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Pokémon The End: Rekindled (Now Complete!)

Chapter 29

DeliriousAbsol

*Crazy Absol Noises*
Location
Behind a laptop, most likely with tea
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. mawile
Adamfics - I'm sorry to hear you didn't like the training session. I thought it was a lot of fun, but I understand training scenes aren't everyone's cup of tea. The part with Reshiram being KO'd by Mischief actually surprised me when I first wrote it! It was as if it just... wrote itself! Sorry the situation with Xerneas isn't as clear as you'd like. In this chapter, Faith actually elaborates on it more. As I was proof-reading I did wonder if this was the explanation you needed. Thanks for reading! =D I look forward to your reviews!

Chapter 29 - Rio's Plan​

Tinker sat in silence, resting his head on his steepled paws as he took in everything Cleo and her friends had just told him. They all sat waiting for him to say something, the silence broken only by Spark munching on an apple.

Mischief hadn’t said a word since they’d arrived back at the cells. He sat slightly hunched, staring at the far wall. He was clearly unhappy to have been dragged from the Fairy Garden but, whether or not Tinker had noticed, he hadn’t questioned the whimsicott’s solemn demeanour. Cleo had avoided mentioning anything about Mischief wanting to stay behind. It wasn’t her place to say, and she wasn’t willing to put Mischief on the spot like that. Besides, Tinker’s reaction to their tale had been somewhat mixed at best.

Finally, Tinker looked up.

“I have to say, I honestly don’t know what to make of all this.”

Faith smiled. “Yes, I can imagine it’s a lot to take in.”

“The Fairy Garden?” he scoffed. “And you’re telling me this ‘fairy-type’ has been around for years?”

“As long as any other type,” said Faith.

“And Mega Evolution?”

“It’s been around since Yveltal’s fall,” Faith explained.

Tinker muttered something Cleo didn’t catch and pushed himself to his feet. “Well, I guess I’d better relay to you what’s been going on here while you lot were off frolicking amongst the flowers.”

“Hang on,” said Cleo. “Frolicking?”

Faith looked as equally as perplexed.

“Yes, frolicking,” said Tinker. “What else are you doing in that supposed garden? You’re certainly not out there fighting the Darkness, are you?”

“Actually we are,” said Faith. “Every day. We’re sent out in pairs or groups to help those who need it. That’s actually why I’m here, and I’ve voluntarily come alone!”

“Really? And what about when Cleo’s and Spark’s families were annihilated?” He waved a paw at the pair. “Where were you then?”

Faith stuttered. “I-”

“And what about all the pokemon here in New City? Families ripped apart, orphans without their parents. Everyone here has lost homes and loved ones in this chaos!” Faith was about to interrupt Tinker but he cut her off with a wave of his paw. “You say there are hundreds of you fairy-types in this Fairy Garden, but I’ve not met a single one since he showed up.” He nodded to Mischief, drawing a surprised glance from the whimsicott. “If that were truly the case then why haven’t you put an end to Hydreigon? You could easily invade the Shadow Lands and wipe out the lot!”

“It’s not as easy as that!” Faith gasped. “We can’t go in there, horns blaring, and wrecking havoc! We’d be annihilated ourselves!”

Tinker rolled his eyes and turned his back on her.

“Besides, there are pokemon there who need our help too!” Faith went on. “Those who work for Hydreigon are being misled. They need the chance to realise that!”

“Are you kidding me?!” Tinker rounded on her. “You’re letting innocent pokemon suffer because you want to help ‘rescue the Darkness’?!”

“No. I help all pokemon to find their way to Xerneas,” Faith explained. “I can’t deny that there are pokemon who work for Hydreigon who are inherently evil. But there are many there who, like Harlequin, both want and need help!”

“I can’t believe I’m hearing this,” Tinker muttered. He met the mawile’s eyes. “And this Xerneas? Where is he during all of this?”

“Out there,” said Faith. “Helping those who need it. He works through us, too.”

“Really?” Tinker scoffed. “After all I’ve seen and experienced, I find that very hard to believe.”

Faith sighed but she kept her eyes on the riolu’s. “It’s unfortunate, but your reaction isn’t exactly new to me. But despite how many times I see it, it still makes me sad.”

Tinker shrugged. “Then tough. Perhaps your little visit here is a waste of time, when you could be doing more important things than spouting nonsense?”

Faith shook her head slowly.

Tinker turned from them and waved a paw. “Follow me. I have something I need to show you.”

“No!”

Tinker stiffened and turned to face Mischief. The whimsicott was bristling, digging his claws into the wooden table.

“You can’t talk to her like that!” Mischief snapped. “You have no idea how much hard work Xerneas puts into training pokemon like Faith to come out here and help pokemon like us!”

“The state of the world gives me enough of an idea, Mischief.” Tinker narrowed his eyes in a warning glare. “You’ve seen it yourself.”

“Yes. It’s horrible, yet here we are. Fighting. Whether or not we want to.”

Tinker cast a glance over the table, noting Cleo’s fierce leer. “I’d say you’re starting fires rather than fighting, if I’m honest.”

“Not quite,” said Mischief. “We’re all fighting the same thing, even if we don’t see eye to eye. Doesn’t that mean something?”

“You’re speaking in riddles!”

“I think what he’s trying to say,” said Cleo slowly, “is that there’s a little hope in all of this.”

“And that hope has to come from somewhere!” Faith clapped her paws together and sat back on her stool. “I like it!”

“You’re reading between the lines!” Tinker barked.

“No, they’re right,” said Mischief. “That is what I was trying to say.”

“You’re letting them put words in your mouth!” Tinker waved a paw. “I’ve had enough of this. Are you coming with me or are we going to sit here arguing all day?”

Cleo balled her fists. “Oh we’re coming with you, but I’m seriously unimpressed with you right now, Tinker.”

“Then I’m afraid you’re about to become even more unimpressed.” He ushered them ahead of him out the door and it clicked shut behind him.

Cleo turned back to address the riolu but he zipped on ahead of them and paused by a grate in the wall. It was about face height for Cleo, and Tinker pulled it free with a hefty tug.

“After you.” He motioned for Cleo to enter. “You may need to wriggle. It’s not designed to let larger pokemon inside.”

Cleo clambered inside, dragging herself into a corridor that was wider than it was tall. “Where does this lead?”

“New City.”

Cleo snapped her head back as Tinker followed Faith into the tunnel. He tugged the grate back into place, confirmed by a sharp click that echoed through the tunnel.

“Really?” Cleo scoffed. “You have a tunnel leading from the cells straight to New City? That’s hardly secure, Tinker!”

“You once thought the sun badges were a security hazard, too, but we’ve had no problems yet.”

“I still think they are. They could be looted off any Guild members, and it wouldn’t exactly take a genius to put two and two together if they found one of our entry points.” Cleo stood, finding the ceiling wasn’t as low as she first thought. “But this? If one of the prisoners were to break free and find their way in here-”

“Already dealt with.” Tinker sidled past her and stopped a little way ahead of them. He dropped to a crouch and with one swift motion unlocked a stone slab hidden in the floor. It rotated to the side and vanished into the dirt floor. “Quick. Like the others, it’s on a timer.”

The group vanished inside and the slab slid back into place with another echoing click.

Cleo glanced back up at it and followed after Tinker. “Very nice, but it doesn’t solve the problem I’m worried about. Any escapee could raid a badge off one of the guards.”

“There are sensors along the tunnel,” Tinker explained. “If they detect any dark-, dragon- or ghost-type pokemon, they will alert New City while also causing the ceiling and floor to cave in, depositing our intruder onto a bed of steel spikes.”

Faith let out a gasp and clapped her paws over her mouth as she stared down at the floor.

“Yikes,” said Spark. “What if it malfunctioned?”

“Then I’d be in a lot of trouble,” said Tinker. “I use this tunnel quite frequently.”

“And what about ghost-types?” asked Cleo. “They could just melt through the spikes and slip away to safety.”

“Yeah, they can move through walls,” said Spark.

“You could say the same about any of our entrances,” said Tinker. “Ghost-types have always been a particular worry. But even if they were to come this way the alarm would still sound. They can turn invisible, but they can’t mask their presence completely. Guards would come running and deal with the intruder.”

Cleo still wasn’t convinced. She shot a glance back the way they’d come, then plodded along after Tinker. It grew darker the further they moved away from the cells, and Spark discharged to light the way. Even without that, Cleo felt Tinker wouldn’t need any light if he was familiar with this route. Spark’s light revealed it was straight and well maintained, with no forking off in any other direction. No one else said a word as they continued through the tunnel. Mischief’s paws dragged over the dry soil, making him sound a lot larger and heavier than he actually was. Faith gave him a reassuring smile, but it did little to placate the whimsicott.

After a while, Tinker stopped them again to remove another stone slab from the ceiling. This one lead into one of New City’s familiar tunnels, with roots curling over the ceiling. Torches hung from the walls lighting the way ahead. Tinker didn’t wait for them, moving on ahead through the winding tunnel. This part of New City was like a maze. More tunnels forked off in all directions, some going up towards the surface and others leading deeper underground. Cleo find herself thinking that if any of the Darkness did find their way through that link between the cells, they’d end up well and truly lost here.

Despite that, it didn’t take long before the tunnel opened up into New City’s bustling market place. They heard it before they saw it. Hatchlings raced across before them, causing Tinker to stumble and reach out a paw before he collided with a little pichu. The electric mouse apologised quickly before racing off after his oshawott friend.

Faith turned on the spot as she looked up at the ceiling in wonder. Huge, thick roots splayed across them, almost like an ornament. But the mawile’s face fell as she cast her gaze across the huge market.

“This is where you live?” she asked Tinker as she sidestepped a busy linoone. “Underground?”

“Yes, it’s provided a sanctuary from the Darkness,” Tinker answered without looking back at her. “It’s not perfect, but the pokemon here are safe, which is what counts.”

“So you have to hide…” Faith shook her head sadly and paused to watch a servine herd her twin children to a pastry stall. “This is heartbreaking. Pokemon shouldn’t live like this.”

Tinker tutted and took Faith’s arm, leading her away. “Come on. You can’t stand around here gawking all day.”

Faith obeyed, and Tinker released her, marching on ahead. Cleo caught up with the mawile who was still awestruck at the market. As much as Faith meant well, she was really starting to push Tinker’s buttons. Cleo placed a paw on the mawile’s back and steered her from the market towards the tunnel that lead to Tinker’s office.

When they reached the closed door, Cleo nodded to it.

“So what do you have to show us?” she asked. “Not another one of your mad inventions?”

“Yeah, I’m still reeling from that last one,” said Spark through a mouthful of pastry.

Cleo blinked at the dedenne. She hadn’t noticed her detour to the pastry stand.

“Not an invention, per se.” Tinker shoved the door open, which moved a lot more smoothly than Cleo expected. “But you’ll see soon enough.”

The first thing Cleo noticed was that his floor was clear of papers. Instead, they were laid in haphazard piles around the edges of the room. Skipper looked up from the desk and beamed at them.

“Ahh, ye back!” The marshtomp leaned back in his seat and it creaked beneath his weight. “Wondered where ye’d got to!”

“Yes, and I’ve brought guests.” Tinker stood aside for Cleo and her friends to enter the room.

“Cleo! Aye, I know these lot.” Skipper raised an eyebrow at Faith. “I dinnae ken this’n though.”

Faith looked to Cleo. “’Dinnae ken’?”

“Skipper isn’t from around here,” Tinker explained before Cleo had the chance. “He’s from an islet off the north-east coast. You’ve probably never heard of it? It’s a dry desert wasteland now.”

Faith’s face fell and she shuffled her paws together. “Oh… I’m so sorry.”

“Aye, don’ worry yeseln!” Skipper waved a flipper and laughed. “Was years ago! I were a wee egg at th’time, so I dinnae remember the auld place!”

A small chirrup came from the desk, drawing their attention to a plate of berries. A tiny swablu was perched on its rim, scrutinising each one of them with its tiny black eyes.

“Oh my!” Faith leapt towards the desk and scooped the swablu up in her arms. “A little hatchling! Well, aren’t you a cutie?”

The swablu chirruped and snuggled into her chest.

“Tinker?” Cleo took a couple of steps towards him, not taking her eyes off the baby bird. “Why is there a swablu in your office?”

The riolu rubbed a paw over the back of his head. “Ah. Yes. That’s what I wanted to show you.”

“This is the reason I’m going to be even more unimpressed?”

“Yes. How is that looking?”

Cleo shook her head and sighed. “You were right. It’s not looking good, Tinker.” She eyed the swablu gazing endearingly up at Faith. “How has the rest of New City reacted to you harbouring a potential dragon?”

“Not very well, I must say,” said Tinker.

“I can imagine.” Cleo turned to Tinker and hissed, “What are you thinking? This thing could doom us all!”

Tinker opened his mouth to retort, but Faith cut him off.

“Wait!” she said. “No, you’ve got this all wrong. This little one will become an altaria! Don’t you remember, Cleo? They were all over the Fairy Garden.”

“Fairy Garden?” Skipper rubbed his head with a flipper. “That’s an auld folk tale, aye?”

Faith fixed him with wide, violet eyes. “Oh, not at all!”

“You’re right, there were altaria there,” said Cleo. “But we also met Reshiram. What’s your point?”

“The altaria back home are very loyal to Xerneas,” Faith explained. “And what is striking is that you have one of their offspring right here!”

“Offspring?” Tinker scoffed. “I found that egg by the side of the river. Its parents had either died from the poison or fled and abandoned it.”

“I’m not saying it’s the child of one of our altaria,” Faith explained. “But there are zero altaria in the Shadow Lands. Not one. They’ve always been loyal to Xerneas and refused to conform to the Darkness. As far as I was aware, all altaria outside the Fairy Garden have vanished.”

“They vanished?” Tinker asked. “How? When?”

Faith shook her head. “I’ve no idea of the exact time, and after seeing this little one, I’m not even sure it’s true anymore. Rumour has it that they all fled to the Fairy Garden and those that didn’t make it were tracked down and killed for their rebellion.”

“So they were hunted and killed like the absol?” Spark asked. “Because if that’s the case, we’re aware of one that’s alive already.”

Faith nodded briskly. “That’s the one Xerneas wants Harlequin to find, isn’t it?”

Skipper turned his head between Cleo, Faith and Tinker. The riolu pinched the bridge of his muzzle, silently seething. After a moment, he regained himself and gestured to the swablu.

“Whatever the case, I found his egg by the river,” he said. “I was actually going to dispose of it, but then it hatched, solidifying my initial idea to keep a dragon among us.”

“And you wanted to raise it with your morals and ideals?” Faith asked with a smile.

Tinker blinked at her. “Actually, yes. That is exactly what I’d planned to do.”

“What? You wanted it to fight for us?” Cleo shook her head with exasperation. “I don’t know, Tinker. If he learns what he is, then what if he decides to turn against us?”

“Listen to me, Cleo,” said Faith. “That won’t happen. Altaria are loyal to Xerneas.”

“Perhaps those who have met him, or know about him, yes,” said Cleo. “But this swablu here is still a pokemon, just like we are.”

Spark cleared her throat. “And aren’t altaria like… I don’t know… weak to dragon-type attacks? Kind of defeats the object, really.”

“Then I’m about to surprise you!” Faith tickled the swablu with a claw, causing him to chirrup with delight. “Altaria have a mega evolution! It doesn’t just change their form, but their typing. They become part fairy, part dragon, making them immune to dragon-type attacks and more than capable of fighting against them!”

Tinker’s jaw went slack and he stared at Faith, aghast.

Skipper scratched his cheek with a claw. “I might need fillin’ in a bit ‘ere.”

“Look at that!” said Faith. “You have a potential fairy-type warrior among you and you never knew.” She lifted the swablu in both paws before her face. “What’s your name, little one?”

“We call him Starshine,” said Tinker.

Faith beamed at the riolu. “Because he shines a little hope into your life, am I right?”

Tinker stuttered, blushing slightly. “Well, you could say that.” He took Starshine gently and cradled him against his chest.

Cleo crossed her arms and smirked at Tinker. “You might come across as cold and bitter, but you’re showing your soft side.”

Faith and Spark both chuckled, causing Tinker to flush even more.

“Nonsense!” He set Starshine back beside the plate of berries. “I’m merely thinking about what’s best for New City.”

“Whilst fathering a hatchling,” said Cleo.

“Aye! Born dad, thissun,” said Skipper, causing Tinker to turn crimson beneath his blue fur. “Hey, Tink! He said his first word earlier, yanno! Didn’t ye, tyke?”

“He did?” Tinker asked a little too emphatically. He checked himself and looked back at the swablu. “He’ll evolve in no time then.”

“What was it?” Faith asked.

“Ask him.” Skipper stood up from his seat to look at Starshine over Tinker’s shoulder.

Starshine had returned to the plate of berries, and was eagerly pecking at an oran.

“Hey, tyke,” said Skipper. “What’ve ye got there, then?”

Starshine paused his meal and peered up at Skipper. “Berry.”

Tinker clapped a paw over his face while Spark burst out laughing.

