When Allister released Dagda, the taller trainer was able to see Allister smiling as he wiped tears from his face. Dagda looked to his hand, noticing that he still held Allister's mask. "Do you want this back?" he asked, and the boy shook his head, keeping that radiant smile on his face.
"I'm glad you figured it out. It's hard to hide it sometimes." he said, and Dagda smiled, the group pressing on. "Why do you have to hide it? Is it because you know someone would come after you?" he asked, and Allister shrugged. "When I said I'm not strong, I meant it." he said, walking close to his new friend.
"I'm really embarrassed about my powers, and I'm a bit afraid that my appearance will make people scared of me." he said, and Dagda nodded. He understood perfectly. His too broad shoulders, his upturned nose or his crescent shaped ears, or even his odd purple eyes all made him feel a bit out of place. These things all played a part in Dagda's decisions to avoid people, and to remain indoors most of the time.
"I kind of understand. I was the same. I thought I looked a little weird, and people didn't really like me much, especially after I got the scar. A lot of people like making comments under their breath." he said, and Allister nodded.
"It's why I'm glad I have the friends I do. My Pokemon, and all of the people who have come to Galar in the last few years." he said, and Dagda narrowed his eyes. Few years? "Who else is your friend?" he asked, and Allister looked back to the two lizards, who trailed behind slightly.
"Their trainer, Mr. Raijin, came here a few years ago and actually helped start a village right here in Glimwood." he said, and Dagda blinked. "By Mr. Raijin, do you mean a really big guy with a beard, has a Perrserker named Heimdall?" he wondered, and Allister nodded.
"So Pops is building a village right here in this forest? Why haven't I been told?" he asked, and Hendrix shook his head, casting a lazy glance to his brother. "It's called Glimwood Village, or the Glimmer. It's much like the villages hidden in the forests of each region. They are all off the map, unknown safe havens meant for and established by Halflings."
Dagda blinked. A village in this very forest inhabited by more Halflings? Why would Pops keep such a thing a secret from him? Dagda assumed that it was because he was human, and that without him being a Halfling, he'd be refused entry. He sighed, focusing on another part of the Toxtricity's statement.
"You said in 'each' region. There's one in Kalos?" he asked, and Trujillo nodded. The blue bassist scratched his head with his fat fingers. "Kanto has Viridian Village and Pallet, Johto has Ilex, Hoenn has Petalburg, Sinnoh has Eterna, Unova has Pinwheel and Kalos has Santalune. Alola has one or two but I can't remember their names." he said, and Dagda found that rather odd.
He lived in Lumiose, and he'd been through Santalune Forest a few times in his life. Why had he never been able to spot the village? Was it because these villages were secretive things made for Halflings, or was he just oblivious to them at the time? He shook his head.
Hendrix glanced to the west, stopping along with his brother. "Speaking of which, we need to hurry up and talk to the Boss. The Horse says that he's invited some family over and that we should be there." he said, and the blue bassist nodded. They looked to Dagda and Allister, and then to each other.
"We're heading to the Glimmer. Stop by after your next gym battle. Shy Guy can show you the way and we can take care of his Pokemon. Don't mess up your streak of good matches, Kid, your sponsor is really, really fickle." he said, the two heading off in a different direction, leaving the two trainers to press on alone.
Dagda couldn't really tell the time, but they continued pressing on north like instructed, and found themselves stopped what felt like ages later. Dagda wanted to set up camp, and Allister agreed to rest. He seemed a little worn, his head covered in a thin sweat.
"Is it hard being a Halfling?" Dagda asked, and Allister sat in front of a fire, the two surrounded by Dagda's five Pokemon. Despite his previous hesitation, Petey sat right next to Allister, his weaving head showing his content.
"I don't know. I… I hide it all the time. But when I'm around my Pokemon, or when I visit the Glimmer, and I can take off my mask and be myself, it's so nice." he said, and Dagda smiled. "Did you always know you were a Halfling?" he asked, and Allister shook his head.
