Alex

  —

  I eyed Leaf and Erin as we got into the rail car, but they seemed to be more or less fine. We were underground, sure, but this wasn't a cave, just a tunnel… A nice, sealed tunnel that only occasionally got broken into by subterranean species…

  Nova and I eagerly plopped onto a seat, but the other two were a bit slower, more hesitant. The large windshield showing the darkness far ahead, outside the range of the lights, probably didn't help…

  They still sat down, though, and after a moment Clair started the engine and we began to accelerate. I tried to ignore the other three, but it wasn't that hard. Someone had to man the rail car just in case an Onix broke through, again… so it was just us, and Nova was peering forwards curiously. It was kind of cool having our own rail line, even if it was a single 'car' from a train, and almost half of that was the 'driver's' area…

  I took the time to have a good long think.

  I had long since stopped feeling embarrassed by myself, how I was dressed, the fact that I was trans, but so far that had been entirely in areas new to me, areas where I didn't know anyone. Yesterday had been very different. In a Clan the size of ours you didn't know everyone, when you put us all together we were larger than most towns, but I certainly recognized more people than not… I don't think I had been recognized by all that many, though.

  Kenji had been eager to gossip, though.

  There wasn't exactly a private Clan Blackthorn forum on the PokeNet, so I hadn't really gotten a feel for the Clan other than through Lance and Clair. They might not 'lord' over everyone with their positions, but they were still insulated from day to day things.

  Things like my disowning and adoption by Lance, and the subsequent fallout from that.

  The Clan's structure was honestly kind of… loose. There was the Clan Leader, Ruler of Blackthorn City. Usually the First Heir who inherits the position, although there have been a few… 'incidents' over the centuries. These Heirs are chosen from Families, and we had a lot of different Families, most of which specialized in something. That was basically it, considering how many Families there were. There were 'factions' in the Families, sure, but these days they were more about conservation versus expansion, not 'fight Pewter again or rebuild our strength.'

  Not that they could have started a pro-war faction with Lance around and opposed to it.

  Lance's Family had always been the true combat family of the Blackthorn Clan, in charge of our forces. Every dragon could fight, sure, but how many would kill? Especially our Dragonite. While they could rage, and all species had their outliers, the majority of Dragonite would rather stop a true fight rather than kill. It was something that had to be trained. Hunting? Sure, Dragonite hunted, but that was far, far different than openly engaging in a battle to the death with Pewter over pride!

  Gyarados raised at the Aerie were usually reluctant to join in on something stupid like that as well, but most Kingdra were more than happy to go fight…

  Some Families specialized in the dragons, be it raising them, research, care… Some Families focused on mining, and in fact that had been started by a 'commoner' family that had been incorporated over the centuries. By this point we had a finger in most industries in Blackthorn City and across Johto and even parts of Kanto, in pretty much everything but healthcare. Not even Clan Blackthorn messed with the Joy Clan…

  Still, that meant that there were many Families in the Clan, and most earned their rank by contributing in some way, like Lance's family. My old family, though? Basically the definition of 'old money', just without the money. We had been a highly respected Family, if not well-liked, and plenty powerful… before the Great War. I think the fact that my old family kept their position had been out of respect for our losses, honestly…

  Then my old 'parents' disowned me in childish anger, nearly got killed by Lance, and found themselves with the 'honorable' position of Aerie Defenders. Who wouldn't enjoy living at the Aerie full-time, scooping dragon shit all day? Especially when they could, you know, burn it like they generally did…

  I might have to worry about running into them when we got the chance to visit the city, though, because I had been right. They hadn't even tried to go to the Aerie, just packed what they could and left that same night. I had felt a bit of grim satisfaction when I heard that from Kenji, but… I guess I just didn't care all that much?

  The fact that I was now Lance's child, however, had spread like wildfire after the Pewter Gym and those reporters, although it was only a minor note for most of the Clan. No, the real news was that Lance was dating! Dating someone who finally explained the little differences people had been noticing in him!

  My being trans, though? While it hadn't exactly been announced, it certainly hadn't been kept quiet, and I think most people were just… rolling with it, I guess? Kenji hadn't noticed the skirt at first, but after a hug he had felt the bra and corrected himself. A good guy, and a friend, but Kenji was… not super observant. The few people who knew me well enough to recognize me with shorter hair and in a skirt hadn't reacted negatively either, though, and it had been… nice. I knew that there were people who would have issues, mainly the elders, but I could handle a few idiots… especially after our training.

