Fledglings

[Spiteful Murkrow]

Hey, everybody. This chapter took… uh… a while to get out the door since there was kinda some meta chaos involving scheduling that made getting things together a bit trickier than normal, but we’re here with a fresh chapter, and with it, a fresh review response:

All right. Neat. So the pirates have, in fact, been swept aside in short(ish) order. I'm glad... but given that, following multiple chapters of large battles, it still took a chaotic, practically half-chapter scuffle for it to happen, I'm not sure it had the impact you were hoping for. In a vacuum, Lyn brutally running a pirate captain through and killing them should be this big shocking moment. It didn't come off that way to me, though, because A) I have no attachment to the pirate lords and so this primarina has little significance to me in this fic's ensemble cast, and B) the chapter doesn't take the time to dwell on it whatsoever. Did Pleo witness it? What would his thoughts about that be? Has he been exposed to death at this point? Because, as aggressive as Lyn has been and even with his frustrations growing by the episode, that kind of felt like a line he'd never cross. That it was what separated groups like Team Sentinel from him. At least, I don't think we've seen an on-screen kill like that, and a brutal one at that. But it's been so long now I may not have remembered.

It’s admittedly been a while, but there actually has been a comparably brutal on-screen death in this story—at Lyn’s paw no less—in The Deepest Wounds.

As for your comments regarding Pleo, given that he was in the middle of a huge battle and focused on getting back to his friends and escaping, we thought that the chapter wasn’t the right moment for any of that. Those sorts of questions are best tackled over the course of a few scenes in quieter moments after the dust settles… like in this upcoming chapter.

We agree this would definitely affect Pleo, but he’s also in a place without his friends to talk about this sort of stuff. As you’ll see from this upcoming chapter, he’ll soon have other matters on his mind that will be a more immediate concern.

The other part of its lack of impact comes down to what was mentioned in the trivia. Hearing the whole pirate thing became a "throw it in!" moment to expand the episode was, uh, not the greatest thing for me to read personally. It would be hypocritical of me to say you can't do an arc villain late into a fic. So, instead, I'm going to focus on this bit…

That… was not what we said in the trivia, and we certainly didn’t say anything about the plan being a last-minute addition. The original plan for Gestirn, before any chapters of Fledglings were even published, was for this episode to focus solely on the Marked, which we changed while the Pioppo arc was still being planned out.

Back then, Gestirn’s arc was not fleshed out yet beyond the general premise that Team Traveller would visit a town full of Marked and learn about Yveltal’s existence. Since there wasn’t any reason for Kline not to tell Team Traveller about Yveltal after meeting them, that short-circuited the intended conflict of the arc. We needed to come up with something new as a result, with our decision being to give the pirates an arc where they were the main driver of the conflict before the final buildup to the climax happened.

And encourage you to tread carefully here. Because reading this raised all sorts of alarm flags given how long the previous episode was when it didn't move the plot along very much. Here I do feel like I can offer a cautionary tale to not bloat up the later parts of your fic. Especially with combat.

While I'm happy it looks like we're finally getting our Nagrobek episode, I'm also eyeing the prospect of a prison break scenario with caution. It looks as though Hess is getting sent there, so I have to imagine he's going to get roped into the prison break scenario somehow. Plus he still hasn't used that Aggronite yet. He's definitely not going away; this would've been the chapter to bow him out. So, between Team Traveler and the pirates who have gotten hauled off, people currently in the prison, Elty, Kine & co., and now potentially the Empire dipping its toe back in... we're definitely looking at a prison break that will become another chaotic battle or series of chaotic battles with a lot of head hopping and a lot of mooks running around. Which is something you've already started this episode with in spite of these cropping up in episodes 15-17, too.

I hope I'm wrong, but this episode scenario is perfect for that kind of chaos. Including as a thematic mirror to the mostly unsuccessful prison break from a previous special episode. Hence, consider how you can make your fights more concise. If this episode is "kinda crowded" with plot details, look for ways to streamline things. Not every character needs a speaking part in the scenes they're in. Especially with the cast this big. And, of course, do not add on new plot elements. Not at this point. Stick with what you have.

Don't repeat my past mistakes or you'll end up exhausting readers.

We’ll keep your feedback in mind, though this is ultimately something that is subjective to an extent. We will say that it’ll be a while before there’s another big battle in this story, and the action for this episode was largely frontloaded towards its beginning. Also, the time the plot spends on Nagrobek is when all the plot threads of this story start coming together since there’s only one island this fic will be dealing with after it. I don’t know whether or not the way we pull things off will necessarily be the way you would’ve liked, but rest assured that we’re at least trying to keep things manageable building up to that final stretch.

Though with that, let’s get into the chapter proper, and the part where things all go pear-shaped for our intrepid heroes:

 

[Virgil134]

From the moment that a Veluza hailed them out on the Star Stream with a distress message from Gestirn, Nagant just knew that something had gone wrong with Pleo. When she started steering Valan further west into Imperial waters, there had always been a risk that Pleo's attempts to do whatever he was planning with the Company would fall apart, but she hadn't been expecting them to fall apart like this.

As soon as Starpeak Square's battered port and buildings came over the horizon, the Clawitzer had been in a state of disbelief—one that lingered well after she and Valan had disembarked and made their way inland. Even well into the center of the town, the surroundings were heavily battle-scarred, with the embers of charred husks of nearby buildings still smoldering. Valan's mood was little better as the Salamence Commodore glanced around tense and on edge, before shaking his head with a frustrated grumble.

"If we were just a bit closer, we could have done something."

Nagant quietly set her mouthparts on edge as the Salamence beside her suddenly craned his head towards her with a sour frown.

"I don't know who gave you that intelligence about Lugia's whereabouts, Captain Nugget, but I think it's time you found a different source."

There was a wordless stare between the two of them before Valan turned back and carried on with a low huff. Nagant uneasily hopped along, unable to work up the annoyance she'd normally have whenever that scaly windbag mangled her name, her gaze drifting to the scarred buildings along the route.

None of this was supposed to happen. She'd let Pleo go under the assumption that he'd be able to stay a step ahead of the rest of the Empire while trying to force the Company to leave him be. If she knew that things would come to this, perhaps it would've been better to have stood her ground and fought things out to the end on Haipheh.

… She would need to have a word with him the next time they met, assuming that she ever had a chance to do so again without Valan breathing down her neck. Even if she and the other Imperials were still piecing together what on earth had happened to this place, one thing had become clear early on:

"At least we know that Lugia came through here," the Clawitzer sighed. "It shouldn't be that hard to find out where he went-"

"Get moving, you!"

Nagant and Valan turned as they entered a courtyard next to the village garrison, where a silk-bound Emboar was being shoved along by a Heliolisk and a Makuhita. They stopped for a moment, watching as the pair pushed the Fire-Type towards a group of other Pokémon in similar condition, all under the watch of indigo-clad guards. Those must have been Pokémon caught from the raid, since numbers aside, the group had all the hallmarks of a band of captured pirates:

Scruffy, beaten-down, obviously unwashed, and with moods that ranged from sullen defiance to openly cowering in fright. She briefly noticed a Seviper in orange garb among the lot struggling and thrashing against her bindings, while beside her was a glowering Tyrantrum in similar attire…

Was that Captain Tarquin from the Strongjaw Gang? She supposed that things hadn't been a total debacle for the local defenders if they'd managed to capture a member of Orleigh's Pirate Council, even if it was cold comfort for their present problems with Pleo and his whereabouts.

She heard chatter further down the square and spotted a Krookodile and Empoleon talking and occasionally looking over the group of captives. Judging from the number of white leaves on the former's scarf and the latter's species and quality of attire, likely the local Sheriff and Duke.

"Commodore Valan," Nagant began. "I believe that's-"

"I see them. Come along, Captain Nugget."

Nagant's features fell into a sour frown as she grumbled and followed after the Salamence. As they neared, they began to make out snippets of a conversation about so many 'mons all together "being a safety risk", only for the Krookodile to notice them. Robbie trailed off and nudged the Empoleon's shoulder, prompting him to turn just as she and Valan arrived, the Salamence bowing as the Duke turned towards him.

"Good morning, Your Grace," the Dragon-Type said. "I'm Commodore Valan from the Royal Navy, and this is Captain Nugget, my subordinate."

Nagant quietly grumbled under her breath but otherwise fought back the seething thoughts in her mind. There was a time and a place to push back on the whelp's lack of respect, but this wasn't one of them. Valan idly turned his head towards the pirates as a Farigiraf was dragged into the ranks by a group of Marked as the guards took her into custody and barked angry-sounding orders— probably in Gestirner from their throaty cadence. A glance from the direction the Marked came from revealed that they weren't alone, and their compatriots all seemed just as preoccupied with the pirates. The Salamence slowly blinked at the sight, before turning his attention back to the Duke and his sheriff.

"I can already tell that there's quite a story behind all these scoundrels you've rounded up," he scoffed. "We received word at sea that there was a large raid, but what exactly happened here? And why are all these Marked here?"

Franz and Robbie traded glances with one another, before the Krookodile Sheriff of the pair uneasily pawed at his shoulder.

"The Marked are locals from Starbreak Square who helped us fight off those pirates last night," the Krookodile replied. "As for what happened… we're still in the process of figuring that out, really."

"Hrmph, I should be asking the same question, since there seems to be some miscommunication going about," Duke Franz snapped. "But the long and short of it is that Lugia came here and we detained him under erroneous information that he was held by pirates. Not long after, these actual pirates hired by the Company came through and ransacked the town."

Nagant blanched and visibly stiffened up. The Duke had come into contact with the Protector himself? From the response he gave, it had clearly gone well beyond following the instructions provided by the crown. Just how much had Franz found out about the crown's efforts to secure Lugia?

Nagant twitched her barbels and wrestled with how to proceed, only for Valan to let out a snort and brush the Empoleon's remarks aside with an idle bat of his wings.

"Yes, yes, I'm sure that there will be plenty of time for us to get to the bottom of that later, Your Grace," the Salamence insisted. "But, do you still have Lugia with you?"

"I'm afraid that I don't have any good news for you there, Commodore," Franz replied. "Lugia was helping us attempt to clear the pirates out of the harbor, when their captains overpowered him. They captured him and managed to successfully flee with what we estimate to be between half and two-thirds of the pirates who initially came here."

Nagant's barbels went tense as she found herself reflexively clenching her firing claw in shock. To her side, Valan's jaw hung open as a flash of what she swore was fear came over his face. The Salamence whirled around, motioning with his head back towards the sea with an impatient grunt.

"We need to return to Giotto. Immediately," Valan insisted. "Her Majesty will need all the time she can in order to organize a fleet and mount a preemptive raid on Vollezee."

Now it was Franz and Robbie's turn to recoil in alarm, and judging from the heads turning among the guards, Valan hadn't made his remark as quietly as Nagant would've hoped. The Krookodile of the pair spluttered briefly as Valan already took a few steps away to leave, before cutting them off and waving his claws frantically.

"N-Now wait just a minute there!" Robbie stammered. "You're talking about attacking the Company's capital! Once they retaliate, Gestirn would be right on the front lines for any invasion their fleets would mount and-!"

Franz sharply shushed the Krookodile, who reflexively bit his tongue and swallowed his words. Even so, the Empoleon didn't seem any less disturbed himself, as he turned to Valan with an incredulous squawk.

"Forgive my Sheriff's outspokenness, but you two are talking about waging open war with the Company!" Franz said. "I'll admit that my concerns are mostly related to Gestirn and its own welfare, but that isn't the sort of action to be talking about so lightly."

"We're well aware, Your Grace, but we might not have a choice at this point."

The pair turned and stared at Nagant as soon as the words left her mouth. Valan let out a low grunt and waited for the Clawitzer to continue as she shook her head with a low, chittering sigh.

"If the Company truly has Lugia in their grasp already, it will be a matter of time before they find a way to make him comply with them, and then use his power to try and conquer our islands," she explained. "Our best hope at this point is to attempt to stop them before things get to that, even if it means drastic measures."

Franz and Robbie visibly grimaced in response, and it was hard for Nagant to blame them. It hadn't even been two weeks since she'd parted ways with Pleo and his companions, and here they were forced to contemplate an action which would inevitably return Anyilla to open war.

Perhaps her experiment with trusting Pleo's agency to keep the Company from using him as a weapon had run its course, and it was time to bring him under the Imperial banner—willingly or not.

"Er… Captain, do you have a moment?"

Nagant pivoted on her tail and saw Cabot walking up to her from behind along with Berecien and Niilo. She blinked for a moment, as Valan's face sagged and he narrowed his eyes into an unamused scowl.

"No, we don't, actually," the Salamence harrumphed. "Care to explain why you three are here, Rampardos?"

The three visibly hesitated and traded glances with one another, as Cabot seemed to fumble with his words, before pawing at the back of his neck with a faltering hem and haw.

"Er, it's just… well… we came across some Pokémon down at the harbor who said that they wanted to speak with you."

Valan turned his head as Nagant tilted on her tail to peek past the Rampardos and his companions. There in the background, she could see a party consisting of a Gliscor, a Talonflame, a Sneasel, and a strange green Dunsparce-like creature in yellow and black scarves coming along with a Marked Hydreigon that followed after at a noticeable berth… along with a Growlithe wearing a matching scarf that was clearly too big for him. The thought crossed Nagant's mind that the Puppy Pokémon looked strangely familiar, when she noticed he was looking at her and forcing a visibly sheepish smile over his muzzle. She saw Berecien leveling a long, unamused stare at the Growlithe, before turning back to her.

"I myself am not sure why we're humoring them when they clearly shouldn't be here," the Ponyta harrumphed. "But since they're already present, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to hear whatever they have to say at least."

Valan cocked a brow at the remark as it suddenly dawned on Nagant why the Growlithe looked so familiar—he was that same one who kept hanging around Lugia!

She tightened her firing claw and had to fight back the urge to Water Pulse that foolish dog right here and now. What on earth was he doing here?! Why would he think it'd be a good idea to come straight to her with friends of his when he was a wanted 'mon at the moment?!

Nagant shot a harsh glare over that made the smile slide off Elty's face and prompted him to pin his ears back. She would have to have some words with that furry imbecile, but not right now with the fate of the Empire hanging in the balance, and especially not in front of Commodore Valan.

"We don't have time for chatter with random civilians right now," she snapped, before pointing back down the path past the newcomers. "Cabot, send them aw-"

"No, you do have time for us," Kline said. "And if you value the fate of your 'Empire', you'll hear us out."

Valan looked down at the green serpent balancing on his tail, before frowning and shooting a sidelong glance over at Cabot and his companions.

"I'm sorry, but who is this impudent green Dunsparce again?" Valan demanded.

There was a brief moment of hesitation as Team Zephyr's members traded uneasy looks with one another. Kline visibly faltered, then shook his head and hopped forward.

"… Perhaps it would be faster for me to just show you," he said, before looking back at Margi. "Just… try not to panic too much, please."

Margi tilted her head puzzledly as Kline turned back and closed his eye in focus. Green lights abruptly twinkled in the sky, before arcing and converging on him. All around, the square grew awash in a green glow, as nearby Pokémon jumped back with startled cries and Robbie hurriedly lunged over to shield his Empoleon superior.

"Ack! Duke Franz! Zurück!"

Nagant leveled her firing claw as the lights gathered, while Margi reflexively flew back and stared up wide-eyed as the gathering mass of lights began to take shape.

"Y-You're-!"

"A-Ah! Demon! R-Run away!"

A Marked Dugtrio from the guards ducked back into the ground and burrowed away, while others hurriedly dove for shelter. The few Marked among the pirates were similarly beside themselves with terror, as glimpses of recognition came over their faces. The lights pooled in front of Nagant's eyes, gathering into a green, serpentine body that filled her vision.

The lights abruptly faded as the glow enveloping the square gave way back to daylight. The Clawitzer lifted her eyes up to the towering figure's face, when her jaw flopped open and her firing claw drooped out of stunned realization that she knew who this 'impudent green Dunsparce' was.

"Z-Zygarde?!"

Kline craned his head down, staring as the Clawitzer's dumbstruck expression reflected in his eyes.

"I suppose I am more typically called that, yes. Though, there is much for us to discuss, and not much time to do it."

---

Crom had never thought about what it'd be like to be a crate sitting in the cargo hold of a ship, but evidently it was quite uncomfortable: constantly laying against hard wood and stuck in one place in a cramped environment.

Perhaps it wasn't the best of comparisons since surely it wouldn't be this miserable. Here in the hold of this prisoner ship, instead of crates, they were crammed up against so many others amidst stifling heat, and an overwhelming odor of unwashed bodies and sea salt. The only source of light came from the blue light of glowmoss lanterns, with the only real hint of how much time had passed being the occasional change of one set of guards for another.

His father was next to him right now and squirming in discomfort, the Fraxure's arms tied behind him in metal chains much as his own were. His other teammates nearby weren't any better off, and there had been little conversation between them since they'd been brought down here. Aside from a panicked outburst from Pyry, the whole journey had gone by mostly in silence, punctuated by the sounds of the ship creaking, or the groans and frightened murmurs of the pirates who'd been crammed up against each other around them.

It was hard to think of anything they could talk about. They'd lost, Pleo had been taken by Lyn, and now they were all going to some island that was mostly known for the awful prison that was built on it. What were they supposed to even do right now? Could they even do anything?

A glance over at his teammates and their defeated expressions told him all he needed to know. The Druddigon hung his head, moisture beading along his eyes when he felt a nudge at his shoulder. It was his dad, nosing at him with a weak smile over his face.

"Look on the bright side, mijo. At least we'll be out of these chains soon enough."

Crom looked around the hull amid the dim lighting and noticed that it wasn't just them who were chained up. Everywhere he looked, roughly every other Pokémon had been bound up in much the same fashion as them, even ones that didn't seem like they weren't strong enough to break out of simpler restraints like silk or ropes.

All those chains couldn't possibly have been cheap with all that metal they used. Were all of them really that important to the Company? Or was this some sort of deliberate decision Lyn had made? The Druddigon opted not to dwell on the matter, since the more he did, the worse the sinking feeling in his stomach got.

"I'm… not sure if that really makes me feel much better right now, dad."

Pladur paused and blinked, before looking away with a flustered stammer.

"I-I mean, at least it's not making you feel worse, right?" the Fraxure insisted. "I don't really know what's ahead of us right now, but at least Lyn didn't get all of us. There's a chance we'll meet some of the others like Kiran who were caught on Vollezee. A-And maybe the others we left behind on Gestirn will figure out a way to help us!"

There was a long silence as Crom finally noticed how wide his father's eyes were, and how he looked every bit as scared as he was. It dawned on him that his dad had been trying to lift his mood, but after Pladur saw how his efforts weren't going anywhere, the weak smile on the Fraxure's face vanished. Pladur himself hung his head, trailing off with a downcast murmur.

"I just thought that having something to hold onto for hope would mean a lot for you… and everybody here, for that matter."

None of his teammates spoke up in reply, as everyone seemed to be in the same downcast mood that everyone else in the ship's cargo hold shared. With how defeated and demoralized the pirates closest to him looked, Crom supposed they also weren't interested in talking much.

A part of him felt sorry for them, as incredible as it sounded to him. They were still a bunch of thieves who pillaged without regard for other Pokémon or their livelihoods, but it was like something about them had just broken after being dragged into the cargo hold. In particular Hess, who from the few times he'd seen him, seemed to have his head hanging and staring blankly at the floor.

Crom snapped to attention after hearing heavy footsteps tap against wood from further down the cargo hold. He turned his head as much as he could and spotted a Kangaskhan in Company lavenders coming down a set of steps for the guards who had been posted to watch over them. The Kangaskhan briefly glanced out over them, before turning her attention back to a Darmanitan by the stairs.

"Nagrobek's coming up pretty fast," the Kangaskhan said. "I don't want to spend all day just dragging these 'mons out, so tell everyone to take care of anything they need to before we hit the docks. The moment the prisoners above deck get cleared out, I want these 'mons on their feet."

Crom noticed the pirates near them visibly tense up as scattered cries broke out around him. The Druddigon heard panicked breathing over the surrounding noise, when he noticed that it was coming from not too far away from him.

He looked over and saw Pyry, eyes widened as the Gabite was visibly hyperventilating. Crom hesitated and set his teeth on edge, just what had come over him?

"Pyry?" the Druddigon asked. "Are you alright?"

"N-No I'm not okay!" the Gabite cried. "I can't go back there! I can't! I can't-!"

"For gods' sake, shut up, you useless worm!"

Loud stomps rang out as the lot turned and saw a Carracosta in Company lavenders lumbering over. The Water-Type loomed over the Gabite with a seething snarl, pulling a flipper back into the air.

