Chapter 14: Catching Up and Bunkering Down

Peace has finally been restored for the Davis Family. Even after surviving a horrific capsizing shipwreck, the entire family were still reunited in a somewhat tranquil manner. Karthaniel didn't want to battle against his parents in order to get them back on his cause, but it was a bittersweet event that had to happen and it worked to near perfection. Also, the truth became crystal clear for Hatterene. Hearing Lawrence and Jennifer's divorce tale was intriguing enough, but it was the anthropomorphic Silent Pokémon's story of how she became the serene hatterene in the first place that stole everyone's hearts, especially Karthaniel's. With that latter factor in mind, Sonia got into instant brainstorming mode the next morning while the others were in their separate ways for the moment to catch up on everything.

Let's check on Diancie first.

"It's just like Hatterene." Opal pointed out as she was currently watching Leon and Melony tend to her within a top secret medical wing within the Ballonlea Stadium. "Diancie looks incredible, but I must ask: How did Lawrence even find her in the first place?"

"That remains to be said." Leon replied as he kept his focus on his handiwork. "Melony, I really appreciate you coming here in such short notice. I know Gordie really wanted to come along to see a beautiful rock-type for once, but what happened?"

"He jokingly said that he's afraid that he'll end up like Lawrence if he were to be here." Melony replied with a small giggle midway through the statement. "So, he decided to stay at Circhester and await my return."

"I understand." The two became silent as the final adjustments were made upon the anthro Diamond Domain Princess' healing process. Three slow minutes later, she finally opened her famous red and pink eyes that turned out to be quite human-like. She didn't jump with fright at all upon seeing all three humans looking down upon her with soothing smiles. "Well, good morning, Your Highness. It's good to see you're okay now."

"And I thank you for making that happen, Champion Leon." Diancie replied in a sweet female voice that was heavenly towards everyone's ears. She then slowly sat up, shook away the dizziness for three seconds, then remained sitting on the healing table at utmost attention towards the three people before her. "I would've never thought that I would be a slave to his desires. He promised me a 'royal treatment' unlike any other I've had before he found me."

"That just proves that he's a professional at giving false promises to anyone and everyone, no matter their status. Do you remember any of it?"

"I do remember wandering through the snowy paths of the Snowslide Slope as a peaceful stroll for a few days until I came across an odd pile of white diamonds that seemed real. I got there to inspect them, but then, I was knocked unconscious by an ice cold shot of water upon the back of my head. I don't really remember anything after that… of course, that is up until now."

"Mm!" Leon bowed his head and crossed his arms in deep thought while Melony on his left and Opal on his right were showing regal glares of concern.

"Oh, my!" Melony softly exclaimed. "You poor Pokémon. Lawrence's treatment towards you erased part of your memory. That sure didn't happen to Hatterene. There's no need for you to remember any of it anyway."

"Indeed." Opal agreed. "Just be glad that you're alive and back to your old self again. You can truly meet Sir Karthaniel Davis and his family without any issues now. He's quite the unique fellow. The poor man suffered so much since he landed here in Galar at the Isle of Armor."

"I shall learn more about it from Karthaniel himself." Diancie got off the table after that last word and bowed down towards the three humans. "Once again, I thank you for restoring me. Sir Leon, will you kindly escort me to Karthaniel now?"

"Of course, milady." Leon replied with utmost honor as he returned a bow in the same manner. "Melony, Opal… adieu." After that was said, Leon and Diancie headed out towards the lobby where his trusty Charizard was waiting patiently before the three now headed out of the arena and were on their way towards the Isle of Armor.

Meanwhile, with Sonia at her lab near Wedgehurst…

"Okay, let's see…" She semi-whispered to herself as she was currently on her computer with her trusty Yamper by her side upon the desk, sitting like the well-behaved corgi he looked like. "Accessing the nursery files now. Hmm…" She had to adjust her glasses for a moment to get a better glimpse for the next three minutes until she finally scrolled down to what she needed. "Aha! Found it! Yamper, listen to this:

Nursery Case Number 876:

Hatterene and infected Ditto brought in for care at approximately 8:45AM; Date: April 22; Year: Classified for safety; Reason for drop-off: To be rid of the infection upon Ditto – Codenamed Pokérus X2.

Huh! Maybe Hatterene's mom's owner was hoping she would get rid of it with a healing spell or something. Anyway…

9:15 AM – Hatterene and Ditto play with each other within play yard. All is well between them. Nothing to report.

10:00 AM – Routine Pokémon check before lunch break for staff; All is normal still, but Hatterene and Ditto appear to be missing. Alerting Head Manager immediately!

