From here on out, it'll be mainly ideas that I never had the chance to use in the main story. I already have the finale all thought out, but there are some parts that I want to write first.

Epilogue, Part 1: Interrogation Process

-Mel's POV-

It's been almost a year since Rio and Meowth stopped Darkrai from plunging the world in darkness. After a few months, Cresselia had come back and told them that Palkia had fixed the distortion that they were causing, meaning that they could evolve now.

Rio evolved into a Lucario and gained an entire new repertoire of moves to train with. But I still saw him practice with his old moves that he had as a Riolu. He said that just because he had a new set of moves didn't mean that he should forget his basics. I could respect that; I still practiced with my Poison Powder, Worry Seed, Giga Drain and Spore moves that I learned as a Shroomish.

Meowth seemed a bit hesitant to evolve at first, since he's been a Meowth for his entire life. But after some thought, he took off his coin charm and had Rio hold it for him while he evolved. It still remained after the gem grew on his forehead and he evolved into Persian. He had it made into a necklace that he wears to this day. Also, he didn't want a new nickname. He said, "I'll always be Meowth, through-an'-through."

One thing that Meowth lamented upon evolving into Persian was that he couldn't walk on two legs anymore. A Persian's body was simply not made to even attempt the feat. But with the longer stride, he still had his old speed and more. Along with the evolution, he got the move Power Gem.

Hogan also evolved into Machamp using a Link Cable that we found a while back. At first he didn't know what to do with the extra arms sprouting out of his new extra shoulder blades. He wasn't able to coordinate them with the arms he was used to using very well. With that, he had to spend many weeks training from the ground up to construct an entirely new fighting style. It was slow-going, but he had Rose's encouragement all the way through it.

After about a month-and-a-half of improvising new combinations and doing concentration exercises with Marowak, he was able to utilize his new arms to their fullest effect. He learned to multitask with his arms, one of his favorite combinations being to hit opponents upwards with a Cross Chop from his lower arms, and then immediately slam them back down into the ground with a double-fisted Brick Break from his upper arms (He calls it Cross Crusher).

Levi found out that the Secret Slab he got would allow us to find legendary Pokémon that were otherwise hidden in typical everyday mystery dungeons. Meowth didn't seem all that interested. He said that we had a solid team, and he didn't see how adding anybody else would help. Levi kept the slab, in case we ever wanted to use it.

As for Vlad, he still hasn't found who he's looking for. I've kept this from him, but I don't think he'll ever be able to find that Magmar, unless he reveals himself. Mystery dungeons have a habit of leading you through one of many weaving paths from point A to point B. Magmar could be hiding on any one of those paths within any dungeon. I didn't tell him because, it would either shoot down his hopes of avenging his family or he would become obsessed and kill himself with the search. Both would be equally bad.

Today, we had met up at our usual spot when Officer Magnezone floated up to our table. "ZZZT! Team Righteous, I would like to request your assistance. ZZZT!"

Meowth turned to him and said, "Sure, Chief, who're we catchin'?"

"ZZZT! The outlaw has already been captured by another exploration team. ZZZT! However, we have reason to believe that this outlaw is just a grunt working for a more dangerous one! ZZZT! My squad has been interrogating him four hours a day for two weeks, but he hasn't revealed anything. ZZZT! As he is a Ground-type, our usual methods of eliciting information are futile. ZZZT!"

Dash said, "Uh, you think that he might just not know anything? Maybe he really was working on his own."

"ZZZT! Negative. We found orders in his bag. ZZZT! They were written in encrypted footprint runes and there was no signature. ZZZT! The orders were to gather a list of items and meet at 'the rendezvous point'. ZZZT! The meeting time was set to two days from now, and we need to know what we're dealing with so we can plan to intercept this outlaw or outlaws. ZZZT!"

Vlad spoke up, "Ooh, an interrogation? How about I-"

I slapped his side and glared at him. We're trying to get information; not make him scared of his shadow for the rest of his life.

Vlad grinned at me, "I feel I can do both."

