Team_Ion
Junior Trainer
- Pronouns
- He/Him
“Scout, a moment?” Chimecho said right before Scout could exit the guild to return to his business with Team Sunrise.
“Oh? Uh, coming.”
Chimecho smiled at him, floating around the middle floor of the guild in her little ‘office’ spot. Scout knew this was where Chimecho Assembly was in the game, but there was no assembly in real life as the only pokemon on their team were part of the guild.
This was where Chimecho conducted her Network Link and would send out messages for pokemon for a small cost, receive them, and all sorts of little things on the side.
“I heard you were headed to Fissure?” she asked. “Quite a place, do be careful.”
“Yeah, have you been?”
"No, but Team Celestial was from there and based on the scarring on poor Luno the place can be quite dangerous. Have you three decided which direction you are approaching from?" That mysterious team again, Scout was eager to meet them one day if they ever returned from their own graduation test.
“Yeah, we’re planning on heading through River Ridge Way.”
Chimecho hummed a moment.
“What is it?” Scout asked.
“River Ridge Way is faster but it is a little more dangerous. It’s not like a Mystery Dungeon, that’s a place of sheer cliffs and dangerous falls.”
“Oh, Rai said that there’s a path people take.”
Chimecho nodded. “I suppose.”
“Are you worried?”
She smiled. “I always worry a little when the others leave, comes with the medical territory I suppose. Well, I had another suggestion, it is a little longer but I know someone around Blackstone Village.”
Blackstone….
Scout frowned. He’d seen that on the maps and it tickled some sort of memory he just could not cling onto. He was sure it wasn’t part of the games, Treasure, Shaymin, and Capim were the only settlements he knew of and he was certain of that.
“Is it because the Clefable Guild is there?” Chimecho asked.
Scout blinked, looking up at her. “...a little, I think.”
Chimecho smiled. “The Guild is not actually located in the town. The town’s mayor always kept a firm hand on that, the guild does serve as the main jail of the continent, but it is not very close to the actual town if that’s a concern.”
Scout mulled it over. “I guess. I kinda wanted to go there but Rai has a good point about getting to Fissure as soon as we can.”
“A graduation test is not something to rush,” Chimecho advised. “If it means anything at all, I would suggest going through Blackstone. Mayor Indeedee has a wealth of knowledge that may be able to help you.”
That word hit him. “Oh!” he gasped. He remembered but also didn’t. It was like when he tried to remember… Dan…iel? The sableye. Something he knew but just couldn’t quite know either. He remembered something, someone, who had told him….
“Oh?” Chimecho asked.
“I think I met a Mayor Indeedee in the Dark Future,” Scout said, puzzling a frown. Chimecho blinked at him in genuine surprise. “She helped me get back to the… now, to now. And she said to go to Blackstone, I knew I recognised the name! Yeah, she said to go to Blackstone if I ever needed some help.”
Chimecho smiled. “That does sound like her. Goodness, to think we both know the same person… that was still around in that time.”
Energised Scout thanked her, “I’ll bring it up with Shinx and Litleo! Thanks, Chimecho.”
“The pleasure is all mine, Meowth. I can say from experience that Mayor Indeedee would love to meet you three and she truly is a wealth of wisdom. If you do decide to go, I can even send her a query and she may be able to have something all ready to help you when you arrive!”
Smiling, Scout thanked her again and ran off to return to Team Sunrise, but he kept it in his head to raise with Rai and Mane later.
Scout found Team Sunrise close by where he saw them last, mulling about in the middle of town. No one had picked a fight yet, which was terrific news. The only being picked was with an aggron but they were far away from that and couldn’t even hear the commotion.
"Sorry, I just had to handle something," Scout said, approaching. Two faces smiled, one turned away, and another watched in silence.
"I saw you rushing off with Litleo," Sean said. "Something important?"
"Just him getting treated badly." Scout frowned. "But I think that's handled now."
"Point me at whatever you want 'handled' heh," Saniya said, punching a palm.
"Calm yourself." Guardian patted her on the shoulder with a finger.
"Were your teammates not in need of your help?" Striker asked, finally turning back from looking at the sky.
"No." Scout shook his head. "They seemed to have things under wraps. Also, they may have been wrestling."
"Sure, that's all-" Saniya was elbowed.
"With your travels ahead," Striker said, "are you not doing anything to help prepare?"
Scout blinked. "Well… I was doing inventory, I was helping Litleo with that too. But they just want me to be spending some time with you guys before we go since I haven't really been doing that."
"What a time." Striker sighed.
Scout frowned and opened his mouth to ask Striker's problem, but someone beat him to it.
"Do not try and drive him away," Guardian snapped, rather loudly. Loudly enough that a few people glanced over.
Striker crossed his arms and didn’t say anything.
Guardian's eye began flickering violently.
"Striker," Sean said, quietly.
Striker jerked his head away from Guardian and returned to looking at the sky and ignoring everything. "Maybe, uh… we should go somewhere private?" Sean said, sensing what was about to happen.
"Not a bad idea," Saniya said, quickly. "Striker, race you to the beach!" She zoomed off but Striker did not follow.
Scout was left wondering what on earth was happening.
"Must you behave like this?" Guardian growled. "Scout is finally with us again, and you are behaving like this?"
Striker's jaw clenched, but he didn't respond.
"He's making an effort, and you toss this back at him?"
Scout looked between the two with building confusion.
"Just because you cannot let go of-"
"No!" Striker shouted, spinning back on Guardian. "I can NOT let it go."
Sean stepped forward, ready to force them apart in case this escalated. Or just drag Striker away before it could.
"Okay, what’s going on?" Scout asked, voice clear and sharp over the blood in their ears. "I haven't been blind. What is it?”
Striker finally dragged his eyes off Guardian, off Sean, off the sky, off Saniya who was awkwardly returning, to really, really, look at Scout.
Scout almost flinched. There was no hate there, but there was something he never knew Striker was capable of expressing. It was a deep frustrated wounded expression that seemed to regard him as if he didn’t even know him.
"Months back," Striker began, voice very clear to the eavesdroppers. “That night. The night Sean risked everything. What did you do?”
"I helped him," Scout said.
"NO!" Striker yelled, causing Scout to flinch back and Guardian to nearly grapple Striker. The only thing stopping him was the equal desire to shield Scout. "When your new friends found us and refused to listen to reason YOU PUT YOUR CLAWS TO SEAN'S NECK. You threatened HIS LIFE! That is something I cannot forget."
Striker closed his eyes, words going much softer now. "I can't forget it. It doesn't matter why you did it. Out of desperation to calm the situation, out of panic, I just don't care. All I see when I look at you is you threatening his life."
He opened his eyes again. "When you were with us, you were kind. You're not kind anymore, Scout. It's why I think you may be right, that you aren't really him. And if you aren't, then you've taken our teammate. And if you are, you have still changed too much."
Having nothing more to say to Scout, Striker turned to Guardian. "I'm sorry, I really am." And then he walked off.
Sean glanced between three different pokémon he wanted to help, Scout, Guardian, and Striker. Ultimately, he turned to Scout. "I… he doesn't… I'm not upset about that."
Scout nodded.
Sean turned to Guardian, but the dusknoir spoke first. "Go after him," he sighed, "make sure he doesn't do anything stupid."
Sean nodded and ran after him. Scout and Guardian were left, with Saniya awkwardly floating around the sidelines. "I'm uh…." She began edging away before pausing. "Not going to go. I'm going to help, it's what I've been working on with Azumarill." She breathed. "Okay. Uh… who needs to talk first?"
"I, uh… I think I should go," Scout said, gesturing vaguely in the direction of the guild.
"Scout, he…" Guardian began, but he didn't know where to even start with that. For one thing, he didn't know about Striker's reasons here. He did not think this was fair, yet he was rather stunned by the explosion from the composed grovyle.
"I'll see you at dinner," Scout said, firmly. "And maybe tomorrow. I… yeah." He began to walk off himself. Thankfully Striker had gone in the direction of Sharpedo Bluff.
He looked at his paw as he went and ended up going right and towards the beach, rather than the guild. He wanted to be alone.
Later that night, dinner was a tense affair. Loudred, Corphish, and Sunflora weren't talking much. Striker and Guardian projected a sense of awkwardness around them that caused even the chatterbox Saniya to eat with her mouth closed.
Bidoof wasn’t looking right at anyone, especially not Loudred. Rai updated Scout that there had been a fight of sorts in the guild regarding Bidoof’s place with Loudred, Sunflora, and Corphish.
He had heard the four had intended to graduate together but maybe that had changed…?
Scout, Rai, and Mane continued working on their path to get information. Fissure was a destination Rai had insisted on, although Mane had nothing nice to say about the place. Sky Peak was agreed to be worth checking out if necessary. Downer Town was agreed to not be worth checking out. Scout didn't mention what had gone on beyond that things got a little heated, but made sure they knew it was no big deal.
Everyone retired to bed early except for Bidoof and Guardian. Neither wanted to exactly share a room with certain others that night and ended up talking to each other.
Saniya, the magic sorceress she was, fell asleep almost immediately after touching her bed. Leaving Sean and Striker to talk in peace.
Striker had not wanted to talk earlier, and Sean didn't push him.
"Was that everything you're angry about?" Sean asked.
Striker sighed, not wanting to talk but relenting to it. Sean wouldn't sleep otherwise, and he wouldn't accept that. "Essentially. He's done a lot of things lately, since even before we first came to the past, but that's the main thing. I just can't get it out of my head. Him threatening you like that."
"I have forgiven him for that," Sean pointed out. "It all happened so quickly and then everything with going back to the Dark Future, he did his best even with… uh, it's a bit hazy now. But I know he was injured throughout the whole thing."
"Just because you forgive him, doesn't mean I have to," Striker replied, calmly.
"I understand," Sean said, smiling at him. "I can't say I know exactly what's going on, but… he's not unkind, Striker. He's changed, there's no question about that, but just over these last two days, it's almost been like old times! Saniya making jokes about him coughing up hairballs, Guardian telling her off for picking on him, he's only swiped at me once for scratching his ear."
Striker was quiet.
"You're only seeing that one moment when his two new friends were fighting his two old ones. He freaked out. Scout was always a bit rash and definitely makes sense to panic at a moment like that."
"That's all fine," Striker sighed. "I understand, Sean. But you're not understanding my side of things."
Sean raised his head and waited.
"If that really is Scout and… yes, I am more convinced that it really is him just with something extra, it doesn't change what he's been doing. Just because he was my friend, doesn't mean I can just let go of what he's done. If he knew all this stuff, why didn't he do something to stop Guardian earlier? I'm sure there were many things he could have done that could have helped us, but he didn't. And threatening you like that…."
Striker shook his head before burrowing his face in his hands. "It's like an orb activated in my head. Whenever I look at him, I just see that moment. I don't see him playing with the string of his scarf. I don't see him purring on your lap. I don't see him laughing or crying. All I see is his claws at your throat, telling ME to stop fighting two pokémon trying to kill us. It's a betrayal. I can't trust him."
"Why haven't you told any of us that's how you feel?" Sean asked quietly. Saniya was awfully quiet for the snorer she normally was.
"How could I? When you and Saniya have such a good relationship with him and Guardian wants nothing more than to have one at all. I thought I could just ignore it, or avoid him, keep an eye on him when that didn't work. But I just…"
"I think you really do need to talk to Scout," Sean said, Saniya started snoring. "Nothing's going to change, or get better until you have a real conversation."
"As if Guardian would allow me anywhere close to him after today," Striker muttered.
"Is that an excuse?"
"...yeah."
Sean gave a chuckle. "I just don't think all this is good for either of you. I get it. If he tried doing that to you, I'd probably feel like you do."
Striker snorted. "You don't hold grudges. Anger and resentment 'don't do you any good', right?"
Sean smiled and shook his head fondly, aura tassels flopping. "You don't have to forget," he said. "I haven't. But there is a difference between forgiving and forgetting."
"I'll try."
"It's all I ask."
And so they went to sleep. Guardian eventually joined them, but both were asleep by that point.