"I swear, if I have to hear your annoying little voice whimper and cry about your fate again, I'll grant you your wish and throw you overboard!"

Pyry flinched and cringed from the Carracosta's threat, as angry buzzes filled the air. Crom looked over and saw Pekka fighting against his bindings, before seeing his father hurriedly dart over to try and clamp Pyry's mouth shut. Ander did much the same with Pekka on the side, as Pladur focused his attention and desperately pleaded with the still quailing Gabite.

"Easy! Easy! Pyry, just focus on keeping your head down for now!"

The Gabite shuddered a moment, before curling up with a low whine as all the vigor seemed to drain from his body, the encounter having silenced the general outcry in the cargo hold. The Carracosta leveled a piercing glare and lingered briefly, before huffing and carrying on. As the Carracosta headed further out of earshot, Pladur let go of the Gabite, hushedly insisting for him to breathe in. At the same time, Ander noticed Pekka also stopped struggling and let go as the Vibrava fidgeted his wings. There was a brief silence, when the Marked Scyther worriedly traded glances between the two former pirates.

"… Pekka, what was that about?"

The Vibrava didn't meet his eyes and turned away as much as his bindings allowed him. He seemed to be wrestling with something inside of him, before he finally spoke up just loud enough for Team Traveller to hear over the lingering murmurs of the unfortunates gathered around them.

"This… isn't the first time Pyry and I were sent here like this," the Vibrava explained. "Almost nobody ever comes back from Nagrobek, and we were the only Pokémon from our old crew who made it out last time."

"Th-They killed my mom in the place they're sending us to!"

Everyone fell silent at Pyry's outburst, worriedly glancing off just in case the Carracosta came back, before trading uneasy looks with each other The Gabite pulled his legs in and stared at the floor as his voice came out in a choked whine.

"Sh-She was so much smarter and stronger than I've ever been, and even she couldn't make it," he whimpered. "N-None of our old friends who were sent to that place ever got away, so what hope do any of us have?"

Crom fell silent and stared back in wordless shock as his wings drooped. Just what was he supposed to say back to that? They were stuck on a ship headed for a horrible place and an uncertain future. They couldn't even move their limbs properly right now. All they had was each other.

… Though then again, at a time like this… maybe that was the most important thing they could have. The Druddigon scooted over and tried to put on a brave face, giving a reassuring nudge with his snout.

"I don't know. But whatever's waiting for us out there. We'll face it together," Crom said. "I promise."

Pyry shifted and looked up at the Druddigon. Crom wasn't sure whether or not the Gabite really believed his promise, but it at least seemed to lift his mood… somewhat.

He just hoped that they'd actually be able to keep it in the place they were going to.

The ship suddenly jolted as it abruptly lost forward momentum, sending Trizano and the others lurching forward while a few pirates fell over from the change in speed. Trizano could see the floor of the ship tilt slightly from it turning and the waves were getting less noticeable. A sign that they weren't sailing in open waters anymore.

"We're starting to dock," the Skarmory murmured. "It won't be much longer now."

The expected sounds and sensations of the ship docking came not long afterwards: the ship stalling in the water, the slow drifting as it was towed and pushed into place along the dock, and the cry of sailors barking out orders to each other. Guardia breathed in and lowered her head when she heard a scream coming from above. A chill seemed to sweep over the cargo hold as the sound of jostling and some sort of disturbance came from above deck.

"What on earth is going on up there?" the Marowak gulped.

Shouts punctuated with other frightened cries rang out from above them, as Guardia set her teeth on edge and looked up. What on earth was going on up there? And of all the times to be completely without a bone to defend herself…

The racket from above began to dwindle down steadily, as Guardia noticed Pyry was hyperventilating from panic again, and a number of other pirates seemed to be in similar straits. Just what were these Pokémon going to do to them? Were they even going to leave this ship alive?

Guardia snapped to attention after hearing stomping noises against the wood at the far end of the cargo hold, which grew louder and louder with each step. A Scovillain came down the stairs with a number of other Pokémon in lavender scarves, who fanned out after entering. The Scovillain briefly looked them over, before turning back to his underlings with an impatient grunt.

"Start clearing them out from front to back," the Scovillain grunted. "It took long enough to deal with their buddies above-deck."

The guards began moving forward at the Scovillain's instruction, and started dragging the pirates off up the stairs as shouts and cries of protest rang out, a few like an unfortunate Liepard being carried off literally kicking and screaming. Guardia shrank back as the awful sounds kept coming from closer and closer by, until she saw the nearby pirates abruptly get taken, and then felt a claws digging into her shoulder. Guardia gasped and looked up, where there was a Midnight Lycanroc glaring down at her.

"Get up, you."

Guardia barely got a word out of her mouth before the Lycanroc abruptly jerked her up by her shoulder and shoved her along. Her heart raced as everything went by in darkened blur: the rest of the cargo hold, the stairs, the ship's corridors, until she saw sunlight coming up ahead through a rectangular aperture. The Lycanroc dragged her forward into it as light blinded her vision and she recoiled. As her eyes adjusted, she saw that she was back on the ship's deck. She briefly saw a line of unfortunates being marched down a gangplank when she felt a shove from behind, and saw the Lycanroc lean his head in with his fangs bared.

"I didn't say you could stop and rest!" he snarled. "Keep moving!"

The Lycanroc pushed Guardia along and down the gangplank for the docks. There was a net filled with haggard-looking and flailing Pokémon that mostly had fins who were being untangled next to a heap of empty nets, while the entire dock ahead was crowded with Pokémon being marched along in single file under the glare of watchful guards. On the nearby piers, other ships were offloading Pokémon in similar states, as it didn't occur to Guardia until just then how many pirates had been captured in the battle at sea with Lyn.

Somehow, in spite of being twice her height just a day ago, Guardia felt smaller and more helpless than she had when she lost her first club in the Subway. What were these Pokémon going to do with them? Had they brought them to this place to die?

Guardia turned her head up along the dock and saw that they were being brought into a town, if it could be called that. The place didn't look that much bigger than Bluewhorl Town, but the cobbles and dirt that formed the lanes looked visibly worn and trampled down in a way she hadn't seen in prior 'civilized' colonies. Barring an exception here or there like a Kecleon Shop painted in faded paint, many of the shops or houses in this place were visibly shabby or shuttered. The locals seemed every bit as worn-down as well, as the Pokémon they passed would largely ignore them while others would grumble or give snide-sounding remarks.

Guardia wasn't sure what to make of the other Pokémon's reaction, other than that they obviously weren't going to be much help. As the guards continued shoving them forward, Guardia noticed that the ramshackle houses and shops were thinning out before the Lycanroc suddenly sent her pitching forward onto her belly. Guardia laid there for a moment and heard her teammates yelp as she saw that they were all in a square in front of a wooden platform set up in its center. As she got back onto her feet, she saw there were bound-up pirates all around them, while Pokémon in lavender scarves ringed them, visibly sneering from the edges.

A sharp tap filled the air, as an umber-colored reptile in dark blue armor plates stepped forward. Guardia looked on as a faint rattle accompanied the stranger's steps. She sized up the Pokémon as it dawned on her that in spite of his scales' color, his longer arms and his thinner body, that the stranger was another Marowak. He let out a low grunt, before looking out over the crowd of unfortunates with a stern glare.

"Hrmph, about time we got to the last batch," he growled. "Repeating myself over and over for these maggots is getting really old."

The Marowak stepped onto the platform, giving him a view of the square. He took a moment to size up the captives gathered around him, before tapping his bone against the platform and giving a toothy sneer.

"The name's Junius. I'm the prison's Associate Warden and the one who will be keeping an eye on you for the rest of your sentences here," the Second-Rank said. "In case you're wondering, but nobody here is interested in hearing whatever sob stories you unwashed scum might have. I already know what I need to: you all struck a deal with Commissioner Lyn to cause trouble on some backwater island, and you didn't pay attention to the fine print."

The Marowak hopped off his platform, pacing about the front row of the gathered prisoners as he held his bone in one hand, letting its other end drag along the ground with an audible scrape. He turned a piercing gaze out over them as he continued on, many of the pirates at the front visibly cringing in fright as he passed or else averting their gaze when his eyes met theirs.

Guardia quickly gathered that they didn't want to get on the 'mon's bad side. Up ahead, she saw Pladur and Trizano attempting to scoot over to try and block her and her younger teammates from Junius' gaze as they looked on visibly stiff and wide-eyed. A small, eerie grin spread over the corners of Junius' mouth as it suddenly dawned on Guardia that the 'mon was not only toying with them, but enjoying it.

"Clearly he doesn't have a use for you anymore, but we certainly do," Junius sneered. "It'd be in your best interests to stay useful to us, or else you're not going to last long around here."

"Are you done? Since all I hear is some twiggy lizard yapping and trying to sound tough."

Guardia blinked as everyone seemed to grow deathly silent and their attention drifted away from the Marowak. Up at the front of the crowd, there was a Zangoose with his arms tied behind his back standing next to a visibly alarmed Flareon and Banette. Unlike his companions, the Zangoose had visibly puffed out his chest and curled his face into a defiant smirk.

Junius' gaze fell on him as the guard's eyes visibly narrowed. He began to pace over, ghostfire starting to form at the tips of his club as the Flareon and Banette nervously inched away, the other Pokémon around the Zangoose doing much the same. In spite of it all, the pirate seemed wholly unfazed, as he briefly glanced at the ghostfire on the Marowak's club, before pulling his head back with an unimpressed frown.

"Oh, so you're one of those Ghost Marowak," the Zangoose scoffed. "I'm quaking in my tracks right here! Like you could really do anything to a Normal-Type like-"

All of a sudden, a sickening thud rang out as Junius drove his club into the Zangoose's stomach. Deep. The Normal-Type yowled in pain and slumped forward onto the ground, wheezing for air as the Marowak swung his bone down as an overwhelming stream of fire shot out from its tip and enveloped the pirate's upper body.

The Zangoose screamed, before going still beyond a faint twitch. Junius pulled his club back and twirled it in his grasp, leveling an icy glare at the crowd in front of him.

"Anyone else want to get in a brave and defiant moment right now?" the Ghost-Type asked. "Anyone? There's always a few idiots in groups like yours who think that they're the heroes of some swashbuckling story."

A long silence followed as everywhere Guardia looked around, all the Pokémon she could see were visibly squirming or trying to avoid drawing attention to themselves. Even Trizano, who for a moment seemed to be ready to try and charge ahead, ultimately kept quiet and averted his gaze. Junius brought his bone back to his side, and turned away with an unimpressed harrumph.

"I thought so," he said. "Good to see that you all learn quickly."

The umber Marowak thumped his club against the ground for attention, making the gathered guards in the square straighten up. Junius looked them over, before motioning up a path that snaked out of town and up a set of rolling hills.

"Throw that yappy furball onto someone's back and get these 'mons up to the prison," he snapped. "We've spent enough time loafing around town today, and the sooner we finish processing them, the better."

Guardia looked around as the guards made their way forward, cries of protest ringing out while the gathered pirates started to be dragged off by their lavender-scarved captors and the guards shoved the Zangoose onto the back of an unfortunate black Tauros. Guardia felt herself get jerked up as the Lycanroc came back to her and shoved her onto her feet, leaving her staring blankly at the path up the hills as she marched along into the unknown.

---

(Continued in the next post)

 

[Virgil134]

Ketu made his way through the Wyrmwind's passages towards the ironclad's brig, carrying a tray with a cup of water, a few gummis, some stale bread, and a Nomel Berry. He mentally went over the day's events in his mind as he couldn't help but frown at having to jump through yet more hoops for his mission to keep Lyn off the Board.

He supposed that this was the reason why he'd made a point of trying to draw up different contingencies for how to deal with Pleo before Lyn left Vollezee. Things would've been so much simpler if he had been able to snatch the Protector away in an Apricorn away from prying eyes as he'd planned, and it likely wouldn't have taken much to convince Lyn that one of the pirates' teleporters had gotten away with Pleo. Knowing Lyn, the Samurott would've gone and wasted time and 'monpower attempting to mount an abortive raid of Orleigh, while Pleo could've been sent off to trusted paws with the otter none the wiser.

That obviously wasn't going to happen now. At least Lyn still believed that Darzin was behind everything that happened on Buyeom, meaning the Samurott hadn't taken more drastic measures to secure Pleo… like keeping him inside an Apricorn on his person. Instead, Lyn had opted to imprison Pleo inside the brig, which was nothing that Ketu couldn't work around.

There was still one other hurdle that needed to be settled: namely what exactly had happened to the Knight's Ledger. The book was still missing, yet he couldn't help but get the feeling that Lyn was lying to him earlier about not finding it. He vaguely recalled Lyn mentioning that he'd been 'thinking about the future' after he captured Lugia… could it somehow be related to that? At the same time, if the Samurott really had found the Ledger, what would he even do with it?

… What if Lyn had learned about his true allegiances after all? Did Lyn somehow know that Elilan wanted to get his claws on the Ledger and was lying about it to keep it away from him? Or was he just being paranoid?

The Weavile paused and shook his head. Whatever the truth of the matter was, it didn't change the present state of affairs. For now, he was better off focusing on this current backup plan. He'd already set up what he needed by convincing Lyn to send the rest of Team Traveller to Nagrobek. Now it was just time to execute the hard part.

Ketu made his way down the brig's hallway, tray in his claws, as he studied his surroundings. Even if he hadn't already known where it was, it wasn't exactly hard to find the cell where Pleo was being kept. There was one cell in particular where an Electabuzz and an orange Lycanroc—Tarmo and Rudolf—were standing watch with a pair of glowmoss lanterns hanging on opposite sides of the door, while all the others were unattended.

Ketu walked up, the pair noticing him as he approached with a pair of quiet blinks. Tarmo was the first to budge as he cocked a brow, before calling out to the nearing Weavile.

"Ketu?" the Electabuzz asked. "Since when were you on feeding duty for the prisoner?"

"Since the Captain needed someone to question Lugia. He's got his paws full right now, so I was the obvious 'mon to fill in for him," Ketu replied. "It's like they say: 'the best way to a 'mon's heart is through his stomach'. Having something to eat should make Lugia more talkative."

"Hm, makes sense I suppose," Rudolf remarked. "We'll open the door for you."

Ketu let his eyes linger on the Lycanroc as a small frown came over his face. Right, it wasn't like Aldrich was standing guard right now, but Lycanroc were still Pokémon with more sensitive hearing. Just how much sound got through these new cells? Would Rudolf be able to hear anything he said from the other end?

… Maybe it was just paranoia, but perhaps it was best to get rid of him. He wouldn't be salvaging much of any mission if the Lycanroc somehow overheard him inside.

"Actually, that reminds me… go get Klaas to take over the rest of your shift, Rudolf," Ketu said. "Given everything that's at stake, we should not be taking any chances, and I think he'd pair better with Tarmo if the bird tried escaping again."

Rudolf stiffened up briefly and backpedaled, before the Lycanroc narrowed his eyes with a defensive frown.

"Wait, why would Klaas need to take over right now?" Rudolf questioned. "It's just watching over a door, which is nothing I can't handle."

"Because Klaas is able to reliably put 'mons to sleep, and it's a bit hard for 'mons to escape when they're snoozing on the floor," the Weavile insisted. "This bird's been nothing but full of surprises for the past month and the Captain's got a lot riding on getting him back to Vollezee safely. He's not going to be particularly impressed if your personal pride helps Lugia get away again."

The Lycanroc hesitated briefly, before begrudgingly backing down. The wolf started to head off as Tarmo stepped in afterwards, giving a nudge at the Rock-Type's shoulder.

"Come on, Rudolf, it's not like that bird's going anywhere," the Electabuzz said. "Even if that power of his comes back, he's chained down and everything. Go squeeze in a card game or something before you get another task."

That one seemed to put the Lycanroc's concerns to rest, as Rudolf headed off for the brig's exit without complaint afterwards. Ketu and the remaining guard waited for him to slip past the doorway, before Tarmo turned his attention back to the cell door.

"Alright, let me get this door open for you…"

---

Pleo stirred in his sleep, letting out troubled murmurs as in his head, those awful scenes on the Argent Aviso's deck kept playing over and over again in his mind. The screams and attacks flying all around, Ingela's body lying on the timbers as blood pooled out from under her, Lyn's grip on his body as the Samurott marched him away…

He never even got to see what happened to his friends. Were they still okay right now? He remembered what Nida told him of what dying was like back on Mengir, and what happened to that Primarina was just like that. Had… Lyn done the same to his friends?

What bothered him most was that the entire time, his powers were nowhere close to returning to him. His friends had needed him as a Protector then and he just wasn't able to do anything for them. He cried bitterly after being brought to this cell and chained to the floor. After feeling the ship sail away, at some point he was just too tired to keep going on and fell asleep.

A sharp thump woke him as a glimmer of lantern light got into his eyes. Pleo roused and turned his head up, only for his eyes to abruptly widen as he saw the lantern's holder:

It was Ketu, standing in front of his cell's door with a lantern in one claw and a wooden tray in the other. The Lugia's heart began to race, as his voice came out in a panicked squawk.

"A-Aah!"

"Well now, looks like you're in a bit of a bind, aren't you?" Ketu asked.

Pleo squirmed and tried to pull himself away, jerking at his chains with an audible rattle. Ketu walked up, before giving a dismissive tilt of his head as a small smirk formed on his face.

"Relax, I'm not here to hurt you," the Weavile said, putting down the food tray. "You're fine… you know, aside from the part where Lyn and the Board are going to turn you into their weapon and your friends are busy getting sent to a hell prison on Nagrobek… So maybe 'fine' is not the right word there."

Pleo suddenly froze up. H-His friends were sent to Nagrobek of all places?! That island everyone kept saying how awful it was?! His voice began to faintly hitch and moisture started to bead up at the corner of his eyes, as Ketu's expression briefly faltered.

"… Unless I help free you from Lyn and send word to save your friends, of course."

The Lugia jolted back again and looked up wide-eyed, this time not from fright, but from startled surprise.

"H-Huh?!"

"It's simple, really: you join me and become one of Administrator Elilan's agents, and I'll help you and your friends out."

Pleo's mouth hung open in shock, as the Lugia sputtered with an incredulous squawk.

"Wait, what?!"

Ketu leaned back a bit against the wall, and began to idly pick at his claws with a small smile.

"I'm being serious," the Weavile replied. "You have enemies that Administrator Elilan and my colleagues share, and the enemy of our enemy is our friend. Since we both have similar problems at the moment… why not help each other out?"

The Lugia's beak remained open for a moment before he shook his head. His eyes hardened and he rattled his chains again, before he spluttered out an angry squawk.

"No! I'd never join up with you! You're the bad guys and tried to hurt me and my friends!" he exclaimed. "Kline and Nerea told me all about how evil you are! Why would you think that I'd ever agree to this?!"

Ketu went up and grabbed one of Pleo's chains, sharply tugging it with a stern frown.

"Keep it down. I can't exactly make an offer if others are going to overhear it," the Weavile said. "And in spite of what you might think, we're not evil. We just want a better world for the Pokémon that live in the Cradle."

He let the chain go as Pleo reflexively inched away, shooting back a piercing scowl at the Weavile.

"Sure you aren't," the Lugia huffed. "Is that why you keep hurting other Pokémon? Because you want 'a better world'."

"Yes, actually," Ketu said. "Because whenever you want something that's good for others badly enough, you'll do whatever it takes to get it."

The Dark-Type took a step back and paced about briefly, only passingly acknowledging the fierce glare from the Lugia. Even if the kid was a bit weepier than he'd have liked, he had a fire in him, and Ketu was sure that he could come around with just a little nudge.

"You and your friends would know a thing or two about that yourselves, wouldn't you?" the Weavile asked. "Trashing Lyn's ship and three different ports, and anyone else you might have hurt along the way. Beating up the guards at the Vault and stealing gods-knows-what on top of that Ledger you took from there… and that's just the stuff I know of. Really, sounds like the only thing you'd need to fit right in with us is a change of scarves!"

The Lugia's scowl visibly deepened, as he tried to pull away with a testy harrumph.

"We're not like you, and nothing you say will change that," Pleo spat. "With everything that we've seen you and your friends do and everything that Kline's told us about how you're planning on taking over the Company, I don't believe you genuinely care about making a better world. Why shouldn't I just tell Lyn that you're really working with Elilan right now?"

"You're welcome to try," Ketu said, shrugging back. "Though, how about I spare you the effort and tell you exactly how that'd wind up going?"

The Weavile walked up alongside the little Protector, turning his head down with a small frown.

