"We've got you cornered!"

"Give it up nerd! You can't win!"

Voices clamored around the Alakazam. He scrambled through the deepest reaches of his mind to find anything. Anything at all to help him think through this situation. He had thought of everything he could possibly think of. However, one thing he failed to consider was his physically decaying state. His body had begun to fail him in more ways than one. His psychic powers caused more physical strain than he ever thought before. Migraines plagued his every attack, vertigo infected his every movement, and his heart prevented him from straining too long.

"Open up the door!"

"Don't make us use force!"

As the voices got louder and more aggressive, the headache that he had intensified. His vision begun to swirl faster than a whirlpool. He had begun heaving like an Obstagoon that inhaled too much smoke, making his weak heart exert itself even more than it could handle.

This can't be happening! I was supposed to be the best, Grandpa always told me! How could these outlaws get the best of me?! I thought of everything, concocted so many backup plans for my plans! I studied so hard to have everything blow up in my face like this!

The Alakazam perked up at a realization. No, I can't use that now! The Alakazam fought with himself as he stared at the navy blue looplet to his right. It had several capsules with a strange liquid etched into some of the slots.

But It's the only way out of this! He continued fighting with himself. It's unfinished, but you have to gamble or all your research goes in the toilet!

But what if it makes me go insane!? Or if it kills me outright!? I never tested it on civilized Pokemon! I don't know if-

"Time's up, Brainiac! Manny, smash the entire wall!"

The Alakazam's heart leapt into his throat. He gulped audibly, and in a panic, fumbled the looplet into his hand. Okay! Okay! I hate gambling, but here goes!

"Manny smash puny doorway!"

CRASH!

A sudden crash in the wall caused a pained, strained screech from the Alakazam as debris caved in on him. When the dust settled, a Mamoswine stood atop the rubble, looking confused. A Thievul and Toxtricity followed him.

"Manny confused. Where Alakazam?"

"Brainiac must've used teleport. Or something like that. Boss ain't gonna like this…" The toxtricity remarked.

"Huh? JJ, beneath you. There's something glowing…" The Thievul noticed.

"Hmm," JJ stared beneath him, "Wait! We gotta get outta here! It's gonna-"

It was too late. The Toxtricity, Thievul and Mamoswine were swallowed up by the magenta light.


The blanket had a warm, snuggly feeling to it. One that felt all too familiar to those who lie in bed. Though, for a spell he thought he could rest a bit longer, seeing as there was a bit until-

Thunk! Thunk!

Yep, there it was. The agonizing sound of a door being pounded. Although, this time, the door pounding was so loud that it sent the sleeping Bagon stumbling upwards into a fight mode, as is standard for the dragon type.

"What!? Who's there!?" The tiny dragon snarled as he crept toward the door.

"Yo! Trax, you in there? We're gonna be late if you don't hurry," a voice familiar to the Bagon shouted, "Come on already!"

The Bagon slacked his stance, "Okay okay. No need to raise your voice. Not like my mom's home or anything…"

The Bagon slacked a scarf around his neck and put an armband over his stubby arm. If only I had longer arms. That would make this whole getup look a lot better. He thought to himself as he made his way to the door. Opening the door, he was immediately greeted by Neltharios, a gold-scaled Charmander, who bared his teeth at him in a hearty smile. Getting a good look at him, he had an embarrassingly similar attire.

"Hey buddy, what took you so long," Neltharios puffed, "I was beginning to greyscale on you!"

"It's called a sleep schedule. Something you would know if you ever slept," the Bagon responded, "Plus, doesn't Metagross Tranzit depart for El Santos at noon?"

"Eh?! I thought it was at the height of morning?"

The Bagon facepalmed with what nubs he had, "That's… what noon is…"

"Oh." The Charmander shifted his feet and rubbed the back of his neck, "My bad?"

The Bagon rolled his eyes and groaned.

"Let's just try to not alert your mom when we go out." Neltharios relented.

The Bagon reluctantly agreed, and the duo attempted to sneak out the door down the hallway to their left. Though the effort proved futile when the Bagon had inadvertently locked eyes with his mother. The Salamence lifted her head upwards, an annoyed look spread across her face while the Bagon and Charmander froze in their tracks. Uh oh. They both thought in unison.

"Traximus… did you really think you could sneak by me and just run off with your friend without me noticing," she stated, walking over to the duo, "Do you take me for a hatchling?"

"N-no mom, I just, thought cause we were… uh, you know…" Traximus's voice trailed off. His mother looked on expectantly.

"What he means to say is that it's our big day! We're going to Kira University!" Neltharios said, wrangling the Bagon into his grasp, much to the dismay of Traximus.

Relenting, the Salamence said with a deeper, softer voice, "I know. I promised Lucia that the two of you would be safe going there. But being a mother, I'm worried for both of you."

"We'll be fine," Traximus stated breaking free of Neltharios's grip and sputtering, "Or at least I will be. But I can't say the same for Nel."

"What's that supposed to mean!? I can handle myself!" Neltharios spat, balling up his fists.

