Scene Five: A Brave New World

"Thank you all for what you have done for us."

I smiled to the small crowd around us. Governor Thorne, leader of Harohto Capital, stood before us alongside Mosten, still in his soot-stricken armor, helm tucked under his arm, with his brave Empoleon at his side. Some other soldiers remained, but many had gone home to their families. Some, I knew, went to where their loved ones were buried, bringing the good news to the departed. Alex, Leif, and Oliver joined us as well, the latter seated on the steps to the garden. City Hall was an enclosed space, well away from prying eyes – and it was where we were about to Travel for the first time.

The battle had continued long after ours met its end. We joined the effort in defending the walls against what remained of the raider force. Given that they had nothing to return to, many fled off into the woods to fight another day. An even bigger chunk, however, had surrendered, and others were taken prisoner. Mosten had the idea to set them to work in the fields and greenhouses, determined to see his city through to the Spring.

"We could not have done it without your help." Will stepped forward to shake hands with Mosten, and their eyes met solidly for a moment. I felt they were quite alike in all I'd seen of Mosten on our mission – and I was coming to know Will very well.

"The same can be said for you all, if not tenfold," Mosten told us earnestly. "We assimilated the raider effort last night. Thanks to your efforts, their camp is no more. Our scouts tell of a scamp few hundred that have escaped into the woods, and they'll come back before long. With the raiders thwarted and the Keeper sated, our people can live in peace."

"For a time, at least," Thorne agreed gravely. "We must yet deal with the prisoners. I imagine many will cooperate, given our new long-term plan, but the rest are a drain on our already parse resources. We have but a few weeks left to tend the crops before snow. Still," he added, and a bit of a smile overcame him, "it has been a long time since League Trainers have done something so kind for our kingdom. I would be ignorant not to commend your valiant gift to our fair city: her freedom.

"I hope your reward gold serves you well on your journey," Thorne went on. "Gold is of unending service to a League Trainer, but recognition and fame may get you even further. Harohto will remember your services for a long time to come. Once our fine city catches up, it would be a delight to see you return and face off against Harohto's mighty Gym Leader!"

He gestured, to my surprise, to Mosten, who puffed out his chest a little. "Gym Leader?" I asked.

"One of the main draws of becoming a League Trainer," Will told me. "Many large cities like this are host to a Pokemon League Gym, designed to test the mettle of League Trainers in a series of challenges, culminating in a battle against the leader themselves."

"Gym Leaders, first and foremost, are protectors of the realm they live in," Mosten told me, dipping his head. "I am captain of Harohto's militia, yes, but my status is what led me to seek out and accompany you in the first place. That said, I do greatly look forward to battling you in my gym someday."

I found a smile on my face. "Me too," I agreed. "Seeing you out there, how you handled your men in battle and shepherded everyone to safety… I respect you greatly for it." A puzzled frown settled in its stead now. "But… are you sure you can afford to give this money? Would it not serve your city better?"

Sira nudged me. "Don't you dare give up our hard-earned gold!"

Thorne chuckled. "No, no, my young friend. Gold is not something that can fix the deep-rooted strife within our walls – not now, at least. That, and while a great sum is from our city, much of your reward has been pledged to you by our people. Families who have seen their loved ones avenged came to us to offer whatever help they could muster. I assure you, this money is yours to keep."

"Do not look a gift Girafarig in the mouth, friend," Alex advised, jabbing me in the ribs. "From what I have learned these last few days, you may have a lofty goal ahead of you. I wish I could abandon Lancet Pooper and join you, but… at least this can assist in the well-being of my dear friend."

Where Oliver looked about to unleash more scorn on Alex, his expression, instead, turned to Will. Will went to speak, but Oliver raised a hand. "You need not explain. For all you have done for us, I could never let you leave us in ill spirits. You have a calling, my friend, and I would only ever wish you the best."

Will frowned. "What of Lancet?"

"Let us deal with him," Alex declared, jamming his hands against his hips gallantly. "We have a tidy sum as payment, so he cannot say we simply came here to smell the Sunfloras. And if he says anything about you, or you—" he pointed almost accusingly at me "—then I swear I'll stick my lance where the sun don't shine!"

Oliver, Leif, and Will all turned on Lancet. Sira doubled over in laughter, and Lusari hid her giggling behind her hand. Even Starlight seemed to giggle a little, like tinkling bells.