"I'd talk my way out of things since I'm the one who has been around his ship for four years, and you're not," he said. "Nothing would change about the current trajectory of your life or your friends spending the rest of the foreseeable future doing penal labor. But hey, if you're so sure, go ahead and call out for the guards in the hallway."

There was a lingering pause between the two as Pleo stared back blankly. Was this some sort of a trick? Ketu hadn't been fazed at all by his threat. He knew that Ketu wasn't above lying, but what if what he was saying was true? Then would anything he told Lyn about the Weavile matter at all?

Pleo shifted in his chains and lowered his head as Ketu crossed his arms, giving an impatient tap of his foot.

"… Well?" the Weavile asked. "Are you gonna call those guards or what?"

Pleo fell quiet and hesitated. He scowled up at the Weavile, but even amid the dim light, it was clear that the Lugia's expression wasn't as firm as it was just moments ago.

"I still don't trust you," he murmured. "And there's no way I'd ever work with you."

Ketu stared at Pleo for a moment, before the ends of his mouth curled up into a small smile. Maybe it wasn't a lot of progress, but at least it showed the kid could be reasoned with. The Weavile shrugged his shoulders again in reply, before he spoke again.

"Well, you'd be surprised at how fast Pokémon can change their minds sometimes. I don't expect you to trust me, but you clearly know a thing or two about thinking rationally. You wouldn't have been this hard to catch if you weren't," Ketu said, idly brushing his claws together.

"Besides, you seem like the sort of 'mon that wants to help others. If we succeed, the whole Cradle will be a much better place because of it."

Pleo tilted his head and shot a long, wary glance at the Weavile as he continued to idly flex his claws.

"… Just what do you mean by that?"

"We'll get to that, but let's start with the 'you' angle first," Ketu said. "I'm sure you've figured out by now that if nothing changes, Lyn and the Board are gonna use you and your power as a weapon. The first place they'll try and do that would obviously be Tromba, since that's the only Company island without an Administrator at the moment. The locals there are also less likely to offer resistance to you."

Ketu's face took on a more serious expression, as the Dark-Type narrowed his eyes back in reply.

"You remember what those tribute payments your island goes through are like, right? You know, the whole 'lackeys strolling through town and taking whatever they want like they own the place' that happens whenever Lyn comes around?" he asked. "Now imagine him and a couple hundred goons just being on your island all the time and that happening day, after day, after day…"

Pleo flinched and set his beak on edge as memories of Bunsen and his crew doing much the same crossed his mind. The Pokémon the Company sent had been nothing but a bunch of petty bullies that pushed around the villagers and took from them as they pleased. On top of that, he remembered Bunsen's crew almost forced a bunch of villagers, including Nida's family, off the island. And if Lyn had been the Pokémon there to do that…

His mind then turned back to the deck of the Argent Aviso as the moment Lyn charged Ingela lingered in his head, along with every moment afterwards. The deafening bellow, the way the Samurott's seamitar plunged into the Primarina's stomach, and those awful choking noises as she died. He started to see different villagers from Bluewhorl Town in the Primarina's place… Marley… Osmund… Hatteras…

He couldn't bear to think of how everyone on the island would suffer from Lyn coming to take Tromba over. Maybe Kline or Nerea would be able to stop Lyn, but after everything that had happened on Vollezee and Gestirn… would they? Or would they just go back to hiding?

Ketu studied Pleo's reaction, and after a moment's pause, he shook his head and continued on.

"And then there's of course your friends, who are stuck inside the worst prison in the Cradle right now," the Weavile continued. "That place is meant to break even the hardest of pirates, so how well do you think a bunch of kids and civilians are going to hold up?"

More silence, as this time Pleo seemed to uneasily squirm and fidget. Ketu's mouth tightened into a small frown as he folded his arms.

"Work with us and you can change all of that," the Weavile insisted. "Why let all of that happen when you don't have to? You are a Protector, aren't you?"

Pleo hesitated, before his expression hardened. He jostled against his chains, turning his head up at the Weavile with a piercing glare.

"You're trying to trick me, just like you did to Albert, Charlie, and Marilyn!" the Lugia shot back. "Knowing you, you'll probably just leave Nida and the others in that prison even if I help you!"

"Oh yeah, like the world's really suffering from a group who had nothing better to do than pretend to be human not being able to go straight back to swindling others," Ketu scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Yes, it totally makes sense for us to treat an amateur Rescue Team the exact same way. Because we're a bunch of self-destructive idiots like that."

Pleo blinked and furrowed his brow. Ketu's answer wasn't particularly impressive, but something about it was strange…

Why was it such a big deal if some of them had pretended to be human? It wasn't right of them, but the way that the Weavile had said it, he sounded particularly disgusted and offended.

A sharp tsk snapped him to attention. Ketu was pacing about him now, his arms folded behind his head.

"Look, the fact that I haven't turned and walked out of the door right now is because I want you to work with us. Willingly," Ketu insisted. "There'd be little for us to gain from leaving your friends locked up, and a lot for us to lose if we want to keep working with you in the long term."

The Weavile stepped around the Lugia, before stopping and leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

"Why would we ruin our relationship with you and force ourselves to drag you into things kicking and screaming when we don't have to?" he asked. "Especially when it wouldn't cost anything to get your friends out of those cells… assuming they stop fighting us, anyways."

Pleo hesitated and hung his head. He really didn't want to help Ketu with anything involving Elilan, and he knew that all of his friends wouldn't want him to either. But at the same time, what was he supposed to do? He really couldn't see any other way of helping his friends right now…

The Lugia looked up at the Weavile when it dawned on him: Ketu didn't say anything about how long he needed to help him, did he? What if he helped him, but then stopped once he knew his friends were safe? Wouldn't that be a way of making sure Ketu didn't get a chance to use him for whatever awful scheme Elilan had in mind?

"… So if I agree to help you, you'll let my friends go right now?"

"I said 'get your friends out of those cells'. Actually letting them go right here and now while Lyn and the Board are still around would be way too risky."

Pleo sharply frowned in reply. Ketu said nothing back right away as the Lugia continued scowling at him silently, before the Weavile threw up his arms with a sigh.

"Look, you want me to be honest? It'd be easier for me to just lie to you and tell you what you want to hear, but I know you're smarter than that," Ketu said. "Think about it: both Lyn and the Board know exactly who your friends are, and they expect them to be imprisoned on Nagrobek. Letting them go about as they please in the prison or making sure they never set foot inside another cell is easy to get past them, but outright letting them leave it is a whole different story."

"It sounds more like you're making excuses to not help them," Pleo harrumphed, turning his beak up. "Nagrobek is the island that Elilan runs so letting them leave would be the easiest thing in the world! He'd just have to tell his underlings to let them go!"

"And if the Board came around and asked for your friends to be turned over to them afterwards? What do you think would happen after that?"

Pleo caught himself as the Weavile pinned his ears back and folded his arms with a serious frown.

"At that point, our only option would be to try and fake their deaths, which would get more than a little awkward if they got spotted wandering around some random island or Subway tunnel afterwards," Ketu explained. "Do you really think you'll be able to save them a second time afterwards if they get in trouble again? Or that it wouldn't blow up any plans we had to take down the rest of the Company and leave you completely at Lyn's mercy?"

Pleo didn't have an answer to that. Maybe his friends would have something if they were there with him, but as much as he hated to admit it, Ketu's argument wasn't wrong. He looked back after hearing footsteps, only to see Ketu sit down beside him, his features having visibly eased.

"It sucks, I know, but part of a secret mission involves knowing how to play the long game," the Weavile said, before looking off into space with a low mutter under his breath.

"Even if it's not what you want right here and now… Even if it might get frustrating sometimes."

That… seemed to make sense. Travellers above, why on earth was something Ketu saying making sense?! This had to be some sort of trick on his part… right?

The young Lugia hesitated and drifted in his thoughts as Ketu leaned back slightly and studied his reaction. After a brief pause, the Weavile shook his head, before giving a reassuring pat.

"For what it's worth, there are places in that complex that can get pretty comfortable. I've stayed in some of them," Ketu insisted. "Obviously, they're not normally meant for prisoners, but… well, no reason why anyone aside from us would need to know that your friends stopped being treated as ones. They'd be closer to 'guests with limited travel options' until Inler's no longer a thing we have to worry about."

Pleo turned his head away, dutifully avoiding looking up at the Dark-Type beside him.

"I… I don't know. Even if I help you beat Inler and Lyn, what would happen afterwards?" the Lugia asked. "Wouldn't the Company still keep me away from Tromba while still bullying everyone there?"

"Well, the Company would be under new management, obviously. And we've got bigger things to worry about than how much tribute every island has been coughing up, so we're not going to be running it like Darzin if that's what you're getting at—never really did like getting involved in that stuff," the Weavile said. "Though to answer your question, while there would be missions outside of Tromba we'd need you for, you can go back to your home whenever you want in between them. If anything, you'd likely make our lives easier by being on Tromba since the Pokémon there look up to you."

Pleo let his eyes drift towards the floor. Could he even trust whatever Ketu was telling him? He didn't sound obviously evasive, but he didn't like how he couldn't pick up anything about how the Weavile was really feeling. He'd sometimes noticed when his friends felt certain ways when he was near them, and there were times like when his powers came out when he swore he could even hear their thoughts… but there was nothing like any of that from Ketu right now.

… As much as he couldn't believe he was thinking this, but even if he wasn't sure if he could trust Ketu, was it such a bad thing to help Ketu if the alternative was just Lyn forcing him to do what he wanted? Wouldn't he be able to just break free of Ketu once he got strong enough? And if they really were somehow trying to make the world a better place, wouldn't he be able to influence the way they did it if they trusted him and he stayed around them?

… No, something was wrong about this. These Pokémon had chased Kline around the Cradle for years! Half of him was literally trapped in some sort of prison because of them! And it wasn't as if Nerea didn't have anything good to say about them either. He paused briefly, before shooting the Dark-Type a skeptical frown.

"And what about Kline and Nerea?" Pleo asked. "Both of them insist that Elilan is a bad Pokémon. Are you going to force them to work with you, too?"

"I'm sure they'll come around in time," Ketu replied. "After all, Kline did join us willingly once already."

Pleo jolted up as his chains audibly rattled. His eyes went wide as he looked up at the Weavile, his beak flopping open from shock.

"Wh-What?!"

"Well, I suppose it's technically Micky who joined us, but for a Zygarde, that's like your left wing joining us while your right one didn't," Ketu said. "So same difference, really."

Pleo blankly stared ahead as the Weavile tilted his head, quirking a brow in confusion.

"Wait, he never told you?" Ketu asked. "… Huh. I mean, I suppose I should be more shocked right now, but at the same time Kline never seemed like someone who was above keeping secrets from others."

No, no, that couldn't be right! Kline was insistent that Team Sentinel and Elilan were up to no good, that they were plotting terrible things with the powers of Protectors like them! Why on earth would Kline have ever joined them?!

… It wasn't right. Why would Micky need to be kept in a prison if Kline once worked with Elilan willingly?

"But Kline said that you imprisoned Micky," Pleo insisted.

"It was hardly our first choice, but Kline forced our hand after he convinced Micky to turn against us. As I'm sure you saw on Vollezee, Zygarde aren't exactly weak and powerless Pokémon, and we weren't just going to let ourselves get run over by his powers over a disagreement," Ketu said. "We've been trying to talk some sense into him since then, but as I'm sure you've noticed with Kline, he's a bit of a stubborn Pokémon once he sets his mind on something. Whether it's coming from one half or the other."

That couldn't possibly be what happened… could it? Pleo knew that Team Sentinel wasn't exactly trustworthy, but everything about the way the Weavile had said things sounded so… genuine.

No, this was ridiculous. Kline was the 'Keeper of Balance'. Surely he would've told him if he really did something like this. And it wasn't as if Kline would ever have had a reason to help Elilan and Team Sentinel… right?

Pleo wavered, when he saw Ketu staring at the door before turning back to face him.

"Anyway, it's up to you if you believe me about Kline or not," Ketu said. "That said, we are running out of time right now. Others are going to notice that I'm taking my sweet time in your cell and start asking questions."

The Weavile waited briefly, before he stood up and held a claw out.

"So… are you in?"

… He didn't like this. Even if Ketu was telling the truth, what if something went wrong with agreeing to help him? At the same time, his friends were going to be cooped up in an awful prison! If Ketu was serious about being able to convince Elilan to leave his friends alone, wasn't it his duty as a Protector to try and help them?

Pleo's gaze drifted off as conflicting thoughts swirled in his mind like a churning sea when Ketu pulled his claw back to his side and cocked his head slightly.

"Look, I realize that you're taking a lot in right now, but you don't exactly have a lot of options right now and nobody's going to come to rescue you," Ketu said. "If you really want to get back at Lyn and everything he's put you and your friends through, this is the only way you can make it happen."

Pleo hesitated and averted his gaze. H-How could he make a decision just like this?! But if his friends really were in that much danger, th-then-

"I… I really don't know… I'm not sure if I can decide…"

Ketu impatiently looked back at the cell door, before bringing his attention back to Pleo. He hesitated and gave a click of his tongue, before raising his voice to speak up again.

"… How about I let you think things over?" the Weavile offered. "I can't really do anything with you right now anyway, and there's still a bit of time before your window to make a decision closes. Just don't forget that there's a lot riding on whatever you decide here."

Ketu waited expectantly for Pleo, only for the young Protector to remain silent and visibly struggle with his words. The Weavile sighed and began to make his way for the door, raising a claw as he neared to rap at the wood to be let out…

"Wait!"

Ketu flicked his ears and pulled his claw back, casting a glance over his shoulder. Pleo was there, still wrestling with his thoughts but clearly not as resistant as earlier.

"If I did want to team up with you, how would I tell you after we get to Vollezee?"

"We talk whenever I'm able to get into your cell. It should be a few days from now, but I can't make any firm promises about timing," Ketu said. "That's why I was hoping you'd make up your mind now, since getting to you once we reach Vollezee isn't exactly going to be as simple as heading below deck."

"And what are you going to do about my friends?" Pleo asked.

The Weavile raised a brow in reply, then folded his arms.

"What about your friends?"

"Well, can't you move them out of those cells right now?" he asked. "If it's really so easy for you to get them out of there, why can't you move them out while I think about whether or not to join you?"

Ketu cocked his head, before replying with a scoffing laugh.

"Yeah, that's not how any of this works," Ketu retorted. "We'll move your friends out of those cells once you agree to join—and not before."

"I thought you said you wanted me to join Elilan willingly."

Ketu paused as—much to his surprise—he noticed that Pleo's expression suddenly looked a lot more firm. There was a determined fire behind the Lugia's eyes, as if the two of them were facing each other down on a battlefield.

"This isn't any different from what you did to Charlie, Marilyn, and Albert: making promises and then holding them back until you've gotten what you wanted," Pleo said. "If you really want me to work with you and trust Elilan, then show me that you're serious about not letting my friends suffer when they don't have to. Especially after everything you and your friends have put us through."

There was a long pause between the two, as Pleo's scowl remained unyielding. The Lugia noticed a small smile creeping over Ketu's face, with an expression that looked almost like… respect?

"For a 'mon that's only been alive for a few months, you sure don't back down quickly," the Weavile remarked. "But fine, I'll see what I can do about your friends. Though, you're going to have to wait a while before you get to see anything of them. If you need something to help trust me until then…"

Ketu went over and fidgeted with Pleo's chains briefly. The Lugia heard a metallic clunk and then another, before it suddenly dawned on him that he could move around easier underneath them. Pleo looked down and saw that the chains had been loosened by a few lengths, before turning up and seeing Ketu waiting on him expectantly.

"Let's talk about things that I do have control over right now," the Weavile said. "I can't exactly do anything that would make it look like you're not Lyn's prisoner, but I can change your experience along the way. Do you have any requests?"

Pleo looked down at the food tray set out in front of him, when he noticed the Nomel Berry on it. He winced at the sight as memories of sour juices filling his mouth came back to his mind that he quickly pushed aside.

"Maybe you could get me some better food?" the Lugia said. "Something sweet instead of these yucky Nomel Berries would be nice."

Ketu looked down at the berries, before turning up with a small smile. They were still little steps for now, but this backup plan was coming together pretty well…

And despite Pleo's resistance, he had a good feeling about where things stood between them.

"Yeah, I can make that happen."

---

The first thing Nida saw of the prison was the towering, gray walls that cut across the rolling grasslands almost like sheer cliffs. She marched along after the other unfortunates ahead of her, through a thick gate flanked by watchtowers into a courtyard hemmed in by buildings. Squat ones on either side, with a taller one just ahead that looked almost like some sort of castle, punctuated by a central tower.

… Maybe it had been some sort of castle once. When the guards led Nida up through an entranceway into the central structure, she arrived in a sprawling hall that was taller than any of the buildings in Bluewhorl Town, with stonework that looked strangely decorative for a prison, and space visibly left over as the last few pirates continued trickling in afterwards. There were catwalks running around the walls of the chamber made of wood and stone, teemed with lavender-scarved Pokémon who glared down at them—with what seemed like half their ranks clad in dark blue armor segments.

A sharp thump filled the air as Nida turned her attention back over the doorway, where she saw that 'Junius' Marowak making his way up a set of steps to the topmost catwalk behind him. He raised his bone into the air as ghostfire lit up its ends and twirled it around, before slowly sweeping it over the room with a predatory sneer.

"Everyone, rise and greet our guests properly."

At once, the room reverberated with snarls and growls intermixing with one another from the surrounding guards, a few of them even winding up attacks. Nida and her companions flinched, as they noticed that even some of the pirates around them were visibly unnerved.

She supposed that was one way to 'greet' others. Even if she couldn't get it out of her mind as to how many of the things about this place just seemed strange for a supposed prison. She cast a glance over at Trizano and Pladur, and piped up in a hushed whisper.

"What on earth is this place?" Nida asked. "Why are so many of these guards wearing armor? And why does a prison need a room this big?"

Trizano and Pladur both struggled to give an answer, as they seemed to be as taken aback as she was. The Nidorina's attention moved back to Junius as she noticed movement from one of the balconies above. She saw a Scizor in dark blue armor plates flying down, before coming to a crouching landing on the ground. Nida tensed up and watched as Junius idly pointed out the Scizor with his club to the prisoners below.

"Entella here will handle processing, so you scum all end up where you belong," Junius said. "If you don't want to have a bad time, I'd strongly suggest not getting on her nerves."

The Scizor idly straightened the armor plates on her carapace before bringing her claws behind her back. It made a slight rattle as she moved around, which Nida noticed came from small metal hoops visible in between its gaps. Entella made her way up to the front of the gathering with a steely gaze, as many of the pirates she passed seemed to visibly flinch and shrink away. She scanned the crowd briefly before turning her head up at the wall, before bringing her gaze back down with a piercing frown.

"Hrmph, it's not every day that a group of prisoners manages to make the warden interested enough to come and see things in person."

Nida looked up at the wood-and-stone catwalks and saw a Trevenant peering down at them with a red, narrowed eye. The Nidorina briefly shrunk back under the Ghost-Type's gaze, when a sharp buzz turned her attention back to the Scizor in front of them.

"But he's not a patient 'mon, and neither am I, so let's hurry this up and make you someone else's problem."

A tense silence followed as the Scizor started to go about the room, with the only noises being a couple worried murmurs and whines, as Nida swore she could hear some of the other Pokémon around them audibly gulping. The Nidorina watched as the guards began to gather around them with a few reporting to the Scizor and pointing out different Pokémon in the crowd. The entire time, she noticed that aside from Junius, nobody's armor looked as intricate as Entalla's did—clearly a sign that the Marowak and the Scizor were important here.

Nida looked around at the fringes of the crowd and saw that the guards were spreading out, with the same surly and menacing air that all the others had on the way over. From her side, she could hear quick, shallow breaths. She turned and saw that Pyry and Pekka both looked utterly terrified and were frozen in place.

"Pyry? Pekka?" Nida whispered. "Are you two doing okay?"

"W-We're never gonna get out of this place alive," the Gabite whined. "It's even worse than last time. All the guards are armored up this time and-"

A pointed stone suddenly flew in and caught Pyry in his side. The Gabite got knocked to the ground and laid there gasping for breath as Nida whirled around towards the culprit: a Golem shooting a piercing glare down at them.

"Nobody said you could talk!" the Golem snarled. "Keep this up and you'll whimper and whine yourself into the Pit. Got it?"

Pyry and Pekka's eyes both shrank to pins as Nida swore she could see the color drain out of their faces. The pair frantically nodded back, but otherwise remained silent, saying nothing remotely 'whining' or much of anything at all.

The Golem lingered briefly, before drifting off, leaving the Vibrava and Gabite to visibly tremble as Nida and her teammates traded worried stares between them.

