Gallia, a Kirlia, was a mere ten years old. Her younger sister, Kira—also a Ralts—traveled wherever her sister went. She was four. They played together in a small Pokémon settlement called Placid. It was carved from the side of a mountain; each house being made from hollowed rock and stone. They were nicely located in the Johto region. The town barely had any strangers or travelers come by except for a Delfox that became good friends with the two girls. She owned the convenience store there. Not many looked at her too kindly, but her prices were always fair. Being that the world was in a huge war because of Kalos's power hungry government not many Kalosians were trusted. But all in all, she was happy with her mother, a Gardevoir, her father, A Gallade, and her younger sister.

The two girls were playing with the neighboring children. Though, Galia didn't like one of them as much because of the rumors he always spread, she still played. She was the oldest and had responsibility of the group.

"So did you hear about the new stranger in town?" Asked the trouble making and walking liar.

"You mean Miss Fi?" Kira asked.

Miss Fi was the Delfox.

"No no, I mean the new new one. You know the weird one that walks on two legs. He came by this morning and went out then came back again. My daddy says he's not to be talked to. I heard he was a killer."

Gallia rolled her eyes and scolded, "That's enough of your lies for one day, Rix."

Rix was a Zorua with a very naughty nature.

"No I mean it. He goes out and comes back with some spoils from a kill. He lives in the old rundown shack down over there."

Rix pointed at the direction it was.

"And here he comes now," He pointed again.

The stranger he spoke of was walking on two legs alright. He had blue and black fur and a long, canine snout. He was very serious having a big bag on his back and a walking stick in his left paw. They hid and watched him enter the village. His steps were silent. The only sound coming from him was the sound of tools in his bag or his stick dragging along the ground. He cared a knife or two and machete on his bag. It had a sleeping mat on the top.

"See what I mean? He looks nasty. I betcha he's got a body in that bag. It sure does stink, whatever it is."

"Were hiding in trash, Rix," said another child.

"Well, still. I plan on sneaking by his shack and seeing what he does in there. Once he goes in, he doesn't come out until the next day."

Galia stared at him. He was so sophisticated, on task. Who was he? Then a voice sounded behind them.

"Kids?"

They squealed and turned around.

"What are you doing?" Asked Gallia's father.

"Papa, um… we're…"

"…Playing hid 'n seek," Rix lied.

"Playing hid and seek?" Gallia's father asked, "I thought you were playing tag. Are you sure you're…? Are you spying again?"

"No, sir," Rix lied again, "We're playing hid 'n seek. Like I said."

"Rixen, I know how many there are of you. And In hid and seek you don't hid in one place. Especially with the one whose it. In any case, I already heard everything you said. I wanted to know if you were going to tell the truth. Stop pestering him, and Rix, no more rumors, alright?"

"Yes, sir," He replied.

"Alright. Now then, Gallia, Kira, come home, dinner's almost ready."

"Yes, sir," They replied.

They followed their father to their house.

"Pa, who is the new stranger?" Gallia asked.

"I don't know, Hun. I've only just noticed him myself. Miss Fi may know though. He works for her part of the time, runs a few errands around town, and then walks out only to come back. I'm not sure what he does. I've never talked to him. He's not much of a talker either. Remember, I don't want any of you pestering him. You can greet him or talk if he's willing, but you will not pester him. Understand? The both of you will not harass him."

"Yes, sir," They replied.

"So what is mommy cooking?" Asked the hungry Ralts.

"Oh, some Pinap berry soup, I believe. We had a big supply so she decided to cook a good majority."

"Yay! We haven't had that in months," Cheered Gallia.

"I know, I'm excited too. Come on, I'll race you," Her father challenged.

"Oh, no you won't. You can't beat me," Gallia giggled.

She took off in front of both her sister and father. They tried to tail her but she was much too fast. She touched the door and stood there in wait.

"Aw, beaten again. Alright you two can have another piece of Nanab berry cake," He smiled.

They cheered and followed their father inside.

