Chapter Two: Rust-Red Wings

"If we are able to look into the future as other Pokémon do, we must also look into the past. The shame of that past is not ours, it belongs to those who used our past to set us apart, to ensure the safety of all of my fellow Pokémon and of this healing place." - Mewtwo, Mewtwo Returns

The second human opened his eyes. He was still too weak to move. Matty was carrying him on his back.

"Where are we?" His voice was raspy.

Evie hushed him, told him to go back to sleep. He stirred, tried to pull himself away, Matty held tight to his wrists.

"No. Where are we?"

"We're on our way home, Mikey," Evie said softly. "Please, try and close your eyes again."

Mikey and Evie. I'd met them only once before, visiting the Finleys. Regular scouts, I'll confess, didn't make much of them at the time.

Back before he lost his memory, Alex's identity had given him a legendary status. Mikey was an employee. He had never been treated differently to any other Pokémon, and he was unremarkable among them. But according to Tobias, it was Evie who'd spent years thinking she was a human. Their memories must have become muddled as they entered our world, they don't remember anything else of their past lives, other than being close friends. I looked down at the Eevee. E-V-I-E, according to Tobias' letter. She must be going through a serious identity crisis; a regular Pokémon, just like the rest of us. But it seemed like she only cared about Mikey.

The shore hissed against the cliff. Lapis Lazuli was waiting for us a couple miles ahead. Evie and Gloria had dug us to safety (or as close as possible). We'd gotten about half a mile out of Karma City before we came to a solid brick wall, a Relic Guardian tunnel, sealed off from intruders. We knocked, called for assistance from any allies left underground. But nobody came. So we dug our way back up.

Alex was heavy, obviously, but light enough for me to carry in my arms (I lift). My staff, Team Goldenrod, and Mickey's scouts had made it to Moirai Estuary. But now my concern was how we were getting the rest of the way back.

"How the hell is she going to carry us all to Itori?" Mach asked the group at large.

Elexi stepped up. "Allow me to remain here. We cannot possibly ask Lapis Lazuli to carry us all, Alex included. I'm positive I will find another way across."

"I don't want to just leave you here," I said.

"Your main priority should be protecting your students. We," she indicated the Academy staff, "have not made ourselves known as the Archon's enemies. Those that have must leave this island as fast as possible. And Alex needs the help of a professional. The rest of us will take Lapis Lazuli's next ride back to Itori, where we will make for the Academy."

I knew exactly what she meant by professional help. Our journey north wouldn't be ending at the clifflands.

"Besides," added Ross, "those children need all the protection they can get."

…

The Academy staff remained with the carers and the children. Only I, Tobias, Evie, and the two humans would be making this journey. We tallied up our weights and decided we could afford to bring Gloria and Matty for extra protection. We waited until the early morning when the ocean would the quietest. It would be evening by the time we arrived, we would hopefully skim past the worst of it. Lapis Lazuli looked with horror at what we'd brought her. She didn't even need to look beneath the shroud.

"Is he…" it came out in a whisper.

"Will you be able to carry him?" I asked.

"As long you can keep ahold of him. What happened?"

"Malik Grieve happened," said Tobias.

He grabbed Alex by the tail and started dragging him towards her. I lifted the golden Charmander up (careful, careful, claws) and Tobias climbed up beside us. We tied him to one of the Lapras' spines with the shroud. The four of us used our scarves to tie Mikey to Matty's back. We classed hands, took ahold of our ride.

"Are we ready?" Lapis Lazuli asked.

"As we'll ever be," I said.

There was no longer any need to travel under cover of night; the waves were rough and rain poured incessantly, but overall the journey was much more manageable. The waves knocked us about. Up. Down. Left right, up again, down again. We carried on like that, rhythmically, for miles. The sun was high up in the sky. Midday. We were almost halfway there.

It was an easier trip, traveling by day, less of us on board, not having to worry about Alex getting wet. All things considered—

No. It wasn't not just that. The seas had gone quiet. The waves lifted us up, chucked us back down. The rain pattered across our backs. The wind whistled in our ears. Otherwise, all was quiet. No one was attacking us anymore.

The sky still burned orange, navy, purple. We reached the shore. Not a single predator had approached us that whole time. Tobias was trying to lift Alex away from the water; he still didn't want to get him wet. The Lapras lifted them on her fin and carried them over to the rocks.

"Thank you, Lapis Lazuli," I said.

"Good luck," she said. "All of you."

