- Chapter 6: The Central King's Chosen -
"Where are you…?"
"You promised…you promised…"
"You promised you wouldn't leave me…"
… … …
"UP!"
The horrible sound sliced through her mind and boomed deep in her chest. Her body jerked as an ugly gasp and scream escaped her. The second she saw she was several feet in the air, she had already hit the ground.
Her heart pulsed through her ears. Her head felt strained.
(What the heck was that?! Scared the life out of me!)
"Stand up. You've wasted more than enough time."
That horrible voice. Krista felt its deep volume reverberating through her chest. It shook away whatever drowsiness she had left.
She climbed to her feet and rubbed the side of her head. The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes were a pair of massive orange paws. She was wide awake then, scrambling backwards for distance. The paws belonged to the giant from yesterday. She had to tilt her head back just to look at his stoic face. Howler sat perfectly still, just as focused as he was the day before.
Krista could only wonder how long he was sitting there before he decided to make such a terrible sound.
(Was that really him…? I didn't think he could shout like that…or was that a bark? They allow this?)
"The Headmaster told me to wake you at dawn. I arrived an hour prior, keeping watch of you after Dusk left his shift."
With every single word that came out his mouth, it was as if there was a second, deeper voice behind it, merged with the most subtle of growls. She hated how strong it was.
It almost distracted her from what he said.
(He was sitting there perfectly still for a whole hour?! Just how much patience does he even have?! And who is Dusk? What is with these weird names?)
(Wait…he was watching me SLEEP?)
"Come. I will escort you to Grove. We need to finish the registration."
Krista at least recognized the name "Grove", but it didn't lead her any closer to who Grove could be.
(It would be much easier if he just said what Pokémon they are. I guess I'll just have to find out.)
But someone was missing. Krista checked her surroundings.
"Where's—"
"Your Spiny-nut friend already made his way to the square. He requested me to allow you to sleep for an half hour, a request I had intentions to decline until he explained your unfortunate day. So, this was your one-time exception. In other words, sleeping in won't happen again."
Krista flinched at the volume of his emphasis. Howler turned around and walked out of the room, making sure Krista was still behind him.
… … …
"You're serious?! We are walking the entire way down?!"
They had just left the hall when Howler announced they would be crossing the bridge to reach the stairs. Her dismay seemed to annoy the massive Arcanine, who glanced her way with hardened eyes.
"Can't we just teleport down there? Like the Headmaster did for us?" Krista asked. She absolutely hated the side-effects, but she would take a few seconds of disorientation over her legs wanting to give up on her.
"Hnn… We will walk," Howler was on the move, his footsteps almost booming.
He couldn't be serious.
"But I'm already a little late, aren't I?" Krista tried to give her reasons. The gap between them shrunk as she jogged to keep up. "You said we need to finish the registration, so it will be much faster if we just teleport there instead of taking the long way around!"
Howler kept going. They were traveling down the hall. A few sleepy Pokémon were already making their rounds. They dipped their heads towards the giant as they passed him. By some miracle, Howler never stepped on a single tiny body that scattered past him.
"This is just the one time! Maybe if we get our own badges, then we don't have to—"
"No."
Krista shrieked and backed away. Nearby Pokémon froze and stared at Howler with startled faces.
"Under no circumstances should the magic within those badges be abused," Howler turned his body to face her. His lips curled back as he continued. "For one, you will spoil yourself like a fool. You will rely on its power too much. You will become dependent on it at the wrong place. Secondly, Zee is the one who answers the call within these walls. The teleportation only functions here because of his extended power. As powerful as he may seem, he is not with limitless energy. He will tire out, and a Pokémon who requires his power will be left stranded because of the selfish actions of a greedy, lazy Scratch-cat who likes to hoard everything for herself."
Krista shrunk closer to the ground. His muzzle was too close to her face.
Thankfully, he stood and resumed his walk. Nearby Pokémon steered clear, wary of his presence.
"Defy your reckless impulses. Consideration and awareness is a must. If you cannot do that, then I am afraid this place is not suitable for you." Howler stopped as he looked over his shoulder. "I already feel no desire towards your presence here. You were not the original client. If it were up to me, you would have never stepped foot in these walls."
Krista didn't know what to say.
"Your first mission is to prove me wrong," Howler said. "Until then, I will not respect you. And from the way you've presented yourself so far, I don't see that happening anytime soon."
One he was a fair distance away, she was back to her feet. Her face burned from embarrassment. There were too many eyes on her.
Her body wouldn't stop shaking.
Krista realized he wasn't slowing down. She jogged after him to catch up. Once she felt she was close enough, she kept her eyes on the ground, no longer complaining.
She decided that traveling in silence was the best option.
… … …
She hated it. She absolutely hated it.
By the time they reached the bridge, Krista was half-expecting to freeze up, knowing it was tens of feet in the air. The gloss-painted bridge was so wide, there was absolutely no way she would see the ground unless she went out her way to look for it. Crowds of Pokémon were crossing the wooden surface at the same time. Each and every single one dipped their head as they walked past them. It never seemed to end.
But that was not what she hated.
She felt their eyes looking at her. They didn't stare too long, but she knew they were watching her. It wasn't out of hostility. She knew the reason for it.
(They all heard it.) Krista kept her head low as she followed Howler close behind. (Did his voice carry that far? They heard the entire lecture! They probably think I'm a selfish person or something!)
Slowking said the Arcanine never liked newcomers. But somehow, his attitude towards her felt personal. She didn't understand why. She didn't do anything to have offended him, did she?
Her thoughts continued to trouble her as she followed Howler around a corner that led to a spiraling staircase. It was enclosed within a twisting wall. She followed him down, but her legs felt awkward with every step she took. She had to keep one paw pressed against the wall just to keep herself from falling forward.
Once they reached the end of the flight, it didn't take long to reach the other bridge. After it was crossed, Krista's legs started to burn. By time they found the second set of stairs, Howler had to make several stops just so he wouldn't lose her. She knew that she annoyed him.