"Anyway," Rio said, "we'll be glad to help however we can."

"ZZZT! Excellent. Please follow me to the police station."

We did so, following him to a wasteland. The police station was, for lack of better description, a pile of rocks shaped like a building. When we were inside, a bunch of Magnemite and Magneton were flying around, carrying what appeared to be books on metal trays held by their magnets. A hole was open in the center of the room. I discreetly took a look down; I couldn't even see the bottom.

"ZZZT! Outlaws are kept in an underground chamber down there. ZZZT! Give me a moment." He floated down and his magnets started vibrating, "ZZZZZZZZZT!" Metal plates shot out of the walls of the hole and led down forming a staircase. Magnezone continued to move down and make more steps as he said, "ZZZT! Right this way, please. ZZZT!"

As we went down the stairs, a Magneton followed behind us and retracted the steps into the wall. It was probably so that prisoners couldn't escape.

Vlad looked around and said, "What do you do when you have Ghost-type outlaws?" He reached for the wall of the pit, "I mean, I could slip out of here, one, two, th-AGH!" He pulled his hand back as black electricity buzzed.

Magnezone continued down, "ZZZT! We chose this location for a reason. ZZZT! An ancient war was held right here in this wasteland. ZZZT! It used to be a fertile landscape, but the war rendered it unlivable. ZZZT! Some believe that so many died that their spirits curse this very ground. ZZZT!"

Manaphy floated closer to Meowth and clung on top of his back. Rio patted him on the shoulder reassuringly as he trembled.

"ZZZT! It's speculation of course, but one way or another, ghost Pokémon cannot phase through these walls. ZZZT! For them, they have special jail cells made of the earth of this wasteland. ZZZT!"

Vlad shifted nervously, "Hm, suddenly, I'm feeling very claustrophobic."

Jirachi said, "I kind of like it down here. The dark would be good for napping."

Penny turned to Jirachi with a groan and said, "Do you ever think about anything besides sleep?"

Jirachi huffed and crossed his arms, "Well, excuse me, miss, but why don't you try concentrating on all the wishes around the world everywhere you go, and then see how long you can stay awake after the mental exhaustion?"

Penny looked at him, surprised, and then turned back forward with a quickly muttered apology.

Yikes. Jirachi's usually so cheerful and bright. I guess his need for a lot of sleep is a sensitive subject.

We reached the bottom of the pit, and the Magneton that was trailing behind us retracted the last of the steps and then saluted Magnezone with one of his magnets before flying back up to the surface.

Magnezone said, "ZZZT! A Magneton guard from down here will help us get back up. ZZZT! Right this way, please. ZZZT!"

He led us down a network of pathways, taking several turns and passing through several rooms before we reached a stone door with two metal disks on the corners of one side.

"ZZZT! This is where outlaws are interrogated. ZZZT! Who is going to try first? ZZZT!"

Meowth said, "I'll do it. I want outta dis place as much as Manaphy does." He glanced back at Manaphy, "Wait here wit' Rio. It won't take long." Manaphy floated off of Meowth's back and landed next to Rio.

After instructing Meowth to knock three times when he wanted to come out, Magnezone's magnets vibrated and the door swung outward as the metal plates were attracted towards him. After Meowth went in, Magnezone closed the door behind him.

We waited outside. It was hard to gauge how much time went by without the sun as reference. After a while, there were three quick knocks, and Magnezone quickly opened the door again. Meowth walked out with a grumpy look on his face.

Siltram said, "Didn't go well, Boss?"

Meowth shook his head, "Guy wouldn't say anything. He just clammed up the whole time. Nothing I said even looked like it got his attention."

Savage grunted, "Hmph, then f*** the talking. Why not just beat the answer out of him?"

"No need to be so barbaric," Vlad said, "I could get the information out of him if I just got a few minutes alone."

Meowth said, "Savage, Vlad's right. Beatin' 'im unconscious would just make us hafta stay till he woke up. Vlad, dat's da absolute last resort. Anybody else wanna take a whack at it?"

