The past few days have been a little strange, and a little crazy. First of all, I have no idea Orla’s handwriting had gotten so good? That’ll prove useful. Second being getting used to not having Ruff around. Orla explained in her blackboard about why, and I understood his reasons for leaving. I cried the night we left Driftveil, our first one out on Route 6. Warren, our new Audino friend, did more than his fair share to make up for all of the sadness. He used his Refresh in order to help everyone when needed, he’s been so strong too. Orla told me about his strong resolve and reasons for leaving the city.

Surprisingly, Drayn has managed to integrate into the party a lot more too. Him and Orla especially talk a lot more than I thought they would.

Route 6...what can I say about Route 6? We managed to keep ourselves away from the rain the whole month and now it's plummeting, but it’s a nice change of pace from the constant sunshine and especially the desert. I called Hannah yesterday too, I was a little depressed about Ruff still, but she told me to embrace it. To see Warren as his successor and that Clay’s a Gym Leader, he’ll look after him.

When we left Driftveil City, Clay told us about Chargestone Cave, just beyond Route 6. It’s a beautiful cave with electricity flowing strong all the way through it, he thought it’d help make me feel better. Again, not a geologist, but I appreciated the sentiment alongside his sponsorship.

“What do you think, Orla? Wanna head into the cave today?” I’ve tied a blackboard around her neck so we can talk a little more. It’s been kind of revolutionising how we can communicate like this. She explained that she’s been practicing for a long time...ever since I insulted her name suggestion for Ruff.

“Dwah!” The blackboard reads a crudely drawn ‘Y’. I guess she’s been learning through textspeak.

We clean up our campsite. Pots, pans, sleeping bags and all. Not a day goes by where I don’t thank Hannah for this amazing package. Terran helps tie it all with his jaw. Drayn keeps floating about not really knowing what to do, but that’s okay. He isn’t hurting anyone.

***

Arriving at the cave, it truly is what Clay had said. A beautiful blue cacophony of static. The crystals and stalagmites make all of my hair stand up on ends. Orla looks like a big blue puffball.

“So...who wants to actually explore the cave? And who wants to not look like Orla!?” She glares, dejected at me. Elle, Finn and Drayn all raise their hands. Promptly I return them to their Poké Balls. Leaving: Orla, Terran and Warren out with me.

“Before venturing forward...Warren can you Refresh Orla? She probably can’t move very fast like that.”

“Dee!” He promptly sets his paws on her back, turquoise glowing from his fingertips.

“Dwah…”

“That’d better be a ‘thank you’!” She angrily swipes at me. I return her to her Ball before she strikes me.

So. Guess it’s just you two!

“Audi!”

“Dile.”

***

This cave well and truly doesn’t have much of note other than the polarity of magnetic fields making up how the crystals and rocks float here. Seeing the hordes of Klink gather around using Charge is pretty charming though. The odd Tynamo swimming in the air is kind of an interesting sight too, I suppose.

With all the static conducting it’s a little hard to hear anything though. I can make out Warren’s little Audino song he keeps humming, at least so I know him and Terran aren’t too far behind me. It’s odd not having Orla out with me, but she seemed to really hate this.

“Are you two good back there?” They cry in unison, and sound positive enough.

I get out my notebook, ready to jot down some notes, when suddenly there’s a screech from under my feet.

“Woah!” Removing it, I see a Joltik, small as can be writhing in pain.

“Warren, get over here now.” He does as such. Inspecting the miniscule Pokémon within his palms. “Will Refresh do anything?” He shakes his head, so it’s not a status causing this…

“Terran, can you go and try to find whatever done this?” ...but he doesn’t move. “Terran what’re you doing? Go get them!?” He shrugs it off, walking away. He’d better be finding something…

***

Y’know, I’ve been thinking a lot. What Ruff said about doing stuff and being less selfless might have struck a little chord with me. Most of the time all we do is listen to Alec or Orla...I’m pretty okay with that, I think. But if it’s the rest of my life, with Alec? With Orla? I do kinda miss Mars...Mars. Terran. I’ve gotten pretty damn used to these names, huh?

Wait what’s that...a blue...cloak.

What’re they saying?

...Plas...Plasm...Plasma…

Wait I know these guys!?

I throw my strongest Sand Tomb at them! Yes! I hit them! That’ll teach them!

I kite down and kick their Purrloin and Trubbish. Biting them. Scratching them. I hate these guys! I hate them! I hate them! I hate them!

***

...Terran’s been a while. Joltik seems to be stable so I guess we should probably try and find him.

“Warren, is it okay if we try and find Terran? I’m a little worried.” He nods, putting the pained Joltik on his head. The worst thing about navigating this damned cave is that it all looks way too similar.

We manage to make our way to a wooden bridge crossing over a ravine deep into the cave. Looking down we see…

“Terran! Terran what’re you doing!?”...my little Sandile.

After scaling my way down, I manage to wrestle him off of his targets. Two men who had been completely bitten all over by him.

“What do you think you’re doing!? What’s gotten into you!?” Looking into his eyes, he’s almost completely void of emotion. He’s in pure rage. No shine in his eyes.

Warren and Joltik join soon after, standing over the injured men.

“Ugh...you this Sandile’s trainer or something?” I extend an arm out to him.

“I’m so, so sorry. I don’t know what got into him. Are you okay? Your partner? Your Pokémon?” And instead of thanking me he...swats my arm away.

“You dare think we would accept the pity of a holder of cages?”

“Excuse me?”

The man sits up, adjusting what’s left of his uniform. He helps his friend up.

“We are men who need not your time, not your kindness. Just your cooperation.”

“What do you mean? I’m just trying to make amends for what Terran did.” The man scoffs, his friend next to him laughing in hysteria.

“‘Terran’? What kind of name is that!? That’s a Sandile, but even then, that might not even be it's real name considering we pitiful, idiotic humans gave it to him.” These men...Terran struggles out of my grip, whacking the man in the face as he picks up a scrap of his uniform.

I recognise it.

I see it.

I loathe it.

The same uniform as the Nacrene Skull Thief.

“Who are you? What is this uniform?” The two men stand up, picking up the defeated Pokémon around them.

“We are revolutionaries. Scions of Truth and Ideal. We are the ones who shall reunite the Legendary Dragon Pokémon and-” the man on the floor belts the speaking one’s back.

“Shut up.”

He throws a Smoke Ball, filling the area with purple teargas. I can’t breathe, I can’t see. All I can do is hope that Warren is able to ward it off with Refresh once it clears. But instead: a familiar white glow overcomes the deep chamber.

When the smoke fades, and the light dissipates. I am met with my gentle friend.

“Terran? Is that you? Are you okay?”

The creature in front of me nods. Calm as I’d always known him. A Krokorok. I wrap one of the scraps of a forlorn uniform around his wrist, wounded.

Warren and the Joltik cheer as the last of the fog clears, with a pink glow emanating from Warren’s ears. Our friendly little freeloader of a fluffy Joltik starts to jump, the rowdiest little thing.

“Heal Pulse?”

“Di!” Warren smiles proudly, with Joltik jumping around all of our heads.

The strange men are nowhere to be seen, despite all the glee. But in the distance, there is someone calling out to us.

“Hey! Are you okay? Wanna get out of the cave now!? This part’s a little dangerous, y’know!?”

“Yes! Yes! Thank you!” The mysterious voice lets down an Escape Rope. A brand loyalist, if I’ve ever seen one. Climbing up the rope I begin to make out the silhouette of my saviour. Who welcomes me with a warm, yet puzzling tone.

“Wait...Alec!?”

Oh. Uh.

“Hannah…?”