Unbroken Disguise

It was a picturesque day. Only a handful of clouds filled the blue sky, the temperature was warm, but not quite hot, and while the local flora weren’t quite what N was used to, they were still beautiful. What really drew his attention though, was all the Pokemon. Spending your whole life in one region made you… desensitized to how wondrous they could be. He had probably seen thousands of Pidove over the course of his life, and while he still appreciated them, wanted the best for them, he had reached a point where they had become… normal. Not the type, they had been Normal all along, but… average, everyday. But Sinnoh and Unova weren’t exactly close to each other. Oceans away from each other, he wondered if he would see any Pokemon he was familiar with while exploring here. With his amazement so apparent, Mimikyu had been kind enough to tell him a bit about each new Pokemon they encountered. The Starly which seemed to be just as common as the small birds he had grown used to back home. The Bidoof which were apparently very helpful when it came to traversing the region thanks to their ability to learn most Hidden Moves once they evolved.

It was interesting that Mimikyu would use such terminology. He had met plenty of Pokemon capable of using Cut or Fly in the past, but none of them had ever referred to the moves as “hidden” in any way. They were simply moves. Even among those who had used the term more frequently in the past, mostly those involved with the League, the category was falling out of favor. Though perhaps that was due to the little use they received in Unova, and it was different in other regions.

But Mimikyu using an odd term here or there was probably at the bottom of a large and constantly growing list of things that confused him about the little fairy. If Mimikyu had seen fit to bring him along on this adventure across Sinnoh, then surely he deserved some answers.

“Mimikyu.” N called for his attention as they walked down the route.

“Yeah?”

“You asked me to come with you for this, and I agreed.”

“That ya did.”

“I can understand being hesitant to give real answers to people affiliated with the League, but if we’re to be traveling companions…” With how cagey Mimikyu was, he didn’t want to push too hard. Trust came with time… even if he had all but blindly followed the Pokemon into what seemed to be a growing web of half truths and lies. “Could I ask for a bit of honesty?”

Mimikyu didn’t respond immediately, and N didn’t rush him. He was coming to learn that the ghost liked to seriously consider questions before answering them. Jumping off of his shoulder, Mimikyu turned to look up at him before he spoke.

“Ya gotta point, I s’pose. But look ‘ere. If ya want some honesty from me, yer gonna ‘ave ta give some in return.”

“What do you mean?”

“I told ya before that yer not as sneaky as ya think, didn’ I? That wasn’ just in regards ta yer feelin’s on the League and trainers. I meant it more generally. Yer an intelligent fella, ain’t ya? Ya should know better than ta try an’ pull the wool over my eyes. I don’t exactly see the point in carryin’ aroun’ that fractal cube lookin’ thing on yer waist, but it doesn’ seem like the type of accessory yer average person would like. Yer capable of walkin’ around areas filled with Pokemon on yer own with no problem. Off the top of yer head you knew that Alder’s Beheeyem knowin’ Teleport wasn’ normal. An’ yet the way you talk ta people… there’s somethin’ off about it. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but somethin’s… not Natural.”

N barely bit back a gasp. The way Mimikyu had emphasized it… but how would the Pokemon know his name? He could count the number of people who knew his actual name on one hand! No, it… it had to be a coincidence. Even without that… “If you aren’t certain about what’s wrong, how can you be sure that you aren’t imagining it? Nobody else has said anything about it.”

“Not ta be rude or anythin’, but nobody else cared. Elesa, Cynthia, Alder, Rowan, each of ‘em were interested in me. Not you. Though maybe Alder was more focused on himself… but anyways, I wouldn’ beat yerself up over it or anythin’, they all had a reason to focus their attention on me. But that meant yer little oddities were overlooked. There’s somethin’ off about ya.”

“That sounds like a rather convenient excuse, if you ask me.”

“I’m not askin’ ya. I’m tellin’ ya. I’m not exactly… well adapted ta what ya might consider ‘normal behavior’ for humans, so I’m havin’ trouble articulatin’ what the problem is, but it’s like… yer wearin’ a mask. Not literally like me,” A shadowy appendage poked out from under the cloth to gesture to his disguise, “but in a figurative sense. Like yer tryna hide somethin’, so yer puttin’ up a front, a… facade of sorts, ‘cept ya don’t know how normal people act either. The mask doesn’ fit quite right.”

