With my eyes fixed on the horizon, I scratched the wood of the railing repeatedly with one finger. Team Aqua hasn’t moved for a while, and after five days, most of us thought they probably found the tracker. But then they started moving again, and now we’re hovering over Route 118. It’s not yet known where they’re heading. We don’t yet know what they’re up to. All we know is that there are seven days between our last encounter with Archie and today and that they have set their new destination.

  With a sigh, I turn away from the grey-blue sky and press my back against the parapet. Resting my arms loosely on the wood, I close my eyes for a moment. Part of me believes that more is happening than I can summarise. The rest of me criticises the fact that we have far too many pauses between each case and that I should pay attention to why Aqua is taking so long to give another sign of life.

  Immediately I shake my head.

  Thanks to Dot, we receive daily information about this region, and according to the articles on the net, nothing has changed. “Maqua” is still attacking anyone who gets in their way or contributes to the pollution. In between are sightings of a new team, Magma, who are friendlier to their fellow humans but no less harsh when someone resists.

  What we learn from this is that Maxie has taken some of the original team with him to pursue his own goals. However, he seems a little scattered – or he’s waiting for Archie to show a weak point so that he can take revenge on them in his own way.

  Whoever is pursuing which plan, it’s a fact that we’re caught in the middle and have to figure out how to get all of this under control. It doesn’t matter which side of Maqua ends up wanting to put Hoenn in danger, neither the Volt Tacklers nor the Explorers can let that happen. It’s the only common point that makes it somehow possible to look at Friede and not want to throw him overboard. We still don’t talk to each other any more than necessary, but neither of us is still trying to avoid the other.

  When I open my eyes again, I can just see Diana sneaking in my direction with a tray. The cheerful smile on her lips makes my chest tingle. She leaves me with a warmth that could hardly be more pleasant. I could imagine a longer journey with her. Probably because she has a lot of advice for me and shows me how to tackle a fight better. Especially when you have to work with a Pokémon like Eevee, whose stubbornness doesn’t always work the way I’d like it to.

  If my mum were still alive, she would probably have been like Diana. Full of joy and adventure and advice to pass on to your children when they decide to conquer the world.

  “Murdock baked great muffins! I couldn’t help but steal a few for us.” She pauses in front of me and holds the baked goods under my nose. The sweet smell of chocolate and cherries hits my face. Saliva collects in my mouth. Then I take a bite of the fluffy mixture.

  The flavour is great and makes the February cold a little more pleasant. With good company and the right food, everything seems a little more bearable. In the last few days, I’ve even managed to stop worrying about my position with the Explorers – or about Amethio. On this ship, I can push all that away, and it seems like that’s exactly what Natural is in the process of finding out here as well. Or he’s still looking for it. I can’t find any security or change in him. Most of the time he just disappears. Seeing him is a rarity, and even then we barely talk.

  Whatever he’s struggling with, I hope that one day we’ll be able to have normal conversations again. At least, if our interests and concerns can be considered normal.

  “What are you thinking about?” Diana leans relaxed next to me. “Don’t tell me you’re still spinning your wheels.”

  Instantly I wave her off. “I was thinking about Natural. Unfortunately, you rarely see him walking around here.”

  She makes a knowing sound but seems just as perplexed as I am. “He seems to spend most of his time with Friede. Although ... I hear that boy can’t really handle himself at the moment. Whatever’s on his shoulders is eating him up from the inside out.”

  That’s probably true. It’s pathetic that I can’t help him, even though we’re friends. After our last conversation, I almost had the impression that his life was getting better. At least he’s found someone he likes. Someone who touches his heart in a way that no one else can.

  However, there is something sobering about the fact that this love isn’t enough for him to stand up to the dark side. There are probably thousands of things that you can’t just shake off just because something positive has emerged. If that were the case, people would probably be a lot happier.

  “I’m sure Natural will manage with Friede’s help,” Diana starts again. “Sometimes you have to get to the bottom and explore the depths of yourself before you’re ready to make your way up. He’s probably not yet where he needs to be to emerge. He hasn’t found the light at the end of the tunnel yet.”

  “I hope he doesn’t have to search for it forever,” I mumble in reply. The way Diana says it makes me think of my father. Did he ever find the light after all the suffering? Or is he still feeling his way through his tunnel, hoping to find the light somewhere?

