After news of the raid on Greenfield broke, Agate Township had gone as silent as the night. The already depressing streets had sunk even lower in the aftermath. No Pokemon would speak louder than a whisper, not in the streets or markets, not in anyone’s homes or in the workplaces. If you heard anyone, they were either Soldiers chatting among themselves or rowdy patrons at a café.

Gareda was out in the streets the day after the raid had happened. Not just to see how much goodwill the raid had undoubtedly burned up, but the sentimental value as well. It wasn’t more than a few years ago that she had led the Crest’s forces in a battle nearby.

‘Never recalled seeing burrows in the middle of the city here. Yet they’re popping up around every other corner now. How does one even begin to counter this crap...’

Her disappointment grew with each street she stomped her way through. Not the dismal state of the city, but the lack of will in the local Pokemon was what truly hit her. Biped, quadruped, winged or grounded, all kept their heads down and moved along, most passing around Gareda with a wide arc. The Garchomp shook her head.

‘Of course I’d get assigned to a bunch of actual cave dwellers. Groundling? Oh Gareda, you must be able to handle dirty imbeciles alright…‘

She went on for some time, grunting and scowling at everything from store to stalls and all the mess in between, with a handful of exceptions. Some buildings had special hatches for winged Pokemon to enter, others had multiple entrances of varying sizes. On the northern end of town, there was a dull droning noise coming from a building whose windows were blacked out. A few Combee were out keeping the front clean, one buzzing around telling the passersby that fresh honey was for sale. She smiled a little at that. It wasn’t a sight you’d find in the mountains she came from.

In that sense, she was fortunate her exploration came to an end shortly thereafter: while tugging on her green scarf, a few Soldiers came running, one a Zangoose, the other a Seviper.

“My lord, the prisoners are ready. You may speak with them now.”

Gareda narrowed her eyes towards the two. They were awfully close together for mere guards. “How nice of you to inform the public as well,” she sneered.

The Seviper lowered her head. “Sorry, milord, we were looking all over but couldn’t find you. The supervisor told us this was urgent, so we-”

“Yes, yes,” Gareda said, gesturing with her talons at both of them to settle down. “Iron headed bastard asked you to. I’ll get to it alright, I’ve told him to say that myself.” ‘Not that there was any choice. I’d tell him and his kids to shove it otherwise. Are they even his kids? Cheerleading brigade is more accurate.’’

“Alright milord,” the Seviper said with a bow.

Gareda scratched the side of her neck with a talon. “Before I waste my time asking pointless questions, has any information been gotten out of the prisoners?”

The Zangoose cleared his throat. “Oh yes, most certainly,” he said. His voice had an oddly high pitch to it. “Most of it, I’m pretty sure. I went and attended some of the interrogation a little while earlier, it wasn’t pretty by any means!”

“No interrogation ever is. Good luck prying any useful information out of a prisoner with kindness, it doesn’t work that way,” Gareda replied. “Hence why only a few can do the job properly.”

“Oh yes, I uh, I understand you, my lord.” The Zangoose made a halfhearted bow, as iftrying to apologise. Gareda found it silly. Had he done anything wrong besides simple slips of the tongue? No, yet here he was bowing anyway, his scarf wavering in the wind just like Gareda’s.

Gareda cleared her throat. “Well then, I’ll go and have a look for myself if the info they’ve gotten out of those fools is good enough. Arceus knows we’ve been on a wild Quaxly chase for so damn long, we’re bound to start getting results sometime,” she said, then licked her lips. ‘ In my dreams, maybe.’

The chance they’d uncover anything that wasn’t already known was smaller than a Joltik. Nothing new on the flute pieces, nothing new on that freckled little otter and his aura. The only ones who had any new information on either of those had eluded capture, after all.

“Okay then, milord. Do you have anything you wish of us?” the Seviper asked, her tail fidgeting with the band wrapped around her at the halfway point of her lengthy body. The Zangoose next to her was fidgeting with his claws in a nervous manner. Gareda’s sensors were picking up on a few emotions that weren’t visible. Emotions that both Soldiers preferred behind lock and key, by the look of it. She scoffed.

