I think running away when no one is looking for you is out of my element. Maybe I’m just still here because the Rising Volt Tacklers are a friendly bunch to hang out with. Admittedly, I can’t warm up to Friede. But Liko and Diana are wonderful people, just like the other members of this troupe.

  With a sigh, I lean against the railing. The air is heavy in my lungs, and the ash makes me cough from time to time. Whenever the Volt Tacklers want to realise their plan to bring me back, it doesn’t seem to be time yet. We’re still in Hoenn, and for the last few hours we’ve been heading for the volcano, whose ash is constantly polluting its surroundings. Whenever we got close enough, it feels like we’re flying through snow: the ash here collects as a thick layer on the deck, my clothes, my hair and everything else. Nothing is spared.

  The idea that there are people living in the immediate vicinity of this natural chaos makes me feel sorry for them. According to Orla, our destination is Fallarbor Town, a community set up by scientists to deal with meteorites. Supposedly, they have managed to live there free of ash. Some say it is because of the magnetic field that forms an invisible protective barrier around the community. Others claim it is the wind, which always blows in such a way that the ash gets caught in the fields outside.

  Whatever the truth, I can’t wait to escape the ash flakes and take a look at the dwelling place that farmers have taken over with their small gardens. There is only one scientist left in Fallarbor.

  Briefly, I stretch before pushing myself back into the ship, where the lousy weather can’t get to me. My whole body shakes as I try to brush the loose ash off me. Instead, I smear most of the flakes on my white winter coat, which by now looks grey and worn out. But taking it off is out of the question. When this ship lands, I’ll be setting foot in Fallarbor with the others, and if I don’t want to freeze to death, I’ll have no choice but to keep these dirty clothes on. Sure, I’ve been with the Volt Tacklers for five days now, and my clothes get washed whenever Mollie can persuade me to give something away, but overall I haven’t given up on the desire to escape. After all, the opportunity to disappear could present itself at any moment.

  Shrugging my shoulders, I take a deep breath as I look down at the ground. There were already more than enough opportunities to make a run for it. I would be lying if I said otherwise. However, I still have this stupid, almost childish hope that the Explorers are after us.

  Just a little longer.

  I’m going to stay a bit longer until I’m absolutely sure that no one is coming. Maybe one of them will have the decency to leave me a message. After all, writing to me via Rotom or giving me a call is no challenge. Unless they assume that the Volt Tacklers have taken my things. But I’m sure Amethio knows them better than that. He’s probably aware that they wouldn’t go that far because they’re pretty sure of themselves.

  Quite unlike him.

  Shaking my head, I try to banish the thought. I don’t want to think about him. Too many thoughts about how all this has happened and I'll end up in bed with a stomachache because it’s hard not to get upset somehow about this mess. All I can do is look positively ahead and not let go of the bit of hope that is still somehow deep inside me.

  In slow steps, I stroll along the corridors of the ship, taking a short lap from one corner to the next without a destination, until I arrive back exactly where I started: in front of the glass door that will take me outside. However, the wall of ash has now disappeared, and when I open the doorway, all I feel is cold air. Breathing is suddenly easy again, and as I step out and walk towards the railing, I immediately spot the roofs of the town, which seems to have died out in this cold.

  On the left are barren fields where nothing can be found. Not a single person can be seen on the well-trodden paths. From up here, the hundred or so houses look like small huts. Most of them appear to be in need of a new coat of paint. Others no longer have a proper roof, and wood can be seen under the shingles. The Pokémon Center and a supermarket stick out, as does an arena, whose oversized emblem makes it clear this is a place for performances – similar to a theatre, only with attacks as the content and much less singing.

  My heart beats a little faster as we lose altitude. Friede heads for the outer fields on Route 114 because the Asagi would never fit on the walkways, and I can already imagine how much delight I’ll find in the professor’s papers when he lets me look at his stuff. After all, according to Friede, he deals with Rayquaza and might tell us more about it.

  From what I’ve learnt from Terapagos, this black Pokémon belonged to a man called Lucius. That was about a hundred years ago. But what was before that? Does Rayquaza really belong here in Hoenn, or is it a different Pokémon, considering that the people of Alola have reported the same creature in green?