The next day did not start with a bang but a whimper. Team Sunrise waited in consideration after the morning announcement, no one was directly ready to ask if Scout would join them. The meowth himself seemed unsure, oddly enough neither Rai nor Mane were tossing Striker unpleasant looks.
Scout hadn't told them much. He had downplayed it and assured them it was nothing.
Eventually, after some hesitation, Scout did walk over to them. "May I join you today?" he asked.
Guardian visibly sagged with relief and Saniya squealed. "Of course! Come along, Armaldo, we've got a plus one again!"
"Whatever," the grouch replied, already walking off to do his duties.
Things were stiff and awkward to start. No one was really talking. Things were compounded by the fact that they were working for the Kecleon's today, but neither made mention of Scout or any grievance they may have with him.
Eventually, Striker made a joke.
"If the wind changes with that expression on," he said, as Saniya was making faces behind his back. "It'll get stuck like that."
They assumed it was an attempt at a non-orb-related joke at least.
Whatever it was, the tension broke, and everyone laughed at it.
The tension began to recede. Striker helped Scout balance some loose objects, Guardian caught something falling from Saniya's wares before it clunked Sean on the head, and Saniya continued making faces.
At no point did anyone apologise. Striker's words to Scout were not laced with guilt or resentment. It was normal, if a little stiff. More akin to Striker talking to someone like Ursaring than someone he knew well.
Scout himself didn't try to apologise either. He doubted it'd help, and he had already apologised to Sean himself about that whole situation back during their trek into the Dark Future.
Scout did have something big to say, however. "I was talking to Rai and Mane last night. They think we should be ready to leave tomorrow."
"Aww, we'll miss you."
"I am certain you will be exemplary to all bandit hunters."
"Make sure to 'call' back with Chimecho when you can!"
"I wish you luck."
And as this was their last day together, Guardian began to gird himself. It started during a trip carrying an old, breaking, box that had holes in it. Scout rode on top to catch items before they fell out.
Guardian didn't talk then, he just began to craft his words.
They delivered, helped stock, then went to get more. The smeargle the Kecleon Brothers were buying from was happy to nap as they did so.
Eventually, however, even Guardian could not hesitate to gather more information any longer.
"Scout?" he asked as they rested after being excused by the brothers. "May we talk? By ourselves."
Scout glanced back to Team Sunrise, before nodding to Guardian. "Sure."
They went for a walk, in Scout's case at least, to Sharpedo Bluff. "You know, this is where I woke up," Scout said, smiling at the cliffside. "Not at the beach. Rai spooked me and I actually almost fell off the cliff, he grabbed me before I could fall though."
"I am relieved," Guardian said.
They came to a stop, Scout had trouble finding the strength to lift his head to meet Guardian's eye. The dusknoir was so large, wide and dark. Despite being a Ghost-type, his arms were clearly defined with muscle, his belly moved slightly as he drew breath in and out, and even the djinn-like ending of his body waved and wisped away in the wind.
It was bizarre how such a creature could exist. But here he was.
And he was silent. "I…" Guardian started before pausing with a brief laugh. "You ever think about talking to someone so much, all the things you'd say, they'd say, and then when you finally get the chance you can't think of a single word to say?"
Scout gave the same laugh back. "Yeah. I know that feeling."
Guardian nodded and floated down slightly, pushing his physical, yet spiritual, body through the ground so he could better speak with Scout.
"I…," Guardian began, but again. He couldn't speak.
It wasn't like they hadn't spoken at all throughout the last two months. But it was all polite and distant. It was friendly good mornings and wishes for pleasant days. It was moments where Rai and Mane and Striker and Sean and Saniya, where everyone, was there to fill the gaps with sound and laughter.
All those times were gifted with distractions to avoid this. Now that they were here, neither knew what to say.
"I forgive you, you know that?" Scout asked, his voice very small all of a sudden.
"I… don't." Guardian shook his head. Scout looked shocked, but Guardian continued. "I don't forgive myself," he explained, calming the meowth. "And… to be honest, I don't think you forgive me either."
Scout's ears flicked. "I do," he insisted. "I understand why you did what you did, and you changed. I... I knew you would in time, I just wish I had done something more to help."
"You did help," Guardian said. "Your words to me before we parted in the Dark Future. I still remember them. The heroes who saved time or the villain who tried to end it. When speaking with Striker further, working with him again, reliving our old times… I cannot say that I am selfless. I am selfish and greedy."
Scout was silent.
"The point yet remains, even as we try to avoid it. I destroyed our relationship. Even IF you don't remember my betrayal so well, I do. That's not something that is just forgiven because 'redemption' and apologies are made. I think you want to forgive me but… it’s not always so easy."
Scout glanced away. That made him think of Striker. "I remember… some stuff now. Not a lot. Not so much that I'm totally convinced, but…"
Guardian reached to his arm and began untangling the old scruffy scarf he had tied around it. "This scarf is what I found for you when I first took you in," he said as it unwound completely and fell into his hands. "After realising, you were freezing, and I had no hope of warming you up. It was your blanket, then your cape, then your scarf. You threw it back to me when I betrayed you. I kept it."
He handed it out. "I know I ruined our relationship, but I would do anything to begin fixing it, building one anew."
Scout raised his paws and hesitantly touched the scarf. It was soft and clean despite its overall disrepair. It felt warm and safe, it looked loved and smelled like home.
He took the scarf and Guardian carefully tied it around his neck. Scout gave Guardian a genuine smile and Guardian, despite his face lacking a mouth, clearly gave one back.
Things weren't okay, not by far. But it gave them hope that there would be a time that they were.
Team Ion determined the last of their immediate plans, feeling confident with their chances.
That night, there was only one more conversation to have.
"Grovyle," Scout said, nodding as they stood together at the beach.
"Meowth," Striker returned.
Striker smiled. "You know Guardian would vehemently disagree with such impersonal greetings between us?"
Scout smiled. "Heh, probably. You'd know better than me."
With that sobering comment, they both considered their next words carefully. "I…" Striker began but had trouble continuing. "I don't know," he sighed. "Sean, Guardian, everyone thinks this and that, and I want to agree, but then we're here, and I can't ignore what you've done."
Scout nodded. "I don't think you should. It's… not to sound manipulative or anything, it's not what I mean. But… having someone to doubt me is good, I think." He remembered his conversation with Mane in the Dark Future even if a lot of the rest was going blurry.
Striker frowned. "Explain."
"What if I'm wrong?" Scout said, shrugging. "What if I'm crazy? What if Darkrai did something to me and I don't know it? Even beyond all of that. What if I'm lying?"
Striker didn't respond.
Scout bowed his head. "You're a true hero, you know? Everything about you. I won't ask you to forgive me because… if I was you, I don’t think I would.” His stomach clenched briefly, just briefly as he remembered Rai falling back with a cut through his body. He banished the thought before it could twist his expression.
He understood. “I don't get why everyone else has."
"I think… in a sense, you are too hard on yourself," Striker said carefully. "There is a lot of talk about what you should have done, which I agree with, but if you endlessly think about what you could have changed, you'll be blind to what you can do. It's also getting somewhat depressing. I don't hate you… Meowth."
"You can call me Scout," he said. "If you want."
Striker almost smiled. "Thank you. You may call me Striker."
"Thank you."
"I don't hate you," Striker repeated. "I just can't quite see you as I once did. For everything. You did the right thing in the end, like Guardian really. Like father like son, I suppose. Perhaps this makes me hypocritical or, rather, it certainly does."
"I don't think how you feel really 'counts' with stuff like hypocrisy," Scout said. "Sometimes, the answer just is 'because'."
Striker did smile briefly at that. The smile faded, his next words would not be easy to hear. "I don't know you anymore. I don’t know if you took my friend away or if you just lost him. I don’t know if I can ever see you the same again. Can you accept that?"
Scout was quiet. It wasn't easy to hear, especially with Guardian's situation with Striker. But, as Scout said, sometimes the answer just was because. "Yeah, I can. As long as we can get along. Coexist. Respect each other. Maybe get to know each other again. You’re a lot different in person than some pixels on a screen."
Striker nodded. "I can do that. For what it's worth, I am trying."
"It's all I can ask," Scout replied, causing Striker to give a ghost of a smile. "I'm trying too, to be better, I mean."
"It's all anyone can ask."
They shared a nod and then walked to dinner together. It wasn't the ideal outcome for both, Striker wished he could forgive and forget and Scout wished the grovyle could see him as a friend again, his own memories of Striker painted the grovyle in such a wonderful light.
Both game and personal memories. Striker had taught him Night Slash twice and was the coolest, bravest, pokémon ever. But if being tolerated was the most he could get, then that's what he would take.
Scout smiled at Guardian, sitting next to him. Marill asked about his new scarf, noting from Azurill's chatter of Guardian that the scarf had gone from his arm to Scout's neck.
Loudred passed an apple to Bidoof and Wigglytuff danced around an amused Armaldo.
Their last night together was a merry one.
It was odd not to be woken up by Loudred or Corphish in the morning.
It was just a normal, which was abnormal, slow awakening. Rai was the first to wake up, yawning widely and giving a good stretch. He hadn't slept like that for a while, and even though he was the early bird of the three he still enjoyed his sleep.
Rai's movement stirred Mane, as he was curled up next to him. Mane made a disagreeing sound at the warmth being moved and tried to paw him closer, but Rai flicked him with his tail, and Mane's eyes snapped open.
He flicked him again and nearly got his tail bit for his troubles.
"What time is it?" Mane asked, yawning just as widely as Rai had. "How early are you getting up?"
"I dunno," Rai replied, both were speaking lowly as Scout was still sleeping peacefully. "I feel really rested, I don't… know what time it is." Looking out the window was little help.
Their quiet muttering caused Scout's ears to flick a few times, and he scrunched up his face and rolled away from them. "Ooh no," Mane said, deciding if he had to be awake, Scout did too. "Up!"
He trotted over and poked Scout in the back until he tried to slap him away. "Go away."
"Nuh-uh."
"Mmmm," Scout growled before he cracked his eyes open. "What time is it."
"Hello to you too."
"What time is it?" Scout repeated leaning up into a sitting position. "And why do I feel almost well-rested?"
"That's what I was wondering," Rai said. "Let's go see what's going on."
"Did they let us sleep in?" Mane cooed, mockingly. "How sweet and kind and thoughtful."
"And if they did?" Rai asked, shutting Mane up.
That was the case.
The guild had gotten up, done assembly, and split apart to do their work for the day. Loudred saw them wandering in all confused and shouted. "THEY'RE UP!"
Which alerted Wigglytuff. "Yippee!" he cheered, appearing from behind them somehow and grabbing all three. "Did you sleep well? Oh, how exciting! AHH!"
He tossed them several times into the air before actually beginning to juggle them.
By the time Wigglytuff released them, they were almost fainting from dizziness, and Armaldo was shouting at him.
Having not set out yet, Team Ion hadn't slept in for very long. It was Marill, Paras, and Bidoof who helped them find their feet again.
Bidoof was saying something, but it was indistinct to their ears. The vague country accent was all they could make out.
The fourth member of that small team, however, seemed to decide something. It was difficult for them to tell, being so dizzy.
"Okay," Flaaffy scoffed, "everyone clear. I'm zapping them!"
Knowing full well, he intended to follow through; everyone retreated as Flaaffy shocked them.
This, thankfully, snapped them back to normal.
"Ow! What was that for?" Scout yelped, jumping back.
"I'll burn that pretty fluff of yours!" Mane growled, twitching once or twice.
Rai was actually quite happy with the shock, so he didn't say anything.
"Burn me, and I'll take that silly mohawk from you and give you something actually worth wearing."
"This is my actual fur!"
"How sad."
Scout pulled Mane back before he could begin to bite.
"Don't mind him," Marill sighed, stepping forward, and opened the Treasure Bag he wore. "We've brought you breakfast."
The promise of food distracted Mane and soon enough all was forgiven, not forgotten though, never forgotten.
"So, where are you heading first?" Marill asked, returning Team Ion to reality and reminding them why they must have been allowed to sleep in.
