After the night in the forest he had just experienced, the last thing Seedot needed was to be subjected to more of Ms. LeFitz's ramblings.

Ever since last night, Ms. LeFitz had been brainstorming various ideas on what she could use John Gravy for after the failed Petaya gathering. Seedot was less than pleased by this, as it would mean that, yet again, he would have to go and risk himself on these chores. Hopefully John wouldn't try getting himself killed again, like he had several times by this point. After he had touched that feather, Seedot was very much questioning the boy's self preservation skills.

Seedot had seen it, the feather, and he had immediately deduced it as unnatural. It gave off an aura… a feeling… That something about it was wrong. It shouldn't have existed, and it should never have existed. And yet he should've expected the human to pick it up. It looked mundane, and John most likely wasn't detecting the same feeling he was. Humans were much more out of touch with their feelings than Pokemon were.

The merging… the melding that had occurred with John… It spelled bad news for him. Seedot didn't know what would happen, but if there was one thing he knew, it was that he had to find out more about the feather. If his gut turned out to be correct, and the feather was indeed a threat of some kind… Well, Seedot didn't want to chance the thought. He had to get to the bottom of this. And he knew just the Pokemon who could help him out.

Seedot hopped several times on the crate he was standing on to signal for Ms. LeFitz's attention. Ms. LeFitz, despite her focus on brainstorming, briefly snapped her attention to Seedot. Ms. LeFitz's displeasure at the interruption could not be adequately described by just words, but she held her tongue for Seedot. Seedot was always happy for that small saving grace, as he had heard all sorts of vulgar things from her mouth over the years, and he certainly didn't enjoy being on the receiving end. He had heard enough of that when he was younger.

"Seedot, what's wrong?" Ms. LeFitz was urgently waiting for Seedot's answer. Seedot jumped a few times before motioning towards the city. To anyone else, it'd be nonsensical, but Ms. LeFitz perfectly understood his intentions after all these years of being with him. "You wish to take a walk?" Seedot jumped up and down several times with glee, signaling to Ms. LeFitz that she was correct. "Well, alright, just don't get lost. I'm too old to be chasing after you."

Seedot wasted no time in hopping off his crate to go to his destination. He had exactly one person in mind to ask, and he hoped that they were available. It was always busy around this time of day, but then again, at what time were they ever available?


Taking in the sights of Rustboro City was always nice, but it wasn't so nice for Seedot with his stubby little feet. It had felt like miles he had walked so far, but for anyone else, it was a distance easily achievable in a short walk. Some days he wished he had evolved into a Nuzleaf. At least they had legs.

"Ah, if it isn't little Seedot! I spy you down there clear as day!" Seedot sighed. He knew this Pokemon just by voice alone, but despite how much of a chatterbox they were, they would be very beneficial right now.

"Swablu! It's good to see you!" Swablu fluttered down from the sky to greet Seedot, perching on his head, much to his displeasure.

"How's it going little acorn? I haven't seen you in forever! How's the old hag treating you?" Swablu pecked Seedot's head. "Hm, still hollow. I tell you Seedot, you need to read some books at the library to beef up that brain of yours."

Seedot had only grown mildly annoyed. "Once again, Swablu, she is not an old hag… And could you please get off of my head?"

"Fine, sorry, sorry." Swablu flew off of Seedot's head, landing on the ground in front of him. The Cotton Bird Pokemon began preening her feathers as Seedot chose to move the conversation along.

"The reason I'm out and about, Swablu, is that I'm doing some research on something. Would you happen to know where Castform is right now?"

"Castform? You're off talking to that hot shot again? At this point, you're better off just marrying her."

Seedot was visibly irritated at this point. "Look, Swablu, I need some information from her, and you know as well as I do that she's the best source."

Swablu was visibly disappointed, but gave in to Seedot's requests. "Fine, fine, I do know where she is. She's out on a stroll by Rusturf Tunnel, I saw her there a little while ago after I dropped some Ganlon Berries on her head."

"Ignoring that last part, that's great to hear." Could you give me a lift?"

Swablu sighed. "If you planned to move around so much, you should've just grown wings. You ever consider evolving into Nuzleaf sometime?"

"Swablu, I'm too old of an acorn to be judging decisions like that, Swablu. Just help a friend out, alright?"

"Fine, but you better expect that you're gonna owe me a big favor after this. Hm…. let's see, what could I get you to help me out with….?"

Seedot chuckled to himself as he hopped onto Swablu's back. Swablu soon attained lift-off, and the duo were on their way to Rusturf Tunnel. It was only a short flight to the Tunnel from Rustboro, but for someone like Seedot, Castform would've been long gone by the time he got there. Seedot hoped Ms. LeFitz wouldn't find out about him going this far away from the city, otherwise she'd probably never let him go out for a walk again. Well, he had his ways anyway. Not like she'd ever know he had snuck this far out. Oh well.

Seedot knew full well that if anyone had information on the feather, it was Castform. Castform had ears in all sorts of high places, so talking to her was a safe bet on getting information. He had his ways of coaxing information out of her, but if the situation was big enough, perhaps she'd spill the beans without much trouble. Hopefully it'd be the former. While the latter was easier, it meant only bad things for John. Seedot hoped it wasn't those kinds of things. For John's sake.


Swablu and Seedot made their landing outside of the tunnel a few minutes after departing the city. Locating Castform had been a simple task, because as it turned out, she stood out like a sore thumb among the bright greens of the cave exterior. Swablu dropped Seedot off right next to Castform, as she flew off to a perch in a nearby tree.

Castform watched as Seedot approached her. Castform, having been enjoying the walk, was now filled with curiosity at the current situation. "Heya Seedot, it's been a while. Riding in style I see?"

"It's not my fault you decided to "take a stroll" so far away from where I live, Castform."

Castform scoffed. "I wasn't expecting the company today. To what do I owe the pleasure? I assume you're looking for more information, in which case I can safely say that I am not spilling anything to you today."

Seedot briefly glanced into the cave ahead, before turning back to Swablu.

"Could we talk in the Tunnel up ahead?" Seedot made a gesture towards the tunnel as Castform began to scold him.

"I've already told you this. I may be privy to all sorts of things, but that doesn't mean I can go and give loads of top secrets to those who come asking for it all willy-nilly-"

"Castform, what do you happen to know about red feathers?"

Castform immediately stopped. To an outsider, no one would have noticed a change, but for Seedot, he knew immediately that she had gone pale.

"R-red…. f-feathers?"

"Could we please talk in the cave?"

Castform barely spared a thought before responding.

"Yes, let's. If it's what I think you're talking about… it's imperative that you give me all the details."

Castform began floating towards the cave, with Seedot following behind her. Swablu, however, fluttered towards Seedot with objections.

"Seedot…. I've never seen her so utterly terrified before… What did you ask her?"

"Look, Swablu, I'll tell you some other time. For right now, just wait out here, I'll only be a minute with Castform."

Swablu was concerned, but she merely flew back up to the treeline in response to Seedot. Seedot watched, but soon turned tail towards the cave. The sooner he was over with this, the better he would be able to assess the situation at hand. Judging by Castform's reaction… she had gone with the worst-case response. Not the best sign.

Still, Seedot could only hope that whatever Castform was about to tell him, that John would be alright. Though that hope was growing slim. Hopefully John was doing alright, now, wherever he was.