“Extreme speed!”

  “Keep it at bay, Raya! Flamethrower!”

  Arcanine dashes towards us with such momentum that Growlithe’s flamethrower is almost too late. Still, she hurls the fire at her opponent at just the right moment. It’s an instant that blinds Arcanine and allows Raya to jump to the side before Diana’s Pokémon breaks out of the heat.

  With that, extreme speed misses its target, and before the next attack follows, I tense my shoulders. “Bite!”

  In the same breath that Arcanine turns towards us, Growlithe lunges forward. She bridges the short distance to open her mouth and snap at her opponent’s legs. A quick sequence of her abilities, which have no chance to shine as Diana’s partner backs away. However, Raya can’t be stopped and follows up with a flame burst, causing Arcanine to prance across the ground. Fire hardly affects it, yet it flinches whenever Growlithe is about to land a hit.

  “You’re wasting too much time,” Diana yells in my direction, causing Raya’s attacks to stop. Arcanine retreats to her side, and my shoulders slump.

  I’ve been with the Rising Volt Tacklers for two days now, and although I haven’t exchanged a single word with Friede during that time, I can’t deny that I get along surprisingly well with the others. They are nice and show no rejection of a human who actually belongs to the Explorers and is therefore not on their side.

  The things everyone on board does here haven’t quite sunk in yet. I’ve only kept Mollie’s tasks in mind, as she takes care of the Pokémon’s health. I’d love to bombard her with questions so I can take better care of my team, but I’m in no position to pursue that. Not as long as I still have the desire to return to the Explorers. It's wrong to feel too safe here.

  “Whenever you get the chance, you use bite.” Diana has moved closer to me, so she is now only a few steps away. Placing a hand on her partner’s head, she gives me a knowing smile. “You have attacks you prefer, don’t you?”

  I shrug my shoulders reluctantly. If that’s the case, then it’s one characteristic of my fighting style that I haven’t noticed. In this context, I could ask Natural; after all, he observed me in Unova. But we haven’t exchanged a word since our last conversation. And not only that – even though we’re on a ship that isn’t actually that big, I haven’t seen him once in all this time. It’s almost as if he’s a ghost who only appears under certain conditions.

  Part of me wants to worry about him, to search for him and find out what’s going on. Then again, I’m sure he gets on well with Friede, and I can’t shake the feeling that he’ll be able to help Natural better than I can. In the end, I wouldn’t even know what to say. He didn’t even want to talk about his problems when we got together here.

  Maybe his worries are nothing I should get involved in.

  When Diana flicks my forehead, I blink a few times before raising my hand in a trance to touch the slightly throbbing spot. Only then do I meet the reproachful expression of this woman, who looks at me as if I were ignoring all her advice.

  “Try to clear your head. Otherwise, your Pokémon will only get hurt unnecessarily in a conflict.”

  I know that. Amethio taught me that lesson once before. But here and now, we’re not fighting, and I don’t have to watch out for anything. That certainty makes me sigh. “In a proper fight, I’m focused.”

  “Then you should also remember that attacks like flame burst can help you keep your opponent at bay until your partner has closed the gap. Arcanine could have used some attacks while Raya was trying to grab his legs.”

  I nod slowly. Her advice is helpful; I can’t deny that. If I coordinate my team’s attacks better, I can eliminate another weak spot and become a little stronger. That way, I can be even more useful to Ame–

  My thought breaks off.

  Amethio keeps creeping into my consciousness, even though I would prefer to banish him from it. And yet, I am bothered by the fact I can’t answer any of my questions about what happened. Why this lie? Are they even looking for me right now? Are they planning to bring me back, or are they just toying with the idea to see what happens if no one comes? Whatever is going through their minds right now, I hope I mean at least a little something to them. Not least because Conia saw me as a friend. She accepted my little present. In her case, I want to believe that she meant what she said to me.