Scout and Rai shared a look before Rai said. "We're going to head to Quad Town first. It's pretty much just a stop on the way but hey? We may find something."
Marill nodded understandingly. Quad Town was one of the closest settlements to Treasure Town, and if they were heading North, then there was little point to avoid the place.
"Do ya three mind if we walk you ta town?" Bidoof asked, positively not sniffling already.
"Of course not."
They had some last things to get in town. Or, really, some pokémon to give goodbyes to.
Scout decided it was a bizarre feeling to be walking into town today. There was a heaviness to it. Knowing that this would be the last time he walked this familiar place for a while.
A tune got stuck in his head and he began to hum. "Da-da-dun dun, dun, dun, dun daadada."
Rai gave him a curious look before smiling. Scout smiled back and winked. Mane rolled his eyes and got a seven.
The town was oddly tense. Perhaps Sunflora had done as she said and spread Scout’s word about the Kecleon?
Marowak's Dojo was the first stop.
Scout and Mane had a flash of nostalgia that was difficult to place as they approached and Mane laughed at a joke he couldn't quite remember.
Giving an amused smile, Scout was the one to open the door.
It was quite a serious slobberknocker on the inside. Striker and Guardian were slamming into each other, blades of green and blasts of purply spheres caused eruptions of Power flooding through the room.
Sean and Saniya weren't exactly slacking either, experiencing a four-way tussle between themselves, Vigoroth, and Marowak. Sean's palm slammed into Marowak's raised bone, sending it flying. Still, Marowak himself was steadfast and was able to crack his helmet against Sean's head.
Saniya peppered Vigoroth with glowing leaves and an avalanche of generated stones, but he just kept coming for her, forcing her to weave, fly, and even strain herself to do tiny flickering teleports.
The six pokémon didn't notice them at first. It was Saniya who addressed them first. "Kitties!" she squealed and wrapped them up in delighted hugs.
Relaxing now, the rest of the fighters calmed down and came over.
"So, you're off now?" Sean asked, smiling proudly for them.
"Yep." Rai nodded.
"Stay safe. Don't do anything Saniya wouldn't do."
"There is nothing I wouldn't do!" Saniya protested, in the middle of hugging Scout's face and crying. "Burn their land. Expunge their culture. Stay safe and don't be sad!" she said and burst into tears.
He patted her back, repeating. "There-there." Until she calmed down.
Saniya cleaned Scout's koban and gave him a smile. "A good cry is good for you! That's why it's called a good cry. Remember that, you three." She gave them all a serious look, staring intently at each one in kind.
Scout smiled. Rai smiled awkwardly. Mane glanced away.
With Saniya moving back, Striker nodded to the three of them. "Best travels," he said, and that was that. He wasn’t much of a talker though and he and Scout shared a nod.
As Guardian drifted up to also hug and sob all over Scout, Striker added something. "During Sean and I's travel over the continent, we visited a few good places that gave us information. Towny Town is an out-of-the-way stop before Fissure and quite close to Blackstone. It’s worth going to and finding Liepard. She might be able to help you."
"Good point!" Sean agreed, nodding along to Striker's advice. "She helped us figure out where the Limestone Cavern was, the future had muddled up exactly where that was, and we were lost."
"I have also tried to work out some places you can search," Guardian rumbled, floating in now. He took out a piece of parchment from somewhere and handed it over. "Sadly I do not have the same experience Sean and Striker gained. Still, I truly hope this can help in some way."
He handed it to Scout, surely because he was the one with the ability to take it with something other than his mouth, who unfolded it and glanced in. "Thank you."
Guardian hesitated in place, floating back, almost floating forward, and completely unable to decide.
"Can I have a hug?" Scout asked, a little shyly. He did not have to wait long.
Guardian's hug was tight but not painful as one may expect from those brawny arms. He was not warm, he was a Ghost-type after all. But he was comforting, steady, and strong.
"There is nothing you can't do," Guardian whispered. "But there is no shame in asking for help. Shinx and Litleo are wonderful partners, and I am so very proud of you."
Scout leaned in and smiled. It was surprisingly not as awkward, he had wanted to ask Guardian for a hug before but had been too embarrassed to do it.
The hug went on for a while, but eventually, eventually, Guardian lowered him back down. There was tension in his arms, it was clear he didn't want to let go. But he did.
Team Sunrise each gave a smile or nod to Team Ion. "Are you leaving right now?" Sean asked.
"No, we're just getting a couple of things beforehand."
"We'll try to see you off," Sean replied, glancing to where Marowak was entertaining Vigoroth. "Is that okay?"
"Certainly." Marowak nodded. "We'll join you."
"See you at the crossroads," Sean said, and the trio of kitties left the dojo.
Past that, the three had an easy time. The Kecleon Brothers were polite, but there remained a certain level of stiffness between them and Scout. Electivire hugged Rai, sobbing his eyes out with pride.
Kangaskhan took the three of them into a crushing embrace and wished them the best of luck.
And Chansey, who was there with Kangaskhan, gave the three of them a puff of Heal Pulse afterwards.
"Dears, would you mind if I walked you to the crossroads?" Kangaskhan asked once they were all certain no one had broken anything.
"Of course not," Rai said, politely. Happily too. Kangaskhan's hugs aside, she was like a grandmother to the town. Chansey joined them, and Electivire joined them as well when they passed by.
Scout had an idea of what was going on, he shared a Look with Mane who had also clued on. Rai was happily oblivious.
Their suspicions were proved correct when they arrived at the crossroads. The entire guild, Team Sunrise, Team Go-Getters, several townsfolk, Lapras, and of course the pokémon walking with them were all here.
"What's this?" Rai squeaked, really not having clued in on what was going on. Mane laughed, and Scout grinned but also wanted to hide at the same time.
"Oh my gosh, we're here to see you off!" Sunflora was the one to break the silence as Wigglytuff danced over to them.
"Everyone here wants to wish you well," he said, dancing around them for a bit before stopping. "Ooh, dizzy."
The entire guild approached in turn to give goodbyes, Bidoof and Loudred both cried, Marill stood with his family as Azurill chirped for them to have a good time. Azumarill stepped forward last. "Make sure to talk to each other," she ordered, particularly to Scout. "Don't bottle stuff in, that stuff tends to come out at the worst times."
“I’m following the therapy idea you suggested too,” he said quietly. She smiled and wished him the best of luck.
"Hey, I can't believe you three are graduating before me," Corphish said, giving all three a pinch on the nose. "Back when I saw you two in Boulder Quarry, I knew you'd be great. But this is fast."
"I'll eat you if you do that again," Mane threatened. Corphish pinched him again and ducked back before Mane could bite him.
"I'll miss you three," he said, cutting off Mane's fury right at the source and moving aside to allow Chimecho to give them a rapid check over.
"Indeedee knows to expect you," Chimecho said, checking Scout's tongue and temperature. "So, you'll be treated well. Be safe, you three. You're all so important, come back safe. Okay?" She was speaking a little quickly, but the message was there.
Flaaffy gave them each a comb, refusing to let them appear atrocious when they'd be representing the guild across the continent and Paras added in a little invention of her own.
"I call it a Spore Bomb," she whispered meekly. She was more confident nowadays, but the crowds were still a bit difficult for her. "It's like a sleep seed, but they don't need to swallow it. Just breathe it in. But be careful, it goes both ways."
"Thank you so much," Rai said, sniffling. "You guys."
Rai then began to tackle-hug everyone. Everyone.
While he was doing that, Scout made his way to Armaldo. Everyone was around, so he felt like it was reasonably safe to do this.
"Best of luck, Meowth," he said, seeing Scout come up to him.
"Thanks. Do you mind walking with me up to the guild?"
Armaldo gave him a curious look but nodded. As they walked, Scout dug his paw into the Treasure Bag and pulled out a folded note. "So, I wrote something last night. Everything I could remember, a refresh of some of the stuff we talked about, and some other things I've remembered since then."
They reached where Scout wanted to be, Chatot's grave. Scout gave the simple monument a sad look over. "Please don't let anyone other than Guildmaster Wigglytuff read it, it's in unown so…."
"He can read that," Armaldo said, nodding. He took the letter. "Thank you, Meowth."
Scout nodded, and they walked back to the crossroads.
Team Sunrise gave them each one more goodbye, Saniya AND Guardian cried this time, and they were met by Team Go-Getters.
"You'll love the trip," Wartortle said. "The land is pretty beautiful."
"We might even see you on the road sometime." Chikorita winked. "There's always pokémon needing to be rescued."
"Hopefully not you," Charizard rumbled, smiling. "I think you'll be fine."
As much as they would love to continue spending time and talking, they had to go now, or they would never get anywhere.
Pokémon waved, cheered, or stamped their feet as Team Ion departed Treasure Town, a mission in mind and excitement in their hearts.
Nothing important happened between leaving Treasure Town and reaching Quad Town.
"Run, it's the diglett again!"
Nothing exciting.
"Scout, PLEASE stop falling down cliffs."
No one needed to learn how to swim.
"I'm a FELINE! Water and I don't like each other on principle."
Or fly.
"I AM RAPIDLY REALISING I DON'T LIKE HEIGHTS."
Nothing at all.
It took three days to reach Quad Town. They had expected just two, but there were certain… detours that distracted the trio.
Quad Town was a quirky place. Unlike Treasure Town which was largely sought out due to the presence of the guild, Quad Town was more of a stop along the road. There were resident pokémon who worked hard, small thatched houses, and a single hub of activity where most of the town's trade was performed.
It was also completely pointless for them to search for information.
"I haven't seen a pyroar around, no."
"This place is mostly wood, you don't see many Fire-types around."
"Other than Litleo right there, no."
Due to taking as long as they had to reach the place, no one particularly wanted to stick around for anything more. But the trio were tired and slept in a ball together near the outskirts of the town before setting off again.
Quad Town was a bust, but it also wasn't expected to bear any fruit anyway.
The next town, however, was far more fruitful. Sadly, this was a literal statement and not the kindness of the figurative one.
"There are so many combee," Scout hissed as they walked along rows and rows of fruit and berry trees. Actual towers of combee floated around, with beedrill and vespiquen herding or directing them. Pollen Town was an accurate name, a community of Bug-types and Grass-types working together to create their ideal living space.
All three members of Team Ion were left sneezing their lungs out before long. An accurately named town indeed.
"Okay," Rai said, once Pollen Town was far behind them, still sniffling. "First two didn't get us anything. Should we head for The Rock or Tiny Burrow next?"
"The Rock," Mane said, immediately. "Is what I'd say. So, Tiny Burrow?"
"Hey." Scout bumped him. "You're right sometimes."
"Sometimes?" Mane asked, a little offended.
"The Rock then?" Rai said, getting a nod from Scout. Rolling his eyes at them, Mane drifted along as Rai and Scout talked about something stupid.
"Guardian, would you like a hand?" Saniya asked. Guardian didn't respond. "Guardian? Hey, brawno?"
Guardian twitched and glanced up at her, eye flickering for a moment. "Oh, I am sorry, Saniya. I didn't notice you there."
"I can see that." She looked down at the item in his hand. "You… done crushing that?"
"Oh… oh, dear."
She carefully extracted what used to be a clay pot and scrubbed his injured hands with a rag she pulled from somewhere.
"You really need to stop dozing off like that," Saniya reprimanded, rubbing the greyish fluid that acted as his blood off his hands. "You're making me worry. You're making Azurill worry. Heck, even Vigoroth's noticed something's up."
Guardian glanced away.
"It's been a while since you've visited Azumarill, right?"
"Yes," he admitted.
"I'm due for tomorrow, but we'll switch."
"Saniya, I cannot. Your progress has been far too wonderful to see. I won't take that away from you."
Rolling her eyes, she smacked his arm. "I'm not going to stop going. Just reschedule. YOU are the one who stopped. Are you alright?"
"I am fine, no need to feel concerned."
"Hmm." She looked him over. "Stick out your tongue, I'm going to decide if you're 'okay' or not."
"I… no."
"Please?"
"No."
"Do you even have one?"
"I don't think so."
