After all the excitement, we leave our Pokémon to play around a little bit with the ones sheltered by the Lab while Professor Rowan ends up dragging me and Lucas into a small meeting room in the building. He wants to hear a little more about my story. Cynthia already gave him a basic explanation but he has some questions regarding Professor Laventon’s notes and the Pokémon forms they can no longer find. I give them a slightly cut retelling of what my parents and Cynthia already heard, mostly for Lucas’ benefit, before the questions begin.
“That sounds like quite the adventure,” the Professor says “How many Pokémon forms are you aware of that no longer exist in the present?”
“That’s hard to tell,” I say “While I know a lot about all the Pokémon that lived in the Hisui-Sinnoh years, I don’t know much about the current… situation.”
“Then let me make a list. We have your Liligant, as well as confirmation that she evolved from a normal Petilil. Right?”
He pulls up an image on his laptop showing one of the small Grass Types. Petilil are so cute!
“Yes. That’s the one I know.”
“Okay. The notes and the parts of Laventon’s Pokédex that are still readable talk about a few others. Help me out if I miss anything, Lucas.”
The boy nods.
“There’s mention of a large canine with Fire and Rock Dual-Typing. We have descriptions of Braviary with more apparent Psychic abilities than make sense. A strange fish Pokémon, no Typing for that one but the description makes me think Ghost. What else?”
“The Voltorb and Electrode descriptions sounded a bit off in their appearance,” Lucas says “There are also two legends that survived. The Sea’s Legend, a book Dawn found in Canalave Library, mentions a Qwilfish with huge spikes. And we have the stories from Snowpoint about White Ghosts filled with incredible hatred. Though I doubt that’s a Pokémon. Probably just an old explanation for avalanches or blizzards.”
“Yes. Thank you. I think that’s everything we have.”
I grin.
“Well, they all sound familiar. I have my own Field Pokédex with all my notes. I can’t give it to you right now since there’s some information you aren’t supposed to know. Orders from the Boss.”
“The Boss?” Lucas asks.
“Arceus. But I can just tell you about the ones you asked about. And if you have a current Pokédex for me, I can look through it for more differences.”
“That’s something I plan to do,” the Professor says “as long as the information you give us now ends up helping out.”
“Okay, let’s see… The Fire-and-Rock Dual-Type would be the Noble Arcanine. Their Growlithe as well. They lived in the mountains next to the Coastlands, and on Firespit Island.”
“Arcanine? Truly?”
“Yes. I already told Cynthia about that. The fragment she found from the Temple of Sinnoh was a part of the Noble’s statue.”
“I see.”
He takes some notes but without bothering the laptop. Lucas sighs and pulls it over.
“They don’t look any like these, do they?”
The picture is what can only be a ‘normal’ Arcanine with a white mane and a white tail whereas the one I knew had rocky-grey ones.
“Nope.”
“How would a Fire-Rock Type survive the Coastlands? I assume that’s the Eastern Coast.”
“Firespit Island would be where the League is, now,” the Professor says.
“Really? It was an active volcano. They built the League there?”
“There’s that island with the Battle Area. What was that called?” Lucas says.
“Ah, that might be it. Zoe, did Heatran live in the volcano?”
“Yes. That’s the place. As for the Arcanine, it was the only place with Firestones available. It’s also where you could find the occasional Vulpix and Ninetales in the wild.”
“I see. How did they cross the sea?”
“I believe the Pearl Clan moved them back and forth. At least the Vulpix and Growlithe.”
They look at each other wide-eyed.
“The Pearl Clan? It’s real?” Lucas asks.
“Yeah. No idea what happened but from the location… their village probably turned into Snowpoint. While Solaceon Town is close to where the Diamond Clan’s village was.”
The Professor starts taking even more notes. I decided to simply move on.
“Next… Braviary is Psychic-Flying. Also a Noble. Would fit with your description.”
Professor Rowan starts scribbling even more furiously as Lucas pulls up another picture. I almost laugh at the red feathers covering the top of the huge bird’s body.
“No, no. That wouldn’t work at all. The ones I know have white feathers where this one has red ones. Makes for far better hiding in the snow of the Icelands. They also have eye-like feathers in pink and cyan just above their real eyes.”
“Ones? Not one? Didn’t you say it’s a Noble?”
