“They’ll come.”

  A breath glides over my lips in tiny clouds. The sky is so clear it almost gives you spring fever if you look at the blue expanse for too long. The people in the immediate vicinity are chatting merrily with each other. Some head off to catch a few special offers on winter clothing, and somewhere in between, a girl rushes past me, having put a woollen jumper on her Teddiursa.

  “We need to do something...”

  Following the ups and downs puts a smile on my features that doesn’t look out of place or false, even though we’ve been in Hoenn for a week and nothing has happened so far. Amethio started investigating the break-ins. Zir and Conia are questioning a few of those who have already fallen victim to the criminals, and the Devon Corporation is passing on all the information they can gather.

  “They’ll bring chaos with them...”

  There’s little room for me in between – not least because most of the leads are lost and the others can’t find any clues. That’s why I’ve used the time to sign up for my next professor’s exam. A glance at my fingers brings the pink plastic to the fore. After a few details and a note that I’m part of the Explorers and we’ve been placed with the Devon Corporation, a fixed date has been cancelled. I can take the test whenever I want. Thanks to our assignment here, I can even exceed the time limit if necessary. As long as I complete the test before we leave, I don’t have to worry about anything.

  “I’m scared.”

  A few times, I turn the card in my hands, unsure of what to do next. The smartest thing to do would be to disappear back into my room and figure out what topics will come up and what I should focus on studying. However, I can’t get my legs to drag themselves back into this building, while the rest of me longs to see more of this region.

  “Such fear...”

  On top, there’s this voice in my head that’s been haunting me since last night and just won’t stop. It sounds like a young woman, somehow fragile. Sometimes I perceive it only as static in the background, and it reminds me that I haven’t heard from the other being for a while now – the one who wants to force me into a challenge.

  It’s another component I can’t control. Except this time, that certainty doesn’t fuel any unease.

  Finally, I shove the plastic into the pocket of my white coat and take a deep breath. The cold continues to creep through my clothes, and if I remain motionless any longer, the weather will punish me. So I rub my hands gently against the fabric of the thick black skirt and scramble to my feet – in the same blink when someone shouts for help and a few passers-by jump to the side.

  Immediately my attention rushes to the side, only to discover a man running as fast as he can towards me. The short, brown-green trousers and the sandals on his feet make me shiver slightly. Then I notice the Pokémon behind him. Teeth bared and a growl in its throat, its saliva foams from under its snout. Instantly, my fingers reach for Eevee’s Poké Ball.

  Immediately as the stranger chases past me, Lum escapes his ball and forces the wild Poochyena to stop. In just the blink, Eevee fluffs up his tail and elicits another deep growl from the opposing Pokémon, causing the grey hairs of its fur to stand on end. The menacing gleam in its red eyes seems to engulf us both.

  It takes a few seconds of tension before Poochyena suddenly lunges forwards. Mouth wide open, it threatens to bite Lum.

  “Dodge!” The command escapes me so quickly I can barely grasp a clear thought. It seems to have become second nature, a habit in which I can make the right decision before it’s too late.

  But I have no time for self-praise. Lum lingers on his spot longer than necessary – as if he’s ignoring my command. Poochyena’s teeth close in, threatening to snap shut. And it’s this brief instance in which Eevee evades upwards right on the spot.

  Our opponent’s mouth bites into nothing, missing Lum by a few centimetres, before my partner smashes his hind paw onto the Pokémon’s head to leap gallantly higher. He has a plan, and it’s my job to support him.

  “Give me your best swift!”

  Briefly, Lum’s attention wanders in my direction before he nods with a snort and bright energy nestles against his body; until glistening bright stars detach from his frame and rain down on Poochyena.

  But our opponent isn’t impressed. Instead of dodging, Poochyena makes an impressive leap upwards, breaks through the swift, and, in a moment of surprise, sinks his teeth into Lum’s puffy tail. Eevee’s following scream raises the hairs on the back of my neck and silences my voice, leaving me to watch as Lum hits Poochyena’s nose with a powerful kick.

  The opposing Pokémon immediately lets go, lands on its four paws and shakes itself a few times. Eevee follows, hissing.

  “Try-”

  I can’t get any further before Lum, driven by his temper, rushes towards Poochyena. In the next instant, he seems to disappear, only reappearing when he tackles his opponent with quick attack. Torn from its paws, the wild Pokémon crashes onto its side, unable to get up before Eevee attacks again. As if he’s unstoppable, he lunges at Poochyena with all his might, opens his small snout, and drills his pointed fangs into one of the Pokémon’s small ears .