  A snort escapes me. When I entertain this thought, I also ask myself whether he is still running at all. Is he still looking for a way out, or has he settled in the middle of the tunnel because he can no longer go forwards or backwards?

  “Everyone finds that light at some point,” Diana interrupts my pondering. “Of course, everyone has their own way of getting to the other side, but at some point they’re all forced to go forwards.”

  “Or to turn back.”

  “A terrible option.” She sighs. “But it’s also one that people like to choose, because familiar things sometimes seem safer than new things.”

  I can’t imagine giving up in the middle. If the old is only there to make you suffer, shouldn’t you long for something new? Isn’t that something that should be met with anticipation rather than fear? Sometimes other people don’t make sense to me. It could be so simple. But probably everyone’s circumstances are so complicated because each character and situation evokes a different reaction. And some people prefer to remain silent or turn around instead of reaching for the simplest solution.

  Perhaps my solution isn’t as simple in their eyes as it is for me. After all, I can’t say that there aren’t moments on my journey that someone else would get through much better than me.

  “Shall we go in and have something warm with the muffins?” Eventually Diana steers our conversation in a different direction, and it sounds like a good idea to avoid getting lost in any negativity.

  But just as I push myself off the parapet, a jolt runs through my body. My legs stumble over each other, and I just manage to grab hold of the wood to my side before anything more can happen. Diana has clung on beside me while the muffins crash to the floor and a protesting sound escapes her. Our eyes meet only briefly before we survey our surroundings – seeing the smoke rising from the ship’s air chamber.

  “What...?” My eyes widen. The ship hangs askew, losing altitude, and my heart is pounding in my throat.

  “Domino!” Out of nowhere, Diana slaps a hand on my shoulder. “Look!”

  My senses are spinning until I manage to follow her outstretched arm with my eyes – down to the water that hugs the shores of this route. And floating on the surface is a submarine that is more than familiar to me.

  “They’ve shown up...” I can hardly believe it myself. Seeing my team is incredible. Probably because a part of me no longer believed they would come for me.

  I had already imagined how I would help the Volt Tacklers put a stop to Archie and then make my escape. But now they’re here. Amethio jumps ashore, followed by Ceruledge, just as Zir and Conia crawl out of the submarine. The attack must have been a psycho cut. Something nobody could have seen coming.

  The Brave Asagi barely manages to get out of its crooked position. However, Ludlow behind the wheel seems to be doing everything he can to drop us off on Route 118 reasonably unscathed. We may be speeding towards the ground, but both Diana and I have faith in the old man. So we cling to the railing.

  Still, I hold my breath and try to count the seconds to calm myself down. An endeavour that fails faster than I would like to admit, and when the Asagi hits the ground rump first, I don’t know whether to breathe a sigh of relief or scream.

  With my mouth open, I can’t make a sound. All I can do is take in the surroundings, the changes and the moment when Friede pulls open the door to the outside to join us. He looks almost paler than I feel.

  Instead of turning to Diana or me, he glances over at Amethio and his followers before letting out a “now of all times”. Immediately afterwards, he picks up Charizard’s ball and swings over the wood to the mainland, where we have now come to a standstill.

  It’s clear that he will try to put Amethio to flight. But whether he will succeed is another question. The two of them already know each other – as I discovered in Galar, their battles can reduce a lot of things to rubble. They’re both strong, and it’s a fight where I can capitalise on any chance to escape.

  “I should probably get down there and help so the other two don’t get involved,” Diana sighs on the sidelines.

  “I guess I’ll just have to watch until there’s a decision...” Mouth twisted, I stare down at the scene between Amethio and Friede. If I interfere, it will only cause more chaos. Sometimes it’s better to just wait and see. But waiting is the last thing I want to do.

  “That, or you use their fight to leave,” Diana throws in.

  “The others would stop me.”

  “They’re all still in the ship and probably unsure what to do. You have everything you need, don’t you?”

  I tap the pockets of my winter coat. I’ve pocketed the key pendant as well as my Rotom Phone. The belt with my team hangs around my waist, and there’s nothing I’m leaving behind. Except for Natural. But we will surely meet again.

  “And you plan to just let me go?” Raising my brows, I scrutinise Diana. She, however, smiles wryly.

  “You belong out there in the world. There’s still so much to learn ... who am I to take that away from you?” Shaking her head, she reaches into a pocket of her pink jacket. Immediately afterwards, she presses an orange-coloured stone into my hand. “I’m sure you’ll experience many more things that will shape you, and I hope I’ll see you again one day.”