“That’s my boy!” The dedenne almost doubled over with her paws on her tummy.

“Great,” said Tinker. “That’s another pokemon with the appetite of a steelix. What will become of our food store?”

“It’s about to get smaller!” said Spark. “’Cos we’re staying here tonight.”

Tinker looked up at Cleo and Faith. “Very well. Your usual room is already waiting for you. Perhaps Faith would like to share with you and Spark?”

“I’d be delighted!” said Faith.

“As for you.” Tinker turned to Mischief. “I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to stay in one of our cells.”

“Why?” Mischief asked. “I’m a Guild Member.”

“Probationary,” said Tinker. “I am still not certain where your loyalties lie. As such, I cannot leave you unattended.”

“Tinker,” Cleo warned.

Mischief waved a paw to cut her off. “If you’re so worried, then leave me with Cleo.”

“Unacceptable.” Tinker folded his paws. “Our guest quarters are strictly single sex. Your only option is a cell, I’m afraid.”

Mischief’s eyes narrowed. “This is because of my condition, isn’t it?”

A look of surprise crossed Tinker’s face, then he huffed. “When did you find out about that?”

Mischief clenched his fists, and Cleo feared for a moment that he was about to throw away his probationary status by pummelling Tinker into the floor. She stepped towards Mischief and placed a paw on his arm, but he didn’t relax.

“Tinker, Mischief has proved his loyalty more than once,” she said. “The least you can do is give him a room for the night?”

“Forget it.” Mischief didn’t take his eyes off Tinker. “He clearly doesn’t trust me, and I don’t blame him. I can just share a cell with Harlequin. I’m sure he won’t mind.”

The sarcasm was thick in his voice. Cleo caught Tinker’s eye and gave him a fierce glare that told him he had better sort this out, and fast.

Tinker let out a sigh and closed his eyes. “Very well. We can sort you out a room. But at the first sign of trouble, my good fellow, you are out of here. Is that clear?”

Mischief gave a single nod. “Crystal.”

“Now please leave.” Tinker waved them away. “I need to speak with Skipper privately. You are all dismissed.”

Mischief was first from the room. Cleo herded her friends out ahead of her and paused in the doorway. She turned back to Tinker and frowned.

“What on earth is wrong with you?” she hissed.

Tinker shooed her away. “Go! I have work to do.”

She shook her head with a flustered sigh and slammed the door behind her. Her friends were waiting just outside and Faith fixed a surprised look on the door.

“I am so sorry about him,” she said. “He should not have treated you both like that.”

Mischief replied with a miserable shrug.

Faith shook her head and gave a weak smile. “To be honest, I’m used to it. A surprising number of pokemon don’t react well to news of the Fairy Garden. I think they find it hard to believe, living in a world like this.”

“But it doesn’t give him the right to talk to you like that,” said Cleo. “Either of you.”

Mischief grunted and kicked at the floor. “Whatever. He’s never liked me.”

“That’s because he’s jealous,” said Spark a little too loudly.

“Jealous? Of what?” asked Mischief.

Spark ignored Cleo’s warning glare and raised her paws. “Because Cleo’s spending so much time with you now.”

“We work together,” said Mischief.

“Spark, he’s not jealous.” Cleo ushered her along the corridor and Spark went on ahead, walking backwards.

“Come on, Cleo!” she said. “He’s had a crush on you for years! Why can’t you just admit it?”

“Oh my!” Faith covered her mouth with a paw and chuckled. “I did not pick up on that!”

“That’s because it’s all in Spark’s head.” Cleo aimed a playful kick at the dedenne.

Spark scampered to the side laughing.

“Whatever the case,” said Faith, “he clearly cares about all of you and this city an awful lot.”

“You’re not angry with him?” Cleo asked her.

“Not at all,” said Faith. “If anything, I’m just a little sad for him. But he’ll come around eventually.”

Cleo gave the mawile a warm smile. She’d never met any pokemon like her before. To see beyond someone’s exterior to what truly lies beneath was a real talent.

“I think it’s about time we showed you around, Faith,” said Cleo. “Is there anything you’d like to see?”

“I’d love to see more of the market,” said Faith.

“How about the dining hall?” suggested Spark. “Because I’m starving.”

“It’s not dinner time yet,” said Cleo.

Spark threw her head back and groaned. “Fine. I’ll wait.”

...​

Rio leafed through what he’d salvaged of his paperwork, desperate to find something he could actually work with. It was too caked with soot to be readable, and the edges were browned from the heat. With a heavy sigh, he tossed them into the trash with the rest of the damage.

The meowstic flopped back in his seat and glanced around at his office. Most of the damage had been repaired now, although the walls were still blackened. It wasn’t severe enough to need rebuilding, but all the shelves had burned to the point of being unusable, and many of them had broken free and splintered on the floor, spewing their contents into the raging flames.

Ruined.

Everything was ruined.

“Rio?” The voice was scratchy, as if the speaker desperately needed a drink.

Rio looked up at the sandslash in the doorway. “What is it, Razorclaw? I’m busy.”

“I just wanted to let you know Mint has arrived, and she’s not alone.” Despite the news, there was a hint of disappointment in his voice.

Before Rio could respond, a grovyle shoved past the sandslash and forced her way into the office. Behind her was a very nervous furret who twitched as she took in the office.

“Whoa!” A tiny sentret scampered past them and rose up on his tail for a better view. “There was a fire here?! So cool!”

Rio bristled, glaring at the hatchling. The tiny pokemon rotated on his tail, his nose twitching at the scent of burned wood still lingering in the air. His right ear was bent in the middle and flopped around with every movement.

The furret scooped up her son and muttered an apology, ducking behind Mint. The grovyle gave her a sympathetic smile, then rolled her eyes at Rio. Rio managed to get the message. This was it. This was the ‘help’ he’d requested.

Rio turned to address Razorclaw. “Any more news on the escapees?”

Razorclaw shook his head. “Sorry. We’ve lost most of them. It’s as if they’ve just vanished.”

Rio sighed and grabbed his chair, flopping heavily into it. “Fine. Call off the search. We’ll work with what few subjects we’ve managed to reclaim.”

Razorclaw nodded and ducked from the office, leaving Rio with Mint and the two new recruits.

Rio fixed his eyes on the furret, but his words were directed at Mint. “Are these two the only ones you could find?”

“Sandpaw is the best one for the job.” Mint hugged the ring binder she was carrying to her chest. “Her son, Scout, is a package deal. I’m not going to separate a mother from her hatchling.”

“I never expected you to,” said Rio.

“She’ll be perfect for caring for your test subjects,” Mint explained. “It’ll free up the rest of your staff to keep an eye out for any more trouble, right?”

Rio grunted, still staring at Sandpaw. “I actually wanted a small army.”

“I couldn’t get you an army,” said Mint, drawing his eye onto her. “I had to do this privately, and I didn’t trust anyone else. What, do you want me to reveal your research to another group of Heretics?”

Rio turned back to Sandpaw. “Do you and your… hatchling… swear to keep everything you see here secret?”

Sandpaw nodded briskly. “Of course we do!”

“There are secrets?!” Scout squeaked. “That is so! Cool!”

Rio bristled along his spine but maintained his cold, blank stare. “For now, you are both on probation. You are not to leave the clearing under any circumstances. Razorclaw!”

There was a brief pause and the sandslash poked his head around the door. “Yes boss?”

“Take Sandpaw and Scout to the staffroom and go over the details. I need to speak to Mint in private.”

Razorclaw complied, gently ushering Sandpaw from the office. Mint closed the door behind him, silencing Scout’s gleeful cries.

Rio sighed and rubbed his temples. “Really, Mint? A child? What were you thinking.”

“I was thinking ‘Rio needs any help he can get’ and recruited the only pokemon I trusted back there.” Mint dumped the folder on his desk. “Here. I think this will cheer you up.”

Rio flipped it open and his eyes widened. “This is the original pokerus research.” He looked up at Mint with a start. “You had this?”

“I wasn’t exactly gonna throw it away.” The grovyle perched on the edge of his desk. “We may have parted ways, but I kept it in case you needed it again.”

“You weren’t wrong.” Rio cast a mournful look at the bare, blackened walls then began flicking through the folder. “It’s fantastic. It’s all here. The first test subjects, the plans to start Project B… I have enough here to go off to build up a new research folder on the Pokerus Project. This is fantastic.”

Mint made a thoughtful noise. “How did you get on with Project B?”

Rio bit his lip, trying to stem the bitterness rising in him. But it was useless. “It was a success, but Project B was ruined.”

“Ruined? By the fire?”

“By Enigma.”

Rio flicked a page over with such violence it flew free from the binder. Mint stretched out her claws to pluck it from the air and set it neatly on his desk. The name had sent a chill through her though. Her scales had turned a pale green. She muttered under her breath, glancing around at the walls but not really seeing them.

Rio watched her for a moment as her eyes flitted left and right and her leaves began to tremble. She rubbed her claws along one arm, bringing herself back to reality.

“So… what exactly happened to your lab?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly. “You said a fire, but…”

“Absol,” Rio answered plainly as he returned to flicking through the file. “Released all my test subjects and destroyed the place.”

“Absol? But I thought they were all wiped out?”

“Apparently not.”

Mint shrugged weakly and rubbed her shoulder. “And you got back some of your test subjects?”

“A pawful,” he explained. “None of them are holding Type18, however. That throws a spanner in the works.”

Mint looked at him suddenly. “Type18?”

Rio returned her look with a plain one. That was right, he’d parted ways with Mint before the new type had appeared among his test subjects. He scratched his cheek with a claw and idly turned the pages of the folder.

“I obviously have a lot to explain to you, if you plan to stick around.”

Mint nodded. “I’ll stick around and help as long as you need me. Just… make sure to give me credit this time.”

Rio shrugged at that. “Fine. Credit given. On one condition.”

Mint’s jaw stiffened. “And what’s that?”

“You assist me in the next part of my plan. I need a new subject for my new project. Since Project B has been destroyed, time is of the essence to begin Project C. My first choice candidate has vanished, along with most of the subjects in my care, and none of those we’ve gathered are a suitable candidate for it at all. So… I need to trap a new one.”

“What, you want us to go out into the forest and catch random pokemon? Outcasts, Heretics, Darkness, no questions asked?”

“Not quite.” Rio paused and a small smirk appeared on his lips. “I have the perfect candidate in mind for this, and he should be very easy to lure back here.”

“Not the absol?” Mint’s voice wavered.

“No, but wouldn’t that be sweet revenge?” Rio sat back in his seat and examined his claws. “I’m talking about Enigma.”

Mint yelped and slipped from the desk, landing in a heap against the wall. She fixed Rio with wide eyes, trembling from head to tail.

“Are you insane?!” she squeaked. “Enigma?! That’s suicide, Rio!”

“He’d hardly be any harm locked behind bars.”

“You can’t lock up a ghost!”

“Or can you?” Rio looked back into her frantic eyes. “He might be able to slip through solid matter, but how about an element? Say… electricity?”

Mint’s mouth opened but no words came out. Her eyes turned less frantic and she pushed herself back from the wall. “You really want to catch him and infect him? Isn’t he deadly enough?”

“He’s just another pokemon like we are,” said Rio. “And after what he’s done to me, I want my revenge. Not to mention he’d be the perfect candidate to drop back into the Shadow Lands since Boomer is no longer a part of the equation.”

Mint scoffed and pushed herself back to her feet, still trembling. “I don’t know, Rio. I think you might have lost it.”

“All I’ve lost, Mint, is years of research.”

Mint grabbed his chair and turned it so he was facing her. She placed her paws on his shoulders, her expression pleading.

“Think about what you are suggesting, Rio,” she said quietly. “You are actually considering bringing that assassin in here and turning him into a test subject. If your plan fails… then what?”

“Then we all die,” he scoffed. “Besides, it won’t fail.”

Mint tightened her claws in his ruff, keeping her eyes on his. Her mouth opened slightly, but if she had anything to say it wasn’t voiced.

Rio took one of her paws and prised it from his fur. “We both want Hydreigon gone. If this might even have a chance of working, isn’t it worth it?”

Mint was silent for a moment, then she closed her eyes and sighed. “I suppose.” She grimaced and released him, pushing herself back. “Fine. What’s your plan? How are we going to catch him?”

“We can do it.”

The pair turned towards the window. A midday lycanroc stood with her paws on the windowsill. Her midnight brother was just behind her, his tongue lolling from his mouth.

“Enigma killed B,” said Roxy, flashing her canines. “If anyone’s gonna catch that ghost and give him what for, it’s gonna be us. Right, Lou?”

Lou bared his teeth and let out a low growl, his crimson eyes flashing.

Rio stared at them for a moment as he mulled over this. He hadn’t expected anyone to just come forwards and offer. Perhaps hiring these two idiots was about to turn in his favour?

“Very well,” he said. “If you can hunt him down and bring him back here, then there is a large reward in your future.”

Roxy grinned. “Then we’ll do it.”

She slipped from the window, and Rio leapt to his feet. “Take some tranquilisers with you!”

“Roger!”

Rio fell back into his seat with a sigh. He rubbed his temples again and leant forwards on his desk.

“You trust them to do this?” Mint asked. “They don’t seem very competent.”

“Their foolishness might actually help them to succeed in this task,” said Rio, more to reassure himself than Mint. “Besides, if they can handle Project B, I think they can handle one little ghost.”
 

Adamhuarts

Mew specialist
Partners
  1. mew-adam
  2. celebi-shiny
  3. roserade-adam
Alright, so I just read Chapter 27 today and I must say I've got quite a few thoughts about this chapter, but more on that later.

It is fitting that this season finale-esque chapter is the one where the main group finally leave the Fairy garden. Before that, we're shown that Reshiram is completely fine actually and is in fact very impressed by Mischief's prowess. I find it pretty curious that Rio was able to get Mischief to use fairy type moves that no one could've taught him outside the fairy garden, and it begs the question of just how much tampering he did with Mischief.

On top of other things, it's fun seeing how 'tame' Harlequin has become as of late. At this point they're just a grumpy fox and not just an enemy forced to tag along. One thing that confuses me till now is why neither the narrative nor Harlequin themselves have clarified their preferred pronouns. I know you've said before that there's a plot reason for it, but it does get a bit confusing whenever Harlequin gets referred to by different pronouns throughout a chapter and Harlequin themselves never clarify or at least express they're fine with whatever they're called at any point. It's a minor grip however and I've gotten used to it at this point if I'm being honest.

Another thing that had me feeling very conflicted is what went on regarding Mischief in this chapter. Here we see Mischief still traumatized and shaken by the power that has been burdened upon him, and I honestly think it'd have made a lot of sense for him to have stayed behind in the fairy garden for a while before a trigger later on will make him decide he wants to own that burden and fight with it.

However, I find myself not liking how the story handles this. The others tell Mischief to fight just because he has this strength and talent and they seem to ignore the trauma it has caused him. Maybe it's just me personally, but if I were in Mischief's position I'd ask these folks to put themselves into his shoes for once instead of telling him to go put his life on the line for war when he's clearly been traumatized enough.

I can't really remember whether or not Xerneas has given a reason for his lack of direct involvement with the war. Because the story still hasn't explained to us Xerneas' reasons, him telling Mischief and the others here to go out there and fight the war comes across as hypocritical when he himself doesn't seem to have done anything - as far as we've been shown and told - for the centuries that Hydriegon has been out there committing mass murder.

Though on that note, I'd say I've said enough about what I think of Xerneas at this point in the story. Since I don't want my points to be too repetitive throughout the story, I'll reserve any further opinions about the reasons behind Xerneas' actions until the story fully unravels them. I thinktthat'll sequester most of my frustrations regarding his character.

Anyway, sorry about the tangential rant up there. Overall I'd say I liked this chapter and while there were aspects of it that bothered me or I disagreed with, I think it does cap off the first half of this story well enough. I look forward to starting off the next chapter soon.
 
Chapter 30

DeliriousAbsol

*Crazy Absol Noises*
Location
Behind a laptop, most likely with tea
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. mawile
The others tell Mischief to fight just because he has this strength and talent and they seem to ignore the trauma it has caused him. Maybe it's just me personally, but if I were in Mischief's position I'd ask these folks to put themselves into his shoes for once instead of telling him to go put his life on the line for war when he's clearly been traumatized enough.
As much as I feel for Mischief, and would love for him to find some solace, he is needed. Like Cleo and her friends, he's been given a gift to help fight the war. His friends were just trying to encourage him but, like us, Cleo - and even Faith - aren't perfect. They make mistakes. Could they have handled it better? Yes.
I can't really remember whether or not Xerneas has given a reason for his lack of direct involvement with the war. Because the story still hasn't explained to us Xerneas' reasons, him telling Mischief and the others here to go out there and fight the war comes across as hypocritical when he himself doesn't seem to have done anything - as far as we've been shown and told - for the centuries that Hydriegon has been out there committing mass murder.
There's a HUGE Biblical metaphor here: Xerneas works through those who work for him. That's why he's given them this power. They are tasked to help the Darkness see the light. If he just 'ended the war' then so many lives that could have been saved would be lost. Look at Harlequin! Our little fox-friend has come so far, but if the war had been ended then Harlequin would be lost forever! How many others can be saved from the Darkness and the death it brings?

