Again, Eileen had too much on her mind to be able to fall asleep with ease. First, she thought about the Gummis Dion had convinced her to try. When she thought about it, it didn't seem too strange that they were made from Pokémon. Most gummy candy, she recalled, contained gelatin, which was made from animal bones and other parts. Slurpuff's Gummis hadn't been made in quite the same way, but what did Dion think he was eating?
Cleo was right after all, Eileen realized. I am a cannibal, I guess. It shouldn't have surprised her, but finding out that Pokémon frowned upon eating meat disappointed her. She couldn't spend the rest of her life eating nothing but fruit and whatever concoctions Chef Muk cooked up! Her mouth watered at the thought of a medium rare Miltank steak or a roast Farfetch'd. She scolded herself. Knock it off, Eileen. In this world, that's disgusting—like, eating a baby disgusting.
That led her to muse about Slurpuff's crime and Toxicroak's possible link to the act. The world of Pokémon wasn't very advanced when it came to technology, so dealing with criminals had to be a nightmare. They had no proper way of collecting evidence and relied on the word of the witnesses alone. What if Dion had lied and killed Slurpuff for no reason? What if Toxicroak did supply Slurpuff with the Itemizer Orbs? Headmaster Arcanine had let both of them walk free and didn't appear to be in any rush to finish the investigation. It disturbed her how flawed the system was, but she was at least grateful that Pokémon were less likely to be punished for crimes they did not commit.
When Arcanine came into her and Dion's room that morning, bellowing for them to get up, Eileen first thought it was all in her head. Though the sound seemed to be coming from the middle of the room, no one was there.
"C'mon, lass, on your feet! Don't be thinking I can't see you just 'cause you can't see me."
Oh, right. The Invisify Orb. The headmaster's indiscernible form made her nervous. Arcanine was already unpredictable, but at least his massive size and fiery pelt gave him away. The Scyther didn't like the idea of not being able to see one of his attacks coming. She would have to be careful, even though she didn't know what exactly triggered his aggression. That gave her all the more reason to take caution.
Dion was already out of bed. "Don't forget about our training session, Headmaster."
"'Course I haven't forgotten, my boy! I'm old, but I'm still as sharp as a Honedge."
A Honedge's hilt, I suppose, Eileen retorted in her head, but even that's a stretch. She dropped down from her bunk with less hesitation, but still stumbled upon landing.
"Team Masquerade's already out in the courtyard. We wouldn't want to make them wait," said Arcanine.
"I've never been to the courtyard before. Neither has Eileen, of course." Dion sounded excited, but there was a hint of reluctance in his tone. He probably didn't like being reminded of how they were going to be working with Team Masquerade.
"You'll become very accustomed to it soon. It's where all training sessions take place," the headmaster told him. "We can talk more about it when we get there."
When the three of them left the room, they were greeted by the sight of Chef Muk hauling her slimy body up the stairs. She stopped. "Have either of you seen the headmaster?" Her voice was shaking.
Dion spoke up. "Yeah, he's—"
"What is it, Chef Muk?" Arcanine interrupted.
Chef Muk blinked, her mouth hanging open. "Arcanine? Where are you?"
The old Pokémon let out a laugh. "I'm right in front of you, my dear! I had a little accident with an Invisify Orb, but I should be back to normal soon."
"Oh, what a relief. I couldn't find you anywhere. I was really worried, considering what's going on in town."
"Say what?"
Chef Muk cleared her throat. "When I left my house, Origin Plaza was deserted. All of the shops were closed and no one was out on the streets. I decided to pay Aromatisse a visit to see if he knew what was going on, and he wouldn't have let me in if it weren't for the fact that I'm likely immune thanks to my typing. Apparently Origin Plaza's been struck by a highly contagious disease. Everyone's trying to avoid contact with other Pokémon, but it's not working. Pokémon are still falling ill left and right. I figured I might as well warn you, since it won't be long before it spreads to the academy."
"A disease is nothing we hunters can't handle! I've been sick plenty of times. I eat your cooking, after all."
The cook was more offended by his lack of seriousness than the jab itself. "Headmaster Arcanine, this is not something to joke about. It's too early to know how severe of an illness it is, but it doesn't look good. It could be an epidemic."
Arcanine still showed little concern. "Well, what do you want me to do about it? My hunters fight outlaws, not disease."
