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Chapter 8 - A mysterious connection (Part IIi: Serendipity)
<<PREVIOUS // FIRST // NEXT>>
Notes and credits by the end of the chapter
Link for those who want to read it on PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1go.....ew?usp=sharing
He wondered how long it had been there—that faint fracture in the ceiling.
It was so little that one had to pay a lot of attention to notice that little tiny fissure. Joma felt certain it was the sole blemish in the otherwise sterile Pokémon Center. The ward was bathed in low light to avoid disturbing the two Pokémon recovering on either side of him. The rhythmic chirping of the heart monitors punctured the silence. Seeing them so battered made his heart sink and his scales pale. Them still being alive and recovering was a miracle in itself. He leaned over Eon and pressed a kiss to his forehead, smoothing the tangled sheets. Eon appeared to be caught in a nightmare, his body trembling slightly as he shifted fitfully. With a pained grimace, he turned toward Verso. He felt the frog’s agony as if it were his own; they were a matched set, both sporting a blackened left eye. Arthas truly hit him hard when they met, making him stumble. Only Officer Jenny’s intervention had prevented the night’s casualties from mounting further.
Nausea surged, a bitter taste of bile rising in his throat. He swallowed hard and collapsed back into the chair, the weight of defeat finally crushing him. Oh, gods. Crystal…Alma…
He clung desperately, yet also carefully, to one of Verso’s hands. Why did he stop paying attention to that little crack? His mind was again processing everything that had happened just a few hours ago.
Alma had been right. This... this was merely child’s play. It wasn't the conclusion; it was only the first thin veil hiding a much deeper, multifaceted threat.
He breathed deeply, clinging to Verso. The feel of his hand reassured him and helped him to stay focused. He was aware of parts of the truth he had hidden from Officer Jenny, but he needed to recap all that had transpired during the night. He closed his eyes and started putting the pieces of the puzzle together.
It was as if time had ground to a halt. Joma’s consciousness expanded, though the sensation defied explanation. Vision failed him, yet he could still see. He tried to speak, but his voice was gone. He tried to move, and... he drifted. But it was very weird. Where were his legs? And his arms? It was… just him.
Instinct took over. Soel. He had to save him. He was witnessing the scene from an impossible vantage point: the hooded canid was leveling a revolver directly at Soel’s head. Right! He had to do something.
He lunged toward the figure. As he did, he felt a phantom thread tugging behind him—unimportant. A desperate plan took shape. The gun. With every ounce of willpower he could muster, he slammed into the revolver's mechanism.
“GAH! GOD ALMIGHTY!”
Joma blinked, and suddenly he was back on the floor. Still paralyzed, he watched as the canid’s hand began to smoke, blood seeping through his fingers. The revolver clattered to the ground, shattered and smoking. “What happened?!” The snake got startled as she looked at the destroyed weapon and her companion.
“I don’t know, damn it!” The attacker recoiled, clutching his mangled wrist to his chest. His breath came in frantic gasps, his eyes wide with confusion. With gritting teeth, he recomposed himself and stepped up again. “It doesn’t matter, I can still break his ne-“
But he was interrupted one more time. When he leaned towards the chameleon, something next to him moved swiftly, scraping his arm and pushing him far away from Soel. It was Horyu! He was bleeding horribly, one eye coated in his own blood, breathing rapidly, but the other eye was filled with determination. His claws were shining red, with the blood of the anthro.
“Horyu!” Joma barked. “Grab Soel and get out of here! Call the police! Eon, cover their retreat!”
The Combusken nodded, hoisting the unconscious Soel onto his shoulder with renewed strength. The canid was too dazed by pain to react, but his partner hissed at the Gengar to block their exit. When the ghost was about to give the fire-type a firm Lick, Verso stormed between them, put his hand right in the Gengar's chest, who didn’t have the chance to block a Water pulse that hit him completely, drawing him back with a screech.
As Horyu rushed past Joma and Eon, the Haunter took aim, but the Eevee unleashed a high-pitched cry. Pink waves of energy rippled outward, catching the Ghost-type off guard. The spectral Pokémon writhed in discomfort, buying just enough time for Horyu to break through. Eon trailed behind them, with the Haunter in hot pursuit the moment it recovered. That left Verso alone with the Gengar, but that was the best he could come up with. Still reeling from the effects from the Lick, Joma started getting up.
“Ok, Verso. We got this!”
“Frogadier,” He nodded, fully focused on the Gengar, crouching and tensing his legs.
The snake hissed and positioned herself behind the ghost.
“Sssshadow Ball!” she hissed. The Gengar thrust a hand forward, shadows coalescing into a sphere the size of a fist. They then threw it at the Frogadier, who dodged it very narrowly. “Sssludge Wave!” The snake didn’t lose a second for another attack. Their opponent jumped, then struck the floor with a heavy thud, forming a purple wave that was almost as tall as the gecko.
“Jump!” Joma barked, diving behind a street lamp to avoid the sludge. Through the shadows of her hood, he saw the snake’s fangs glint. Panic flared—Verso was mid-air, completely exposed! The Gengar was forming another Shadow Ball that could easily hit him.
Before Joma could shout another warning, the frubbles around Verso’s neck expanded, enveloping him. They burst in a sudden spray, leaving a thick cloud of vapor between the frog and his enemies.
“A Smokescreen!” he breathed, marveling at his partner’s quick thinking.
“Not for long!” The snake replied. Right after, a Shadow Ball passed by, dispersing the smoke, but without harming anyone as well. Joma could partially see the Gengar and the two hooded delinquents. But Verso was nowhere to be seen. The others realized it too. The ghost made a couple of steps, his enormous eyes looking right and left, an angry grimace making his teeth even more visible.
“Where did h—?” The canid’s question died in his throat as a blur of motion flickered to his left. They all barely saw how the Frogadier appeared out of nowhere from above, hitting the Gengar’s head with all his might. He then took advantage of his body to jump back with a flip, returning near Joma.
“Impressssive. Of coursse, a Frogadier can naturally learn Aerial Ace.” The snake clapped her hands, as if she was watching a kids’ show. The Gengar groaned, a deep gash on its forehead leaking a dark, spectral fluid. Despite the wound, it grinned. The purple ichor stained its teeth, lending the ghost an even more sinister air. “Your Frogadier isss decent. However, he isss dealing with a fully evolved Pokémon which hasss a few aces up their sleeve. You won’t expect what he will do next.”
The Gengar seemed to reach a realization. Its grin widened as its pupils dilated, swelling until they swallowed the iris whole—then, it vanished.
Silence settled over the alley. Verso scanned the shadows, treading cautiously as Joma struggled to comprehend the ghost's disappearance…
The Gengar materialized directly in Verso’s path, its crimson eyes leaving glowing streaks in the air. It drove a fist into the Frogadier’s abdomen with the crushing force of a Phantom Force attack. The air was knocked clean out of Verso. He doubled over, gasping for breath and utterly helpless as the Ghost-type conjured a third Shadow Ball in its palm, aiming directly at his head.
Joma shrieked his name, desperate for him to move, but the shock of the blow had paralyzed the frog. Even if Joma sprinted, he knew he wouldn't reach them in time.
No…
A smaller figure appeared right next to him and stormed towards the Pokémon. With a growl, it jumped onto the Gengar’s arm and dealt him a Bite so strong the ghost couldn´t get rid of him
The ghost-type screamed in pain, the Shadow Ball dissolving as he shook it, trying to get rid of the little intruder who had interrupted their attack.
It was Eon! The Eevee was injured, with weeping bruises across his back and a swollen eye. Despite his haggard appearance, he let out a low growl and clamped his jaws shut in a Bite, determined to inflict as much pain as possible.
So they handled the Haunter, Joma thought. He couldn't fathom how a small Eevee had managed to overcome a mid-stage evolution. Maybe with Horyu’s help, even if he was really weak. In any case, Eon decided to return to their aid as soon as it was possible.
“Gengar, Ssshadow Claw!” instructed the snake, surprised by the sudden course of events.
Eon’s ears perked when he heard that, and just in time when a claw was about to scratch him, he jumped back. The Gengar´s claws scratched where the Eeevee was miliseconds ago, attacking himself in the process and screamed in pain, adding more droplets of ghost blood to the street tiles. Eon didn't lose any second. He let out a melodic, charming cry again, pink energy rippling toward the Gengar, who clawed at their ears as the sonic waves buffeted its spirit. Joma didn't recall Eon knowing Disarming Voice—had he learned it in the heat of battle?
The Eevee took those precious moments to check on his dear partner. Verso had regained his breath and exhaled deeply once more, they looked into each other's eyes, and nodded. Eon then kept crying even louder, making the Gengar stumble. Joma could feel he was pushing himself to the limit, as the voice was getting weaker and weaker.
But those seconds were just what Verso needed. He recoiled, then leaped nearly as high as the rooftops before bringing his leg down in a sharp arc against the Gengar’s neck, and drawing back.
The Ghost-type retreated a couple of steps. Eon, his voice finally failing him, began to cough violently while maintaining a fierce glare. The Gengar mirrored their exhaustion, clutching the spot where Verso’s blow had landed before collapsing in a heap on the pavement.
Joma realized he’d been holding his breath and finally let it out in a jagged exhale. He stumbled toward his Pokémon. Both were in pretty awful shape: Eon was panting heavily, spitting blood with every hack, while Verso trembled under the lingering agony of the Phantom Force.
The canid extended his non-harmed hand with a Pokeball. It opened itself, a red line emerging from it and reaching the Gengar, enveloping him and drawing him inside.
“I would applaud, were it not for this... unfortunate setback.” —The canid regained his composure, his voice eerily level—. “The three of you possess genuine potential. It seems they had valid reasons for taking an interest in you.”
“What are you talking about?” —Joma spat—. “It’s over. The police will be here any minute.”
The snake tilted her head with a predatory grace. “Over? You think thissss is the end? We are but errand sssoulsss—mere threadssss in a grand design woven by The Reaper.”
