CHAPTER 24- REDESIGN




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ARTWORK BY   Damodoko


It was morning in Argules. Rex Lucario had already participated in press conferences to explain the events of the previous night. Now, the Soldier was leaping among the buildings of the megacity to investigate locations provided by Trevor Houndoom, where Hellstalker bases were supposedly hidden. Upon finally reaching one of his destinations, an apartment that would belong to a Hellstalker, the Lucario found it empty, which initially frustrated him. Rex was about to retrieve his Gadget from his single-strap backpack and alert Raijin Heliolisk.
However, the Soldier heard a faint groan. Quickly lifting the appendages on the sides of his head, the Lucario cautiously moved toward the sound. For some strange reason, his appendages couldn’t detect any aura. The groans grew louder as Rex approached what seemed to be the Hellstalker’s room. The Soldier pressed himself against the wall, pulling his collar from his backpack and placing it around his neck. Activating his sacred item, he shattered the door with an Aura Sphere, calling out:

— “RAIJIN, RAIJIN, CAN YOU HEAR ME?” — Rex shouted with a worried voice. Raijin, who was in the throne room with Lencia Charizard and Lucius Feraligatr, asked the Lucario to show or tell him what he needed.
— “TELL THE ENTIRE COMMITTEE THAT THERE'S A SOLDIER OUT THERE WHOM THEY MUST NOT INTERACT WITH UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, OR THIS IS WHAT AWAITS THEM.” — Rex then displayed a Pangoro on his Gadget. The Pokémon was pale, with a hollow gaze and emitting a ghostly groan, a sight so intense that it nearly made Lencia faint.
— “CONTACT THE HOSPITAL, THIS NETWORK NEEDS URGENT TREATMENT!” — Lucius exclaimed, concerned for one of the kingdom's citizens. However, Lucario quickly alerted them.
— “No, Lucius, I think it would be wiser to send him to Madame Xerneas. If he’s a Hellstalker and recovers in a regular hospital, it could cause a huge uproar.” — After issuing his warning, Rex awaited the royal advisor’s response, something surprising to everyone, given the Soldier’s usual behavior.
— “If that’s the case, go ahead and send him to Madame Xerneas. Raijin, take the opportunity to contact everyone in the Committee and warn them.” — The Feraligatr commanded, monitoring everyone’s holographic screens. The Lucario promptly used an orb to transport Pangoro to Madame Xerneas. With that done, Rex left a few orbs in the apartment as a precaution and then headed to his next designated location.

While the Soldier used Extreme Speed, he overheard Raijin whispering to Lucius about him. The Electric-type Pokémon mentioned that the Lucario once defended Madame Xerneas fiercely, always arguing and looking down on others. The Feraligatr, knowing they could be overheard, made a hissing sound to silence the Heliolisk. Rex stopped running momentarily, standing atop a tower and gazing over the empire. Before him were Pokémon smiling, some flying, all living their lives as best they could.

Lucius noticed the Lucario had stopped moving forward and asked him why. Rex brushed it off, saying he just imagined something, assuring it was nothing. So, the Soldier resumed his route to fulfill his objective. In truth, Rex had paused to feel the aura of everyone around him. This was something enjoyable for the Lucario, a habit he had set aside since he always used his natural gift to locate Hellstalkers. If he didn’t find any, he would simply deactivate the effect.
The previous night, when Theo Ursaluna caused chaos in his Dynamax form, engulfing Argules in a violent Sandstorm, Rex ran to assist Cody and Nero and to stop the Hellstalker. However, he heard an Unfezant crying for help. The Lucario went to aid the Pokémon, who explained that it was flying as usual when it was swallowed by the sandstorm and got its wing stuck in the vegetation of one of the buildings. Rex managed to help the Pokémon and place it in a safe spot.
The problem was that Rex never made it to the stadium because of the chaos. The Metal-type Pokémon always interrupted his route to assist Networks in need. At that moment, Rex realized just how right Beelzeby Luxray had been. Madame Xerneas’s manipulation through her sacred items was real, and the Lucario felt betrayed. He had dedicated himself to the cause to save Pokémon, not to be a will-less soldier in a war between Xerneas and Dark Matter.
Rex ran across the rooftops with his eyes closed, keeping his senses sharp. This way, he detected a familiar aura with a strong sense of guilt. Not understanding why, the Lucario decided to deviate from his path to investigate. The Soldier informed Lucius and Raijin about the detour, saying he felt something peculiar and asking Heliolisk to alert Melissa Zoroark, Beelzeby Luxray, and Nero Jolteon about the danger of Ralm Quilava:

— “I’ll let Beelzeby know about the situation, but Nero is still in the palace, trying to learn how the Gadget works with help from some Charmeleon. Meanwhile, Melissa said she went out to resolve an inconvenience and hasn’t shown up yet. When I contacted her, she replied that she was still busy.” — Heliolisk responded, feeling somewhat embarrassed by the peculiar situation.
— “Raijin, I handed over all coordination and operational control of the Soldiers to you. Can you confirm if Naz is online?” — Lucario asked, already expecting the answer he would get.

Not far, in Argules' general hospital, Naz enjoyed certain privileges as a Soldier such having her own room, being allowed more than one visitor, guards at the door, and a Time Flower giving her access to screens from other continents. Yet, the Gabite couldn’t fully enjoy all of it due to the deep guilt she felt. Melissa, who was beside her, tried to cheer her up by watching interesting shows together:

— “I’m sorry, Melissa. I dragged you into all this. If I hadn’t been so foolish, Mei would already be in custody, and we might have captured Rubro…”— Naz stated, for what was the sixth time since she awoke from treatment.
— “Snap out of it; failures like this happen all the time. You should be more relieved to be alive to fight another day. And I’ve already told you, that Servine only won the first round by luck. Next time, you’ll make the Grass-type eat dirt in a beat down!” — countered the Zoroark, doing her best to keep Gabite from feeling worse.
— “I still don’t know what to say to Rex. He will definitely not be happy to hear I was hospitalized because I was stabbed due to my incompetence…” — Naz said, clutching her head with her claws, feeling even worse.