  The pained cry of the Dark-type Pokémon is at least as sobering as that of Eevee before. However, compared to our opponent, Lum’s bite only lasts a second before he gains distance with a skilful jump.

  A chance for Poochyena to get back on its paws. Once again, it allows itself a throaty growl. But Lum’s puffed-up tail makes it flatten its ears before it takes two steps back, then turns around and runs off.

  Spellbound, I watch the Pokémon before shaking my head and turning my attention to Lum. “You can’t let others provoke you when they hurt you.”

  With his back turned to me, Eevee just sits there before he eyes me over his shoulder and lets out an almost snide snort. He reminds me why I always go back to the same Pokémon – basically Ying and Raya. Unlike him, I can rely on both of them without fearing that one of them will cause us more problems than solutions. With Lum, I’m sure that we’d all die in an emergency.

  “That was great!”

  The voice behind us makes both Lum and me whirl around. Eventually, we find a position next to each other as the stranger approaches us. The cheerful smile on his face brings his chin beard into focus but doesn’t distract from his plump cheeks and sturdy build. The only thing that looks warm on his body is the white coat, which makes him look like a professor.

  “You and your Eevee seem to get on well!”

  I have no clue where he gets this idea, so I barely noticeably push our relationship to the back of my mind and instead focus entirely on this man. “I’m glad we could help. But ... how did this even happen?”

  “Oh,” he scratches the back of his head with a restrained laugh, “I was looking for a Weedle when I stepped on that Poochyena’s tail. It wouldn’t accept any of my apologies.”

  A sound of understanding escapes me. Theoretically, I could leave now, but simply turning around and leaving this stranger behind feels wrong. Luckily for me, he keeps our conversation alive as he holds out his hand to me. “I’m Professor Birch, but everyone usually just calls me Professor Pokémon.”

  “Professor Pokémon?” My eyebrows rise.

  Birk, however, laughs. “The people here know me from my ... admittedly sudden field researches. I study Pokémon and their habitats. There are too many secrets that haven’t yet been revealed, and I hope to make my contribution.”

  A new region, another professor. Another soul who has dedicated himself to the mysteries of this world in his own way and therefore probably someone I can call a colleague one day. So I take his hand, introduce myself and feel him threaten to crush my fingers with firm pressure before he lets go.

  “I take it you’re a trainer?”

  “Aspiring professor,” I reply. “I’m going to finish my second exam here.”

  “So you’re just passing through?”

  “You could say that.” My gaze automatically wanders towards the Devon Corporation. “I’m here to investigate the break-ins that are causing concern.”

  He nods hastily. “I’ve heard of them. They’re probably members of Maqua – that’s the name of this group that wants to do something for the environment. I can understand their views, but the way they’re trying to improve circumstances is ... extreme.”

  I had the same thoughts about Plasma up to a certain point. Eventually, you realise violence isn’t the solution. This organisation is probably no different from Ghetsis. People have united for a cause but overshoot the mark because they want too much or are driven by a hunger for power.

  Ultimately, every region seems to have its lunatics. I am no longer surprised that all over the world the most diverse circumstances arise in which views clash and everyone around is hurt. The thought also makes me wonder if there is even one place out there that doesn’t struggle with things.

  “Where did you complete your first exam?” Professor Birch chases my thoughts away with another question.

  “Unova. Castelia City.”

  “A nice building where quick analyses are appreciated!” Nodding, he crosses his arms in front of his chest. ‘You should complete your exam in Lilycove City. It’s the largest city in Hoenn and packed with various institutes where you can do research and look up information. I’d say it’s the place where knowledge and entertainment come together. Especially because of various competitions you can take part in,” he explains. “Plus, they’ll analyse your result there immediately and update your trial card.”

  “The other cities don’t do that?”

  He tilts his head back and forth, undecided. His mouth puckered, he purses his lips. “Rustboro may be a city of science, but that’s also its problem. Every second person who lives here is researching something. This often means that conventional paperwork is easily neglected. Slateport, meanwhile, specialises in sea transport. The exam institute for researchers there is only open for two hours a day. At best, you’ll get your evaluation after two to three weeks.”