"Were home, love," Said Gallia's father.

"Welcome home, Greg. Welcome home, girls," She smiled.

"Mama, I'm going to go take care of the Rapidashes. I'll be back soon," Galia hugged.

"Ooh, carful, honey. My belly is sensitive right now," She smiled.

"Why is it so big?" Kira asked.

"Well, it's holding your younger sibling. Soon you won't be the youngest anymore, Kira."

"Really? I'll be as big as big sis?" She asked.

"That's right, but you have to wait. It takes a long time. Gallia, while you're out there can you also go to Miss Fi's and get a Sitrus berry? We're all out and I forgot that it needed at least one."

"Sure, mama. I'll be back!" She called.

Gallia went around the house to the stables and greeted the two Rapidashes, "Hello, Dash. Hi, Blaze!"

They greeted her back and submit to her petting.

"You guys look thirsty," She smiled.

She took a bucket and filled it with some water and poured it in their pail. They began to drink away happily. She reached up to get a bale of hay, but she forgot she needed papa's help.

"No, I think I can get it," She tried to convince herself.

Gallia reached up again but could barely touch it. She resorted to climbing up some of it and getting it down that way; It was her worst mistake yet. She fell backwards and the hay was about to land on her. She braced for impact but never felt it come down. When she looked up she saw her father holding the bale and looking down on her.

"Honey, I told you that you needed to wait for me for this kind of work. I'll finish this. Go and get the berry."

Gallia nodded and left taking a deep breath. Dashing through the village she would greet a neighbor or two before continuing. When she got there she found the surprise of her life. The stranger was there. He was sweeping the deck of Miss Fi's store. Did they know each other? She carefully approached to not alert him. When she was close enough she rushed in. Once she was within the building she took a breath.

"Hello, honey," Miss Fi greeted.

"Hello, Miss Fi," Gallia greeted, "I need a sitrus berry, please."

"Of course, darling, one second," She smiled.

Gallia looked over at the stranger. He was almost directly behind her.

"Oh, hello," Miss Fi smiled, "Could you do some tidying around the herbs? The children left a mess after accidently tipping over a big mushroom."

He nodded and went to work without an affirmation. Miss Fi smiled again and went back to talking to Gallia.

"You look like you're on the edge, dear. There's nothing to be afraid of. He's as quiet as wind and as nice as I am," She assured.

Gallia turned around and asked, "Why won't he say something? Didn't he learn how to talk?"

Miss Fi giggled, "Oh, he talks. He's just a wilderness roamer and doesn't like to speak too much."

Gallia looked back at the unfamiliar Pokémon with a broom.

"A wilderness roamer?"

"Yes, quiet and harmless hermits who live out of civilization," She explained.

"What is he?" She asked.

Miss Fi chucked, "Why don't you go ask him?"

"I thought he didn't talk," Gallia stared, "I don't think I would want to if he did though. He's scary."

"Oh, he won't hurt you," Miss Fi remarked.

"Can I have the sitrus berry?" Gallia asked.

"Oh, alright, dear, here you are," she replied.

"Thank you, bye!"

"Good bye, dear," She waived.

Gallia ran off happily but something stopped her. She ran right into him. He grunted and regained footing, not allowing her to fall. She froze; her stomach in sudden need for an oran berry. She swallowed and curtsied.

"I'm sorry, excuse me, please."

He moved to the side still as serious as a rock. She picked up running again and ran into someone else. This time she was going to regret it.

"What's the matter with you?" Shouted a mean voice, "You watch where you're going you lousy brat!"

Her arm was grabbed by the meanest Pokémon alive. Cypher, a syther that had the worst attitude and foulest mouth.

"Someone ought to teach you a lesson!" He raised a claw up.

"Cypher! You touch that girl I'll burn you alive!" Miss Fi threatened.

He didn't listen and brought the claw down. A black paw grabbed it, twisted the grip, and pulled him off of her. The stranger pushed the syther back into a shelf that rattled. They had a stare down. The stranger eventually won.

