Chapter Text
“Good work.” Larry patted Staraptor’s coifed crest as he placed the Masterball’s in his briefcase. The Paradox Pokémon Scream Tail and Flutter Mane were successfully caught without much trouble. Staraptor cooed and nuzzled his fingers- a quick reminder that he was a Pokémon, not a soldier. “Stay with me, we still have some work to do.”
It would take a good while to capture every Paradox Pokémon in Area Zero. Was such a feat even possible? The perimeters of Area Zero have been his response for several years counting, and the slew of savage beasts never ended. He shook the thought of out his head. There was no time to doubt when following orders.
Ever since the AI’s disappearance, the Paradox Pokémon’s frenzy increased with each passing day. Splintered bones crunched beneath his shoes, signs of the Pokémon’s unrest. They all desired more territory to spread their carnage. Perimeter patrols no longer sufficed. However, being in the depths of Area Zero made him nostalgic for the monotony of patrol days. Patrolling required no thought. If he stared at a fixed point in the horizon, the hours passed by before he knew it.
But an investigation required calculated judgement. He photographed the trail marks and tree scratches along the grass- another territorial struggle. Patches of grass were burnt to a crisp, smoke hung in the air, and there was an acrid smell near the trees. The dominant Pokémon lay claim to the land, warning any potential challengers.
It was practical territory for Pokémon to fight over. There was a garden of protective crystals near a fresh-water pond, and large trees to provide shade and fruits. A cave entrance was behind it all, an ideal place to rest for the night. He hypothesized the cliffside next to the area belonged to the dominant Pokémon as well. It would be impractical to have a lush area underneath a perfect attacking spot from above.
As he got closer, Larry’s brows furrowed at the state of the crystallized terrain. There were bushels of Tera Crystals throughout Paldea, each with a unique structure and color. But these were different. There was no transparency to admire, nor any splashes of color when the sunlight hit the crystals. The only left was a graveyard of once-beautiful phenomenons. Were the crystals this intricately tied to the AI? Did the Professor tamper with the area to this extent? Well, as long as the Professor’s work remained indecipherable, there would be no answer. Adjusting the lenses, he took another photograph.
The snap of his camera was accompanied by a swooping overhead shadow. He froze at the blast of wind that creeped down his neck. Hastily scanning the sky and grass gave him not a single hint to what was out there. It’s a windy day, he could say, despite being surrounded by cliffs. Just a breeze, he could say, despite the piercing sunlight the only remnant of the outside world. Staraptor’s wings twitched, ready to take flight at a moment’s notice. Something was out there. Waiting. Watching.
Larry crouched by the crystals and motioned Staraptor to lay low. He’s heard stories- stories so fantastical and absurd that it was easy to brush off as gossip. After all, his coworkers needed something to entertain themselves with, even if it was their own voices. And besides, he was the one with the experience with Area Zero. He knew better than all of them. But now, as his oxygen-deprived brain buzzed in time with his palpitating heart, the legends and the slaughters were all too real.
So he waited.
His legs whined and stiffened, but there were worse things that could happen than a leg cramp. It was best to play it safe. On a faraway cliff-side, a Sandy Shocks scuttled away on its spindly legs. It was fleeing. And there was a zipping boom like a descending airplane. Dread built up, and Larry spun around and-
At the last second, he saw it.
There wasn’t enough time to move, react, or even think.
The world shattered into a harsh explosion. The broken camera glass captured Staraptor’s bursting wings and a monster’s bright eyes- eyes so hypnotic that it obscured the rest of its face. The trees and crystals leered over him in a black silhouette, while everything else faded in a wave of blinding white. There was a crunching impact, but Staraptor’s shrill screech broke through it all.
Time returned as the beast dug its claws into his back and flung him into the air. The wind picked up, drowning out all sound and he was falling and falling and he reached out to grab something- anything. He tried to cry out but it was too much air and he couldn’t breathe and-
A different pair of claws dug in his shoulders, and he gritted his teeth as he held back a scream. His Staraptor hastily placed him onto the ground before soaring up to challenge the dragon.
