- Chapter 18: The Things we Take for Granted -

Tidal knew his way around quite well. It was to be expected considering he was a resident within the complex for much longer.

They both climbed on the lift. Tidal flicked the stones with his tail, and they were pulled upwards. Krista still disliked the instability of the surface, but once again, she somehow didn't fall off the edge.

Once the lift made it to the first hall, it came to a complete stop. How it knew exactly where to go relied on how heavy the spin was. Krista already had the feeling she would wound up on the wrong floor if she ever tried herself.

Once they made it to the main square, the pair said their goodbyes and parted. Krista was on her own. As she crossed the pathway, the traffic was far more crowded than she would have liked. It was perhaps her first time being within the marketplace in the middle of the day. She couldn't take two steps without a Pokémon walking by. Some larger Pokémon, like a Nidoqueen and Torterra, almost didn't see her.

To her dismay, the line of Pokémon in front of the registration office was the longest Krista had ever seen it. Giants and tiny Pokémon alike waited patiently as Grove and Simisear worked together to give them what was needed. Vines danced and twisted as they scooped up books and papers to give to reaching hands, paws, wings, even mouths. Krista had to duck when a Toucannon fluttered out the line with a packet held in its beak.

Thankfully, the line was moving at a steady pace. She didn't have to stay in one spot longer than what felt like a minute or two. With every step closer she got to the counter, Krista felt the pressure of unease creep into her. She was finally close enough to make out Grove's expression, and she didn't look the slightest bit amused. While she couldn't make out her words, the way her ears would shift, and how quick she slapped papers on the counter was enough.

There was a gap in the line. Krista realized she had been unfocused, so she hurried forward.

"Hey! Excuse me! Has Mesprit not granted you compassion or something?"

What?

Krista looked around, but she didn't see anyone glaring at her. There was a Flygon who narrowed its eyes at her, but it was because she was holding up the line, she was sure—

"Down here, genius!" a voice squeaked.

Krista looked towards the ground, and she almost stepped back. Glaring up at her was a Flabébé that clung to a blue flower. It floated to her eye-level, and it took every bit of willpower for Krista to keep herself from moving.

"Are you trying to turn me into a Stunfisk or something?!" Flabébé's voice did not match her mood to the slightest. It was as high as a mouse could squeak. The fact Krista could make out the words was a miracle on its own.

Krista realized she was waiting on her to respond. "Oh! I—sorry! I didn't see you! It's just…you—"

"I what? Go on, say it! I know you want to say it! That I'm small? Tiny? Insignificant?"

"I-I wasn't going to say that!" Krista stammered.

"Liar! The word small was at the tip of your tongue, wasn't it? Oh yeah, sure! Let's use the excuse a hundred other Pokémon used on me to cut the line! Yeah, she'll believe it! What is she going to do when she's just a speck of dust compared to me? Well reality check, feline, I am not stupid! I know all of your little tricks! It's not going to work on me!"

Krista took a quick glance around. Several eyes were on them now, eyes that were drawn to the noise. Too many were solely on her, and she almost wanted to bury herself underground.

"Hey!" The Flabébé floated in front of her face, and Krista jumped back. "They aren't going to save you! They see your true nature now, Meowth! You're going to apologize right now and go to the back of the line!"

"Wh—what?!" Krista shouted. "But I wasn't even trying to cut in front of you!"

"Liar! Liar! That's what they all say! I am so tired of being brushed aside all because of my size! Especially by fickle Pokémon like Meowth who always like to pull pranks just to have their way with me! Well I'm not having it! Back of the line, now!"

"Wh—" Krista glanced back, and she was sure her heart almost gave out from the amount of shock that went through her body. (The size of the line tripled! I can't…I can't even see the end of it!)

"Chop-chop, feline! You're holding us up!"

Then, other voices chimed in:

"Yeah! Back of the line, Meowth!"

"Cutting gets you nowhere! You better wait like the rest of us!"

"Apologize to Flabébé right now!"

"But I…it was an accident—I didn't mean to—" The amount of angry faces and voices made the world spin. Nothing she said would change their minds.

"Back of the line!" Flabébé shouted.

Krista stepped back, then out. She glanced at the counter for help. Grove had to hear all of that, right?! Wouldn't she say something? Anything? Was she just going to—

"Hurry up!"

"I said it was an accident!" Krista shouted as she moved back further.

Flabébé floated close to her face again. "Yeah, just like I'm about to accidentally knock some sense into you if you keep testing me! Get going!"

Not wanting to test the tiny Pokémon's patience, Krista stepped out of line. Many voices continued to shout at her to pick up the pace, so she did. It was going to be a humiliating walk to the very end of the—

"OI! DON'T YOU DARE!"

The new voice made everyone jump. A few screams spiked as Pokémon scurried out the way. Something large dropped from above near the crowd. It crawled towards them, with fangs parted into a menacing grin. A familiar reflective shine danced from the lenses perched over his eyes.

"B-Boomer!" Krista almost couldn't get the name out.

"Hello, lassie." Boomer almost crackled as he scanned the crowd. A few Pokémon moved back, unnerved by his mere presence. He turned his attention to Flabébé. He had to lower his head and squint his eyes just to see the small body. "Hello, Iris. Doin' this again, are we?"

(Again?) Krista blinked.

Iris wasn't the slightest bit intimidated by Boomer's presence. In fact, she clutched her flower tighter as she narrowed her eyes. "You have no reason to be here."

Krista couldn't believe the boldness the Pokémon was showing. Wasn't Boomer an associate? She was sure being rude to them was the worst thing to do!

But Boomer didn't get angry. Instead, his grin remained fixed in place. "No…no, I don't. Didn't. Was asleep, perched up there, yeah? Then I heard a tiny, tiny, gratin' 'lil voice. Took a look, and there you are, makin' a fuss with a child out of all things. Think 'yer so funny, don't 'ya?"

"This is none of your business Boomer."