Chapter 30 - Priorities​

Faith flopped onto her back on the hay mattress. “Oh, this is a cozy little den!”

“Yup! Nothing like a good sleep after a good meal!” Spark copied her, lying splayed out in a small nest beside Cleo. “I’m bushed! I could sleep for the entire Cold Season!”

“Don’t hibernate,” said Cleo. “We’ve got a job to do.”

“I’m not a bewear, Cleo,” said Spark.

“Well you eat like one.”

A dried grass seed bounced off Cleo’s ear and Spark turned her back on her, but not without catching the meowstic’s playful smile.

“You certainly do have a big appetite,” said Faith. “I guess generating electricity burns up a lot of energy?”

Spark yawned widely. “Don’t you know it.”

Faith gave her a wide smile, which faltered quickly. “Do you think Mischief will be okay? Since he’s on his own?”

“He’ll be fine.” Cleo couldn’t deny she had her own doubts. Mischief had taken his talk with Tinker quite badly. “We’ll see him first thing in the morning, anyway. I know which room he’s in, so I’ll sweep buy when I wake up.”

“And meet us in the dining hall, right?” Spark asked. “Because… yanno… sometimes you do make us miss breakfast, and I don’t want that.”

“I was actually planning on skipping it, if I’m honest,” said Cleo. “I don’t want to run into Tinker before we leave. I fear he’ll only try to hamper our plans.”

“Seriously?” Spark groaned and flopped an arm over her face. “You’re gonna starve me because of that?”

“Don’t worry. I gathered supplies while you were finishing up your dinner. You can eat on the way.”

Spark peered at her through one eye. “Apples?”

“And dried cheri berries.”

“Yes!” The dedenne fist-pumped the air. “Okay, I totally forgive you.”

Faith sat up to address Cleo. “So what is the plan tomorrow? Do you have a destination in mind?”

Cleo sat back on her paws as she thought over the mawile’s question. “I actually don’t. To be honest, I’ve no idea where we’re meant to be going. Xerneas told us to fight fire with fire, but… I don’t know. It confuses me.”

“How?” Faith asked.

“Well… the Wildfires are fire-types.”

“Huh!” Spark wiped a paw across her nose. “That’s a good point. It sounds to me like he wants us to find a fire-type pokemon to fight them. But wouldn’t that be really ineffective?”

Faith mused on that for a moment, rubbing the base of her horn. “You’re right, Spark. I was thinking the same thing. But I trust Xerneas, and if he says there’s a fire-type that can help you be rid of the Wildfires, then we should look for one.”

Cleo made a thoughtful noise and closed her eyes. “Being rid of the Wildfires does sound good. But I really don’t want to come face to face with them again.”

“Again?” Faith asked.

Cleo grimaced and shook her head. “Sorry, Faith. I don’t want to re-live it.”

Faith nodded. “That’s understandable.” She shifted on her bed, rustling the hay. “I won’t pry.”

They fell into silence for a moment, and Faith flopped onto her back again. Cleo settled into her mattress, gazing up at the ceiling. Erratic shadows danced across them from the torches on the walls, dragging dark memories from Cleo’s mind. A forest consumed by flames as howling shadows raced through them. She screwed her eyes shut to block them out. Perhaps she should extinguish them? But the ones in the hallway needed to remain lit in case of emergencies.

She sighed, focusing her mind on their current assignment. A fire-type… They needed to find a fire-type. There were some in New City. Perhaps the pokemon they needed was right nearby, and all they’d need to do was convince them to join them.

“How about the growlithe brothers?” Spark suggested.

Cleo started slightly. “The guards? It’s worth asking them.”

“Hmm, I don’t know,” said Faith. “Xerneas said you’ll know when you meet them, and you’ve had to think about this.”

“Good point.” Spark let her arm fall across her face again and sighed. “Why do I feel like this is gonna be really hard?”

Cleo nodded stiffly. “I guess we need to travel away from New City. But where?”

“There’s always the desert?” Faith suggested. “We could travel south?”

“South?” Cleo clicked her tongue. Somehow, she felt that wasn’t the way to go, but she couldn’t put her claw on ‘why’. “I’m not sure. Settlements down there fall under attack from Hydreigon’s admirers. There are a lot of desert dragon-types, and the only town I know is still standing is Windflower.”

“At least we hope it’s still standing,” said Spark. “I’ve not heard any different, but we’ve not really been around much to pick up updates.”

Cleo wanted to add that she was sure Tinker would have told her after her recent dealings with that town, but bit it back. Tinker often chided her at times, and could come across as spiteful, but she knew he wouldn’t go that far.

“We may need to just travel and see who we meet?” Cleo shrugged.

“But there are no Outcast towns around for miles,” said Spark, waving a paw at the walls. “They’ve all migrated here.”

“Then we’ll just move out further,” said Cleo.

“Oh great.” Spark groaned and dragged her claws down her face. “We’re gonna be on the road for days, aren’t we?”

“Not unless we find a faster means to travel,” suggested Faith.

“What? Like hire a flying-type?” Spark asked. “’Cos I don’t think there are any big enough to carry all five of us. Not everyone gets as big as Reshiram.”

Faith laughed at that. “I wasn’t thinking a flying-type.”

“Some Outcasts do use waggons.” Cleo scratched her muzzle in thought. “That’s always an option. But like Spark said, there are no settlements for miles, and all the waggons New City took in were broken down into fuel years ago during that terrible freeze.”

Faith’s violet eyes widened. “You burned fires underground?”

“The market is actually pretty well ventilated,” Cleo explained. “Chutes run up through the trees, creating a good air flow.”

“Wow. I’m surprised you weren’t spotted.”

“There were no murkrow patrols at the time,” said Cleo. “It was much too cold for them, and the blizzards were terrible.” She rubbed her face with a paw. If waggons were out of the question… She suddenly sat upright, taking Faith and Spark by surprise. “How about a boat?”

“A boat?” Spark raised an eyebrow.

“Yes. The river is running again. If we were to find a boat to carry us along it we could cover ground much faster, and reach the next settlement in no time!” Cleo whipped her map from her bag and spread it out on the mattress. Spark and Faith immediately shuffled in around her for a better look. Cleo jabbed a claw at an area outside the Moorland’s Forest to the south, right beside the river. It was a huge stretch of blank grassland that blended into the desert the further south it went. “This is an area of Estellis I’ve not explored yet. What if there’s an Outcast town here? We might find the pokemon we’re looking for, or even clues to point us in the right direction!”

Faith clapped her paws together. “I’m all for meeting new pokemon! If you can get the boat, then let’s do it!”

Cleo’s heart was soaring. It certainly sounded like the best idea. The problem was…

“Where are we gonna get a boat?” Spark had voiced her question perfectly.

Cleo folded her map back up and slotted it back into her bag. “I guess the best pokemon to ask would be Skipper.”

“That makes perfect sense,” said Spark. “If anyone’s gonna know how to get or build a boat, it’s gonna be a water-type.”

“I’ll try to catch him tomorrow before breakfast,” said Cleo. “Who knows, maybe New City actually has one we can borrow?”

“And what if you run into Tinker?”

Cleo bit her lip and glanced from Spark’s smirking face to Faith’s concerned one. “I guess I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.”

...​

Mint stood beside Rio, her eyes on the chaos before her. She muttered incoherently as she watched Rio’s workers put the cage together. Heavy duty iron mesh was being used for the walls. Thunder the raichu and Razorclaw held a piece each, the edge meeting as a heliolisk named Ray fused them together with his electricity. Tantrum moseyed back and forth, observing their efforts and making sure everything was fit together efficiently.

Curious eyes peered out from the cells around the edge of the room. The small number of test subjects Rio had managed to reclaim had gained confidence since their escape. They’d been separated into smaller numbers to stop them from retaliating whenever anyone approached the cells. Rio hadn’t yet got around to removing all of their memories, and with Project C taking top priority it would have to wait a little while longer.

Rio scribbled on a scrap of paper pinned to his clipboard, a crude doodle of the cage’s work in progress.

“I still can’t believe you’re doing this,” Mint said before trailing off into her nervous muttering once more.

Rio didn’t look up from his notes. “You’ve been saying that all night.”

“It’s Enigma!” Mint let out a sigh and dragged her paw down her face. “He’s a trained assassin! He’ll find a way out of this and kill us all.”

“I’ve already explained my plan to you,” Rio told her. “A ghost will have a hard time slipping through an electrically charged cage. Thunder and Ray between them will be watching his every move, keeping him contained. Why are you having such a hard time processing this? I thought you were a scientist.”

Mint groaned and clawed at her muzzle. She said something under her breath, and Rio lowered his clipboard to look at her.

“What was that?” he asked.

“I said I may have to leave this place after all.”

Rio flicked his twin tails from side to side and narrowed a glare at her. The grovyle’s eyes flicked from left to right and she shifted uneasily.

“I can’t allow that.” There was a hint of danger in the meowstic’s voice.

She snapped her head around towards him. “What?”

“If you want out,” he said slowly, “then you’ll be watching from behind those bars with the other test subjects. I haven’t got the time to erase your memories.”

“My memories?” Mint squeaked. “What are you talking about? Rio, we’re friends!”

Rio returned to his sketch. “If you leave here, you’re a security risk. I can’t allow that.”

Mint hugged her arms around herself as she looked round the room. The curious eyes of Rio’s captives were glued to the construction going on before them.

“Then I guess I have no choice,” she said. “I’ll stay here and help you. But I’m not happy about this.”

“You’ve made that very clear already,” said Rio. “But I can assure you we’ll be perfectly safe. I’ve thought this through.”

Mint let out a nervous laugh. “I hope so, Rio. Because I dread to think what he’ll do when he sees me.”

Rio looked up again and raised an eyebrow. “Why? I can’t imagine he’d have some personal vendetta towards you.”

“I don’t know. He visited me while he was searching for information on Boomer.” She nodded at Rio’s surprise and licked her lips. “I had no choice but to forward him to you. But he made it very clear if he saw me again he’d…” Her scales turned a pale lime and she slumped to the floor, hugging her knees to her chest.

Rio watched her, a cold fury welling up inside him. “Did you tell him about pokerus?”

“Of course not!” she gasped.

“Good.” Rio turned his attention back to his clipboard and idly flicked through each sheet. “Then it will be a nice little surprise for him.”

Mint muttered to herself again, then added, “Yes. And he’ll find out we’ve both been keeping something from him.”

Rio shrugged. “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that, Mint. Whether or not he puts the pieces together-”

“Which he will.”

Rio sucked in air through his teeth. “Whether or not, it doesn’t matter. No one here needs to fear him anymore. He’ll be completely at our mercy during this project, and by the time we’re through with it, he won’t even remember who we are.”

...​

“Enigma! Enigma!”

The heavy black fog that had been hanging over the banette parted, and a dull ache spread through his body. He groaned, removing his paw from his face.

“Enigma!” Harlequin hissed.

Enigma cracked an eye open, catching a fleeting glimpse of sapphire as Harlequin, ears pricked, turned to glance back out through the bars.

“Someone’s coming,” the zorua whispered.

“What?” Enigma mumbled, pushing himself up against the wall.

“Quick, hide!” Harlequin pleaded. “Before they find you!”

The banette sighed, pushing himself reluctantly to his feet. His body complained at the effort, and he felt something shift in his side. He grimaced and flopped against the wall with a loud jingle that made Harlequin flinch. Enigma shook his head at his own carelessness, slowly turning translucent.

And not a moment too soon. The door opened, letting in a cacophony of raucous voices. But the figure that entered looked as threatening as a newly-hatched caterpie.

The audino shuffled into the room, clutching a plate of berries and dried meat in one paw. She nudged the door closed with her hip and beamed at the zorua staring back at her. Harlequin didn’t smile, but they didn’t bare their canines either. The zorua kept a close eye on the audino as she approached the cell and slipped the plate through a hatch beneath the door.

“I thought you’d like some supper,” she said.

Harlequin sniffed at the plate cautiously, either checking for poisons or merely to satisfy the audino. Enigma wondered if it were the latter, since a huge smile spread across the pink pokemon’s face.

“You’re looking more rested than the last time I saw you,” she said. “Are you feeling okay?”

“Fine,” Harlequin muttered, trying not to glance in Enigma’s direction.

The audino inclined her head one one side. “You do seem a little anxious.”

Harlequin said nothing, instead snapping up a piece of dried meat from the plate.

The audino nodded and stepped back from the cell. “Well, I’ll see you at breakfast.” She paused by the door. “Good night.”

Harlequin watched her leave then let out a huge sigh, ears drooping. They looked back towards Enigma as he rematerialised and slid down the wall.

“You need to leave.”

Those words stabbed at Enigma’s chest, but he waved a dismissive paw. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Are you planning something?” Harlequin asked. “Because I hardly think you can launch a sneak attack on Cleo in your condition.”

Enigma stared at the zorua with narrowed eyes, absently clutching the right side of his chest. Harlequin stared back with as much ice as Enigma felt forming inside him.

“If I’m leaving, you’re coming with me,” he said.

“Then you’ll have to fight me,” replied Harlequin. “Because I’m not going back to the Shadow Lands.”

Enigma spat air. “So you actually want to stay here? In this cell?”

“I won’t be in this cell for much longer,” Harlequin told him. “But after everything I’ve learned, I’d sooner stay in this cell.”

“Why?” Enigma scoffed. “You said yourself you didn’t know what you wanted. I’m here to help you!”

“You came here to kill me,” Harlequin reminded him. “And you’re right, I don’t know what I want. But I know I don’t want to go back to the Shadow Lands. If what we’ve been living is a lie… if the world really can be like the Fairy Garden, then…” Harlequin screwed their eyes shut and dug their claws into the floor. “Then… I want to help Estellis see that.”

“So you’re giving up to follow a fantasy?”

Harlequin looked up at him. “If Hydreigon hadn’t burned that book with the library, then I’d suggest you read it again. Perhaps it might make you realise it’s not some made-up fantasy?”

“Hydreigon never burned that book.”

Harlequin’s ears pricked upright. “What… you kept it?”

Enigma shrugged and looked away from Harlequin.

“When?” Harlequin asked. “You never mentioned anything about it to me.”

“I hid it, okay?” Enigma snapped. “And I forgot it even existed until you brought it up.”

Harlequin’s shoulders slumped and they shook their head.

“But perhaps you’re right. Perhaps I do need to read it again,” said Enigma. “That way I can get some kind of understanding for what’s going on inside your head! Because I never thought I’d see the day when you would decide to live in fear with the Outcasts.”

“I’m not living in fear,” Harlequin told him. “Not anymore. Because I now know a world exists where I don’t need to live in fear of the future, or the past!” The zorua’s voice cracked with those last three words.

Enigma tightened his jaw as Harlequin screwed their eyes shut, digging their claws into the floor.

“I don’t need to fear it anymore,” the zorua went on. “None of it. Not anymore.”

Enigma chuckled bitterly and dragged himself to his feet. “Sometimes I think you’re the one who’s the enigma.”

Harlequin licked their lips and relaxed slightly. “You don’t have to go back either.”

“I’m not joining the Outcasts, Harle.”

“Neither am I,” said Harlequin.

“You’re suggesting I become an outlaw?” Enigma spat. “Because that sounds like an even worse deal.”

Harlequin shrugged and stared down at the plate of berries at their feet.

“Forget it,” said Enigma. “You’re a lost cause. I’m not wasting any more time here, I’ve got stuff to do.”

“Then here.” Harlequin snatched a piece of meat in their jaws and tossed it towards Enigma. The banette caught it on impulse, a look of surprise crossing his face. “At least eat something before you leave.”

Enigma tutted and frowned at it.

“Just… remember this.” Tears sparkled in Harlequin’s eyes and they turned their face away from him. “If you insist on working for that dragon, then we’re now enemies.”

Enigma felt that awful wave of loneliness surge through him again, spreading with it a coating of ice. Why did the Outcasts keep doing this to him? No… this was exactly why assassins didn’t form attachments. They were a weakness. Harlequin had got under his skin, and now the Outcasts had turned them against him. He should have killed the zorua when he had the chance.

Icy spikes stabbed him in the chest, and he grit his teeth, clenching his fist around the strip of meat. Harlequin wouldn’t even look at him. Enigma shook his head and slipped from the cell, reducing himself to a translucent stream of mist. As he slipped through the door, the dried meat fell from his paws and hit the floor with a slap, breaking the bitter silence.

Within no time he was back outside the tree. The world seemed a lot larger, each shadow threatening. That pang of loneliness manifested into a wave of despair, and he stumbled into the nettles, reaching out to steady himself against the cold bark of the nearest tree. He stood there for a moment, catching his breath as he searched the bare canopy. Tears pricked his eyes, blurring the scenery, but not so much as a leaf stirred in the trees. His heart clenched, but he didn’t look back. Instead he resigned himself to staggering through the unforgiving nettles, his bell echoing in the hollow silence.