“Yes. Rufflet has an easy time evolving naturally so there were a few more around, usually.”
“I see…”
Lucas pulls up a picture of the smaller eagle.
“Yeah, that’s just as I know it. So you know about the Nobles?”
“There’s a legend about the Hero of Sinnoh. No idea how much of it is true, though.”
“I can’t help you with that. Arceus never talked about it no matter how much I asked.”
Before they can ask more questions about that I move on.
“Then… the strange fish is probably Basculegion. Another Noble. Evolution of Basculin. Not pretty to get to. They have to take a lot of injuries while fighting but only self-inflicted. Recoil Moves. It’s Water-Ghost Type. They come in different colours depending on gender.”
“Which Basculin?” the Professor asks “Blue-striped or red-striped?”
“There are different ones? I’ve never seen blue or red stripes on them. Only white.”
“That… would be a new variant as far as I know.”
“Seems like it,” Lucas nods “That’s a lot of information and it checks out with some of our ideas. Laventon really was capable.”
Professor Rowan looks over something on the laptop Lucas turned to him. They exchange a few words in a whisper and I make sure not to listen in. Then he turns to me.
“We could sign you up as a Lab Trainer for the next Circuit. Especially if you can give us access to your Field Pokédex. After that, you can become an official Researcher, or a Field Researcher like Lucas here, if you prefer that.”
I freeze. Then a grin slowly spreads wide on my face. I can’t stop it in the slightest.
“That sounds great,” I say.
“First, do you have anything else on the old forms?”
I tap my chin.
“Let’s just call them Hisui-Forms? Like the Alola- Forms. Vulpix, for example.”
“That works. How do you know about Alola-Vulpix, though?”
“There was a guy who brought a few with him. They really enjoyed the Icelands.”
“I can imagine that,” Lucas says “But I haven’t seen any in Sinnoh.”
“I don’t know where they went. I had one for a bit before she wanted to live on her own. Anyway, we were talking about Hisui-Forms. What was strange about the Voltorb and Electrode in Professor Laventon’s notes?”
“Well, look at these.”
Lucas shows me an image of a much smoother and cleaner-looking version of the Pokémon I know. There is something that bugs me about it.
“Are they only Electric Type, now?”
“Yes?”
I sigh.
“They were Electric Grass, back then. Similar to the handmade Pokéballs, in fact. Here.”
I show them Lili’s Ball which has a wooden shell on the bottom with the lines still visible. The top is an Apricorn shell covered in Red Tumblestone. The wood just holds it together, the actual function is all in the top half.
“That’s quite interesting,” Professor Rowan says “Were they also using Self-Destruct?”
“Yes. Explosion, too. You have to be careful when running into them in the wild. The Stun Spores they release make you an easy target.”
They look at each other with a mix of apprehension and interest.
“That does seem very dangerous, not that Voltorb have much of a need to slow you down.”
I nod.
“As for those legends you talked about… Qwilfish evolves into Overqwil, which would fit the huge spikes. It’s Dark Poison, very dangerous since it can shoot those spikes. And the Ghosts filled with hatred would be Zoroark. They didn’t make it in Hisui, though I never learned the reason. But their Ghosts stuck around. Zorua, too. Ghost-Normal Typing.”
“Oh,” the Professor stares.
“That’s a weird combination,” Lucas says “Do they still do the illusion stuff?”
“Yes. Though I wouldn’t be surprised if they aren’t around anymore. I helped everyone I could find to settle their grudges. Don’t know if any decided to stay despite no longer being bound to their existence.”
“That was very kind of you,” the Professor says “Then… there’s one more thing.”
He turns around the laptop. On it is what is obviously a Sliggoo. A Hisui-Sligoo if they’re showing it to me.
“What’s so special about this one?” I ask with a smirk.
The Professor laughs.
“Oh, you know… a species of Pokémon that only exists in Kalos suddenly appears in the depths of the Coronet Mountains but with a different second and third stage. Though we only confirmed the third stage once from a distance. I believe two of the Sinnoh-Goomy were caught and one of them has evolved. The first one was spotted three weeks ago.”
My mood plummets.
“I wasn’t here three weeks ago… This has to be…”
With a pop, Mesprit lands on my head and snuggles into my hair. I drag her into my lap and give her a squeeze.
“Thanks, Mes,” I whisper “Say… did you meet Goopy recently?”
