Miraidon's question made every Pokémon present turn their eyes to Jason.
Jason looked at Sandy Shocks, then at the expectant look in Miraidon's eyes. He smiled and casually shook his head.
"Doesn't matter," he said, easy and sincere. "Sandy Shocks isn't exactly weak, and adventures are more fun with more people."
When it came to companions, Jason rarely turned anyone away. Besides, this Sandy Shocks was a friend Miraidon acknowledged—there was no reason to refuse.
Hearing that, a flicker of gratitude showed in Miraidon's electronic eyes. It had figured as much: this Ditto might seem unserious at times, but at heart he wasn't a bad guy.
It turned to Sandy Shocks, signaling it could hop on.
But to everyone's surprise, faced with Miraidon's renewed invitation and Jason's ready consent, Sandy Shocks chose to decline.
"Since you've recovered, I'll take my leave," it said quietly but firmly. "With my current strength I'd only hold the team back. I want to train on my own first."
It had its pride. The battle just now was plain to see: Jason after transforming into Roaring Moon, the taciturn Iron Valiant, even Miraidon itself—all of them far outclassed it. It didn't want to trail a group of powerhouses as a protected tag-along. It wanted to be the kind of partner who could fight shoulder to shoulder with Miraidon—not a burden that needed looking after.
Miraidon started to object—it didn't see Sandy Shocks as dead weight—but Sandy Shocks gave it no chance to persuade. It jabbed a limb toward Jason, who was lounging on Miraidon's back.
"And besides! That guy beat me up so hard! I've got to pay him back someday! I'm not going adventuring with him!"
That, perhaps, was the real reason. Sandy Shocks had dignity, too. Being pounded into the dirt by Jason and Iron Valiant together—that bill was still outstanding.
Being called out so bluntly made Jason a bit sheepish. His gaze drifted off and he started whistling as if admiring the scenery. What could he say? He had hit a little hard. But how was he supposed to know it had been protecting Miraidon? It charged in without a word; he'd just defended himself.
Seeing Jason's guilty look only annoyed Sandy Shocks more, but it knew this wasn't the time for revenge.
Meeting its friend's resolute eyes, Miraidon understood. Sandy Shocks had its own pride and persistence, no less than anyone's. It didn't press further, only nodded solemnly.
"Very well," it said, respecting the choice. "Be careful."
"You too."
Sandy Shocks bowed again, then turned and, still a bit unsteady, headed off in another direction without looking back.
Watching its figure fade into the blowing sand, Miraidon's expression grew complicated—then it rallied. It believed that next time they met, its friend would be stronger.
It turned its head toward Jason on its back. "Where to next?"
Where to… Jason thought it over. After the Area Zero trip, his strength had grown by leaps and bounds. With Miraidon now on the team—even if its combat power wasn't at peak—its elusive mobility alone could handle most situations. It was about time to challenge Paldea's gyms and collect badges.
Just as he was about to say so, he felt a tug on his body. Gast.
"Jason…" Gast's voice carried a hint of pleading and longing. "I want… to go see Big Sis."
"Big Sis?" Jason blinked, then remembered. Gast's "Big Sis" was a Tinkaton they'd met before—strong, forthright, and kind to them. Gast was especially close to her, and had hated to part.
Seeing the plea in Gast's eyes, Jason's gym-challenge plan flew out the window. Badges could wait; his companion's feelings came first. He smiled, patted Gast gently on the head with a part of his pliant body, and said softly, "Sure. We should go say hi anyway. She'll be happy to see how strong we've gotten."
"Hee-hee!" Gast beamed. "Of course! Big Sis is totally gonna be shocked!"
And just like that, the plan was set. Jason adjusted his seat on Miraidon's back and pointed out their heading.
"Destination: the metal mine! Let's roll!"
"Copy."
Miraidon answered, the drive wheel in its chest spinning up fast. Its body dipped, then shot forward like a violet bolt in the direction Jason indicated. Faster than any mount Jason had ridden before—this was what breakneck speed felt like.
Long after they'd gone, at the far end of the desert, Sandy Shocks stopped. It looked back at the now-empty sands, eyes full of resolve.
Just you wait, Miraidon! Next time we meet, I'll make you look at me with new respect! And that detestable Ditto—I'm keeping score! When I'm stronger, I'll pound you into the ground!
"Jason, Jason, do you think Big Sis will be so shocked she'll drop her precious hammer when she sees me?"
Gast floated in midair, eyes sparkling with excitement, the purple haze around it rippling with joy. It chattered nonstop; ever since they'd started back, its mouth hadn't had a break.