  My senses could dwell on these ideas forever – thinking and speculating. But a satisfactory answer is out of sight, and as the ship shakes, any clear vision dissolves within me. Instead, my eyes wander over our surroundings. I hadn’t noticed it before, but around us rise dull green trees, defying the cold with everything they have. Not far from here, walls rise, decorated with glass panes that reflect the light of day dazzlingly onto the ground. For a moment, I can’t seem to adjust my focus. We haven’t left Hoenn, I know that much, but I also have no clue where this group is headed.

  “Mauville City,” Diana explains casually, as if she can see the uncertainty in my mind. “We’ll buy a few things here. Supplies probably need to be replenished.” She calls her partner back into his Poké Ball. “We should go explore a little.”

  She acts as if there is no danger of losing me within this city – or whatever it is supposed to be. Presumably, I don’t really look like someone who would do anything to escape. But I am willing to take advantage of this moment.

  “Domino!”

  Just as I am about to ask Diana to take me with her so I can consider my options, Liko hurries down the stairs towards us. With Sprigatito in her arms, she has a beaming smile on her face. No one seems able to cloud her spirits in these seconds, and when I raise an eyebrow, her invitation sounds almost like Lillie’s cheerful chatter. “Roy and I want to look around Mauville, and we thought you might want to come with us. So ... would you like to?”

  It would be foolish to refuse, so I nod briefly before uttering a sound of agreement. I would like to say goodbye to Natural and take things a little easier, but here and now I am being given an opportunity I can’t turn down.

  Liko is delighted, and Raya wags her tail as if she can hardly wait to see Mauville. However, I can’t let her run around freely. She’s too chaotic for that. Instead, I call her back to her ball before attaching it to my belt and thanking Diana for the training. Immediately afterwards, I follow Liko to the ship’s gangway so that I feel solid ground under my feet just a moment later.

  Roy, a boy with a cap and tousled red hair at the front, which is black in other places, is already looking over at the city with a look of excitement in his eyes. Then he stares at his Rotom, while the Fuecoco at his side makes strange noises.

  “Dot said that Mauville is an arcology. These are cities that consist of a single building complex.” He whirls around to us hastily. “There must be a lot to see there! Maybe we’ll even find out something about the Pokémon that travelled together with Terapagos! Or we’ll find other exciting things!”

  He doesn’t even wait for an answer. His legs carry him away far too quickly, towards our destination, which I try to see more clearly with narrowed eyes. On the one hand, I should use the journey there to disappear. I can certainly take on Liko. Then again, I’d like to know for myself what there is to discover in Mauville. Maybe I can buy things there that will benefit me.

  Staying a little longer can’t be wrong. Especially when no one is waiting for me.

  》WHISPERS《

  Mauville defies every fantasy that comes to mind when you think of a city that is also a shopping centre. Wherever you look, there are shops on every corner offering a wide variety of goods. It smells of food, different types of smoke and perfume. Tourists wander around, standing out with their colourful shirts from Alola or clothes that somehow don’t fit in with Hoenn. I can hardly put it into words. The people here show me so many new things that part of me would like to talk to every one of them to find out more. Which regions have come together here? What stories are there to tell from there? What brought them to Hoenn?

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  Unfortunately, there is no way to pursue this thought. I am still travelling with Liko and Roy, and starting a fight here, among all these people, would only lead to problems that no one could handle. For now, it is better to enjoy this new environment and make sure I find a way out.

  “They’ve found us...”

  The sudden voice in my head is familiar. It’s been haunting me since I arrived in this region, and it seems it’s still looking for help. A bit like all those I perceived back then in Unova.

  “We have to fight them off before they hurt us.” A snort. “They’ll rob us. Exploit us. Use us. And no one will come to save us. Right? You won’t come. Neither you nor Arceus. We are abandoned.”

  My gaze falls to the ground. I don’t want to think about it, but it seems as if this voice is calling other Pokémon for help. As if we are both on the same wavelength. It begs for the support of legends and mysteries that refuse to give a hand.

  I would like to change the channel so I don’t have to listen. But there is no way out.

  My knowledge of Arceus is nonexistent. All I can say about this being is that some people see it as a god. The beginning of everything. A religion I can’t relate to.

  “Is everything okay?” When Liko turns to me, it takes a moment for me to realise that I’ve stopped walking.

