[[Kyle had woken in a cold, dark void.
The surrounding nothingness was familiar enough that it seemed only a little off-putting.]]
KYLE H-hello…?
Is anyone there?
(Did I… die?)
[[Kyle placed a paw to his chest.
He sat in silence and listened: the only sound to be heard was that of his heartbeat, the
emptiness around him making it seem even louder than usual.]]
KYLE (My heart’s still beating, but… where am I?
What happened…?)
I remember…
pain… and then everything went black…
Hhrgh…
what happened to everyone else?! I--
[[Strange sounds began to surface from all around him.
He turned in every direction, nervously trying to pinpoint where all of it was coming from.
His heartbeat began to grow faster and louder, and he could feel cold sweat beginning to
form on his face.]]
KYLE Who… who’s there?!
What is this place?!
ARCEUS Kyle...
KYLE [Yelps]
[[Hearing the familiar voice, Kyle jumped, turning to face behind him.
Then, from the shadows, a pokemon appeared, so clearly to him, despite the lack of a light
source… the looming form of Arceus, the legendary pokemon said to wield the power
to shape worlds.]]
KYLE (baffled) Y-you're--
ARCEUS I am Arceus, yes...
Please, do not fear.
KYLE (Shaky) I know your voice.
You spoke to me before, you’re the one who brought me here… aren’t you?
ARCEUS Yes. I played a part in that.
KYLE Well, can you... take me back home?!
I was in a void like this before, right?
Can’t you make another big light and just send me back to my-
ARCEUS Kyle… as things are now, even if I wanted
to, I cannot send you back yet.
KYLE (N… no… am I going to be stuck here?
Stuck as a pokemon forever?!)
ARCEUS There is a reason why you were summoned.
Did you not think of questioning that at all?
KYLE What… a reason?
What reason could you possibly have?
I-I’m just a nobody!
I don’t--
ARCEUS There isn’t much I can share with you at this moment, it isn't safe, but I brought you here because I am under siege.
KYLE Siege?! I-I don't understand, what could threaten YOU?
ARCEUS You must understand…
this isn’t just about me.
In fact, all living creatures are in danger, both in this world… and in yours.
I have chosen you, and used my last moments of freedom to bring you here.
KYLE Why me?!
Couldn’t you have picked any human, what am I supposed to do?
ARCEUS Kyle, you are… different.
There is something within you, something incredibly special…
but it is still far too early.
Telling you everything now would be a risk: my remaining energy is slowly shrinking, and…
we are not quite alone.
[[Kyle's spine bristled and his hackles raised in anticipation.]]
[[He half expected something to jump out and attack him that very moment, but instead,
what felt like an eternity went by and nothing happened.]]
ARCEUS There will be others who will guide you and help you find your way.
You must follow their guidance… and you must believe.
[[Arceus closed his eyes.
Slowly, his form faded back into the darkness, leaving nothing but his voice in the air…]]
ARCEUS Good luck, Kyle.
Grant my wish.
[[Barely before he finished speaking, Arceus
was gone as suddenly and inexplicably as he had appeared.
Kyle was once again left to sit in the darkness, the beating of his heart -- much faster now
-- filled the silence once again.
Slowly, the weight of the godly Pokemon's words began to settle in.]]
KYLE (Save the world? This has to be a joke, o-or some sort of nightmare!
There’s nothing special about me, I should be home right now, asleep in bed!
I can’t…
I can’t do this…)
[[Kyle didn’t know what to do, or how to process
what he had been told.
His only reaction was to shrink and cover his face with his paws, waiting so his breathing
could slow down...
Then suddenly, all the air left his lungs at once.
KYLE (Gasps, chokes)
[[Looking down, Kyle realized a smoky, black tendril had extended from somewhere in the
void beneath him and wrapped itself around his stomach and neck.
His eyes widened as he realized he was having the life slowly choked out of him.]]
THE ENTITY Ah… so here you are.
The little child Arceus decided to pit against me…
[[Kyle could see a few brief flashes of red through the void, in the corners of his vision,
almost like a passing creature of some sort.]]
