Choices.

  Every step consists of making choices.

  But how am I supposed to choose when the start of our journey is based on a lie?

  With one breath, I suck the fresh, albeit cold, air of our surroundings deep into my lungs. The stale taste of the stuffy atmosphere inside the submarine slowly subsides, and my shaky legs thank me for the solid ground of the harbour.

  Spending eight days underwater is an experience I don’t want to repeat. This wish will probably not be granted, considering that we’ll be travelling back to Unova at some point, but in these seconds Hoenn greets us – surrounded by snow, ice and a little ash, which dances around barely noticeably when a gust of wind blows over us.

  A glance across the coastal strip brings the small docking point of Dewford Town into focus. There’s just a Pokémon Center, a gym and a few cottages, presumably housing the workers of said buildings. Everything here is bordered by a semi-green forest, which lacks most of its leaves and only has a few fir trees to add some colour.

  “We should stay on the jetty.” Conia, her hands buried deep in the pockets of her thick jacket, makes me turn to face her. She keeps her shoulders hunched, shivering a little, and I think I can see her mourning the warmth inside the submarine. “There’s only sand under the snow. I’m not sure we won’t sink in...”

  Once again, my gaze is fixed on the coastline. Not a single grain of sand can be seen among the white cotton wool. Even some of the water at the edge is frozen, and I can barely make out any footprints. Only when a cottage door opens and an old man steps out does life appear on the ground. His heavy boots leave deep tracks, and as he steps onto the jetty, he greets us with a friendly smile.

  “You must be the Explorers,” he opens as he holds out his hand to me. Hesitantly, I offer him mine, and he shakes it firmly before turning to Conia and doing the same. ‘I am Takeo, a friend of the Devon Corporation,’ he explains shortly afterwards. “I’ll take you from here to Route 104. There’s no docking port there, unfortunately, but dropping someone off there is quicker than taking the diversions you’d have to face if you docked in Slateport City.”

  I have no clue what he’s talking about, and I’m almost grateful when Amethio pushes his way between us to take over the conversation. His “thank you” is curt and doesn’t allow for more than a nod from the old man before the latter shuffles off to his small fishing boat, which is lying discreetly close to our submarine. It only offers one cabin, in which we will probably sit close together, and I’m sure it will sway terribly.

  Still, we follow obediently. Zir has already brought our luggage over – two backpacks and four travelling suitcases – so all we have to do is move over to find refuge in the cabin where, to my surprise, the wheel is located as well. That way, we are protected from the wind without someone having to worry about Takeo.

  “We’ll change to a car on route 104.”

  As soon as I’ve settled down on the hard wooden bench next to Amethio, he addresses us. With all his attention focussed on his Rotom Phone, he doesn’t seem to notice us at first. Only when the device disappears into the pocket of his blue winter jacket does he turn his attention to us.

  “They seem to have planned everything for our arrival, huh?” Leaning my head against the metal wall behind me, I try to see out of the window behind Conia. But apart from a few cliffs and endless water, there’s nothing to see. It’s hard to imagine that there are people who like to spend their whole lives looking at the sea.

  “The Devon Corporation has been working with us for a very long time,” explains Conia in between. “We are usually the first to be allowed to try out their new technology. For example, the use of Rotom in our submarine. That means we’re always one step ahead of most people.”

  “However, you should never rely too much on technology,” Amethio interjects, as if to emphasise that, despite everything, we are constantly failing to catch Rayquaza or take Terapagos from the Rising Volt Tacklers. At least it doesn’t seem like they’ve had many successes before I arrived. And now that I’m here, Rayquaza recedes further and further into the distance.

  Since our last encounter with the Pokémon, we haven’t been able to gather any more information. The only thing we know is that the Rising Volt Tacklers have been in Hoenn for a few days now, so they’re looking for something we can only monitor. Aside from that, the Devon Corporation’s circumstance is our biggest concern. Everything else is rippling along, unresolved and full of hurdles.

  Sighing, I move closer to Amethio. Despite the white winter coat on my body, the January cold gets through to me, and I can’t help but hope the warmth of my seat neighbour will reach over to me.

  Shoulder to shoulder doesn’t seem to be a problem for him, and a glance at him reminds me of our conversation just before we left Unova. I’ve told him about Toucannon because I want to share the most important changes with him so as not to leave him in the dark. It seems like only yesterday that I left Coro with Fennel. Yet much more time has passed since then, and the weight of saying goodbye only weighs half as heavily on me. Sure, I miss him, but he’s happy with Unfezant, and I’m in no position to take that away from him. He has achieved his goal.

  Amethio had nodded at my story and didn’t reply. Even better: he didn’t say a single word. Perhaps this is his way of making me realise I need to look forward instead of talking such things apart, and even though I still have a thousand words on the tip of my tongue, I can’t help but keep my focus on all that is to come. We need to watch the intrusions in the area, deal with the twisted activist group of this region, and on top of that, there are legends that need to be investigated. According to Amethio, we are particularly interested in the legends surrounding Latias and Latios. Not only because they have special powers but also because they might help with my memory. This means as soon as we arrive in Rustboro City, I’ll be devouring books!