  She doesn’t give me a chance to respond before she picks herself up, squares her shoulders, and then jumps off the Asagi as well. My attention follows her only briefly, so that the next moment I lean my forehead against the wood and take a deep breath. It’s time to face my demons. All the ones I’ve been avoiding lately.

  Then I force myself to my feet too. I have to get out of here before the others come out to stand in my way. With a flick of my wrist, I adjust my jacket and take a look at the fire stone Diana has entrusted to me. She sees a future in Raya, and I am sure that one day we will gratefully take this step. Until then, I stow it safely in my coat pocket.

  Fingers clasped tightly around the parapet, I glance down at Friede and Amethio. Behind them, Zir and Conia are being held off by Diana, and although she’s facing two good trainers, she knows exactly how to act to keep them both at bay. She stalls for time. Seconds that I have to seize.

  I force my body over the wood of the Asagi and savour the free fall for a blink of an eye before landing hard on my feet. The impact shakes my knees, and even though it doesn’t hurt much, there is still an unpleasant tingling sensation. Still, I force myself into an upright position and push over to Friede and Amethio.

  Carefully, I stay far enough behind the adventurer to avoid attracting attention. If he notices me, he might try to hold me back. I have to use the element of surprise to get away. As long as Pikachu isn’t here, I have a chance.

  Eyes fixed on the battle, I follow the heated emotions of both sides. Charizard’s flamethrower threatens to engulf Ceruledge but splits when Amethio gives the order to use a psycho cut. Fire bursts on both sides and thaws the half-frozen ground. The lingering snow melts, and before the fire can scorch the grass below, Charizard lunges at his opponent with a dragon claw.

  I hold my breath as Ceruledge attacks Charizard head-on with a night slash. Sparks fly, red mingling with dark purple. It’s almost reminiscent of when Arcanine took on Ying and we created a whole front of splendour and destruction. Here the effect is smaller, reduced to a single blow that sends both sides skidding back with force. Friede uses it to let Charizard follow up with an air slash. An obvious move that Amethio escapes with phantom force.

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Long before the wind crescents reach Ceruledge, the Pokémon has already disappeared into the shadows at his feet. The attack only leaves deep scars in the ground.

  The longer I look at this back and forth, the more I realise that I won’t be able to switch sides unseen if I don’t intervene. Carefully, I run my fingers over the four Poké Balls hanging from my belt. Then I grab two of them.

  Gently, I let Ying and Mirra out of their balls. Simultaneously, I watch as Ceruledge appears out of nowhere, slicing its blade through Charizard’s arm, blood dripping to the ground. It’s one of those moments where I should feel bad to see this damage. But I know that Friede will take care of his partner, and part of me wants to believe that he deserves this little setback after how badly he battered Conia’s Golduck.

  It’s a moment when I can accept the circumstances. Then I raise my hand and point to a spot above Friede. “Mirra, give me your biggest shadow ball.” My index finger travels down to the adventurer. “Ying, I want a powerful night daze. Nothing that will seriously hurt him. Try to focus on the shadow ball. I want ... a curtain of darkness.”

  They both make a sound of agreement before Mirra gathers her strength and creates a perfect ball of energy and shadow. It’s almost good to see that she’s recovered from what happened in Alola.

  As she throws her attack into the air, it takes little more than a breath for Friede to spot it. His head tilts back slightly, his shoulders slump, and in the same second that he turns to face me, Ying releases her night daze.

  Darkness washes over Friede, engulfing him and eliciting a surprised sound from Charizard as it’s seized by the billowing shadows. They are both pushed towards Amethio, while Zoroark’s attack hits Mimikyu’s. The shadow ball shatters against the night daze, spreading out and bringing even more darkness with it. Suddenly the sun no longer reaches through to us. The dark curtain is reminiscent of the area where Ghetsis once held me captive. But this is just a cheap imitation. I can’t control it. Instead, I have to make use of this temporary night.

  So I start running.

  As I do, I call my Pokémon back into their balls, hook them into my belt, and raise my arms as I burst through the dark wall. Always straight ahead. No stopping. No hesitation.

  I can’t see a hand in front of my eyes. All I can hear are Friede’s shouts. Then a command for Charizard to wave its wings and chase away the artificial night. But none of this comes in time.

