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Chapter 13: Traveling

Alex jumped out of bed the moment he heard the bell ring. He strapped his pack on, which had finally been refitted to his Kadabra body, and went to breakfast. Caleb was right behind him, hopping with excitement.

A large breakfast later, they bid farewell to the few members of the Pidgey cohort near them. Alex and Caleb left the Academy in the cold morning air. Dozens of Pokémon bustled around them, hurrying to their jobs or missions. They faced north, around the Rainbow Mesa toward a set of mountains in the distance. The wide road dwindled into a narrow trail winding between fields of corn and orchards as paths branched off of it. A few kilometers later, those ended as the irrigation of the river dried up, and the world expanded into a vast plain of sagebrush and sand.

They were alone. Few Pokémon lived here, so close to town they may as well live in it if they sought civilization, and too close for the wandering tribes or solitary Pokémon to feel safe. Alex cast his mind out, watching for other Pokémon psychically, but nothing shone in his range.

Caleb started humming a song, bouncing as we led the way. He stayed near Alex without running ahead. Alex simply breathed in the fresh air and felt the emptiness of the desert. In town, the minds of Pokémon pressed on him, but to be so far away and to feel nothing relaxed him almost as much as meditating in the Shrine Hall.

They took breaks when Alex needed. He had far more endurance than he used to, but Kadabra were still somewhat frail, and Alex didn't want to use up his energy to teleport if he didn't need to. They had experimented with teleportation as part of their planning, only to find Alex couldn't effectively teleport with passengers. His range was less than half when he carried Caleb with him, and the exhaustion hit harder and longer. After the rest Alex needed from teleports, waling was simply faster. Flying transportation would require a chartered trip, which was also far out of budget for a rookie team.

There were a few small settlements on the way to the Glass Beach, the closest harbor to the island where Uxie dwelt. If all went according to plan, Alex and Caleb only had to camp two or three nights, depending on how fast they went.

As they plodded on, Alex found one thing hadn't counted on while planning this trip: how boring it would be walking for hours. In their little expeditions that only took up the morning, the landmarks and destinations were visible from the start, with very clear endpoints. Now the sun was at its zenith, and the mountains in front of them seemed no closer. Smaller hills and plateaus blended together as they passed. And after a month of living around the Rainbow Mesa, its pillars of stone, sheer cliffs, and natural arches lost their magnificence. There wasn't even an experienced escort with them to talk to like in their training missions, so Alex thought to himself to pass the time.

What kinds of memories am I missing? Was I really sent to save this world? And from what? Memories would have helped me to know what to do, who to talk to, and what to aim for. This world doesn't even seem to be in danger, either. Nothing I've done or seen sticks out as needing a human to fix it. These Pokémon have it all figured out on their own. They know more about humans than I do! The same spiral had haunted him one way or another from his very first night in this world. Nothing had changed, except for Alex becoming monstrously more powerful than a Pokémon of his age should be.

Alex eventually drifted into a trance as he lightly levitated himself while following Caleb. A few pulses of light hovered at the edges of his perception, but no Pokémon approached them.

"Alex, are you awake?" Caleb asked as he slowed down. Alex opened his eyes to see the sun lowering, bathing the area in a deep shade of red. "We should find a place to camp. Have you noticed anything with your telepathy?"

Alex shook his head, then spread his awareness to scan the landscape. He could still only examine small areas at a time, but he could feel behind rocks or through trees and brush. There wasn't any convenient cave this time, like there was by the Sandstone Maze.

"It all looks the same to me. I might be able to find a bush or something to hide under, or we can set up the tent," Alex suggested.

"We don't need the tent, it's not raining or windy. Just our blankets should be enough. Plus we can watch the stars." Caleb said.

Alex took the lead to a tree with branches that drooped to the ground, making an adequate shelter from the breeze and concealing them. A few minutes of work cleared a spot free of grass and rocks, and the two of them laid out their blankets. They refrained from a fire due to the pleasant weather, and their food didn't need cooking.

Alex curled under his blanket as the temperature dropped after sunset. Slowly, stars appeared in the sky, so much more vibrant away from the glowing crystals and torch-lights of civilization.

"You see those five stars? That's the Pentacle, and the top star always points north," Caleb pointed at the sky.

Alex followed his arm to see the cluster of twinkling lights in cold shades of blue, white and orange.

"That's the Lati twins chasing each other. And there's Regigigas," Caleb said softly. "My parents loved looking at the stars when we had time."

Caleb pointed out more shapes in the stars and taught Alex the constellations. "I tried asking Miko if she knew any, but our stars make different shapes, according to her. Which makes sense, I guess, but it would have been nice to know. I don't think any human knew their skies well enough to write a book on it."

The cold white dots danced above them, and Alex watched in wonder, until sleep was nearly irresistible.

"Um, should we set up a watch?" Alex asked.

"Can't you just watch out for us while you sleep? You watch me when you trance, can't you look out for others?" Caleb asked.

"Kind of. It's not like I'm completely asleep when I'm doing that, and I still can't see Dark-types. There might be Cacturine or Mightyena out here," Alex said.

