My head is pounding. I feel tiny hands smacking my face as a voice weakly cries out, "Sperpy…wake up…wake UP! Please?" I open my eyes to see Elliot sitting by my head, tears streaking his face.

I slowly push myself up, "don't worry Elliot…I'm ok…it's ok…" I regard our surroundings. Dark, windowless room, bars across one wall, rough looking pokemon in the room opposite, leering at us.

No…no, no! We can't honestly be in jail, can we? I can't be lost in this world, sitting in prison …again!

If the others find out, I'll never live it down.

I might not live it down here, judging by the laughter from across the hallway. "Hey, check it, they're awake!" A vigoroth says to his buddy, a machamp. "Heh, get your sleep, beautiful?" Machamp laughs. I'm almost longing for the cell back in the Center; at least we had some privacy there.

I ignore them, "Elliot, are you ok? Hurt anywhere?" "Nuh-uh, but that Kirlia! He was a big meanie!" He says, standing as tall as he can. "Elliot, you can't just go attacking other kids." I try to give my most authoritative look, "now, why did you bite him?"

I glance up for a moment to see we still have an audience. I throw a glare their way and they look away.

Elliot starts sniffling. "He…he said humans aren't real…" he looks up at me, eyes wide, "I said mommy and mama and me are all human people, but…but he called me a liar! And I'm NOT!" He says, stamping his foot. "Yeah kid, don't take no nonsense from nobody!" Vigoroth calls. "Do you mind!?" I snap. "Not at all, been bored out of my mind with this bozo," he gestures to his friend. "Been here for days. Strapped for entertainment 'round here, ya know?"

I sigh with exacerbation and return to Elliot "look, I know it's scary being here, without mommy and mama…I'm scared too," more laughter comes from the other cell, "but we need to be brave, ok? And we can't be mean to other kids just because they don't…understand the truth." He pouts while I continue, "and if our feelings get hurt…we need to use our words, ok?" He sniffles again, "…ok…sorry," he says hugging my tail.

"Aww, ain't that sweet," Machamp calls out. Evidently they're part of this whether I like it or not. I look around the cell, and for the first time notice there's no sign of Noivern. There's no way that cowardly, overgrown noibat just left us here…is there? This is his fault in the first place! Come to think of it, it was his fault I went to prison last time too! If he didn't get us roped in to that party…

Although, I guess if I didn't attack Gardevoir to protect Elliot, I wouldn't have been arrested. It just all happened so fast…there was no time to think!

"Elliot, do you know where Noivern is?" He shakes his head, his eyes look heavy—I suppose all this excitement has left him exhausted.

I'm loathe to engage them, but it seems I have little choice. "Excuse me? Have you seen a noivern around here since we arrived?" I call out. "A noivern, huh? Watcha got to offer in return for sweet intel like that?" Vigoroth grins. "I could offer not to guide my Frenzy Plant directly into your cell, just tell me!" "Oh ho ho, just yanking your chain, no need to get so uppity!" He laughs. "Yeah, your buddy was here, gave a statement when they dumped you and your kid in there. You seriously attacked THE Madame Gardevoir? Crazy, man." He says, shaking his head. "Did he say where he was going?" "They just told him to wait in the station for you 'til they could arrange transport somewhere. Didn't catch where."

So he's still in the station…I begrudgingly find myself relieved. At least we've not been split up any further, at least for now. "You're welcome!" Vigoroth calls, interrupting my thoughts. "Oh, yes. Thank you."

I look down at Elliot, who's fully asleep now, using my tail as a pillow. I curl around him and turn over the events of the day in my mind. I just can't believe I'm in prison again—this time for something I actually have done. How humiliating.

Last time I was in this situation, I shared a cell with Gwen and Skitty. We spent days in there while they decided what to do with us. We only escaped because Noivern—Noibat then—broke us out. This time though? I think we're going to have to wait like everyone else.

But why did they arrest Elliot? He's just a child! So he bit another kid…back in our world, kids bite each other all the time! They get in trouble, sure, but they don't get arrested.

"Hey, excuse me?" I call out again. This time Machamp saunters over, grinning. "Hey there sunshine, how can I help you?" "Do you uh…know anything about that Gallade and Gardevoir?" "What, the same Gardevoir you attacked?" He snickers. "Look, we were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Basically he," I point at the sleeping Elliot, "got riled up at a party and used Bite on their son. I'm just trying to figure out why a child got arrested for using a move."

He scoffs, "not from around here, huh? That family is only like, the most important one in the continent. Buncha big shots and junk. Attacking their kid? They'll get anyone locked up for that." "But he's just a child." I emphasize, gesturing to Elliot again. "And? You think that hoity toity Gallade's gonna care? Not likely."

Well that's just delightful. Been here for all of one day and already made a powerful enemy. How are we supposed to find the Center now? Or the others, if they're even here? How do we get home?

As one thought starts running into the next, I hear the prison door open. An emboar ambles, regarding us as though we're the filth under his feet. "Awake, huh? Ya lightweight, one move hits and out like a light." He says gruffly. My acquaintances laugh from their cell. "Shut it!" He bellows at them, and they quickly oblige. Wow, I didn't know they could be so well behaved.

He turns back to me. "Grab your kid, we're going," he says while fiddling with the lock. "Where, exactly?" "You think you get to ask questions, punk?" Is all he says in response before opening the door and practically dragging me out as I collect Elliot.

"See ya 'round buddy!" Vigoroth calls as we're guided out of the prison. Elliot's waking in my arms, and waves sleepily at our acquaintances before the door shuts behind us.

Outside it's already dark; there's a wagon suited up with a mudsdale, a large cage inside, and sitting next to it…

"Noivy!" Elliot suddenly springs to life. Emboar shoves me in response, "keep your brat under control!" I'm getting pretty tired of being pushed around; what I'd really like to do is unleash a few moves of my own, although, based on how that's gone so far, it might do more harm than good. Noivern waves at us awkwardly.

"How are you guys?" He says as Emboar starts forcing us into the cage. "Bad," I reply flatly. I knows he's technically "family," but I'm still livid. Once we're properly locked up, Emboar puts the key in a bag around Mudsdale's neck and tells him to set off.

As we start leaving the town, Noivern breaks the silence, "well, I have some news that might cheer you up," he offers. "I sincerely doubt it," I snort. "Try me," he grins. I sigh, "alright, fine. What information could you possibly have that would make this situation seem any less bleak?" "We're going to you and Elliot's trial…which is to be held at none other than…" he actually pauses for dramatic effect, "the world-famous Exploration Center!"

I feel many emotions at once, none of them explicitly 'happy,' but…one way or another, it seems we're getting to where we need to go. It's progress at least.

I just hope that Skitty won't be there to see the situation I'm in, I don't think I can take it on top of everything else. Not from her.