...​

Skipper rubbed the back of his head with a flipper and sighed. “I’m sorry, Cleo. I canne ‘elp ye wi’ thissun.”

Cleo’s heart sank into her gut, and she sat down heavily on the stool opposite him. Starshine chittered from his desk and dropped a berry at its edge. He caught Cleo’s eye and nudged the berry again with his beak.

“Berry,” he said.

Cleo took it politely and held it in both paws as she stared into her lap. “So… you don’t know where we can get a boat?”

“It’s not that I dinnae ken where ye can get one,” Skipper explained. “But th’guild ain’t used river boats for as long as I can remember. Mountain rivers’r too rough. Fallin’ trees an’ rocks are a real hazard, an’ wi’th speed o’river ye’d get a reet good skelpin’. Ye’d be smashed t’bits, boat ‘n’ all, sure enough.”

Cleo continued to stare into her lap. She’d not considered all that. Of course a boat traversing the rapids down the mountain slope was a death sentence. With the fallen tree the ‘peaceful pokemon’ had used as a bridge… They’d be heading straight for it.

She sighed and stood back up. “Well, thank you for your time, Skipper. I guess we’ll just have to find another way to cover ground quickly.”

“Aye, I sure ‘ope ye can find somethin’. Ah well, if ye wanna avoid Tink, I suggest ye get a wiggle on.”

She nodded and forced a smile. “Thank you, Skipper. We’ll see you when we get back.”

Skipper returned her smile and Cleo turned from the office. The door opened before she could reach it, and she found herself almost nose to nose with Tinker. The riolu blinked with surprise, flushing slightly. He cleared his throat and motioned her aside so he could enter.

“Great timing, Cleo,” he said. “I was hoping to catch you this morning.”

Cleo’s blood turned to ice and she clenched her jaw. Great. Exactly what she wasn’t wanting to hear.

“I have a task for you,” Tinker explained. “I need you to take-”

“No.” The firmness in Cleo’s voice took her by surprise, and it was reflected in Tinker’s good eye.

“I beg your pardon?” he gasped.

“We already have a mission,” Cleo told him, her voice wavering. “A very important one.”

“And what might that be?”

“We’ve been tasked to find a fire-type pokemon.”

“There are plenty in the Guild,” Tinker told her. “Take one of them.”

“They aren’t in the Guild,” Cleo replied. “At least, not this one.” She paused. “In fact, we’ve no idea where they are. So this might take us a while.”

“I don’t have a while, Cleo. This is urgent, and I need you to take a medicine package to Stonehaven.”

Stonehaven? Cleo hadn’t heard of it.

“It’s just beyond the Glen,” Tinker explained, as if he’d managed to somehow read her thoughts. His back was to her as he rummaged through his desk drawer. “They’ve been hit by the river poison, and are in desperate need of medicinal berries and herbs. I have the package right here. Just take it and be on your way. And don’t forget your hostage, either.”

“I can take it, but we won’t be coming back,” said Cleo. “Not straight away, anyway.”

Tinker gave her an exasperated look and held out a large brown sack. “Cleo… your Guild duties should take priority. You are to report straight back to New City after this mission, without fail.”

“Why? Otherwise you won’t pay me?”

“Precisely.”

Cleo took the sack in one paw, not taking her eyes off Tinker’s. “Then so be it.”

She turned to leave the office, but Tinker’s voice froze her by the door.

“I don’t want to fire you, Cleo.”

“Listen, Tinker.” She looked back at him over her shoulder. “I am willing to fulfil this request, but our search for this fire-type pokemon takes full priority. Who knows? We might even find them in Stonehaven. But I don’t need you blackmailing me with payment or my job. It isn’t a very professional approach, is it?”

Tinker’s jaw flapped open silently.

Cleo glanced past him, noticing Starshine peering around the riolu’s hip to watch her.

“You know, Tinker,” she said. “You can’t keep him locked up in your office forever like one of your inventions. He’s a living thing. It isn’t exactly fair.”

With that, she slipped from his office, closing the door behind her. She paused against the wall, her heart racing. It wasn’t the first time she’d stood up to Tinker, but she’d never done so with her job on the line. She looked down at the sack, which was somewhat slack, bulging at the bottom with whatever contents Tinker had given her. She tossed it over her shoulder then pushed herself from the wall, making her way back towards the nest rooms.

She found Faith and Spark about half way along, with Mischief in tow. The whimsicott looked like he’d not slept a wink all night, and yawned when he saw her. Spark fluffed herself up on Faith’s shoulder and groaned.

“I was hopin’ to sneak some breakfast while you were busy,” she said.

“Sorry,” said Cleo. “Things didn’t exactly go as I’d hoped either.”

“You didn’t get the boat?” Faith asked.

“Nope. I got an assignment instead.” Cleo turned to lead the group into the tunnel that lead towards the cells, all the while explaining what had happened that morning.

“I can’t believe he’d threaten you with your job,” Spark scoffed around a mouthful of apple. “That’s a new low.”

“So what’s the plan?” Mischief asked. “We’re still looking for the fire-type, right?”

“Of course we are. We’ll get Harlequin as ordered and start our search.” Cleo paused to unlock the stone slab at the end of the tunnel. “We’re just going to run this errand, and if we don’t find the fire-type in Stonehaven, we’ll continue on our way.”

“So you’re obeying Tinker anyway?” Mischief asked. “After what he’s said?”

“I’m not doing this for Tinker, I’m doing this for the pokemon that need it.” Cleo glanced back at her friends as the stone rolled to the side. “It also gives us a starting point, and a direction to head in.”

Faith beamed, and followed Cleo up through the exit. “That’s great, Cleo! Let’s help those pokemon. We might even find our fire-type!”
 
Chapter 31

DeliriousAbsol

*Crazy Absol Noises*
Location
Behind a laptop, most likely with tea
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. mawile
31 - The Watch​

Enigma had spent most of the night clambering through the branches, his mind elsewhere, not allowing him to take anything in. The forest was oddly silent, not so much as a murkrow’s raucous caw to shatter his thoughts.

Harlequin…

Enigma clenched his jaw so tight it hurt.

He didn’t need the zorua. He didn’t need anyone. So why was it bothering him so much?

The banette landed on the sturdy branch of an aspear tree and dug his claws into its smooth bark. Warm, sticky sap leaked out from the wound, clinging to his fur and slipping its way around his paw pads. He clenched his fist against the tree, the bark splintering beneath his paw. It almost wrenched his claws free, but his mind was spinning too much to care. He glared into the distance, lost in the chaos of his own mind.

Why didn’t he kill Harlequin when he had the chance?! Why did he have to keep letting others get under his skin?!

He took a deep breath and retracted his paw from the aspear’s trunk. Letting his breath out slowly, he took a moment to gain his bearings. His heart clenched when he spotted a familiar large knotted oak only a few feet away. Had he really been going in circles? His blood began to boil, and he slumped sideways against the sticky bark with a groan.

This was exactly why attachments were forbidden. They caused too much trouble. At this rate, he’d be killed by his own ‘allies’.

His stomach growled, a painful rumble that made him wretch, but nothing came up. He sank down onto the branch, gasping as his ribs complained with the effort.

Alone…

What was he to do now? He had no reason to go back to the Shadow Lands. He’d uncovered what information Boomer had been given, but unloading that onto Hydreigon would only fuel the dragon’s desire to be rid of anything that wasn’t dark- or dragon-type as rapidly as possible. Enigma would either find himself fighting against the Outcasts and Heretics until his use ran out, or he’d be eradicated for not falling under the requirements of Hydreigon’s ideal world.

He clasped a paw over his right side as his muzzle twisted into a grimace. Right now, it was safe to say his survival was wildly unpredictable.

All strength left his body, and he rolled his head back against the trunk, gazing up at the rust-coloured canopy. Dry leaves drifted to the ground as a wintry breeze rustled through those still clinging on to their home. Disrupting. Scattering.

Enigma raised a tired paw and rubbed it over his face, catching the sweet scent of aspear sap. A sticky smudge marred his nose as he massaged the dark rings beneath his eyes. Only a few days ago, he was in the Shadow Lands clowning around with Harlequin, poking fun at Yurlik, and pranking the deino herd. A few days… Why had things become so complicated?

“Any idea where we are?”

The high-pitched voice sliced through Enigma’s thoughts like a hot blade. He raised his head, following the voices towards the undergrowth a few feet away. The faint light from the rising sun revealed four shadows creeping out from beyond a low bramble.

“I’m afraid not.”

That female meowstic clambered carefully over tree roots, leading her friends along the forest path. Harlequin trotted after her with a lot more enthusiasm than Enigma had seen the zorua show towards their captors before. And with them was that mawile Harlequin had mentioned. The sight of the small steel-type set Enigma’s blood on fire, and his lips twisted up into a sneer.

“Without the river to go by, I’m not even sure if we’re heading in the right direction anymore,” the meowstic went on.

“Can’t you use your map?” the whimsicott asked.

“My map won’t show us a way through the forest, Mischief.”

“I wouldn’t be too disheartened!” The mawile sounded awfully cheerful despite their situation. “If we keep heading this way, I’m sure we’ll make it out of the forest sooner or later!”

“Yes,” said the dedenne, just visible in the meowstic’s fur. “And we’ll probably be miles away from our destination, too!”

“That’s an awfully dour way of looking at things,” said the mawile with a smile. “Think of it as an adventure!”

“So long as the adventure takes us out of these trees,” said the whimsicott. “I really don’t want to run into those Heretics again.”

The dedenne grimaced at that. “You and me both, brother.”

Enigma’s heart did a somersault. The Heretics. He’d almost forgotten about them.

He watched the group vanish further into the forest, his pulse racing. Harlequin faltered, turning their head towards the canopy. Enigma dropped his density instantly, fading into a grey mist. The zorua’s nose twitched for a moment, before their head jerked back towards the meowstic.

The feline turned, noticing Harlequin’s distracted gaze. “What’s wrong, Harlequin?”

Harlequin sniffed the air for a moment longer, then shook their head. “Nothing. I thought… I thought I saw something.”

“I hope it ain’t murkrow,” said the dedenne. “I can’t be bothered with them today.”

The meowstic appeared to ignore her small companion, but her nervous glance of the canopy gave her away. Searching for murkrow, or curious as to what Harlequin had claimed to notice. She soon brushed it off, rejoining her companions as they advanced through the forest.

Enigma returned to his solid state, staring after the retreating pokemon. The whimsicott had reminded him of Rio. If it really was one of Rio’s experiments, Enigma still desired to know what that crazy meowstic was up to. However… Enigma’s eye lingered on the mawile’s back, just before she vanished amid a thick patch of curling ferns.

Enigma had questions. That mawile was new to the mix, and he wanted to know exactly what she had done to Harlequin.

...​

Spark yawned and stretched, her tiny spine popping near Cleo’s ear. The dedenne gazed up at the inky blue stretched above the bare canopy.

“We’re losing daylight,” she said quietly.

Cleo nodded, casting her eyes left and right. She kept her footsteps light, but the dry leaves blanketing the forest floor crackled and crunched at the slightest touch.

“I’m worried we’re gonna have to sleep in this forest,” Spark added.

“That was always the case,” said Cleo. “Although I was hoping we’d have found the river by now. We’ll look for somewhere sheltered.”

“At least there’s more of us this time,” said Spark.

“Won’t that make us more of a target?” Mischief asked.

Faith beamed at him. “Don’t worry. We’ll be fine.”

“Yeah, more of us to fight back,” said Spark. “Let’s just hope it won’t come to that, eh?”

“I think the odds are in our favour, if I’m honest,” said Faith.

“Really?” Spark twisted to look back at her. “How often do you leave the Fairy Garden? Never just assume that.”

Faith waved a paw at the trees. “I’ve not seen a single murkrow tonight. The last time Hope and I left, they were everywhere.”

Cleo followed the mawile’s paw. She’d noticed it herself, but now Faith had pointed it out, it was much more obvious. When Cleo was an espurr, murkrow patrols were a common sight. Yet over the past couple of seasons, they’d seemed less frequent. Perhaps their constant presence had ingrained on her mind, making her wary? Yet there wasn’t one in sight. Where were they?

Her eye fell on Harlequin, questioning.

The zorua cowered back from her, their sapphire eyes flitting to the sides. Harlequin licked their lips a few times before saying, “I don’t know. All I know is the murkrow patrol are being sent out to certain areas unknown to us.” They paused, then added, “Hydreigon doesn’t tell the assassins what his plans are.”

Cleo stared at the zorua, trying to read them and work out if they were lying.

Faith dropped into a crouch before Harlequin. “You really don’t know anything?”

Harlequin shook their head stiffly, avoiding Faith’s violet eyes. “He doesn’t tell us anything. But there are rumours… that they’re looking for something. But what, I couldn’t tell you.”

Faith inclined her head on one side. “No one has said what they think it is?”

Harlequin shuffled their forepaws, digging up the soft soil beneath the leaves. “A certain pokemon, or a weapon. I’ve even heard rumours it’s a settlement.” Harlequin paused and forced eye-contact with Faith. “That is honestly all I can tell you.”

Faith was silent, looking past Harlequin. After a moment, she let out a sigh and pushed herself up. Harlequin watched her, shifting with unease.

“I really don’t know anymore,” said Harlequin. “I’m telling the truth!”

Faith jerked her head towards the zorua as though taken by surprise, and forced a smile where one had faltered. “I believe you! I do. Just… I’m not sure.”

“To be honest, this makes me feel a lot better,” said Cleo. “If anything, a lack of murkrow is in our favour.”

Faith smoothed out her fur, not that it needed it. “Perhaps. Let’s sleep on it for now.”

Cleo watched the mawile as she moved off the path towards the shrubs dotting the undergrowth. Faith had always seemed cheerful, but since they’d left the Fairy Garden, her demeanour had altered. It was as if they were now travelling with a seasoned Guild Warrior, one who knew the risks and how to deal with them. But what Harlequin had said seemed to have had an affect on Faith. The mawile didn’t seem unsettled, but rather distracted. Was there a chance she was concerned the murkrow would be sent their way? The thought pushed Cleo’s fur on end, and she had to remind herself that she was equipped to deal with them now. It had been a very long time since she’d learned a new attack. The feeling was both nostalgic and alien to her. And with Faith on their side, too, their party’s strength had increased significantly.

Cleo joined Faith as they looked for somewhere to camp. Their search took them well off the path until Cleo finally found a low branch from an oak with very little undergrowth around it. She grabbed it with her paw and waved for her friends. Faith had been stood with Mischief, examining a large leafy shrub.

“This will do,” Cleo said in a low voice. “Help me set up the tent.”

Together, they tossed the blue sheet over the branch and pinned it into the earth. It took very little time between them, and before long they were nestled in its shelter.

Harlequin stared out at the forest from their position between Cleo and Faith.

“We won’t lose the path, will we?” Mischief asked from Cleo’s left.

His fears weren’t without reason. He’d been concerned about it since Cleo had suggested they not follow the river given how open it was. It was by the river they’d encountered the Heretics and she wanted to increase their odds of avoiding them as much as possible.

She shook her head. “No. We’re not too far from it. We’ll find it again in the morning.”

Mischief yawned widely. “Good. So… who’s going to take first watch?”

“Well you look like you’re about to fall asleep on the spot!” said Faith. “I can take first watch if you like?”

Mischief’s shoulders sank. “I really feel like I should be doing it. It doesn’t feel very fair to force you to stay awake. We’re all tired.”

“No, I’m fine!” Faith grinned at him. “I’m happy to do it.”

Cleo was too busy watching Mischief. He slumped beside her, restlessly looking from Faith to the dark forest beyond the tent.

“You do seem more tired than usual,” said Cleo.

“It’s not the pokerus, is it?” Spark whispered.

Mischief heard it anyway, and flinched at the words. Spark muttered an apology and sank further into Cleo’s ruff.

“It’s not the pokerus,” said Mischief. “At least… I don’t think it is. I just… I didn’t sleep well. I haven’t for a few nights.”

Harlequin grunted. “Sounds like insomnia. Unfortunately, I don’t have a remedy for that in my bag.”

“Not that I’d trust it,” said Spark.

Harlequin started to growl, but it died in their throat. Instead, the zorua’s chin dropped to their paws and they stared sulkily outside.

“I don’t know what it is.” Mischief rubbed his face with his paws. “I keep seeing these horrible images in my head.”

“Nightmares?” Faith offered.

Mischief shrugged.

“Well… I hope you sleep better.” Faith gave him a reassuring smile. “I’m happy to take your watch for you, too, if you like?”

“I can’t let you do that,” Mischief muttered.

“Nonsense! What are friends for?”

Mischief lowered his paws and gave her a weak smile. “Well… okay.”

“We’ll split it evenly,” said Cleo. “And Mischief can be excused for the night.” She turned to Faith. “You really don’t mind going first?”

Faith shook her head and made an ‘mm-mm’ noise. “Mawile are actually really good in the dark. We used to live in caves many years ago.”

“That’s handy.” Cleo laughed and closed her eyes. “After many years of being diurnal, meowstic have kind of lost their night vision.”

