Night had truly set in by the time Ren and Violet returned to the harbour, although the city itself hadn't dulled. Open bars replaced the earlier street vendors, patrons spilling into the streets with drinks in hand, a few merrily swaying in rhythm to the music provided by energetic performers. Ren idly wondered if Vermilion ever lost its sheen of brightness. He was almost sorry to be leaving, especially since learning that Violet was so advantageous to attracting the fairer sex.

The aforementioned lady killer trotted by his side, her eyes wide, head whipping back and forth, ears twitching to every sound. Despite the numerous distractions, she hadn't run off again. If anything, she seemed a little daunted by their noisy surroundings, and Ren found it a bit weird to think that she could find a sense of comfort next to him. He thought back to their first meeting, how utterly unimpressed with one another they were, and felt a pang of guilt. Of all the Trainers you could've ended up with, you're stuck with me.

Stepping through the doors of the port building, Ren's thoughts instantly ground to a halt. He'd assumed that, this late in the evening, the harbour would have been relatively quiet, but it appeared even more packed than when they'd arrived. The atmosphere was drastically different to the lively streets outside, unease painted across every face he looked at, a hum of low apprehensive mumbling the only sound.

Violet gave a low whimper, and Ren looked down to see her fur standing on end, tail wrapped around her hind legs. Somehow, this didn't seem an appropriate time to try to pick up women.

"Return." As Shinx fled to the safety of her Poké Ball, Ren caught the arm of the nearest passerby. "What's happening here?"

The man he'd caught looked at him incredulously. "If you don't know-" the man shrugged himself free "-then check the news. I need to find a hotel for the night."

Quickly pulling out his Pokégear, Ren flicked through until he was on the news section. Sure enough, buried under some mundane bollocks about a celebrity, was the information he was looking for. Well, sort of.

BREAKING. Ongoing incident on Cinnabar Island. Possible gas explosion.

No further details available at this time. Sea and air travel to the island is currently suspended.

That was it. A fleeting check on social media didn't provide any further information, only speculation. Listening to the voices nearby him, it was obvious that nobody really had a clue what was going on.

Different murmurs, more familiar, cut through before he could form any speculation of his own.

"Is that Ren Ketchum?!"

"Naw way, dude. He hasn't been back here since-"

"I'm telling ya, it's really him! See, over there!"

Ren groaned inwardly. It had been too good to be true to expect to go a whole day without being recognised; he needed to exit, pronto, before anyone had the grand idea of approaching him. Experience had taught him that some folks were utterly shameless when it came to 'celebrities'.

Pushing through the crowd towards what he hoped was the exit, a glance of red hair caught his attention and suddenly his exit strategy became a little less important.

Jay was on the outskirts of the gathering, next to a towering Alakazam, her back turned. As Ren closed the distance between them, he reached a hand out, intending to place a hand on her shoulder as a way of greeting-

"Teleport."

Ren heard the words and, before he could even think, brilliant white light engulfed them.


Jayna felt the blaze of intense heat, and reacted instantly.

"Protect!"

Alakazam's reactions were even better than her own; before she'd finished her desperate shout, a solid, translucent barrier sprung up. Flames licked against it, no doubt eager to break through and sizzle them to a crisp.

Her heart was thumping as she took in the sight before them: it looked like they'd landed in an alleyway behind a building, and said building was very much on fire, smoke billowing out into the night sky. "Looks like Intel was right," she stated plainly. "You alright, Persian?"

There was no answer, only the pounding of the fire in her ears. Jayna whirled, heart threatening to leap out of her chest… and the reason Persian had chosen to remain silent was right there, in a disheveled heap on the floor, bewilderment painted across his face: Ren Ketchum.


"Wh- what are you doing here?" Jay's voice held a slight rasp as smoke edged around the Protect, small tendrils creeping towards the small group.

Momentarily dazzled by the abrupt change in scenery (and temperature), Ren took a moment to respond with a question of his own.

"Where are we?"

"Cinnabar," she answered matter-of-factly. Picking up the Persian, ignoring its rumblings of low growls, her hands deftly checked it over. Finding no sign of injuries, her relief was plain as she gently set down the feline, who shot Jay an indignant look and promptly began carefully rearranging its fur.

Ren knew Cinnabar tended to be hot; its temperamental volcano was common knowledge, but literal burning flames were a bit overboard in his humble opinion.

"This has nothing to do with the volcano." Jay seemed to have read his mind. She sighed, a frown creasing her forehead. "If only it were that simple."

"What's going on, then?" he asked, getting to his feet, the shock of their sudden arrival beginning to lessen.

She shook her head, throwing a concerned look in Alakazam's direction. "I'll explain later, right now we have a more pressing priority."

Ren caught onto her meaning straightaway and nodded, setting aside his curiosity. "We've gotta get somewhere safer."