"Somehow I don't believe you." Saniya gasped suddenly. "How could I not know? We've known each other for so long, we've been the best of bosom buddies and then the most eclectic of enemies! Then back to best brawny beauty friends forever! How can I not know something about you? This is a travesty, a calamity, a debacle, if you mind my language, this may even be a fiasco!"
Saniya began to fly around him in a panic. "This can not do. Kangaskhan?!" She zipped away before Guardian could adjust well enough to calm… whatever was happening down. "Kangaskhan!?"
He floated after her, but he was slow, and she was not. By the time he reached the door, Saniya was already finalising her plans.
"Good news, everybody!" Saniya cheered, swinging back in to swing Guardian's entire frame around and around with her tiny arms. "Which is us! Kangaskhan said we can go. Well, us. Just us. I only asked for us. She tried to let those two lazybones." She gestured vaguely into the complex where Striker and Sean had no idea what was transpiring. "Go as well, but I told her they can pick their lazy bums up and work twice as hard."
She cleared her throat. "YOU HEAR THAT?" she screeched, voice echoing long and far.
"YES!" Sean's voice returned.
"SWELL! DON'T DO ANYTHING I WOULDN'T DO. SO, YOU HAVE FREE REIGN TO BURN THINGS. BUT NOTHING THAT'S CUTE, OKAY?"
"SURE, SANIYA." There was Striker's dulcet tones, loud and echoey as well.
"COOL! I'LL BE BACK FOR YOU MY SWEETY LEAFY."
"May I say something?" Guardian asked.
"You just did," Saniya giggled. "Too late. LET'S GO, Pikachu and Eevee!"
And then she was gone. Guardian could only hope she had gotten too excited and left him, but that was not the case as a Psychic tug dragged him along.
Team Sunrise had been confined to Treasure Town for months now. She took them to the market, to Raigeki's little cliffside home, to Marowak. All places they had been a dozen times over.
"I'm so bored," Saniya complained, from where she perched on Guardian's head. She had played with his receptor for a bit before it too bored her.
"Careful," Guardian admonished. "Say that too much, and something you might not like might happen."
"I'M BORED!" Saniya cried. "BORED! BORED! BORED!" She then waited, expectantly. "Guardian," Saniya wined, flicking him. "Something terrible was supposed to happen by now. I said I was bored, so bored. I may die… okay? Still nothing."
She rubbed her chin as he chuckled. "I bet this can't get any worse?" Saniya sighed as dramatically and genuinely as she could, sagging against Guardian. She then tensed. "Still nothing? Come on, give me SOMETHING!"
Saniya began to sob. "If I said something like bored or can't get any worse, in the Dark Future we'd have three sets of marauders and fifteen escaped monsters by now. Here in this place, it's all peaceful, and I love it except I also crave the excitement and thrill. Does that make me terrible?"
"No," Guardian answered immediately. "Saniya, you're not terrible for feeling bored."
"I think it's pretty bad to want ANYTHING from that time."
"I see," Guardian said, softly and heavily. Saniya rubbed the top of his actual head, avoiding the sensor.
"Sorry," she said, already knowing why. "I guess the five of us BEING the five of us isn't terrible."
"They've been gone for barely a week," Guardian sighed, "and it feels like an age."
"I didn't expect to miss Shinx and Litleo as much as I do," Saniya said. "Litleo and me could really shoot the piss, that's what the kids say, right?"
"Sure."
"Yeah, stab the fish. And Shinx is alright too, I guess. I haven't really talked with him much."
"He didn't go to the future, after all," Guardian reminded.
"Mmm." Was all she replied with. At first. "Except he was supposed to? Maybe. That stuff is still weird, even if it doesn't turn my head as much as it does the rest of you."
Guardian chuckled. "You would be the best one to understand something so senseless."
"No doubt about it." She clicked her tongue. "Ah… I wonder what they're doing now?"
"Why are there so many carvanha?" Scout cried, paddling as fast as he could while Rai and Mane desperately swung themselves down to Scout with vines. "AHH!"
"Probably something important," Guardian suggested, looking up at Saniya finally. They were seated at the beach, having chatted to Lapras for a little while about the goings-on. Lapras had places to be, however, so he gave them some peace.
"You know, speaking of Shinx specifically, I believe he rather likes this place," Guardian began, looking up at the setting sun. The krabby were blowing bubbles. "The tranquillity of it, the beauty of the ocean with the reflection in the bubbles.
"Hm," Saniya said, floating up to a bubble. She peered into it, seeing a distorted version of herself. Then she sucked it into her mouth and immediately began to cough and gag.
"Did you seriously just do that?" Guardian asked, deadpanning with disbelief. Saniya coughed a little, gave him a thumbs-up, and continued. He floated over and gave her a good smack on the back.
"Hooo. Don't do that," Saniya wheezed, through tears. "Not fun." She cleared her throat several times and smacked her lips. "Ugh, three out of ten, two pinkies down, do not recommend."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Do, it's important." She gave a glare to a krabby, who chittered at her in amusement. Leading to her tossing it out to sea with her mind.
"That'll teach it," Saniya growled. "Sending it back to its preferred habitat that it was probably going to do in a few minutes anyway. Mwa. Ha. Ha."
Guardian's eyes grew a lighter colour at her. "You are an odd one, Celebi with the Mirrors," he said.
She glanced back to him, curious. "Honestly, I'm pretty sure I'm the only 'normal' one, Dusknoir the… Guardian?"
"Heh. Really?"
"Of course." Saniya nodded. "No one can even begin to claim Scout is just your average meowth. Striker has an orbsession and not a Celebisession. So, there's definitely something wrong with him. Sean used to be human, and we all know he's totally crazy. While you, well. Hmm."
She rubbed her chin in thought.
"Yes?" Guardian asked, half curious, half challenging. "How am I crazy?"
There was certainly one thing she could say, but that'd be rather hurtful and absolutely not in line with the playful banter they were having.
"Your face is not your face," Saniya decided. Guardian blinked. "Your mouth is down there, and I don't know if you have a tongue or not, and it may drive ME crazy. And you don't want to see me crazy."
Guardian chuckled. "Astute observations there."
"But of course."
"You've missed one crucial thing, however."
"Have I?" Saniya asked, pityingly. "Have I really?"
"You put a pickle near Scout, and he nearly jumped off the cliff in fright." Saniya froze. "You replaced Striker's orbs with marbles, and he may have cried. And let's not even discuss raiding Sean’s clothes, that was horrifying for everyone involved."
Saniya chuckled. "Okay, but like… you got to give me credit there. That was funny."
"It was," Guardian agreed.
"Okay, but how does that make me not normal?"
"It is simple," Guardian said, putting on an approximation of The Great Dusknoir and his somewhat patronising teaching moments. "You are a wack."
"Curses!" Saniya cursed. "Avast, I have been outed as the madwoman I am."
They shared a smile and laugh and turned their eyes towards the path back to the guild. "…Should we start the trip back?" Saniya sighed.
"I think so." Guardian nodded. And so, one floated, the other also floated but in a different way, back up the path.
Before they reached the crossroads, however, and returned to the others, Guardian had one thing to say. "Thank you.”. Saniya had, in her own way, decided he might benefit from having a friend today.
"You're welcome." She smiled back, and to the guild they returned.
Striker and Sean had words to share with them when they returned. Strong ones. But they got off easy in the end, once Striker noticed that Guardian had an air of calm around him rather than the aura of tenseness he had been suffering.
"Armaldo wants to see us," Sean said, after he was done complaining about all the heavy lifting he was forced to do because he was 'Their Fighting-type and built for this'. Sean declared this as cruel and unsanctioned penalties upon him.
"Not just Armaldo, it looks like," Saniya pointed out as they entered the lower floor. Indeed, Wigglytuff and Officer Magnezone were waiting for them.
"BZZT! Finally. The four of you were expected over eleven minutes ago. BZZT!"
"It's okay," Wigglytuff said, rocking back and forth. "We were able to have a great talk! The best of talks!"
"BZZT! I disagree. BZZT! I cannot taste Perfect Apples and have no use for something like that. BZZT! How was this productive? BZZT!"
"Don't set him off again," Armaldo warned, giving both pokémon a sharp look. Wigglytuff smiled, and Magnezone turned back to the four.
"Are we… in trouble or something?" Sean asked, taking his role as the main speaker.
"Not at all!" Wigglytuff assured. "The opposite, in fact! The four of you have been working so well, so much, and with so much care to your terms that we've been speaking to Officer Magnezone about lightening the restrictions on you."
All four perked up immediately. "Wait, really?" Saniya squealed, doing a loop-de-loop around the room. "What does this mean?"
"What our news means is that your range of activity has been widened," Armaldo explained, voice as rough and blunt as always. "Rather than solely being restricted to Treasure Town, and minor excursions outside when supervised, you'll now be able to move in the range of a day's 'normal' travelling distance. You'll still be expected to return to the guild every night."
He was wise to focus them on the good news because they immediately forgot about Aggron.
"So, we can… actually go places now?" Sean asked, almost breathless. Saniya put her hand to her head and fainted in mid-air.
Guardian caught her, handed her to Striker, and bowed. "Thank you," he said simply. He still didn't talk much outside of Team Sunrise and Ion, but their restrictions were entirely on him, and they had weighed heavily on his conscious.
"What brought this on?" Striker asked, deciding to air out a few details. "I'd like to know, so we know what to keep doing."
Armaldo gave him a vaguely amused look, and the mere feeling of it woke Saniya back up.
It was Magnezone, however, who answered. "BZZT! There have been no complaints with actual bearing to them throughout your entire probationary period. BZZT! Furthermore, Team Go-Getters has given a word of approval as well. Team Ion have as well, but their word needs to be disregarded in consideration of the closeness of you and them. The guild also has excellent reports to show. The incident with Aggron solidified the decision. BZZT!"
“Situation? What situation?” Saniya asked.
All three of them looked thrown a moment.
“You… didn’t hear?” Wigglytuff asked. All four blinked. “Oh my.”
“In short, the Clefable Guild came to arrest you,” Armaldo said, nodding to Guardian. “But you’re under our jurisdiction.”
Guardian glanced down. “Oh….” Before he could make a case for why they shouldn’t have, Wigglytuff cut in.
"So, it has been agreed," Wigglytuff sang to distract them. "It's still a bit of a test, but I know you four will exceed expectations! You don't shirk work, you haven't tried to run away, and your smiles go for miles! You have the guild's stamp of approval!"
"Even him?" Saniya said, jerking her head towards Armaldo. He gave her a filthy look but said nothing. Wigglytuff tittered nervously, holding his tongue.
Someone who did not have a tongue to hold, however. "BZZT! It was Armaldo's suggestion that brought this change. BZZT!" Officer Magnezone explained, to Saniya's unending shock. "BZZT! Armaldo's history aside, his expertise and work inTreasure Town have been paramount. It was his own 'stamp of approval' that brought this change. BZZT!"
"Thank you, Magnezone," Armaldo grumbled, almost looking embarrassed. But that was impossible. "Thank you so much." His tone dripped with sarcasm, but being a pokémon, a robotic one at that, Magnezone did not pick up on it in the least.
"BZZT! You are welcome. BZZT!"
Sean and Saniya couldn't quite contain their snickers, even Striker had to smother a smile. All of which was made increasingly difficult by Armaldo's deepening glare.
Guardian pulled them all back before any insults could be accidentally given.
"Thank you," he said again. "I understand what my actions have wrought upon Treasure Town, the Wigglytuff Guild, and Team Magnezone. I will continue to work as hard as I can to begin to repair the harm I inflicted."
"And we'll be with you every step of the way!" Saniya cheered, having successfully calmed herself down. "Hahahahaha. Armaldo likes us."
Or not.
Sean and Saniya broke into giggles, and Armaldo ended up clonking their heads together before storming off in a huff. Magnezone wisely chose not to ask and left afterwards.
Once those two were gone, Wigglytuff joined them in giggling.
In the end, it was a good day.
Much better than Team Ion's. After escaping the carvanha, they had to deal with the lumineon who decided it didn't want to stay in the water, turned Rai against their new friend Ludicolo, and was a bad day overall.