She shakes her head.
“Did either of your siblings?”
This time she hesitates. Then there’s a nod. I let out a sigh of relief.
“So he’s still around?”
She wiggles happily and I feel her connect to our minds.
“Yes! He was hiding! Uxie told him when it was time.”
I pat her head. My big goof is still alive. Just as I expected. I hope he’s doing well.
“I’ll need you to give me the location these were first spotted,” I tell the Professor.
He observes me for a full minute before answering.
“Alright. I believe we can safely say these are Hisui-Goomy, not Sinnoh-Goomy.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Lucas starts typing again.
“Do you have anything else for us?” the Professor asks.
“Yes, in fact. The Professor brought three Pokémon from other regions with him that had a notable difference in their third stage. Cyndaquil, Oshawott, and Rowlet. From what we learned, they evolved due to differences in climate. And most of the people that immigrated to Sinnoh told us the Nobles were all Pokémon they’d never seen before. I’ll get you a list of those and their pre-evolutions so you can compare it to your database.”
“That’s very interesting. I am really interested to take a closer look at your own research notes. Thank you for your help, Zoe. I learned a lot today. And we have a lot to think about, I believe. I’ll send you your PSIL-ID together with the paperwork for becoming an official Lab Trainer. I wish you the best on your Journey, even if it’s your second attempt.”
I give him a smile.
“Thank you for listening to my crazy story.”
Lucas snickers.
“I don’t think we’d have believed a word if the Red Night didn’t happen. Now that we know who Palkia and Dialga are, what you claim is at least possible.”
“Then I’ll have to find the lazy loaves and give them my thanks as well.”
They stare at me for a second before Lucas shakes his head. I say my goodbyes and go back outside to collect my Pokémon and return home.
----------------------------------------
Mesprit is floating still right in front of my face. Her yellow eyes bore into mine. I can’t tell what she’s trying to tell me and her mind is too far away for me to reach. Which is weird because she’s right there. Right here.
I look around but Mes keeps blocking my sight. Is she looking for something? If so, what would that be?
I blink and her face swaps from pink and teal to black and gold. The yellow eyes are suddenly an intensely glowing red.
“Oh,” I manage, then Giratina taps their forehead to mine. I hear their rumbling voice shake the space around us. There’s nothing really here, though. My arms and legs move around without touching anything.
Giratina pulls their face back and reveals nothing but darkness. They are in their Origin Forme so we have to be in the Distortion World. Sort of. Their mind finally makes contact. It feels so far away, like coming from another reality. I don’t know how I know that feeling but that’s what comes to mind.
“Welcome back, Zoe,” Giratina says. Their thoughts are vast and gentle, like a calm ocean.
“Thank you,” I say “Is this…?”
“Yes. A dream. The Lake Trio assisted me with forming this connection.”
“Huh. So I’m sleeping right now? Like that time with Dusknoir?”
They laugh.
“Just like that and yet very different. I am not in your world, after all.”
“Then the time doesn’t really matter, does it?”
“You are right but that is not how Dialga operates. I wanted to thank you.”
I smile.
“You’re welcome. What for, though?”
“You taught me why your world matters. My cousins are still having difficulty comprehending the fact, sadly.”
“Oh, I heard about that. You helped Cynthia save the world from another idiot.”
“Indeed. I wish I could travel with you but I have my duties. I left a gift on your bedside table that will let me partake, at least. It should be familiar to you though I have repurposed it a little.”
“That’s nice, thanks. I’ll come visit you again, sometime.”
“I look forward to it.”
Giratina lifts their wings and the darkness around me recedes. I find myself opening eyes that should be open and a sense of vertigo washes over me. Then, the three Lake Spirits connect their minds to me and push away the unpleasant feeling. I look around and find them floating in my room, just to the side of my bed. It’s a little before dawn judging by the already greying sky.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
I let out a long yawn and fall back onto my bed. Why was I sitting up, again? Doesn’t matter. I turn onto my side and cuddle the blanket all the way around my legs like a cocoon. I meet the eyes of the Lake Trio and smile.
“Good morning, guys.”
Mes chirps a greeting and twirls, Azelf waves, and Uxie nods.
“You are safe,” Uxie says “Good. I feared this connection would too much pressure on your soul at this time.”
“Thanks for worrying.”