"Harrumph! Not even worth the time. Outa my way, I have stuff to pick up," He demanded the stranger.

He didn't make a sound but moved out of his way. Gallia was still hiding behind another shelf.

"Thank you," She said again.

This time, he returned a bow. She skipped off again with great relief.

"Mama! I'm home," She yelled.

"There you are, dear. I was wondering what you were doing," She smiled.

"Mr. Cypher got angry at me, but Miss Fi and the Stranger saved me."

Her father looked up and put down his paper, "What? What happened? What was he doing?"

Gallia turned to her father and replied, "I ran into him. It was my fault; I was running inside like you told me not to."

"Honey, that man has no care for children like you. You need to watch where he is. If he shows up you stay away. If the law didn't go around I would teach that man a lesson or two."

"Greg, he's a war veteran. He's bound to have a temper. Even if you could you need to not cause him harm. He's just angry."

"Yeah, and he's not going to take it out on my children!" He growled.

"Honey, it' going to be okay. Felicia and some of the other neighbors already keep an eye out for the children. They won't let him do anything to them."

Gallia's father only sighed. Kira entered from her room.

"Daddy, what's wrong?" She asked.

"It's nothing, hon. Gallia, take your sister and wash up for dinner," Her father ordered.

"Yes, papa," Gallia replied, "Come on, Kira."

Kira followed her elder sister outside to the water pump. Gallia took a water bucket and started to pump the spigot.

"Galy, are you okay?" Kira asked.

"I'm fine," She replied, "Just a bit sick."

Kira put a hand to Gallia's forehead.

"You don't feel sick," She said puzzled.

"Not that kind of sick. I just don't feel good. My stomach feels weird is all," She explained.

"Then why don't you tell mommy?" She asked.

"I did. It's going to be fine," She answered.

The bucket was filled and Gallia dipped her hands in. She splashed water on her face and up her arm. Kira did the same after her sister was done.

"Okay, let's go eat," Gallia led.

Kira followed her. Dinner was mostly quiet for her. She was trying to wrap her head around Cypher's mean personality.

"Gallia," Said a voice.

"Huh?"

"Your food is getting cold and you haven't told us about your day," Said her mother.

"Sorry, I don't feel hungry," She apologized, "I think I'll go to bed early."

"But what about dessert?" Her father asked.

"I don't want any. Kira can have mine. Good night."

She walked over to her room and lied down on her bed. A couple of minutes passed and her mother came.

"Gallia? Is there something on your mind?"

She didn't answer, hoping that if she were to pretend to be asleep then her mother would leave.

"Gallia?"

Gallia took a deep breath and turned to her mother.

"Now do you want to tell me what's going on?" She asked.

Gallia didn't answer.

"Is it Cypher?" She asked.

Gallia nodded.

"He's just an angry old man. Don't let him get to you," Her mother grinned for comfort.

"He almost hurt me," Gallia suddenly cried.

"Oh, you poor thing," She sighed.

Gallia sat up to lay with her mother.

"Tell me everything."

"Well, I was getting a sitrus berry like you asked and the stranger was there so I stayed a little too long because Miss Fi knew I was scared. She said he wouldn't hurt me and when I got the berry I ran into him. He didn't do anything but I apologized. He moved and then I ran into Mr. Cypher. He got angry and yelled so loud it hurt my ears. Then he tried to hit me."

"What stopped him?" Her mother asked, caressing the poor Kirlia.

"The stranger. He stopped Mr. Cypher from hitting me and pushed him away."

"That was brave of him. No one in this village except Miss Fi can stand up to him. And, of course, your father," She added humorously.

Gallia giggled.

"You know what I think? I think this stranger is not what he seems to most. I hardly can see him as a killer."

Gallia seemed puzzled. They never told her about that.

"Kira told me," She explained, "And I have to say it: that Rixon has some imagination."

Gallia giggled again.

"Now you go to sleep. You have a another day ahead of you. Good night."