Melissa didn’t know what else to say in a situation like that, so the Zoroark opted to gently stroke her friend’s head and hug her softly. The Gabite returned the hug, grateful for all that Melissa was doing for her. At that moment, they heard something tap on the closed window of Naz’s room. Looking toward the sound, thinking it might be a Flying-type Beserker, they saw the Soldier Lucario crouching at the window, looking in.
Gabite lowered her head, clutching her blankets with her claws, preparing for the worst. Meanwhile, Zoroark went to open the window for Lucario to enter:

— “Can someone explain what’s going on here?” — Rex questioned as he entered the room through the window, approaching Naz. But Melissa stepped in front of him and summarized what had happened, making the Soldier frown, clearly displeased.
— “Naz, you had only one mission, a rather simple one at that, considering it didn’t involve a Hellstalker, and yet you managed to fail?” — Lucario said after hearing Zoroark’s report.
— “IT WASN'T SIMPLE AT ALL! DON’T BE SUCH A JERK! I mean… Well, the Servine was no longer a Hellstalker, so Naz couldn’t directly attack her with the sacred item…”— Melissa tried to defend her friend, but Rex didn’t seem to pay attention to her. Then, the Steel-type Pokémon found Gabite’s sacred item and picked it up.
— “I won’t be a Soldier anymore, will I? You’re going to take my sacred item and abandon me?” — Naz asked without looking at Lucario.
— “No. You were the only one not corrupted by the sacred item. I chose you and Cody because I trust the potential of both of you. You’ll only stop being a Soldier in two cases: if we defeat Dark Matter or if he wins.” — Rex affirmed, tightening the sacred item’s ribbons around Gabite.

Hearing this, Naz raised her head in surprise, overjoyed to the point of being unable to hold back her tears. The Gabite then reached out, hugging Lucario, genuinely happy not to lose her job. Zoroark began to cry with joy, seeing that everything had worked out. However, Naz then stopped crying and smiling, putting on a serious face and releasing Rex from the hug:

— “Wait, what do you mean ‘corrupted by the sacred item’? Is someone plotting against us?!” — Gabite asked, worried. Lucario then sat on his companion’s bed, sighing, clearly tired from thinking about their situation.
— “Madame Xerneas betrayed us, Naz. She betrayed all the Soldiers. These sacred items give us powers, but they also make us her slaves… That’s why I took your sacred item and Cody’s. We’ll continue fighting, but on our terms!” — Rex declared as he stood up from Gabite’s bed.
— “Rex, it won’t be that simple. Only Soldiers can legally fight Hellstalkers, and besides, we need the sacred items to purify and protect ourselves from their miasma. We can’t just discard them, but I also don’t want to use something that manipulates me.” — Naz warned, worried and hoping Lucario had a plan to counter her concerns. However, it seemed Rex hadn’t thought that far ahead.
— “I have a convenient plan to solve that problem. My comrade Raijin is a defensive gadget designer, and since it’s Judicium that produces the sacred items, I’m sure he can create a hybrid device. Isn’t that right, Raijin?” — Melissa said confidently, holding her Gadget and asking Heliolisk if it was possible.

Simultaneously, during the conversation between the Soldiers and the Committee, Luke Croconaw and Cody Charmeleon were sitting on the prince’s large bed, discussing what had happened in recent months. Cody had asked Luke to share everything:

— “Yesterday, before all that happened at the stadium, I was with Aurora. She told me that since my attacks weren’t coming out effectively, I should try using a staff. I didn’t know what it was, so she explained it’s something used on the continent she came from, and it’s better than the Wands we use…”— Croconaw spoke calmly, leaving out parts of the training he did with Akeldama, the Ghost-type Zoroark, and especially about Rubro.
— “I think it made a huge difference; after all, you survived five Hellstalkers just by using the staff. I watched the recordings from before the Dynamax showed up with the other Soldiers. You were amazing and did everything to save your brother and your friend. Speaking of her, you mentioned little about this Mei; why is that?” — Asked Charmeleon. The prince then shifted, ending up lying on his stomach, hugging a pillow, while Croconaw sighed and slid to the floor, leaning his back against the bed.
— “Because I’m still sad and disappointed with her. As I said, after my first mission, I gave up on trying to be part of a Pokémon team. My father punished me by hitting me and then expelling me from our lodging. When Trevor found me a job in the library, in the first few weeks, I suffered a lot of abuse from the Pokémon there, and I couldn’t talk to Saren or walk freely in the palace due to my father’s restrictions.”— Luke said, curling up more and more, while Cody clutched his pillow in anger. He hadn’t known what his friend had been going through and felt useless for not having helped him.
— “I felt so alone. Only Aurora was there for me, giving me the confidence to continue training my moves. Together, we investigated where Nadim the Druddigon was, and I felt guilty of him becoming a Hellstalker. In the middle of all this emotional storm, Mei showed up at the library. She helped me, was my friend, was there for me, listened to me, and encouraged me not to give up.” — Croconaw began trembling, and finally, tears started to fall from his eyes. Charmeleon wasn’t prepared for this, feeling disarmed by his friend’s reaction.
— “When… When… hic, when you saved me, and I escaped with Saren, there were tremors, and she revealed herself to be a Hellstalker. She said she just wanted me to become one too and that I was useless even for that. I tried to defend myself, and…”— Cody hugged Luke from behind, silencing him. Charmeleon crossed his arms right where he had choked Croconaw the previous night, but this time, with much care and affection.
— “Stop, please. That’s enough. I don’t want you to feel bad…”— the prince said, wanting to comfort his friend, who responded by holding Cody’s strong arms and bringing his face close to his.
— “I don’t feel bad about it anymore because I’m with you. Talking with you always relieved me a lot; moments like this have always been special to me…”— The whole conversation, remembering the gratitude for always having Charmeleon by his side, filled Croconaw with courage. He felt he could trust Cody.
— “Well, I’ve wanted to say this for a long time, but I’d rather you not sit on the cold floor. Come on up; I won’t take another no from you…”— Charmeleon then grabbed Luke by the waist and lifted him as if Croconaw weighed as little as a Cosmog, setting his friend beside him on the bed.

