Overcast Village Forest

Saltriv

As we exited the Illusory Grotto, I couldn't help but worry about Gen. He looked really shaken up from being in a copy of the blanket fort mystery dungeon. More than usual, anyways. I started to turn and check up on him, when I caught a glimpse of something yellow and blue in the distance. That must be the monster!

"We're almost there!" I called out, and began to run towards the monster as fast as I could!

"Saltriv! Wait up!" Gen protested, as I heard his hurried footsteps.

I slowed my pace, but kept running. We couldn't let the monster escape with Dreepy! I watched the greenery rush by, only to stop as I heard my best friend shout.

"Saltriv! We could be going into a fight! We need to be prepared," Burhallla said.

"But the monster is right there! We can't let it get away!" I said, gesturing towards it with my leaf.

"It'll get away if we're not prepared," Burhalla said. "Come back, let's get ready."

I trotted back towards Burhalla. He dug around a bit in his bag and pulled out a Max Ether. He dumped its contents into his hands, taking a small amount for himself, before offering the rest to me.

As I ate my portion of the Max Ether, I focused on the wonder I felt at seeing a real Illusory Grotto, and felt my Grass energy be restored. I felt refreshed, energized, and ready to take down the monster!

"Let's go!" I said, hurrying forth further into the woods, towards the monster. Out of the corner of my vision, I saw Gen stumbling as he tried to keep up. I made sure to slow down for him.

I hoped he was ok. He hasn't stopped trembling since we saw that Hydreigon. What had terrified him so much, even more than his experiences in the blanket fort?

I hoped he knew we were here for him. We were his friends, we're here to help him!

No matter what!

As we walked forth towards the monster, I saw it twitch, and heard a voice. Was it…talking?

I saw a glimpse of something green and red flickering over the monster for a brief moment, translucent at one end. That must be Dreepy!

They looked…normal, though. Calm. Not afraid.

Wasn't the monster scary, though? Why would Dreepy be so calm near it?

We were almost there, though. I supposed one way or another, we were about to find out.

We continued through the forest, approaching the monster, and soon, I could make out what it and Dreepy were saying.

"Are you sure this'll make them believe you?" Dreepy asked.

"We don't have any other choice! Just look at us!" an unknown voice retorted. Was that the monster?

What was happening? They were just…talking! Wasn't the monster something that attacked on sight?

I tried to approach, before I felt something furry tugging on my side. I looked over, and saw Gen holding onto me. He was visibly quivering, and his face looked almost as worried as it did back when we entered the Illusory Grotto.

"I…I don't think we should get too close," he said. "What if it's too strong for us?"

"But we need to rescue Dreepy!" I protested, before hearing a startled yelp. I looked over towards Dreepy and the monster, and they…they were looking straight at us!

I felt Gen's trembling get worse, and I laid a vine on him, as Dreepy began floating towards us. Yet the monster stayed still?

"Team Searchlights? What are you doing here?" Dreepy asked, flippers held together.

"We…we were looking for you," Gen said. "We…thought you were in danger."

Dreepy wiggled their tailtip as they looked down.

"Oh, I'm not…I was just…exploring! Yeah, I was explori—" Dreepy said, before being cut off.

"Don't lie to us."

Burhalla stepped forward and scowled over at Dreepy with narrowed eyes. "Clearly something is up."

"What, uh, what do you mean? Nothing's wrong!" Dreepy said, smiling sheepishly.

"We saw you talking with the monster. What is going on here?" I asked.

"Uh, nothing important!" Dreepy said, frantically waving their flippers. "Really! It's nothing you should worry about!"

Burhalla glared at Dreepy, stomping closer to them. "Tell us the truth. Now."

"Really! It's noth—" Dreepy began, but they never finished their explanation before I felt the blistering cold of a Powder Snow freeze my scales. I looked over behind Dreepy, and felt my heart skip a beat. The monster was right there and approaching us!

"It's coming!" Gen said, eyes wide.

