Upright wanted nothing more than to visit Amory. So, Arceus, master of little hitches, made sure he arrived at the Timestop just as it closed. Of course it would close.

The quilava huffed and leaned against the balcony. Here came thirty minutes of probing his newest wound: an arm broken at the shoulder, gift from commander Regal herself. He licked at it bitterly; if he focused, there was the distinct taste left over from Regal's burst of cruelty. Her real identity mark. It smelt like coagulated blood, and tasted like the mildewed ropes used to anchor ships.

"Already?" An adventurer asked. The burly nidorino slapped the ground with a forearm. "Kit, you can't quit yet! Give it time."

"I'm not quitting," Upright mumbled.

"Whazzat?"

"I'm not quitting!" He made sure to enunciate every syllable for the adventurer.

The nidorino gaped. "That's some gumption. You ought to know better than to mess with a scrapper. We scrappers lock horns with more ferals than the rest of 'em, you know? I'm a nice feller, 'cept when you mess with me. THen? Whew! Hope you like diving, because I'll toss you straight off…"

Why am I so ornery? Upright asked himself. The memories of his first few hours in Pokéarth surfaced. He remembered what he had said:

"I used to steal things until one of you caught me."

"I was bad."

Tear welled up in Upright's eyes. Maybe it was a week's time. Maybe a week was how long it took before the person he used to be found its way back into his body. In a day, or two, Upright's rages would become the norm, his meager identity built up over the last few days obliterated. Again. Replaced with some lonesome thief. The sort of identity that left him friendless – no family – no home. As a human. As a pokémon, he had no idea how Doggy would react… the growlithe might have no other choice than to abandon him. He might be kicked out of the Initiative...

The nidorino inched closer. "Oh, kit, relax. It's harmless banter..."

"I want to be left alone," Upright pleaded. "Please," he added, using his timidness while he still had it.

Maybe if this happened the first day, I'd be glad. Or the second. Now… I think I don't care about who I was. This was my chance to be a good boy. Not fair, Arcues. Not fair, no, no, no…

The grinding of the Timestop woke him up. A veritable army lumbered through, into the Initiative, their purpose oppressing the open air about the bridge. Upright almost panicked – if he had the will to get excited, a dozen pokémon in formation was the ticket.

Nonetheless, the army forced him to stand up. Plus, Amory led the slow charge at a snail's pace. The quilava's spirit instantly brightened, even so the cinccino paid him no mind. Instead, a large orb between his paws took every ounce of the commander's concentration.

The nidorino eyed the orb. "Ah, a memory orb!" He exclaimed. "Showtime at the Initiative, hm?"

"No offense to either of you," Amory growled. "Get out of my way. Out."

"Away," a serviper hissed, using its head to nudge Upright away. "The slightest disturbance could damage the integrity of the orb."

Amory waited a moment. Then he began his march again.

"What's going on?" He asked the serviper.

"There is a show on this orb," she replied. " Captured by Daté, of all the bastards to come by such a thing. We shall change the course of the Territory's future with this transport!"

"What show? How?!" He stuck to the edge of the bridge, keeping pace with the transport.

The serpent grinned, half-frenzied with glee. The sheer kinetic energy of the march was irrestible, even against the revelation Upright had about himself. "A second Territory, child. In the snow!"

A second Territory? Amory mentioned this during their first meeting: barring the existence of another Territory, Pathen and its own Territory was completely alone in Pokéarth. This is the equivalent to… to discovering aliens, I guess! Amory actually found what he was looking for. Or, Daté did… that's a fine reason for the Master to call him a 'shining emissary.'

"Incredible. Any pretty lasses out there in the snow?" The nidorino asked. Several members of Amory's company covered their chortles. It was such a contagious feeling, the feeling of great victory. Past all the indiscretions, Upright honestly felt as if he himself worked toward this. As a part of the Initiative.

A bell started to ring – from the Timestop's small kiosk. The pokémon meant to occupy the area was nowhere to be seen. No, he was: sprawled on the floor, its brown-furred legs poking out from behind the counter.

Amory stopped moving and, slowly, turned around. Pokémon, quite a few of them. None of them looked like they belonged on the other side of the Timestop. Upright had a feeling he knew what came next. Commander Amory offered the memory orb to a shaky sentret, and shouldered off a satchel around his side.