Finally, they made it to the bottom, and Krista was completely out of breath. She tried to keep up, but her body kept betraying her. When she almost hit the ground, she heard him gruff.
"A quad is not meant to walk on twos," he said. "You hurt yourself, and for what reason? Your body is not built for this foolishness."
Maybe he was right, but it had to be another jab at the same time. Still, she refused to give him any form of satisfaction, especially after he lectured her for all to hear.
She stood, and she walked again, trying her best to ignore his judgmental eyes. He thankfully said nothing else.
They entered the market area at last. The traffic was a lot quieter compared to when they arrived the day before. In fact, Krista could actually take in the sights. She didn't realize that the stands were arranged so that the floor looked like a street of some kind. It couldn't have been intentional, but it was still an impressive sight.
A short walk brought them to the decorative horns that were the landmark of the registration office. Although it was early in the morning, there was still a line in front of the large structure. It wasn't too surprising that the Pokémon in the line allowed the Arcanine to walk by. Once he stood in front of the frame of the stand, he barked.
"Grove."
His strong voice spooked a few behind him. He had dragged out the "r" in the name with such a guttural sound.
"Oh! Howler! Just one moment, please!" A voice that sounded like a senior lady responded. It held a soft rattle behind every syllable. "I just need to set these documents down. I'll be with you!"
Howler stood there and waited. Krista found herself starting to tense. She didn't know why, the voice sounded sweet.
Distant clacking increased in volume every few steps. Krista could see it at last: A Gogoat was moving in a hurry inside of what appeared to be a…library? An office? There were stacks of books piled against the wall behind her. Stone shelves were filled to the brim with paper. She carried a pair of books that were tucked underneath vines. Worn around her neck was a green and white striped scarf, but it was stuffed with countless papers. Krista was starting to see a pattern.
The Gogoat moved her vines with quick precision, pushing books into shelves and lifting the papers that were tucked away. She set them on the countertop in neat stacks. With one vine holding a sheet down, the other picked up an inked brush and made quick but strange strokes on the surface.
Behind her, deep within the office, an Ambipom and Simisear scattered, carrying stacks of books and papers as they tried to serve Pokémon waiting at the side windows.
The Gogoat glanced towards Howler for only a split second before she crossed the room, grabbing another book. "I am terribly, terribly sorry, Howler. Something important just came up, and I can't very well ignore it. Are you here for the registration? Just give me a moment—a moment if you will."
"Of course." Howler nodded.
Bleating. Krista was sure that was what she heard from the Gogoat. She tried to determine if her mind automatically translated the words, or if they truly spoke a human language. It was impossible to tell.
The Gogoat waved the paper on the air the moment she stopped writing. She tilted it around, checking to see if it dried before folding it small within a heartbeat. She slipped it inside an envelope, and extended her vine towards the window to her right.
As if on cue, a Pelipper landed at the other side and took the envelope with its bill. It was placed inside its bag with many other letters, and it took off into flight.
"Is Dusk not accompanying you?" Howler asked, after Grove knocked over a stack of books in her hurry.
"Oh, oh." Grove rebuilt the structure. "He has his paws full, I am afraid. There's been a strange sighting by the Eastern Plains. Ever since we had that strange storm, the rain there has been relentless. Dusk decided to investigate, because he sensed that the anomaly was too strong to ignore. You know how he gets. I couldn't stop him."
"Another one?" Howler asked. "Has the Headmaster been informed?"
"No. Not yet. We won't know until Dusk returns," Grove said. "And the only reason I've decided not to send Boomer after him, is because I believe his hunch could be right this time. Aluminum came by and dropped off some paperwork earlier this morning."
Howler's face changed. He looked dumbfounded. "Do my ears deceive me?"
Krista didn't know how to take that. Was that a good or bad thing?
"She came and went in a second," Grove explained. "I didn't get to catch a conversation with her. She seemed busier than normal. I guess she had no time to see the Headmaster. She looked far too worried to do as much as ask about him."
Krista heard whispers. The listening crowd couldn't believe their ears.
"Aluminum? THE Aluminum of the great four?!"
"She actually came through here? How did we miss her?"
"A member of Team Retaliate! How bad is it out there? What happened to The Eastern Plains?!"
"She never comes to this continent alone," Howler said. "The rest of them are likely nearby. How recent was her visit?"
"Not long after dawn." The Gogoat slid another book on the shelf. "Dusk was speaking to her, and I believe that was why he took off so suddenly."
Howler stood strong. "Hnn, he will hurt himself! There is nothing for him out there!"
"Then by all means, Howler, you can go after him! I can't!" Grove shouted at him. "Now, unless you have some paperwork to turn in, please stop talking to me. Actually—don't stop talking to me, just now isn't a good time! I am already behind schedule! And where is the Meowth I was supposed to meet with?!"
Krista took that as her cue to hurry to the desk. She heard a few groans behind her, but she knew it wasn't directed towards her. At least, she hoped not.
"Here she stands," Howler said. "I shall be on my way."
He left.
"Hello, Meowth. Just a little longer if you will," Grove rambled, without eye contact. Oblivious to Krista's discomfort, her vines put together a stack of papers. They were swiftly held together by a flexible strand of fiber. She carried the stack beyond her stand, and it was dropped into the paws of a waiting Flaaffy.
"Thank you, Ms. Grove!" The Flaaffy skipped off.
The vines continued to move with such impressive speed. A Beartic from the back of the line was given a folder. Another vine dropped a couple books in a Clefable's hands. A document was handed over to a waiting Electabuzz.
Pokémon were leaving the line faster than Krista thought was possible. The Aimbipom and Simisear were limber as they moved across the room in seconds. Grove's vines flew back and forth, always carrying something new each time it returned, until finally, it stopped.
The line was clear.
The vines fell limp on the countertop surface. Grove sighed and took a handful of seconds to rest as she called back her vines halfway. One of them beckoned Krista forward.
Krista took her first steps forward, and a blur almost knocked her to the ground.