“The Reaper?” Joma asked, puzzled. That’s right, they mentioned something like that while they were coming right at them.
The canid stepped forward. Verso and Eon immediately moved to shield Joma, their bodies tensing despite their injuries. The villain laughed—a sound of chilling, renewed certainty.
“Us, the van, the disappearances... these are but fragments of a tapestry far beyond your comprehension.”
Suddenly, Eon and Verso’s heads snapped toward the sky. Joma remained oblivious for a heartbeat until he also noticed it—a low, deep growl.
“From the moment our paths crossed,” —the canid whispered—, “you had already lost.” —He looked at the stars as well. He began to recite, his voice taking into a rhythmic, liturgical quality— “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand…”1.
He heard that sound again.
A screech.
High above, the stars began to wink out, one by one. It wasn't the clouds—something massive was blotting out the light, descending toward them. “And here he is!” the man cried, throwing his arms wide to welcome the looming shadow.
Then it arrived—a hurtling shadow that made the pavement shudder upon impact. It was a colossal, dark silhouette whose obsidian hide had, until now, been one with the midnight sky. Its leathery wings unfurled, revealing the creature’s full, terrifying span. Great amber eyes glared with predatory malice before it let out another shriek, so piercing that Joma felt the chill in his very marrow, his muscles tensing beyond their limits.
A fucking Noi…
“…vern”. Joma whispered, the realization hitting him like a physical blow. Terror surged through his veins, anchoring him to the spot. Verso and Eon were trying their best to keep their composure, but it was visible that they were also afraid.
There it was—the missing piece of the puzzle. This was how the thugs in the yellow van were able to vanish without a trace. It was a trump card they had been too foolish not to think of.
A big, extremely powerful, menacing Noivern.
“Richter”— the canid man addressed the dragon Pokémon, who seemed to have a name—. “Show them their place.”
The Noivern roared, its talons gouging the tiles as it stalked forward on its wing-claws like a wyvern closing in on its prey. A beast of this caliber, one of the most powerful Pokémon species ever doccumented, was a force of nature; they didn't stand a single chance against him.
“Run! Get out of here!” Joma pleaded to his friends, his voice cracking. He willed his own legs to move, but they felt like lead, unresponsive and heavy.
But of course, they weren’t going to abandon Joma. Eon lunged, sinking his teeth into the dragon’s wing-membrane. The Noivern (Richter was his name?) screeched in momentary pain before snapping his massive jaws shut around the Eevee’s small frame. Eon let out a piteous yelp as fangs sank deep into his flank. With a violent toss of its head, the Noivern flung him aside. His body collided with a brick wall before slumping to the ground, limp and unmoving.
NO!” Joma shrieked, tears blurring his vision. Suddenly, he felt a pair of hands on his shoulders. He looked up into those large, amber eyes he adored—eyes that now searched his soul with profound sorrow. He could see the bruise from the Phantom Force on his abdomen. Even if he received just one hit, it was a severe one. The Frogadier clenched his fists on his shoulders, and he focused again on that expression that had soothed him on many occasions. The shadow of the Noivern grew tall behind him, covering the duo, a prelude to an impending attack.
But Verso’s gaze was fixed solely on Joma. He tilted his head and... smiled?
No... you run.
With a desperate shove, he threw Joma back just as the Noivern’s wing swept in a lateral arc, and Verso was flying for a moment before crushing against the other wall. He barely croaked in pain before one of Richter’s feet pushed his chest against the ground. Verso tried to squeeze his way out, but it was futile. Instead, he was running out of air. With his waning strength, he looked at Joma, a plea in his eyes that were darkening.
“You’re going to kill him!” Joma fell to his knees before the dragon, tears streaming down his face. Even through his blurred vision, he could feel the Pokémon’s pupils locked onto him, making his very nerves jangle with terror. “You win. Do whatever you want with me—just please... not him.”
The Noivern frowned, then looked at Verso, then back at him. Joma was unsure about what he was thinking, but he stopped pressing more.
“It would indeed be convenient if the Frogadier remained alive,” —the canid noted, nodding in cold agreement as he stepped forward again—. “He’s already unconscious, Richter. Let’s not squander unnecessary resources,” he added, his tone dripping with condescension.
The dragon-type Pokémon growled and looked at Verso, whose eyes were closed, a small trace of blood flowing from one side of his mouth. He lifted his feet, releasing the amphibian. Joma’s body appeared to react again as he forgot about everything else and ran towards Verso. His heart was about to burst out of his chest. He dropped beside him, pressing his ear to the Frogadier’s chest. He checked for the signs—Look, Listen, Feel—just as he’d learned in a high school CPR class. The heartbeat was faint but there, and a shallow breath brushed against Joma's cheek, confirming the steady, albeit weak, rise and fall of the Pokémon's chest. He felt immensely relieved, but also helpless.
He heard a growl really close to him. He then lifted his head, and the Noivern, Richter, still frowning, was looking at him from top to bottom. Their eyes met for a moment. Joma could see himself reflected in the dragon’s pupils. He couldn’t focus enough to figure out what the dragon was truly seeing in him at that moment, as he was desperate.
“Perhaps we should put the boy out as well. He’ll thank us for the mercy. It’s a long journey to Heliodor City.”
Heliodor city?
He then felt one of Richter’s claws creeping on his shoulder until it was under his chin, making him lift his head. The Noivern locked eyes with him as its talons tightened around the sides of his neck. A surge of nausea roiled in Joma's gut, threatening to make him gag. Within seconds, vertigo set in as the pressure intensified. His strength was disappearing, his eyesight getting darker, almost until only the dragon’s yellow eyes were the only visible thing in front of him…
...then, he felt a spark in his chest—a sensation unlike anything he had ever known. It was as if a dormant fire had ignited within him, a sudden surge of heat that was strangely invigorating. Shouldn’t he be blacking out? What was this?
“What issss that?” Joma heard the snake say something, quickly followed by a gasp. He saw the Noivern’s gaze snap to something behind him, its eyes widening in alarm. A blur of movement streaked past Joma, followed by the sickening thud of a physical blow. Richter let out a roar of agony, his grip on Joma’s throat shattering, and he could feel the blood returning to his brain again. He choked a bit and spat on the ground.
“Who the hell are you?” The canid sounded panicked as well.
As Joma forced his head up, a new figure stepped between them and the dragon. The stranger wasn't as towering as Richter, but he seemed to... glow? The silhouette was unmistakable. It was…
“A Lucario?”
A mysterious Lucario had appeared out of nowhere, standing as a steadfast sentinel. The Pokémon glanced back over his shoulder—he, Joma instinctively knew it was a he—and for a fleeting second, their eyes met. Joma noticed the Lucario's pupils were a clouded grey; he wasn't tracking Joma with sight alone.
“I don’t know who the hell you are, but you’re no match for Richter!” —the canid barked—. “Richter! Hurrica—”
But the Lucario vanished in a blur of Extreme Speed, lunging upward to drive a fist into the Noivern’s snout. The dragon recoiled, blood beginning to trickle from his nostrils. Richter attempted a defiant roar, but his opponent gave him no quarter, unleashing a myriad of strikes. The Lucario wove through the dragon's counterattacks with elegant, practiced footwork, maintaining the relentless pressure of a Close Combat assault. Even Joma couldn’t follow his movements or imagine where he would hit, as he didn’t seem to stop. Richter thrashed helplessly, every desperate swipe met with a dozen stinging blows. Suddenly, the Lucario vaulted back, his paws circling in a rhythmic motion. An Aura Sphere began to amalgamate between his palms.
“Damn it! Retreat! Fall back!” the canid shrieked. Richter didn't need to be told twice; the dragon was visibly shaken by the newcomer’s prowess. With a frantic beat of its leathery wings, the dragon took flight, snatching the two hooded figures before bolting toward the night sky. He narrowly evaded the Aura Sphere the Lucario had launched in pursuit.
He just stood still, his head focused exactly where the Noivern and his companions had merged with the sky. He sighed and turned around, facing Joma for the first time.
Despite his power, Lucario had seemed to go through quite some trouble. His body was pretty much scarred. And another thing that drew the gecko’s attention was his fur. It wasn’t as bright as he had seen in the books, even a bit disheveled. Now the reason for the dull pupils became clear: age and severe cataracts had claimed his sight. Yet, the Lucario moved with an uncanny precision, as if he perceived a world far beyond mere vision.
The Lucario remained motionless, standing before Joma with a stern, unreadable expression. Despite the warrior's clouded eyes, Joma felt as though he were being scrutinized to his very core. Of course, Lucario could read auras with ease. Joma swallowed hard. Despite the Pokémon’s intimidating presence, a strange sense of familiarity washed over him- But… no, he hadn't seen a Lucario in person in his life. He shook his head in confusion.
Then, he felt a faint resonance in his mind, like a phantom caress.
“Are you alright? Can you stand?”
Right. Lucarios were among the few Pokémon who could talk telepathically. His voice was raspy and deep, echoing within Joma’s consciousness.
“Yes, but…” He looked at Verso, still unconscious in his embrace.
“Do not fret. He will recover. As will the little scrapper over there,” the Lucario gestured toward Eon with a tilt of his head. “Your companions possess great spirit.”
“We wouldn’t have made it without you, though,”—he swallowed—. “Thank you for saving us.”
Their savior shook his head solemnly.
“The only thanks I require is that you remain out of harm’s way. I know not who those shadows were, but their intent was grave.”
There was something strange in that sentence that made Joma wonder.
“How... did you know we were in danger?”
The Lucario made a pause. He looked away for a moment and spoke in the same fashion.
“I was just passing by the forests around town and felt something was wrong. It’s known that we can sense auras and their disturbances.”
And It was also common knowledge that Lucarios were a rarity in this part of the region. That one so powerful happened to be nearby felt like more than mere serendipity. Or... Joma had a nagging suspicion that the warrior was withholding the truth.
“Forgive me, but... have we met before?”
The Lucario crossed his arms, his posture shifting.
“Not to my knowledge.”