  If I couldn't, my team could.

  So my place in the Clan had changed slightly, sure. I was now a part of Lance's family, for one, but my being trans… hadn't really come up? Honestly, I was fine with that. In fact, I'd prefer if most reactions were like that, basically just a 'Huh, interesting' before going on with your day…

  It had been slightly odd at dinner, though. Lance's parents were barely involved in anything resembling work these days, and I hadn't interacted with them more than a handful of times before then. I hadn't expected his mom to be so enthusiastic, though! Not only did she finally have a grandchild, she had a granddaughter, one that she found adorable! She liked Leaf and Erin as well, sure, but they weren't technically family yet, while I already was!

  It was… nice. Lance's dad had certainly looked a bit weirded out by my, uhh, 'trans-ness', but he had been more than polite… Grandpa Grant obviously didn't care, and neither did Clair or her parents…

  I honestly was looking forward to someone saying something. It would have to be someone young and dumb, though. My new family aside, I was a trainer now, and the Clan was slightly more… lax with the rules when it came to fights between Clan members. Other than the traditional losers fee, I could easily demand their service. It was usually only for a few hours, a day if you had made a really big wager, but it still sucked.

  If I ever got into that situation? Maybe Yanmega would enjoy having a dedicated servant for a day, especially if they were freaked out by Bugs… If Duncan was more like Stabby I'd just let him have them for an hour, no questions asked. They would survive the experience intact, at least… Unity would love tormenting someone, no doubt about that, but Joy wouldn't-

  I was broken from my thoughts by the elbow lightly prodding my side, and I turned to find Nova giving me a bit of a look. Erin and Leaf didn't seem… bad right now, but they were certainly hunched over a bit, deliberately ignoring the tunnel ahead of us. Nova's voice wasn't exactly a whisper, but it was close, and quieter. Whispers were actually pretty easy to hear, the way most people did it. If you just breathed out the words, however, it was hard to hear even next to the person.

  "So, what is the Aerie? Nobody's actually told me. I get the main idea, it's the dragons home, basically, but…" She trailed off and I couldn't help the huge smile that broke out on my face momentarily.

  Then I quickly schooled my face back into a blank mask. I also spoke a bit loudly, so Leaf and Erin could hear me.

  "You'll see what the Aerie is soon enough. Everyone has to perform a ritual their first time there, swimming to the middle of the pool there. It's supposed to be about connecting to the dragons, feeling the water that they all live in- Well, that our dragons live in. It's stunning, though, so even if it's a stupid old custom it stuck around." All true, technically…

  I just needed to talk to Clair for a moment alone about the order… Actually, yeah, better do it before we get there.

  Clair was confused when I got up and quietly spoke to her, eyes squinting into the darkness beyond the headlights, but eventually she shrugged.

  This was going to be great!

  —

  Clair

  —

  I certainly never expected to be doing something like this. Okay, actually, I knew that Lance would find someone eventually, he was a great guy under all that ego, but I hadn't expected to go from zero nieces to three over the summer!

  Alex was more than welcome, and something I had seen coming ever since she tearfully came out to us that night, brokenhearted over her parents' firm refusal. I would have done it myself, but even before this summer, Lance was a better parent than I would be, even with the ego. I could do the 'badass aunt' thing, though.

  The transformation from the shy, withdrawn, sad 'boy' to the happy, energetic girl I had greeted yesterday was striking, and I couldn't be happier for her, and grateful to her two new sisters for helping to set it into motion. The way Lance went about things, putting her in clothes he knew she would absolutely hate, had been mean. Mean, but effective, I'd have gone clothes shopping as soon as possible as well…

  Her team was mostly a happy surprise. I had purposely recorded but not watched their matches yet, hopeful that they would visit or challenge me, and I was mostly grateful for it. It had been a welcome sight, her Dragonair so vibrant and beautiful, an adorable little Noibat that clearly lived for her, even a Hakamo-o! I had no idea how Alex had acquired him yet, but that was a hard species' respect to gain. For him to still be with her even as a Hakamo-o was a very good indicator of her growth.

