Between a Rock and Hard Time

The first thing Roz noticed was a searing pain in her left wrist. The next was that her attempt to float off the ground didn’t work. Groaning, the Elgyem took a moment to survey her surroundings. A barebones, gray stone chamber with metal bars blocking what appeared to be the only exit. The only other things in the room were a hole in the ground and stone slab, the latter of which she was currently laying on. Her backpack, naturally, was gone, as was her Weather Band.

She pushed herself awkwardly into a sitting position. Across from her was another cell holding a Naclstack, asleep on the ground. How long had she been out? She glanced at her bracelet. The pain in her wrist was likely from her captors trying to remove it. Roz was just glad they’d stopped before cutting her hand off. She tried to call up the time, which didn’t require a full hologram, but nothing happened.

“What?” she muttered. The holographic display was powered by her own bioenergy. If she was conscious, it should have power. True, it could potentially be unusable if she exhausted her reserves by using her moves and other psionics too much, but she hadn’t.

That’s when she noticed a different bracelet on her other wrist. It reminded her of the Weather Band Terry gave her, but had a small, round, black jewel embedded in it. Turning her arm over, she found a keyhole on the other side; it was locked to her wrist.

Unable to float, the Elgyem stumbled toward the cell bars. Her cell was one of six. Four were occupied, including hers. There was the Naclstack across from her, as well as a Nosepass to her right, and an Aron across from the Nosepass, all asleep. A quick inspection showed objects similar to her newly acquired jewelry attached to each of her fellow inmates in one way or another. There was a barred window in the Naclstack’s cell, through which the night sky was visible. Assuming she hadn’t been unconscious for a whole day, it hadn’t been very long since her capture.

“So, what’d they get you for?” Roz started. The question came from the Naclstack across from her. Her band was awkwardly positioned as a collar.

Roz turned around and leaned her back against the cell bars. “Theft,” she admitted.

“Figures,” piped the Nosepass. “I think Natalie over there is the only one of us who isn’t,” he said, gesturing to the Naclstack.

“I see.” Roz started pacing. “How long do they normally leave us in here before someone follows up?”

“Depends,” said the Nosepass. It’s the middle of the night, so I wouldn’t count on seeing anyone until morning at least. You might as well get some sleep.”

There was no telling how long Roz had to escape. Someone from the Ranger Corps would be coming, and once whoever it was got here, game over. And of course, she and Terry had made no contingency plans.

“I don’t think you have too much to worry about,” said the Naclstack. “They understand times are tough. Honestly, they’re probably keeping you in here as an excuse to feed you for a day or two if anything. Uh, you were just stealing food, right?”

Roz continued fidgeting. Since she couldn’t see anything except the sky through Natalie’s window she’d never get a good teleport. If only she could fly! She focused intensely but got nothing. It had to be that stupid bracelet.

“Elgyem, seriously, calm down,” said the Nosepass.

“You don’t understand,” Roz mumbled. “I’ve been framed for something else. Once they realize it’s me, I’m finished.”

“Framed for what?” Natalie asked.

Roz debated how much to reveal. She still didn’t know who any of these Pokémon were, or why Natalie was in here. For all she knew, the Naclstack was a plant by the Rangers to get a confession out of her. And of course, she couldn’t read her thoughts in the slightest. Best to just avoid the question entirely.

“That’s not important. I need to find a way out of here now!”

“You’re that Elgyem they’re looking for, aren’t you.” The Aron finally spoke. “The one the humans sent.”

“What?!” gasped Nosepass.

“Huh?” said Natalie. “What’s all this about?”

“The Rangers put out an alert for a Cubone with no helmet and an Elgyem accompanying him with a weird bracelet on her left arm,” the Aron explained. “If you’re here, then I’m guessing your buddy isn’t far away, is he?”

“Sent by…humans?” mused Natalie.

“I’m trying to figure out why all these disasters are happening!” Roz protested. “I was working for the Rangers in Crosswind Town when one of them claimed I was a spy and nearly got me lynched. My…friend and I have been on the run ever since.”