“Oh? Uh, coming.”
Chimecho smiled at him, floating around the middle floor of the guild in her little ‘office’ spot. Scout knew this was where Chimecho Assembly was in the game, but there was no assembly in real life as the only pokemon on their team were part of the guild.
This was where Chimecho conducted her Network Link and would send out messages for pokemon for a small cost, receive them, and all sorts of little things on the side.
“I heard you were headed to Fissure?” she asked. “Quite a place, do be careful.”
“Yeah, have you been?”
"No, but Team Celestial was from there and based on the scarring on poor Luno the place can be quite dangerous. Have you three decided which direction you are approaching from?" That mysterious team again, Scout was eager to meet them one day if they ever returned from their own graduation test.
“Yeah, we’re planning on heading through River Ridge Way.”
Chimecho hummed a moment.
“What is it?” Scout asked.
“River Ridge Way is faster but it is a little more dangerous. It’s not like a Mystery Dungeon, that’s a place of sheer cliffs and dangerous falls.”
“Oh, Rai said that there’s a path people take.”
Chimecho nodded. “I suppose.”
“Are you worried?”
She smiled. “I always worry a little when the others leave, comes with the medical territory I suppose. Well, I had another suggestion, it is a little longer but I know someone around Blackstone Village.”
Blackstone….
Scout frowned. He’d seen that on the maps and it tickled some sort of memory he just could not cling onto. He was sure it wasn’t part of the games, Treasure, Shaymin, and Capim were the only settlements he knew of and he was certain of that.
“Is it because the Clefable Guild is there?” Chimecho asked.
Scout blinked, looking up at her. “...a little, I think.”
Chimecho smiled. “The Guild is not actually located in the town. The town’s mayor always kept a firm hand on that, the guild does serve as the main jail of the continent, but it is not very close to the actual town if that’s a concern.”
Scout mulled it over. “I guess. I kinda wanted to go there but Rai has a good point about getting to Fissure as soon as we can.”
“A graduation test is not something to rush,” Chimecho advised. “If it means anything at all, I would suggest going through Blackstone. Mayor Indeedee has a wealth of knowledge that may be able to help you.”
That word hit him. “Oh!” he gasped. He remembered but also didn’t. It was like when he tried to remember… Dan…iel? The sableye. Something he knew but just couldn’t quite know either. He remembered something, someone, who had told him….
“Oh?” Chimecho asked.
“I think I met a Mayor Indeedee in the Dark Future,” Scout said, puzzling a frown. Chimecho blinked at him in genuine surprise. “She helped me get back to the… now, to now. And she said to go to Blackstone, I knew I recognised the name! Yeah, she said to go to Blackstone if I ever needed some help.”
Chimecho smiled. “That does sound like her. Goodness, to think we both know the same person… that was still around in that time.”
Energised Scout thanked her, “I’ll bring it up with Shinx and Litleo! Thanks, Chimecho.”
“The pleasure is all mine, Meowth. I can say from experience that Mayor Indeedee would love to meet you three and she truly is a wealth of wisdom. If you do decide to go, I can even send her a query and she may be able to have something all ready to help you when you arrive!”
Smiling, Scout thanked her again and ran off to return to Team Sunrise, but he kept it in his head to raise with Rai and Mane later.
Scout found Team Sunrise close by where he saw them last, mulling about in the middle of town. No one had picked a fight yet, which was terrific news. The only being picked was with an aggron but they were far away from that and couldn’t even hear the commotion.
"Sorry, I just had to handle something," Scout said, approaching. Two faces smiled, one turned away, and another watched in silence.
"I saw you rushing off with Litleo," Sean said. "Something important?"
"Just him getting treated badly." Scout frowned. "But I think that's handled now."
"Point me at whatever you want 'handled' heh," Saniya said, punching a palm.
"Calm yourself." Guardian patted her on the shoulder with a finger.
"Were your teammates not in need of your help?" Striker asked, finally turning back from looking at the sky.
"No." Scout shook his head. "They seemed to have things under wraps. Also, they may have been wrestling."
"Sure, that's all-" Saniya was elbowed.
"With your travels ahead," Striker said, "are you not doing anything to help prepare?"
Scout blinked. "Well… I was doing inventory, I was helping Litleo with that too. But they just want me to be spending some time with you guys before we go since I haven't really been doing that."
"What a time." Striker sighed.
Scout frowned and opened his mouth to ask Striker's problem, but someone beat him to it.
"Do not try and drive him away," Guardian snapped, rather loudly. Loudly enough that a few people glanced over.
Striker crossed his arms and didn’t say anything.
Guardian's eye began flickering violently.
"Striker," Sean said, quietly.
Striker jerked his head away from Guardian and returned to looking at the sky and ignoring everything. "Maybe, uh… we should go somewhere private?" Sean said, sensing what was about to happen.
"Not a bad idea," Saniya said, quickly. "Striker, race you to the beach!" She zoomed off but Striker did not follow.
Scout was left wondering what on earth was happening.
"Must you behave like this?" Guardian growled. "Scout is finally with us again, and you are behaving like this?"
Striker's jaw clenched, but he didn't respond.
"He's making an effort, and you toss this back at him?"
Scout looked between the two with building confusion.
"Just because you cannot let go of-"
"No!" Striker shouted, spinning back on Guardian. "I can NOT let it go."
Sean stepped forward, ready to force them apart in case this escalated. Or just drag Striker away before it could.
"Okay, what’s going on?" Scout asked, voice clear and sharp over the blood in their ears. "I haven't been blind. What is it?”
Striker finally dragged his eyes off Guardian, off Sean, off the sky, off Saniya who was awkwardly returning, to really, really, look at Scout.
Scout almost flinched. There was no hate there, but there was something he never knew Striker was capable of expressing. It was a deep frustrated wounded expression that seemed to regard him as if he didn’t even know him.
"Months back," Striker began, voice very clear to the eavesdroppers. “That night. The night Sean risked everything. What did you do?”
"I helped him," Scout said.
"NO!" Striker yelled, causing Scout to flinch back and Guardian to nearly grapple Striker. The only thing stopping him was the equal desire to shield Scout. "When your new friends found us and refused to listen to reason YOU PUT YOUR CLAWS TO SEAN'S NECK. You threatened HIS LIFE! That is something I cannot forget."
Striker closed his eyes, words going much softer now. "I can't forget it. It doesn't matter why you did it. Out of desperation to calm the situation, out of panic, I just don't care. All I see when I look at you is you threatening his life."
He opened his eyes again. "When you were with us, you were kind. You're not kind anymore, Scout. It's why I think you may be right, that you aren't really him. And if you aren't, then you've taken our teammate. And if you are, you have still changed too much."
Having nothing more to say to Scout, Striker turned to Guardian. "I'm sorry, I really am." And then he walked off.
Sean glanced between three different pokémon he wanted to help, Scout, Guardian, and Striker. Ultimately, he turned to Scout. "I… he doesn't… I'm not upset about that."
Scout nodded.
Sean turned to Guardian, but the dusknoir spoke first. "Go after him," he sighed, "make sure he doesn't do anything stupid."
Sean nodded and ran after him. Scout and Guardian were left, with Saniya awkwardly floating around the sidelines. "I'm uh…." She began edging away before pausing. "Not going to go. I'm going to help, it's what I've been working on with Azumarill." She breathed. "Okay. Uh… who needs to talk first?"
"I, uh… I think I should go," Scout said, gesturing vaguely in the direction of the guild.
"Scout, he…" Guardian began, but he didn't know where to even start with that. For one thing, he didn't know about Striker's reasons here. He did not think this was fair, yet he was rather stunned by the explosion from the composed grovyle.
"I'll see you at dinner," Scout said, firmly. "And maybe tomorrow. I… yeah." He began to walk off himself. Thankfully Striker had gone in the direction of Sharpedo Bluff.
He looked at his paw as he went and ended up going right and towards the beach, rather than the guild. He wanted to be alone.
Later that night, dinner was a tense affair. Loudred, Corphish, and Sunflora weren't talking much. Striker and Guardian projected a sense of awkwardness around them that caused even the chatterbox Saniya to eat with her mouth closed.
Bidoof wasn’t looking right at anyone, especially not Loudred. Rai updated Scout that there had been a fight of sorts in the guild regarding Bidoof’s place with Loudred, Sunflora, and Corphish.
He had heard the four had intended to graduate together but maybe that had changed…?
Scout, Rai, and Mane continued working on their path to get information. Fissure was a destination Rai had insisted on, although Mane had nothing nice to say about the place. Sky Peak was agreed to be worth checking out if necessary. Downer Town was agreed to not be worth checking out. Scout didn't mention what had gone on beyond that things got a little heated, but made sure they knew it was no big deal.
Everyone retired to bed early except for Bidoof and Guardian. Neither wanted to exactly share a room with certain others that night and ended up talking to each other.
Saniya, the magic sorceress she was, fell asleep almost immediately after touching her bed. Leaving Sean and Striker to talk in peace.
Striker had not wanted to talk earlier, and Sean didn't push him.
"Was that everything you're angry about?" Sean asked.
Striker sighed, not wanting to talk but relenting to it. Sean wouldn't sleep otherwise, and he wouldn't accept that. "Essentially. He's done a lot of things lately, since even before we first came to the past, but that's the main thing. I just can't get it out of my head. Him threatening you like that."
"I have forgiven him for that," Sean pointed out. "It all happened so quickly and then everything with going back to the Dark Future, he did his best even with… uh, it's a bit hazy now. But I know he was injured throughout the whole thing."
"Just because you forgive him, doesn't mean I have to," Striker replied, calmly.
"I understand," Sean said, smiling at him. "I can't say I know exactly what's going on, but… he's not unkind, Striker. He's changed, there's no question about that, but just over these last two days, it's almost been like old times! Saniya making jokes about him coughing up hairballs, Guardian telling her off for picking on him, he's only swiped at me once for scratching his ear."
Striker was quiet.
"You're only seeing that one moment when his two new friends were fighting his two old ones. He freaked out. Scout was always a bit rash and definitely makes sense to panic at a moment like that."
"That's all fine," Striker sighed. "I understand, Sean. But you're not understanding my side of things."
Sean raised his head and waited.
"If that really is Scout and… yes, I am more convinced that it really is him just with something extra, it doesn't change what he's been doing. Just because he was my friend, doesn't mean I can just let go of what he's done. If he knew all this stuff, why didn't he do something to stop Guardian earlier? I'm sure there were many things he could have done that could have helped us, but he didn't. And threatening you like that…."
Striker shook his head before burrowing his face in his hands. "It's like an orb activated in my head. Whenever I look at him, I just see that moment. I don't see him playing with the string of his scarf. I don't see him purring on your lap. I don't see him laughing or crying. All I see is his claws at your throat, telling ME to stop fighting two pokémon trying to kill us. It's a betrayal. I can't trust him."
"Why haven't you told any of us that's how you feel?" Sean asked quietly. Saniya was awfully quiet for the snorer she normally was.
"How could I? When you and Saniya have such a good relationship with him and Guardian wants nothing more than to have one at all. I thought I could just ignore it, or avoid him, keep an eye on him when that didn't work. But I just…"
"I think you really do need to talk to Scout," Sean said, Saniya started snoring. "Nothing's going to change, or get better until you have a real conversation."
"As if Guardian would allow me anywhere close to him after today," Striker muttered.
"Is that an excuse?"
"...yeah."
Sean gave a chuckle. "I just don't think all this is good for either of you. I get it. If he tried doing that to you, I'd probably feel like you do."
Striker snorted. "You don't hold grudges. Anger and resentment 'don't do you any good', right?"
Sean smiled and shook his head fondly, aura tassels flopping. "You don't have to forget," he said. "I haven't. But there is a difference between forgiving and forgetting."
"I'll try."
"It's all I ask."
And so they went to sleep. Guardian eventually joined them, but both were asleep by that point.
