"The Zweilous has gone up another level. That was quick. Blaziken."
The Blaziken said it in surprise. The fight was over, and there in front of him the Zweilous had risen a level again; he stood at 52 now, past the Gyarados at 51 and level with the Slaking.
That was quick going, and no mistake.
"Roar, roar. It's nothing much, nothing much."
Black One said it with a laugh, all modesty.
"Hmph. That's the basics, no more. It was the same in the Valley of Dragons — and here we've the Boss behind us besides."
Black Two put in after him.
The Zweilous really was climbing fast.
The Slaking and the Gyarados and the others glanced at one another. The old hands were falling behind a little.
And bear in mind that the Zweilous had been the last to join the team.
"So the Zweilous has broken through. Splendid. There'll be a reward at dinner."
"Roar, roar."
Vance was as good as his word. At dinner he gave the Zweilous his reward and cooked him something finer than usual.
The reward was the Zweilous's, but the rest of the Pokémon had the benefit of it too.
After the meal Vance called up the Viridian Power again and worked it through them, settling their frames, closing their hurts, feeding their bodies.
"Roar, roar—"
The Zweilous gave a contented cry. Under that power the whole day's weariness went out of him, and he could have gone straight back into a fight.
*The Viridian Power really does earn its keep.*
When he had finished, every one of them wore a look of ease and contentment. Vance thought it to himself, better satisfied with the Viridian Power than ever.
It was no use as fighting strength on its own, but as support it was superb.
"Who's there! Come out."
Vance spun round all at once and shouted it.
The Gyarados and the others were on their feet in an instant, ringing him about, searching the ground around them.
There was nobody there. But if their Trainer did a thing, he had his reasons for it.
*So there really is nobody?*
A few seconds went by, and Vance said it to himself.
Yes — the shout just now had been deliberate.
He had a faint sense of being watched, so he had tried it on, to see whether he could startle somebody out.
*Did I feel it wrong, then?*
Vance began to doubt himself.
"So you found me after all."
An aged voice came from the corner on his left, and an Alakazam walked out leading a Ralts by the hand.
*There really is somebody!!*
Vance was startled. He had only been trying it on, and there really was somebody. It rather took him aback.
"Roar—"
The Gyarados and the rest put themselves in front at once, eyeing this uninvited guest who had appeared out of nowhere.
They could not help admiring their Trainer. He had picked that up as well.
There was no sounding the depth of that Alakazam's presence; they could make nothing of it at all, and yet Vance had felt it.
"I mean no harm, human Trainer. I expect you know that much already." The Alakazam said it unhurriedly, setting out its goodwill.
Vance signalled his Pokémon back, looked at the Alakazam, and then at the Ralts.
The Alakazam's whiskers had gone a little white with age. The Ralts had all her childishness still about her, her eyes clear, watching him and seeming shy; the moment he looked at her she could not meet his eyes, and gripped the Alakazam's hand tightly.
One of them old and one of them small — put together like that, they did not look as though they meant any harm.
And Psychic-type Pokémon are all intelligent. They weigh a thing up and do not lightly raise a hand against anyone.
Even so Vance did not set his mind at rest. What guard he ought to keep, he kept — the more so with this Alakazam, whose presence did not show at all, so that he could scarcely feel it. There was nothing simple about that.
"I can't answer for whether you mean well or not."
Vance said it back with a smile.
"Mm, mm. Caution is never wrong."
The Alakazam inclined its head, better pleased than before.
That left Vance at a loss. Could it be the Viridian Power in him that did it?
It disposed Pokémon to like him naturally enough — was that why this Alakazam had been watching him from hiding?
The Alakazam's data came up on the system display as well.
> **Name:** Alakazam (male)
> **Type:** Psychic
> **Ability:** Synchronize
> **Aptitude:** Near-Champion
> **Level:** 71
> **Moves:** Confusion, Teleport, Disable, Miracle Eye, Ally Switch, Psybeam, Reflect, Light Screen, Dream Eater, Psychic, Return, Psycho Cut, Future Sight, Trick Room..............
A Near-Champion Pokémon at level 71. Vance felt the weight of it at once.
This Alakazam with no presence showing about it was a Near-Champion Pokémon!
Naturally Vance also noticed the injury in its belly. A power had been left behind in there, and it was breaking the body down; the life in it had a wilted feel to it, which said that the wound had gone to its root.
"Then what is it you want??"
Vance pointed at it and asked.
It could hardly be wanting him to stand it a meal. Er — no, probably not.
The Alakazam did not answer him directly. Instead it looked at him in earnest.
"Psychic power and the Viridian Power side by side, both of them in one person. And by the look of you, you are not old. Not twenty yet."
"That's right."
"That would explain it."
The Alakazam inclined its head, glanced at the Ralts beside it, and then said, "I should like to entrust this little one to you."
"What? Entrust her to me??"