Kenji stirred as something cold brushed over his face. His muzzle scrunched and he slowly cracked his eyes open. Nuzleaf didn't keep curtains in their rooms, meaning that when the sun rose they did too no matter how much Kenji would rather not.

As his vision cleared he leaned up, noticing his door was wide open. Sitting further into the house in silence was Nuzleaf and Miss Audino. They were staring back at him.

Kenji lowered himself back and shut his eyes.

He got an extra thirty seconds of blessed rest before Nuzleaf cleared his throat curtly. "Kiddo," he said, his voice ever-so-slightly strained.

Kenji cracked an eye open reluctantly.

"Come on, I'll fix ya up some grub."

Kenji groaned and rubbed his face. Shine had convinced him to explore another dungeon with her yesterday and he'd gotten a bit beaten up. The bruises were already gone but he still felt tired.

Hungry though, the promise of food convinced him to face the day and whatever struggles it had to beat his face in with today.

Miss Audino held a very neutral expression as Nuzleaf poked Kenji into getting up. Her large ears twitched slightly as he drifted around his kitchen, pulling foodstuffs together as Kenji dragged himself out.

Kenji noticed that with her ears she must know where everything was around her, if it was making a sound at least. She was very rigid, didn't look very comfortable nor appeared to really be trying to pretend she was.

"Good morning," he said, reaching his quota of talking for the day.

"Morning," Miss Audino returned politely. She didn't go forth with any more talking and Kenji was content to stand around uncomfortably until either she cracked or Nuzleaf started singing to break up the silence.

The singing happened first.

"Life is but a dream~" Nuzleaf hummed as he brought Kenji a bowl of grain and miltank milk. Kenji had met Miltank and really had to avoid thinking about drinking her milk because that was weird.

He shovelled it down rapidly. Easier that way.

Miss Audino raised an eyebrow, her eyes flicking to Nuzleaf who did not appear perturbed. "Hungry?" she asked somewhere in between them.

"He likes his cereal," Nuzleaf returned.

Kenji felt what little appetite he had slowly erode when the two adults returned to staring at him. He chewed, drank from the bowl, and set it down.

Now he regretted eating it so fast. Not only did his stomach hurt but now he had to be the first to speak as they still just staring at him.

"So… why are you here?" he asked Miss Audino. She'd never come to his house before, over the past week since she and he had their talk about his identity.

"I'm here to collect you," she said vaguely.

That wasn't foreboding at all.

"Tell the kiddo more than that," Nuzleaf protested. "You'll freak him out."

Kenji schooled his expression, both of them caught it.

"Regarding what Gabite has demanded," Audino replied. "Pancham and Shelmet are waiting at school."

It was not a school day and his expression wrinkled just a moment at the thought of school today.

She caught it, as she always seemed to. "It's not a lesson," she replied. "Well, not a lesson the school would teach you."

Nuzleaf frowned at her and Audino stood from the stool Nuzleaf had provided her to sit on. "Nuzleaf has something for you."

"Yeep," Nuzleaf said, jolting as he was mentioned. He ducked down and rose up with a bag. "Dunno what exactly you're gonna be facing, but I reckon a few things in here can help." He offered the bag and Kenji took it gratefully.

Nuzleaf shot Audino a bit of side-eye. "How long do you reckon this is gonna take?" he asked.

"Depends," Audino replied blandly. "But I hope they won't be doing anything today. This is just a talk over what it is."

Nuzleaf frowned a little at her and Kenji wondered, had they not been talking while he was asleep? Or had they just been sitting in rigid silence? Why?

"I'll see you later," Kenji said to Nuzleaf who offered him a nod. He joined Audino at the door and stepped out.

"You don't like him, do you?" Kenji asked the moment they were out of earshot.

Soothe glanced at him, a thoughtful frown creasing her features. "What makes you think that?" she asked parentally.

"How awkward that was," he answered bluntly. "What's the deal?"

"I'm just an awkward person," she sighed and that, admittedly, he could believe based on the whole Gabite debacle.

It didn't seem like the full truth though, just a truth. He decided he wouldn't press her, they were nearing Shine's house.

Soothe knocked smartly on the door and waited. Kenji craned his head to take in the whole door, Shine was tiny but her father was titanic so it made sense the house was big.