Initially, Luke was embarrassed by the closeness, but Cody didn’t attempt anything, simply lying on his back, staring at the ceiling, talking about his adventures.
Far from there, in the Dungeon of Lost Dreams, Mei Servine woke after the turbulent night, being the last to rise. She had slept in a sleeping bag provided by her mother. Mei’s sleep had been quite comfortable, thanks to the damp and pleasant temperature in the dungeon. The Servine looked around sadly, realizing her life had reached a point she wasn’t proud of.
Leaving the sleeping bag, using the Coil move to stretch and unwind, Mei picked up a bucket and basin from her things, heading to the fountain in the dungeon’s center. Upon reaching it, the Servine filled her basin with the bucket, beginning her bath. Touching the peculiar water brought an amazing feeling, as if her depressive thoughts were being washed away. With each scrub and rinse, the Servine seemed to grow more comfortable with everything, thoughts of gratitude filling her mind, and she ultimately felt determined to press forward:
— “MEI, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” — Aurora Ribombee suddenly asked, sounding concerned. The tiny Bug-type levitated various fruits, holding a small stick in her hand like a tiny staff.
— “Just taking a bath. I’ve always liked it, and it’s good for the skin. What’s wrong with that?” — Mei asked, not interrupting her relaxing bath. Aurora sighed, cautiously placing the fruits on the ground.
— “Nothing, it’s just that you’re using the water that heals Hellstalkers and reverses petrification as bathwater…”— Ribombee replied, her tiny arms akimbo. Servine’s eyes widened, and she turned red with embarrassment, apologizing.

After the slip-up, Aurora gave Mei a better tour of the Lost Dreams Fountain dungeon. Servine liked the place, confirming it was an excellent secret base, though she emphasized her dislike of living away from the city and surviving only on nature’s food. Ribombee was slightly saddened by the Grass-type’s attitude, and she asked how Mei planned to live in Argules as a fugitive. Servine then rummaged through the things she had taken from her former home:

— “Simple, I’ll return as another Pokémon, not Mei Servine. After all, if Luke can be Rubro, I can be another Pokémon too.” — She replied, pulling out some clothing pieces among her things.
— “Luke disguises himself as a Berserker; he changes his behavior and even his appearance. Hiding as a Network is riskier, isn’t it?” — Aurora asked, rubbing her tiny hands, anxious about her ally’s plan. But unlike her, Mei seemed to have everything planned.
— “Disguising as a Network requires more materials and planning. Luckily, I anticipated that Theo might ruin our identities one day, so this plan has been in place since we formed an alliance. Look at this…”— Servine called Ribombee’s attention to a Gadget, different from Mei’s usual device. The Grass-type activated it, revealing various holographic screens showing a different-looking Servine.
— “Aurora the Ribombee, meet Melinda, a student at Quezali Continental University, 26 years old, a four-star student, specializing in rescues. She studies remotely and is now in Argules to put into practice what she’s learned to form her first team.” — As she spoke, Mei tried on different clothes and accessories, looking for the best way to pass off as an extravagant foreigner.

At that moment, Akeldama, the Ghost-type Zoroark, appeared, flexing his body lazily, seeming to have just woken up. Akel looked at the holographic screens and the Servine trying on her things, immediately understanding the reason for the commotion. Without Aurora and Mei noticing, the Ghost Zoroark observed the clothes and screens, and then, after some thought, he said:

— “I think this hat suits me, after all, I’m coming from a hot continent and need to protect my beautiful face from the sun. Plus, my lovely white scarf shows just how refined and extremely cultured I am.” — Servine and Ribombee were first startled by another Servine there, but his smug tone and exaggerated expressions made it clear it was Akel, disguised as Melinda.
— “Carrying bags, pouches, and backpacks? NEVER. What am I? An old Pokémon? NO, a Servine of my stature only uses a Gadget for everything I need, and I keep a subtle Deposit Orb in my hat in case I need one thing or another extra.” — The Zoroark then returned to his usual form, with Aurora nearly collapsing with laughter, while Mei looked at him with sparkling eyes.
— “KYAAAAA!! PERFECT, WONDERFUL, STUPENDOUS, PERFECT, FLAWLESS! I LOVE IT, I WANT TO BE THIS POKÉMON!”— Servine yelled, hugging Akel and bouncing up and down, then rushing to her pile of clothes to gather what she needed to start crafting her design.

Both Ribombee and the Ghost-type Zoroark exchanged strange looks, as it seemed that Mei hadn’t realized Akeldama was mocking her plan and disguise. Aurora then mentioned that she had gathered various fruits around the dungeon and told her friends they could help themselves. Servine had taken a sewing device from the items provided by her mother, thanking Ribombee but mentioning she didn’t enjoy fruits, preferring her Pokéblocks.
On the other hand, the Ghost Zoroark was already eating voraciously, swallowing the fruits without even chewing them. Aurora, watching with a puzzled expression, asked him to at least savor the fruits, pointing out that not even a Berserker would steal his meal. Mei finished her new look as Melinda, deciding to wear a pink petal-shaped hat resembling a Cherrin flower used in Taurus and Miltank pastures. This hat would be secured around her neck by her own white scarf, modified to resemble a basic Mothim tie:

— “So? How do I look?” — Mei asked excitedly, turning and walking slowly, so her companions could get a good look.
— “Way cooler than my illusion. You might actually pull off being a spoiled student from Quezali…” — Akeldama affirmed, lying down and leaning against a crystal.
— “I still think the plan is risky. Try using an accent or something, like the raspy voice Luke does when he becomes Rubro…”— Ribombee noted worriedly, glancing at the Gadget for lessons from Nái Tyranitar meant to Luke. When she looked at Servine, however, Aurora flew over to her, intrigued.
— “By the way… Hmmm… Mei, do you know how to sew for a Pokémon my size? I think you look adorable!” — The tiny Fairy-type complimented, flying around her ally, admiring her elegant design.

