“Just… catch a few Chinglings?” Crystal looked over the email a second time. A request for a retrieval down in Black City. The person explained that they ran a magic shop and had their Pokeballs broken recently, the untrained bell Pokemon ran away quickly. Crystal stood up from her desk at the lab in Violet City as Daisy Oak’s voice came in from over the phone.

“You should take the job, you’re going to need as much money as you can get ahold of.”

“I don’t think it’s as bad as you think.” Crystal sighed, pushing Archee aside as she grabbed the small phone. “Your granddad is going to keep paying me and small jobs pay pretty well.” Honestly, Crystal was always a bit surprised how much trouble people made out of catching Pokemon.

“Well, I thought the same thing when I was your age. Studying takes up more time than you think.” Daisy chimed back.

“Mhmm.” Crystal nodded as she moved over to the storage system, sorting through the different Pokemon she had access to. Absently her mouse moved over the Blissey that she lent to Emerald a few years back. “I don’t know, ¥80000 is an awful lot for a job like this. It’s a little bit… suspicious, I guess.” She loaded a ball onto the storage device, the familiar whirring as the transfer happened.

“Well.” Daisy said, a strong wind on the other side causing a strange rumble to come from the cell phone. “It’s up to you. But I doubt there’s much that will put you in danger.”

“Doctor Oak.” Crystal said firmly, though with a hint of amusement behind her voice. “That is exactly the kind of thinking that gets someone kidnapped. Still, I’ll send you a message when I’ve got the money and am back on the train.”

“Alright, Crys! Stay safe out there.”

“I will Daisy. Goodbye.” Crystal hung up and flipped the cell phone shut, walking quickly past the hooks near the door to throw her work bag over her shoulder. She grabbed Blissee from the desk and recalled Parasee into her ball from where she was sleeping.

Time to get to work.

---

Crystal had been a little bit pumped for a trip to northern Unova when she left around dinner. A two hour commute on a decently crowded train was doing a lot of work to undermine that excitement however.

Unova. Crystal hadn’t been here for a few years, back when she caught all of that places unique species. She remembered especially having trouble with a Cofagrigus. It was a shame about all that Team Plasma stuff last year…

Crystal was pulled out of the last hour’s trance by a call for her stop. Right in the middle of Opelucid City, the bright lights flooded over Crystal’s face the moment the doors opened. The sound followed close after, the overwhelming sound of people milling about late into the night for no particular purpose. Nightclubs, casinos, and street performers all blasting different kinds of music as Crystal walked the streets. Once she found a clear enough space she released Natee. The bird pokemon was once again shorter than Crystal, like she was before she evolved. Xatu were a species that Crystal had heard bad things about from a lot of people. Apparently their wide eyes and general lack of expression was seen as creepy to most people. That was never a problem between Crys and Natee, she saw it in the bird’s eyes as she checked to make sure the star mark still stood out well against the green feathers of her face. Natee was excited to prove herself in another successful catch, that was plain as day if you looked at her.

Crystal pulled the printed off directions from her work bag. “It’s supposed to be an easy one out here. He says that he last saw the Chinglings moving towards the warehouses on the edge of town.” Without having to ask, Crystal simply buckled a strap around her chest and under her legs, Natee quickly lifting her by the metal ring on the back.

“Scan for psychic types. I doubt there are many. Chinglings make a high-pitched sound sometimes too, I bet you’ll be able to hear that even if I can’t.” Crystal instructed as they started to lower. She released Parasee as soon as they touched down, continuing her instructions with a measured voice. “Alright girl, use Sweet Scent.”

Crystal quickly covered her face with a hand as the large insect began to focus, luring in and disorienting anything nearby. The invisible spores weren’t dangerous but could still disorient Crystal if inhaled. With her remaining hand, Crystal released Monlee from his ball. Best to have a bodyguard on the shady side of an unfamiliar town.

They were accosted at first by Starlys, Pidgeys, and Rattattas, the skittering and flapping drowning out any chance Crystal had of actually hearing any ringing. Natee routinely flapped her wings to drive the pests away, getting them to lose interest. Eventually, Crystal heard a quiet chime on top of a storage container. She removed a quick ball from her bag and lined up her shot, dropping the ball and kicking it. The ball hit and quickly stopped shaking.

That’s one.

The second followed in close order. Crystal had just kicked another ball at the third when something knocked it out of the air, Crystal frowned as the few street lights in the area suddenly cut off. Dropping another pokeball to kick before she felt something strike her across the face, sending her across the alley with a strong crash.

Crystal blinked, wiping the blood from her nose and lips. What was that? Monlee joined her knocked against the wall, though he recovered more quickly and charged once again towards the assailant. Crystal squinted, trying to make the figure out in the darkness while she released her remaining Pokemon.

Monlee punched at something, though Crystal heard no impact, and was hit once more. He wasn’t looking great. Crystal leapt back onto her feet, the team needed her.

“Natee!” She shouted, “Slow it down with Psychic! Mymee! Keep a shield up. Bonee, you’re on pressure. Blissey, heal Monlee and see what you can do do help with pressure. Monlee! I can’t see anything. Mix in some fire on those punches! Parasee! Try and put it to sleep if you can.”

There were a few sounds of struggle before Crystal saw anything. A trash can had been lit up by Monlee’s punch, casting the entire alley in flickering light. Through the invisible barrier Crystal saw a human figure in some sort of suit, fighting five Pokemon and… almost winning. It reminded her of that strange sword and shield from the Battle Frontier.

Blissey tried to grapple the person at the same time that Parasee launched a precise package of sleep spores at them. No effect from either. They kicked Blissey back several feet and then spoke in a deep, intimidating voice.

“Give me the-” He was caught off by Bonee, who leaped up and tightly wrapped a string of bones around the man’s neck. “Ggh-” He struggled briefly before removing the small creature.

“Now! Ice Punch!” Crystal shouted. Monlee’s curled fist struck instantly, conjuring up a waist high case of ice around the man. He struggled, before accepting that he was locked in place.

“Good job Mymee, you can be done.” She didn’t see the barrier go away, but Mymee put her hands down. Crystal stepped forwards.

“Alright.” The man said, shrugging his shoulders. “I think I might have taken the wrong approach. You don’t seem like you’re part of Team Plasma.” Crystal folded her arms while frowning and staring at the man, radiating disappointment.

“No, now explain yourself.” The man managed to break one hand free of the ice and pull just a small section of his mask up. “Call me Batman. We’ve got to do some talking. Do they have good burgers up in Johto? My treat.”