KYLE Wh-what’s happening-- glk-- who’s there--
THE ENTITY So pitiful… so helpless.
What was that pathetic being thinking, bringing you here?
Does he really believe that all it takes to “bring me down” is a sad little human?
[[Flailing his legs, Kyle tried to kick the tendrils away, to no avail.
More appeared and immobilized his hind feet, then his tail, his paws, his snout.
Kyle could no longer move or breathe, and he had already begun to feel his lungs burn
and his vision blur.
He groaned and flailed, trying desperately to cry out into the darkness for help.]]
KYLE (“Groans and flails”, muffled and out of breath)
THE ENTITY (Laughing)
Fighting is useless!
[[The terrified umbreon felt everything start to slip from him once more: he had lost all
feeling in his legs and torso.]]
KYLE (Am I really going to die here?
In the void, where nobody can hear me…?)
[[Ominous red eyes appeared before him as the world became heavier and fuzzier...]]
THE ENTITY What does he expect you to do?
Come find me and face me yourself?
(Laughter) Fine!
Come to me, then!
Try, there is nothing you can do: Arceus is merely wasting what little energy I’ve yet
to steal from him…
Soon, both worlds will belong to me!
He says there’s something within you?
I’ll find you, little Kyle, and tear it RIGHT OUT OF YOU!
[[Then, the tendrils shook and twisted, releasing Kyle's body and flinging him into the air.]]
KYLE (Yelling as he falls)
[[When he collapsed into the dark ground, everything around him snapped into color.]]
[WHISPERS OF “KYLE” SLOWLY ARISE]
[[Kyle opened his eyes so wide they hurt.
He clawed at the ground and gasped for the air he’d been lacking in the void.]]
OLIVER Ah, I think he’s finally coming to.
NILA Kyle…?
Kyle!
Are you alright?!
Wake up!
[[The umbreon looked around him and saw that Nila was standing there, her ears flat to
her head and face full of worry.
At either side, a decidueye and a wartortle stood, an air of authority about them.]]
NILA Oh, thank goodness… C-can you see me?
How many tailtips am I holding up?!
TORKE Don’t worry, lass, he’s fine…
Waaaaaaitaminute!
He wasn’t fine a second ago.
In fact, he had a huge wound right here… where’d it go?!
OLIVER Maybe you just didn’t see it right, it could’ve been mud.
TORKE Whaddayamean, “mud”?
It was this huge bloody purple thing and now it’s gone!
KYLE What…
What's going on…?
OLIVER Oh, welcome to the waking world, partner.
[[The decidueye spoke.]]
OLIVER The name’s Oliver Privy, Chief of Pleada
Town Rescue Team, and this one here is my deputy Don--
TORKE -- You can just call me Torke.
That’ll do just fine.
KYLE Rescue…
what…?
OLIVER We’ll explain later…
It looks like you got knocked out by something.
NILA I-it was a gengar, sir.
It was big… and glowing.
TORKE We heard about the whole commotion in the market.
Are you sayin’ that gengar was the one responsible for killin’ the pigeot right in front of everyone?
NILA I’m quite sure, but I think he had help...
OLIVER Hmm yes, the tentacool, was it?
We managed to arrest that one.
TORKE I’d hardly call that an arrest, boss, he
was unconscious the whole time.
Probably still is.
OLIVER Well, what matters is that it’s now in custody.
(The gengar is still at large, however)…
Well!
Back to you, our brave hit-taker.
I gather your name is Kyle?
KYLE Y-yes, uh, sir…?
OLIVER Are you new around here?
I’ve never seen you before.
[KYLE: Well, I--]
Oh well, that hardly matters.
You had a few injuries, some of them minor.
(Very few minor, actually-) And some profuse eye bleeding.
For a moment there we thought you were a goner for sure, but now all of those wounds seem
to have disappeared…
(Strange.)
Well, I suppose if you’re good to get up, we’ll send you home and that will be that.
NILA and KYLE [Efforts]
NILA (Whispering) Are you sure you’re alright?
KYLE (Whispering back) Well I’m still exhausted but…
I’ll manage.