"Perhaps you could send some students out to tend to the ill… deliver food and supplies or something. I know they haven't been trained for this kind of thing, but there has to be something they can do. They're supposed to be there to protect Origin Plaza, you know."
The headmaster humored her. "Fine, then. I'll leave you in charge of rounding up the senior students and organizing a party. I've got a training session to supervise."
Chef Muk nodded and began to head back down the stairs, but then paused as if she had remembered something. "Aromatisse said he heard a rumor about a strange medicine Pokémon. He's been traveling the land to offer aid to victims of plague, whom he locates using his Psychic powers. Maybe he'll arrive in Origin Plaza and help us."
Arcanine chuckled. "In that case, we have nothing to worry about!"
The slimy cook grunted and slithered into the foyer.
Pokémon have the ability to detect outbreaks of disease across the globe, but the justice system is practically nonexistent. This world never ceases to amaze me, thought Eileen.
"I don't want to catch the disease, Headmaster. How am I going to be able to do my training if I'm sick?" Dion moaned.
"Like I said, there's no need to worry, lad. Muk's blowing things out of proportion. Paranoia is a highly contagious disease as well, but we're strong enough to resist it," Headmaster Arcanine assured him. "Come, now. Let's go to the courtyard before anyone else comes along and distracts us."
The courtyard was approximately the same size as the foyer. Taking up the majority of the area was a big square of bare dirt. Off to the side were barrels, crates, and a few green training dummies. Eileen had been expecting something more elegant—a garden filled with lovely flowers and fountains, perhaps—but this set-up seemed more practical. She gazed at one of the dummies, itching to hook her scythes into it.
Cleo and her teammates were in the middle of the dirt patch. "If it isn't the two heroes of Foggy Falls. It's an honor to be training by your side." The Yamask's tone was as snide as usual, but she appeared to be lacking some of her confidence. Did she sound the slightest bit jealous?
"Why, yes! I'm very proud of both of them." Arcanine was probably giving his big, partially toothless grin. "Now, why don't you all properly introduce yourselves?"
"Trust me, we've already heard plenty about you guys," scoffed Cleo. "As for us, I'm Cleo, and these are Sheldon and Stella." She motioned at the Shelmet and Karrablast with her mask.
Dion frowned. "Can't they introduce themselves? You know, I don't think I've ever heard either of them talk."
Stella the Karrablast opened her mouth to say something, but Cleo cut her off. "Says the one who always speaks for his teammate. Sheldon and Stella aren't like your Scyther friend; they'd speak up if they had something to say." Her Bug-type teammates exchanged nervous glances.
"Enough with the bickering! That's not the kind of fighting you're supposed to be learning about," Headmaster Arcanine barked.
Cleo snapped, "Get on with the lesson, then."
The headmaster wheezed. "All right, students. The first thing you should know is that attacks fall into two basic categories. One of these categories is much more complicated than the other, but I'll get into that later. First, we have standard attacks. These attacks are simple and done without any effort: a slap or a swipe, for example. They do not have Power Points, thus they can be used an unlimited number of times. However, since they do not draw upon our power, they are quite weak. They are best for dealing with weak enemies, and they can also be used as a last resort if you've run out of Power Points and you didn't pack a Max Elixir."
"That's all common knowledge, Headmaster. Even Dion and Eileen must've known it if they were able to complete their mission," groaned Cleo.
"Well, we have to start somewhere." One of the green dummies floated up into the air and hovered over to the group of Pokémon. The sight startled Dion, but he calmed down when he realized it had been moved by the invisible Arcanine. "I'd like each of you to try out your standard attacks on these Substitute dolls. I can't exactly give you a proper demonstration, but according to Cleo, you all already have a good handle on standard attacks."
Each of the young Pokémon grabbed a dummy and brought it into the dirt square. Eileen had to tightly squeeze hers between the blunt sides of her scythes. She stood there for a moment, waiting to observe the other students. Her eyes landed on Cleo, who was alternating between bashing the doll with her mask and slapping it. Dion curled his leafy hands into fists and punched his Substitute, while Cleo's teammates tackled their targets.
The Scyther nodded to herself. This is how unarmed humans fight. No magic or supernatural powers—just pure physical combat. Now that she had seen some examples, the task seemed easy. She stepped back, kicked, and then followed up with a swift slash.
"Whoa now, lass! Let's not get ahead of ourselves!" cried Arcanine.
Eileen choked, "Huh?"