  There are many questions that Professor Cozmo may be able to answer. At best, all this information will give me a deeper insight into the world of Pokémon. Then perhaps it will also be easier to find out about the life of a professor. And maybe I’ll be able to understand the world we live in a little better so that I don’t have to let people like Natural down with my ignorance any more.

  My fingers cling tighter to the wood of the railing as the Brave Asagi finally lands, sending a slight shudder through my legs. Now, so close to the ground, you can see a film of ash on the earth here too. But it is so thin that it is hardly noticeable. The quality of life in this place must actually be better than in other neighbouring areas of the volcano.

  “Ah, Domino!” Liko’s voice pulls me out of my observation, so I turn towards her. Raising one hand, she hugs her Sprigatito tightly with the other. “We’re going together!”

  “Friede approved it?” My eyebrows rise. It’s no secret that I want to go on land, and Liko has taken it upon herself to ask for me. Our little trip to Mauville City has probably made him trust me more than he should. Or he assumes that I’m not willing to fight for my freedom. After all, I’ve already given it up to protect Conia, and generally these conflicts aren’t my favourite part of travelling. The only reason I’m seeking more power is directly related to Amethio.

  I didn’t want to be a burden.

  But now he’s rid of me.

  Only the thought turns my stomach, so I focus painstakingly on Liko, who has approached.

  “He said that you’re not a prisoner and that you should keep your freedom. And if you try to run away, he’ll intervene.” She tries for a wry smile. “He seemed positive.”

  Of course. Because even if I chose to leave here, I wouldn’t know where to go. I’d probably have to make my way through the volcanic ash, and that’s the last thing I need. So nobody here has to worry about my sudden disappearance.

  With my hands buried deep in my coat pockets, I follow the troupe off the ship and through the ash. Every step makes our surroundings a little greyer. Every breath tastes somehow dusty, and the cold doesn’t add to the comfort.

  Fortunately, it’s not long before we reach the professor’s house that Friede told us about. It’s a small home with an oversized satellite dish stuck to the roof. A bit like he’s using it to track meteorites and comets. I’m not much for astrology or space, but the likelihood that he’s going to share some interesting things with us still spurs me on.

  When Friede knocks on the reddish-brown door, however, it takes half an eternity to open it a crack. A woman’s thick glasses peer through the slit, and although it looks as if she is simply being cautious, she also conveys the uncomfortable tension of a woman who must have had something happen to her. Friede notices this too, and he isn’t distracted as he puts a hand on the door and speaks to the stranger.

  “Is everything all right, Wakana?” He leans down a little towards her small form. “Where is Professor Cozmo?”

  She doesn’t answer. Instead, she closes the door. Rattling sounds come through to us, as if she is opening countless locks, before she opens the passageway again – this time wide enough for us to enter.

  Immediately we push our way inside. But there is hardly any room for us inside this house. The walls are covered with steel plates. Computers are running in one corner; screens flicker, and one hangs askew. Paper is strewn across the floor: endless notes that look like quick scribbles that no one has cleaned up. In between is a sofa that looks worn out, a kitchenette and an upstairs staircase that probably leads to even more technology. Nothing here is homely. It’s a laboratory where two people have probably been staying for far too long without realising it.

  However, there is no one here apart from the woman. The man Friede was talking about is not within reach.

  “Where is Professor Cozmo?” Friede asks again, and the woman opposite him hangs her head.

  “Maqua took him.” Her answer is barely audible. It sounds like a whisper, like the voice of someone who has already come to terms with the situation. Whatever these activists did, it must have scared her. “They just came in and took him away.”

  “He didn’t put up a fight?” Friede’s disbelief settles in me too. It’s hard to imagine someone just letting themselves be towed away without putting up any resistance. Not that I'm the one to talk...

  “I didn’t say that,” she replies, “but this man twisted his arm, while the other one threatened to burn all our notes if he didn’t come with us. They said they were going on a quest with him. That was ... yesterday.”

  “Did they say where they were taking him?” Friede carefully places both hands on the stranger’s shoulders, and I can’t help but watch him with a snort.

  Here and now, he seems like someone you can trust. A nice person who cares about others. In these seconds, it’s hard to believe that he was willing to hurt Conia’s Golduck more than necessary. He probably would have even killed her Pokémon if I hadn’t intervened.