"Hold fast! We can maybe take it down!" Burhalla said, flicking his tail.

I held steadfast, launching an Ancient Power at the monster. It was enough to make the monster flinch! "We can do this!" I cheered.

"Hey, woah, woah!" Dreepy said, waving their flippers around as they held up their tail. "It's okay! You don't need to—!"

It snarled, before charging at Gen, electricity crackling around it! It looked like it was about to attack! So why was Dreepy so hesitant about us attacking it if it's clearly hostile?

But before it did…its own tail smacked it in the head, and the electricity dissipated. What was that about?!

"Hey, calm down!" Dreepy called out…towards the monster?

Just what was going on? Dreepy didn't seem scared of the monster at all!

The monster screeched, and electricity thundered around it, interspersed with hail. My leaf draped onto my back, that hail would be a problem for me…I flinched with each pellet of ice that crashed into me. I couldn't keep fighting long in this weather.

So the monster was Ice and Electric-type. That…wasn't good. Burhalla was the only one of us who could hit it hard with his fire, while the rest of us were weak to its attacks.

Dreepy too, for that matter…but whose side were they on? They were just hovering around the monster, seemingly trying to calm them down.

Burhalla spat an Ember at it, and I swung my leaf, an Ancient Power crashing onto the monster. It tried to bring its arms up, but the attacks hit true, and it stumbled backwards.

The monster reared back, and charged for Gen again, who was frozen with his eyes wide with fright. There was no time to cut the monster off, and so I did the one thing that reflexively came to mind:

"Gen! Look out!" I shouted.

He frantically tugged at the scalchop on his chest and pulled it free as the monster stomped over, electricity gathering around his beak. He finally got it free just as the monster came upon him and swung it wide with a pale green glow...

That looked like a bug-type move of some sort! When did he learn that?!

Before he could attack, though, the monster lunged for him, its beak crackling with electricity. Gen screamed as it rammed into his head, and he crumpled to the ground, twitching.

Dreepy gasped, and cried out, "Stop!" but I didn't care. I needed to help Gen!

After Burhalla blew an Ember at Arctozolt, it stumbled backwards away from Gen. An opening!

"Gen!" I yelled, running over as I dug into my bag, pulling out a tiny reviver seed and pushing it into his mouth. His eyes widened briefly, but it did the trick, as he stood back up.

"Wh-What was that?" he whimpered, clutching onto his reunion cape. "It really hurt…"

"Looked like a Bolt Beak," I said, laying my leaf on him, trying to suppress my panic. Maybe we shouldn't have brought him along for this…he's been through so much already, and now he just…

"Guys, need some help here!" Burhalla called, and I ran towards his voice.

He was breathing fire at the monster, but it didn't seem to be affecting it much anymore. Electricity was crackling around it…was it Charging?

It let out a screech, and it seemed like it was going to attack with a Discharge…but then it glanced at Dreepy, and it went for a Thunder Shock on Burhalla instead.

What was going on with these two?

Burhalla yelped, stumbling backwards as the monster lumbered towards him. I ran towards him to help, but then something none of us were expecting happened.

It stepped back, and spoke, "Go. Away."

Me, Burhalla, and Gen all stopped and stared at it. It…talked. So…was it a Pokemon like us? Not a monster?

"Did…you just talk?" Burhalla asked, tail lashing.

"Yes, we—" it began, before its tail rose up, and smacked its beak. "Hey, watch it!"

My leaf drooped, and I tilted my head. What was this creature?

Dreepy sighed, tail lowering. "I guess there's no point in hiding it anymore…"

Gen clutched onto his reunion cape, and I tensed up.

"Er…they're—" Dreepy began, raising a flipper, before the monster interrupted.

"We're both human, and Dreepy is our partner," they declared.

Me, Burhalla, and Gen all stared in shock. They were human?! How?! Really?! Why didn't they say anything before?!

"What do you mean, you're human?!" Gen exclaimed. Though why was his tail wagging?