  Before anything changes about my dark curtain, the sunlight on the other side blinds me. Instantly I squint my eyes. Somewhere in between, I trip over my own feet. But to my relief, I don’t fall. Instead, someone grabs me by the shoulders, and when I can halfway bear the brightness on my retinas again, Diana’s wrinkled face comes into view.

  “Not bad!” She grins from ear to ear. “You’re learning.” Her hands detach from my shoulders. Then she pushes me towards Zir and Conia. “Give it your all on your journeys so you’ll have plenty to tell me when we meet again!”

  And then she pushes me a little harder so that I stumble next to Arcanine. The fight between it, Golduck and Rhydon is at a standstill, and Conia almost makes a sound of disbelief.

  My hands clenched into fists, I want to take Diana’s words to heart. So I push forward, to the other side of this fight, back to the Explorers.

  As soon as I arrive next to Conia and Zir, the former embraces me. “We’ve been watching the Rising Volt Tacklers the whole time, ready to intervene if possible.”

  I don’t want to be happy about her manner, but my heart leaps. Almost as if this problem between us is already a non-issue.

  “Why now?” I ask.

  “Amethio said this is a good spot to get you back without doing too much damage,” she replies. “We know where Maqua wants to go next, and we don’t need the Volt Tacklers for that. So it’s about time we got you back if you can’t find a way to escape.”

  I probably had more chances to escape than I ever had before in awkward situations. But I stayed. Of my own free will. Because I wasn’t ready for what would follow. I don’t even feel ready now. But I have to pull myself together and go my way.

  “Psycho cut!” Amethio’s voice brushes against me briefly. This conversation we’re going to have is going to be ugly. I know it will be.

  Meanwhile, Conia grabs me by the hand. “We have to get out of here!”

  “To the submarine?”

  She shakes her head. “The three of us are too slow to get in and dive. We can’t escape before Friede catches up with us. Zir will take it to another place on his own. We walk, since their goal is getting you.”

  Her words sound like a bad joke, but when an explosion sends up dark smoke behind us, she tugs me forward.

  Slowly at first

  And then, all of a sudden, we run as fast as we can.

  》WHISPERS《

  Panting, I support myself on my knees. Despite the cold, I feel like it’s the height of summer. Conia is standing next to me, breathing just as heavily. The only one who doesn’t seem to have a problem with all this is Amethio. Pressed up against a tree, he takes a look at the path we’ve left behind us.

  My heart is racing like crazy. I would love to sit down somewhere, take a deep breath and put the whole mess aside for a moment. But that won’t get me anywhere. It doesn’t seem as if Amethio has anything he wants to tell me, and Conia is behaving as usual.

  They probably don’t believe that the Volt Tacklers would talk to me about what’s causing the two fronts to clash. In their minds, I was probably locked up and kept like a prisoner. But they should know better. Really. They didn’t seem like wild criminals in Galar either.

  They like to talk.

  And now I’m standing here and have to do the same.

  But I don’t get a chance to think of a few opening words before the submarine appears. The nearby sea here on Route 123 doesn’t give us any visual cover, but there’s zero chance that the Brave Asagi will come after us. The flying ship is ruined. The repairs will take longer than four minutes, that much is certain.

  When Zir opens the hatch and waves, Amethio is the first to make his way back. He doesn’t even look at me or say anything – in his world, I might be air.

  His behaviour turns my stomach. Part of me wants to grab him and make sure he’s listening to me here and now. But we’re in no position to talk. Maybe there will be a moment underwater. Until then, I have to be patient.

  Reluctantly, I push myself along behind him, Conia close by my side. She opens her mouth several times but can’t make a sound. Whatever is going through her head doesn’t want to take shape.

  Just as we reach our means of transport, a tremor runs through me. It’s unusual and seems out of place because I’m still far too warm, but it’s there. My hands shake uncontrollably, a bright beeping sound settles in my ears, and a shiver settles on my shoulders.

  “Domino?” Conia immediately grabs me by the upper arm. Brows drawn together, she looks at me as if I’ve stumbled out of an explosion. “Is everything all right?”

  This time, Amethio’s attention is also on me. His eyes scrutinise me wordlessly, like a demand, but I can’t tell them what’s wrong with me.

  At least until Zir lets out an uncertain “Guys?”

  We all look up at him immediately.

  And thus also to a floating Pokémon, whose blue and white body appears almost oversized next to Zir.