A Wooloo had rolled ahead of her. With its front hooves pressed against the stand's wall, it balanced an envelope between its mouth.
"Ah. Just in time, Wooloo. I'll have this sent over right away!" Grove promised.
"Thank you." The Wooloo's voice held a strange ring of elegance. She sounded older than she looked. As she dropped back to all fours and trotted past, she casted Krista a suspicious glance.
The Gogoat's smile disappeared as soon as she looked at her. "Come. Come, child. I'm already falling behind. We have to be quick about this."
Her impatient voice was a reminder of what needed to be done. Krista hurried to the counter, opening her mouth to apologize.
A vine slapped a small packet in front of her.
"All I need is your signature to confirm that you exist," Grove said. "Don't worry about filling in your species name, or your category, or anything else. Howler took care of all of that for you."
How…strange.
(For someone who said he doesn't want me to be here, he sure did make this easier for me,) Krista thought. She was handed a brush inked black.
Just as she reached for the packet, she paused.
"Where's Pineno?" She asked. It took a second of staring at Grove's confused face that she realized the nickname wasn't recognized. "He's a Chespin. He came to this place with me."
"Oh! The little Chespin!" Grove realized. "He has already signed in, dear. He's in the commons with Vigor waiting for you, so you should hurry. Hurry because we are expecting more customers soon."
The Ambipom and Simisear were watching her with curious eyes. They looked less patient.
"Sorry." Krista turned her gaze on the packet. A vine turned a few pages, stopping right in the middle.
A wave of confusion rushed through Krista's entire being.
She thought she saw something strange, but she assumed it was because the pages were moving. Now that she could read it…no. She couldn't read it. There was nothing but ink-stroked footprints. It never crossed her mind that Pokémon would have their own writing system—of course they would!
"Meowth, please I understand this is a lot to look at. Here. Here!" Grove impatiently tapped a blank box with the tip of a vine. "Just sign here. Don't worry about reading it. I promise that you are not being deceived into a twisted contract. I'll send a copy for you to look over later once you've been officially registered. I just…"
Krista didn't move an inch. She never imagined a packet would intimidate her so much. "I…I'm sorry. I'm not trying…to be a burden to you. I just…I can't…"
Grove took one look at her face, and she sighed. "Illiterate. Great! Just what I needed!"
Krista stepped back as the vine curled around the packet and swept it from the surface. The brush, too, was practically snatched from her paw. She glanced at the two Pokémon waiting in the back. Their puzzled stares didn't help her feel any better. As she looked at Grove again, she almost wished she didn't.
"The only other way I can have you registered is if our Headmaster does so for you," Grove said, her tone irate. "But, he's not here. Very convenient for my time."
She sighed again. It sounded heated.
Krista almost ducked behind the desk. The negative energy Grove was radiating was not helping her nerves. (He's not here? I guess I shouldn't be surprised. When we first met him, he told us he never really had time to tend to everyone as he would like to.)
"Don't take it personally," Grove said. "It's not you that I'm mad at."
(I don't know. It kinda feels personal.) Krista thought.
"The Headmaster likely won't have the time to sign you in, even when he does return. But we can't very well leave you stranded. I will just have to…"
Krista was confused. Grove had stopped talking again. Her face twisted.
"What?" she said to nothing. A single vine pressed against the dark gemstone of her silver badge. The star was an evening red, just like Howler's. "Speak more carefully, Zee. I cannot comprehend what you are trying to tell me."
Another pause. Her face flooded with disbelief.
"Are you sure? Has the Headmaster approved of this? Why, I've never known if that's so!"
A telepathic call. It had to be similar to what happened when Krista arrived at the tunnel doors. Zee…Zee was the one with the glitchy voice.
"What? The Chespin already took care of it? Is that allowed? It couldn't possibly be official without her—oh, of course! That didn't cross my mind! Thank you, Zee, for telling me! I'll take care of that right away!"
Krista jumped back as Grove slapped the packet back on the counter. She met her eyes. She no longer seemed angry.
"Well, it appears your friend already signed you into the system," Grove said.
"What?" Krista blinked.
"Now, we usually don't allow such a thing, because the signature of every individual is necessary as a form of permission. But, there is another way. You can stamp your paw print into this box instead. That will be evidence that you were present here, along with my eyes."
"Oh." Krista watched a vine set a small bowl of ink in front of her. "Well, alright."
Was she supposed to dip her paw in there? It didn't look very pleasant to do, but the Gogoat was already behind. She didn't want to hold her back for much longer.
A vine pushed back her paw before she could dip as much as a claw. "What are you doing? That ink will stain for days if you soak it like that!"
The other vine picked up the brush and painted a thin layer over her paw. Krista was freed. Once she stamped her paw print on the paper, Grove snapped off one of the many leaves that sprouted from her body and placed it on Krista's paw.
"Use this, Meowth. It will come right off," Grove said.
"Um, thanks." Krista said awkwardly. She wanted to speak up, to correct Grove about her name, but there was no time. She was being shooed away.
"Hurry along now. Your friend and Vigor are waiting."
… … …
When Krista arrived in the cafeteria, she was spooked by how barren it looked. There were only a small number of Pokémon scattered around the massive space. Most were grouped together.
Locating Pineno only took a few seconds. He was sitting in the middle of the room, and there was a Machamp standing over him. They were having a discussion.
"Oh, there you are!" Pineno greeted Krista the moment she reached the table. "I was wondering what was taking so long. Sorry that I wasn't there. I kinda got pulled aside by this nice Pokémon here."
Vigor. Krista looked at the mighty Pokémon, feeling pressured by its sheer size. Two of its hands were on its hips. The other pair were crossed over its chest. It had the Retaliation badge worn where its natural belt is: A dark blue star, a color new to see.
Draped over its shoulders was a yellow and white-striped scarf. It was perhaps the biggest one Krista had seen so far, but she realized the scarf wasn't folded like the others. Horizontally, it was long enough to drape over its chest and back while the ties hung loose behind it…like some sort of poncho. There was no doubt that the Machamp was one of the Headmaster's many associates. Krista recognized it as the same one who smashed the giant blue boulders with one blow. Having witnessed its strength, she made a mental note to not accidentally offend it.