  Gritting my teeth, I avert my eyes. There are other things I should be worrying about. Friede and his contradictory nature are not one of them.

  “They wanted to go to Meteor Falls to find a special stone. I don’t remember,” the woman replies. “They said they needed more energy.”

  My thoughts immediately drift back to the subject. Maqua is looking for energy, which means they’re planning something bigger than burglaries and burning rubbish. Presumably, they’ve found something to raise their activism to a new level. It’s a shame the henchman I encountered in Rustboro City didn’t know more than to get some components. I suppose these things are connected, and judging by what I’ve seen in Alola and Unova, I don’t even want to imagine the sickening ideas they’re pursuing.

  "Meteor Falls isn’t far from here," Liko interjects. “Grandma said you can hike there. If we set off now, we’ll be there in an hour and a half.”

  “We have no other choice,” agrees Friede.

  Of course we don’t. After all, it’s about helping someone who has ended up in the clutches of some madmen. If we turn back now and do nothing, it will mean losing a potentially important battle. We can’t afford that. Neither the Volt Tacklers nor the Explorers. Not if we all want to avoid worsening Hoenn’s circumstances.

  However, nobody can guarantee that we’re not already too late. They took Cozmo with them yesterday. So much can happen to him before we reach Meteor Falls. Still, we push out of the house as quickly as we came in. The cold strikes again, and my body shivers briefly before I think I’ve got used to the conditions.

  Then we set off – without stopping or anything that brings us closer together. Rather, it is Liko’s worries that keep us on our toes and that fall silent somewhere behind the dry fields. They are replaced by Roy’s cheerful ideas and the positive visions he shares with us as water drifts past us and frost-white meadow crunches. But even he eventually becomes quiet, and all that remains are unspoken thoughts. My own cling to this region, to the fact that Hoenn seems just as corrupt as Alola and Unova. I shouldn’t think like that; I know. But right now it all feels a bit overwhelming, because I’m not where I’m supposed to be, and also because I just can’t find the right moment to escape. It feels like a part of me doesn’t want to leave because I’m not alone here. Natural is on the Asagi. When he catches himself, when he feels better and everything becomes a little easier for him, we can see the world together. All I have to do is stay.

  It’s very simple.

  And terribly wrong.

  I have to go back to the Explorers because I have a future there. My exam should bring me one step closer to the life of a professor. I can’t fall for my fantasies now just because they seem so much simpler than reality. The truth is, I’m deluding myself. Ever since I set foot on this ship, I’ve been a sorry excuse for a human being. Sure, Amethio bears some of the blame for that. But the key problem is me. The stupid girl who let a rejection throw her off balance. All because I put too much faith in something insane like intuition.

  Making excuses and pretending I don’t know what to do has got to stop. I’ve reminded myself of this more than once. The problem with it, however, is the realisation and this half-hearted way I try to manage it all.

  It’s hard not to hate myself.

  As Meteor Falls finally comes within reach and we push up some stairs, I try to distract my thoughts. All that matters now is Maqua. At least right now, they’re the only ones who can tell us what they’re planning and what happened to Professor Cozmo.

  Still, the deep craters in this place are distracting. Some of them are so big that Rayquaza could settle in them with Reshiram and Zekrom. The ground is uneven, there are stones everywhere that crunch underfoot, and the few people who are here have focused all their attention on the recesses. There’s no point asking for the professor here. Presumably, none of them have looked up once in the last few days.

  Friede seems to share the opinion, and while Roy still tries to speak to someone before being met with icy ignorance, Liko clings to her chest bag. She probably doesn’t know what to expect, and I can understand her. We can’t hope for help here. The danger that threatens us hangs over this place like a memorial.

  But our options aren’t big enough to simply turn back. Either we act, or we watch what happens. And since no one wants to know what will happen when Maqua gets what they want, our only option is to move on.

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  With Friede in the lead, we enter the cave entrance, holding our breath and straightening our shoulders. My fingertips graze the Poké Balls on my belt. My team is ready for action at any time. But there is no one inside. There is only natural light, emanating from the far too blue water flowing deep under a hanging bridge. The glow is enough to bathe the entire cave in a friendly brightness. Surrounding stones, some almost as big as Ying, glitter sporadically. Others look like rocks that have been split and reassembled over centuries. The angular surfaces twist artfully.