“So you weren’t sent by humans?” Aron asked.

“What’d the Cubone have to do with any of this?” said Nosepass.

“Any idea why the disasters are happening?” Natalie added.

“One at a time!” Roz took a deep breath and addressed the Nosepass. “I don’t really know. He wanted to help me and that was enough to make him a target for the Rangers.

Next, Aron. “No,” she lied. Best leave it at that.

“And, kind of. I think the gods are involved somehow, but I don’t know if they’re causing the disasters or just getting riled up by them. I haven’t been able to study any of them at all other than a brief encounter with Registeel.” That got everyone’s attention.

“What happened?” Natalie asked.

Roz winced. “It was really violent. It didn’t say anything, just attacked. We managed to teleport away, but it was close.”

“What about its Speaker, Razor Skarmory? Do you know anything about what happened to him?” Natalie continued.

“He was…not himself when we first encountered him. He was also violent, but he was at least capable of speech.” She shook her head. “Completely paranoid and delusional though. Once we got him away from Mt. Steel though he calmed down. Why, do you know him?”

The Naclstack shuffled her feet. “I’m Regirock’s Speaker,” she admitted. “The same sort of thing happened to me. That’s why I’m in here. I’ve been myself for the past few days, but I turned myself in just in case I lose it again.”

Was that something Razor could’ve done on his own? “How did you get away from Mt. Lithstone?” Roz asked.

“I followed some sort of worm or something. Everything’s foggy but I remember wanting to chase something away for some reason,” Natalie replied. “The first thing I remember clearly is standing in the street.”

Some sort of worm thing. Roz raised a hand to her chin. “That suggests someone else knows about what’s happening to the Speakers. And I don’t think it’s the Rangers. I told them about my suspicions after my encounter with Razor and I haven’t heard anything since.”

“Why would you expect them to tell you anything?” asked Nosepass.

“I worked with them until recently. In fact, I was hired specifically to investigate the disasters,” Roz explained.

“Lemme guess,” said Aron. “They fired you once they found out you were a spy.”

A loaded question. Maybe Aron was the plant? “They never “found out” anything. Once someone made a public spectacle of accusing me of being a spy, half the population of Crosswind Town tried to kill me.”

“Which is when you ran into the Cubone,” said Nosepass.

“No,” Roz said, gripping the bars. “We were partners with the Rangers.”

“So they decided to go after him by association?” Natalie asked.

Roz shook her head. “He didn’t have to get involved.” Why had he thrown everything away for someone he hated so much? She let go of the bars and leaned her head against them. “And now I’ve let him down.”

“What’s your name, Elgyem?” Natalie asked.

She pushed herself upright. “Roz.”

“Roz, if I let you out, do you promise to get to the bottom of this? To figure out what’s happened to the gods and either fix it or see to it that it gets fixed?”

Was that even a possibility anymore? “I…I’ll try.”

“I want you to do more than try. The Rangers aren’t doing enough. I want this to be your top priority.”

Roz blinked. “Why would you trust me?”

The Naclstack stepped forward. Aron and Nosepass listened without a word. “You and that Cubone were partners. You worked closely together. People in that situation get to really know each other. Like me and Regirock,” she added with a grimace. “And the person who knows you the best also happens to be the one who trusts you, if him following you into this mess is any indication.”

That sounded well and good, but Natalie knew nothing about how Roz had used Terry. Trust was the last sentiment he felt toward her.

“But he doesn’t just trust you; he’s counting on you as well. Are you going to earn that trust?”

She was at least partially right. Terry was out there somewhere. Knowing him, he was probably still waiting for her to come back. After all, he hadn’t abandoned her up to this point. “I’ll do it.”

“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Aron asked. “What if she’s been lying this whole time? And don’t forget you’re still wearing a Suppression Band. You can’t break her out even if you want to.”

Natalie walked over to the wall of her cell. Now that she got a look from a better angle, Roz noticed the Naclstack’s collar was rusted, no doubt from prolonged contact with her salty body.