Faith’s smile fell and she pushed herself up. “Sleep well, okay? I’ll be just outside if you need me.”

Cleo nodded and bade the mawile ‘goodnight’, while Harlequin skulked off to the furthest side of the tent to curl up. Cleo watched the zorua for a moment, considering whether or not she should remain awake to keep an eye on them. Since their visit to the Fairy Garden, Harlequin had seemed a lot more withdrawn. No snide remarks, obediently following along… Somehow, Cleo felt the risk the assassin posed was significantly reduced. And if it came to it, Faith could certainly handle them.

With that reassurance, Cleo settled down beside Mischief, keeping him separate from Harlequin. It was still best not to take risks. Sleep embraced Cleo shortly after she’d closed her eyes.

...​

Enigma crouched in the branches with his eyes fixed on the blue tent. The slender silhouette of the mawile was almost hidden by the shadows of the forest. She sat sheltered beside a fern, her violet eyes reflecting the faint moonlight. It was the only thing that gave her away. If Enigma hadn’t been so intent on watching her and her friends, he’d have missed her entirely.

Enigma had wanted to make his move much earlier, after he was certain the other pokemon would be asleep. However, Harlequin had crept from the tent and sat with the mawile for a while. Their voices had been very hushed, too quiet for Enigma to pick up from his position. Both of them had seemed oddly calm, not jumping at the wind rustling through the canopy or stirring the scattered leaves beside the tent. Enigma had expected that from Harlequin. Harlequin knew the world from their experiences, and working for the Darkness, they’d have no reason to fear an assault. Outcasts were jumpy, flinching at every little sound and fleeing to cover, or leaping to the defensive. This mawile… Faith, as Harlequin had called her… didn’t seem remotely bothered. Fearlessness? Or foolishness? Enigma wanted to say it was the latter. She wasn’t working for the Darkness, and her entire species had been wiped out years ago. How had one lone mawile survived?

Enigma raised an eyebrow at that thought. Hadn’t Rio mentioned an absol? Had he actually seen one, or was it a fabrication of an addled mind? Either way, absol had also been wiped out. If there were survivors, then perhaps there were even more ‘extinct’ pokemon living freely somewhere.

Perhaps there were even ghost-types?

Enigma shook his head sharply to dispel the wandering thought path and returned to watching Faith. Harlequin had slunk back into the tent with their tail between their legs, but not without one glance back at the mawile. Whatever words passed between them faded out on the breeze long before it reached Enigma.

Enigma had no idea how long it had been since Faith took her watch. There was every possibility it would be coming to an end, and one of the other pokemon would emerge to take her place. Enigma wasn’t bothered about the others. Not at the moment. He wanted answers. Faith was new to the mix. In the time that had passed since Enimga had seen Harlequin last, Faith had appeared and the zorua was being drawn away from the Darkness. Enigma wanted to know exactly what Faith had done to warp Harlequin’s mind. Having her sat outside in the dark while the rest of her friends were asleep was the perfect opportunity to catch her alone. If he missed that chance, or revealed himself too late, he might find himself in a battle he couldn’t win. Not in his condition. Enigma didn’t feel like following the Outcasts again to wait for the next night. What if they reached an Outcast town in that time? They’d be indoors, offered a bed, with no need to keep watch.

He shifted on his perch, warring with the desire to move closer and snatch her aside. But if she heard him, or spotted him, there was every chance she’d wake the others.

He had to do this tactfully. Lure her out. She seemed confident enough. Enigma wouldn’t put it past her to want to investigate a curious sound before raising an alarm.

The banette slipped from the tree, landing lightly, his bell creating a soft chime. The mawile didn’t move an inch. Had she heard it? Enigma frowned and searched the ground for something - anything - to catch the lone pokemon’s attention. His claws found a small twig and he tossed it towards her where it landed with a soft thud in the debris. She looked up then, her eyes fixing straight onto it. For a moment she stayed like that, as still as a statue. Then she looked past it, in Enigma’s direction. He was well hidden, but it was as if those violet eyes were staring right into his own.

She shifted slightly, then looked away, turning her gaze to the sky. Enigma followed her eyes towards the canopy. The stars were clear against the inky backdrop, with hardly a cloud in sight. Not even a murkrow stirred amid the canopy. It was almost peaceful.

Enigma shook it off and fixed the mawile in a glare. His attempt to draw her out had failed miserably. He cursed under his breath, searching the forest floor for something else he could throw. But if he tried another stunt like that, she might very well wake the others. Did he really have no other choice but to sneak up on her and snatch her aside?

He straightened, clasping his paw to his side. His breath came in rasps, and he clenched his teeth. Frustration bubbled up inside him, emerging as a repressed growl. In ordinary circumstances she’d be nothing. He could shadow-sneak over there and silence her, whisking her aside into the forest and none of her companions would know until they awoke. After clambering through the branches all day he didn’t have the strength to sink into the shadows. His body complained with every effort to move as it was.

But he had to try something. He wasn’t going to lose this chance. Just creep over there slowly… and snatch her aside.

Muttering under his breath, he clambered from beyond the tree, keeping his steps as light as possible. His bell made little more than a metallic grating sound, barely audible. His paws crunching over the leaves was louder, despite his efforts to step where little had fallen. Either way, those in the tent shouldn’t hear it. As for the mawile…

Her head snapped around towards him, and Enigma faltered, cursing inwardly. But there was no fear in her eyes. Slowly, she pushed herself to her feet, keeping her eyes fixed on his location. Enigma tensed, expecting her to go into the tent and wake her friends. But instead, she moved away from it, making her way towards him. Her paws barely made a sound over the debris, her steps light and delicate, and oddly quick.

A sly grin spread across Enigma’s muzzle and he stifled a chuckle. He hadn’t expected that. Was she really willing to waltz straight into danger?

He remained in the shadows of the trees, watching her as she drew closer. But before she could reach him, Enigma darted out from the shadows and grabbed her, clasping his paw over her mouth. She let out a startled gasp, which was cut off sharply as he rammed her back against the tree. He secured his free claws around her arm so she couldn’t squirm away, not that she tried. Her violet eyes widened, fixing on his, but there was no fear in them. Just surprise at being caught off guard.

Enigma let out a grunt of surprise. So she wasn’t scared? Did she have no idea who he was?

Faith relaxed, her eyes softening. She lifted her free paw and placed it on his, gently trying to remove it from her mouth. The action set a fire roaring in Enigma’s gut, and he narrowed his eyes at her. No… she definitely wasn’t afraid. Enigma wanted to fix that… but at least it meant she wouldn’t be likely to scream for help.

A smirk spread across his muzzle and he removed his paw from her mouth to brush the long fur back from her face.

“Well,” he crooned. “Aren’t you a pretty one?”

The mawile met his eyes, unwavering. “You’re Enigma. Am I right?”

“Oh, so you have heard of me?” Enigma chuckled, and his smile melted into a deadly glare. “Because you’re not acting like it.”

“I’ll be honest, I’ve only heard of you recently,” Faith explained. “Few assassins would be confident enough in their abilities that they wear a hidden bell to shock fear into the hearts of their targets.”

“Really? Then why aren’t you afraid?”

“You didn’t exactly sneak up on me,” Faith explained. “You were obviously trying to lure me out.”

Enigma’s grip on her arm lessened as he gave her a dumbfounded look.

She inclined her head on one side. “So… what do you want with me?”

Enigma felt his face twist with confusion. Was this mawile serious?

“You knew I was trying to lure you out and you came alone?” he snorted.

“It clearly wasn’t an ambush,” she explained. “You threw a stick. It was pretty clear you’re working alone.”

“Really?” He chuckled and gave her a sinister grin. “You were the only one awake, mawile. And would you look at that, you’ve left your friends completely unprotected.”

Her eyes widened as she cast a glance in the direction of the tent. Well… She’d not considered that.

Enigma laughed painfully, trying to mask his discomfort. “How foolish.”

She let out an exasperated sigh and met his eyes. “What do you want with me?”

“I want to know what you’ve done to Harlequin,” he said. “He’s become all soft, turning his back on the Shadow Lands. I want to know what lies you’ve fed him that have encouraged him to pal around with you Outcasts.”

Faith blinked a few times. “He? I…” She shook her head slowly then met his eyes again. “I’ve not done anything to Harlequin. She willingly entered the Fairy Garden, and the change went from there. And as far as I’m aware, she is not with the Outcasts by choice.”

“That collar,” Enigma muttered. He frowned at the mawile and tightened his grip on her arm. “He told me he’s not going back, and you’re telling me he’s not with them willingly?! Whether or not he’s a prisoner, you’ve done something to him. You’ve been feeding him lies.”

“They’re not lies.”

Enigma’s eyes flashed and he dug his claws into her shoulder. Faith flinched, but she didn’t break eye-contact. Her lack of fear was infuriating him. He wanted to shake her. Claw at her until she choked up the truth through screams of fear and pain.

“She said she wants to look for her friend,” Faith went on. “That path doesn’t cross with Cleo’s, but Xerneas has assured her that her friend is still alive.”

Xerneas? There was that name again. He tore his eyes off her and stared blankly into the shadows. A friend? That absol?

“Is that everything you want to know?” Faith asked. “Are you going to let me go back now?”

He snapped his attention back onto her, realising he’d relaxed his grip enough for her to slip away. Yet she was still standing there, watching him curiously. Something about her really unsettled him. No… it angered him. He dug his claws into her shoulder again, causing the mawile to suck in her breath, and took a step closer to her.

“Oh, not quite yet.” His voice came out as a purr and he raised his free paw, letting it turn translucent. “You see… I don’t believe you’ve told me everything. I might be an assassin, but my job first and foremost is to gather information, and I have ways of getting it out of even the most stubborn pokemon.”

“Then all you have to do is ask me,” said Faith, keeping her eyes on his. “I won’t keep anything from you. What do you want to know?”

“I want to know what you’ve done to Harlequin.”

“I already told you, I’ve not done anything.”

“And I don’t believe you.” He stared at his smoky paw for a moment and gave a mock sigh. “You’re really taking time out of my assignment, mawile. But I suppose I can put off dragging information out of a bunch of stubborn Heretics for a while.” He chuckled and flexed his claws. “Something makes me think I’m going to enjoy this.”

Faith watched closely as his translucent claws drifted towards her chest. In one fluid motion, she jerked her body around, bringing her massive horn up in an arc. It struck his left shoulder, sending him soaring away from her. He landed hard in the foliage and pain exploded through his chest. His body wracked with coughs, and he shoved himself up off the ground.

“Oh my goodness!” Faith gasped, her paws flying to her mouth. She trotted over to him, her eyes wide. “Are you injured? I had no idea, I’m-”

“Shut up!” Enigma hissed.

Faith actually complied. She stood awkwardly beside him, her claws flexing at her sides.

He swiped a paw across his mouth and coughed again. Warm blood splattered his fur. Every breath hurt.

“You really need help.” Faith edged closer to him and dropped into a crouch. “Here, let me-”

He swiped her outstretched paw and she retracted it before finding herself trapped in a livid, crimson glare.

“Get out of here,” he growled. “Before I slaughter you.”

Faith sighed and dropped her paw to her knee. “Please… I can help.”

“You really can’t tell when your life is in danger, can you?” Enigma scoffed. “You’d really help someone who wants to kill you? Good grief, you’re pathetic.”

She sighed again and rose to her feet. “I honestly don’t think you’re in any condition to fight me right now.”

He said nothing, wishing that the mawile would disappear. But she just stood there, watching him in his weakness. He resented it.

“If you don’t want my help, then fine,” she finally said. “But you really need to learn who your friends are, because the Darkness is no one’s friend. It just destroys.” She turned away then, walking lightly back towards her camp. She paused a little away from him, keeping her voice low. “I can’t imagine a life like that. A life of destruction, taking from others, and making nothing but enemies. But I can imagine that it must make one feel very, very lonely.”

Enigma stiffened, listening to her walk away.

Lonely…

If anything, after all that, he just felt sore and bitter.

He coughed into his paw again and shoved himself painfully back to his feet. That whole endeavour hadn’t been as insightful as he’d thought it would be. Hopefully, his visit with the Heretics would yield more valuable information?

A voice reached his ears and he straightened as best he could to see through the shadows. A flash of blue caught his eye, and he inched closer for a better look. The mawile had returned to her tent, and was reassuring a concerned Harlequin. Enigma’s heart twisted and he withdrew, trudging away from the campsite.

Yes, he felt sore and bitter. Sore, bitter, and alone.
 
Chapter 32

DeliriousAbsol

*Crazy Absol Noises*
Location
Behind a laptop, most likely with tea
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. mawile
32 - Trouble​

Yurlik jolted awake as the entire tree shook, almost throwing him from his perch. He squawked and flailed his wings to regain his balance and fend off several murkrow as they bolted into the air in a flurry of feathers and alarmed caws.

The honchkrow shook his head and leered at his flock as they took refuge in another tree. A few grunts came from the ground below, and he turned slowly to peer down at a lone deino. The dark mark on the dragon’s snout was clear evidence of his collision with the tree.

“What do you want?” Yurlik growled.

“Ah! Yurlik, sir!” The deino turned sharply in several directions before finally settling on addressing the thin air to his left. “Lord Hydreigon demands you in his throne room at once!”

Yurlik sighed and rubbed the bridge of his beak with a talon. “And he sent you?”

The deino turned his head left and right, sniffed the air and turned a one-eighty. “Yes! It’s urgent! You are to head there immediately!”

“Really?” Yurlik scoffed, a cold fear beginning to rise in his gut. “Then I had better make haste. Goodness knows how long he’s been waiting if he sent one of you idiots to find me.”

The honchkrow spread his wings and glided from the tree, dropping enough to soar close to the dragon’s head.

“Hey!” The deino turned to follow his flight. “I did all right once I’d found your scent!”

Yurlik rolled his eyes and turned to glide towards the castle. The deino scampered on ahead of him, and seemed to be making good progress until he collided with two of his brethren. They immediately began tearing at each other, raking large wounds with their wicked teeth. Insults flew between snapping jaws, and Yurlik rolled his eyes again as he gave the warring dragons a wide berth.

The honchkrow soon arrived at the castle. He cast a glance up at its thorn-like spires to see if he could spot the door-mon. With none in sight, he landed neatly before the door and struck it twice with his beak. It creaked open, revealing the leering face of a weavile.

“You’re late,” he scoffed.

“Well who sent a deino?” Yurlik shoved him aside with a wing and strutted into the entrance hall.

“You know that’s no excuse.” The weavile shut the door and trotted to keep up with Yurlik, his claws echoing off the bare walls. “Lord Hydreigon is seething, and it’s all because of your useless flock.”

Yurlik spun on the spot, lashing out with his beak and talons. The weavile fell back from him with a squeal, raising his arms to protect his face.

“Don’t you dare address me like that, underling!” Yurlik squawked. “You’d better watch you mouth unless you want my flock to peck you to pieces. And I’ll, personally, take great pleasure in removing your eyes.”

The weavile stuttered, keeping his paws protectively before his face. “I’m sorry, sir. We’re all a bit tense right now.”

Yurlik ruffled his feathers and marched away from the weavile. His nerves flared the closer he came to the throne room, but he didn’t hesitate to knock, especially knowing Hydreigon’s patience was hanging on a thin thread.

“That had better be Yurlik!” The anger was evident enough in his voice.

Yurlik nudged the doors open and stepped inside, lowering his head. “You wanted to see me, my lord?”

Hydreigon’s hulking form was sprawled in the centre of the room. He lay on his back, gazing at one of his smaller heads. He turned it to face Yurlik, moving its pincer-like jaws as he spoke.

“You’re late,” he growled.

Yurlik’s entire body trembled and he crept into the room. He closed the door behind him, catching an amused look from the weavile guard.

“I’m terribly sorry, my lord,” said Yurlik. “But the deino… you know they lack intelligence as much as they lack eyes. He-”

“I don’t care for your excuses, Yurlik!” Somehow, Hydreigon’s pincer looked angry as his voice rumbled off the walls. The large dragon rolled onto his front, his scales scraping across the tiles. He fixed his crimson eyes on the quaking honchkrow. “I want to know what’s become of Harlequin and Enigma.”

“Oh… those two…” Yurlik jerked his head up as a low growl resounded in Hydreigon’s throat. Yurlik took a step back towards the door until his feathers brushed the wood. He stuttered and diverted his gaze. “Yes. They’ve been gone for how long now?”

“Several days.” Hydreigon exchanged glances with his pincer. “And I’ve heard… nothing.”

Yurlik shook his head, keeping his eyes on the wall. “I’m afraid I’m as much in the dark as you on this one, my lord. They’ve been sent to a location my murkrow aren’t currently patrolling.”

“And why not?” The danger in the dragon’s voice caused Yurlik to let out an embarrassingly feeble squawk.

The honchkrow smoothed out his feathers and cleared his throat. “Well, you see, my flock’s numbers aren’t what they used to be. I’ve not been able to replace them as quickly as I’d have liked, and at the moment they are stretched very thin looking for this cocoon-”

“Then fill them faster!” Hydreigon barked. He raised his head so he could look down on the trembling honchkrow. “Raid the breeding pens if you must! I don’t care how old they are, or how sickly. I need patrols to gather information!”

