Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Retaliation Corporation

by Espeon804

First, she wakes up in the body of a Meowth out of all things. What's worse? She can't remember anything. She meets a confined Chespin running from forces who sees his life as forfeit. The sky is cracking. Pokémon are going berserk, and evil sorcerers are using them as puppets. In an effort to fight back, they join the Retaliation Corps for answers...but the world is cruel.

22. Ch 21: Glider the Client

- Chapter 21: Glider the Client -

As the week went by, Krista and Pineno were given several jobs to complete throughout the day. They were not optional, which was not all too surprising. Whether it was to help keep the marketplace clean, or to clean out the trash from the cafeteria, just as Slowking said; there was always something to do.

On occasion, Tidal would join in on the small jobs. He said it was far better than changing everyone's bedding throughout the hall. He was still fighting the bits of straw that refused to unstick.

But what made the jobs almost miserable was the fact they would almost always cross paths with Team Slasher. Midnight and her crew were tasked with serving or delivering dinner everyday for some time as punishment for what events they had caused. Rescue missions were a no-go for them, and it was something that left the Sneasel livid. Krista didn't think anger could make the air feel so thin, but the Sneasel proved her wrong.

"I hope you enjoy your dinner," was a phrase Midnight loved to use. She would say it all behind a petty smile, slamming the tray down in front of Krista.

Then, Krista would spend several minutes at the table checking the condition of her food to assure it wasn't tampered. She would catch Midnight grinning from the serving counter. Even while she was being punished, she found a way to toy with her.

She was just thankful she was never personally confronted a single time. In fact, Midnight never once blamed anyone for her punishment. And while her glares never settled, there was something different about them. They were at their strongest whenever Krista and Pineno were present at the same time.

Krista could only hope there would be no trouble in the near future.

Then, there was Howler, who made sure things didn't slow down. Whenever Team Retribute thought they had a break, he would send them to the library to study material related to the corporation. What he made then look over most of all, was the proper protocols to take in various situations—to prevent another incident from happening again.

They studied the various elements and abilities a Pokémon is made up of. They memorized several items to use within a dungeon. And, most of all, Krista was to sit down and study footprint runes for the entirety of every late evening—something she learned to dread in no time soon.

Pineno did everything he could to try to make it stick, but little progress was made. With every footprint Krista thought she understood, there was one she had never seen before that threw her in a loop. When she was told some prints had their own words, she almost wanted to throw the book. The only thing that kept the action from becoming real was the threat of Ferrothorn looming in the back of her mind.

The best progress she made was when she learned to recognize and write her name. But…it was mere recognition. She knew the arrangements of footprints that made up her name, but she still couldn't read them. If only learning to read the footprint runes were as easy as learning the Corporation's anthem by heart. That didn't take more than a few more days.

Of course, Team Retribute were given more jobs to do whenever Dusk was unavailable to train them. However, those jobs were almost considered mere errands; "Deliver oran berries to the client waiting near Pine Forest." "Find blast seeds that were misplaced around Rocky Riverside." "Deliver apples to the client waiting near Rocky Riverside." "Deliver a heal seed to the client waiting near Rocky Riverside." "Find the misplaced escape orb around Rocky Riverside that could easily be replaced, but the client is too sentimental to let it go."

Rocky Riverside became a nuisance of a dungeon more than anything else. Dusk had to remind them that the distortion was right on the main road of Riverside Path. It was only natural for the majority of jobs to surround the area.

He wasn't wrong. The bulletins were always flooded with jobs within the area. It was a magnet for chaos. Krista wouldn't have minded going inside the dungeon time after time if it weren't for the fact that the mud was so clingy.

Errand after errand after errand, another week went by. It was a stale cycle. Handing a stranger a bag of seeds wasn't making her any stronger. Even the rewards were strange. Half of the time, they weren't even paid. They were given seeds or berries that left Krista scratching her head. If these clients went out their way to obtain the rewards, then why did they need someone to deliver an item they could otherwise pick up on their own?

It was a question she learned to keep her mouth shut about. Dusk gave her a speech about how important helping strangers can be.

"We don't know their situation. Not every Pokémon is as fortunate as others," she had been told. "With the current state of the world, some Pokémon are too scared to do anything on their own."

It made sense. She had seen first-hand what a Sorcerer was like. She understood that some items could only be found in mystery dungeons, and not everyone was trained to venture through them.

But, she wanted to do something else. When she asked Dusk about another rescue mission, he told her the Headmaster had not approved them of taking another one yet. He assured her it was not because of what happened, but because the slots of available associates to guide them was small. They were not the only training team in the corporation. They weren't the only ones needing someone to accompany them in a mission with stakes.

"If you fail a delivery mission, it's just an inconvenience," Dusk told her. "The client is just informed to wait another day. But when a life is on the line, you can't afford to fail a rescue."

"You can easily replace an item, never someone's life."

They were told the lack of any rescue missions had nothing to do with Mount Ember, but it certainly didn't feel that way.

Why would anyone trust Team Retribute when they almost threw their own lives away in a reckless pursuit?

They were lucky to have found Tidal.

Lucky.

With that in mind, Krista delivered many apples and orbs. She cleaned the warehouse. She swept the halls. She carted chargestones from one place to another. Seeing their hard work, Dusk did make his promise to try to convince the Headmaster to give them a different job soon. Until then, it was a waiting game.

Her greatest relief only came when it was time for her to train. While she didn't get to meet with Kangaskhan as much as she would have liked, she felt she was one step closer to understanding the dig technique each time. The mother praised her progress every single time. While Krista didn't feel much growth, Kangaskhan assured her that her attacks were getting faster and more efficient. Krista had to trust her word.

When it came to the dojo, she and Pineno made sure the polish their battling skills.

They cleared the Bug, Flying, and Earth mazes with some difficulty, but by the time they reached the Lightning Maze, they were reminded of how cruel some places can be. Once again, Krista had to adapt to the concept that some Pokémon were talented with long-range attacks. But if she had to pick which maze was the worst, Lightning was reaching. She hated the constant buzzing, and how the endless static made her fur always stand.

Despite the discomfort, Krista made sure to put as much practice into her fury swipes technique as she could. Whenever she wasn't in the dojo, she would try to master the motions and remember the feeling. Sometimes, the claws grew easy. Other times, a wild Pokémon would have to provoke her for them to surface. But regardless of what, it brought her closer to mastering dig.

And she could truly use it in a place like this.

It wasn't just her seeking vast improvement. Because the Lightning Maze was Tidal's weakness, he decided to join them for the training sessions. Despite Krista's concerns, he doubled-down. He wanted to prove himself worthy.

Pineno wanted to prove himself as well. Several times they tried to enter the Fire Maze again, but they never made it very far. No matter how hard he tried to steel himself, the heat and flames were too much for him. If anything, it seemed his fear towards fire only grew worse. The tears came easier…Dusk had to convince him to take a step back.

The Mightyena said nothing, but the anger on his face was powerful. Krista knew it wasn't directed towards any of them, but towards the Houndoom that changed their lives the moment he made himself known.

And that was why they all agreed they had to get stronger. Pineno truly did want to get over his fear of fire…but it was easier said than done.

So…while the Fire Maze has been sidelined for some time, the group of Pokémon focused on harnessing their skills in the Lightning Maze. Like fire, it was long-ranged and unpredictable. A perfect substitute, according to Dusk.

And he was right. Electrical attacks got annoying in no time.

"Focus. You will falter if you let yourself get sidetracked!"

Loud bleating swelled in the illuminated dungeon room. Chargestones and torches were engraved in the static-filled ivory walls. Blue bolts snaked across the surface. Large shadows danced and rippled.

Another bleat. The air hissed as a yellow bolt struck the ground.

"That's it! Flank it! No, no! Not like that—yes! That's better! Much better!"

"Ow! Why is its wool so tingly?!"

"Don't let it touch you too long! We don't have a lot of cheri berries to spare! Be cautious!"

A bolt struck again.

"Whaaa! It won't stop! What's it doing?!"

"Watch it! Watch the bolt! Watch the—WHOA!"

Dusk lunged over Tidal's head and landed in front of him. A massive bolt of electricity struck him head-on, knocking him several steps back. The air crackled and roared as the bolt fizzled out. A small trail of smoke flared from his singed chest. Every bit of his fur stood on end.

"Mr. Dusk!" Tidal gasped. "Are you okay?!"

A vine snapped and struck the wild Mareep across the flank. Puffs of wool flew, and it was on the ground, defeated. The vine retreated back to Pineno's shoulder as he turned to his mentor, worry all over his face.

Dusk's lips had curled and formed a snarl, and his head was towards the ceiling. Tiny bolts snaked around his muzzle and through his body, down to his trembling legs. Muscles kept twitching as a muffled growl escaped him. It took several seconds just for him to gulp in a mouthful of air. With a brief shake of his body, the tiny bolts subdued. Even when he shook again, his mane remained spiked up as if he were a Jolteon.

"That felt weird." Dusk's words almost overlapped. He lifted a paw in a blur, almost losing his balance. "I need a cheri berry, if you don't mind."

"Uh, right!" Pineno searched through the bag and found one in no time. He tossed it to Dusk, who failed to catch it between his teeth. Pineno realized manually feeding a paralyzed Pokémon would be a better option.

As soon as the shell broke between Dusk's teeth, the spicy scent made Krista recoil. But he ate it without an issue.

"You usually don't let yourself be careless, Tidal," Dusk hastily said. "I allowed you to train with Team Retribute since they could use a peer with skills like yours as an example, but what good is an example if you charge forward so blindly?"