  Once again, my attention wanders to Amethio. Even though he still barely speaks to me unless it’s necessary, he tries to help me. He shows interest in my missing memory, my problems and my worries. It’s more than I ever asked for, and although it’s probably not good for my heart, I can’t help but love him even more for it.

  The palpitations towards him are hardly as bad now. Instead, a pleasant warmth spreads through me when I’m close to him. That’s progress, even if it’s not necessarily in the right direction. With each passing day, I can deny less and less that I enjoy being with him and want to spend more time with him. I can’t even say that I think I can get out of this mess anymore. My feelings for him are persistent, and I can’t shake them. I want him, that’s a fact.

  Being close to him here and now makes it easy not to think about him more than necessary. Knowing that he’s here is enough. So I can watch the outside world, look at the Rotom Phone now and then, and finally get to my feet as the boat docks and we enter Route 104. Takeo says goodbye with kind words that neither of us returns, and as I grab my travel bag, it’s the silver sports car inviting us to start the rest of the journey.

  I spend the next hour and a half wrapped up warmly between Zir and Conia in the back seat. Amethio has secured the passenger seat, his gaze drifting out of his window. I wouldn’t say we’re tired, but after eight days in a confined space, there’s nothing more to say. It’s not as if we’ve had the chance to experience anything while we’ve been waiting underwater to arrive. The only things that came up on the journey here were conversations with Zir and Conia, in which I found out a little more about them. For example, Conia’s favourite colour is light blue, and she always wanted to have a cute Pokémon in her team. Or that Zir taught himself how to bake because he wanted to help Conia out in the kitchen without being pushed around by her. He doesn’t like arguing with her, but neither of them is good at being honest with each other.

  If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  For a moment, I close my eyes. Lillie contacted me on the first day of the year to wish me a successful start. She spent the festive season with her family. Lusamine is still in a wheelchair, Gladion has been to visit, and Guzma has organised a big feast in which his pasta has burst into flames. Simultaneously, I got a photo of Fennel toasting to this year with Unfezant and Coro. Even Juniper got in touch to wish me good luck for all my exams. The only one I haven’t heard from is Natural. In his case, I’m not even sure if he knows anything about New Year celebrations. Maybe he’s been using the days to watch the humans and Pokémon celebrate. The only thing that worries me is that he hasn’t read any of my messages.

  From time to time I glance at Amethio, at one of his hands, which he has placed on a small pad with a box of sweets hidden underneath. Zir tried to plunder it at the beginning, and after a few warnings, it’s now in Amethio’s care. A bit like taking hostage all the things that would have brought us joy.

  Part of me would like to reach over and put a hand on his. Just to make sure he’s really here. He’s so absent-minded that he’s the closest thing to a ghost. Touching him would at least emphasise that he won’t simply dissolve – even if the thought is absolutely nonsensical.

  All I can do is fold my hands in my lap and wait.

  Rustboro City welcomes us a little later – the sun has now set, and the street lamps are the only thing still providing any light. It’s so gloomy it’s not even worth looking at our surroundings. Instead, we unload the car and let the driver lead us straight into the Devon Corporation, whose small main building disappears beneath the metre-high skyscrapers on either side.

  The ground floor welcomes us with beige-coloured tiles that draw a pattern with brown tiles in between. Glass has been set into the centre of the reception area, revealing stones, old branches and fossils. The countless orange-coloured seats tempt us to take a breather, and while we are still wishing the man at reception a good evening, our driver departs, telling us he is at our disposal while we are here.

  Meanwhile, reception hands us some keys and explains that our rooms are on the sixteenth floor on the left-hand side. A lift takes us straight to the right corridor – lined with bright red carpet – and the dark brown wooden doors with their engraved numbers look almost elegant. It has the charm of a hotel that was built primarily for the workers, so they wouldn’t have to walk far to their desks and labs.

  Our rooms are close to each other. Amethio and I find our spaces in the centre of the corridor, with a door to someone else between us. Conia and Zir, meanwhile, are at the beginning, opposite each other. Perhaps ten metres separate us.

  As soon as I set foot in my sanctuary, the scent of lavender hits me. It’s cramped, so I bump my bag twice against the dark wall to my right, whose faint diamond pattern gives the illusion that the wallpaper here is soft. Then I flick the light switch somewhere in between.

  Within a few steps, the dark wooden floor leads me into the room where I’ll stay for the next few days. A large bed has been placed on the left of the room with the headboard against the wall. Slim, white bedside tables rest on either side. Above them are power sockets and a small lamp. Two steps away from the foot of the bed stands a narrow desk with only a small light on it. The matching chair almost disappears under the worktop.

  Without further ado, I drop the bag and stride over to the window, through which only darkness flows. A glance outside brings the city lights to the fore. From up here, they look like yellowish dots conveying distant life that can be observed but not reached. Everything seems strangely distant. I wouldn’t even be able to see the people and their Pokémon from up here if I tried.