Yurlik stuttered as he processed the order. “The breeding pens? But… you want me to recruit females?”

“Do they have wings?”

“Yes, but I’m not sure how strong their flight is. They’ve never-”

“Recruit them.”

Yurlik’s beak went slack, but Hydreigon either didn’t care or didn’t notice. He rotated his right pincer as if he was sharing a deep thought with it, while resting his head on his left.

“I want that whimsicott here,” he went on. “What I’ve heard has troubled me. I strongly suspect it carries the fairy-type, and if it does, it could spell disaster for my plans. The sooner it’s here, the sooner I can deal with it. Is that clear?”

“Crystal, my lord.”

“Then go! Take as many murkrow as you need from the breeding pens, and find out what has become of my assassins. If that whimsicott has killed them, I want to know. If so, find it. I want that fuzzy thorn in my side back here immediately.”

“Understood, my lord.” Yurlik spread his wings in a bow. “Right away.”

He closed the heavy doors behind him, catching a few stray feathers between them. He gave them a mournful look and sighed, checking his tail. At this rate, with all the stress he was going to end up bald.

“Got a scolding, huh?” The weavile’s voice took him by surprise.

The weavile leant beside the doors, smirking at Yurlik.

Yurlik snapped his beak at him, causing the assassin to leap aside and shoot him a sneer.

“You shouldn’t be eavesdropping,” Yurlik told him.

“What can I say? We’re all wired right now,” the weavile said. “At this rate, we’re all gonna be spread thin across Estellis looking for something that might not even exist.”

Yurlik tutted and shrugged him off. But he couldn’t deny the weavile was right. Yurlik’s flock suffered badly when Hydreigon threw his father off the throne. Training new flock members took time. They needed to be cut from the right cloth. Now he was being forced to hire the old and infirm, let alone females. Hydreigon had ruled out the latter for assassins years ago, but Yurlik had never once had a female in his flock.

He stood outside and ruffled his feathers, casting a glance towards the far east of the Shadow Lands. With a frustrated sigh, he rose into the air, muttering under his breath. Surely this was only a step towards disaster?

...​

The noibat had flown non-stop in a bid to find his leader. Exhausted, the small pokemon finally reached his goal at the edge of the mountains where Echo’s familiar cry reached his ears. He perched upside-down in a spindly tree and sent out his own call. The brief pause from his leader told him he’d heard it. It was followed up by one that told him to wait where he was, and before he knew it the rumble of a noivern’s echolocation made his ears vibrate as Echo honed in on him.

The large bat soon graced him with his presence, landing beside the spindly tree. The rest of the swarm swooped in around him, seeking a perch and, failing that, filling the surrounding bare trees like bat-shaped leaves.

“Well?” Echo inclined his head on one side as he scrutinised the panting noibat. “I trust you’ve got news for me?”

The noibat nodded. “Rumble has… found clear information that… the cocoon is in the frozen isles.”

Echo rose to his full height, his face contorting into an unreadable expression as he processed this. The noibat took a moment to close his eyes as he panted heavily, almost expecting Echo to knock him from his perch for giving him such unwanted information.

But the noivern’s response almost surprised him from the branches.

“Very well.” Echo tucked his wings in and chuckled. “Then I guess the fool is flying to his death.”

The noibat’s eyes widened, reflecting the surprised chitters from his swarm-mates. “You’re not going after him?”

“I’m no idiot,” Echo scoffed. “I’m not putting my life on the line by flying into some icy death-trap. We’ll head back and tell Lord Hydreigon what we’ve discovered, and that part of my swarm is out there searching for it and need assistance from pokemon more suited to the climate. Whether or not Rumble returns with it is one thing.” Echo laughed and beat his wings, rising into the air. “If he doesn’t return, then so be it.”

...​

Enigma just wanted to get as far away from that camp as possible. He’d hung around after, remaining out of sight while he licked his wounds. Faith had kept an ear open for him, and Harlequin had refused to leave her side. It wasn’t clear if she’d told the zorua that Enigma had confronted her. They’d kept their voices hushed and he’d not lurked close enough to eavesdrop. Enigma had considered drawing the mawile out again, but she’d been right, as much as he hated to admit it. He was in no fit state to fight. Just one sucker punch off her and he’d crumpled. It was pretty clear she’d been holding back. She hadn’t wanted to hurt him, just knock him away and prevent his killing strike.

Why? Why would she spare a murderer like him?

Enigma paused in the canopy, grimacing as his ribs throbbed. Even warping was too much of a strain. He settled into the trunk to catch his breath and glanced back the way he’d come. No sign of the camp now, but it wasn’t far away. He’d rest here, and follow them again later. He’d find out what was going on with Harlequin, and as soon as his strength returned he’d slay each and every one of those Outcasts, Harlequin included. Hydreigon would just have to make do with a dead whimsicott. At least the threat would have been eradicated. He was much too dangerous to drag back to the Shadow Lands anyway.

Enigma’s stomach growled and he cast a glance around at the surrounding trees. No sign of any berries. And not a single small pokemon in sight. A river, perhaps? At least two ran through the Moorlands Forest, and they were filled with fish. He’d travelled along one with Harlequin only days earlier. He pushed himself up slightly, trying to orient himself. Could he catch one if he tried? They certainly put up a fight when their lives were at stake. One wrong move and even a flailing magikarp could finish him off. And wouldn’t that be a way to go?

He closed his eyes and flopped back against the tree. Perhaps a nap, then he’d see how he felt afterwards?

He drifted in and out of consciousness, each small noise jerking him awake briefly before sleep won once more. He hadn’t been out for long when a voice dragged him permanently out of it. An arguing voice, accompanied by a whole lot of snuffling. He dropped his density until he was completely out of sight and turned his head towards them.

Two canines plodded out of the undergrowth. One walked lightly, head held high and ears pricked as she prattled on to her companion. He scrambled on all-fours beside her, his nose buried in the ground and sniffing at every tree. A tranquiliser gun was strapped around his back, its feathery darts already loaded in place.

Enigma’s heart froze. He recognise both of them. Even in the dim light their identical Heretic marks were clear on their shoulders.

“I told you he wouldn’t be back that way,” the female lycanroc growled. “Why on earth would you suggest searching the Glen? We’ve probably long lost him now.”

Lou growled at her, his crimson eyes flashing, then returned to snuffling amongst the ferns.

“Have you got that ghost’s scent or not?” Roxie asked, turning sharply away from him. “Come on. I’m exhausted, I just want to get back to the lab and my nice warm bed.”

Lou let out a small whine of agreement and abandoned the ferns to join her side, lolloping along on his hind legs.

Enigma let out a breath and rubbed at his face. They were looking for him? Great. Just what he needed. Rio was obviously out for blood if he’d sent his goons after him. At least Enigma had managed to evade them. He watched them go, but he would wait until they were out of sight before letting his guard back down.

Lou stopped suddenly, sniffing at the air.

“What is it now?” Roxie sighed. “Come on!”

But the midnight lycanroc ignored her, turning a one-eighty towards Enigma’s tree. The banette held his breath, bracing himself for any attacks thrown his way. Lou trudged over towards him, nose twitching at the wind. He lowered his head to the tree’s knotted roots, snuffling loudly. Roxie appeared at his side, her face creased with frustration. She nipped her brother’s shoulder, which went unnoticed, then stopped as she spotted what had intrigued him.

“Is that…” She swatted Lou’s muzzle aside to sniff at it. “It is! Blood!”

Enigma looked down at himself and mentally swore. That attack from Faith had reopened the wound in his chest. He shifted, preparing himself to warp away with what little strength he had left. But he’d have to time it right. Any sudden movements and they’d nail him. They’d give chase until he was exhausted, and that wouldn’t be long at all.

Roxie raised her head to look up into the canopy. Enigma was certain she looked right at him. Her ears pricked and her fur ruffled around her neck, but she took a step back and nodded to her brother.

“Lash out,” she said. “Right there. Do it.”

Lou stood back and grinned, a crazed expression accompanied by his glowing red eyes. His claws lit up with dark energy and he kicked off from the ground towards the bough. Enigma leapt back off it, but Lou was fast. His paws struck the banette across the hip, his searing claws shocking Enigma out of hiding. He landed in a crumpled heap on the other side of the tree.

“Whoa, would you look at that, bro?! We found him!” Roxie cheered.

Before Enigma could push himself to his feet, the midday lycanroc was on him. Her paws pressed into his shoulders, and she lowered her muzzle to his nose.

“You look pretty nasty, ghost,” she crooned. “Had a run-in with that whimsicott, eh? Or did someone else get the upper paw?”

Enigma grimaced as he struggled beneath her grip, trying to warp himself free. It was no use. That last attempt to flee had sapped his strength. He met her grin with a sneer.

“Pretty bold,” he choked, “getting so close to an assassin with my reputation.”

“Oh, I don’t think you’d put up much of a fight,” she mocked.

She inclined her head on one side, watching as Enigma ceased his struggling. But he didn’t take his eyes off hers.

“Yanno? I could make you pay for what you did to our B.” Roxie’s voice came out as a dangerous purr. “But Rio wants ya, and we’re gonna take ya to him. So unless you want another beating, I’d come quietly.”

Lou removed the tranq gun from his back and held it ready, aimed in the banette’s direction.

Enigma met Roxie’s glare with one of his own. Rio? Just as he’d guessed. But Enigma wasn’t going back there. Not yet. He wanted that information, but there was no way Rio would give it up so easily. And in Enigma’s condition, he’d be swatted aside like a flea. Several scenarios played through Enigma’s mind, each one ending with him either dead or crammed in a cage along with Rio’s ‘participants’. His heart raced, and the assassin summoned what was left of his strength to phase his right arm free. Just his arm, but it was all he needed. It was inside Roxie’s chest before she even noticed.

A strangled noise came from the lycanroc and her eyes bugged out from their sockets as her frantic pulse weakened beneath Enigma’s claws. She staggered forwards, leaning her weight on her front legs.

“Lou,” she gasped. “Get him… take-”

She gave a small yip and collapsed forwards onto Enigma.

He grunted under her weight, gasping as she crushed his already sore ribs. That had been a much more laboured task than he usually found it, but at least it had done the job. He drifted through her, groaning with the effort, shaking her blood from his claws. Lou stared back at him, his eyes impossibly wide. He looked between his sister and the panting banette, and gave a sad whine. It soon turned into a howl of fury and he tossed the gun aside to lunge at him.

Enigma strafed to the side, bracing himself to bolt into the trees, but the wolf’s eyes followed him. He stuck out a large paw and grabbed Enigma’s scarf, dragging him back towards him. Enigma fell beneath the midnight lycanroc’s weight, pinned by his throat. Dark energy surrounded Lou’s claws, making it impossible to phase through them. Enigma’s claws turned shadowy but only for an instant. He had no strength left to launch another killing strike. Instead, he clawed feebly at the lycanroc’s paw as his breath was choked away from him.

Saliva dripped from Lou’s jaws as a snarl washed over the banette. The lycanroc had split into two, wobbling and bobbing about in Enigma’s vision. He blinked to try and clear it, but it was no use. He tried to land a kick in his gut, but barely had the strength to lift his own leg.

Lou’s eyes widened as a look of realisation crossed his face. He lessened his grip to look back at his sister, giving a small whine. He then turned back to Enigma with a threatening growl. The furious glare in his eyes was one Enigma wouldn’t be forgetting in a hurry. Lou released his throat and brought his paw back down into the side of his head. Enigma rolled away from Lou with the force of it, coughing and spluttering into the dirt as lights danced across his vision. A sharp sting struck his left arm. A wretched dart. The forest turned hazy around him, and he soon lost consciousness.

...​

The cage was complete and set in place, but there was still some tweaking that needed to be done. Tantrum barked commands to Razorclaw as he secured the chain, trying to get it to the correct height. Thunder and Ray tried to electrically charge the cage, but despite the insulated base it just kept discharging off into the floor.

Rio leant against the door to the containment cells, tapping a claw on his lip as he watched everything unfold.

“There has to be some way to keep a steady current flowing through it,” he muttered.

“Short of having them sit against it all day, I hardly think so.” Mint appeared behind him, clutching two mugs of hot berry juice.

Rio took one and sipped it before replying. “I think you might be onto something there.”

“I wasn’t being serious!” Mint gasped.

Rio shrugged and returned to watching the group at work. “I had assigned those two to watch Enigma anyway, since their attacks are ranged. But since there appears to be no way to keep an electric current running through without it grounding, then using a living dynamo might be the best option.”

Mint hugged her arms around herself and muttered incoherently. She shook her head and rounded on the meowstic. “It’s hardly safe, Rio! What you’re doing is already borderline insane. What if there’s a break in the electrical flow and he finds a way out?”

Rio didn’t really have the time to reply. The door burst open and a few heavy grunts drew all eyes towards it. Lou slumped in, dragging what at first glance Rio thought to be a bundle of rags. Clutched in the lycanroc’s massive claws was an unconscious banette fastened firmly in a heavy black scarf.

Rio almost dropped his juice. “Is that-?”

Mint’s leaves rustled as her entire body trembled, and she had to set her cup down on the floor.

“I trust he’s tranquilised?” Rio asked the lycanroc.

Lou snorted and tossed Enigma’s limp body towards the meowstic. Rio unfurled his ears, trapping the ghost in a purple bubble. He shot Lou a glare through it and quickly checked over the battered form hovering before him.

“What on earth happened to him?” he asked.

Lou shrugged and, with a flash of his canines, turned from the room.

“Wait.” Rio caught the lycanroc’s eye. “Are you telling me you didn’t do this?” When Lou didn’t respond, Rio narrowed his eyes, thinking carefully. He looked between the ghost and the lanky wolf. “Where’s your sister?”

A low growl rumbled from Lou’s chest and his lips pulled back from his sharp teeth. He shot a glare at Enigma and his claws twitched.

Rio made a thoughtful noise and stood back from his psychic bubble.

“I see. This project is looking very promising if he can put up such a fight in his condition. Roxie’s sacrifice was not in vain.” Without looking at Lou, Rio turned his back on him and flicked his tails. “You’re dismissed.”

The door slammed, causing the suspended cage to swing on its chain. Razorclaw grabbed it in both paws, stifling the sparks coursing through the frame.

“That was cold, Rio,” Mint whispered.

“I can’t have that crazed wolf seeking vengeance on my subject, can I?” Rio spat. “Although I should be impressed he didn’t slaughter Enigma for it. Even if Lou had done all this damage, it would be restrained for him.”

Mint caught his eye and shook her head, speaking quiet enough so only Rio could hear her. “You’re acting as if you couldn’t care less about Roxie. I know you have a heart, Rio. I’ve seen it before.”

Rio didn’t respond. He looked up at his workers who had stopped everything to stare at the floating Enigma. “What are you doing? Open it up so we can get him inside! Spore darts don’t last indefinitely!”

“But it ain’t finished,” said Tantrum. “We can’t get the electricity to-”

“Then Thunder and Ray will just have to take shifts using their stored electricity to power the enclosure,” said Rio.

The raichu and heliolisk exchanged glances.

Thunder narrowed his eyes. “You aren’t serious?”

“I’m deathly serious,” said Rio. “Until you find another way to power it, or create a dynamo, then the two of you are to act as one.”

Thunder and Ray slumped towards the cage and stuck their tails beneath it, sending a surge of electricity through the frame. Tantrum snatched his claws back quickly before receiving an unpleasant shock.

“I didn’t expect those two t’find him so quickly,” said the vigoroth.

“Neither did I. But he’s here now.” Rio tossed the banette into the cage, and he struck the far wall with a clang. Electricity shocked his unconscious body, and sparked off his fur as he flopped to the ground like a sack of hay, disturbing his hidden bell. “Thunder, you take the first shift. Swap with Ray at sunrise. The rest of you, get some sleep.”

The group of Heretics moved away from the cage, leaving Rio and Thunder behind. All except Mint. She joined Rio’s side and fumbled her paws together.

“So you’re really doing this?” she said.

Rio nodded. “Absolutely. He’ll be the best weapon I’ve ever created.”

“You sound very confident.” Mint gave him a sideways glance. “I imagine you said the same about Project B.”

“I speculated Project B would be a powerful weapon,” Rio explained. “But the effects of pokerus were unknown to me. Now I know what to expect. And with the right precautions in place, once Enigma is trained and fully under its control, the Shadow Lands will be at my mercy.”

Mint hugged her arms around herself, watching Enigma’s shallow breathing like a frightened rodent. “You really think this will work?”

“I don’t think it will work, Mint,” said Rio. “I know it will.”
 
Chapter 33

DeliriousAbsol

*Crazy Absol Noises*
Location
Behind a laptop, most likely with tea
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. mawile
33 - Infected​

It was a somewhat gloomy morning. The sky was smattered with clouds, which the sun seemed insistent on remaining behind despite the vast smudges of blue between the grey. Cleo was grateful for it. It meant it would be likely to rain soon, bringing an end to the oddly dry cooling season.