(You wouldn’t believe me if I told you about what happened with Arceus anyways…)
TORKE Well, see you around, kid.
Take care o’ yourself.
NARRATOR Oliver and his wartortle deputy made to leave.
NILA Ch-chief Oliver, wait.
OLIVER Hmm?
Yes, Nila, what is it?
If you’re going to ask me when the next entrance exam is, you can wait until I’m-
NILA No, sir, listen…
there was something wrong about those two pokemon that attacked the market today…
I managed to push the tentacool away quite easily, but when I tried to attack the gengar,
it… m-my moves just had no effect.
I used Psychic, and I know that gengars are supposed to be--
OLIVER Well, perhaps it was just a particularly powerful one?
(You know, some of those Cantorian ghost-types are rather nasty when it comes to--)
NILA No!
I-I mean, please, listen to me.
There’s something really wrong about them.
Be careful… if you said the gengar is still at large, it could hurt even more people.
OLIVER Don’t you worry, Nila.
The Rescue Team already carried out a lockdown order while we investigate and try to find
the fugitive.
You can be sure we’ll be questioning that tentacool as soon as it wakes up, you don’t
have to tell us to be more careful than we’ve already been...
Alright?
NILA I…
(Sigh) alright, I suppose.
OLIVER Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got investigation
reports to attend to.
Your friends are waiting for you, by the way.
[[As Oliver and Torke walked away toward the market, Nila turned to Kyle and the rest of
the town.
The streets were empty, drowning in a morbid silence.
Josh, Fiona and Dewey waited nearby, and waved at them.]]
JOSH Oh look, Kyle’s okay!
Let’s hurry and get outta here!
FIONA No kidding!
I’m going to lose my mind if I ever have to see the color purple again.
DEWEY Yeah, yeah, let’s move.
Josh, we’re going home.
JOSH Awh, are you kidding me?
I wanted to stay at Nila’s place for a bit, that’s not fair!
DEWEY It’s too dangerous!
We have to be on our way, so get over here.
NILA Come on, Kyle… let’s go.
[[Kyle and Nila walked away, toward the exit of town, to the safety of Nila’s home.]]
[[The night air hung heavy with moisture, making it clear that rain was coming.
Sneaking carefully across the Pleada River bridge, a cloaked pokemon made its way to
the sleeping, recovering town.
A bag strapped across its back, the pokemon moved forth with purpose, knowing what might
await beyond Pleada Town’s wooden borders.]]
SETH Yeah, yeah…
I don’t get why we gotta stand guard around here anyway.
It’s just… it’s just a dead guy.
ALITA Seth!
Take it seriously, it’s our job as Rescue Team officers, y’know!
SETH Well sure, I know!
I just…
I wish I could be doin’ something more useful, like interrogating that other guy or uh…
helping catch the one that got away.
ALITA You know we have to leave that to the ghost tracking group, they’re the ones with Odor Sleuth and Foresight.
SETH I could go out there and catch it with my bare claws! I bet you right now, right now!
I know Night Slash -- we BOTH know I know Night Slash--!
ALITA Well, you should apply to join their team, then! You had the chance last summer, Seth!
GLACIE Excuse me.
[[The cloaked pokemon had stepped up to a pair of Pleada Rescue Team officers, a Zangoose and a Bayleef, standing in the marketplace next to the scene of the killing.]]
SETH Oh, uh… hi.
[[The zangoose eyed him suspiciously.]]
SETH This area’s off limits, what do ya want?
GLACIE Pardon my intrusion, but… what exactly happened
here?
SETH (amused) Oh, wouldn’t you like to know!
ALITA Come on, Seth, it’s only a civilian asking
a question.
SETH Yeah, Alita, a creepy guy in a dark cloak.
Nothin’ about ‘im says “civilian.”
ALITA Sorry about him, mister…?
GLACIE You can call me Glacie.
[[The two officers glanced at each other, uncertain.]]
SETH I told ya he was suspicious.
ALITA Th-this is a crime scene.
We apprehended one of the suspects but the other - a gengar - is still at large.
