We emerge from the treeline as dusk turns into night.

The trip turned out to take longer than I expected, even though we kept a good pace all throughout the day. Maybe I didn’t give that Rapidash enough credit.

Regardless, we stop to survey the vista ahead.

An elysian mountain lake lays before us, perfectly clear and still. Towering over it is the Coronet mountain range, ruled by the titular Mount Coronet; so enormous and all-encompassing that it seems to go on forever, north to south, horizon to horizon. The lights of Eterna city can already be seen on the opposite shore, contrasting with the stars that begin to dot the Winter sky. The lake’s surface is the site of a battle for dominance between the lights of the windows and of the heavens.

“Beautiful…”

Rayn is silent, but his expression agrees. We drink it in for a bit.

Rayn exhales, then seems to remember that he’s supposed to be unimpressed. I roll my eyes.

“We will not have time to train before resting. We should return to that large structure we passed.”

“Nope. Out of the question. Not if it was the last roof in Sinnoh.”

He looks surprised by my vehemence. ”…Any reason?”

“Ghosts. Many, many Ghosts.” We passed the Chateau barely fifteen minutes ago; the dirt path veering off into cracked cobblestone, the rusted iron gates creaking in an unfelt wind protecting a courtyard of moss-ridden sculptures, gardens overrun by dry brambles, and the most accursed mansion this side of Transylvania. How Rayn could ever consider it shelter is beyond me.

“We know Dark moves… but we will be asleep.” He sighs. “The lake shore, then.”

We walk along the Route sedately, our steps lighter in a small way. I look down at my feet, confused, then back to the forest.

From our vantage point outside the bounds of the dead canopy, I can now see that we had been subtly climbing so far, and Eterna city is actually at a somewhat high altitude.

As the path begins to hug the lake on the north side, I notice a few tents and campfires dotting the shore.

I’m about to ask Rayn to circle south instead, but I stop myself.

No. I can do this.

We’re about to walk into a full-fledged city, I can’t freak out over a couple trainers. We near the first campsite, with a sturdy new-looking green tent, when Rayn speaks.

“We could veer north. For some tree cover.”

“No. Thank you, but… I can handle it. We’ll be fine.”

As we approach the crackling campfire, I spot a young blonde girl tending to the fire. Her long coat bunches up beneath her where she sits, thick gloves on the ground beside her. She looks about thirteen, so she might be a trainer.

I approach slowly, eyes on her hands.

As we cross into the campfire’s light, she finally notices us, and with a startled yelp, reaches inside her coat for a pokéball.

I freeze.

Rayn steps in front of me, then sits.

After a few seconds of inaction, the girl slowly relaxes and lets her arm land in her lap. She still clutches the ball.

I take a deep breath. Come on, it’s already got a Pokémon in it, clearly.

I walk out from behind Rayn, quickly thanking him with a nod. He pretends not to notice.

“Hi, do you mind if we share your fire for a bit?”

The girl jumps to her feet, and I flinch back, but she hasn’t raised the pokéball.

“You… you talked!”

“Yeah. I’m Cleo, that’s Rayn, we’re headed to Eterna.” My eyes linger on the red-and-white ball.

“Holy Miltank, that’s amazing! My name’s Holly, I’m doing my Journey, and you can totally stay here tonight! No one’s gonna believe me when I tell them I met a talking Buneary… Oh wait!”

She puts the pokéball away to stand up and rummage in the large backpack laying inside her open tent.

I untense and sit by the fire. Rayn sits beside me, between me and Holly.

She returns with a smartphone in hand. “Can I take a video with you guys for the Pokénet? My friends will freak when they see it!”

I’m about to acquiesce, but I should consider this in light of my new resolution.

If I’m aiming to give Pokémon like me more of a choice in their life, I need to speak out and be heard. To be heard, it helps to be known. And to have people see and hear you and of you is to be known, so appearing on this girl’s social media could be good. But should my first appearance be as a curiosity in this kid’s travel journal or whatever?

I abruptly realize my ambitions are probably going to require me to become a public figure. Well, shit. I’m still doing it.

“Uhh… you can say no if you don’t want to,” Holly says. I zoned out on her there. She fidgets, looking uncomfortable.

“Sorry, let me think about it for a bit, okay?”

“Sure, sure. No pressure, it’s not a big deal.”

