Two days later, I found myself still trying to figure out the new technology. I tapped on the watch, each tap seamlessly switching to the next app. I was looking for the settings app to switch the order of all the other apps, but I accidentally tapped too quickly and passed it for the fifth time.
"Arceus, this thing is annoying," I fumed. It took another three attempts before I landed on the right app.
"So, what's going to happen now?" Alex asked, his hands fidgeting with his bowl and fork. We were eating dinner in front of the campfire I started. We were in Connecting Cave now, which was enormous. The walls and ceiling were barely within sight, Pokémon had more than enough room to avoid us, and we had plenty of room for battles with the occasional Trainer that passed. It also helped me avoid talking to Alex. Truthfully, I didn't know what I wanted to do. I was going to report him for sure, but I couldn't decide whether I should do it immediately or after completing the escort mission. And then there was Swinub himself…
I looked up to see him egging Tetsu on as she tenderly nudged a sleeping Whismur. "Stop causing trouble!" I whisper-shouted. Swinub instantly appeared next to Nautilus, observing him in his meditation. I went back to moving the apps around as Tetsu woke the wild Pokémon
My team quickly took Swinub under their care. He and Tetsu played together the entire time since we'd left Camphrier Town. It was sweet until he got bored of tag and led Tetsu to bother some of the locals. After that, I had to keep an eye on them to make sure nothing else happened. One swarm of Zubat was enough for a lifetime, and then some.
Nova, well, I needed to keep Nova away from him. He was already mischievous. Together, they were on demon time.
Nautilus, on the other hand, was a fantastic influence. We'd only been traveling together for a couple of days, but I already noticed how Swinub straightened up when Nautilus hovered nearby. It wasn't out of fear either. I had Swinub join a training session after the Day Care mess, and Nautilus really put in the work to show why he was still number one. And by putting in work, I meant putting belt to ass. That afternoon's training was an all-out brawl with Nautilus easily coming out on top.
'Maybe I should do a three-versus-one,' I thought as I saved the new order of apps.
A shiver ran down my arms, and when I looked up, I saw Nautilus giving me a dirty look. I nodded in response.
"I've been asking for a while now, and you haven't given me an answer yet," Alex huffed. "What the hell is the problem?"
"You," I sighed. "You're the problem."
"How am I the problem?! I haven't even done anything!"
"You've neglected Swinub," I told him, my voice and face hardening. "Your lab's website says you joined two years ago. If they gave you a Pokémon when you joined, you've had Swinub for two years and rarely interacted with him or let him out of his PokéBall for at least one. The League's guidelines on Pokémon care say you have to release them at least once a week for a minimum of three hours to ensure they get proper exercise and mental stimulation. You also need to feed them at least once every two weeks if they are mostly in their balls. Now, if you're being honest with yourself, have you followed the bare minimum for Swinub?"
We stayed silent for a long while. At some point, Nova, Tetsu, Swinub, and Nautilus had their attention on us. When it became obvious Alex was not going to answer, I pressed on. "You've been neglecting Swinub. It's no wonder he doesn't like you. You've treated him like shit! No, worse than that. At least you'd pick up shit to throw it away or scrape it off the bottom of your shoe. You left him in his PokéBall for Arceus knows how long. And you really want to know what's going to happen now?
"Once we get back, I'm reporting your neglect to the League and-"
"No!" Alex shouted, standing up in a panic. His bowl clattered on the floor. "Y-you can't do that! I'll lose my research position!"
"Do you seriously think they'll want to keep someone who neglects the Pokémon they were provided?"
"I…" The words died in his mouth. He knew the answer. He gripped his fork, his knuckles turning white. I blinked, and then he lunged.
I grabbed his fork-armed hand with my left, his face with my right, and I twisted to slam him into the floor. His eyes glazed over for a moment, his mouth open in a soundless gasp. I held him down by his throat, making sure to let him breathe. I stared into his eyes as rage filled every muscle fiber in my body. His face pleaded as I steadily increased the pressure.
"You're done. Maybe you could have explained yourself away and kept your job. But you fucked up when you attacked me, a registered Pokémon League AND Sycamore Labs Trainer."
I let go and stood up, walking over to Swinub after getting his ball from Alex's backpack. The other three had rushed over already, forming a semi-circle around us. Now, they stood as guards against Alex as he choked and greedily sucked for air. I kneeled in front of the Ground Type, lifting the ball in front of his face. "I can't do anything yet," I said, rubbing between his eyes, "but once we get to the lab, things will be different for you. You can go back to the research lab. They will take care of you and find you a Trainer who will treat you right. Honestly, you'd live a pretty comfortable life. But I'd be lying if I said that's what I want for you. Because, truthfully, I want to take care of you. I don't trust anyone else to do that right now."
I looked Swinub in the eye before asking, "If I can make it happen, will you join us?"
He didn't hesitate to jump into my arms, snorting and ugly crying as snot shot out in slimy roped. "Swi, Swi, Swinub!"
0-0-0-0-0-0
[His POV]
"What do you have to say for yourselves?"
My voice booms, coming from everywhere and nowhere all at once. There are very few events that escape my awareness. Those that do often need rectification, as Cyrus of his so-called Galactic experienced. However, I cannot not make an example out of these two.
"It's my fault!" Hoopa exclaims, the tiny one's emotions fluctuating between shame, guilt, and fear. "I was playing and… and…"
"And you brought another stranger to our dimension."
I heavily dislike when Hoopa plays their games, but they are a child when confined as they are. I remember when Giratina's curiosity garnered trouble for our world. I cannot repeat the same mistake.
"Please don't get Hoopa in trouble. I'll take the blame for it." Large blue eyes stare at me, filled with remorse. I see her cream-colored fur, bristling in anticipation for a punishment that will not arrive. When I imparted the ability to turn any situation into a positive experience, I did not foresee how it could be used against me. But such is our experiences. I stare at the red coloring of her long, outstretched ears.
"I only wish to understand why an unremarkable child was brought to our world after your first mistake."
Hoopa's energies bubble with embarrassment, an oft unusual emotion for my direct children. "Well, I, uh, I sneezed."
I freeze. I slowly turn to stare at them. "You sneezed?"
A portal appears just underneath Hoopa, a portal I shatter before they realize it is there. They shrink smaller than I have ever seen them. I close my eyes, allowing information from throughout our universe to enter before integrating itself into my consciousness.
"What have you given him?"
"Given? What-"
"Do not test my patience, little ones. Your first mistake created an integral event that I cannot change without the occurrence of a time split. Your second mistake is a deviation in my awareness. If I am to aid him in his fate, I must know what you've done unto him."
Victini, the destined victor, did not hesitate. "I made it so his Pokémon grow stronger tenfold faster from battles. I don't want him to die because of us."
I nod. This is a fair boon. The boy must be strong when he faces the alien Maykr. I stare at Hoopa and expect a similar gift to the boy.
"Well, I was going to give him a lot of money, but the Victini gave him an ability. So I gave him one too!" they shout, exuding pride and satisfaction at empowering a human. "His body now processes Infinity Energy just like a Pokémon!"
They are gone before they realize I've sent them away. I am done.
0-0-0-0-0-0
[Hoopa POV, Palkia's Space Dimension]
"Uh-oh, I think He's mad," I tell Victini.
"Jeez, you don't say?" She rolls her eyes. "I swear I'll kill you if He is."
"Pretty please?!"