uprooted.

Liah can sense the absolutely sincerity in Ingo’s softly-spoken words, and she quickly glances down to cope with the impact of the Subway Boss’s compliment, thankful that the nighttime hour obscures the flaming-red blush spreading across her cheeks. The pair stand there for a moment of awkward silence--a few seconds stretched into an eternity--before the Lady steps in front of Ingo with a sense of renewed determination, grasping both of his hands and feeling the warm fabric on her palms as she stares up into his kind, solemn eyes. Just like the stars twinkling overhead, she could get lost in them.

“Letters or right here, you know exactly what to say...” Liah breathes, tilting her head upwards as she pulls him just a bit closer, confidently rising up on the balls of her feet before--

 Kzzzt!

A walkie-talkie crackles to life from within the recesses of Ingo’s coat, shattering the spell. Startled, Liah backs away and crash-lands back into reality, suddenly aware of how fast her heart is beating, her instinctive impulse fading. A soft Unova wind rustles through the moonlit grasses as the wheezing conductor’s voice rasps through the outdated device.

“Hey Boss Ingo, my *kzzt* mistake! We did the headcount, and I can’t believe I missed ya! Stay safe, okay? I’m *kzzt* turnin’ this thing around as fast I can--we can snatch ya on the return trip but it’s gonna be a bit, *kzzt* okay? I’m sorry again, Boss! Uh, enjoy this beauty of a night until then, over!” 

As Ingo works things out on his end, Liah wanders a short distance, the adrenaline of the evening wearing off as she takes a seat on the grass once again. Inspiring by her penpal, the Lady surveys the sky, drinking in the radiant sight of the full moon before her gaze catches a shimmering cascade of light streaking across the twilit canvas.

A small fleet of ships had circled what seemed to be a large group of Dragalge, and thunderous flashes from the boat decks signified that this man-made ring of vessels was quite literally shooting fish in a barrel. Upon witnessing this unexpected show of brutality, Liah is almost overcome by a bout of pained lightheadedness, carefully taking a knee as if she’s also experiencing the Dragalge’s suffering. When the Lady looks down at Roxanne, there’s panic--but also angry determination--flashing in her green eyes.

“They’re...they’re...we have to do something!” she pleads, desperation in her tone as she straightens up, bends her legs and--for one crazy moment--prepares to cliff dive into the seas below, if only to swim closer to the boats. Hoothoot, fluttering nearby, also lets out a cry of distress--and begins to glow.

Liah blinks away her angry tears as Hoothoot--faithful Hoothoot--envelops himself in a swath of radiant white light. With bright spots in her vision, the Lady squints as her Tiny Owl--now Noctowl--spreads his wings for the first time, his crest illuminated by the moonlight. “Gods...this is...this is amazing,” Liah breathes with wonderment before wrapping her Pokemon in a tight hug. “You...you want to help that badly, Hoothoot?”

Noctowl answers with a low coo, fanning his wings again as another barrage of explosions rattles across the seascape. Liah mounts her new flyer without hesitation, pausing to glance back at Roxanne. “Hoothoot evolved for a reason--we need to save those Pokemon,” she declares with little room for compromise in her tone. Her next statement is softer, more apologetic: “Please forgive me for being hasty. I’m afraid it’s in my nature.”

Free from the Mereanies’ attention for the time being, the Johto traveler falls into a more relaxed step beside her companion. Roxanne, to her credit, doesn’t seem too fazed by the sudden chase, and it isn’t long before the pair comes across a fresh island spring. Liah pauses to admire the beautiful setting with the Gym Leader, tempted by the inlet’s tempting cool waters.

You are alright, aren’t you? They didn’t prick you or anything, I hope.

“I’m fine, thanks to your quick thinking,” Liah replies with a small, appreciative smile, kicking her boots off and dipping her legs in the spring with a sigh. She glances back at Roxanne with genuine empathy in her eyes. “And how are you? Do you have all of your research?”

Liah shakes her head after a brief pause, her breathing still somewhat labored after their jungle run together. “Those Mareanie were probably just upset because I intruded on their den and woke them up,” she reasoned sheepishly, her cheeks flushing as she felt the smooth scales from the cave pressing on her clenched palm. “I...I’m sorry. I know that you probably wanted a relaxing beach day. I just wanted to help you find something for your research...and I hope this can make up for some of our island trouble.”

Liah opens up her palm to reveal the radiant multicolored scales that she had retrieved from the Mareanie grotto. The smooth objects flash and flare in the setting sun, and the Lady’s eyes widen with surprise as she extends them to Roxanne. When Liah speaks next, her voice is hushed.

So Liah runs, completely ignoring the train’s blaring horn as she focuses only on Ingo’s flapping coattails in front of her. She’s determined to catch up--and she does, but only when the Subway Boss stumbles to an abrupt halt. Liah skids to the side with a gasp to avoid a collision with her penpal, placing a hand on Ingo’s shoulder to steady herself. Panting, she curiously follows her guide’s worried gaze.

“Oh… dear…”

It doesn’t take long for Liah to process what’s happening as the sleek train lurches forwards on the tracks--without them on it. Before either of them can really process the dilemma, their ride is already well on the way to its next stop. Oops.

And yet, despite their current dilemma, Liah doesn’t feel stressed at all--a pure credit to the man standing at her side. She squeezes Ingo’s shoulder, feeling it rise and fall from their previous chase. Alone in silence now, time seems to comfortably slow down once again, and the Lady has to laugh.

“Gods...this would happen on our first in-person meeting,” the Johtoan observes, breaking the quiet as she obscures her light mirth with a hand. “This might seem a little naive, but I don’t feel worried at all--even if our train has deserted us. Tonight, I could think of worse places to be...perhaps we could explore around for solutions? If you feel up to it, of course!”