Holly sits by the fire, in front of her tent. The three of us form a quarter-circle around the orange flames.

“Why do you hesitate?” Rayn asks. I realize if he’s going to be traveling with me, and I hope he is, we’ve become close even if he’d never admit it, then I need to involve him in this too.

I respond in my native language to keep the conversation private. “We haven’t talked about this yet, and we should have, but I’ve decided what my goal is. Why I’m doing this.”

His eyes lock onto mine, and he observes me intently, like we’re still on opposite sides of the creek.

“What is it?”

“Choice. I’m not having it taken away from me, and I’ll give it to Pokémon who don’t know they deserve it, that it’s only right for them to decide how to live their lives.”

Rayn huffs. “More selfless than I expected, but this is not new. You are dominant, a natural leader. Like me. This is not a revelation.”

I blink. Am I? In my interactions with Manuel and Eduardo, with my brother at the creek… with Holly, even. Huh. How has he put up with it, if he’s the same?

“You put up with a lot for being a natural leader. I introduce us, I mainly talk with others…”

“What am I to do? Yowl at humans and hope? You have not overstepped so far. Do not speak for me and do not decide alone, and we will have no problem.”

His eyes narrow. “Do. Not. Overstep.”

“Yeah. I understand.”

“Good. Why is the girl’s request important?”

I look over to Holly, who tries to appear relaxed as she watches the fire, but can’t help stealing nervous glances at us.

“I’ll need the cooperation of humans. And for that I need to be heard, known, respected.”

“What purpose does associating with the girl serve? She does not seem powerful.”

“I never said anything about power.”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Rayn’s look turns dry. “You said respected. There is little difference.”

“Come on, you’re smarter than that. Wisdom should be heeded and respected; old Luxray are surely listened to.” I don’t bother appealing to kindness. His kind literally prey on the weak.

“The old are heeded because they have managed the ultimate feat of strength: live to become old. I am not a fool who sees only strength, but power is the foundation of higher, softer things. Who eats? The strong choose. Who mates? The strong choose. Where does the pride live? The strong choose. The strongest may listen to the wisdom of elders, or entrust tasks to the skilled, but that is his privilege. You may dream of the greatest of worlds, but you do so at his sufferance. Unless you are He.”

I stare at Rayn, stunned. It's the most I’ve ever heard him speak by a longshot.

…Is he right?

My human memories say no, that all should be equal and respected.

But in that world there are no Pokémon. Only equally weak humans, and most don’t even treat each other that way. Certainly not the other animals.

I love mom, she’s amazing, but if she weren’t strong I wouldn’t even be alive to be thinking this.

And here, even among humans, the Champion rules.

Cynthia is loved and feared in equal measure, at least in the games, but she’s not in charge of Sinnoh’s League for her love of archaeology.

No, I shouldn’t make assumptions.

“Hey Holly, sorry to keep you waiting.”

“No, no it’s no problem. Sorry for asking,” she quickly reassures, but I hold up a hand.

“Don’t worry about it. Before I answer, weird question. Who’s the Champion right now?”

She looks bewildered. “Huh? Uhh… Cynthia. Why?”

“Ok. And what do you know about her?”

She looks thoroughly confused, but obliges me and thinks for a second.

“I guess… she’s super strong and stylish, likes history, and uhh… is from Celestic Town?”

“Thanks.” Strong comes first, huh…

“Thanks for the help.”

Rayn waves his tail dismissively. “I did nothing.”

I look to Holly, trying for an apologetic smile. “Sorry, but I’m not comfortable with that.” Not yet.

She shakes her head frantically. “It’s fine. Really.”

An awkward silence descends.

I sigh internally. “So, your Journey. Trying for the badges?”

Holly perks up. “Yeah! I’m going to Eterna to get my fourth badge! We only have three months until the season ends, but with plenty of practice I’m sure my team can pull it off.”

“Who’s on the team?” I ask, then bring my satchel around to start grabbing dinner.

“Oh! I have food, you don’t have to spend yours.”

“No, we’re uninvited guests. I’m not taking your fire and your food. Just tell me about the team.”

She looks ready to insist, but thinks better of it. “Well, there’s Dusty, he’s a Snover, my starter, then Wiggles, a Floatzel, she’s a sweetie, and Staravia. He’s new, and he’s still fitting in with the others, but we’ll work it out.”