"Bingo." She rooted through her bag and handed over a light grey scarf, emblazoned with chibi Meowth. "Keep your mouth covered, okay?" She paused before continuing, tone serious. "Ren, you chose a really bad time to visit this place."

After gaining some distance from the flames, Jay called Alakazam back. Ren wondered why she hadn't recalled Persian as well- but didn't think this was the appropriate moment to start calling out another Trainer's choices- and the remaining trio made a run for it.

Luckily, the fire hadn't spread too far from the building, a fortunate result of Cinnabar's desolate landscape. Coming around to the front of the structure, it became clear that it was- or, at least, had been- a Gym.

"Did the old timer finally burn down his own Gym?" Ren panted out loud, the taste of smoke lingering in his mouth.

In addition to its volcano, Cinnabar Island was infamous for one other thing: the eccentric and decrepit Blaine. Nobody knew his age for sure, only that he stubbornly clung to his Gym Leader title like a Remoraid suckered to a Mantine. Ren had heard tales of how battles on the island were once fought in the actual sodding volcano until the Pokémon League, fearful of potential lawsuits, had forced Blaine to relocate to safer surroundings.

"Not my doing, son." A gravelly male voice spoke directly behind Ren. "Although I wish I'd thought of it. Maybe now the dammed PLC will let me have my real Gym back," he finished with a grumble.

The Trainers pirouetted as one to find a living legend: Blaine himself. With his badly-fitting wig, trailing white moustache, and flamboyant printed sunglasses, he looked every part of the weirdo he was famed to be. Even his long, smoke-stained cloak retained a sense of grandiose splendour. Given the circumstances, the guy seemed oddly jovial, a grin plastered on his heavily wrinkled face as he reveled in the flickering flames.

Ren and Jay exchanged a look before the elder man cast his attention on them.

"As much as I'd love to stand here watching this place burn," -Ren had no trouble believing the Gym Leader- "come with me. It's not safe for kids like you." He marched away at a pace at odds with his ancient age, not waiting for the others as they hurried to follow him.

"You're damn lucky I came out for a final sweep. Did you miss the tannoy announcements?" Blaine snorted in vexation, "or are you two simply stupid?"

"What? We've only just got here-," Ren started, an annoyed finger tapping against his waist.

The man ahead snorted once more, incredulity in his tone. "Sure, son. Which miracle did you perform to break through that?" He motioned with the words, throwing a thumb up to gesture towards the sea.

In the distance, a mile or two out, Ren caught a slight shimmer. It was hard to tell- the moon was a waning crescent reluctant to share its light- but the longer he gazed, the more... fuzzy the horizon looked, akin to viewing it through thick crystal.

"A barrier?" Ren ventured.

"Correct," Blaine confirmed with a snap of his fingers. "It appeared a few hours ago, tracing the perimeter of the island. As far as we can tell, it cuts into the sea bed and stretches beyond the sky. Not a damned thing can pass through."

"Even with teleportation?" Jay shot Ren a sharp look, which he pretended to not see.

"Not a dammed thing can pass through," the Gym Leader repeated blandly. "Deaf as well as dumb; it's no marvel you missed the warning broadcasts."

Ren bit back a retort as the cantankerous-Cranidos-masquerading-as-a-human slowed his footsteps to a cautious gait, the residential area opening up before them. There didn't seem to be any active infernos nearby but Blaine appeared to be on high alert, his head pivoting whilst he shed his tarnished cloak, revealing dark nondescript clothing underneath. The wig came off as well- shit must be getting serious.

"Less of the Q and A now, there were stragglers here not too long ago. Let's avoid jumping out of the fire straight into Entei's jaws."

The path Blaine took wasn't a direct route through the town; instead, he weaved through winding alleyways and backstreets. The further they walked, in complete silence as the senior insisted, the more Ren felt his unease and questions grow. Occasionally in the distance they'd hear angry shouts, and in those moments Blaine would motion them to stop, standing as still as a preying Zangoose until the sounds had passed.

Even worse were the spots of ominous glowing orange, confirmed to be more pockets of fire when Ren caught Blaine's expression; the latter's lips twisted in distaste and yet somehow still wearing a smile. In a way, Ren was glad that he couldn't see the eyes behind the sunglasses; the bloke clearly enjoyed flames far too much.

Eventually, Ren settled upon observing Jay as a distraction. The red-head was slightly ahead of him, her Persian matching her steady stride. She seemed nonplussed about their current situation, following Blaine's leadership without protest. When they stopped, her hands ran through Persian's fur at steady strokes, and Ren noted that she was offering reassurance rather than seeking it. Once, when the disturbances had sounded disarmingly close, she shot him a smile and her eyes held no trace of fear.

She said something about 'intel'. He had no idea what that could mean. She was too young to join the ranks of the police, surely? Maybe he had misheard in his post-Teleportation daze. She knows what's going on, though. And Blaine said that Teleporting through the barrier is impossible.