A roar rose above the bandits. "Thirty minutes to gut 'em, friends – they can't all retreat past the orb!" Amory's company formed a phalanx, barring the path.

T-They're coming past the Timestop, Upright finally concluded. This band of pokémon mean to attack the transport! A-All I wanted was to visit Amory, how did I get caught up in this?!

"Stand back!" Amory ordered. "You won't be much use with a broken arm."

"A-Are they Graces, Amory?" The sentret asked.

Commander Amory, Upright fumed. The cinccino looked the part, ready to fight for the development the Territory needs. "Of course not," the quilava snapped. "Why would they try to steal from Daté?"

Amory turned to him, his muzzle scrunched up with confusion. "Uh, good point. How did you know-"

"They're upon us, commander!" The serviper cried. She hissed, ducking under a stray claw. With a firm uncoiling, she managed to smack away one attacker. Another pokémon grabbed her by the top of the head, and she was forced to tense up just to keep her leverage.

The phalanx descended into chaos. Upright retreated by the sentret's side.

"We're only field researchers," the sentret said. "We aren't combat-focused! Rookie, go get help from the mess hall. Whoever is in earshot!"

"Watch your rear!" A researcher shouted.

"Flank, flank – ah, get your teeth outta there-" that was the nidorino.

A gigantic, frazzled bird landed behind Upright and the sentret. The way it composed itself made Upright dread what comes next: this bird certainly looked like it led a band of bloodthirsty bandits.

"So," the fearow chirped. "They send crippled 'mons on transports now?"

Upright tried to speak. No words slipped by the lump in his throat.

"Give me the orb, you squat little shits."

"Never!" The sentret cried. Several researchers were already trying to come to their aid. The odds of reaching them were hazy.

The fearow hopped forward playfully. Upright was hit with sudden inspiration. If it worked on Regal, then maybe...

"Back up!" Upright ordered. He pointed his back at the orb. "Or I'll blow it up!"

"You wouldn't," the fearow sighed. "It's worth too much to both of us. Maybe I'll share it if you're nice and hand it over quick."

Upright felt like fainting. "There's plenty of other pretty rocks out there."

"P-pretty rock? That's a memory orb, you dunce?"

"Memory orb? Who's bluffing who? There's no such thing as a memory orb."

They stood at a standstill. The bird eyed him, wondering if he was stupid enough to really consider it a 'pretty rock.' The fearow chortled. "Your snarl ain't as snappy as you think, little brat." In a split second, the bird dove in, pecking at the quilava's broken arm. The flames on his back sputtered in the face of reemerging pain.

The fearow dug his talons into the downed quilava. Upright huffed, writhing beneath the incredible weight. When it broke skin, though, he did muster up a small whimper. Inside his mind, a tornado of emotions tore him apart – fear, anger, dread, guilt. It was nigh-unbearable. So much so, Upright almost wished the bird would cover it by pushing in harder.

"Lemme show how it's done," the bird squawked. "You, sentret, will tell your pals to surrender. Or else I give this whelp's cap a makeover."

The sentret gasped. "Why steal it? A second Territory opens new doors..."

"Like a bunch of icy pricks Outside can make west Territory less hungry. We need something to warrant a look from the east. Isn't that how you adventurers set it up?"

Set it up, huh… Upright licked his muzzle. West, east. Are there problems in the north and south, too? There's too many problems around here. Like a talon in the back. Or a sentret doing a horrible job at negotiating for his life.

"We, the pokémon you confront now, did nothing. Taking this orb will be an affront to everyone's future, no matter their upbringing."

"Tomorrow's the only future worth mentioning." The talon slid up Upright's body, positioning itself aboe his head.

Golly. He's actually gonna do it. All this worrying over nothing. In the end, he could always just die. Upright felt as if all the air had been sucked away. He felt weightless, floaty, time stopped moving the way it usually did….

"Looks like you're another bit of collateral, whelp-"

"Get your filthy talons off of him!" Amory yelled. He smacked the sentret aside, who willingly let his head smack against the ground, rather than drop the orb.

The cinccino kept pushing till the talon popped out of Upright's back. The quilava stood up, dazed. He craned his neck around to lick his wounds.

