My friend @traumafox has recently released its completed book, and it's tremendous! If you haven't read Blind, P.I., you should. If you have, read it again!
To celebrate the occasion, here's a short story about Horteno! He's a mysterious character, alright... what is he really doing here?
What would you do at the end of the world? This isn't a rhetorical question – I want you to answer it. You don't need to say it out loud, just think it. Have it at the ready. You never know when you'll need it.
I have my own answer, of course. A reporter never asks a question they couldn't answer themselves. I don't like to just give it out, though – better to guide than to preach. Even if you know the lesson you're trying to teach, the wisdom they find along the way is more valuable in the end.
Ah, of course. You're a reporter too, right? I can't let you go empty-handed, but I do have my secrets to keep. How about a wager? I'll tell you some stories. I'll give you my wisdom, couched in the requisite parables, and hopefully you'll learn something from them. If you can guess my name by the end, I'll tell you everything you want to know. I'll give you the obvious for free; it's not actually Horteno.
By now you should know I'm not from around here, right? Rotom was the first local I spoke at length to. I tend to blend in until I'm needed – a journalist can get where he needs to be with no real issue. I imagine you have no trouble there, either. I don't exactly make this apartment easy to find.
Rotom was and still is an interesting case. She would be smart enough to figure it all out if she wanted to. Honestly, I think her failure to just speaks to how much she's grown. There's more to science and reporting than knowing every truth. The real prize is in living well, or helping others do so. She found every answer that would help anyone, and she left it at that. I could learn a lot from her there.
Ah – the rubble? I figured you'd have heard about that. I'm good with machines, that's all. I dated a Rotom once, and I happened to have some spare parts left over. Why not give them a happy home?
The next Pokemon I helped out was Blind. Hm? The black shard? My word, you have ears everywhere. Sorry, I'm not saying where I got it. Reporter's confidentiality. I'm sure you understand.
What to say about Blind... no, sorry, I can't help you with that particular investigation. Can't or won't? I don't think the difference is relevant here, honestly. All I can say is I wish the story hadn't ended the way it did. If I could have helped, I would have. Trust me. I did try.
Most of the Pokemon I've talked to since have just been trying to recover from the fallout of Wo-Chien. Don't blame it for everything, but it's the toughest case I've ever seen. Not the most dangerous, and I wouldn't use the word evil, but the most entrenched. Every inch of this world was tainted by it... but I think you'll be okay. The world's in good hands with my sister. I have a feeling it's in good hands with you, too.
So yeah, I mostly stick to minor things. Whatever small kindnesses I can get away with. Braixen? I was already doing my own investigation on the Rock Horn tribe, believe it or not. I'd heard the most affected victim of Wo-Chien was a member, and it seemed a thoughtful way to send my condolences. I know what it's like to have your family shattered like that. The least I could do was offer closure.
I think that's all I have to say for today. Feel free to publish whatever you'd like based on this, but I'll have to ask you to keep the rest of my secrets if you guess correctly. Are you ready to-
Oh. Yes, that's right. At what point did you-
You'd already guessed, huh? Well, I appreciate you listening to an old man ramble, then.
What else would you like to know?