"We're surrounded by grass and hidden in a bush. I think we'd hear one before it snuck up on us. And it's not like we can stay up all night with only two of us to keep watch. But I'll make sure to wake up if I hear anything, alright?" Caleb responded.

"I guess," Alex said. He curled his tail around himself to act as a pillow, then closed his eyes, scanning the wilderness around them. Soft breezes whispered in the grass, making a natural lullaby as Caleb's breathing deepened and slowed. He could do this. Even as an Abra, it became natural for him to keep a sense of awareness with his surroundings once he learned how. It was an adaptation for all the Abra that lived their lives in caves and teleported away when they sensed danger. As a Kadabra, it should be easier, right? But Dark-types were his natural predators. If one showed up, Caleb could fight it off- but he'd have to detect it first. Maybe any predators would avoid two Pokémon together, one of them evolved. Surely there were easier prey.

The night passed uneventfully, to Alex's relief. Drops of dew lay on the tips of grass and the leaves of the tree they rested under. A few bites of dry, nutty bread later, they rolled up their blankets and started back on the trail. The mountains seemed closer than yesterday, but only in comparison- they were still a long way off. The trail they were on reached right up the base of them, before turning east toward the sea.

The day passed much the same. Once, they met a Ludicolo traveling the other way. But with places to be, they stopped only for a moment to discuss the trail and weather conditions to watch for.

The red sandstone surrounding the Rainbow Mesa gave way to gray, jagged rock, with cairns piled up here and there to mark the easiest path. In the late afternoon, they came to their first settlement: a rough collection of a half-dozen dwellings that the map had labeled "Basalt Slide." Loose rocks were stacked and cemented together to build the houses, with each one having a garden of berries or herbs surrounded by low walls. Alex and Caleb looked at each one, trying to find which might be the inn for travelers. Taking a guess, they went to the largest building and knocked on the door.

"Who's there?" a voice chirped. A peephole on the door slid back, showing a birdlike eye on the other side.

"We're traveling to Glass Beach. Is this the inn?" Caleb asked.

"As much as we've got in this speck. I've got a spare room if you're not going to break or burn anything. That's the last time I'm letting a Magmar inside, I tell you. Come in, you two," she said, pulling the door open.

Now that they could see her, the pair saw that the innkeeper was a Rookidee. She was tiny, sitting on a perch by the door; even smaller than Fomantis.

"Well, don't just stand there. If you want food, you've got to work for it. Drop your bags in the last room on the left, then meet me in the kitchen," she demanded.

Alex and Caleb followed the Rookidee inside. The walls were bare rock held together with mud, the floor dusted with a thin layer of dirt on stone smoothed by time and traffic. It was almost the same as the Academy, but the gray walls felt dreary compared to the warm colors of the Rainbow Mesa. The guest room was small, with an oil lamp on the windowsill and two worn beds.

Alex dropped his bag on one bed as Caleb claimed the other. Alex groaned as the weight fell off his shoulders and tail. Taking his pack off was the best part of the day. No matter how long he trained and carried it, he never fully got used to the weight. He almost felt that he could jump onto the roof now that he wasn't weighed down.

"We're almost halfway there. Alex! And we get a real room tonight, along with hot food!" Caleb exclaimed.

Alex smiled. "You're right. Let's go get something to eat."

Rookidee twitched on a perch in the kitchen. "There you are! I can't cook by myself, you know. Not unless you want raw nuts and seeds," she called as she flapped her wings. "Machop! Take the pot out back and fill it from the well. Kadabra, start chopping Tamato berries!" she ordered as

Rookidee cawed directions at Alex, who was trying to find the utensils and berries. Caleb came back in, lugging the pot of water and putting it on the fireplace. Then he was ordered to bring out more food: turnips, herbs, salted meat of some kind, all for Alex to chop and put in the pot. Caleb stoked the fire, as Rookidee spouted off orders before gossiping.

"More fire! You want to eat before sundown, yes? Unless you think you're a fire-type and can cook it yourself. Kadabra! Smaller pieces, before one of us chokes to death. I say, you're a better duo than that Team Hurricane that came through. How did they ever make a team without a set of hands in them? Said they were looking for some treasure buried long ago when the volcano erupted. Hah! That was fifty years ago! The old town's thirty feet below us is covered in rock! Needless to say, they left empty-handed."

"What were they looking for?" Alex asked.

Rookidee scoffed. "Oh, some gem that made Psychic types immune to Dark attacks or something. Buncha wimps if they can't take a hit. Who knows if it even survived the eruption?"

Alex paused, thinking about the first detail. "Wait, there are items that can protect you from an entire type?" he exclaimed.

"Well, they sure thought so. The Bronzong and Swoobat could use it for sure, but I guess the Yammega was second class. Still, it was the most exciting thing I've seen in months. Nobody comes out this way much." Alex dumped the last of the ingredients in the pot. Rookidee swung the hearth-hook out of the fire, Caleb took the kettle of hot water off, and Alex replaced it with the pot.