A shuffling sound caught his ears, although Soothe must have caught it first as she straightened slightly. The door creaked open and Carracosta poked his head out. "Yes?" he asked gruffly before recognising Audino and his voice softened a bit. "What can I do for you, Miss Audino?"

He spotted Kenji and his voice regained the coarseness. "Is it about Riolu?" he growled wearily.

"Yes, but she's not in trouble. It's just the matter of the previous infraction."

"Gabite's decided what he wants, eh?" She nodded. "Alright. Wait a moment." He closed the door but could be heard calling. "RIOLU! Wake up, Miss Audino is here." There was a pause. "Quilava too," he added.

They needed to wait barely a few seconds longer before Riolu leapt out an open window. "I'm awake!" she said, wrapped in a blanket still. She shook it off like she had just come out of the lake, tried to run to Kenji and tripped over the tangle at her feet.

She fell onto a barrier that appeared right in front of her and beamed. "Thanks, Miss Audino!" she said, freeing herself as Carracosta came out.

"Eat," he said, pushing a sandwich into her paws. "Before you run off."

"But if I eat I'll get a stitch in my tummy from running!"

"If you don't eat you won't be able to run at all for very long."

This made sense to Shine so she devoured the sandwich in a few bites.

"Chew, you little rascal!" Carracosta said, agitated as it looked like she was going to choke. She managed it and he breathed a sigh of relief. "Stay out of trouble today, okay?"

"I always stay out of trouble, pops!" Shine beamed and took a heroic stance. "Especially with Quilava around!"

"Mmm." He glanced at Kenji who stared back blankly. "Right. Miss Audino." He nodded.

Soothe nodded back.

Satisfied someone responsible was in charge, he headed back inside.

Shine continued beaming. "What's up?" she asked, an ear flopping. "Oh my gosh, is this a secret meeting to save the world!?"

Kenji cracked a slight smile at her enthusiasm at this time in the morning, he noticed Soothe's expression darkening just a fraction of a second before it was gone, leaving him wondering if he'd seen anything at all.

"No, today's about Gabite," Soothe replied and Shine's enthusiasm only increased. "Now, come on, Pancham and Shelmet are waiting."

Shine fell over as her enthusiasm popped like a balloon. "Aww mon," she groaned.

Kenji nudged her with a foot. And she sprung back up. "This is my chance to make them like me!" she declared grandly.

Soothe's expression softened into something of an amused look. "Never give up," she said softly. "Alright, you know the way."

Shine asked Kenji to hold her paw as they went, she skipped across the bridge and threw the town, waving his arm wildly as he walked normally, Soothe a few steps behind them.

It was a lovely day out, sunny as the days tended to be lately. Townsfolk went back and forth, doing their tasks for the day. Kenji and Shine were largely ignored for once, in favour of literally everyone stopping to say something to Miss Audino.

"Good day, Miss Audino."

"Miss Audino, it's nice to see you out and about again!"

"Hey, Miss Audino."

"Uh, can we talk at some point about… well, you know?"

"Good morning, Audino."

"Yah gud morn the loverly Miss Audio."

"Hey, Audino, what's cracking?"

"Miss Audino! It's lovely to see you out of the school for once."

"Miss Audino I hurt my foot, can you help?"

Shine caught Kenji's increasingly-perplexed expression and giggled. "I was serious," she said, amused. "Miss Audino knows everything so she gotta know everyone too."

Soothe to her credit did not let the townsfolk swarm her. She flashed an easygoing smile, stepping closer to the kids and returning the greetings with words and nods, and a few flashes of light for pokemon approaching her with small injuries.

"Come on, come on," she laughed. "I'm busy."

"You're always busy, Audino. Do you ever take some time off?"

"When's Zangoose coming back? He's been gone a while."

She kept on forwards and eventually, they made it out, heading uphill towards the school.

"Wow," Kenji said.

"Talkative today are we?" Soothe replied.

Shine gasped and giggled helplessly for no apparent reason. When Kenji looked at her for answers she mock-whispered, "You're talking to Miss Audino. That's so cool."

He flashed Soothe a flummoxed look and she just sighed and pat Shine on the head. "Come on, kid. I'm not anyone special."

Shine winked at her. "Gotcha."