"My students, there is a big difference between standard attacks and physical moves. What Eileen just demonstrated was Quick Attack. It is true that Quick Attack has a low Power Point cost, but it is a move nonetheless and it is capable of being spent up." Eileen felt Arcanine's tail brush against her shoulder. "Lass, you're too tense. You need to relax your muscles and put your mind at ease. I can tell you're anxious, which is making you exert unnecessary energy. Take a deep breath and try again."
"Oh, my bad. Looks like some of us really do need practice with standard attacks," Cleo sniggered.
"It's a beginner's mistake. You can't expect someone who's lost her memory to be able to do everything right off the bat," said the headmaster. "There was a time when you struggled with the same kinds of things, but then you learned from your mistakes and here you are now. That's the entire point of this academy: educating Pokémon and helping them hone their skills."
Cleo ignored most of his response. "Standard attacks are something that comes naturally to Pokémon. It'd be like forgetting how to eat, or to breathe! At least I had a valid excuse as to why I couldn't do them at first." She held up her mask in feigned sorrow.
"You two aren't all that different from one another," Arcanine huffed.
"What's that supposed to mean?" hissed the Yamask.
Dion waved his hands in front of him. "Arcanine…!"
The oblivious headmaster chuckled. "Eileen claims to have once been human, just like you!"
Dion lowered his head and covered his face in defeat.
Cleo had a blank look on her face as she took in the information. Then, she smirked. "Did she, now? It's a well-established fact that Yamask are born from the souls of humans interred in ancient tombs, but a human being reborn as a Scyther? That's preposterous. Someone's a little hungry for attention, isn't she? For someone so quiet, you have an awful lot of made-up stories to share."
The Carnivine looked like he wanted to say something, but he was at a loss for words. Eileen knew it was because he agreed with Cleo, even though he didn't want to admit it. She had done all that she could to convince him that her word was true, but he still doubted her. Maybe it was because she wasn't good at articulating her point, or maybe it was because of the absurdity of her claim. As much as it peeved her, Eileen tried to accept that she wouldn't change his mind.
"Enough, everyone! We're losing focus," Arcanine snapped in scorn. He waited for a Pokémon to protest, but they remained silent. "Where were we? Oh, yes. Eileen, you were going to show me a standard attack. Have at it!"
The Scyther had nearly forgotten about her task. She was hesitant. She hated being singled out, and Cleo's burning red gaze put even more pressure on her. Eileen closed her eyes. Just get it over with so we can move on. She reminded herself not to think about what she was doing, which only made her think about it more. She twisted her thorax, using her frustration at her unhelpful mind to fuel her strike. The Scyther's blade cleanly cut across the doll's chest.
"That's it, lass! Well done," Arcanine said warmly.
Eileen dropped her gaze to the ground and stepped back. I don't really get what I did differently. The purpose of the lesson was to learn about things like that—but even though she didn't fully understand the concept, she didn't want to dwell on the topic and she couldn't get bring herself to take her question to Arcanine. Learning how to harness her abilities had sounded good in theory, but engaging in the lesson was a different story. Eileen's anxiety smothered her ambition.
"Okay, students. Now we can move onto learning about moves! This is where things get interesting," declared the headmaster. "Let us begin."
I'm already proficient with Quick Attack, so this can't be too bad. Eileen stretched her arms.
"As a Pokémon gains experience and grows stronger, it gains access to a greater variety of attacks. The moves a Pokémon learns are dependent on its species; thus, a Pokémon's move set is reliably predictable. Technically, moves are just a construct. They're simply variations of standard attacks, or of each other. As you observed, Eileen's Quick Attack is strikingly similar to her standard attack. There are, however, several key differences. Who can name one of these differences?"
"Ooh, ooh!" Dion's hand flew up. "Moves have types like we do!"
Arcanine responded, "Very good, lad. Standard attacks are equally effective against all types, but the trade-off is that they're much weaker than moves. Don't confuse them with Normal-type moves, though; those have the potential to be much stronger!" He continued, "A Pokémon's moves don't always match its type. This may give it an advantage over a foe it would normally struggle against. I am a Fire-type Pokémon, but I can use Double Kick, a Fighting-type move. This gives me an edge on those pesky Rock-types! One of the most important things to remember is your type match-ups, but that's a lesson for another day. Let's take things one at a time."