"Wait, 'both'?!" Burhalla asked, crossing his arms.

"You're their partner?!" I added, looking at Dreepy as my leaf swung around.

"Well…you see…" Dreepy began. They nervously flicked their tail and looked more like they'd rather be in the Voidlands than here.

"Do you have ears?" the monster said, eyes narrowing. "We're human, Dreepy is our partner, and we're here to save the world."

Burhalla's eyes narrowed in turn. I didn't blame him. Pokemon claiming to be human were much more common than Pokemon who actually were human.

But this was a Pokemon none of us had ever seen before, who looked almost like they were stitched together from two others. And they kept saying "we"...

Something was definitely up with this Pokemon.

"...do you have a name?" Gen asked, taking a step towards them. My eyes widened, and I expected him to be swatted away.

But before I could dash in to help, the monster said, "Arctozolt."

Burhalla shook his head. "No. You're lying."

The creature…no, Arctozolt, stomped towards Burhalla. "What?"

"You're lying. Just like all the other Pokemon who pretended to be human!" my best friend snarled, tail flame blazing.

Gen's eyes were wide with terror, and he was trembling. Must be the first time he's seen Burhalla this mad. "B-Burhalla…" he stammered.

Burhalla looked back at Gen and his expression softened a bit.

"Get up, 'Arctozolt'. We'll take you into town, for the nearest World-Saver to sort you out," he huffed. "They'll make it clear for everyone to see that your story's all an act like all the others."

I trotted over towards Burhalla, and pressed up against him in an attempt to comfort him. Today's been rough for all of us, and it's only just begun.

"Why, you—" Arctozolt began, before Dreepy rushed in between them and Burhalla.

"Hey, hey, calm down, please! We'll do as you say!" Dreepy said, fins pressed together.

"...fine," Arctozolt said, seeming to relax slightly. "Lead the way."

Overcast Village

Arctozolt

This was a huge waste of time, you thought as you saw the forest give way to buildings.

Are you daft? I was just doing what you were saying! I responded as I walked through the town, trying to ignore the stares you saw.

Whatever. We're finally not living in the wilderness anymore.

I still don't know why you were so insistent on not being seen until we found a partner.

It's what the giant pink hand said we had to do to save the world. And I don't know about people like you who abuse Pokemon, but I actually want to help Pokemon.

Team Yell doesn't abuse Pokemon!

Yes, you do! Not only by participating in Pokemon battles, but I've seen the stunts you pull on TV, with sabotaging gym battles so your precious Marnie can win.

Pokemon like battling, you bloody Plasma!

Do they like being forced into it and being exploited for mindless entertainment?

I raised my tail, and smacked you in the snout again.

Would you stop doing that?!

Not until you—

"Why do you keep doing that?"

You looked down, seeing the Oshawott staring at us. We were in the middle of town now, and you saw all sorts of Pokemon staring at us, including our partner.

I wonder what was going through Dreepy's mind. They've been silent the whole walk, fins pressed together.

"What?" you asked the Oshawott, ignoring me.

"Uh, hitting yourself with your tail. Why do you, um, keep doing that?" the Oshawott asked.

See what you've done? You thought.

Just tell him and get it over with.

You sighed, and told him, "Look, we're…actually two people. I control our upper half, and she controls our lower half. And we hate each other."

The Oshawott shuddered. A few seconds later, he asked, "Is…it uncomfortable?"

"...yes, very."

Before we could react, the Oshawott had attempted to hug one of our flippers. Eugh, no! I raised our tail to swat him away—

DON'T YOU DARE!

Why not?

First of all, that's cruel. Second of all, that'll ruin any goodwill we have. Third of all, do you have ANY empathy?

…fine, I thought, and lowered our tail.

"Gen, are you sure that's a good idea?" the Chikorita asked, tilting their head.

"Yeah, it did just attack us," the Charmander said, frowning. "I don't want you to get hurt."

"...ok," the Oshawott, Gen, said, and let go. Finally.

