The next day, the group got ready and immediately went out for more recon, and eventually made it to a bridge that connected to a rather large hill area, which was separated normally by a river. If what Akari said yesterday was anything to go by, then Lego was actually kinda glad he didn't go into the river and try to swim.
"Ah, the Survey Corps," a member of the Galaxy Expedition team said as the trio walked up to him, recognizing them from their uniforms.
"Hello, we're here on official business," Rei said as he greeted the member of the Security Corps. "May we pass so we can calm down frenzied Kleavor?"
"Ah, so the three of you are here regarding that," the man said. "Yeah, you can. But be careful. The last members who came to deal with it were nearly killed by it. It's gone insane…" Lego saw that he looked frightful, and like he'd seen a ghost.
'Kleavor must be more violent here than in the games,' Lego thought to himself. 'The games were aimed more towards kids. But I need to exercise more caution. And I need to train my Pokemon too.'
"Uh, Lego?" Rei called out to Lego, snapping Lego out of his thoughts.
"Huh? What?" Lego asked. "Sorry, I spaced out."
"We were… going to go find Kleavor," Akari reminded him.
"Right, right," Lego said, as he followed his comrades.
During their trek, they eventually began to walk uphill, and it was tiring them a bit. "I hate walking uphill…" Lego commented.
"Are you seriously complaining about that of all things?" Rei asked. "Nothing else? Not even the uniform?" Rei was actually sweating a lot, and so was Akari. It was rather hot, and the group was getting baked under the midday sun.
Lego could merely nod. "Yes, because I could walk for a long time… Uphill or downhill? Not exactly."
Rei and Akari merely sighed a bit as they continued to walk, nothing exactly eventful happening until they decided to take a break on a patch of grass on the hill they were traversing. The couple sat down next to each other, actually getting out some food so they could get something to eat. "What should we make for lunch?" Rei asked Akari.
"I did get this recipe from Beni for a Galarian dish," Akari said. "I do kinda want to-"
"Hey, you two," Lego called out to Rei and Akari. "Send your Pokemon out so they can chill with us since you two are gonna cook."
"H-Huh?" They were surprised at Lego's sudden request.
"You might as well," Lego said. "Plus it'll help you bond with them while we're relaxing and eating, and training too." Turning to face them, he added, "The bond between humans and Pokemon are stronger than you will ever realize if you don't forge a strong one with your own Pokemon."
"Other world stuff I'm assuming?" Rei asked, feeling like Lego's experiences in the other worlds they've learned about were partially influencing what he said.
"Mhm," Lego hummed in response. "I know of a few instances where it really came in handy." 'Just look at a majority of the Pokemon anime with Ash-freakin'-Ketchum,' he thought.
"So a strong bond with Pokemon… makes them stronger?" Akari asked, not entirely getting the concept.
"Depends," Lego stated. "It differs from person to person, and Pokemon to Pokemon."
"How so?" Rei questioned, curious to know a bit more as he sent out his Pikachu from it's Pokeball.
"I'm not sure how to explain it," Lego admitted. "I think it's kinda like how with people, you can feel a close relationship with them. Sometimes they feel like family, or like partners. Sometimes even comrades. But there are people who sadly have a more twisted way of seeing the world, and can't enjoy the company that Pokemon bring, and only see them as tools… and treat them horribly as a result." Lego looked at his Pokemon. "There is a Pokemon that is native to the Kanto region. This Pokemon is known as Charmander, a Fire-Type lizard Pokemon."
Rei and Akari were confused by this sudden information, before Rei said, "And you mention this… why?"
"There was a Pokemon 'Trainer', if you could even call the douchebag that, who had a Charmander. He only cared about strong Pokemon, and Charmander was weak compared to the rest of the dude's Pokemon," Lego began to explain. "Charmander was loyal, however, and so the boy told the Charmander to wait for him to come back, leaving the Fire-Type on a rock in the middle of the woods." Rei and Akari were shocked. The boy abandoned the Charmander?!
"Charmander waited for the boy to come back… patiently and loyally," Lego continued. "Eventually, a storm rolled around, and the Charmander stayed at the rock, in the rain, using nothing but a leaf to keep the flame at the end of his tail lit, for if the flame went out… Charmander would die."
"Th-That's horrible!" Akari said, both trainers shocked by the information Lego was telling them. They should've been a bit skeptical of what Lego told them, but after last night, Akari and Rei felt like they could trust him a bit more.
"Did… did the Charmander…?" Rei trailed off, not finishing his sentence.
"No, Charmander didn't die," Lego said. "He was rescued by a group of friends who found him a day prior to the storm, who helped make sure he was kept alive, with the Charmander eventually joining them on their journey." The Galaxy Team members, as well as their Pokemon, were all a bit silent as they listened to Lego, processing the dark seed of information he gave them. "Pokemon are sentient creatures, and they can care very deeply for humans. But not every person has a heart… especially teenagers. Adults above all else too.