  Two steps backwards push the bed into the crooks of my knees so I sit down on the hard cushion. With my hands propped behind me, I try to catch my breath. I’m sure Coro would find a few things here that would interest him. Then again, I wonder what Amethio is doing right now. Is he looking out of the window too? Has he settled in bed and is calling headquarters to let them know we’ve arrived?

  He’s probably much more productive than I am in these seconds, so I get back to my feet and pull off my knee-length winter coat to throw it over the chair. Just to be on the safe side, I check the balls in my skirt pocket and have to count them twice before I remember I only have four companions left. Then I grab the key, stow the Rotom Phone on the other side of my skirt and adjust my clothes.

  Immediately afterwards, I leave the room and head back to the lift. It’s late, my stomach feels kind of empty and I’m sure my team would be happy to have a treat or two. But before I reach the lift, one of the other doors opens, and Zir steps out. He has changed out of his thick jacket too and seems at least as interested in something to eat as I am.

  “Are you having dinner?” Tilting his head, he looks at me indecisively. “They have a staff canteen here.”

  In a flash, I glance at my Rotom. It’s now seven mid-evening. “Do you think they’re still serving at this hour?”

  “Normally, it’s open around the clock,” Zir replies. “The scientists here work in shifts.”

  Meaning the Devon Corporation never stands still. That’s impressive in its own way, but I can hardly believe the canteen ensures that food is served twenty-four hours a day. Still, it can’t hurt to scout out the space where we’ll be spending an hour or two together.

  “Will you join me?” Brows raised, I nod towards the lift.

  Zir agrees with an unintelligible sound before we walk side by side and take the lift to the second floor, where there’s a kitchen as well as rooms for fun and relaxation.

  However, we don’t say a single word until we reach the canteen. It’s strange, but if I include every member of this squad, I know Zir the least of all. He’s the one who mostly stays in the background or is usually to be found with Conia. There are few points of intersection in our daily lives, which makes these breaths strangely foreign.

  Only when the aroma of savoury sauce hits us and the rumbling of my stomach speaks for itself does Zir let out a laugh before pointing to a table. “Are we eating together?”

  “I thought the question had already been answered when we came here together,” I reply with a thin smile before my attention wanders to the food counter. “But I think we need to get something over there first.”

  The way we get our dinner reminds me a little of the school canteens I used to go to after school because my father rarely cooked. He was usually busy with his own problems, which made it difficult to eat together. When I try to remember those days, there is only a blur of chaos, with a few clear images hiding behind it. Memories of standing alone in the dark kitchen because my father hadn’t yet returned from work, and I always felt a little out of place in our house. Ying was all that gave me security back then.

  Half in thought, I grab a tray to greet the woman serving the food. Besides three main courses to choose from, there are all kinds of side dishes on display, such as salads and sauces. The combinations seem different from what I know from Unova. The choice is between curry, fish and rice, as well as noodles with mushrooms. In principle, everything looks good, but my decision is ultimately in favour of rice and fish, while Zir goes for the curry. We are also persuaded by recommendations to have mixed salads and a small bowl of miso soup. The costs are covered by the Devon Corporation.

  “I wonder what Amethio would have.” More to myself than to Zir, I glance over the selection one last time before making my way to a table. My companion follows close behind me.

  “Probably the curry,” replies Zir. “He doesn’t like pasta, and I guess fish and rice are boring.”

  A short hum escapes me, recognising his words. In fact, I haven’t observed Amethio’s eating habits any further. Conia takes care of our provisions, which also means she certainly doesn’t serve something he wouldn’t eat. On top, he has so many things for me to explore and learn about that his favourite foods seem like a tiny side note.

  Zir and I find space opposite each other, and as soon as he starts shovelling in the curry, my mind drifts to all the other things I want to get done for the day. I can’t say I wouldn’t prefer to go to bed in two hours to relax, but I should use the time to catch up on some legends about Latias and Latios. There are probably a few people around here who can tell me something about them without me having to read countless books. I should also see where I can take my second exam. I have to get it over with this month, or I can kiss my dream of being a professor goodbye. As long as I register on time, everything else shouldn’t be a problem.

  A glance at Zir tells me he is fully occupied with his curry. He doesn’t look like he’s up for a chat, so I pull out my Rotom Phone and hold it under the table while checking my chats and messages.

  Since the last argument with my dad, there’s been radio silence. He no longer calls, no longer bothers to send me messages and doesn’t seem to give another thought to our last conversation. He’s the only family I have left. We shouldn’t behave like this. But finding a solution seems impossible, and we both want too different things to agree on in general. I don’t know what I can do to convince him that everything is fine – that he doesn’t need to be afraid of Plasma anymore. I’m safe with the Explorers, and even if someone attacks me, I can take care of myself and ask Amethio for help. I’m not alone out here.

  With a sigh, I turn my attention to the fish on my plate. I would love to have a solution to every problem. But that would probably be too easy.