The market will be closed for the night and possibly all of tomorrow so that the Rescue
Team may continue the investigation into the murder.
GLACIE [ASIDE, TO SELF] So it was murder…
[TO ALITA] Ah, you said you were part of a Rescue Team?
Where can I find your headquarters?
SETH Sure, well, why do ya wanna know?
ALITA Uh-- d-down that way and to the left, you
should reach an area with tall coconut trees and a warehouse… we’re the building to
the right.
If you see any sign of the missing suspect, please alert the Rescue Team.
GLACIE I see.
Thank you ever so much for the clear directions, I’ll be sure to alert you of any trouble.
SETH Yeah, yeah, we did what you asked, now do
what I ask and get lost, will ya?
GLACIE … of course.
Again, forgive the intrusion.
[[Glacie nodded respectfully and padded away, slinking into the shadows between two houses.
The officers looked at each other again.]]
SETH … only trouble I wanna be alerted to is
whatever kind that one’s causing.
ALITA Yeah…
now that I think about it, he seems weird.
SETH You just noticed, Alita?
ALITA I mean…
“Glacie” sounds a bit cute for someone that looks like an ice wizard.
SETH I’m going back to thinking about how I’m
gonna catch that stupid gengar…
TORKE Y’know, I’m just not sure what to make of this.
I mean, come on, murder?
We haven’t had to deal with that in years.
And then when it does happen, it’s like…
some kind of tag team of crazy glowing dudes.
OLIVER I’ve seen worse, honestly.
TORKE What on Earth kinda stuff have you seen?!
OLIVER Look, we just have to let the ghost catching
team do what they do best.
TORKE I mean, yeah, but… it’s been hours.
That tentacool hasn’t budged.
Is it even alive?
OLIVER --pfft Of course it’s alive, Hahahaha--!
[sigh] ... why wouldn’t it be?
[[Just then, the door to the Rescue Team headquarters opened wide.
Oliver felt a cold breeze ruffle his feathers and turned to see a cloaked stranger, stepping
inside calmly.]]
OLIVER Oh, uh… hello?
It’s rather late, I’m not sure what you could possibly need…
GLACIE Are you the chief of this town’s Rescue
Team?
OLIVER W… why yes, I am.
GLACIE … might I request to see the tentacool you
have in custody?
OLIVER W-well, I’m not-
TORKE --Why, he a friend of yours?
Visiting hours are over, you know.
GLACIE I understand, gentlemen.
There’s just… a matter I wish to clarify.
TORKE I said… visiting hours.
Are over.
OLIVER What are you doing?
TORKE Oliver, stand back.
[[Glacie stepped forward.]]
GLACIE Gentlemen.
You must understand: that tentacool should not be in that cell, and if my suspicions
are correct, it should not be anywhere near this town.
TORKE What, so it really is a friend of yours?
I was kinda joking, you know.
GLACIE No, it’s simply too dangerous for all of
us… you wouldn’t believe me if I told you.
Please, let me through.
TORKE I’m gonna have to go with a big fat no on
that one, chief.
GLACIE … that’s alright.
It is imperative that I do this.
[[A cloud of snow erupted from Glacie’s cloak, and icy spikes formed on the floor
around him.]]
OLIVER What’s going on?!
TORKE [chuckles] I’ve seen your type.
That tentacool know somethin’ it shouldn’t, don’t it?
You wanna "erase" him?
GLACIE Not quite… but there are powers that exist
beyond this world that make that tentacool more dangerous than you can imagine…
you’re in over your heads, and I’ve no time to stand here and risk letting it awaken.
[[Glacie leaped at Torke and Oliver, blowing a cloud of snow between them as a distraction.
He landed and tried to slip by them, but Torke grabbed him by the tail.]]
TORKE Oh you are not gonna be murderin’ anyone
tonight!
[[Torke leaped into the air and rolled into his shell, launching Glacie back closer to
the entrance.
Oliver pulled a quill from his back and stretched one of his uniform straps into a bow with
his wingtip, training the point of the quill at him like an arrow.]]
OLIVER That tentacool may have hurt someone, but
we will not stand by and let you do the same.
