Disclaimer: Pokémon is still owned by The Pokémon Company, which in turn is owned by Nintendo, Game Freak, and probably others I forgot. The following fanfiction is me playing around in their sandbox, using characters they envisioned and created, except for the odd character that wasn't. I own nothing of this.

Chapter 61: Hidden No Longer

The final had been disappointing. May had seen enough battles at high level to know that the other semi-final opponent would have been a better match for Wesley, but after squeaking out a win against the Ice-type specialist in the semi-final, Grant seemed to have no answers for anything today, leading to a lopsided 6-3 and a private assumption that her little brother would've had a better shot at beating Wesley.

What was more disappointing was the new procedure for the winner. Tradition dictated there was a big ceremony on the field, either immediately, or as part of the closing ceremony. This year, under pressure from the government, May had gathered from grumblings by Wattson, the Ground-type Master of the Elite Four Terry, and Steven Stone, it was to be held up in the VIP Lounge. The same one she was in, except they'd been waiting half an hour now for some reason or another. All planned, but still.

The looks she was getting from some of the aides to the minister who was going to hand over the trophy were also unnerving her. Not in a lecherous way – she'd had seen enough of those – but something else. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on, but it was familiar somewhere.

Then, the power went out. This didn't matter too much: it was only just pas three in the afternoon, enough daylight even on an overcast day like this one to still be able to see. "One of your Pokémon ate a cable again, Wattson?" a rather cheerful LeeAnn, Grass-type Gym Leader and definitely not entirely sober if May had to guess, quipped. "Wonder if this one's related to the one at dawn."

"Likely," Steven Stone said. "I noticed the same thing and talked to the local authorities. The local grid is due extensive renovations, starting in March; all planned out and funded. The woman I spoke to mentioned other outages happening in the past two weeks as well, though never long."

"At least it didn't happen during the battle."

"The broadcast systems and the screens are on a separate network, with teams of local Electric-types on backup," Wattson informed May. "It won't be a shock for you to learn that it happened during a semi-final once and I had to step in to be that backup, a few decades ago, I think."

"Experience is a strong teacher. I think you know that better than most." Steven stood up. "I'm going to head to the organisation. May, if you could join me?"

May got up as well, confused, but no explanation came until they were in the stairwell. A vague sound came from below: the announcer telling people there was an outage, and for everyone to remain seated while waiting for the ceremony to start. "Is it far?" she asked, hearing a time set about eight minutes in the future, she thought.

"No… But something feels wrong, and of everyone in there, you have the most experience with the type of wrong I feel. Keep a ball at the ready."

What on… May did as ordered, priming vaporeon's pokéball after a moment's thought: the right mix of a small Pokémon and sufficient strength.

As they walked the distance, cautiously, carefully, ears open and May's eyes darting everywhere in the limited light, they heard the crowd start grumbling at the wait and lack of power, even though the stated time hadn't passed yet. The announcers hadn't spoken up since the message, which she felt was a cause, but more than that… She felt Steven was right. This felt entirely wrong. Not Team Rocket wrong, but… Similar.

"Control Room's one floor down," Steven said after they'd exited from a hallway onto a landing in a stairwell. In his hand, May saw a Great Ball – she didn't know which Pokémon that was, except it wasn't one of his main team. "Be ready."

She was ready, and after a nod, they carefully walked down the stairs, the only sounds those of shoes hitting stairs. The door to the room was closed, allowing them to see the signage on the door, as well as the door handle. It didn't look damaged, and vague sounds came from within, vague but… Normal sounding? May thought? It wasn't as if she had any real ex—

~~§~~§~~

Serena ran. Slower than she liked – why had she chosen today to break in a new pair of fancy Contest shoes? – but she ran. Through the streets of Mauville, from the Center she had been in to the Kalos Embassy. A mile and a bit, she knew, and no real opportunities for short cuts… The shortest path was the main roads, and those would be watched.

