Azaela Town is a very welcome sight after our journey through the Ilex Forest. The early afternoon light is welcome even if it is dampened by rain clouds. It is still brighter than the forest. I reach up to push back my tangled hair as I think of the many tree branches and webs that upset it.

"I can still feel them crawling on me!"

I glance over to Looker and see him rubbing his hands up and down his torso. He winces, shakes his head and reaches up to his pat his hair for inspection.

Morty snickers. "I did warn you- Weedle."

It's true, Looker got assaulted in the early morning by a group of Weedle trying to evade a hungry Pidgey by hiding in Looker's trousers. We all had our share of grief with the Wild Pokemon, a peculiar one with mushrooms on its back called Paras attempted to stun us with spores and a small blue Pokemon known as Oddish had us nauseated during the night with a poisonous powder. Mia's Farfetch'd returned the attack by beating it senseless with its spring onion. Mia...I'm doing it again. Ellie seems to have no desire for Pokemon battling, her Farfetch'd often strikes out at Wild Pokemon of its own accord, sometimes in defence of Ellie and sometimes out of anger.

Azalea Town is a small patch of civilisation that exists within the forest despite the implication that we have exited it. It is surrounded by trees and the air is heavy with the scents of pine, fresh apricorns and other flora I can't name. I detect an odour of smoke polluting the natural forest smells and search for the fire. There is a tall, thin chimney puffing out white smoke from a building.

"Right, let's find Bugsy and see if he can recommend somewhere good for lunch," Morty says brightly.

"Who's Bugsy?" Steven queries warily.

"The Gym Leader, they call him the Walking Bug Pokemon Encyclopedia, which isn't inaccurate."

"A bug Pokemon expert called Bugsy," Steven says dryly.

Morty laughs. "Well what else could he be with a name like that?"

I hear Ellie give a soft laugh. It's nice to hear it since she's been out of sorts from the Day Care Centre. When Looker offered to take the Growlithe she got upset, crying and shaking her head, murmuring about the dangers of fire whilst babbling about the puppy that died. Steven suggested she was getting confused over a Poochyena, explaining that he caught one for her to be her first Pokemon but that she got upset with it. He admitted that he's kept it in the hopes of Ellie coming round to it.

I know I need to explain what Ellie's grief is really about, that it comes from the death of her Houndour trying to protect her and that her fear of fire is from me but I can't find the words. I'm running out of excuses to myself and I can feel Looker glancing my way every time some issue with Ellie comes up.

We head up the leaf littered streets of the quaint town to the dome shaped gym. It should be an eyesore in a town that has a historical quaintness to it but somehow it looks organic and blends in. I wonder if maybe it's intended to resemble a giant hive.

"Um there will be Bug Pokemon in there, won't there?" Looker quips nervously.

I look over my shoulder to see him hanging back with a slightly nervous expression on his face. Though his dark hair is as frazzled as mine and his trench coat up awkwardly at the collar and stained with dirt in various places somehow he has managed to retain an appealing appearance. I however am probably resembling a Honchkrow's half-digested dinner. My ankles are soggy from an unwanted trek in a deep puddle, my jacket, already damaged from the Raticate, is beyond salvaging and I can smell the various stains of dried blood and mud that colour me.

"Well yes," Morty answers sarcastically, "one would expect them in a Bug specialising gym."

Hearing a door smack off a wall as it is swung open rapidly we all look forward.

A teenager with a scruffy lavender bob comes charging out. He collides with Morty and gives a gasp of surprise. Short, he almost breaks his neck craning it back to take in Morty.

"Morty? What are you doing here?" he queries in a startled manner.

"Bugsy, good afternoon," Morty greets cheerfully. He folds his arms and dips his head down to the young teenager. "Where are you off to in such a hurry?"

So this is the Gym Leader then. He's young but not a child like Poppy. I can't guess at his age, he's short and lean with big eyes, dressed in green shorts and a shirt as if he should be exploring not battling. I wonder at his and Morty's familiarity, how close are the Gym Leaders in Johto? I can name all the ones in Paldea but that comes with the role of the Elite Four, I would not call them friends, distant colleagues perhaps. I am perhaps most familiar with Brassius but only because of his relationship with Hassel.