  All I can do is wave her off. “My mind was elsewhere.”

  “Maybe distraction would be good!” Roy still seems completely unstoppable. “There’s supposed to be some kind of fighting food court here. That’s so cool! Liko, we should go there!”

  A combat food court sounds perfect. During a match, I don’t have to worry about the things that flood my mind. That way, I no longer have to deal with the voice. I can just breathe and forget that there is something slowly driving me crazy.

  But I barely have time to agree and take Roy’s side before someone stumbles into me. It’s a light body that doesn’t even make me stagger but forces me to put my hands on narrow shoulders for protection. In the next blink, large, ice-blue eyes look at me. Green hair that somehow reminds me of Natural with its wild, unruly strands. You could almost think they are a bit too similar – with this uncertain posture and the expression of a child on their face who doesn’t quite know where to go, even though they have very specific ideas in mind.

  “S-Sorry... I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.”

  This boy is probably younger than Liko. He doesn’t look older than ten or eleven. On top of that, he’s so lanky that it’s easy to overlook him. His hunched shoulders and the hasty glance up at me, somehow seeking forgiveness – I can imagine that Natural looked just like this as a child.

  “Wally, is everything okay?” A man emerges from the crowd, his plump body taking several attempts to squeeze past the crowds of people.

  “Everything’s fine...” The child pouts, pushing out his lower lip. “But my mind is made up. I’m going to challenge the gym leader!”

  My hands slip from his shoulders. Then, I take a step back. I shouldn’t get involved here. But escape is impossible.

  It’s Roy who sticks his nose into this situation unasked. “Gym leader? There’s one here?”

  Wally immediately turns to him. “There is! He specialises in Electric-type Pokémon, and I really want to see how much stronger I’ve become!”

  The uncertain expression on his face disappears as quickly as it came. Instead, a little boy with determination remains. And I see Natural in that as well. It would be nicer if he were here too.

  “Wally, you’re taking on too much. You haven’t been a trainer for long.” His adult companion steps closer. “I just want you to be prepared and not rush into things.”

  “I can do it!” the boy counters. “If only I could prove it to you...”

  “Maybe a friendly battle would help!” Roy suggests, and even Liko agrees, that it’s a good idea.

  I’m not sure if I see it that way, but if it’s a chance to get to know my potential enemies better, I won’t complain. And in fact, the boy accepts the suggestion surprisingly quickly, and before his companion can protest, a Fuecoco and a Ralts are already facing each other.

  The round eyes of the Fire-type Pokémon sparkle with anticipation, and the heat of its body makes its surroundings flicker. Ralts, in contrast, seems much more delicate, almost fragile. It raises its hands in front of its chest and presses them together – uncertain, but unwilling to back down. It is every bit as brave as its trainer. Neither of them moves or makes the first move, while the people around us stop and watch. Everyone here is ready for a spectacle. Quite unlike at the market, where the customers simply moved on as if there was nothing to see.

  Ultimately, it is Wally who starts the match. “Double team!”

  Ralts slowly takes a step forward before raising its hands and emitting a buzzing sound. In the next breath, it is no longer alone. With six more of its kind, it has the upper hand and also a slight advantage. But only briefly.

  Fuecoco isn’t impressed for long. Although the illusions spread in a flash, Roy is confident. With the command to use ember, his partner throws fire at every Ralts that moves. Projections burst into air and a slight glimmer. Four images disappear; the fifth chases after the Fire-type Pokémon. But before Ralts can attack, Fuecoco goes for another ember. Another hit against nothing and another waste of time, which the original uses to its advantage. With a small battle cry, the Psychic-type Pokémon stretches its arms towards Fuecoco. Immediately afterwards, Roy’s partner stumbles backwards.

  “Fuecoco!” Roy can do nothing as his partner squints its eyes as if struck by an invisible hammer. The used confusion seems to give it a headache. Its body staggers. But it’s not enough to win.