"S-sorry. Sorry Mr. Dusk." Tidal's face was twisted, but he dipped his head. "I'll…I'll be more careful next time."

"I understand you wish to prove yourself after what happened, but try not to be so careless, alright?"

He started to move, but his legs betrayed him as they crossed over each other. He staggered forward, forced to anchor his paws to save himself from falling.

"Mr. Dusk!" Pineno called.

"I'll be alright." Dusk sputtered.

"Your voice sounds funny," Pineno pointed out with an amused smile.

"Ah. Right. That. I should tell you. I think Tidal knows what happened." Dusk smiled at the Sobble. "Go on. Tell them what you think. A pop quiz!"

"P-pop quiz? O-ooh I hate pop quizzes…" Tidal clenched his hands together. "B-but yeah. I know…I know what that was. You were paralyzed and so…your body reacted to it, right?"

"Yes. That's precisely what happened," Dusk said. Another shake of his body, and his fur finally started to relax. His words were comprehensible once again. "I know you two have seen it before, back in the Fire Maze when the Slugma burned me. Or…I burned myself. But that's not the point. The point was I got burned."

"Oh yeah. That…did happen," Pineno said, almost winching at the memory.

"It's a thing my body does. It gives me quick feet. My reflexes multiplied. But…what was supposed to give me an advantage is more of a nuisance. Sometimes, my body moves faster than my mind does."

"Really?" Pineno looked at Tidal, who just returned an awkward smile.

"Every one of us has a special ability that can give us an advantage in battle," Dusk said. "I'm sure each of you have…discovered what…that special…ability…is…"

His words had trailed off as his eyes locked on Pineno. His smile grew wider in an instant.

But Pineno didn't smile back.

Krista knew why.

(But you didn't mean to.) It was the words Krista wanted to say. (We all know that it was against your will.)

They all stood in silence for what felt like forever. It took for Dusk to clear his voice for everyone to be pulled from their thoughts.

"Good effort for today! We should be getting back." Dusk stuffed his nose in his backpack, scrimmaging for the escape orb he picked up before.

"M-Mr. Dusk?" Tidal asked. "When do we go beyond…the third floor?"

The quick change of subject almost left Krista pondering. But a glance at Pineno told her that he was thankful for it.

"When I am confident you won't throw yourselves into danger." Dusk pulled out the glass sphere and placed it between his feet. "Which doesn't feel like anytime soon."

"B-but you just threw yourself into harm's way," Tidal pointed out.

"That's because Explorers are not normal."

Dusk's response was so careless, it was difficult to tell if he was being sarcastic or genuine.

"Come gather around. We are getting out of here."

---

Grumpig Dojo Lobby

"After review of this, it's Rock."

Dusk slipped his head though the stacked loops of his gray scarf. It was placed around his neck with a quick head shake.

"They are one of the most defensive foes to face. You either have to be prepared for a long-drawn out battle, or to unleash everything you have without burning yourself out. A very…difficult milestone for recruits to charge through."

Krista and Pineno were tossed back their defense scarf and power band. Krista toyed with the fabric between her paws.

"Rock is going to be the toughest one, isn't it?" Krista asked.

"It depends on how you look at it," Dusk replied.

"I-I'll gladly help them!" Tidal said. "My water techniques will breeze through them easy!"

"Actually, I was going to ask for you to stand aside for that very reason." Dusk gave Tidal a moment to take the words in before he continued. "If you come alone, I'm afraid you and Pineno's combined forces will make it too easy. In fact, you alone would conquer the maze no problem. Krista won't learn to grow that way. She will need to learn to struggle, first."

"O-oh." Tidal frowned. "Okay."

(A rock-type dungeon.) Krista turned her gaze towards the rock-labled corridor. (I need to get better at digging, and fast. Maybe after dinner, I can ask Kangaskhan to train me some more…)

"It's just one dungeon. It will be alright." Dusk turned to Krista. "The next dojo session will be hard on you. Just know I'll be right behind you in case things get too rough. For once, I will allow you to ask for help if things get too dangerous, alright?"

"And I'll back you up, of course." Pineno nodded, surprisingly wearing a smile.

(There's no way he got over that already…) Krista knew he had to be suppressing it. She wished she had said something…

Just before she could try, Pineno intervened. "And maybe, I can study how they fight to learn how to throw rocks! I need a better technique to counter my weaknesses, so I'm actually kinda excited for this one."

"Throwing rocks?" Dusk tilted his head. "I don't think you have the capabilities to—"

"I mean, like a rockslide! A bunch of rolling rocks that can knock those annoying birds from the sky!"

"You want to learn the rock slide technique, really? That's not an easy one to master if it's outside your element," Dusk said. "If you want better results, maybe I could ask Frost to help you with that."

"Frost?"

"He had mastered that technique many decades ago," Dusk said. "Very talented in fact, to the point you would almost think that rock is what his spirit is. He shares a number of weaknesses with you, so I'm sure he'll consider teaching you once he finds the time."

"Oh! That's awesome! Please ask him!" Pineno cheered.

"When I see him, I'll let him know of your interest. Just know that Frost usually doesn't take students. If he declines, don't take it personally."

"Ah…"

"Now, you three should head right for the cafeteria. Dinner should be ready right about—huh? Yes?"

Dusk turned his back to the team, his eyes fixed on the ceiling. His sudden change in tone puzzled them.

"Oh! Headmaster! I didn't expect for you to call! What's going on?"

Whatever fatigue still lingered vanished in an instant as the three young Pokémon listened in. Although it was a one-way call, they couldn't help but be curious.

For a while, Dusk said nothing. His ears strained in the air, perhaps out of habit. Not even a moment later, his tail started to wag.

"Really? That's great—no, excellent news! I'll tell them right away!"

"What's going on?" Pineno asked.

Dusk turned to face them with a grin. "You two have a new assignment. And…it's not a delivery this time!"

That was the best news Krista heard all day! "You're serious?!"

"You'll head off tomorrow!" Dusk explained. "It's an urgent mission, so we can't wait!"

"Urgent mission?" Krista's excitement died down as doubt planted in her head. "But I thought…"

"It's been almost two weeks since your untimely trip to Mount Ember. I've noticed you three have been training a lot more seriously since. I think it will be alright to let you—Team Retribute—in another dungeon. The Headmaster asked me to look over every dungeon within close proximity, and I picked out a perfect place for you, one that had zero reports of any suspicious activity! I even had Grove look over it, and she approved!"

(Grove?) It was a name that has eluded Krista's mind all day, somehow. Now that she thought about it…it had been an awfully long time since she last saw her.

Was she doing well?

Krista wanted to ask about her whereabouts, but Dusk seemed so thrilled, she didn't want to kill his mood.

"What…kind of mission do we have to do?" Pineno wondered.

… … …

"You will escort a client who is in need of meeting with a family friend."

The giant Revelation Map was once again sprawled across the middle of the floor of the Headmaster's chamber. Next to Slowking stood Howler, who studied the map's layout with a focused expression. Dusk was far more lax, having seen it countless times. Krista and Pineno stood at the other side, peering at the careful artwork. Tidal stood at the sidelines, nervous by the small crowd.

The bottom of Slowking's staff tapped an illustrated pathway just east from the Riverside Path. Compared to the other places, such as Rocky Riverside and Blindsided Burrow, it was the furthest, rather close to some rivers.

"That's Enclosed Crossing," Dusk beamed. "It's an—"

"Oh! Enclosed Crossing?!" Pineno interrupted, almost overwhelmed with thrill. "Really? Are we going there?"

Dusk frowned.

"Ah-hah. You seem to be familiar with this place," Slowking said, intrigued.

"Yeah! It's one of the oldest mystery dungeons in this land! A lot of Pokémon went through it before! I remember reading about how it was once a paved path before the distortion warped it into some weird cave-like place! They say it tricks your eyes, no matter where you look! A super twisted place!"

"Huh. So you're familiar with its origins," Dusk noted. "Although, it's not common knowledge outside of the corporation. Where did you read about this?"

"Uh—" Pineno glanced at the Headmaster, who was close to laughing. "The library…?"

"Surely." Dusk stepped closer to the map. "Now, what you probably don't know is that Enclosed Crossing is a C-tier dungeon—"

"C-tier?" Pineno interrupted. "But I thought you wouldn't allow us to do anything like that until we became a real team!"

Dusk sighed. "Let me explain before you assume. The dungeon has great potential to be difficult for you, yes. But it's not because of wild creatures who inhabit the place. Not all of them are territorial as what you've seen from Blindside Burrow and Mount Ember—"

"But Blindside Burrow is a D-tier dungeon," Pineno said.

Dusk's ears flicked."C-tier now,"

"It changed?" Pineno gasped.

"The wild Excadrill had grown restless. It would be foolish to send an inexperienced team unprepared in there. You are very lucky Grove was there with you," Dusk explained. "Dungeons change over the years. I'm sure—"

"Grove told us it was probably because of the sky-rifts. So that has to be it, right? Didn't you say the Corruption is spreading and—"

"Would you STOP interrupting me while I am talking?!"

Everyone jumped from the loud bark that escaped the Mightyena's throat. It took a second to realize everyone was staring at him, because he cleared his throat, although it sounded forced.

"Erm…sorry about that. It's just…let me do my job before you bombard me with questions…" Dusk said.

"Sorry…" Pineno stepped back.

"I-Is it another rescue mission?" Tidal wondered.

"Sobble, you won't be accompanying Team Retribute," Slowking said. "Your team will be given a different assignment."