Rookidee pointed her wing to a set of mugs hanging on hooks. "Grab yourselves a cup. I've got tea, and you look too young for alcohol. Well, Machop does at least. Too bad, I've had a jug of old Pecha wine since before I moved here, but nobody around here's worth sharing it with. But you two! What brought you here to the base of the Heatran Mountains? There's nothing here but old lava slides and grumpy neighbors."

Rookidee shuffled through cupboards and draws until she plucked out a cloth pouch. "Add a pinch of this to your mugs; puts some heat in your bones. The room freezes something fierce at night," she chattered.

Finally given a space to speak, Alex spoke up. "Um, we're on our way to Glass Beach. We wanted to rent a ferry for one of the islands."

"Oh, another set of explorers? Did the first adventure not scare you off? Scars like that, I'm surprised you're keeping at it, Kadabra. What's the rumor? Going to pester a sleeping god? Some artifact holding the world together that you have to see? Or are you just sightseeing the world, making memories together? Not that I'm judging, mind you."

"It's not like that!" Caleb objected. "Uxie called Kadabra to meet with them!"

"Oh, it's the 'pestering a god' option. Hopefully you two keep your minds by the time you're done. They live far away from civilization for a reason, you know. They don't like being bothered for every bump on the head or hangover where you lose a day or two," Rookidee said.

"No, I... I don't remember anything!" Alex blurted out.

"Is that so? So I can't ask you how you got those scars? I was hoping for a good story there. Maybe Machop saved you from an Ursarang. Must have been super lucky to survive after losing that much blood," Rookidee said.

Alex took a sip of tea, and his mouth puckered. It tasted of juniper and Chesto Berries; bitter and dry, without a hint of sweetness.

"So where did you come from? Packs like that, you're from some major town. Maybe Aura Village? Probably not," Rookidee said. "Buncha fanatics out there. They only take you in if you're a Lucario or something psychic. I tried to see their shrine to the Great Lucario, but I couldn't even get in with a messenger bag. Something about 'keeping their culture unpolluted from outsiders,'" she scoffed.

"Well, if they treat me like that, it can't have been all that great. So I turned around and found someplace nobody would care who or what I was. Found this abandoned house, paid some Timburr to patch up the holes, and made myself a nest."

Caleb looked like he wanted to respond, but Rookidee kept talking. Maybe she was lonely and simply glad for the company. Her constant stream of talk continued as the stew started cooking, causing the air to fill with mouth-watering smells.

At some point, she stopped gossiping for a moment and glanced at the pot. "That's done. Get a bowl and serve yourself, I'm not a butler. If this were that kind of establishment, I'd charge you three times more!"

The food wasn't as good as the Academy's, but a hot meal was always better than dry rations. Rookidee dug out a sack of hard crackers and dropped one in each bowl. "Hardtack. Keeps forever, but not even bugs will eat them. Soak up the juices to make them soft and get flavor, unless you want to find out if Oran Berries can grow teeth back," Rokidee snickered. "They don't, by the way."

After the meal, the two adventurers went to the room. Alex took out his blanket and spread it on top of the thin bed to get a little more warmth than the threadbare sheet would provide. A wind picked up, with a few drops of water hitting the window. Alex shivered a little as a draft wormed in through the gaps in the wall.

"Good thing we're not out there tonight, right?" Caleb said.

"Yeah." Alex tossed and turned for a few minutes, trying to find a comfortable spot. The bed was just a little too narrow for his huge tail, and the mattress was only slightly softer than the floor. But it was warmer than outside, and that's what mattered.

The next day was overcast with slow but steady rain falling from iron-gray clouds. "Wake up, wake up, sleepyheads! Pot's on, get warm before you leave!" Rookidee chirped at the door.

Breakfast was reheated soup from the night before. Overnight, the ingredients had cooked more on the banked fire, making them softer and letting the flavors mix. It was better now than it had been fresh.

"My left wing's cramping, means this storm's going to be here all day. May as well get moving soon before the trail becomes nothing but mud. Unless you want to stay another night. Company's always good for me." Rookidee suggested.

"What do you think, Kadabra?" Caleb asked.

"Umm, the gear we have is waterproof, right? We can make cloaks like Sergeant Rime showed us and walk a bit. And we have a tent. I don't want to just sit and do nothing," Alex said.

"Oh, you would have something to do! I have a dozen projects for such useful guests with hands. I need a shelf put up, blankets mended, and Oran preserves to make." Rookiidee said to Alex. "But do what you want! Just pay before you leave."

He shrugged. "I still think we keep moving. I don't want to spend more money than we have to," Alex said.

"Works for me! But we should see if there's a shop for us to get more food. We might end up stuck out there if we get lost. I'd rather be careful," Caleb added.

"How cute you think we have a dedicated store. Say, I'll give you a few bits of bread and a couple of berries from my cellar, and you can have that and pay for the room for twenty Poké, deal?" Rookidee offered.

Alex dug his coin pouch in front of the bottom of his pack and counted out the coins.