She didn't know what had happened in Ever Grande: the broadcast had suddenly gone dark about ten minutes before the ceremony, with some backup hosts located in Lilycove as surprised as everyone in the Center. But when things didn't resume after five minutes… Something was wrong. Felt wrong. It was a gut feeling; nothing more, she didn't have a clue where it came from, but it was enough for her to attempt to make her way to her room, only to be waylaid by blocked stairs from the cleaning staff.

So she had turned around, back into the lobby. And she had looked up, and saw that there would be an announcement by Hoenn's First Minister in minutes.

'Humanity is fleeting. Beauty is eternal.'

The words had come to her unbidden. Once again, Serena had been unsure why. But everything had screamed at her to take up the Embassy's offer for shelter; to run there as fast as she could.

So she had. And so she was. Across narrow alleyways, stray Pokémon loitering, mostly zigzagoon, rattata, taillow, darting out and flying up ahead of her. She dodged and wove between bins and dumpsters, emergency stairs, half-open doors and people talking out back, and if they wondered what she was doing, she didn't care.

Cross a bigger street, slowing down to weave through the sparser-but-still-numerous Sunday public. Head in an alley, back out because someone was unloading something, take the next up the road, moving with the people instead of crossing it; calls for her to watch out, watch where she was going. She fired off an apology and dove into the next alley, finding it free of unexpected stuuuuuuuuuffff.

Tenderly, Serena let go of the emergency staircase's railing after securing her foothold. Her shoulder hurt through the adrenalin. She hadn't fallen, but it had been close after she had slipped on… Oil. Of course. No clue where it came from, but the street around her was slick and rainbow-hued with it.

She moved on through, carefully, then picked up speed the moment she was out of the patch; slow at first, then faster and faster until she was running again, running to the Embassy, running to safety. Her shoulder still hurt, slowing her down, forcing her to be more careful, and she turned corners slower as well, wary of falling again.

Stitches in her sides, Serena ignored as she was two streets away from the compound's back entrance. A growlithe barked, but let her pass; a zigzagoon jumped out in front of her and nearly made her stumble. An open window, blasting music; a door closing with a bang. One last turn and… There it was. She just had to exit the alley, cross the street, and punch in the code to open into a walled safe area, guarded by Kalos government Trainers. She already had sight on the embassy itself, had had where she was standing pointed out to her by one of the staff before.

'2444333777' she remembered. The code she needed to enter safety, to en—

~~§~~§~~

"So you see the situation. We have custody of three of your Gym Leader colleagues, the only two members of the Elite Four, the not-yet-crowned champion and runner-up of the Ever Grande Conference, a Top Coordinator, and Hoenn's Grand Champion himself," First Minister Santi explained calmly. "Not to mention the tens of thousands of people cut off from the outside world. How long will Ever Grande hold without food supplies?"

Maxim Birch wanted to punch his face in. So did, by the look of things, several others. Brawly, Roxanne, Flannery… Juan looked like he was using years of training to remain calm. Cory managed that naturally. Norman was ashen, and so was Peter. Only two Gym Leaders were confident: David and Dray; Bug and Dragon. They had thrown their lot in, then.

"What do you want, First Minister?" Juan asked, the veneer of politeness at least intact. Everyone in the call knew it was just that, though. "You would not make this call if this was irrevocable."

"On that, Gym Leader, you are wrong," Santi replied, venom and glee mixing despite the collected demeanour. "Oh, do not misunderstand me. A release can be negotiated… But it will be a while as we implement the required modernisation of Hoenn and its society for a better future. After all, that is what we have a mandate for, do we not?"

Birch could hold back no longer. "By playing with the lives of tens of thousands? By kidnapping close to a dozen people?"

"And how many people have you hurt with your breaking the spirits of the laws that we have put in, Birch? At every single juncture, you were there to prevent our efforts; to cast doubt on our understanding. And, to your credit, it seems you were partially right. It was not a pathogen afflicting them. It is innate to the types, and remedies will be taken accordingly, swiftly, and without mercy." An affected sigh, fake. "Desperate times call for desperate measures. Perhaps this could have been averted, but your intransigence has left us no choice. Oh, and one more thing, Birch. This is an internal matter to Hoenn. Pursuant to international law, the other Home Regions, let alone countries halfway across the world, are not to be involved. Doing so constitutes high treason."

