The streets of Kenswick were fairly empty in the afternoon. I never bothered to disguise myself since the first few neogiations began or when I was found. A fair amount of people in the town knew me, and some of the Pokemon that now called the surrounding woodlands home.

A woman in a ranger uniform watched me as I approached her.

"Hello, Jennifer."

"Azelf?" she asked. "Thought you'd be going back to the lake soon."

"I would, of course," I replied. "Just wanted to move around outside for a while."

"Listen, I ran into some flying magnets on patrol with the soldiers," she said. "Man, nothing damages them except sustained rifle fire."

"You were on patrol?"

"The soldiers insisted that they accompany me. It was a shame they didn't give me one of their guns. Hell, most of my job before you came around was mostly making notes of the local ecosystem, maintaining trails and roads, that kind of thing. It's surreal now, knowing you live in the lake right next to us."

"Have you been to the lakes before?"

"Yes! Multiple times, in fact, before all the Pokemon showed up. Now, with all the unknown horrors lurking in the water-"

I gave her my best death glare as she spoke.

"-don't look at me like that, Azelf. I didn't mean you, I mean all the other stuff like the super-powered sharks. These things don't belong there at all. As for where I was – I'd really not walk near the lake in case I got eaten."

"I don't eat people. The only thing I'd eat is your willpower if you keep speaking to me like that."

"That's a relief." Her eyes flicked from side to side for a few moments. "Or maybe not. There were sightings of a sea monster in the lake after you were found and brought to speak with Bradford. Before, I wouldn't believe it but... well... I'm speaking to you right now, and you're far stranger than any sea monster in any work of fiction I've seen."

"This is your last warning, Jennifer." My laughing clearly gave my intentions away. "No, I'm not draining your mind, not really. Just calm down before you call Bradford and his soldiers over to kill me."

It was Jennifer's turn to stare at me suspiciously. "If you want me and the soldiers to accompany you back to the lake, just tell Bradford. He's probably busy right now though."

"I can get there fairly easily on my own."

"Duly noted," Jennifer replied. "Well, I guess this is goodbye. If anyone needs me, I'll be writing up a report of what was encountered on the patrol."

Bradford's squad chatted amongst each other idly as the infantry fighting vehicle bumped along the forest trail, with a lightly armored car in front and back.

Levitating beside Bradford, I listened to everyone's conversation.

"You smell that?" Browns whispered. He was a medic, mostly quiet and not keen to voice his thoughts. Aside from his uniform, the one thing that made him stand out was his glasses and stoic face.

"Smell what?" Williams replied, a grating edge to his voice. He was an imposing human, carrying the biggest gun I'd ever seen.

"Heh. Command must've thought we were going to your mother's house. I guess everything looks familar."

"Aw, come on. What are you, twelve? Go get a life."

Brown's eyes narrowed at the response.

"Sorry," Williams replied. "Don't piss him off, Azelf. No use angering the guy who might be bandaging you up someday."

"Listen up!" Bradford shouted. "We've got a pack of 'local' wildlife here. Specifically, Scyther. This is not a diplomatic mission – however, LT says if they attack after communications are established, fire at will. Azelf will provide translation services. Any questions?"

Browns' eyes narrowed slightly. "Why send us to fight oversized alien mantises?"

Bradford smiled. "Yes. When words fail, the fury of a weapon must be used." He looked up. "We're near our objective. Azelf, if you can ready your powers do so now."

I nodded, my forehead gem glowing.

"Jesus Christ, that is bright," Williams said. "Can you turn that down? The buggers will see us coming a mile away."

"As if they couldn't hear us coming," I retorted. "This vehicle is loud."

"We're here! Alright, everyone, you know the drill. Azelf, you stay behind us. Let me do the talking. Hold your fire unless we get attacked."

"My name is Sergeant Bradford. We mean you no harm." Bradford stood alongside me as we spoke.

"Really?" The Scyther swung its razor-sharp forelimb at the ground, making us back down a little. "Why do you come with armed humans and one of your armored machines? Even the humans from where I hailed did not build such creations or arm themselves so heavily."

I relayed the Scyther's words to Bradford, who only smiled.

"Our kind here prepares for the absolute worst. On this world, we live to fight, and fight to stay alive."

The Scyther frowned. "What could be so dangerous here as to give your kind reason to build these weapons? Your world's fauna is unintelligent and mundane. The only reason I can see for your kind building such weapons would be the existence of a creature so terrible as to give a gyrados pause."

When Bradford didn't answer, the Scyther continued, "I see your world has no 'mon to its name, nor any meager amount of Pokeballs. Yet, you stand side by side with a Legendary. Was it forced into your service, human?"

"I arrived here a week ago. From what Sergeant Bradford had told me, it was a few weeks since the presence of Pokemon became known worldwide."

The Scyther nodded at my response. "I see. Was your service willing?"

"Yes. Bradford and I negotiated. I would allow patrol boats on the lake to help him keep his town safe, while I worked as a liaison to facilitate understanding between humans and Pokemon." This time, I broadcasted to everyone in the general vicinity.

"Why did you come here then?"

"To ask you for assistance." He stood unflinching as the Scyther glared at him. "We have few opportunities to scout out the surrounding area due to a lack of adequate air vehicles. Having a flying Pokemon to conduct basic reconnaissance would help our ground patrols immensely."

"What will I get in return?"

'Food and shelter," Bradford replied. "These will be temporary until permanent arrangements are made."

I could feel a pulse of uncertainty from Williams and the other soldiers. They gripped their weapons tighter.

"You mean the deal ends if I am of no use to you. And what about these permanent arrangements you describe?"

"The plain fact is, I am not authorized to make that decision." Bradford replied. "I must speak to my superiors and make an argument for my plan regarding you helping us."

"Why not send for one of your superiors?"

"They are busy at the moment."

"Unfortunately, I cannot accept your offer," the Scyther replied.

"That is fine. Let us know if you ever change your mind. Farewell." Bradford gave a curt nod and moved back to the armored vehicle. The soldiers piled in before the vehicle pulled away.