“That’s why I’m a bit ... late this morning...” I finish my story between two bites of a honey bun.

Amethio’s eyes are glued to me as if I’ve committed the next big, stupid offence, but he can’t reprimand me. All he can do is stare, his teacup firmly in both hands. I’ve come back in one piece, have a new partner who’s gobbling down their breakfast Poké Beans with the others, and my headache is gone. He doesn’t need to know about the pain in my shoulder and the numb feeling in my arm.

In the end, Amethio’s silence is neither admiration nor interest. It almost seems as if my entire story has passed him by while he is lost in thought and making plans. The fact I could have saved my breath makes the corners of my mouth turn downwards.

“Have you been listening to me?”

“Most of the time,” he sighs before emptying his cup.

“And what was I talking about?”

“Debauchery in a place where people disappear.” The chair creaks as Amethio stands up. “It’s time to get on with our duties.”

His reply leaves me dumbfounded as he packs up his Pokémon and begins the march to our next stop. Everything I’ve told him seems to have rolled off.

Eyelids lowered, the certainty pushes heat into my cheeks. There are few things more embarrassing than telling someone something and yet only disturbing them. Talking to Amethio about my little adventures is worthless. I should have known, even if I was gripped by euphoria.

My shoulders weigh heavily as I collect my team of four. Each food bowl has been emptied, everyone seems to get along and the new day can begin. So I follow Amethio out of our lodging onto Route 13.

The short walk to Tapu Village remains silent. The few people who occasionally clean the beach below or tend to a few plants along the way are of no interest to Amethio. His destination leads us along a path between meadows and the vast sea to a white building that screams “laboratory” so clearly it doesn’t even need the small golden sign at the entrance. Yet it provides information revealing it is a branch of the Aether Foundation, which has joined forces here with several professors from Akala’s research facility. They are an almost independent institute.

Behind the entrance, we are greeted by white walls next to white benches and white doors. Even the reception is white and the man behind the counter almost disappears. His nasal voice is the only thing standing out as he greets Amethio and smiles wryly.

“If you would come with us? The order for Master Gibeon will be taken care of immediately.” He puffs out his chest. “We are very pleased our research has attracted the attention of such an excellent organisation.”

“We’re not gathering intel?” Brows raised, I cast a quick glance at Amethio.

“Only by the way. Master Gibeon wants to test the cloning technology for Poké Balls in this industry.”

I don’t ask more questions. It’s probably unnecessary. Cloning Poké Balls sounds like a good business – if there are ones that are rare in their production. It might even be worthwhile for simple balls to reduce the burden on the factories. It’s a fascinating field, but ultimately not a topic for me. Not in those seconds when Amethio tells me to wait for him here.

He has no use for me – again – and the question of why I am following him comes to the fore. In the time it takes him to investigate his clues, I could search for the guardian deity of the island. We would make much faster progress that way. Maybe I’d even find out the secret behind Team Skull’s hunt for Lillie and Nebby. Right now, there are so many things dangling in front of me like a loose thread I’d much rather go my own way. Amethio doesn’t care about my presence anyway – so why not deliver results on my own?

Crossing my arms in front of my chest, I purse my lips. The longer I think about it, the more tempting it becomes. Then again, I shouldn’t push my luck. If worse comes to worst, Amethio could throw me off the ship and I don’t know how many opportunities the Explorers will give me ultimately. Surely someone will help me out of Alola, but then I’m on my own and I don’t even know who Hamber is.

All I have left is a long-drawn-out sigh until the front door opens. The first thing I hear is a sharp sniffle. Shortly afterwards, a little girl in fluffy summer clothes follows – dirty to the tips of her hair. Hiccups interrupt her whimpering sounds and when she sees me – the only human soul within reach – she stumbles towards me with round, red-rimmed eyes.

As soon as she stands in front of me, she grabs my wrist. “C-can you help me?”

I slowly crouch down. “With what?”

She pulls her nose back loudly. Her little body trembles. “They ha-have Zagsi...”

“Zagsi?”

“The mean boys... They stole my Z-Zagsi!” Pushing her lower lip forward, she holds back the tears with all her might. “They were mean to mum and dad and then ... they just took Zagsi. It’s our pet Pokémon.” A tear trickles down her dirty cheek. “I wanted it back, but then they pushed me and I fell and-“ Her words turn into an unintelligible wail.