The cave mouth glowed, shining on the Transport Pokémon face as she glided towards it. The light swallowed her whole, then died away. I lifted Alex into my arms and we dredged through the lagoons out from under the cliff. Black smoke rose from the north.

Paradise Beach was eerily quiet. There were tracks in the sand, fresh-ish, but shutters were drawn in all the houses. Leaning against the door to Paradise Café was a blank of driftwood on which the word "closed" had been hastily scratched in. The café had never closed before. Tobias was scanning the sky.

"Where is everyone?" Evie said.

"They're hiding," said Gloria.

I looked around. "Piplup agreed to meet us here—"

"Piplup?" Tobias gawked.

"He says he knows something about a God, but it isn't our God, it's—"

"COVER!"

We sprinted under the palm trees, ducked down under a row of rosemary bushes. There was a breathless pause. Then an explosion. Combustion. Screams.

The air simmered, and a bright pink-red glow lit the evening like a midday sun. The ancient stone tower was melting. Melting, as it it were made of ice. Lava was spreading across the floor, and flames were swallowing the grass, spreading like a virus.

When he saw the flames, Tobias immediately ran to help. My heart swelled despite it all. What an extraordinary Pokémon that poor little boy turned out to be. Braver Pokémon came running from their huts, climbed out of the ocean. The rest of us picked up sand with anything we could find; Evie and Gloria, with the help of a Diglett and a Dugtrio, frantically dug a trench around the area to stop the fire spreading even more. Matty stayed behind to protect the humans.

I took a brief moment to look up at the sky. Malik was out of sight.

…

It was the Spinarak's hour. Two days had passed.

We were limping back to Emerald Town, now with a couple of burn marks each for good measure. We'd helped stop the spread, along with several dozen other Pokémon— after it had consumed about half a mile of land. Now all was left was a giant patch of black, gnarled spikes that once were trees, hardened blotches that once were rock. Grey ash where there should have been green life. Miraculously, no one was killed.

Mikey held his arms weakly around Matty's shoulders, while at the halfway point Evie collapsed, and Gloria heaved her up onto her back. We were exhausted, almost beaten into the ground. But we kept moving, fuelled primarily by fear. We've just reached the plainlands. We'd be there in another six hours, God willing—

Then the earthquake hit. It threw us to the ground, hard. Alex slipped from my arms and there was a loud thunk as his hard cashing cracked against something— Tobias?! To—

It wasn't Tobias. Just a rock split in half.

We lay flat on the ground and waited for it to pass. Mikey was jolted awake. He cried out for Evie, she dragged herself over, reached up and placed a paw on his arm. I dug my fingers into the earth. All around, the wild Pokémon who'd been hiding from us were mewling.

One, two, three, four, five…

After ninety seconds the tremors finally stopped. I opened my eyes and waited for my vision to right itself. Tobias was curled up to Alex. Gloria was forcing herself up on trembling legs.

"Is everyone okay?" I breathed.

"I BTH MY TNG," said Matty.

We took a moment to breath and to let our inner ears to correct themselves. But there was no time to stop, and I was anxious to get back under a solid roof. At night we were no longer protected by darkness. The lights were still burning in the sky.

…

Emerald Town was chaos.

We'd had earthquakes before. No. We'd had tremors before. We'd had cracked roofs, scattered goods from fruit stalls, startled children. We'd had scares. This was an utter fucking disaster. Stalls tossed over, plants uprooted, Pokémon still checking through the rubble for anyone trapped. How did Malik do this?

Mayor Mortimer appeared. Residing over the town for fifty years, longer even than I'd been here. He was elderly now, propping himself up with a gnarled oak cane. The Sceptile climbed slowly but confidently up the stairs to the platform overlooking the town square, a Bewear and an Annihilape marching behind him, arms behind their backs, shoulders squared, eyes on the prowl for any potential threats that, at least in my time living here, had never presented themselves. No one was foolish enough.

"Pokémon of Emerald City," his aged voice rang across the town square.

The Pokémon of Emerald City stopped. The mayor didn't waste a moment of their attention.

"There is not one among you who has not felt the effects of these earthquakes. There is not one among you I believe incapable of carrying on. I ask that you remain calm. Assist with the resurrection of our town where you can, and where you can't, support your friends, your family, your townsfolk. The Treasure Hunters have abandoned their missions and training to dedicate themselves to serving this town. We have sent for aid from our cliffland Chieftain Wiglett. Stay patient, and stay determined. We will not lose this town, no matter what dread force comes our way."

"What about when the next earthquake hits?!" someone cried. Several assenting voices echoed.