GLACIE That tentacool is endangering every citizen
in this town just by being here!
And the gengar that escaped could be doing damage already, I hardly have time to discuss!
[[Glacie shot Ice Beam from his jaws, forcing Oliver and Torke to split apart.
He raced through them toward the door at the end of the room and blasted the floor in front
of them, creating a wall of icy spikes to keep them from approaching.]]
GLACIE I don’t want to hurt either of you.
This conversation is over.
[[Glacie pushed through the door at the back end of the room, running down the hall behind it.
Oliver shot his quill, but it missed and stuck to the wood instead.]]
OLIVER He’s going to the detention area, we need
to stop him!
[[With a thumbs up, Torke retreated into his shell.
Oliver promptly gave him a hard kick, sending him crashing through the wall of ice, creating
an opening.]]
[[Racing through the door, Oliver and Torke ran down the hall after Glacie to the detention
area.
When they arrived, they caught sight of him standing at the end of the room, watching
the unconscious tentacool through the prison bars.]]
GLACIE So I was right…
it seems my suspicions have been validated, this is--
OLIVER Step away from the cell with your paws where
we can see them!
[[Oliver had another quill arrow trained on Glacie, who tensed and turned his head at
the officers slightly.]]
TORKE Y’know, in your position I would’ve said
“freeze,” sounds a lot cooler and ironic.
OLIVER Stop telling me how to do my-- wha...
[[Just then, Oliver dropped his quill.
He saw the tentacool slowly rise in its cell as they spoke, a look of hatred in its scarlet
eyes.]]
TORKE Oh dear.
GLACIE What--
[[As soon as Glacie turned back to look into the cell, the tentacool had swung out and
hit the bars hard, slightly bending them.]]
TORKE Dear lord!
How’d it do that?!
GLACIE Get down!
[[With another swing of its glowing tentacles, a few of the bars bent and shattered, and
the tentacool was free.
Glacie’s eyes widened, and he promptly shot Ice Beam at it, but it dodged and charged
toward him.]]
GLACIE [Yelp]
[[A shooting feather grazed the tentacool’s side, distracting it just long enough for
Glacie to move away.]]
OLIVER That’s not a normal Pokemon, is it…?
I see what you meant now.
[[Without missing a beat, the tentacool was upon them again.
This time, Glacie’s Ice Beam hit it square in the face, partially freezing it and causing
it to collapse onto the ground.
With a powerful jet of water, Torke sent it crashing back into its cell, and Oliver shot
a quill, pinning one of its tentacles to the wall.]]
GLACIE Hrk-- Begone!
[[Glacie formed Icicle Spear and hurled it as hard as he could at the enemy.
Before it had had the chance to recover, it pierced through its head, finally ceasing
the struggle.
The three collapsed to the floor, catching their breath.]]
TORKE [Panting] Alright, pretty boy, I need answers.
Now!
What was that freaky thing?!
GLACIE That tentacool… it was not itself anymore.
That kind of creature is known as an Assimilated Pokemon, and it typically possesses unbelievable
strength and resistance.
OLIVER I could tell that much…
but now it’s dead.
You… we…
We killed it.
GLACIE It was… actually dead from the beginning.
TORKE What are you talkin’ about?
GLACIE I’ve seen it happen a few times: sometimes,
pokemon are struck down and lose their minds, turning into this… but often, those who
are killed rise up from the dead as violent, bloodthirsty assimilated beings.
I noticed a wound on its body as it lay in the cell, it didn’t look like it could’ve
lived through that, considering what must’ve caused it...
OLIVER How can this be happening?
Wh-when did these “Assimilated” start appearing, and why--
[[The door slammed open, and officer Alita charged in.]]
ALITA Chief, we have an emergency at the plaza!
OLIVER Alita?
What happened?!
ALITA The murder victim - he just stood up!
GLACIE / OLIVER / TORKE What?!
ALITA He’s still mortally wounded but somehow
violently attacking everything in its vicinity!
GLACIE Assimilated!
I knew I shouldn’t have left it there…
we have to go.