It looked down at her with a warm smile. "Oh! There you are! You must be Krista! Well, aren't you just cute!"
(What?!) The warm, feminine voice was the last thing Krista expected to hear. It held such a strong drawl, all behind a bright smile. Krista had to check again to assure she was speaking to the right Pokémon.
Vigor smiled. "Ahahahaha! You should see the look on your face, dear! Yours is probably my most favorite!"
Pineno turned to Krista as soon as she stood next to him. "Ms. Vigor here said that she's going to teach us how to use the facilities. Although we already know the basics, it looks like it's still mandatory since we will be living here for now on. But can you believe it, Krista? She's the one who renovates this place! She's really cool!"
"Oh, please, you flatter me." The Machamp waved away his words with a hint of embarrassment. "It's honest work. Someone's gotta keep the place runnin'! So, now that the both of y'all are here, we can finally get started? Don't worry. I'm not gonna explain what you already know. But I do believe Grove was supposed to help y'all open a bank account? If she sent you two here in such short notice, then somethin' must of have came up!"
Krista knew what it was. "Oh! She mentioned something about someone named Aluminum? She sounded really important, so I guess that was it?"
Disbelief flooded Vigor's and Pineno's faces.
"No way! You mean Team Retaliate's Aluminum?! She was here?!" Pineno gasped.
Vigor almost lost her words. "Oh! I guess that explains why Dusk ran off in such a hurry. I do hope he's not goin' after what I think he is."
"After what?" Pineno followed the Machamp as they made their way out of the commons.
"Let's just focus on what's important, shall we?"
As they passed several Pokémon, they all acknowledged Vigor with a bow. She smiled at them in return. What Krista got were a few curious or confused stares.
The Headmaster did warn her, but Krista found it more annoying each time. On top of it all, there was something else that bothered her. What it was, she couldn't pin down.
She came to a complete stop and looked around. The crowd kept moving. But she had the strangest feeling…
(Is someone watching me…?)
She looked ahead. Pineno and Vigor were far ahead, so she jogged after them to keep up. To keep her mind off the wariness, she brought up a question.
"Um, excuse me. Who is Aluminium? Everyone seems so flustered about her."
"I'm sorry?!" Vigor stopped. "You don't know who she is?!"
"Well, she's not from around here. It wouldn't surprise me if she didn't," Pineno said.
"Oh, but even if she wasn't, such a famous name couldn't have possibly missed her! Team Retaliate's all the way from the grass continent! And I believe that is where Krista's origins could be from. But ah—I'm gettin' sidetracked. Aluminum is an Aggron, and she's a total sweetheart! She's the tank of her Exploration Team, so it's unheard of for her to fall in battle."
"Wow! Is she really that strong?!" Pineno beamed. "I bet my da—uh I mean, I'm sure there are some Pokémon who can beat her in a battle!"
"Aside her team leader, I can't say for sure. Perhaps our Headmaster," Vigor said. "But…that ain't important. We have a tour to finish! I'm sure you both don't want your paws held for much longer!"
Krista stuck close as they returned to the market area. Grove was busy again. It was like a new line just appeared from thin air.
"Is it always busy like that?" Krista asked. She was beginning to worry about the poor Gogoat.
"Oh, the office? Oh no, not at all, dear," Vigor answered. "It's only like that today, because of all the job requests that keep floodin' in. Ever since that strange wind storm came by, a large number of Pokémon ended up missin'. All of our teams had their poor 'lil hands full lately. Usually, Grove has Dusk to help her with the files, but he decided to be a darn fool and leave without warnin'!"
Krista and Pineno exchange looks.
After that, Vigor started to explain the market into deeper detail than the Headmaster was unable to before. Krista was already aware of Gogoat Registration Office, but she had no idea Grove was also the head of intelligence for the entirety of The Central.
"She's that smart?!" Pineno exclaimed.
"Well, she certainly knows a lot, child, but not everything in the world," Vigor said. "But that's just how she is. She wrote plenty of books that we use on a daily basis. I'm not sure what we would do without her!"
With the impression dropped, the tour continued.
The Kangaskhan Storage was a whimsical warehouse that somehow never mixed up anyone's supplies. The Kecleon Market was run exactly as it was named. It seemed that they also sold items that wouldn't be found anywhere else. Beyond that was Ariados Bank. It was where they were heading, since Vigor decided to help them open their account in Grove's place.
Krista paid close attention to every detail she was given. Thanks to Pineno's curious question, she learned that next to the storage area was a small stand—the smallest one of all—that was operated by a Reuniclus. He was busy speaking with an Axew. It turned out that the small stand was something that enhanced battle techniques…whatever that meant.
There were other shops, too, such as The Gimmighoul Trove and Scovillian's Trade. The names didn't sound like any Pokémon Krista ever heard of before.
There was even a shop run by Vigor herself, cleverly called "Machamp's Vigorous Workshop". She was a craftsmon, taking in commission requests to build something for someone, or to repair whatever was broken. There was a Steelix who surfaced from a trap door behind the counter. It was the same one Krista saw the day before. Turned out her name was Titanium, and she was Vigor's construction partner.
Krista wondered how a giant Pokémon like Titanium was able to navigate the tunnels. That was when she learned there were corridors underground. The Stoneridge Complex had underground floors. But those were restricted to only Retaliation teams, and patients—as there was a place of healing further down.
Vigor clasped her hands together. "Ah! Perfect! Looks like the bank ain't too busy. Y'all get to meet Eight sooner than I expected!"
"Eight…?" Krista echoed. Her words reduced to thoughts. (A Pokémon nicknamed after a number? It sounds a lot more like a codename. What was with all the weird names Pokémon have here?)
As soon as they stood in front of the counter, Vigor slapped the surface twice. "Hey! Eight! You got clients!"