"Mind your tongue," Oliver warned, "and your language! Have you been rolling with the Lechonks while your friends fought for this city? I should return you to Lancet as a new leather coat! I could explain that you are the only one of us whose body I came across, stuffed in the backside of an Ursaring in the woods! Where else am I to believe you have adopted these mannerisms?"

"He has a point, though," Leif agreed, throwing his arm over the taller Alex's shoulder, bringing him down to his level. Violet tried to pummel Leif to free her trainer, but it looked like it had no effect. "Lancet has his reasons to stay in the village, and that might be all he cares about. The only thing he might care about more is showing you up, Will! You've been a thorn in his side for some time – he might be happy you left us!"

"More importantly," Alex spoke from the crook of Leif's shoulder, "we support your cause, brother." Violet landed a lucky hit, freeing Alex, who rose back to his full height, smiling at me. "You found a rare person and his rare Pokemon, among a rare sort of people. I have no doubt you are about to do great things! My only anguish is that I wish I was coming, too."

Will clapped Alex on the shoulder. "You would be wise to stay with the army, for now. I saw you at that battle. You shepherded the survivors to safety, hearkened Mosten's warriors to fight at your side, and put yourself at Ryoku's side to stare down the very Keeper." He gave Alex a genuine, bright smile. "Stay with the army, and you will continue to do great things while growing ever stronger. I look forward to the day you and Violet lead a fleet of your own."

Alex swelled with pride, his chest puffing out so dramatically that he lost his balance, which was thrown off further as Violet landed around his shoulders. The Ledyba removed his steel cap and slapped it on to her head, buzzing gleefully, while Alex tried to retrieve it.

"Leif," Will said, turning to his other friend next. "You also did very well in that battle, and in getting to Harohto safely despite all that happened. I will be back to Syaoto someday to see Brom, and I know I will see great things from you. Follow your heart, as it has always kept you on the right path." He bowed to Leif, a gesture that surprised me to see. "I will not soon forget our time in Bytold, helping the villagers together under Lancet's nose. You have a heart of gold, and the potential to be a powerful force in Syaoto's army."

Leif scowled at him. "Hey, we couldn't have done anything without you! I could not have fetched that medicine for the poor girl, nor tracked her and that Drifloon, without your expertise! Your wisdom is far beyond your years, my friend."

"And ploughing Lindsor's fields?" Alex chimed in. "Helping out ol' Kimball? Can you imagine how dreadful Bytold would have been without you?"

"I fear it will not be the same upon our return," Oliver sighed. "I do hope Field Commander Lancet Cooper meets whatever goal it is Lord General Brom assigned for him, and soon. Without your bravado, Will, we might actually get caught resisting orders and helping the people."

Alex and Leif looked at him, then each other in disbelief. "Resisting orders? From the esteemed Oliver Rouge?" They both cracked a smile.

"Perhaps we could step in," Thorne suggested. "A small platoon of soldiers could escort you to Bytold. Sniff out any trouble, help the people. Perhaps set this Lancet Cooper back in line."

Alex and Leif turned to Mosten hopefully. "Could you…?"

Mosten sighed. "Unfortunately, the city has need of me right now. If you were to remain in Harohto for some time, I could perhaps visit in Spring. My wife and I could use a good camping trip in the woods, now that it's safe, once the coming snow serves its time."

Leif scowled. "As much as I would enjoy the visit, I pray we aren't here over winter!"

Alex nodded heavily. "I would sooner take up Oliver's offer about a bear rump, or whatever that business was. Quite crude, if you ask me."

Will chuckled. "I shall miss the lot of you dearly. Syaoto is one of our destinations, so perhaps our paths will cross again soon."

"I hope so!" Alex agreed. "Ryoku, when we meet up, we should have a battle! Once Violet evolves, we'll be unstoppable! I'd love to see what Snacks can do in the future, and Glimmer! Oh, she will become a glorious Ampharos one day, I know it!"

"Who knows?" Will said with a light shrug. "Displaying such power at only the onset of your pairing together? Snacks surely has a wealth of secrets just waiting to be revealed. Glimmer shall be valuable to us, too. I cannot wait to see what other Pokemon you come to catch. There is a wide, wide world out there. Who knows what we may come to face next?"