"What's this? I appreciate the generosity, but you don't need to pay me double what I asked. I'm not that destitute, you know!"

"Um… what do you mean? I gave you twenty coins, like you said." Alex paused. "Wait, how many do you count before you add a new number?"

"I got six talons, don't I? Where'd you learn to count?" Rookidee asked. "I swear, explorers get weirder every year."

"Oh, um, sorry. I learned to go up to twelve." Alex calculated in his mind, then counted out the correct number of coins. "That's right, isn't it?" he asked as he placed them on the counter.

Rookidee huffed. "I thought Psychics were supposed to be smart. But that's right, just let me fetch that food for you." she said as she fluttered down the cellar door.

"I thought the Academy was exaggerating when they said we'd need to know different counting systems. I thought that only happened on another continent, but this is only two day's walk away from the Rainbow Mesa." Caleb whispered.

Rookidee made several trips, carrying one berry or roll at a time- until there were two green fruits and two dense rolls sitting on the counter. "Aguav berries don't taste all that great," Rookidee said, "but they keep you going for hours and last through winter. Just nibble them slowly until you get past the rind, or it'll throw your mind for a loop. Take care, and hopefully you survive to come back, I can always use more stories.".

Alex and Caleb stuffed the food in their bags. Sergeant Rime's advice came to mind that it was much easier to stay warm and dry than it was to get dry, so they wrapped themselves up in their blankets to ward off the rain.

It wasn't raining hard enough to thoroughly soak Alex and Caleb, but a pervasive drizzle fell on them, with fog coming down from the mountains that blocked the sun. The path was easy enough to find, still following the cairns on rough, gray rock. Soon Basalt Slide faded into the mist, and the two found themselves alone again. The makeshift cloaks did well to keep the rain off their bodies, but the wet path was slippery.

At one point Alex fell, scraping his knee. The wound stung as the occasional drop of water slid across it. They moved slower after that, until the huge lava flow ended and the path turned back to dirt.

Once the light dimmed further, they found a small rise in the ground to set the tent on. Alex and Caleb wrestled the sticks, fabric, and rope into shape. After several tries, they forced the material into a triangle-shaped shelter and listened to the raindrops drip on the oil-treated canvas.

"I'm cold," Alex complained as he huddled under the blankets.

"Yeah, I don't remember the last time it rained. I think it comes more often here in the north, but the Sand Continent is a desert. I got so used to getting sunburnt I forgot how cold rain is. Do you think we should have stayed?" Caleb asked.

"I don't think so. We have the right gear, we should be okay. I want to finish as soon as we can." Alex replied. "I… I'm not sure how patient Uxie will be. It's been weeks since they first called me to see them. And we're only about halfway to Glass Beach."

Alex felt Caleb shiver in his own bedroll. "What if we put our blankets together? Then it'll be warmer."

"Um, sure, we can do that," Alex said. Alex's blanket went on the ground for them to lay on, then Caleb took his smaller blanket and spread it over them. The creeping chill of the night was driven out by shared body heat inside their woolen blankets.

"This is a bit closer than I was expecting," Caleb mumbled as they huddled together.

"But it is warmer, though," Alex responded with his tail peeking out from the blanket. "I think we'll be okay, but I'm going to trance again to keep watch tonight. I'm not sure if anything is out there in the rain, but I want to be sure."

"Thank you, Alex. That makes me feel safer," Caleb said. He snuggled up to Alex under the blankets, and the pervasive dampness slowly warmed up.

"Good night, Caleb," Alex said as he extended his awareness onto their surroundings. This area was pretty featureless, apart from the rain and mist. They were next to a mountain range on the north that the trail followed east. There were only gently rolling hills blanketed with grass that they walked through.

Later that night, Alex perceived a light on the edge of his awareness, some other Pokémon out in the darkness. It was a ways off, and moved slowly here and there, but it was wandering closer. It turned- and it must have spotted or smelled the tent, because now it was heading straight towards them.

"Caleb, wake up. Something's coming at us," Alex shook Caleb.

"Hmm? What?" Caleb mumbled. He opened his eyes, but it was pitch-black with the moon and stars covered with clouds. "Wait, let me grab the light," he said, fumbling in his pack. Gray light shone from a small light-crystal hanging on a string in Caleb's hand.

"Do you know what it is?" Caleb asked.

"I'm not sure. Its shape feels like a bug, but there's also got some Grass energy in it, but… it feels weird. It's like I'm feeling Girafarig's two heads, but that's not a Pokémon I remember learning about," Alex explained. "And it's definitely not a Fomantis. I know what those look like."

Caleb opened one side of the tent and peered out into the night. The drizzle had finally stopped. But a raspy voice was approaching, and Caleb slowly made out the words.

"Food, need food," a voice hissed. "Strange Pokémon, they'll be food. Not good for spores, but food. Yes. Infest them."

A huge mushroom, taller than Caleb, loomed out of the mist. Blind white eyes reflected the light from under a mushroom hat. The Parasect twitched its claws unnervingly.