All I can do is stroke her brown mop of hair until she calms down; minutes that drag on like hours.

“Mum and Dad said they can’t help Z-Zagsi.” She smears some of her snot on the back of her hand. “But they said there are s-strong trainers here.”

“There certainly are,” I reply gently. Amethio is one of them, even if he surely doesn’t give the impression of helping a small child when it asks nicely.

“Can you get Zagsi?” The girl’s moist eyes pierce me. “P-please.”

“Can you tell me who the boys were or what they looked like?”

“T-They’re called Skull. Mum is always angry at them.”

Of course it’s Team Skull. I shouldn’t have expected anything else.

“And Zagsi? What kind of Pokémon is it?”

Her eyes get a little rounder. “I-it... is Zagsi...”

I probably shouldn’t expect more from a girl who, at maybe five years old, is completely distraught and filthy and goes to a lab alone to rescue her Pokémon. Her parents probably don’t even know where she is and are drowning in worry. Anything seems possible, and yet I can’t do anything if I don’t even know what I’m looking for.

“Does Zagsi have anything on it to recognise it by?”

“It’s wearing a helmet,” she answers me a little more calmly. “Dad made it.”

I can’t miss a helmet, at least that’s something. “And do you know where they’re taking Zagsi?”

She shakes her head wildly. “Mum always says they live in a town. Behind the water.”

We are quite close to the sea, which means her mum is probably talking about this area’s beaches. The black shore doesn’t allow for a long swim, the rocks are too close together for that. This leaves only the sea near this laboratory. A nearby island can be seen from outside. There’s a good chance this is where I’m supposed to go.

If Amethio doesn’t need me, then at least this child does. “I’ll take care of it. But can you do something for me in return?”

Only an attentive sound escapes her throat.

“If a boy comes out of that door there,” I point to the doorway Amethio has disappeared behind, “with black and silver hair, and he should actually look like he’s looking for someone, tell him I’ll get Zagsi back, yeah?”

Her eager nod is all I need. I’ve already snatched a Stufful from the hands of two Skull members. A Pokémon with a helmet will probably prove equally easy.

Without further ado, I stroke the girl’s mop of hair one last time before setting off. However, the warmth of the outside world overwhelms me and it takes a whole two minutes before I can force myself to put one foot in front of the other.

To the right, down the small slope to the water, gives me a good view of the place I need to get to. However, the only way to get to the other coast is by swimming. There are no boats in sight and no people with Water-type Pokémon. The only figures you can see from here are merry swimmers.

With a sigh, I strip off my clothes down to my underwear and tighten my shoulders. The sharp pain shooting through my back in the next blink brings tears to my eyes. As I feel the throbbing spot with my fingers, burning heat presses against the tips. The cooling of the sea is unlikely to cause much harm.

Tying my clothes together with the bag belt, I place the package on my head. Then I step into the water. It takes a while for my body to feel the wetness and when I start to swim, the only thing burning apart from my barely mobile, numb arm seems to be my face. My skin has turned a clear tan by now – a sunburn is out of question – and for a moment I wonder how Amethio manages to stay so pale. Even Conia looks like she’s got some colour and I don’t even want to mention Lillie.

How strong is Amethio’s sun cream?

The first small island is within reach and with it, my first break. A brief spectacle, which I perform each time exhaustion eats away at my body or the pain becomes too intense. An eternity seems to pass before I reach the other side. The sun is even hotter than before and only when my clothes are back in place – the wet underwear will leave its mark – do I drag myself forwards.

Passing a Pokémon Center, which advertises fresh drinks from the integrated café, I make my way along a narrow avenue. Behind it lurks a sea of flowers through which footbridges have been built. The view is almost as enticing as the Malie Garden, were it not for the shallow pink mist.

The sweetness spreading on my tongue has the flavour of flowers. According to my studies, the blossoms on the islands of Alola produce different-coloured honey, which is especially popular with Oricorio – even if it has a type-changing effect. Some islanders enjoy the honey as well, but they don’t offer it in their accommodations. If I wanted to try some, I would have to visit a market or ask a trader in Konikoni. The locals know how to sell their specialities. All it takes is a laborious approach and people show interest.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

In slow steps, I stroll along the wooden path. I can hear rustling between the flowers. Pokémon emit noises and a part of me would like to stay longer to admire the pink sea.