"Oh, but it is now, no?" Boomer chuckled and stepped closer. Krista felt the pressure in the air double. It was almost suffocating. "Callin' the lassie tricky when you are no better. Pixies like you like to look innocent, but I've seen everythin'! You ain't foolin' no one. Saw you weavin' and whirlin' through a hundred. Try to pin the blame on the child, hm? To the back of the line with ya."

"What?!" Iris squeaked. "You have no proof I did that!"

"Hmmm but it's not the first time you've done it. 'Sides…if you'd like…" Boomer brought a claw towards his badge. His badge…which was a deep black star. It was a color Krista had never seen before. "I can page the Headmaster. For you to threatenin' any young lad, you know how he feels 'bout that. Must have a valid reason, do ya? Maybe I could have Zee vouch for ya if you believe 'yer words are honest. How's that sound?"

Iris didn't budge. Her body tensed as she floated closer to Boomer's face, but he remained just as firm.

His grin doubled in size, displaying every fang he had in his mouth. He moved his head closer, his very breath brushing the flower petals. "Ya wouldn't lie to me, would ya lass?"

The pressure in the air felt sickening. Krista felt the chills as every strand of fur on her body stood. The space around Boomer doubled as many Pokémon moved back, pale on the face. Krista was sure…that the thickness of energy radiating from Boomer was almost strong enough to touch. It felt different compared to Dusk. She could see the air waver…or maybe her terrified mind imagined it.

Iris was clutching the stigma of her flower with such force, the pollen started to smear her hands. With a loud humph and a dramatic spin, she left the line and floated out of sight.

In an instant, the pressure vanished. Krista could breathe again.

(What…what just happened?) Krista had to take a deep breath just to settle her racing heart.

"There ya go. She gon' away."

Krista jumped. Boomer had his eyes on her now.

He chuckled at her horrified face. "That one there, she's a tricky one. Likes to pray on new recruits who don't know better. Don't mind her antics. Harmless she is. Nothin' more than a trickster! Keh-keh!"

"Uh…" Krista was sure she was supposed to thank him. He…did save her from going to the back of the line, even if he was…terrifying about it. "Thank you…?"

Boomer's grin returned. He spun around to look at the crowd. "Oi! Back in formation with ya! This ain't no performance!"

Just like that, everyone got back into line.

Boomer stepped back and rose to his feet. "Sleepy, very sleepy. First things first: Report to the Headmaster, eh? Sleep later! Sleep later! Keh-keh!"

A heavy flap of wings took him to the air, and he flew off with a laugh. Krista watched as several flying Pokémon scrambled out of his way.

"Huh…?" Krista didn't know what to think…of what his final words meant. Wasn't he…chasing Skullzer? When did he come back? When she was asleep?

Now that she thought about it…he looked awfully exhausted.

"Hey!" a Pangoro behind Krista bellowed. "If you didn't cut the line, at least keep it moving! You held us up enough!"

Krista jumped again. "Sorry! Sorry!"

… … …

The rest of the way towards the counter went smoothly. Grove was just setting a stack of papers away when she noticed her. "Ah, I see that you've made it. Iris gave you a bit of trouble, didn't she?"

Krista gawked. So she did see!

"I would have said something, but I saw Boomer perched on the ceiling," Grove explained before Krista could say anything. "He really did want to sleep after his pursuit, but he decided to drop down and help you. Well…I say help, but it's more like he saw his opportunity to humiliate Iris."

Krista wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing. "They…know each other?"

Grove nodded. "Ever since he was still a Noibat. They have always been rivals. They both competed for the spot to become an associate, and he beat her by a landslide. She never let that go since…but oh, you aren't here to hear any of that."

(Yeah but…now I kinda want to know the story.) Krista kept the thought to herself, but she couldn't hide her frown.

"Don't mind Iris there. The fact that she's an adult picking on children is baffling to me, but I suppose it is because they are easy to trick since everyone else is bigger than her. I'm sure the Headmaster will have a word with her. This isn't the first time she did this."

(She's an adult?!) Krista was sure her mouth was hung open. She fixed it once she saw Grove staring at her. It shouldn't surprise her, but an adult with a voice like that?

"How come…she never evolved?" Krista was sure the spring water was still available at the time…was it?

Grove sighed. "She refused to."

(Huh?) The answer wasn't what Krista expected, but it made sense. Grove did say many Pokémon were content with staying the way they are…but the way Grove said it implied something else. As if…

"Did The Headmaster inform you of what you are doing today?"

Grove's sudden change of subject caught Krista off-guard. She almost couldn't find a response.

"He…said he had some kind of job for me. He told me to ask you about it," Krista said.

Grove scoffed, but Krista guessed it was towards Slowking. "Usually that would mean you would be helping me with job duty, but you can't very well read."

Krista tried not to take offense to that.

Wait.

"Job duty?!" Krista shouted.

"Well, yes. You would be helping me with my office. Usually I have my main assistants helping me, but Ambipom is sick today. You don't realize how nice it is to have an extra pair of hands until they are unavailable…but oh well. I can manage. The lines will just be a little longer today. I suppose I could write you off to someone else."

Grove picked up an inked brush. She ran through a list in her head before she made her decision.

"Yes, I'll send you to Kangaskhan."

"The warehouse?" Krista almost paled. Kangaskhan worked with hundreds of Pokémon a day, putting away or giving them their belongings, many which Krista was sure were priceless. How could Grove expect her to keep up with that? What if she got the items mixed up? What if she misplaced something important, or worse, something irreplaceable?

"Oh, you poor child," Grove said. "You jump so far into conclusions. She'll have you help her with something light and easy."

Krista almost felt the relief hit her all at once. "She will?"

"For what reason would she ever burden a child when she is a mother herself?" Grove made a few quick strokes and handed Krista a slip of paper. "Here. Take this to Kangaskhan and she'll tell you what to do."

Krista took the slip that was inked with small footprints. Holding on to it, she pressed her other paw against her bandaged flank. No dungeon training. No Retaliator jobs. Just mundane tasks. She shouldn't complain.