Those words fell upon us like a wave, and I felt certain trepidation behind them. Even Harohto had become a winding mess by the end of it. What else could possibly await?

Thorne nodded encouragingly. "He is strong-willed, as are all of you. You have shown Harohto that in great measure. I'm sure all of you will grow strong and, in time, settle this threat against the Elemental Stones."

I looked to him in surprise, then at Will. Thorne knew of the stones?

"Have you heard anything about them we can use?" Will asked. "Perhaps some word has reached Harohto of their locations? Anything we may not know already?"

Throne scratched his chin airily, then shrugged. "None so far as I am aware. I knew of the Keeper, suspected its association with the Grass Stone by legend, but that is the closest I have ever come. You may find more answers in other worlds. Orden is quite far from here, and we would hear none of it if not from your company. All we know is they say their emperors and soldiers alike are trained to wield a sword before table manners." He shuddered, as though he could think of no worse evil. "They are a savage land whose warriors thrive off battle alone. No offense, milady."

Sira grunted noncommittally. "None taken."

"I do hear of some unrest in Jerule's royal family, however," Thorne went on. "Brooklyn is… as chaotic as ever, I hear. That is about all I could think to share that you might not already know." His thought process seemed to change a little, and he turned to Lusari, who was playing with Starlight. "Lusari Atella, I presume you mean to go with these trainers?"

Shyly, Lusari nodded. "They need me to utilize Travel properly, and to show Ryoku, at some point." Her smile wavered a little bit. "I have nowhere left to go here, either."

Thorne snapped his fingers, gesturing to one of his attendants, who advanced with a scroll. "Now, this isn't to deter you from what you want to do – in fact, as you were enrolled at the academy, perhaps this will do you great good! But should you decide to return…"

His attendant handed the scroll to Lusari, who unfurled it. Her jaw dropped a little, and a tear dripped down her cheek. Will observed the document easily over her shoulder. "The deed to her home, I presume?"

Thorne nodded. "Mosten made me aware of her situation. While I cannot help every misplaced child, unfortunately, I can help in some ways. If you choose to come back – whenever that may be – your home will await you. Consider this an apology for what nearly befell you yesterday, with our guards unable to occupy the area, and for your services in helping your friends with the raiders."

Even as she smiled, tears dripping down her cheeks – she handed the document back to Thorne, who looked shocked. "I really do appreciate the sentiment," she said softly. "I-I do not wish to scorn your gift – that is the last thing on my mind, truly. But my family estate is a large one. My parents were fairly well-off, as I am certain you know. As such, if it's okay, I'd like to turn my home into a sanctuary – a place for the other kids orphaned by the raiders to call home."

Thorne looked somewhat flabbergasted, and a proud smile stretched across Mosten's lips. After a moment, Thorne, too, lit up.

"What a marvelous idea, and truly generous of you," he exclaimed, appearing fully moved. "This does settle a great deal of problems. I'm certain these children will be indebted to you for such a moving offer. If things do change, and you find yourself returning and in need of a home, please come speak to me and I will make arrangements. It is the least I could do, surely."

Will nodded solemnly. "If she should decide to return, I would see her safely here myself. I imagine Ryoku would do the same."

"Of course," I agreed vigorously. Lusari beamed at me, blushing, and I returned the smile. "I hope you feel welcome with us. I mean, you're not just helping us out with Travel, either – you're a part of our team. You saved me back there, more than once."

She wiggled her brow at me. "I think you did most of the saving, Ryoku Dragontalen. You and your adorable Snacks."

"You must stick with them long enough to see my homeland!" Alex butted in, grinning at Lusari. "You think this old place is gorgeous? You must go to Syaoto, and wait for me there! We can stroll the Royal Forest together, picking daisies with the Flabebes, chasing Vulpix through the tall grasses! Why, I know an excellent viewpoint of the sunset from atop Clamber's Plateau where we could…"

Leif twisted Alex's ear, causing him to cry out. Violet buzzed around his head, trying to whale on Leif with her button fists. "Come on, Alex! You said the same things to Caryl Cerone! You want me to tell her who you lust after now?"

Alex tried to pull away, stumbled over his own feet, and Oliver steadied him. "Leif! You are the worst! Heed not the words of a vicious Croagunk, Lusari!"