She wasn't sure what on earth just happened, other than that whatever that 'Pit' was that the Golem threatened them with was a place that they really, really did not want to go to. Much to her surprise, most of the pirates were also suspiciously quiet… Had other guards made similar threats to them?

Perhaps they wouldn't have had to based off the expressions she was seeing on some of their faces. Most of the Pokémon didn't look particularly ready to resist their fate—not the small ones, nor even the stronger ones, like Hess a few rows down. Over there, the Aggron was alongside that Ledian underling of his, just staring vacantly down at the ground.

Was that really the same Aggron who raided their island, huffing and puffing about how strong he and his crew were…? Nida caught Crom staring off himself, as the Druddigon looked away with a quiet shake of his head.

"It's weird, seeing Hess captured and miserable like that," the Druddigon said. "Somehow I thought that it'd be more satisfying than this."

Perhaps that had something to do with how they were both tied up and captured together, but she really wouldn't have ever believed that she'd feel bad for him up until now. She couldn't put her paw on it, but there was something genuinely uncomfortable about seeing him in such a pitiful state. Even if the Company hadn't taken Pleo or roped them up into things like this, was this really justice?

"N-No, please! Mercy!"

Nida turned her head and saw a wide-eyed Venomoth getting dragged off desperately by a pair of guards over to a corner where a number of pirates had been gathered, including some that were still visibly injured from their earlier battle at sea. A sinking feeling came over Nida's stomach as the Venomoth was shoved into a corner of the chamber, when it suddenly dawned on her:

Those pirates were acting like they were about to die.

Nida looked on uncomfortably with her ears pinned back, before turning back to her teammates around her.

"Why are those pirates reacting like that?" she whispered. "What's going to happen to them?"

Nobody answered her, as everyone seemed similarly uneasy at the sight. She turned her attention to Pyry and Pekka as they watched the still-begging Venomoth getting dragged off.

"… They're being sent to the Pit," Pekka explained. "It's the place where Pokémon get sent to mine tin."

Nida stiffened up and hesitated as Pyry and Pekka's moods both visibly darkened, before Pekka continued.

"I don't know how they choose Pokémon to go there," the Vibrava murmured. "Some get sent there without making it past the initial sorting, while others get sent there afterwards as punishment."

"Others supposedly get sent there when they're too hurt to work in the prison," Pyry added. "We weren't exactly here for long the last time to find out for ourselves, but every story we heard while we were pirates said that Pokémon don't come back from that place. Word is that they usually don't last long there either."

Travellers above, just what on earth was this place? Nida knew that prisons were supposed to be harsh places, but they weren't normally run like this, were they?

And why would the Company want injured prisoners to mine tin in the first place? Wouldn't those be some of the Pokémon who'd be the least able to-?

"Raise your heads, you worms."

Nida looked up as sharp footsteps pricked her ears and saw a small group of guards approaching her group, with a Passimian beelining straight for her. The Passimian threw out arm and reached for her throat. The Nidorina flinched, trying to pull away the Passimian's hand latched onto her scarf, and…

Riiiiiiip!

Nida felt a sharp tug at her neck as the fabric pulled away and she realized that she didn't feel anything around her neck. She looked down and saw her blue scarf with its star laying in a torn heap as she heard her teammates shouting around her. The Passimian shoved her to the ground before grabbing the chains around her arms, which jerked back, before suddenly loosening up.

Nida laid there with ragged, startled breaths, as it dawned on her that while they were stiff and aching, she could move her arms again. She stayed there in a confused daze amid the continued shouting in the background, when a white scarf with black stripes suddenly landed in front of her. She looked up, where the Passimian was hovering over her with a stern glare

"Put this on," the Fighting-Type barked. "Your group's up next for cell assignments."

Nida faltered and saw her teammates similarly hesitating when she noticed a Lycanroc smacking a nearby Hoppip who was lagging at putting on a similar scarf. The Nidorina hurriedly stooped down and began to put it on, as she saw Pladur helping their other less dextrous companions while the guards moved along. She shakily slipped her scarf on, glancing down at the ugly striped pattern on it. Just after she tightened the knot, Nida looked up and saw a Lycanroc and some other guards near Hess similarly stripping his colors away, pulling away a wad of gold-and-silver fabric along with a silvery stone attached to a cord.

There was a moment of mutual surprise, as the Lycanroc lifted up the cord and moved the circular stone back and forth between his claws.

"What the-?"

Hess' eyes visibly widened at the sight of his lucky charm dangling in the guard's claws, as the Aggron suddenly thrashed against a Mr. Mime undoing his chains.

"A-Ah, my lucky charm! Give that back right now!"

Hess bucked the Mr. Mime and lunged forward as he jerked himself free of his chains, plowing into the Lycanroc with a headbutt that made the guard drop his scarf and necklace. The Aggron snatched it up as the Lycanroc hit the ground on his back, prompting the Mr. Mime and some nearby guards to pile on him. They immediately attempt to wrestle Hess to the ground, sending the nearby pirates diving out of the way.

From the ground, the Lycanroc stumbled back up and started to head over when Kichiro flew forward in the background. The Ledian shot forward with half his arms still bound, with a punch that zipped ahead faster than Nida's eyes could follow. It caught the Lycanroc in the back of his head, sending him stumbling forward with a low snarl.

"Oh, you're gonna regret tha-"

All of a sudden, a silvery blur struck the Lycanroc and knocked him out cold. A moment of stunned shock hung in the chamber as Crom's eyes widened and he realized that the attacker was none other than…

"T-Trizano!" Crom cried. "What are you-?!"

Hess briefly noticed Trizano blowing away a Houndoom who was coming at him as his eyes widened in surprise.

"Wha-? Why on earth are you helping m-"

THWACK!

The Aggron suddenly felt pain shoot through his ribs and pitched to the floor. He bellowed, blinking back agonized tears as he watched Kichiro get pinned to the ground and heard squawking protests beside him as Trizano met much the same fate. All of a sudden, he saw a long, bony club in front of his eye and looked up to see Junius looming over him.

"AAAAAAAAAH!"

Hess shrilled and curled up on himself, bracing for the end as shudders ran down his body and low whimpers came from his throat. Junius moved his club aside, before giving a sharp smack at Hess' back that drew a pained yelp.

"Pathetic," the Marowak snarled.

Crom looked on blankly, as a few guards helped the Lycanroc stumble up while the Mr. Mime brushed himself off. Entella flew over, her metallic claws pulled back and ready for a Bullet Punch.

"What is going on here?" the Scizor demanded.

"It's that Aggron!" the Mr. Mime insisted. "That fat scalebag was picking a fight over some stupid rock under his scarf!"

Entella stepped forward with a sharp frown, before noticing a glint from the ground and spotting Hess' lucky charm. She stooped down and picked it up, Hess reflexively reaching after it again, only to freeze after seeing Junius level his club at him with ghostfire smoldering at its tips, leaving the Scizor to raise it into the air and into the light.

She looked into the stone and its silver-and-gray swirls for a moment, before a flash of realization came over her eyes and a knowing smile crossed her mouth.

"… Oh, this is so much more than just a rock," Entella said. "Doctor Nyxem's going to want to see this."

Crom blinked as a dumbfounded reaction came over both him and his teammates, along with the fellow onlookers—guard and pirate alike. What on earth did that Scizor mean by 'more than just a rock'?

Before anyone could raise the question, Entella's expression hardened, as she turned to the nearby guards, pointing a claw down at Hess as he panted in wide-eyed confusion.

"Send him to the Pit alongside this 'lucky charm' of his."

Hess' jaw dropped in frightened shock. Just to his side, a furious squawk rang out as Trizano continued to struggle against his guards, until a Houndoom finally pinned him down. Entella went up and peered over at the Skarmory as the bird glared back up at her, when she saw his eyes' cross-shaped pupils.

She paused and tilted her head slightly in surprise, before clamping the Skarmory's beak shut with a claw and taking a closer look. Trizano fought against her grip as she inspected his irises.

"Why do your eyes look so strange, prisoner? Speak."

Entella let Trizano's beak go and stepped back, leaving the Skarmory to shake his head before looking up at her with a defiant glare.

"We Immortals don't answer to the likes of your kind," he spat.

Entella raised a brow, as a bemused smiled came over her face.

"… How curious. I've always wondered whether there was actually something to you Immortals ever since rumors about you lot started going around. It seems like we'll find out soon," the Scizor said, before turning her attention back to the Houndoom and the other guards. "Send the Skarmory, too."

Nida's breaths quickened as the Houndoom and other guards dragged Trizano up and began to lead him off, while Junius and the others forced Hess onto his feet. Nida watched as the Marowak gave a passing jab at Hess and the guards herded Trizano away from the gathering. She felt tears well up in her eyes, when something snapped in her and she took off running after the Skarmory.

"Trizano! No!"

A green blur suddenly sailed in and smashed across the side of Nida's head, sending her falling to the ground. The Nidorina lay there as her vision wobbled and she heard her teammates' voices blur calling out for her. Then, a green trunk grabbed her, and she looked up to see a Copperajah dragging her up, fanning his ears out with a piercing glare.

"Quit your whining, pincushion!" the Copperajah snarled. "Keep this up, and you'll be joining him!"

Nida raised her barbs and struggled against the elephant's grip, but to no avail. Nida's mind went blank as Entella went around and pointed out different Pokémon all around her and mentioned "wings" and numbers that didn't mean anything to her. Other guards went about in the background and started grabbing nearby Pokémon as the air grew thick with yelps and cries of duress. She hung her head, her eyes drifting off to Hess as his guards began to put the Aggron's restraints back on.

The sound of frantic buzzing made the nearby guards shift into fighting stances. A little ways away, Kichiro was furiously buzzing and thrashing against his bindings as the Mr. Mime from earlier shoved him to the ground with an unseen force. Hess faltered at the sight, as his guards tightened their grip on him and the chains about his arms. He looked back at his second mate, his voice came out in a shaken stammer.

"K-Kichiro, it's fine," the Aggron said. "Worry about yourself."

"No, it's not fine, you stupid idiot!" the Ledian cried, tears beginning to form in the corner of his eyes. "First Rodion and now you?! We need you! I need you!"

There was a moment's silence as the Aggron seemed to try and force a determined glint over his face, only for him to fail to muster more than a tired, forlorn expression before looking away.

"Just hold things together for the crew while I'm gone," he said. "Someone's going to need to look after them."

Nida looked on as Junius and the other guards shoved the Aggron off after Trizano. The Marowak started heading off when he noticed that things had ground to a halt among the prisoners and guards alike. He gave a sharp thump with his bone against the ground, before stomping a foot for attention and splitting the air with an impatient shout.

"All of you, stop stalling!"

The Copperajah carried the Nidorina forward as other guards began to shove and drag along her other teammates. They made their way forward down cleared walkways, joining a growing procession of captured unfortunates. They soon got to a dim corridor with a noticeably lower ceiling, where the elephant shoved her to the ground and into the care of other guards. Her surroundings all blurred together as they marched her off in a group of other prisoners, where she quickly lost sight of everyone aside from Crom, Dimitri, Ander, and Pladur.

It grew harder and harder to keep track of them amidst the strangers all around her with each turn in the hallways. She'd lost track of Crom by the time she'd been taken to the entrance of a tall, featureless chamber made of brick and mortar, and then Dimitri and Ander as they started getting herded down different hallways.

She could only still see Pladur by the tips of his tusks when a Electivire took her along a hallway running along a tall shaft lit up by skylights on the ceiling, flanked by two stories of wood-and-stone balconies that cantilevered out from the sides. Both to her left and right as she marched along, there was cell after cell with metal bars, every one full of scraggly or unhealthy-looking Pokémon who briefly acknowledged them but otherwise looked away. Up and down the hall, loud rackets rang out as guards stopped in front of various cells and shoved whatever captives were with them in.

She turned her attention back down the hallway, when she suddenly froze out of realization: she couldn't see Pladur's tusks anymore.

"Pladur? Wh-Where are-?!"

"Get moving!"

The Electivire pushed her towards a stairwell heading up as the Nidorina's mind went blank. She felt the floor under her feet change as the cold stone underfoot gave way to coarse, rough wood—all as an awful, sinking realization came over her.

She was all alone now, and she had no idea where her teammates were or how to even begin to try and find them again.

Nida finally snapped to attention after hearing a sharp yowl just ahead, where she saw that pirate Zangoose that Junius had beaten into submission at the town square being shoved into an open cell. She briefly saw him hit the ground on his paws and look up, before scurrying off deeper within with his ears and tail pinned tight against his body. The Electivire changed course as they approached the cell, when the Electric-Type tightened his grip and Nida was suddenly lifted off the ground.

Air rushed past her as she fell toward the stony floor, landing hard on her side. She rolled to a stop and laid there panting, her heart pounding in her chest. She looked back towards the entrance, where the Electivire was there, one hand on the cell door, and giving a malicious sneer down.

"Look on the bright side, you won't exactly be lonely here," the Electivire taunted. "And I'm sure your new cellmates won't bite… often."

The Electivire slammed the door shut with a heavy slam before moving along as the sounds of cries and struggles rang out elsewhere in the corridor. When she was certain the guards had drifted off, Nida went up to the bars and blankly pawed at the cold, unyielding iron.

"Nida, is that you?"

Nida gasped as she heard a chirping voice from deeper within the cell, and looked behind her to see a Luxio and an Amoonguss, who parted ways for a Swellow in a scarf with white-and-black stripes. His wings were clipped and his plumage looked unkempt, but there was a look of startled disbelief on his face.

The Nidorina's eyes widened and her jaw dropped in realization that this was…

"K-Kiran?"

The other Pokémon in the cell briefly murmured among each other as the Swellow hurried over and threw his wings over her. She wrapped her paws around him in turn, pulling him close as her voice wavered and cracked.

"A-Ay, menos mal, you're alright!" she exclaimed. "What about everyone else?"

"Everyone's alright. Natrix and Philips are even in the next wing over," the Swellow explained. "But what are you doing here? What happened?"

Nida paused and hung her head. She felt a lump grow in her throat and her eyes start to grow bleary as everything she'd gone through in the past few days all came flooding back to her.

"W-We went to Gestirn to try and patch the ship up! Except Lyn hired a bunch of pirates who ruined everything, and-"

"Nida, slow down," Kiran insisted, motioning with a wing for a stop. "You've clearly been through a lot. Just take things one at a time."

Moisture began to bead in Nida's eyes as the sinking realization came over her. Everything they'd done, that they'd fought for, it'd all accomplished nothing other than to get them stuck here. In this place where nobody had any idea of how to get away, much less to get back to Pleo.

"L-Lyn was playing everyone all along!" she cried. "Everyone on the team aside from Elty got captured and everyone else is still stuck on Gestirn, and-!"

Nida's voice hitched as she no longer could hold back her tears. She buried her face into Kiran's plumage, as bitter sobs came from her throat.

"I-I just don't know what we're supposed to do! Everything's awful right now! How are we even supposed to get out of this?!"

Kiran set his beak on edge and fell silent. He seemed to be struggling to say something, but managed nothing beyond brushing a few tears away from his pupil's eyes before he shook his head with a defeated expression.

"Pray and hope that something works out," he said. "It's all we can do right now."

---

Author's Notes:

- Zurück! - German: "Get back!"

 

[Ambyssin]

(FYI I think Serebii ate almost all of your author's notes translations. Unsurprising since it seems like the second post of this chapter is very beefy.)

Although this was another transitional/new locale intro chapter, I'd argue it was one of, if not the most consequential ones of the fic to date. Though I suppose I really don't remember any of the previous ones with how long it's been. Since it wasn't just establishing how Nagrobek changed since that one special episode, but sees the group getting fractured by virtue of their processing at the prison. It also finally starts to get the ball moving on Hess' lucky charm. (I suppose this researcher will need to make regular trips down to the Pit, because otherwise the Warden just held the Idiot Ball tightly to send the charm down there with Hess.) And it also looks like there's some advancement on the Team Sentinel side of things via Ketu. I think it shows some development and maturity on Pleo's part that, even though he feels like his wings are tied, he doesn't trust Ketu for a second. Even referencing past events that point to his duplicitous nature. Because he's very likely lying about Mickey, just with a good poker face. But the backup plan is interesting, since it ties in with Pleo witnessing Lyn's aggression. Ketu's trying to prey on that to get Pleo to buy in. Don't think it'll really happen, and so they're end up falling back on Mickey... or maybe the total Zygarde.

Nagant just knew that something had gone wrong with Pleo

The irony of Nagant returning on the heels of Deltarune Chapters 3 & 4 giving Undyne relevance again on the interwebs. Which is reminding me that Undertale is apparently ten this year. And now I feel old...

"I can already tell that there's quite a story behind all these scoundrels you've rounded up,"

"Yeah, like two years and almost 200k words of one!"

"We're well aware, Your Grace, but we might not have a choice at this point."

Y'know, just like in real life!

"I myself am not sure why we're humoring them when they clearly shouldn't be here," the Ponyta harrumphed. "But since they're already present, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to hear whatever they have to say at least."

So tsundere~

The lights pooled in front of Nagant's eyes, gathering into a green, serpentine body that filled her vision.

Y'know, Kline, you probably could've gone doggo mode and that would've been enough. Seems like a waste of your cells' time.

"Look on the bright side, mijo. At least we'll be out of these chains soon enough."

[Cricket chirps]

"I'm… not sure if that really makes me feel much better right now, dad."

See? He gets it. This is 2025 in a nutshell.

A-And maybe the others we left behind on Gestirn will figure out a way to help us!"

I mean, they kind of have to. Otherwise, the fic's over.

"Anyone? There's always a few idiots in groups like yours who think that they're the heroes of some swashbuckling story."

DOESHEKNOW.jpg

you know, aside from the part where Lyn and the Board are going to turn you into their weapon and your friends are busy getting sent to a hell prison on Nagrobek

Points for honesty?

"It's simple, really: you join me and become one of Administrator Elilan's agents, and I'll help you and your friends out."

Gee, that sounds a lot like blackmail. :V

"You and your friends would know a thing or two about that yourselves, wouldn't you?" the Weavile asked. "Trashing Lyn's ship and three different ports, and anyone else you might have hurt along the way. Beating up the guards at the Vault and stealing gods-knows-what on top of that Ledger you took from there… and that's just the stuff I know of.

"I-It's different when we do it, because we're the good guys!"

"Knowing you, you'll probably just leave Nida and the others in that prison even if I help you!"

Pleo's leveled up his perception!

"Even if it's not what you want right here and now… Even if it might get frustrating sometimes."

Fan fic readers' experience in a nutshell.

Keep this up and you'll whimper and whine yourself into the Pit

of 100 Trials?

It's the place where Pokémon get sent to mine tin.

Ah, yes. The pokémon yearn for the mines.

when a white scarf with black stripes

Of course they have scarfs modeled after stereotypical prison stripes.

"Pathetic," the Marowak snarled.

Okay, Principal Skinner. Calm down over there.

"Send him to the Pit alongside this 'lucky charm' of his."

You fools! Confiscate it!

[/i]Speak.[/i]

Messed up the tag.

who parted ways for a Swellow in a scarf with white-and-black stripes

Well, isn't that nice and convenient? I'm convinced Team Traveler just has a collectively high natural luck stat.

 

[Virgil134]

@Ambyssin

Spoiler

(FYI I think Serebii ate almost all of your author's notes translations. Unsurprising since it seems like the second post of this chapter is very beefy.)

Nah, it’s all there. The chapter just had only one new loanword, and by convention, we only add notes for new loanwords.

Although this was another transitional/new locale intro chapter, I'd argue it was one of, if not the most consequential ones of the fic to date. Though I suppose I really don't remember any of the previous ones with how long it's been. Since it wasn't just establishing how Nagrobek changed since that one special episode, but sees the group getting fractured by virtue of their processing at the prison.

Sounds like you enjoyed it, so I appreciate that. These kinds of chapters that introduce new islands are always necessary, and after all the buildup, we wanted Nagrobek’s introduction to be strong and get readers interested.

I suppose this researcher will need to make regular trips down to the Pit, because otherwise the Warden just held the Idiot Ball tightly to send the charm down there with Hess.

Oh, don’t worry, that’s not gonna be an issue. You’ll see soon enough what I mean. (Also Entella is not the Warden. The Trevenant on the catwalk who was overseeing the proceedings is)

I think it shows some development and maturity on Pleo's part that, even though he feels like his wings are tied, he doesn't trust Ketu for a second. Even referencing past events that point to his duplicitous nature. Because he's very likely lying about Mickey, just with a good poker face. But the backup plan is interesting, since it ties in with Pleo witnessing Lyn's aggression. Ketu's trying to prey on that to get Pleo to buy in.