"Ah…okay." Tidal didn't look too thrilled.

Krista wished she knew why.

"Now then, Team Retribute, you do have a client. I'll let him do the talking—Howler. You have it?"

Howler scoffed, as if the question was a foolish one to ask. He picked up a roll of paper that sat between his paws before stomping over to Pineno. His giant looming presence almost made the Chespin shrink away as it was dropped to his paws.

"Alright. Let's see what it says…" Pineno unrolled it and studied it for a few seconds. He stepped over to Krista and started to read:

"Hello to whomever may be reading this! I am the Gligar called Glider, and I live just a bit beyond Poppy Town!

I have been met with quite a dilemma! The district of Poppy Town is far too dangerous for me to call home anymore, so I need to move to a new place. The only problem is, the only way to get there is blocked off by a mystery dungeon. It's physically impossible for me to traverse there without risk of ambush! But it's not just the wild creatures I am worried about. Enclosed Crossing has no winds, and therefore, I am unable to leave the ground! I am defenseless, you see. I don't have a lot to go by, so I can't afford to be picky about my needs. Anyone who is reading this, please consider taking my request! The reward will be worth it, I can promise you that!

Please meet me at the Espilce City! I'll be in the Traveler's Bar from dawn to dusk! Don't worry, I can take care of myself there!

Looking forward to your assistance!

—Glider."

"He sounds like he's in a lot of trouble," Pineno said as he set the paper down. "Can't ignore a request like that."

Slowking nodded. "Yes, yes. There are many Pokémon such as Gligar who, while they usually can fare well on their own, are unable to do so under certain circumstances. Just last week, a family of Cottonee had to be escorted by Team Spring since the caves they needed to go through had no winds as well. A terribly dangerous journey for a Pokémon who needed to stay off the ground. There are others who simply lack the skills to fight off foes within a mystery dungeon. There are those who are too frightened to try on their own—a reasonable fear, yes. You have Pokémon who fear crossing paths with a Sorcerer and need a bodyguard for their comfort. These escort missions give clients like these the break that they need. And because of how much work goes into these, they are more than often labeled in a higher difficulty compared to any other mission. But the reward is also far greater. You will find it to be worth your time."

"Reward, huh?" Pineno scanned the paper for another moment, and his words almost failed to escape him. "Wh-wh-what?! F…f…five-thousand poké?! And there's more rewards added after that?!"

"Five-Thousand?!" Krista gasped. She had to bite her lips just to keep herself from smiling, and she hated it—the way her body reacted to such a high number. "Why is he paying so much?!"

"A higher pay usually grabs the attention of those who would usually ignore them," Dusk answered. "Something I'm familiar with back in my homeland. Escort missions are treated more or less the same; Often ignored because of stories of how careless clients tend to be. So unless you, the client, are willing to sacrifice your pockets, it's safe to say you'll be standing idle for a while."

"But…but that's not fair!" Pineno shouted. "Pokémon shouldn't be in it for the pay! It's to help others!"

Slowking smiled. "If only more shared such sentiment. They all started with the very mindset you have. But, as the months passed by, it seems perspective tends to take a shift. There is no telling where you will stand five months from today."

"Selfish? No way! I won't turn out like that!"

"Then we shall see after this experience," Howler said, his voice spooking the children. "Escort missions tend to slow parties down. It brings risk to The Stirring, which is why many are reluctant."

"The Stirring?" Pineno echoed.

"I'm surprised you haven't heard of it," Dusk said.

"It sounds familiar but…I don't think I was told anything about it. Or…read anything about it…" Pineno placed a paw under his chin.

Tidal gasped. "I-isn't that when the dungeon comes alive?"

"Somewhat. Not literally," Dusk said. "As I was saying earlier…the nature of mystery dungeons changes and evolves over the years. How drastic those changes are vary, however. Rocky Riverside is actually an older dungeon when compared to Blindside Burrow. It's just that Blindside Burrow is developing faster. You understand what I mean?"

"I…yeah! I get it!" Pineno said. "I guess when we went inside, we were in the middle of that change, huh? It must be why Pokémon are having a harder time getting through that place."

Krista remembered. (Orbeetle said that the spring was once open to everyone until the distortion warped around it. I guess it only makes sense it would only get worse…)

"Well, if only that were true," Dusk said.

"Huh?"

"When you entered the dungeon, it was after the distortion warped. In fact, you don't ever want to be within a dungeon in the middle of a distortion warp. Let me tell you…it's the most horrifying thing you would ever experience. Consider yourselves lucky it didn't happen when you took off that time."

"You mean something terrible could have happened?" Krista didn't want to believe it. She was almost scorched alive, and she was just now being told there was something worse than that?

Dusk's lips twitched into a forced smile. "Well, no—actually yes—well…usually you can tell when it's happening so you have time to escape…"

"Like how?" Pineno asked.

"Like uh…something starts stirring?" Dusk's ears fold against his head. "Then you feel this…strange force approaching…and that's the sign to drop everything and get out of there."

"Something's approaching?" Pineno tilted his head. "You mean there's something inside the dungeon that's changing things around?"

"I uh…wouldn't say something, but it feels like there's something there. Our sources believe it is the heart of the dungeon's distortion flowing towards your location. You know, where the dungeon's curse is at its strongest. If you get caught up in it then…the dungeon proceeds to…it…proceeds to… It's right nearby and…it…"

He stopped talking.

"Dusk?" Krista called him, but he didn't respond. His eyes were fixed on nothing—she felt a great wave of worry. "Mr. Dusk?"

"Mr. Dusk!" Pineno called. "Are you okay?!"

"Oh, dear…" Slowking sighed.

Dusk gasped. His words were blurted out. "Oh! That's right! The Stirring! The Stirring! You three are incredibly lucky to not have experienced it! A 12-floor dungeon and you somehow dodged it! Oh! That's what I'm worried about! Enclosed Crossing is a rather twisted place, so you might encounter The Stirring if you linger on one floor for too long. That's what I wanted to say!"

"Huh?" Krista still didn't understand what he meant, but she knew it was serious. "I thought you said that place was the safest dungeon you picked out for us!"

"Yeah, it is. With one of us helping you," Dusk answered. "The Stirring shouldn't be an issue if you just keep moving forward."

"But what happens if we get caught in one?" Krista wondered.

"I said that the dungeon gives obvious warning signs. I mean, you notice how the wind never blows there, right?"

"Yeah…?"

"The moment you feel an airflow, run for the stairs as fast as you can. You do not want to be caught within the distortion warp. I'm sure The Headmaster told you about how some wild creatures end up in dungeons, right?"

"I…" Krista thought back, and the realization struck her. "We'll get trapped…?!"

"Good thing you have badges!" Dusk beamed. "You'll instead get kicked right out! But uh…it doesn't save your mind from being scrambled though! Ahahaha! Hahaha! Hahahahahahaa…. Hah…hah…"

He sank to the ground.

"It took me seven days to learn how to speak again…"

"Wow!" Pineno blurted out the shock everyone was feeling. "You forgot how to talk?!"

"Not that I forgot. I wanted to talk, trust me. I really did. But for some reason, the connection between the words I wanted to say, and my ability to create words was severed for a while. Howler was the only one who could…translate for me…"

All eyes were on the Arcanine, who simply raised his head with an aura of authority.

"How the heck did you not go mad in a place like that?" Dusk asked him.

"It molded me from when I was young. Your civil mind can't bear it," Howler answered.

"Right…" Dusk said. "And you know, that terrible experience made me realize that these dungeons and the sky-rifts have a lot in common. It's just a sky-rifts are a lot more like an amplified version of The Stirring…at least I think it is. The only difference is… the effects of The Stirring is reversible. They only become permanent when you remain trapped in a dungeon for a long window of time…perhaps months? Years? Well, we aren't trying to find out for ourselves… Even an Exploration Team knows better."

Pineno lowered his head, deep in thought about…something. If Krista had to guess, it likely involved his mother.

Dusk continued. "But I'm getting carried away here. Point is: dungeons never get better, they only get worse. That's why it's important to keep track of their development. That's what we Explorers are here for. We make the calls for hazard levels to be bumped. We are the first to venture a newly developed abnormality. Many factors go into the rating of a dungeon. I believe you are familiar with what those are."

"The wild creatures are one," Pineno said. "Then it's the environment itself…and how many floors a dungeon has."

"There you go. You were caught by surprise when you went through Mount Ember. Enclosed Crossing is also a C-tier dungeon, but for an entirely different reason. As you said, it tricks the eyes. The spatial distortion is very prominent. If you get lost, then The Stirring can become a threat."

Krista tried to imagine a dungeon that Pineno described, but it was difficult. Would the ground be in the sky? How would that work? Clearly it was bad enough to confuse Pokémon who explored it in the past. Dusk's concerns were valid.

"If you prepare properly, then this time, things should run smoothly," Slowking said. "Dusk told me you've been training restlessly this past week. Your battling has grown exceptional. I believe you can handle it."

Could they really handle it? Krista didn't want to doubt her skills, but…

She wondered if Slowking gave them the clear because he still felt bad about what happened recently? Krista had all the time to think of what to say to him the next time she spoke to him but…

"Again, I won't be going with you," Dusk said. "And while Tidal has the skills to breeze through the dungeon with little conflict, he is needed by his team. He won't be accompanying you, either."

Tidal sighed. "I-I would had liked to go. But…I know you two can do it, Team Retribute."

"Then who's coming with us?" Krista wondered. A small part of her worried that she already knew who it was.