There was a pause between them. The Pokémon sighed and stepped back a bit.
“The police will be here momentarily. Now that you’re safe, I’m leaving the equation, kiddo. It was... a pleasure. I wish you luck.”
He turned around and started walking towards the forest…
Then, a thought surfaced in Joma’s mind. No—it wasn’t a thought. It was a single word.
A name.
“Are you... Quentin?”
He swore he had no idea how he knew that. But somehow he did.
The Lucario froze, then turned with agonizing slowness. His face mirrored Joma’s own bewilderment. He opened his maw to speak, but the words died in his throat. Frowning, he tilted his head and began to stalk back toward the boy, his movements wary.
“What gave you that idea?” the Lucario demanded.
“I—I don’t know!” Joma stammered, pulling Verso tighter against his chest. “It was... it was just a hunch.”
“A hunch?” The word seemed to haunt him. He hesitated, his gaze drifting as if he were suddenly lost in a memory. “So, this is... no...” He stared down at his scarred paws. “Could it be because of...?”
The wail of sirens shattered the moment. The Lucario’s focus snapped back to Joma with terrifying intensity. When he spoke again, his voice had dropped to a low, guttural growl.
“You and I have never met. That name means nothing to you—do you understand? Do not dare utter it to anyone. If you do... I will know.”
And with that, he ran away. No looking back.
The following hours passed in a disorienting blur. The police arrived in force, led by the local Officer Jenny. He answered some questions, and she made some calls. Some Pokémon paramedics took Verso and Eon into an ambulance. He tried to reach them, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
“You’ll be reunited with them soon. But first, I need you to come with me to provide a formal statement so we can piece together what happened. It won’t take long.” Her grip was firm, but her tone had softened. The teenager turned around to face the officer. “But before that, I need to contact your parents or legal guardians so that they can accompany you during the process”.
“A…Alma…” —Joma managed to say—. “Another friend of mine was attacked. He was in the sky with Crystal, his Dragonair. I don’t know if…” He swallowed, growing pale.
“Another friend? In the sky?” Officer Jenny frowned. She made a call with her earphones. This Officer sounded way more authoritarian than her relative in Andalusite town. “Shut down the concert and get a chopper in the air. We need to scout for any other victims,” she barked at an officer dressed in an identical uniform. “Agent Vee, I need you to take the kid to the police station while I put some order in here.”
Another blur, and he was sitting in a simple interrogation room. The atmosphere was stifling, though he wasn't restrained. A full glass of water sat before him; he had a hazy memory of an agent telling him to breathe and wait a moment before she stepped out, clicking the door shut. The sight of the water triggered a desperate thirst. He drained the glass in a few frantic gulps, but in his haste sent the liquid down the wrong pipe, leaving him coughing violently.
He was fidgeting with his fingers. He lost track of time as there was no clock in the room, and the officers took his mobile phone temporarily for security reasons at the station. Then, suddenly, the door opened again. The gecko didn’t have time to process much more as his mother immediately hugged him.
“Joma, oh, Joma,” She hugged him tightly, which made him exhale deeply. He slowly hugged her back. “I don’t know what happened, they told me you were attacked and I…”
She didn’t say much more for now. That pause allowed him to assess the situation more. Officer Jenny was sitting in front of him, staying silent to give them some time. Behind her, on both her sides, there were two other individuals: on her left, there was another Officer Jenny, whom he immediately recognized as the one he had talked with since he was a kid in Andalusite town. On her right, there was an Absol.
“Don’t worry about the Absol”, the Officer said when she observed Joma’s eyes were on them. “She is here just because of protocol. As I said, we are taking a statement from you to fully clarify what happened.”
Moreover, while Absol couldn't read minds, they were famous for sensing deception.
You and I have never met.
Joma swallowed hard. He felt an overriding urge to keep that secret buried. Andalusite town Jenny, on the other hand, was looking at him with clear worry. But it seems she was there for professional reasons, as she was holding a notepad, ready to take notes.
“Before we start, I have an update on Alma Estellux, Soel Tempest, and all your respective Pokémon.” She paused, took a steadying breath, and continued. “Soel Tempest is in the hospital, recovering from his wounds. Horyu, his Pokémon, will also take a statement after you, when he receives some treatment. He was the one who reached us with his trainer and alerted us about your situation.”
Joma nodded. His mother had taken his hand, squeezing it for reassurance. It truly helped.
“Your Pokémon, Verso and Eon Wildheart, are being treated at the local Pokémon Center. Both have sustained moderate-to-severe injuries, but they are expected to recover.”
“Thank you…” —Anne exhaled. She was crying silently—. “My apologies, Officer. I didn’t want to interrupt you.”
“It’s quite alright. Your son has endured a traumatic assault; you may take all the time you need,”—she replied, before her expression turned grave—. “Regarding Alma and Crystal Estellux...”
Joma got tense. Andalusite town Jenny stopped taking notes and bit her lips. The gecko started to fear the worst.
“We located them on the outskirts of Luminite Town. Their condition, however, is significantly more critical than the others. They have been airlifted to specialized ICUs in Cordierite City.” Cordierite town was the capital of the province. “As of right now, they are still alive, but struggling. I won’t get into details for now, but Alma’s body was…”—She hesitated, clearly measuring her words—. “We are uncertain if Mr. Estellux will suffer any long-term sequelae, or what the extent of those complications might be.”
“Oh, no…” Anne took a hand to her mouth in shock. Joma felt his blood draining down to his feet.
“They are in the best possible hands right now. We cannot do anything else for them at the moment. As for the situation itself, it seems you were attacked by some people suspicious of taking wild Pokémons and even stealing domestic ones on occasion in the province during these years. A battered yellow van was discovered near the scene. What little evidence and witness descriptions we’ve gathered align with the vehicle used by these suspects. However, if they escaped on foot, they weren’t nearby. As of yet, we haven’t located a hideout or any safe house within Luminite Town. The investigation is ongoing... Should they attempt to resume their felonious activities, they will find our presence much more oppressive.”
“From what we gathered, it seems Soel Tempest and Horyu were attacked first, and you and your Pokémons helped them escape to reach us. But of course, this is too… coincidental,”—Joma could see Andalusite town Jenny shifting the weight of one leg to another—. “I will just ask some questions to make the statement straight to the point so that you can rest as soon as possible. Even though this record dates back to your childhood, your parents stated that you found Verso shortly after he was abandoned by individuals in a similar yellow van. Is that accurate?”
Joma nodded.
“So, that leads me to the next question. Were you and Alma Estellux aware of these people’s movement patterns, and actively searching for them?”
Joma swallowed hard, his gaze dropping to his feet. He had no choice but to come clean, yet he knew he had to carefully omit certain details. He needed to navigate the questioning without triggering further scrutiny. Absol was still there. If he stuck to the facts—emphasizing some truths while downplaying others—he could avoid lying technically, thereby sidestepping the Absol’s detection.
“We were aware of these people, officer”.
“And, again, actively trying to find them?” She addressed, almost interrupting him.
Damn.
“…yes, officer”
Anne let out a sharp gasp. Joma missed Andalusite Officer Jenny’s reaction; his eyes were fixed on his sneakers, which were splattered with blood from an unknown source. Was it Verso’s? He breathed deeply. He couldn’t lose composure right there.
“At this moment, I would ask why or how you got this intel. But I will save that question. My colleague from Andalusite Town followed a hunch and audited her files. It was subtle, nearly imperceptible, but she found traces of recurring, unauthorized access to her hard drive dating back three years. We hypothesize that Alma Estellux had access to confidential documents and made an unauthorized copy for you to use and work with. My workmate claims to know Mr. Estellux enough to consider that possibility. With that information, you two worked together to try stopping these people, deducing useful information, and without resorting to official institutions for that task. Does this sound coherent to you, Joma?”
“My son would never…”
“We didn’t think you’d take the threat seriously, so... yes, we took matters into our own hands.” —He mustered the courage to meet the officer’s gaze, despite his trembling hands—. “But this is all my fault. I was the first victim, so it was due to me that Alma was involved.”
Joma could feel his mother tensing behind him. Absol’s ears perked up for a moment. Officer Jenny squinted at her for a second before proceeding.
Officer Jenny glanced at the Absol for a moment before proceeding. “A truthful statement, Joma, but an imprecise one. It’s noble of you to shield your friend, but we know he was the architect of this operation—not you.”
Joma’s eyes went wide open.
“How could you possibly know that?”
“I didn’t,” —she admitted coolly—. “I was casting a line, and you bit.”
Joma gritted his teeth, feeling the sting of the trap.
“Easy, kid. I just needed to establish who initiated the operation. Even so, it’s not a first-degree offense. Besides, he was a minor when he began doing it, and he has potentially contributed to stopping a malign activity in the whole province. All things considered, Alma Estellux will receive a formal warning from the police, but there won’t be further repercussions as long as he doesn’t do any other unlawful actions. As for you, since you weren't the one who obtained the data or masterminded the plan, you aren't technically liable for this particular infraction”.
Joma bit his lip. He guessed he couldn’t ask for a better outcome for Alma.
“Could you walk me through the plan and the sequence of events in as much detail as possible? We need it for the official record.”
The gecko explained their plan to face the people from the yellow van. He also detailed how Horyu probably had a hunch and went on his own to find them. Soel followed, and they
found them with Alma’s help…
“…and I lost connection with him.”
“So he was attacked in the sky?”
“I didn’t know then, but yes, he surely was attacked then. We focused on getting to Soel and Horyu. Soel was on the verge of being disposed of when we intervened. We bought enough time for Horyu to regain consciousness, attacked one of them, took Soel, and I suggested that he escape. There was a Haunter and a Gengar. Eon covered Horyu’s escape, and the Haunter followed them. Verso and I stayed behind to fight the Gengar. I don’t know what happened to the Haunter. My guess is Eon and Horyu defeated him or escaped, because Eon ended up returning to our aid.”