  It’s frightening how differently the institutes operate. The more the professor says, the more tempting it becomes to complete my second exam in Lilycove – even though I’m sure my connection to the Devon Corporation could speed up the paperwork here in Rustboro.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  “Mauville City is an arcology characterised mainly by sales and entertainment. You get a view of the entire world as you go from shop to shop,” Birch continues. “However, they don’t have an exam institute for professors. And last but not least, there’s Mossdeep City. You won’t find an exam institute there either, because this city is dedicated to space. They have everything related to astrology.”

  Which means my options shrink to two in one go. Admittedly, Liliycove sounds like the perfect town to avoid wasting any more time than I have. Amethio will be glad if I don’t schedule weeks for an exam. After all, we might have to venture deeper into the break-ins than we do at the moment. And he might need me then.

  “Furthermore, the second exam focuses on Pokémon attacks, battle aids, Poké Balls and first aid measures,” reports Professor Birch. “If you’re not familiar with the latter, you can take a first aid class for trainers and their Pokémon in almost any city.”

  That’s exactly the course I would have needed at the start of my journey. Then I would have been better able to cope with Growlithe’s injury during the battle against Raticate. Perhaps it would also have helped me not to panic in the face of Ying’s poisoning.

  By now I would say the chaotic mess at the beginning has left its mark on me. I now know what remedies to give a Pokémon when something is wrong. Still, I’ll look up the topic in more detail for the exam. You never know what surprises are waiting for you.

  “Thank you,” I finally reply. With all this knowledge, I can prepare myself perfectly.

  The professor, meanwhile, waves it off. “No problem. I’m happy to help out aspiring professors. My daughter, Saphir, wants to follow in her father’s footsteps one day. She may only be ten, but her interest in Pokémon is insatiable!”

  If he’s really keen to help, he’s probably also a way to find out more about Latias and Latios. Also, there are legendaries in this region I haven’t looked up. After I leafed through books with Zir after dinner a week ago, we quickly realised everything here is recorded in scientific language. We hardly understood a word. The internet, however, only gave us summaries of what legends there are and why people believe in them. These were mostly one or two meaningless sentences, presumably intended to attract tourists.

  “Is there anything worth knowing about Hoenn’s legends?” It’s worth a try.

  And indeed, his face seems to light up as he nods eagerly but then points to a café where we can sit down. His legs are probably numb from the cold by now.

  It doesn’t take long for us to settle down among other people and their steaming cups. The last table that’s halfway free is one for four, which we have to share with a couple who aren’t interested in their neighbours.

  Admittedly, the way they hold hands and bend over the table to kiss in the centre is distracting. Not just because it’s alienating, but also because it ties my stomach in knots and drives Butterfrees under my whole skin. I don’t want to think about it. I really don’t. But would it look the same between me and Amethio?

  Immediately, I claw the edge of the table and try to focus on Birch. I need to gather information and not get lovesick!

  “What would you like to know?” He casually orders a glass of water and a sandwich for both of us, which I can’t refuse.

  “Anything worth knowing about Latias and Latios?”

  As if he needs to think about it first, he puts a hand to his chin. Then a long, drawn-out sound escapes his throat, which I can’t interpret, before he replies, “Not really. Latias and Latios are very peace-loving Pokémon living on an island that nobody can enter. They are masters of disguise and prefer to keep to themselves. Probably because they are said to react strongly to emotions, and we ... have a lot of them.”

  So basically, he can’t tell me anything that will get me anywhere. “You can’t just go to the island and ask to enter?”

  “No,” he replies. “Unless you find a very experienced captain who can navigate his way to the island. Then there’s a good chance. No one can really tell where it’s hidden because it disguises itself, just like the Pokémon. Are you planning to find it?”

  I shake my head. He doesn’t need to know that I’d like to take a step towards these mysterious creatures. “I’m just trying to familiarise myself with the Pokémon in this region.”

  “Which brings us to Kyogre and Groudon. There are even murals of these two. About them and a Pokémon called Rayquaza.”

  “Hah?” Disbelief escapes me faster than I can hold it back. There are a few things I need to find out here so I don’t end up being a burden to Amethio. Rayquaza, however, wasn’t on my agenda. Finding out more about this Pokémon here and now is an invitation I can’t afford to ignore. “Will you tell me about it?”

  His hasty nod makes me hold my breath. “Kyogre is something like a god of water. It once saved people’s lives a long time ago by providing rain during a drought. But it is also known for its ability to bring great misfortune. The images show that centuries ago it triggered a flood that turned our earth into a planet of water before its power weakened and the water level dropped. In some writings, this is also called ‘a punishment from God’. All those who believe all the legendary Pokémon add up to a single god, who may or may not be human, are convinced that this flood happened because they angered Kyogre a very long time ago.”