Somewhere in the middle of this thought, I stop. No one can stop me from taking a brief break. Amethio isn’t here to chase me around and I don’t have an Explorers assignment to mess up right now. So I soak up the floral splendour, lose myself in the pink mist and savour the sweetness on my tongue, which increases whenever I lick my lips.

“Maybe we should take advantage of the circumstances.”

A sideways glance brings Amethio into view. His eyes dwell on the sea of flowers, lost in thought, and it takes a breath before he turns to me.

“How should we use them?” I ask.

“There’s something romantic about it.” He takes a step closer, throwing the scent of fresh coconut in my direction. “What defines romantic scenes for you?”

With my eyelids only half open, I can clearly feel the goose bumps on my body. “I don’t know. Depends on ... the moment. Kisses. Dances. Sometimes just a moment together.”

When he holds out his hand to me, all I can do is blink several times. “Maybe a dance will suffice as an apology for my lack of interest earlier.”

Pursing my lips, I scrutinise him. Amethio is not the type for such actions and yet he stands before me, offering me intimacy as if his mere presence is enough to erase all his faults.

It makes me smile. Maybe it really is enough. If he finally becomes more open and we can get along better without one of us wanting to run away, then I’ll take what I can get. In this case, his hand.

“I’m not good at dancing ... I think.”

“I’ll lead.” He removes any worry I may have and as I snuggle up to him, acknowledging his steps as my own, calm sits deep in my bones.

For a moment, there is nothing in the world that can shake me – I have nothing to prove to anyone, no need to run away, no unanswered questions. There is only the moment I share with Amethio as he leads me along the wooden walkway with gallant steps. The lightness of his movements can’t be compared with the normality that is usually part of every human being – especially as Amethio doesn’t exactly convey the image of a dancer. But his movements are so precise and his guidance so controlled it seems as if I am drifting with the waves.

Half in thought, I release my hand from his chest and yet cling all the tighter to our connection. As I do so, I dig my partners out of my pocket and let them out. We should savour the moments, the time we have before the adventure continues. In the next breath, I put my hand back on Amethio’s body and let him take a step back before he leads me into a sweeping turn. The joy in my body makes my heart beat faster. My blood-red dress puffs out like a bell and combines with the blackness of Amethio’s suit.

As we stop for a moment to catch our breath, the sudden exhaustion deep in my muscles, Amethio’s fingers glide through the ends of my hair. The white shimmers gently under his grip, looking dull at the purple tips. The strands glide between his gentle touch, resting against my chest.

I can’t remember the last time I wore my hair loose, but in these seconds it fits better with my dress – with this absurd perception seemingly crazy and yet giving me no reason to question it. Even my Pokémon are enjoying the moment.

Zorua soaks up the sight of the pink flowers. Coro digs around in some calyxes with the tip of his beak, while Raya hits them with her paws to loosen the pollen. They are all together. All except Mimikyu – Mirra, as I called her just before going to bed after she got an entry in the Pokédex and Rotom told me about her abilities and other things.

I turn in circles several times. The surroundings blur into a mosaic of pink shades. Amethio doesn’t stand out in all this – maybe he’s gone too – and the dress peels off my body like rose petals. But I can’t see Mirra anywhere. Neither among my Pokémon, nor in the sea of flowers.

The edge of the wooden walkway draws closer. My breath burns; on my lips, under my skin, and in my throat. Every step is unsteady. The throbbing in my shoulder comes to the fore, reminding me how painful a single movement can be. The heels of my shoes lose their grip. The image in front of my eyes turns, facing the horizon.

The sun is blinding.

But I don’t fall.

Immediately, I turn my gaze away from the sky and let my vision wander over my outstretched arm. My wrist is firmly in the grip of black gloves and when I recognise Amethio, this time in his traditional clothes, only the white handkerchief in front of his nose and mouth seems to bring change.

He swiftly pulls me into an upright position, but doesn’t offer me another dance. Instead, he reaches for my bag, grabs the Poké Balls and collects my partners.

A smile appears on my lips. All this looks much more like him. The seriousness on his face, the upright posture, the purposeful actions – he could hardly be more real.