“The latter. We suspected the criminals were using Pokémon, but we had no idea which species. The Haunter is likely at large now. At this moment, our police corps is patrolling the town and its surroundings, looking for more evidence. Either we locate them, or they’ve already fled the area. I’ll order an intensified patrol. They might provide crucial leads regarding the suspects and the third Pokémon that intercepted Mr. Estellux and his Pokémon. Continue, please.”
“Verso, Eon, and I managed to overcome the Gengar. But then... that Pokémon arrived. A Noivern.”
“The Pokémon who attacked Alma,” —Officer Jenny deduced—. “Considering the state you were in when we found you, he defeated you three, right?”
“Yes, officer.”
The lupine police took a moment, thinking to herself. She then looked at her wristwatch and addressed Andalusite town Jenny.
“Officer, talk to the patrols. Add some helicopters and our fastest Pidgeot. There might be a chance to get them if they escaped with the aid of the Noivern.”
“Roger, officer.”
Under better circumstances, he might have wondered how multiple Officer Jennies addressed one another in a meeting. But this was no time for idle curiosity. Andalusite town Jenny left the room swiftly.
“I doubt we’ll intercept them, given how much time has passed, but every second is vital.” —She turned back to Joma, her expression softening slightly—. “We’re almost done, Joma, I promise. But there is a glaring inconsistency: you were defeated, yet the criminals didn't press their advantage. They could have taken your Pokémon. But they didn’t. Also, we found a revolver at the scene. It had exploded”.
The revolver…
“Oh, gods…” Anne exhaled in fear.
“What I am trying to say is… something else must have come to your aid. If we took into account the window period between Horyu escaping from the scene, reaching us, and then coming for you, they had enough time to take you with them. Something—or someone—must have intervened for them to leave behind evidence like the van, the shattered revolver, and even you as a loose end. Do you know what happened?”
You and I have never met.
He remembered the strange sensation—the surge of adrenaline when he saw Soel on the brink of death. Then, a gap in his memory. He’d blinked, and the revolver had detonated. But how? Did the mechanism get stuck? What a lucky coincidence. Another serendipity?
Are you Quentin?
The feeling of Richter’s claw at the sides of his neck.
You and I have never met.
His thoughts fractured, memories tangling into a chaotic knot. He forced himself to take a breath. Then another.
“Are you ok?” the officer asked.
“I’m fine. I’m sorry... it must be the exhaustion.”
“My son needs to rest,” —Anne pleaded, her voice thick with worry—. “Please.”
“No, Mom, it’s okay. Let me answer.” Joma spoke with deliberate slowness, buying himself precious seconds to formulate a response that was technically honest without explicitly mentioning Quentin. “The events unfolded as I described, Officer, but... to be blunt, I was in shock. Watching Soel nearly die... it’s one thing to have a friendly spar, but it’s another entirely to face criminals who are indifferent to casualties. We fought the way I described to you. Noivern arrived, he defeated us, and… yes, someone arrived. A Pokémon. It was dark, and the adrenaline was surging, so my memory is hazy. Based on the silhouette, it could have been a Zoroark, a Lucario, a Zeraora... perhaps even a Midnight Form Lycanroc. It intervened, then vanished.”
“A… Lucario?” His mother wondered.
Joma nodded and added quickly.
“It could be. It was bipedal and had a canine form. So, maybe not a Zeraora. But I don’t know.”
The gecko inhaled and exhaled. He looked at the officer with a distressed expression. What he had said was technically true, but also pretty vague.
The Absol’s unblinking stare made his pulse quicken. A wave of nausea rolled through him, but he gripped the edges of his seat to stay upright.
“I see. That’s perfectly understandable,” —the Officer replied, seemingly satisfied—. “I admit all those are pretty rare in the province, but it’s also true that they aren’t gregarious by nature. Makes sense, some specific and good-natured Pokémon individuals could be there and help someone they considered younger and more vulnerable.” She nodded, considering his answer satisfactory. The Absol tilted her head, her skepticism lingering, yet she didn't move to contradict her superior. “Before we conclude, is there anything else? Any small detail that might be of use?”
It’s a long way until we arrive at Heliodor city.
You are on a really fucking miraculous day, kid. Higher-up want us to take you to them.
We are just some errand souls here, mere pieces from the grand design, basted by The Reaper.
Who was The Reaper? Joma had a feeling he had to be really careful who to share that information with. Whoever they were, the thugs depicted them as someone with contacts and resources. Who was to say the station wasn't compromised? If someone here worked for them, he would be nothing more than another loose end to be snipped. No—he had to tread carefully. He couldn't afford a single misstep.
“Not that I recall, officer. I am sorry.”
“It is okay. Thank you for your cooperation, Joma. Ms. Wildheart, you both can leave now.”
“...going to fucking kill him!”
“Don’t you dare lay a finger on my son!”
The moment they stepped out of the room, a heated shouting match erupted near the station exit. Before Joma could even process the noise, a heavy thud echoed through the hall, and Arthas Estellux burst into the precinct. A vein throbbed in his temple, his nostrils flaring as his predatory gaze swept the room until it locked onto Joma. He lunged forward with such feral speed that he struck Joma in the left eye before anyone could intervene. Anne screamed as Joma hit the floor. He felt his collar jerked upward, the rush of air signaling another imminent blow, only for the Andalusite Officer Jenny to tackle Arthas, pinning his arms behind his back.
“Mr. Estellux! Calm down, or I will have to arrest you!” Jenny’s voice was as steady as she could muster while restraining her unofficial boyfriend, but Arthas’s tunnel vision was fixed solely on Joma. His parents rushed to his side, hoisting him to his feet. Finally, after some seconds, Alma’s father finally managed to return to his usual icy demeanor. The officer still held his hands when he spoke again:
“I should have been stricter—I never should have allowed lower beings like you to contaminate my son. If he survives this, I’ll ensure you never lay eyes on him again. And if he doesn’t...”
“I remind you that you are in the presence of law enforcement, Mr. Estellux. Implicit threats against a minor are a serious offense and grounds for immediate arrest,” Jenny declared, her professional mask firmly in place. Joma felt a brief surge of faith in the police: even if he was her boyfriend, Jenny was stern and firm, not allowing injustice to get through. He addressed Joma’s parents. “You should leave now”.
Joma’s father looked as enraged as Arthas seemed before, but Anne’s pleading seemed to cool him down. With that, the family left the station.
So... that was it. The pieces of the puzzle had finally slotted into place. Joma opened his eyes, the weight of reality settling back onto his shoulders. He pressed his forehead against Verso’s hand, offering a lingering kiss to the frog’s cool skin.
“Will you be alright, Joma? Are you certain you don't want to come home with us?” his mother had asked earlier, her voice trembling as they checked on Verso and Eon in the Pokémon Center.
“Please. I want… I need to be with them.”
His parents hesitated.
“I... we understand, son,” Raphael finally conceded. “We will have a long, serious talk about... all of this. But for now, your safety is what matters. We’ll be back tomorrow morning; then, you’ll let us take over the vigil, okay?”
“Okay”
When they left, his mother turned around for a second. She opened her mouth but closed it.
“Are you okay, Mom?”
“I... yes. Forgive me.” She averted her gaze, her eyes darting toward the shadows. What was wrong with her? “This night has simply exhausted me as well. That must be it.”
It made sense. It’s not like he had energy for more intrigues anyway.
“Joma?”
He blinked, spinning around. He could have sworn he heard a voice—distinct and clear—calling his name. The ward was empty, but when his eyes landed on Verso, he saw the Frogadier’s eyes flutter open. Weak, but conscious.
“Verso!” Joma choked out, tears welling in his eyes as he pulled the Pokémon into a gentle embrace. The Frogadier feebly rubbed Joma's back, nuzzling his cheek. “I was... I've been so worried...”
“I was so worried too! I am glad you are less hurt than me!”
Wait…
Joma stiffened and pulled back. Heart racing, he placed his hands on Verso’s shoulders.
“Verso... I understood you.”
“What?”
Joma heard only a wet croak, yet the meaning was unmistakable. He knew exactly what his friend had just communicated.
“You expressed you were worried too, and you were glad to see me less hurt than you…”
It took a few seconds for the deep implications of the revelation to sink in. Verso’s eyes widened in sheer disbelief.
What the hell was happening?
Diamond Metropolis was a city of deep fractures: the crime rate soared above the regional average, the wealth gap between Pokémon and anthros was a yawning chasm, and public healthcare withered under a relentlessly neoliberal tide. However, the sights would never stop being amazing.
He lit a cigar and leaned against the terrace railing. Twenty stories below, the hum of late-night traffic refused to dim. It was a city that never slept—and he relished that. A place full of infinite potential and possibilities, no matter when. Truly liberating.
He pulled out one of his burner phones and logged into a secure email account. He was still impressed by Argo’s suggestion of using dead drops for their clandestine correspondence. “If users on the same tier share a single account and leave messages in the drafts folder, there’s no metadata trail. No transmission, no trace.” The boy was a psychopath—a sadist of a caliber that even he found unsettling. Yet, that wolf in sheep’s clothing was as brilliant as he was depraved. Surely, God would overlook his sins in light of the service he rendered
As anticipated, a new draft was waiting. He pored over the contents, his brow furrowing as he absorbed the report. He read it a second time, slower.
“I see...”
He purged the draft and typed a concise reply while the wind carried his cigar ash into the void. His task complete, he turned his gaze back to the sprawling urban lights.
He was going to miss those views. After all, it seemed he had to return to his hometown for some time.
1. Author´s note: This is a biblical reference, specifically Revelation 20:1.
Here I bring you the end of the chapter, and possibly the climax of this first story arc. There is still some left of it, but now there will be path leaning to what will happen next. Cliffhanger is solved, but some questions arise, heheh.
This is the full commmission I ordered to
for this chapter. Now that is finally over, I can share it fully to you =D
I thank tindalost (on Telegram), for being my loyal beta-reader. They helped me correct a couple things and reminded me a bit of Pokemon lore to maintain accuracy
Hope you like the chapter! Feel free to share your thoughts here
Notes and credits by the end of the chapter
Link for those who want to read it on PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1go.....ew?usp=sharing
A mysterious connection (Part III: Serendipity)He wondered how long it had been there—that faint fracture in the ceiling.