The mayor held their gaze. "The next time it hits," he said slowly, clearly, "we will be ready for it. For the time being, we will dedicate ourselves to Emerald Town's resurrection. Progress will be hard, and it will be slow. But as they say, mighty oaks from acorns grow."

His personal guards stepped between him and the crowd as he descended the stairs. The Pokémon in the square shared a few looks, muttered a few words, then got straight back to work, calm and steely-eyed.

Tina waved from the top of the Academy steps. As we approached she stared in horror at Tobias, at the shroud hiding something very clearly Charmander-shaped.

"No casualties, but plenty of injuries," she reported. "Only a handful of buildings left standing. That… thing is already tearing his way through the Woodlands Regions. He'll move onto the wetlands, and then…"

"Let's not skip ahead," I said, "how bad is the damage down south?"

Tina swallowed. "Hallore Village has burnt to the ground."

Tobias' mouth hung open.

"Lord Finley— Mickey— is readying his Pokémon and has made contact with the Queen, along with the other Itoran Chieftains."

I wondered if Lord Ayers had made contact as well.

"How are the kids?" I asked.

Our secret codeword for the Treasure Hunters. It just slipped out of me.

"Bloody well, all things considered. Oh, geez, my language, I'm sorry."

"Thank you for taking care of things. I'll go take Tobias to my office to lie down."

I didn't think Oran Berry Beach would be safe. I made a mental note to go and check their letter box for them. I dreaded to think how packed mine would be.

"Someone's waiting for you in there," Tina said, "one of the Hunters-in-training. You'd… better just get on up there."

We picked our way through a throng stressed-out Hunters. Most of them, to their credit, were out helping the town, and none of the ones inside were standing still either. They paused only to linger on us as we passed, at their leader covered in bruises and burn marks, at Tobias fish-eyed and heavy-limbed beside him, at the Charmander-shape bundled up in black cloth. We kept walking. No eye contact.

Two Hunters had been placed outside the door. A Tinkaton and a Morgrem, straight-backed, heads held high. Deep-pink scarves patterned with grey hammers. Team Valiant, silver-rank, known for their dignity and candour, for defying all the stereotypes of their species. I know the names, faces, teams, and reputations of every Pokémon who comes here to become a Treasure Hunter. I could think of a hundred and one reasons why a Hunter-in-training would want to come and see me, but I couldn't think of any reason Tina would have let them into my office at a time like this. This had better be serious.

Actually, you know what? I really hope it isn't.

I opened the door. I glanced at the cabinet hiding the scroll away. The faint, almost imperceptible glow. Still working away. Hello!

Inside my office were two Whimsicott.

"Auburn," Tobias said, surprised. "April."

"The Snorlax told us we should talk to you in private," said Auburn.

"We're sorry to disturb you," said April, "when you're already so busy."

"What's happened?" I asked, keen to move this quickly along.

Auburn took a deep breath, looked to her mother for strength.

"A Ruby has broken through the Barrier."

…

Evron's Barrier was created in the year 15 A.S. by a powerful magician from Mount Chronicle. Great Sorcerer Evron was belonged to some feudal line, in the days where those lines were nothing more than dots scattered over the region, but no one is quite sure who's. The Skarsgards will tell you it's theirs, but so will a lot of lineages. I imagine at some point almost every family in Itori has made that claim.

The Barrier is impenetrable. No Ruby tree, bush, flower, not so much as a red blade of grass has ever grown beyond that translucent border. And no Ruby Pokémon, either. They only way to temporarily open the Barrier is with the soul of a non-Ruby Pokémon. I have no idea how it works, what exactly makes a Ruby Pokémon's soul different to the rest of us. But hearing what Tobias said, Soleil's words about the traces of another's soul lingering in yours… It's frightening to think about.

The point is, so long as the Barrier is intact, Itori at large is safe. Safe from the mindless contagiousness of the Forest, the virus that years ago mercilessly sucked in all the life around it. The earth. The air. The Pokémon. As long as the Barrier is up, as long as it's intact, the Forest cannot spread.

But now a Ruby Pokémon has walked through. Alone.

…

A Decidueye. Rust-red wings, scarlet where he might have been orange, pastel pink where he might have been white. The only part of his body that would have matched an "outsider" Decidueye was the green cape around his neck, feathers shaped like leaves.

Tina had placed him in a small private room in the hospice behind a secret panel in the wall, where we often put our more, how should I put it? Controversial guests. There was just enough room for April, Auburn, and I to squeeze in. Tobias and Evie elected to stay upstairs with their human counterparts. Two humans under the same roof. Who could have imagined?