  The rest, though…

  Hydrapple were… unimpressive. They could be devastatingly powerful, actually, but I had never even heard of one able to cooperate long enough for more than two coordinated Moves a battle. Their attitudes were the worst thing about them, and generally a horrible choice to add to a dragon-heavy team later. Their disobedience was a crack in your authority as a dragon tamer, and that could be dangerous with some species.

  Alex hadn't seemed worried, though, hugging the hissing swarm of serpents before all but the commander had withdrawn into their apple, the commander smug… so I wouldn't worry too much. Alex could handle him.

  A Yanmega, though?!

  Why?!

  I wasn't terrified by insects or Bug types by any means, even if I didn't exactly appreciate their appearances, but there was a vast difference between something like a Weedle, Caterpie, or even a Beedrill and a Yanmega! If it ever turned on her, from its Luxury Ball, it could kill them all in fifteen seconds. That was how long it took a Yanmega to churn its wings hard enough to generate shock waves, I had looked it up last night! Fifteen seconds and they were all dead! Maybe not with the certified Nurse Pokemon that Leaf had, but maybe then, too! If their hearts burst there would be no healing that!

  They were Rank Nine Pokemon! They couldn't even use that ability in official battles, because they might kill their opponent!

  Duncan, however…

  I still hadn't gotten a good answer out of Alex as to why she trusted a fae of all things, but she did. She was completely at ease around the fairy, around all of the fairies. Alex refused to discuss Duncan's contract, too, which was the most worrying thing…

  Leaf Greenwood was… by all appearance a bright, happy young girl, but there was a steel behind her words that belied her youth. She felt tough, and that was before you took into account the obvious fae aura the girl had!

  That should be impossible!

  It was the one thing that had kept me calm about her traveling with Alex, because her team was not normal! The Fraxure and Noivern had been quite the pleasant surprise after her declaration, as well as her personal maid, and I knew that the Tinkaton line was one of the 'milder' fairy lines, but a Clefable! A pure fae, even one like that, one named Hope, was dangerous compared to the vast majority of dual typed fae, but that paled in comparison to Leaf's last Pokemon.

  The Grimmsnarl line was well known to be the most sadistic, violent, dangerous fairy line other than the Togepi line, and judging from his sneer at me, Morgrem enjoyed things like that. Still, the way he hadn't immediately pulled away, letting her hug him momentarily, had calmed me slightly… That and the latest gossip last night, that Leaf was actually a Fairy Master. Unbelievable as it sounded, it would explain what I had seen…

  Erin Greenwood, however… I didn't know what to make of her yet, honestly.

  She had put down Team Rocket with brutal efficiency each time she had encountered them, and that was a good deed. It was also something that hung over her like a cloak, and it wasn't helped by the way she… was.

  It wasn't exaggerated, and not that easy to notice, but she moved like a damn Tyrantrum. Outside she hadn't, but practically the instant she stepped inside she had been scanning for exits, and she stalked instead of walking. Her eyes were almost worse, light purple eyes that reminded me far too much of a hungry Gyarados watching a Wailmer pod far below.

  Like a Weavile watching its prey wander under them, perfectly placed to ambush.

  Still, it was obvious that it wasn't directed at me specifically, she was just… like that. The others didn't seem to notice, and from the way all the Pokemon looked at her, it wasn't a mark of her character.

  Her Pokemon, though…

  It was one thing to have a dragon on your team, another thing entirely to be a Dragon Tamer. Nova was the perfect example, in fact. A talented trainer, but one with no direction. Someone who lacked the knowledge, the mentality to put her own power to its best use. Most trainers that managed to acquire a dragon were like that, in fact, and it usually took years or an expert opinion for them to realize it.

  Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

  They acquire a dragon, see it outfight Pokemon of similar experience, and get overconfident. Dragons were generally more powerful than other types, it was true. They were also the hardest type to help grow, to Evolve, to become truly powerful. To her credit, Nova's Sliggoo was due to Evolve any time, not an easy feat despite her years of training. Some Pokemon, dragons included, could fully Evolve in less than a year, while some took longer. Goomy themselves were a pain to Evolve, often preferring to flee rather than fight, weaker than most dragons, delicate, easily discouraged, the list was long.