“I did not worry. I feared. Had it not worked…”
“Doesn’t matter,” Azelf interrupts him “Zoe would’ve pushed through.”
Uxie looks at him for a moment before shaking his head.
“You are too impulsive, sometimes. We did not know.”
“I was sure she’s ready,” Mes grins and bops my head “Look how strong she stayed. Much more than you knew would happen. A little less than I felt might happen.”
Uxie sighs. It’s a really cute sound with his high-pitched voice.
“Right. Zoe. You know about the Reveal Glass. Giratina has borrowed it from the Abundant Shrine. It is a mirror they can use to see even from within your satchel.”
“That makes a lot of sense.”
I snake one arm out of my blanket-roll and grab the item from my bedside table. It’s a hand mirror with a silver frame that looks like swirling winds. Inlays in green, blue, and orange gems are set around the top half and the handle is made from a pink-red stone. When I look into it, I can see the red eyes of Giratina framed by darkness. The golden rim around their forehead shines a little but that’s the only detail I can make out. A smile comes to my face as they give me a nod.
“You guys staying for breakfast, or?” I turn to the Lake Trio.
They share a look. Mesprit definitely wants to stay but doesn’t want to speak up for some reason. The other two also look interested but hesitant.
“I’m sorry,” Uxie says “We have business. I will make sure to visit when I have some time to spare.”
“That’s fine,” I yawn again “Have fun.”
All three wave this time before popping away to do whatever they have planned. I stay cuddled in my blanket for a little more and only get up once I hear Mum and Dad rummaging in the hallway. The sun is already rising by that point but it barely touches the tips of the mountains west of Oreburgh.
I let out Lili and we enjoy a relaxed breakfast before Dad has to leave for another shift. They have to run overtime right before the season starts to get more ore for whatever trainers need on their Journeys. I check and find I still have half a ton of iron ore sitting in my satchel so I won’t have to look for more when I want to make more Poké Balls.
Rob crawls out of his room half an hour after Dad is out of the house, which is earlier than I expected from him. Geodude is out and levitating behind him. Lili joins the little floating rock and they take to the bathroom. Somehow she convinced him that taking a shower is good training for facing Water Types.
My little brother only barely pays attention as Mum and Nadya plan out the day. I leave them to it. The experience will be useful and I have everything they could forget with me. We finally set out at around eight in the morning after Mum packs and unpacks several bags. My friends are waiting for us at the North Gate. I greet Min, Mel, and Sara with a hug each and then we’re out of the city and onto the fields.
We take the time to find a more secluded spot where we won’t be interrupted by random trainers wanting to battle before setting up. It’s a decently large clearing close to the mountains and hidden from the normal paths by a bunch of trees with a small river cutting through one side of it. There are boulders and gravel all over and a bit of grass is peeking through in some places.
I let out Lili and Lulu to scout the immediate area while setting up a small campsite. I find a few flat rocks that will serve just fine as seats and build a fireplace but don’t put any wood in it, yet. We might not need it but it’s nice to be prepared. Gligar helps me by bringing over a few stones.
In the meantime, the others all release their Pokémon as well. Nadya is keeping to the shadows with Mum sticking close to her. Rob and his Geodude are there as well. Mel releases her Lumineon in the river where she happily splashes her fins. Sara lets out Buizel and Kricketot and has them help us with the campsite. Min’s Diglett freezes as soon as he spots me but her Ponyta is very friendly and curiously approaches me. I reach up to caress the side of her face and she leans into my touch. Her head reaches up to just a little below my neck which makes her taller than average.
“Hello, there. Nice to meet you. I’m Zoe.”
I glance over at Diglett. It’s been quite a while for me since I last saw him but I still remember those intense eyes and the cute button-nose.
“And hello, Veil. Long time no see.”
Min bends down to pat the little guy.
“See, I told you. We’re best friends again. No need to be angry.”
Her Diglett always had a competitive mindset. He got disillusioned by how difficult it was to really get through the first Gym and then got angry at me when I fought with Min. Or that’s what I thought. Now, I can tell he’s a little annoyed at how much Min has been pushing him but there’s a glint of happiness in his eyes.
“Diglett,” he greets me.
“Thank you. I’m glad to be back.”
Min comes over and gives her Ponyta a hug.
“Her name is Ember. She just likes the Move way too much.”