Jason was sprawled on Miraidon's broad back. At the question, he merely shifted his soft body into a comfier pose. "Oh, definitely," he said flatly. "She'll be amazed—mostly that you're still such a chatterbox."
"Nonsense!" Gast circled him indignantly. "Big Sis appreciates me! She said I had lots of potential!"
"Oh? That so." Jason humored it. "Then your potential must be off the charts by now—your mouth skills have definitely leveled up."
Gast puffed up with anger, but quickly found a new topic to show off its growth. "You don't even know. I'm gonna show Big Sis my new moves!" A tiny Shadow Ball formed in its claws, which it tossed up and down. "See? Dark and round, and I conjure it fast. I used to need to hype myself up first; now it pops out the moment I think it."
Jason gave the not-even-Ditto-sized ball a glance and said sincerely, "Perfect for cracking walnuts."
"It's a battle move! Battle, okay? Not for walnuts!" Gast yelped, nearly flinging the Shadow Ball at him.
"Okay, okay—battle move," Jason waggled his squishy body as if waving a hand. "Then make sure you put on a good show. Don't let your Big Sis down."
"Of course!" Gast said, instantly smug again. "I've been grinding Hypnosis and Confuse Ray too! I'll just stand there, widen my eyes, and the enemy will fall into confusion and punch themselves! Big Sis will totally look at me differently—maybe she'll even hand me the No. 2 spot! Then I can command a whole squad of Tinkatink!"
Its excitement only grew, as if it already saw itself leading a band of little smiths in glory. Iron Valiant listened silently, face unreadable, but when "Confuse Ray" came up it slid a little farther away—just in case. Miraidon, for its part, kept blazing ahead, uninterested in the chatter; its eyes were fixed on the road.
With Miraidon's full-tilt sprint, a journey that would have taken days flew by in a few hours. When the familiar, metallic sheen of a mountain range appeared in the distance, Gast's excitement peaked.
"We're here! I see the mine!" it cried, flipping through the air before darting off like a purple streak toward the mountain entrance. "Hurry up, you two! I can't wait to surprise Big Sis!"
Jason sighed helplessly and slid down from Miraidon's back. "Alright, let's go," he said to Iron Valiant and Miraidon.
Miraidon's engine-like hum faded as it carried Iron Valiant down for a steady landing. But the moment they set foot on the familiar ground, an eerie stillness wrapped around them.
Too quiet.
Jason frowned. In his memory, the metal mine was always ringing with clangs—the tireless little smiths hammering ore into their beloved weapons. The whole place should've felt like a bustling forge. Now there wasn't even a single Pokémon's cry—just the wind keening through the valley, extra desolate. The mine was empty, as if life had been sucked out all at once.
"What's going on? Big Sis? Little guys?"
Rushing in first, Gast also sensed something wrong. It flitted through the deserted works, panic creeping into its voice. "Where is everyone? Out gathering? Playing hide-and-seek with me?"
It tried to joke, but the tremor in its voice gave it away.
Jason stepped into the mine. Scattered on the ground were half-finished metal parts and lower-grade ore. Doorways of living caves still hung with metal trinkets the smiths used as decoration. Everything said the owners had left in a hurry—no time to pack.
His expression hardened. Gast floated back to his side, on the verge of tears. "Jason, where did Big Sis and the others go? Why isn't anyone here?"
The earlier swagger was gone; even the purple haze around it had dimmed.
"Easy," Jason soothed, though he had a bad feeling himself.
Iron Valiant stepped up. "Maybe this Big Sis of yours moved, took the smiths to a new place."
It offered a plausible comfort to calm Gast.
"R-really?" Hope rekindled in Gast's eyes. "That's possible! Big Sis did say the ore quality here was getting worse—maybe she'd been planning a move!"
That tiny hope was quickly snuffed by Miraidon. "No."
Its voice cut in as its eyes swept the site, lights flashing. "There was a battle here not long ago."
Gast's newly relaxed body tensed again. It whipped toward Miraidon. "A battle? What battle? Are you sure?"
Miraidon didn't answer, but its serious face said enough.
"Battle…" Gast murmured. The purple haze roiled violently. "Something happened to Big Sis and the others!"
It panicked, spinning in place like a headless fly. "What do we do? They must be in danger! I have to save them!"
It bolted—only for Jason to snap, "Stop." His body stretched out, snagging the out-of-control ghost and hauling it back.
"What good is charging off like this? Do you know who the enemy is? Which way they went?"
His calm barrage of questions cleared Gast's head a little. "I… I don't know," it said, voice wobbling. "But I can't just do nothing!"
"Which is why we figure out what actually happened first," Jason said, letting it go. "Miraidon, can you determine the specifics of the fight and which way the enemy went?"
~~~
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