It was a breezy, balmy Summer day in Amsterdam, and the Frank family was on their way to Uncle Reuben's. Not their uncle; but the old man who ran the thinly disguised Pokemon food shop was very personable, and had many loyal customers. They strolled along the sidewalk, drops of sweat forming on their brows. Many others were out, and some of the ladies had their Pokemon with them: there were the Persians and the Delcattys, and the Jigglypuffs. Anne even saw a woman with a Pokemon that looked similar to Eevee: it was much taller, and had graceful legs, a fluffier collar and a longer neck. 'Twixt its ears there was a mane that flowed down its neck and between two feathery wings, all the way along its back and the top of its tail.

~...Evolved from Eevee? Seems like it. Who even knows what those Nazi breeders are capable of...~ Despite what Anne thought of the Nazis and their Pokemon breeders, the Pokemon seemed genuinely beautiful, and affectionate towards the woman. ~She seems to be well looked after, too. Probably the wife of an army officer.~ Seeing two very stern looking men behind the woman and her Pokemon confirmed this suspicion for Anne.

While there were many others out enjoying the lovely day, the Franks kept themselves relatively quiet. Uncle Reuben's was at the edge of the ghetto, and, the Franks did not live in the ghetto; though they were hardly the only Jews living outside it they encountered few yellow stars on the way. It was a lonely constellation that danced on the gray.

As the family grew closer to Uncle Reuben's, Anne reflected on the past couple of weeks with her new Pokemon. ~Sleipnir seems so restless! I wish I could let him run in the open. But Moortje and Calypso are getting along well enough inside. And that Moortje, it's almost like he can talk-~ Sunlight glinted off something metal from near Uncle Reuben's up ahead- ~Maybe I could teach him to someday; I've heard some Pokemon can learn. But first, get him to stop riding Sleipnir when they're out. I can tell Sleipnir doesn't like it. Maybe Calypso could help with that...~

The sunlight reflected off the metal again, and Anne found it was another Pokemon. She had never seen it before, but she'd heard enough stories of its terrifying capabilities to guess its name: Titaneon. Another product of the Nazi Pokemon breeding engine, it was a further mutation of the cute and fluffy Eevee species' DNA, developed specifically for use in combat. Gone was the fur, replaced by a silvery metallic hide; the tail had become whiplike and extended to half the body length. The head retained the basic shape, but it and the ears were sleeker. The eyes were partially shaded, and they glowed a golden yellow. Adding to Titaneon's industrial look were three streamlined exhaust vents, one on the back of its head and two on its ribs. And, in spite of its well earned fearsome reputation and how the mutation had been uncovered, Anne still could see a certain elegance to Titaneon's form.

"Shock trooper," Margot whispered to Anne. The younger Frank nodded, knowing the man arguing with Uncle Reuben had to be one, and that the Titaneon was his. Quietly mingling with the small crowd around Uncle Reuben's, it became apparent what had caused the argument.

"I cannot believe you pass this filth off as food! Not even a Pokemon could stomach it!" The shock trooper's cold stare stabbed into Uncle Reuben.

"I do my best, sir, but only those with a certain taste shop here." Uncle Reuben answered, worriedly stroking his beard. ~Which is something you seem to lack. Having such an infamous Pokemon out of its ball in the ghetto?Tsk tsk...~

"More like no taste at all," The shock trooper replied.

"Perhaps you would like to try another sample? We have a new cook, but I can give you something I personally made."

"As you wish," The shock trooper said with a dismissive wave of his hand as Uncle Reuben scurried off into the back room. He then turned to glare at the assembled Jews, his steely gray eyes settling on Anne for a moment. "You are all fortunate the Fuhrer does not shut your stores down entirely." The blond turned to Anne and pointed. "Jew girl. You try this scum he served; prove I'm right."

Anne looked down at the mouthful of Petaya berry Poke-block on the pavement, and gulped before smiling. "My family's come here for years, sir. I love Uncle Reuben's."

Mitzy, the cashier girl, nodded. "Yes, I see them here all the time."