Glad you liked it! It took a bit of time to get this scene just right, so I’m happy to hear it was worth it.

The irony of Nagant returning on the heels of Deltarune Chapters 3 & 4 giving Undyne relevance again on the interwebs. Which is reminding me that Undertale is apparently ten this year. And now I feel old…

Man… time sure flies, huh?

Y'know, Kline, you probably could've gone doggo mode and that would've been enough. Seems like a waste of your cells' time.

Kline: “And not be at my strongest if things go wrong with the Empire? Absolutely not.”

Alice: “Eh, we’ve faced tougher foes. You can just admit that you like it, you know.”

Also, people outside of Elilan’s circle don’t know that doggo Forme exists

Gee, that sounds a lot like blackmail. :V

: “I prefer to think of it as motivational leverage.”

You fools! Confiscate it!

They did

Messed up the tag.

Ah, thanks for pointing that one out. We went back and fixed it.

Well, isn't that nice and convenient? I'm convinced Team Traveler just has a collectively high natural luck stat.

Not quite. Kiran has only been on Nagrobek for several days at most, so if there’s any space left in his cell it would logically get filled with the group of newcomers that Team Traveller is a part of. With everyone getting split up, there’s a decent chance that at least one person from Team Traveller’s extended group would end up in the same cell as his. The scene is purposely following the point of view of the character who’d end up in Kiran’s cell, which in this case is Nida.

Sure, there is still a degree of chance involved (Kiran’s cell easily could have been filled up with just pirates), but I think that is perfectly fine here given that the odds are not that low, and it was established in advance that this could happen. Besides, from a narrative standpoint, I just think reuniting with Kiran here after being gone for an episode is more satisfying than finding out he is somewhere else in the prison sometime later.

Today’s actually my birthday, and I had the pleasant surprise of getting an artwork of everyone’s favorite birdie and his Blacklight incarnation for the occasion. Thank you @Spiteful Murkrow for commissioning this and thank you @Chibi Pika for drawing it. The birdies look adorable ^^

On top of that, I got this artwork of Rodion from Ambyssin, who commissioned honeyllemon on Bluesky for it! Really, really appreciate it. Thanks Amby <3 (too bad the cake I got in real life didn't look this cool )

Anyway, since it’s been long enough of a wait already, how about I treat you all to a new chapter?

 

[Spiteful Murkrow]

Hess hadn't seen the sun since being brought indoors, as the guards herded him and the other prisoners down corridors and flights of stairs that went ever-deeper into the earth. The surroundings grew increasingly dark beyond the occasional torch, while the barks of the guards and the groans and frightened murmurs of the other unfortunates being marched along reverberated off the walls. After the third flight down, they entered a tunnel that opened out into a large shaft with a staircase that spiraled downwards.

The Aggron felt a shove to his right and continued on, noticing irregular walls that had been cut from the rock. Off to his left, there was tall metal scaffolding in the middle of a deep shaft. He looked down to try and see where the bottom was, but while he could see the head of the procession about a level below him, the shaft just seemed to keep going and going without an apparent end. Even more strangely, while the shaft topped out not far overhead, the scaffolding in the center kept going up past it through a square-shaped hole hewn from the surrounding rock.

"Just where does that thing go-?"

Hess suddenly yelped as a sharp, searing jab caught him in his back. He stumbled and looked past his shoulder, where there was Junius behind him, brandishing his club with ghostfire dancing on its tips.

"Stop staring at the elevator. Scum like you take the stairs," the Marowak snarled. "Get moving!"

"Okay! Okay!" Hess squeaked.

The Aggron frantically stumbled forward down the steps, eager to put distance between himself and that horrid lizard. He saw Junius lingering and heard him shouting at Pokémon behind him in the procession, prompting him to let out a small sigh of relief. As Hess walked ahead, he looked past the Flareon and the Banette just ahead of him and tried to look for anyone familiar, but he didn't recognize any of the Pokémon in the procession—the only exceptions being a Drapion and a Garbodor from his crew's newer recruits. It was then that the enormity of his situation crashed down on him like a Hammer Arm.

He wasn't going to escape this time. Especially not without the lucky charm that had always been there for him in the past. Given all the stories he'd heard whispered in Orleigh about this 'Pit', these walls and stairs would likely be the last things he ever saw.

And of course, of all the Pokémon that could've been there to put him through all of this, it just had to be a Marowak… and one with that creepy ghostfire at that.

He lumbered along as every so often there'd be a tunnel branching off that had parallel, straight grooves cut into the ground—almost as if they were meant to guide carts or wagons. Or at least like they had at one point, since all of the tunnels were devoid of Pokémon working in them. Curiously, one of the tunnels that he passed didn't seem to go far from the shaft at all. When he glimpsed it, much to his surprise, the passage was blocked not even ten paces down by a set of heavy-looking doors which were made of solid steel, with armored guards headed up by a white Ninetales standing at attention in front of it.

"… Why on earth would a mineshaft need doors like that?"

He did a double take at the sight, as he couldn't make sense of why a mine of all places would need something that expensive, much less why it'd need to be guarded so heavily. He tried to stop to get a better look, when he heard an angry shout from further up the stairs that made him think twice of the idea. The Aggron hurriedly moved along, letting the steps pass by underfoot, when he heard clacking footsteps joining him from behind. He turned and saw they were coming from Trizano, who drew near but averted his gaze the entire time.

He let his attention linger on the bird for a bit. It was hard to think that this was that same Skarmory that kept butting heads with him. He just looked so defeated right now as he trudged forward, a far cry from all times they had fought each other…

"I'm sorry I couldn't get you out of this one, Hess," Trizano murmured.

Hess blinked, before turning to the Skarmory in surprise.

"Get me out of this one?" the Aggron asked. "What do you mean by-?"

Hess was cut off by the sound of a loud clunk, and looked down to see the stairs came to a stop on flat ground. Off to the right, the source of the sound was there: a Klefki pulling a key out of another set of metal doors and returning it to his ring. Hess gave a puzzled tilt of his head at the sight, when Junius brushed past him and made him jump back with a startled yelp. The Marowak let out a scoff and made his way up to the door. He raised his club, and rapped the tip of his bone against the door's surface a few times, before drawing it back and waiting. There was a pause afterwards, before a second lock clicked from the other end. The doors suddenly creaked open, and the guards began to march them through a darkened passage, with light at the end of a short tunnel.

When Hess and Trizano emerged from the tunnel's end, they found themselves in a roughly circular chamber that had been hewn from the surrounding rocks, with bricked-off tunnels that branched off in multiple directions, barring one that, after a closer look, seemed to have several cells lined with metal bars.

The only other feature was a doorway and window hewn into the rock. The door had been fashioned from solid iron, while the window was blocked by metal bars that let out a cool blue glow from a lantern somewhere deeper inside. In front of it was a small group of mostly Psychic-Types led by an Alakazam, with some that looked like they'd be more at home sitting behind a desk writing runes than handling prisoners. The Alakazam and the others regarded the prisoners with disinterested scowls, as Junius went up and began to talk with them just out of earshot.

Confused murmurs went about the prisoners as Hess and Trizano looked around worriedly. Something wasn't adding up, since there wasn't anything around them that looked like it was obviously meant for mining. Or any sign of a place they were meant to go.

A sharp thump rang out against the ground as Junius pounded his bone for attention, before he glanced over the other guards and gestured towards the prisoners.

"Get them into position and clear out anyone who's already in those holding cells," the Marowak ordered. "It's about time these 'mons made themselves useful."

Before either Hess or Trizano could say anything, the guards began to shove them and the other prisoners towards the center of the room. A few yelped as they were pushed along, including Hess, whose voice struck Trizano as sounding almost like an Aron's as Junius came over and herded him forward. Off at the tunnel with the cells inside, other guards filed down it and shouts came from deeper within.

"A-Aah! Let go of me!"

They watched as a dirty and haggard-looking Pangoro was marched out, along with other Pokémon that looked like they'd been kept down here a while. Hess was at a loss as the new batch of unfortunates joined them, as his eyes drifted back closer to the rest of the group. The Drapion and Garbodor from his crew were now visibly stiff and pallid, as the Drapion turned back towards Hess with a worried murmur.

"Captain, what are they going to do to us?"

The Aggron had no response to that, and from their surroundings, Trizano wasn't sure if he could really piece together an answer himself. The Skarmory still couldn't make heads or tails about why this room looked so empty, and scowled back at Junius, fighting against his bindings.

"Just what sort of mining operation is this?" Trizano demanded.

"A remote one," Junius answered, as his expression tightened up into a malicious sneer. "Though don't worry, you'll all get to see it in person really soon."

Junius drifted off over to the Alakazam and his colleagues off at the far end of the room. They were talking about something in hushed tones that neither Hess nor Trizano could make out. Hess noticed a few of the prisoners like an Audino visibly cringe in fright, before giving a puzzled whisper over to the Skarmory beside him.

"Wait, what on earth are they talking abou-?"

Before he could finish his words, he saw a glint as the Alakazam pulled out a green, glowing gem from a satchel. The Aggron's maw hung open from fright, as the color began to visibly flush from his face.

"That's- That's a Teleport Gem…"

Everyone else in the room all but recoiled from shock, as a few startled cries rang out. Even Trizano's eyes visibly shrank, and Hess couldn't remember the last time he'd ever seen him fazed in their past run-ins.

There was a sinking feeling in his stomach as it dawned on him what those Pokémon were likely planning for them. Teleport Gems didn't exactly just wash up on the beach since they required skilled Psychics to both make and use. He could only think of one reason why these 'mons would want to use something so valuable on a bunch of pirates like them right now:

They were going to send them all to the Wastes.

Junius tapped his bone against the ground as he made his way forward, leveling a malicious smirk at the gathered prisoners.

"I do hope you've all had a terrible time here during your brief stay on Nagrobek, but it's time for you to go," the Marowak said. "While most Pokémon would be happy to leave this island, I have a feeling you'll all feel different soon enough."

Junius walked past the group and made his way for the door back to the staircase. About halfway there, he stopped, and turned his head back with a predatory smirk.

"Give my regards to the 'mons on the other side," he said. "They'll introduce you to your new home once you're there… assuming they feel it's worth the effort. Your kind tends to not last long there."

Hess lost his nerves as a few of the pirates broke out into desperate pleas for mercy. The Aggron turned for the door and frantically tried to run, only for Junius to smash his bone deep into his gut. He pitched forward and laid on the ground when he felt his tail get yanked by an unseen force. He looked back, seeing the Alakazam's eyes aglow as the Psychic-Type dragged him toward a circle of Pokémon being herded into place. The other teleporters' eyes lit up in turn, bluish auras settling over the Pokémon in the room. Hess tried to move his limbs, but he was too weak and dazed to fight back, much less as the Alakazam in the circle reached out and hoisted him from the ground with Psychic. He watched in horror as the Psychic-type raised the Teleport Gem with a hand up in the air, as a blinding light overtook them all.

Hess' vision went white and the next thing he knew, he fell and hit the ground with a loud yelp. He lay there for a moment breathing in and out tensely as the air suddenly felt colder with a perceptible breeze, and noticed the dim lighting around them was now more evenly spread out. As the vision returned to his eyes, he woozily stumbled up and saw that there wasn't a tunnel ceiling anymore, but instead a sky filled with ash-colored haze where he couldn't see the sun beyond a muddy light.

Hess noticed there was dust coating his underbelly's scales, and all along the ground under his feet. He dusted himself off and started looking around, seeing other prisoners slowly getting up in a daze. They were in some sort of courtyard: brick buildings with catwalks adorned with Company banners on every side, built in a style unlike any warehouse he'd seen in all his years sailing the Cradle—simple, featureless, and lined with corroded metal bracing. Strangest of all, off in the background of the buildings to the right, there was a giant chimney that loomed over the entire space, alongside one that looked like it was either unfinished or broken halfway up. They looked like the ones that a 'mon would expect attached to a blacksmith's or a foundry, except much, much larger…

"Wh-Where are we?"

Hess gaped around incredulously, only to do a double take as he noticed a few of the Teleporters from earlier were walking past him. Had they seriously come with them all the way out to this place? They were in the Wastes right now, weren't they?

The Teleporters made their way towards a set of steps leading up to the building straight ahead, as a group of surly looking guards came down them. As they traded places, a Clefable from among the Teleporters stopped and talked with a few of the guards, while Hess could've sworn their attention drifted over to him.

All of a sudden, a number of the Company Pokémon in the courtyard turned towards the steps. There at their top, there was some sort of strange creature that looked like some sort of Porygon with a slim, upright body, and a tail that twitched erratically as he floated along, with a Dragapult that followed close behind. As they neared, Hess noticed that the body of the Porygon-looking Pokémon was more rounded than that of a normal Porygon, and his head was disembodied. It took a little bit for Hess to make it out, but there was a Third-Rank Company scarf that had been tied into an armband on his right arm—not that Hess could really see a way for the Pokémon to wear it normally without a neck. The accompanying Dragapult wore his scarf normally, which sported a Second-Rank's pattern, a clear sign that the two were important around here.

The Dragapult had a guarded expression but still blinked and floated back slightly in surprise. He studied the prisoners for a moment, before casting an askew glance at his companion.

"Well that's certainly a larger batch of prisoners than usual," the Dragapult remarked. "Do you think something happened on the island?"

"Oh, I'm sure things are fine, Winslow," the strange Porygon answered. "After all, they wouldn't have sent us such a promising pool of subjects if things weren't under control…"

Hess' attention shifted as a Clefable went up to the pair and handed them a sheet of paper, before producing a silvery, round stone with swirled bands on it. The Aggron's eyes immediately widened. That was none other than his lucky charm!

"Hey! Give that back!" he shouted as he began to make his way forward. "That's my-!"

"Hess, calm down!"

Trizano hurriedly cut in and blocked his path, only for Hess to fume and try to shove the Skarmory aside.

"Get out of my way, you stupid bird! They-!"

Hess trailed off after he noticed the Clefable pointing him out, when the strange Porygon turned to look at him. The Aggron froze as his fighting spirit abruptly dissipated, and began to nervously pace back.

"… Why is he pointing at us like that?"

The strange Pokémon stared at them wordlessly for a moment, before looking at the gathering and floating up into the air over the courtyard. He raised his arms, clapping them together with a droning chirp.

"Welcome, everyone! I am Porygon-Z instance N9Y2XF8DD4E5M, though you may call me Doctor Nyxem—the Pokémon who runs this facility."

There was a brief moment of confusion among the prisoners, as even Hess and Trizano couldn't help but look on with blank puzzlement as the Porygon-Z bobbled about in the air.

"I know this place is different from what you were all expecting, but I can assure you that what we do here is far more important than simply mining tin underneath Nagrobek Island."

Other Pokémon in the gathering started trading worried looks with each other as well, before a Venomoth uneasily fidgeted his wings and broke the quiet with a hesitant mutter.

"More important…?"

"Of course! This is a place where Administrator Elilan has made sure that even Pokémon like you are able to contribute to the good of society!" the Porygon-Z chirped. "Whether that's through keeping the Company's economy up and running, or working more directly with me to help make new scientific discoveries!"

Nyxem's expression didn't change much like it often didn't with Porygon in general, but when he spoke up again, his voice seemingly lowered in its pitch and took on a strangely unsettling chime.

"I know most of you are afraid, but there is no need," the Normal-Type said. "Progress and its needs have a way of being bewildering at first, but you'll learn to adapt… or at least most of you will."

There was a moment of stunned silence, as the air seemed to grow palpable with dread. Worried murmurs floated about when Nyxem turned his head towards his Dragapult colleague and motioned out at the gathering.

"Winslow, separate out the prisoners for their appropriate purposes," he instructed. "I'd like to spend some time with the ones that are more relevant to my research."

"You heard him!" the Dragapult snapped, waving a claw at the gathered guards. "Get these 'mons out of the courtyard and put them to work!"

Several guards made their way over, roughly shoving Hess and Trizano along as the rest herded the remaining pirates off. The Aggron and Skarmory looked on blankly as the guards dragged their captives away over their cries of protest, the Drapion and the Garbodor briefly glancing back at Hess. All the while, a sinking feeling came over their stomachs as dark thoughts filled their minds about what would happen to those Pokémon.

All the while, Nyxem floated in place as the guards brought Hess and Trizano up to him. Much to their surprise, the strange bird barely acknowledged them and seemed to be focused on Hess' lucky charm, as the Porygon-Z telekinetically levitated it in the air.

"Hm, yes. This is most interesting," Nyxem mused. "It's not every day that a Pokémon arrives here along with a corresponding Mega Stone, let alone alongside an Immortal…"

Hess quietly inched away as the Porygon-Z inspected his lucky charm with rapt attention. Why was this bird so fixated on his lucky charm? And why was he so insistent that it was a…

"Mega-what now?" Hess gulped.

Nyxem turned to them as he moved the gray stone into a pouch on the side of his body. It was admittedly a bit hard to tell with how different the Porygon-Z's expressions seemed to be, but Hess swore there was a self-satisfied expression over the strange bird's eyes. The Porygon-Z briefly scanned the Clefable's paper for a moment, before looking back at them.

"You must be Captain Hess," the Normal-Type said. "And this is one of your pirates, I presume?"

"Pirate? Perish the thought!" the Skarmory squawked. "I'm Trizano the Immortal, and I would never stoop to such misdeeds!"

Hess couldn't help but turn and frown at Trizano's outburst, while Nyxem bobbled slightly with a quiet droning chuckle.

"My, my, apologies for being presumptuous, Trizano. Allow me to properly introduce myself," the Porygon-Z replied. "Like I said before, my name is Doctor Nyxem. Beyond my duties running this facility, I also specialize in researching the life energies of humans and Pokémon."

Hess and Trizano both traded confused looks as a wave of sinking dread came over them. Hess tried to shrink back further, only for a Blaziken among the guards to hold him in place.

"I'll admit that your arrival is a surprise to me," Nyxem continued "But I've never been the type to question receiving a rare opportunity like this."

"Wait, but I thought we were mining," Hess said. "Wh-What are you going to do to us? Are we really in the Wastes right now?"

Nyxem let out a small chirp in reply and swiveled his head to look at the Blaziken. He pointed an arm out at Hess and Trizano, before speaking up in that droning voice of his.

"Bring them out to the overlook," the Porygon-Z said. "Let them see for themselves."

The Blaziken and the other guards shoved them along and brought them up the stairs as Nyxem floated ahead of them. After a brief walk through a brick tunnel, they emerged out into an open space with an outer gate up ahead, along with a wall that looked like it'd been made from a combination of piled-up stones intermingling with truly ancient-looking concrete slabs. The guards led them up another set of stairs, as Hess noticed on the wall of the building they came from, that there was a curious circle with a design enclosing a set of stars inside it. Three… four… five of them, with tails that looked elongated upwards, almost as if they were falling. Something about the shape of the logo looked familiar to Hess, but he couldn't put his claw on what or why. He heard a startled squawk from beside him and looked off to his right past Trizano, as his breath caught in his throat:

Beyond the wall, there was a giant, crater-like pit with a path that wound its way up in a spiral, with shapes moving around in it. At the far ends, Hess saw what looked like collections of tents set up. Down just below them at the wall's base, he saw a train of Pokémon lugging along sacks and carts weighed down with rocks—visibly thin, haggard, and caked with dust.

The wall took a turn away from the pit but Hess couldn't get the image out of his mind. Was that what 'The Pit' was? And was that where that Drapion and Garbodor from his crew were going to wind up?

"Ah yes, here we are."

Nyxem abruptly spun around in place, before pointing dramatically out past the edge of the wall, as Hess and Trizano's eyes followed and abruptly widened:

There in front of them, was a plain that stretched on in every direction, with mountains visible in the distant haze that ran from left to right without an obvious stop in either direction. It was a sight that should've been breathtaking, except for the fact that everything was all wrong with it.

The plains were gray and ash-colored, without any signs of trees or even grass growing on them. Dark chasms cut through it in parts, like cracks left behind in shattered stone. The only obvious sign that there had been any water at all here before was a dried channel that resembled a riverbed, which exited out into a depression that looked like it used to be a lake, except it was filled with fog where they'd have expected to see water.

The two of them looked out with blank stares, their mouths fixed into tense grimaces, when Nyxem floated in front of them and raised his arms with a cheery chime.

"Welcome to Torn Outpost! Our research facility for delving into the mysteries of the world, and our little island of civilization on this side of the Veil."

Hess and Trizano stared out at the dead landscape in blank shock. There was an electronic-sounding chirp, when all of a sudden, Nyxem clapped his arms together.

