Pokémon: Out of the Woods | A Galar, Unova & Sinnoh Fanfiction

Chapter 77: The Deal

Hammerlocke Stadium was still illuminated blue and yellow. The flags still flew at half-mast. The cobbled streets below were drenched in its colourful light. As Heather and Pluto walked by, the colours changed to red and blue to honour the murdered Gym Challenger, Ralph.

There were no Wishing Stars to be found there. Rose long since exhausted that supply. The streets were quiet. The few people who passed didn't even glance up at Wyrdeer. Hammerlocke was a huge city that stretched far beyond its historical centre, so its people were used to seeing unfamiliar Pokémon and even bizarre things.

They passed the station. Before Heather even realised what was going on, Pluto jumped off Wyrdeer. He sprinted off inside. When she cycled after him, forgetting that she wasn't supposed to ride her bike into the station, she saw a black aura. It came from a Shadow Thwackey. It was soon sealed in one of those ancient-looking Ultra Balls.

'Thief! Thief! Someone stole my Pokémon!'

Pluto had already disappeared. The Trainer never saw him. Heather hurried back out before the man accused her.

'I have to hand it to you. I didn't feel that one.'

'I have more recent experience. That's all.'

He and Wyrdeer walked on as if nothing happened. They crossed a stone bridge with sweeping views over the northern Wild Area. In the distance were the ruined castle walls that enclosed the southern part of Route 8. Heather's phone screen was bright red again. Pluto pointed.

'This way.'

He led her through rustling grass, where Thievul and Liepard prowled and fought, towards the castle walls. His Cinderace shook the nearby Berry tree. It stowed everything that fell in a bag.

Entering the remnants of the castle was like entering an entirely different, long-lost world. Solrock and Lunatone floated by. Sand was occasionally shaken from the grass into their faces. Golurk lined up. Their glow provided helpful light. In the ruined rooms below, Falinks marched endlessly and in perfect unison. The faint smell of curry drifted from a faraway tent.

Pluto asked a wild Boldore for permission before opening a box with his cooking knife. There were many dusty rocks, probably gathered by Pokémon long after the castle was abandoned, inside. One of them was a Wishing Star.

Heather began to open more boxes. There were no more Wishing Stars. She noticed that some of the boxes were already open. Others were smashed on the floor.

'Be alert,' Pluto warned, 'It seems that Team Plasma have already been here...'

Yet there were clearly countless Wishing Stars left. The screen was still bright red. Heather climbed down a ladder after Pluto. He spoke to a Falinks. It halted its endless march to let him crawl into its den. He beckoned Heather.

'Come. Team Plasma were probably thrown out of here by the Falinks.'

There were many more sleeping Falinks inside. They were disturbed by the light of the screen, but more disturbed when they awoke to realise a human saw them out of formation. They rushed back together. Only moments later, they spoke to Pluto and relaxed again. One trooper wandered from its line to kick open a broken trunk for him. It was full of Wishing Stars. Another Falinks attacked a wall to knock down the chests on a stone shelf for Heather. They were also full of Wishing Stars. A Boldore family, who were apparently friends with the Falinks, pointed them towards even more.

Heather found frantic foot and hand prints leading out. Pluto was right. The Team Plasma Grunts seeking Wishing Stars were so pathetic that they were indeed thrown out by Falinks.

'I doubt these ones were collected by Pokémon,' Pluto said, 'They look much older. Perhaps the residents of the castle collected them... history certainly is fascinating.'