Uncle Reuben appeared again. ~Perhaps for one moment I am glad I'm so poor I can't afford to throw out that burnt poffin Albert made.~ He thought, extending the very same poffin to the shock trooper. The German only bit off a small piece of the end, and after chewing for no more than a few seconds, spat it out and dropped the remainder.

"Every bit as disgusting."

"Ti, titaa." ~Smells fine, said the Titaneon. It looked up to the trooper and said, "Titan, tita eon?" ~Sure you don't want this? The Pokemon's slightly tinny voice was loud, now that things had slowed to a stop around Uncle Reuben's. The shock trooper ignored his Pokemon, and stared at Uncle Reuben.

"...You Jews are everything we were told you were. I don't know why I thought you would show yourselves any different; you don't deserve the restrictions you have already, they are far too light!"

~Too light?~ Mister Frank thought. ~Soon all we'll be able to do is eat sleep and die! And even then only in approved areas!~

"And I'm not the only one who thinks this. I heard the Captain of Team Rocket- Mengele himself- say that the Fuhrer has declared that for the safety of the Third Reich, Jews are strictly prohibited from owning Pokemon!" ~Just yesterday actually, but they don't need to know that.~ The shock trooper looked down on Uncle Reuben for a moment. "Steine, Smoke Screen!"

"Ti!" ~On it! The Titaneon blew out a dark ball, which exploded into a cloud of thick black smoke.

-At the Berghof the day after-

Adolf Hitler set down his cup of tea. "I am sure Team Rocket would have understood, but you must make sure to include in the order Regice must be captured unharmed."

"Of course, My Fuhrer." Mengele said. He scribbled down the sentence on Team Rocket's order.

"We must also monitor the Necropolis of Pantalica, and Krafla, and the Saharan Atlas range as well; but those are matters aside from your current mission." Perhaps to remind himself, or Mengele, Hitler added "And why are we taking care to watch those locations."

Josef Mengele watch the subtle tremble of Hitler's hand as it rested on the table. ~The Grimer extract... a dozen or so parts per million less in the serum, perhaps?~ "My Fuhrer, from careful observation of the wildlife and intercepted code from those areas, we have determined the so called 'Legendary Golems' Registeel, Regice, and Regirock are in the vicinity of the Necropolis, Deception Island near the Southern Pole, and the Saharan Atlas mountain range. In addition to this, it is common knowledge that the 'Golem King' Regigigas has for centuries hibernated in Krafla, Iceland."

~Ah, the Golem King. A Pokemon powerful enough to pull continents... The Third Reich would endure for a thousand years with Regigigas under our command...~ "Yes, and the three golems are needed to awaken Regigigas successfully. And while the capture of Regigigas is the ultimate goal, the three golems are a crucial point. Every day I am reminded of how the Jewish have failed the Third Reich, and there would be few victories greater than subduing their myths and legends and heroes and holding them in the palm of my hand!" Hitler slammed his palm down on the table, causing the tea cup to rattle on its saucer. He sighed. "Forgive my temper... the- the serum of Grimer extract, have you prepared it?"

"Yes, my Fuhrer." Mengele swallowed. "But if I may, I wish to slightly modify-"

"No! ...It is perfectly effective, and I have nearly run out! Have it delivered to me as soon as possible. My health must not fail me now." Adolf Hitler took a deep breath, and glanced aside: in dictating Team Rocket's orders he had forgotten his mistress Eva Braun was sitting in a chair slightly away from the table, the graceful winged evolution of Eevee she so loved by her side. One of his own Pokemon, the prime specimen of the shock trooper standard issue Titaneon species, was curled up next to Eva's Aereon. In the silence, he could hear the quiet rise and fall of its fan-like breath. He signaled to it, and the golden Pokemon came up beside his chair. He absentmindedly began stroking its neck, the warm metallic hide supple under his touch. "Dispatch the orders immediately, and do not forget the serum. You are dismissed, Josef..."

Mengele nodded and stood, then raised his arm in salute. "Hail Hitler!" He pivoted, and marched out of the room, his orders clear and conscience muddled.