The next day did not start with a bang but a whimper. Team Sunrise waited in consideration after the morning announcement, no one was directly ready to ask if Scout would join them. The meowth himself seemed unsure, oddly enough neither Rai nor Mane were tossing Striker unpleasant looks.
Scout hadn't told them much. He had downplayed it and assured them it was nothing.
Eventually, after some hesitation, Scout did walk over to them. "May I join you today?" he asked.
Guardian visibly sagged with relief and Saniya squealed. "Of course! Come along, Armaldo, we've got a plus one again!"
"Whatever," the grouch replied, already walking off to do his duties.
Things were stiff and awkward to start. No one was really talking. Things were compounded by the fact that they were working for the Kecleon's today, but neither made mention of Scout or any grievance they may have with him.
Eventually, Striker made a joke.
"If the wind changes with that expression on," he said, as Saniya was making faces behind his back. "It'll get stuck like that."
They assumed it was an attempt at a non-orb-related joke at least.
Whatever it was, the tension broke, and everyone laughed at it.
The tension began to recede. Striker helped Scout balance some loose objects, Guardian caught something falling from Saniya's wares before it clunked Sean on the head, and Saniya continued making faces.
At no point did anyone apologise. Striker's words to Scout were not laced with guilt or resentment. It was normal, if a little stiff. More akin to Striker talking to someone like Ursaring than someone he knew well.
Scout himself didn't try to apologise either. He doubted it'd help, and he had already apologised to Sean himself about that whole situation back during their trek into the Dark Future.
Scout did have something big to say, however. "I was talking to Rai and Mane last night. They think we should be ready to leave tomorrow."
"Aww, we'll miss you."
"I am certain you will be exemplary to all bandit hunters."
"Make sure to 'call' back with Chimecho when you can!"
"I wish you luck."
And as this was their last day together, Guardian began to gird himself. It started during a trip carrying an old, breaking, box that had holes in it. Scout rode on top to catch items before they fell out.
Guardian didn't talk then, he just began to craft his words.
They delivered, helped stock, then went to get more. The smeargle the Kecleon Brothers were buying from was happy to nap as they did so.
Eventually, however, even Guardian could not hesitate to gather more information any longer.
"Scout?" he asked as they rested after being excused by the brothers. "May we talk? By ourselves."
Scout glanced back to Team Sunrise, before nodding to Guardian. "Sure."
They went for a walk, in Scout's case at least, to Sharpedo Bluff. "You know, this is where I woke up," Scout said, smiling at the cliffside. "Not at the beach. Rai spooked me and I actually almost fell off the cliff, he grabbed me before I could fall though."
"I am relieved," Guardian said.
They came to a stop, Scout had trouble finding the strength to lift his head to meet Guardian's eye. The dusknoir was so large, wide and dark. Despite being a Ghost-type, his arms were clearly defined with muscle, his belly moved slightly as he drew breath in and out, and even the djinn-like ending of his body waved and wisped away in the wind.
It was bizarre how such a creature could exist. But here he was.
And he was silent. "I…" Guardian started before pausing with a brief laugh. "You ever think about talking to someone so much, all the things you'd say, they'd say, and then when you finally get the chance you can't think of a single word to say?"
Scout gave the same laugh back. "Yeah. I know that feeling."
Guardian nodded and floated down slightly, pushing his physical, yet spiritual, body through the ground so he could better speak with Scout.
"I…," Guardian began, but again. He couldn't speak.
It wasn't like they hadn't spoken at all throughout the last two months. But it was all polite and distant. It was friendly good mornings and wishes for pleasant days. It was moments where Rai and Mane and Striker and Sean and Saniya, where everyone, was there to fill the gaps with sound and laughter.
All those times were gifted with distractions to avoid this. Now that they were here, neither knew what to say.
"I forgive you, you know that?" Scout asked, his voice very small all of a sudden.
"I… don't." Guardian shook his head. Scout looked shocked, but Guardian continued. "I don't forgive myself," he explained, calming the meowth. "And… to be honest, I don't think you forgive me either."
Scout's ears flicked. "I do," he insisted. "I understand why you did what you did, and you changed. I... I knew you would in time, I just wish I had done something more to help."
"You did help," Guardian said. "Your words to me before we parted in the Dark Future. I still remember them. The heroes who saved time or the villain who tried to end it. When speaking with Striker further, working with him again, reliving our old times… I cannot say that I am selfless. I am selfish and greedy."
Scout was silent.
"The point yet remains, even as we try to avoid it. I destroyed our relationship. Even IF you don't remember my betrayal so well, I do. That's not something that is just forgiven because 'redemption' and apologies are made. I think you want to forgive me but… it’s not always so easy."
Scout glanced away. That made him think of Striker. "I remember… some stuff now. Not a lot. Not so much that I'm totally convinced, but…"
Guardian reached to his arm and began untangling the old scruffy scarf he had tied around it. "This scarf is what I found for you when I first took you in," he said as it unwound completely and fell into his hands. "After realising, you were freezing, and I had no hope of warming you up. It was your blanket, then your cape, then your scarf. You threw it back to me when I betrayed you. I kept it."
He handed it out. "I know I ruined our relationship, but I would do anything to begin fixing it, building one anew."
Scout raised his paws and hesitantly touched the scarf. It was soft and clean despite its overall disrepair. It felt warm and safe, it looked loved and smelled like home.
He took the scarf and Guardian carefully tied it around his neck. Scout gave Guardian a genuine smile and Guardian, despite his face lacking a mouth, clearly gave one back.
Things weren't okay, not by far. But it gave them hope that there would be a time that they were.
Team Ion determined the last of their immediate plans, feeling confident with their chances.
That night, there was only one more conversation to have.
"Grovyle," Scout said, nodding as they stood together at the beach.
"Meowth," Striker returned.
Striker smiled. "You know Guardian would vehemently disagree with such impersonal greetings between us?"
Scout smiled. "Heh, probably. You'd know better than me."
With that sobering comment, they both considered their next words carefully. "I…" Striker began but had trouble continuing. "I don't know," he sighed. "Sean, Guardian, everyone thinks this and that, and I want to agree, but then we're here, and I can't ignore what you've done."
Scout nodded. "I don't think you should. It's… not to sound manipulative or anything, it's not what I mean. But… having someone to doubt me is good, I think." He remembered his conversation with Mane in the Dark Future even if a lot of the rest was going blurry.
Striker frowned. "Explain."
"What if I'm wrong?" Scout said, shrugging. "What if I'm crazy? What if Darkrai did something to me and I don't know it? Even beyond all of that. What if I'm lying?"
Striker didn't respond.
Scout bowed his head. "You're a true hero, you know? Everything about you. I won't ask you to forgive me because… if I was you, I don’t think I would.” His stomach clenched briefly, just briefly as he remembered Rai falling back with a cut through his body. He banished the thought before it could twist his expression.
He understood. “I don't get why everyone else has."
"I think… in a sense, you are too hard on yourself," Striker said carefully. "There is a lot of talk about what you should have done, which I agree with, but if you endlessly think about what you could have changed, you'll be blind to what you can do. It's also getting somewhat depressing. I don't hate you… Meowth."
"You can call me Scout," he said. "If you want."
Striker almost smiled. "Thank you. You may call me Striker."
"Thank you."
"I don't hate you," Striker repeated. "I just can't quite see you as I once did. For everything. You did the right thing in the end, like Guardian really. Like father like son, I suppose. Perhaps this makes me hypocritical or, rather, it certainly does."
"I don't think how you feel really 'counts' with stuff like hypocrisy," Scout said. "Sometimes, the answer just is 'because'."
Striker did smile briefly at that. The smile faded, his next words would not be easy to hear. "I don't know you anymore. I don’t know if you took my friend away or if you just lost him. I don’t know if I can ever see you the same again. Can you accept that?"
Scout was quiet. It wasn't easy to hear, especially with Guardian's situation with Striker. But, as Scout said, sometimes the answer just was because. "Yeah, I can. As long as we can get along. Coexist. Respect each other. Maybe get to know each other again. You’re a lot different in person than some pixels on a screen."
Striker nodded. "I can do that. For what it's worth, I am trying."
"It's all I can ask," Scout replied, causing Striker to give a ghost of a smile. "I'm trying too, to be better, I mean."
"It's all anyone can ask."
They shared a nod and then walked to dinner together. It wasn't the ideal outcome for both, Striker wished he could forgive and forget and Scout wished the grovyle could see him as a friend again, his own memories of Striker painted the grovyle in such a wonderful light.
Both game and personal memories. Striker had taught him Night Slash twice and was the coolest, bravest, pokémon ever. But if being tolerated was the most he could get, then that's what he would take.
Scout smiled at Guardian, sitting next to him. Marill asked about his new scarf, noting from Azurill's chatter of Guardian that the scarf had gone from his arm to Scout's neck.
Loudred passed an apple to Bidoof and Wigglytuff danced around an amused Armaldo.
Their last night together was a merry one.
It was odd not to be woken up by Loudred or Corphish in the morning.
It was just a normal, which was abnormal, slow awakening. Rai was the first to wake up, yawning widely and giving a good stretch. He hadn't slept like that for a while, and even though he was the early bird of the three he still enjoyed his sleep.
Rai's movement stirred Mane, as he was curled up next to him. Mane made a disagreeing sound at the warmth being moved and tried to paw him closer, but Rai flicked him with his tail, and Mane's eyes snapped open.
He flicked him again and nearly got his tail bit for his troubles.
"What time is it?" Mane asked, yawning just as widely as Rai had. "How early are you getting up?"
"I dunno," Rai replied, both were speaking lowly as Scout was still sleeping peacefully. "I feel really rested, I don't… know what time it is." Looking out the window was little help.
Their quiet muttering caused Scout's ears to flick a few times, and he scrunched up his face and rolled away from them. "Ooh no," Mane said, deciding if he had to be awake, Scout did too. "Up!"
He trotted over and poked Scout in the back until he tried to slap him away. "Go away."
"Nuh-uh."
"Mmmm," Scout growled before he cracked his eyes open. "What time is it."
"Hello to you too."
"What time is it?" Scout repeated leaning up into a sitting position. "And why do I feel almost well-rested?"
"That's what I was wondering," Rai said. "Let's go see what's going on."
"Did they let us sleep in?" Mane cooed, mockingly. "How sweet and kind and thoughtful."
"And if they did?" Rai asked, shutting Mane up.
That was the case.
The guild had gotten up, done assembly, and split apart to do their work for the day. Loudred saw them wandering in all confused and shouted. "THEY'RE UP!"
Which alerted Wigglytuff. "Yippee!" he cheered, appearing from behind them somehow and grabbing all three. "Did you sleep well? Oh, how exciting! AHH!"
He tossed them several times into the air before actually beginning to juggle them.
By the time Wigglytuff released them, they were almost fainting from dizziness, and Armaldo was shouting at him.
Having not set out yet, Team Ion hadn't slept in for very long. It was Marill, Paras, and Bidoof who helped them find their feet again.
Bidoof was saying something, but it was indistinct to their ears. The vague country accent was all they could make out.
The fourth member of that small team, however, seemed to decide something. It was difficult for them to tell, being so dizzy.
"Okay," Flaaffy scoffed, "everyone clear. I'm zapping them!"
Knowing full well, he intended to follow through; everyone retreated as Flaaffy shocked them.
This, thankfully, snapped them back to normal.
"Ow! What was that for?" Scout yelped, jumping back.
"I'll burn that pretty fluff of yours!" Mane growled, twitching once or twice.
Rai was actually quite happy with the shock, so he didn't say anything.
"Burn me, and I'll take that silly mohawk from you and give you something actually worth wearing."
"This is my actual fur!"
"How sad."
Scout pulled Mane back before he could begin to bite.
"Don't mind him," Marill sighed, stepping forward, and opened the Treasure Bag he wore. "We've brought you breakfast."
The promise of food distracted Mane and soon enough all was forgiven, not forgotten though, never forgotten.
"So, where are you heading first?" Marill asked, returning Team Ion to reality and reminding them why they must have been allowed to sleep in.
Scout and Rai shared a look before Rai said. "We're going to head to Quad Town first. It's pretty much just a stop on the way but hey? We may find something."