Servine thanked her for the compliments, regretting only that she couldn’t sew for a Pokémon of her friend’s stature. However, at that moment, she remembered something Naz Gabite had told her the previous night, changing her animated demeanor to a more introspective one. Assuming there was no better time to ask, Servine questioned Aurora and Akel if Luke had ever directly clashed with the Soldiers while disguised as Rubro.
To Mei’s surprise, Ribombee was also unaware of such an event, affirming that she had been present for all of Rubro’s appearances. Aurora then asked Servine if she was referring to the attack Croconaw carried out during a mission involving members from the Lacustre base. The Grass-type supposed that perhaps the Soldier Gabite was referring to that event. Mei shared that her fight with Naz had been exhausting, and she feared being caught there, putting everything at risk. She wondered how Rubro managed to survive such situations:

— “Well… Ladies, dear companions… I think I need to confess a little something, just a tiny, insignificant thing. Nothing too important, you know…”— Akeldama spoke uncomfortably, deliberately turning his head to avoid looking at his allies. Aurora’s black eyes widened as she realized something.
— “YOU SON OF A DITTO, THAT WAS THE DAY YOU SAID YOU’D CREATE AN ALIBI FOR LUKE! AKEL, YOU FOUGHT THE SOLDIERS, DIDN’T YOU?!” — The Ribombee accused furiously, upset she hadn’t discovered this sooner. Servine had initially thought Akeldama had just exaggerated the fight, but unfortunately, it was much worse than that.
— “Yeah, that’s pretty much what happened, but don’t worry. No one figured out it was me disguised as Rubro. So, the Soldiers must definitely think it was Rubro who caused all the commotion, hehehe.” — The Ghost Zoroark admitted proudly about what he had caused.
— “DON’T PLAY DUMB! BACK THEN, YOU WERE A HELLSTALKER. IF THEY CAUGHT A WHIFF OF MATTER AURA, HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THE MESS YOU PUT LUKE IN?!” — Ribombee yelled, zipping around Akel angrily. He covered his ears and shrank back a little to avoid provoking the Fairy-type.

At that moment, Mei realized the tight spot they were all in. If Rubro had initially acted only as a vigilante against Hellstalkers, the Soldiers might have been trying to recruit him. However, due to the Ghost Zoroark’s reckless actions, the Soldiers now viewed Rubro as a bloodthirsty Berserker. If Luke was captured, he would likely be studied or even killed:

— “No use crying over spilled milk now. The worst has been done. We need to fight to earn the kingdom’s trust. If the Network no longer sees Rubro as a threat, he’ll be able to act more freely. Akel, when you disguise yourself as Rubro, try to be less aggressive with Network. As for Soldiers and Hellstalkers, we have no choice; we’ll have to give our all in battle or face worse.” — Servine stated calmly.

Akeldama agreed with his ally but confessed that he didn’t know how to fight in a more friendly way. Even the training he put Luke through was aggressive and brutal. Mei reminded him that they were all allies, saying that when one showed weakness, another could help and thus cover each other’s shortcomings. The Ghost Zoroark’s eyes grew moist, echoing his speech from several nights ago about loving to be in a team where they could all fight Hellstalkers together:

— “Aurora, this reminds me, who’s the Pokémon you keep listening to on those recordings on your mini-Gadget?” — Mei asked, as she heard some sounds while sewing and realized they were training instructions.
— “She’s the Tyranitar who saved me when you petrified me. She’s Luke’s stepmother, Nái Hidron, and apparently, she’s the one responsible for the technique Luke uses to Manipulate Power Points.” — Ribombee explained, quickly showing Mei and Akeldama some recordings. The Ghost Zoroark had never been interested in it before, afraid since he first saw it while still a Hellstalker. But…
— “Mei, Aurora, I think it’s high time we renegades had our own ‘special move.’ The king’s Committee uses ‘defensive gadgets,’ Madame Xerneas’s Soldiers use ‘sacred items,’ so how about we five use ‘MPP’?” — Akel proposed with a menacing smile.

Servine remembered Luke swapping out his costume as Rubro with a simple Aqua Tail and how he stretched out the pieces of his hood. She also recalled Croconaw’s Shadow Claw and Ice Fang moves being more stylized and powerful. Imagining she’d never have to sew another costume or accessory, and as a bonus, could make her moves look cooler, Mei’s eyes sparkled with joy as she immediately accepted the proposal:

— “NO WAY! NÁI’S TECHNIQUES ARE MEANT TO BE SECRET. I PROMISED TO PROTECT THEM AND ONLY TEACH THEM TO LUKE. WHY DO YOU THINK I NEVER TRIED TO APPLY WHAT SHE TEACHES TO MY OWN MOVES?!” — Ribombee yelled, hiding her Gadget from the Pokémon duo. The Ghost Zoroark was disappointed by his ally’s reaction, even frowning. Mei, on the other hand, seemed more understanding.
— “I understand. Promises are important, especially to someone who saved your life. Don’t worry, Akel and I won’t bother you about this anymore. Since I finished my outfit, want me to dye your hair, Akel?” — Mei offered, pulling Akeldama aside, and when they were far enough from Aurora, the Servine showed her true intentions.
— “Like hell, we won’t use this to our advantage because of a silly promise. I really want to improve my moves. Aurora said SHE won’t teach us, BUT, HOWEVER, NONETHELESS, Luke didn’t make the same promise. He will definitely help us with this!” — Mei said mischievously to the Ghost Zoroark, who initially looked at her with surprise before giving a sly smile as well.
— “Ooooh, you stopped being a Hellstalker, but you’re still pretty evil, hehehe. I like that, nheheheHAHAHAHAH… *Gulp*!” — Akeldama was starting to speak too loudly and laugh maniacally, so Servine quickly covered his mouth to avoid drawing Ribombee’s attention.