Not even a second passed, and an Ariados dropped down from the ceiling, hanging from a thread of spider web. Around its upper body was a purple and yellow-striped scarf—another associate. His badge was placed on the center, but behind his head. The star was a deep blue, just as Vigor's was.
What did all the colors mean?
"This is Eight. He runs the bank 'round here," Vigor explained. "You may think it's strange, but there ain't no better security than your money bein' guarded by a Pokémon who doesn't know what sleep is! Let me tell y'all; he's a lot stronger than he looks!"
"...Nice to…meet you…" Eight's voice was a slow and sinister hiss.
Vigor placed a hand near her mouth before she whispered. "Just be a 'lil patient with him. He ain't exactly a fast talker."
Eight tapped the counter with his two front legs. His jaws moved ever so slightly as he spoke almost as slow as one would breathe. "...New faces… Has it…been done…?"
"Yes. They've been officially registered."
Eight's eyes shifted to Krista. "...Shared or…standalone…?"
"What?" Krista tilted her head. She was perhaps focusing too hard on not losing his words.
"I think he's asking if we are sharing an account or not," Pineno said. "I was going to make my own, but I totally don't mind sharing an account with you, Krista. I know I can trust you."
(Trust…) Krista didn't understand why he was so quick to accept her. Vigor didn't seem to be worried, although it could be because she assumed they knew each other for so long already. Eight…Eight was hard to read. He didn't blink. His voice lacked any sort of tone.
"So it's decided then?" Pineno saw her nod, and he smiled. "Ok! We are sharing an account!"
"...Confirmed…." Eight tapped the surface again. "...Deposit…what you'd like…safe with…me for as long as…you like… Statement will be…sent to you…under…your nicknames…"
(Oh. This is unbearable.) Krista tried not to let it show on her face. It felt like she stood there forever just to wait for him to finish.
How did he get away with working as a teller?
Pineno, who never seemed bothered, picked up his small bag and poured out the contents from inside. Several, round, golden, and paw-sized coins clattered on the countertop in a brilliant and sparkling pile. Eight was already counting the coins, separating them into even groups.
Every time a coin was shifted, it would glitter again. They clattered in a chorus, some spinning and dancing in a magnificent circle.
Somehow, the annoyance melted.
Krista didn't understand why her heart was racing so much. It was perhaps the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. They were drawing closer, looking more stunning with every passing second. It was calling her. Her body was flooded with endless excitement. She was so…happy.
So much gold. She had never seen so much gold in one place. And it was—
"Krista!"
The world slammed into her at full force. She gasped and reached for her drumming heart. Or, at least she tried. Her arm was being restrained.
A look back, and Vigor was the one holding her arm. The gigantic hand, by some miracle, didn't crush her thin arm into a slab.
"Awah? What?!" The panic was setting in. Krista tried to pull free. "What? What did I do?"
"Ah! She's back to us!" Vigor sighed in relief.
"Huh…?" Krista realized just how far Vigor and Pineno stepped back, she was afraid to ask why. She glanced at the stand, and she almost screamed at how close the Ariados was.
No. She was the one who got close to him. Somehow, when she blinked, Krista teleported from where she stood to right in front of the countertop. Her other paw was inches away from touching it, had Vigor not stopped her. Eight had thrown his body over the money. While his face was blank, Krista noticed his abdomen was raised. The sight of the stinger was more than enough encouragement for her to step away.
"I…I'm sorry!" Krista held up her free paw. Eight raised his rear higher, and she almost tripped back. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
"It's alright, Eight. She wasn't gonna try anythin' sketchy," Vigor said. She looked down at Krista with a pitiful smile. "He doesn't take chances with any Pokémon species who are known for their antics."
"Antics?!" Krista heard herself squeak. "What are you talking about?!"
Vigor gave her a nervous smile before she turned to Eight. "I would rather have Pineno be the main account holder. At least, until she learns to rein her impulses. I can't believe that it almost slipped my mind."
"What did?" Krista asked, even more confused. "What happened?!"
"Bless your heart, child. Aren't you a Meowth?" Vigor laughed. "Although, I didn't expect you to have such a powerful reaction. Usually Meowth at your age would learn to suppress it. You really are a strange one, dear. But, it's quite alright. You are very lucky you gave in to your impulse here instead of the Kecleon Market."
She shivered.
"Well then, now that that's done, we can carry on with one more thing!"
They were led away from the market, but Krista couldn't help but cast one more glance towards the bank. Eight was watching her carefully, and she felt a wave of shame.
Was she about to try to steal Pineno's money? For what reason? Right after he said he could trust her?
She couldn't bring herself to look at him. He had to be upset with her.
"Well, your timin' couldn't possibly be any better!" Vigor suddenly said. "Had Howler saw what happened, I worry that he would have thrown a fit!*
(Howler!) Krista almost froze. The simple idea of it shook her. If he blew up at her for simply suggesting a shortcut, she didn't want to imagine how he would respond to…whatever that was.
"Don't worry. I won't tell him about it.
"Please, don't. I don't think I want to hear him yell," Pineno said.
Krista wished she was lucky. (You have no idea.)
Vigor was amused by their faces. "Ah. That does take some time to get used to. He has a voice like no one else. It's not like he does it on purpose. He can't very well help it, dear."
"I was wondering about that," Pineno said. "Why is it so powerful?"
"Oh! That's because Howler has the blood of an Alpha Pokémon!" Vigor answered.
(Alpha Pokémon?) Krista noticed the shock flooding Pineno's face.
"Alpha—no way! I thought those were just stories!" Pineno shouted.
"It's true. Those stories do have some truth to 'em. Although, some tales are a bit stretched. What is true, is that giant Pokémon did rule these lands before. Howler's existence is more than enough proof that they were real. It wasn't just their size that earned them that name. They were also powerful. Howler ain't as big or mighty as his ancestors, but he sure did inherit some of their traits."
"Wow…they are so rare, and we have one here!" Pineno almost laughed. "This place gets more and more amazing!"