The concept wasn't foreign to Eileen. In fact, she recalled mulling over her and Dion's types while battling the Kabuto in Emerald Grotto. It was a strange thing for her to remember in so much detail. Why was her memory so selective?
"Moves have Power Points, while standard attacks do not," Cleo stated with an air of pride once Arcanine had finished.
"That is correct. Power Points refer to the number of times a move can be used before it is exhausted. Generally speaking, the weaker a move is, the more times it can be used. Flamethrower can be used more times than Fire Blast, but fewer times than Ember. Use your moves wisely. Power Points can be replenished by ingesting a nutritious Max Elixir or getting a good rest, but if you play it smart, you won't even have to worry about that."
The door to the courtyard opened and Chef Muk lumbered in. "Sorry to interrupt, but Arcanine, I need your assistance."
The old Pokémon groaned. "What is it?"
"There aren't enough blankets to go around in Origin Plaza. We need to borrow some, but we don't know where you keep the spares. And when I say "we", I mean me. The students have come down with the disease. They did their best, though."
The reluctant headmaster said to his students, "I'll only be a minute. While I'm gone, practice using some moves. Your Substitute dolls will stand in as your substitute teachers, ohoho. I have a lot more to teach you when I get back."
None of the younger Pokémon moved from their spots when they left. Dion murmured, "Sounds like this disease stuff is getting bad. We're lucky we haven't caught it."
"It won't be long," muttered Cleo. She kept eyeing Eileen suspiciously, as if she were accusing her of something. She picked up her mask and ran her hand down its features, and then set it back in its place. "Eileen, I want to speak with you."
Eileen opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She had a pretty good idea of what Cleo wanted to talk about.
"Stella, Sheldon. Keep Vines-for-Brains entertained." The Yamask grabbed Eileen's upper arm and forced her to walk to the other end of the courtyard.
"Hey, what are you—" Dion cut himself off, realizing there was no point in arguing.
Cleo let go when they were up against the academy's stone wall. She glared at the Scyther. "You claim to have been human," she said bitterly. There was a hint of something else in her voice. Empathy? Hope? Eileen hadn't known she was capable of those emotions.
She nodded nervously.
Cleo scowled. "That's not good enough. What exactly makes you think you were human? I'm not trying to play a game here. This is serious."
Eileen froze up. She hadn't even been able to explain it to Dion—how was she going to convince the intimidating Yamask? "You have to believe me," she pleaded.
"Give me a reason," hissed Cleo, and yet something in Eileen's reply seemed to speak to her. Her normally piercing gaze turned passive as she became lost in thought. When she regained herself, she whispered, "No one believed me, either. They still don't think I'm telling the truth. Even my own teammates doubt me."
No wonder she's always grumpy. Even after making the connection, Eileen couldn't bring herself to feel sorry for her.
Cleo folded her arms. "I don't like believing things when I don't have any proof," she said, "but maybe what we need is trust. Even if you're making this up… you at least believe me, right?" The desperation in her tone didn't suit her at all.
Eileen started to nod, but stopped when she realized that wouldn't make her point clear enough. "I'm telling the truth."
The Yamask looked conflicted. "Pokémon have such a hard time accepting things they don't find normal." Eileen couldn't tell if she was aware of her hypocrisy. "In a place like this, is there anything truly normal, though? When I was reborn as a Yamask, everything was all wrong. I still don't feel like I belong here. When I'm out in a dungeon, I feel like I should be commanding my teammates, not joining in the fight. Don't you feel the same way?"
Eileen shrugged. Cleo's words resonated with her, but she'd be much more comfortable writing about an adventure than going on one, no matter how she participated in it. She wondered if writing was important to Cleo.
The Yamask grunted. "Well, if none of the Pokémon want to believe us, so be it. We have each other, and that's all we need. Maybe we can even find a way to become human again. Oh, the things I'd do to return to my normal self…"
Eileen dipped her head in approval. She found herself questioning Cleo's motives. It was hard for her to tell if she was being sincere or if she was trying to take advantage of her somehow. She wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, but she was skeptical. Cleo, if she wasn't just pretending, seemed equally wary. If they were supposed to trust each other, they were off to a bad start.
"Milady!" Sheldon scrambled up to them, his helmet-like shell clanking noisily.
Cleo's venom returned. "What?"
He was out of breath. "It's Stella. I think she's fallen ill."
"It was inevitable, just like I said."