Larry wheezed as he ripped apart the grass in his fists. He desperately bit into his torn up suit as body wracked in pain. A terrible, crackling static built up in his ears. He caught glimpses of Staraptor tearing at the dragon’s scales, the two caught in a battle with a clear ending.
“Star-!” Larry’s cry was interrupted by a coughing fit that shook his core. Everything was muffled. He couldn’t hear his own screams. There was no way to run away, not in the condition he was in. He struggled to keep his eyes open. Pokéballs fell from his trembling hands, releasing a swarm of his Pokémon. His Pokémon swiftly joined the battle despite the intimidating creature.
Head swimming, he collapsed in the grass as bright fire burned in the sky. The explosions were mere distant pin drops, the vibrations felt but ultimately inaudible. The clouds were covered by a blanket of dark smoke.
Another shadow leered over him. He couldn’t move. Whatever it was, he hoped it made it quick. A snap of the jaw would do it. Larry’s hazy vision filled with pink. A soft, delicate, rose pink.
“Sa-?” He scrunched his eyebrows. He had to think logically. Saguaro wouldn’t be here. But he wanted him to be here. Where was he? Saguaro Saguaro Saguaro-
An egg dropped in front of him.
He stared.
The egg was nudged closer, but what was he supposed to do with it? The Pokemon danced around the egg and chirped. The egg began to crack. The jagged lines grew and grew until it finally bloomed.
Larry took in a gasping intake of breath, able to expand his lungs and move his arms. Bones shifted back into place, and the pounding in head calmed. He shakily rose to his feet, his steps rippling the pool of red beneath his feet. Below him were shimmering shards of an egg shell, and in the distance, a small pink thing was running away. He blinked to sort out his foggy mind- it must have been a Chansey that healed the worst of his injuries.
A roar broke his train of thought. His Pokémon were clashing with all their might in a flurry of wings and feathers. But he could tell they were worn out. Staraptor’s wings were charred from the flames. Flamigo’s flight was unsteady. Braviary had a harsh wound along its side. It wasn’t enough, and the wild Pokémon was too far away to catch.
The crystal underneath his hand reminded him he had one last trick up his sleeve. Taking out an orb, he Terastillazed his Staraptor in desperation. His arm was thrown back from the force. The crystals surrounding him glowed brighter as Staraptor spread out his wings victoriously.
Facade.
Staraptor dived and hit the dragon with all of his might.
Facade.
The dragon’s teeth snapped at the air, trying to rip off Staraptor’s wings. But he was too quick, attacking the beast’s neck.
Facade.
Staraptor let out a powerful cry, and alongside Braviary, went for the eyes.
With that last attack, the beast roared and dropped to the ground. It shook the earth beneath it.
Staraptor chirped and flew over to Larry, sensing the end of the battle. The rest of his Pokemon dutifully followed. Larry grimaced at the smoke staining their beautiful feathers and coats. Leading them to the pond, he scrubbed them the best he could as the water clouded with red and black. Saguaro would give him an earful for the mess. He sprayed generous amounts of potions and burn heals. Braviary was particularly prideful about receiving potions, so it was a hassle to soothe and steady him. The wound would have to be checked out by a Pokémon center.
The surroundings were clear of Paradox Pokémon, who must have gone into hiding during the furious battle. He approached the dragon, doubtful it survived the attack. The blue scales…blood-red wings…Salamence?
No, that wasn’t right. Salamence had no feathers nor the iridescent scales. He reached for the research notes- huh. Scanning the ground, he found his briefcase hidden in the trees. It must have flown off from the impact. Flipping through his notes, he paused at a reconstruction drawing said to have come from the Group 4. He held up the sketch next to the Pokémon, and it was a near perfect match.
Roaring Moon.
Scanning the text, all he could process was that Roaring Moon was deadlier than its modern counterpart.