She only giggled in response. Alex took off after Leif, chasing him in circles around the garden. Snacks hopped gleefully out of my arms to chase them, crying out melodically. Lusari watched, amused, and drew her hair back across her shoulder, where Starlight hopped up and sat down. Will watched them running around, grinning to himself, his finger idly stroking Valor's ball.

Alex drew his cloak over his head, apparently pretending to be the Keeper, and pretended to slay Violet in the grass. Leif fought back laughter, vaulting over a vat in the garden, only to get splashed by his Frogadier, Riptide, who chuckled in a refined way. Oliver and Mosten looked on, ready to intervene if they broke something. Mosten's Empoleon looked on almost wistfully, perhaps remembering its childhood days as a Piplup, next to Oliver's sagely Scizor. Thorne just watched, smiling to himself as he twirled his black moustache in a finger.

After a very short time, Alex and Leif grew tired. Leif collapsed onto the stairs, and Alex strolled over to us, thumbs in his pockets. Lusari sat down with Leif, and the two engaged in some kind of quiet conversation.

"Bytold will be so boring," Alex moaned. "No raiders. No ancient Keeper of the woods. What is a Syaoto soldier to do in this peace?"

Will chuckled. "Indeed. A Syaoto soldier should be very happy with the given peace, knowing that no peace truly lasts long."

"You make a villain of me!" Alex proclaimed, raising his hands in an open gesture. "The news of a raider defeat is splendid for the people!" His shoulders sagged, and he sighed. "For me, however, it spells a return to sleepy old Bytold, where I must tell Lancet that the son of the hero is gone. He shall have my head, whether for that or for the pike I'll shove up his—"

Oliver cut him off with a warning noise, clearly a bit oversaturated with Alex's crude humor. Will only laughed. I didn't miss the title Alex gave him – an odd one, to be sure.

Will approached Alex, standing before him. Despite hailing from the same place, they looked quite different. Alex's hair was wilder, sandier, and unorthodox on his head, his arms ganglier, a bit more of a stoop to his posture. Will stood tall, back straight, fitting his figure well. His hair may be unruly, but still far tamer than Alex's mop.

With one hand, Will removed the steel cap upon his head. Quite gently, like a crown, he placed it onto Alex's.

"I should have my doubts about less action around you, given your nature," Will told him. "In that case, you may find this cap to serve you better than the standard issue. Not that you are a median yet, but…"

Oliver gave Will an awestruck look, while Alex touched the hat with a single finger like it was made of gold. I couldn't guess the importance behind the gesture, but it seemed to be a big deal. Did it have to do with the title Alex gave Will?

With that, Will turned to me, smiling. "Should we be on our way, then?"

Sira stretched and yawned next to me. The antics of the last day left us sleepless, eager to visit the next realm. Either that, or the social interaction bored Sira to tears. "Might be best," she agreed. "You know how easy I get bored of this place, and we've been here forever. Where do you suppose we'll land next?"

Will shrugged broadly. "There are many realms within general Travel distance." As he started to list them off, Lusari got up and approached, reaching for something from a satchel on her belt by Starlight's ball. "What is there? Brooklyn, Lysvid, Jerule… any of them would be a fair chance for a trainer's basic Travel."

"Be wary if you land in Jerule," Thorne told us. "As I mentioned, matters seem to be turning sour there from last we heard."

Oliver had a sour expression. "And I do not need to warn you of Lysvid. It is a dangerous and hostile place for outsiders."

"Where does that leave us? Brooklyn?" Sira curled her lip. "Never liked that place. They place more stock in acting and theatrics than their military."

Thorne smiled, and looked around to the other soldiers. "We should get going. Young Lusari prepares her Travel. We don't want to get caught up in it."

Leif balked at that idea. Alex, who had been slowly turning red as a Darumaka with his new cap upon his head, shot his hand up in a bold, emotional salute. He held it for several seconds alongside Violet before Oliver and Leif settled in beside him and mimicked the salute. After a moment, Mosten stepped in, too. Will planted his feet firmly and returned the gesture – I tried to follow suit. Snacks let out a sad chirp.

"It was good to meet you, Ryoku. Sira. Lusari." Oliver flicked out the salute in a finishing gesture. "Until we meet again. I, too, look forward to a battle with you one day, Ryoku. You show great promise as a League Trainer."