"Here we are. Quickly, now."

They'd reached the back entrance of a red and white building that Ren quickly identified as a Pokémon Center. Pounding on the door in a quick musical rhythm, Blaine stepped back at the sound of scraping and bolts being unlocked.

Ignoring the older man for the first time, remaining still, Jay lost her calm composure and cast a disbelieving eye on Blaine. "Here?!" A bitter laugh escaped her throat. "You think we'll be safe here of all places? Do you have any idea what's happening-"

Her rant was interrupted by Blaine roughly pulling her through the door. "I know exactly what's occurring. No doubt a damn sight more than you, girl."

A hissing Persian followed its owner, baring its fangs as it rushed past Blaine. Ren gingerly stepped into the corridor after them, confusion and doubt swirling inside him.

"You are an intriguing one." Blaine commented dryly as he pulled the door shut, stepping forward to allow the guards to bolt and barricade it. "Concerned about coming to this Center and yet wandering the streets with a loose Pokémon?"

Jay chose not to answer the barbed question, stubbornly avoiding his gaze and focusing on Persian instead.

"Anti-Pokémon sentiment has been gaining traction here over the last few years, but I never thought it'd come to this," the old man switched topics with a weary sigh. "We'll make sure you're all kept safe, of course. There are rooms upstairs." He started to walk away, and then whirled around with a pointed warning: "Don't go back outside."

"Wait." Jay had stepped forward to address the withdrawing man. "This barrier. Where's the source?"

There was a pause before a gruff answer came. "Beneath this Center. Remember I told you to not go outside."

Silence filled the depressing space Blaine had left behind, the hallway typical of the neglect that plagued Poké Centers nowadays: discoloured white walls, paint peeling, the carpet outdated and threadbare. Radiating distrust, the guards didn't seem to be in any mood for casual conversation.

Besides, the only person Ren wanted answers from right now was Jay, and he swept an arm across her shoulders as he chaperoned her upstairs. "Let's find somewhere to talk."

He'd expected her to protest but instead she fixed him with those stunning violet eyes and nodded. "Yeah, you're right. We need to come up with a plan." A grin danced across her face. "Plus, we can't let that decrepid coffin dodger do all of the work."


The room they settled in was just as unremarkable as the neglected hallway downstairs, with the added bonus of a flickering light bulb which Jayna swiftly noted as extremely irritating. The people in charge had tried to make her take a separate room to Ren when they'd realised they weren't a couple, but she'd waved their concerns away, citing that in the need to provide rooms for many, it made sense for people to share where they could. Her now-roommate looked like he'd hit the jackpot, an annoyingly smug look fixed upon his face. He'd gotten the wrong idea completely, but she didn't have the energy to set him straight.

Ren flopped down onto one of the musty beds and beckoned her to sit as well. Instead of joining him, Jayna made her way to the window to assess the situation. The town was alight. As well as the Gym, they'd already hit the Poké Mart and Laboratory. Frustration pulsed through her; they were sitting Ducklett here. She knew that Persian felt it too; the animal was pacing back and forth, impatient to be settling old scores.

"Are you gonna talk, then?" Ren was studying her, casually fiddling with one of the piercings in his left ear. "Tell me what's going on."

Considering her words carefully, she focused on the scene outside while she spoke. "You heard Blaine. Anti-Pokémon beliefs are at an all-time high." Scooting over to make room, she gestured towards him. "Come over here a second."

Ren ambled over, but the mask of coolness slipped as he peered out. "What the fuck. That's the Lab... and the Mart. Is this some form of... terrorism?"

His reluctance to suggest terrorism wasn't surprising; Kanto had enjoyed years of peace since the disbanding of Team Rocket. It probably seemed unreal to him, sheltered and pampered over in Hoenn, not having to deal with the fallout.

"Some form of terrorism..." Jayna repeated his words to herself. "I guess you could label it as that," she said softly.

"You've seen the headlines, haven't you?" She asked but she didn't wait for a response before continuing.

"Pokémon replacing people's jobs, Pokémon being dangerous and uncontrollable, Pokémon being used for crime, the conspiracy that Pokémon are being trained for war... the list goes on," she took a breath, thankful to be inhaling something lacking smog.

"Politicians have jumped on that-", Ren inserted, tearing his gaze away to face her, "-think of all the laws that have passed since we were kids. Licenses, microchipping, restricted breeding, our every move followed by the PCL. The days where ten year olds could venture out without a care are long gone."

"Yeah, people are worried, and... there are groups looking to capitalise on that fear. Especially in small towns like this, where propaganda and misinformation can spread easily."

"What exactly are you saying?" The question escaped Ren's lips, although she could tell by his troubled expression that he knew where this was going.

"The people down there, setting fire to everything... they aren't terrorists, Ren. They're the townspeople."