Transcendence

Hypno's Lullaby part 1: You again?!

Later that night, Alex, still seething from the bruises and the indignity of being mugged by Team Charm, slipped out of the house. His paws moved stealthily, his mind fixated on the growing mystery of Widford's missing children. Despite his earlier failures, an inexplicable urge pulled him back to the town. He felt he couldn't rest until he tried again.

By the time he arrived in Widford, it was midnight. The cool air was thick with tension, and Alex was surprised to see a large number of Lantonian Rescue Teams and officers scattered across the town, their presence a stark contrast to the town's sleepy appearance during the day. The rescue teams stood in small clusters, their demeanor serious. Their accents were crisp and refined, reminiscent of those from the capital.

Alex's shyness crept up on him as he hesitated at the edge of the gathering. His heart pounded, but he forced himself forward, knowing why he had come. He approached a group of rescue team members who were discussing strategies in low, deliberate tones.

"Um, excuse me," Alex started, his voice barely above a whisper, his paws fidgeting nervously.

The team leader, a dignified Absol, turned to him with a raised eyebrow. "Yes, mate? Something we can assist you with?" he asked, his voice carrying an air of authority and patience.

"I, uh... I'm trying to help with the, uh, the disappearances," Alex stammered, his eyes darting around as he struggled to maintain eye contact. "I was here before, but I didn't find much, and, um... I just thought I'd try again, maybe, uh, help somehow."

Another team member, a Gallade, gave him a polite but skeptical look. "Bit out of your depth, ain't ya?" he said, his words precise but not unkind. "Best leave it to those trained for it."

Alex felt his face flush. "I just... I thought maybe I could-"

Before he could finish, a Widford resident, an elderly Perrserker, stepped forward, wagging a claw at Alex. "You listen here, lad," the Perrserker scolded, his voice roughened by years of experience. "This ain't no place for amateurs. Let the professionals handle it, eh? You're more likely to get yourself lost than find anything useful."

Alex's shoulders slumped as the words hit him harder than he expected. He cast his eyes to the ground, silence enveloping him. He felt small and useless, his earlier resolve crumbling under the weight of the scolding. The rescue teams resumed their discussions, and the Perrserker gave him a final disapproving glance before walking away.

Alex stood there, rooted to the spot, his mind swirling with doubt and frustration, the quiet of the night amplifying his sense of failure.

***

As the tension in Widford simmered, the arrival of the Lantonian News Network, or LNN, added a new layer of urgency to the scene. A confident Pidgeot, his feathers immaculately groomed, landed gracefully in the town square, his sharp eyes scanning the gathered rescue teams and officers. The camera crew set up quickly, their equipment gleaming under the dim streetlights.

With a flick of his wings, the Pidgeot reporter approached the nearest group of rescue team members. "Good evening," he began, his voice smooth and commanding. "I'm Victor Feathers with LNN. Could we get an update on the current status of the investigation into the child disappearances here in Widford?"

The rescue teams exchanged glances, clearly prepared for the question but hesitant about the details to disclose.

Meanwhile, Alex, standing on the sidelines, felt a rush of frustration and helplessness surge through him again. He closed his eyes, trying to drown out the chatter of the rescue teams and the reporter. In that moment of quiet, he reached deep within himself, mentally asking what his best friend Elton would do if he were here.