  Erin's dragons, though…

  The Tyrant Queen hadn't been a surprise, of course. I hadn't spoiled myself on their teams, no, but Erin's survival of the Lowlands, and the video, had been news for a brief time. She was certainly far more impressive in real life and not over a screen, though… Very polite, as well, as my future… 'Lance-in-law'.

  That had been kind of funny, I will admit…

  The rest of them, however?

  No person had that many Alpha's on their team, it just wasn't seen. Most people didn't use them at all, couldn't, but the higher you went in the trainer world the more you saw it. Most of the time, though, you had one! One Alpha to pull out as a trump card, one Alpha that the rest of your team could subdue if it ever had a change in temperament! Some Alpha's became trainers' Pokemon willingly in the wild, sure, but it was far more common for them to be Ranger relocations.

  What happens when an Alpha Onix that lives north of Pewter becomes, rather understandably, absolutely enraged when its mountain is shaken by mining charges? It's not the Onix's fault, but if the mining was authorized, there would be a detachment of Rangers to deal with Pokemon attacks. They didn't bother with small-scale jobs like expanding a town's fields, but setting off explosives in the mountains was more than enough for them to be on watch.

  A rampaging Pokemon that ended up captured could choose to try out life with a trainer, intrigued by the strength that brought them down, but the majority relocated. Those that did become a trainer's Pokemon, however, were usually too rebellious to use as more than unpredictable bombs, too proud to submit to things like 'orders' and 'directions' very often.

  So to see that many Alpha's calmly standing there, and the way they looked at the tiny girl…

  The Tyrunt, Salazzle, and even Dragalge hadn't been that surprising, size aside. The way she had just barely flinched when that Dhelmise had draped some decaying kelp over her shoulders was worrying, and despite her adorable exterior, her Hattrem and her eventual Evolution was more than slightly terrifying.

  After the other two girls, the only thing surprising about her Clefable was his name and size. Stabby?!

  An Alpha Zweilous, though?!

  If I hadn't already suspected it, he would have confirmed it. It wasn't a hard conclusion to come to, either: There was something off about Erin Greenwood.

  There had been plenty of compliant Zweilous before, sure. A compliant Zweilous didn't snap at you and obeyed when you said 'no, drop it'. An obedient Zweilous that had absolutely adored its trainer as a Deino would still attempt to show affection, but that would quickly lead to fights.

  Her Alpha Zweilous was too compliant. He acted as Erin's chair! I could see the aggression, the rage, the pure bloodlust in one head's face, but it was… muted. It was obvious that it was being dominated by the other head, but that was supposed to involve a lot of biting, blood, and frantically separating the heads. I had seen none of that, even if that head had growled at me…

  They were all insane.

  Even Alex, poor thing. She didn't seem as visibly crazy as her two new sisters, but the fact remained. Probably just proximity, honestly, as she had always been level headed before.

  Now she had a fae and a Yanmega on her team…

  I shook my head to clear my thoughts as I stood in the Overview.

  There was nothing special about it, simply a wide room set roughly thirty feet up the Aeries central 'well'. It gave you a commanding view of the gigantic pool, more of a large pond than anything, and it also gave you access to a few nifty tools.

  Clan Blackthorn hadn't originally lived in Blackthorn City. We had kept a castle there, a visible display of power and authority to manage our subjects, but the main Clan and its Families had lived here at the Aerie. After the Great War and the unification of Indigo, however, it was decided that we should descend. It was one thing to 'govern from unassailable heights' when the entirety of Johto answered to us, another thing entirely when we ruled a single city.

  It had hurt, but these days you couldn't pay most of the Clan to move back up here.

  Still, there were plenty of relics from centuries of occupation, including the old, brittle-looking wooden hammer sitting nearby, along with a series of thin metal plates set into a solid stone 'table'.

  The hammer had been recently used.

  I grinned as I heard Alex talking to Nova, explaining where we were. After a moment she walked into sight, mouth agape as she stared upwards. The Aerie, and its gigantic central 'well' of stone, really was absolutely stunning. It had been the work of decades excavating it, and centuries of idly carving the smoothed walls, but it was one of the most impressive sights I had ever seen with my own eyes.