But every time she felt the bandage, she could see the wound fresh in her mind. She wondered how Tidal was doing…after being dehydrated for so long. What sort of jobs would he do until he was fully back to his feet?

What about Pineno, who was in the worst shape? How far was he from…

"What troubles you, child?" Grove asked with gentle words.

Krista looked at her. Grove always knew what she was thinking. It was almost unnerving at times, how she could never hide her emotions from her. There…didn't seem to be any point in lying.

It was a stupid question Krista needed to ask. Skullzer already gave her the answer, but she didn't want to believe it. A foolish part of her held on to the thought that she and Pineno were not prone to…

"Can…Pokémon…get hurt to the point that they…?"

She couldn't finish her question. The events at the Mount Ember peak kept circulating in her head. Had Frost not shown up when he did…

Grove seemed to understand. She set the brush down as she gave Krista a sympathetic look. She had been doing that a lot lately.

A vine signaled her to step aside. Krista did so, and the Pangoro from before reached the counter. A quick exchange of words were given, and he was handed what looked like a book.

"…While it is true a Pokémon can tank and endure the most gruesome things…there is a limit on how much they can take," Grove said. "Your speculation is correct."

Krista felt the sinking sensation. She only snapped out of it when the Flygon reached the counter. Grove tended to its needs as she continued.

"Pokémon usually know when they have had enough. They either yield, or their bodies shut down in order to protect themselves. But in some circumstances…sometimes the battling becomes too dangerous. You sustain some real wounds. Usually the worst is a broken bone or two. And unfortunately, when you become so strong, the wild creatures you battle are met with that misfortune no matter how much you hold back."

It was clear in her mind. The boss Staravia in Pine Forest. The injuries it had…

…and the Slugma in the Fire Maze…

It was a miracle Frost didn't break anything when he knocked Pineno out cold, but the blow was still far too heavy. If that was Frost holding back to the best of his ability…what was it like when he unleashed his true strength?

"I know you worry, but your wound should fully heal by the morrow."

Krista blinked out of her fog. "Wh—tomorrow?! Just like that?!"

Grove tilted her head. Krista was expecting her to ask the typical "You've never really had much battling experience, have you?" or perhaps "How do you not know your own species?"

But instead, Grove smiled.

"Pokémon are creatures of battle," she said, taking a sheet of paper from a Minun. "It's only natural that healing comes so fast. A gift of the primal days as wild beasts, I suppose. It's a wonder how the wild ancestors survived with such a brutal lifestyle."

A third vine stretched out and settled atop Krista's head. Usually, Krista would recoil, disliking the idea of anything touching her head. This time around, Grove's touch was soft and soothing, like the gentle support of a mother.

"I know it's a lot to grasp. When I learned of the capabilities my own body held, I was astonished myself. I've endured landslides and avalanches and walked out alive. I've been bathed in flames and assaulted with poisonous gasses, and yet, here I am. Pokémon…truly are incredible creatures. You have little to worry about, child. One day you will understand your own limitations. You will find that you are capable of so much more than you previously thought."

(My own…limitations…) Krista looked at her paws.

"I know you wish to know more, but noon tends to get awfully busy. We can talk later, alright? Do be careful. Don't strain yourself. Although, I am sure Kangaskhan will assure that won't happen."

Krista nodded. She backed away from the desk and made her way towards the storage.

… … …

"Well, isn't this a surprise!"

Kangaskhan held the slip between two claws. It looked comically tiny in her grasp. Krista waited eagerly as she passed the slip to the baby in her pouch, who needed two hands to hold it.

"Well, come along, dear! There's actually something I have ready for you!" Kangaskhan pushed against the counter, revealing that it was actually in two parts. One of the halves was pushed open like a door. She stood out the way to allow Krista inside.

As Krista walked over, she felt the crushing presence of the giant Pokémon. It was merely her instincts trying to keep her grounded, she was sure of it; Kangaskhan had to be about as tall as Frost. She wore the warm smile that he lacked.

The stoney floor was replaced with a soft red rug. It was decorated with round patterns all of the same size. The top half of the circle was a darker shade while the bottom was near white. They were split by a horizontal black line. The familiar pattern made Krista hold her breath.

It was just like the Explorer badge. She had seen that pattern before. It was like an itch in her brain that wouldn't ebb away.

"I see you are admiring this old rug," Kangaskhan said. "What do you think?"

"Oh." Krista realized she had to answer. In the middle of her confusion, she stammered. "It uh…looks really interesting."

"A symbol of wisdom, they would tell you. It's been passed down my family for generations. And once this little one is all grown up, she'll have possession of it in her own little wearhouse." She patted the baby's head. "But if you think the rug is impressive, wait until you see what's beyond here. Come. Come along."

Krista followed her after she closed the countertop. They approached the very back of the stand, where the red curtains hung with the same odd pattern. They were pushed aside with a mighty arm, revealing that there was no wall, but instead a dark and slanted tunnel. It was lit by small stones, revealing a worn-down staircase. The condition was already making Krista's feet ache.

On the way down, she tried to ignore the stabbing in her pads with every step. It felt like a long walk down, but a quick look back revealed the light of the entrance steadily rising higher. They hadn't gone far yet.

As they turned a corner, cool air blew against her face and tickled her whiskers. The breeze went through her fur, sending chills that made her shiver. It wasn't nearly as cold as what she felt when Frost arrived at the heights of Mount Ember, but it was still unpleasant. A quick glance at Kangaskhan who stepped down next to her, she didn't look the tiniest bit phased. Her baby was overjoyed.

Kangaskhan pointed a single claw forward, and Krista followed the path.

Her mouth dropped.

Giant, towering shelves. They were all lined into several rows within the massive underground space. Krista almost couldn't count how many there were. There had to be hundreds of individual shelves stocked with crates. The crates were all color-coded in red, green, blue, and yellow. For what reason, she could only guess it was to separate consumables from magical objects.

"All…all of these are from Retaliation teams?!" Krista shouted. Her voice echoed through the space.