Howler answered. "Vigor will be accompanying you on this journey."

And she was proven wrong.

"Vigor?" Krista tried to imagine the sweet Machamp tagging along, but the image was almost comical. "You're serious?"

"Yes, indeed. While she does renovations, she has several others who can work in her absence. Her assistant knows what to do," Slowking said. "She's almost always open to assist training teams. You will find her skills adequate."

"O-oh wow! You get to journey with Ms. Vigor!" Tidal almost laughed. "You don't have anything to worry about if she's going with you! Sh-she's amazing!"

"Amazing as you may see her, you will not rely on her strength," Howler said. "This is your mission, Team Retribute. You will put in the effort to complete it. She is merely there to—"

"Protect us from getting overwhelmed by the wild creatures, I know," Pineno sighed. "Just as Dusk and Grove did."

Howler sent him a glare. "Enclosed Crossing is known to have hazardous conditions on a bad day. There have been incidents of cave-ins and rockslides that have trapped experienced teams. Vigor is there to keep things manageable in a rare event such as that. You jump to conclusions. There is always more behind a reason."

"Sorry…" Pineno shrunk. "Sorry…"

"And while those reported incidents are rare, they are unpredictable," Dusk said. "The dungeon does whatever it wants, so it is to be anticipated."

Slowking nodded. "In any case… I need you both to be well-rested tonight, so I recommend heading to bed a little early. The journey to Enclosed Crossing is further compared to the other dungeons you have ventured to, so you will depart before dawn. We expect to see you by dusk in the marrow."

"Huh?!" Krista almost felt her brain go blank. Waking before dawn?

Pineno shared her disbelief. "You mean we will be gone all day?"

"Oh, that's just the beginning." Dusk smiled. "One day, when you're an official team, you'll be venturing off to places that take half a day or longer just to reach! You've noticed Team Spring's absence, haven't you?"

"Team Spring?" Krista didn't think much of it, but since he pointed it out… "I haven't seen them in a couple days."

"They went off to a dungeon called Withered Pass. Since it is so close to the Eastern border, it's a two-day trip from here. It's a rather heavy dungeon, not a place recruits should be near. They were sent there to investigate suspicious activity. We probably won't get a report for another two days."

Pineno gasped. "Wow! Really?"

"Don't they have a faster way to transport Pokémon for places that far?" Krista asked.

"Under certain circumstances, yes. But that's not important to you right now," Howler said. "We are getting sidetracked. Your priority is your client and client only. Eat well. Rest well. Study all that is necessary before your departure. You will need all the energy and knowledge you can get. Ignorance and exhaustion will hinder you. You have already experienced the consequences first-hand."

"Oof." Pineno squeezed his eyes shut.

"That is all," Slowking said. "Do you two understand the assignment? Do I need to summarize anything?"

The pair of children shared a quick glance. Krista spoke up. "I think we understand everything."

"To think means you are unsure of something," Howler said. "We will not feel bothered to clarify anything that feels missing. Don't be afraid to ask questions."

Only…whatever question Krista asked made her look like she lived under a rock her entire life. She decided to say nothing.

"Well…" Pineno's smile faded. "There is one thing I don't really understand."

"Go on."

"Why are you allowing us to do this?"

So she wasn't a fool to wonder the same thing.

"Hm?" Slowking tilted his head. "Whatever do you mean, Chespin?"

"I'm sure we broke many rules. We almost didn't make it back. I thought…we would be getting punished or something."

Slowking's smile vanished, replaced with a frown. "Yes, indeed. A good question. While it does seem reasonable to place restrictions on you for your reckless decisions…I believe what you experienced was a lesson on its own. There is no reason to punish you. I will put my trust that you will take it to heart."

Pineno sighed. "Yeah. I get it."

"Now then, is there anything else?"

Amidst the silence, Krista found her window.

Krista wanted to say something to make up for her behavior the last time she was in this room. But just standing there in the silence was making her burn from embarrassment. She couldn't find the words she wanted to say.

Even if Howler told her she wasn't entirely reckless, she still felt guilty.

"Krista."

Krista froze. Her name coming from Slowking's voice was alien to hear. His tone held no anger, not a trace of it. Perhaps she was foolish to expect it.

In fact, he must have shared the same thought. He looked saddened, almost.

"I want to apologize for putting you under such unnecessary distress," he said. "The moment I detected the missing patterns in your mind, I should have kept it private and pulled you aside later. I understand now that announcing it for all to hear was too much for you. Grove has made that very clear to me. She has refused to speak to me all since that night."

"She…she what?" That was news for Krista. (I know I haven't seen her lately…but she's been avoiding Slowking? She's not…avoiding me, is she?)

"If you believe she's upset with you, no. That's hardly the case at all," Slowking said. "And no. I didn't look into your head. I already told you…I can't do that unless your guard is completely down. I've noticed that ever since that day, you've been very tense around me, and reasonably so. I know I have shattered your trust, but at least allow me to make the steps to rebuild it. Grove wouldn't forgive me if I do nothing."

At first, Krista wasn't sure how to respond. His words were genuine, and he looked guilty in every way.

"But…this doesn't excuse what I did," Krista said. "Even if you were wrong in some way, I should have handled it better, right? Yelling at you, a king and all…"

"In any other case…perhaps. But for someone in your position who is amnesic, I can understand." Slowking raised his scepter in the air. "Now…allow me to give you this."

Three identical objects materialized above his head. One was directed towards Krista, who took it into her paws. She noticed that Pineno and Tidal were given the same thing.

It was…a square-shaped white fabric. Imprinted in the middle was a large, golden sun, with the corners dipped in yellow and purple ink.

"A weather band," Slowking said. "For the next time you enter a dungeon with unfavorable weather, this should make it a little more bearable for you."

"Are…are you sure?" Pineno whispered. "These don't come easy! How much do we have to pay you?"

"You don't have to worry. I've brought them for the three of you," Slowking said. "Be sure to hand it to Kangaskhan so you don't lose it. They aren't so easy to replace."

It was soft in Krista's paws. Something she could use…something that could protect Pineno from the harsh sunlight…

"Why…?" she whispered.

"Why?" Slowking wondered. "It's to protect you from the elements, no?"

"No that's not…" Krista shook her head. "Why? Why are you helping me so much? Why is almost everyone I'm meeting giving me something with so much value? Why do I deserve all of this? You don't even know me. Don't I have to work hard to earn these? It just…doesn't feel right to keep taking things from pe—Pokémon like this."

Howler snorted. "The Headmaster—"

"Howler…" Slowking cut him off before he could carry on. His focus returned to Krista. "Why should something that is meant to protect you be hung over your head?"

Krista took another glance at the scarf.

"You understand why The Retaliation Corporation was formed. You are part of it. You may not remember who you once were, but your heart holds the same kindness it always did, I am sure. No matter what others may tell you, you are welcomed here. If you ever need anything, we are all here for you."

(He really means it.) Krista realized. (Although I only came here because I had nowhere else to go, Slowking never did treat me like an outsider.)

(But how different would things be if I let him find out who I was? Why have I only told Pineno about my true identity, but no one else?)

(Maybe it's because we both don't belong in some way…? Could that be it…?)

… … …

They were woken early in the morning as they were warned. The cafeteria was almost void of activity. The lines were small, and Team Retribute had their breakfast in no time.

After eating, Pineno picked out a book to read in the library. Because the sun wasn't to rise for some time, they had to stand near the tunnel's mouth for light. Although they told Ferrothorn they wouldn't step foot out the perimeter without turning it in, the Pokémon was watching their every move. From the way he was perched on his desk, Krista anticipated for him to lunge at any given moment.

Pineno's voice was enough to distract her from such a disturbing thought.

"This dungeon has 14 floors on a slope, but it's said it's split in the middle. We have to pack plenty of food for this trip. And the wild creatures…yeah! There's gonna be a bunch of Yungoos, Bidoof, Psyduck…and Tadbulb? I guess it's because the path was leading to the river, huh?"

"Tadbulb?" Krista never heard that one before. It didn't sound remotely familiar to her. "Is that a Pokémon I should worry about?"

"I don't think so. But there is…let's see…" Pineno traced his paw over the small list. He almost froze. "Oh."

"Oh? What is it?"

"Clobbopus live here."

The strange name didn't ring a bell. Krista doubted she never heard of it. "Clobbopus? What's a Clobbopus?"

Pineno was just as confused, but for a different reason. "I thought you knew your species?"

"Not all of them!" Krista said. "That's like expecting someone to know every plant species that there is!"

"Huh. I guess you're right." Pineno peered at the page again. "There's also Croagunk. You know what Croagunk are?"

Krista thought for a moment. She could see the picture in her mind. "Yeah. I think they live in damp areas."

"I am worried about Croagunk too. I've heard that those are poisonous. We should be extra-careful if we see any. And…there's a creature called Flamigo?"

"Flamigo? What's that?"

"Don't know. But we don't have to worry about that or any Croagunk until the later floors. It says here that there's been sightings of some evolutions living here, but the only ones that's listed are Bibarel. It says we need to be cautious about possible others."

"Possible?"

"It will be okay. We have Ms. Vigor coming with us, after all. If things get really bad, she'll help us for sure!"

Pineno closed the book and helped Krista to her feet. He hurried for the tunnel, almost dragging her along.

"We did our research. We got everything we need. She should be waiting for us around the commons. Let's go!"

A loud thump boomed through their chests. They froze in an instant.

Krista wished she didn't turn around. Ferrothorn's cold gaze pierced through her heart. She almost screamed.