"Um, Caleb, you learned Fire Punch, right?" Alex asked as the Pokémon crept closer.

Caleb stood up and entered a fighting stance. "Mostly. I need to focus for a minute first. You'll have to help and attack it too." Caleb took a deep breath and started a series of slow punches until one fist flickered with flame.

The Parasect hissed as its claws glowed purple, and it charged. Caleb jumped out of the way and punched the giant mushroom, leaving a large charred wound that seeped spores. He started coughing as he breathed in a wisp of them.

"CALEB!" Alex screamed, sending a surge of Psychic power through his spoon and into the Parasect. Its exoskeleton broke into massive cracks. Fine white hairs seeped through the opening. Alex pushed again, throwing the infected Pokémon as far away as he could. The Parasect landed on its back, legs frantically twitching, then going still as it died.

Caleb still racked with deep coughs.

"Alex… Get me a Pecha Berry. I think it poisoned me," Caleb choked out. Alex tore through their packs, looking for the medicine kit as Caleb struggled for air. Oran paste, dried Cheri berries… there was the Pecha powder. He passed the pouch to Caleb, who took a pinch and ate it. Slowly his breathing eased.

"That... That hurt," he coughed. "I don't think I've been poisoned before. It hurt to breathe. Thanks for saving me. If you hadn't helped, I would have been a goner. And you woke me up before it could ambush us. We probably would have died if you weren't paying attention," Caleb said.

Alex didn't feel very heroic, just worried about his friend. That Pokémon had wanted to eat them! Outside of Mystery Dungeons, Pokémon could talk and avoid conflict. At the Academy, predators felt like an abstract possibility, not an actual threat.

"Was that Pokémon feral? It was talking weird," Alex thought out loud.

"I'm not sure. Only Pokémon inside Dungeons are supposed to be fully feral, but there are some outside of them that only care about themselves and attack anyone. But if you beat them, sometimes they'll talk to you. Maybe that Parasect was crazy, but at least we're safe now."

Alex cast his mind out to see if there were any other Pokémon approaching, but they were alone. A few crickets chirped. The night was black with the stars and moon hidden behind clouds.

"There's nothing else out there," Alex said with a yawn. "We should sleep more after that attack. Do you need more Pecha powder? Or some Orans?"

Cakleb took a deep, slow breath while touching his chest. "I think I'm okay now. But I agree with you, we need sleep after that. Keep up the good work, Alex," he said.

They crawled back into the tent, feeling each other's hearts thudding from stress. They slowly dozed off until the light of dawn entered the tent.

The clouds dissolved from the dark blanket of storm into wisps and puffs that welcomed the sunshine. The corpse of the Parasect was deflated from the battle, the mushroom melting into the earth where it lay. Alex and Caleb gave it a wide berth, avoiding any risk of more spores. They shook out the tent and blanket, drying out the moisture before rolling them up.

This area at the base of the mountains was fertile; grasses and flowers grew abundantly. Alex and Caleb saw several bug-types flying in the meadow gathering pollen or nectar as they walked past, but they kept their distance from them.

The next day brought them into a valley as a set of hills rose in the south. This part of the trail led along a stream, which they used to fill their dwindling waterskins. A few times, the native Bug-types of the area buzzed up to them to ask what news they had, but Alex and Caleb didn't know what to say. Would these Pokémon really care about Glameow's new stall at the Rainbow Mesa? The news most of them wanted to hear about was the new human that had been discovered, but Alex and Cleb deflected, saying they hadn't met them. Alex found it nice that for once, he wasn't well known. A few asked about his scars, but Alex truthfully replied he didn't remember, and they dropped the subject. But from what the native Pokémon said, Glass Beach was only a couple more days away, through the valley and to the ocean.

The next day, the valley opened up. The trail they followed split in three: one going north, one further east, and one south.

Caleb scrambled up the slope of the last of the mountains to get a view of the area. "Alex, you won't believe this! I can see the ocean from up there! It's huge!" he yelled down at Alex. After a moment of consideration, Alex teleported to the little ridge Caleb had found and looked out toward the horizon.

Most of what he saw was more of the same land they had been in for days now. But in the distance, Alex saw a strip of blue that disappeared over the horizon. The north and south trails led between the coast and mountains, while the east road went onto a cape that jutted out far enough he couldn't see the end of it, even from this height. Alex teleported himself back down rather than risk tumbling down the scree of the mountainside. Caleb enjoyed the challenge of sliding down, seeing how fast he could reach the bottom.

"We're almost there, Alex. Just one more day, and we'll be at Glass Beach!"

The next day passed quickly. Even Alex's tired legs found new strength to push himself toward a warm bed and a hot meal, and his lost memories. They stumbled into town just after sunset and checked into the first inn they found, a wooden hut staffed by a Corphish. The food was strange, though; barely cooked fish of some sort wrapped in seaweed; much different from the grains and vegetables they were used to. But something in Alex found it enjoyable. Maybe this was something he had often eaten as a human.