"Not just them, dear. Everyone who lives here trusts me to keep their valuables safe and secure. Of course, those who don't work for the organization directly would have to pay a fee, but it's affordable," Kangaskhan answered. "Some customers have so many things, they would need more than one shelf. I know it looks like a lot, but I do this for a living."

"Where is our stuff?" Krista asked, curious.

Kangaskhan smiled. "I figured you would ask. Come this way and I'll show you."

They walked further inside, and they passed several rows of heavy shelves. They were all created from painted wood, some carrying more than others. The crates weren't all the same shape, either. Some were square, others were rectangular. Some were terribly long… it was a mystery on how one Pokémon could possibly carry it.

Her answer came.

A pair of Magnemite buzzed past and floated over to a lone crate stored at the highest point of a shelf. They met at the opposite ends and sparkled electricity, forming a chain of lightning. With their bodies pressed against the crate's surface, they lifted it and carried it to their next destination.

Another pair of Magnetite buzzed past to tend to another shelf. A Magneton followed close behind. They worked together to lift and carry a large rectangular crate from a bottom shelf. Several more Magnemite and Magneton flew their way around the space, dropping off or picking up supplies. There were even some resting on the stones, absorbing the blue electricity.

"Lightning Pokémon absolutely love the chargestones here. They simply can't get enough of them," Kangaskhan said once she noticed Krista's awe. "I would actually like to pay them with money, but they always turn it down. It's a bit strange, but as long as they are happy, I suppose."

"So that's why our items seem to come so quickly," Krista said. "It's the Magnemite bringing them to us."

"Yes, that is right."

"But does that mean you actually don't remember where everything is? I mean…it's a lot to remember…"

Kangaskhan chuckled. "How would I know your items are over here if I didn't?"

They had stopped. Krista almost didn't realize it. She didn't know where they were. Every shelf looked almost the same. Looking back, she couldn't tell where they came from. But, there they stood, in front of the shelf Kangaskhan promised held hers and Pineno's items.

Kangaskhan rested her hand on the surface of a yellow crate before she brought it to the ground for easier viewing. She removed the top. "Looks familiar?"

Some berries and a sad number of seeds. The red crate held a laughable amount of apples. Kangaskhan brought out the blue crate, and there was a great number of escape orbs inside. They didn't reflect much light due to her shadow obscuring it.

"I mean…they look like our things, but how do you know for sure? What if some other beginning team have something similar?"

Kangaskhan pointed at the stars engraved in the crate's surface.

Twenty-four? Sixteen…?

"Oh…I see it." Krista felt somewhat foolish.

Once Kangaskhan put everything back, she placed her claws near her hips. "Now, I'm sure you are wondering why you are here. You won't be doing anything heavy, I promise. Instead, I need some extra hands in marking the perishables that need to be dried today."

"Marking?" Krista almost panicked, remembering the countless supplies she had seen stored in every direction. "You want me to mark everything?"

"Oh, no. Just the crates that the Magnemite bring to you. Each one has a paper attached to it. You will see what I mean. My daughter will help you with the process. I know it looks like a lot, but once you get the hang of it, you'll find a rhythm going."

As she got closer, the baby climbed out the pouch to greet her. That was when Krista came to the horrid realization that she was nearly the same size as the young Pokémon.

"Please, do not push yourself to work fast, sweetie. Take your time if you must. I see those bandages. I know all you will be doing is writing, but if you feel any surfacing pain, let my daughter know. We won't have a problem with letting you go, alright?"

Krista nodded.

"If you need anything, I'll be at the front desk. My daughter will lead the way."

"Are you sure this is okay?" Krista asked as Kangaskhan took her first steps of departure. "What if I mess up or…?"

Kangaskhan smiled. "She will help you. She has done this several times before. Trust her."

As she left, Krista was left feeling unsure. The young Kangaskhan nudged her with a soft smile. It couldn't be so bad…at least she hoped. The warehouse was an intimidating place. It looked too easy to get lost in. But, if Kangaskhan trusted that her child could be alone in such a vast place…it had to be secure.

They didn't have to wait long. A pair of Magnemite placed the first crate in front of them. A Magneton dropped a trio of large baskets afterwards.

Krista watched as the young Kangaskhan child opened the red top. It was filled to the brim with apples of all sizes. The fresh smell of the fruit flooded Krista's nostrils. She already had breakfast, but she craved something.

The young Kangaskhan picked up one of them. "Apple."

Then a bigger one that needed two hands to hold.

"Big apple."

Then an even bigger one. It was the size of her head!

"Huge apple."

She placed it back and presented a sheet of paper. There were no words. Only pictures. It displayed apples and seeds, with empty boxes at the bottom.

It was a chart.

"We have to count them?" Krista asked.

"We have to sort them in the baskets." The complete sentence coming from the baby was unexpected. "The bigger apples take longer to dry, so they will be taken care of first. It's important we don't get any sorted in the wrong place, or a regular apple will be impossible to eat. Bigger apples in the wrong place will still have moisture. Not good."

Perhaps the baby wasn't a baby at all. Maybe she was a young child. It was difficult to tell.

"I'll help you."

It looked easy enough. The sizes were easy to tell apart. The young Kangaskhan already picked up a pair of apples. Krista picked up the paper and turned it around.

"Where's the pen?"

The young Kangaskhan gave her a strange look.

"Uh…ink brush, I mean."

"You don't need one. You have claws."

"What…?"

… … …

Her claws were stained black.

The first set of apples were sorted and carried away, and all Krista could do was stare at her soiled claws. She hoped it would wash off, because the drying liquid felt uncomfortable. The young Kangaskhan assured her that everything would be fine.

When the second crate of supplies came, they had to sort the berries, which was a much easier process. There was a scarce number of aspear berries, which turned out to be a rare find in the region. They were also the most frail to the drying process.

By the time the next groups apples and berries came by in waves, Krista lost sense of time. She found herself wanting the day to end as the layers of ink thickened on her claws. She would spend breaks between sessions trying to peel it off. The chilly air kept her shivering whenever she wasn't moving. Her legs were beginning to ache as well, but there was nowhere to sit except the ground. And from how busy things were, sitting wasn't an option.