"Pokemon will do anything to help you once you gain their trust. It's a pity so many humans don't have the humanity to be better people," Lego finished. "When you make a bond with a Pokemon… they're not just pets. They're family who should be cherished and protected, and treated like equals."
Lego's Pokemon were looking at him, surprised and a bit disheartened by what he had said. Another species of Pokemon treated horribly by people? His Shinx, Jiro growled a bit. She didn't like humans anyways, and he was further cementing her personal beliefs
Rei and Akari looked at one another, and then back at their Pokemon. Lego looked out in the distance, the cool breeze getting to him and cooling him off a bit. He enjoyed feeling the breeze.
"Any, uh… advice, for bonding with our Pokemon?" Rei asked Lego after a bit.
"Figure it out yourself, they're not my Pokemon," Lego replied. "My ways are gonna be different from yours." Rei… honestly wasn't too surprised by the answer. The somewhat experienced Survey Corps member felt reminded of a moment in his past.
It was around the time he had gathered the courage to confess his feelings to Akari.
He remembered it like it was-
"So what other tricks can you do?" Akari had asked Lego, which snapped Rei out of his thoughts as well as canceling the flashback. Bet y'all thought you were gonna get a flashback. NOPE!
"Oh, like that attack I did yesterday?" Lego questioned for the sake of confirmation.
"Mhm, yeah, like that," Akari confirmed.
"Well, I guess we could go for a more iconic one this time," Lego said. "This time, I'm going to fire it for real." Putting his hands forward, out towards the vast wilderness that lay below the hill they were climbing, cupping his hands. "Ka…" He brought his hands back now. "Me-"
"Munchlax!" The cry of a Munchlax was heard, stopping everyone again, before everyone turned to see a Munchlax.
"It's a Munchlax!" Lego shouted as he pointed at it. "I wanna catch it!" He announced.
"Well, you can hold it right there, since this is my Munchlax," a voice called out to them, before everyone turned to see a black-haired woman walking up to them. She was wearing a blue jacket with the symbol that Lego noted was similar to the one on Adaman's jacket, blue and black gradient leggings, along with red and black boots. As the girl walked up to them, she looked at the three members of the Survey Corps. "Are you three the members of the Survey Corps looking for the Pearl Clan's Lord Kleavor?"
"Actually… yeah, we are," Rei said. "And you are?"
"I'm a warden for the Diamond Clan," the warden introduced. "My name is Mai, and this Munchlax is my partner."
"Munch," Munchlax said.
"I received word from Adaman that there would be three members from the Galaxy Expedition Team coming to help sort out the issue Kleavor was presenting to the Obsidian Fieldlands, so I decided to come out here to make sure to point you all in the right direction," Mai explained.
Lego hummed at that. "Well, that's nice," he said. "Thanks for coming out all this way to help us. It means a lot, especially with how dangerous Pokemon can be." He walked up and offered a hand for a handshake. "I'm Lego, and it's nice to meet you Mai."
Not quite understanding the gesture, but at least getting that he wanted her hand, she reluctantly grabbed his hand, before they shook hands. "Uh… yeah, nice to meet you too…"
Lego let go of her hand, before pointing at Rei and Akari, saying, "That's Rei and Akari. They're a part of my task force that's going to be calming down the rogue Noble Kleavor." Then going over to his Pokemon, he said, "And these are my Pokemon! This is Aqua, Talon, Beek, God, and Velocity!" His Oshawott, Rowlet, Cyndaquil, Bidoof, and Starly each made noises upon their names being called. Lego then went over to his Alpha Shinx who was standing off to the side, and petted her on the head. "And this is my Alpha Shinx, Jiro!"
"I'm sorry, Alpha?" Mai said, surprised by that.
"Mhm! Alpha!" Lego said. Jiro growled a bit, before Lego looked at her and said, "Oh calm down, you're perfectly fine."
"That Alpha Shinx is big…" Mai commented. "But I guess that's a testament to your skill." Mai hummed in thought, before asking, "Wait, are you that same Lego that Adaman said was a message from Almighty Sinnoh?"
"Did he mention a pie?" Lego questioned.
"He did…" Mai confirmed, not sure why it mattered.
"Then yes, yes I am," Lego answered before standing up. "We're taking a break right now, so before you do tell us where to head, how about you join us for lunch?"
"Munch munch?" Munchlax seemed pleased at the idea of getting food. Mai also noticed that from her partner Pokemon.
"I suppose it wouldn't be a bad idea," Mai said.
"Okay," Rei said. "Looks like we're cooking for two more." He sighed a bit, though Akari couldn't help but chuckle a bit while patting his back.
