Other than Tim and his Meditite, we had me and Doublade, and Jared and his Umbreon. The team was rather small and our primary task was to be as stealthy as possible, to avoid the Pirate Rangers, who patrolled the western oceans and cities of Sinnoh. Iron Island avoided them when possible and so far has avoided open conflict, and we want to keep it that way. Riley let Tim borrow a Lapras to ferry us to the island from one of the refugees, which concerned me, because it wasn't normal to separate someone from his or her partner Pokemon, even moreso, this Lapras had a Pokeball, specifically the blue and white Dive Ball. Pokeballs have largely been unused, almost used more as a defensive tool to momentarily remove a threat, than to keep Pokemon on you without tiring them out as fast. Having Lapras's dive ball meant we were supposed to use it, to keep Lapras inside until we were ready to leave.

Chocovine Town was already in sight, so far so good. I look back at Jared, who's the oldest of us all, with a stern expression. His hair is kept very short which makes it look like moss is growing on his head in its dark green tone and he wears his uniform from before Planet's Paralysis, dark blue with a white trim and little knots that slip into little loops rather than buttons, with his name printed on the front. He's about twice our age, maybe fifty or so, but Tim was selected as lead because of his specialization. I didn't know what Jared's abilities were, but I imagined it was something around stealth or offense.

Meditite went by Iris and Umberon went by Gatsu. Though like his trainer, Gatsu had a similar sternness to him with subtle wrinkles on his brow and short fur. Lapras and Doublade are rare enough that neither of them need names to be differentiated.

Eventually we reach the clifface we decided to enter into the town from, since most ports and beaches were liable to surveillance from the pirates. Tim recalls Lapras into her diveball after we get onto a rock near the perfectly still, grey, water. While we've been suppressing our aura signatures for miles, we still quickly run through some tests to be sure it stays that way.

"Remember, we're here to collect as much as we can, as quietly as we can. Prioritize anything we can grow first or Pokemon that are willing and able to come back to Iron Island. Anything else of use, make your best judgment call. I'll relay information between your two groups and stay relatively close to here. Understood?"

Jared and I nod in agreement. Before climbing upwards, Tim hands each of us a small stone, that's well-polished and with a slight orange hue, both of which are imbued with a little bit of his aura to help him communicate with us, without needing to stop suppressing our aura.

The cliff is located near the edge of town, so Tim's team went for the houses and fields on the outside, and Jared went towards the town square with vigor, probably having been here before. Jared is likely to come back with the most supplies or none at all, depending on how much this location has been ransacked by the pirates. This left me with the middle of the city, the area with a little bit of everything.

We quickly split up and begin to enter the suspended city. Walking down the streets who's colors are a mere shadow of what they once were, we don't see many suspended people which is a grim sign. During Planet's Paralysis, anyone who was swept up in the wave, was frozen in time forever. That didn't mean the body couldn't be disturbed, however. In a town like this, it certainly means desperate Pokemon or desperate people got here first, though when I enter the store with its smooth, large glass windows, I do see some patrons inside which is a good sign, other than the horrified final expressions on the suspended people. I catch my reflection, as I open the door, seeing my sandy hair, blue wooloo wool sweater that I just barely never grew into, black jeans from a previous run, and brown boots from the same run as the jeans.

Doublade telepathically says "You're thinking about them aren't you?"

I look at her through the reflection, rather than glance over my shoulder "Well, there's a chance that my parents didn't die during their run. And it's somewhat uncanny to have both a Lapras and a pokeball on this mission in particular"

"I know Lapras reminds you of your dad because of his, and the Academy told us that's how our family made it to Iron Island from the Kalos region soon after we met, but just don't get your hopes up"

I enter into the store, who's bell still clangs being attached to the door, and quickly take it off of its perch so it won't make any sound when I leave "These runs give everyone hope on Iron Island"

"When they're successful, Chad," she scolded.

I check up and down the shelves, but most of it seems to be cosmetic, what seemed to be blue Pokeball casings and a bunch of stickers line the place wall to wall with a plaque reading "Ball Capsules! A necessity for any coordinator's opening performance!".