"Good night," Gallia replied.

The next day was a little different. She and her friends had made it a part of their custom to watch the stranger come in from the early morning. Gallia was the only one to sit at the entrance of town. The others watched her as she greet him. He didn't say anything but he nodded at her.

"What is wrong with you?" Rixon asked, "He could skin you alive!"

"I don't think so," Gallia shook her head, "I think he's a very nice Pokémon."

Rixon sighed and said, "I think you're taking a lot of risk. If he pulls something on you then there nothing we can do to help."

Gallia sighed, "Rixon, he's not gonna harm anyone. You'll see. Besides, he's a lot nicer than Mr. Cypher."

"Maybe so but that's in the outside. In the inside he's probably more rotten than a moldy oran berry."

Gallia rolled her eyes and asked, "So what are we going to play?"

Rixon's attitude changed but he shrugged, "I don't know. There's bound to be something fun to do."

Kira stepped up and asked, "Can we see what the stranger is doing? He looks suspicious."

Rixon looked over and said, "That sounds like a good idea. Everyone agree?"

Some who were daring said yes but the carful ones shook their heads.

"Rixon, he's just a quiet Pokémon that means no harm. Shouldn't we stay out of his business? Besides, you heard what my papa said. Don't pester him. And you are younger and my responsibility."

Rixon gave "her the rake" and replied, "Then don't come with. If you aren't with us then you won't be in trouble. Everyone else, let's go."

He took off and everyone followed. Even Kira.

"No, Kira… Oh."

She ran behind them and hid with them. She wasn't sure what she said was true about the stranger so she kept quiet.

"Yeah, I thought you would come," Rixon smiled.

Gallia was about to protest but he ran and everyone followed. The stranger so far was just walking strait back and carried tirelessly the bag he wore on his back. He would occasionally take of his brown hat and kick his stick. He had a traveler's hat with only two holes on the top for his ears. He wore a belt with a metal canister and a knife this time too. This made Gallia question if Rixon was actually half right.

"That's a lot of gear," Said one of the children.

"Yeah, what do you think he does with all of it, Nini?" Asked a child.

She shook her head, "Beats me. Rixon?"

"My pap says it's just traveler stuff. The knife occasionally is used for killing, which proves my point. Some of that stuff is just for surviving out in the wild."

Kira looked at the machete, "And that?"

"Oh that's just for cutting branches," he replied, "And for a good fight."

"It all leads down to battling for you, doesn't it?" Gallia asked.

"Shh, come on."

They moved again and followed him to the old boat house they talked about.

"See, that's where he lives," Rixon pointed.

"Rix, we should go now, I'm scared," Nini shivered.

"There's nothing to be afraid of. After all, he is 'harmless'," Rixon said as he turned to Gallia.

For once she was regretting defending anyone.

"Come on."

"Oh, no you don't. You will stay right here," Said Gallia.

"Oh yeah?" Rixon challenged.

"Yes, you are causing us a lot of risk. If we're doing this then we need to get information on him. For instance: I've seen him work at Miss Fi's."

"He works at Miss Fi's?" Rixon asked.

"Uh huh, and he...," She paused, "He also protected me from Mr. Cypher."

Rixon licked his lips. He was working something out in his head.

"Okay, new plan. We're going to talk to Miss Fi about him. Let's do what Gallia said and then we'll come here."

"What? Listen, this is going to take time. We can't just come back immediately. Besides, if she sees us all asking about him she'll suspect something."

Rixon hummed and agreed, "Your right. We'll leave it to you then. You already know so much. Agreed?"

Everyone agreed…even Kira.

"What?!"

"Alright, Gallia, good luck. And make sure you get solid information, got it? We need all we can get about him."

"But…"

"You can do it, Gallia. You were always good at it anyway," Nini encouraged.

"But I…"

"Come on, Gallia."

"You too, Milly?"

"Alright, then it's decided. Gallia, good luck," Rixon finalized.

Gallia was left speechless and without a say. What had she gotten herself into?