Soothe rolled her eyes amused when Shine looked away but Kenji didn't. He thought back to their meeting, wondering when he'd get a chance to ask her a little more.

They reached the school and in the class area sat Pancham and Shelmet looking bored, frustrated, and frustratedly bored.

"Finally!" Pancham scoffed as they arrived.

"Um, Pancham." Shelmet squirmed uncomfortably. It got worse when Pancham glared at him.

"Cool it," Soothe said, stepping out in front. Kenji and Shine sat apart from Shelmet and Pancham and she observed them a moment, expression giving out nothing.

"What does he want?" Pancham snapped, unable to stand waiting. Having to be locked at school on a day off was bad enough, even worse it was because he was in trouble with Riolu of all pokemon.

"An item called a Life Branch," Soothe replied, from her bag she drew out a scroll and unravelled it. "I hadn't even heard of it, so I've spent the last few days trying to find anything. I couldn't."

Four frowns took the faces of the pokemon as Soothe looked at the scroll she had unravelled.

"Then…?" Shelmet began nervously. "Something else?"

"Right," Soothe replied with a nod. "So, instead, he wants four things."

"Four!?" Pancham gasped.

"One from each of you," Soothe replied. "Claws as quick as lightning. Sand as soft as silk. A shard to awaken one's strength. And a secret that no one else knows."

Four expressions greeted her. Pancham's mouth had dropped open, his leaf slowly drifting to his thigh. Shelmet's eyes wobbled. Riolu looked dazed, trying to remember how to count to four. Quilava's expression was flat and stony.

"Wha?" Pancham managed. "What the fuck is that?"

"Language!" Soothe snapped, rolling the scroll up. "You're getting off easy."

"Easy!?"

"He wanted to fight you all," Soothe replied. Everyone besides Shine blanched. "Of course, that's not okay and that was made clear to him. Gabite is greatly important to the well-being of Serene Village. He threatened to close the mine f I refused this last demand. This is called The Consequences of Your Actions."

Pancham and Shelmet glanced down, Dusk's jaw clenching as he grabbed the leaf again and began to chew it aggressively.

"How soon do we have to do this?" Kenji asked.

"Do we have to do this?" Pancham growled. He didn't back down when Soothe frowned at him. "I mean together? Let's face it. Someone is going to slow us down."

"Don't say that," Shine said, sadly. "You don't need to be so hard on yourself."

"I-" Pancham took a moment. "Hey! I was talking about YOU!"

"Aww, you were thinking of me?" Her tail wagged happily to be included.

Dusk's eye twitched but he saw the warning expression on Soothe's face and took a breath and crossed his arms. "This isn't going to work, you know that."

"I know that this feud has gone on for too long and has gone too far," Soothe replied. "You don't like it. Well, I'm sorry, but that's tough luck."

She turned to Shine next. "It isn't just Pancham in the wrong here, Riolu. You know you agitate him." Shine, for once, actually looked a little affronted but then glanced down, evading her eyes.

Lastly, she looked between Kenji and Shelmet. "And you two, well. Hopefully, this experience will help you all. I've gone to a soothsayer and obtained a set of clues for the four of you to follow to retrieve these items. That's what this is."

She looked down at it and began to read.

If treasures you seek
On paw and feet
Listen to these words
And gains you will reap.

Lightning falls
Claws and roars
Explore the store
In door to score.

To seek silk sand
Within the land
Find the band
Who did disband.

If power is that which you desire
The place you must go is higher
Place upon your finest attire
And all you must do is enquire.

To the last, a secret, I cannot reveal
It is unreal to conceal this deal
It is the journey itself you must undertake
As together you win but apart you'll break.

She finished reading and nodded to the very confused expressions she was receiving. "Alrighty. I'll leave a copy of that with you. It's up to the four of you now."

"That didn't… explain anything," Dusk spluttered.

Soothe shrugged. "Guess you'll have to work it out together," she replied with a smirk.

"I've figured it out!" Shine said as Soothe gave the scroll to Dusk.

"No you haven't," Dusk sneered.

"I totally have!"

"Stop lying."

"I've got it!"

Dusk growled and took a swipe at her. She dodged and began to run around, taunting him as Kenji and Shelmet, the shelmet called Brisk, silently watched them fight.

"This is gonna suck," Brisk sighed. "Isn't it?"