"Um...well..." Bugsy's voice drops to a quiet tone and he fidgets awkwardly on the spot. "I have to look for Kurt, he's our Poke Ball expert in town and our unofficial caretaker of the Slowpoke Well. I think he might've gone down there because we haven't seen the Slowpoke around today."

"I see."

"Do you see?" Looker interrupts.

I see the sardonic turn of a frown Morty gives Looker before he returns his attention to Bugsy.

"Slowpoke Well?" Ellie queries curiously. She is peering round Steven with her Farfetch'd in her arms.

Bugsy nods. "Yes, we also call it the Rainmaker Well because legend says a Slowpoke's yawn ended a drought here four hundred years ago. It's a bit of a tourist attraction because it leads to a system of ancient caves, a number of fascinating stones have been found there."
"What kind of stones?" Steven queries. The excited intrigue in his voice surprises me.

"Oh dear, you said the magic word," Morty says mockingly as he shakes his head at Bugsy.

"Um I'm not really sure," Bugsy answers, "Water based I think. Oh but you could look for yourself," he suggests as his gaze darts from Steven to Morty. He gives an awkward smile. "I mean if you'd like to, it would be a big help actually and you could keep whatever stones you found. It's just... I've never been a fan of down there, too dark for my bugs and I don't like the Zubat."

"Who does like Zubat?" Morty mutters.

"Kenji," Ellie says softly. I glance over to her swiftly. There is something about the way she says his name, it almost sounds like affection. She remains fixated on Bugsy so I can't see her expression to get a clue to her tone.

"Well he is probably a criminal so that makes sense," Looker says haughtily.

Bugsy blinks at us in confusion before looking from Morty to Steven and back again. "Would you be alright with looking for Kurt then? I know you just arrived but it would be a big help."

"Bugsy I'm sure you can see we're more than a little dirty, damp, smelly and tired," Morty points out. "Courtesy of a night in the wilds and a morning in Ilex Forest. We're also quite hungry."

Bugsy nods quickly. "Well, I'll go to our restaurant Bread and Butterfries and tell them to start cooking you their speciality breakfasts, all on the house. By the time you go look and come back it will be ready. They have honeycomb imported from Kanto and I'll make sure you've refills on the coffee." He gives us all a wide smile that stretches up his cheeks and causes him to squint.

"Well Larry will like that," Morty jokes as he gives me a grin. He shrugs and turns to face Steven. "What do you think?"

"Well we're already cold and dirty so better we go have a look that some clean person risks it," Steven's reasons. He is trying to subdue it but the excitement remains in his voice and he is fidgeting on the spot like he's restless with energy.

"You just want to see some stones, don't you?" Morty remarks teasingly.

Steven scratches at his hair awkwardly. "It couldn't hurt. Could you get a read on this Kurt person?"

Morty's smile turns bitter as he shakes his head. "It doesn't work that way and I'm tired and hungry, psychic powers require energy."

"What does this Kurt fellow look like?" Looker demands. "So we should know if we see him in case there are others down there."
"It's not an underground community," Morty chides him, "and I expect we'll be able to tell the tourists from the locals."

"Yes," Bugsy says, "although there are no tourists today that I'm aware of. For your information, he's an older man with grey hair. He has a pouch at his waist and carries a mallet, it's for the apricorns he collects and works with."

Morty nods. "Alright, well I guess we're doing this."

"Great," Bugsy chimes up in delight as he claps his hands. "Let me take you to the well then."

He moves quickly, almost running as he leads the way from the Gym.

"Steven, I know we should help look but..." I make out Ellie's voice, quiet and a little frightened. "It'll be dark down there."

I see Steven reaching out to squeeze her right arm slightly.

"It won't be that bad," Steven answers cheerfully, "they'll have lights for the tourists and if it's not bright enough for you I'll get Metagross to use Flash."

"Won't that scare the Zubat into attacking us?" I point out.

Steven glances over to me and frowns. "That's not helpful."

He urges Ellie on and I walk with them, hastening to catch up to Morty, Looker and Bugsy. I'm tempted to offer to stay out of the well with Ellie but I don't think Steven would be happy about it.

We approach the large, circular form of the well. It sits on a cleared out patch of grass with a wooden sign explaining its name and legend. Although it's wide it looks like an ordinary well and I cannot fathom how we're meant to go down it.