Marill nodded understandingly. Quad Town was one of the closest settlements to Treasure Town, and if they were heading North, then there was little point to avoid the place.
"Do ya three mind if we walk you ta town?" Bidoof asked, positively not sniffling already.
"Of course not."
They had some last things to get in town. Or, really, some pokémon to give goodbyes to.
Scout decided it was a bizarre feeling to be walking into town today. There was a heaviness to it. Knowing that this would be the last time he walked this familiar place for a while.
A tune got stuck in his head and he began to hum. "Da-da-dun dun, dun, dun, dun daadada."
Rai gave him a curious look before smiling. Scout smiled back and winked. Mane rolled his eyes and got a seven.
The town was oddly tense. Perhaps Sunflora had done as she said and spread Scout’s word about the Kecleon?
Marowak's Dojo was the first stop.
Scout and Mane had a flash of nostalgia that was difficult to place as they approached and Mane laughed at a joke he couldn't quite remember.
Giving an amused smile, Scout was the one to open the door.
It was quite a serious slobberknocker on the inside. Striker and Guardian were slamming into each other, blades of green and blasts of purply spheres caused eruptions of Power flooding through the room.
Sean and Saniya weren't exactly slacking either, experiencing a four-way tussle between themselves, Vigoroth, and Marowak. Sean's palm slammed into Marowak's raised bone, sending it flying. Still, Marowak himself was steadfast and was able to crack his helmet against Sean's head.
Saniya peppered Vigoroth with glowing leaves and an avalanche of generated stones, but he just kept coming for her, forcing her to weave, fly, and even strain herself to do tiny flickering teleports.
The six pokémon didn't notice them at first. It was Saniya who addressed them first. "Kitties!" she squealed and wrapped them up in delighted hugs.
Relaxing now, the rest of the fighters calmed down and came over.
"So, you're off now?" Sean asked, smiling proudly for them.
"Yep." Rai nodded.
"Stay safe. Don't do anything Saniya wouldn't do."
"There is nothing I wouldn't do!" Saniya protested, in the middle of hugging Scout's face and crying. "Burn their land. Expunge their culture. Stay safe and don't be sad!" she said and burst into tears.
He patted her back, repeating. "There-there." Until she calmed down.
Saniya cleaned Scout's koban and gave him a smile. "A good cry is good for you! That's why it's called a good cry. Remember that, you three." She gave them all a serious look, staring intently at each one in kind.
Scout smiled. Rai smiled awkwardly. Mane glanced away.
With Saniya moving back, Striker nodded to the three of them. "Best travels," he said, and that was that. He wasn’t much of a talker though and he and Scout shared a nod.
As Guardian drifted up to also hug and sob all over Scout, Striker added something. "During Sean and I's travel over the continent, we visited a few good places that gave us information. Towny Town is an out-of-the-way stop before Fissure and quite close to Blackstone. It’s worth going to and finding Liepard. She might be able to help you."
"Good point!" Sean agreed, nodding along to Striker's advice. "She helped us figure out where the Limestone Cavern was, the future had muddled up exactly where that was, and we were lost."
"I have also tried to work out some places you can search," Guardian rumbled, floating in now. He took out a piece of parchment from somewhere and handed it over. "Sadly I do not have the same experience Sean and Striker gained. Still, I truly hope this can help in some way."
He handed it to Scout, surely because he was the one with the ability to take it with something other than his mouth, who unfolded it and glanced in. "Thank you."
Guardian hesitated in place, floating back, almost floating forward, and completely unable to decide.
"Can I have a hug?" Scout asked, a little shyly. He did not have to wait long.
Guardian's hug was tight but not painful as one may expect from those brawny arms. He was not warm, he was a Ghost-type after all. But he was comforting, steady, and strong.
"There is nothing you can't do," Guardian whispered. "But there is no shame in asking for help. Shinx and Litleo are wonderful partners, and I am so very proud of you."
Scout leaned in and smiled. It was surprisingly not as awkward, he had wanted to ask Guardian for a hug before but had been too embarrassed to do it.
The hug went on for a while, but eventually, eventually, Guardian lowered him back down. There was tension in his arms, it was clear he didn't want to let go. But he did.
Team Sunrise each gave a smile or nod to Team Ion. "Are you leaving right now?" Sean asked.
"No, we're just getting a couple of things beforehand."
"We'll try to see you off," Sean replied, glancing to where Marowak was entertaining Vigoroth. "Is that okay?"
"Certainly." Marowak nodded. "We'll join you."
"See you at the crossroads," Sean said, and the trio of kitties left the dojo.
Past that, the three had an easy time. The Kecleon Brothers were polite, but there remained a certain level of stiffness between them and Scout. Electivire hugged Rai, sobbing his eyes out with pride.
Kangaskhan took the three of them into a crushing embrace and wished them the best of luck.
And Chansey, who was there with Kangaskhan, gave the three of them a puff of Heal Pulse afterwards.
"Dears, would you mind if I walked you to the crossroads?" Kangaskhan asked once they were all certain no one had broken anything.
"Of course not," Rai said, politely. Happily too. Kangaskhan's hugs aside, she was like a grandmother to the town. Chansey joined them, and Electivire joined them as well when they passed by.
Scout had an idea of what was going on, he shared a Look with Mane who had also clued on. Rai was happily oblivious.
Their suspicions were proved correct when they arrived at the crossroads. The entire guild, Team Sunrise, Team Go-Getters, several townsfolk, Lapras, and of course the pokémon walking with them were all here.
"What's this?" Rai squeaked, really not having clued in on what was going on. Mane laughed, and Scout grinned but also wanted to hide at the same time.
"Oh my gosh, we're here to see you off!" Sunflora was the one to break the silence as Wigglytuff danced over to them.
"Everyone here wants to wish you well," he said, dancing around them for a bit before stopping. "Ooh, dizzy."
The entire guild approached in turn to give goodbyes, Bidoof and Loudred both cried, Marill stood with his family as Azurill chirped for them to have a good time. Azumarill stepped forward last. "Make sure to talk to each other," she ordered, particularly to Scout. "Don't bottle stuff in, that stuff tends to come out at the worst times."
“I’m following the therapy idea you suggested too,” he said quietly. She smiled and wished him the best of luck.
"Hey, I can't believe you three are graduating before me," Corphish said, giving all three a pinch on the nose. "Back when I saw you two in Boulder Quarry, I knew you'd be great. But this is fast."
"I'll eat you if you do that again," Mane threatened. Corphish pinched him again and ducked back before Mane could bite him.
"I'll miss you three," he said, cutting off Mane's fury right at the source and moving aside to allow Chimecho to give them a rapid check over.
"Indeedee knows to expect you," Chimecho said, checking Scout's tongue and temperature. "So, you'll be treated well. Be safe, you three. You're all so important, come back safe. Okay?" She was speaking a little quickly, but the message was there.
Flaaffy gave them each a comb, refusing to let them appear atrocious when they'd be representing the guild across the continent and Paras added in a little invention of her own.
"I call it a Spore Bomb," she whispered meekly. She was more confident nowadays, but the crowds were still a bit difficult for her. "It's like a sleep seed, but they don't need to swallow it. Just breathe it in. But be careful, it goes both ways."
"Thank you so much," Rai said, sniffling. "You guys."
Rai then began to tackle-hug everyone. Everyone.
While he was doing that, Scout made his way to Armaldo. Everyone was around, so he felt like it was reasonably safe to do this.
"Best of luck, Meowth," he said, seeing Scout come up to him.
"Thanks. Do you mind walking with me up to the guild?"
Armaldo gave him a curious look but nodded. As they walked, Scout dug his paw into the Treasure Bag and pulled out a folded note. "So, I wrote something last night. Everything I could remember, a refresh of some of the stuff we talked about, and some other things I've remembered since then."
They reached where Scout wanted to be, Chatot's grave. Scout gave the simple monument a sad look over. "Please don't let anyone other than Guildmaster Wigglytuff read it, it's in unown so…."
"He can read that," Armaldo said, nodding. He took the letter. "Thank you, Meowth."
Scout nodded, and they walked back to the crossroads.
Team Sunrise gave them each one more goodbye, Saniya AND Guardian cried this time, and they were met by Team Go-Getters.
"You'll love the trip," Wartortle said. "The land is pretty beautiful."
"We might even see you on the road sometime." Chikorita winked. "There's always pokémon needing to be rescued."
"Hopefully not you," Charizard rumbled, smiling. "I think you'll be fine."
As much as they would love to continue spending time and talking, they had to go now, or they would never get anywhere.
Pokémon waved, cheered, or stamped their feet as Team Ion departed Treasure Town, a mission in mind and excitement in their hearts.
Nothing important happened between leaving Treasure Town and reaching Quad Town.
"Run, it's the diglett again!"
Nothing exciting.
"Scout, PLEASE stop falling down cliffs."
No one needed to learn how to swim.
"I'm a FELINE! Water and I don't like each other on principle."
Or fly.
"I AM RAPIDLY REALISING I DON'T LIKE HEIGHTS."
Nothing at all.
It took three days to reach Quad Town. They had expected just two, but there were certain… detours that distracted the trio.
Quad Town was a quirky place. Unlike Treasure Town which was largely sought out due to the presence of the guild, Quad Town was more of a stop along the road. There were resident pokémon who worked hard, small thatched houses, and a single hub of activity where most of the town's trade was performed.
It was also completely pointless for them to search for information.
"I haven't seen a pyroar around, no."
"This place is mostly wood, you don't see many Fire-types around."
"Other than Litleo right there, no."
Due to taking as long as they had to reach the place, no one particularly wanted to stick around for anything more. But the trio were tired and slept in a ball together near the outskirts of the town before setting off again.
Quad Town was a bust, but it also wasn't expected to bear any fruit anyway.
The next town, however, was far more fruitful. Sadly, this was a literal statement and not the kindness of the figurative one.
"There are so many combee," Scout hissed as they walked along rows and rows of fruit and berry trees. Actual towers of combee floated around, with beedrill and vespiquen herding or directing them. Pollen Town was an accurate name, a community of Bug-types and Grass-types working together to create their ideal living space.
All three members of Team Ion were left sneezing their lungs out before long. An accurately named town indeed.
"Okay," Rai said, once Pollen Town was far behind them, still sniffling. "First two didn't get us anything. Should we head for The Rock or Tiny Burrow next?"
"The Rock," Mane said, immediately. "Is what I'd say. So, Tiny Burrow?"
"Hey." Scout bumped him. "You're right sometimes."
"Sometimes?" Mane asked, a little offended.
"The Rock then?" Rai said, getting a nod from Scout. Rolling his eyes at them, Mane drifted along as Rai and Scout talked about something stupid.
"Guardian, would you like a hand?" Saniya asked. Guardian didn't respond. "Guardian? Hey, brawno?"
Guardian twitched and glanced up at her, eye flickering for a moment. "Oh, I am sorry, Saniya. I didn't notice you there."
"I can see that." She looked down at the item in his hand. "You… done crushing that?"
"Oh… oh, dear."
She carefully extracted what used to be a clay pot and scrubbed his injured hands with a rag she pulled from somewhere.
"You really need to stop dozing off like that," Saniya reprimanded, rubbing the greyish fluid that acted as his blood off his hands. "You're making me worry. You're making Azurill worry. Heck, even Vigoroth's noticed something's up."
Guardian glanced away.
"It's been a while since you've visited Azumarill, right?"
"Yes," he admitted.
"I'm due for tomorrow, but we'll switch."
"Saniya, I cannot. Your progress has been far too wonderful to see. I won't take that away from you."
Rolling her eyes, she smacked his arm. "I'm not going to stop going. Just reschedule. YOU are the one who stopped. Are you alright?"
"I am fine, no need to feel concerned."
"Hmm." She looked him over. "Stick out your tongue, I'm going to decide if you're 'okay' or not."
"I… no."
"Please?"
"No."
"Do you even have one?"
"I don't think so."