  Another reference to religion. The deeper I delve into the world of legends, the more often there seem to be links to different faiths.

  “Groudon is Kyogre’s counterpart,” continues Birch after a brief pause. “It can create land and evaporate water. It’s said to have once saved us from Kyogre’s flood, but opinions and ideas on this differ considerably. In any case, both Pokémon crave natural energy. Something Hoenn doesn’t have enough of. They would probably suck the supplies of the entire world dry, and it wouldn’t be enough. And because they’re both greedy, whenever they appear, disasters happen.”

  I don’t even want to imagine how much more dangerous these two are compared to Reshiram and Zekrom. Dragons that know how to hold their own in a war are nothing compared to two walking destroyers of nature.

  “And how does Rayquaza fit into this picture?” I ask.

  “It has the power to defeat Kyogre and Groudon and rob them of their strength, so they fall back into a centuries-long sleep. At least that’s a legend that’s been passed down for ages. Some even believe that Rayquaza is a Pokémon god because it descends from the sky to help – while Arceus, another divine legend, is much less seen or heard from. Apart from the belief that it created the world and the Pokémon, Arceus is more mystery than legend.” Birch waves it off. “Anyway, Rayquaza has saved this planet from destruction more than once. According to some reports, it ensures that we aren’t crushed by oversized meteorites and always comes to our rescue in an emergency when we sincerely ask for help.”

  “When was the last time?”

  “I don’t know,” he replies. Immediately afterwards, he looks at his Rotom Phone. “Probably a hundred or two hundred years ago. Long before our time.” A laugh escapes him. “But it’s reassuring to know that someone out there is looking out for us.”

  I don’t know if I can agree with that. It’s a big world and there are many dangers. And if I should consider myself lucky that the Pokémon watching over us can be just as dangerous is a mystery to me. Reshiram and Zekrom are the best examples. They can protect a region – or destroy it. Kyogre can save us from drought or drown us, while Groudon can save us from drowning but leave us to die of thirst.

  In the end, this world needs a balance that is thrown out of balance far too quickly if even one person has the idea of wanting to create change.

  The sigh on my lips weighs heavy as lead at the thought. At least I can pass some of these things on to Amethio. If the black Rayquaza is from Hoenn, there’s a good chance we’ll find it here if we come up with a plan that forces a few people to ask for help.

  When the waitress brings our sandwiches, Birch pays our bill before jumping up and taking a breath. “I’d love to stay and eat with you, maybe chat some more, but I was actually on my way to a field study. I don’t have much time left before I have to report to my wife for dinner.”

  He suddenly seems tense, and it’s probably because I haven’t spoken to him enough. The flight in his limbs is probably trying to get him away from me – or I’m overthinking the moment, and he’s realised from looking at his Rotom that time is passing faster than expected.

  All I can do is say goodbye to him and turn my attention to the sandwich in front of me. There’s no harm in having a snack before I make my way back to report to Amethio.

  And the minutes are relaxing. The voice in my head is silent, and I can relax. In these breaths, I don’t have to think about anything and can observe the people in immediate proximity – just as I did earlier on the bench.

  It’s only when I leave the shop and breathe in the cold air again that my inner peace switches off. Out of nowhere, someone bumps into me, pulls me off my feet, and crashes to the floor with me. I scrape a hand on the stone floor.

  I can’t avoid the sharp hiss on my lips. Simultaneously, I turn towards the stranger – a lanky guy in a white coat and thick horn-rimmed glasses – to speak to him. But even in this instance, I’m not quick enough. As soon as his blurred eyes settle on me, his haste bubbles over.

  “You’re from the Explorers!” He immediately grabs me by the arm to get us both back on our feet in one go. In the next blink, he looks over his shoulder, and I can’t help but follow his gaze.

  A few metres away stands a man in a blue and red striped shirt, a small package in his hands. With his hair covered by a black cloth, I can barely make out the marks on his forehead. They look unfamiliar, strange, and the thought of having slipped into something unpleasant slowly gains the upper hand.

  “You need to help me!” The stranger clings to my arms in panic, and, although I would like to turn round and go back to the café as if nothing had happened, I can’t refuse his request. “That guy robbed me!” He seems to know I’ve noticed that guy over there. “Those are important components belonging to the Devon Corporation!”