Kenji nodded.

The shelmet just sighed harder as he was left with the weird silent one. Miss Audino kicked them out a few minutes later.

Serene Village - The town of new beginnings

"Finally!" Manectric shouted as they caught sight of the welcoming sign. It was covered in pawprints of various pokemon who lived there. "We made it!"

"Statement: This is accurate to our position."

An odd duo made their way forwards as the path opened up, revealing a crystal clear lake to the left with an island upon it, and a bustling little village carved into the hills to the right. The path trailed lazily down a slope towards the village square where pokemon-flavoured buildings made their home.

Serene Village was nestled very much out of the beaten path on the Water Continent. Visitors weren't very common in these parts, a place where everyone knew everyone and strangers were noticed.

Welcomed, however.

A lombre making his way towards the dock nodded. "Hullo," he said politely.

"Hi, handsome!" the manectric replied. Lombre blinked at that.

"Greetings: Greetings."

He also blinked at that.

"Uh… welcome to Serene Village. Manectric. Metang. I'll see you around." He shuffled off, clearly busy.

"Inquiry: Must you make your affections apparent to everyone we meet?" Metang asked their companion.

"Yup!" Manectric replied.

"Annoyance:"

Manectric chuckled at that. "Come on, there's gotta be some grub around here."

"Inquiry: I have heard you use that term for food at an increase of thirty-two percent lately. Why?"

"Everyone calls it grub."

"Rebuttal: No they don't."

"Everyone here does."

"Rebuttal: How do you know?"

Manectric glanced around, spotting a hippopotas and called out, "Hey? Where do you find grub around here?"

"Ze grub?" Hippopotas asked.

Metang swivelled around to stare impassively at Manectric until he accepted he was wrong.

"You can find some at ze cafe," Hippopotas said, pointing a nose at the big building farther back. And then trundled off.

Manectric turned to Metang with a victorious expression.

"...Statement: One such lunatic is not proof yet."

Manectric chuckled gleefully as they approached the Kangaskhan Cafe. "Wow, ol' Kanga has really branched out, hasn't she?" he asked as they stepped in.

"Inquiry: Why do you say that every time we enter as if it is the first time?"

"Because it's fun!"

"Statement: I do not see the fun."

Ignoring Metang for now, Manectric trotted up to the counter and put his paws up to beam at the kangaskhan in charge.

She smiled back. "What can I do for you, dear?"

"Well-"

"Demand: Stay on topic!" Metang called, knowing Manectric too well at this point.

Manectric pouted but it rolled off him. "Could I get a cup of soup? Metang will have your finest thunderstone fragments."

She jotted it out and he paid without incident, trotting over to sit at the table Metang floated at.

"See anyone?" Manectric asked as they waited.

"Negative:"

"Well, I see someone~"

"Negative:"

Manctric sighed, "You're no fun sometimes, you know that?"

"Negative:"

Manectric choked on air and began to laugh as Metang stared at him and then returned to scanning the café. It wasn't a large one, as Serene Village wasn't a large town, but there were a decent number of pokemon populating it.

Some tapped at connection orbs, others talking over steaming drinks as a waiter handed out food and drink.

Soon enough it was their turn. Manectric stuck the electrified shards to Metang before guzzling his own drink. "Ah, just like grandma used to make," he sighed, smacking his lips, his muzzle covered in soup.

"Inquisitive: You knew your grandmother?"

"Nope."

"Then Why Did You: Ugh."

Manectric was getting ready to slither off and start hitting on people when someone walked in. A couple of someone's actually.

"Ooh," Manectric said, eyeing the duo. "An audino! Do you think that could be?" The words died in his throat as he took in their companion. "...no, that can't be. Soothe's purple isn't she?"

"Answer: Correct." Metang's eyes trained on the duo. The audino, pink as she was, strode forth with the airy confidence of someone who was utterly certain of their self worth. Their companion, however, a wiry male indeedee held a composed frown but with how firmly his eyes were set forwards the stiff upper lip he presented had to be for show.

Audino loudly ordered and then dragged Indeedee over to a quiet corner. A few pokemon moved out of the way, a couple near their seating got up to move, and two pokemon left the café entirely. Kangaskan could be seen frowning at them before burying it under customer service.

"I'm going to go talk to them," Manectric declared. "You keep an eye okay?"

