“Oh yeah?” Navy sets the tea down in front of Elise. Ample sugar, milk, and honey are offered, if she’s the sort to go in for sweets. Otherwise, the tea is serviceable enough. It’s cheap, which is why Navy likes it so much.[break][break]

“Heh. The future top champ having tea with the soon to be Galarian ambassador. The League chairwoman might actually like that, if she ever finds out.” Navy teases over a sip of tea. Stranger things have happened in Hoenn. Hell, as far as strange things go, Elise becoming the ambassador probably wouldn’t be the strangest thing to happen that day.[break][break]

It’s an interesting place to live.[break][break]

A call interrupts the tea. Navy, ever the old-school detective, has a landline. With an apologetic wave, he goes to answer the phone.[break][break]

“Navidson Solutions, how can I help you today?” He listens to what’s being said on the other line. Most of what he does is listen. It’s a full minute of this mysterious other person talking before Navy says anything again.[break][break]

“Come on over.” He finally says. Turning back to Elise and taking a seat, he chuckles. “Got some work today. Fun, huh? You’re welcome to stay. It’s some guy from Oldale town. Galarian last name. Dell. Fun fact, his family try and say Oldale gets its name from them. They’re immigrants from Galarian, moved in Arceus knows how long ago.” The detective reveals he has, in fact, done his research.[break][break]

Not five minutes later, there’s a knock on the door. Answering it, a middle-aged man enters. Blonde haired, dressed in a fancy suit. He wears a doctor’s coat over his suit in the style of Kanto doctors. Seeing Elise, he gawks.[break][break]

“Y-Your highness. On behalf of the Dell family, it’s an honor to meet you.” He takes to a knee. Typical Galarian fanboy. A whiff of a royal and they prostrate themselves. Navy laughs.[break][break]

“Got yourself a fan, Elise.”




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“Oh, your highness.” Dell waxes poetic. “You are simply too kind. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Mister Navidson, if this is the company you keep, then I am surely in good company!” He ejaculates merrily before righting himself.[break][break]
“Sure, sure. Get up, get in that chair over there.” Navy nods at a comfortable, plush armchair that’s facing his desk. He stands up as well, going to sit in the proper place for all of this. “Elise, you’re welcome to join me. Sounds like Mr. Dell here would have his spirits lifted by the princess’s help.” There’s a chair for her, too, if she wishes to sit down in the proper venue.[break][break]
“Alright, Mr. Dell. What can I help ya with?”[break][break]
“Well, it is an honor to be here, talking with you as well, Mr. Navidson. After that affair on the Kanto cruise ship and the other incidents of your career, it’s safe to say you’re the second best in your field!”[break][break]
“Yeah?” Navy says, a faint growl in his voice hinting at displeasure. “Maybe I can set ya up with Number One, if that’s how ya feel.”[break][break]
“Oh, sir, but kyle lopez was never a private detective. He was just an officer in the police force. But to hear how they talk about him where I am from. You would think—”[break][break]
“Get to the point.” Navy is curt.[break][break]
“Oh, Mr. Navidson, I meant no offense.”[break][break]
“Tell me what you need and you won’t give any.”[break][break]
“Ah, yes, well. My family, the Dells, we are old money in Galar. Chased out due to recent troubles there. We came here to, shall we say, start afresh. Our family, well, we have an old myth. In ages past, in the heat of battle, an ancestor of mine slew a great hero in the heat of battle. Ever since, its ghost has haunted our family…”[break][break]
Navy quirks an eyebrow.[break][break]
“So you’re haunted by a hero’s ghost, huh?”[break][break]
“Not quite, Mr. Navidson.” He replies. “We are haunted by a hound.”[break][break]
That pushes him forward.[break][break]
“A hound, huh?” Navy asks. “Elise, you know about any big heroes from Galar? What’s he talking about?” He only knows about two such heroes. As far as he is aware, they’re both still alive.


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“Zacian and Zamazenta?” Navy asks. “Well, that can’t be right. Heard plenty of stories about ‘em, but none say they’re dead.” There’s no real observation there. It’s a freebie any idiot with an encyclopedia could look up and point out. It does little to convince Mr. Dell.[break][break]

“I understand that’s the commonly accepted story, Mr. Navidson. Yet a few facts remain.” His face grows pale. Navy spies genuine fear there. Fear he does not even attempt to hide. “Facts like the state in which my brother, Patrick, was found just past week outside of our freshly purchased estate in Oldale Town.”[break][break]

Navy leans forward with real interest. He’s tracing his gunmetal eyes along every contour of Mr. Dale’s face. Eying him up. Seizing every detail.[break][break]

“I read about this in the papers.” Navy puts in. “Nasty stuff. Why aren’t you going to the cops or the rangers about this?”[break][break]

“Why, Mr. Navidson, they’re not in the business of believing it is the angry ghost of a legend that murdered dear Patrick!” Likely because it wasn’t. Rangers and officers deal with death on a daily basis. They know it well.[break][break]

They know the ways in which Pokemon can kill. Likely, they already have a theory.[break][break]

“I say, Princess, I would enjoy your help, but are you sure you would like to hear the details? I can spare you, if you’d like.” He speaks with gentlemanly concern.