It was so little that one had to pay a lot of attention to notice that little tiny fissure. Joma felt certain it was the sole blemish in the otherwise sterile Pokémon Center. The ward was bathed in low light to avoid disturbing the two Pokémon recovering on either side of him. The rhythmic chirping of the heart monitors punctured the silence. Seeing them so battered made his heart sink and his scales pale. Them still being alive and recovering was a miracle in itself. He leaned over Eon and pressed a kiss to his forehead, smoothing the tangled sheets. Eon appeared to be caught in a nightmare, his body trembling slightly as he shifted fitfully. With a pained grimace, he turned toward Verso. He felt the frog’s agony as if it were his own; they were a matched set, both sporting a blackened left eye. Arthas truly hit him hard when they met, making him stumble. Only Officer Jenny’s intervention had prevented the night’s casualties from mounting further.
Nausea surged, a bitter taste of bile rising in his throat. He swallowed hard and collapsed back into the chair, the weight of defeat finally crushing him. Oh, gods. Crystal…Alma…
He clung desperately, yet also carefully, to one of Verso’s hands. Why did he stop paying attention to that little crack? His mind was again processing everything that had happened just a few hours ago.
Alma had been right. This... this was merely child’s play. It wasn't the conclusion; it was only the first thin veil hiding a much deeper, multifaceted threat.
He breathed deeply, clinging to Verso. The feel of his hand reassured him and helped him to stay focused. He was aware of parts of the truth he had hidden from Officer Jenny, but he needed to recap all that had transpired during the night. He closed his eyes and started putting the pieces of the puzzle together.
It was as if time had ground to a halt. Joma’s consciousness expanded, though the sensation defied explanation. Vision failed him, yet he could still see. He tried to speak, but his voice was gone. He tried to move, and... he drifted. But it was very weird. Where were his legs? And his arms? It was… just him.
Instinct took over. Soel. He had to save him. He was witnessing the scene from an impossible vantage point: the hooded canid was leveling a revolver directly at Soel’s head. Right! He had to do something.
He lunged toward the figure. As he did, he felt a phantom thread tugging behind him—unimportant. A desperate plan took shape. The gun. With every ounce of willpower he could muster, he slammed into the revolver's mechanism.
“GAH! GOD ALMIGHTY!”
Joma blinked, and suddenly he was back on the floor. Still paralyzed, he watched as the canid’s hand began to smoke, blood seeping through his fingers. The revolver clattered to the ground, shattered and smoking. “What happened?!” The snake got startled as she looked at the destroyed weapon and her companion.
“I don’t know, damn it!” The attacker recoiled, clutching his mangled wrist to his chest. His breath came in frantic gasps, his eyes wide with confusion. With gritting teeth, he recomposed himself and stepped up again. “It doesn’t matter, I can still break his ne-“
But he was interrupted one more time. When he leaned towards the chameleon, something next to him moved swiftly, scraping his arm and pushing him far away from Soel. It was Horyu! He was bleeding horribly, one eye coated in his own blood, breathing rapidly, but the other eye was filled with determination. His claws were shining red, with the blood of the anthro.
“Horyu!” Joma barked. “Grab Soel and get out of here! Call the police! Eon, cover their retreat!”
The Combusken nodded, hoisting the unconscious Soel onto his shoulder with renewed strength. The canid was too dazed by pain to react, but his partner hissed at the Gengar to block their exit. When the ghost was about to give the fire-type a firm Lick, Verso stormed between them, put his hand right in the Gengar's chest, who didn’t have the chance to block a Water pulse that hit him completely, drawing him back with a screech.
As Horyu rushed past Joma and Eon, the Haunter took aim, but the Eevee unleashed a high-pitched cry. Pink waves of energy rippled outward, catching the Ghost-type off guard. The spectral Pokémon writhed in discomfort, buying just enough time for Horyu to break through. Eon trailed behind them, with the Haunter in hot pursuit the moment it recovered. That left Verso alone with the Gengar, but that was the best he could come up with. Still reeling from the effects from the Lick, Joma started getting up.
“Ok, Verso. We got this!”
“Frogadier,” He nodded, fully focused on the Gengar, crouching and tensing his legs.
The snake hissed and positioned herself behind the ghost.
“Sssshadow Ball!” she hissed. The Gengar thrust a hand forward, shadows coalescing into a sphere the size of a fist. They then threw it at the Frogadier, who dodged it very narrowly. “Sssludge Wave!” The snake didn’t lose a second for another attack. Their opponent jumped, then struck the floor with a heavy thud, forming a purple wave that was almost as tall as the gecko.
“Jump!” Joma barked, diving behind a street lamp to avoid the sludge. Through the shadows of her hood, he saw the snake’s fangs glint. Panic flared—Verso was mid-air, completely exposed! The Gengar was forming another Shadow Ball that could easily hit him.
Before Joma could shout another warning, the frubbles around Verso’s neck expanded, enveloping him. They burst in a sudden spray, leaving a thick cloud of vapor between the frog and his enemies.
“A Smokescreen!” he breathed, marveling at his partner’s quick thinking.
“Not for long!” The snake replied. Right after, a Shadow Ball passed by, dispersing the smoke, but without harming anyone as well. Joma could partially see the Gengar and the two hooded delinquents. But Verso was nowhere to be seen. The others realized it too. The ghost made a couple of steps, his enormous eyes looking right and left, an angry grimace making his teeth even more visible.
“Where did h—?” The canid’s question died in his throat as a blur of motion flickered to his left. They all barely saw how the Frogadier appeared out of nowhere from above, hitting the Gengar’s head with all his might. He then took advantage of his body to jump back with a flip, returning near Joma.
“Impressssive. Of coursse, a Frogadier can naturally learn Aerial Ace.” The snake clapped her hands, as if she was watching a kids’ show. The Gengar groaned, a deep gash on its forehead leaking a dark, spectral fluid. Despite the wound, it grinned. The purple ichor stained its teeth, lending the ghost an even more sinister air. “Your Frogadier isss decent. However, he isss dealing with a fully evolved Pokémon which hasss a few aces up their sleeve. You won’t expect what he will do next.”
The Gengar seemed to reach a realization. Its grin widened as its pupils dilated, swelling until they swallowed the iris whole—then, it vanished.
Silence settled over the alley. Verso scanned the shadows, treading cautiously as Joma struggled to comprehend the ghost's disappearance…
The Gengar materialized directly in Verso’s path, its crimson eyes leaving glowing streaks in the air. It drove a fist into the Frogadier’s abdomen with the crushing force of a Phantom Force attack. The air was knocked clean out of Verso. He doubled over, gasping for breath and utterly helpless as the Ghost-type conjured a third Shadow Ball in its palm, aiming directly at his head.
Joma shrieked his name, desperate for him to move, but the shock of the blow had paralyzed the frog. Even if Joma sprinted, he knew he wouldn't reach them in time.
No…
A smaller figure appeared right next to him and stormed towards the Pokémon. With a growl, it jumped onto the Gengar’s arm and dealt him a Bite so strong the ghost couldn´t get rid of him
The ghost-type screamed in pain, the Shadow Ball dissolving as he shook it, trying to get rid of the little intruder who had interrupted their attack.
It was Eon! The Eevee was injured, with weeping bruises across his back and a swollen eye. Despite his haggard appearance, he let out a low growl and clamped his jaws shut in a Bite, determined to inflict as much pain as possible.
So they handled the Haunter, Joma thought. He couldn't fathom how a small Eevee had managed to overcome a mid-stage evolution. Maybe with Horyu’s help, even if he was really weak. In any case, Eon decided to return to their aid as soon as it was possible.
“Gengar, Ssshadow Claw!” instructed the snake, surprised by the sudden course of events.
Eon’s ears perked when he heard that, and just in time when a claw was about to scratch him, he jumped back. The Gengar´s claws scratched where the Eeevee was miliseconds ago, attacking himself in the process and screamed in pain, adding more droplets of ghost blood to the street tiles. Eon didn't lose any second. He let out a melodic, charming cry again, pink energy rippling toward the Gengar, who clawed at their ears as the sonic waves buffeted its spirit. Joma didn't recall Eon knowing Disarming Voice—had he learned it in the heat of battle?
The Eevee took those precious moments to check on his dear partner. Verso had regained his breath and exhaled deeply once more, they looked into each other's eyes, and nodded. Eon then kept crying even louder, making the Gengar stumble. Joma could feel he was pushing himself to the limit, as the voice was getting weaker and weaker.
But those seconds were just what Verso needed. He recoiled, then leaped nearly as high as the rooftops before bringing his leg down in a sharp arc against the Gengar’s neck, and drawing back.
The Ghost-type retreated a couple of steps. Eon, his voice finally failing him, began to cough violently while maintaining a fierce glare. The Gengar mirrored their exhaustion, clutching the spot where Verso’s blow had landed before collapsing in a heap on the pavement.
Joma realized he’d been holding his breath and finally let it out in a jagged exhale. He stumbled toward his Pokémon. Both were in pretty awful shape: Eon was panting heavily, spitting blood with every hack, while Verso trembled under the lingering agony of the Phantom Force.
The canid extended his non-harmed hand with a Pokeball. It opened itself, a red line emerging from it and reaching the Gengar, enveloping him and drawing him inside.
“I would applaud, were it not for this... unfortunate setback.” —The canid regained his composure, his voice eerily level—. “The three of you possess genuine potential. It seems they had valid reasons for taking an interest in you.”
“What are you talking about?” —Joma spat—. “It’s over. The police will be here any minute.”
The snake tilted her head with a predatory grace. “Over? You think thissss is the end? We are but errand sssoulsss—mere threadssss in a grand design woven by The Reaper.”
“The Reaper?” Joma asked, puzzled. That’s right, they mentioned something like that while they were coming right at them.