Morty steps up to its open maw and peers down. "That's an old looking ladder."

"Just hold on tight," Bugsy says cheerfully.

"This seems unwise," Looker murmurs, "perhaps one of us should investigate first."

"Are you volunteering?" Morty quips.

"Er...well I've certainly been in worse, darker, wetter, warmer too, yes perhaps I-"

"I'm just joking," Morty interrupts as he waves off Looker's ramble. He turns his head to fix a stare on Ellie and I'm certain I see a flash of electric violet in his gaze. "It'll be okay Ellie, you're with us."

Does he sense her emotions or can he actually read her thoughts? I'm puzzled and worried over what gifts Morty and Ellie actually have.

Morty reaches for the ladder and swings himself round to begin the descent.

"After you Ellie," Steven gestures for Ellie to move. "Better put Quackles back in his ball."

The Farfetch'd gives an irritated squawk at this.

Ellie glances down to the irate bundle of feathers in her arms and frowns. "Sorry Quackles, it won't be for long."

Ellie crouches down to release the Pokemon to the ground. She produces a blue and yellow ball from her pocket.

"What kind of ball is that?" I pry as she calls the Farfetch'd into it.

"A Quick Ball," she answers as she stands upright again. "Lance said his Pokemon would've been far too strong for Quackles so he just threw the ball and caught him in one go."
"Lance caught it?" Lance, the regional Champion I've heard mentioned a few times now. Steven said he would be coming to help out.

Ellie nods and I see a fleeting smile cross her face before she bows her head and turns the ball about her hands. Is she embarrassed?

Ellie heads over to the ladder and swings herself over it slowly. I watch cautiously as she takes a tight grip on its edges and starts to step down. Her face has become serious again and I worry for her.

"He visited and I told him about the Poochyena incident," Steven says softly. "So he asked Ellie what kind of Pokemon she did want then, what her favourite was. I said I'd get her whatever evolution stone she wanted if she had a type in mind and it needed evolving." I glance over my shoulder to see an odd annoyance in his grey stare. "She got upset, said she just wanted something normal, something that wouldn't change because everything kept changing. She was going through this phase of collecting feathers," Steven reaches up to scratch at his hair, "I don't know what that was about. She kept getting frustrated saying she was trying to remember these Bird Pokemon and finding their feathers would help. Well I didn't think he cared much about it but Lance left and came back a couple of months later with that Farfetch'd, figuring Ellie maybe had a soft spot for Bird Pokemon and that it would match with what she wanted because it can't evolve."

I nod along, knowing the Bird Pokemon she wanted to remember- mine. All these memories that have stayed just under the surface for her, frustrating her as they linger behind a fog, troubling at her and driving her desires without her ever knowing why.

Steven heads for the ladder, swinging round it with ease and beginning a fast descent.

I feel Looker's stare upon me. "Larry, didn't you come here to find her?" he pries quietly. "Why won't you say anything?"

It's a valid question. Is it guilt? Fear? It's both I suppose, that she won't remember me or won't want to, that I'll be tearing her away from a life she's found with the Stone family, that she won't want me and I won't be enough for her.

"I failed her," I say softly. "Maybe she doesn't deserve the reminder."

"Should you decide that for her?"

I glance over to Looker, surprised at his seriousness. I opt once more for the coward's choice by evading an answer and heading for the ladder instead.

The temperature drops rapidly as I return to darkness. There is a strong stench in the air that I suspect equates with Zubat droppings and I can hear a persistent dripping of water that would probably drive one mad over time. The wooden rungs are slick with damp under my hands and I wonder how many people have slipped on them.

I step down onto a rocky surface littered with stray stones and dark pools of water. The promised lights are nothing more than a few haphazardly spread out boxes containing dim bulbs akin to the safety lights one finds in a building trying to make a show of having an alarm system. There are echoes of fluttering, stray stones tumbling over the ground, and a few splashes.

"Well it's a little chilly down here," Looker remarks chirpily as he comes to stand beside me.

He bundles up his trench coat and buttons it up before looking over to me sympathetically. "I think there is a small clothes shop in town, maybe you could get a nice coat there."