  Slowly, one by one, we push ourselves across the bridge. There is no route here. Most likely, there are countless corridors in which they could have hidden. Without a clue, it’s hard not to waste more time than necessary.

  “Where should we start?” Eventually, Liko utters what’s stuck on my tongue, and as we come to a halt on another bridge a little closer to the glowing water, the same question seems to be on everyone’s face.

  If we split up, they risk me disappearing – no ifs, ands or buts. One alone cannot hold me. In the worst case, I’ll deal with Friede if necessary.

  However, if we remain a group, there is a high probability that we will fail completely. Finding Maqua could be a task we’ll cut our teeth on.

  “Maybe we should split into groups of two,” Roy suggests, but is met with a shake of the head from Friede. He can probably guess that I won’t wait forever to find the right moment to make my escape.

  “There must be another way...” Putting a hand to his chin, Friede sinks into his thoughts.

  I, for my part, continue to look around. We don’t have any of the professor’s clothes that we can give to Ying or Raya to track him down. We have nothing that could benefit us. Splitting up is the best decision. And even if it seems stupid, it might be better for me to help. After all, as an Explorers member, it’s my job to get my hands on Maqua. Among other things. This also means that I don’t avoid escaping; I simply follow the instructions given to me and the others.

  I’m probably just making things up, but at least it sounds sensible. Helping someone is never wrong.

  “Roy’s right,” I interject. “In groups of two, we have a chance.”

  Friede glances at me. “You don’t think you’ll use the situation to your benefit?” He sighs exhaustedly before scratching the back of his head. “You shouldn’t even be here ... maybe we should have left you on the ship... It’s difficult to trust someone who is being taken home against their will,” he then admits.

  Crossing my arms in front of my chest, I raise my eyebrows. “This isn’t about trust, it’s about Maqua. The Explorers have something to settle with these people, and if I can get my hands on someone here who knows more about what they’re planning, it’ll help my side a lot.”

  I don’t have to make him realise we’re pursuing the same goal. Friede may not be the kind of person I can sympathise with, but that doesn’t make him stupid. He understands exactly what I’m getting at, and he accepts it with a heavy groan.

  “Liko and Roy take the left side of the cave. Domino and I will take the right.” He puts his hands at his sides with more determination than before. “If you find them, try calling. It’s possible that the Rotom Phone will have problems connecting. So just ring and then write a message. That way we’ll know something’s happened, and a message will get through more easily than a call over unstable lines.”

  The two children nod briefly before turning on their heels and heading towards their section of the cave. I stay behind with Friede.

  Neither of us moves for a moment. Instead, we look after Liko and Roy. Somehow tense, because we don’t warm up to each other and also because neither of us trusts the other. However, we now have to work together. So I turn to him briefly, and with a quick wave of his hand, he signals for us to set off.

  The brightness of the cave makes it easy to progress, even though we don’t exchange a single word. The silence between us is thick, can be cut, seems impenetrable until we reach an exposed point, beyond which cliffs drop into the bright blue water. For a moment, you’d think we’re lost. Without clues, it seems almost impossible to find anyone. At least until we hear a whimper and someone gives a hissed warning. Immediately we push on, tiptoeing, holding our breath. We creep along one of the light-coloured walls until we reach the cliff. And there they are, close to the edge, on a path that leads sideways into nowhere.

  Professor Cozmo is impossible to miss. His white coat is practically a trademark for his work, and the other two don’t fit the image of an abductee. The burly bloke next to him is very reminiscent of the guy I chased in Rustboro. Same uniform, a bit hunched over, kind of hopeless with a big grin. The woman next to him embodies much more self-confidence. Her black hair reaches down to her hips, and her beautiful body is emphasised by clothes that leave her stomach bare. In her slender fingers, she holds a device that occasionally makes a beeping sound.

  “You’re sure there’s supposed to be a powerful meteorite here?” Without further ado, the stranger turns her head to Cozmo. “You realise what happens when you lie, don’t you? It’s no problem for us to dismantle your lab and take your assistant. Maybe we’ll feed her to our Pokémon, or hang her from a lighthouse so people can see what happens to those who try to defy us.”