"Oh, what are we going to do? Where's Arcanine? Shouldn't he be back by now?" Dion stuck his fingers in his mouth.
"Do you really think he'd be of any help, you oaf?" Cleo growled. She shoved past Dion and Sheldon. "Out of my way. Let me take a look." Eileen's instinct told her to keep away from the purportedly sick Pokémon, but according to Chef Muk, she was bound to catch the disease anyway. She moved toward the other Pokémon, wanting to see what symptoms she had to look forward to.
Stella was lying in the middle of the dirt patch. She was shivering, but there was also sweat collecting on her forehead. The Karrablast moaned in a hoarse voice, only to be interrupted by a coughing fit.
"It all happened so fast!" Dion cried. "One minute she was standing there, and the next…! Oh, this is bad! Bad, bad, bad!"
"You're not helping." Cleo's voice had grown considerably weaker after seeing the state of her teammate. It was clear that she was at a loss for what to do.
"I'm gonna find the headmaster," Dion declared, trying his best to sound bold. "Come on, Eileen. Let's go together."
"You'll be wasting your time," warned Cleo.
"It's not your time I'll be wasting," Dion retorted, standing up to the bully for perhaps the first time. The Carnivine was on edge, making his speech brasher.
Cleo was slightly impressed. She turned her back to him and closed her eyes. "Suit yourself."
"Come on," Dion repeated to Eileen.
The Scyther bobbed her head and the two of them began to head for the door. It's like I'm just being dragged along everywhere, Eileen thought as she entered the building. Come this way. Now go that way. She would've appreciated some independence, but then again, she probably wouldn't know what to do with it.
The foyer was empty. Eileen hadn't seen it that way since she first arrived at the academy, and it brought back memories of the crazed headmaster appearing at the top of the stairs before initiating his attack. Maybe we're not alone. Paranoid, Eileen scanned the room. In her mind, she was being hunted by two unseen enemies: the disease and the invisible Arcanine.
"Headmaster!" called Dion. His voice bounced off the stone walls. "Headmaster Arca—" The sound was cut off. Eileen spun around to see Dion clutching his throat. He opened his jaws wide and let out a painful wheeze. Oh, great. Now he can't talk, either.
His eyes bugging out, Dion pounded his chest like he was choking. Eileen awkwardly stood by him, wondering if there was anything she could do to help him. With her teammate incapacitated, Eileen felt helpless. She watched him flop to the ground, where he continued to hack and cough.
"I can't believe I lost him. He had to pick the worst possible time to vanish," Chef Muk grumbled to herself as she slid into the foyer from one of the halls. She stopped when she saw Dion trembling on the floor. "No, not you too… nearly everyone in the academy is infected now. I can't keep track of all of this! I still don't even know where the blankets are…"
It was disconcerting to see the normally calm and collected cook so overwhelmed. The weariness in her tone made her sound like she too was coming down with something. She scooted up to Eileen. "You haven't caught it yet. You've got to help me out. Please, I can't handle this on my own."
Eileen was taken aback. What did she want her to do? What could she do? The Scyther was hopelessly confused. She stood there, awaiting the chef's instruction.
"I sense that someone is unwell. Fear not, for I am here."
Eileen looked around, startled. The voice didn't appear to have a source, but it couldn't have belonged to the invisible headmaster. It was monotone and deliberate to the point that it sounded mechanical, yet there was something about it that made it soothing to listen to.
"Arcanine, was that you?" Chef Muk asked doubtfully. She had likely come to the same conclusion as Eileen, but was unable to think of an alternate explanation.
"No." A screen of glass panels materialized in front of them. The translucent squares came together like pieces of a puzzle and built the shape of a bipedal figure. The yellow Pokémon had a narrow face, pointy ears, and eyes that seemed to hold infinite wisdom. He was draped in a brown hooded robe and he clutched a silver spoon in each of his hands. "I am Alakazam, traveler and pursuer of plague. It is my mission to purge sickness from this planet. You are in my care now, so be at ease."
"You're the medicine Pokémon Aromatisse was talking about," realized Chef Muk. She took a deep breath, beginning to relax. "I can't even tell you how grateful I am that you decided to show up. Things were starting to get out of hand."
"Arriving here was not a decision of my own. It was the plague that willed me to come." Alakazam crouched and pressed one of the spoons against Dion's forehead. "This outbreak is indeed severe. It is perhaps the worst I have detected thus far." When he stood up, Dion let out a suppressed cough.