The canid stepped forward. Verso and Eon immediately moved to shield Joma, their bodies tensing despite their injuries. The villain laughed—a sound of chilling, renewed certainty.
“Us, the van, the disappearances... these are but fragments of a tapestry far beyond your comprehension.”
Suddenly, Eon and Verso’s heads snapped toward the sky. Joma remained oblivious for a heartbeat until he also noticed it—a low, deep growl.
“From the moment our paths crossed,” —the canid whispered—, “you had already lost.” —He looked at the stars as well. He began to recite, his voice taking into a rhythmic, liturgical quality— “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand…”1.
He heard that sound again.
A screech.
High above, the stars began to wink out, one by one. It wasn't the clouds—something massive was blotting out the light, descending toward them. “And here he is!” the man cried, throwing his arms wide to welcome the looming shadow.
Then it arrived—a hurtling shadow that made the pavement shudder upon impact. It was a colossal, dark silhouette whose obsidian hide had, until now, been one with the midnight sky. Its leathery wings unfurled, revealing the creature’s full, terrifying span. Great amber eyes glared with predatory malice before it let out another shriek, so piercing that Joma felt the chill in his very marrow, his muscles tensing beyond their limits.
A fucking Noi…
“…vern”. Joma whispered, the realization hitting him like a physical blow. Terror surged through his veins, anchoring him to the spot. Verso and Eon were trying their best to keep their composure, but it was visible that they were also afraid.
There it was—the missing piece of the puzzle. This was how the thugs in the yellow van were able to vanish without a trace. It was a trump card they had been too foolish not to think of.
A big, extremely powerful, menacing Noivern.
“Richter”— the canid man addressed the dragon Pokémon, who seemed to have a name—. “Show them their place.”
The Noivern roared, its talons gouging the tiles as it stalked forward on its wing-claws like a wyvern closing in on its prey. A beast of this caliber, one of the most powerful Pokémon species ever doccumented, was a force of nature; they didn't stand a single chance against him.
“Run! Get out of here!” Joma pleaded to his friends, his voice cracking. He willed his own legs to move, but they felt like lead, unresponsive and heavy.
But of course, they weren’t going to abandon Joma. Eon lunged, sinking his teeth into the dragon’s wing-membrane. The Noivern (Richter was his name?) screeched in momentary pain before snapping his massive jaws shut around the Eevee’s small frame. Eon let out a piteous yelp as fangs sank deep into his flank. With a violent toss of its head, the Noivern flung him aside. His body collided with a brick wall before slumping to the ground, limp and unmoving.
NO!” Joma shrieked, tears blurring his vision. Suddenly, he felt a pair of hands on his shoulders. He looked up into those large, amber eyes he adored—eyes that now searched his soul with profound sorrow. He could see the bruise from the Phantom Force on his abdomen. Even if he received just one hit, it was a severe one. The Frogadier clenched his fists on his shoulders, and he focused again on that expression that had soothed him on many occasions. The shadow of the Noivern grew tall behind him, covering the duo, a prelude to an impending attack.
But Verso’s gaze was fixed solely on Joma. He tilted his head and... smiled?
No... you run.
With a desperate shove, he threw Joma back just as the Noivern’s wing swept in a lateral arc, and Verso was flying for a moment before crushing against the other wall. He barely croaked in pain before one of Richter’s feet pushed his chest against the ground. Verso tried to squeeze his way out, but it was futile. Instead, he was running out of air. With his waning strength, he looked at Joma, a plea in his eyes that were darkening.
“You’re going to kill him!” Joma fell to his knees before the dragon, tears streaming down his face. Even through his blurred vision, he could feel the Pokémon’s pupils locked onto him, making his very nerves jangle with terror. “You win. Do whatever you want with me—just please... not him.”
The Noivern frowned, then looked at Verso, then back at him. Joma was unsure about what he was thinking, but he stopped pressing more.
“It would indeed be convenient if the Frogadier remained alive,” —the canid noted, nodding in cold agreement as he stepped forward again—. “He’s already unconscious, Richter. Let’s not squander unnecessary resources,” he added, his tone dripping with condescension.
The dragon-type Pokémon growled and looked at Verso, whose eyes were closed, a small trace of blood flowing from one side of his mouth. He lifted his feet, releasing the amphibian. Joma’s body appeared to react again as he forgot about everything else and ran towards Verso. His heart was about to burst out of his chest. He dropped beside him, pressing his ear to the Frogadier’s chest. He checked for the signs—Look, Listen, Feel—just as he’d learned in a high school CPR class. The heartbeat was faint but there, and a shallow breath brushed against Joma's cheek, confirming the steady, albeit weak, rise and fall of the Pokémon's chest. He felt immensely relieved, but also helpless.
He heard a growl really close to him. He then lifted his head, and the Noivern, Richter, still frowning, was looking at him from top to bottom. Their eyes met for a moment. Joma could see himself reflected in the dragon’s pupils. He couldn’t focus enough to figure out what the dragon was truly seeing in him at that moment, as he was desperate.
“Perhaps we should put the boy out as well. He’ll thank us for the mercy. It’s a long journey to Heliodor City.”
Heliodor city?
He then felt one of Richter’s claws creeping on his shoulder until it was under his chin, making him lift his head. The Noivern locked eyes with him as its talons tightened around the sides of his neck. A surge of nausea roiled in Joma's gut, threatening to make him gag. Within seconds, vertigo set in as the pressure intensified. His strength was disappearing, his eyesight getting darker, almost until only the dragon’s yellow eyes were the only visible thing in front of him…
...then, he felt a spark in his chest—a sensation unlike anything he had ever known. It was as if a dormant fire had ignited within him, a sudden surge of heat that was strangely invigorating. Shouldn’t he be blacking out? What was this?
“What issss that?” Joma heard the snake say something, quickly followed by a gasp. He saw the Noivern’s gaze snap to something behind him, its eyes widening in alarm. A blur of movement streaked past Joma, followed by the sickening thud of a physical blow. Richter let out a roar of agony, his grip on Joma’s throat shattering, and he could feel the blood returning to his brain again. He choked a bit and spat on the ground.
“Who the hell are you?” The canid sounded panicked as well.
As Joma forced his head up, a new figure stepped between them and the dragon. The stranger wasn't as towering as Richter, but he seemed to... glow? The silhouette was unmistakable. It was…
“A Lucario?”
A mysterious Lucario had appeared out of nowhere, standing as a steadfast sentinel. The Pokémon glanced back over his shoulder—he, Joma instinctively knew it was a he—and for a fleeting second, their eyes met. Joma noticed the Lucario's pupils were a clouded grey; he wasn't tracking Joma with sight alone.
“I don’t know who the hell you are, but you’re no match for Richter!” —the canid barked—. “Richter! Hurrica—”
But the Lucario vanished in a blur of Extreme Speed, lunging upward to drive a fist into the Noivern’s snout. The dragon recoiled, blood beginning to trickle from his nostrils. Richter attempted a defiant roar, but his opponent gave him no quarter, unleashing a myriad of strikes. The Lucario wove through the dragon's counterattacks with elegant, practiced footwork, maintaining the relentless pressure of a Close Combat assault. Even Joma couldn’t follow his movements or imagine where he would hit, as he didn’t seem to stop. Richter thrashed helplessly, every desperate swipe met with a dozen stinging blows. Suddenly, the Lucario vaulted back, his paws circling in a rhythmic motion. An Aura Sphere began to amalgamate between his palms.
“Damn it! Retreat! Fall back!” the canid shrieked. Richter didn't need to be told twice; the dragon was visibly shaken by the newcomer’s prowess. With a frantic beat of its leathery wings, the dragon took flight, snatching the two hooded figures before bolting toward the night sky. He narrowly evaded the Aura Sphere the Lucario had launched in pursuit.
He just stood still, his head focused exactly where the Noivern and his companions had merged with the sky. He sighed and turned around, facing Joma for the first time.
Despite his power, Lucario had seemed to go through quite some trouble. His body was pretty much scarred. And another thing that drew the gecko’s attention was his fur. It wasn’t as bright as he had seen in the books, even a bit disheveled. Now the reason for the dull pupils became clear: age and severe cataracts had claimed his sight. Yet, the Lucario moved with an uncanny precision, as if he perceived a world far beyond mere vision.
The Lucario remained motionless, standing before Joma with a stern, unreadable expression. Despite the warrior's clouded eyes, Joma felt as though he were being scrutinized to his very core. Of course, Lucario could read auras with ease. Joma swallowed hard. Despite the Pokémon’s intimidating presence, a strange sense of familiarity washed over him- But… no, he hadn't seen a Lucario in person in his life. He shook his head in confusion.
Then, he felt a faint resonance in his mind, like a phantom caress.
“Are you alright? Can you stand?”
Right. Lucarios were among the few Pokémon who could talk telepathically. His voice was raspy and deep, echoing within Joma’s consciousness.
“Yes, but…” He looked at Verso, still unconscious in his embrace.
“Do not fret. He will recover. As will the little scrapper over there,” the Lucario gestured toward Eon with a tilt of his head. “Your companions possess great spirit.”
“We wouldn’t have made it without you, though,”—he swallowed—. “Thank you for saving us.”
Their savior shook his head solemnly.
“The only thanks I require is that you remain out of harm’s way. I know not who those shadows were, but their intent was grave.”
There was something strange in that sentence that made Joma wonder.
“How... did you know we were in danger?”
The Lucario made a pause. He looked away for a moment and spoke in the same fashion.
“I was just passing by the forests around town and felt something was wrong. It’s known that we can sense auras and their disturbances.”
And It was also common knowledge that Lucarios were a rarity in this part of the region. That one so powerful happened to be nearby felt like more than mere serendipity. Or... Joma had a nagging suspicion that the warrior was withholding the truth.
“Forgive me, but... have we met before?”
The Lucario crossed his arms, his posture shifting.
“Not to my knowledge.”
There was a pause between them. The Pokémon sighed and stepped back a bit.