Normally, someone prying into his private life and his origins would bring him great anger, or at the least confusion and discomfort. But with Dagda, it was much different. "No. I only learned after my… dad passed away." he said, and Dagda frowned, realizing he brought up a painful memory. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to remind you of something so… personal." he said, and Allister shook his head.
"He wasn't my father, but he was my dad. He told me that he found me washed up from a shipwreck, and he raised me. His name was Bratva Minazuki, and he was the gym leader before me." he said, and Dagda listened, glad to see his new friend opening up to him.
"When he passed away from injuries sustained in a battle, the sponsorship and title were passed on to me. I knew I was old enough to handle it, but I didn't feel strong enough. It was so scary to be alone and worried, with no other people like you." he said, and Dagda nodded.
He could understand Allister's fear. He himself lacked confidence at one point, and only through his bonds with others, people who put their faith in him, did he eventually grow stronger. He wasn't the same boy crying atop Hullbury Lighthouse anymore, despite the short span of time between then and now.
"And I had nowhere else to turn, honestly. I was a little religious because of my dad, and I was so sad that I would pray every night. Sometimes for help, sometimes for… other things." he said, reaching into his shirt and pulling out a small necklace with a sword shaped pendant, an intricate piece with a skull on the hilt. Dagda felt like he recognized this from his training, but couldn't figure out where.
"This is called a 'Brand' sometimes. You see, the Goddess that I prayed to was the Goddess of Darkness, the Arcane and so on, Giratina the Renegade." he said, and Dagda found that rather odd. Praying to a deity said to be the antithesis of all things good and positive? Why would someone do that?
"And that's when I learned about what I was. When I was beaten up one day for my appearance and some of my taste in food, I prayed for help. And that's when this man came to me and told me that I was a Sableye Halfling."
Dagda found it very interesting to hear. He was so incredibly fascinated and interested with and by Halflings. It wasn't fair that people like him, those with a kind soul, would likely live their lives in Galar without ever meeting one of these incredible people.
"You said you were a Sableye Halfling. Does that mean that you.." Dagda trailed trying to ask the question without being offensive. Allister must have found his hesitation amusing, because he smiled and nodded. "That I eat gemstones? Of course. I send my staff to the mine for stones when I get hungry." he said, and Dagda found this side of his friend rather funny.
He was a bit more outgoing, and could even crack wise with him. This was someone that he could battle and spend time with. Someone that he could be around and feel more confident, and also at ease. It was a far cry from the mask wearing child that could barely introduce himself. Although, he wondered something.
"How old are you exactly? I met a Halfling who looked my age that said he was twenty three." Dagda asked, and Allister hummed. He seemed to think about it, and then scratched his head. "I'm not the best at keeping track, but I believe it's been a while since I inherited the gym, at least two to three years ago. So I'm about twenty six, give or take a year or two." he said, and Dagda blinked.
He found it hard to believe that his friend, who had the physical appearance of a child no older than thirteen, could possibly be almost a decade older than him. "How are you so… small?" he asked, and Allister blinked, looking the slightest bit offended by that statement.
"I'm a Sableye! How big are they?" he asked, and Dagda hummed, scratching his head to think about the Sableye he'd seen in a play. He remembered that they were slightly short, as in less than three feet tall. Meaning that Allister's smaller stature made sense. Still, it was a little weird.
Although, Dagda found Allister's flustered face rather amusing, so he continued to tease him as the two sat by the fire. "Does that make it hard for you to flirt with people?" he asked, and Allister blinked those large, gem like eyes again. He curled his legs up, burying his face in his knees.
Dagda began to chuckle, and Allister peered at him over his small kneecaps, grumbling to himself as he turned away and laid down, Dagda smiling as he watched his friend, rather amused.
With Allister fast asleep, Dagda realized that this night was incredibly cold, and that he didn't often spend these colder nights outside, rolling his shoulders as he got a chill. He looked up to the sky, estimating that there were quite a few hours of night left before dawn even broke. He sighed, scratching his head.