"Oops!" Pineno glanced at the book he hugged close to his chest. "Sorry Mr. Ferrothorn! You can have your book back!"

Ferrothorn extended a feeler and took the book from Pineno's paws. His eyes didn't leave him even as he took careful steps back.

"Eheheh…we will…get going now."

Ferrothorn watched even as they entered the tunnel. He set the book away, never leaving his perch.

Maybe Krista's fears were valid after all.

… … …

Finding Vigor was instantaneous within the low-traffic halls. She was having a conversation with the Kecelon Brothers, who seemed pleased with her presence. It was the purple one who noticed Team Retribute approaching. Once they were pointed out, all eyes were on them.

Vigor gave the pair of children a bright smile. "There you are! I was just havin' a conversation with these two to pass time, but it looks like to me y'all are ready to go!"

"We are!" Pineno answered.

Krista noticed a giant crate sitting near Vigor's feet. She wasn't close to it yet, and it already felt like it stood taller than her. For what reason it was there, she could only guess it was Vigor's doing.

"Well, it doesn't hurt to be too careful," Vigor said. "Are you sure y'all have everythin' for this journey? It's gonna be a bit of a long one."

"We slept well, and we ate," Pineno answered. "And we did our research!"

"And we looked for any weird weather patterns!" Krista added. "We bought three apples, four oran berries, two heal seeds, a couple sleep seeds…"

"And a bunch of blast seeds. Just in case!" Pineno interrupted. "And—oh! And we are here to buy some wands from the Kecleon Brothers if they have any!"

"Well, we certainly do!" The purple Kecleon was beaming.

"We also just restocked on stun seeds if you want those!" The green one suggested.

Vigor placed her hands near her hips. "So! I see you did your homework! Well, go on! Buy whatever you need!"

Krista realized a small flaw. "Well, we will have to stop by the bank first."

Vigor chuckled. "Don't take too long. We don't want to fall behind schedule."

"I'll do it!" Pineno raised a paw before jogging his way down towards the bank.

"Just a moment!" Vigor called. "Aren't y'all forgettin' somethin'?"

"Forget…? What else did we forget?" Krista went through a mental list in her head, but everything seemed to be in order, aside what they were trying to fix at the moment.

"Your client?"

"Our…oh."

Vigor chuckled. "Escort missions means you have to apply your supplies for your client as well. Another reason Glider probably couldn't get through that place might have a lot to do with the wild creatures that live there. You've done your research. What do you think are the biggest threats to him?"

"Uh-oh." Pineno rubbed his head. "I don't really know much about Gligar…"

"I think…" Krista almost felt the answer slipping from her head. "Ground. It's a ground and…flying Pokémon. Isn't it?"

Vigor smiled. "That's right."

"That means we have to watch out for the wild Psyduck that live there," Krista said.

"Bibarel is also a water creature…" Pineno realized. "We'll have to make sure he stays safe from any of their attacks!"

"There you go. That's good," Vigor said. "Go to the bank and grab a few hundred poké. We'll tweak a few things about your supplies."

Pineno was on the move once more, leaving Krista with everyone else. She didn't really mind. Vigor was a Pokémon Krista never felt intimidated by, at least not since she first saw her. There was always a warm aura around her.

The escort mission felt a lot easier before it started.

---

Riverside Falls

Vigor told them the east and western splits on the road wouldn't be what they would be taking for the journey. It was a strange thing. Krista had used the main road just to head for the dreaded Riverside Path, or Pine Forest if they had to go further. It would be the first time they would take it without those dungeons in mind.

Although the roaring waterfall told Krista they were at a familiar place, the landscape was almost unrecognizable so early in the dawn. The sun was not visible, but a few of its rays had started to spill from the horizon, painting the deep blue sky with a soft but subtle pink. Several stars dotted the sky, and there was the moon, just as vibrant as it would be in the middle of the night.

The morning chill made Krista shudder. But what she found soothing was how fresh the air felt with every breath. It was crisp and cool, with the smell of water and distant pine. Morning dew tickled her ankles. Beside her, Pineno crouched down and lapped the blades of grass with his tongue. It almost made Krista recoil. Maybe he found it refreshing, but if Krista wanted her fix of water, she would be fine with eating an apple.

Although it was dark, Krista felt a strong sense of déjà vu. It wasn't that she merely recognized where she stood…but the atmosphere felt familiar. There was the tiniest sense of unease as the memory tried to surface. For a split second, she almost believed she was stuck in a tree.

(This feels like the day I woke up in that field,) Krista thought. (The morning was like this, too. It just had rained last night. Or maybe it's always damp like this in the mornings. It is pretty though…)

"Well!" Vigor shouted over the waterfall. She carried the giant crate on her back, holding it firm with the first pair of her arms. "We are about to go well and beyond! Y'all ready? Are we goin' right or left?"

"Huh?" Krista looked at her, puzzled. "I thought we were taking the main road!"

"We are! But if we go that way, we'll be sent towards the forest! That's not where we are goin'! We are headin' north!" Vigor pointed above Riverside Falls, where the sunlight was yet to reach within the sky. It was still night there.

"We are climbing over it?!" Pineno shouted.

"Nonsense!" Vigor shouted back. "We have to walk around. East or west, the path doesn't matter! It'll split into a loop anyway! We will rejoin the main road in no time!"

Krista could remember seeing the eastern road split at some point, but she never paid it much mind. But at this moment, it made sense. Perhaps the Pokémon who dug the road into shape didn't want to cut through the cliffside. Or maybe it wasn't a thought that ever crossed them. From what she had seen, Pokémon rarely ever terraformed a landscape. Perhaps they liked the natural structure.

"Krista! What do you think?" Pineno shouted, his voice almost strained over the noise. "Which path should we take?"

"I think I would like to go left!" Krista shouted.

"So east? I hear ya loud n' clear! Let's go, then!" Vigor waved an arm. "Away from this waterfall so we talk civilized!"

Krista and Pineno followed Vigor down the slope as the waterfall lingered at their side. It shrunk the further they went, until it was a trickling steam, then a shrinking cliff.

Had they kept going straight, they would be heading towards the same direction they took with Grove. But instead, they stepped towards where the road split. Vigor was in the lead, but she kept a close eye, knowing the children were in unfamiliar territory.

Krista couldn't keep her eyes off the giant crate Vigor was hauling along. Her curiosity grew too strong to ignore. "Ms. Vigor?"

"Yes, Krista?"

"What's in the crate you're carrying?"

"Oh. This?" Vigor boosted the crate higher above her shoulders. "Somethin' The West ordered the other day. They can't mine what we have here, so they order it. And in exchange, they give us what we don't have. I would put it down and show you, but I don't want to stop movin'."

(So it's a trade,) Krista realized.

While the land looked more or less the same, Krista took notice of how they were climbing up instead of down. A look behind her, and she could see the Riverside Falls lowering ever so slightly with every step. The path they took merged with another, one Krista could assume would have been the western sort had they gone right instead. It was as if they were on the main road again, only on elevated ground. What cliff Krista saw when she stood before the complex entrance…they were standing right on top of it. The roads were there for those who didn't want to risk the climb. She was sure there were some Pokémon who made their great lunge over the waterfall everyday, unaware of the complex hidden behind it.

As the roar of the waterfall became distant, the wild rushing of water did not. The massive Central River flowed to her right. It was just as dizzying to stare at as it was before, only she could see it dip over the edge of the cliff. The surface was still too restless to see through, but she was sure there were Pokémon who lived in the waters. There were Pokémon who lived below the waters. Krista tried to imagine which part of the complex she stood above. She was sure it was the long tunnel entrance. As they walked further, she could imagine the residential area for the Pokémon who didn't work as active Retaliators. She could imagine the marketplace where they purchase their needs. She could almost see the commons, where all the hallways met in the cafeteria.

The library. Where could it be? It had to be exposed nearby, somewhere. No matter where Krista looked, she couldn't see a gap or opening anywhere. There was nothing but the tall blades of grass.

"You're looking for it, aren't you?" Vigor's voice broke Krista's concentration.

"How could you tell?" Krista asked.

"All the new recruits try. It's cute." Vigor chuckled. "But you won't find it. There's nothing but grasslands for miles. It's like trying to find a golden thorn in a haystack!"

When Krista was told the library was hidden in plain sight, they were not kidding. It almost frustrated her that she couldn't find something she had visited several times before.

Easier to see out than in…as it seems.

"Ah. Looks like he's comin' home early."

Krista searched her surroundings, but she didn't see anything out of the ordinary. It wasn't until she noticed Vigor pointing a single finger towards the sky that she remembered to look up.

She almost didn't see it due to how far the shape was. Crossing the sky was a Noivern. He was slowly making his descent towards the ground, far from where they stood. Krista could only guess it was to assure that he wouldn't be followed.

"Does he do this every night?" Pineno asked, his gaze fixed to the sky.

"You know, we try to give him nights off, but he always took it as an insult," Vigor answered. "Boomer has the most dangerous job, and he has such a thrill doin' it. He only ever enters the complex when he needs to sleep. He pretty much lives in the outdoors. I just wish he would stop by more often. He's such a stranger to nearly everyone."

(Maybe it's a good thing…) Krista didn't dare to say it out loud. But from every rare encounter she had with Boomer, it felt like he was on the verge of lunging for her throat. It was the look in his eyes. She knew she saw that look before.

"Ms. Vigor. Was Boomer wild?"

Vigor looked back, a bit surprised by the question. "So Howler told you his story, didn't he? I can see why you would make that guess, but no. Boomer was never wild. Howler is the only associate here who lived a primal life before joinin' the corporation."