Simultaneously, Luke and Cody had talked a lot, and Croconaw felt happy to see his friend calm after their interaction. Charmeleon still had some doubts about his best friend, but the prince decided, for now, to play along, giving Luke time to possibly confess to him:

— “Cody, it's almost lunchtime. I loved spending time here with you, but, as I said before, I live alone now, so I need to find something to do… huh?!” — Luke was about to get up from the bed when Cody hugged him. Smiling, Croconaw returned Charmeleon’s embrace.
— “Thank you, Luke. You always help me a lot, and… I want to help you, too.” — The prince then released his friend from the hug and stood up from the bed, and Croconaw did the same. However, he noticed the serious look on his Charmeleon friend’s face.
— “I'm not allowed to spread this news, but for you, I'll make an exception… Luke, there's a new Soldier in town. His name is Ralm, a Quilava who may seem sweet at first glance, but don't let your guard down around him, please!” — Cody warned, holding Luke's hands firmly with his claws. Croconaw initially showed surprise but soon after chuckled briefly.
— “Hahaha, alright, Cody. I don't know why you're so worried. I'm not a Hellstalker; Soldiers only attack Hellstalkers, right?” — Luke asked confidently, and Charmeleon sighed, letting go of his friend's hands.
— “This Soldier isn't like me and the others. His sacred item doesn’t seem to have locks, and he has a power similar to Rex’s, able to control others' auras. Luke, you were there during the Rubro and Dynamax incident; this Soldier is focused on investigating Rubro. He might come looking for you.” — Cody explained, concerned about his friend’s safety.

Luke promised to be cautious, saying that if he encountered Quilava, he would call Charmeleon through his Gadget since he didn't know how he could handle such a frightening Soldier alone. Cody smiled, affirming he was always willing to help his friend if he asked. Croconaw blushed at the prince’s words, not because he found it romantic, but because he felt ashamed of himself for continuing to pretend to be weak.

As lunchtime approached, the two decided to say goodbye. Charmeleon, as attentive as ever, decided to walk Luke to his door. Along the short walk, the Water-type Pokémon thought of something and decided to talk to his friend about it:

— “Cody, you told me that Rex let you off duty until your sacred item is fixed, right?” — Croconaw asked while fiddling with his Mystic Water.
— “Huh? Well… yes… I’ll be at the palace all day today.” — The prince replied, visibly frustrated by the situation.
— “We're not in school anymore, and for now, you can’t go out as a Soldier. Why not take this time to be with your mom? I can’t stay close to my dad because I'm not high enough in rank, but you don’t have that problem with your mom, right?” — Luke advised with a warm smile on his face. Cody scratched his chin, quickly considering the idea, and then smiled.
— “That’s actually not a bad idea. I was just going to stay in my room, fiddling with my Gadget and watching Time Flower shows, but I haven't had time with my mom since I became a Soldier… Hehe, I think it’ll be great for both of us… HEY! You should become my royal advisor soon; you always give me the best ideas, haha!” — Charmeleon said, very pleased with the idea, and Luke was happy to see his friend well.

Charmeleon then opened his room door, and they chatted a bit more until their paths diverged. Croconaw watched the prince until he disappeared down the corridor that led to the throne room. Luke then followed his path, fiddling with his red scarf and gazing downward, still wondering if it was right not to confess his double life to his best friend.
Croconaw sighed a little, stopping near one of the palace's many balconies with a beautiful view of the city of Argules. He walked over there, shifting his thoughts away from Cody and starting to worry about himself. Another concern filling his mind was where he might find employment now that he had lost his position at the library. Croconaw imagined for a moment what it would be like if he had asked for help from Lucius, Cody, or even Trevor:

— “It’s a beautiful view, isn’t it?” — Nero asked, approaching Croconaw from behind. Luke turned, and upon seeing the Jolteon, he smiled politely.
— “Oh, yes, I like to think while looking at the landscape, but to be honest, I wasn’t really paying much attention to the view.” — Croconaw replied without taking his eyes off Nero, who walked up to the edge of the balcony. The earring-wearing Jolteon then stood on his hind legs and leaned on the marble railing of the balcony.
— “Hehehe, you’re like Lucius. You both think too much and miss the amazing things in front of you… Would you keep me company? I wanted to talk to you anyway.” — The king asked kindly. Luke raised his arm, ready to answer, but then his stomach growled from hunger.
— “Hahaha, looks like you’re hungry. My friend Melissa recommended a great restaurant near the palace. I’ll pay.” — Nero said, walking ahead. Croconaw thought about refusing the invitation, but his stomach was growling too much, so he simply gave a short sigh and followed Jolteon.

The restaurant turned out to be nothing more than a snack stall at an open-air market, with Pokémon milling about, eating, and making noise. Luke already knew it, as it was where his stepmother Nái sold fruits. The apron-wearing Carnivine who owned the stall even asked about her. Luke replied with a bit of sadness that she had gone on a mission. The Grass-type understood and regretted that she wasn’t around anymore, and the red-scarfed Croconaw agreed, looking down:

— “Aaaaw, cut it out, there’s no reason to mourn!” — Jolteon exclaimed, lightly tapping the table to startle them both.
— “Until proven otherwise, she’s probably alive and well, taking care of business on her mission. I doubt the Guild Master would send someone on a mission without knowing if they could handle it. We came here to eat, not to mourn!” — Nero declared confidently. The Electric-type Pokémon was simple but had a very inspiring and uplifting way of speaking.
— “Buddy, I’ll have a Clauncher pastry. They say Water-type Pokémon native to Calypso are delicious, and I want to try it!” — Nero ordered with his front paws crossed, flashing an electrifying smile. The Carnivine laughed heartily and confirmed that Water-type Pokémon from there were indeed tasty.
— “HMMPHH, don’t say things like that. The way you’re talking, it sounds like I’m on the menu too.” — Luke noted, visibly uncomfortable with the conversation, given that he was a Water-type Pokémon born in Calypso. The other two Pokémon laughed at the situation, and Croconaw ended up laughing too, though he ordered a Gogoat cheese pastry.