Maxim shrugged it off. He'd had weeks, if not months, to get used to the idea of opposing a takeover and he had expected it. He would play along. For now. "Understood. And the Trainers you hold captive?"

"Insurance. Should any of you move against us, their lives are forfeit. As are those of the currently extant traitors. Is this understood, Maple?" Norman turned three shades paler, but he managed to nod regardless. "I am glad we understand each other. It is a pity it's come to this, and once we are done with the necessary measures, perhaps it would be best for you to retire."

"Enough, First Minister," Juan said, veneer barely holding. "Your point has been made, extensively so. Our disagreements do not stop us from recognising that we need to keep Hoenn safe. Is there anything we need to do?"

"While modernisation is ongoing, any large gathering of people for purposes other than routine is prohibited. We expect you to work with the local police and apprehend anyone disrupting the peace. Additionally, any of the proscribed Pokémon will need to be handed in. There are no more exceptions for Gym Battles. Funds to refurbish a Gym to make it safer will, of course, be made available in the next budget."

Several Gym Leaders looked like they were about to protest: Flannery and Gwen in particular. Juan cut in front of them before they could. "Of course. We will discuss the particulars later, Flannery, Gwen."

"See that you do. There will be another call in three days. You will receive more information tomorrow."

Santi left the call, but immediately, an incoming call popped up on Birch's screen. From Santi.

The Gym Leaders went on mute – any discussion he could ask Juan to summarise. "First Minister."

"Birch. I will not mince words. You are to hand over all proscribed Pokémon in your possession immediately, without delay."

Birch suppressed the smirk that threatened to form on his face. "Has the list been expanded since the triple attack of a few weeks ago?"

"Just with that newly discovered Pokémon evolution, as you well know."

"Then I cannot help you, First Minister. As a precaution against any attacks, we made the decision to send all currently proscribed Pokémon away, storing them with other Pokémon Professors in the Home Regions. As no attacks have happened there, we felt it was the safest option." The full set of measures, Santi did not need to know.

The politician slash dictator didn't outwardly respond much, but the next words were clipped far tighter than usual. "Then you are to retrieve them. They are property of Hoenn-born Trainers, and as such, Hoenn's government has all rights to requisition them."

He owed the legal department lunch. They had been adamant the order would come sooner, rather than later. And they had prepared accordingly. "Several international treaties could prohibit that, depending on exact goals. The rump government controlled by Team Plasma made a similar request in Unova a few years ago, but Orre and Galar both refused to honour the request, albeit on the basis of differing treaties. However, Kanto's emergency requisition of magmar to stop the Cinnabar Island volcano from erupting fifty-two years ago was deemed legal in the aftermath." Time to prod. "Are you prepared to state your goals to others, First Minister? After you ordered me to remain silent on this very matter?"

The glare of a politician was never a threat. This one would have killed if it had any ability to. "You play a dangerous game, Birch. I hope your family knows."

They did. Growing up with a Pokémon Professor as a father had side effects, especially as awareness had come with age. "I am just protecting my laboratory from threats."

"And more besides. Very well. You win this round."

~~§~~§~~

They had just landed on a tiny islet, about midway between New Mauville and their destination. Danny had signalled he needed it, not that Ash could really blame him with the way the wind had picked up in the last few hours. It was just past midnight, and he wished they'd had the chance to check for a weather update in the Center before leaving.

Some Electric-types – not pikachu, who was sitting with Danny at the moment, along with the Hoennite's diggersby – had short-circuited the entire Center in the middle of the final match. It had only taken a single shared look for the two to leave the place, and as they had, they'd heard the sound of some very annoyed and demanding Trainers. One or two were probably drunk too.

In Kanto, Ash would've stepped in, with force if he had to. He'd done it in Sinnoh once, and in Kanto… Frontier Brains had some power and duties to go along with them. But in Hoenn… He had wanted to, but the mission was more important.

Slipping out had been easy, Butler had told them of a fairly hidden nook where not a lot of people camped, but where camping was perfectly natural about two miles down the road from the Center, and so they'd gone there; stayed there until nightfall and a bit past, and then they'd started the flight.

