CHAPTER 2

Aggron led Rylan and Zorian into his quarters, then closed the door once everyone was inside. He didn't look pleased.

"As far as I'm aware," Aggron started, "neither of you have submitted the guild's portion of today's reward to Gallade. I trust there's an explanation for this?"

Rylan looked surprised. "That's right!" he said. "I don't remember us ever receiving a payment from Steenee!"

"Yeah, she just took off," Zorian added. He looked up at Aggron.

"Something seemed suspicious about our client," he told his Guildmaster, "and I'm not just talking about her not paying us. The item she had us retrieve looked ancient, and I think there's some significance to it, something she didn't tell us. It took quite a bit of extra effort to retrieve, conditions beyond what she listed in her request note."

"Curious…" Aggron said.

"I'm starting to think it wasn't a lost item we went to retrieve," continued Zorian. "I think we were made to locate an item that wasn't even hers."

"If that's so, then this Steenee must be found and interrogated," Aggron said. "I will inform Magnezone so that he and his forces can keep an eye out for her. And she owes what she agreed to pay for your services."

Rylan and Zorian nodded.

"For now, we'll let the authorities handle this. You two deserve a good rest," said Aggron. "Finish up your meals and make sure you're in bed before curfew."

The two of them left Aggron's quarters, headed back down to the mess hall, and found their unfinished dinners still waiting for them. Vulpix and Buizel had already finished and left, but Nidorina and Wingull were still there, evidently waiting for the two to return.

"Welcome back," said Wingull.

"You didn't have to wait for us, you know," Rylan said.

"We wanted to," said Nidorina. "There's not much fun in eating with such a few amount of faces present."

"Thanks. You're very considerate," said Zorian. "After everything my brother and I have been through, it's nice to have some friendly company."

"Also, Rylan, I wanted to ask you something," Nidorina said.

"Hmm?" Rylan asked, trying to swallow his mouthful of food. "Go ahead."

"Most of the missions from today have been handled already, so if we're lucky enough not to be assigned anything tomorrow, would you…"

Rylan chuckled, knowing what she was going to ask.

"Would you like to go on a date?" she finished.

"Can I have a minute?" Rylan asked.

"Sure," Nidorina responded.

This feels so weird, Rylan thought to himself. True, he was no longer a human, so something like this shouldn't be out of the ordinary, but at the same time, he was so accustomed to his human life that the idea of dating a Pokémon felt wrong to him. But he did like Nidorina. She stayed by his side while he was trying to stop Slowking, and she was just a sweet Pokémon in general.

Zorian reached over and gave Rylan a nudge with his elbow. When Rylan looked up at Zorian, he was smiling down at him. He seemed to not mind.

Rylan then looked back at Nidorina. He really did like her.

"Go for it," Zorian whispered to his brother.

Rylan tried to shake off his doubts, then looked Nidorina in the eyes. "Sure, we can go on a date," he answered.

"That's great!" Nidorina exclaimed happily. "How does the Synthesis Station sound?"

"Sounds good," Rylan replied. "Tropius's drinks are amazing."

"Alright, then," said Nidorina. "Let's head there first thing tomorrow if we have free time."

The group finished eating their meals, then left the mess hall and climbed the stairs to the third floor together. Rylan's team, Nidorina's team, and Vulpix's team were all Silver Rank, and they were fortunate enough to claim dormitories adjacent to each other, so they could easily visit each other as often as they liked.

Rylan entered Team Shell Bell's room, but Zorian stopped at the entrance.

"Something wrong, Zorian?" Rylan asked.

"I think I'm gonna go get some air before curfew," he said to Rylan. "I like the ambience of the forest."

"Fair enough," Rylan said. "Just be careful not to be late."

Zorian nodded, then headed back downstairs and out the door. He stepped on the grating so that Sandslash and Vibrava would know he's there, then sat on the steps. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"This can't be it!" yelled an angry female voice.

Zorian's ears perked up, and he stood up to look around for the source of the voice. It sounded very familiar.

"Ugh! It can't be! That fool!" the voice exclaimed.

Zorian peeked around the side of the steps and into the trees beyond, seeing a familiar-looking figure examining a familiar-looking tablet.

The figure turned her head, noticed she was being watched, then fled into the forest.

There was no fooling Zorian. That was Steenee. Had she been in the vicinity of the guild this whole time?

"You heard that, too?" asked a voice from behind. Zorian turned around and saw the Guildmaster looking at the spot he had noticed Steenee in.

"Yes, sir," said Zorian, "and I happened to see her, too. That was my client from today."

"BZZT," buzzed a familiar voice. "I HAVE RECEIVED YOUR MESSAGE, GUILDMASTER AGGRON."

Magnezone had arrived at the guild.

"Most opportune timing, Magnezone," said Aggron. "The suspect we wish for you to interrogate has just run off that way." Zorian pointed to where he saw Steenee.

"BZZT," said Magnezone. "WE SHALL PURSUE."

With a parting bow, Magnezone flew off into the forest.

"I think you may be onto something, Zorian," said Aggron. "Something doesn't feel quite right."

"Yeah," Zorian replied. "I've never been this suspicious of any Pokémon for quite some time."

"Let us get some rest now," Aggron advised. "Gallade and I will keep in touch with Officer Magnezone. Hopefully he'll be able to provide us some information tomorrow."

"Yes, sir," Zorian responded. As he headed back inside, he looked down at the bottom of the steps, remembering the time he impersonated Rylan and made him into an outcast. Never again, he thought. His brother was capable of making his own decisions. He was excited to know that Rylan could potentially be going on a date. He wanted Rylan to have these experiences that he never got to have while working for Team Rocket. Zorian smiled, pushing the bad memory out of his mind and thinking instead about his brother's happiness.

Meanwhile, Steenee managed to escape the forest. She searched around until she noticed a cave, then ran inside.

"Curses," she spat. "This world is full of idiots. Every single Pokémon here."

"Idiot, you say?" asked a voice. "I'd choose my words more carefully if I were you. You need me, so I don't think you'd want to get on my bad side."

"Shut up," Steenee replied. "You need me as well, so don't go mouthing off to me."

"Dare I ask how your little request went?" the voice asked.

Steenee pulled out the green tablet and held it up. "See for yourself."

A Deoxys started to flicker into view, though he appeared as though he was trapped behind some sort of barrier. He took a good look at the tablet.

"I see," he said. "That is indeed one of Celebi's tablets, but I'm afraid it does not reveal the information that you seek."

"I already figured as much," Steenee snapped. "If you could at least just tell me where I can find Palkia, this might be easier."

Deoxys looked down at a dragon scale he was holding, then looked back at Steenee. "I'm not certain I trust you enough to provide such information."

"Well, then, you can stay trapped in that rift for all I care," Steenee responded.

Deoxys sighed. "Fine. But you have to promise me that you'll release me once you've obtained what you need."

Steenee smirked. "I promise I'll get you out," she said.

"Okay," said Deoxys. "Listen carefully…"