They chatted about trivial things while Carnivine prepared the pastries, using the vines under his body. With them, the Grass-type Pokémon served Soda Pop to both Pokémon, though Nero only wanted to drink when the food arrived, unlike Luke, who was already halfway through his bottle. While Croconaw drank, Jolteon had a clear view of the pendant on the Water-type’s chest, taking the chance to ask about it. Luke paused his drinking, remarking on his love for Soda Pop, and then explained everything he knew about his Mystic Water:

— “Interesting, Luke. Have you ever felt anything different? Like… how do I put it? When you use the Mystic Water, do you notice your moves change, or feel a weaker connection to water than when you’re not wearing it?” — the king asked, leaning up on the table a little. Croconaw was surprised by the interest in such a simple item, and then picked up the Mystic Water in his hand, looking at it as he answered.
— “Honestly, I don’t know. My dad told me it was a gift from my mom, so I rarely take the Mystic Water off. In fact, I’ve worn it since I hatched from my Totodile egg.” — Croconaw said with a smile. Luke remembered everything he had gone through, and the item often stayed with him even when he went to bathe.
— “Since the egg, you’ve worn the Mystic Water… That’s complicated. Tell me, has anything different ever happened to you? Voices, entities, accidents, anything?!” — Nero seemed troubled by something, and Croconaw thought for a while.
— “No, I really don’t recall anything like that happening. Goodness, is there some hallucinogen in this item? My dad said my mom wore it since they met; maybe he knows something.” — Luke said, growing concerned as Jolteon seemed increasingly uneasy.

Nero shrank back, and since the beginning, he had been using faint electric waves to verify if Croconaw was being honest. Seeing no signs of deception, the Jolteon knew this wasn’t an ordinary Mystic Water, as he had detected Croconaw’s thought waves during the Ursaluna attack. The pastries were then served, and they both ate in silence, with the king staring at the Water-type throughout the meal, mentally replaying everything Luke had shared:

— “THAT'S IT!” — Nero shouts, standing on the table. The nearby Pokémon and even Luke look at the Jolteon in surprise.
— “BATTLE WITH ME!” — the Jolteon shouts again, causing the Croconaw, who was sipping Soda Pop, to spit it out through his nose, coughing.
— “*Cough, cough, cough*, for the love of Arceus, are you always this intense?! There's no reason for this; you'll beat me easily. I'm not good at battles, everyone knows that,” — Luke says, wiping his nose. The Croconaw was starting to understand why his father didn't like the Jolteon.
— “Ha, ha, believe me, after you battle with me once, no one will ever think you're weak again! *WHISTLE*!! MR. CARNIVINE, BRING THE BILL!” — It seemed that Nero's energy had returned with full force, and with no other choice, Luke accepted the Jolteon's proposal.

As soon as he agreed, several Pokémon around them cheered. It was in Pokémon nature to love battles, and accepting a challenge was almost as impactful as accepting a marriage proposal. Nero thanked Carnivine for the food as he brought the bill. Unfortunately, paying took longer than expected, as the Jolteon didn't have physical currency and needed to use a gadget he still struggled with, refusing any help. A simple payment took 15 minutes.
Croconaw was worried about battling. He already faced a lot of rejection due to his disguise, and now, while job-hunting, being humiliated in public could make things even tougher. So, he asked Nero if they could battle at the palace for more privacy. However, the king was adamant, even citing Network challenge rules that gave the challenger the right to choose the battle location.
Though Luke could technically refuse, doing so would only worsen his reputation, especially since some Pokémon had already gathered to watch their battle. Cornered, he agreed to Nero's terms. They headed to the battlefield near the market, followed by curious onlookers. They had to pass through a steel gate to enter, and once inside, activate defenses to contain their attacks within the arena:

— “Urrrr… Arrrg… It’s been a while since I've fought in a place like this. Do you know how to program the defenses?” — Nero asked as he stretched. The Croconaw, still upset, simply gave a thumbs-up while setting up everything.
— “No need to be mad; I promise I won't go too hard on you. It's more of a demonstration match, but if you want, you can hit me with everything you've got.” — Nero tried to reassure Luke, but it only made him more frustrated. He wanted to show what he could truly do, but couldn't without giving himself away.
— “Oh, I want this to be a fair fight in every way, so let's put all our items in a safety vault, all right?” — said the Jolteon confidently, raising Luke's suspicion, but he agreed and activated the vault.