Faith assisted Cleo in folding away the blue sheet that had formed their tent, while Spark and Mischief popped the pegs away. The dedenne almost keeled backwards under the weight of the iron thorns, but refused Harlequin’s offer to help. No one had been surprised at the zorua’s offer. Since leaving the Fairy Garden, Harlequin had been oddly compliant. No longer did they wear that sneer or try to intimidate the Outcasts with constant glares.

Cleo cast a glance at the zorua, sat hunched beneath the tree that had held up their tent. Harlequin’s blue eyes were dark, watching the group with a sad, wounded expression Cleo hadn’t seen before. Harlequin’s ears were droopy, and they cast occasional glances back towards a bramble thicket. Cleo followed their gaze, but it was as barren as the trees surrounding them. The meowstic’s eye found the mega stone around Harlequin’s neck and she returned to folding the sheet.

“We can’t go back,” she told Harlequin. “If we find your friend on our journey, then that will be an added bonus.”

Harlequin looked up at her abruptly. “I wasn’t-” The zorua drifted off and sighed. “I was just thinking. That’s all.”

Faith gave Cleo the ends of the sheet so she could tuck it away. “If you need to talk to us, Harlequin, you can.”

Cleo looked from the stunned zorua to Faith’s sympathetic smile. Ordinarily she’d want to tell the mawile that they didn’t let their prisoners confide in them. The Darkness would only feed them lies. But there was something very odd about Harlequin.

The zorua shook their head and looked away. “I’m fine.”

“Okay.” Faith beamed and moved over to Harlequin. “Then let’s finish clearing up. We need to remove all evidence we were here right?”

Cleo stood up straight, stuffing the sheet haphazardly into her bag to free her paws. “Faith, be careful! You’re getting too close.”

“It’s fine, Cleo, really.” Faith dropped to a crouch where they’d been sleeping to smooth out the ground. “You need to have a little more faith in others.”

Spark and Mischief both stopped what they were doing to watch the mawile and zorua. Harlequin shifted uneasily and returned to gazing at the thicket, leaving Faith to finish the task she’d started. After a few short moments, Faith rose and beat the dirt from her paws.

“Done!” She turned a smile onto her new friends and tucked her paws behind her back. “I think we’re finished here, aren’t we?”

Cleo nodded stiffly and adjusted her bag over her shoulders. She gathered the sack of medicine and tossed it across her back, just before Spark decided to claim her free shoulder. Without a word, Cleo lead the group away from their campsite, retracing her steps back towards the dirt path. She didn’t remove her map to check where they were. It wasn’t needed. She knew they needed to follow the path until they reached the glen, taking the longer route through the Moorlands Forest to avoid Heretic territory and the darkest, deepest parts that the Darkness liked to lurk in. But it wasn’t just that. She was feeling unsettled. Faith’s blind acceptance of Harlequin had set a fire inside Cleo. She’d seen it in the Fairy Garden, and it had confused her, but given everyone was that way inclined made it seem less… odd. However, outside the Fairy Garden, in the dangers of the world, Faith’s behaviour was beginning to rub Cleo the wrong way. It wasn’t that there was anything wrong with Faith. She was lovely. Perhaps she was too lovely? It made her seem oblivious.

Faith was just ahead of Cleo, chatting with Mischief. The whismicott was still as quiet as he’d been when they arrived back at New City. Their voices seemed loud in the silent forest, but it washed over Cleo before she could process it. Even Spark had fallen silent, perched on Cleo’s shoulder as she tucked into her breakfast of the last overripe cheri berry they’d managed to rustle out of New City’s supplies.

“Faith?”

The mawile looked round at Cleo’s voice and stopped so the meowstic could catch up with her. Mischief gave them a glance over his shoulder and continued on ahead out of Harlequin’s reach.

Faith’s smile dissolved into a concerned frown as she read Cleo’s face, and she inclined her head on one side. “Is something wrong?”

Cleo steered her along with a paw and spoke in a low voice. “You need to be more careful around Harlequin.”

“Why?” Faith asked. “She’s not done me any harm. She’s actually been good company.”

Spark snorted at that, and Cleo cringed as a sticky glob of cheri soaked through her fur.

“I know she worked for the Darkness,” Faith went on, and Cleo didn’t fail to notice the deliberate past-tense, “but pokemon can change when given the chance. Can’t you see it?” She waved a paw towards the zorua. “Is that really the same pokemon who tried to hurt you?”

Cleo grit her teeth. Faith had a point, and Cleo knew it. She glanced back at Harlequin trudging behind them, head low, ears back. No longer fighting their constraints. No longer throwing verbal abuse. No threats to attract their evil allies. Had Harlequin actually changed or were they just accepting their fate? They had managed to enter the Fairy Garden, after all.

Cleo sighed and shook her head. “I don’t know what to believe, Faith. But trust me, you should be careful. I don’t trust Harlequin as far as I can throw her.”

Faith gave Cleo a small, friendly smile. “It doesn’t hurt to be nice though, does it? I know she’s your prisoner and I know what she’s done, but you need to give others a chance. Besides, it’s pretty clear she’s upset. She’s stuck here as your prisoner, the world she’s known since birth is changing around her, and she’s just discovered a friend she believed dead is alive! Not to mention her other friend who is fatally wounded. She’s worried sick!”

Cleo looked up so abruptly Spark had to cling to her ruff before she tumbled to the floor.

“Careful!” Spark squeaked. “I almost lost my breakfast!”

“Fatally wounded?” Cleo asked. “Is that what she told you? Because I hardly doubt someone with that level of injuries can-”

“She hasn’t told me anything,” Faith explained. “I’ve seen him for myself.”

Cleo’s jaw went slack and she felt a tug at her wrist. Harlequin stopped dead, staring wide-eyed at Faith.

“When?” Cleo’s voice was thick with warning.

Faith’s expression fell and she brushed a lock of black fur back from her face. “He appeared to me last night.”

“While you were on watch?” Cleo’s eyes narrowed. “Why didn’t you wake us?”

“He was hardly a threat,” Faith explained. “I knew something wasn’t right since he lured me out. If he was going to-”

Cleo threw her arms in the air. “It could have been an ambush! Didn’t you consider that?”

Faith opened her mouth, but it was Harlequin who spoke. “Enigma doesn’t work like that.”

Everyone looked to Harlequin. Their head was still low, but a look of confidence had taken over their dour expression.

“He’s a lone wolf,” Harlequin went on. “The only pokemon he’s ever worked with are me and Kera.”

Cleo snorted. “I’ve never heard of a Kera.”

“You won’t have,” said Harlequin. “She was killed many years ago. You were probably still a hatchling.” Harlequin raised their head slightly. “My point is, it couldn’t have been an ambush. No one else in the Shadow Lands will co-operate with him.”

Everyone was silent for a moment, staring at the zorua as they took it all in.

“Yeah, no,” said Spark. “I don’t buy it.”

“Me neither,” said Cleo. “How can we be certain what you’re saying is even the truth?”

Harlequin’s eyes narrowed. “Because he’s a ghost-type. Think about it. What does Hydriegon want?”

“I thought ghost-types worked for Hydreigon?” said Cleo.

“He’s the only one.”

Cleo blinked at that, unsure what to make of it.

“This makes zero sense,” said Spark. “If you’re telling the truth and he’s the only one, then why’s he workin’ for Hydreigon of all pokemon?”

Harlequin shrugged. “I don’t know. I could never work Enigma out. He’s not an open book and he never talks about his past. But it’s not only you outsiders who are scared of him, let me tell you that. If any other Darkness would co-operate it would be out of fear, either of Enigma or Hydreigon. Like I’ve told you before, fear is a strong motivator in the Shadow Lands. You either obey, flee or die.” Harlequin paused and jerked their face away. “And hardly anyone manages to flee without being hunted down.”

There was no hostility on Harlequin’s face. It was clear they weren’t lying. Cleo let her arms relax at her sides. She looked between Faith and Harlequin, feeling that fire inside her fade away.

“The problem is,” said Cleo, “Faith still left us exposed to confront Enigma.”

“She wasn’t the only one awake.” Harlequin dodged Cleo’s probing stare and flashed a canine. “I couldn’t sleep, okay? I saw her get up and go, and when she didn’t come back I panicked. When I heard Enigma’s bell, I thought he…” Harlequin trailed off and closed their eyes, but a lone tear glistened at the corner of their eye. “Forget it.”

Faith beamed and rocked back on her heels. “He didn’t hurt me. He couldn’t in his condition anyway.” Her expression fell and she brushed her fur back from her face. “If anything, I just made things worse.” She caught Harlequin’s worried glance. “I offered to help, but… I’m sorry, Harlequin.”

Harlequin lowered their head and looked away. “Don’t worry about it. You had to defend yourself.” The zorua’s blue eyes welled with tears. “He’s just stubborn.”

Cleo stared at Harlequin, aghast. Was she actually hearing this? No scathing retort? No accusations towards Faith? Cleo glanced back at Mischief who was waiting patiently a few feet away, watching.

“He’s pretty good at hiding things, too,” Faith went on. “I hadn’t realised he was hurt at first, otherwise I wouldn’t have retaliated.” She wound her paws together, and Cleo fidgeted beside her as she followed the mawile’s glance towards the thicket. “I really hope he’s okay.”

Cleo bit her lip and gave herself a mental shake.

“If not, it’s one less assassin to worry about.” She steered a stuttering Faith back onto the path, ignoring a low growl from Harlequin.

She wasn’t about to start worrying about Enigma. Not if he was still trying to pose a threat.

Cleo kept her sights on the path, ushering Faith ahead of her. “Let’s get a move on before Stonehaven wonders where we are?”

...​

Quiet voices infiltrated Enigma’s mind as the black fog of unconsciousness lifted. Bright light stung his eyes and he screwed them shut. Wherever he was, it definitely wasn’t a forest. The floor was much too hard, and slipped beneath his fur. Everything hurt. It was impossible to push himself up, and every one of his limbs felt like lead. Sluggish, reluctant to move. His muscles complained with the effort, manifesting into a groan as he flopped onto his back like a beached magikarp.

“Finally back in the land of the living, I see?”

Enigma’s breath froze. He knew that smooth, mocking voice. He cracked an eye open, blinking until the shadowy form of a meowstic came into focus. Rio sat beside him, criss-crossed by a mesh of fine metal bars. The meowstic’s icy blue eyes watched Enigma’s every movement as the banette tried to push himself up to no avail. A quick survey of his surroundings confirmed his fears, however. He was in a cage, suspended in the middle of what appeared to be clinically clean cells. Several curious and fearful eyes watched from behind their own enclosures. The only pokemon close enough to strike were Rio, and a raichu and heliolisk. The latter was sat so close to Enigma he could stuff his paw right through his back and out his front if the assassin had the strength.

Instead, the banette shuffled backwards into the bars, lifting a paw to rub his eyes. But as soon as his back met the metal, a surge of electricity coursed through him. He let out a cry and rolled away from them, lying stunned and wide-eyed in the middle of the enclosure.

Rio quirked an eyebrow at him and lowered the pen he’d been writing with. “That wasn’t exactly the way I wanted you to discover that little mechanic.”

Enigma narrowed his eyes at the meowstic and tried to push himself up again, but his muscles were still jerking with the electricity.

Rio put his folder on the chair beside him and reached for a green box by his feet. “It might not be comfortable but it’s a necessary feature if I’m going to keep you detained.”

“You can’t keep me here forever, Rio.” Enigma’s voice came out embarrassingly weak and hoarse.

He managed to push himself up, sitting awkwardly. His fur was on end, and his mane was a dishevelled mess. From the smirk Rio gave him, it was clear Enigma looked more pathetic than wild.

“I know full well ghost-types can’t phase through the elements,” Rio explained. “So long as that cage is charged with static, you won’t be going anywhere.”

Enigma looked back at the heliolisk, who glanced back at him with a look of uncertainty. So that’s what the lizard was doing? Enigma cast another glance around at the bars as Rio continued speaking.

“I don’t imagine you’ve ever found yourself in this situation before? I mean… detaining a ghost-type?” He chuckled. “I suppose I’m the first one to manage it? There aren’t enough of you left for the Outcasts to have considered locking up someone of your reputation. Although it was surprisingly easy.”

A sharp click came from Rio, snapping Enigma’s attention back. The meowstic had opened the green box, and Enigma’s blood turned cold. Several pink syringes glistened in the artificial light.

“You’re not looking very well.” Rio looked up at him with a smirk. “What happened to you to get you into such a state?”

Enigma lowered his head but didn’t take his eyes off Rio. “I think you know full well what happened to me, doc.”

“I think I have an idea.” Rio leant back in his seat, leaving the open box on his lap. “Either you had a nasty run-in with someone you severely underestimated, or Lou is very… very… unhappy with you for murdering his sister.”

Enigma sneered at Rio’s mocking smirk.

“Either way,” Rio went on, “I think it’s clear to anyone that you’re not as terrifying as the rumours say. Someone gets the upper paw, and look at you.” The meowstic rose to his feet, almost dancing in Enigma’s crimson glare. “Battered, bruised, and locked in a cage! Pokemon will be writing songs about this. The feared jingling assassin, brought to his knees by a mere scientist!”

Enigma dug his claws into the plastic base that served as a floor, watching the meowstic’s every movement. Rio swivelled on the spot to face him, paws tucked behind his back. He lowered his face to the bars, and a few stray sparks of static danced harmlessly across his whiskers.

“I can give you that reputation back,” Rio went on. “No… I can renew it. Pokemon will have nightmares about the shadowy figure who breaks into homes to kill them while they sleep.”

“I don’t kill pokemon while they sleep, Rio.” Enigma narrowed his eyes and his voice was laced with venom. “I like them to see me do it.”

Rio stood and raised his paws in a shrug. “Whatever takes your fancy. I’m giving you something bigger than the tools you’ve been using.”

Enigma’s spine stiffened. “’Giving’?”

Rio chuckled. “Caught that, did you? Well, I guess Hydreigon doesn’t keep you around for nothing.” He turned back to the box and pulled out a syringe. “No. You don’t have a choice in the matter.”

Enigma’s eyes were no longer on Rio. They followed a small spray of pink as it flew from the fine point of the needle. His heart galloped, beating against his sore chest, and he frantically sought a way out of the cage. But there was nothing. Just a lock on the other side of the fine mesh walls, unreachable through the field of static.

“So I was right,” he said as calmly as he could muster. “You are making monsters.”

“Call them what you will,” said Rio. “But I prefer ‘living weapons’.”

He turned back to Enigma with a flourish, brandishing the needle in one paw. Enigma’s eyes widened, losing their ferocity. He shuffled backwards, away from Rio.

“What is it?” he demanded, his voice remaining steady.

“I suppose there’s no harm in telling you, since you’ll be receiving it very soon anyway.” Rio looked from the needle back to Enigma and grinned. “Besides, I’m really enjoying seeing you like this.” He crouched slightly as if he was addressing a hatchling. “Tell me. How does it feel to be on the receiving end of your mortality?”

Enigma said nothing, willing the confidence to return to his glare. But it washed over Rio like water.

The meowstic rose again and frowned down at the quaking banette. “This,” he said, indicating the syringe, “is just a little pokerus. Not the kind you’re familiar with, but one that bends the infected victim to its will. It makes them stronger, faster, more fierce. And, as I found out during Project A, who sadly couldn’t handle the strain, it possesses remarkable regeneration properties.”

Enigma spat at that. “Your tyranitar crumpled like paper.”

“I said it helps to regenerate, but I didn’t say it could help one grow back an entire limb or restore a mashed heart.” Rio flashed his canines then quickly regained his composure. “Now. Shall we begin?”

Enigma tensed as Rio moved closer, reaching for a set of keys hidden in his tail. The banette braced himself, looking between Rio and the two electric types. If he timed it right, he could spring from the cage and end them all before they even had the chance to ready their counter-attacks. He’d regained enough of his strength to vanish and warp. It might be messy, but he could make it out of this alive.

The keys rose into the air in Rio’s psychic, and he motioned to the raichu. The large electric mouse’s cheeks crackled, and a few threads of electricity ran up and down his long tail. Enigma’s heart sank as any hope of leaving vanished into thin air. Rio was smart. Too smart.

The keys rattled in the lock at the same time the raichu released a thunder wave. Enigma crumpled to the bottom of the cage, cursing loudly. He turned his head stiffly towards the door as it pinged open, revealing Rio’s stoic face. The keys hung from his paw as he lifted the syringe with his psychic.

“Don’t worry,” he told Enigma. “It will only hurt for a moment.”

The banette hissed as Rio injected the pink liquid into his shoulder. It was over in an instant. The cage door slammed shut and the rattle of the lock made Enigma’s heart sink even further.

Rio swung the keys around in his paw, smirking at the assassin. Electricity still sparked over Enigma’s smoky grey fur.

“You might want to get some rest,” Rio told him. “Although… my subjects do tend to complain of tiredness after being infected. But they do often wake up as right as rain! I’ll be back later to check on you.” He turned from the room, and the raichu plodded along behind him, leaving Enigma with the heliolisk and a lot of curious eyes.