She tilts her head to the side, thinking. “Actually… would you like to battle tomorrow? Before we set out?”

“I will battle her,” says Rayn, before I’d even had time to think about it.

“Rayn accepts,” I relay.

“Great! And you?”

“…Better not. Don’t want both of us out of commission in case something happens.”

“That’s no problem! If there’s an accident I’ll bring you straight to the Pokécenter.”

“I’m not getting in a pokéball.” My reply is immediate, taking the wind out of Holly’s sails.

“Uhh… that’s fine, I have some potions.”

I shake my head and try to soften my tone. “I’m not mooching off you any more than I have to. I’ll live without one battle. It’ll be a dramatic one-vs-one.”

“…Ok. Well, I can’t wait for tomorrow. Thanks Rayn.” She nods at him. He acknowledges her with a glance.

What little of the evening is left is broken up by bits of smalltalk, petering off until we all bed down for the night. Holly offers us a spot in her tent, but we refuse. If she moves in the middle of the night, I’ll hear the zipper.

-0-

In the morning, Holly covers the ashes of the previous night’s fire with dirt. She folds up her tent, gathering the flexible supports into a circle by some arcane trick I fail to comprehend. She proceeds to squash the circle into a figure-eight, only to fold the halves into a circle again, then repeating the process. By the end of it her spacious tent looks like a handbag, casually stuffed into her backpack while I stare, slack-jawed.

“So, are you ready?” she asks.

Rayn takes his position away from the road, and Holly sets up opposite him. He doesn’t even look surprised.

I regain my senses, then step to a place behind Rayn, where I suppose our ‘team’ should be.

“Do you mind if I have Wiggles referee? She’ll stop the fight if it looks dangerous.”

Rayn ponders, then nods.

“Alright.” Holly reaches into her jacket and takes out two pokéballs, releasing the Pokémon within. I can’t quite keep from cringing.

“Hey guys, how are we feeling today?”

“Alright.” “Pretty good!” they both respond, and Holly gets the meaning from their tone.

“Great! We’ve got a cool battle for you Dusty, Rayn and Cleo over there are traveling by themselves! Isn’t that crazy?”

The two Pokémon turn toward us, surprised. A tall orange weasel immediately starts heading to the side of our improvised field, the Floatzel apparently familiar with refereeing.

Dusty looks like a chubby pine tree sapling with frozen branches, and jogs over to his designated spot, nodding to Rayn.

“Hello, my name’s Dusty. Let’s have a good battle!”

The cat studies Dusty briefly. “Rayn.”

Wiggles turns to me, looking somewhat sceptical. “Are you the trainer then?”

“No, Rayn fights for himself. We’re just friends.”

He doesn’t object, which brings a small smile to my face.

Wiggles startles, then stares at me for a bit, but turns back to the field without comment.

This seems fine, but... I have to check. "Dusty, you alright with this? You don't have to if you don't want to."

Rayn throws me an annoyed look, but seems to realize something and grimaces. Yeah.

"Holly's counting on me, I'm ready!" comes the response.

I think she wouldn't mind if you said no.

I exhale. I don't get to soapbox when he told me what he wanted. I give Wiggles a nod.

“This will be a one-on-one battle between Dusty and Rayn. Standard League rules apply and I will end the fight if I feel there is danger of permanent harm to either battler. You two, do you know the League rules for friendly battles?” she asks us, clearly expecting the answer to be no.

She is, of course, right.

“A summary, if you can, please.”

Wiggles frowns slightly but obliges. “Essentially no interference, no attempt to kill or maim, some powerful moves like Hyper Beam are restricted to Conferences or Ace trainer ranked battles. There are item restrictions and other things, but that should not matter here.”

Interesting. I’ll have to read those when I get a chance. I doubt they were written for someone like me or Rayn.

“Get on with it,” Rayn calls out, and Wiggles turns back to the field.

“Trainers, are you ready?” She looks to Holly, then Rayn.

Both nod.

“Begin!”

Rayn’s demeanour shifts from placid to feral instantly, hackles raised and fangs flashing in an Intimidation display.

“Leer into Ice Shard, Dusty!”

Dusty counters with his own challenging look, then transitions into throwing frosty shards from his white branches.