The process was repetitive. The ink was endless, and the smell of berries and apples lingered in her mind.

… … …

After checking another batch of supplies, the young Kangaskhan told Krista that she was done. Everything else would be handled by other volunteers.

Aside from the aches of standing for too long, it truly wasn't a difficult task. Apples and berries remained fresh in her mind as they made their way for the exit, but Krista felt somewhat accomplished. It felt nice to do something without stumbling or needing constant help. Working in the warehouse gave her a new appreciation for its service. She didn't think there was so much happening beyond the countertop. Perhaps that was why everyone was so friendly with Kangaskhan.

Once they reached the top of the stairwell, Kangaskhan was waiting for them. She smiled and extended a hand towards her child. The young Kangaskhan ran over to her, and she was brought back to the pouch.

"Thank you, Krista. You have no idea how much your help means to me," Kangaskhan said. "I know it's a repetitive process, but I can't be here and there at the same time. So I sometimes call for help. I just needed you there until someone else could take the slot. It wasn't too much on you, was it? Did anything hurt?"

"Well, no. I'm okay," Krista answered. "Just hurt to stand for too long."

Kangaskhan smiled. "I'm glad to hear you are doing better. You see, we've been informed of the close call you had with one of The Sorcerers"

"You were?"

How many Pokémon did know? The Headmaster didn't tell everyone, did he?

"Us Kangaskhan have a mass communication network. Same can be said about the Kecleon. Any sort of news is never left in the dust. We have to know these things, because our business extends beyond even here."

It made sense. It left Krista curious about how they spoke to one another, but that could be a question for another time.

"I'm doing better now," Krista said. "Mr. Dusk and Ms. Grove said I should be fully healed by tomorrow."

As hard as that was to believe.

"That's good to hear. You know, I thought something came up when the little Chespin came along. He was in such a hurry, I couldn't understand a single word he said. It seems Dusk taught you well, because he grabbed just about everything he needed in the middle of his panic."

That, and a bunch of rawst berries…

"I'm glad we didn't lose any of you, but the next time you try a stunt like that, I'll drag you both the way back here myself!"

Krista shrunk. That was the scolding of a disappointed mother. "Sorry."

"Since you'll be back to your regularly scheduled training, you should ask Dusk about learning some new techniques. Preferably, you could learn one outside of your natural adaptability."

"What do you mean?"

Kangaskhan raised both claws, although one held a clipboard. "Beyond your claws and fangs, dear. You are capable of so much more. There's a reason we are known as basic Pokémon. We don't have much to show off outside of our physical strength. We don't have any special organs that store fire or water. We don't grow plants on our bodies. We can't produce our own electricity…nor can we walk through walls on our own. We are beasts to the core. But…that's not where our limitations lie. Some of us can learn to breathe fire, but it will never be as impressive as what you would see from a Charizard, oh no. But it's still a great advantage to have when you are up against a steel-cladded creature you otherwise would have a hard time against."

"Could…you breathe fire?" Krista wondered.

Kangaskhan smiled. She handed Krista the clipboard.

She flicked her wrist.

Her claws were engulfed in flames.

Krista held her breath. Even from where she stood, she could feel the heat. The rippling air around it…it surfaced unpleasant memories.

"Fire punch," Kangaskhan said. "It took me a long time to master it. I certainly had a diet of rawst berries for a while."

"How did you learn that?" Krista couldn't take her eyes off the flame.

"On my own, it would have been impossible," Kangaskhan answered. "A technique like this requires a tutor. I learned this from an old Magmar I met a long time ago."

"But why? You don't leave here often, do you? Have you ever had to go inside a dungeon…?"

"I never stepped foot in one. But does that have to be the reason? You wouldn't think I would run such an important warehouse without having a way to ward off thieves, do you? Nobody is stealing from anyone here."

Kangaskhan fanned the fire out with a smile.

"And it's not just me, either. No merchant here is a pushover. Even The Kecleon Brothers have a special ability that scares any fool silly! I've heard that one of them can shock you out of your feet!"

"Wow…so I can learn actual elements," Krista realized. "Could I learn fire punch as well?"

"Can't say for sure, dear. But maybe…yes. Your fur seems capable of building some sort of electricity with outside help. How would you feel about that?"

"I could fire lighting?!"

The very image of Krista unleashing a wicked lightning bolt was something she didn't think would be possible—she could do what a Pikachu could do?

Kangaskhan laughed. "That's right! But if you wish to learn that, I'm afraid you would have to ask someone else. I certainly don't know any electrical techniques…ah, how about this? You could learn how to dig."

"Dig…?" Krista echoed.

"It's not as impressive as fire or electricity…but you can finally have a way to deal with those pesky rock and steel creatures you can't seem to land a decent hit on. They absolutely hate being tarnished by a little dirt. Would you believe it?"

It sounded promising. Krista was helpless against the Excadrill and Geodude. She had to keep running to Pineno for help. It would be nice to know a move that could give her an advantage she didn't have before. But at the same time, It sounded silly. A little dirt?

"But anyone could do that," Krista pointed out. "Just dug a little tunnel, right?"

"Oh, no. It's not as simple as that. Yes, anyone with claws or strong paws can dig, but the dig technique is something else. Actually, after your training tomorrow, come see me. I'll gladly spend some time teaching you, dear."

"Are…are you sure?" Krista asked. "It won't get in the way of your schedule or anything?"

"Business is slower during the late afternoon. Near sundown will do just fine."

She paused.

"Oh! Of course! I almost forgot! Please, allow me to keep my promise."

She reached inside her pouch and presented a pair of golden fabrics.

Scarves? Ribbons? Krista wasn't sure what to make of it. It looked like an accessory, similar to the defense scarf she already wore. But…it was gold. A bright and glistening gold. The sheen, in fact, was reflective. So much so, she could see her own face.