We leave the store, seeing nothing of value and go down the street to the nearest Pokemart. At least the branding would let us know what was inside more easily. Fast food joints were always a pass because their food was long gone and never sustainable unlike Farmers' markets who had the occasional seed. Though, I see from the shattered glass and empty shelves that this building was ransacked long ago. But something makes me stop. I see scorch marks on the shelves, dents too, like it was used for cover and just a few leaves on the floor.

"These aren't leaves from a tree, they're from a Pokemon" I convey to Doublade

"Likely a turf war between Pokemon, we'll have to avoid them"

I shake my head "Why would a grass type live in a store instead of in the fields? No, it was likely forced this way"

"If you're right, then we should continue onward. It'll be long gone by now"

I take a mental note of my findings before moving onward. We search homes next, though find little other than clothing in wardrobes. It's amazing how the wave just removes all color from things. The wooloo shirt I find inside is almost devoid of all color, in stark contrast to the one I'm wearing. It was almost like the touch of death itself. Some time in, I hear Tim in my mind.

"I've been having success in the fields. I found some chocolate vine seeds, which could be useful, though not as much as some of these berry seeds I've found if they're the ones I think they are. What's your status?"

"I've found mostly clothing, but it seems like this area was raided a long time ago. However, I'm finding hints that something is likely inhabiting the area"

"I'll check with Jared and Gatsu. If he thinks we're too close, we'll change our angle or depart early if he thinks that's the better call. I'll be in touch"

I continue inspecting the apartment and find something heart-shaped under the bed. It's a box, of some kind and I open it to see maybe a dozen brown, sweet-smelling bars, each about six inches long, inside of a plastic wrapping. "Is this that chocolate stuff the cookbooks say you need for cookies?"

"Ah yes, our most important discovery, the elusive candy. We'll be heroes for finding 12 pieces of food you only get to eat once!" Doublade mocks

"Hey, it's supposed to be some of the best tasting food there was!" I defend, stowing them in my personal pouch off to my side, attached to the same leather Doublade's sheath does. Though, currently she was near me instead since I had a large backpack on me for this trip.

Not long after I leave the house, Tim communicates with me again, "Jared hasn't found anything. According to him the urban area has been totally cleaned out. Normally things are left behind in a smash and grab, but he hasn't seen anything. We were hoping to find some medicines and other medical supplies but he doubts there's anything left. He's pretty sure, given your suspicions, we should leave immediately"

I quickly sense something is around the corner, coming this way. I sidle along the house I just exited, to keep out of the line of sight and don't respond back to Tim to keep my presence as concealed as possible. I then sense two more signatures nearby. If I was Tim, I would've known how boxed in I was long ago, but I hoped that my ability to hide was good enough. So long as that line of sight wasn't made, I made no sound, and layed low, I'd be fine.

The first signature is just on the other side of the house, a Shieldon from the sound of it, panting hard and running fast until I hear the thump of him hitting the ground, as he moans "no, no, no…" Doublade and I can feel his panic like a siren. We feel the other two signatures coming closer and I stiffen.

If I reveal myself, we might not get away or at the very least have a fight on our hands where I'd have to try to run away with one dense Pokemon, but if I don't…

I stand up, "Doublade, are you ready?" I ask telepathically

"Always. Let's end as quickly as we can though"

I tear out from my cover, and get between the pursuers and their target, a girl with dark brown hair, with a yellow highlight in her left bangs, that fall down to her shoulders. The other pursuer is a Zangoose with a yellow-tinged ear, rather than red. I notice a large yellow rectangle, on her right arm with a black and yellow glove covering her first two fingers, and a small cylinder top locked into the box. A capture styler, able to control Pokemon. This wasn't a turf war between Pokemon, this was the Pirate Ranger's hunting ground, and I just put myself in the line of fire.

She blinked in momentary surprise, "That Shieldon is mine, leave well enough alone and I won't harm you"

Doublade unsheathed herself, and I gripped the hilt of each of her blades, as her arms snaked up mine, not revealing what we were just yet I said "This Shieldon can't harm you anymore, there's no need to finish him off"

"It's my prey to hunt. This is simply for survival, surely you can see the reason in that"

"Pokemon and people are far better off working together, than against each other"

She pulls out a pair of scissors and she splits into two knifes with a quick motion of her wrist and points one at me, "Last chance, idealist"

I can tell Shieldon is trying to crawl away and edge closer towards it.