Krista looked to Pineno, who shared her confusion. So it wasn't just her who was curious.

"Boomer lived a rather unfortunate life before he was found. But since then, he's been servin' the corporation loyally, and he's very helpful with our research. As long as he is kept in check, he won't act impulsively. He just gets easily excited seein' new faces. I apologize if he spooked you in any way."

"He did that several times already," Krista muttered. "Why is he an associate anyway?"

"You sound just like Grove," Vigor chuckled. "You know, she questioned the same thing, believin' he was far too dangerous to keep around. In fact, when she first met Boomer, we were surprised with how easily she took him down!"

"What?!" Krista and Pineno gawked.

"Yeah. I know. Hard to believe, ain't it? But what's even more strange was that Boomer only lost because he refused to do as much as lift a claw towards her! They were so used to stoppin' him from tryin' to fight everything he sees, so this was a shocker on its own. For what reason he was so hesitant, it's still a mystery Grove can't shed any light to herself. And when we asked Boomer, he just said he didn't see any thrill in fightin' someone so frail. All of this happened so long ago. It was before I joined the corporation, so I only know the stories I've been told."

(Long ago? So is Boomer old, too…? He doesn't seem to be.) The thought would bother Krista for a while, but she was in no hurry to take a closer look at him.

"Maybe if we ask Grove about what happened, she would tell us," Pineno said.

Vigor shook a finger towards him. "And you know what? You could be right. It's so strange though, on just how quickly she grew fond of you two."

"How so?"

"Grove usually isn't one to bother to talk to strangers outside of business. I wonder what you two did to catch her attention? Ever since y'all came back from savin' Oinkologne, she's been asking about your progress."

Pineno perked up. "Really?"

"You have no idea, honey! When the little Axew came by and told us y'all took off runnin', she almost jumped over the counter to go after you!"

So the story about Grove lecturing Frost was no exaggeration. Not that Krista never believed it…it just didn't cross her imagination that Grove would actually blow up at her peers for a mistake she and Pineno made.

(It's so strange. How come she never got angry at me?) Krista was expecting an angry lecture, but she was instead given a gentle talk. Not that it was a bad thing, but it was still strange.

"You two didn't say anything strange to her, did you?" Vigor wondered.

"No?" Pineno was further confused. "We didn't tell her anything strange. We just talked about Pokémon and stuff."

"Hm. I sometimes don't know what goes through that old goat's mind."

Grove's behavior did change. Krista didn't let the thought sink in before, but it made sense. It wasn't from the day she met her either, no. It was the night she was tested by Slowking. Since then, she hadn't seen much of her.

"Have you seen her since…the night Slowking spoke with me?" Krista asked.

Vigor's face changed. She knew exactly what Krista was talking about. "Oh, she's been busy. She never really made much time to talk to any of us about anything outside of work, which is typical…only it ain't. I'm not so good at sensing emotions like a Ralts, but somethin's been on her mind for a long while. I think I know what it is…but I shouldn't talk about it. It's not something for you to know."

"Oh. I see."

"I just want y'all to know that she cares about you both. Even if she's been a bit distant…that's just how she is when she needs to think. I promise it's not towards you. Don't take it personally, alright? She'll come around soon."

(That's not exactly what I'm worried about.) Krista knew she saw Grove in her hall that same night.

It had to involve her, somehow.

… … …

The last of the night's stars started to fade as the sun peeked over the horizon. Taillow were chirping their morning tunes, and Hoothoot were retreating to the trees. The chills of the cold night were slowly fading away to a more comforting temperature.

They had been walking for some time. Once Krista's legs started to ache, Pineno took his turn in carrying the bag, which he never had a problem with.

"How far does this road go?" Krista wondered once she could feel the sun.

"We are near the crossroads now," Vigor answered. "Take a look ahead."

"Crossroads?" Pineno did as instructed, and he jumped. "No way! That's the big city?!"

(What is this place?) Krista slowed her pace.

---

Espilce City

The road they traversed became embedded with stones, until the stones merged into a paved, mosaic path. It led to a cluster of built and spaced structures. Buildings, Krista realized, all of which were shaped into domes. They passed a crooked post sign engraved in footprint runes. Krista squinted her eyes in hopes that the writing would make sense, but all she could see were the shapes. She gave up as soon as it was out of her sight.

The Central River still ran alongside them, but ahead, Krista could make out a wooden bridge that was built over it. A bridge without railing. She was just getting used to the complex's tall bridges. But the concept of walking across wild waters almost made her head spin.

The trio of Pokémon went further down the road. Around them, the vibrant colors and unruly shapes were almost never the same. The clay and stone buildings made Vigor look small, all built from underground. Grass and moss latched on to the walls and grew over the dome roofs. Some were completely coated, with tall blades of grass giving the roofs a head of hair. It made sense why Krista didn't notice them before. All the overgrown greenery hid the place in the distance.

No structure was the same size. Each building only had two windows, with a curtain of leafy vines acting as the barrier. It was otherwise exposed to the elements. Before Krista could point out the strange design, she froze in her tracks as her eyes fixed on the giant head of a Golem. It was smiling, with its fangs acting as the doorway leading inside. Walking out was a Furret who carried a heavy-looking bag.

Krista looked to her left. There was the moss-coated head of a Venusaur. To her right, the head of a Whimsicott.

(Everything is built like this? It looks ridiculous!) No matter where Krista looked, there was another building shaped in the face of a Pokémon. (But I had seen this before. Grove's office was the same way…and so was Scovillian's stand. Do they build all of their buildings this way? Why? It's a bit creepy…but at the same time…)

"A charmin' place, ain't it?"

Vigor stopped right at the center of the crossroads. The stones clustered together in a circular pattern. She placed her fists above her hips.

"This is known as Espilce City. Or better yet…"

She threw her bottom hands out, somehow not losing the support on the heavy luggage.

"Welcome to the very heart of the continent!"

"Whoa! No way!" Pineno laughed. He tapped the paved ground with his clawed toe. "Krista! We are standing dead-center in the continent! We are in the center of The Central!"

Krista could see it, how the crossroads stretched out in a near-perfect cross in all directions. Around her, several Pokémon navigated their way around, only slowing down to cast awe-filled glances towards Vigor. From where they stood, and how flat the land felt, Krista could see the large number of buildings that seemed to stretch a great distance. What stood out the most was a single wooden pinwheel that towered over everything. Even the way it was built looked half-done. The shape was uneven and almost slanted, with only vines keeping the pieces from falling apart. The individual panels were all different shapes, cut similarly with little measurement. It displayed the state of every other structure, which appeared to have been thrown together without second thought.

She wouldn't call it a city. It felt a lot more like a tiny village. But, it was still impressive seeing just how full of life the space was. The activity already rivaled the complex. She could only imagine how it looked later in the day.

"Krista! Krista look! Look! Do you see that?!" Pineno couldn't stay still as he pointed in one direction.

All she saw were a group of Pokémon: A Rhyhorn, Zebstrika, and Pyroar. At first, she assumed they were tough-looking Pokémon Pineno found fascinating, and she could agree; they did look strong. Then, her eyes laid on a familiar badge, a Retaliator Badge, where the center stone was a bright white instead of deep blue.

"Northerners!" Pineno blurted out. "They work for the famous Metagross!"

"Oh, yes." Vigor chuckled. "You'll see a lot of folks from the Ivory region here, and folks from Ebony in The South. And of course, those from The East and West. These roads all connect in this city. It's only to be expected. This is where we gather to trade, after all! And it's the perfect place to get the latest news as well!"

"Northerners…so cool!" Pineno chirped. "Can we talk to them?"

He clasped his paws together and looked at Vigor.

"Please? Please?"

"We can't afford to get distracted, I'm afraid," Vigor said with a shake of her head. "Perhaps another day."

"But we might not come here for another month!" Pineno protested. "Can't we just greet them at least? Just a little?"

"You are workin' right now. If we were just visitin', yes. I would love for you to take a look around. But we are in the middle of somethin' important. You wouldn't like it if The Headmaster decided to take a stroll instead of escorting you, now would you?"

Pineno's shoulders sank. "Alright…"

Vigor waved an arm. "Now c'mon. We are nearly there. I'll show y'all where you're supposed to meet your client."

A Pelipper zipped by above their heads, carrying a pack on its back. It dove behind a large building, perhaps the largest within the entire area.

It was a fair walk, but they didn't have to search for their destination. The tallest building in the entire city stood with two floors, built to the shape of a Lapras. The entrance was between its flippers, where a couple of Pokémon entered or left the place carrying a variety of boxes or crates. Many took notice of Vigor. Some stared and stepped out the way as she entered with the children close behind. It made Krista grateful for her presence, because she was sure she was getting a few odd glances herself. But, they were always far more interested with the famous Machamp instead.

"I'll warn y'all," Vigor said. "This place is…built with a mythical theme in mind. A tourist trap, if you want to call it that. So don't go tryin' to buy everythin' you see here, now. The prices ain't worth your pockets."

The pair of children nodded, although Krista was more curious.

"All fine? Then this way!"

As they stepped inside, the first thing that struck Krista was the strong scent of produce. Then, it was the chill in the air, reminding her of the wearhouse. Beneath her feet, it was as if someone took the time to polish the rocks that were paved into the earth. That wasn't the most impressive thing.