  My face broke out in a wide smile when I saw Alex. The sight of her so happy down there, so confident as she led Nova forward, was great to see. Nova's voice drifted up, and my warm smile dropped back into an anticipatory grin.

  "You keep saying it's a tradition, but why?" Alex just shrugged, a deliberately confused look on her face. She was wearing a swimsuit like Nova, but she still had a hoodie on as well. It wasn't cold up here yet, but it wasn't warm, either.

  "I'm not entirely sure, other than 'connecting to the dragons'? We all do it when we're kids, and everyone that comes for training does it… Maybe we do it because we've always done it?" Not a bad deflection, Alex, not bad…

  Nova grumbled some more, but she still dove in at Alex's urging. She still swam to the center and looked up, and I really enjoyed the look of awestruck wonder on her face. Looking straight up from the middle of that huge pool of water, seeing the vast column of stone just missing from the very heart of a mountain, the carvings, the sunlight streaming in and bouncing off the cleverly-angled, smooth stone near the top, spears of light visible in the water vapor… It was breathtaking, and the sight alone would have been more than enough of a reason to demand this from our clan members and visiting trainers.

  Then Alex told Nova to look down and I slammed the wooden hammer down on a thin metal plate, sending a deep gong below.

  Below, through the elaborate series of sound-carrying tubes, down deep.

  Nova looked down, confused. The Aerie's pool was crystal clear, but so deep it was impossible to see the bottom, so it just turned to haze. Haze that soon resolved itself into the gaping, Roaring mouths of over a dozen Gyarados as they rocketed to the surface, a visible shockwave rushing ahead of them through the water at Nova. Right before the shockwave impacted, however, the Dragonair and Dragonite that had been watching from nooks carved into the walls slammed into the water's surface, hard, while Kingdra rocketed out of smaller side tunnels, buzzing past Nova with their bodies.

  I had expected fear, and I wasn't disappointed. I mean, everyone screams when they see that, your body knows that a dozen titans rising to devour you means death. Nova screamed and flailed for a moment, then screamed again when the Dragonite hit, a high-pitched squeal of pure terror.

  Then the shockwave struck, carefully moderated to be harmless. Harmless, but still powerful enough to launch Nova into the air.

  Still, she was laughing as she fell back down, so I had no worries about her training. She would make a fine Dragon Tamer as long as she put the effort in.

  I leaned back in the very uncomfortable stone chair up here as I waited for Nova to return. Carved straight out of the mountain, it was older than Grandpa Grant's great great great grandparents, and not comfortable. Still better than standing, though, especially considering the hard stone everywhere. With nobody actively living here, only a small area was kept habitable, the rest left to gather dust, all rugs and cushions removed…

  I loved when I got to administer this, though…

  I was still wondering why Alex was looking forward to her sister's turns so much, though…

  —

  —

  Leaf's experience with our little hazing ritual was… atypical, Nova watching along from the side.

  For one thing, when she looked down at over a dozen Roaring Gyarados, she smiled! She smiled, then laughed when the rest came out! There hadn't been a single shred of fear! Some people were born like that, yeah, but I knew that wasn't the case here. Sure, intellectually everyone that experienced it knew we weren't about to have our dragons devour them in the middle of an isolated pool of water, but to suppress the bodily reaction entirely? Did the fear response even start?!

  It should be impossible, but… Leaf Greenwood simply laughed in the face of a bunch of 'raging' dragons…

  Just what kind of woman was her mother? She had 'tamed' Lance, so…

  —

  —

  Erin Greenwood once again defied my expectations.

  For one thing, she glanced up in my direction as they walked out. I can't say that she saw me, but it should be almost impossible from the angle I was at. Clan Blackthorn'd had more than a few centuries to perfect this place…

  Then she laughed before she even got in, glancing at the nooks! Like she knew! That was apparently accurate, as well, because she reacted the same as Leaf initially when she looked down, a wide smile, before she had snarled! She snarled at a bunch of dragons, and more insane than that, it worked! The Dragonair and Dragonite aborted their leaps, the Gyarados slowed down, and the Kingdra swerved wide in an awkward-looking display.

  Holy shit, she had felt like the Alpha Tyrantrum! I had suspected, but now I knew: She could somehow wield her aura at fourteen!

  What?!

  What kind of family was Lance marrying into?

