"Meltan, what I do is only to protect myself."
"As long as you let us leave this place successfully, I will naturally release Aggron and Golem."
Ethan Black, looking at the Pokémon that were gathering around him, took a deep breath and explained to Meltan.
Upon hearing this, an expression of doubt appeared on Meltan's face. Then, its eyes turned toward Ethan Black's backpack.
"You want me to release all the Pokémon?"
Ethan Black frowned at Meltan's gesture.
Those Pokémon had cost him a lot to capture, and now Meltan wanted him to release them all. It was hard for him to accept.
But if he didn't accept, it was certain that the Pokémon in front of him wouldn't let them leave so easily.
Seeing him remain silent, Meltan also stayed quiet for a moment, then lifted its gaze toward the cave ceiling, its look somewhat absent.
After a while, it turned back to Ethan Black with determination. In its eyes shone a faint glimmer of expectation... and nostalgia.
Then, Meltan slowly walked toward the barrier Shellder had placed, pointed at the Poké Ball in Ethan Black's hand, and then at itself.
"You mean you're willing to trade yourself for these Pokémon?"
Ethan Black narrowed his eyes, a bit uncertain.
Hearing this, Meltan nodded firmly, confirming that this was its wish.
"Exchanging a mythical Pokémon for these... I think I come out ahead."
Ethan Black's heart leapt with joy, but he didn't show it and pretended to ponder.
"Eh, it's another Pokémon I've never seen before!"
At that moment, Alex Baxter looked at Meltan and exclaimed in surprise.
"Another?"
Ethan Black narrowed his eyes.
"Yes, look at that gear-shaped Pokémon."
"In the real world, one like this has never been seen. At least, in the Guild of Researchers' Pokédex there is no record of such a kind."
Alex Baxter, excited, pointed at the Klink beside him.
"I see."
Ethan Black's eyes gleamed. He looked at Meltan and then at Klink, and something came to mind.
Apparently, Meltan, being a mythical Pokémon, had not yet been discovered by humans. And not only it—even Klink had not been recorded.
After all, the fusion between the Pokémon worlds and reality had only been going on for 23 years. Although each year new Secret Kingdoms appeared, not all of them housed large numbers of Pokémon.
Moreover, some were so rare that even in the Pokémon world there were very few specimens.
That was why such rare Pokémon had not yet appeared in the Secret Kingdoms, and humans had no way of knowing of their existence.
As more Secret Kingdoms merged with the real world, each year a few completely unknown Pokémon to humankind would emerge.
Some even appeared in groups, simply because they belonged to a very specific habitat within a Secret Kingdom.
Especially the Pokémon of the Alola region: so far only Alolan Rattata had been found. Others like Alolan Sandshrew or Alolan Vulpix had yet to be recorded.
"Even if I bring Meltan out into the open, no one will think that a seemingly not-so-strong Pokémon can evolve into a mythical one."
Ethan Black thought this to himself and then looked at Meltan, nodding slightly: "I can accept your condition, but you must also guarantee that my companions can leave here without any trouble."
Upon hearing this, Meltan clearly relaxed. Then, behind it, the Aron, Geodude, and Klink ran out of the cave, evidently to go look for Jasper Reid and the others.
...
A while later.
Thanks to the help of the Pokémon, Jasper Reid and Sandslash were found and brought to the cave.
When everyone was gathered, Meltan headed toward a corner of the cavern. Channeling all its energy, it caused a wall of rock to begin emitting a faint metallic glow.
"Is this the exit of the Secret Kingdom?"
Ethan Black looked at Meltan in surprise, who nodded.
With this confirmed, Ethan Black looked at Alex Baxter and Jasper Reid: "You two go back first, I'll follow right after."
"Be careful then."
Both nodded and walked toward the exit.
Meanwhile, the Klink next to Alex Baxter called out to its companions and flew after him: it seemed to want to see the outside world.
On Jasper Reid's side, an Aron accompanied him; it was the same one he had rescued in a hallway, and now it wanted to become his partner.
"Go on ahead, I'll catch up."
Ethan Black nodded and watched them as they passed through the wall, disappearing.
"Now it's time to fulfill our promise."
When they were gone, Ethan Black took a deep breath, grabbed his backpack, and released all his Pokémon... except for Steelix.
Steelix was the only one Meltan had specifically asked to be taken out of the Secret Kingdom. The reason was simple: to prevent this cave's "bully" from continuing to cause trouble there. Only by taking it away would Meltan be at ease.
As Meltan was leaving, all the Pokémon made sounds: some seemed to want to keep it, others to give it their blessing. The entire cave was filled with their voices.
Finally, Meltan gestured farewell to them and placed itself in front of Ethan Black. It touched with its hand the empty Poké Ball he was holding.
A white light shone from the sphere and absorbed Meltan inside.
"Meltan, from now on we will be companions."
Ethan Black, holding the Poké Ball, murmured these words. Then, together with Sandslash, Cacnea, and Shellder, he passed through the exit of the Secret Kingdom and disappeared in an instant.
(End of chapter)