As soon as he has put the balls back in my bag, he grabs me by the hand. A blink of an eye later, we are hurrying along the wooden walkway, past the splendour of Ula’Ula’s flowers, until I vaguely decipher Route 17 on a small wooden sign. Yet we only stop when the surrounding greenery thins out. Low meadows are all that remain, dotted with ornamental trees – in between a small building, next to which we settle down in the lush greenery.

“Why did we leave?” The world only reaches me through a fuzzy filter. “We still had time.”

“You wasted two hours in the meadow.” A sharp sideways glance from Amethio makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. “We’re wasting time on unimportant things because of you.”

“Nobody forced you to come here. I would have solved this on my own.”

“When? In four days?”

“I would just have enjoyed the time a...” I falter. In my mind, I’ve been in this place for maybe ten minutes. “Two hours? I was there for two hours?” Eyes wide, I stare at Amethio. My throat is parched. “That was never two hours!”

Instead of answering, he holds his Rotom Phone under my nose, closely followed by a bottle of water, which I greedily empty. According to the display, it’s now late afternoon. This also means, no matter how hard it is to believe, that two hours have gone by.

Snorting, I massage my temples. The cotton wool in my head slowly loosens and when I spot Mimikyu in front of me – she seems to have been sitting there for a while – I inevitably tighten the corners of my mouth. “You got Amethio for me, didn’t you?”

“No good?” Her costume head tilts.

“It is...” I carefully stroke a finger over the part I think is her body. “You’re a great help.” Lowering my eyelids, I look at my companion. “But ... I could still have managed somehow. If you don’t want to be here, no one’s forcing you.”

The sigh on his lips weighs almost as heavily as my bruised shoulder. “What were you thinking?”

“The girl needed help, and it aligned with my questions. Team Skull is after Lillie and Nebby ... at least according to that guy from yesterday. So why not free the little girl’s Pokémon and find out why they’re after them?”

“Your approach is dangerous...” Without further ado, Amethio leans back, resting his weight on his hands.

“How was I supposed to know this meadow would warp time?” Pushing forward my lower lip, I wrinkle my nose. “Pretty sneaky.”

“For tourists, yes,” he replies. “The Ula’Ula Meadow is used for pain therapy. The scent it gives off is considered a naturally occurring morphine – but it also triggers hallucinations. The same can be said about the honey produced here.”

“How do you know that?”

His reproving look reveals I could probably have found out for myself if I’d been paying more attention. “The owner of the accommodation warned us. At breakfast.”

While I rambled on without a dot or a comma. That’s probably why he pushed my report away as if it was the least important thing in the world – because I wasn’t paying enough attention to my surroundings and was missing out on important information that could have saved me trouble.

My tongue clicks as I run both hands over my face, trying to empty my head and start at the beginning once more. There are so many things I need to learn that the little details are starting to go over my head. I need to be more mindful, think ahead, not just act and try to stop living from one day to the next. In essence, this journey requires a complete change on my part, and I don’t know if that’s the right way to go. I don’t want to adapt to something that only holds value within an organisation. However, I could learn to mix things up. It’s not impossible to prepare for anything if you carry enough medicine around. Means I just need to work on my awareness.

“Now what?” Lowering my eyelids, I try to take the important aspects to heart. Minor changes to help me and my team can’t be wrong. “I’m going to get the girl’s Pokémon back ... she’s relying on me.”

Determined, Amethio rises from his seated position before glancing up Route 17 and putting a hand on his hip. “I’m coming with you. Team Skull occupied Po Town a few months ago. The island’s police can’t stand up to them – or rather their leader, Guzma. He’s taken over the Shady House there.”

The fact we’re already so close to the leader is unexpected. Basically, I thought Team Skull would be hiding somewhere underground. However, the fact they’ve taken over an entire town puts them in a much more dangerous light. I don’t even want to know what makes this Guzma tick, but I can imagine he’s not a pleasant person to be around. It’s reassuring to have Amethio by my side.

Eventually, I get to my feet. The path to the town isn’t far, given the high walls visible from here. Still, it takes a little over an hour to reach the mighty entrance gate, whose iron doors are firmly locked. Even when I rattle the handles, nothing moves.

“I think, without a plan, we-“ My words stop instantly as I turn round and catch sight of Corviknight. The poor Pokémon really has nothing to laugh about in Alola’s heat – it’s not for nothing that the Skarmory hide in the treetops of the islands during the day.

