Teddy stood and stretched before squatting down to pick up his Togepi — whom he had decided to call Happy.

  The little fairy giggled, nestled comfortably in the palm of his hand and threw her tiny hands towards the sky.

  Teddy sighed. He had… tripped.

  Yesterday.

  It had been an honest mistake. He was tired and rushing, desperate to get to wherever Stantler had been leading them for the past two days.

  He’d had two options, fall on Happy, or toss her in the air and catch her before she fell.

  He’d opted for the latter.

  He had been paying for that decision ever since.

  Happy had discovered she loved the feeling of falling. Not going up — she was perfectly silent on the way up.

  But the moment she started falling, she shrieked uncontrollably, her laughter what Teddy could only describe as a fairy’s version of a cackle.

  So now she asked to be thrown in the air every few minutes. And if he didn’t toss her high enough?

  She would make her displeasure known by nibbling on his finger.

  Granted, it was more cute than anything — she was hardly bigger than a berry herself.

  Stantler snorted and turned to resume their journey as Happy began her descent, shrieking with joy.

  She hadn’t finished her fall before she was already raising her hands back up.

  Teddy had heard some kids were easier than others. His mother had smiled tiredly and thanked him often growing up for being an easy child.

  Teddy snorted. Of course he was an easy. His brother was a dragon.

  Happy chomped on his finger when he didn’t toss her up quick enough.

  “I think MunchMunch is my easy child,” he laughed, tossing the baby fairy into the air.

  ____

  Stantler had religiously avoided the path for the three days they had traveled together. Apparently, she held more sway than Teddy realized, as no wild Pokémon have given them trouble.

  He was still concerned though. His Munchlax and Gastly were still out there, and he had their Poké Balls on his belt.

  Meaning anyone could try to catch them.

  Happy cooed in her sleep, entirely exhausted from working so hard to get him to toss her in the air all day. He hadn’t cut his hair recently, and she decided it made the perfect nest.

  So Teddy hiked, and she slept on his head, Cheri Berry held close.

  “Hey Stantler,” he called out. The Pokémon turned to regard him curiously.

  “Uhm, are we almost there? I really need to find my team…”

  The Stantler rolled its eyes and snorted, turning to continue on.

  “I just got sassed by a Stantler,” Teddy mumbled under his breath, continuing to maneuver through the ever-thickening trees.

  Ahead of him Stantler stopped, allowing Teddy to catch up — and catch his breath.

  He lost it just as quickly.

  They stood overlooking a small valley, ancient towers of stone and sand interspersed with countless trees, a small stream flowing through it all.

  “What… is this place?” Teddy muttered.

  Stantler tossed her head and circled along the lip of the basin, heading towards a small cabin Teddy had missed before. Hurrying to catch up, he found her curled up beside an elderly lady seated on a rocking chair — a small Pokémon floating over her palm.

  At least, Teddy thought it was a Pokémon. It looked more like the letter “i”.

  The lady waved her hand and the Pokémon scampered back into the trees.

  “Ah, Stantee - you’ve returned, and with visitors no less. Well, don’t be shy, come here and let me see you,” she called.

  Teddy reached up and pulled Happy down from his head, cupping her safely in his palm. She blew a small bubble and rolled over, reaching for her berry.

  “Hi, I’m Teddy — I didn’t mean to disturb — “

  “Oh come now, it can get lonely out here. A guest is a welcome change of pace. Stantee here usually doesn’t much care for others, I’m intrigued to see how you won her heart.”

  At that, Stantler raised her head and snorted, rolled her eyes, and nudged the woman — making it clear no one had stolen her heart.

  The woman laughed heartily, rubbing Stantee’s head affectionately.

  “Come, sit here and I will get you some food. Then you can tell me all about what has led you here, to the Ruins of Alph.”

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  ____

  “Mmm, yes — I’d imagine that storm caught quite a few people by surprise,” the lady, whom Teddy now knew was named Minerva, nodded as he finished his story. She reminded him of an older version of his mom.

  “Literally came out of nowhere,” he confirmed. “And that’s what led me here — I ended up lost and without my team.”

  “Indeed. Well, if I am not mistaken, that was no ordinary storm. I believe it was caused by a Legendary flying over.”

  Teddy froze. He hadn’t thought of that.

  “Do you really think so?”

  “Just a hypothesis,” she nodded, “but I wouldn’t be surprised.“

  “Can a Pokémon really be that powerful?”

  Minerva tapped her lip thoughtfully before taking a sip of the (quite wonderful) tea she had brewed while he told his story.

  “Legendary Pokémon aren’t really Pokémon as we understand them,” she said thoughtfully. “They are more like embodiments. Of nature. Of concepts. If this is the one I think it is, I imagine it probably didn’t even realize it was whipping up a storm in its wake, as it was a consequence of its existence, rather than a conscious effort on its part,” she rambled.

  Teddy grinned.

  Yep, definitely reminded him of his mom.

  “So… who was it?” Teddy pressed.

  Minerva waggled her finger. “Oh no, that is for you to find out!”

  Teddy squinted. Maybe it was his mom, wearing a disguise?

  “Anyway, I hypothesize this simply based on my findings here. The Pokémon casually existing in this ruin seem to have Foundational Consequences. Quite fascinating actually,” she nodded, setting her tea down with a sharp clink.

  Teddy felt a shiver run down his spine, thinking of the strange creature she had been holding earlier.

  “Is that what — “

  “Unown, yes,” she nodded.

  “Oh… I just thought you might — “

  “It’s the name we call them by, dear. They are called unknown simply because we can’t understand them,” she cut him off, forestalling his question.