“That’s rich coming from you. Since multiple people have recognized you as a Mimikyu, it’s probably safe to assume you were telling the truth about your entire species hiding beneath a disguise, but your appearance isn’t the only lie.” N started to talk faster as he continued, his frustrations with the last 24 hours bubbling up to the surface. “Maybe not direct lies, but lies of omission at the very least. Is saying that you don’t want to talk about the past supposed to just brush that all away? Am I meant to follow you around and just accept everything that happens without wondering why we’re doing it? Nothing about the last day has made any sense! I came here because I was… I am curious about you, and because I care about Pokemon and don’t want to see you get hurt by those bastards in the League, but you have to give me something to work with! I don’t know why we’re going to Spear Pillar beyond you ‘wanting to do some research’! I don’t know why we’re looking for this Ash Ketchum guy beyond him ‘being in the right place at the right time’! What does that even mean?! You say he’s in redacted files and then list off a bunch of names and apparently that’s all Rowan needs to catch on, but I’m left in the dark while you two continue on having a conversation like I’m not even there!”

By the end of his rant, N had gotten so loud that the Pokemon in the area had run away, leaving a heavy silence without the chirping of the Starly and the music of the Kricketot hiding in the tall grass. The blood rushing through his veins and the pounding of his heart was all he could hear. “I apologize.” He tried to calm himself down. “It would appear I let myself get a little worked up.”

“Don’t.” Mimikyu denied his apology. “That seemed real. Like ya took the mask off. It’s better this way. And… I s’pose you got a point or two. I haven’ been real considerate of ya. When ya agreed ta come along I thought…” the ghost trailed off. “Look. Why don’t we start over or somethin’? Things got a bit hectic, probably not the best first impression for either of us when we got the most important people around breathin’ down our necks.”

A ghostly hand reached up for N’s, waiting for his response. “Howdy. I’m Mimikyu. Nice ta meetcha.”

N stared at the solid shadow. Just start over? It wasn’t that simple. But… it was more of a gesture than anything, wasn’t it? Hesitantly, N grabbed it, trying to hide his shivers from the contact while they shook hands. “N. Nice to meet you as well.”

The shadow disappeared under the cloth once more. “Eh. We’ll work on it. But in the interest of startin’ out on the right foot this time… How much do ya know about Spear Pillar?”

N thought back to all the lessons he had on foreign regions and the books he might have read in the past. “That it’s an important location in Sinnoh. There’s not much written on it in Unovan, and my understanding of the League language is… questionable at best.”

“The League language? What do ya mean?” The false head of Mimikyu’s disguise tilted in confusion.

“What? You were just speaking and writing it earlier today, how can you possibly deny knowing what it is?” N frowned at how quickly their “do-over” was falling apart.

“That’s… hold on a minute. I need ya to clarify for me, ‘cuz I’m lost. What’s the name of the language we’re speakin’ right now?”

N raised a brow at that. “Unovan. Well, I suppose it’s technically Unovan Galarish, but it gets shortened to just Unovan because nobody really wants to discuss the relationship that suggests now that we’re a member region of the League.”

“Unovan. Alright, that makes sense. But the ‘League Language’?”

“It’s the language the League uses. Every region you go to will claim it as their own. Sinnohian, Kantonian, etc… but everyone else just refers to it as League language to skip all the confusion. I’m not sure anyone actually knows which region it originates from anymore. How do you not know this if you can not only speak some, but write it as well?” Based on his own poor understanding, and how Professor Rowan had switched to Unovan, Mimikyu’s League wasn’t great, but it was somewhat passable.

“I guess I just knew it under a differen’ name…” Mimikyu’s voice trailed off as he tried to work it out for himself, but it was just loud enough for N to hear still. “Wait, why does Unova speak this when it uses a script so close to the Unown which are in Johto? Wouldn’ it have to… what does… ugh, I’ll figure it out later.” The Pokemon shook himself, as if to shake the thoughts clear from his head.

“Language tangent aside, yes it’s an importan’ place in Sinnoh. More specifically, it’s the peak of that moun’ain over there.” A hand appeared once more to gesture to the tallest mountain N had ever seen, far in the distance. “It’s an important place for the legends of Sinnoh. I have business with said legends, so I need ta get there.” Before N could question the fact that Mimikyu had so casually said that he had business with legends, the fairy was already continuing. “As for Ash, well, this one has apparently been removed from all records since tryna search up the events online doesn’ give ya any results ‘cept one page from a blog that looks ta be on the conspiracy theory side of things. I don’t think it needs ta be said that ya shouldn’ go spreadin’ this around, especially not ta League officials.” Mimikyu waited for N to nod in agreement before continuing. “The long and short of it is basically that the kid is a legendary magnet. I don’ know how, and I don’ know why, but it seems that jus’ about every time a legend pops up and there’s trouble afoot, whether that be caused by or done to the legend itself, one Ash Ketchem finds himself at the eye of the storm, so ta speak. I don’ really understand the mechanics behind summonin’ the legends ta Spear Pillar, so I figure taggin’ along with Ash would be the easier method of meetin’ ‘em.”