"Feeling better now?" Ash asked as Danny got up, but a simple look gave him the answer. "We can rest here until tomorrow. Nobody's gonna come here."

"Just… Just need half an hour. And some Oran. Stomach's acting up worse than normal," Danny said, and Ash could hear the pain in the teenager's voice. With luck, this would be the last flight they'd have to make: Danny had been fighting through them, but there was no mistaking the grimacing and movements. He liked it as much as charizard liked being doused with icy water. Possibly less, but also less loud about it.

"Take some of the Full Restore then, if you want to do this tonight. No, Danny, it's not a waste. You need it." Pikachu joined in with the convincing, and diggersby just pushed his Trainer towards the packs lying near tropius. "You're too stubborn sometimes."

"Like you aren't," Danny shot back, and Ash heard the mirth. "Gotta be some kind of strong Trainer requirement. Headstrong, refuse to give up, stubborn as—"

A taillow's cry silenced him. Not just any taillow's cry… The taillow's cry that was the incoming call tune for Ash's temporary Pokénav.

Three people had that number. None of them were good news. The cry stopped for a moment, and Danny spoke up in the silence. "Better… Better take that."

He did. "Hello?"

"Ash," Lance said from the other side. He sounded tired. It wasn't from the hour. "Where are you? What did you do today?"

"Uuh… We left the Centre at 2-1 for Wesley because the place was short-circuited. Hid out for a bit, we're now on some small island north of New Mauville. We're going to Route 118, then prepare for Mauville and Wattson."

"I see. Put me on speaker."

Ash obeyed. "Lance?"

"After the finals, there was an outage in Ever Grande. It was, apparently, a trap. They made their move. Through means unknown, they captured Steven, Glacia, Terry, Wattson, LeeAnn, and Winona. They also captured Grant, as well as Wesley and May."

How? How had they captured all of them? There were thousands of trainers in there. Someone should have stopped them. Hadn't there been a fight? May wasn't a slouch, but if they disabled so many Gym Leaders and Elite Four… How did they do that?

"Do you know how they did it?" Danny asked as pikachu climbed into Ash's arms, shocking him gently. "That's… It's a lot of strong Trainers. Even if Wesley and Grant's Pokémon were probably not a lot of help."

"We do not. There have been no communications possible to Ever Grande since. The Hoenn government hasn't announced anything either except an emergency, and they'll provide updates in the morning. However, my sources inside the Hoenn government were able to confirm the captivity of those Trainers, if not the methods. And Danny, there is one more confirmed capture."

"Max?"

Ash and pikachu tensed. Sparks turned angry. If Max had been taken as well, they would... "No." Relief. "It's Serena. In Mauville."

Pikachu jumped down, moving over to Danny, but the teen rejected the mouse. "How do you know?" Danny demanded.

"The Kalos Embassy got out a short message to Kalos," Lance answered evenly. "It was simple. 'Galbena captured', Diantha told me. No additional details. They went dark after and the message wasn't immediately replied to. I have guesswork, but nothing more. More as we learn, I guess. Diantha is coming here in a day or three to five."

"Why?"

"Because Kalos is big on honour," Danny replied before Lance could. "And we saved the region. All of us are minor celebrities, and Serena's the largest one. Or do you think Kanto wouldn't do the same if you were captured?"

"I…" Ash hadn't ever really thought about it like that. He saw what Danny meant, though. "Man. I'm stupid not seeing that."

"Danny is correct. Even before your role as Frontier Brain, your habit of being involved with Legendary Pokémon would've caused alarms over here, if you were kidnapped or captured for ransom or similar. This is common for most governments. Yes, Danny, even Hoenn, despite them likely already suspecting your identities from the first Aso Mountain raid, still involved themselves somewhat in the aftermath of Team Flare's attempt to take over Kalos. I'd wager it was mostly due to your identities, and not your endeavours yet."

"And now they're trying to kill us."

"You are definitely seeing a therapist after this is over," Lance remarked. "Yes. Paulson clearly wants you dead. I am less certain about others: there's a case to be made for you alive. It is in defeat that they'll try the alternatives, as they tried in Rustboro. Don't let it come to that. As for you, Ash…"

"Nothing new for me. I know."