(Gold…? It can't be real gold. Does gold exist in this world…? Why would she give me this? Why would she give me two of these? What are these…?)

"Don't let its appearance fool you. It doesn't have much value for a Retaliator. You will need to deliver this to the Kecleon Brothers for me."

"You want me to give it away?" Krista almost felt her heart break.

"Nonsense. You're going to sell it."

That was even worse.

Kangaskhan still wore her smile.

Seeing it, Krista didn't want to disappoint her. Kangaskhan was already in such a great mood. As much as it hurt to part ways with something so beautiful, Krista knew she would have to fill in the request. Kangaskhan was kind enough to teach her tomorrow, after all.

"I promise," she said. "the trip will be worth your time! No need to thank me! I'll see you tomorrow, alright dear?"

"See you tomorrow!" the young Kangaskhan cheered.

… … …

"Is that what I think it is?!"

"Your eyes do not deceive you, brother! Truly, oh truly it is the sought-after golden ribbon! Such a deluxe item!"

The green Kecleon was turning one of the ribbons above his head. He studied every part of it, searching for any wear or tear.

"Ah! It's in perfect quality, too! We will gladly take these off your claws, Meowth! But my oh my! This is a surprise! Out of all the unexpected things happening today, a Meowth selling something golden was the last thing! Are you sure you are content with parting with these? If you change your mind, by all means, don't feel hesitant to speak! We won't take it personally, oh no! We want what's best for our customers, after all!"

Krista was so distracted by the sheen, she almost didn't hear the question. She blinked and waved her paws. "Oh, no! It's fine! You can have it. I don't really have a use for it."

She really didn't. What was she going to do with a golden ribbon? It didn't feel like it had any special power. It was just a pretty accessory that only served as a cosmetic.

She hated how attached she felt to silly fabric. It was her instincts, she knew that much. At last, she was beginning to sort of which were helpful and which were pointless. At that very moment, what she was experiencing was pointless.

(Ignore it.) She told herself. (You don't need it.)

Soft and muffled clinging caught her attention. A tied sack was set on the counter, bigger than her own paw. From how stiff it stood, whatever was inside was plenty.

"Thank you for doing business with us!" the green Kecleon sang. "Your patronage is valued!"

Lifted from the countertop, the bag was terribly heavy in her paws. How much did they value those ribbons?!

"Um…are you sure it's okay to walk around with this?" Krista asked.

The green Kecleon gave her an eager nod. "Of course, of course! If you do head to the bank, the small trip should run smoothly with no problems! In all my years of having money transferred by foot, not a single coin was ever lost!"

"And it shall stay that way!" The purple Kecleon chimed in.

They wore such bright smiles. It was unnerving.

"Well…alright. Thank you Kecleon…and Kecleon."

That felt awkward.

"Do you two have a nickname I can call you or…?"

"Just Kecleon will be fine!" they both said in usion.

That wasn't confusing at all.

"Goodbye, goodbye! We hope to do business with you again!"

… … …

"WHAT?! 5,100?!" Krista's squeak made her the center of attention for a brief second. "Where did all that money come from?! We can't possibly have that much! I thought we had 800 before!"

The Ariados' expression was blank. He turned his head to peer behind the counter. "…800 in starting funds…yes. 300 from…your rescue reward… 4,000 from the…Poké you deposited…just now…"

"F-four—" Pineno was going to lose it. What could they possibly do with all of that money? Krista didn't know what to do. It was so much!

Why would Kangaskhan give away something for her to sell that held so much value?! Was that her payment? All for a small day of simple labor? All she did was scratch squares in a chart!

It felt like she was stealing.

"…Accept," Eight said. "…A need for it…you will have it soon."

… … …

The cafeteria was filled with endless chatter. It was Impossible to sort out any conversations, but the atmosphere was pleasant.

Once Krista picked out an unoccupied table, she plucked a slice of oran berry from the colorful cluster.

(Berries again, huh?)

The slice dropped back on the plate. A small roll of bread was picked up in place. It was a wonder on how it was baked. Who were the chefs behind every meal? Krista was sure they served berries everyday, but they always prepped them differently. How did they keep up with so much food? How did they harvest so much of it?

Scovillian. She almost forgot.

And then, there was the water. The cursed water that somehow didn't turn against her. She didn't want to touch it, but dehydration wasn't a fun experience either. After what happened in Mount Ember, she didn't want to feel horrible ever again.

Perhaps if she pretended the water didn't come from a river…

No. It was impossible. She pushed the bowl away. Maybe the food would give her the water she needed.

No. It wasn't any better. Whether or not they washed it didn't matter. Both ends were bad.

She groaned and dropped her head. (I didn't realize how spoiled humans were until now. The Pokémon don't care about any of this. So why am I starving myself over something that didn't hurt me yet?)

She wanted to curse her human mind. For the first time, she wished she could bury it. She wanted to eat, but she had no appetite. She didn't even want to look at the water.

And she was so tired of berries. Did they ever eat anything else? She was thankful the berries weren't all sweet. If that was the case, she wouldn't be able to stomach it for much longer.

With the roll placed back down, she crossed her arms over the table and rested her chin.

It was boring.

Maybe once she preferred silence. She didn't know why she felt that way, but maybe that was her previous life. Was she an isolated person? Did she work with little people? Did she live away from people?

She didn't want to go to her room. The library was pointless. She couldn't go to the dojo even if she wanted to. Tomorrow felt so far.

What was there to do?

When she was busy, it was easy to forget. Now that she was sitting alone, she could process everything. Every time she closed her eyes, she could still see the green glow. She could feel the wind from the flock of Starly. She could hear Pineno's fear, his cries of pain. She could see Skullzer standing in front of her.

(But it's over. You're safe. He's safe. Tidal is safe. Skullzer doesn't know where we are.)

If only it was that easy to convince herself that everything would turn out okay. She knew deep down, that it wouldn't be the last time they would ever see Skullzer. He was determined to bring Pineno down, even at the reluctance of getting rid of her and Tidal in one shot.

What was that technique he was about to use?