“You wanted to come to Sinnoh… and plan on following some random guy around… so that you can meet some legendary Pokemon?” N asked.

“Basically.” Mimikyu agreed like it was nothing special. “I don’ think Cynthia or the others would like me pokin’ my nose into such things, what with the cover ups ‘n’ all, which is why I wasn’ very open with ‘em. I told Rowan cuz I I’m pretty sure he’ll do anythin’ I ask so long as he gets his research. Never would ‘ave thought that a top professor would be the mad scientist type, but he was really givin’ off those vibes…”

That was insane. Unbelievable, really. Or rather… it would be for most people. N on the other hand…

Well, either this is a wild goose chase and he spends some time learning about Fairy types and exploring the Sinnoh region, or… he gets an opportunity to get close to someone who could help him with his own search for legends. Their efforts to find the Stones and bring about a new way of life could continue on in the background, but if this Ash Ketchum could streamline the process…

“We good then? ‘Cuz if we are, we should probably get movin’ again. Still gotta make it to Jubilife and we’re burnin’ daylight.”

“Yeah…” N agreed distractedly, offering his hand for Mimikyu to climb back up. He had certainly been given a lot to think about.

The duo were stopped for a simple meal later that day by a small stream not even deep enough to hold a Magikarp. Starly flitted through the nearby trees, a Bidoof gnawed on some wood in the trickling water, and a Kricketune’s song could be heard in the distance. N always ensured he had some non-perishable food on hand, enough to last him a good while in case he got lost on the road, as well as some berries he could give to wild Pokemon, which Mimikyu was digging into. The little Fairy was apparently a big fan of Cheri berries, and at the rate he was going through them N was sure to run out if he didn’t restock soon.

“Ya know, I really wasn’ expectin’ dinner and a show.” Mimikyu said between bites.

A good distance from their temporary camp, a pair of Shinx were trading Tackles and Bites. Too far away to hear what they said, it was impossible to know what they were fighting over, but it didn’t seem serious enough for him to step in. Wild Pokemon fighting was just a part of life, and without Trainers forcing them to…

“You find Pokemon battles to be entertaining then?” A very trainer-like sentiment, though he had met wild Pokemon in the past that enjoyed fighting itself..

“Of course they’re entertainin’. Well, I s’pose this one ain’t actually all that excitin’, but still.” Mimikyu stopped emptying his supply of berries to look at his shadowy hands. “I know yer not a trainer, but you know a thing or two about Pokemon, right?”

Considering he had grown up surrounded by Pokemon, that was probably a fair assessment.

“I would say so, why?”

“How do moves work?” the ghost turned towards him as he asked.

“..what?”

“Moves! How do they work? Pokemon moves, attacks…? Like Scratch an’ stuff.”

“I… don’t know actually. Shouldn’t you be the one who knows? You’re the one that can actually use them.”

“Theoretically, yes, I should. However, I don’. I mean, I can do this-” Mimikyu grabbed an Aspear berry, tossing it in the air before slicing it into pieces with his claws. “-but is that actually a move? I don’ think it is. That’s jus’ cuttin’ up a berry. You might say it was Cut, but Mimikyu can’t actually learn the move. Maybe it was just a deep Scratch? That is a move I should be able ta learn, but I don’t think that’s what happened.” The fairy ate one of the Aspear slices as he contemplated the question before tossing the rest out into the woods, apparently dissatisfied with the flavor.

“You… are you telling me that you don’t know how to use any moves?” N asked.

“I thought I made that clear, but yeah.”

“That doesn’t make any sense. Pokemon are born knowing how to use moves out of the egg. I’ve never seen a case where that wasn’t true…” Had he? He couldn’t recall any off the top of his head. “Are you sure that’s not a move you just used?”

“Well, look. Any Pokemon could jump outta the tall grass and spook ya, right? Ya might even say that yer astonished when that happens. But that’s not the move Astonish, is it? Yer not actually takin’ damage there. What’s the difference? If all there is to it is spookin’ ya, then why is it a Ghost type move? That would imply Normal type Pokemon ain’t affected, wouldn’ it?”

“That’s… a good question…” Pokemon just knew moves. It was a fact of life, and not something that warranted investigation unless you were a Pokemon Professor specifically looking into the topic.

“Beyond that, I know for a fact that Mimikyu hatch with plenty of egg moves. I should know… what were the egg moves… Wood Hammer! That’s a Mimikyu egg move. If not that, then at least something, but I jus’... I dunno. I’ve got nothin’ ‘sides using these claws and hittin’ stuff real hard. You could do that if ya grew yer fingernails out. That don’ seem like a move to me.”