Krista wasn't as thrilled about it. (Yeah but…do they all have that horrible voice…?)
Vigor slowed down. They walked pretty far from the market and made it near the end of the hall. It was more spacious, but what was built from the ground up was a strange, but massive rectangular stone structure of some kind. It had a second, smaller floor built on top of it. The third was even smaller. It was…a tower of some sort. It reached so high, almost touching the ceiling.
Krista recognized the place from yesterday.
"Wow. The dojo looks creepy up close," Pineno said. "I feel bad. This place must have once been so busy."
Vigor nodded. "Yes, it was. I guess the Headmaster told you about what happened."
"It's terrible."
"The Pokémon that ran this place was able to monitor several customers at once. But now that she's gone, we can't let anyone use it without associate supervision. Anyone who ain't a Retaliator is forbidden from usin' it."
"Why's that?" Pineno asked.
"It'a filled with mystery dungeons," Vigor said. "The dojo master was able to keep the strange distortion contained. But now we worry that if too many bodies enter at once, the dimension could expand and swallow this entire tunnel! Usage has been limited and supervised to keep anythin' from goin' wrong, but we still get a few hiccups every now and then. It ain't like we can let it go. It's simply too valuable to leave alone!"
Krista felt an intense wave of heat, and she saw the light from the corner of her eye.
"Speaking of trainin', looks like a sparrin' session."
Around the building, a Charmeleon pursued a Sneasel. The Sneasel jumped and swung its claws, but the attacks were dodged. It leapt backwards in time to avoid a powerful stream of fire that was unleashed from the Charmeleon's mouth. It wasn't holding back.
Pineno took several steps back, almost tripping over his own feet. Krista decided to step forward and pull him back. He seemed to have noticed her, and he wore a quivering smile.
Vigor shook her head with a groan. "Oh, dear. They are actually fightin'. Not again…" She stepped forward, and she cleared his throat.
The two battlers stopped their actions immediately. They were somewhat rattled that the Machamp saw them out of all Pokémon.
"The dojo field, please," Vigor said.
The Charmeleon scratched a claw behind his head. "Tried to tell her."
The Sneasel took an angry step forward, jabbing a claw at Charmeleon's direction. "Can you tell this reptile that I was only passing by?! He keeps harassing me!"
"It's Blaze get it right!" The Charmeleon, now identified as Blaze, reminded the Sneasel. "You were snooping around the market area! You were plotting to do something!"
"Don't jump to conclusions! I was walking to the market to purchase something! What kind of idiot would be dumb enough to try to steal from them anyway?! I value my existence, you know!"
"Blaze. Midnight. Stop it." Vigor frowned. "Both of y'all know better. That is that. The next time this reckless behavior is displayed, I'm gonna to place a ten-day ban on the both of you."
Not wanting to test their luck, they left without a word, going off in different directions. While the Charmeleon already joined the traveling crowd of shoppers, the Sneasel stopped walking, just for a second. Her eyes fell directly at Krista before she moved again.
Krista shook the uneasy nerves from her body. What was that about?
"Wow." Pineno was impressed. "They listened to you without a problem."
"They usually do," Vigor said. "Otherwise, they would have quite a discussion with our Headmaster."
A thick column of bright blue light shot down from the ceiling. Krista and Pineno leapt back as it spun in a powerful vortex. It disintegrated as a shockwave, and Slowking stood in its place.
"Oh! Hello, Headmaster!" Vigor blinked. "Home already?"
"Whoa!" Pineno gasped.
Krista recognized that light. Was that how they looked when they teleported to the upper floors? It looked cooler from the inside.
"Ah-hah. Everyone is here. I'm assuming everything went well?" Slowking asked.
"Only a few hiccups here n' there. Ain't nothin' major," Vigor answered.
"Wonderful! That means I can take these children off your hands then."
"Hm? Now I don't mind teachin' them a while longer. I thought you were gonna be gone all day. Unless you uh…"
"Yes. I've heard the news. Dusk has informed me that his concerns have been confirmed. Eastern Plains has a new distortion. There's not much we can do."
"A developin' mystery dungeon? So soon?" Vigor's eyes fell on the ground. "It hasn't even been three years yet! We are just beginnin' to understand the distortion that took over Poppy Town's outskirts!"
"Yes, about that…I'll have to go into depth later. The distortion has evolved. No one can enter the town safely anymore, I'm afraid. Dusk and Team Retaliate are currently investigating the conditions. Depending on the results, we could say that we will have to mark down a new mystery dungeon."
"Oh, no. Those poor folks in Poppy Town…" Vigor shook her head.
"We will discuss this in-depth later. Right now, I have something else to do," Slowking said. "You are dismissed."
Vigor dipped her head. "Have a good rest of your day, Headmaster."
Slowking smiled as she took her leave. "So, what do you think?"
"She's so cool!" Pineno answered.
"She's very nice." Krista could see many Pokémon steering clear from the Machamp's path.
"Ah-hah-hah! Sounds about right! You rarely ever see a Machamp who is so modest," Slowking said. "The Pokémon here adore her."
"I bet she's incredibly strong though! She has the scarf!" Pineno said.
"Yes. Every associate is strong in one way or another, you are right." Slowking's smile almost vanished as he tapped his chin. "But Vigor is a brawler Pokémon no matter how you look at it. And because she spends most of her days building or repairing, she rarely ever does battle. So in the event she does…it's like a flip has been switched, to say the least."
"But that's most brawler Pokémon," Pineno said. "They love battles more than anything."
"You seem to know that very well, considering your line," Slowking said. "Chespin, you said you wanted to speak in private?"
Pineno seemed to have forgotten. "Oh! Oh yeah!"
"I have a window of time. Let's head back to my room."
Krista remained behind as he and Pineno gathered to the same spot. Slowking was just reaching his badge when Pineno noticed her.
"Krista can come," he said.
(What?) Krista looked at him. He was smiling.
"Are you sure?" Slowking asked. "While we were back in the dungeon, it sounded like some very personal information you kept dancing around. You two just met recently, no? Wouldn't it be reckless?"