  A snort escapes me. The professor’s barely intelligible mumbling hardly reaches me, and just as I’m about to grab a Poké Ball, Friede raises a hand in front of my nose.

  “Let me go first.” He forces a smile. “If no one else joins us, you follow.”

  It sounds like a fair plan. That way we can find out if there are any hidden members within range that we need to watch out for. Anything other than agreement seems insane.

  So Friede emerges from our hiding place first. He approaches the group at a relaxed pace before stopping and putting his hands at his sides. “I hope I’m not causing any inconvenience. But Professor Cozmo and I had an appointment.”

  In the blink of an eye, all three turn to look at him, and while amazement spreads across all their faces, it’s the woman who catches herself first. The red lipstick, the blue eyeshadow, her tanned skin – everything is in harmony. She is beautiful, with a smile that is both biting and seductive. I can barely take my eyes off her lips.

  “So the professor is getting reinforcements?” Her voice mocks mercilessly. “Unfortunately, we can’t leave him to you. He has unfinished business here. As soon as we have what we need, you’ll get him back. Maybe.”

  “Unfortunately, I can’t accept that.” Friede refuses to be provoked. Compared to Amethio, he takes the situation with a relaxed sense of humour, as if there’s nothing to get upset about. He simply shakes off the problems, reaches for his Poké Ball the next moment and lets Charizard out.

  My gaze wanders carefully over our surroundings. No one comes crawling out of hiding. No one is here to interrupt this fight, and when our opponents use a Muk and a Mightyena to fight back, I push myself out of hiding too.

  “Oh, another mascot in tow. Cute.” Crossing her arms in front of her chest, the stranger presses a soundless laugh over her lips. “That won’t help you either.”

  “We’ll see when you lose,” Friede counters. He’s sure of himself, probably doesn’t even think about losing, and I have to admit that I find his self-confidence astonishing. Maybe one day I’ll be able to go into a fight in the same way. Without worries.

  In the next breath, he starts the fight. With an air slash, Charizard aims at our opponents. The sharp, barely visible sickles slice into the ground, whirling up dust and dirt and also cutting through Muk at one corner. Slime splatters around, a horrified sound escapes the Pokémon, and Team Maqua raises its arms to shield its eyes.

  A second in which I send Mimikyu into the conflict.

  We haven’t fought against others for a long time. After the accident in Alola, she needed a break, a chance to recover. But we’ve waited long enough, and it’s time for me to reintegrate her into my selection. And nothing works better than a half-fairy against dark – even if we have a certain weakness thanks to her being a Ghost-type too.

  With a single command, I have Mirra chase to the shadowy areas so she can use her shadow sneak more easily. The same instant her billowing claws chase forward, Mightyena puffs up its tail with a growl as Muk loses mass. It becomes smaller, more agile and suddenly able to evade my attack. Only Mightyena fails to do so and snaps at the shadow sneak, but it doesn’t reach the unsteady shapes any faster than the claws are smashed into its side.

  Simultaneously, another air slash chases towards the opposing Pokémon but misses them both. Mightyena stumbles to the side, drooling and panting, while Muk seems almost unstoppable in its new form.

  “Dragon claw!” Friede follows up, and although I should probably ignore him, I can’t help but watch his fight. Switching to close combat to hit Muk is clever, if unhelpful.

  But Charizard still puts its whole body into each attack, its shimmering purple claws chasing just past Muk – until the fire Pokémon catches another load of slime and tears it off its opponent’s otherwise flabby body.

  Briefly, I avert my gaze. I shouldn’t interfere, shouldn’t co-operate with him too much, but Professor Cozmo is more important than my dislike of Friede.

  “Mirra, moonblast! Help out!”

  It’s not effective as she throws her weak energy at Muk. But it scares the Pokémon enough to force it to stand still for a blink of an eye. And it’s enough to allow Charizard to land a direct hit.

  Heavy claws slide through the slimy mass, tearing the Muk to pieces one by one, before it opens its wide mouth and throws stinking sludge in a ball at Charizard. With a flap of its wings, Friede’s Pokémon dodges. But the next sludge bomb isn’t aimed at the Fire-type Pokémon. Instead, it targets Mirra, who barely manages to dodge. Her Zorua costume head topples to the side while her body seeks refuge in the shadows.