Now!
ALITA Wha… it’s you!
TORKE Questions later, it’s time to leave!
[[They all charged out of the detention area and headed for the marketplace.]]
SETH Grr-- you’re pretty tough for a dead guy,
aren’t you?
[[Officer Seth was in the plaza, trying to fight off the newly awakened pigeot.
Its broken neck left its head swaying strangely, dead eyes staring on as it tried to peck and
scratch.]]
QOWJDKD [Hissing and gurgling]
SETH I…
Yeah, I can take you.
Come on… bring it!
[[The pigeot lunged forward with a strangled cry.
Seth dodged and brought his fist down hard on its broken neck, causing it to topple to
the ground, still stirring.]]
QOWJDKD [whimper]
SETH Heh… heheh… Ha! Not as tough as you look, huh?!
ALITA Seth!
[[Seth turned to see Oliver, Alita, Torke and Glacie thundering down the street toward
the market. He crossed his arms and huffed.]]
SETH Took ya long enough!
I had to handle the situation all on my own!
ALITA Seth, be careful!
I heard those things are full of surprises, you can’t--
GLACIE Look out!
[[The pigeot had risen again and tried to sneak up behind Seth.
Glacie blasted it with Ice Beam.]]
GLACIE Never let your guard down near an assimilated
pokemon!
SETH (Shocked) Assima-what?!
GLACIE This one was dead from the start as well,
it must be purged from this world for good.
[[He manifested Icicle Spear to stake the pigeot, but it was still alert and rolled
away, barely dodging the jagged ice as it sank into the ground.]]
TORKE / GLACIE / SETH / ALITA / OLIVER [Sounds of surprise]
[[The assimilated bird flapped its wings once, sending a gust of wind that knocked them all
off their feet.]]
[[It lunged for the nearest target: Seth.
Its neck cracked as it turned to face him, nose-diving with all its weight.]]
ALITA Wh…
No!
[[Alita shot Razor Leaf into the Pigeot’s side, sending it off course but doing little
else.
It tumbled on the ground but was quickly on its feet, leaping at her this time.]]
ALITA [Scream]
SETH A-ALITA!
[[Seth skidded on the dirt and leaped between her and the pigeot.
It crashed into him and they both tumbled away, hitting the wall of a nearby building
and landing on the ground.
He tried to maintain a grip on it to keep it from moving.]]
GLACIE Ugh… that was a powerful blast-- whoa!
[[The assimilated pigeot had wriggled free and pinned Seth down.
It jerked its body up, cracking its neck close enough into place that it was able to stare
into his eyes.]]
SETH [whimper]
QOWJDKD (Screeching)
[[With a screech, it brought its beak down, sinking it deep into Seth’s shoulder.]]
SETH [Screaming in pain]
ALITA SEEEEEETH!
[[Glacie took it down with Ice Beam, leaving one of its wings frozen.
He took the chance to finally stake it through the stomach with Icicle Spear, ceasing its
struggle as well.
Oliver and Torke had just managed to push away the dizziness from the blast of wind
and hurried to the injured Zangoose’s side.]]
ALITA S-Seth!
Are you okay?
Get up!
SETH [coughing, nearly sobbing] Argh… d-damn it… it hurts!
Aaaugh- it hurts so much!
OLIVER I should…
I should call a healer, we’ll get you sorted, Seth!
GLACIE You can try…
I don’t think it’ll work.
I’ve…
I’ve seen this happen.
Many times.
He’s been deeply wounded by an assimilated pokemon, no healer in this town can help him now.
ALITA What are you saying?! Of course we can help him, we have to!
SETH [scream]
TORKE Get back!
[[Seth had risen to his feet, trembling heavily.
With difficulty, he raised a clawed paw above his head.]]
SETH What- what is this?!
I can’t-
[[He brought it down, swiping at Oliver, who stepped back in shock.]]
OLIVER Seth, what are you doing?
GLACIE He’s already beginning to suffer the effects
of his wound…stay away from him!
[[Seth swung out again, taking struggling steps forward.]]