"Do I need to break out the list?" Traximus coldly replied, sending a look of condescension towards Neltharios, who immediately buckled down, making Traximus puff out his chest and smile back. "Yep. That's what I thought."

The entire interaction between the two boys made Salamence giggle as she brought the attention back onto herself. "You two remind me of your father and his friends. Always smiling and giggling. And even as a Bagon, you still got that infectious smile from your father."

Seeing as there was nothing more to be said, the Salamence walked over to the two boys and pushed the door open with her tail. "But I won't hold you boys any longer," she attempted to hide the tears that were welling up in her eyes, "…Have fun you two. Don't get in too much trouble…"

Neltharios sped ahead of Traximus, bolting out of the house as fast as he could. Traximus, however, decided to stop at his mom's feet. Glaring upwards, he decided to nuzzle his mother's chest one last time. "Bye mom. I love you."

"I love you too Traximus."

The little Bagon sped after his friend, willing the speed he needed to catch up to him.

Nel, we're gonna have a blast. I know it!


~ Hakari Village, Gullveria ~


The winds were gentle this time of day. The windmill in the center of the village rotates steadily and the river dividing the village in two steadily serpents its way both east and west through the village. The deep-green grass sways in a rhythm with the wind, creating a harmonious whistle. From the house that Traximus and Neltharios left from, the two departed southbound to wait for the trolley.

When the two finally meet up at the locale that they were intended, Neltharios sat down and passed a large apple to Traximus. "Hungry?" He remarked.

"Yeah," Traximus responded, taking the large apple from Neltharios's hands, "Woah, isn't this a perfect apple?"

"Yep! And before you ask, I hid that thing earlier this morning!"

"Huh. That's why its texture is slightly softer than usual."

As Neltharios sat down, the duo took a large hefty chomp out of their apples. However, before either of them could chew, they heard a booming voice coming from behind them.

"GIVE IT TO 'EM BABY!"

The voice was nearly so loud that Neltharios nearly choked on his apple and Traximus's nearly slipped out of his grasp. Looking behind them, the pair sight a Totodile whose face has a slight purple tint to it, no doubt due to the embarrassment. Not far behind her is a Feraligatr who has a pretty deep gash in his left eye.

"Dad! It's not like I'm being sent off to fight for the military for Arceus's sake!" The Totodile bellowed.

"Enthusiasm never hurt anybody, did it Kale?"

The totodile eyed her surroundings, wirring around to face Traximus and Neltharios, then turning back to her father. "But not in front of other 'mons Dad." She growled.

The Feraligatr followed the Totodile to the station, both of them plopping down next to the duo of boys. With an audible thump of the bench, both Neltharios and Traximus felt a wave of unease wash over them as they glance at the two newcomers.

"Hey you two! Have you met my daughter," The Feraligatr puffed, "She's mighty-"

"Dad, stop!" The Totodile pleaded, rubbing her temples, "You're already embarrassing me and I'm not even at the school yet!"

Traximus and Nelthatios exchange looks with each other that indicated their unease had faded. Neltharios looked back at the Totodile and asked, "Are you going to Kira University as well?"

"Fortunately. You guys too?"

Traximus finished eating his apple and glanced at the remains as he juggled it in his nubs. "Yep. And it was said earlier," Traximus put the remains of his apple aside, "But I didn't hear your name?"

"My name's Kruler, but," she glanced at the Feraligatr towering above her, "Dad insists on calling me Kale." At that comment, the Feraligatr could only chuckle.

"Uh huh," Neltharios commented and turned back to Traximus, "So we're all headed to the same place."

Traximus leaned over to Neltarios and whispered, "I'm surprised you didn't go gaga-eyed over her like you do other girls."

"Meh. She seems too… how do I put it," the Charmander pondered, "Masculine?"

"And? You told me you liked feisty ones." Traximus remarked trying to hold in laughter.

The Charmander's golden face turned bright red at the statement as he quietly hissed, "H-hearsay! I said no such thing!"

"What's got you two so giggly? Something funny?"

The two look back at the Totodile, the Charmander managing to stave off his embarrassment.

"I was going to ask you if you wanna come with us. It wouldn't be as fun without more company." Traximus stated, much to the bewilderment of Neltharios.

Kruler looked back at her father, who only gave a shrug that indicated "why not?" She then looked at the two and said, "Meh, sure. It beats going alone."

"Wait guys shhh!" Neltharios exclaimed, "Hear that?"

The four look out to their left and hear sounds of rumbling wheels coming closer and closer. Eventually, the trolley came into view. The navy blue vehicle came into vision. It approached closer and closer until it screeched to a stop right in front of the four pokemon. The doors to the vehicle swing open on the front right end of the trolley. A voice sounding distinctly robotic greeted the four in earnest.

"Welcome. The trolley to Kira University will be departing soon. Please board now."

The two boys look between each other and nod. The two boys look back at and wait for Kruler, who takes some time for her father.

"Love you dad. I'm going now." Kruler says, hugging her father.

All that was audible from the Feraligatr was sobbing and an "I love you too" underneath all of it. Afterwards, the Totodile joined the duo and entered the trolley.