  The picture takes shape.

  In the same breath that the pursuer’s attention grazes us, the situation sums up. This guy clinging to me is one of those I’m supposed to protect. That means this stranger there is probably one of those activists.

  Immediately, I reach for Lum’s Poké Ball. I won’t be able to escape from a fight – at least that thought keeps me captivated long enough to not fully realise how my opponent chooses to flee rather than fight. He turns on his heel, just like that, and runs in the opposite direction. I watch him for two endless breaths before I shake the researcher off my arms and give chase.

  Running after someone brings the January cold further to the fore. My skin seems numb, and as I dig the Rotom Phone out of my coat pocket, my fingers seem colder than the device’s casing. Despite this, I try to send a quick message to Amethio. Pursuit. Route 116, Maqua? – is all I get together before I shove the device back in my pocket and run faster.

  The town ends shortly after, and washed-out greenery rises on all sides. My eyes fixed firmly on the stranger’s back, I can’t catch up. He is too fast, too agile and too determined for the stealthy rustling of the surrounding grasses to throw him off his pace. Not even when he jumps over a rise does he slow down. He simply disappears between the trees behind him, which block my view.

  Trying to take the rise with just as much momentum, I trip over my own feet. Only the first tree within reach stops me from falling. The cold air stings my lungs. Still, I only pause for a moment. If I don’t catch this guy, I’ll be blamed for the failure and disappearance of the goods. That means Amethio will once again punish me with contempt, and I’ve only just convinced him I’m not completely useless.

  The trees slowly pass me by. Someone has planted them in such a way that a path remains but it twists and turns like a labyrinth. I walk faster a few times, but get out of breath far too soon.

  Part of me is sure the thief is already over the mountains when the trees spit me out at a small hut. My legs ache, and a quick glance at Rotom reveals that the green mess has kept me on my toes for almost forty minutes. What remains is an oversized mountain inviting climbers to explore, with several entrances at different heights.

  My feet drag me shuffling to a sign that someone has hammered into the ground next to the hut. An arrow pointing towards the mountain tells me I can reach one of the main entrances to the Rusturf Tunnel within fifteen minutes. There is also a warning about the construction work taking place here. It seems they’re digging another path.

  I can’t swallow my hope as I reach for the knob of the door. But the heavy wood doesn’t give way. Someone must have locked it. This means that the thief is either hiding nearby or has actually run to said Rusturf Tunnel. I have no choice but to keep following.

  Luckily, the path to the mountain entrance is made of a well-travelled path lined with tall meadows. Here and there I hear rustling, and somewhere in between I think I recognise the fluffy ears of a Skitty. But they disappear at least as quickly as they appear, and I have no time to pursue my own interests.

  The good thing is my body sweats under the white winter coat. I’m warm enough to last a little longer out here, so I take a deep breath and brace my hands at my sides as I finally reach the entrance to the tunnel. I have no clue where the paths in there will lead me, but I’m hoping the thief will stop somewhere to catch his breath.

  “A-Are you after that man?”

  A scratchy, trembling voice reaches my ears, and it takes a moment before I catch sight of the stranger to my right. He’s sitting on a staircase leading to a few other stairs, his heavy breaths drawing white clouds in our vicinity. Wrapped in a dark blue jacket and ski trousers, all I can do is worry about his red ears and cheeks. His face is barely visible, but part of me thinks I’ve seen him somewhere before.

  He runs his shaky fingers over his thinning hair before pulling his nose back audibly. “I ... wanted to bring Peko back. She really wanted to visit the workers here, even though they’re already finished for the day. And then ... this guy came and grabbed her. He said he’d hurt her if anyone got in his way.”

  His words don’t add up, and my raised eyebrows probably betray my confusion. Raising a hand, he tries to explain himself more clearly.

  “The tunnel isn’t finished yet. There’s no path for him to follow. He’s at a dead end, and that’s why he’s taken my beloved Peko with him, so he can be left alone.”

  A hostage because he’s in a hopeless situation. He should have ditched me among all the trees. That way, he would have escaped. Now he’s trapped, and it’s my job to do something about it.

  But a glance at the entrance makes me reluctant. I don’t want to go in there to face someone who might end up hurting a Pokémon that has nothing to do with any of this. However, Amethio hasn’t replied. He’s probably counting on me to handle this. Alone. I have no choice but to go in.