The paper crumpled in his tight grip as he shoved the valuable research in his briefcase. The researchers would chew him out for it later, but Larry couldn’t bring himself to care anymore. All of that research was just useless speculation. The real thing was here right in front of him.
Kneeling, Larry ran his fingers over the feather-like protrusions of Roaring Moon. It indeed had an uncanny resemblance to the modern Salamence, but this thing was more lethal, and dare-say, more beautiful. Shakily lifting up an edge of a wing, he concluded the leathery texture was similar to keratin. Light shone through the choppy punctures in the wings. He reached for his camera, but glass and plastic were scattered across the grass and crunched beneath his shoe. Geeta would take out of his pay for sure.
He pried open its mouth, exposing its gums as its tongue lopped out onto his fingers. Chunks of flesh and feather’s oozed out along with crimson-tinted saliva. Grimacing, he noted Roaring Moon’s extra set of teeth.
Larry avoided looking at Roaring Moon’s mutilated eyes. It was easy to forget what savage hunters Staraptor and Braviary could be.
His Rotom Phone began to vibrate inside his briefcase. Geeta. Wiping the fluids off his hands, he answered.
“Yes?”
“How is your assignment going? I asked you to provide me with updates.” Geeta said.
“Oh. It’s fine.” He carefully sat down next to Roaring Moon, suddenly feeling fatigued.
“And what is that supposed to mean?”
He sighed. “I captured Scream Tail and Flutter Mane. There’s a Roaring Moon-”
“I see. Be careful of Roaring Moon, it’s extremely dangerous-“
“It was too aggressive to capture. My Pokemon killed it.”
The silence crackled through the phone.“…I see. Are you taking photographs?”
“No. The camera broke.”
“That camera was of the highest quality!” Spat Geeta. It was the first time in a long while that he’s heard her raise her voice.
“It’s still broken.”
She sighed. “What about your Rotom Phone? Use that instead.”
He thought about it. That made logical sense. “Alright.”
“Are you close to the corpse?”
“Yes.”
“Give me a moment.”
In a minute, she returned, with a new sense of purpose lacing her voice.
“Do you mind bringing some samples? The researchers deem it too dangerous for them to go down themselves.”
“…Samples?” He whispered.
“Yes, preferably some scales, wings, and claws. The teeth are too difficult to extract for now. All the tools are provided in the kit I gave you.”
The kit was full of Masterballs, potions, elixirs- all standard materials. He flipped through every hidden compartment and drawer in the kit, until he found a discrete bag. Unfurling it, a generous array of scalpels, scissors, and cleavers greeted him.
It suddenly hit him what she was asking for. “I don’t think I-“
“Thank you for your cooperation. Report back once you’re done.” She swiftly ended the call, as she always did when she gave him another report to write or another data sheet to fill. But she’s never done something quite like this.
It wasn’t anything new to him to wound or kill a Pokémon. He’s done it time and time again, to the point it was routine. Of course, his occupation wasn’t anything uncouth like a hitman or a scientist. He was just a simple salaryman. But he had experience, which must have meant something.
Usually, Pokémon were defeated at the edge of Area Zero, so the researchers could collect it themselves. He never put much thought into what they did with the bodies. The answer was obvious, but what was the point on dwelling on it? It wasn’t his job to do. There was always some sort of arbitrary meaning placed on everything, even if it didn’t belong. But this task was different. For the first time in a long while, he felt horrified at what he has become.
He changed into a baggy pair of gloves that slipped off his fingers. It shouldn’t be too hard. His breaths came in short pants as he grabbed a cleaver. The sharpened metal edge reflected the inky clouds. It was like cutting vegetables for pico de gallo, just like Saguaro taught him. His hand shook uncontrollably as he lifted the base of the wing. It was like slicing meat for hotpot, just like Saguaro taught him. His heart thumped against his rib cage.
This was no different. It was fine. He was fine.
Emptying his mind, he made the first swing.