In the center of the arena, a secret compartment opened, revealing a large tray where they were to place their items until the battle ended. The king started by removing his rusty earring, then his backpack from his side. Luke approached Nero, who rummaged in his bag until he found a light blue cloth. Smiling warmly, he kissed it before tying it around one of his forepaws. The Water-type then took off his red scarf:

— “You don’t have a bag or anything like that. If you encounter something, how will you defend yourself with just a red scarf? You know, you might run out of energy to use your moves,” Nero questioned, giving Luke reasons to carry more with him.
The Croconaw chuckled, claiming he didn’t need a backpack. He shook the red scarf over the tray, revealing an assortment of items: orbs of various types, explosive seeds, a gadget, corsola needles, Luvdisc Heart Scales, and some trinkets with no combat value. The sight both impressed and frightened the Jolteon. The king even chuckled, admitting he didn’t know how the Croconaw could carry so much in his scarf. Luke replied that he was experienced in scarf-carrying, mentioning it was the reason his father had given it to him.
Nero scratched his head, laughing as he recalled how Lucius, as a Croconaw, used to wear a distinctive black jacket to store all his belongings. It made sense to the Jolteon that the father had passed down this skill to his son, who made it his own. Luke was about to put his red scarf back on and activate the safety vault when:

— “HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY! Aren't you going to put your Mystic Water in the vault too?” — The king asked, with a serious yet humorous expression. The Croconaw looked at him skeptically, then smiled.
— “Sure, I suppose that's fair, although it's never helped me that much anyway…” — Luke removed the Mystic Water and placed it in the tray, then, free of Nero’s nagging, replaced his scarf.

With a press of a button under the tray, a circle of flower petals appeared around it, sealing the vault, which then lowered back into its compartment. The Croconaw felt odd without his necklace and touched his neck absentmindedly, while the Jolteon, intrigued, focused his gaze on the arena floor:

— “Well, let's fight, okay?” — Nero said eagerly.
— “Um… Sure, all right, good luck to us…” — Luke replied, sounding nervous.

The two Pokémon moved to opposite ends of the arena, and outside the force field, various Pokémon observed, cheering and rooting for them. Among them were two Pokémon who seemed especially interested in the battle. One, a Furfrou with a Diamond trim, took a gadget from her back fur to begin recording, and the other was a Quilava who had been watching the pair for some time. Nero had noticed them, hoping to put on a good show and confirm his theory about Luke.
Anxious, Croconaw feared starting the fight. Remembering Aurora's advice, he glanced at the excited crowd, closed his eyes, and prayed to Arceus, or anyone listening, for success in following the right path. The Jolteon, on the other hand, was bursting with excitement. He knew his opponent’s history from researching after the incidents involving Team Madresp, but he hadn’t fought with a crowd in a long time, and it thrilled him:

— “Hey, aren’t you going to attack? Fine, I'll take the lead then!” — Nero declared, using Quick Attack. The Jolteon circled the Croconaw, who watched in confusion.
— “KYAAAAA!!” — Luke yelled, slamming his Aqua Tail to the ground, which unleashed enough water to lift him up and throw the Jolteon against the arena bars.
— “Ghaa!!-Ack, okay arrg, *cough*, that was stronger than I thought!” — Nero looked at Luke, who was bouncing around with Aqua Tail active.
— “WHAT’S GOING ON WITH MY MOVE? I USED AQUA TAIL YESTERDAY, AND IT WAS NEVER THIS POWERFUL!” — Luke shouted as he was repeatedly propelled by the move, while Nero grinned, realizing his theory was correct. Luke waved his arms to cancel the move.

The Croconaw had released so much water that the arena flooded. The force field, which prevented attacks from reaching other Pokémon, activated and began draining the water. The king chuckled:

— “It’s that Mystic Water you wear; you said you’ve never taken it off, so it was interfering with your metabolism and weakening your moves. It was as if you were battling with a Leech Seed on you the whole time. Really… it’s impressive in many ways,” — Nero said confidently, leaving the crowd in awe. The Furfrou recording with her gadget was also amazed.
— “You're saying I… I’ve always been strong… I… I don’t even know what to say… This is… THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!” — Luke exclaimed, tearing up with joy, realizing what he was capable of. Luke then wiped away his tears and stood up.
— “I WANT TO SEE WHAT ELSE I CAN DO!” — said the red-scarfed Pokémon with conviction. Before Nero could remind him, they were still in a battle, Luke began using his moves.

It starts with Aqua Tail propelling him like a spring, sending him high into the air. Then he deactivates the move and, while turning towards the ground, gives a strong puff, releasing snow that reveals the move Blizzard, which slows Luke's descent, allowing him to land gently. The Croconaw jumps around joyfully, then takes a deep breath, moving his body quickly until it shines red and black:

— “I… I always wanted to use this move the right way; it was the move my dad taught me and that he was most proud of.” — Luke said while dancing, and in the end, he activates the enhancements in his body, revealing that it was Dragon Dance. Finally, his teeth shone, and he took a very strong bite, demonstrating Crunch.
— “Crunch, Blizzard, Aqua Tail, and Dragon Dance! Wow, I expected nothing less from the son of the royal advisor; those moves are really solid!” — said Nero, genuinely impressed. The Croconaw disarmed himself by scratching his head, showing joy.

However, the king then used his Thunderbolt on Luke, who barely managed to dodge thanks to Dragon Dance. Laughing, the Jolteon stated that they were still in a battle and wanted to teach the Croconaw not to let his guard down. Luke smiled, and then opened his mouth wide, using Blizzard on Nero. Using Quick Attack, the king easily dodged the move and then hit the Croconaw under the jaw.
Because the Blizzard move was still active, when the Jolteon abruptly closed the mouth of the red-scarved Pokémon, it caused his mouth to freeze, trapping it. Taking advantage of Luke's panic as he tried to reverse the freezing of his fangs, Nero hugged the Croconaw from behind:

— “That was fun; I've seen what I wanted… Time to say ‘Bye, bye, Croconaw’…” — taunted the Jolteon, grinning mischievously, and the ground beneath Luke began to tremble, then a strong electric shock shot out from it, enveloping the Water Type.