The space was massive. If anything, the building looked a lot bigger inside than outside. There were several Pokémon moving about, peering over lined shelves stocked with berries or objects of all kinds. The number of shelves made the Kecleon Market look tame. There were several columns, some even lined against the walls. The very back of the building had a long wooden counter where Pokémon working behind it took poké or set items inside small baskets. Each one had handles for the quadruples to make use of. At the very right and left corners of the room were spiraling wooden stairs that took grounded Pokémon to the upper floors. What could be up there, Krista could only guess.

(It's like some sort of farmer's market!) Krista paused for a second. A human memory, she was sure. The buzzing energy held a similar atmosphere.

"This place is amazing!" Pineno shouted. "There's so many things here!"

"Too many things," Krista added. "Aren't they worried about someone trying to walk out with anything?"

Vigor chuckled. "Always assumin' the worst, aren't you? I would have thought you learned from your first real visit to the Kecleon Market back home, hm?"

They followed her to the long countertop. She heaved the crate over her shoulder and dropped it in front of her feet. The heavy weight was enough to grab the working Pokémon's attention.

Krista could identify them all. From the left to right, there was a Passimian, Sabeleye, Kadabra, Druddigon, and Toxtricity—one that seemed slouched but lively with yellow electricity. They had stopped their activities just to acknowledge Vigor's presence.

"Krista! Krista, look!" Pineno whispered. "Look at their badges! They all have badges!"

Pineno was right. They all did have a badge. All of them were Retaliators of different ranks. What really caught her eye was the different colored centerpiece each one had. Krista recognized the bright white on the Druddigon, and the deep blue on Toxtricity. If she had to make a guess…it only meant Toxtricity worked for Slowking.

Pineno couldn't take his eyes off the Druddigon. Krista pulled him back before he could say anything.

"Vigor the Machamp," the Sabeleye greeted with a toothy grin. Her voice sent chills. It wasn't anything Krista expected—like the shrill voice of an evil witch. Even the centerpiece of her badge had the green color of one. "Here again to deliver more of those precious stones?"

"No gemstones this time, Amethyst," Vigor answered. "But I do have something that Headmistress Delphox requested."

"Ah, wonderful!" The Kadabra was pleased. His badge was red in the center. "She would be delighted to make use of those. Let me see them. I know, I know. You are a trusted source. But protocol calls for it. Don't take it personally."

Vigor laughed. "Don't worry. I understand." With a single hand, Vigor unclipped and removed the top with little difficulty. There was a thick rubbery sheet covering the contents that was inside. "Y'all might want to take a step back."

Krista and Pineno did so. Vigor pulled back the covering, and small blue bolts leapt out in an instant, zapping and hissing in the air.

(Chargestones!) Krista could feel every strand of fur on her body standing in reaction to the strong charge. The five Pokémon were impressed, but the Toxtricity was the most intrigued and wore a prideful smile.

"Our Headmistress will thank you for your service," the Kadabra said. "Expect to see a larger variety of her special wands soon, Ms. Vigor."

"It would be appreciated, Psy," Vigor said.

"So what's this?" The Toxtricity crossed her arms, letting out a small chuckle. Her voice was nothing Krista thought was possible: Tough and sly, but with the slightest crackle of electricity behind almost every syllable. She tilted his head as she peered at the children. "Shiny new badges. New recruits I've never heard about. Who are you two? I would like to know, since we work in the same region and all."

"Oh! Well, I am called Pineno, and this is Krista!" Pineno said. "And we are Team Retribute!"

The five Pokémon exchanged looks. Some wore a twisted smile. Others looked half confused.

The Druddigon slammed his thick arm on the counter and leaned his weight on the surface. He peered at the children, his rough face twisted. "Retribute? Like retribution? From…a pair of kids?"

Almost in an instant, he and the Toxtricity burst out laughing. Druddigon had to lay on his arm just to keep himself from falling over. Next to him, Psy shook his head with a sigh.

"Oh, no! Look out! The bad guys are going to get punished by a pair of adolescent heroes!" Druddigon crackled.

"Sounds rather…anticlimactic…" The Sabeleye mused. A toothy grin formed across her face. "Such a sinister name from someone who lacks the prowl."

Toxtricity chuckled. "Oh yeah. I'm sure Knight will bolt once he hears who the name will be associated with. Impressive."

Sarcasm. Krista had to bite down a growl.

For the first time since Howler's judgment, Krista felt her face burning. She almost wanted to bolt out of sight. Nearby Pokémon were staring at the commotion. Even those at the counter who weren't laughing gave Krista a puzzled or unimpressed look.

"With a name revolving around retribution, you will need to work harder on that promise—a promise a pair of mere children cannot deliver."

Howler was right.

Krista didn't want to accept it, but he was right. She thought she imagined it before, but whenever she introduced the name of her team to anyone, they just gave her a strange look.

But what made it worse was that Pineno's smile had vanished. He was the one stepping back.

The heat of embarrassment had shifted. Krista tensed her body to keep herself anchored.

"Well, it's not the first time we were told the name was pointless for us to have, but that doesn't matter!" Krista shouted. "You're acting like we're the only kids who came up with a name like that! Even if we were, how does it affect you?"

The laughter had stopped.

The Toxtricity turned to Druddigon and shook a finger towards Krista. "This one. I like this one."

(Huh?) Krista gave her a funny look.

"Alright, alright…you have a point there, Meowth." Druddigon had to catch his breath. "You're right. You're not the first. I'm sorry, but it catches us off guard each and every time."

Amethyst leaned her head against her claws. "It's amusing…although not as amusing as the children who called themselves… Team Apocalypse."

Druddigon almost choked as he failed to stifle a laugh. He broke into a holler again, almost falling out of his seat. In the middle of his hysterical fits, all he could sputter was broken up syllables of the mentioned team name.

"It's…it's not that funny." Vigor was not impressed in the slightest. "Pull yourself together, you fool. You're representin' our Supervisor."

The smile was wiped clean as if a switch was flipped. Druddigon huffed through his nose as he punched the countertop. "Hey, now. Don't start pulling the name-calling. Am I not allowed to have a 'lil fun? Huh?"

"You don't insult my recruits. Leave them alone."

"I was insulting nobody. If they can't take it, then they are a bunch of softies like the rest of y'all Central-folks."

"Hey." A melon was slammed on the countertop. The Passimian looked at the two Pokémon, his lips twitching. "Crag. We talked about this."

The Druddigon huffed.

"Don't mind him. The Northern-folks and their sense of humor are a bit rough," Toxtricity said. "Besides, I'm not trying to make fun of any of you. Judging from your badges, you're not a real team yet. I'm assuming Ms. Vigor here is helping you. What is it? An escort mission?"

"How…could you tell?" Pineno asked.

"The escort clients that arrive here always come this way," the Passimian said as he pointed over his shoulder. His badge gleamed purple. "There's a juice bar upstairs. They usually find it to their liking."

"Upstairs huh…?"

… … …

As soon as Krista poked her head out to the second floor, her ears were assaulted by the booming of stomping feet. The air cracked as paws and claws clapped in perfect rhythm. Voices roared or screamed all at once as arms were thrown up in the air. With every wave, she felt her ears press against her skull.

She climbed the rest of the way up, pressing her paw against a wooden guard-rail. She had to look again to assure it was real. For once, a safety measure was put into place.

Unlike the previous floor, the second was built from wood, which wasn't surprising. It was strange that it was never painted. It held the natural light brown color, but there was a layer of something. Krista wasn't sure if Pokémon used a finish of some sort, but it was coated with whatever made it shiny.

"AAAAAAAY!"

The collection of voices shouted at once again as the stomping and clapping continued. Krista glanced at the noisy crowd before scanning the rest of the floor.

At the other side of the room, she could see the other guard-rail, and a Marill holding on to it on its way down. The walls held open windows where the vine-like curtains were pulled back. The roof was carved out in a dome-like shape, likely from the shell of the Lapras the building was designed after. Most of all, the space was large and held several tall wooden tables. Wooden tables. They weren't perfect. They were carved as round as they could make them, but they still had four legs—and chairs! They even had chairs! Krista's heart swelled as she fought the urge to touch it. There was human structure somewhere! And they were all perfectly lined, like a real restaurant!

(A restaurant! I know what a human restaurant is supposed to look like!)

It was faint. She couldn't envision it, but it just felt right. Behind her, there was a long serving counter where several working Pokémon walked behind. They carried trays or were putting berries and fruit together into platters. There were Pokémon pushing aside a long curtain of leaves to enter or exit a separate room that was in the head of the Lapras, which Krista could assume was the kitchen.

(No wonder this place is so popular. It's filled with human influence everywhere! But how did they preserve it for this long?)

"AAAAAAAY!"

The shouting pierced her ears again. Krista wondered if the dancing was inspired as well. It did spark a lot of energy in the atmosphere—perhaps too much energy.

"Hey uh…are you doing okay up there?"

Pineno's voice reminded Krista that she hadn't moved since she caught sight of her surroundings. She hurriedly stepped out of the way to allow Pineno through. He too, was impressed with what he saw, but not to the same extent.

"Wow. So this place really takes the human theme seriously, huh?" Pineno looked at Krista. "Does it look accurate to you?"

"Mostly? It feels very familiar," she said.

"It looks so repetitive," Pineno said "I mean, there's nothing wrong with that. It's just, I've never seen anything like this before."

"I see that you two have taken a likin' to this place!" Vigor was the last to surface, a lot more careful about entering. Krista and Pineno had to step out the way just to give her room. Once she stepped on the floor, she smiled. "Yes, this is Grove's favorite place. I remember now."

"Really? She would go out of her way to come here?" Krista asked.