"Affirmative: I will not allow anyone to remove my eyes."

"Good." He took on a swagger and made his way over to them. Audino chattered excitedly, thrumming with excitement while her companion sipped at something steaming, his expression not shifting an inch.

"G'day!" Manectric said as he approached them, noticing Audino quiet before he got into earshot. She turned to him and he was surprised at the dazzling grin she wore.

"HIYA!" she said, thrilled to be talking to someone. "It's so nice to meet you. Who are you?"

"Manectric," he replied easily. "And you?"

"I'm Smoothe!" she declared boldly.

Even Manectric was taken aback by that, failing to see Indeedee rub his face tiredly. "Uh… cool. Are you for real?"

"Don't mind her," Indeedee said. "It's a nickname."

"It won't be one day!" Smoothe replied, clenching a fist. "Anyway. What's up, buddy?"

"We're new in town and were getting to know the locals," Manectric replied, comfortable in explaining himself.

"Oh!" Smoothe giggled. "So are we, heheheh."

"Dang," he said good-naturedly. "Haha, we're probably the only ones. What are the chances."

"They must be pretty good!" she replied. "After all, you're talking to us now. Isn't he, Corny?"

His expression flickered curiously. "Corny?"

"Another nickname," Corny replied with an air of exhaustion. Manectric took another look at him, Corny was quite a slight pokemon. He wore a patterned vest which was eye catching, Manectric couldn't help but slide his eyes all around him curiously.

Corny caught him staring and cleared his throat. "Excuse me?" he asked.

"Just checking you out," Manectric answered honestly.

Corny didn't seem to know what to do with that response but Smoothe began to giggle and then laugh, banging the table. "Look at your face!" she laughed. She nudged Manectric. "Good job, nothing seems to flap him. Maybe you'd like to?"

Corny's nose wrinkled. "Please," he replied, an edge of weariness in his voice again.

Manectric chuckled back. "Just ribbing ya," he said, offering a wink when Smoothe took a gulp of water. "You're pretty cute though."

"Aren't I cute?" Smoothe asked.

"Sure am!"

"Yess."

"So, what are you coming out here for?" Manectric asked.

"It's a secret," Smoothe said. "Shhh."

"Secret? I can keep secrets."

"It wouldn't be much of a secret then," she said reasonably before shaking. "Oh, I can't hold it in against this interrogation any longer!" She beckoned for him to approach and he did, leaning an ear in for Smoothe to whisper. "The Saviour is here," she said.

That was actually very good news. "Woah. Really?"

Smoothe nodded so rapidly that it looked like her head would pop off. "I've wanted to meet her for so long. Just imagine, being the best friend of the Saviour! Soothe is going to LOVE me!" she shouted.

Very loudly.

The whole café went silent for a moment. Corny shielded his face with a strategic menu until the eyes glanced away in amusement and some giggles.

"Audino," he groaned. She flashed him a look so swift that Manectric didn't even see it. "Smoothe," he sighed. "Please keep your volume under control."

"Whoopsy daisy," she giggled bashfully. "No telling, okay? I've gotta make it perfect! And then we'll be best friends forever. Corny too, people will love him again! And we'll all be happy."

Manectric had encountered these types before. After Skyfall Soothe had… grown in popularity. As Scizor had quietly confirmed that The Legendary Lucario had moved onto the 'next adventure' the eyes of gratitude and worship turned towards the newest hero.

Team Ion and Sunrise had strategically left the universe, meaning Soothe herself who continued to walk the continents finding and saving Shadow Pokemon from their damning corruption. It wasn't a surprise, really, that some pokemon grew… intense with their adoration of her.

She was a difficult pokemon to find. Surprising for a shiny audino, Lucario could at least disguise her broken spikes but Soothe couldn't change the colour of her fur. Still, though, she had evaded the great Guildmaster Wigglytuff for nearly two decades, as the stories had been embellished at least.

Manectric, Volt his name was, had found his old partner, the metang called Cobalt. They had a third member of their motley crew. A member they wanted to find.

Some said that The Saviour knew everything. They knew this wasn't true but… they were running out of options. Thoughtlight. Their old leader, the heart of Team Gazer, had left them years ago.