Uh, oh…

10:45 AM – Head Manager reports back: Proclaims that Hatterene and Ditto are found safe at plastic cave within the back of play yard. All is well and lunch will resume.

…huh?! Wait! Something's not right here!" Sonia paused her verbal reading to re-read that last entry with her green eyes only without the glasses with absolute shock. "Am I reading this right?! 'Proclaims that Hatterene and Ditto are found safe at plastic cave within the back of play yard. ALL IS WELL?! WHAT?! Something's fishy there! Why didn't the head manager of the nursery provide more info on that finding? Hmm…" She placed her glasses back on as she continued to read aloud:

12:30 PM – Lunch ends and entire staff back on duty. Main caretaker notices Hatterene and Ditto is in plain sight among other pokémon, appearing out of the ordinary. Seconds after that discovery, another caretaker within the yard retrieves a mysterious purple spotted egg in the exact center. Leaves rest of us staff members flabbergasted.

Pfft! I bet! I would be, too!

12:45 PM – Owner of Hatterene and Ditto return to retrieve said pokémon, but Head Manager alerts him of the egg before payment from owner. Owner becomes just as flummoxed as staff, but then, claims that it's fine and he'll take the egg along with his pokémon at no extra cost.

Date: April 23

Time: 9:05 AM – Received phone call from same owner. Sounding panicked, he claims that his Hatterene and Ditto have passed away by means of accidental impact from own sedan, but egg is missing.

O…kay, this is suspicious. Oh, wait!

9:07 AM – Head Manager not believing incident as accidental. Leaves nursery to see proof of this claim. He hasn't been back since. End log.

YES! A lead!" Sonia then printed the entire log and waited patiently by talking it over with Yamper. "My suspicions were right all this time since Hatterene told that story of her birth. To add it all up: The owner of her Mom and Ditto was a scientist who infected that pink blob of a pokémon with the Pokérus X2 bacteria on purpose as a test. Of course, he had to leave those two at a nursery to make the test happen. It's a success and the Head Manager was in on it the entire time. That's why he didn't give more information after finding them in that cave. He waits until the owner comes back to retrieve the mom and Ditto to tell him about the egg. The owner accepts it, but then, the next morning… BOOM!" At that last word, the final page of the log was done printing and Sonia didn't waste a moment stapling them together in the form of a book. "The scientist killed Hatterene's mom and Ditto by purposely running over them with his car while he had the egg with him and drove it to the Glimwood Tangle, where Hatterene hatched. The Head Manager probably caught him in the act of leaving the egg behind, but became a good Samaritan by placing the egg somewhere safe, but was still surrounded by many other pokémon within the forest. He decided to leave all of that to himself until the day he died… unless he's not dead now. Hmm…" Sonia had to check one more thing on her computer before she went on her way towards the Isle of Armor. Seconds later, she found it: "Yep! He's still alive. It says that his name is Wallace Hawthorn. He's currently living in retirement at… (GASP!) …the Isle of Armor! I've gotta go, Yamper! Don't wait up!" After that last word and with the logbook in her hand, she made extreme haste towards the nearest Flying Taxi and didn't waste another moment as she was on her way to that isle to explain everything to everyone right away!

Several moments later, at the Isle of Armor's Training Dojo…

Sonia had just hurriedly busted through the main double doors and that interrupted the casual hustle and bustle of the dojo. Despite how panicked she was, Master Mustard still remained calm as he approached her with an elderly smile that said that everything was okay. Karthaniel was by his side and followed suit with the same smile.

"Sonia! Glad you could finally make it." Mustard greeted in his usually peaceful tone. "You're just in time to make peace with Sir Davis' parents alongside Diancie. She had just greeted them and thanked them for everything."

"That's good, but…" Sonia started as she was still out of breath for a moment. "…whew! I… I found something crucial about… Hatterene…"

"We know." Both Mustard and Karthaniel said in unison, stunning the young professor immediately. She took off her glasses with total shock before Karthaniel continued alone: "Mr. Wallace Vector Hawthorn was just here not too long before you arrived and commanded that Hatterene should talk privately with him at the top of the Tower of Waters."

"He did? What did he look like?"

"Oh, he was humble gentleman." Mustard replied sweetly, which made Sonia calm down just a bit. "Stood at about the same height as his trusty Rapid Style Urshifu with just as impressive muscles for someone of his ripe old age of 65, Asian, bald head, blue eyes that match the ocean, and he keeps his child-at-heart nature by dressing in baggy, comfort clothes. He wore a plain black polo shirt with baggy blue jeans and white sneakers today. It is quite comfortable outside, you see."

"So, did he already tell you everything before heading to the tower?"