"I'm sure you have plenty of questions, but don't worry," the Porygon-Z said. "Unlike the others in your group, you'll be helping me with my research as test subjects."

He tilted his strange beak downwards as a vaguely malicious glint came over his eyes. Hess fought to suppress a nervous whine, as the strange, unsettling tone came back into the Porygon-Z's droning voice.

"I just know we'll achieve great things together."

---

When Kline insisted on having a meeting somewhere he'd 'feel natural,' Elty hadn't expected it to be the throne room of Duke Franz's castle. The actual environment was certainly… less regal than he initially assumed it'd be. Between being picked clean after the pirates took it over and it being pockmarked with battle damage from being besieged, Elty wondered if they'd have been better off meeting on one of the ships in the harbor.

Still, it was hard to argue that there wasn't ample space here. He, Team Zephyr, Nagant, Cabot and his friends, and that 'Commodore Valan' Salamence had all come for the occasion and gathered around a table set up with a map of Anyilla and its islands. Kline was certainly putting the chamber's size to use with that massive, serpentine Forme of his, peering down alongside the others as Niilo shot a frowning glance out the corner of his vision.

"… Just saying, was it really necessary for you to come like this?" Niilo asked. "We could've had this meeting nearly an hour ago back in the harbor if you'd just stuck to that smaller form you approached us in."

"If you expect me to be comfortable during this meeting, then yes, it is necessary," Kline replied.

Niilo shrugged in response but otherwise didn't press things further, while over at Valan's end of the room, the Salamence had a deep scowl etched over his face. The entire time, his attention was directed at the Sandslash and his teammates, along with the Growlithe standing beside them.

"On that note, are those four really necessary?" Valan asked. "Not that I'm complaining about how Duke Franz generously provided these accommodations for us, but-"

"Yes."

Kline leveled a piercing scowl of his own back in reply, one that made Valan and Nagant both visibly tense up.

"I'm still not sure if I trust you two, but I do trust them," Kline said. "As such, I'd like them to be present for this meeting, and to hold it in the Forme I'm most comfortable in."

Nagant briefly opened her mouth to protest, only to pause and look aside with a quiet sigh.

"I… understand, Protector," the Clawitzer said. "Though what is it that you wish to discuss with us?"

"I'd like to offer an alliance… assuming you're willing to lend me the strength that I need."

Elty briefly sucked in a tense breath and noticed that the rest of Kline's teammates were reacting similarly. An alliance… with the Empire? The same Empire that had been trying to snatch Pleo away to use him as their Protector to fight for them? How was that not defeating everything that Kline had been trying to accomplish by running around the Cradle with his teammates all these years?

The Growlithe kept the questions to himself, but even so, he seemed to notice a flash of unease come over the Zygarde. It passed almost as soon as it came, as the serpent reared up amidst the tall chamber, and loomed over the gathered Pokémom.

"I won't mince words: things are extremely precarious for your Empire now that the Company has captured Pleo," Kline said. "Thanks to past events that have given me reason to doubt both your and their motivations, I'd normally be content to stay out of things and let you and the Company have at each other."

The Imperials around the table all visibly stiffened up at the Zygarde's remark. Elty saw Berecien's flame flare up as the Ponyta was about to speak up, when Cabot suddenly cut in with a loud protest:

"W-What do you mean 'let us and the Company have at each other'?! We're nothing like the Company!" the Rampardos cried. "They're a bunch of greedy traitors who make all the Pokémon on their islands miserable! If they went and started a war, then-!"

"Enough."

Kline gave a sharp hiss and flared his tendrils, as everyone around the table suddenly quieted down. Kline briefly scowled down at Cabot, before turning to the rest of the group and continuing on.

"Regardless of my normal opinions, these aren't normal circumstances, as should be obvious from the very fact that we're having this meeting," he said. "Were open warfare to break out again, it could spiral out of control and devastate all of Anyilla."

The room fell dead silent afterwards, with Nagant and Valan remaining visibly on edge as Cabot and his teammates traded worried stares with one another. The Zygarde paused, before quietly shaking his head.

"As the Keeper of Balance, that's too much for me to tolerate," he continued. "As such, I'm forced to entertain the lesser of two evils in order to stop this disaster, which in this case means helping you fight the Company through this crisis."

Elty shot a worried glance over to Percy, who seemed visibly apprehensive as Calidus and Alice looked much about the same. Kline had to have had some sort of plan to get out of this later on, didn't he?

From his end of the table, Valan scrutinized them all the while. There was a lingering quiet, before the Salamence broke it with a rumbling harrumph.

"Hrmph, I suppose that is good enough for now," Valan said. "I brought along maps of Vollezee, so we can-"

"I would strongly advise against mounting an attack on Vollezee at this point, actually."

Blinking stares went around the gathered Imperials, while Kline's own teammates seemed to quietly tense up and steel themselves. Elty furrowed his brow and pinned his ears back, staring up at the Zygarde with a puzzled tilt of his head.

"Wait, but wouldn't the Company have logically taken Pleo to Vollezee?" Elty asked. "Why wouldn't we go there first?"

"Because the Company is expecting that they will be attacked there," Kline explained.

A few whispers went about the Imperials' side of the table. The entire time, Kline's expression remained unmoving, as he motioned down at the map with his tail.

"As I explained to everybody on the way over, I'm able to see through extensions of my body called 'Cells', it's how I knew how to find you," the Zygarde explained. "From what I've been able to see through them, the Company's already in the process of moving ships and troops to Vollezee to reinforce it. If your attempt to attack there failed, the losses that would entail would be severe enough to potentially be an existential threat to your Empire on its own."

Valan and Nagant visibly grimaced in response, which Elty supposed was as good a sign as any that Kline's remarks weren't just idle theorizing on his part. The Zygarde turned his attention back to the map, moving his tailtip down along its currents and sea lanes.

"As such, it makes more sense to strike someplace where they're not expecting to be attacked."

He moved them along the map until he reached an island near the edge of the Cradle and the storms of the Veil. Percy and the others on Team Zephyr shot Kline hesitant looks, and when Berecien and Elty looked, they both let out a shared cry after reading the runes labeling its name. The others just stared with dumbfounded, disbelieving frowns, as Cabot turned his head up towards Kline and spoke up with a puzzled murmur.

"Wait, but that's…"

"Nagrobek? Why on earth would we want to go after some barren rock that's closer to the edge of the Cradle than to Vollezee?" Niilo asked.

"Because it's arguably the second-most important island to the Company after Vollezee," Kline answered. "All the tin the Company produces originates from that island. If it ever fell out of their control for more than a couple of months, it'd cripple their economy."

The Zygarde brought his tailtip back from the map, and looked around the table with his gaze held straight and his voice coming out in a serious tone.

"Normally, it's defended accordingly, too. In more typical circumstances, it's a more difficult target to take than Kenobi Island in spite of being less populated," he explained. "With its ranks thinned to secure Vollezee, Nagrobek is less defended and its fortifications are leaning more heavily than normal on a mercenary outfit that Administrator Elilan likes contracting. You'll never get a better opportunity to attack it than now."

Kline waited expectantly for a response, only to notice that all the Imperials around the table seemed unenthused about the idea and were saying about as much in hushed chatter with each other. From the side, Elty looked down at the map and ran a paw along Nagrobek's place, before he shot Kline a sideways glance.

"Not… that I'm really opposed to the idea of trying to go after the Company on Nagrobek," the Growlithe said. "But how's this supposed to get us any closer to freeing Pleo?"

"Because sometimes the best strategies aren't the most direct ones," Kline replied. "Capturing Nagrobek would break up one of the Company's strongest garrisons and force it to divert attention and resources to trying to take it back. By doing so, you would buy precious time to prepare to assault Vollezee more frontally."

The Zygarde briefly looked over the map, before turning his head up slightly to let his gaze settle on Nagant and Valan's end of the table.

"On top of that, from what I've been able to see, the rest of Pleo's friends are being held prisoner on Nagrobek," he said. "If the Company does manage to put Pleo under their sway, having his friends present when we go to confront them would be the best chance of being able to snap him to his senses."

Elty's fur briefly bristled. Travellers Above, he knew that his friends weren't in a good spot after Hess sailed away from them, but to wind up in Nagrobek in all places? He let his attention drift across the table as Nagant twitched her barbels and seemed to be deep in thought. She hesitated for a moment, before her posture eased and she nodded to herself. She looked back up at Kline and opened her mouth to speak.

"Zygarde, I think that that should-"

A loud thump filled the air as everyone stiffened up from a jolt that shook the table.

"I'm sorry, but this strategy of yours is simply not workable."

Everyone's attention turned to Valan's end of the table, where the Salamence had flared out his wings and craned his head up with an impatient scowl.

"We simply don't have time for a long campaign if the Company is really on the verge of fielding Lugia against us," Valan insisted. "Almost all of your arguments for attacking Nagrobek are arguments for attacking Kenobi instead. If we were going to spend time and resources on an island other than Vollezee, at least Kenobi's location would allow us to disrupt Company shipping routes and use it as a springboard for campaigns on other islands."

A few uneasy hems and haws came from Cabot and his companions, while even Nagant seemed hesitant. The Salamence briefly noted his subordinates' reactions, before shaking his head with a sharp frown.

"And that doesn't solve the issue that this additional campaign would divert resources that we should use to attack Vollezee instead," Valan continued. "The Royal Navy needs to be able to deal a definitive blow to the Company whenever we confront them at Vollezee, so why should we risk weakening or overextending ourselves beforehand?"

Kline uneasily wavered his tail back and forth, before turning to his teammates with a wordless stare. They all seemed visibly hesitant, before Percy gave back a wordless nod. The Zygarde turned back to the others around the table, as he spoke up with a quiet rumble.

"… And would your calculus change at all if I told you that the Company is holding a second Protector captive on Nagrobek?"

At once, confused, overlapping outcries broke out from around the table. From the ground, Elty shot a wide-eyed stare up at Kline and opened his mouth to interject, only for Nagant to hop over towards the Zygarde and raise her voice over the surrounding chatter.

"Zygarde, please elaborate," the Clawitzer said. "This is the first that any of us have heard of this!"

Kline visibly paused for a moment, weighing his next words. After a short hesitation, he began to slowly speak up.

"As Zygarde, I am a being composed of two halves," he replied. "My other half has been held deep within the bowels of Nagrobek's prison for close to a decade now, awaiting the day that his captors can turn us against the world."

Nagant's mouth flopped open from shock, as Cabot and his friends' eyes visibly widened in alarm. Even Valan looked taken aback for a moment, only for the Salamence to pause and shoot a dubious frown back across the table.

"I'm sorry, but a decade?" Valan asked. "If you're as strong as you claim, then why has the Company simply not fielded this 'other half' into battle?"

Nagant pivoted on her tail and stared fixedly at Kline, quietly wondering to herself what his answer would be. The Zygarde once again hesitated, before he looked down and shook his head.

"Because my other half and I are capable of fusing together into a stronger Forme. The Company had hoped to quietly capture me first so they would have our full power at their disposal," Kline explained. "If the Company found out that I was helping you fight against them, they would attempt to press ahead and field my other half as their secret weapon alongside Lugia against your islands. Regardless of the consequences."

Everyone in the room traded worried stares with one another as a tense silence lingered in the air. From his end of the table, Kline straightened up again, and shifted his tail as he settled into place.

"I don't share this matter with you lightly, and truth be told, I don't fully trust you not to misuse our powers," the Zygarde said. "But I know what the Company will do with the two Protectors they have in their grasp. As such, it makes sense to start by fighting the battle they're not expecting, so that way you won't need to fight two Protectors at once."

A pause followed, as all the Imperials at the table seemed to be at a loss for words. Nagant was the first to break the silence, as she looked up with a wary, uneasy expression—one that Elty could've sworn looked almost like she'd been hurt somehow…

"I just don't understand, Protector," she muttered. "Why now? Why did you wait all these years to come back?"

Kline stared back for a moment, before turning his gaze aside with a low murmur.

"With everything that's going on right now, I just couldn't afford to hide away for any longer," he explained. "I admit that there's more to the story, but I don't think I'm ready to share it just now."

The Zygarde turned his head back. It was hard for Elty to make out much of the way of emotions from his face, given that his eyes weren't as expressive as they were while in his Core Forme, but his pose looked heavy… deflated, almost.

"I promise that sometime when things are calmer, that I'll give you a fuller explanation," he said. "But at the very least, do you agree with me now that we should attack Nagrobek first?"

There was a lingering pause at the table, before Valan frowned and spoke up with a low grumble.

"… Fine, I'll admit I can see the argument behind your proposal."

The other Imperials followed along one after the other, with Berecien strangely enough giving his agreement with particular vigor. After waiting briefly for any objections, Kline himself joined in and nodded back.

"Good," he replied. "Since we will need to mount our attack on Nagrobek within a week."

Valan abruptly batted his wings out and jerked his head back with a startled cry.

"I'm sorry, a week?!" the Salamence demanded.

"Yes. Nagrobek's defenses are unlikely to stay weakened past then," Kline replied. "I'm sure that the Company is already looking into levying reserves and newly-pressed recruits to fill the ranks they're thinning outside of Vollezee. They will naturally shore up their more strategic islands first while doing so."

"Zygarde, that's just not possible," Valan shot back, shaking his head.

"Why? Don't you have a big, fancy base on Haipheh?" Alice asked, tilting her head. "Can't you just send some Pokémon from there?"

"No, because even after accounting for the Company pulling ships away and Zygarde lending his strength, we'd be lucky to mobilize even a third of the forces needed to mount a proper landing on Nagrobek in a week. We have other threats that need to be defended against, and there simply aren't enough standing Pokémon ready and fully provisioned to sail out so quickly," he explained. "My original estimate for how long it'd have taken just to mobilize for a full invasion of Vollezee was nearly four weeks. Nagrobek may be less challenging to invade, but it'd still take between two and three weeks just to be in a position to begin sending troops onshore!"

Kline and Valan stared each other down, as the Salamence's face visibly fell. Elty and Team Zephyr stiffened up and grimaced, while Cabot and his friends shuffled about awkwardly. What were they supposed to do here when the first step of Kline's plan already wasn't workable?

There was a moment of silence, before Nagant hopped up between Valan and Kline, her lesser claw raised.

"… Are you certain that we could mobilize a third of the forces we'd need for that campaign within a week, Commodore Valan?" the Clawitzer asked.

"Yes? Though I fail to see how that would change anything, Captain Nugget," Valan replied. "Such 'monpower would be inadequate for taking Kenobi, much less Nagrobek."

"I'm aware of that," the Clawitzer insisted. "I'm not contesting your point."

Nagant let out an exasperated sigh, before she hopped up to the window and pointed a claw out of it. Everyone else made their way up as they saw her claw pointing off at Starpeak Square below, seemingly in the direction of the village's garrison.

"It's just that I think I know how we can get the remaining forces that we'd need in Zygarde's timeframe."

---

(Continued in next post)

 

[Spiteful Murkrow]

Pleo blearily cracked his eyes open and saw that he was in a dark, formless void. He at first thought he was still in his cell, only to realize that he couldn't feel the metal chains holding his limbs in place or the ship's wood under his feet.

The Lugia jolted upright and moved around as his memories slowly filled in what had happened: he woke up after Lyn opened the door to his cell and the Samurott revealed a red Apricorn that he had brought along with him. Not long after, Lyn ordered a Crobat that'd come along to sedate him, and the last thing Pleo remembered after that point was struggling against his chains as the Crobat flew up to him and cast rings of light from his eyes and suddenly feeling very sleepy afterwards.

He supposed that this place must've been the inside of that red Apricorn from earlier, and he was starting to understand why Pokémon were afraid of these things. Pleo looked around frantically and beat his wings in a panic.

"H-Hey! Let me out of here!"

He flung a cutting gust of air out forwards… although he wasn't sure where it was going, since there wasn't any obvious change to his surroundings. He hurriedly went around to try and find some sort of end to the space he was in, but no matter how long he carried on, he couldn't find one. After a while, there was suddenly a sharp crack as a vein of light opened from above and the world around Pleo lurched, when the Lugia was washed in blinding light. He briefly felt air under his feet and landed on something cold and stone-like, before stumbling forward as he almost tripped.

"A-Ah!"

Pleo squinted as his eyes adjusted to the light, when he heard flowing water in the background. As he looked around, he saw he was in a tall room flanked by water from three ends, with seats set up on a stony section in the middle. He looked up and froze as he saw Inler at the far end staring him down, with Farn and Zorn on opposite sides of the table looking at him in surprise. A little further back was also a Zoroark that he didn't recognize, who was watching him keenly.

It dawned on him that he was in front of the Company's Board, meaning the Zoroark had to be Elilan. He hurriedly tried to scrabble away, only to suddenly feel weight pressing down on him from above. There was a sudden swish of air as he saw Lyn behind him, holding a seamitar up to the side of his throat.

"Don't try anything funny, Guardian," the Samurott growled. "Your friends may not be here at the moment, but that doesn't mean there won't be consequences for them if you cause problems."

Pleo dug his heels in and glared back, only to remember his conversation with Ketu back on Lyn's ship. Ketu knew Lyn a lot better than he did, and the Weavile had been adamant that he needed to at least make Lyn think he was succeeding at pushing him around in order to do anything to help his friends.

He grudgingly stopped struggling as he saw a Graveler and an Electabuzz come up and felt his wings get yanked forward in front of his body. Cold metal dug into his plumage around his wings' wrists, all as Lyn kept his paw firmly clamped onto his left wing's shoulder. After a brief moment, the Graveler and the Electabuzz stepped back and Pleo saw that his wings were tied up with chains again, while Lyn held his grip on him, before pushing him forward in front of the table.

The Pokémon gathered around the table gazed intently. Zorn and Farn had an almost disbelieving air about them, while Inler seemed to have a quiet awe on his face. Curiously enough, Elilan didn't seem impressed, as he propped his head up on a claw and narrowed his eyes with an unamused frown.

"Let me guess, Lyn: another Ditto? Or were you desperate enough to drag some Illusionist off the street this time?"

"I'm sure you would be quite pleased if that was the case," Lyn scoffed. "But unfortunately for you, this is Lugia in the flesh."

The Samurott ran a paw down Pleo's back and grabbed one of his feathers. He pulled his paw back with a sharp pluck, making Pleo squawk in pain and flail as Lyn held up a silvery-white feather in his grasp that sparkled as the sunlight coming through the windows fell on it. Lyn watched as a captivated silence settled on most of the Pokémon around the stone table, as his muzzle curled up into a satisfied smirk.

"Your eyes don't deceive you," the Commissioner said. "Even if his size may not match the legends, this is indeed Lugia, the Guardian of the Seas. Come and see him for yourself."

One by one, most members of the Board began to make their way over and crowd around him. Zorn brought his head down to size Pleo up, while Farn walked up to him. She gave a disbelieving prod at the Lugia, as she turned to Lyn with her muzzle curled up into a knowing smirk.

"He certainly looks better without all that paint covering those feathers," Farn said. "I knew that you had it in you to get things done. See what happens when you handle your tasks with the appropriate degree of firmness, Lyn?"

The Samurott stiffened upright and briefly grew flustered at the Luxray's remark. Pleo wasn't sure what to make of the comment, other than that Lyn clearly hadn't expected to hear it. The sound of slow claps rang out as Pleo looked further down the table to see Inler making his way over to him, all while Elilan still glowered from his seat. Inler either didn't seem to notice or didn't care as he approached, stepping up to Lyn and his captive's side.

"After so many years, we finally have a Protector of our own," Inler murmured. "I was starting to think that I'd never see the day when one was there to help fight under our banners."

Pleo fought against his chains to try and lean away from the Nidoking, leveling a piercing scowl back at the Poison-Type.

"I don't want to fight," he said. "I won't help you and you can't make me."

The Lugia suddenly felt a sharp yank at his chains and looked up to see Lyn had pulled him back into line. From his place in the surrounding pool, Zorn craned his head down again, looming over the young Protector with a sharp frown.

"Read the room, kid," the Gyarados scoffed. "We wouldn't have brought you here if we didn't have ways of making you play along."

"Not if those ways stink as much as your breath," Pleo retorted. "You couldn't even catch me when I was right in front of you last time!"

Zorn's eyes widened briefly, before he grit his teeth and leaned in further towards Pleo, close enough for his barbels to brush him. Much to the Gyarados' frustration, the Lugia remained defiant and blew a raspberry back, prompting Zorn to let a furious growl from his throat.

"Listen up, pipsqueak," the Gyarados snarled. "We've come too far to just let this moment slip between our fangs from some little-"

"Enough, Zorn."