“The police will be here momentarily. Now that you’re safe, I’m leaving the equation, kiddo. It was... a pleasure. I wish you luck.”
He turned around and started walking towards the forest…
Then, a thought surfaced in Joma’s mind. No—it wasn’t a thought. It was a single word.
A name.
“Are you... Quentin?”
He swore he had no idea how he knew that. But somehow he did.
The Lucario froze, then turned with agonizing slowness. His face mirrored Joma’s own bewilderment. He opened his maw to speak, but the words died in his throat. Frowning, he tilted his head and began to stalk back toward the boy, his movements wary.
“What gave you that idea?” the Lucario demanded.
“I—I don’t know!” Joma stammered, pulling Verso tighter against his chest. “It was... it was just a hunch.”
“A hunch?” The word seemed to haunt him. He hesitated, his gaze drifting as if he were suddenly lost in a memory. “So, this is... no...” He stared down at his scarred paws. “Could it be because of...?”
The wail of sirens shattered the moment. The Lucario’s focus snapped back to Joma with terrifying intensity. When he spoke again, his voice had dropped to a low, guttural growl.
“You and I have never met. That name means nothing to you—do you understand? Do not dare utter it to anyone. If you do... I will know.”
And with that, he ran away. No looking back.
The following hours passed in a disorienting blur. The police arrived in force, led by the local Officer Jenny. He answered some questions, and she made some calls. Some Pokémon paramedics took Verso and Eon into an ambulance. He tried to reach them, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
“You’ll be reunited with them soon. But first, I need you to come with me to provide a formal statement so we can piece together what happened. It won’t take long.” Her grip was firm, but her tone had softened. The teenager turned around to face the officer. “But before that, I need to contact your parents or legal guardians so that they can accompany you during the process”.
“A…Alma…” —Joma managed to say—. “Another friend of mine was attacked. He was in the sky with Crystal, his Dragonair. I don’t know if…” He swallowed, growing pale.
“Another friend? In the sky?” Officer Jenny frowned. She made a call with her earphones. This Officer sounded way more authoritarian than her relative in Andalusite town. “Shut down the concert and get a chopper in the air. We need to scout for any other victims,” she barked at an officer dressed in an identical uniform. “Agent Vee, I need you to take the kid to the police station while I put some order in here.”
Another blur, and he was sitting in a simple interrogation room. The atmosphere was stifling, though he wasn't restrained. A full glass of water sat before him; he had a hazy memory of an agent telling him to breathe and wait a moment before she stepped out, clicking the door shut. The sight of the water triggered a desperate thirst. He drained the glass in a few frantic gulps, but in his haste sent the liquid down the wrong pipe, leaving him coughing violently.
He was fidgeting with his fingers. He lost track of time as there was no clock in the room, and the officers took his mobile phone temporarily for security reasons at the station. Then, suddenly, the door opened again. The gecko didn’t have time to process much more as his mother immediately hugged him.
“Joma, oh, Joma,” She hugged him tightly, which made him exhale deeply. He slowly hugged her back. “I don’t know what happened, they told me you were attacked and I…”
She didn’t say much more for now. That pause allowed him to assess the situation more. Officer Jenny was sitting in front of him, staying silent to give them some time. Behind her, on both her sides, there were two other individuals: on her left, there was another Officer Jenny, whom he immediately recognized as the one he had talked with since he was a kid in Andalusite town. On her right, there was an Absol.
“Don’t worry about the Absol”, the Officer said when she observed Joma’s eyes were on them. “She is here just because of protocol. As I said, we are taking a statement from you to fully clarify what happened.”
Moreover, while Absol couldn't read minds, they were famous for sensing deception.
You and I have never met.
Joma swallowed hard. He felt an overriding urge to keep that secret buried. Andalusite town Jenny, on the other hand, was looking at him with clear worry. But it seems she was there for professional reasons, as she was holding a notepad, ready to take notes.
“Before we start, I have an update on Alma Estellux, Soel Tempest, and all your respective Pokémon.” She paused, took a steadying breath, and continued. “Soel Tempest is in the hospital, recovering from his wounds. Horyu, his Pokémon, will also take a statement after you, when he receives some treatment. He was the one who reached us with his trainer and alerted us about your situation.”
Joma nodded. His mother had taken his hand, squeezing it for reassurance. It truly helped.
“Your Pokémon, Verso and Eon Wildheart, are being treated at the local Pokémon Center. Both have sustained moderate-to-severe injuries, but they are expected to recover.”
“Thank you…” —Anne exhaled. She was crying silently—. “My apologies, Officer. I didn’t want to interrupt you.”
“It’s quite alright. Your son has endured a traumatic assault; you may take all the time you need,”—she replied, before her expression turned grave—. “Regarding Alma and Crystal Estellux...”
Joma got tense. Andalusite town Jenny stopped taking notes and bit her lips. The gecko started to fear the worst.
“We located them on the outskirts of Luminite Town. Their condition, however, is significantly more critical than the others. They have been airlifted to specialized ICUs in Cordierite City.” Cordierite town was the capital of the province. “As of right now, they are still alive, but struggling. I won’t get into details for now, but Alma’s body was…”—She hesitated, clearly measuring her words—. “We are uncertain if Mr. Estellux will suffer any long-term sequelae, or what the extent of those complications might be.”
“Oh, no…” Anne took a hand to her mouth in shock. Joma felt his blood draining down to his feet.
“They are in the best possible hands right now. We cannot do anything else for them at the moment. As for the situation itself, it seems you were attacked by some people suspicious of taking wild Pokémons and even stealing domestic ones on occasion in the province during these years. A battered yellow van was discovered near the scene. What little evidence and witness descriptions we’ve gathered align with the vehicle used by these suspects. However, if they escaped on foot, they weren’t nearby. As of yet, we haven’t located a hideout or any safe house within Luminite Town. The investigation is ongoing... Should they attempt to resume their felonious activities, they will find our presence much more oppressive.”
“From what we gathered, it seems Soel Tempest and Horyu were attacked first, and you and your Pokémons helped them escape to reach us. But of course, this is too… coincidental,”—Joma could see Andalusite town Jenny shifting the weight of one leg to another—. “I will just ask some questions to make the statement straight to the point so that you can rest as soon as possible. Even though this record dates back to your childhood, your parents stated that you found Verso shortly after he was abandoned by individuals in a similar yellow van. Is that accurate?”
Joma nodded.
“So, that leads me to the next question. Were you and Alma Estellux aware of these people’s movement patterns, and actively searching for them?”
Joma swallowed hard, his gaze dropping to his feet. He had no choice but to come clean, yet he knew he had to carefully omit certain details. He needed to navigate the questioning without triggering further scrutiny. Absol was still there. If he stuck to the facts—emphasizing some truths while downplaying others—he could avoid lying technically, thereby sidestepping the Absol’s detection.
“We were aware of these people, officer”.
“And, again, actively trying to find them?” She addressed, almost interrupting him.
Damn.
“…yes, officer”
Anne let out a sharp gasp. Joma missed Andalusite Officer Jenny’s reaction; his eyes were fixed on his sneakers, which were splattered with blood from an unknown source. Was it Verso’s? He breathed deeply. He couldn’t lose composure right there.
“At this moment, I would ask why or how you got this intel. But I will save that question. My colleague from Andalusite Town followed a hunch and audited her files. It was subtle, nearly imperceptible, but she found traces of recurring, unauthorized access to her hard drive dating back three years. We hypothesize that Alma Estellux had access to confidential documents and made an unauthorized copy for you to use and work with. My workmate claims to know Mr. Estellux enough to consider that possibility. With that information, you two worked together to try stopping these people, deducing useful information, and without resorting to official institutions for that task. Does this sound coherent to you, Joma?”
“My son would never…”
“We didn’t think you’d take the threat seriously, so... yes, we took matters into our own hands.” —He mustered the courage to meet the officer’s gaze, despite his trembling hands—. “But this is all my fault. I was the first victim, so it was due to me that Alma was involved.”
Joma could feel his mother tensing behind him. Absol’s ears perked up for a moment. Officer Jenny squinted at her for a second before proceeding.
Officer Jenny glanced at the Absol for a moment before proceeding. “A truthful statement, Joma, but an imprecise one. It’s noble of you to shield your friend, but we know he was the architect of this operation—not you.”
Joma’s eyes went wide open.
“How could you possibly know that?”
“I didn’t,” —she admitted coolly—. “I was casting a line, and you bit.”
Joma gritted his teeth, feeling the sting of the trap.
“Easy, kid. I just needed to establish who initiated the operation. Even so, it’s not a first-degree offense. Besides, he was a minor when he began doing it, and he has potentially contributed to stopping a malign activity in the whole province. All things considered, Alma Estellux will receive a formal warning from the police, but there won’t be further repercussions as long as he doesn’t do any other unlawful actions. As for you, since you weren't the one who obtained the data or masterminded the plan, you aren't technically liable for this particular infraction”.
Joma bit his lip. He guessed he couldn’t ask for a better outcome for Alma.
“Could you walk me through the plan and the sequence of events in as much detail as possible? We need it for the official record.”
The gecko explained their plan to face the people from the yellow van. He also detailed how Horyu probably had a hunch and went on his own to find them. Soel followed, and they
found them with Alma’s help…
“…and I lost connection with him.”
“So he was attacked in the sky?”
“I didn’t know then, but yes, he surely was attacked then. We focused on getting to Soel and Horyu. Soel was on the verge of being disposed of when we intervened. We bought enough time for Horyu to regain consciousness, attacked one of them, took Soel, and I suggested that he escape. There was a Haunter and a Gengar. Eon covered Horyu’s escape, and the Haunter followed them. Verso and I stayed behind to fight the Gengar. I don’t know what happened to the Haunter. My guess is Eon and Horyu defeated him or escaped, because Eon ended up returning to our aid.”