  …

  Would Lance survive if he ever pissed off this 'Patricia' woman?

  —

  —

  Late that afternoon I was rushing through a dimly lit tunnel in the Aerie, desperate to get back to the compound and my comfy pajamas.

  While nobody lived here permanently, there was a caretaking crew that maintained the 'visitors' section. A good deal of training took place here, and while you could ride the rail here every day, it was much faster to just stay here. The rooms were ancient but more than usable, and the sheets were fresh.

  Nova, Alex, and her new sisters certainly hadn't complained, though. Most trainers didn't pass up clean sheets, of course, but more than that, they were allowed to sleep alone here. Well, separately, because I doubted their teams would remain in their balls. Erin had been pleasantly surprised to find a room barely large enough for her… mother, and Leaf and Alex were grateful to sleep away from her huge chest.

  I tried to expel the mental image of them curled up against that gigantic Pokemon, but I failed. There was love and trust, sure, but still… Sleeping with the Tyrant Queen, one roll from exploding like a blood-filled pancake…

  Wow…

  After getting them settled, however, I still had more than enough work to do at the Aerie. Administrative tasks, really, something that anyone of my 'rank' in the Clan could have done, and not something I was required to do… But I had been here, and if I avoided it, Lance would notice. He had been better lately, sure, but he still enjoyed nagging me…

  I began to hear a faint voice from the wall as I walked. That wasn't exactly strange, though. Clan Blackthorn hadn't stayed in power through coincidence and luck, and neither had the leading Families. If you were trusted enough, you could find tunnels like the one I was in all over the Aerie. They were far more useful when the Clan lived here and you could listen in on so many rivals and their supposedly private conversations, however.

  That had been centuries ago, though. Now they weren't 'hidden spy tunnels', they were simply convenient shortcuts, but the cones carved into the thick walls told the story. The tip of each cone terminated in a tiny pinprick hole, and the shape of the walls in the rooms funneled enough sound to spy with. These days, of course, the most 'spying' that happened was pranking young members with 'ghostly voices' in their room when they would come to serve the dragons.

  It was Erin's voice, and I found myself stopping as I began to make out the words.

  "- a full song done, we haven't had the time to get away like this in a week, sorry."

  Leaf's voice sounded frustrated, though.

  "Okay, yeah, I get it… Nova's cool, but she's not to that point yet…" What point? Trust? I thought they liked the aimless, determined girl?

  Next was Alex, and her voice was conniving.

  I approved.

  "Erin, I know you have another song in that head of yours that doesn't have music? Or doesn't need much, I guess? Like that one you did with Sabrina!" They 'did a song' with Sabrina? What?

  Highly curious or not, at this point I'd already eavesdropped too much. Erin singing was a surprise, sure, but-

  "Well, I guess I do, and I have one in mind, but I'm not sure I'll ever be able to sing it where, uhh, 'normal' people can ever hear, it has way too many references packed in. I'm not sure if the concept even existed here." 'Normal' people? The fuck? The concept of something might not have existed here? In Kanto? Compared to where?!

  "In fact, screw it, sure. Give Dexter, Hecate and I like… five minutes? I just need a refresher for the lyrics, really." I ignored the sounds of the other two children cheering as I sat down in a convenient, deliberately carved chair next to the hole. I had been going to stop eavesdropping like a responsible adult, but…

  Lance had practically refused to talk about this girl! Could I be blamed for being curious?!

  —

  —

  "Okay, done! That wasn't too bad, though, just a quick lyric and tone refresher. Dexter, do you even want to do the sound?"

  Erin sounded mildly excited, but her Rotom Phone sounded bored.

  "Nah, just thump something. There's a wooden fruit bowl, that's perfect. All I get to do for this one is show you lyrics and add a chorus, boring." That sounded like a lot, though?

  I heard them shuffle, and quietly moved my head into the cone. I could just barely see into the room, Erin sitting on the back of a nice, very expensive chair, her feet on the armrests.

  You know, like she shouldn't be doing.

  A wooden bowl sat propped on her knees, and she was lightly grinning off to the side. It was something I had noticed about the girl. She could smile, sure, but her immediate reaction to most situations seemed to be sharp amusement, and it would have confused me more if not for her aura, some of which I had worked out today, and the very few things Lance had told me about her.