"He didn't say anything more than ask me if he could borrow Hatterene for a moment at the tower right after he briefly said hello and congratulated me for our victory over Lawrence and Chairman Rose." Karthaniel replied. "His voice was just as tender to hear as Master Mustard's and I just couldn't say no to the lad."

"Damn! I've gotta see if he beat me to it!" Sonia was about to continue her hurried run towards that said tower, but shockingly, Klara was at the entrance when she opened the doors with her cutest smile to date, making the two men behind Sonia nod with expectancy. "Klara?!"

"Calm down, Sonia!" The young aspiring poison-type gym leader reassured as she casually led the professor back inside, closing the doors behind her. "He did and there's no need to go up there and repeat everything."

"…really?"

"Rest assured, Miss Sonia." Karthaniel agreed. "Once the two return, everything will add up and I'll be sure to take everything with a grain of salt. So, no need to share what you've got in that logbook."

"Are… are you all sure about this?"

"Yes." Mustard, Klara, and Karthaniel all replied simultaneously as the four headed for the dining area for some well-earned R&R. Sonia mentally heaved a massive sigh of relief as she placed that said book on the cabinet next to the stove on the way to the table to enjoy some soup with everyone.

Meanwhile, at that Tower of Waters…

"You… practically took care of me…" Hatterene started in a melancholy tone of her sweet British accented voice, which made the humble retired Nursery Head Manager frown with utmost apprehension as the two were holding hands whilst facing each other, having his level 100 male Rapid Style Urshifu standing next to him on his left in full silent observation mode with his muscular arms crossed. He had just explained the same exact operation that Sonia found earlier and the brim of her famous hat hid her possibly distraught eyes. "…I wondered how she died all these years. I lost my connection with her and I couldn't exactly make out the cause."

"I figured that." Wallace replied in that tender male voice that should make the anthro Silent Pokémon swoon, but it didn't. "Still, Kennedy was desperate to make things right his way and, unfortunately, he passed away years later. He had no idea that his plan had failed and you were born anyway." Hatterene made eye contact with the man's ocean blue eyes and her famous eyes watered with trepidation. "Do you want to know who Kennedy was?" She nodded twice slowly. "He was a scientist that used to work for something called Aether Paradise from the Alola region. He had a five-star reputation when it came to providing cures and formulas for sick pokémon that suffered so many negative anomalies. This one ditto he had in particular was his latest of trials of that Pokérus X2 gene I mentioned earlier. Such brilliant timing that was for him. He had planned his trip to the Galar region just a week later and your Mother was the first pokémon he encountered after his arrival. He knew right away that she was the perfect pokémon for the test."

"No wonder…"

"And here's the ironic part of the whole thing: Kennedy was Lawrence's second cousin." Hatterene never showed a look of shock. Instead, she lowered her eyelids with indignant acquiescence. "You're not surprised?"

"Of course not. Good riddance to him! So, why were you in on that whole thing if you meant well towards me?"

"I sensed a positive future for you, despite the entire situation." This made all three of them smile, having Urshifu remain silent with a single nod of agreement. "Sure enough, my senses were correct."

"Even after Lawrence enhanced me even more during my imprisonment?"

"Yes. Hatterene, I must be honest with you:" Wallace paused for a moment as he bowed his head and closed his tear-filled eyes, making his wushu pokémon place a hand upon his shoulder for comfort. "When I saw you with your friends and beloved trainer before getting here, the whole entire moment flooded within my eyes like a blown dam releasing a raging river. My hopes for you never ceased all these years since that day I laid your egg to rest peacefully within the Glimwood Tangle. 20 years later, news broke out that you were spotted by Lawrence's crew and you literally torn them all apart with that famous claw because of their loud equipment and I knew right away that it was you. With that kind of power, enough to savage through nearly 30 people like a bloody beast, it was an instant no-brainer. Only a pokémon with the Pokérus X2 bacteria permanently implanted within their system could perform such a gory feat without any kind of effort and I actually smiled rather than shutter with disgust, like I should have."

"…" Hatterene remained speechless as her smile was becoming regal and appreciative while she remained attentive. Her eyes were no longer full of tears. They were vivid with exhilaration while they still held hands.

"Now, I finally see you all grown up and facing a demonic entity that would've killed Karthaniel at every chance it got until its demise at the hands of Piers and Marnie's pokémon. Your unsurpassed power gave you the strength to stay by the formerly fragile man's side and even formed a truly loving bond with him to the point of actually making love to him in the process." The uplifting tone at that last statement made her show just a small frown of worry after hearing that she was infected by that Pokérus. "Not to worry, though. It only transfers from pokémon to pokémon. Karthaniel is fine and always will be."