The fearow tried to laugh at the scrawny pokémon's willingness to go head-to-head with a beast twice his size. It cut off into an incredulous squawk as the cinccino grabbed onto his wing. Amory manipulated their weights as if he had the exact motions calculated beforehand, shifting the bird onto its back with a single twist. From there, the fearow scrambled for an answer as Amory went to work on his beak. When the fearow tried to retaliate with a sly peck, it only made the beat-down worse, and the bandit was soon smothered by blows.

Upright opened his mouth a bit, about to ask: Amory, is that you?

He hadn't really noticed. For all the excitement, the battle ended quickly. He'd say the bandits had misjudged the Initiative - which was odd, to underestimate a place which conditioned and trained fighters.

Amory stepped back from the fearow, who was now getting a taste of what it feels like to be beaten. "I ought to give you more," Amory said between pants. "Stubborn idiot. How dare you jeopardize our future? Would you like to starve to death Outside, when there is no place left to take refuge?"

"Forget the lecture!" The sentret cried. Two researchers, of the few able to stand, assisted in getting the orb-bearer back to his feet. "You knocked me down on your way. I… I think there might be damage."

"No!" Amory cried. "I was saving… Upright!"

Huh? The quilava thought. What did I do now?

"What were you doing down here?" Amory asked accusingly. "You're within your right to be here… damn it all! If you hadn't been here, then maybe… wait, where are you going?"

"I, uh, will see you later," Upright mumbled. Speaking was having his tongue swim through molasses. The temperate weather became oddly cold. "Gonna go to the dorms... rest a bit..."

Amory stepped toward the departing quilava, then pivoted to get another look at the orb. There were also researchers whose situations were dire; the serviper was unconscious, the nidorino wasn't able to remove those fangs from his side until they achieved serious damage. The cinccino gritted his teeth and abandoned the quilava.

"Gah. Okay. Go to the dorms," he recommended. "Go straight there, no detours. Promise me."

Upright hung his head, halfway through a nod he'd given up on."Okay, bye."

Did I almost die back there? He asked himself. I… I think… huh. I did! Looks like Amory wants me to tell everyone we were attacked.

Upright scratched his ear and yawned. Where was he again?

Mess hall in the middle… vocation tower on the right… infirmary to the left, his dorm above that. He dreaded the long walk to the dorms, yet found he was already on the way. On the bridge there, even.

Now, when did I get here?

He yawned again. He didn't feel tired at all – in fact, he felt as though he took a nap between point A and point B. That didn't make him feel awake, though.

With a tiny grunt he shoved the door the dorms open. There were several applicants already returned from their commanders. Some talked among themselves excitedly. Doggy, in the crowd, turned to Upright the moment his scent came wafting into the room.

"Upright!" He exclaimed, wagging his tail. "Did you hear that alarm?"

"That's neat," Upright said. "Where was this alarm?"

"Over at the entrance!"

Upright chuckled, an act that opened him up to another yawn. "Oh, I was there. Ha."

"Upright? Are you okay?"

"Sure. Why wouldn't I be?"

Marker titled his head, inspecting him alongside Doggy. Both of them knew about his class with Regal. The growlithe nodded to the poochyena; he decided that the quilava wanted to stay off the subject.

"So," Doggy began, "meeting with Tairé was actually… kinda fun. He took us to the gymnasium – there's like, a giant jungle just above that bridge to the Outside - and we did all these 'trust exercises.' Have to admit, it wasn't so bad-"

"Ah! His back's all cut up!" Acker cried. The mudkip had sneaked around him – all the applicants started to close in.

"Acker's right," Pep said. "Do we call the custodian?"

"No. Let him bleed all over everything," Tahtib growled. "Yes, call the custodian!"

Upright's heart started to pound. Painfully. "Ow," he whimpered. The quilava took a seat. He wanted to lose all this attention. He felt as if his heart was beats off of bursting.

The custodian gasped upon seeing the quilava. "Oh! Everything's okay, dear. You two, help me lift him..."