  “Latios...” It’s Amethio who recognises our visitor first. “What’s a ... legendary Pokémon doing here?”

  “I beg you, help us,” its voice whispers gently in my head. “I know you don’t want to help. You’ve blocked our pleas, but ... you can do something...”

  My eyes widen. “I didn’t... block anything.”

  It’s a stupid statement; after all, I’ve heard their pleas occasionally. It was often silent. Sometimes I just blanked out their voices, and I can’t deny that I wished I didn’t have to hear them anymore.

  “You can’t control it,” Latios realises. “Wishes from afar often bounce off you now. But you still have to be ... special.”

  “What makes you think that?”

  “We sense Reshiram at your side. A quest for reality, for something real, for change, and the power to protect it is a big step. It is a task for the most powerful.” It’s getting a little closer. “And we need help from someone with power.”

  I want to laugh and declare that Reshiram and I are not working together. That damn dragon is sitting in its stone, enjoying the sleep of a few centuries. But seeing Latios like this, a Pokémon asking me of all people for help, chokes my throat. I can’t leave it hanging. Not when it has sought me out and found me.

  “What does it want?” Eventually, Amethio breaks the silence between us. Sometimes I forget that no one else can hear what these Pokémon are saying.

  “It’s asking for help,” I tell him before turning back to Latios. “But what do you need me for?”

  Latios’ head lowers. “They’ve found us. The humans looking for a force of nature. Our island isn’t easy for men to find. You can only reach it if you know the exact way. We have shielded it with fog and barriers. But they have found us. And they will catch and use one of us.”

  “Use for what?”

  “To subdue the force of nature and energise it if necessary.”

  The saliva lingers in my throat, dry as dust. By force of nature, Latios probably means exactly what I don’t want to imagine.

  “They want to awaken Kyogre,” Latios starts again. Almost as if it wants to make sure I understand. “And Groudon, if they can.”

  “Domino?” This time, Conia tugs at my jacket.

  If I can help this Pokémon, it’s a better option than being cornered in the submarine and having to start the conversation I’d rather avoid.

  “Team Aqua is planning to catch Latias or Latios to advance their plans,” I explain. “They’re asking for my help.”

  Silence falls between us for a moment before Amethio lets out a sigh. “I’m coming with you. They will send more than one trainer for their plan. A defence is possible with two.”

  I want to scream. I don’t want to go with him; I don’t want him to come. All of this means we’ll be spending time together that I don’t want to spend by his side. My head is full of things I’ll probably throw at him if it all goes wrong.

  With my mouth twisted, I feverishly search for an excuse to keep Amethio here. But Latios has already made the decision for me.

  In one smooth movement, the Pokémon glides between us. I don’t know if this is the moment to mount or wait, but I can’t even reach out to it before my stomach turns.

  My surroundings are suddenly no longer the route I was just standing on in front of the submarine. Amethio is standing two steps away from me. He also blinks a few times. So I’m not alone in my amazement at my new surroundings.

  My eyes wander over the meadow, the trees, and the green that seems so much richer than anywhere else in Hoenn. There is life here, reminiscent of spring, not the cold of February. Scattered stones lend this place a kind of bygone charm. One of the rocks, which looks like a small monument, attracts me. It helps to push Amethio into the background.

  But I only manage two steps before my balance starts to falter. My world spins as the noise in my head takes over. Voices spread, but don’t get through to me in one piece. In the end, it’s just a choppy stream of words. But when it reaches me, I prop myself up on my knees.

  It’s a bitter statement that mocks me. Spoken by a woman’s voice that sounds so loving that I want to cry. It seems as if this island is mocking me. And yet...

  Those whose memories are fading try to immortalise them in their hearts.

  A truth that I would have preferred to push away, but it’s there and it’s true. It’s no different for me. My memories are missing, and I cling to every scrap I can get my hands on. Desperate and somehow out of place, because anyone else in my position would probably have given up.

  “Follow me.” It’s Latios who frees me from the confusion of my thoughts. Its blue and white body floats slowly past me, Amethio close behind.

  I have no choice but to fall in line and hope that this island doesn’t force any more words into my head. Otherwise, I don’t know how to help. I can’t concentrate if I can’t switch off the radio in my skull.

  The uneven path of this island leads straight through scattered walls of fog. Every now and then I think I see a blue body. Then a red one. There are probably many more Pokémon living here, perhaps even more that look just like Latias and Latios. In between, there are tall trees, bushes, more rocks and even more inscriptions that I can’t read from a distance.