"So good to hear all of that from you, Sir Wallace." The two finally came close for a heartwarming embrace that was in the making for many decades. This made Urshifu remove his supportive hand and just continue to silently watch in awe with his usually casual crossed muscular arms with his adoring smile still in check. It lasted for an extremely slow three minutes before the two parted while still holding hands and facing each other once more. "I truly appreciate everything you done for me and thank you so much for your condolences towards my parents. All of my friends and I will surely honor your name forever. In fact, they're just preparing a feast to celebrate back at the dojo as we speak. Would you and Urshifu here like to join us?"

"Of course and you're very welcome. Lead the way, Miss Hatterene."

Moments later…

"So, everything was planned out because you knew everything from the get-go?" Sonia asked Wallace as everyone was currently enjoying a fresh piping hot bowl of chicken curry soup. The young professor was sitting right across from the retired head manager between Hatterene and Urshifu. Wallace nodded twice as he just finished reading that fateful logbook with the anthro Silent Pokémon on his right.

"Every last detail." He replied with utmost buoyancy, showing a smile in the same manner. "The man's name was Kennedy, Lawrence's second cousin. He was a scientist that meant well, but unfortunately, this Pokérus X2 test took him over the edge by the time he captured Hatterene's mother for it. This pokémon here…" He paused as he gently laid a hand upon the Silent Pokémon's slender hand upon the table between them and the two looked at each other with joy for a few seconds before Wallace continued: "…is the embodiment of resilience and faith. She forgives her parents for giving this to her and she's already using it wisely today to show her utmost gratitude."

"Wow! I'm so glad you feel that way, Mr. Hawthorn. Does that make you her godfather?" Everyone around the table paused their meal almost simultaneously after that question was asked from Sonia in her most peaceful tone of her cute voice to date. Karthaniel was sitting opposite of his beloved Hatterene with glowing anomalous eyes as he looked around her with anticipation. Wallace saw everyone's eyes of wonder all around him and he bowed his head in deep thought for a brief moment. Two minutes later, he only kept his eyes on Hatterene as he said with maximum confidence:

"Absolutely!" Everyone lightly applauded with appreciation as the two engaged in a heartwarming embrace that touched their hearts instantly, having Urshifu being the only one not applauding as he stood up and turned into a group hug as he joined in from behind the now tearfully ecstatic Hatterene. Three more minutes pass and Wallace slowly separates from her as he wipes her joyful tears and they just look at each other for a few more seconds before the humble old man did the unexpected: "And as your new godfather, it gives me great honor to give you my Urshifu to you as a godbrother." This made everyone around them gasp with shock, except Karthaniel and Hatterene, who remained speechless and wide eyed with astonishment as the former nursery head manager handed over his pokéball to Hatterene, who aimlessly handed it over to her beloved trainer. "We've spent many years together, but now is the time for him to be with someone he can protect for the rest of his life."

"Do you have any more pokémon to call your partner?" Hatterene asked with concern. Wallace chuckled as he shook his head with a smile.

"There's no need. My time as a pokémon trainer has come and gone. It's about time I truly retired from everything and just live with the fact that I saved someone worthy of the Davis name."

"I am not leaving you empty-handed, Sir Wallace!" Karthaniel protested with authority, making Hatterene nod with him in agreement. "Since you sacrificed your most prized pokémon to me, I… shall do the same to you." The young steel-type trainer stood up with Wallace simultaneously before he summoned his Magnezone out first before handing over the now empty pokéball to Wallace, who looked at it with sympathy. "Meet Magnezone. He's at level 100 and has the unstoppable move set that consists of Zap Cannon, Flash Cannon, Tri Attack, and Mirror Coat. He's also got the Sturdy ability to take on one good hit before using any source of strong retaliation to counter it. We've… never lost a battle together since I found him as a magnimite back when it was wee little lad at the age of 7. Take good care of him and I shall do the same towards Urshifu. It's all thanks to you that I'm still alive, the demon's gone, and I can live in peace with my parents again after everything we've been through. You've earned Magnezone for it." Wallace's happy tears couldn't be held back any longer after this and he only gave Karthaniel another heartwarming embrace that will surely leave a lasting impression upon all who witnesses it.

"May Arceus bless you with a humble future, young Davis!" He exclaimed within the young trainer's broad shoulder before the two parted with a handshake. "I will take excellent care of Magnezone. I wish you good luck on the rest of your journey towards being the new Champion of Galar."

"Thank you, Sir Wallace. I wish you the same with the rest of your retirement. Take care of yourself now." The two men nodded once towards each other with their handsome smiles of gratitude never fading away.

The only thing left for Karthaniel to do is prove that he truly does have what it takes to dethrone Leon once and for all…

…or so he thought.

To be continued…