Wonder who they're taking us to.

Overcast Village

Ayueg

I tapped my talons against the ground impatiently, as I looked around the Treeside Plaza. Acacia had told me about a newbie team's excursion to investigate the monster, and I was just waiting on Leviene to get back with supplies so we could go and make sure they were alright.

Just as I was about to go off to make sure Leviene wasn't getting harassed by fans, I noticed some figures approaching from the fog. A Charmander, a Chikorita, an Oshawott, a Dreepy…and…

The monster?

Did they actually do it?

As the quartet approached me, Pokemon started to gather. I couldn't blame them, the monster with them was weird.

The Charmander stomped up to me, tail lashing. "We found the monster. They're claiming they're human, but I'm pretty sure they're lying. They say they're two people? Which makes it even more impossible that they're human."

…ah.

Of course even a freakish abomination would claim to have been human. Why not? Why couldn't my job ever be easy?

I sighed, and pulled out The Book. The Book that contained passages from various human world books in every human language we could find.

I wasn't counting on things panning out, but if it did…then it meant we'd finally found the next human.

…or humans, I suppose. I still didn't fully understand how they could be two humans with only one head between them, but those questions could wait until we find out if the 2467th time is the charm. First, I should see if they're human at all.

"Let's get this over with," I said. I opened the book, and began to flip page after page, showing each to the chimera.

As I flipped to the pages with the passages in Unovan and Galarish, the chimera's tail began to swing, and they spoke.

"The left page is from On the Gray Road: Seeking Truth and Ideals, and the big blue idiot stuck to me says that the right page is from The Hero of Sword and Shield."

I was so shocked, The Book dropped from my wings. My eyes were wide, and my beak was agape.

It was true.

We finally found the next human.

My feathers were fluffed up in excitement and relief. Finally, we didn't have to worry so much anymore! They're finally here!

I took a deep breath, and shouted at the top of my lungs, "THE NEXT HUMAN HAS BEEN FOUND! SOON, THEY'LL SAVE THE WORLD!"

Cheers erupted from every Pokemon around. Finally, we could see the light at the end of this tunnel.

Though, for some reason, the Oshawott with the reunion cape seemed…terrified.

I wondered why.

Overcast Village

Gen

I didn't know what to do.

At first, I was relieved that I wasn't alone here. That there were other humans here who had no idea why they were here.

But now I learned why we were here.

Humans are brought here to save the world.

Was…I brought here to save this world?

No, no, no! That couldn't be true!

I couldn't be a hero! I couldn't! I couldn't!

Everywhere around the plaza, I saw Pokemon cheering, happy, relieved. Saltriv's tail was wagging a mile a minute. I tried to force a smile to fit in, but I just couldn't.

"I can't believe it! That 'Arctozolt' Pokémon really are the next human! And we found them!" Saltriv said, voice full of joy that felt like a stab to my heart.

"Yeah, me neither…really thought they were lying, but I guess not," Burhalla said, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish grin.

I was doomed.

"Gen, what's wrong? Shouldn't you be happy?" he asked. "We found the next human! The world's going to be saved soon!"

Oh no. He must have noticed I was unhappy.

Quick, think of an excuse!

"Sorry… it's just… really, really loud," I said.

It was technically true, and the noise was overwhelming, too, especially with my sensitive new ears.

Burhalla tilted his head, and put a hand on my shoulder. "Are things too loud?"

"Yeah," I said, nodding. "It's too much for me…I just want to get away from it all until it calms down…"

Saltriv stepped closer, and hugged me with their vines. "That's ok! This human- er… humans, aren't going anywhere fast. We can go somewhere else for a while."

"Yeah!" Burhalla said, flame blazing brightly as he began walking. "I have just the place in mind, too!"

"Wh-what is it?" I asked, as me and Saltriv followed after him.

Burhalla turned back towards me, grinning. "Eternal Meadow! It's just the sort of place that would help you unwind from everything!"