“So you like to keep your distance, then?”
The Pokémon nods.
“I see. Your species doesn’t get a lot of good Moves to hit from a distance. I don’t think you’ll be able to stick with that strategy all that well.”
She whinnies and pushes my chin with her nose. The heat from her fiery mane warms my skin and I laugh.
“You still have a lot of time to get used to the idea, don’t worry.”
A cracking noise interrupts us. Rob has Geodude move through the undergrowth and clean up some rocks. Looks like Mum wants some space to work with Nadya that’s protected from the sun. Mel and Sara are also getting ready with their Pokémon. Buizel and Lumineon are lazily swimming through the river while their trainers talk to each other and Kricketot is going through some basic endurance training.
“Looks like we get to start together,” I say “If you want.”
Min gives me a side hug.
“Gladly. Teach me, oh great Master!”
I laugh at Diglett’s expression. I whistle and Lili turns from her scouting and rushes to us. The wind when she stops billows Min’s hair making my friend complain. Mine is braided to stay in place and I just give her a grin.
“Now, then. Veil, Ember, this is Lili. I don’t have a nickname for Gligar yet but we’ll figure something out.”
He gives me a nod.
“Gligar is a new member of the team and will need to play catch-up. I’ll be working with him for most of today. For the two of you, I don’t know much about the Diglett line but I’m familiar with Ponyta. I’d suggest Lili and Ember work together on some basics while Min takes Veil and shows Gligar some things.”
The others all share a look. Only Lili is relaxed, slightly swaying back and forth. Ember whinnies at my Grass Dancer and gets a chirp in return. The Ponyta’s ears perk up and her flames burn a little brighter. I watch the two of them move away as Min looks between me and her newest team member.
“What?” I ask.
“You just let them work by themselves?”
“Of course. I can’t give everyone my full attention all the time. It’s better to spend short bursts of intensive training with just one of your Pokémon and then bring things together with the rest once you got the basics worked out.”
“Okay. I guess. You wanna go for a spar or something?”
“Gli…”
Gligar hides behind my legs.
“No,” I giggle “That’s a little early. I want Veil to help Gligar with his Ground Type Moves. And maybe Sandstorm if we have the time. It’s best to have multiple points of reference.”
“Right. So, Mud Slap? Bulldoze? We’ve been working on Dig but I don’t know if Gligar can even learn that.”
“Not naturally but it’s possible with a decent teacher. Sand Attack and Mud Slap are enough, for now. Earthquake would be the end goal in say… three months?”
Min gives me an incredulous look and I smirk. She shakes her head.
“You heard her, Veil. Let’s show them a Sand Attack.”
I pat Gligar’s head as he carefully peeks out from behind my legs. Veil is sliding through the ground to get some distance before blasting a little bit of Ground Type Energy into… well, the ground. Some of the gravel is thrown up but not enough to account for the cloud of dust suddenly bursting into the air. It’s nearly impossible to look through but most of the larger pieces fall quickly and let me spot the trees further back.
“That was great!” Min shouts and I have to smile.
“What do you think?” I ask Gligar.
He shakes his head with a mumble.
“Exactly. That is what the move does. It pushes a bunch of sand into the air. By hitting the ground, you get some larger pieces that inconvenience your opponent but they drop quickly and prevent some of the sand from forming. It’s still the best way to use the Move. Even if you could hide in a sand cloud for longer, a simple Gust and even something like an Ember can blast it away without issues. Sand Attack is a distraction. It buys time to use a different Move or reposition. And it works best when you aim for the eyes.”
My little scorpion thinks about it for a moment before nodding.
“Gli!”
“Okay,” I smile “Give it a try.”
He steps forward, Diglett giving him some space. Gligar pushes the Ground TE into his claws before hesitating. With a shout, he punches the ground just a little after letting the TE go. A cloud of sand blasts off… into the rocks. The Sand Attack bounces off a little but it doesn’t reach higher than a hand-span. He glances at me dejectedly but quickly turns back and channels more Ground TE.
I can’t help but smile. He really wants to make this work, huh?
The next Sand Attack has much better timing. He still lets it go a little early, just as his claw hits the gravel, but it blasts a screen of debris anyway.
“Great!” I say “Try a little later. You’ll get a wider screen if your claw is pointing up when you let go.”