Suddenly, shockingly. After the victory against Darkrai. He did not drape himself in the glories of their victory, of his role in saving the whole world from an eternal nightmare. He quietly left them and they did not know why.

After Skyfall Cobalt had been alone. Volt, lonely and hearing of the newest disaster that the last of their team had involved themselves in, sought them out and together they agreed that they would find Thoughtlight and at least, if nothing else, get an answer as to why.

Smiling at Smoothe and Corny, Manectric bade them a good day and good luck. He stepped back to join Cobalt in waiting to see if Soothe would make an appearance in the cafe. They'd stay in town until they got the chance to speak to Miss Audino the town nurse.

She was their last hope.

"Inquisitive: Did you learn anything?" Cobalt asked as Volt returned to their table.

"They're thinking Soothe is here." Volt nodded. Cobalt didn't have much traditional body language but he noticed as the metang tilted up slightly, their version of raising their head. "So, that's a good sign. The audino is one of those superfans."

"Elaboration: And the indeedee?"

"Thin," Volt replied grimly. "I got a look at him close up. The vest hides most of it, but I can see his ribs around his upper chest where the vest thins. I doubt he's getting much gratitude. It's terrible. People still aren't over the Fallen."

Cobalt tilted down at him before returning to scanning the room. It would not do to point out even they had responded negatively on reflex upon spotting the duo. It would not do….

[The Humie Council]

/Kid looked like he was going to choke he was eating so fast ~ Soothe/

/And? ~ Jessica/

/I don't like it. Eating like he'd never get another meal. ~ Soothe/

/Just keep an eye on them, okay? Kenji sounds like he'd… well speak up is maybe not the right term, but he wouldn't let Nuzleaf starve him. Who starves these days? ~ Dimitri/

/Have you found any clues to his stage of evolution? ~ Jessica/

/No. ~ Soothe/

/It's weird though ~ Dimitri/

/We were all first stage pokemon. The only one different is well you Soothe ~ Dimitri/

/Have you found Gengar Kenji yet? ~ Soothe/

/Nope ~ Dimitri/

/Do you know if he was a gastly? ~ Soothe/

/That Kenji's situation is different to ours. ~ Jessica/

/I wish someone could interrogate him so we'd know for sure ~ Soothe/

/Look, why don't we talk to Gardevoir? She probably could help ~ Dimitri/

/Finding Team Charm is not the issue. Getting through their throngs of fans is. ~ Jessica/

/I can't believe the first thing that happened once you got the orbs running was social media ~ Soothe/

/Hahahahahaha ~ Dimitri/

/Did you seriously just write out your laughter? ~ Jessica/

/Yup ~ Dimitri/

/I guess Team Charm is slightly easier to interrogate. ~ Soothe/

/I'm not doing it. ~ Jessica/

/I'll do it! I'm pretty sure Blaze has a bit of a fancrush ~ Dimitri/

/Seriously? ~ Soothe/

/How? ~ Jessica/

/I fear to ask. ~ Dimitri/

/He used a full stop. Everyone run! ~ Soothe/

/Are you okay, Soothe? ~ Dimitri/

/Not really. Thanks for asking. ~ Soothe/

/Alrighty. Just checkin ~ Dimitri/

/I see the chat is becoming unproductive. ~ Jessica/

/Love you too, Jess ~ Dimitri/

Jessica is no longer online.

/What should we talk about now? ~ Dimitri/

/Gossip!? ~ Dimitri/

/Goodnight, Dimitri. ~ Soothe/

Soothe set the badge down, rubbing her face as the light left her vision spotty for a minute. She set it aside, pondering the realities of social media in the mystery dungeon world before choosing to take a walk.

She was filled with nervous energy and she knew she wouldn't be able to sleep until she felt the town was secure.

It was a strange feeling, to have walked the aftermath of the apocalypse. To have survived to see the other side and then, when the end of life came in full, to stand your ground.

It was hard to imagine life after that but time ticked on because people had fought to keep it going.

It was hard to feel safe.

She missed Spire. He helped quell the nervous energy that threatened to overtake her sometimes. On bad days she likened it to the anxious gnawing of the Shadow trying to drive her to kill. It was nothing like that, of course, but reason did not always see eye to eye with feelings.

On the days he couldn't quell it, he was a rock to remind her that the moment would pass and that life could continue afterwards.