  It was sweet, the fact that Lance of all people had found a family, but it was also annoying when I was curious! She had the aura of an Alpha Tyrantrum, sure, but that didn't explain her… her-ness.

  It still made some sense that, even sitting on the back of one of our expensive chairs, she looked like she was about to hunt something down.

  "So you're probably going to be very confused for most of this, but I will say what type of song it is, they have them here, too. Sea shanties are designed to be catchy even without instruments, so you should enjoy it. The version I remember only had the singer thumping the back of a guitar, actually. I can't do the original accent justice either, absolutely not, but I'll try to keep the main tone of it." Of course sea shanties existed here! What the hell did she even mean by 'here'?!

  She took a deep breath of air before beginning to rhythmically pound the bowl. She frowned at the sound, but shrugged after a moment. Then Erin Greenwood, The Savage Trainer, Tiny Tyrant, Lance's eventual adopted daughter and my eventual niece, opened her voice and sang, her voice deeper than normal.

  Also with an accent? I'd never heard one exactly like it, though it almost reminded me of some Galarian music I'd heard…

  "There once was a ship that put to sea

  The name of the ship was the Billy of Tea

  The winds blew up, her bow dipped down

  O blow, my bully boys, blow- Huh!"

  The next part was joined by a chorus from Dexter's speakers

  "Soon may the Wellerman come

  To bring us sugar and tea and rum

  One day, when the tonguin' is done

  We'll take our leave and go."

  Toungin'?! It went back to just Erin's voice.

  "She'd not been two weeks from shore

  When down on her, a right whale bore

  The captain called all hands and swore

  He'd take that whale in tow- Huh!

  Soon may the Wellerman come

  To bring us sugar and tea and rum

  One day, when the tonguin' is done

  We'll take our leave and go."

  What the fuck was I hearing? The fuck was a whale? Like Wailord? Why not just say Wailord?

  "Before the boat had hit the water

  The whale's tail came up and caught her

  All hands to the side, harpooned and fought her

  When she dived down low- Huh!"

  The song kept going for another two minutes, the only sound Erin's voice and a pitiful thump from the bowl. My mind was full of so many questions right now. What was a 'Wellerman'? Or… most of that?!

  Erin finished and laughed at something I couldn't see from my perspective.

  "Yeah, I told you! Even for me, I had to look up some of it when I first heard it! I mean, I guess just toungin'? Well, that's, uhh… The whole song is a reminder of things I despised about my old place, but it's catchy as hell. I think it's almost two hundred years old? More? But, uhh… So, remember that one scene from my memories? With the huge fishing ship?" The fuck was I hearing? Memories?!

  "Well, I know that they used to hunt Wailord extensively here, too, right? It's legal now, they're abundant these days, but there's a lot of use in a creature that big aside from food. Whalers hunted whales instead of Wailord. A Wellerman was just a man from Weller, and the sugar, tea, and rum were actually the whalers salary. Toungin was processing whales…" She trailed off for a moment before continuing quietly.

  "It's a lot easier to hunt a Wailord here than a whale. You have Pokemon to help, so it can be ended quickly, but… We just did it by hand and harpoon, and it takes a long time to kill an animal that large by exsanguination… Oh!" She perked up and turned her head.

  "Ahab, I never actually told you about the story behind your name, just the outline! So, the song I just sang is from a whaler's perspective, waiting for payday and hunting whales, but there was a book, a famous book that we were required to read in school. It's more a look at my old world's equivalent of old Galar and stuff like that, back in the coal-burning days, but the captain is a whal-" She cut off abruptly as my eye slid away from the pinprick in shock. Excuse me, what?!

  What the ever-loving fuck did I just hear? She didn't seem insane! Well, wait, she did, but not that kind of insane! Her old world?!

  I lifted my eye back to the hole and my blood ran cold for a moment.

  Erin was staring directly at me, scowling! Somehow! That pinprick should blend in with the hundreds of other marks on the walls!

  Then I felt something envelop me. Aura, and not a happy one. Lance's aura felt like an arrogant mountain of pride and ego about to crush you with its smug superiority.

  This felt like being devoured alive.

  "Hi, there, Clair. You know it's rude to eavesdrop, right?"

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