  However, she can’t escape as Mightyena starts to snarl, a wry sound that sweeps over her and Charizard in a dark mass. For the Fire-type Pokémon, it’s just an attack that shakes its body. Mirra, however, withers into a small pile of misery, and although I want to trust her, I’m overcome with the need to call her back.

  This isn’t a good combination. A mistake on my part, because once again I haven’t thought things through. In seconds like these, I’m surprised that I passed the first professor’s exam. But a room where there is no danger differs from facing situations like this. I have to act smarter. And in this moment, I need a chance to turn the tables despite everything.

  At the same moment that Charizard shakes off the snarl, Muk excretes so much mud that it cascades towards our team as a stinking flood. Friede immediately gives a command to take off, and before Charizard disappears out of reach, I also give Mirra a signal. Her dark claws fly upwards, clinging to its feet, allowing her to escape the sludge. The only ones left are Friede and me. Luckily the attack isn’t enough to wash us away, but the mouldy liquid still slaps against our legs, and I can feel my soles slipping.

  Wrinkling my nose, I try not to retch. Instead, my senses are glued to the fight, to Mightyena taking a running start and leaping onto Muk to leap towards Charizard and Mimikyu. Its mouth wide open, it threatens to bite one of them but narrowly misses as the Fire-type Pokémon dodges.

  And then, Mirra seizes her chance.

  As soon as Mightyena has flown past her, she lets go of Charizard’s legs. Her rather small body lunges at her opponent, and this time I think the same thing. “Play Rough!”

  Spreading her dark claws, Mirra wraps them around Mightyena in the next second. Rubbing movements over its fur and head make the hairs on the back of the Bite Pokémon’s neck stand on end. The irritation is enough to ruin its landing and cause it to stumble over its paws until it hits the ground with its snout.

  Fairy-type attacks are strange. They seem cleansing and loving. Even in those seconds, I can’t see any danger in an attack like Mimikyu’s. All that happens is physical contact full of love, combining Mirra’s energy with Mightyena’s and trumping the dark energy.

  My mouth twists. It’s idiotic to think it always looks like this. Bewear has been known to squeeze its opponents with play rough until their spines break – even though it’s unnecessary. It’s just an aspect that some Pokémon add. Perhaps to be on the safe side. Maybe because they don’t know any better or because their trainers don’t care what happens to opponents. Mirra knows me better than that. She knows how to render her opponents defenceless in order to break their energy and win them over. She knows that murder isn’t the solution I crave in a fight when there are other ways.

  When Mightyena stops moving, dazed and overwhelmed by the attack, Mirra backs away – towards Muk. Her claws lift, gathering energy that forms into a dark sphere. She pumps so much power into her shadow ball that it becomes the size of a well-rounded pumpkin. Concentrated darkness, which she throws at the Poison-type Pokémon – in time with a flamethrower from Charizard.

  The attacks combine just before they reach our enemy, growing into a dark firestorm whose purple tongues allow no escape. Muk cannot dodge; its minimise doesn’t work. The scream it emits emphasises it, while I can see the Pokémon’s billowing form losing shape behind the dark flames. Almost as if the slime is burning.

  Clenching my fists, I avert my gaze. It’s not right, but I’m in no position to make a difference. Stepping in and ending all this isn’t a solution. Not for anyone. At best, our opponents have enough remedies to fix the damage. It doesn’t change the suffering, but it takes away some of the heaviness that I can’t escape otherwise.

  My attention briefly wanders back to Mightyena. The Pokémon is just getting back on its feet, legs wobbly, panting heavily.

  “Mirra, Shadow sneak!”

  A useless command, but one that distracts me from the collapsing wall of flame. This way, I don’t have to deal with the half-burnt Pokémon behind it any longer than necessary. I can concentrate on Mimikyu sinking her claws into the darkness and sending them towards Mightyena unseen. Another weak attack that the Bite Pokémon recognises before it arrives. Yet it plays into our hands.

  In the blink of an eye, Mightyena jumps to the side and is caught by an air slash. The barely visible sickle tears a deep wound into its side. Beads of blood shimmer as they fly through the air before splattering down and being absorbed. The opposing Pokémon itself lets out a sharp cry of pain as it hits the ground.

