“Battle me.”

I stagger at the proposal. Now, I’m not sure if you have gathered this or not but me? I am not a very proficient Pokémon battler. There’s a reason why I went the academic route instead of the Gym Challenge when I was younger, that one reason being: it just isn’t my cup of tea.

“I understand that this is so Drayn can gain the sufficient experience needed to evolve but...I’ve never had a Pokémon battle before.” Skyla stares down at me, a blank and painfully obvious display of disappointment.

“Like, ever?”

“Nope.”

“But your accent. You’re Galarian. As in the region famous for it's unionised Gym Challenge.”

“Never entered, went to school instead.” Her stare seeps into the rock of my soul. I’m honestly unable to tell if she wants to hit me or not for denying her this battle.

“So uh...how do we level up Yamask? I can’t battle you or him alone, that’s not cool on my part. Sorry ‘bout that, challengers just don’t show up as much as they used to, so I got a little antsy.” Fair enough.

“Well do you have any Rare Candies?” I suggest. She jumps down from her desk and starts to rummage through her desk drawers, taking out a singular wrapped sweet.

“All I got, I’m afraid.” We share an unknowing glance as I uncover my wallet from my jacket’s inner pocket.

“So about that fine.”

***

When Alec and Drayn return to Hannah’s house, we all get together to welcome them. Except there’s something really hard about seeing Drayn.

“You reckon there’s really nothing we can do?” Warren asks from the couch.

“I’ve never seen a Yamask wear their mask like that before. Do you reckon we should take it off?” Terran suggests. I suppose he’d be most familiar with Yamask, true. But I don’t think we should force anything just in case it makes him uncomfortable. “What do you think, Orla?”

“Me? Based on what Prim told us about what happened at Celestial Tower, I suppose we have to assume that Drayn really does remember who he was as a human. As strange as it is, the life energy needs to be reborn into a Ghost Pokémon somehow.” I feel a twinge of a spritely hop on my back.

“Wow Miss Orla! You’re really smart to know that!” The young Joltik that Warren healed.

“Come here, Joltik! She’s our leader, of course she’s smart.” Don’t flatter me too soon, Warren. Prim emerges from behind the kitchen counter.

“My, that is truly unsightly.” She mutters.

“You can’t just say that! He needs our help!” Finn retorts.

“Say what you want, that monster should be released and left to his own devices! Mortal renaissance or not, nobody should lash out like such a brute.” She certainly lives up to her name, Snivy are particularly known for their stubbornness, I suppose.

I need to talk to him about this...but I don’t know what to say. I need to be the gap between Drayn and Alec.

“I’m gonna talk to Drayn. See if I can make sense of all of this.” The rest of my teammates surprisingly smile in support, collectively wishing me luck as I approach the dazed ghost.

His eyes are facing no direction at all, and he’s just following the closest life he senses (demonstrated by me shaking my shell in his face.)

“Drayn, what happened?” Nothin’. Great. Time to use formal tactics.

“Drayn it’s me, Orla. Alec’s partner Pokémon. You’re a member of Alec’s Reshiram Research team. We met at the Relic Castle where you followed Alec back to Castelia City. You then followed us through Nimbasa City to Route 5 where Alec realised you were still with us, where you were officially taken on as a member. Do you remember any of that?”

Silence.

Silence.

Silence.

Until.

“Al...ec…”

“Yes! Alec! Drayn, it’s me, Orla! What did you see at Celestial Tower? Why are you wearing your mask like that?” He bops lower, at my eye level but remaining completely void of anything.

“Al...ec...Drayn...I...died…”

“I’m sorry to hear that. But you’re alive now, you’ve been gifted this second chance! Isn’t that great?”

“I...saved...Al...ec….” What does he mean ‘saved’?

“You can’t have saved him, you only met him a couple weeks ago and I’ve been keeping track of everybody since and-”

“I...saved….my…” As Drayn finishes that sentence my jaw drops.

Oh my god.

He’s...

***

While Hannah and I talk about the hectic day we had, a familiar effervescent glow implodes in the living room.

“What was that?” ...Drayn.

We run into the front room, welcomed by a staggering beast. A sarcophagus entrapped within a spectral aura.

“That’s him, right. That’s gotta be your Yamask?” Yeah. That’s Drayn.

The rest of the research team bask in the dissipating evolution glow. Orla looks the most shocked of all, her blackboard and pen in her paws.

“Orla, what’s wrong? What’ve you got written down?” As I reach for the blackboard she pulls out, hopping away from me. “I see...well. Have you seen him?” She skittishly shakes her head. I look around and ask the rest of the team, all giving the same reply, with Hannah checking in on her Snivy.

I approach the coffin.

“Drayn...let’s take a look at your new form, does that sound good?”

The top fifth of the structure opens, the mask that I knew adorned Drayn’s younger forehead after the attack shifts, revealing a ghastly, unnerving expression. The smile of my Pokémon. And yet, it’s a comfortable smile.

“Griiigus.”

“Hello, Cofagrigus. Drayn. Are you feeling better?” He floats, horizontal and extending a spectral arm, wrapping it around me.

“Griii…” This warmth, this feeling. Familiar yet harrowing. I see Orla from behind the coffin erasing her blackboard, smiling at me. Everyone else too, even little Joltik. Hannah approaches us and begins tugging at my jumper.

“Alec get away from him, what if he goes crazy again?”

“Look at him, Han. I don’t think he’d try to hurt us now. He’s so gentle.” I look Cofragrigus in the eyes, they aren’t callous or cold...or dead. They’re kind. They’re familiar.

Suddenly, I hear my phone ring.

“Sorry, can I get that?”

“Grii!” I answer, a familiar voice on the other end.

“Hello? Alec? It’s Professor Aurea Juniper, I have some information you’re gonna lose your stuff over. It’s Dragonspiral Tower. There’s new evidence uncovered there and we’re gonna need you on site to help us.” I let her know I’ll be there. I collect all of my belongings, return all of the research team to their Balls. Hannah stops me.

“Wait what was that call? Where are you going?”

“Icirrus City. As soon as I can.”