“Gli!” he says and tries again. This time it’s a full success.
He turns and jumps at me in happiness. Before his feet leave the floor, Ground TE is in my hands. He has just spread his wings wide when I blast him with my own Sand Attack. This one without any rocks, since I didn’t punch the ground. Punching rocks hurts. It still manages to land on him and he cries out. I step out of the way of his flight path and carefully catch him from the side. He tries to rub the sand out of his eyes but my quick hug prevents him from moving.
“Gliii…!” he complains.
“And that’s why using Sand Attack with the ground is unnecessary,” I say “You just need to be quick at it.”
I look to the side and spot Min staring at me with a wide-open mouth. Her partner is much less awed but still obviously interested.
“Not that that applies to you, Veil. Diglett being always in the ground can use it quickly while adding rocks whenever they want. Gligar is a partial Flying Type, though.”
“You…,” Min tries, then her mouth flaps closed in a pout “Unfair!”
Her yell draws the attention of the others.
“You can use Moves!”
“I told you, didn’t I?”
“No, you didn’t!”
I blink.
“Right. I knew I forgot something.”
“You FORGOT?”
“Dig,” Veil nods.
“Yeah, sort of.”
Sara and Mel step up, their Pokémon with them.
“You can… use Moves?”, Sara asks “How?”
“Arceus.”
She glares at me.
“That’s not an excuse.”
“No, literally. I got a gift from them. Without that, it’d be nearly impossible.”
“Huh. Prove it.”
“That it’s impossible?” I grin.
“No, idiot!” Sara sighs “I wanna see a Move.”
“I know, I know. Anything in mind?”
“Umm… Something flashy. Maybe a Flamethrower?”
I nod and step forward. The Sand Attacks have mostly dispersed by now so I don’t have to worry about that. I make sure everyone is looking before holding out my hands, palms forward. I take a moment to channel some extra Fire TE into the Move before pushing them together. With a rushing sound, a series of sparks, and a blast of heat, a small burning orb pops up in front of my hands. I make sure to channel as much energy as I can into it before letting go.
The cone of flames is glorious. It always is. When I first learned how to use Type Energy, Fire was one of my favourites. No more having to rely on flint and steel to start a fire. Just blast a small Ember into the pit of tinder. Flamethrower, though? The cone of orange, yellow, and white warms you up. It burns hot enough to make the stones start to glow. And yet, because I’m using it, it doesn’t hurt. It’s rather pleasant, in fact. Like a sunny summer day of lazing in the sun. Combine that with the feeling of power when even the stronger Pokémon avoid the fire and you have something truly special. Something normal people can never feel.
In some ways, I can understand why Lili loves fighting so much. This feeling of strength, of power, of superiority. It’s truly intoxicating. If my Pokémon weren’t as strong as they are, I might have believed myself invincible.
The flames stop. I burned through my reserves and the Move would fizzle to a much weaker version. Something a Quilava might produce when they’re just starting to learn the Move.
I turn around, arms spread and a smile on my face. I somehow manage to suppress the shaking of my hands.
“How was that?”
“Awesome!” Rob calls from the trees. Mum is smiling wryly next to him while Geodude is pumping his fist.
“In. Fucking. Sane,” Sara says “That’s a pretty strong Flamethrower. I’d expect something like that from a Charizard, maybe. Not from…” she hesitates “You know?”
I put my hands on my hips.
“I know.”
“So, what’s your Typing?” Mel asks.
“Yes.”
She looks confused and I give her a wink.
“I can pick and choose which Type Energy I channel. That determines my Typing and the Type of Moves I can use. When I use it up, I lose the Typing.”
“Does that mean you can have all Typings at the same time?” Sara asks.
“No. I just recently figured out how to use two at once. But it’s pretty easy to just blast out a Move and charge a new Typing.”
“What happens when you don’t channel anything?”
“I don’t have a Typing. Just like normal people,” I shrug “I still have neutral Aura so I’m pretty sturdy, even for a high-level Trainer.”
Min finally manages to close her mouth. She rushes at me and jumps into my arms with a laugh.
“That was so cool!” she shouts “SoCoolSoCoolSoCooool!!”
I snuggle into her. Something in my heart untwists. I feel… relieved. My friends didn’t freak out, at least. Now hoping that the rest of the world isn’t going to be much worse.