  Teddy sighed. He loved his mom, but she — like all avid researchers, could be difficult to hold a conversation with. After all, it wasn’t much of a conversation when one side spoke volumes and answered your questions before you could ask them.

  Minerva was most certainly an avid researcher.

  “So… why do you think Stantee brought me here?” Teddy asked instead.

  She drew up short, as if the thought hadn’t occurred to her. Beside her, Stantler cracked an eye to look at her in bemusement.

  “Well, based on your story and what you told me about the cave, I would imagine it was because she is grateful to you. Well, to your Togepi, to be specific.”

  Teddy took a sip of his tea and nodded, knowing any words he might say would be pointless.

  “I hypothesize Stantee gathered as many baby Pokémon as she could when the storm started and herded them into the cave for safety.”

  Stantee snorted in agreement, closing her eye to resume her nap.

  “Now, if that is the case,” she continued, more enthusiastic by the moment, “they were probably just as scared as you were! I mean, imagine! They are out playing one moment, and the next? A storm rips them from their families! Of course, Stantee, being the dear she is, would have done her best to help them. Did you know, she isn’t bonded to me by Pokéball? She joined me just to help me — my companion and friend,” she finished fondly, sipping her tea and gazing at the setting sun.

  “She has been a life saver to us,” Teddy affirmed. “And, what do you think happened next?” he prompted, knowing she would have lost her train of thought after completing the last.

  He smiled. Researchers.

  “Hmm? Oh, right! Well your, quite literally, little ball of joy helped keep them calm and happy — an apt job for a Togepi,” she laughed. “Oh, and the fact they cuddled next to you? Sweet, but I don’t believe it was to keep you warm — a byproduct at best. Most likely they saw you as an older figure, a stand-in parent if you will. Yes, I do believe I am right. How remarkable, the way Legendaries work. You and a cave of baby Pokémon brought together to help each other,” she trailed off.

  “Oh, well… thank you Stantee,” Teddy bowed slightly, suspecting she had been able to understand — or at least glean what he was saying, all along.

  She snorted but didn’t open her eyes.

  “Oh don’t mind her! She is such a grouch when she is tired. She must really love your Togepi.”

  “I did give her a few berries,” Teddy said thoughtfully. “Come to think of it, she asked for a berry regularly the entire way back, too.”

  Minerva laughed, bustling to clean up the tea set and plates from their food.

  “Yes, that does sound about right. I’d say I’m surprised you had enough food, except you have a Munchlax. That little thing will be a terror to feed as it gets older. Best make sure you get strong enough to pulverize some stronger gym challenges for the earnings or you won’t keep up. Actually, you might need to get a job on top of it all,” she trailed off, setting the dishes down.

  Teddy smiled to himself as he finished wiping down the table, the sun now sinking below the horizon.

  “So Stantee brought me here to… help you?” he questioned.

  Minerva turned to look at him, an eyebrow raised. “Oh no, I quite doubt that. I’d imagine you would be dreadfully bored, spending the next 50 years sitting here studying Pokémon you will barely make any progress understanding.”

  Teddy nodded. She was right.

  She smirked. “No, I imagine she brought you here so you could tell me where you need to go, and I can tell you how to get there. Judging by your story — I’d imagine Ecruteak is next on your list?”

  Teddy nodded.

  “I’m really worried about my Team. I have no idea where they even are right now.”

  Minerva laughed. “Grab some blankets out of that closet, dear. We can make you up a bed to sleep the night. You have a bit of a journey ahead of you yet.”

  “Oh… I don’t want to intrude,” Teddy promptly responded, stifling a yawn he didn’t know he was hiding.

  “Nonsense — I have the room. I insist! Besides, having someone to talk to has been quite nice for me as well.”

  Teddy smiled. “Well, thank you. How far do you think? Until Ecruteak?”

  She blinked.

  “Right. Ecruteak. Well, I’d imagine you can get there in two or three days, depending on your progress. I don’t know what the storm did to the trail, you see. Oh, and be sure to stick to the trail? There are some rather territorial Pokémon around here, and you don’t exactly have a Team right now — “

  Stantee joined them at this point, nudging Minerva on the shoulder.

  “Oh! Well isn’t that nice. I would imagine you can get there late tomorrow night! Stantee is willing to guide you — for some berries, of course. You still have enough?”

  Teddy blinked, slightly overwhelmed.

  “Oh uh — thank you!” he exclaimed, bowing to both. “And yes, I will have enough if the journey is only going to take one day.”

  Stantee nodded contentedly and let herself back outside for the night.

  “We only have a few types of berry trees and bushes around here,” Minerva explained while the two of them continued making up his bed. “And I love her, but she can be so lazy when it comes to foraging for food. Your change of fare is quite welcome for her. I imagine she has avoided the Oran avidly?”

  Teddy laughed. He had wondered why she glared at him the first time he offered one.

  “Yes, that would be correct,” he affirmed, the both of them chuckling.

  “Oh, and as for your team, I would imagine they will probably make it to Ecruteak before you will. This close, your Gastly will feel the Hallow-wind’s guidance.”

  Teddy blinked.

  “The what?”

  “Oh-ho-ho-oh! You have so much to learn! How exciting! But this lesson is not for me to teach. Your time in Ecruteak is going to be quite beneficial, I should think,” she smiled, blowing out the candle.

  “Now, sleep. I will be out in the ruins before dawn. Feel free to get some breakfast before you go, and take good care of Stantee. If you are ever this way again, do stop by to see me?” she whispered, leaving the room and closing the door behind her.

  Teddy stood in the dark, bemused and grateful. In his hand, Happy stirred, looking for some food no doubt.

  Teddy lit a lantern from his pack and lay down, offering an Asper to his Togepi.

  He drifted to sleep with a smile, watching her rock back and forth on the bed next to him.