The Decidueye's ruby eyes snapped open. He slowly pushed himself into a sitting position against the wall, smacked his beak. I used both claws to hand him his water skin.

"Thanks," he said hoarsely. He tipped up the skin and drank deep. Water dribbled down his chin.

I extended a claw. "Professor Buckeye. Friends call me Khan."

He shook it with the finger-like tips of one wing. "Rohan."

He set his water skin down beside him.

"You don't have to cage me, you know. I'm not going to hurt anyone."

I'm putting you here so you don't get hurt.

"We thought you might like some privacy," I said instead. "My friends here tell me you've been through quite an ordeal, and this is foreign land for you."

Rohan shrugged, as if to say "fair point". He gazed up at the ceiling.

"Can you still see it from the sky?"

"See what?"

Rohan gave me a pointed look.

"I don't want to have to see it. While I'm up there. Am I far enough away?"

"You'd be able to see it from the sky all over Itori."

"Where's the closest land from Itori?"

"… I don't think that's an option you want to explore at the moment."

Rohan reached for bowl of food, I pushed it towards him. He picked up and split a Bluk Berry, winced, ate it anyway.

"My friends say they found you lying unconscious just a few feet beyond the Barrier."

Rohan nodded, going for a Tiny Apple.

"He was in such an awful state…" said April

"Yeah he looked dead," Auburn added helpfully. April gave her daughter a frown.

"How much do you remember?" I asked.

"I remember running for my life. I remember being behind the Barrier, then being past it."

He picked up a Persim Berry, split it, with no reaction on his face as he swallowed.

"You eat like a bird," said Auburn.

"This bird hasn't had a meal in three days. Trying to take it slow for my stomach's sake."

He put the other half in his mouth.

"Can you remember how you did it?" I asked.

"I told you," he swallowed, "I ran."

I felt a twisting feeling in the yellow part of my chest.

"You said you were running from someone," I said, "aren't you worried they're going to follow you?"

Rohan paused reaching for the bowl.

"Was it the Guardians?"

Rohan's gaze turned glassy.

"Could you two give us some space?"

When mother and daughter were gone, Rohan crossed his wings.

"How do you—" he began.

"I've fought them myself."

His beak hung open.

"Why were they chasing you?"

He gave no answer; he stared at the floor, his defiance gone.

"Why were they chasing you, Rohan?"

He picked up a Spelon Berry, turned it around in his claws.

"Because I was running."

I stepped out onto the Academy balcony. The sounds of construction churned beneath me.

I could see the Barrier from here. Few Pokémon would have recognised it, but I did. That faint, almost imperceptible shimmer just above the red tree tops. The leaves Alex spent so long examining to write in his book. The obsessive detail he put into getting everything around him right. The way he skimmed over his memories of battle, describing each one in as little detail as possible. Is he coping?

The Ruby leaves shift in the wind. Behind them, the purple peaks of the mountains…

Tina appeared by my side. We leaned on the balcony rail together (those are some strong bars). They'd all been updated. Gloria and Matty were going to help take over at the Academy. They managed it well enough when I left them to chase after Alex and Tobias. I really hoped I wouldn't be gone for that long, though. Hah, yeah, keep dreaming, Professor.

"How are you feeling?" Tina asked.

I smiled. "Trying to counsel me?"

She laughed. "Come on, you know I'm here as a friend."

"Well, nice to speak to someone who doesn't need anything from me."

Tina slapped me on the back. I was slightly worried someday she's slap me right over the bannister.

"We need to bring Alex to Asa," I said, "he's the only one who might be able to help him. We're travelling through the Taiga this time. It'll be farther by foot, but—"

"Less traumatising?"

"With any luck."

A Bombirdier flew past us, riding the wind with ease. They were heading towards the thin yellow line of the Taiga Region.

"I'm not…" (ready for this) "I don't know how to…" (cope with this) "I want…" (them here with me.)

Tina waited patiently.

"I'm going to have to carry Alex that whole way."

Tina whistled. "He's how heavy?"

"Around the weight of a Wobbuffet."

"Xerneas."

"I know, right?" I puffed out air. "And out there…"

Lights in the sky, smoke in the air, countless miles of wild land between us and our destination.

'I don't know if I'll be able to protect them both on my own."

"Looks like you won't have to."

I turned around. They'd appeared behind us, silently, the party trick we'd all honed after years of training together. Eliza. Roy. Striker. Alana. Bucky. All dressed in red scarves patterned with yellow flames. The Forest Fires were ready for their next mission.