“Nothing we’ve tried has worked. If things continue as they are now, it’s only a matter of time before civilization ends as we know it. I can’t bear to think of what the gods are going through right now. Someone needs to put an end to this.” Natalie slammed her side into the back of her cell once, twice. Her brittle, rusted collar cracked and fell. The Naclstack glared at it in contempt and stomped on it, destroying the black gem.

“I hope you’re right about this,” Aron muttered.

“Roz, hold up your arm and stay very, very still.” The Elgyem raised her right arm with the back of her hand facing toward Natalie. Salt crystals formed around her new bracelet, apparently called a Suppression Band, which rapidly started rusting. 

“I think that should be enough,” Natalie said after 15 seconds or so. “Just hit it against the wall a few times and it should fall off.” Indeed, the metal was now deep red and practically disintegrating. After three hits against the wall, most of it had crumbled to powder.

“Are you telepathic by chance?” asked Natalie.

Roz got the hint. <Yes.> Her powers were back!

<Good. Yes or no, do you have a plan for where to go from here?>

<Yes.>

<Alright, listen carefully. I have a stash of supplies near the top of Mt. Lithstone. They’re on the east side of the mountain inside a small cave. Whatever you do, do not go all the way to the top; Regirock’s there. Take anything you need out of the cave. I won’t ask where you intend to go; the less I know the less they can get out of me.>