A soft clatter broke her from her trail of thoughts.

"You seem occupied with some troubling thoughts, Meowth."

Thief.

Krista looked up, seeing the Thievul standing at the opposite end of the table.

"If you don't mind. Although, I won't have a problem moving if you need your space," he said.

"N-no." Krista almost couldn't find her words. "You're fine. Really."

He nodded and sat. Unlike Krista, standing to eat wasn't necessary for him. Using his teeth, he plucked the roll from his plate and set it atop the sliced fruit.

"Food's bland, isn't it?" he asked her, pressing a paw down to tear the roll into a smaller piece. "The downside of living amongst herbivores. Cafeteria has to come to some form of compromise."

"What?" Krista wasn't even thinking badly about the food. But, what he said did leave her with a new thought; Ever since she arrived in the complex, her diet had been nothing but berries and grain. Although she never paid it any mind, she started to wonder what a Meowth's normal diet was.

"Ah, don't let Buck hear me say that. He would criticize me," Thief realized, although he wore a smile. "He likes to tell me; but you are an omnivore. It won't hurt you to eat this everyday. And well, yes. He's right, almost. Doesn't do us any good to only eat the same old things. So, I've decided to bring you a little treat."

"Huh…?" Krista leaned back as he reached down out of sight. Curiosity was one thing, but she dared not to peek over the surface to see what he was looking for. Howler's speech in the library was still fresh in her mind. Did…they still hunt for food? Was she about to presented with something that once thrived as they did? Suddenly, she liked the idea of going to bed. Sleeping early wasn't a bad idea—

Thunk.

Placed in the middle of the table was…a massive egg.

The corners of Thief's muzzle twisted into a smile. "Haha. Gotcha, didn't I? I wasn't going to put something recognizable in front of you. No, no. Buck would kick me to the moon if I ever did that. It would be impossible anyway. Outside food isn't allowed in here."

"I…I didn't know that." Krista's eyes didn't leave the large object since it was presented to her. "Is that…uh…"

"Nothing special. Just boiled yolk inside a shell," Thief said. "Come on. I may be a Pokémon of darkness, but even we know when to cross the line with pranks."

A wave of relief. "O-oh."

Thief placed his paw on the surface. "This is a Chansey egg. You know about it, don't you? The most versatile thing for even a carnivore to sink their fangs into. Want to know a secret? I snuck this out from one of the doctors."

Krista's face flooded with horror. "What?"

Thief grinned. "Gotcha again. No. That's impossible. You can't steal a Chansey egg. She would destroy you if you tried. These are usually reserved for the patients. These eggs supposedly have some powerful healing qualities. Eat one, and you feel like you could bounce to the stars."

"That's incredible…but how did you…?"

"I was requested to deliver this to you, from Howler."

"H-Howl…" Krista refused to believe that. He would never…

"It's all yours." Thief pushed it towards her. "Although I don't think you can eat the entire thing yourself. We can split it in half, if you'd like of course."

She couldn't speak. She didn't know what to think. Her eyes could only follow as Thief put a second paw on the egg to apply pressure as he rolled it around. Cracks coated the surface, but it didn't shatter. It was boiled, just as he said.

It was peeled within a minute, revealing the white and shiny surface. The smell wafted through her nose, and for the first time, Krista felt the unmistakable sting in her jaws. Her mouth was watering.

"Hmm. Never had one of these before, have you?" Thief asked. "You should eat this quickly then, before someone else notices that we have this."

"Thank you, but how are you going to split—"

Berries and bread fell over and bounced on the table's surface. Thief had took the tray in his teeth and tilted it over. A few slices were unfortunate enough to fall to the ground. He held the tray sideways as he bounced to his hind legs. He swung his head down, and the side of the tray sliced through the egg in the middle.

A half was offered to Krista, and she pulled it close in a heartbeat. Even while it was split, it was still huge between her paws. It was almost the size of her head! She didn't know where to start!

And the smell. The smell. She couldn't tell if she liked eggs in her previous life or not, but at that moment, it didn't matter. The strong, pleasant scent welcomed her. Upon taking her first bite, she didn't even reach the yellow. She instead got a mouthful of the rubbery albumen, but it was still the best thing she ever tasted. It was far better than the bread she toyed with.

The second bite was the yolk that broke apart upon contact. It wasn't boiled too hard. It was soft and flavorful, and it coated her nose. She lacked a muzzle to eat without making a mess, but she didn't care. She was in heaven.

The next thing she knew, there was nothing.

Between her paws, there were only tiny bits and pieces. Thief looked at her, amused by her confusion.

"That's it," he chuckled. "That's all I can give you."

"Wh…" Krista checked the table again. She didn't even realize that she ate it in such an ungraceful way. On the table surface, with the tray shoved aside. She couldn't remember if she ate using her paws or not.

"Want to know another secret?" Thief said as he leaned in. "The associates always get these eggs. Once per day. At least, the carnivorous ones do. Now that you have a taste for it, you can imagine how hard it is for us to go too long eating just plants, hm? Must be nice to not have to fight for something decent."

He stood and cleared the table with a single tail-sweep.

"Oh yeah, by the way, Howler told me to tell you not to mention your treat to Grove or Frost. You know how the old folks are. Not that they'll get mad or anything, but they like to fuss. I don't think he's in the mood to hear it."

Krista wondered what the argument Frost and Grove had was like. She would have to ask Tidal later.

"Thank you," she said. "For the egg."

"Not a problem. You really had us worried, kid. So of course we are looking out for you. Buck and Talon were ready to sprint out of here to Mount Ember when I told them about your departure, you know?"

Krista didn't realize it…just how many Pokémon were worried about her and Pineno. She only knew them for a few days, and they were already ready to throw themselves into danger for her.

It was strange. Krista wasn't…used to such kindness.

Well, there was Midnight and Iris. Iris was just a sad case.

"I'll be more careful," she promised.

Thief chuckled. "When kids say they will be careful, it's usually the opposite. Try not to do anything foolish at least, alright Meowth?"