"Thank you for all your help," Leif told us seriously. "Will, I am on my way to becoming an Elite. Guess I'd have you beat soon, huh?"

Oliver chuckled. "Maybe in rank."

"And I'll be a median soon," Alex announced firmly, still holding the salute. "With your cap, I will cut down the ranks like a Scyther. Maybe Vi and I will command our own squad one day, on adventures even bigger than this one."

Mosten dropped his salute. "You will always be welcome here, Ryoku. If you ever come back, I look forward to a fantastic gym match with you."

I smiled, still holding my awkward salute. "If it's possible."

"And I will watch from the stands," Will promised.

"And until he does, I'll pummel his butt into the ground," Sira finished, grinning.

The others laughed, but we knew it was time to go. Alex and Leif rushed ahead to the door leading out of the garden, Alex and Violet both tugging at Leif's sleeve, Riptide following at a slow pace. Oliver and his Scizor followed, arms folded behind their backs, staring up at the early rising sun. Mosten walked with his Empoleon alongside Thorne, already discussing something about Harohto's future.

Just as easily as they had all arrived, they left.

I sighed, a little sadly, and turned back to Lusari. She had pulled out a small blue device from her satchel, emitting a faint light from it. Starlight began to glow at her shoulder – then, a greenish energy expanded out from them in a burst along the ground, creating a wide circle that could easily fit at least ten people. Symbols of some kind started to etch up from the ground in the green light, things that seemed to tug at my memory in odd ways. One of the symbols near me looked something like a star intersected with a triangle, and I stared at it until it burned my eyes.

"You'd better be ready," Sira told me firmly. "We could easily land in a hostile realm."

Snacks leapt up into my arms, and I held her apprehensively. I'd heard little about the other realms we could see, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Orden and Syaoto both sounded too far to easily reach.

Lusari finished whatever she was doing for the travel, her delicate eyes opening. Starlight still hummed with psychic energy, possibly maintaining the circle at our feet. Green dust glinted all around her, gently lifting her silver hair as if in a light breeze. "Are we ready?"

For a brief moment, I hesitated. I'd made strong friendships in Harohto that I could visit if I returned. Some of them might meet us in Syaoto. What if this was the only place like that? What if every other realm we went to was full of darkness and enemies? Of thugs trying to get at Lusari, or raiders preying on broken Capitals?

As I thought that, I looked around at my friends. Will smiled at me bravely. Sira's fingers drummed impatiently on the hilt of Sinistra. Lusari only smiled delicately, appearing a little fatigued to have created this Travel. Snacks was looking up at me, her big black eyes glinting with the greenish light.

I knew, as long as I was with these four, and Glimmer, that I would never be alone.

I managed a brave smile and nodded to Lusari. She returned it, and lowered her gaze to the device she held. Starlight started emitting a low frequency hum, and the green outer edge of the circle flared to life, rising up around us like some kind of personal aurora. The symbols around us seemed to rise from the earth and dance eerily among us.

Beyond the green aura, Harohto seemed to fade into the background. First went the sky, then the tall buildings around us. I watched darkness swallow the adornments of the gardens until it stretched to our very feet, and the grass beneath us vanished. I expected to lose my footing, but something held me still.

Starlight's head twitched. At the edge of the circle, some sort of black energy rippled through the outer layer of the Travel. Every glyph in the circle spun madly, emitting small noises, aggravated by some kind of disruption. Two of them turned jet-black. The setting of Harohto reappeared around us, then scrambled and distorted.

"What the—?"

Sira's voice cut through the circle. I tried to reach for my knife, scared, but I couldn't move. Snacks stared up at me, panicked. The same emotion rose up in my chest. Had the dark emperor of Orden found us…?

Then, across from me, something different crossed into the Travel, and something levelled out. A flicker of golden energy licked across the edge of the circle. Two of the glyphs turned emerald-green. Then, in a motion that danced across my vision, every symbol turned bright-gold. Harohto disappeared around us once more.

"Lusari, what is it?" Will asked uneasily.

Lusari frowned, her eyes shut. "I… I cannot say for sure. I have never actually used Travel before, just studied it. But… um, I feel like somebody latched onto our spell. Something else may have repelled them for now, but…"

She looked up at me, her long, snowy lashes fluttering. "I think we're being followed."