The Black Mystery Zone had one advantage: the entry point was fixed.
That meant Auron didn't have to worry about getting separated from the others the moment they crossed over — nothing like what had happened to him last time.
"Tours! Ten years of guiding experience — I'll get you out of here alive, guaranteed!"
"Maps! Maps! Who the hell needs a map?!"
"All kinds of supplies — fair trade prices!"
"Buying materials — ten percent above market!"
"You looking for trouble, pal?"
"Yeah I am. What of it?"
"Son of a — Mandibuzz, use Dark Pulse on him!"
The moment Auron and the others stepped through, they were swamped by a crowd — vendors, scouts, and opportunists who had all been waiting and immediately began shouting over each other. Before half of them had even finished their pitches, two of them had already come to blows.
Auron watched as the crowd that had been pressing in around the group instantly scattered — and then just as quickly regrouped in a ring around the two fighters, jeering and egging them on.
That level of choreography didn't come from practice. It came from repetition.
They walked on without a second glance.
Once the noise of the gathering faded behind them, the group finally exhaled. Almost immediately, Simon Greaves and Lena's Ghost-type Pokémon slipped out from the shadows to flank them.
Auron let Mini Dragon out too. She had been getting restless.
He hadn't had a choice — a pink Dratini was far too conspicuous, and the gathering point at the entrance was crawling with people. Someone might have gotten ideas. Better not to risk it.
With Mini Dragon loose, the others released their Pokémon as well.
Tim sent out his Dragonair and Altaria. Jace let out his Charizard and Arcanine. Lucas released his Alolan Dugtrio. Serena released Manaphy.
Auron put Crobat on sentry duty while Simon Greaves and Lena kept their Ghost-types submerged in the group's shadows — a precaution against sudden ambushes.
"First step: put some distance between us and the gathering point."
Everyone nodded.
They had planned this out before entering. The gathering area was too crowded, and whoever else had crossed over at the same time as them would still be drifting around nearby. To shake any potential followers, they would head south first — just long enough for the crowd to lose them. Then they would mount their flying Pokémon and cut east toward Goldeen Lake.
Two reasons for the southern approach. First, it threw off anyone trying to track their direction. Second — and conveniently — the area to the south was Beedrill Forest. Maximum danger rating. Which meant that anyone who mistakenly thought they were headed that way would have second thoughts very quickly.
As for Goldeen Lake itself: it was a scouting run. An easy-difficulty zone. Just enough to get a feel for what they were dealing with.
If the danger level there was manageable, they'd continue north from the lake to Beautifly Camp — the one location in the entire Black Mystery Zone where the exit portal had any chance of appearing, and the lowest-danger spot where that was possible.
"Move out?"
"Move out."
Per the plan: Crobat carried Auron. Auron's Charizard took Serena and Lena. Tim's Dragonair carried Tim, and his Altaria took Simon Greaves. Jace's Charizard brought both Jace and Lucas.
With only a handful of fliers to go around, that was the best distribution. Manaphy could technically fly, but the speed was hopeless for transport. And the Ghost-types needed to stay in the shadows, not to mention they floated rather than actually flew.
Once Golett evolved into Golurk, that would change — Golurk could carry a rider. But that was a problem for later.
They rose into the air and swept low across the plain.
Below them, Diglett, Dugtrio, Oddish, and Tropius roared and snapped up at the flying shapes overhead. None of them could actually reach the group at altitude. The plain was fine.
Back at the gathering point, a new group had just stepped through.
The man leading them was middle-aged, wearing an orange short-sleeved shirt. Behind him came a dozen or so people dressed in purple.
He entered, glanced around once, and then walked calmly over to a vendor sitting beneath a sign that read: NO QUESTION TOO HARD. The vendor had a small, neat mustache.
"Seven people just came through — looked like students," the man said pleasantly. "Do you know which way they went?"
The mustached vendor looked him up and down, then rubbed his fingers together.
The man in orange grinned. "Say no more."
He gestured to one of his purple-clad followers, who pulled an envelope from his pack and handed it forward. The man passed it to the vendor. The vendor squeezed it — and broke into a wide smile.
"Seven students, five boys and two girls, one of the boys a bit on the chubby side — that them?"
"That's them. Which way did they go?"
"South."
"Much appreciated."
The man smiled pleasantly, nodded, and headed south with his people in tow.
"Getting yourself a fat payday, Mustache?" the old man running the stall next door called out with a grin.
The vendor watched the man disappear into the zone, then, only once he was certain they were out of sight, let out a soft laugh.
"Ha — I didn't expect him to be so generous. Twenty thousand, just for a direction. Lucky I've got a good memory, or I'd have missed that one."
"Who do you think those people are, anyway?"
The vendor shrugged. "Old man, that's not our business. Whatever they are, they're not here to deliver thank-you cards. And even if you wanted to do something about it — what exactly would you do?"
The old man chuckled. "Fair enough. Old habits. Curiosity, that's all." He paused. "You landed a big fish today. Drinks tonight — you're buying?"
"Buying. But you're giving me a discount."
"Done."
The two of them laughed and locked in their evening plans, without a passing thought for whether Auron and the others might be in danger.
---
After flying for a stretch, the group finally reached Goldeen Lake.
Along the way they had run into a flock of Spearow led by two Fearow. The Fearow were dispatched by both Charizards' Flamethrower, and the Spearow were finished off by a combined barrage of Thunderbolts from Dragonair, Altaria, and Gengar. The whole flock dissolved in short order.
Then everyone spread out to loot the dissolve sites — the local term for it being "corpse runs."
Lucas pulled an Oran Berry. Jace got a Mago Berry. Tim turned up a Limu Berry.
All three had terrible luck. Nothing to write home about.
Simon Greaves did better — he found a Wax Apple Berry, which was at least a step above the common varieties. Lena pulled a White Sphere Berry, a rare crafting ingredient used to make Speed Balls.
But the best haul went to Serena. She found a Sharp Beak.
Everyone walked away with something.
Except Auron, who came up completely empty.
---
*PS: Three chapters today, brothers! How about some monthly votes to show support?*
*(End of Chapter)*
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