to protect.

He walked for days, each one was harder than the last. Attacks from trainers came. No. They were not true trainers. They were children that wanted to play at being trainers. They deserved nothing but wrath. He burned, but his flames did not run out. He burned, but his wrath did not subside. He burned until there was nothing left.

He burned, and he would burn until something killed him and he joined his comrades in death. He did not care about afterlives or reincarnation. He was just so exhausted.

He rarely slept, but when he did, it brought dreams. Dreams of his travels. Of his friends. Dreams that made him wake up with a smile, only to reignite his rage when he realized it was all fake. Suddenly, something caught Turtonator's attention. He picked up the pace and took a deep, fiery breath.

Voices, he had noticed. Steps. Multiple humans.

He would kill them like he killed the others.

He turned a corner and saw them. Five humans and their Pokemon.

Turtonator walked across the rocky ground, each of his steps burning the floor. he turned away, pointing his shell at them, but he still kept his face angled toward them to attack. He slammed his red, jagged tail against the ground, and it bubbled, turning into molten rock. One girl stepped in front of her group. She was practically shaking in her shoes. He would make quick work of her and turn her to ash just like the others, and then he would destroy the rest of them. Psychic types and a fairy stepped in front of her, ready to divert his attacks no doubt. How unrefined. How weak. He would make quick work of them. The fairy reminded him of that Grimmsnarl. They were all the same. All the same.

"Frillish," She exhaled with a trembling voice. Weakness. Disgusting. "Drench me."