"It does have a cure, though… right?" Chef Muk stared at the ill Carnivine in concern.
"Yes, that is correct. I learned many potent healing spells during my travels. I am capable of instantly cleansing any sickness from one's body."
The cook remarked, "That's amazing—if you're telling the truth, anyway. There's no time to waste, sir. Origin Plaza needs your aid."
"It shall be done." Alakazam raised his spoons and painted an imaginary circle over his head. When he closed the shape, a reflective pillar shot up around the Pokémon and dissolved them into fragments. In the blink of an eye, they reformed in the center of Origin Plaza. Eileen had grown so used to the feeling of teleportation that it hardly fazed her. Dozens of Pokémon, both those who had caught the disease and those clinging to their good health, had already been brought to the town square. Eileen saw that Team Masquerade was among them, and noticed that Cleo and Sheldon were now suffering alongside Stella.
Heads turned and voices murmured when Alakazam sauntered to the front of the crowd. He spoke over sneezes and muffled coughs. "Thank you for your patience. Conducting my analysis is time-consuming, but it is necessary. I must ensure that all afflicted individuals are present for the cleansing ritual. Now, you shall be rewarded. Let us begin."
Alakazam held the spoons over his head again. He tilted his head back and slowly raised his arms until they were fully extended. He brought one foot off the ground, and then the other. He was hovering a few feet off the ground, holding the soles of his feet together in a meditative pose. The medicine Pokémon quietly chanted in a strange language as he moved his arms toward each other and formed a cross with the spoons. A brilliant green light enveloped Alakazam and radiated into the crowd. As the energy swept over the Pokémon, the fatigue was wiped from their eyes and the sound of coughing died away.
"I've been healed!" a villager exclaimed in glee.
Another Pokémon squealed, "Haha, it's a miracle!"
Eileen looked at Dion, dumbfounded. He had picked himself up and was back to his usual plucky self. "Eileen! Did you see that? That was awesome!"
It went away abruptly as it appeared, the Scyther thought, watching the last glimmer of green light fade from the crowd.
Chef Muk hurriedly made her way up to Alakazam as the gathered Pokémon erupted into excited chatter. "I don't believe it!" she shouted once she was within earshot of him. Alakazam opened one eye and set both of his feet on the ground. The cook continued, "I owe you all of my thanks, truly! You are a real hero. If there's anything I can do to repay you—"
"Stop." Alakazam gave her a stern look. "I do not accept payment for my work. I only wish for you to spread word of my service, so that Pokémon will no longer fear the grip of disease."
Chef Muk knit her brows stubbornly. "Allow me to cook for you, sir. Don't think of it as payment. Think of it as a celebration of Origin Plaza overcoming the plague. Yes, a celebration… and everyone is invited!" She delivered her declaration with a burst of enthusiasm—enthusiasm that was not shared by the crowd. Perhaps they hadn't heard her?
Alakazam sighed. "If it so pleases you."
Chef Muk gave a cheeky smile. "You ain't never tasted anything like my cooking."
"I see," said Alakazam. "If you wish, I could Teleport all of you back to the fortress."
"Arcanine's Academy," the Sludge Pokémon corrected, "and yes, that would be appreciated. It was you who brought us here, after all."
He dipped his head. "Very well." He cleared his throat and spoke up, instantly drawing the attention of the crowd. "My friends, I will now take you to Arcanine's Academy. This Muk has declared that there will be a banquet." As he talked, he traced another circle in the sky. The crowd was whisked away as soon as he finished his announcement.
"I've never seen Teleport in action before," Dion said after they appeared in the foyer. "It's real different from using an Escape Orb. I wouldn't have guessed it could transport so many Pokémon at once."
Alakazam strode past Dion and his teammate, but then spun on his heel and faced them. "It is not just Teleport that I use," he explained. "Linking Teleport with Light Screen amplifies the power of Teleport. Light Screen also allows for the creation of temporary Teleportals."
The Carnivine gasped. "Wow, Mr. Alakazam, that's really cool. I wonder if I could combine any of my moves like that."
Alakazam walked away without saying anything else.
"I've never had to cook for so many Pokémon before. Half of Origin Plaza's here, for crying out loud," Chef Muk muttered to herself, standing at the dining hall's entry. She called, "Please seat yourselves, everyone. There should be enough room for everyone. Should. The celebratory banquet shall commence shortly."