  Breathing more uncontrollably than before, the Pokémon inhales to throw one more ember at its opponent. Flames shoot across the tile floor, singeing Ralts’ robe-like body and eliciting a squeal that hurts my ears. Despite all the battles I’ve fought so far, I’ll probably never get used to watching this suffering. When it’s my team that has to face it, there’s still a certain amount of control I can rely on. But here and now, all I can do is watch, and it makes this friendly match somehow uncomfortable.

  “Give it your all!” With his fist raised, Roy cheers on his partner. Not only with words, as I realise to my horror, but also with a song that consists mainly of the Pokémon’s name.

  It’s embarrassing and inappropriate, but it seems to help. Fuecoco moves faster than before, more determined, almost cheerful in the face of battle. Its broad feet trample relentlessly on the ground until a tile shatters and the shards shoot at its opponent like a shock wave.

  Within a second, the attack reaches Ralts, who teleports out of the way so quickly that Wally has to jump aside to avoid being hit himself. Immediately afterwards, his Pokémon appears next to Fuecoco, its chest swollen, before letting out a growl that makes its whole body tremble. It is a pitiful sound, which Wally wants to emphasise with another confusion, but Fuecoco’s reflexes don’t allow for another sneak attack. Roy’s hideous singing and Ralts’ screaming – it makes Fuecoco utter a sound that somehow counters it all.

  With a crooked disarming voice, it drowns out Ralts. Shrill and vibrating, its desperate attempt to gain the upper hand overwhelms my senses. The other spectators are probably feeling the same way.

  Ralts can’t stand the screaming either, so it presses both hands to its head and remains frozen in place until, somewhere in the middle of it all, it simply collapses. Its body twitches irregularly. Rigid and battered, as if paralysis has taken hold of it, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that is the case – although none of these attacks can trigger such a state.

  “Well done, Fuecoco!” While Roy energetically picks his partner up off the floor and presses it tightly to his chest, Wally hangs his head. It’s one of those moments where I can understand how he must feel. I’ve been in this position more than once, lost and had to live with the consequences. He’s no different.

  When his supervisor puts his hand on his shoulder, I can at least be sure that this boy isn’t finished yet. He is receiving support and will probably, driven by training and this defeat, embark on another journey that will make him much stronger. Still, watching him walk away devastated makes me almost sad. He briefly thanks us before saying goodbye and burying his dream of challenging the gym for now. That leaves us three again, and it’s the whirring of Liko’s Rotom that dispels the gloomy mood.

  “Mollie wrote. She says we should bring some swabs, and Dot asks if we can check out the evolution stones here.”

  So Liko sets our next destination. I must admit, evolution stones pique my interest too. Raya could use one if we ever decide to take the next step. Besides, it’s good to memorise prices for certain things.

  However, I can’t suppress my disbelief when we arrive and see the stones gleaming teasingly, while the price tags have been placed beneath them like a death sentence. 150,000 dollars for one of these specimens is far too much. No matter how I look at it, I can’t and don’t want to afford anything in this price range. I’d rather stay with a Growlithe forever.

  Meanwhile, Liko takes a few photos for Dot, and although now would be a good time to run away, I can’t bring myself to do so. My eyes wander over the surroundings, over offers and shops selling stuff that no one really needs. Still, one of them attracts me with cute charms, and I can’t help but buy one of Espurr. It reminds me of Amethio. A little quirky and with those eyes that seem to say everything and nothing. The longer I look at it, the more fitting this image becomes in my mind, and it tugs at the corners of my mouth.

  I would love to give him this little charm, but it would be an inappropriate gesture. So I’ll keep it for myself. As a reminder. For whatever.

  No matter what I try to tell myself, my heart knows as well as my mind that Amethio will only haunt me even more this way. And that’s okay. Just like the vibration of my Rotom Phone, which opens a chat with Fennel. One in which she sent me a picture of Coro and Unfezant lying happily on a pillow, asleep. Toucannon’s beak gleams a little, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s warming his girlfriend.

  He takes good care of her.

  It’s almost enough to make me jealous, if I didn’t remember that Coro’s species always lives harmoniously with its partners. Much more peacefully and lovingly than humans ever could.

  Probably because we’re not meant to.