"That sounds interesting. I've never met an Unown."

"People occasionally catch them to try to get them to spell things, but of course nobody can handle more than six at a time, so the things they can spell are kinda limited even if a few people cooperate."

He laughs. "I wonder if they could be otherwise persuaded."

"Maybe! I mean, I assume they won't be as docile as the flock of Porygon, but perhaps. You could collect a tidy sum of money trailing a banner of Unown that spelled 'Eat At Joe's'."

"I do have an unusual advantage in that area."

"Very unusual indeed. Hey, does it make it weird to get into fights with wild 'mon when you can understand what they're saying?"

"Once or twice, I have successfully exercised diplomacy. But for the most part they don't have anything to say that I could not have guessed from context."

"Diplomacy? Do tell."

"Oh - placating a grumpy Staravia who just wants to chase me away before I trample her favourite berry patch, that sort of thing."

Bella giggles.

"She was very surprised when I said 'oh, I'm sorry' and went the other way."

"I'll bet!"

He laughs.

Even held down to Rachis's speed, it's not a terrible journey; there's one pit stop and then they fly the rest of the way and there is Solaceon. It is a sleepy, pretty little town, full of people and their Pokémon leading sleepy, pretty little lives.

"I confess I'm tempted to explore the ruins. On the way back, perhaps."

"Sure, why not? If this trip goes well we have all the time in the world, and if it doesn't it'll be a comforting distraction and you can get the Unown to spell stuff."

"I wonder if I can teach them to read."

"Good question. I don't even know if they know what letters they are."

"Another good question."

"Presumably they can tell that they aren't all shaped the same, at least?"

"I'd expect so."

"Are there any Pokémon who can read? Zag can recognize a handful of whole words - I can tell him to find a Pokémon center and he can do it even if the building is shaped funny, based on the sign - but not letters or anything. I'm not sure if that's just for lack of trying." They are approaching Charlie's house, now.

"I haven't tried with any of mine. I wouldn't rule it out, though."

Likewise Sherlock.