Rose Crater chose this moment to collapse further. Calreath guided Dragonite to dodge falling debris where he could, and Politoed lashed out with her long tongue to break apart any rocks he couldn't see. It felt like a video game, but Calreath's heart beat much faster than it would for a game. His and Dragonite's lives were in danger, all for a man who'd tried to kill them.

Dragonite landed in front of Zenith, and Calreath hopped off. The leader of the disbanded Infernal Cult was still bleeding and breathing, but his eyes were closed, and he didn't react when Dragonite and Calreath approached him.

Calreath hoped to the skies that he wouldn't regret this. He called out for Goodra. The presence of the friendly, slimy dragon reassured him, and despite all their trouble—and Rathai yelling at him from outside the showroom—he couldn't help but smile.

Goodra grinned back, either not knowing what they were going to do or not caring. She was just happy because her trainer was happy.

"The guy's trapped under a lot of rubble. Dragonite and Goodra, I need the two of you to move as much of it as you can away while I pull him out. We'll need to be careful, or his spine could be crushed."

If it isn't already, Calreath thought in horror. Would Zenith want to be rescued?

Calreath shook his head. He couldn't think like that. He'd rescued countless people and Pokémon, and no matter what happened, they were always grateful for their lives.

Calreath directed his pseudo legendaries, his strongest Pokémon except maybe his mega evolved ace, as they rescued Zenith. Blood dripped onto Calreath's hands and suit, and the unconscious man was dead weight.

That's probably better, he thought. This would be a lot harder and more dangerous for everyone involved if he resisted or panicked.

Goodra loaded him onto Dragonite's back, and Calreath climbed up behind him. "Thanks, guys. I can always count on you for rescue missions as well as battles." Calreath patted Goodra and then returned her to her Pokéball. "Alright, friend, let's fly!"

On the way back, more of the volcano crumbled around them. A huge chunk of stone destroyed the area where Calreath and his Pokémon had stood a minute ago. When they were safe out of the showroom, Politoed launched herself at Calreath, crying.

"I'm sorry for scaring you, Politoed," Calreath said, rubbing his friend's belly, which always soothed her, but not this time. "But we had to, you know?"

Rathai muttered, "Good riddance. Now we have a half-dead man to worry about."

Nazeer was more gentle. "He seems younger now. Almost like a child."

Calreath thought of Groudon's memory, when Zenith had been a child. He hadn't thought about it before, since they were enemies, but now, Calreath realized that Zenith was probably the same age as him and Diana.

And he was still bleeding on Calreath and Dragonite.

"We need to set up camp here so I can administer first aid," Calreath decided.

Nazeer nodded and began gathering blankets, rations, and whatever else he could find in the Infernal base's storeroom. Rathai cursed and spluttered, but when Calreath showed him the time on his phone, he resigned to some much-needed sleep. He didn't wait for Nazeer to return, but curled up on the floor with his back to the younger men and began snoring within seconds.

Calreath pulled Zenith off of Dragonite's back and then patted his Pokémon. "Thanks, buddy. I'll wash you after, I promise."

Dragonite nuzzled him and then curled up to sleep next to Rathai, keeping the shivering old man warm.

"I need your help again, Goodra."

Goodra smiled at him again and then whimpered when she saw Zenith. She was the most compassionate Pokémon on Calreath's team, and the most averse to blood. Calreath hated making her see them like this, but he needed her.

He put his hand on Goodra's arm. His kind dragon Pokémon whimpered and a tear slid down her sweet face, liquefying some of her slime. Calreath scooped up a handful of the goo and let it drip onto Zenith's head.

Goodra's skin, combined with her tears, had healing properties that scientists in Kalos and Torren still didn't quite understand. Calreath didn't get how it worked, either, but you didn't need to understand something to know it was good. Goodra had saved countless lives, and Zenith was one more.

The former leader of the Infernal Cult gasped, his eyelids fluttering open. He grabbed onto Calreath like he was drowning.

Calreath tensed as Goodra wrapped her arms around Zenith, enveloping him in more of her healing goo. Zenith looked at her, and then at Calreath, who prepared for a doomed challenge. For a few seconds, Zenith didn't say anything. This close, Calreath could see red-brown flecks in the other man's dark eyes, like a part of Groudon.

Zenith was about to speak when Nazeer returned carrying a load of goodies. "We have beef jerky! And sitrus-berry-flavoured Pokémon food! And thermal blankets—hey, Zenith's awake!"

Zenith stood up. Calreath reached out when he swayed, unsteady, but Zenith fixed his own balance by leaning on Goodra. He frowned when his hand sank into the good dragon's goo, then scowled at Nazeer. "I was never asleep. Unlike some of you incompetents, I don't fall asleep on the job."

Nazeer dropped the rolled-up blankets and rations to plant his fists on his hips. "It was one time!"

"One time's too many, idiot."

They continued bickering while Calreath used more of Goodra's slime to wash off the blood from Dragonite's back and his suit. When he was sure they were clean, he leaned back to reach for a packet of beef jerky and a can of Pokémon food—and froze.

A powerful-looking Excadrill glared down at him. Calreath's fingers twitched and he chuckled nervously. The Excadrill's claws were long and sharp enough to slice off his hand without trying, and Excadrill looked like he wanted to.

"Leave it, Excadrill," Zenith called out, sitting cross-legged across from Nazeer. Volcarona and Blaziken were on either side of him like guard sentries, and Chandelure floated above them. "There's more here."

With a final glare at Calreath, Excadrill lumbered back. Calreath muttered under his breath, "I saved your trainer, buddy."

Calreath sent out his Pokémon and distributed the remaining Pokémon food; Zenith had split the portions in half, but Calreath had more Pokémon. He was about to demand for more when Rathai woke up, sniffing the air. "I smell beef jerky."

"Nazeer found Infernal's rations."

Calreath offered him a packet of food, but Rathai crossed his arms. "I won't accept food from the Infernal Cult. Zenith probably poisoned it."

"Dude, Zenith is eating this."

"He isn't."

Calreath glanced at the others. Though Nazeer was devouring the rations, Zenith simply sat and talked, a hand on Blaziken's soft shoulder feathers. Calreath had worked in emergency rescue long enough to know that some people were famished after the experience and gorged themselves while others remained in shock and wouldn't eat or sleep.

"Nazeer and I haven't died yet," Calreath pointed out, then got annoyed and threw a pellet of Pokémon food. "If you're so paranoid, eat this. Zenith wouldn't poison his Pokémon."

"He gave this to your Pokémon."

Calreath threw his arms into the air. "He wouldn't poison any Pokémon!" Surely no one was that evil.

Rathai grimaced. "Right, because he needs them for his army from hell." He popped the Pokémon food into his mouth.

"Dude," Nazeer exclaimed.

Zenith raised an eyebrow at Calreath, who shrugged. What had he done to deserve this? His only consolation was knowing that Manaphy and Diana were waiting for him. Go through hell to reach heaven, or so he'd heard.