  None of our opponents move. Normally this is a good thing – but it’s the first time a battle has ended so hideously. Together with Friede, it seems almost impossible not to do unnecessary damage. Just like it was between him and Conia.

  Or maybe I’m just too soft. Not every fight can turn out like all the ones I’ve beaten so far. It can’t always be my team that takes the hit.

  Still, everything looks better than what I see in front of me. The only positive thing is that our opponents immediately do everything they can to cater to their partners and then stow them away in their balls.

  We have the upper hand and can finally save Cozmo. Everything is suddenly so easy.

  But neither Friede nor I manage to speak before a lightning-fast shadow rises behind our opponents. I have to blink a few times to take in the spectacle. Suddenly there’s a third person – a guy with heavy anchor jewellery around his neck and a smile that looks infectious. Arms outstretched to either side, he squats on his Braviary as if nobody can reach him. “I see we have visitors! Too bad I have so little time for chatter. We’re ready.” He lifts a stone with both hands, heavy enough to put considerable strain on his upper arms. “This piece of splendour will take us a long way.”

  I’d like to ask what he’s planning and what their goal is, but he beats me to it. “I’ve already heard about you. You foreigners shouldn’t interfere in Maqua’s machinations.”

  “That would be easier if you didn’t give us any reason to,” Friede counters. “What do you want with this stone?”

  “This meteorite here has a lot of power! And we need it to reset Hoenn to the beginning.”

  “To the beginning?” Friede’s disbelief mirrors what’s going on inside me. What this stranger is saying makes little sense.

  On the other hand, my stomach twists. The memory of something Professor Birch mentioned makes my insides clench. Energy is an important part of a legend that I don’t even want to think about. It would be too much. Even worse, it would put Maqua’s schemes in a completely different light.

  “Enough chatting!” Without further ado, the stranger lowers the stone in his hands. “We don’t need the professor anymore.”

  “You don’t really think we’re going to let you go, do you?” Raising his brows, Friede puts his hands on his hips. “I hate to tell you this, but we’re stronger than you.”

  “Only if we were to get into a fight,” the bloke returns. “Shelly!”

  The woman immediately flinches, and I can barely understand what’s happening as she throws Professor Cozmo over the cliff with a firm push. Then she runs off with her sidekick. Seconds in which my body acts automatically.

  I chase ahead as fast as I can. Maqua no longer matters. All that counts is Cozmo. In the background, I can hear Friede, a wry laugh and also how we can no longer control this encounter.

  Gasping, I reach the slope. My eyes immediately turn downwards, searching for the professor. If I find him, maybe there’s something I can do. At best, there’s an easy way. At worst, I jump after him.

  But I can’t see anyone.

  It’s only when Friede puts a hand on my shoulder and points upwards that I can tear myself away from the blue no-man's-land below us to look at Charizard. At the Pokémon holding the trembling professor, who can barely maintain consciousness, in its rather short arms.

  Relief tugs at my shoulders. I can only breathe deeply until the tension lets go.

  “I guess we’ll have to do something. If we’re not careful, no one knows what will happen.” Sighing, Friede shakes his head. “Seems like we have a common enemy.”

  That doesn’t make us friends, but it brings us together. That way, maybe the Explorers and the Volt Tacklers can bury the hatchet for now – and maybe it’ll give me a chance to escape without having to take a diversion.

  “The only question is how to find them again. We shouldn’t leave this meteorite with them.” Sighing, I cross my arms in front of my chest, my gaze drawn to Mirra, whose nimble body slowly crawls in my direction. She settles down next to my foot. The head of her costume leans against my leg.

  “Tracker,” Friede replies curtly, before a smirk creeps onto his lips. “You Explorers have shown us that small tracking devices can be very useful for moments like this.”

  “And you managed to burden someone with it?” I pull my head back in disbelief. I wasn’t paying attention to the confusion when I set off running, but I can’t imagine Friede being nimble enough to equip someone with a tracking device without being seen.

  To my amazement, however, he juts his chin. “I bumped into this guy on purpose and let the thing slip into his trouser pocket. It probably won’t go undetected for long, but with luck we’ll find out where they are and what target they’re going for next.”

  It sounds too good to be true, and yet I have no option but to believe him. After all, that’s exactly what we need: a lead to avoid the worst.