That Rising Voltage move was dealing not only super effective damage to the Croconaw, but due to the proximity, the hits were critical. Luke tried to use Aqua Tail to shake the Jolteon off his back. A terrible mistake, since Nero jumped into the vortex, grabbing the Croconaw's tail and quickly using Thunderbolt, increasing the damage to the body of the red-scarved Pokémon. With so many powerful hits coming from the king, Luke couldn't withstand it, fainting in the arena.
The Quilava, who was watching the fight, let out a sigh of frustration and quietly left. The Furfrou, on the other hand, was having difficulty holding the Gadget in her paw because the Pokémon on the connection was quite agitated. Murmuring in pain, the Croconaw got up from the ground. The Jolteon approached him with his ears down, feeling guilty for having taken the battle so seriously:

— “Hehe… HAHAHA, I CAN FIGHT, I CAN FIGHT, I REALLY CAN FIGHT, I'VE NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY TO GET BEATEN!” — Luke jumped and shouted, very happy with the whole situation, and the Jolteon got excited too, even raising his ears.
— “You weren’t bad either; nothing impressive, but not bad.” — affirmed Nero, trying to be quite didactic, but it was noticeable in the Jolteon's tone a hint of disappointment, almost as if he were expecting something extraordinary.
— “SO, AM I AVERAGE?!” — Luke asked with his mouth wide open.
— “Yeah, I’d say you’re average for a Pokémon of your kind, although I never expected you to know moves like Blizzard and Dragon Dance…” — Before the king could finish speaking, the Croconaw was already shouting and celebrating as if he were the winner of the contest.

Luke explained that he couldn't defeat his opponents without using the field to his advantage and couldn't inflict damage due to his lethargic attacks. Because of this, even after graduating from the Lacustre guild, his utility was limited to support and logistics work. With this explanation, Nero could understand the Croconaw's dilemma. The Water Type then cheerfully headed towards the control center, starting to deactivate the mechanisms of the battlefield, with several Pokémon approaching him from behind the barriers intending to compliment him.
Not used to receiving so much positive attention, the Croconaw became extremely embarrassed by the spectators’ praises. The security dome then appeared before the Jolteon. The king looked at Luke, noticing his distraction, giving him the opportunity to go to the dome to check on the Mystic Water:

~ “During our battle, my earring must have reacted with the Mystic Water; with that, I’ll have two reasons to convince Luke to get rid of that cursed necklace.” — thought Nero. However, to the surprise of the Electric Type, his earring showed no reaction.
~ “What?! No, no, NO, NO, NO!! I was sure that was a Frag-A; I felt someone’s thought waves, and everything led me to believe they were Luke’s. Did I get it wrong?!” — The Jolteon exploded with frustration inside; it was the first time he saw a replica of an item like the Mystic Water. The Pokémon was about to grab it when the Water Type appeared with a smile on his face.
— “Nero, thank you again; I didn’t know that my Mystic Water was what weakened me. What a crazy thing, right?” — said the Croconaw, still very happy with his result. Nero nodded in agreement with the Pokémon as he watched him put his things back into the red scarf.
— “Hey, now that you know that the reason you’re weak is the Mystic Water, do you intend to get rid of it?” — asked the Jolteon at the same time he was gathering his belongings, the king imagined that if the Croconaw could throw away the necklace, he could analyze it better.
— “NEVER! My red scarf and the Mystic Water were gifts given to me by my dad and my mom; both have great sentimental value; I won't part with either.” — asserted Luke without hesitation, even picking up the necklace and putting it around his neck.

The Croconaw then asks if Nero has a special item. At that moment, the Jolteon looks at the light blue cloth in his paw and lets out a small laugh. The king understands Luke's point, just warning him not to use the Mystic Water too much if it’s harming him; after all, no father would want his son to suffer because of something given with love. The Electric Type's words remind Luke of what Aurora said about Nái's teachings and how she didn’t teach him to see him suffer. The Croconaw’s thoughts are abruptly interrupted by the entrance of the Furfrou with the Diamond cut in the arena.

The Furfrou even shows the medal attached to its head; that medal belonged to the Uivardoom clan, a special clan composed solely of specific Pokémon that served exclusively the masters of the Lacustre base. Due to the crowd, the Jolteon didn’t notice the Normal Type’s medal. The king quickly grabs his things, bidding farewell to everyone there. However, the Furfrou looks seriously at Nero and says that Lencia wants to speak with him immediately.

Scratching his head and laughing, the Jolteon claims he is about to return to the palace. However, before he leaves, the Croconaw takes one of his front paws in hand, squeezing and shaking it, thanking him profusely for the tips and the battle, with Nero responding to the gesture with a radiant smile. The Pokémon then part ways, with Luke following the Furfrou. As he walks, the Croconaw takes the Mystic Water in his hand and squeezes the pendant until it shatters in his palm.

Everything Luke said and did with the Jolteon was an act; through his questioning and glances, the Croconaw sensed the Jolteon's interest. So, while preparing the arena, he used the energy from Liquidation and Ice Fang to create a flask of fake water, replacing the Mystic Water. Luke never took his eyes off the item, keeping it in a secret compartment of his red scarf. The Croconaw also ate some Heart Scales, replacing his moves with others suggested by Aurora. In fact, when Nero spoke to Luke, and he responded with gestures, it was precisely because he was chewing the salty scales.

Worried, the Croconaw inquiries about the reason Trevor wants to see him, asking while using the MPP to combine the Mystic Water in his scarf, hoping it would be enough to hide his treasure. The Furfrou in front of him states that she doesn’t know, but it was important enough to summon Luke through her, and she didn’t see a civil Gadget.

From the top of a tower, Ralm Quilava sat comfortably, basking in the warm afternoon sun. The Pokémon then snaps his small paw's fingers, causing several Quilava to dissipate into the street like smoke. Still with his eyes closed and concentrating, the Pokémon first visualizes all the actions of the impostors, not just their battles but also their information gathering:

~ “None of the Hellstalkers I took down knew who Rubro was. From the aura I got from Cody, I had an idea of his suspicions about Luke, but that led nowhere… What I know about Rubro is his presence in the forest around Argules and that his victims are mostly Hellstalkers.” — The Quilava then stands up, smiling; since his efforts to find the Croconaw were futile, he decides that now he will make the Berserker come to him.