<What about you? You just broke me out of jail!>

Natalie chuckled mentally. <You let me worry about that. Just get going.>

<Natalie…thank you.> Roz lifted off the ground. It felt so liberating to finally be airborne again. From this angle she had a much better view of the outside of the window. Roz vanished.

~~~

Terry fidgeted with his club. Roz had been gone for almost three hours. It wasn’t a question of if something was wrong, but rather how wrong things had gone. He cursed himself for the hundredth time for not making plans for this situation. Should he march in and find her? Give her until morning?

“Terry, we need to go, right now.” 

The Cubone jumped “Roz! What happened?” The Elgyem floated over the rim of the quarry. Terry couldn’t help but notice the absence of her backpack.

“No time to explain. We’re climbing Mt. Lithstone.”

“What? No! That’s–”

“Now, Terry!”

Terry noticed a stir coming from the quarry. He followed Roz, stopping only to grab his bag. The Elgyem made no attempt at stealth. 

“There they are!”

Terry risked a glance backwards to see a Midday Lycanroc in hot pursuit. Roz flipped around and, while flying backwards, fired a Psybeam at it. Her attack staggered the Lycanroc slightly, but came nowhere near stopping it.

Terry slid to a halt and hurled his club, scoring a direct hit. The Lycanroc was thrown off balance, but still kept coming, barreling right at Terry, who stood his ground. Just before his attacker lunged, Terry’s Bonemerang struck it from behind on its return trip. He caught his club, then leapt at the Lycanroc and brought it crashing down on its head, knocking it out.

Unfortunately, that little scuffle was plenty of time for more pursuers to climb out of the quarry. Terry’s jog from before turned into a full-on sprint. Mt. Lithstone was just ahead, but not close enough.

“They’re actually going to the mountain?!”

“Stop them before they get there!”

Roz once again turned around and shot off Psybeams, which didn’t seem to slow her a bit. Based on the grunts he heard, Terry assumed at least a few of them hit, but he wasn’t about to check.

Hearing someone approaching from behind, he jumped and stomped on the ground as hard as he could. Stomping Tantrum was a lot weaker when used out of desperation than actual frustration, but it at least slowed down his would-be attacker enough for Roz to snipe it with a Psybeam.

They were so close! The two of them had a decent lead, but they were losing it. Up ahead, Roz held out a hand for Terry. He took it. Roz slowed to a stop. Some of their pursers probably thought they were giving up and just wanted to go down together, but Terry knew that was never the plan.

The Elgyem looked calmly and intently toward the mountain. Terry could faintly make out a path winding its way up from here. He braced himself for what he knew was coming next. In a split, disorienting second, the ground underneath him was suddenly a lot less even. He faintly discerned shouting from below and, sure enough, saw a mob of Pokémon a short distance away, all skidding to a halt.

“Come on.” Roz massaged her head and floated up the path with Terry following close behind.

“We really shouldn’t be here,” said Terry once he had a chance to catch his breath.

Roz finally lowered her hand. “I met Regirock’s Speaker in town. She said she had a stash of supplies near the top of the mountain. Don’t worry, we’re not going all the way to the top.”

Roz periodically teleported them to higher parts of the path, detailing her adventure in Golden Quarry as they went. Even though the path wound all the way up the mountain as far as either of them could tell, Roz’s shortcuts likely saved them hours. By the time the summit came into view, the first hints of dawn were just peeking over the horizon.

“She said it was in a cave on the east side of the mountain.” The cave was hidden behind a rock formation; if they hadn’t known it was there they probably wouldn’t have found it.

Sure enough, inside they found a chest with salted preserved foods inside. Although he wasn’t thrilled about taking the Speakers supplies, Terry stuffed as much as he could into his bag. 

“This isn’t a lot. Hopefully it’ll be enough,” he said.

“No one seems willing to follow us near here,” Roz noted. “Maybe we’ve finally escaped.”

Terry sighed. “No, we haven’t. The people of Golden Quarry don’t seem to want to come anywhere near this mountain with how Regirock’s been acting, but there’s someone else who won’t hesitate. Three someones who wouldn’t even know where we are if we hadn’t been found out in Golden Quarry.”

“The Head Rangers.” Roz averted her gaze. Did she actually think this was her fault?

Terry slammed his club into the ground. “This wouldn’t have happened if I just wore a stupid helmet!”

“If I may ask…why don’t you?”

“I already told you, I’ve never found one I liked,” Terry huffed.

“I know there’s more to it than that. But-” Roz added quickly, “if you don’t want to talk about it I won’t force you.”

The Cubone gazed into the distance. Finally, he sat down next to a boulder with a sigh and gestured for Roz to join him. “I already know your dirty secret, I guess it’s only fair you know mine.” The Elgyem hovered over and settled down beside him. 

“When I was a kid, we lived right next to a mountain. My parents told me to stay away from it, but I was always pushing the limit to see how far up it I could go before they called me back down. You know how kids are.”

Roz nodded.

“Well, one day, I thought I saw something further up, way beyond where I knew my parents would let me go. But they weren’t looking so I went to check it out.” Terry held his club in a death grip, jaw clenched, eyes squeezed tight. When he spoke next, his voice cracked.

“But–but the only thing I found was a rock slide. I should’ve died, Roz. Should’ve been pounded into a pulp.” The Cubone sniffed as a tear ran down his snout. “But my mom pushed me out of the way at the last second.”

He wiped his eyes and sniffed again. “Tradi-” *sniff* “Traditionally, when a Marowak dies, its oldest Cubone child takes its helmet. Mom’s was still mostly intact but…but I couldn’t. I promised myself I wasn’t going to wear a helmet until I’d earned the right to take Mom’s by making sure nothing like that happened to anyone else.

“So, looks like we belong together more than you might’ve thought. A human experiment and a murderer. Partners in crime.”

“That explains a lot,” said Roz.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Ever since we met, I’ve wondered what makes you so…aggressively outgoing. I just wish there was a happier explanation for it.”

“Yeah. Me too.”

It certainly wasn’t the sort of moment one usually associates with sunrises. They weren’t out of danger yet, but with any luck, Roz and Terry had just enough time to rest up before the journey ahead.

~~~

Logbook entry #0438

Item: Suppression Band–Completely negates a Pokémon’s ability, moves, and other powers. Does not affect physical traits, however.

In contrast to the much more specific Nullify Band, the Suppression Band inhibits not just abilities, but moves and other powers as well by disrupting the flow of Pokémon bioenergy throughout the body. Though commonly used as a way to restrain prisoners, it cannot inhibit innate physical traits such as claws and teeth. As such, some Pokémon species require additional restraints.