"Hoenn might want you alive because they might want to get some kind of confession for the Aso Mountain raid. Given your track record at being extremely talented at escaping situations you shouldn't… Lethal intent should be assumed at all times. Act accordingly. Both of you have permission to do so."

The darkness hid Danny's reaction from Ash's eyes. He'd ask later, but he guessed that the younger teen wasn't as reluctant as he was. Even with absol's Mega Evolution bond active, he tried to disable over hurt. If possible. It hadn't been, once. "I understand. Anything else?"

"Yes. Gary will join you in a day or two: Oak's told him to head to Butler, he'll take the kirlia and make his way over to you. Once you're all in one place, start planning for an assault on the Mauville Gym."

Mauville Gym… "Underground, right?"

"Yes. And with Wattson out of commission, it's a perfect place to hold some prisoners. No chance of anyone looking in, it's self-sustaining on electricity, and it'll be guarded because Wattson undoubtedly has some connection to the New Mauville plant in there after Team Aqua's intrusion two years ago. The last thing they want is one of his Gym Trainers to cut the power."

"Alright."

"Why don't go there now? Apart from the Legendaries they have." Danny asked.

"Some Gym Leaders are still hostile. Gary will have details. The prisoners also might not be there, and you can't escape from down there, which brings us back to them wanting you dead or alive." A cough. "There is… A wall at G-men HQ. Ash knows which one I'm talking about. I've added three names to it in my time. I'd rather not add a fourth and fifth."

"We won't let it come to that," Ash stated, and pikachu cried agreement, cheeks sparking in readiness. "We'll get them back if they're there."

"I know you will. Lance out."

The call ended, and Ash went for some Oran himself. He needed it after that call. "A wall? A memorial wall?"

A huge grey wall flashed in Ash's memory, like thirty names on it, taking up one side of a lobby entirely. "Yeah. G-men who died. It's a sight. Lance hates it."

"Hates?" Danny sounded confused. "Why would he hate a memorial wall?"

"Would you like it if you had to bury friends?"

"Probably not?"

"That's why." Ash sent out charizard. "Let's go. We'll need to go a bit farther now. Into the forests."

~~§~~§~~

"Something is wrong," gardevoir said, and Max heard the soft whoosh of him rising from his seated position. He'd been levitating there, doing jirachi knew what while the boys were spending time deep-cleaning their pots and pans as best they could in a cold stream. Jane had gone out to buy supplies, mostly food.

"It's… Jane?" Keith said, sounding puzzled. Max agreed. She'd only been gone for half an hour, and it was a fifteen minute walk to the next town. Maybe a bit under. "She… She must have run here?"

Max agreed, as Jane stopped near them, breathing heavy. "The… The government's taken over!" she told them. "Gar… Gardevoir, please."

A radio broadcast in the Pokémon food shop on the edge of town. Gym Leaders captured. Elite Four captured. Top Coordinator, Steven Stone… All of Ever Grande denied Pokémon, shut from the outside world until surrender. Gym Leaders ordered to stay in their city. Traitors would be dealt with. It...

Max slumped to the ground, breaking free from Jane's memory. "… We're too late…" He looked at Keith, who left the memory as he did. Things had just gotten a lot more difficult and fraught, but Max collected himself. Already, both of the older teens looked at him for ideas, Jane doing so as gardevoir soothed her head after sharing the memory. "Are you ready? To help this 'traitor' do what's right?"

"Yes," Keith told him, cold steel in his voice as he supported his girlfriend until gardevoir was done, when she stood up straight, on her own. "This is our home. We told you that."

That sealed his conviction. Max got back up, looking both of them in the eyes in turn. "Let's defend it then." He thought for a moment, eyes closed, but feeling their gazes on him. "We need to know what's going on, and we need supplies for a week or two. Jane, Keith, you do the supplies. I'll pack stuff, then head for the Center and get an idea of what's going on. Keith, give me your Pokénav."