Inler paced forward, motioning for the Gyarados to back off. Zorn grudgingly slunk back as Inler came to take his place, who shot Pleo a piercing glare as electricity danced around his horn.

"I understand that there are some things that might seem confusing to you as a child; being a god of storms with Anyilla's Pokémon counting on you is a heavy burden," the Nidoking began. "A burden that we were willing to help ease you into."

Inler's expression visibly hardened as the Poison-Type angled his horn down towards Pleo. The Nidoking kept his glaring eyes fixed with Pleo's as the Lugia couldn't help but freeze up as the Director's voice took on a menacing tone.

"But we ultimately don't have the luxury of waiting for you to come around. If making you adjust to your new role requires sacrificing your comfort in the process, I'm more than willing to arrange for that to happen," Inler said. "I'm certain that Commissioner Lyn has informed you of some of the ways we have for doing so."

Pleo wavered after seeing the Nidoking's mood turn and static build up along his horn. Was he making it too obvious that he wasn't afraid of them right now? While he doubted that Inler would really hurt him if the Company needed him so badly… what about his friends? Ketu said that he and Elilan would protect them, but if Inler saw that he didn't seem worried about them, would he start asking questions about why he was acting like this when his friends were supposed to be in danger? And if so, could that ruin the deal Ketu wanted to make with him before he even got a chance to make a decision about it?

"Are we clear?"

Pleo jolted up as Inler's growl lingered in his ears, before the Lugia decided not to push his luck. He craned his head down and shrank back, raising his voice in a stammer that he hoped didn't seem too forced.

"Y-Yes."

Pleo's heart skipped a beat in his chest as Inler scrutinized him for a moment. After a noticeable pause, the Nidoking lifted head and looked off towards the door, where a Magnezone and a Honchkrow were waiting.

"Send word to have the Executive Suite below my office prepared for his arrival. We'll keep him there for the time being," the Director instructed. "If those accommodations prove unworkable, we'll naturally have to consider more… secure alternatives."

The honor guards saluted in response, before they opened the doors and left the room. As they closed the doors behind them, Pleo looked back to Inler with a puzzled tilt of his head.

"… What kind of prison is an 'Executive Suite'?"

"It's a place I sometimes retire to for breaks from my work," the Nidoking explained. "One that's more fitting for a Pokémon of your nature to spread your wings… if you can remain cooperative."

… Had Ketu expected that he'd be moved to a place like that? A resting place did sound easier to meet him in than in some sort of prison… Pleo's mind drifted from his train of thought as he heard footsteps and saw Inler making his way back to the head of the stone table.

"Though if I may ask you all to return to your seats: I believe that there is one last order of business we need to account for before we get to the topic of Commissioner Lyn's promotion to the Board," the Nidoking said, before shooting a glance at the Samurott. "Did you find the missing article from the Vault?"

Lyn hesitated for a moment, as Pleo could have sworn he saw his whiskers twitch nervously, before the otter finally spoke up.

"I found some human artifacts among the pirates' loot, but nothing that was reported as missing from the Vault turned up," the Samurott answered. "We're not really sure what became of the Ledger, but since the thieves are presently in detention on Nagrobek, it shouldn't be hard to get to the bottom of things by interrogating them."

Pleo blinked at Lyn's response. He had remembered seeing that Ledian take the Ledger away back on the Starfall Shogun. Although he didn't know what the Iron Fleet did with it while he was asleep, he supposed there was nothing that would've kept one of the other pirate captains from taking it.

Even so, wasn't Lyn being a bit too tense for just saying that he didn't find it? There was a long pause as Inler shot an askew glance at Elilan, before turning his attention back to Lyn.

"See to it that Lugia is questioned first about what he knows about the Ledger in a more appropriate setting," the Nidoking said. "Though I'm not sure if we have the time to wait for results from an interrogation. I will have Olivia dispatch agents to mount an investigation before our enemies realize what's going on. In the meantime, we should focus our attention on something that's been long overdue: namely Lyn's promotion."

Pleo noticed Lyn straightening up as Farn, Zorn, and Inler turned their attention towards the Samurott, Elilan giving a visibly unenthusiastic frown the entire time. After a brief, tentative silence, Inler glanced them over, before bringing his paws together on the table with a stern, serious frown.

"This isn't a trivial decision to make for the Company's future," he said. "While I myself have already made up my mind, it is customary to hear out each member of the Board before making promotions of this nature…"

The Nidoking trailed off briefly, before letting his eyes drift over towards Farn, who was batting her tail back and forth.

"Given that you're the Pokémon who is the closest to Lyn out of anyone on the Board… Administrator Farn, would you care to start things off?"

Lyn waited for a moment as Farn glanced at the Samurott and lingered in her thoughts. From beside him, Pleo briefly noticed that Lyn looked a bit on edge. A small smile settled over Farn's mouth, before she turned back to the head of the table and spoke up.

"I'll admit, things were a bit rockier than I was expecting, but Lyn stuck through his mission and turned things around even when things seemed to be in doubt," the Luxray said. "We're all aware of Lyn's track record and accomplishments prior to this mission, so there's no need for me to repeat them. Given that he delivered Lugia to us in the end, I'd say that he's built upon them well enough to earn this promotion."

Pleo briefly caught Lyn quietly sucking in a breath as Inler's attention turned over to Zorn next, the Nidoking giving an expectant glance.

"And you, Zorn? What is your opinion on promoting Lyn to fill our vacancy on the Board?"

The Gyarados shifted in the water and churned the surface of the pool as he looked over at Lyn with noticeably long face. There was a moment's pause, before Zorn sighed and shook his head with a low murmur.

"I'm not really impressed with how he handled some of the parts of his mission earlier, but he did pull this off through a plan of his own design and execution," the Gyarados remarked. "I'd recommend starting him off slow, but I'll admit he has potential as an Administrator."

Pleo saw the tension leave Lyn's body as an ever-growing smile crossed his muzzle and the Samurott visibly puffed his chest out. He supposed that was one way to tell that Lyn had gotten the promotion he'd wanted. All the while, Elilan remained silent beyond quietly tapping his claws against the table. The Zoroark's reaction didn't escape Inler's notice, as the Nidoking finally turned his attention over to him with his mouth curled into a serious frown.

"Administrator Elilan, do you have anything to add?"

Elilan didn't say anything even as the others around the table turned to face him. Pleo gave a wary glance around as the silence dragged on for a moment, when he noticed that there was a palpable tension in the air between Inler and Elilan. All along his pelt, Pleo noticed the Nidoking had raised barbs much like Nida would when she was upset or startled, while Elilan's eyes were sharply narrowed.

The Zoroark looked at Pleo briefly, before his expression softened slightly. He closed his eyes and turned to face the rest of the Board, shaking his head with a sullen huff.

"I already gave my opinions during that whole incident with the Ditto," Elilan scoffed. "But since everyone here seems to have particularly short memories, I'd like a moment to explain where my opinions are coming from."

The Zoroark opened his eyes again and turned his gaze towards Inler, with a look so fierce that for a moment Pleo thought he was somehow trying to use Glare on the Nidoking.

"Ten years ago, I was the only one on the Board who voted against Darzin's promotion to Administrator of Tromba Island," Elilan said. "Everyone insisted that he'd be a good fit, yet look at what became of that."

Elilan straightened up in his seat, turning his glance towards Zorn and Farn with a withering glare.

"And here we are, finding ourselves at the precipice of confirming another would-be peer that's doomed for failure. Despite the last several years, this Board is about to make the same mistakes again, having learned absolutely nothing," the Dark-Type spat. "Lyn simply is not a good fit for running an island. Not now or ever. Capturing Lugia doesn't change that. It's taken Lyn a month and a half to complete what was supposed to be a three-day mission at most, and in the end he ultimately needed to outsource the actual process of capturing Lugia to pirates of all Pokémon."

"And yet, despite that, he adapted and overcame difficulties in the face of one unexpected development after the other," Inler said. "Qualities I seem to recall you particularly valuing from your subordinates as an Administrator."

The Nidoking and the Zoroark stared each other down, as Pleo noticed everyone else in the room was watching the pair uneasily. There was a tension that hung thick in the air, almost as if the two were both ready to come to blows with each other.

"Your skepticism has been noted," Inler growled. "However, it hasn't changed anything about my own decision, and I think I've heard enough to make it and begin the formal vote on Commissioner Lyn's promotion."

Elilan held his glare for a moment, before sinking back into his seat with a sullen scowl. Pleo couldn't help but fidget uncomfortably against his chains, when a loud harrumph cut through the air. He saw Inler shifting in his seat, before the Nidoking turned his attention around the table.

"All in favor of promoting Lyn to fill former Administrator Darzin's position?"

Farn and Inler himself each raised a paw in assent, Zorn mimicking them as best he could with his tail. The Nidoking brought his paw down and brought them together along the table, before speaking up again, his eyes turning over towards Elilan.

"And everyone opposed to promoting Lyn to fill said position?"

The Zoroark all but rolled his eyes in response, as he raised a paw and let out a disgusted sigh, when there was a sudden rattle from Lyn's end of the table.

The Board looked over and saw Pleo had raised his still-chained wings. Lyn shoved his wings down with a sharp frown, while the young Lugia saw Inler mirroring the Samurott's expression. Curiously enough, Elilan seemed to be surprised, and for a fleeting moment, Pleo swore he could see a faint smile on the Zoroark's muzzle.

Inler thumped his tail against the floor for attention. After he received it from his audience, he shook his head, turning his attention over to Lyn.

"That makes things official. Welcome to the Board, Administrator Lyn."

Over by the doors to the meeting room, a blue-and-white Vivillion fluttered over and came up to the Samurott's side, presenting a lavender cloth with a pattern of purple squares on it. A flash of disbelieving awe came over his eyes as Lyn took the cloth and unfurled it, revealing it to be a scarf with the same pattern as the other Administrators present.

He took a moment to undo his scarf and put on his new one, before tucking his old one into a satchel. He made his way forward along with Pleo, passing the young Lugia over to Inler, before claiming the empty seat across from Farn's. Lyn sat down and adjusted himself, as a widening grin came over his muzzle. From the side, Inler briefly glanced down at Pleo, before turning his attention to the newly-promoted Administrator with a stern gaze.

"Your first order of business as an Administrator is to show the world our newfound Protector's power and fealty to our cause," the Nidoking said. "I believe that Tromba Island ought to be quite familiar to the both of you. Putting it back under direct rule of an Administrator seems like an effective demonstration, no?"

Pleo felt a sinking feeling in his stomach as he realized that they were talking about Lyn taking over Tromba, with him taking part in it. Lyn idly dusted his chest off with a paw, as the Samurott gave a knowing smirk in reply.

"Quite. I've been able to keep that island in line for years. I'm sure it will be no different whenever I arrive there again," the Samurott said. "Using the Protector's power to take back an island that the Company has lost control of for years seems as solid an idea as any. With the appropriate conditions, I'm sure it would send quite the message to Anyilla and the Cradle's waters beyond."

Pleo's breath picked up as he felt his heart starting to race. Those were all just words, right? He remembered Ketu had mentioned that the Board was planning to use him as a weapon, but they didn't actually have a way of making him fight the rest of Bluewhorl Town for them without threatening his friends… did they?

Whatever the truth of the matter was, he didn't want to find out for sure. He just hoped that Ketu really would be able to see him again before Lyn started his mission. Especially if Bluewhorl Town was really in this much danger.

Was it best to just agree to help him with whatever Elilan was planning? It was harder and harder for him to see ways of avoiding it, but at the same time he just couldn't shake this feeling that helping Ketu and Elilan would end horribly. Kline had insisted over and over again that it would be bad if Elilan's plans, whatever they really were, succeeded. But if he did nothing, both his friends and everyone on Tromba would just suffer and he'd have nothing to show for it.

The Lugia's mind went blank as his gaze drifted to the floor. He wished that someone was there with him. Nida… Crom… Elty… Guardia… or any of the others.

Surely they'd know what to do right now…

He heard a soft thump and saw Inler pulling his leg back from stomping the floor, much as Nida might've thumped her foot for attention. He turned his head up, as the Nidoking looked down at him with a small, knowing smile.

"May this be the start of a fruitful partnership," Inler said. "I do hope that you find the Executive Suite pleasing. It's among the finest accommodations that can be offered for visitors to our offices here… especially cooperative ones."

Pleo tried to scoot away only for the Nidoking's grip on his bindings to stop him. No, he didn't want any of this. He just wanted to be back with his friends and not have to be someone's weapon or agent or anything at all.

Inler had grandchildren of his own, didn't he? Maybe there was a part of him that could still be reasoned with.

"Why can't you just leave me and my home alone?" Pleo demanded. "Can't you just be happy with everything you already have right now?"

Once again, Inler's expression curled into a small frown. He said nothing, before turning his head over to the Samurott beside him.

"Administrator Lyn, kindly bring Lugia to the Executive Suite on your way out," the Nidoking instructed. "Due to the needs of your mission, access to him outside of you shall be restricted to me, my direct subordinates, and a list of whatever Pokémon you submit to me that you feel are necessary for your mission's success. After all, in light of the recent spy ring we discovered, it only makes sense to exercise some caution."

"Quite," the Samurott replied, nodding back. "I will see him there immediately after we are done here."

"Good, I believe that this is a suitable note to leave things off on," Inler remarked. "This meeting is adjourned."

Lyn rose from his seat and went over to reclaim the young Protector as the other Administrators made their way out. Farn and Elilan left the room through the doorway, while Zorn went through the aqueduct that fed into the pool surrounding the meeting table. Much to Pleo's surprise, Lyn didn't leave yet, and only budged once Inler began to make his way for the door. The Samurott followed after him, before raising his voice to speak.

"Actually… there was one last thing I wanted to ask of you, Director," Lyn said. "As an Administrator, I assume I'm entitled to request any Company records that are on file?"

The Nidoking Director paused and turned his head back, quirking a brow with a slight tilt of his head.

"You are, yes," Inler replied. "Just submit a request to the records department. As long as it's not anything unreasonable large in volume, your request should be granted."

"Perfect."

The Nidoking turned and carried on as Lyn tugged Pleo along by his chains. As the Lugia lurched forward, he noticed that Lyn's expression was strangely satisfied. He supposed that was one way to tell that Lyn was happy about things… except there was one thing that didn't quite make sense to him.

Shouldn't Lyn have been asking for things that would help him with his mission to Tromba? Where did these records fit into all of that?

---

Rodion didn't know what he was expecting after his Marked captors told him and the others that they were going to be leaving the Mystery Dungeon, but it wasn't that they'd take them back to Starpeak Square, nor that he'd just be sitting around in some burnt-out square for hours afterwards. The local Imps had apparently run out of cells in town to keep the pirates they'd captured, probably well before the Marked had brought them here from the way that even Tarquin and that Seviper first mate of his were still stuck waiting here in the open.

So that left him here sitting on the ground with his wrists chafing from the ropes holding them in place and his legs stiff from staying in one place the entire time as the Imps assigned to them did the rounds. The guards were every bit as crabby as the Marked had been and not remotely talkative—not even after that strange Pokémon gathered all those green lights and turned into that towering serpent—and were content to leave him and the others around him wondering aloud about what on earth had happened. He hadn't seen any sign of Hess or Kichiro since arriving, and had only found out through that Haxorus from the new recruits that the two at least managed to make it to the ship.

It was cold comfort considering that he didn't know what had become of them. Had they even made it to Lyn? And if they did, who was to say that Samurott hadn't just stabbed them in the back?

Just having some idea whether they were okay would've made the situation he was in a little more tolerable.

He looked to his left, where Kenny sat, seeing the Quilava nervously stealing glances around him. The Floatzel looked on for a moment before quietly hanging his head. Even when that Imperial crab had caught him back in Orleigh, he'd been able to force a grin over his own face and raise the spirits of the others, knowing that she'd left some of her peons behind and wouldn't want to sail off without them, but now…

Well, he just wasn't sure what he could even say or do to lift his crewmates' spirits. What on earth was there even to hold onto right now for hope?

"… Rodion? What's going to happen to us?"

Rodion looked over and saw Kenny tense and wound up, his ears pinned back. Much of their crewmates nearby seemed like they were in similar straits, and many of them were looking over waiting for some sort of response or reassurance.

He hesitated for a moment, before looking back at the Quilava and forcing a small smile over his face.

"I… honestly don't know," the Floatzel admitted. "But whatever happens, I'll be there to face it with the rest of you."

Kenny weakly tried to give a smile of his own in reply, but his heart didn't seem to be in it. Rodion honestly couldn't fault him. Even in the dicey situations he'd been in the past, things didn't ever look this bleak—not even when that Samurott had boarded their ship.

Perhaps this really was the end of the line for them.

All of a sudden, he heard murmurs start to go around the Pokémon in the crowd, including from some of his crewmates next to him. Rodion tried to make sense of what was going on, when Kenny suddenly gave an insistent nose at his shoulder.

"Rodion, something's going on."

Rodion looked away from Kenny and saw a Salamence in Imperial colors coming to a stop in the square just a few paces away. A Gliscor and Talonflame joined him shortly afterwards, along with a group that followed them from further behind on foot:

There was a Sneasel he didn't recognize towards the front. A few Marked from that village in the Mystery Dungeon were there too, but they all looked strangely wound up. But much to his astonishment, that old crab from Orleigh was also there… along with Elty.

The Floatzel narrowed his eyes into a sharp scowl at the sight of the Growlithe. He could've done without seeing him again, but who were the others-?

"H-Huh?! Alice made it out after all?!"

Rodion glanced back and saw that Kenny's vents were pouring fire, while the Quilava looked much like he'd seen a ghost. The Quilava stared wide-eyed at the Sneasel, his mouth hanging open as his voice came out in a squeaking stammer.

"B-But I saw her get left behind on Vollezee! I-I thought-!"

So she was that same Sneasel Kenny had mentioned being with that other Protector, huh? The former pirate? Rodion supposed that it cleared up the question of who those strangers were a little, but why were they there together with that Clawitz-?

"EYAAAAAAH!"

"N-No! Mercy!"

Rodion flinched after hearing a few screams and cries coming from around him, and saw the Marked pirates were visibly cringing and shuddering, while a Marked Kingler was even desperately fighting with his bindings to try and flee. The general mood around them had turned tense, as even Kenny was looking up, his pupils visibly shrunken.

Then he turned to see himself, and his own eyes widened, as there, at the very back of the group, passing a few Marked that were hastily shrinking out of its way, was that towering black-and-green serpent from earlier slithering up and looming over them. The Floatzel stared as the strange Pokémon settled in, his own mouth hanging open as he blinked in disbelief at the sight.

"Well, this one's going to be interesting," he murmured.

The thump of chitin against the ground rang out, as Nagant made her way forward along the group of pirates. Her eyes met Rodion's as she passed, as the Clawitzer stopped and whirled on her tail. She paused and tilted her head incredulously for a moment, before narrowing her eyes back with an unamused scowl.

"Hrmph, I see you didn't learn anything from last time, Floatzel," Nagant huffed. "You're a real glutton for punishment, aren't you?"

"I prefer to think of myself as being determined," Rodion retorted.

Nagant stared back with a long, sour frown, before letting out an annoyed scoff and turning away. All among the captured pirates, puzzled and confused chatter rang out amongst their ranks, as they traded dumbfounded looks among themselves and at the strange serpent looming over them. Even Tarquin was at a loss as to what to make of the newly arrived strangers, as he shifted against his bindings and raised his head with a low growl.

"What on earth do you want?" the Tyrantrum spat. "Shouldn't you be chasing after that bird right about now?"

"Normally, yes," Nagant replied. "Though these aren't normal circumstances right now, so I'm here to make an offer that I think will be worth your while."

Valan shot a sidelong glare at the Clawitzer captain from the corner of his eyes, as his mouth cracked open with an incredulous growl.

"Captain Nugget, you can't seriously be-"

"Commodore, do recall that Zygarde told us we may only have a week to work with," Nagant insisted. "You yourself acknowledged that we can't source the 'monpower we need through normal methods on such short notice."

She trailed off briefly, before looking over the gathered pirates in front of them.

"As such, we can't afford to be too picky about how we get it."

Valan opened his mouth to reply, only for the words to never come out of his mouth. He turned aside with a disapproving growl, as the captured pirates tried to make sense of the Clawitzer's words. Some were clearly puzzled, while others like the Strongjaw Gang's first mate were visibly glowering out of impatience.

"Are you just going to stand there and ignore us, or are you going to explain what's going on right now?" the Seviper spat.

"I will. Once," Nagant harrumphed. "So pay attention."

The Clawitzer hopped over and clambered onto a nearby crate to get a better view of her audience. She took a brief moment to better study a few of the pirates in the crowd, before straightening up on her tail with a withering glare.