He let Danzig out of his Pokeball, smiling at his fully evolved partner. "It makes me really happy to see you all grown up." he said, and Danzig smiled. He was large and intimidating, yes, but he was still the same goofy personality that he was when he hatched from his egg.
"Help me set this tent up so I can set a fire." he said, and Danzig nodded, the duo making quick work of the expensive looking tent. Dagda was very happy and appreciative of his sponsor, finding it rather humbling to see that Mr. Felix would spend the money, or that Kenny would do the shopping. He entered the tent, whistling at it's size.
It was a larger, rounder tent, almost like a small or medium sized room. It also had a small chimney, so that a fire could be lit within for extra warmth. And he could tell from the thickness of the material that the tent was sturdy, and flame resistant. He set a fire with his brother in arms, the two staring into the flames briefly.
"Danzig… I want you to know that I'm… afraid. I want to help Pops and Mr. Felix, but I'm scared that I'm not strong enough to help, and I don't have anything driving me in any direction different from Hop or Leon. I'm just another trainer, and it kind of bugs me." he said.
Danzig put a paw on his shoulder, shaking his head and beating his free hand on his chest. He wanted his brother to know that he was there for him, they all were. No matter their past, their heritage, species or upbringing, Dagda's team, his friends, brothers, supporting actors, would be there to help him. Dagda smiled. "Thank you Danzig. I know I can count on you, on all of you." he said.
He walked out of the tent, noticing that Allister's sleeping form was quivering. Dagda chuckled, walking over to his friend and picking him up, cradling him like a child as he headed back into the tent, Danzig sitting and looking at the fire.
Dagda laid down, still cradling Allister, and looked to his partner. "Make sure you keep watch Danzig. If you get tired, make sure to let someone else take over." he said, starting to doze, Danzig sitting on the other side of the fire, the Pokeballs of his brothers next to him.
The private jet landed on the Wyndon Airstrip at the crack of dawn, a black thing meant for the rich and famous. The Airport was silent, empty and not expecting another flight for at least an hour. The machine, built by the hands of Pokemon, came to a smooth stop.
The door flipped open, two pairs of footsteps coming down. They both commanded respect, their presence and appearance something that demanded your attention. The older of the two cast the younger a glance. "Bro said it's to the south in some mushroom forest. Let's go." he said, and the younger of the two frowned.
Closing the book his held in his oddly shaped hands, he cast a crimson glance to his brother. His palms were broad and wide, and yet his fingers were slender, a feature that made itself apparent over his entire body. He was an odd point between bulky and lean, his large forearms and thick neck not matching his lean torso.
His legs were also very powerful, as if he was a professional sprinter, broad, flat feet stuffed into a pair of square toed loafers. He wore slacks, black in color, and a button up shirt in a chessboard color, the top two buttons undone for the sake of his large neck.
His face was also built oddly, slightly long, with a nose that seemed ever so slightly doggish in shape, his crimson eyes and bronze skin making him look otherworldly, his black and white hair tied back in a monochrome braid.
"You don't want to see the sights first? I hear this region has no Halflings. Do you remember our Uncle's reaction to that?" he asked, and his older brother glanced to the short, younger male. "Yeah, he wasn't the most happy. He's got a weird thing about equality. Damn weirdo." he said, rubbing the back of his neck.
The older brother was much larger, standing at six foot eight, and he had long black hair cascading down his broad back, the hair at the ends a stark white. His eyes were unique amongst his siblings, as his eyes were a crystalline sky blue color, his thick hands with slightly short looking fingers scratching his head.
"Remind me again how he's in charge despite being younger than Big Bro?" the older one asked, his younger brother glancing up to him and shaking his head. "Because he's the only one of us that can live in a dictatorship like this for years without killing anyone." he said, his brother shaking his head as they began moving. "Don't remind me."