Amethio doesn’t need to mention we’re flying over the obstacle, so I follow his silent request without a word and slide onto the Pokémon’s back behind him. In the next breath, Corviknight flaps its wings so strongly that we find ourselves metres up in the air. Suddenly, the wall is no longer a hurdle and as we glide over the town, it’s chaos facing me.

Skull members have spread out, spraying graffiti on house walls, on the ground or on window panes. Some are engaging in small Pokémon fights, while others are throwing food at each other. Car roofs are used as sun loungers and stiff, loveless laughter reaches us.

“This group is bigger than I expected,” I whisper quietly to myself. “How many children of the islands have escaped to become part of this?”

“Enough not to land.”

To disagree would be insane. The likelihood of us being able to take on fifty members at once isn’t high, even if Amethio is pretty strong. What’s more, he’s probably planning for us to face Guzma. After all, he’s the head of this gang and therefore knows best why they want to capture Lillie and Nebby.

“Will you let me handle the fight?” My hands tighten around Amethio’s waist. “I was the one who wanted to help the girl and ... I think it would be wise if I learnt how to handle a fight better.”

We both know he can step in if I fail. It’s a fair deal and an opportunity I don’t want to miss.

“One Pokémon,” he replies. “After that, I’ll take over and you find the girl’s pet.”

“Okay.”

It’s an offer I have to take, and it becomes inevitable the moment Corviknight bursts through a window of the Shady House. Red carpet leads to a closed door and as we land – at the same moment a young Team Skull boy jumps aside in panic and hides under a narrow table – it flies open as if by magic. Another member stands in the frame, his eyes round as marbles. In the background, someone shouts an order I can barely understand and before we know it, we are let in without resistance.

In the middle of a surprisingly small room, there is a messy bed and two steps leading up to a platform on which a chair resembling a throne has been placed. Next to it is a treasure chest full of Z-Crystals. Their green colour shimmers in the twilight of the only window.

“I wasn’t expecting visitors.” With a broad grin on his lips, we are greeted by a man whose easy-going demeanour suits Team Skull perfectly. “Have they sent children ahead now because they’ve run out of ideas?”

His laughter echoes throughout the room, causing me to grimace and wipe my sweaty hands on my trousers.

“So, what do you want from Guzma, the strongest trainer in Alola and destruction personified?” Without further ado, our counterpart raises his chin, and it becomes more difficult to judge him with every passing second.

His clothes give him a youthful appearance, but the circles under his eyes and the edges of his face put him in the same category as Kukui – a man in his thirties. Straightening my shoulders, I shake off the thought. All that matters now is the stolen Pokémon and collecting important information.

“We’re here to retrieve a Pokémon your thugs stole,” I begin slowly, my voice as firm as I can make it. “Besides, there are a few questions you could answer for us.”

“A Pokémon, huh?” He raises his brows and nods as if he understands. “Yo, what have you got lately?”

The boy who let us in winces. “Not much, boss. We stole something from the Tapu Village. Nothing too fancy or anything.”

“Show me!”

In an instant, Guzma’s henchman grabs a ball and lets out a Pokémon I can only recognise as Zagsi. However, I have no idea what it is. Its shaggy fur and the fact it looks like it’s been dragged through several puddles of mud give it a pathetic appearance. Bent on its hind paws like an old man, its eyes gleam a deep orange colour. Only the small helmet it wears, which emphasises the strange oval coin on its forehead, gives it a certain pride.

“That one?” Guzma looks at us again, his lips twisted into a wry grin.

“That one,” I reply stiffly.

“So you want that Pokémon back?” Another laugh escapes him before he jumps up and gets so close Amethio takes a step in front of me. “Sweet, you brought your boyfriend so he can show you what a great guy he is, huh? Makes no difference though. Heard you guys are causing a lot of trouble.” Hands on his hips, he takes two steps back. “Look, I’ll watch out for this bunch of misfits! Nobody crushes my gang unpunished, you see? So I’m going to smack you guys now!”

It’s my cue. My task. A chance Amethio gives me as he gains some distance. He’ll probably use the time of the fight to get Zagsi into our possession.

Lips pressed together, I realise I need to draw the strongest card I have. Zorua is great, but if I want to win, I need a Pokémon that knows how to honour a battle. Raya is perfect for this game.

At least until Guzma lets his partner out and a shadow settles over us.