Rayn, however, needs no command and is dashing forward before the Leer even finishes. His blue and black fur begins to crackle, and small actinic arcs can be seen spreading along his body. His low and wide stance allows him to make small sideways adjustments as he runs, zigzagging through most if not all the flying shards, finishing with a Sparking tackle.

Then he hops back.

“Leafage!”

Holly’s command causes the pine needles in Dusty’s arm to grow and sharpen into nature’s morningstar, before Dusty swipes at the space in front of him.

Rayn is of course already out of range, observing.

“Commands are slow,” he notes, and begins circling the Snover. Both have taken light hits, Dusty mostly due to his resistance to Electric moves, but the difference between them is clear.

Rayn’s wrist bands slowly brighten as he circles, and Holly notices.

“He’s stalling! Interrupt him!”

Dusty runs forward to attempt another Leafage. Rayn responds by jumping over him and releasing his Charge in a Shockwave that has Dusty locking up momentarily.

Rayn lands behind the Snover, back to back, and lifts his hind paws in a Double Kick.

But it seems Dusty’s determined to not go out like a chump, as he releases Razor Leaves from his back that slice Rayn in a hundred shallow cuts, before being thrown forward by the kicks.

Both fall.

“Dusty!” Holly’s voice is laden with worry.

Rayn pops right back up. Grimacing at the papercuts that now cover him, he jumps onto the still rising Dusty’s back, fangs darkened to Bite into his neck.

“Stop!”

Wiggles’ voice his loud and authoritative, the weasel already stepping into the field.

Rayn’s fangs return to their dull white and he steps back toward our side. Dusty stands and brushes himself off, dejected.

“The winner of the battle is Rayn. Good job Dusty, that was a great Razor Leaf.”

He nods, still looking downcast, before bowing slightly to Rayn. “Good battle.”

Rayn nods. “You as well. It was not over yet.”

Wiggles sends him a warning glare, but Rayn says nothing more, settling to lick his wounds.

“Well, drat. Sorry Dusty, I didn’t expect him to be that fast. Come get a Potion and an Aspear Berry as a treat, come on.” Holly rummages in her bag while Dusty waddles over, taking out several items and pampering the Snover with pets and sprays of a Potion. “You guys want some Potion too?”

I’m about to refuse her when I catch myself. I look to Rayn, who looks like he saw my aborted movement and is none-too-pleased.

“Sorry.”

He holds my gaze for a couple more seconds, before turning to Holly and nodding. She complies and sprays him liberally with the purple liquid. The effects are instant and miraculous. Rayn finally looks impressed by something.

When she finishes, she turns to me and offers five bills with a ten marked on them.

“What is this?”

“Your prize money.”

“We didn’t bet anything.”

Holly shakes her head. “Standard battle prize. I have three badges, so fifty dollars is the custom.”

“Oh… okay. Thanks then.” I put the money away at the bottom of the satchel, under some carrot-like roots.

“Out of curiosity, which badges do you have?”

“Snowpoint, Hearthome and Oreburg. Finally beat Roark a couple weeks ago!”

“Nice.”

Dusty didn’t look all that strong. Was that normal three-badge level? I look to the Floatzel. Maybe it was mostly Wiggles. Regardless, it looks like Rayn and I aren’t starting at one-badge level. Our six months of training weren’t for nothing.

Rayn paddles over to me. “What did she give you?”

“Money. Used to barter for goods and services to make trading easier.”

Rayn flicks an ear. “Humans have good supplies.”

I nod. “We can buy some in Eterna or elsewhere, I’ll show you what’s where.”

All five of us prepare for the rest of the short walk to Eterna City in this crisp, beautiful, cloud-dotted morning.

Then the sky breaks.

A titanic crack is rent into the roof of the world. The iridescent miasma beyond seeps into our sky, polluting it like a cosmic oil spill.

Holly’s screams are ignored as we Pokémon stare out in horror and fascination alike. A great shaft of light shoots up from the top of Mount Coronet.

From Spear Pillar.

“So this is it…”

Rayn’s head whips down to look at me, his gaze trying to pierce into my thoughts. It demands answers.

“Galactic,” I whisper only to him, “a cult led by a madman who wants to remake the world with the Legendary Pokémon that guard this land.”

He’s stunned for a few seconds, trying to grasp the enormity in my words.

“...What do we do?” he asks, turning back to the spreading maelstrom.

I look to the skies.

“Hope.”