"I wonder what she's going to cook. Must be something extra special." Dion smacked his lips.
As the Pokémon piled into the dining hall, Alakazam fell to the back of the group. He froze in place and pulled the hood off of his head. He surveyed the foyer, his pointy ears twitching. "What is this I sense?" he whispered. He held the pair of spoons out in front of him as if they were weapons.
Dion stopped as he was about to enter the room. "Is something wrong, Mr. Alakazam?"
He didn't respond. The medicine Pokémon gazed off into the distance vacantly, his body tense.
A raspy voice boomed, "You're a quack, Alakazam. Stop this vile trickery at once."
"Oh, it's him." Chef Muk instinctively moved in front of the entryway, as if to protect the Pokémon gathered inside. "Everyone, remain seated. The meal will be prepared momentarily." She shut the door behind her.
"What about us?" Dion squeaked, still standing in the foyer. He paused. "Wait, that voice…!"
"Headmaster Arcanine," Chef Muk confirmed. "If he's having one of his moments, there's not a lot we can do. I can't let the guests see him in this state. Alakazam, sir, I apologize—"
Alakazam tightened his grip on the spoons. "Show yourself."
"Can't do that, lad," replied Arcanine, "but I can do this!" The medicine Pokémon's robe was suddenly ripped off. The garment landed at his feet in one tattered piece. Alakazam stared at his waist, speechless. A segment of rope was tied around his midsection, binding a pair of tablets to his hips. One of the objects was a sickly shade of purple. The other was green—the color of the light that had spread across the Pokémon as they were healed.
Dion's eyes widened. "Are those…?"
Alakazam attempted to cover the colorful objects with his hands. He questioned his unseen enemy, "How did you know?" He swirled one of his spoons, swinging a big green beam across the area in front of him. The headmaster appeared before him, cured of his invisibility.
"I had a vision," Arcanine stated matter-of-factly. It was an odd thing to hear from a Pokémon that was not Psychic-type, which made Eileen certain that he was having another episode. She was a bit lost as to what was unfolding around her, however. What were those tablets, and why had Arcanine accused Alakazam of being a fake?
"A vision," Alakazam breathed, showing a rare hint of emotion. "That means…" He slid the plates out from under his belt, bent over, and gently set them on the floor. "I do not wish to meddle with fate. Please accept these, Heir. Now, I will take my leave." He cast Teleport on himself, but nothing happened.
Headmaster Arcanine chuckled. "Ah, students! Consider this a continuation of your lesson. You know what I was saying about moves having limited uses? This fellow has run out of Power Points. How unfortunate."
"Impossible." Alakazam's voice was blank again. "I beg of your forgiveness, mighty Heir."
Heir. He keeps using that word, Eileen observed, frustrated with her lack of information. What could it mean?
The old Arcanine flicked his tail and studied his opponent. "You cannot escape. You will be punished, but if you surrender the Plates again, there will be no need for a fight."
"Bless you, Heir." Alakazam kneeled in front of him.
"Arcanine…? What is this…?" Chef Muk stammered. Much to her puzzlement, the headmaster's speech was abnormally clear. Was it possible that he was still in his lucid state of mind?
Headmaster Arcanine turned his head toward her, as if he hadn't known she was there. "A matter that doesn't concern you," he told her, his tone uncharacteristically hostile. "Attend to the guests. They'll begin to suspect that something's up if you don't return soon."
"Something is up," Chef Muk snapped, "and I need to know what that something is. You can't go around hiding things from me, Arcanine."
The headmaster curled back his lip. "It would require a lot of explanation—explanation that I do not have the time to provide. It would be best if you didn't get involved. Go on now, lass. They're waiting for you."
"If it is not a problem, I will do my best to put it into words," Alakazam offered. Before Arcanine could protest, he continued, "This Pokémon is the Heir of Arceus. A fragment of Arceus's soul dwells within him. When the time has come, he will ascend to Arceus's heavenly throne and succeed it. It was determined from birth, but the emergence of the Plates and his ability to sense their locations signifies that his destiny will soon be fulfilled. The world is about to enter a new era—but during the shift, the balance of the world will become vulnerable. An age of disarray is upon us. This is merely the calm before the storm."
"What?" shrieked an incredulous Chef Muk. "I'm gonna need a heck of a lot more explanation than that."
"You can say that again!" whimpered Dion.