I glance down and am mesmerised by my dirty, dilapidated and bloodstained state. Would Geeta fire me if she saw me looking so dishevelled or would she like it? I am very much out of my element here- out in the wilds of a country I don't know travelling with people I've only met putting myself into stupid situations like this one.

A loud groaning calls down the tunnel before us and Ellie gives a soft gasp.

"That's a little creepy," Morty says in a happy tone that contrasts with what he's said.

"Look at those twinkles," Steven murmurs as he starts to walk forward, "think they could be stones?"

Ellie hangs back, an anchor to Steven who tries to tug his hand free before glancing over his shoulder to her.

"Come on Ellie, it's probably just a Slowpoke."

"I don't think they groan, do they groan?" Looker ponders. There are a couple of loud splashes as he wades through a large puddle accidentally.

"No but they and the other Pokemon down here probably hear quite well," Morty answers, "and you're not really being quiet as it is."

It's hard to evade some of the rocks and as I skid against one I hear the loud flapping of wings overhead. I glance up and see the retreating silhouette of a Zubat.

Steven pulls Ellie along, hastening towards the twinkles in the walls. "Damn, they're just quartz."

"Quartz is pretty," Ellie murmurs.

"It's common enough and it does nothing, pretty unremarkable," Steven grumbles.

Ellie extends out a hand to the wall, touching the glittering gems there lightly. "It doesn't need to be anything more than it is," she says softly. "That can be enough you know."

I see Steven facing her but I can't decipher his expression in the dark. Doesn't he understand her? He's had years with her, I've had years without but I get her because she's like me, seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary.

Another groan calls out to us, closer this time.

"What is it?" Ellie whispers worriedly. "What if it's a trick or a lure?"

"That's a little cynical," Morty murmurs.

"But entirely good thinking," Looker praises her, just about keeping his voice lowered as he does.

I wonder about it too, it doesn't seem logical to assume it's something trying to trick us, who would would know we were down here? Team Rocket can't have that kind of foresight surely. I suppose it could be a Pokemon, some of them can be known to mimic humans or to be crafty enough to trick us.

Morty glances back to Ellie and I see him give a grin that's made ghoulish with the shadows of our surroundings. "Well come on then Ellie, feel it out, does it seem dangerous?"

He stretches a hand back to her and she tentatively accepts. He pulls her up to a cluster of tall rocks he is leaning near.

I hear a splash to the right and look over just as a flowing tail of a fish Pokemon slips beneath the surface of a deep pool. Its presence indicates that the pool probably links to something else under the surface, how else could it survive here? The tunnel keeps going hinting at other caverns, natural and ancient, I wonder at the wisdom in letting people tour down here. I suppose one could say it's no less risky than sending young trainers out to the wilds to learn. How many of them don't come back after all? Subject to Pokemon attacks, perishing from injury or hunger because they got lost or succumbing to poisons too deep in the wilderness to find medicinal aid. It's becoming less common with the schools trying to educate the youth better before throwing them to the mercy of the savage lands of free Pokemon but you still hear of the odd tragedy now and then.

"You have a heavy sadness."

Only when I feel all eyes on me do I realise Ellie's words are directed at me. I feel awkward and bow my head to the ground without an answer. Am I projecting or can she sense everyone's emotions right now?

"Huh. Well that doesn't help with the groaning," Morty murmurs. "Let's keep going.

Morty leads the way with Ellie in hand. We head round a corner and down a narrow pathway that I have to crouch at several times to fit under the uneven roof. Several stones slip under my shoes and plop into the waters below. I see thin fins and hear the irritated flutter of Zubat wings but there are no signs of Slowpoke.

As we reach the end of the path the groaning becomes present instead of a disturbing echo. An old man is leaning up against a large rock, wincing and groaning. He has his left leg stretched out before him but his right is bent at an awkward angle and damp with blood. Lying beside him is a mallet.

"Are you Mr Kurt then?" Looker blurts out.

"He means are you okay and what happened?" Morty remarks bitingly as he steps forward.

The blond releases Ellie to press his hands against his knees and crouch down to inspect the man's wound.

"Well yes," Looker flusters, "but also what I asked, yes?"

The man tilts his head up to give Looker an expression I suspect he must be quite used to, that questioning wondering over his sanity.