"Effective immediately, you're all enlisted sailors of the Royal Navy, under the command of Commodore Valan and myself as part of a mission we will be carrying out alongside Zygarde, the Keeper of Balance," Nagant explained. "Some of you may be brevetted to perform duties beyond what such a rank would normally entail, but your pay and benefits will be the same as any such sailor who has entered the service as part of a penal sentence."

The chatter began to kick up in waves amongst the pirates, as some simply shot their captors dumbfounded looks, while others in the crowd spoke up with skeptical tones, like a Haxorus with a gold-and-silver scarf who huffed back with a sullen growl.

"I'm sorry, but are we supposed to be excited about this?" the Haxrorus demanded. "Who is this overgrown Serperior even supposed to be? Some sort of Protector?"

"Yes, and if it were possible I'd be the first to insist that we do everything to avoid getting a bunch of thugs like you involved in this," Kline hissed back, flaring his tendrils. "Unfortunately for us, our options are limited at the moment."

The gathering remained silent afterwards, as suddenly most of the pirates sat up sharply at attention. There was a lingering tension in the air, as some of the pirates grew uneasy, while others like a Conkeldurr shot back dubious frowns.

"And just what is that supposed to mean?" the Fighting-type pressed.

"Commodore Valan and I will be leading an expedition to liberate Nagrobek Island from the Company," Nagant answered. "It's an island that a lot of you have history with and I'm sure plenty of you have had daydreams and idle plans of storming, so doing that under Her Majesty's sails and the cover of Imperial artillery shouldn't be an excessive ask."

At once, dozens of eyes in the gathering visibly widened and the silence gave way to overlapping cries of protest.

"Storming Nagrobek?!" a Pawniard exclaimed.

"Y-You're sending us off to be cannon fodder!" a Litten stammered.

"Yes? And?" Valan retorted. "I'm failing to see the problem he-"

"Commodore Valan, please let me finish my offer."

Nagant motioned for silence with a claw, as the Salamence glowered back, but otherwise kept his mouth shut after seeing Kline continuing to look on without objection. The Clawitzer at first tried to speak up over the ongoing protests from the pirates, only to fire a Water Pulse into the air. It burst overhead, raining water down on the crowd and after a few scattered yelps, threw the proceedings back into an uneasy silence.

"If you and whatever salvageable ships you have are all the extra strength we can muster for this campaign, your fates will most likely be to become cannon fodder," she explained. "That was why I wanted to give you a chance to improve your odds of self-preservation, and better help our odds of success in the process…"

The Clawitzer pivoted on her tail, before turning her gaze towards Tarquin.

"We'll head to Orleigh first. If you manage to talk your peers there into assisting us with our mission and improving your overall odds of success, we'll naturally be motivated to ensure that you're better equipped for it," she continued. "After Nagrobek is captured and our present campaign concludes, the lot of you will be given suspended sentences for any crimes you committed prior to this point and honorably discharged… once you return any equipment lent to you by the Navy as part of this mission, of course."

Valan cocked his head with a dubious frown, and even Team Zephyr outside of Alice traded uneasy glances with one another. Nagant's appeal didn't seem to be going particularly well, either, as the Water-Type's words were met with glares and snarls from more defiant Pokémon in the group, including none other than the Strongjaw Gang's captain, who let out a scoff in reply.

"Gods, you all must be desperate right now," Tarquin spat. "What sort of motivation is that supposed to be? Let's say we accept your offer, why on earth should we not just mutiny the first chance we can get?"

Nagant narrowed her eyes and abruptly leveled her claw, aiming it at the Tyrantrum's head, prompting a few of the nearby pirates to hurriedly try to scoot out of the way as Kline slithered forward with a sharp hiss.

"For one, I'm more than capable of using my powers to rip your hulls out from under you if you try that," Kline said. "Furthermore-"

"Wait, you two. Give me a moment here."

Just as the water gathering at the tip of Nagant's claw started to form into an orb, a set of white claws pushed them down. Kline and Nagant shifted their glances, seeing Alice looking over at them with a determined look.

"Let me have a chance to talk to them," the Sneasel said. "I can speak your new recruits' language so to speak. They'll probably be more motivated to work for you if you don't start things off by smacking them into line."

The Clawitzer jerked her claw free and scowled at Alice. The pair stared each other down for a moment, before Nagant turned aside with a sigh.

"Fine," the Water-Type said. "But don't drag this out."

Kline and Nagant backed away as Alice paced forward along the crowd, scanning the faces. Most were visibly wary, others were hostile, and a few that she recognized from the Siglo Swellow—like Kenny—visibly cringed as her eyes fell on them. She pinned her ears back with a disheartened frown after seeing the Quilava. She looked away after a moment's hesitation, and turned her gaze towards the center of the group.

"Look, all of you are here right now since you've made some bad choices and they caught up with you," Alice began. "Some of you probably deserve to be in this situation right now, some of you might not since you were pressured or forced into being here. Either way, after what happened here, this would normally be the end of the line for you, but nobody says that things have to end badly here today…"

She continued walking in front of the crowd, opting to focus specifically on the faces in it that were familiar. Her eyes moved from one face that she recognized to another: an Ekans, a Zebstrika, a Sableye… It was hard for her to hide her disappointment, as she shook her head and pawed at her shoulder.

"You're clearly got some skill at raising some hell while coming ashore, and we need 'mons capable of doing that right now," she said. "And I know that deep down, Nagrobek would likely be up there on the list of islands you'd want to raid if you thought you had a chance of succeeding. I'm sure that some of you have friends there you'd want to free, or at the very least avenge them… and now you can do that."

She paused and trailed off, before shooting a pleading gaze out to the crowd with her eyes.

"I've been in your place before, and it's not every day that 'mons like us get a second chance, Much less with a Protector at their backs," she insisted. "You've got a chance to genuinely do good with those skills of yours and chase after something bigger than the next batch of loot. Maybe saying you're you'll rewarded for it is a stretch, but at least you won't be punished for it. So please, won't you help us here?"

There was a moment of blinking silence afterwards. Much to Rodion's surprise, all the Pokémon he'd recruited back into the Iron Fleet from the local garrison seemed to be visibly wavering. He turned his head over to Kenny and saw that the Quilava himself looked like he was seriously considering taking the Sneasel up on her offer.

"Kenny, do you really trust this 'mon?" Rodion whispered.

"I do," the Quilava replied, nodding. "She's one of the few 'mons who stood up for us back on Tromba, and without her we'd still be stuck there."

Kenny fell silent for a moment, before shooting Rodion a pleading look.

"… Maybe we should hear her out?" he suggested. "She didn't steer me wrong in the past, and I don't know if we have any better options right now."

Rodion turned his head to face Alice as she made her way over. He eyed her keenly, his muzzle curling into a small smile as she approached.

"I'll admit, you've got a way with words, Sneasel," he said. "What crew are you from, anyway?"

"The Boltstrike Bandits. We didn't sail into Anyilla all that often back when I was on it, but I'd like to think I can speak your proverbial language well enough," the Sneasel replied. "Also, just call me Alice."

The Boltstrike Bandits, huh? Rodion remembered running into them at sea once, but for whatever reason he couldn't remember that Sneasel being with them at the time. Shame, since he felt that he and Hess would've gotten along well with her.

Maybe it really was for the best to just take up Alice's offer. They were at the mercy of these Imps right now, who sentenced 'mons to death for far less than what had happened here on Gestirn. He knew the alternative wasn't great when the last time they'd gone to Nagrobek seven years ago had already been a close call even when they largely hadn't been on the front lines with the Council's crews.

… He didn't exactly trust that Salamence or Clawitzer to really care about their fates in a dangerous situation all that much… but they clearly respected this 'Zygarde' well enough to let his judgement influence them. As his friend, surely Alice could influence him in turn, meaning they'd have an advocate for them if they went along…

Rodion looked down and closed his eyes for a moment, before shaking his head with a quiet sigh. He opened his eyes again and looked back at Alice, as the ends of his muzzle curled up into a faint smile,

"Alright then, Alice, I'm in. And I'm sure that the rest of my crew-"

"Hey kedama, go walk a plank. Nobody aside from those bottom-feeders is going to go along with this."

Alice paused after a sharp hiss rang out through the air and turned her attention over to Akane, who was leveling a piercing glare alongside her captain.

"Real rich of you to be talking about friendship while we're all tied up like this," the Seviper hissed. "How about we flip this situation around and we can show just how friendly we're feeling at the moment?"

Alice flattened her ears as the mood started to spread from Akane. Other nearby pirates started grumbling and growling their displeasure, prompting the Sneasel to fold her arms back with a small frown.

"Look, I don't expect you all to be friendly right now, just to be rational about your interests here," she insisted. "If you can set aside your feuds and differences to raid a village with this many crews, surely you can do the same with-"

"Take your offer and shove it up your ass, Sneasel," Tarquin growled.

"Seriously, where on earth did you get that speech from?" a red-garbed Conkeldurr scoffed. "Your Guildmaster?"

The mood quickly grew contagious as one pirate after the other joined in scowling and baring their teeth at the Sneasel, their snarls drowning out the few who stared silent and wide-eyed at their peers. From her place in front of the crowd, Alice looked on as her face fell at the pirates' reactions. She sighed and gave an unamused shrug of her shoulders, before she turned and began to walk away.

"Whelp, I tried," the Sneasel said, waving her claw. "Have fun with the crab and flying alligator, since I'm pretty sure they're going to get right to the point with you."

"Very much so," Nagant harrumphed. "Though for reference, I'm a shrimp."

Nagant hopped up and took Alice's place with a steely glare, which much to Elty 's surprise, didn't seem to move more than a handful of pirates' reactions. Valan was similarly unamused, as the Salamence flared his wings and bared his fangs out at the gathered pirates.

"I don't believe the lot of you understand just how precarious your situations are at the moment," Valan growled. "You are facing charges of piracy, mass arson, insurrection, and high treason, all of which would incur harsh sentences were the local Court in a position to try you normally."

"Obviously, that won't be possible with how many of you there are right now," Nagant added. "Which would mean your sentencing would need to be expedited and forgo much of the formal trial process along with your opportunity to plead your cases. Accepting the terms that I offered you earlier will by far be a more pleasant experience for all of us."

"Yeah? Or else what?" an Emboar demanded.

Nagant narrowed her eyes back at the group and turned her head over to a Bewear standing near the edge of the square and motioned over with her claw.

"Bommel, come and show these scoundrels what the rightful reward for their actions would be."

The Bewear lumbered over, and halfway through, Rodion noticed that he was lugging along a hefty sack over his shoulder. The Normal-Type came to the front and set it down with a sharp thump, as the mouth spilled open and a few colored Apricorns spilled out, with one sending the Emboar all but jumping back with a yelp as it almost touched him. Nagant looked back at the gathering, her eyes locked into an icy scowl.

"We begin sentencing tonight for those of you who don't feel like accepting our terms," the Clawitzer snapped. "Whoever chooses this route will get exactly what they deserve under Her Majesty's law to the fullest extent: namely to be put into an Apricorn and sent to their fate in the Wastes."

The gathering went audibly silent, as tense stares and grimaces went about the group. From his place, Rodion stared at the sack himself before setting his teeth on edge.

"… Yeah, that sounds like the Empire I know," he murmured to himself. "Alice really wasn't kidding about them getting right to the point."

A quick uproar broke out, as a few of the more defiant pirates were suddenly cut off by stammering appeals to "hold on a minute here"—including from a few of the stronger-looking pirates like the earlier Haxorus. Nagant rolled her eyes briefly as the Bewear gathered up the stray Apricorns with a heavy cloth, before turning her attention over towards Tarquin's end of the group. The Tyrantrum stared at the Apricorns long and hard and traded a look with his Seviper first mate, when he shook his head with a low growl.

"… Tch, I can see where the Company got its internal culture from," he spat.

Tarquin lowered his head and averted his gaze. His glare looked every bit as fixed and immovable as ever, except the tension in his body had visibly dissipated, as he let out a reluctant grumble.

"I can't make any promises for how the others on Orleigh will take things, but I know when to fold them," the Tyrantrum said. "I'm in."

One after the other, the other pirates joined in, some grudgingly like the Conkeldurr, while others like a Bombirdier joined in with an eagerness that would embarrass even a literal tail-kisser. The sole exceptions were the Marked in the crowd, who visibly squirmed and quailed as their peers yielded, their eyes remaining fixed on Kline.

"N-No, you can't expect us to work for this demon!" a Drizzile stammered.

"Why don't you just kill us and get things over with already?!" a Kingler near the front cried.

Nagant looked over at Kline for a moment, before hopping out of the way. The Zygarde came and slithered forward, coming to a stop in front of the Kingler as he let out a frightened squeal. The other Marked looked on in petrified terror, while the Kingler flinched and curled up, bracing for the end.

Kline let his gaze linger on the quivering pirate, before shaking his head with a low harrumph.

"We already had a feeling that your kind wouldn't be interested in our offer," the Zygarde said. "Fortunately for your sake, you had advocates who arranged for you to receive alternative sentences. They should be coming forward to gather you right now."

Kline briefly looked behind him towards the edge of the square, before slithering out of the way. The Kingler looked back to his fellow pirates and quickly tried to scuttle away, when a furred hand suddenly shot out and dragged him back by his claws' bindings, revealing a Marked Typhlosion giving a withering glare down.

"And where do you think you're going? Just because our village is a haven for those who know the truth doesn't mean that we have to like everyone who takes shelter there," Nina growled. "The lot of you can start by fixing the damage your friends left to our village!"

Nina grabbed the Kingler hind legs and lifted him off the ground, before dragging him off flailing and protesting. A few Marked from Starbreak Square who'd come with Nina stared at Kline wide-eyed for a long moment and visibly squirmed, before the Zygarde sighed and slithered back further. One by one, the other Marked made their way forward with a wide berth and began grabbing the small number of Marked from the captured pirates, leading them off with similar yelps and protests under Nagant's watchful eye in a procession that visibly picked up pace while passing the "demon" in the square.

The Clawitzer began to turn away when she noticed three figures trailing after, and spotted a Marked Combusken, a Grotle, and a Scraggy from her crew attempting to sneak along…

… which summarily came to a stop as she launched a Water Pulse at their feet and threw them off-balance. Nagant hopped over towards the three, throwing her large claw out and dragging the Combusken of the group up by her scarf with a seething hiss.

"That offer didn't extend to you three," she hissed. "Get back to your posts or I'll have you tried for desertion!"

The Combusken let out a startled squawk as Nagant let her go, prompting the three to hurriedly scurry back to the local guards. The shrimp retraced her hops over as Kline slithered back into position, and as she neared the pirates once again, she caught Rodion shooting an askew frown back at her.

"So now what?" the Floatzel asked. "Are you just going to keep us tied up like this?"

"Most of you, yes," she said. "Just because we're running short on places to hold you all doesn't mean that we don't have enough to keep those of you who don't have anything productive to do. As for the rest of you…"

The Clawitzer went up and snapped the ropes holding Rodion's paws in place. The Floatzel shifted his arms, and shook feeling into them as he looked up, and saw the wizened shrimp giving a sharp frown at him.

"Get up and start getting those ships of yours in the harbor that you can salvage sailworthy," she said. "We leave for Orleigh as soon as possible."

The guards began to make their way around and started untying a few of the pirates more obviously suited to ship repairs, while a few others who were passed over at first suddenly loudly and eagerly found a desire to offer their services. As Rodion watched the guards come and start to lead some of the pirates nearby him along, he stood up and shot a sideways glance at Nagant.

"If you're really planning on setting sail 'as soon as possible', I'm going to need a few more friendly paws to help me as the acting captain of my crew," the Floatzel said. "The Quilava with me would be a good place to start."

Nagant rolled her eyes in response, before hopping over and summarily undoing the ropes pinning Kenny's forepaws behind his back. The Quilava uneasily shook feeling into his limbs as Nagant shot Rodion an icy stare.

"Be mindful that we're not going to let you go about as you please just because you're untied, Floatzel," the Clawitzer said. "Don't make us regret this."

Rodion looked over his shoulder towards Kenny just as Elty and Alice walked up to the Quilava, the stoat giving a sheepish grimace as Alice ruffled the fur on his head. The Floatzel let his gaze linger on them, before looking back with a small smirk.

"Heh. Not making any promises there, babushka."

---

Author's Notes:

- kedama (毛玉) - Japanese: "hairball", "furball" (Hepburn Romanization)
- babushka (бабушка) - Russian: Term for an old lady or a grandmother akin to "granny". (BGN/PCGN Romanization.)

 

[Ambyssin]

I am Porygon-Z instance N9Y2XF8DD4E5M

****ing Queen Deltarune ass Porygon-Z over here. Smh.

Well, it's taken [checks watch] ten years to get to this point grohno, but it finally feels like things are genuinely beginning to come to some sort of head here. We finally get a glimpse at the Wastes, or some small Company-controlled sliver of it with hints about Mega Evolution. And it sure looks every bit as awful as people's reactions over the real time years have suggested. Pleo's finally brought before the Company board, meaning Lyn's mission is done and he actually get the promotion he's craved since super early in the fic. I assume the records he's requesting are going to have something to do with his family. IIRC he has a missing sister that we saw in the undersea highway episode. And the treatment of Pleo thus far, with threats of turning him against his home, have him at least considering what Ketu and Elilan are scheming up. Given Elilan's officially lost his bid for more control I cannot imagine him continuing to stick to the background anymore.

Kline is seemingly gonna do things on screen this time, as opposed to most of the background stuff we've gotten up until now. I guess invading Nagrobek is as good an excuse as any to pull the Empire back into the story. Though I'm hoping it's more of a "back for the finale" situation. Especially since they're roping all the pirates into this. The fact that we're teetering on "Everyone is here!" really makes me lean toward finale. Otherwise I'd be very nervous about how you can possibly balance this many different groups and characters without the chapter bloat getting completely out of control. Especially since this is some real teeth-clenched teamwork that's going to need to happen on the rescue squad's side of things. I'm certainly expecting mutiny to some extent to happen in some capacity, though I'd hope it wouldn't if for no other reason than to allow the main plot to plow forward. I'm willing to bet there will be another Tromba revisit. Because even though that happened in the chapter 80s, it was over four years ago and wouldn't be surprised if it ends up closer to the mid-point of the fic by word count when all's said and done. Which would make it the beginning, middle, and end.

There is a... certain hilarious irony in how the fic's gone on so long that the Zygarde stuff is picking up right around the time where we've gotten a second Kalos game that's Zygarde centric. And how Trizano is about to become a test subject for a guy who studies Mega Evolution. You have two chances to do the funniest thing by putting Mega Skarm and/or Mega Zygarde into the fic. C'mon, give the grumpy Protector a giant gun. I'm sure there's some way to tweak whatever scenario's going on in the endgame to make it work.

 

[Kindoflame]

Chapter 94:
I like how this chapter gets to the action so quickly. This story has a very set rhythm for each island; set up, make a plan, execute plan complication, climax, then leaving. It works very well, but it is nice sometimes to mix things up sometimes. Plus, we got another great courtroom scene and a battle scene in one chapter!

 

[Kindoflame]

Chapter 95:
Looks like we are getting a plot line focused on Marked. My favorite! They are probably the most interesting element you added to the standard PMD setting, but it has felt like they haven't gotten nearly as much attention as I would have liked. I also like the characterization of Bunsen in this chapter. He is both horrified of Pleo for cultural and personal reasons! I still feel sympathic for him though and hope he can have a redemption arc to make up for what he did on Tromba.

 

[Kindoflame]

Chapter 98:
Love the lore reveals in this chapter. Not only do we learn more of the history and the twist the Marked is not hereditary, but it is all done through a biased filter. Earlier you established a minor theme of regional differences in folktales, but I never really saw why. Now that we are trying to reconcile the Marked and Unmarked accounts it makes more sense.

P.S. I love the running joke of Ketu just saying the secret out loud in order to hide it.reminds me of an old video by the Onion.

 

[Kindoflame]

Chapter 100:
Stakes seem to be rising with threats of death much more common, even from Team Traveler's allies! It's a subtle change, but definitely stands out in a story that has so far been very kid-friendly. I feel like the other big theme of this arc is allies of convenience. Team Traveler and the Marked, the Marked and the town guards, even Hess and Dirk. While before allies tended sincerely wanted good for each other and agree on common goals, now people are teaming up because it is their best bad option.

 

[Kindoflame]

Chapter 103:
I very much disagree with the death in this chapter. I was going to write a big 2 paragraph thing going into details why I think it was a mistake... but I feel like that would be very negative and I don't want to give the impression that I hate the chapter or anything. Let me know if you want that and I'll type it up.