  My interest only returns to the scene in front of me when Latios stops, Amethio does the same, and I almost run into him. I only barely manage to avoid physical contact. Then my gaze wanders to Latias. A Pokémon that looks exactly like its counterpart. A creature that somehow looks graceful and friendly, but it doesn’t float. Its body lies on the ground. Deep scratches mark its body. Blood sticks crusted in some places, and for a breath I can only swallow.

  “You came...” It lifts its head and nods at me before looking to Amethio. “I thank you for your help as well.”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I see Amethio’s shoulders tense. He can hear Latias. It’s probably using its abilities to do so. I don’t know much about this Pokémon, except that it can fly and has psychic attacks. This also means that it can use the ability to force its voice directly into our brains.

  “I called for help for so long, but no one answered. Most of Hoenn’s people wouldn’t face our enemies. The others would lose. And the one who would be an option... He’s very busy trying to get ahead of these desperate madmen.” Latias lowers its head. “I sense Reshiram at your side, but it seems to be enjoying its sleep. So I called out to you. Sometimes you heard me when I pleaded. Sometimes only when I touched your psyche. You’re a strange girl.”

  I probably am, after all, I still don’t know why I can hear these voices at all. Lately, there are no more nightmares, no more memories flooding me and telling me secrets. There’s no moving on for me this way – not the way I experienced it, especially in Unova. It’s overwhelming to suddenly find yourself treading water after a big leap. But sometimes that’s the way it is. Sometimes all I can do is be patient.

  “I would be happy if we could become friends. People are fascinating, and I’d like to learn more about them,” Latias continues. It’s a nice offer that I would accept at any other time. But in these seconds, I don’t know if I want to.

  I’m too tense.

  Amethio takes the situation much more casually than I do. Latia’s wish doesn’t seem very special to him. It’s probably another compromise he’s making because it’s more convenient than using clear words.

  I immediately shake my head and pinch the palm of my hand. I have to stick to the point.

  Folded paper in hand, he steps closer to Latias. He will heal the Pokémon, and then it’s a case of wait and see and fending off attackers. At least that sounds like a nice plan, which shatters when a loud, “You’re really bored, aren’t you?” comes through to me. My body whirls around so that Archie comes into view. Shelly strolls next to him.

  “Seems you’ve found yourself a new troupe, huh?” The corners of Archie’s mouth twitch cheerfully. “I almost thought you were a permanent member of that bloke with his Charizard.”

  “That was a temporary alliance,” I retort. “What are you doing here?”

  Part of me wants to sound as relaxed and easygoing as Friede. His confidence is something I need to use for myself. Archie is my first attempt, and although my heart is racing, I do better than expected.

  Smirking, he puts his hands on his hips. “I’m sure Latias and Latios have already told you what we can use them for. They’re a little detour before we get to the important part.” He closes his eyes briefly. “Finding this island isn’t easy. But if you see the Pokémon and pay attention, you’ll soon find out the secret. And if you’re travelling underwater, it’s even easier because they can’t use fog to confuse people.”

  He’s more than obviously having fun revealing this little trick. His laughter thunders in my ears, and it’s a reminder that, like Friede, he seems almost carefree.

  “I’m sure Shelly would like a rematch against you,” he then begins. “I’ll take on your new partner then. I hope he provides as much entertainment as the guy with the Charizard.”

  Amethio’s only response is a click of his tongue. His will to slice Archie into pieces is visible, though his face still looks kind of rigid. As always. Unchanged. And yet clearly annoyed by his opponent.

  In the next breath, Ceruledge stands up in front of him, and Archie lets an approving whistle slip over his lips. Immediately afterwards, he also reaches for a Poké Ball. This time it is a Walrein that he sends into battle. Shelly, who hasn’t uttered a single word next to him, follows up with Mightyena.

  Half in thought, my fingers wander over my team’s balls. The line-up of our opponents is bad for Mirra and Raya. That leaves me with Eevee and Zoroark. My choice should be obvious. Ying is perfect for this battle. But on the other hand, I use Eevee far too rarely.

  Pressing my lips together, I try to chase away the doubts. We’re not a good team, and Lum is weak, but if I believe in him, maybe he’ll give me a surprise. Giving him a chance can’t be wrong.