The dorm was much different than the tiny room in Basalt Slide. It was a medium sized room with sets of bunk beds along the walls and several other Pokémon in it.

"Find a bed and claim it. If you want to store your items, we have lock-boxes for an additional fee. Don't cause any trouble. Lights out in one hour," Corphish said.

"Thank you for staying open this late. We were getting tired of sleeping out!" Caleb said.

"'Course. I'd miss out on business by closing early. This is the time most travelers come into town. I hope you enjoy your stay." Corphish said.

Caleb found an unoccupied set of beds. "Why don't I take the top bunk and we can put our packs at my feet? These beds are pretty big."

"I guess so," Alex said. He lifted his bag as high as he could so that Caleb could grab it and pull it up the rest of the way.

One of the Pokémon in the bed behind him started talking. "Is there a story behind those scars? Looks painful."

Alex turned and found a Sneazler lounging on one of the beds. "Was it Pawnward? Those blades are even sharper than my claws. No poison, though. And they always come in packs to cover up their weakness, unlike me."

"Umm, I don't remember. Sorry." Alex said.

"What a shame. Guess you blocked out the memory or something. It must be a fascinating story of how you survived such an attack. I remember each one of my scars, and the lessons learned from them."

"I guess," Alex replied uncertainly.

"You know, you look really strong! Are you a rescuer?" Caleb asked as he looked down from the top bunk.

Sneazler smirked. "No, I am not. I'm a bounty hunter. Outlaws offer much better rewards than simple rescues. And there are always outlaws and bandits stealing from merchants, mugging travelers… and more. I have a particular set of skills for bringing them to the local police as well. Poison in my claws and an enchanted basket to contain them." He patted a white woven basket with shoulder straps. "Get in one of these, and you'll never break out in front of the inside. Perfect for anything short of a Tyranitar. No offense, by the way," nodding to a Pupitar on the other side of the room.

"Hmph, whatever. Not planning on breaking the law any time soon. I'm just waiting until I get actual feet again. I hate being stuck in this shell." she said.

"But enough about me. What brings you two out this way? A Kadabra with such scars makes for an interesting Pokémon, and with a partner, I would guess that you're part of a team. If you are, what's your team name? Are you rescuers or treasure hunters?"

"Oh,uh, we never made a team name. We were always with others before now." Caleb said. "We came from the Academy at Rainbow Mesa. We heard a rumor about treasure on one of the islands near here. We hoped we could find a ferry here to take us."

"Oh, Academy graduates. I've heard about them," a Heatmor said. "Don't they worship humans down there and make you memorize every human ever?"

"Kind of," Alex said. "Mostly it was battle and exploration training, or learning a trade. I had to make Escape Orbs every afternoon. Machop made tools and stuff."

"Sounds like slavery to me. They take most of your pay, don't they?"

"Well, yeah, but it comes with food and housing, so it works out!" Caleb protested.

Heatmor leaned back. "If you say so," he said. "But if you don't even have a team name. How will Pokémon know to call on you? Are clients allowed to request teams they have good relationships with, or is it all through that Academy? You're missing out if you can't make a reputation for yourself. If you make connections on your own, you don't need a guild to parasite all your earnings. Just a thought."

"We're just starting out right now. We might need that in the future, but we need their support until we get more experience," Alex said.

"You're missing out. If you go solo, you get to keep your rewards." Heatmor said. He pulled some herbs out of a canister, breathed a little fire on it, then stuffed the smoldering mass into the hole on his tail and took a deep breath through it.

The last Pokémon in the room, a Roserade, piped in. "Well, how many Pokémon try to start a team and die on their first expedition? I've had to dig too many Pikachu out of some cave, thinking they were going to be the next legend-hunter. The safety is worth it for a lot of Pokémon. And it's really hard to get a clientele without some history or background. I wouldn't trust a random Sneasel with escorting a caravan without references," he said.

"Fair point. But I'd rather take someone who got there on their own. A real scrapper like that has to have a better worth ethic than a pampered graduate from Guildmaster Wigglytuff," Heatmor said. "But I guess you did make it out here. Hope you get to keep what you're looking for, kids."

Alex found a comfortable spot on the bed, tuning out the conversations. Roserade, Heatmor, Sneazler and Pupitar; they all seemed so much stronger and experienced than him. Sure, Alex had explosive power, but he wasn't a good fighter. Only luck had protected him yesterday from the Parasect. If Uxie wanted a fight, he and Caleb had no chance.

The morning breeze blew the scent of salt and fish into the hut. Alex found Caleb standing on the low roof of the inn, staring at the sun rising over the sea. It stretched out forever, past the docks where boats, barges, and Pokémon of all types worked and pushed past each other.

"I always wondered what the sea was like. All the time I've been surrounded by mountains. It feels so weird to look out at the horizon, and see absolutely nothing. It's got to be a lot of work to find where you're going without anything to look at. How do you think sailors do it? Do they just memorize a direction and how long to travel?"

"I don't know, Caleb. I don't know how you could find anything without a map," Alex said.