Was it really possible? For a Pokemon to not know any moves…

“I’ve never considered it. I don’t know what to tell you if you have no idea… perhaps we could ask some of the wild Pokemon?”

“I s’pose that’s not a bad idea, but what’s stoppin’ ‘em from givin’ me a demonstration ta the face?”

“They won’t attack you just for asking a question.” N assured him.

“Right… s’pose if I find a weak enough Bidoof it’ll only know Normal type moves…” Mimikyu sighed in acceptance. “Lemme know if you see one of ‘em around, I guess.”

“There was one in the stream earlier. Want to check if it’s still there?”

The pair cleaned up their lunch, leaving the area as they had found it before approaching the stream. Sure enough, the Bidoof they had seen earlier was still gnawing at some wood.

“I s’pose even if it knows Rollout my disguise’ll save me from a surprise attack…” Mimikyu grumbled before mustering the courage to approach the wild Pokemon. “Excuse me! Do ya have a moment ta talk? I got some questions for ya.” N followed behind, but at a bit of a distance.

The Bidoof stopped gnawing on its wood, turning toward Mimikyu, but not saying anything.

“Er, is that a yes?” Mimikyu asked.

The wild Pokemon stared at him blankly for a moment before a sound halfway between a grunt and a whine came out of its mouth. Its piece apparently said, it turned back to the wood, gnawing at it once more.

“Uh… N? A little help here?” Mimikyu hesitantly turned his back on the Bidoof to look back to him for guidance.

A sigh escaped N’s lips. “I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do. Not all Pokemon are… equally intelligent. Psychic types are often geniuses, and a lot of Pokemon you see with trainers will be somewhere around a human’s level… but there are many cases in which Pokemon aren’t intelligent enough to hold a proper conversation. I’m not entirely sure of what determines it, but I have seen cases like this before.” It was… significantly harder to become friends with Pokemon like this, though they often seemed happy enough just living their lives in the wild.

“They can’t understand language? Then how do they follow a trainer’s orders?”

“Something about being around people seems to… change Pokemon. A considerable amount of time around a trainer will usually mean that their intelligence increases enough to be a functioning member of a team.”

“Huh. Not what I expected. Does it have something to do with their Abilities?”

N quirked a brow at the question. “Abilities? You’d have to tell me what a Bidoof might have.”

“If I recall correctly, a Bidoof can have either Simple or Unaware. I don’t wanna be makin’ assumptions based off of just that, but…” Mimikyu turned back towards the Bidoof, “...kinda hard not ta, ya know?”

“That… may have something to do with it? I suppose the Woobat line isn’t exactly known for its intelligence despite being a Psychic type…”

“Interestin’. Also not very helpful. S’pose I’ll just have ta wait till we hit Jubilife an’ see if I can get some trained Pokemon to help me out.”

“We could call Professor Rowan and see if he knows anything?” N suggested as he allowed Mimikyu to climb up to his shoulder.

“Nah, phone calls are a no-go. Alder said yer calls would be monitored at a minimum, and I don’ need the League gettin’ any more interest in me. Although… if I recall correctly, ya’d never heard of a Rotom-phone, right?”

“Are you sure that’s not the name of a Pokemon?” N double checked. “I can’t remember what region it’s from, but I swear that was a… Ghost type?”

“Ghost and Electric, actually. Well, most of the time.”

“It is a Pokemon? What does a Pokemon have to do with a phone?” N seemed bewildered.

“They possess things. Fans, lawnmowers, freezers, etc. I’ve heard of Rotom-phones, but I’ve never seen one in person so I’m not sure how well it’d work. I’m wonderin’ if a phone being possessed by a Rotom would grant it some level of immunity to the Porygon monitorin’. Course, it’s jus’ speculation on my part, but I think it’s worth lookin’ into.”

“I have no idea how that would work, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask a Rotom.” N walked silently for a moment as he considered it. “I’m assuming they can be found in Sinnoh if you’re bringing it up now?”

“Haunted house in Eterna Forest. It’ll be a bit before we can get there, but it’s on this side of the moun’ains at least.”

“And you think this Ash person will have no problem stopping there for us to check?” There wasn’t much point in planning for it if they’d end up nowhere near it.

“I’m confident. Ash will solve all sorts of problems. Not all of ‘em, but still”

N wasn’t sure how much he believed that, but if he really was only a day or so away like Professor Rowan had told them, he’d soon be finding out for himself.

And if it turned out to be true…

The League wouldn’t know what hit them.