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“Don’t let me tell you what is and isn’t off with stuff about your country, Elise.” Navy says politely. “If you say somethin’ different from me, I’ll consider it. Just…it’s different from what the stuff I’ve read says.” Navy only has a tenth grade education. To make up the difference he has armed himself in knowledge from many a book. It’s funny how knowledge of the right databases can help you make up the difference.[break][break]
“Anyway, old timer. Go on.” [break][break]
“Old, old timer? Bah. Anyway. My brother was found by the edge of the moor on our property. Right where the forest meets the field. On his neck were bite marks from a Pokemon whose fangs match no species. On its own, this would be an extraordinary fact. Combine this with the fact that the tracks seem to switch species every few dozen feet. They resemble a Mightyena, then a Houndoom, next a creature far taller than any of them. It’s perplexing.”[break][break]
“So…either an unknown culprit is targeting your family, or a Pokemon nobody’s ever seen before is stalking your family…” The detective strokes his chin. “Huh. Sounds pretty neat. I’m in. Yo, Elise, you got a couple of days free? Wanna help out?”


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“I guess Josh wouldn’t mind you stepping off to solve a murder.” Navy muses, standing up. It doesn’t take long for him to gather his things. He doesn’t need much, just some basic investigative gear. They’ll hook up with the Oldale PD when they arrive anyway, learn the lay of the land, talk to some people…[break][break]
Elise really would get the whole experience, since it sounds like the police aren’t doing much in this case. Police apathy is part and parcel. The law and lay of the land. A hard and fast rule of a kid born on the wrong side of the tracks. The cops will be there either right when you don’t want them to be or 20 minutes too late. No in between.[break][break]
“Elise, rule 1. You don’t just bring your biggest, baddest battle mons to an investigation.” Navy decides to teach her how to do this. For a passing moment, gone before it is truly recognized, he feels like one of the gym leaders. Their aim, after all, is to educate. “You want ones that can accomplish something for ya. Alakazhams are really good at one-upping you. Gardevoirs and their line can read emotions. You’ll see lots of Policeman with a Ralts, Kirlia, or Gardevoir behind an interrogation window.”[break][break]
“I’ll say, even I saw a policeman keeping a Ralts close when we spoke.” Dell puts in as he’s about to leave. “I will meet you both in Oldale Town. Come along soon.” With that, their client departs.[break][break]
“Keep in mind,” Navy says after the man leaves and he’s gathered his Pokemon, “Gardevoir sensing someone’s emotions isn’t really admissible in a court of law. Like a lie detector test, they’re both easy to fool and prone to misreading emotions. Not every Gardevoir’s built the same. But, get yourself a good one, like my Mana, and they’ll help ya a whole lot.”[break][break]
He picks a nice selection of Pokemon. Hattori, his Greninja. Stealth expert and all around great Pokemon to have. A Lucario to serve as muscle, Mana the Gardevoir, a Klefki given to him by Eris Halla, and Voyager the Arcanine. These six will do just fine.[break][break]
Then, they’re off to the races. Navy’s truck is new. Hyakkaryōran Tsubaki accidentally burned down his old one. The League comped the bill to replace it, but it isn’t his baby. He’d customized that thing to hell and back across the decade he’d owned the vehicle.[break][break]
“So, tell me, Elise. What Pokemon would you bring?” He asks as they drive.


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“That’s…a pretty great team.” Navy admits. “Especially for this. Decidueye’s not quite as sneaky as a Greninja, but Greninja can’t fly. I might have to get you to help me breed a Rowlett egg for myself. That’s a darn good Pokemon to have.” He compliments her. The road goes ever on and on. For now, there is nothing there save one another and the conversation they can make together.[break][break]
The road stretches on. Their journey speeds up as they leave Slateport. Traffic moves quicker outside of the big city.[break][break]
“Tell me somethin’, Elise. Say you’re the one in charge. What all would you do to investigate this case?” He leaves it vague on purpose. He doesn’t want to give her hints or lead the question. Navy wants to see what she would do.


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