"Well, they have to have some way, otherwise every voyage you'd get lost. But I think I see some of the boats getting ready to leave. We should get down there, quick!" Caleb said, jumping off the roof.

The bustle they had seen from the roof couldn't prepare them for being in it. Pokémon pushed past each other, carrying sacks and baskets of food, equipment, and more on and off boats of every size and shape. Captains shouted orders from boats in a cacophonous noise that made Alex wonder how anyone knew who was yelling at whom.

"Last call for Lively Town! Air Continent, Lively Town!" a Blastoise bellowed from the water in front of a barge.

"Tree of Life boarding now! Get evolved today, 500 Poké!" a Slowking called from the helm of a sailing ship.

Nowhere did they see a ship without a crew and passengers. Trying to talk to one of the dock workers only led to them being pushed out of the way. Eventually they found a bulletin board of sorts, filled with advertisements for cruises, travel to other islands, and even Wailord-watching tours. Nothing advertised a route to the islands around the Sand Continent. Two advertisements listed privateers to any location, but at exorbitant prices. Alex read the board over again, hoping to find anything that could take them to the island that his memory said was just barely beyond the horizon. A tiny scrap of paper, barely hanging on one corner, caught his eye. "Have boat, will travel. See Sableye at the northernmost dock. No romantic dates, sightseeing cruises, or parties," it read.

Alex pointed it out. "I think I found something."

"Sableye? That's a weird Pokémon for the ocean. Can they even swim?"

"I don't know, but it's the only one that's not a set destination and isn't out of our budget.. We can at least check." Alex said.

So they braved the crowded docks again, looking for the small purple Pokémon. Up and down the docks they looked, until the only boat they hadn't seen a captain at was a derelict barge with a hut in the center.

"Do you think this is it?"

"I hope so, we've looked everywhere else. Maybe the ad was old and he's somewhere else now." Caleb said. "Um, Sableye? Are you here?" he called.

"Depends on who's asking. I'm not going on another nonsensical adventure with a psychotic Eevee" a voice answered from the hut.

"Um, is this guy sane?" Alex whispered to Caleb.

"I'm more sane than you are, yet another human-turned Pokémon on a quest to save the world. Seriously, why don't the legends ever fix their own damn problems?"

"You know who I am?!" Alex exclaimed.

"I know a lot that I shouldn't, but I know it all the same. You want to go to Uxie's little cult, right? Hop on, I'll get Magikarp hooked up." the voice said without opening the door.

Alex levitated himself over the rocking gap of ocean between the dock and barge while Caleb jumped and landed on all fours.

"Be gentle! This isn't the sturdiest boat on the dock, if you hadn't noticed, and I'm not here long enough to get it fixed. Now hand me 600 Poké so I know you're serious about this little trip. Magikarp's on her way to tow this bilge-bucket."

Alex and Caleb jumped. Right behind them stood Sableye, gem-eyes glittering in the sun, a smile showing razor-sharp teeth as he spoke. A ragged cape flapped behind him in the breeze.

"Pansies. I'm not going to kill you. I won't even hurt you, so long as you follow the rules. First: This is my ship. Any damage you cause will require repayment. Luckily for you, I'm fair. If a feral takes a bite of the boat, that's on them, not you. But I always settle my debts. Second: Uxie and her cronies know far too much of some things. I'm not coming with you on the island. You have to figure out the test on your own. I'll wait for three days, and if you don't come back, I'll assume you're dead in body or mind. You won't be the first or last to die trying to meet a god, even one as minor as the spirit of knowledge and memory. She'll remember you, at least, even if you don't remember her afterward."

Something under the water bumped the boat, making Alex and Caleb stumble. Alex used more power to levitate himself while Caleb windmilled his arms. A giant head emerged from the water, revealing a monstrous Gyarados with straps around her fins and in her mouth.

"Gallows, I'm ready to leave this terrifying place. The Blastoise keeps staring at me like he wants to eat me!" she said.

Gallow dismissively waved a hand. "Yeah, yeah. Just go north for a bit. Let me feel the winds so I know where you need to turn. You know the drill, even if this isn't our normal boat." he said.

"Of course," she said before sinking under the water. The boat started moving with a quick tug, making Alex and Caleb stubble again.

"You're almost cute when you're out of your depth like this. To some, anyway. I've had my fill of mentoring newbie heroes. They always take up so much time and attention I could spend elsewhere, doing things I want to do." Gallows said. "Scars like yours, I wish you had the spine to back it up. I haven't seen a good warlord in ages, and you certainly look the part."

"Who are you? How do you know so much?" Alex asked, completely unnerved.

"I'm Gallows the Sableye, at your service," he said with a bow. "And that's all the answer you'll get from me. And no, I don't know who you are beyond your names and what you're here for. I know you need a ride, and that's it."

The boat, more of a raft, bobbed up and down with the waves crashing over the sides The Gyarados pulled swiftly, and the shore shrank behind them. In front, the ocean stretched to the horizon, fading imperceptibly into the sky.