Liah peers up at Ingo, her green eyes radiant in the moonlight as she moves loose green locks off of her forehead. The Lady’s voice takes on a more mischievous edge as she clasps his gloved hand with another giggle.

A shrill chant suddenly surrounds the Johto native, and Liah can only turn and freeze with fright as a hulking coral-esque Pokemon blocks the entrance, Roxanne’s warning coming a little too late. Liah glances around in a cold sweat, white-knuckling her treasures and noticing the glowing, yellow eyes of several Mareanie. The wanderer had wandered headlong into a colony of the Poison Pokemon, and looming in front of her was the big boss itself.

“Gods...” Liah whispers softly, remembering to breathe as time slows to a crawl around her, the Mereanie moving in. “How...how are all of you today?”

The Lady’s been in this situation before, and an almost-imperceptible head nod from her serves as a signal to Hoothoot, who launches himself off of Roxanne’s shoulder towards his beloved trainer. When Toxapex and Mereanie turn to glare at the intruding owl, the tiny bird hits them all with his best Hypnosis attack, crimson eyes glowing brightly.

The attack doesn’t come close to knocking out the toxic anemones, but it does disorient them momentarily--long enough for Liah to blitz towards the entrance with her surprising athleticism. Hopping over a dazed Mereanie, the Lady motions towards Hoothoot, who ends his all-out hypnotic assault with the tiniest of sighs. The shrill battlecries start up almost automatically as the Poison Pokemon shake themselves from their stupors, and Liah tugs Roxanne’s hand without hesitation. Despite the situation, the free-spirited traveler looks invigorated, her emerald eyes bright with energy, sweat glistening on her brow. Glancing back at the cavern, her green hair windswept by the Alolan ocean breeze, Liah witnesses the incited Mereanie and lone Toxapex crawling out from their den.

"I’m not hurt or anything--actually, my heart aches for them both,” she declares earnestly before giving Kyanna a reassuring pat on the back. “Personally, I believe that you’re doing a very noble, important thing...everyone, no matter their circumstances, deserves love, guidance...and cookies!”

Her proverb-esque wisdom dispensed, Liah follows the Skull Grunt eagerly as she sets off for Haina Desert, eager to show Kyanna her adventurous spirit. A warm night wind rolls across the sands, and the Johto native exhales deeply, feeling the prickly grains glance her skin. The tall figure strolling in front of her is still such a mystery, and Liah has to hold back the dam of questions waiting to be asked for courtesy’s sake. As the full moon looms overhead, there’s one burning query that slips past her lips. 

“So, how did you come to join Team Skull? How long have you been part of it? Where do you stay?”

Okay, maybe more than one burning query. Liah claps a hand over her mouth in order to stem the curiosities, shaking her head with a light laugh.

“Ah...oops!” Filled with resolute focus, Liah is so focused on the ground that she walks right into Carracosta, who immediately drops an armful of samples on the ground. “Sorry...here, and here!” the Lady apologizes sheepishly, helping Roxanne’s Pokemon pick up his precious load. Hoothoot helps where he can, fluttering around Liah’s head with some disapproving clucks of the beak. When all of the samples are secured again, the Johto native grins, laying a comforting hand on Carracosta’s solid shell. “You’re doing great--please feel free to let Hoothoot help out too. His eyesight is top percentage!” 

Hoothoot puffs himself out proudly as he lights on Carracosta’s shoulder, and the two Pokemon chatter quietly as they continue to hunt for natural treasure. Liah scans the small rocky island once again, gasping slightly as her eyes catch sight of a glittery scale half-hidden in the gravelly sand. She plucks one from the earth, and then another...soon, Liah realizes that the little trinkets are leading her somewhere--to the entrance of a pitch-dark grotto.

The Lady pauses at the cavern mouth, unafraid and extremely curious. Liah has always been an adventurer despite her restrictive upbringing, keeping the go boldly philosophy close to her heart. She glances over her shoulder--the Pokemon are trundling along the shoreline, and Roxanne is busy surveying the island...perhaps a quick peek wouldn’t hurt!

Liah steps inside with confidence, not knowing what she’ll find, only now realizing that she probably could use a flashlight. In the darkness, the Lady fails to notice the piles of Pokemon bones on the floor, or the quiet drowsing of a newly-awoken Mereanie colony...she only sees the tempting glitter of the scales.

Liah stops, hesitating for the first time as--a hundred yards away--Hoothoot senses danger for the first time with his Foresight. Pecking Carracosta to get his attention, the Tiny Owl flutters over to Roxanne and pecks at her too.

“But..!” Liah pauses dramatically, holding a finger up in the air for emphasis. “...I think that traveling together would be fun.” She stops again, giggling as she pokes Ingo lightly on the arm. “I hope that you have enought vacation days for an adventure--I think I’ve used all of mine already.”

Liah turns towards Ingo then, freezing as she becomes aware of their close proximity for the first time, the softness in his grey eyes, and how none of this feels awkward or unnatural at all. She sighs, and her breath trembles past her lips.

“I’ve never felt this way before,” she admits, forever honest to the core as she meets his gaze a little sheepishly. “Have you...?” 

But before Ingo can really answer, the sharp whistle of the train cuts through the placid night, sending Kricketot bumbling over the dewy grasses. The spell momentarily broken, Liah sits upright, her emerald eyes widening as she glimpses the soft glow of the train’s lights flickering to life from her vantage point on the hill.

The train seems like it’s a whole world away. Liah grasps Ingo’s gloved hand, running her thumb lightly across his knuckles. Everything would be okay--as long as she was with him.