"Somehow I don't believe you." Saniya gasped suddenly. "How could I not know? We've known each other for so long, we've been the best of bosom buddies and then the most eclectic of enemies! Then back to best brawny beauty friends forever! How can I not know something about you? This is a travesty, a calamity, a debacle, if you mind my language, this may even be a fiasco!"
Saniya began to fly around him in a panic. "This can not do. Kangaskhan?!" She zipped away before Guardian could adjust well enough to calm… whatever was happening down. "Kangaskhan!?"
He floated after her, but he was slow, and she was not. By the time he reached the door, Saniya was already finalising her plans.
"Good news, everybody!" Saniya cheered, swinging back in to swing Guardian's entire frame around and around with her tiny arms. "Which is us! Kangaskhan said we can go. Well, us. Just us. I only asked for us. She tried to let those two lazybones." She gestured vaguely into the complex where Striker and Sean had no idea what was transpiring. "Go as well, but I told her they can pick their lazy bums up and work twice as hard."
She cleared her throat. "YOU HEAR THAT?" she screeched, voice echoing long and far.
"YES!" Sean's voice returned.
"SWELL! DON'T DO ANYTHING I WOULDN'T DO. SO, YOU HAVE FREE REIGN TO BURN THINGS. BUT NOTHING THAT'S CUTE, OKAY?"
"SURE, SANIYA." There was Striker's dulcet tones, loud and echoey as well.
"COOL! I'LL BE BACK FOR YOU MY SWEETY LEAFY."
"May I say something?" Guardian asked.
"You just did," Saniya giggled. "Too late. LET'S GO, Pikachu and Eevee!"
And then she was gone. Guardian could only hope she had gotten too excited and left him, but that was not the case as a Psychic tug dragged him along.
Team Sunrise had been confined to Treasure Town for months now. She took them to the market, to Raigeki's little cliffside home, to Marowak. All places they had been a dozen times over.
"I'm so bored," Saniya complained, from where she perched on Guardian's head. She had played with his receptor for a bit before it too bored her.
"Careful," Guardian admonished. "Say that too much, and something you might not like might happen."
"I'M BORED!" Saniya cried. "BORED! BORED! BORED!" She then waited, expectantly. "Guardian," Saniya wined, flicking him. "Something terrible was supposed to happen by now. I said I was bored, so bored. I may die… okay? Still nothing."
She rubbed her chin as he chuckled. "I bet this can't get any worse?" Saniya sighed as dramatically and genuinely as she could, sagging against Guardian. She then tensed. "Still nothing? Come on, give me SOMETHING!"
Saniya began to sob. "If I said something like bored or can't get any worse, in the Dark Future we'd have three sets of marauders and fifteen escaped monsters by now. Here in this place, it's all peaceful, and I love it except I also crave the excitement and thrill. Does that make me terrible?"
"No," Guardian answered immediately. "Saniya, you're not terrible for feeling bored."
"I think it's pretty bad to want ANYTHING from that time."
"I see," Guardian said, softly and heavily. Saniya rubbed the top of his actual head, avoiding the sensor.
"Sorry," she said, already knowing why. "I guess the five of us BEING the five of us isn't terrible."
"They've been gone for barely a week," Guardian sighed, "and it feels like an age."
"I didn't expect to miss Shinx and Litleo as much as I do," Saniya said. "Litleo and me could really shoot the piss, that's what the kids say, right?"
"Sure."
"Yeah, stab the fish. And Shinx is alright too, I guess. I haven't really talked with him much."
"He didn't go to the future, after all," Guardian reminded.
"Mmm." Was all she replied with. At first. "Except he was supposed to? Maybe. That stuff is still weird, even if it doesn't turn my head as much as it does the rest of you."
Guardian chuckled. "You would be the best one to understand something so senseless."
"No doubt about it." She clicked her tongue. "Ah… I wonder what they're doing now?"
"Why are there so many carvanha?" Scout cried, paddling as fast as he could while Rai and Mane desperately swung themselves down to Scout with vines. "AHH!"
"Probably something important," Guardian suggested, looking up at Saniya finally. They were seated at the beach, having chatted to Lapras for a little while about the goings-on. Lapras had places to be, however, so he gave them some peace.
"You know, speaking of Shinx specifically, I believe he rather likes this place," Guardian began, looking up at the setting sun. The krabby were blowing bubbles. "The tranquillity of it, the beauty of the ocean with the reflection in the bubbles.
"Hm," Saniya said, floating up to a bubble. She peered into it, seeing a distorted version of herself. Then she sucked it into her mouth and immediately began to cough and gag.
"Did you seriously just do that?" Guardian asked, deadpanning with disbelief. Saniya coughed a little, gave him a thumbs-up, and continued. He floated over and gave her a good smack on the back.
"Hooo. Don't do that," Saniya wheezed, through tears. "Not fun." She cleared her throat several times and smacked her lips. "Ugh, three out of ten, two pinkies down, do not recommend."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Do, it's important." She gave a glare to a krabby, who chittered at her in amusement. Leading to her tossing it out to sea with her mind.
"That'll teach it," Saniya growled. "Sending it back to its preferred habitat that it was probably going to do in a few minutes anyway. Mwa. Ha. Ha."
Guardian's eyes grew a lighter colour at her. "You are an odd one, Celebi with the Mirrors," he said.
She glanced back to him, curious. "Honestly, I'm pretty sure I'm the only 'normal' one, Dusknoir the… Guardian?"
"Heh. Really?"
"Of course." Saniya nodded. "No one can even begin to claim Scout is just your average meowth. Striker has an orbsession and not a Celebisession. So, there's definitely something wrong with him. Sean used to be human, and we all know he's totally crazy. While you, well. Hmm."
She rubbed her chin in thought.
"Yes?" Guardian asked, half curious, half challenging. "How am I crazy?"
There was certainly one thing she could say, but that'd be rather hurtful and absolutely not in line with the playful banter they were having.
"Your face is not your face," Saniya decided. Guardian blinked. "Your mouth is down there, and I don't know if you have a tongue or not, and it may drive ME crazy. And you don't want to see me crazy."
Guardian chuckled. "Astute observations there."
"But of course."
"You've missed one crucial thing, however."
"Have I?" Saniya asked, pityingly. "Have I really?"
"You put a pickle near Scout, and he nearly jumped off the cliff in fright." Saniya froze. "You replaced Striker's orbs with marbles, and he may have cried. And let's not even discuss raiding Sean’s clothes, that was horrifying for everyone involved."
Saniya chuckled. "Okay, but like… you got to give me credit there. That was funny."
"It was," Guardian agreed.
"Okay, but how does that make me not normal?"
"It is simple," Guardian said, putting on an approximation of The Great Dusknoir and his somewhat patronising teaching moments. "You are a wack."
"Curses!" Saniya cursed. "Avast, I have been outed as the madwoman I am."
They shared a smile and laugh and turned their eyes towards the path back to the guild. "…Should we start the trip back?" Saniya sighed.
"I think so." Guardian nodded. And so, one floated, the other also floated but in a different way, back up the path.
Before they reached the crossroads, however, and returned to the others, Guardian had one thing to say. "Thank you.”. Saniya had, in her own way, decided he might benefit from having a friend today.
"You're welcome." She smiled back, and to the guild they returned.
Striker and Sean had words to share with them when they returned. Strong ones. But they got off easy in the end, once Striker noticed that Guardian had an air of calm around him rather than the aura of tenseness he had been suffering.
"Armaldo wants to see us," Sean said, after he was done complaining about all the heavy lifting he was forced to do because he was 'Their Fighting-type and built for this'. Sean declared this as cruel and unsanctioned penalties upon him.
"Not just Armaldo, it looks like," Saniya pointed out as they entered the lower floor. Indeed, Wigglytuff and Officer Magnezone were waiting for them.
"BZZT! Finally. The four of you were expected over eleven minutes ago. BZZT!"
"It's okay," Wigglytuff said, rocking back and forth. "We were able to have a great talk! The best of talks!"
"BZZT! I disagree. BZZT! I cannot taste Perfect Apples and have no use for something like that. BZZT! How was this productive? BZZT!"
"Don't set him off again," Armaldo warned, giving both pokémon a sharp look. Wigglytuff smiled, and Magnezone turned back to the four.
"Are we… in trouble or something?" Sean asked, taking his role as the main speaker.
"Not at all!" Wigglytuff assured. "The opposite, in fact! The four of you have been working so well, so much, and with so much care to your terms that we've been speaking to Officer Magnezone about lightening the restrictions on you."
All four perked up immediately. "Wait, really?" Saniya squealed, doing a loop-de-loop around the room. "What does this mean?"
"What our news means is that your range of activity has been widened," Armaldo explained, voice as rough and blunt as always. "Rather than solely being restricted to Treasure Town, and minor excursions outside when supervised, you'll now be able to move in the range of a day's 'normal' travelling distance. You'll still be expected to return to the guild every night."
He was wise to focus them on the good news because they immediately forgot about Aggron.
"So, we can… actually go places now?" Sean asked, almost breathless. Saniya put her hand to her head and fainted in mid-air.
Guardian caught her, handed her to Striker, and bowed. "Thank you," he said simply. He still didn't talk much outside of Team Sunrise and Ion, but their restrictions were entirely on him, and they had weighed heavily on his conscious.
"What brought this on?" Striker asked, deciding to air out a few details. "I'd like to know, so we know what to keep doing."
Armaldo gave him a vaguely amused look, and the mere feeling of it woke Saniya back up.
It was Magnezone, however, who answered. "BZZT! There have been no complaints with actual bearing to them throughout your entire probationary period. BZZT! Furthermore, Team Go-Getters has given a word of approval as well. Team Ion have as well, but their word needs to be disregarded in consideration of the closeness of you and them. The guild also has excellent reports to show. The incident with Aggron solidified the decision. BZZT!"
“Situation? What situation?” Saniya asked.
All three of them looked thrown a moment.
“You… didn’t hear?” Wigglytuff asked. All four blinked. “Oh my.”
“In short, the Clefable Guild came to arrest you,” Armaldo said, nodding to Guardian. “But you’re under our jurisdiction.”
Guardian glanced down. “Oh….” Before he could make a case for why they shouldn’t have, Wigglytuff cut in.
"So, it has been agreed," Wigglytuff sang to distract them. "It's still a bit of a test, but I know you four will exceed expectations! You don't shirk work, you haven't tried to run away, and your smiles go for miles! You have the guild's stamp of approval!"
"Even him?" Saniya said, jerking her head towards Armaldo. He gave her a filthy look but said nothing. Wigglytuff tittered nervously, holding his tongue.
Someone who did not have a tongue to hold, however. "BZZT! It was Armaldo's suggestion that brought this change. BZZT!" Officer Magnezone explained, to Saniya's unending shock. "BZZT! Armaldo's history aside, his expertise and work inTreasure Town have been paramount. It was his own 'stamp of approval' that brought this change. BZZT!"
"Thank you, Magnezone," Armaldo grumbled, almost looking embarrassed. But that was impossible. "Thank you so much." His tone dripped with sarcasm, but being a pokémon, a robotic one at that, Magnezone did not pick up on it in the least.
"BZZT! You are welcome. BZZT!"
Sean and Saniya couldn't quite contain their snickers, even Striker had to smother a smile. All of which was made increasingly difficult by Armaldo's deepening glare.
Guardian pulled them all back before any insults could be accidentally given.
"Thank you," he said again. "I understand what my actions have wrought upon Treasure Town, the Wigglytuff Guild, and Team Magnezone. I will continue to work as hard as I can to begin to repair the harm I inflicted."
"And we'll be with you every step of the way!" Saniya cheered, having successfully calmed herself down. "Hahahahaha. Armaldo likes us."
Or not.
Sean and Saniya broke into giggles, and Armaldo ended up clonking their heads together before storming off in a huff. Magnezone wisely chose not to ask and left afterwards.
Once those two were gone, Wigglytuff joined them in giggling.
In the end, it was a good day.
Much better than Team Ion's. After escaping the carvanha, they had to deal with the lumineon who decided it didn't want to stay in the water, turned Rai against their new friend Ludicolo, and was a bad day overall.
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