"Little further north, that should get us away from those reefs," Gallows mumbled to himself as he pulled on some of the straps leading to the Gyarados. The boat turned and sped up, the wake from the Gyarados' powerful strokes billowing out behind them.

Gallows ignored Alex and Caleb as he adjusted ropes and the tiller. He muttered nonsensically to himself, his teeth chattering unnervingly as he spoke.

"So how long have you been a captain?" Caleb tried to make conversation.

"Captain? Hmm, a few seasons. Been on a boat longer than that, but this is simply a diversion when I tire of my other goals. If you ever meet a Zorua who looks like she wants to jump off the nearest cliff, send her to me. We have unfinished business."

"Um, okay," Caleb said. He tried another topic. "You said there were other Pokémon on the island we're going to? Who are they?"

"Just a little group of Pokémon the guardian tolerates. They might as well just be escapees from the dungeon there, as single-minded as they are. Piss them off and they'll smash your mind to pieces before you get to their boss. Can't touch me, though. Dark-type has its advantages." Gallow tapped his head and cackled.

Gallows looked around at the sky and waves. "We're on target, should be there in a few hours. I'm getting out of this blasted sun. Don't bother me unless we're going to die." He went into the tiny cabin in the center of the boat and pulled the door shut, sealing him into the shadows.

Alex looked behind them, but the Sand Continent had faded into the thin mist hovering over the ocean. No island was visible in front of them. A few Wingull and Pellipler soared above them, keeping a wide berth around the rickety ship.

Alex talked to fill the silence. "You were right. How does anyone navigate out here? You can't use a map to find your location, unless you're close to land. I don't like not being able to see it."

"Yeah. I don't know if I can swim, I don't want to find out now." Caleb huddled away from the edge without touching the shack Gallows hid in.

" I didn't realize how alone we would feel out on the ocean. We're cut off from everything, and have to hope our boat takes us where we need to go."

"Are you sure Gallows knows where we're going?" Alex asked.

"I don't think we had much choice. Nobody else was willing to go to the island. But yeah, we need to watch our backs. It's not as friendly here as the Rainbow Mesa," Caleb replied. He changed the subject. "What do you think Uxie is like? They talked to you, once. Do you think they're friendly, or will we have to battle them?"

"Maybe?" Alex said uncertainty. "They did invite us- or at least me there. But if there's worshippers on the island, we might have to prove ourselves. We've got the scarves to give us a boost, at least."

With nothing else to do, Alex and Caleb watched the waves pass under the boat. The wind and sea spray blew past their faces, keeping the sun from becoming oppressively hot. Eventually Caleb saw a smudge on the horizon and pointed it out. Alex squinted against the blinding sun reflecting off the waves.

"Alex, is that it?" Caleb asked.

The island did look how he remembered it from a distance, with a slight bulge on one side where the temple stood.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's it," he said.

The door to the cabin slammed open, making Alex jump and nearly fall off the boat. Gallows chuckled darkly.

"Good, this is close enough. Don't tell anyone on the island about me, I will know. I don't need weird Pokémon poking around where they don't belong. Magikarp will bring you the rest of the way." Gallows began untying ropes that connected the boat from the Pokémon towing it.

"Why did you call her Magikarp? She's clearly a Gyarados," Caleb said.

"Because she's delusional and thinks she's still a Magikarp, no matter how many islands she blows up while raging. I've given up trying to convince her. You should too." Gallows replied. "Come on up! You're gonna ferry these two to the island, and then come back afterward."

Magikarp emerged from the ocean, the reins trailing from her mouth. "Are you sure? I don't think I can carry these two. They look pretty heavy. And I think I saw Caravana in the water. What if they eat me?"

"Then you'd better swim fast so it can't catch up. Be quick!" Gallows said. He tossed a rope to Alex and Caleb. The clambered onto Magikarp's back and held onto the halter around her head.

"Oh, just stand on the beach when you're ready to leave. I'll send Magikarp out when you do. Or I'll just leave if you haven't come back after three days. Maybe you'll find it better there than in the real world."

Magikarp whined around her halter. "Are you two ready? I'm really slow, so don't get your hopes up." After Alex and Caleb nodded, she shot out like lightning, unburdened by the boat. It was soon lost behind swells of the sea as Gallows waved menacingly at them.

Alex and Caleb could barely hang on as Magikarp sped across the sea. The smudge grew into an island of dark gray rock with a stony beach. Magikarp stopped a few feet away from the shore, lowering her head to the ground.

Alex and Caleb slid off Magikarp's smooth scales and winced as their feet were stabbed by the gravel shoreline. Sputtering, they waded the last few meters onto the beach.

"That Pokémon looks scary. I hope it doesn't eat youuu!" Magikarp screamed as she swam away.

Alex and Caleb looked up. A Sigilyph stored unyieldingly down at them, pink Psychic energy glowing at its wingtips.

"Who are you to trespass on the domain of Uxie, the Memory-bearer? State your business, or lose all memories you have!"

Gallows the Sableye and Magikarp the Gyarados are borrowed with permission from ShadowVulpi's Shiver Me Timbers.