The light blue older type sailed through the air. "In case of emergency, right?" Keith said as gardevoir caught it for Max. "Leave packs here?"

"Take them. Call if you're in trouble. We will come."

"Can gardevoir Teleport to…"

"Yes," Max interrupted, with absolute certainty. "Get your pack. He'll take you to the edge of town. Go back there when you're done shopping."

Gardevoir returned alone as Max was drying the last pot, which was a bit slower than he'd expected. "Help me stack these, will you?" The Psychic-type did so without complaints. "You checked if you could Teleport to one of them, didn't you?"

"I.. Yes. I had not thought it possible in so short a time."

"I did. You're amazing like that. Now c'mon. Let's go to the Center north from here. Probably quieter."

It was abandoned, except for Nurse Joy, a chansey, and probably one more nurse in the back. A television showed a news channel, but the volume was low. "Welcome. I have to inform you that due to events out of our control, we are to confiscate any proscribed Pokémon upon acceptance for healing."

"Then it's good I don't have any Pokémon on me that need healing, right?" Max said, grinning. On a whim, he took off his beanie, and he saw the nurse recognise him after a moment. The dye in his hair had faded a lot, but it still threw his hair colour off a bit. Enough to make people not recognise him if they didn't take a longer look. "What happened?"

After Nurse Joy rehashing what he already knew, she took a visible deep breath. "We've been told to be on the lookout for you, Reginald, Sidney, and Phoebe specifically. Ash Ketchum from Kanto too. We're not even supposed to help you." She walked out from behind the counter, shoes squeaking on a patch of wet floor. "You've probably heard it already from one of my sisters, but this is worse. The only reason we can talk is because there's nobody else here. The moment anyone else is here, we have to try and detain you."

Some Nurse Joys were skilled Trainers, Max knew that. "And how many would try seriously?"

"In a vacuum? A handful, maybe. We're not natural fighters like you are. But if there are others nearby who can help… We might be forced because none of us wants to be on the wrong side of the government, and there's strength in numbers." The Nurse shook her head. "Can you defeat six or seven Trainers trying to get you all at once?"

They could bloody well try, but Max saw the point. "Is there anything I can do?"

"Late at night, Centers that are as abandoned as this one. Maybe. But you should not take the risk."

Was that… That sounded like fear and worry. For him. "Why not?"

"You, and the other three, are 'traitors to Hoenn', right?" the Nurse said, managing to insert quotes on wry tone alone. "The laws for treason haven't been updated since the last civil war, one of the talking heads said earlier. You could be killed if you're caught."

It was… Max sighed, before cutting that train of thought. "Guess I have my work to not be caught cut out, then."

That caused a surprised reaction. One that turned into something else. "You're not invulnerable, mister. Much as Trainers your age think you are."

"I know," Max replied, trying to imbue as much sincerity into the statement as he could. Jirachi knew he wasn't invulnerable… "But with what's happened, can't say I'm surprised."

"If only you were. Life'd be easier for all of us." A sigh. "Can't believe…" Nurse Joy muttered, before clearing her throat and looking Max straight in the eye. "'Attack' me."

"Excuse me?"

"It's safer for you to not be in a Center. But you'll need healing, and store bought only gets you so far. So… You came here to take some of my supplies and I couldn't stop you."

A tweak on a green and white ball. "Repeat your plan?" Nurse Joy did so. "Is she sincere?"

"Completely," gardevoir said as the adult slipped back behind the counter, leaving view for a second before coming back up with something in her hand. She beckoned to follow.

Though a door they went. "We don't have much, but one bottle of Full Restore extract, a few topical Potion sprays, and some Mago and Aguav drinks should help you and not hurt us too much. Even without Ever Grande, it's the quiet season."

Things were becoming surreal, but gardevoir hadn't said anything about any lies or deception, and they soon reached a storage room for all sorts of medicine. Something caught Max's eye. "Is… Is it okay if I get some of that, too?"

"Human-compatible antidote?" the Nurse questioned. "Of course, but why?"