“Nothing in particular, no. You two lovebirds keep the streets safe, yes?”

The Seviper reeled back in shock. “E-eh?”

“H-hey!” the Zangoose blurted out, all the air leaving his lungs as if he’d been punched in the chest by a Dragonite. His cheeks became puffy out of embarrassment.

“Just joking,” Gareda said with a grin slathered all over her snout. ‘I love messing with people.’

At the Crest’s headquarters, Gareda scowled at the stairs leading to the prisons for a moment, before groaning. She had a few things to sort out before visiting the prisoners herself. She turned tail to a door, threw it open with a smack, and headed down a crooked and narrow hallway, eventually coming face to face with a door that went up to her neck, no further. She bared her teeth, sucking in a breath through them. The air here reeked too much of iron to breathe through the nose.

‘Here goes nothing…’

A few knocks with her talon later, a voice came from the other end of the door. “Yes, what’s the ruckus this time?”

“It’s about the interrogation, Steelbrains . Let me in,” Gareda growled. A metallic sigh echoed from the other end of the door.

“Of course you would. Come on in, then.”

Gareda brought her talon down on the handle and forced the door open. Unfortunately for her, the room on the other side wasn’t much taller than the door. Even after ducking past the frame, she couldn’t stand up straight. Her head was firmly pressed against the ceiling, the tip of her back fin suffering the same, much to the amusement of the Bisharp sitting by a low table at the other end of the room.

“Having a good time over there?”

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The metallic voice’s jovial tone were like nails on a chalkboard. “Don’t push me, jackarse,” Gareda snarled at the Bisharp. In response, he leaned forwards, placing his claws over the empty table, a serene look in his eyes as he tilted the tomahawk in his head forwards.

“It’s quite something to barge into someone’s meditation and bark orders at them. Not very ladylike behaviour, I must say.”

Gareda’s scowl deepened. She hacked up all the saliva in her mouth and spat it out beside her. “I’m a lady. So yes, it is ladylike. And yes, you will follow orders. Or I will make you follow them, Sword.”

“Of course,” the Bisharp answered, seemingly unimpressed. “You have the upper hand on me in more ways than one. A leader of the Crest’s armies, picked by the Queen herself. And since I’m of metal, my chances against you are slim, regardless of my skills.” He drummed his claws on the table, his eyes directing Gareda to the cushion on her side of the table.

“This better be worth it,” the Garchomp growled as she lowered herself onto the cushion. The low profile of the table provided little room for her legs. The spikes on her knees forced her to lay both of them at an awkward angle. She hadn’t sat down for more than a few seconds, and her legs already felt cramped.

‘ This better be over soon. ’

Sword turned his head ninety degrees away from Gareda, towards a wall bearing a racket with several blades. Each weapon appeared to resemble the edges of a Bisharp’s chest. Gareda’s attention followed Sword’s. Her scowl relaxed into a glare.

‘What an arrogant little bastard. Fashioning weapons after yourself… They call me arrogant, yet I don’t lug a scythe shaped like my own fins around, do I? Bastards.’

“Well now. Doubting that I would have anything good to say, are we?” Sword asked.

“Wouldn’t be the first time, would it?” Gareda replied.

“Hmph,” Sword hacked out. The metal scent in the room became rusty. “We may have met four years earlier, yet you hardly know much of me. There is a reason why I still occupy the same position today.”

“Yes, because the Crest’s administration is full of fools. You were of little use when the Alliance was running amok. The only reason you still have your job is because of my wits,” Gareda growled. ”I had to gather my own intelligence that day. Pretend otherwise all you like. Nothing changes that.”

Sword scoffed back. “So we’re here just to tout our own virtues, are we, Gareda?”

“That’s Lord Gareda to you,” the Garchomp snarled back, her talon tapping on the table. ‘ He made this room small just to screw with me, I swear. ’

“Thought so.”