He had been gone for months. They spoke frequently, but she still worried, still missed him. It wasn't the same to read text as it was to hear someone's voice.

She walked to where the kids slept first. Dusk and Brisk were stubbornly resisting Riolu's efforts to teamwork but she hoped they would crack eventually. They were good kids, they just found themselves with not much self-control always obeying the first cheeky instinct.

She listened for them, listened until she could pick out each child's individual breathing pattern. Dusk and Grey breathed the fastest, Tempus the slowest, while Brisk and Nimbus were somewhere in between. Brisk wheezed a little with his breaths, that used to scare her but that was just how shelmet were built.

There would be a practical lesson on teamwork in dungeons tomorrow, she was aware as one of the teachers. More importantly, as the healer she had to be ready to treat anyone for any injuries. These days always left her the most unsettled, anxious that something could go wrong or some disaster could occur.

"Out fer an evenin stroll, Miss 'dino?"

Soothe stiffened, she had gotten so distracted she hadn't heard someone sneak up on her! And that voice.

"Mister Nuzleaf," she said coolly, but politely, turning to the Grass/Dark-type. "What brings you out here at this hour?"

Nuzleaf's pointed nose caught her eye, almost sharp like the point of a knife. She was hardly afraid of him but wary. Kenji was innocent in all of this, she couldn't stand people getting hurt.

"Just enjoyin a nice nighttime walk," Nuzleaf replied casually. She had walked to the docks and was staring out at the Ancient Barrow when he interrupted her.

This was why she didn't feel safe in Serene Village anymore. The Beheeyem were one thing, but Nuzleaf was far more of an active problem. Yes, the water on the mountain had been siphoned away and protected. She held a bottle, Spire did as well, as did a few other pokemon across the world.

She didn't know if Dark Matter was aware of that or not. It wouldn't surprise her if it was. But Nuzleaf was still here. There were only two reasons she could guess for that.

Riolu and Quilava.

And herself.

The thralls of Dark Matter were stoning pokemon. Mostly ones well out of sight of others, sneaky, hidden at first.

The Saviour, however?

She didn't know if the allure of taking her out would press the hand of darkness to her throat or not. Stoning her would swiftly let people know something was happening. That might be a miscalculation, or perhaps it would serve to frighten pokemon.

Too many things she didn't know. She did not know what Nuzleaf or the beheeyem would do to her or others around here.

And that was why had to make sure the town was safe.

"It is nice," Soothe replied softly. "Peaceful out here." She could feel her Power tingling at the tips of her fingers. She could strike Nuzleaf when he wasn't expecting it, take him down before he could hurt anyone. Isn't that what he'd do?

Something stayed her hand. She didn't know what, just something.

"Aye," Nuzleaf agreed. "I always heard good things 'bout Serene Village. Curtains match the drapes out here, hahaa."

Her expression screwed into a briefly perturbed one before she allowed herself a chuckle at that. "Interesting way to describe it."

"Heh, don't mind me." He moved to turn away, she watched him very carefully, examining his movements as he paused and turned back. "Say, I hear that the folk 'round here like to chat with you 'bout stuff on their minds, right?"

That was true. Somehow a rumour had started about her knowing everything and so people were weirdly open to talking about things with her. She reasoned that being the town nurse meant caring for mental health too.

That was something she raised with Jessica about putting more focus on in her city. Get change moving. Jessica had reach that no one else had.

"I suppose," she replied, non-committal.

Nuzleaf nodded as if he 'understood' a silent meaning she didn't express. "I hear ya. Well, I won't keep ya, Miss. Have a good night."

"Good night."

And then he walked off. That was odd, Soothe had to think about it more. She considered the absolutely wild possibility that he wasn't. He had to be watched no matter what.

She knew everything that happened in town.

That was a lie but she knew a lot.

Knew there were some newcomers recently as well.

Another audino who couldn't shut up about 'The Saviour' was leaving her uncomfortable at the mere thought. Serene Village had been good to her, she didn't want to deal with all that. They came with an indeedee which was interesting. She hadn't seen one in a few years.

And the other… well.

She would be visiting Team Gazer tomorrow.

This story is getting easier to write. The wait may not seem like it is, lol, but I wrote this all in one sitting.

I think I'm figuring out how I want to present this story which is making it much easier!