Nobody spoke up. To be honest, Meowth was probably our best shot at talking an answer out of this outlaw. He knows how they think, but he can't read-

My thought was cut short and I raised my hand. Everybody looked at me, and I pointed at the door. I want to give it a try.

Vlad relayed what I was trying to say, and Magnezone opened the door for me after giving me the same instructions and closed it behind me.

The inside of the room had a fire in the center of the room, lighting the place up, and a Larvitar was sitting on the ground with two magnets encircling his body, forcing his arms to remain at his side.

I raised an eyebrow. A kid like this was filching all those items? He doesn't seem like the criminal type. And even if he were stealing out of desperation, wouldn't it only be things like food? There were some high-end items on that list.

Walking forward, I sat at the opposite side of the fire, pretending to mind my own business. Reaching down, I started drawing in the dirt like it was far more interesting than interrogating that kid. After a few minutes, I heard a questioning grunt from him as I continued to ignore him.

On the sly, I started using Mind Reader to concentrate on his thoughts.

-this lady here? Why isn't she asking questions like the others? Everybody's been so mean…

I kept my face decidedly neutral as I pretended to be none the wiser. Silence tends to make minds wander. Even if I could talk, it wouldn't accomplish as much as just reading his wandering thoughts.

I hope that the others are okay… I've been gone for so long, I wonder if they're worried. I need to get out of here somehow! But… without those items, there's no hope…

He needs items like that to do something?

If I don't get them back to him, then our village is through! If only I were stronger; I could evolve into Tyranitar, and then I'd show him!

Paying off another Pokémon…? That would explain why he's stealing those kinds of items, but I need to know who.

Maybe I still could if I can get the other Pokémon of the village to stand up to him! But… he's already burned down so many of our homes. He even burned Auntie Wormadam to death!

His thoughts became more turbulent, making them difficult to read. But I tried harder, making sure to keep the strain off of my face.

That stupid Magmortar! I bet if he were nicer, he wouldn't have lost his eye!

This time, I couldn't help but gasp and the Larvitar's thoughts ceased and he focused back on me, his face as stoic as before, and he looked to the side, ignoring me. But I had already heard all that I needed to hear.

I stood up and dusted my legs off, the Larvitar watching me as I left and knocked on the door three times. Once I was outside, Magnezone closed the door again and Rio asked, "Any luck, Mel?"

I nodded and turned to Vlad, making a writing motion with my hand.

"Mel says that she'll write it out for us." I shook my head and pointed to Magnezone.

Vlad raised an eyebrow, "Sorry, for you, Officer Magnezone. She wants to speak with you alone."

Vlad eyed me suspiciously as I left with Magnezone to give him the details of what I heard. Despite my belief that Vlad is within his rights to hold a grudge, there's no telling what he'd do if he ever met that Pokémon again. He might do something he'd regret. He'll hate me for this later, but it's for the best.

-Vlad's POV-

What could she have learned that she didn't want to share with us?

Cathy said, "So what next? Are we going to catch this big boss, whoever they are?"

Sunshine turned to her and said, "That fully depends on what Officer Magnezone says. If he feels we can handle it, then he'll ask us."

I twiddled my thumbs, thinking over my chances that they'd let me have this one. I haven't had a chance to give a good scare to an outlaw in a long time. And it's ceased being fun to try and frighten the locals, since they all know me now. Perhaps I could go to one of my old haunts to scare up some fun? I'd have to do it at night, though. This team is full of killjoys.

Once Mel came back, she was with a Magneton. He said, "ZZZT! Officer Magnezone is preoccupied with organizing a task force. ZZZT! I will lead you back to the surface. ZZZT!"

As our group followed him, I fell into step next to Mel. "So, who's the lucky outlaw that gets his personal wanted poster? Must be important for the police to get directly involved."

Mel glanced at me, but shrugged her shoulders, as if saying, "Sorry. Can't talk now."

She turned back forward, and I slowed down, keeping my eye on her as I walked slightly behind her. For the first time since I met her, she seemed to be trying to keep something quiet.