Sword leaned forward. Gareda sensed a burst of anger inside of him. “Just because I do not needlessly torture my inmates does not make me incompotent, you skinheaded dragon. Your little rage outbursts make this job ten times harder than it ought to be. Do you know how little those thieves talked after you beat their leader into a coma? Now you have the gall to criticise my methods.”

Gareda glared back at him. “Worked four years ago, works now. End of story.”

“Oh yes, if you say so.” Sword rolled his eyes. “Fortunately, me and my children have much better tactics. I can tell you all you wanted to hear about the prisoners brought in yesterday already.”

Gareda crossed her fins. “Go on, then.” ‘ And quickly. ’

Sword stood up, and paced around the room towards the blades on the wall. “Your Raichu is an Alliance member. He claimed he only used to be at first, but he still keeps in touch. Still receives orders, in fact. His most recent job was to keep watch over an Oshawott that had arrived in the village.”

‘ The boy… ’ Gareda growled. “What did he know about that Oshawott?”

“Not much,” Sword said, grabbing one of the swords off the wall to study its sharpness. “We asked him a few times, but he truly knew little. The Alliance kept its orders intentionally vague, as per usual.”

“And you believe this?” Gareda slammed her arms on the table. Sword pointed the blade at her neck..

“Why yes, I do. After years of practising this profession, I have a good feel for liars, much like a finely honed blade,” the Bisharp said, pumping one of his sharp arms. “All the little cues and tics of a liar will not escape the cold touch of my steel. This Raichu had none of those cues. He is spotless.”

“Pfft,” Gareda hissed, scratching her neck with both talons. ‘This godsforsaken room is the bane of my life, I swear…’

“So yes, we have no need to interrogate him anymore. You may send him off to Luminity when we’re done here,” Sword said with a narrowed gaze. “And take your talons off my table.”

“Fine,” Gareda said. “No need to get cranky over a damn table.”

“A damn table? You think this is just ‘a damn table’?” Sword raised his voice, throwing the blade aside. He approached the Garchomp and leaned over her, until the axe atop his head was a Caterpie’s length removed from the star on her hide. Gareda scowled up; she wasn’t amused. Sword was, though. A buzz in her sensors made it.

“This table was specially crafted for me, by none other than Agate’s Granbulls. The Granbulls! Have you any clue how dedicated they are to their craft?! Do you not see those fine grooves, those marvellous shapes and patterns carved by their claws? I paid a pretty penny out of my own pocket for that, missy! And you have the gall to-”

“...call others cranky?”

Sword’s bravado washed off him like rain. “...yes.”

“Of course,” Gareda said with a grin. ‘Self absorbed little twit. I always love takin’ em down a peg or two. They need it. ’

“Are we done here?” Sword tapped the desk with his hand. With how sharp said hand was, Gareda found his earlier outburst all the more amusing.

“Not until you tell me about the parents, of course.” The smile on the Garchomp’s face disappeared in the blink of an eye. “They kept that Oshawott in their home. What do they know that we do not?”

“...something,” Sword growled out. Gareda waited a few seconds for a follow up. It didn’t come.

“...something what?”

“We don’t know yet.” His voice scraped like a key being run across a metal bar.

‘And here I was thinking you’d bring in the results.’ Gareda crossed her fins. “Well? What do you know?”

Sword sighed. “Look, all we know is that he is not their kid. Their son, a Charmander, found that Oshawott one day and just brought him in like that. He was looking for a friend, they say. Since he had no place else to go, they took him in.”

Gareda’s eyes narrowed as she breathed in a lungful of iron-smelling air. She flinched a little, her mouth remaining closed. The last thing she needed was an even stronger taste of metal on her tongue.

“Then this Charmander is also of importance. None of us ever saw one without the other, either. They have strong ties to one another. I even heard the boy evolved just to protect his friend.” She clicked her tongue. “Admirable in every other circumstance. A pain in the arse now.”

Sword nodded. “We are asking questions about this matter as well. There’s still more info to be gotten out of the parents. We will find out soon enough.”

“Sure we will,” Gareda scoffed. The Bisharp cleared his throat.

“Now then. That is all I have to say. Leave me be.”