SETH It… hurts…
I can’t control m… m-y body, I’m- [yell]
[[His claws kept swiping aimlessly at the others, once nearly missing Alita’s face.]]
ALITA What’s… what’s happening to him?!
GLACIE He’s slowly losing control of his own actions…
Soon enough, the assimilation process will be complete and overtake him altogether!
[[Seth clasped his bleeding shoulder and fell to his knees.
He shook and stared at his paw, the world going in and out of focus.]]
SETH Help…
me...
[[He looked at Alita, his eyes glazing over, tears forming.
The bayleef could barely keep herself from reaching out.]]
SETH A… lita...
[[Suddenly, his expression shifted from anguish to anger.
He lunged with a growl and bared his fangs.
Alita flinched and swatted him with Vine Whip, taking the chance to immobilize one of his
arms.]]
ALITA Seth, snap out of it!
This isn’t you!
TORKE Somethin’s controllin’ your mind, man!
OLIVER Somehow I don’t think shouting at him will
help…
TORKE ...master of deduction.
GLACIE There’s no time to lose, get him in that
building!
[[Glacie pointed to one of the market’s storage buildings a few yards away.
Alita promptly yanked Seth with her vines, sending him tumbling straight into it.]]
[[The air around Glacie burst into ice and snow.
His cape billowed as icicles formed straight up from the ground, blocking the way out of
the building.
Seth tried to clamber over the ice, but could find no way out.
As the others gathered around Glacie, Seth pounded at the ice, screeching angrily, but
barely managed to crack it.]]
SETH (screech)
GLACIE This should keep him in…
As I suspected.
He doesn’t seem to be as powerful as the other assimilated I’ve encountered.
[[Seth fell to his knees and lay there, breathing heavily, eyes staring vacantly into space.]]
OLIVER What... do we do with him now?
GLACIE I don’t know… but we certainly can’t
leave him here… [beat]
TORKE What’s on your mind, pretty boy?
Spit it out already!
GLACIE … We must evacuate this town by morning.
OLIVER Wh...what?
GLACIE The citizens will all be in danger now, especially
with the gengar still on the loose.
Perhaps the neighboring city will take these people?
Just until the island is clear of danger.
OLIVER This is a… a huge operation to organize
by morning, I’d have to fly over to Pontea Village and try to find their authorities
and…
TORKE I think…
I think he has a point, Ollie.
You saw what happened to Seth: just one stab is enough to make someone go crazy, we can’t
afford to let anyone else end up like that.
ALITA Is… is there a way to cure assimilation?
Where does it even come from, is it some form of disease?
GLACIE Not that I know of.
It usually happens to pokemon who have already died…
I don’t often see still-living pokemon suffer a transformation, but it’s struck a few
towns to the far south so far.
It is a fairly new phenomenon.
TORKE How do you know all of this stuff?
GLACIE I…
You could say I work with people that are trying to contain this issue.
OLIVER Well, if we want to have any chance of confirming
an evacuation order across the river to Pontea Village, I’d better set off immediately.
(Better make sure to get some Pontea Buns on my way back…)
Torke, you’re in charge in the meantime, make sure that everything is ready on our
end for the evacuation to go smoothly.
TORKE Yes, sir.
I expect some Pontea Buns to be left for me as well.
OLIVER I’ll see what I can do.
Alita?
ALITA I’ll help, sir.
GLACIE Me too.
I’ve dealt with this sort of situation before.
OLIVER Really, now…?
I never did ask your name.
GLACIE You can call me Glacie.
OLIVER Right…
Well, Glacie, you can stay here and help the evacuation process.
I probably won’t be back until morning, so you make sure to follow Torke’s orders.
GLACIE Understood.
TORKE (Chuckle)
[[Oliver waved at them, turning his back and flapping his wings, taking off into the night
sky.
The journey to the neighboring village would be relatively short, but he had no time to
lose.
As he flew over Pleada, he looked down at the town, now silent once more, and bound
to be empty the next day…]]
OLIVER (Seth… I know Alita will be beside herself with your condition, but I’ll make sure to get to
the bottom of this…
I’m going to save you.)