"I am Kurt, yes, and I've twisted my ankle, cut my leg pretty good on the rocks too if that ain't obvious." Although he is old his words come out sharp and tough like the rock he has taken sanctuary against. "And who are you lot? Seems I've the disadvantage here."

Morty chuckles. "In more than one way. I'm Morty and we're here on behalf of Bugsy, finding you in exchange for a good breakfast."

"Sounds like he undercharged you," Kurt grunts back, "I'm worth a few fine dinners at least."

Morty chuckles again at this. "Well at least your senses of humour isn't damaged. So, now that we've found you shall we get you back up?"

"Not so fast, I came here for a purpose and I haven't resolved that yet."

"Well you're hardly going to in this condition," Steven says waspishly.

"No," Kurt points up at him almost accusingly, "but you young lot can." He lowers his finger and looks mine and Looker's way. "Eh don't know much about those two. Odd group aren't you? No matter, maybe it'll take the lot of you, it's a big place here."

"What will take the lot of us?" Steven folds his arms as he waits for an explanation.

"Finding where the Slowpoke are and why they're in hiding," Kurt answers. He winces and swallows down a groan of pain.

"Shouldn't we get you help first?" Morty queries.

"Bah! I've waited this long, I'll wait some more. I need to know what's happened to them, do you understand?"

"That you're maybe suffering from fatigue and blood loss?" Steven ventures sarcastically. "That I understand and we're not your minions."

Morty jerks back to Steven with his thumb. "He's from Hoenn, they're a stubborn lot, not pleasant like us Johto natives. Tell him something about the sparkling stones around here and he'll be more interested."

I can tell Steven is frowning at Morty without seeing it. I feel a certain spark of amusement at Morty's well placed jibes although if they were directed at me I'd probably have a better sympathy for Steven.

"Don't you care that our Pokemon might be in danger?" Kurt barks up at Steven angrily. "What if they're hurt or trapped? They could need your help you know!"

Ellie whips her head round to face the darkness ahead. "I think...that could be true." There is uncertainty in her voice but I feel concern for her words anyway. What is she sensing now?

She turns back to Steven. "We've got to look Steven," she addresses him quietly in a pleading tone, "we always look, don't we?"

Steven sighs and reaches up to rub at his hair as he shakes his head. "Yes," he says miserably, "we must always look."

There is something in his words that suggests this is a common phrase between them and yet he says it like it's a burden. I don't understand it but then I don't understand much about him.

Morty slaps Steven on the back enthusiastically. "That's the spirit! We're already wet and dirty anyway, what's a few more puddles? So what if we end up with the cold or tripping over rocks and breaking ankles like Kurt here? It'll all be fine if we save some Slowpoke." He laughs again and I honestly can't tell if he's sincere about searching for them or not.

"Well it is the right thing," Looker says stubbornly. At his voice I turn to him and see he is crouched by Kurt bundling his trenchcoat about him. He pulls back and tugs out a small, slim box from his trouser pocket. I watch on quietly as he opens it up and tugs out a small tube from which he squeezes out a cream onto Kurt's wounded leg causing him to groan anew. Looker works quickly to apply the cream and then bandage up the leg before offering up two tablets to Kurt.

"Painkillers, no water I'm afraid, the forest took the last of my provisions, er I mean I used them there, quite a disastrous time with Weedle hmm."

Perhaps Looker is competent after all. I suppose thinking about it he really is, he found Ellie after all but he does seem so strange on the surface. Maybe it's what the job requires or maybe it's just Looker.

"Let's go then, quicker gone the quicker back to help Mr Kurt," Looker says as he stands up.

We start walking.

The trek is harder as we have to cross over stepping stones to evade water and lean close to the cold, rocky walls to navigate narrow paths. The ground is damp everywhere, slipperier where it ascends and descends. We head down a dark path, bumping into rocks as we go.

It feels like we have walked for hours but maybe that's just the added fatigue of not resting properly since leaving the forest.

Morty points out a shoal of Goldeen shooting past in clear waters to the right and we see the shadowy shapes of roosting Zubat but there are no Slowpoke.

As we head up and into a wide chamber voices carry out to us.

"What's too far then Kenji? Hmm?" There is a quiet, chattering laugh that grates on my ears as it sounds unhinged. "One tail, two tails, three tails? Were do we stop?"

I can smell blood and it fills me with fear for what we are approaching now.