"Krista isn't like that. She wouldn't run around telling everyone what she heard," Pineno said. "Besides, I knew I could trust her from the start."
Krista knew he meant every word. She didn't know how to feel. Of course, she should have expected it. He was so willing to share a bank account with her.
"Ah-hah. Well, if you insist. Come along, young Meowth. We'll be in my room shortly," Slowking said.
The words made her freeze. "Um, actually…I think we should walk instead."
"Hm? But it's much faster this way, is it not?"
Pineno smiled. "That's okay, Headmaster. If she wants to walk, I don't mind! Besides, it's good exercise!"
… … …
The torches had been put out since they left. They were not needed, due to the morning sunlight becoming more visible outside, and thus, giving the Headmaster's room natural light.
Krista was never happier to sit on the hard floor. She practically laid across it, trying to keep her ragged breathing under control. Pineno sat down without a problem, eyeing her with a strange look.
"You know, child, you wouldn't burn yourself out so much if you distributed your body weight on all four legs," Slowking noted as he closed the door behind him.
(So I've been told.) Krista could almost hear Howler's lecture all over again.
"Is this some kind of special training of yours?" Pineno wondered.
(I wish I could say so…) Krista groaned against the ground instead.
Slowking wore a strange smile as he walked over to his bed. He took a seat and the smile faded. "Well then. We are here now. You don't have to worry about any eavesdroppers. Zee is assuring no one will interrupt us."
"Zee…?" Pineno almost stood. "But…you're psychic. Can't you just use telepathy if you're worried about anyone listening in secret?"
"Ah-hah-hah." Slowking was amused. "Well, it is true that I can, but I would rather not. That unfortunately grants me a migraine, so I use it sparingly. It's much less tiresome to talk. The trade-off of being granted such wisdom, I'm afraid."
He tapped his helmet.
"Does…does it hurt?" Krista asked. The question was on the back of her mind since she saw the eyes.
Slowking laughed again. "It's nothing to worry about. I know it appears to be an inconvenience to have a Shellder on my head, but he's actually quite happy to be there. He's a lot more helpful than you think. If anyone tries to perceive our conversation by other means, I would be able to tell. Only the three of us—well, perhaps four will know of this topic we are about to discuss."
Pineno relaxed.
Krista found the strength to sit up. Whatever it was that Pineno wanted to talk about, it was serious. He looked so nervous, as if he was worried something would go wrong. (It doesn't look right on him. To be this scared, I mean.)
Slowking nodded once. "You may begin whenever you're ready. Pick an easy starting point."
Pineno took a deep breath. After several tense seconds, his face changed. His tone changed. "You remember how I told you how I was being chased by Skullzer, right? And how I tried my best to get here."
"Yes. I will admit, I've never heard of a child being so familiar with Stoneridge Complex. Especially how it is hidden," Slowking said. "The only way I can see that being possible is if you have connections with any of its members. Is that what this is about?"
"Something like that. I came to you for help, Headmaster, sir." Pineno placed his paws on the ground. "You know him, right? Zypher? The Hammer Arm?"
Recognition flashed across Slowking's face. "Why, yes. I know him personally, actually. He's currently working with my brother in The Ivory region."
With the new information casually spoken, Pineno almost lost track of himself. "R-right. See, the thing is, he's my dad."
Slowking's face swarmed with pure disbelief. "I beg your pardon? He's your father? But…that's so strange. If I recall, Zypher only had four children, and I've met all of them. He never once spoke about a fifth."
Pineno sighed. "I figured you would say that."
Krista couldn't believe it herself. While she didn't know who this Zypher was, it sounded like he was a huge deal from what she learned before. (Why did his father refuse to mention him?)
Slowking was on his feet. "I…don't understand. It's unlike him to keep secrets. There must be a good reason for this. From the looks of you, you have to be a middle adolescent at best."
"Yeah," Pineno frowned. "Mama didn't really let me go far much. I never understood why, when the rest of my siblings could always leave whenever they wanted. It made me wonder if anything was wrong with me."
Krista grew worried. "If they never let you explore…how did you find this place?"
Pineno went silent then. Krista regretted asking.
After a while, he spoke again. "Whenever my dad did come home, he always made sure to teach me things. And I guess he was preparing me, now that I think about it. One day, he sent me a letter. It was just a list of instructions. I didn't understand why. It made no sense when they forbid me from walking too far from the den before. But then…then I heard the howls. Mama made me run. So I did. I ran as fast as I could."
"Did…the Houndoom say anything to you?" Slowking asked.
Pineno tensed. Slowking was patient, never rushing him to speak. Krista sat silent, unsure of how to sort all the information she was trusted enough to be told.
"He said that I was going to destroy the world by just existing. But I know that's not true! I know that I'm not Corrupted! If I was, then you would have known, right? You wouldn't have allowed me inside, because it would be too dangerous! So…what's the reason? Am I really…?"
"I do remember hearing about this," Slowking said. "The sky went wild over a decade ago. And your mother vanished that very same night. When she returned…she was not herself, as if she had seen a ghost. It was likely that she got caught up in one of the many distortion riffs, inflicted with The Corrupted as a result. But the early signs are subtle. We didn't catch on to her change in behavior until a year later. And by then, I could assume that you were a mere hatchling."
"So…it's true. Mama was Corrupted. Does…does that mean—"
"If you truly were Corrupted, something would have gone terribly wrong with you by now," Slowking explained. "While we don't know all the signs, it always led to the same thing. At some point of time, the victim becomes feral, as if they lost all critical thinking. They act far more feral than the creatures that actually are feral. And they are always…filled with such endless fury. Perhaps they are in pain. Maybe they are confused. We don't know what it is, but we do know that they are far more dangerous than any creature you'll encounter in any mystery dungeon. It's a terrible thing to witness. The process could be instantaneous, or it could occur within the spawn of a few years. In the meantime, they begin to lose their memories in pieces, until it spirals out of control."