Gareda scoffed harder. “If you insist.”

Sword sneered back at her. “I’m serious, Gareda. You interrupted my meditation. Get out.”

“Pfft. Is it really that important?” Gareda said back with a toothy grin, as she lifted her tail off the ground.

“Yes! Get out already!” Sword shouted.

“Easy now,” Gareda said with raised talons. “I’m making my way out as we speak. Patience.” ‘And if you wanted me out faster, maybe get a bigger room to meditate in. And a proper table. Idiot.’

She threw the door behind her without a second glance. It was time to get her feet dirty.

* * *

Water splashed in all directions as her clawed feet stomped through. Gareda glanced at them for a moment. Not the best decision to make right after entering a prison cell, but it mattered little.

‘Looks like someone’s pumped the water out, at least. What a start. It still reeks of mud and mushrooms in here though, but credit where credit is due… or something.’

Inside the cell, a Raichu sat on a raised platform, his paws chained and cheeks covered with a rubber pad. He glanced up, teeth gritted and struggling to breathe. He bristled his fur.

“You, not you… Why are you here…?”

Gareda smiled. “Not for the reasons you may think.”

“Then what…? What did you do to my son?” the Raichu reeled forward and coughed, sputtering drops of saliva into the water. Gareda’s sensors picked up a flare of genuine dread when it happened. The flattened ears and heavy breathing cemented those suspicions. Already she had him right where she wanted.

“Nothing bad, I promise. He’s been taken care of like any child would.”

“Please, please tell me that’s not a lie…” the Raichu asked.

“You know, I’m impressed,” Gareda said with lowered fins, her tail swaying from side to side in a carefree manner. “No one’s ever spilled their guts out as fast as you have. Supposedly.”

“I’ve told you the truth already, I swear! I don’t know anything more than what I’ve been ordered, you’ve got to believe me!”

The Garchomp raised her head. “Oh, I’m willing to, alright. Would be a shame if it wasn’t the case.”

She noticed a brown spray over the wall. Though she was tempted to point it out, she held back. The cold in the cell would do instead. For now.

“But you’ve already admitted a lot. Active Alliance member, got orders to aid that Oshawott…”

“What do you mean, that Oshawott… he’s just an Oshawott, okay? I don’t know why I got those orders, and why that Oshawott in particular, alright? It made little sense to me as well, I was just doing what they told me to” the Raichu muttered. It sounded as if he was choking on his own tongue as he tried to speak.

“Clearly he’s no ordinary Oshawott,” Gareda said. “Why else would the Alliance order an entire village to protect him? Why is it that we can’t find him now, when we’ve searched every last nook and cranny? You can’t hide it from me, little rodent., I already have my suspicions on who that boy is.” Her pupils narrowed. ’ Or more accurately, what that boy is. ’

The prisoner slumped down as if on the verge of passing out. “Then, then why did you come here… just, to taunt me isn’t it? You’ve put me through the distortion and back, alright? You already did four years ago, Gareda Steelheart, I just want to take care of my kid now, nothing more.”

‘ Shouldn’t have joined the Alliance then. ’ Gareda bared her teeth in a grin. “Tying up some loose ends, that’s all. I’m about done here. You really have nothing more to offer to me. Do you know what that means?”

She waited for an answer that would never come; the Raichu shivered where he sat, reeking of fear and something foul. ‘He’s not going to sing about that, alright. That’s for the better. If a word of this gets out… I may just have lost my chance.’

“No guesses? Fine by me. You’re going to Luminity, kid and all. I’m not a feral who has no qualms about tearing children from their parents. Whatever happens to you there is none of my concern. Either you’ll be shoved into a hole in the ground, or put to work in the power plant. Which one? I don’t know. You’ll find out soon enough.”

“J-junior…”

“That his name?” Gareda asked.the Raichu nodded. “He’s bright for his age, you know. You’ve raised him well.”

Gareda turned tail and left the Raichu in his own mess. She lumbered through the waterlogged halls of the prison, her mind racing over one dilemma.

‘I need to find that Oshawott. And fast.. .’