Upright felt himself rise into the air, lifted onto a pokémon's back. Doggy's? The quilava yawned.

~~~VIII~~~

"Just let me talk to him, Roxxie," Amory pleaded.

Upright shifted in his bed. Not his bed – a cot in the infirmary. The quilava groaned, racking his brains to, once again, remember what warranted the visit.

"No way, nuh-uh," Roxxie said. "From what I saw at orientation, he really looks up to you. He may stress himself further trying to earn your trust."

"Thanks, commander Roxxie, for compounding my guilt."

"You let the poor kit walk off while having a stress-related episode. How am I supposed to react?"

Amory gasped, seized by incredulity. "How about me? If we lost that orb, it would be the single largest tragedy to occur within the Initiative."

"I doubt it," Roxxie mumbled – Upright nearly missed it.

"… and that isn't a reason, I must admit. Did he… did he suffer at all from this episode? Arceus, what a mess."

Upright perked his ears up. Stress-related episode? Sounds about right.

"Not really. Other adventurers saw him strolling around and taking small naps on his way to the dorms. Regal was interested in him for a reason. While balancing his mind, I sensed it: this quilava is capable of enduring a ridiculous amount of stress."

"What do you mean?" Amory asked, interested in any opportunity to assuage some guilt; he could pretend to have considered information in his decision..

"I could take your world, completely take away everything you know, invert it, and throw you back in without a care to explain why or how."

"Are you threatening me, or is this a hypothetical?"

"The latter - this time. Anyway, I could do all those things to you, and you'd lose your mind over it in a jiffy. I believe Upright could endure this, and much more."

That's… incredibly spot on. Upright couldn't help adjusting himself. The two commanders looked over.

"Hi there!" Roxxie cooed. "Amory was just leaving," The cinccino gave Upright an apologetic look and departed. "Stay calm. You're in the infirmary."

Upright nodded to show that he was aware. He felt oddly giddy – a giggle wouldn't be so hard to come by, despite his situation. "What happened to me?" He asked.

Roxxie's voice became low and soothing. "Do you know what a stress-related episode is?"

"I never heard of it. I think I had one.""

"You did. Pokémon are very good at bottling up stress. It's how we deal with the pressures of socializing, fighting and surviving. Sometimes, a pokémon fails to relieve stress, and the bottle starts to overflow – and that is very dangerous. Your mind becomes all foggy. You lose track of time, give in to instincts… in extreme cases, your heart might even give out. I think getting caught up in that terrible attack by the Timestop set you off."

I remember that. There was this pounding… I barely even responded... Upright shivered. He tried to imagine a way for there to be all that stress in his body, enough to harm him, without him ever noticing.

The musharna smiled encouragingly. "Don't be afraid! I balanced out your psyche: you will feel giddy for awhile, and then you should be at or around the head-space before getting into that scuffle." Roxxie chewed over her own words, becoming thoughtful. "This episode was the cause of a lot of build-up. As commander of the cheerleaders, it's my responsibility to ensure that you are mentally capable to take courses. I need to ask you a few questions."

"I'm fine," Upright pleaded. "It won't happen again, I promise."

"No, you aren't. What's your favorite activity, little guy?"

Upright panicked, thinking he didn't have one. Then a few came, one by one. "I like play-wrestling with my friend, Doggy. And listening to my friends banter. And looking at the Outside. And… fighting. When it's arranged." As in, not against a murderous bird.

"Very good. Those are some ways you might relieve stress… if you weren't in as extreme a state. Let's try: why are you so upset?"

I can't tell her about my week. One week, just one… "I've seen more new things this week than I have my entire life," he admitted. "I'm not sure I can fit in."

"You're withholding from me." Roxxie sighed. "Whatever the root to your problem, you won't be free of it until you find someone you can trust. Not only a confidant, like your friends. You need an authority who can direct you."

Doggy hates leading, Upright realized. And Marker wants to help, but I have a feeling this is beyond what he knows. Amory will bring me back to the infirmary if I say I'm human again. Oh! But Khridoli... Khridoli is too close to Regal. I don't trust either of them. Then… then…

Upright smiled. "I have somebody." He tried to appear excited for a future talk that wasn't ever happening. "I'll get it all cleared up tomorrow."

Roxxie bought it. "Promise?" She asked, grinning victoriously.

"Yup! Am I free to go? I want to tell my friends I'm okay."

It took a moment, but the musharna nodded. "Okay. Straight to the dorms. If your friends grill you about the attack, politely ask them to stop. Double promise?"

"Double yup," Upright said.

He climbed out of the bed. His back flared up – there was still the physical maladies to deal with.

Once he opened up the door of the infirmary, and got a safe distance away, Upright gave up on smiling.

He needed a pokémon he could trust. One that understood what he was going through. One that he saw as an authority. Not Doggy, Marker, or anyone else in the Initiative, none of them fit.

The thought that came next filled him with dread, despite his leftover giddiness.

Grace might work.