"Mama wasn't like that," Pineno almost whispered. "Mama…she never spoke. But she cared about me. She never forgot me."
"Sometimes the Corruption likes to break its own rules. In your mother's case, it sounds like she lost the ability to communicate, which is one of the early signs of the feral state of mind. As it seems…the stage was paused. She didn't deteriorate any further, somehow. Was she given something, perhaps?"
"Gabite scales," Pineno said. "Dad always sent her Gabite scales."
"Perhaps that did the trick. It couldn't reverse it…but it was effective in stopping the spread…"
It was all new information for the Headmaster. He was deep in his thoughts.
"Looking at you, however, there doesn't appear to be anything abnormal. Had you truly been lost, you wouldn't have made it this far. I can safely say that you have not inherited whatever plagued your mother. The Corruption has never shown signs of being contagious. You're also living evidence that it can't be inherited, either."
It was as if Pineno could breathe again. He was on the ground, burying his face into his arms.
"I'm sorry that you felt so unworthy, Chespin," Slowking said. "You did the right thing by telling me this. I understand why Skullzer was after you. You refuse to return home to protect your family, is that it?"
Pineno nodded.
"I won't let word of this extend beyond myself," Slowking said. "Despite the fact that you are in the clear, I worry that paranoia would make you a potential target. I see why you were hidden now. It's best that you do not speak of your heritage to anyone without consulting me first."
Krista couldn't believe everything she heard. Pineno wasn't just the son of a royal guard, but he was also born after his mother was Corrupted?
She remembered how he declared that she wasn't Corrupted herself. He looked so determined, like he refused to accept that as the truth. He understood. He made sure to assure her that there was nothing wrong.
"Ah-hah! How about this?" Slowking faced him with a smile. "How do you feel about training as a Retaliator?"
Pineno stood. "What? Really?!"
"You will need to learn how to protect yourself against The Sorcerers, because it's likely that they are still after you. You have the drive a Retaliator needs to prevail. There are others like you who are too scared to fend for themselves. Others who have been falsely accused of being Corrupted and are unable to have a voice of their own.
"However, this is merely an offer. I would never force a position in your hands that you never asked for. If you wish to use this place as your shelter, I understand. There are other Pokémon who live here outside the Retaliator ranks. You will find comfort among them, knowing you aren't alone. Your friend too, can join you. We have plenty of places here to suit your needs. You will just need to do a few chores to keep the place tidy. And, if you ever change your mind, you are free to—"
"I'll do it!" Pineno shouted. "I want to fight against the The Corruption! I want to stop The Sorcerers from hurting everyone!"
He paused. He looked back at Krista.
"But…I also don't want to leave Krista behind. I made a promise to her that I am going to keep. If she's not ready to join the ranks, then I'll wait until she is!"
Slowking smiled. "Hm. Such consideration. You don't see that often."
Pineno turned to face her. "So what do you think, Krista? I know this seems out of the blue. If you aren't ready, I'm okay with waiting! If you don't want to do it, that's fine too! I'll find other ways to get stronger and help Pokémon, because that's what I want to do!"
Krista was amazed by his ambitions. Despite everything he went through, he always put others before himself. (All of this just happened. How could he keep smiling after all of this?)
If he trusted her enough to stay and listen, and if he wanted to help her solve her mystery, Krista wanted to return the favor. So she stood, and she nodded.
"I'll do it."
"R-really…?!" Pineno was almost starry eyed. "Are you sure?!"
"It could help me somehow," Krista answered. "I don't think sitting around will do me any favors anyway."
"Oh, Krista! Thank you!" He attacked her with a hug, pushing the air out of her. "You have no idea how much this means to me! Now I really get to help you! And I get to help everyone else! I get to help my mom! Oh, this is…this is just so great!"
Krista couldn't respond. It took a moment for Pineno to realize he was squeezing the air out of her lungs. He backed away and apologized.
"Well then, it looks like I'll have to inform Grove that a little more paperwork will need to be done. In the meantime, I believe you two should brainstorm. You will need to have a team name."
"A team name?!" Pineno gasped.
"Whatever you believe suits you best," Slowking said. "And of course, there's been a slight change of plans. I will need to speak with Dusk."
"D…Dusk?"
"He will be seeing you tomorrow. You should try to sleep well tonight. Once you are registered as a Retaliator, your training will begin."
… … …
The rest of the day was filled with jittery excitement. Pineno simply couldn't stay still. He and Krista came together to try to decide on a possible team name, but everything they came up with didn't sound quite fitting. When the day was over, it was decided that they would sleep it off.
Of course, that was after Highness the Nidorina brought their dinner over. It was no different from the previous day. It made Krista wonder if the meals ever changed.
As she rested on the hard floor, staring at the ceiling, she replayed the day's events in her head. Nothing much really happened, but there was so much information swarming in her head. She knew that by the next morning, there would only be so much more to learn.
Once again, Pineno was already fast asleep. The floor was still not an ideal place for Krista, but she knew she couldn't do much about it. She would have to sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a busy day.
(Tomorrow, we are going to form a Retaliation Team. I still don't know all the details…but if it helps stop whatever is making everyone else suffer, I don't see why not. It could be related to why I lost my memories.)
She looked at her paws again. Just by stretching the digits, they still felt awkward and wrong. The pressure against her back reminded her of her tail that was in the way. She sighed and rolled over to her side. Her bigger head made everything appear slanted.
(It's been two days, and I'm still a Meowth. I guess I will just have to accept that I won't be changing back anytime soon. Adapting is taking far longer than I thought, but I guess that's what happens when your body shrinks into something completely different.)
She glanced at Pineno. He had his back to her, sound asleep with the softest snores.
(I've been thinking about it for some time now about my own secrets, but he trusted me enough to tell me something that would have gotten him hurt. It wouldn't be fair…to keep withholding this from him.)
She closed her eyes. She had to try to get some sleep.
(I'll tell him tomorrow. He has to know.)
To be Continued in Chapter 7.