"My clefairy knows Healing Wish, but because she's a Fairy-type… "

"Poison is complex to clear via Healing Wish at the best of times, and a clefairy's innate Fairy-type energy would have a hard time overpowering more potent poisons for full neutralisation. That is good thinking." The praise sounded completely sincere, making Max blush. "I hope you haven't had hands-on experience with it."

"No, and not planning, but… Houndoom and skuntank."

"You'd have other problems if there's a houndoom close enough to use its poisoning moves," Nurse Joy said as she put the items in a plastic bag. "There. All done. One more thing before you leave."

"Which is?" gardevoir asked before Max could.

"Have your manectric overload the electrical circuit of the Center. There aren't any Pokémon that need it in attendance, and it'll knock out the recording of us talking."

"Hang on," Max said. "You want me to 'steal' from you, and now this? What's going on?"

Nurse Joy didn't say anything. Instead, she handed him the plastic bag, closing his right hand around it gently. "All Nurse Joys look mostly the same. Some are tanned, some have scars, other regions have different hair styles, but it's all consistent in one region. Nearly all Trainers respect us, but not a lot take the time to get to know us and how we differ. No, Max, that's not wrong," she added, shutting his objections down effortlessly, gently. "Trainers travel. You travel. You see dozens of us a year. Hundreds, maybe. And you are busy making memories; experiences to remember. We're just the background to them, and that is okay. It's all okay."

The phrase jogged something in Max's memory, something whispered to him, but it was annoyingly out of reach; the tip of his tongue for remembering things. "Why are you saying this?" he asked, letting the bag drop to his side, gentle clinking in the plastic reminding him he needed to be careful.

"Because we too remember things. Everyone knows you, of course. Everyone remembers your face being plastered all over the news for a week when it came out you were involved in Kalos. But I remember a little boy making a promise. And I remember a not-that-little boy coming to terms with being unable to see that through, vomiting and crying and grieving."

Ten minutes later, they reappeared just outside of the town Keith and Jane were in. The other two teens weren't there yet, giving Max some time to put the items away.

"About earlier, Max…"

"What about?" he asked, curious what the Empath Pokémon was wondering about as he zipped the pocket shut.

"She said 'don't be killed'. Why?"

"Because that's what's on the line." A sudden spike of concern and rage. "Traitors get death. Makes sense. Paulson ranted about 'getting rid of me' a few times… I think."

"I. Will not. Let him."

Max hoisted the pack on his back before grabbing the slightly shorter Pokémon by the upper arm. The rage and concern amplified into an oppressive aura, but he ignored it, feeding back his own emotions. "I know you won't. But…" His heart sank a tiny bit as he realised where it'd likely go. "I think they won't ever leave me be. And if they can't get me… It'll be my family. Mum, Dad. Evan and his parents. Even my more 'normal' friends like Alice or Linda wouldn't be safe after a while," he said, trying hard to keep his voice level, and succeeding. "So it's them, or me. And I'm not planning on giving up or running away."

The rage subsided a bit, and not because Max had let go. "Did you think about it?"

"Of course. But long ago, I made a choice. If I could, I would fight. To protect my friends, no matter where or who. And to stop criminals from getting away with trying to abuse Pokémon or worse." A memory; the shadow of death thick on it, and he focused on the fear and joy, the prickle and terror, of those moments under and above Geosenge, and he felt recognition, as if… Of course. That Mega Evolution. "Why are you asking? You've been in my head."

"I—"

But despite gardevoir not saying more, averting his eyes and breaking the connection by withdrawing his arm, Max had caught the reason in the Embrace Pokémon's emotions. "Look at me?"

It took what felt like an age, but gardevoir did. "I—"

"Shut up, gardevoir," Max cut in, harsher than he'd intended. "Don't you think I feel the same way about you? Or manectric? Sceptile? Deerling? How I still sort of do about vulpix of all Pokémon? Losing any one of my friends is… Jirachi, it's not a thought I'd like to think about. Nobody does."

"And if it happens?" gardevoir asked softly, downcast, almost meekly.

"You're a gardevoir. I've adopted like half your morals by now, I think. That enough of an answer?" Max stated as he grasped his friend's arm once again, and agreement blazed.

Author's Note: Welp, shit's going down.