"Oh, no. Only when she just happens to pass by, which isn't very often. She's an anthropologist, so she's a bit of a fanatic about these kinds of things."

(Anthropology huh…? Dusk mentioned the same thing before…)

"AAAAAAAY!"

All three Pokémon turned to the gathered crowd in the very left side of the room.

Vigor scoffed. "Now who is making all of that noise here?"

Krista was somewhat glad she wasn't the only one bothered by all the shouting.

Pineno, however, was amused by the collective. He tapped his clawed foot on the floor in rhythm with the rest of the crowd, but it looked to be out of observation instead. He raised a foot high, followed by another, and stomped down in sync with the crowd. His face changed.

"They are dancing to a Northern song," he said with a small bounce. "Someone here must be from the Ivory region!"

"Or maybe they just like Northern songs," Krista guessed.

Since Pineno did point it out, she could hear it herself; It was Pineno's favorite song. Where the stomping was supposed to be, the crowd made the most noise. Their shouting didn't sound out of place either.

"Singin' and dancin' is popular here," Vigor said. "Although it's normally reserved outside this buildin'. Who is the cause for all that noise?"

"Hey…isn't that the Pokémon we are supposed to be helping?" Pineno pointed at a tall table stationed at the very corner of the floor.

Among the large crowd, bouncing on the table's surface table was an energetic Gligar. The Pokémon kicked and spun, miraculously missing the bowl of juice that sat on the center. It was balancing and bouncing a single apple on its head. The moment it threw it up in the air, the crowd shouted. It landed without toppling over, and the Gligar spun around again.

"That's our client?" Krista was already dreading everything.

Vigor crossed her arms. "You'll have to talk to him."

"You're serious?"

"This is your mission," Vigor said. "Go on."

Krista sighed. One look at Pineno, and he was already by her side. The pair squeezed their way through the rambunctious crowd until they stood in front of the tall table. Krista had to crane her neck back just to see the dancing Gligar.

"Um…excuse me?"

The Gligar threw the apple up again. He threw his body down, balancing on a single pincher. The apple landed perfectly on top of his stinger.

Loud shouts pierced Krista's ears. She slammed her paws over them, only drowning out half of the volume.

"I said excuse me!" Krista shouted.

The dancing did not stop. The stomping did not stop. The shouting did not stop. Krista growled and shouted as loud as she could.

"EXCUSE ME!"

The crowd shouted in sync again as the Gligar caught the apple with his head again. It was thrown up in the air.

A single vine snatched the fruit and brought it down.

The noise stopped at once. Many heads turned to look down at the pair with strong disapproval. Unpleasant mummers were impossible for Krista to make out. A part of her was thankful for it—she didn't want to know what they could be saying.

The Gligar chuckled and crossed his arms. "Okay, okay. If you wanted my attention, you got it. Now, can I have the apple back?"

That was a voice. Krista didn't expect a near-mature tone to come out of such a small body. What was more impressive was how clear his words were. He had his tongue out on the corner of his mouth, but it didn't interfere with his speech. If anything, it only made his words sound more sinister, like a hissing insect.

"We came here to see you," Pineno answered.

"Eh? If it's about the noise complaints, it's daylight. It ain't my fault some Pokémon don't know how to have fun."

Krista had to swallow just to keep her tone under control. "Aren't you Glider? The one who sent the job request?"

The Gligar took a long look at them. He must have seen their badges, because his expression relaxed from whatever trace of hostility existed. His tongue slipped back in his mouth as he raised a pincher to wave the crowd away. They dispersed within seconds.

"So I'm bein' escorted by a pair of kids?"

(He's an adult?!) Krista almost choked.

"Hrmmm. Not lil' kids at least. Juveniles. Yeah. A pair of juveniles. Not much younger than me, then."

Not an adult?

"How…how old are you?" Krista wondered.

Glider grinned. "Straight to the questions, huh? Geh-heh-heh! Is the voice throwin' you off? Give your friend some time, and he'll sound like a Croagunk who has its head stuck in a can, eh?"

"Huh…?" Pineno just blinked.

(He doesn't talk the way he writes…) Krista didn't know what to make of what she was hearing.

Glider took a good look at the pair. "You have the badges. Beggers can't be choosers. But what makes up for this is that the talented Ms. V is here as well! Does this mean this is your first escort job?"

"Uh…yes?" Krista answered, her tone awkward. (Ms. V?)

Vigor raised an eyebrow at that, but she said nothing.

"Ah. And now that I have a good look at you, are you what I think you are?"

Glider got close. Krista had to lean back.

"It really is a Meowth! Oh, wow! I've never seen the plain-lookin' ones before!"

Krista hoped she would be used to that by now, but no, she wasn't. It was annoying, how they always liked to point that out. Glider must have noticed, of course he would. Her flicking tail made that obvious.

He brushed her off. "Oh, don't take any offense. It's just, the Meowth here? Stunning. They have the shiniest fur, and a ton of class. But you know, I see you admire them. I mean, with the whole walkin' on two legs thing? They are really good at that. They really hate getting their paws dirty so I guess they taught themselves to stay upright. Dedication, am I right? You seem dedicated."

"What?"

"Hoo am I glad you're not the steely ones though. Those guys?" Glider whistled. "Ruthless. They live closer to the sea, so I don't think we have to worry about runnin' into any of them."

(Steely?) That was new. Was there another type she was unaware of?

No. She was getting sidetracked.

Krista waved her paws. "L-listen! You said you want to go to where you need to be as soon as possible, right? So we should start going. You have everything you need, right?"

Glider chuckled. "Isn't that your job?"

Krista pressed her lips as the Gligar jumped down from the table and landed without as much as a stagger. He was tall, about two heads more than Krista. As he walked past Pineno, he extended a pincher his way.

"I'm going to need my breakfast back."

Pineno lowered his vine and dropped the apple to the claw. He stepped back, unnerved by the long stare he was getting.

"Um…what do you need?" Pineno asked.

"I know you," Glider said.

"What?" Pineno pointed at himself. "Me? But…I don't know any Gligar. Have I…"

"You're Zypher's kid. They finally got rid of you, huh?"

Krista had to double-take. She was sure she heard that wrong. A glance at Vigor told her that she didn't…she was far more confused.

Pineno tensed his shoulders and pressed his lips together. A sharp click escaped his mouth before he spoke, his tone harsh. "Who are you?"

The Gligar held out his pinchers in mild surrender. "Easy, I'm not here to pick a fight with little kids, alright? I was just wonderin'."

"We aren't little." Pineno grumbled.

"And you're wondering the wrong thing," Krista said stepping up to Pineno's side. "What kind of assumption is that? Who do you think you are?"

"Uhh, your client?" Glider said as if it was a common fact. "You should really watch your tone. You're supposed to be protectin' me, not attackin' me."

"You're the one who started it!"

"Hey." Vigor stepped in. "That's enough. What's all the fuss about?"

"Oh, these kids just take everything too personal," Glider said with a shrug. "It's not my fault Zypher saw his kid not worth his time."

"HE'S NOT—" Pineno's shouting was cut short as Vigor pushed him back.

"Zypher? Don't be foolish. He only has four children." Vigor said. "Just because he's a Chespin doesn't mean—"

"And a secret fifth." Glider reached up and grabbed the bowl from the table, downing the contents within seconds. He tossed it to a passing Leavanny as he walked towards the group. "I don't think Zypher likes to talk about him, and I'm starting to see why."

Krista could see that Pineno's breathing got heavier. She took a step forward, speaking for his sake. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"I'm sorry sir," Vigor sounded half offended. "but you don't just go around sayin' things like that!"

Glider held up his pinchers. "Hey, hey. Just sayin'. With all the rumors floatin' about, it would be expected for him to have gone feral a long time ago. I don't think any parent wants to shed some light on that fact, especially if they want to keep their golden reputation. It's easier to pretend your problems don't exist, especially if that problem started the moment the mama turned into a mindless beast and all—"

A blur of green knocked Glider to the ground. Nearby Pokémon gasped as silence hung in the air. The Gligar stuck out his tongue and revealed his fangs in response as he lifted his head. A heavy paw slammed it back down. That was when he hissed.

"TAKE THAT BACK!" Pineno screamed at him. His trembling paw pressed down harder, and Glider's hiss turned into a gasp. Pineno's quills stood sharp as he shook Glider's shoulders. "Take back EVERYTHING you said! She's not a mindless beast! She was never a mindless beast! She loved me! My dad loved me! You're lying! YOU'RE LYING! There's nothing wrong with me!"

"CHESPIN!"

Pineno froze, and he looked up at Vigor's furious face with his glossed eyes.

"Let him go."

Pineno looked back at Glider, who stared back, stunned. He shook him off and stepped away before he turned his back.

He bolted down the stairs.

"Pineno!" Krista ran after him. "Pineno, wait!"

"Let him go." Vigor called. "You will stay here."

"But—"

"Give him a moment."

The firm tone was more than enough to make Krista stay in place. She sat on the floor, defeated. The heat of anger boiled in her very core as she glared at the Gligar from the corner of her eye, but she could do nothing. The only part of her that moved was her thumping tail. The impatient rhythm did nothing but annoy her further.

The Gligar had the nerve to let out another hiss in the direction Pineno fled to, as if it would do anything.

One by one, the quiet conversations flooded the space again. Glider sat up and rubbed his head, but he said nothing else. His tail settled back on the ground from being firmly curled.

This was going to be a problem.

(This moron…who does he think he is?)

It hadn't been five minutes, and Krista would rather be stuck in a room with Midnight.

---

To be Continued in Chapter 22.