For lunch, the group as well as their Pokemon were having Galarian Curry, and most of the group seemed to enjoy it a lot. Lego definitely enjoyed it. It reminded him of something from the real world. He couldn't remember the name of it though, sadly.
"How come you aren't taking off your mask?" Mai asked Lego, a bit curious as to why he was eating with the mask still on, since it was now covering his eyes and acting like a visor.
"Yes," Lego merely replied, not answering her question, and dodging it entirely. Mai could only stare at him in confusion, before looking at Rei and Akari, both shrugging. They also had no clue as to why he didn't take it off.
Eventually, the group finished lunch (Lego was the first too), and relaxed for a moment. Mai, Rei, and Akari were conversing, and eventually, Mai turned to look at Lego who was with his Pokemon, laying on the grass. "So what's his deal? He's acting mysterious."
"I'm not too sure, but he's definitely the real deal," Rei said. "I mean, he caught that Alpha Shinx of his as one of the Pokemon for his initiation test into the Survey Corps. Plus, he is really knowledgeable about Pokemon too."
"Right," Mai replied, kinda believing that, still watching Lego as he laid with his Pokemon.
Lego was humming, not entirely listening to what the Hisuian residents were saying. He was singing in his mind, and was almost about to straight up sing.
"Well, I think we've relaxed enough. We need to go deal with Kleavor," Rei said, standing up.
"Agreed," Akari said, before calling out to Lego. "Hey, Lego, we're gonna get going now."
"This is how we roll out here," Lego sang randomly, spacing out. "We're packin' heat cause it's cold out here! Hold your own, don't show no fear, or you're gonna lose your soul out here!" He started humming, whispering a few times, "This is how we roll."
The other three humans just looked at him, confused at what he was saying. "Is… is that a song?" Akari questioned.
Rei merely rolled his eyes, before picking up a small rock and chucking it at Lego. It startled Lego as he shouted for a moment out of fright, before looking at Rei, finding Rei and Akari holding back laughs, while Mai was smirking. "Rei, you piece of shit!" Lego shouted, taking a deep breath since he was genuinely frightened.
"You were spacing out and attempting to sing, and we were going to go deal with Kleavor," Rei said to Lego.
"...shit," Lego merely said as he got up and grabbed his stuff. His Pokemon followed along with them, though Rei and Akari recalled their Pokemon to their Pokeballs.
"So, you sing?" Mai asked Lego, making Lego look away shyly.
"Kinda…" Lego said. He felt self-conscious about it, but he could. "Why?"
"Just curious," Mai answered. "What're the songs like where you came from?"
"Good question," the Isekai'd fiend replied. "It mainly depends on what you want and are looking for."
"So there is a variety," Rei said, understanding the vague answer.
"Correct," Lego said.
The conversation ended there, since Mai, Rei, and Akari didn't really have much else to say or add to it. They just continued walking, until they made it up to the top of the hill. Mai looked to the right, and saw the grounds for the Noble Pokemon she watched over. "The grounds for the Noble I watch over are close by."
"Oh right, you're a warden for the Diamond Clan," Akari remembered, looking at the warden. "Who is your Noble Pokemon?"
"The Lord I watch over is Lord Wyrdeer," Mai told them.
Lego looked at Mai. "Wyrdeer? That's a new one…" Lego commented. "Is that a nickname for a Pokemon, or… a Pokemon?" He knew exactly what a Wyrdeer was. He was bullshitting as an attempt to draw awareness to a fact, that fact being the extinction of all Wyrdeer. As well as other Pokemon that live in the Hisuian Region.
"Huh?" Everyone turned to look at Lego. "What are you on about?" Mai asked. "Wyrdeer is a Pokemon species. The evolution of Stantler."
"Evolution?" Lego questioned. "Stantler doesn't evolve… not that I'm aware of."
"It uses a certain move in order to evolve. Psyshield Bash," Mai told him. Scared, she stopped walking and turned to face him. "Are… are you saying Wyrdeer don't exist where you came from?"
"Kleavor don't either," Lego said. "I don't even know what it is. I'm only going to stop it because it's hurting people." This information shocked the trio, who were surprised that these Pokemon didn't exist wherever Lego lived before he came to Hisui.
Mai looked Lego in the eye, and he looked her in the eye as well. The two exchanged glances for a bit, but before either could speak, they heard the yell of a Pokemon. Mai turned towards the sound of the yell. "Hey, that's coming from my lord's grounds!"
"Hmph, let's go!" Lego said as he began to run forward, towards Wyrdeer's Sacred Grounds. His Pokemon followed close behind, before Rei, Akari, and Mai chased after them.
Mai has been introduced, random pieces of information have been given for no fucking reason, and How We Roll has been sung.
Next chapter, the conflict at Wyrdeer's Sacred Grounds will be resolved.