"Zangoose, use night slash!" She commands, and without hesitation he roars, charging forward with his claws bathed in black light.

I take one step back, just enough to avoid the first attack, and Doublade channels our aura into her blade as we respond with a Sacred sword baring down on Zangoose's shoulder, forcing its follow up attack to stop. No sooner this has happened, than I see a trailing white streak start to encircle us, as she activates her capture styler. I try to bat the top away, but she's quick in response, forcing it to duck under my arm as the Zangoose comes up with the first of a string of Fury Swipes, targeting me. The first two meet their mark, cutting my leg and going across my face. The third starts to close the gap as I let go of Doublade's left blade and summon a barrier to block the rest of the barrage. Doublade, taking her left blade, but never releasing from my arm attempts to bat the styler line once again to no avail.

Noticing my tactics, she says "So, the Aura Guardians want to pick a fight? I thought you knew better than to pick fights you couldn't win."

Zangoose continues to pound on my shield "Stupid protect! Fight me like a real warrior!"

Rather than answer, I let go of Doublade's other hilt, and after one of Zangoose's slashes, I drop the shield and swing with aura from my right hand, strong-edged and just as lethal as a Sacred Sword across the side of the Zangoose. Doublade streaks forward quickly, melding into the shadows, going straight to the girl and hitting her once in the chest and once on the arm, the motion sending her arm downwards and Doublade exiting the line makes the white streak disappear and a clattering sound can be heard as the capture device hits the ground.

She clutches her forearm and remotely pulls the device back into its slot, "Fine, keep your Shieldon. It's not like your island isn't crawling with them anyway. But any feign of a truce between our groups is gone. I hope you find one Pokemon's life worth it" She and Zangoose continue to back up cautiously before tearing off into the streets of Chocovine Town.

I hear Tim's voice return "Chad, I sensed you using aura in bursts out there, are you all right?"

"Yes, I ran into a Pirate Ranger and protected a Shieldon she was hunting. Though, she said any truce between us and them is gone now."

"We should leave before she has time to regroup. Jared is almost back, you should do the same while we still can"

I stoop down to the Shieldon and let some of my aura flow over him, to let him know that he's safe and I mean no harm. Doublade returns to her sheath, facing with one sword backwards so she can see behind us as usual.

"Hey, it's ok, little buddy" I chide to him "She's gone now, you can go home."

The Shieldon is shaking from fear and exhaustion "N-not s-s-safe. Must m-move on"

Doublade cuts in "You can come back to our home if you want. There are others like you there. Or we can help you get at least a little farther from here"

We can tell that he doesn't trust us, but is too scared to move. Between Doublade and I, we lift him up and take him back to our group near our entry cliff, before settling him down. Jared no sooner turns to us.

"Do you have any idea what you have done?" He growls

"We saved a child, that's what!" Doublade retorts. When she's with me, she can communicate telepathically a short distance. A useful tool for overcoming the Pokemon-human language barrier.

His brows furrow and eyes narrow as he leans forward "You gave the Pirates a reason to attack Iron Island, you've made them view us as a threat. You let one life overrule many. We've fought long and hard to become even this stable and you very well may have thrown it all away."

Tim intervenes "What's done is done, we'll discuss this with Riley when we're back, for now, we need to focus on getting back as soon as possible. Shieldon, would you like to come with us?"

The Shield Pokemon starts to shake again, after hearing the exchange "I-I don't want to hurt your family…"

"You didn't do anything, Shieldon. The danger we face is their fault, not yours" Gatsu says in a low rumble.

Iris, trying to keep the conflict low, "You won't be any danger to our family. You're welcome to join ours or keep looking for yours"

Though all of us knew Shieldon had no family left. Captured in the best-case scenario.

He timidly brushes up against my leg and I wince from the scratches I got earlier. "O-okay, I'll come with you"

We slowly get him down the cliff and sail away on Lapras, back to the current safety of Iron Island.