“The latter. We suspected the criminals were using Pokémon, but we had no idea which species. The Haunter is likely at large now. At this moment, our police corps is patrolling the town and its surroundings, looking for more evidence. Either we locate them, or they’ve already fled the area. I’ll order an intensified patrol. They might provide crucial leads regarding the suspects and the third Pokémon that intercepted Mr. Estellux and his Pokémon. Continue, please.”
“Verso, Eon, and I managed to overcome the Gengar. But then... that Pokémon arrived. A Noivern.”
“The Pokémon who attacked Alma,” —Officer Jenny deduced—. “Considering the state you were in when we found you, he defeated you three, right?”
“Yes, officer.”
The lupine police took a moment, thinking to herself. She then looked at her wristwatch and addressed Andalusite town Jenny.
“Officer, talk to the patrols. Add some helicopters and our fastest Pidgeot. There might be a chance to get them if they escaped with the aid of the Noivern.”
“Roger, officer.”
Under better circumstances, he might have wondered how multiple Officer Jennies addressed one another in a meeting. But this was no time for idle curiosity. Andalusite town Jenny left the room swiftly.
“I doubt we’ll intercept them, given how much time has passed, but every second is vital.” —She turned back to Joma, her expression softening slightly—. “We’re almost done, Joma, I promise. But there is a glaring inconsistency: you were defeated, yet the criminals didn't press their advantage. They could have taken your Pokémon. But they didn’t. Also, we found a revolver at the scene. It had exploded”.
The revolver…
“Oh, gods…” Anne exhaled in fear.
“What I am trying to say is… something else must have come to your aid. If we took into account the window period between Horyu escaping from the scene, reaching us, and then coming for you, they had enough time to take you with them. Something—or someone—must have intervened for them to leave behind evidence like the van, the shattered revolver, and even you as a loose end. Do you know what happened?”
You and I have never met.
He remembered the strange sensation—the surge of adrenaline when he saw Soel on the brink of death. Then, a gap in his memory. He’d blinked, and the revolver had detonated. But how? Did the mechanism get stuck? What a lucky coincidence. Another serendipity?
Are you Quentin?
The feeling of Richter’s claw at the sides of his neck.
You and I have never met.
His thoughts fractured, memories tangling into a chaotic knot. He forced himself to take a breath. Then another.
“Are you ok?” the officer asked.
“I’m fine. I’m sorry... it must be the exhaustion.”
“My son needs to rest,” —Anne pleaded, her voice thick with worry—. “Please.”
“No, Mom, it’s okay. Let me answer.” Joma spoke with deliberate slowness, buying himself precious seconds to formulate a response that was technically honest without explicitly mentioning Quentin. “The events unfolded as I described, Officer, but... to be blunt, I was in shock. Watching Soel nearly die... it’s one thing to have a friendly spar, but it’s another entirely to face criminals who are indifferent to casualties. We fought the way I described to you. Noivern arrived, he defeated us, and… yes, someone arrived. A Pokémon. It was dark, and the adrenaline was surging, so my memory is hazy. Based on the silhouette, it could have been a Zoroark, a Lucario, a Zeraora... perhaps even a Midnight Form Lycanroc. It intervened, then vanished.”
“A… Lucario?” His mother wondered.
Joma nodded and added quickly.
“It could be. It was bipedal and had a canine form. So, maybe not a Zeraora. But I don’t know.”
The gecko inhaled and exhaled. He looked at the officer with a distressed expression. What he had said was technically true, but also pretty vague.
The Absol’s unblinking stare made his pulse quicken. A wave of nausea rolled through him, but he gripped the edges of his seat to stay upright.
“I see. That’s perfectly understandable,” —the Officer replied, seemingly satisfied—. “I admit all those are pretty rare in the province, but it’s also true that they aren’t gregarious by nature. Makes sense, some specific and good-natured Pokémon individuals could be there and help someone they considered younger and more vulnerable.” She nodded, considering his answer satisfactory. The Absol tilted her head, her skepticism lingering, yet she didn't move to contradict her superior. “Before we conclude, is there anything else? Any small detail that might be of use?”
It’s a long way until we arrive at Heliodor city.
You are on a really fucking miraculous day, kid. Higher-up want us to take you to them.
We are just some errand souls here, mere pieces from the grand design, basted by The Reaper.
Who was The Reaper? Joma had a feeling he had to be really careful who to share that information with. Whoever they were, the thugs depicted them as someone with contacts and resources. Who was to say the station wasn't compromised? If someone here worked for them, he would be nothing more than another loose end to be snipped. No—he had to tread carefully. He couldn't afford a single misstep.
“Not that I recall, officer. I am sorry.”
“It is okay. Thank you for your cooperation, Joma. Ms. Wildheart, you both can leave now.”
“...going to fucking kill him!”
“Don’t you dare lay a finger on my son!”
The moment they stepped out of the room, a heated shouting match erupted near the station exit. Before Joma could even process the noise, a heavy thud echoed through the hall, and Arthas Estellux burst into the precinct. A vein throbbed in his temple, his nostrils flaring as his predatory gaze swept the room until it locked onto Joma. He lunged forward with such feral speed that he struck Joma in the left eye before anyone could intervene. Anne screamed as Joma hit the floor. He felt his collar jerked upward, the rush of air signaling another imminent blow, only for the Andalusite Officer Jenny to tackle Arthas, pinning his arms behind his back.
“Mr. Estellux! Calm down, or I will have to arrest you!” Jenny’s voice was as steady as she could muster while restraining her unofficial boyfriend, but Arthas’s tunnel vision was fixed solely on Joma. His parents rushed to his side, hoisting him to his feet. Finally, after some seconds, Alma’s father finally managed to return to his usual icy demeanor. The officer still held his hands when he spoke again:
“I should have been stricter—I never should have allowed lower beings like you to contaminate my son. If he survives this, I’ll ensure you never lay eyes on him again. And if he doesn’t...”
“I remind you that you are in the presence of law enforcement, Mr. Estellux. Implicit threats against a minor are a serious offense and grounds for immediate arrest,” Jenny declared, her professional mask firmly in place. Joma felt a brief surge of faith in the police: even if he was her boyfriend, Jenny was stern and firm, not allowing injustice to get through. He addressed Joma’s parents. “You should leave now”.
Joma’s father looked as enraged as Arthas seemed before, but Anne’s pleading seemed to cool him down. With that, the family left the station.
So... that was it. The pieces of the puzzle had finally slotted into place. Joma opened his eyes, the weight of reality settling back onto his shoulders. He pressed his forehead against Verso’s hand, offering a lingering kiss to the frog’s cool skin.
“Will you be alright, Joma? Are you certain you don't want to come home with us?” his mother had asked earlier, her voice trembling as they checked on Verso and Eon in the Pokémon Center.
“Please. I want… I need to be with them.”
His parents hesitated.
“I... we understand, son,” Raphael finally conceded. “We will have a long, serious talk about... all of this. But for now, your safety is what matters. We’ll be back tomorrow morning; then, you’ll let us take over the vigil, okay?”
“Okay”
When they left, his mother turned around for a second. She opened her mouth but closed it.
“Are you okay, Mom?”
“I... yes. Forgive me.” She averted her gaze, her eyes darting toward the shadows. What was wrong with her? “This night has simply exhausted me as well. That must be it.”
It made sense. It’s not like he had energy for more intrigues anyway.
“Joma?”
He blinked, spinning around. He could have sworn he heard a voice—distinct and clear—calling his name. The ward was empty, but when his eyes landed on Verso, he saw the Frogadier’s eyes flutter open. Weak, but conscious.
“Verso!” Joma choked out, tears welling in his eyes as he pulled the Pokémon into a gentle embrace. The Frogadier feebly rubbed Joma's back, nuzzling his cheek. “I was... I've been so worried...”
“I was so worried too! I am glad you are less hurt than me!”
Wait…
Joma stiffened and pulled back. Heart racing, he placed his hands on Verso’s shoulders.
“Verso... I understood you.”
“What?”
Joma heard only a wet croak, yet the meaning was unmistakable. He knew exactly what his friend had just communicated.
“You expressed you were worried too, and you were glad to see me less hurt than you…”
It took a few seconds for the deep implications of the revelation to sink in. Verso’s eyes widened in sheer disbelief.
What the hell was happening?
Diamond Metropolis was a city of deep fractures: the crime rate soared above the regional average, the wealth gap between Pokémon and anthros was a yawning chasm, and public healthcare withered under a relentlessly neoliberal tide. However, the sights would never stop being amazing.
He lit a cigar and leaned against the terrace railing. Twenty stories below, the hum of late-night traffic refused to dim. It was a city that never slept—and he relished that. A place full of infinite potential and possibilities, no matter when. Truly liberating.
He pulled out one of his burner phones and logged into a secure email account. He was still impressed by Argo’s suggestion of using dead drops for their clandestine correspondence. “If users on the same tier share a single account and leave messages in the drafts folder, there’s no metadata trail. No transmission, no trace.” The boy was a psychopath—a sadist of a caliber that even he found unsettling. Yet, that wolf in sheep’s clothing was as brilliant as he was depraved. Surely, God would overlook his sins in light of the service he rendered
As anticipated, a new draft was waiting. He pored over the contents, his brow furrowing as he absorbed the report. He read it a second time, slower.
“I see...”
He purged the draft and typed a concise reply while the wind carried his cigar ash into the void. His task complete, he turned his gaze back to the sprawling urban lights.
He was going to miss those views. After all, it seemed he had to return to his hometown for some time.
1. Author´s note: This is a biblical reference, specifically Revelation 20:1.
Here I bring you the end of the chapter, and possibly the climax of this first story arc. There is still some left of it, but now there will be path leaning to what will happen next. Cliffhanger is solved, but some questions arise, heheh.
This is the full commmission I ordered to
for this chapter. Now that is finally over, I can share it fully to you =DI thank tindalost (on Telegram), for being my loyal beta-reader. They helped me correct a couple things and reminded me a bit of Pokemon lore to maintain accuracy
Hope you like the chapter! Feel free to share your thoughts here
Category All / Pokemon
Species Gecko
Size 3839 x 2160px
File Size 9.25 MB
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