"Krista," she said.

"Hm?"

"My name…it's Krista," she said.

"Oh, of course," Thief said. "I'll keep that in mind.

Thief picked up his tray and turned, sweeping the fallen food across the floor with his tail with every step.

"I'll be seeing you," he said.

… … …

Alone in her room, with a full stomach and changed bandage from Audino, Krista laid on her straw bed, absorbed by the silence. Although she was physically comfortable, she found that closing her eyes was impossible.

She knew why. If Pineno wasn't talking to her, he would be sleeping. His soft snores would fill the quiet space in no time.

She sighed and rolled to her stomach. It made no difference. Sleep was a strong desire that didn't want to claim her. While she could blame it on her nocturnal body, she knew what the real reason was. If she didn't get any sleep soon…

She had to distract herself from those thoughts. She thought about how she helped Kangaskhan. She thought about the Kecleon Brothers, and the incredible amount of money that she was casually given. She thought about the giant boiled egg Thief gave her.

Pineno missed so much. He would had loved to see it all.

There was no point. It was impossible to keep her mind off the terrible events that unfolded at that peak. While Thief managed to bury them, it was only temporary.

Knock knock.

Krista sat up and took a look around. She was sure she didn't imagine that.

Another knock was sounded, and she was at the door. There was no way to peek to see who was making the noise. Not a single hole or anything…

"I-it's me. Tidal."

"Tidal?" What was he doing out? Curious, Krista went to open the door. It was easy to slide open, not needing a badge it seemed.

And he was there, meek as he glanced around.

"Shouldn't you be in bed?" Krista asked, concerned.

"You…you answered…s-so I guess you can't sleep, either?"

He had a point.

"I-Is it okay, if I step inside?"

"What about your own team? Won't they look for you?"

Tidal curled his lip. He shook his head.

Krista stepped aside to allow him through. He scurried inside on all fours legs, scanning the space with curious eyes.

"You never told me about your team," Krista said. "What are they like?"

Tidal's form stiffened. He glanced at Krista from the corner of his eye. "Th-they…uh…"

His voice trailed off as he lowered his head.

"Th-this room of yours looks different from my room…only I have…I have a little personal pond if I need it," Tidal said.

(What?) The sudden change of subject almost baffled her. Krista opened her mouth to point it out, but he spoke over her.

"P-Pineno did tell me you liked your own space. But…even so, you…you shouldn't sleep alone. I won't be near, but I'll be here."

He told him that? Krista didn't know how to respond.

"D-doesn't feel comfortable tonight, though. I keep worrying about Pineno. He's probably…sleeping alone in there."

Of course. He did say that he was never comfortable being alone for too long. In a space he was not familiar with, Krista was sure he was restless as she was. Did he sleep at all in the past couple of days?

"What…what is going to happen now? Should we t-tell Pineno what happened? He doesn't seem to remember. But, what if talking about it makes him feel worse? I don't…I-I don't want him to feel terrible."

Krista remembered how Pineno trembled every time he saw fire. She remembered how defenseless he was when Skullzer arrived.

"He was in so much pain," Krista said. "I couldn't do anything. I…"

If Skullzer truly wanted to, he could have taken her out without blinking.

She was only standing because he saw no point in it.

"I-I've decided!" Tidal shifted his feet. "I…I'm going to train extra-hard so that I will never let that happen again! The next time we see Skullzer, or even those dumb Starly, I'll send them packing! You'll see! They will all see!"

His determination seemed to have come from nowhere. With a scrunched up face and quivering lips, anyone else would think he was lying. It wasn't exactly the expression of someone brewing with endless bravery.

But, Krista believed every word. From what she witnessed at the peak, Tidal was capable. And…she felt the same way. The uncertainty tried to claw at her, but it had to be pushed away. There was no room for improvement if they sat around sulking about what they couldn't do.

They had to get stronger.

"We will get stronger…" Krista knew the dojo was open again. She would ask Dusk to take her there. She would take lessons from Kangaskhan. She would do whatever it took to learn.

She was a Pokémon. She had to harness that.

"Starting tomorrow, n-no more complaining," Tidal said. He chose a spot in the corner of the room and laid down. "Going to get some good sleep…and wake up ready for tomorrow. E-even Howler won't scare me…"

Krista laid down on her bed. Her eyes fixed on the empty bundle a couple feet away from her. "You don't want to borrow Pineno's bed for tonight?"

"D-don't like those beds. They stick to me too much," Tidal answered.

It made sense. Of course. Not everyone was comfortable sleeping the same way. Or, maybe he didn't feel it was right to sleep in someone else's bed.

Still, she wondered why Tidal was avoiding any subject relating to his team. Was he embarrassed? Sure, he was rather timid, but he held his own against the Starly. He almost took down a Pokémon three times his size. If that wasn't an impressive feat to earn him any praise, well…

(I guess I shouldn't dwell on it too much…)

Krista tried to get comfortable once she closed her eyes. Sleep was eluding her, but she knew if she stayed still long enough, it would accept her eventually.

It was probably Pokémon instincts but…

…sleeping so far from others made her feel vulnerable.

After telling herself that she wasn't alone, and that Pineno would be okay, her mind started to rest easy. Everything started to draft away…

…

… …

"WAKE UP!"

A horrible gasp jolted Krista from her bed. It took her a second for her mind to register where she was, and that she was in no danger.

She searched the room, realizing that she was alone. How long was she asleep? She thought she just closed her eyes for a moment. It didn't feel like she gained any sort of rest…

Howler. He was standing at the door. His face was squinted, and her eyes were heavy. From how awkward he stood, he looked like he just woke up himself.

"Are…are you okay?" Krista wondered.

"Your immediate presence is requested in the Headmaster's chamber," Howler said, ignoring the question. "I'll escort the both of you there."

Both?

Krista took another look around. Tidal was fading in from hiding, his feet still anchored on the floor. They both shared a startled and confused gaze.

Howler was already on his way out. There was no choice but to follow.

To be Continued in Chapter 19.