Enigma pushed himself up, his limbs stiff once again, and muttered under his breath. He stared out at the lab, noting the vast array of pokemon locked in cages and the wary eye of the heliolisk. Sparks danced up and down the mesh frame of his cage, a constant reminder of the nasty shock he’d receive if he tried to phase through it.

Enigma swore again and slumped in the middle of his prison. Great. How was he meant to get out of this one?

...​

Rio strolled back into his office, whistling a jaunty tune. He twirled the keys around his paw and tossed them towards his desk, startling Mint. She dropped the documents she’d been reading and upset a glass of watmel juice, sending its luminous green contents over Rio’s paperwork.

Rio tutted and joined the grovyle as she hastily tried to mop it all up.

“I am so sorry!” All words seemed to come out at once, and she avoided looking directly at Rio, her eyes wide.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “It’s all expired data anyway.”

She turned her head stiffly towards him, pausing mid-mop. “You’re in a good mood…”

“I have reason to be!” Rio tossed a wad of soggy paper into his waste basket and wiped his paws on his ruff. “My plan is officially in motion. I have Enigma behind bars and successfully infected.”

“And his memories removed, I hope?”

“Now why would I do that?” Rio reached for his Project C folder and flopped into his seat, nicely warmed by Mint.

The grovyle stared down at him, her jaw slack. The odd sound came from her, but nothing remotely coherent.

Rio paused his writing to look up at her. “You seem at a loss for words?”

“Why on earth aren’t you removing his memories?!” Mint spat.

“Simple, really.” Rio returned to scrawling his notes. “Revenge. I want him to experience every last moment leading up to me eradicating his memories. I want him to suffer for what he’s done.” He paused and tapped his pen on his lip, gazing off at the far wall. “In fact… come to think of it… it may be much more convenient to leave them with him. Or at least not remove them entirely.”

Mint leant backwards into the desk and placed her paws on it to steady herself. “Rio… you really can’t do this. If you leave him with them then there’s nothing stopping him from wiping us out first!”

“That was always a risk, memories or not. When one of these weapons goes wild, they lose all sense of morality and attack whatever moves. Project B had no memories prior to infection, just like every other subject, and it was wild towards even those who cared for it every day.”

“Yes, but you’ve not had a member of the Darkness here before!” Mint’s voice lost its certainty and wobbled as she added, “Have you?”

“Only Boomer, but he was too curious to pose a threat. And I didn’t go into detail about pokerus’ interesting little side-effect.” Rio didn’t look up from his notes, and he paused to scrawl down the day’s updates. “Stop worrying, Mint. All memories will be erased to protect us come the time he’s released, including any hostility towards me. None of our subjects have found their way back here voluntarily.” A light went on in Rio’s mind and he drifted for a moment as something began to form. “But… If we were to leave Enigma some sense of where his home is… he might head straight back there first.” He wagged his pen as excitement filled his chest. “This… this might work.”

Mint stared at him wordlessly, following him with her eyes as he rose from his seat.

“We wouldn’t need to bait him to the Shadow Lands,” he said quickly. “The bait would already be there!” He began to pace back and forth behind his desk. “As a precaution we always remove any memories of the lab and the pokemon here, to prevent the amnesiacs from returning back here. That just leaves them to go wild out in the forest or wherever they are dropped. But if we were to leave Enigma’s memories of the Shadow Lands he’d be drawn back there, and none of us would have to enter the Border Woods! He’d do our job for us! This is perfect!”

“All right,” said Mint. “And in the meantime, what about the rest of the Darkness?”

Rio stopped to look back at her. “What do you mean?”

“Enigma has been here before,” she explained. “He’s seen what you’re up to. He destroyed your tyranitar, and he knows of Type18. You let him leave, so what if he’s told Hydreigon or someone else in the Darkness? When Hydreigon notices Enigma is missing, he could have him traced back here!”

“That’s always been a risk,” said Rio. “That’s why this place is hidden behind my shield.”

Mint let out a flustered sigh. “You’re forgetting most of Hydreigon’s troops use odour sleuth. The mighteyena pack. The Wildfires!”

Rio rolled his eyes.

“They’ll be through here in an instant!” Mint went on, taking a step closer to him. “You’ve hardly any defences here at all! You have what… ten pokemon working for you? And one of them is a hatchling!”

“What about my army of living weapons?”

“Terrified, unstable amnesiacs?” Mint gasped. “Trust me, Rio. Your plan is seriously flawed!”

Rio shook his head and looked away from her.

“You’re losing it, Rio,” said Mint. “Hydreigon has already lost two of his aces, and now you have a third locked up here! And before that, you even had Harlequin!”

Rio rounded on her and flicked his tails. “I know what I’m doing, Mint! I know the risks I’m taking! They’re for the greater good!”

Mint sighed and rubbed her paws over her face. “I know you think that, Rio, but you’re playing with fire.”

Rio’s eyes flashed and his fur stood on end. “Don’t you talk to me about fire,” he hissed. “You weren’t there!”

Mint placed her paws on his shoulders and his fur smoothed back out. But his twin tails swished dangerously behind him. Regardless, Mint met his eyes, her warm amber ones trying to melt through Rio’s ice.

“I know you hate Hydreigon,” said Mint. “We all do! We all want him gone, and we’d do anything to see that happen. But this…?”

“Fine.” Rio shoved her paws away and turned his back.

“Rio, please!”

“If you’re too afraid to help, Mint, then leave.”

Mint fell back into his desk, her eyes stinging with tears as she watched him march from his office. As the door slammed, she screwed her eyes shut and choked on a sob.

“I can’t leave you… not this time.”
 
Chapter 34

DeliriousAbsol

*Crazy Absol Noises*
Location
Behind a laptop, most likely with tea
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. mawile
34 - Falling into Place​

Starshine scurried along the office floor after Tad, flapping his fluffy wings to steady himself. His tiny talons scraped and skidded over Tinker’s discarded paperwork, throwing the little hatchling off balance. The odd word left Starshine’s beak, joined together with a garble of incomprehensible noises. The ones that stood out were ‘Tad’, ‘play’ and ‘berry’, but the rest just wouldn’t register in Tinker’s brain.

The riolu sat hunched over his desk with his head in one paw, trying to make notes for the adjustments he needed to do to his transporter device. So far he was the only pokemon to use it. However, he had the daunting feeling he’d be needing it a lot more in the near future and didn’t have the confidence it could safely transport hundreds of pokemon one after the other. Not to mention the strain of sending him back and forth to gather them one by one. He’d need it to be able to cope with a large number of pokemon, and so far the maths just wasn’t coming to him.

Not to mention he needed to head to Stonehaven to make sure Cleo had delivered those medicinal berries. Although he knew Cleo wouldn’t leave the city in dire straits, Tinker had the strong feeling she wouldn’t report back as ordered. She’d changed a lot since she’d encountered that mawile, and it left Tinker feeling very unsettled.

A loud crash caused Tinker’s quill to slip across his paper, and he turned sharply to see a mound of notes and diagrams cascading down onto the little swablu. Starshine lay in a bundle of fluffy feathers amid an upturned document box, while Tad rolled around on his back in hysterics.

Skipper gathered up the box, casting Tinker an apologetic look. “Sorry, Tink. Got a li’l outta paw there.”

Tad pushed himself up to look at Skipper. “That was funny, aye?”

Starshine flopped back onto his feet and shook off a sheet of paper that to him was like a blanket. “S’funny.”

“So long as none o’ ya are hurt, that’s what counts, aye?” Skipper placed the box back where it was and ushered Starshine and Tad away from it. “Be more careful, ye wee nyaffs.”

The swablu and mudkip scampered away towards the door, which was the only area of Tinker’s office that was somewhat barren of paperwork and boxes. Tinker watched them for a moment then returned to his notes, resting his head in his paw again. A small sigh left him and he tossed the ink-stained sheet aside for a fresh one.

Skipper rubbed his head fin and slumped heavily onto his stool beside Tinker. “She’s right, yanno.”

Tinker had to turn his head fully to see the marshtomp, who was watching the two hatchlings batting a crumpled ball of paper back and forth across the floor. “Who?”

“Cleo.” Skipper looked back at him and spread his flippers slightly. “She’s right. Ye cannae keep the wee tyke locked up in ‘ere all th’time.”

Tinker shrugged and scrawled something entirely unrelated to his maths on the paper. “Well, it’s our only option. We can’t send him out there among the other pokemon. It wouldn’t be fair.”

“Neither’s keepin’ ‘im cooped up in ‘ere.”

Tinker shook his head and sighed. His head had been swirling with Cleo and her nonsense since she’d left with that mawile in tow.

“I’m just sayin’,” Skipper went on, “that I think it’s time we introduced ‘im to th’rest o’ New City.”

“It wouldn’t go down well.”

“They already know about ‘im, Tink,” said Skipper. “Sooner or later you’ve gotta let him out there. This place is ‘ardly a safe playroom for a wee hatchling who’s found ‘is legs.”

As if on cue, another crash came from the corner, and Tad and Starshine dashed away from a tumbling tower of boxes. Tinker leapt to his feet and caught the middle one before the entire thing came toppling down. When he looked up, Skipper stood beside him with the top-most box clasped in his flippers. The marshtomp steadied it and set it back in place.

“See?” Skipper gestured to the leaning tower. “Not a safe place, unless ye willin’ t’clean it up a bit.”

Tinker beat his paws together and returned to his desk. He couldn’t deny Cleo was right. Starshine was becoming quite the hyperactive paw-full, and Tinker couldn’t very well expect Skipper to babysit whenever he was busy. Skipper had his own duties to attend to.

“Perhaps you’re right,” said Tinker. “But I’m just not ready for that yet. Perhaps leave it until I return from Stonehaven?”

Skipper shrugged and flopped back down beside his friend. “All right, Tink, but ye cannae put it off forever.”

“Like I just said, when I return.”

Skipper tucked his flippers behind his head. “When are ye goin’ then?”

“This afternoon.” Tinker rubbed one of his ears and cast a nervous glance at Starshine. The hatchlings were watching the two adults with an avid curiosity. “The problem is, what do I do about him?”

“Aye, ye cannae take ‘im with ye, right enough.”

“No. I don’t want to risk taking a hatchling with me. I’d be terrified of the consequences.”

“I dinnae mind watchin’ ‘im for ye, Tink,” said Skipper. “He ain’t too much of a paw-full.”

Tinker looked up at him, his eyes wide. “You really don’t mind watching him for me while I’m gone?”

“Not at all!” Skipper laughed. “He ain’t no trouble, an’ he keeps Tad outta mischief. I’m sure Lily’ll be delighted n’all.”

“Well…” Tinker rubbed his muzzle. “With you and Lily taking care of him, then that does make me feel better.”

“Wait… Ya goin’ somewhere?” Tad inclined his head on one side. “Does that mean Starshine is stayin’ wi’ us for a wee while?”

Skipper chortled and smacked his knee. “Aye, sure enough, if Dad dinnae mind it?”

Tinker blinked his eyes a few times. “I beg your pardon?”

Starshine fluttered his wings and chirruped, flopping towards Tinker. “Dad!”

Tinker blinked again, and felt his cheeks flush. “Did he just call me-”

“Aww, c’mon, Tink!” Skipper scooped up the swablu and tweaked his beak with a claw. “He’s always thought it, ain’t ye, tyke?”

Starshine fixed his beady eyes on Tinker and gave a happy chirrup.

Tinker rubbed his ear and cleared his throat as he rose from his seat. “Yes, well… I had better get ready for my trip.” The riolu paused by the door marked ‘keep out’ and froze, looking back at Skipper. “Hang on. Did you say Starshine will be ‘staying with you’?”

A small smirk spread across Skipper’s muzzle. “Yer a bright one, Tink. It’ll be that scientist brain o’yers.”

“I… I’m not ready for him to leave this office yet.”

“Dinnae worry yeseln, Tink. I’m only takin’ him to me ‘n’ my sis. He won’t be gallivantin’ around New City, dinnae get ye tail in a twist.”

Tinker’s stomach knotted but he nodded stiffly. “Okay. But if there is any trouble at all whatsoever-”

Skipper nodded. “Send word t’Stonehaven. Gotcha.”

Tinker nodded in return and slipped into the room. But that awful feeling refused to lift. He deeply hoped nothing would go amiss while he was away.

...​

Enigma was greeted once again by that stabbing bright light. He screwed his eyes shut and rubbed a paw over them until they finally managed to adjust. His head felt like it was stuffed with cotton wool, and it took a good few moments for him to remember where he was.

The white walls of the Heretic lab glared back at him with way too much brightness, almost as if they were trying to oppress him. Enigma shoved himself up in the middle of his cage and dragged his claws through his mane a few times. It had been a good sleep. An odd one, but a good one. Shortly after Rio had infected him with that pokerus, Enigma had felt oddly fatigued. He assumed it was a side effect, and one he accepted. Enigma could often go several nights without sleep thanks to his insomnia. Unfortunately it meant when he did finally sleep he felt groggy and grumpy, and incredibly lethargic.

He stretched his arms out and yawned, greeted by a stinging soreness in his side. It cut him off part way and he opened his eyes wide to look down at himself. It wasn’t that horrid stab he’d grown familiar with that would be followed by a racking cough. He nudged his scarf to the side and trailed his claws through his fur. It was still sore, but the bruising had faded significantly, and that nasty wound had scabbed over. He tipped his head to the side and made a thoughtful noise. Rio had said that pokerus had odd regenerative purposes, but Enigma hadn’t expected it to be this quick. Surely Rio knew about it? If not, Enigma was going to use this little bit of knowledge to his advantage. If he played up that he was still sore and unable to fight then Rio might let his guard down and he’d be easy pickings.

The banette lowered his paws to his lap and had another glance around the room. It wasn’t any different to the previous night, save for the raichu sat back against the cage. So he’d exchanged places with the heliolisk? Electricity danced over the thick mesh, creating a low hum. Beyond the raichu was a wall of enclosures, each one with several pokemon staring out at Enigma. No fear was reflected in their eyes. Just curiosity. He was pretty convinced they’d looked afraid the night before. What had changed?

Rio.

Rio wasn’t in the room.

Enigma chuckled and rubbed his paws over his face. So those captives weren’t afraid of him? Didn’t they know who he was? Perhaps not, if they’d been stuck in a lab most of their lives.

The wall opposite him parted and he looked up as a white door swung open towards him. He was expecting to see Rio, but instead a furret shuffled in, pushing a dining trolley stoked up with baskets of overripe berries. A tiny sentret followed after her and froze, staring straight at Enigma. His face split into a grin and he bounced on his tail with glee.

“Wow!” The little hatchling scampered towards the cage, and the raichu looked up with a start. “Is that Enigma?! This is so cool! How did you-”

The furret dropped her basket and lunged for the hatchling, but her paws fell short. Instead, the sentret was raised in a psychic bubble and held upside down before Enigma’s cage. The furret looked startled for a moment, then she let out a sigh and pushed herself back to her feet. The sentret was carried into her paws and she took him by the scruff.

Rio appeared at her side, accompanied by the heliolisk and a grovyle. Enigma narrowed his eyes at the grass-type. By the anxious look on her face, and the nervous muttering that immediately followed her entry, he’d met her before. Yes… he remembered her. And she clearly remembered the threat he’d given her.

Apparently she’d known much, much more than she’d told him.

“Finish feeding my test subjects,” Rio told the furret. “And perhaps leave Scout outside in the future?”

The furret nodded and adjusted her grip on her child so he was held in both arms.

“Aww!” he protested. “But I want to stay! Let me stay, Mum, please?”

“No.” She turned and shuffled back to the door. “You’re going to help Spelon and Rowlap, okay? They’re on guard duty. You like that.”

“But it’s so much more fun in here!”

The door closed on the sentret and the furret muttered an apology to Rio and immediately gathered up the fallen berries. Rio didn’t respond, keeping his full attention on Enigma.

“Sprightly kid,” said Enigma.

Rio tucked his paws behind his back. “If you think that child provides a weakness in my ranks, you are very much mistaken. I couldn’t care less.”

The furret cast a glance in their direction. Her fur bristled along her lithe body, and she trembled from ear to tail. A small smirk tugged at Enigma’s lips and she jerked her face away to continue her task.

“You’re looking better,” Rio told Enigma. “It works pretty quickly, doesn’t it?”

Enigma’s smirk fell and he sat back on his paws. “I suppose I should never have doubted you’d already be aware of that, huh?” He paused and flashed Rio a playful grin. “Oh well. I guess you’re smarter than me.”

Rio’s ruff bristled at the mocking tone in Enigma’s voice, and his twin tails swished behind him. The meowstic’s icy blue eyes flashed as his ears unfurled, and Enigma was propelled to the back of the cage. Electricity surged through his body and he let out a loud yell that caused the furret to drop her basket again. The surrounding captives ducked back into their cage, their panicked voices filling the room. After a few seconds, Rio released Enigma, letting him slump back to the floor.

The banette pushed himself up onto all-fours and glared back at the meowstic. He flopped back to his bottom and adjusted his scarf, breathing heavily.

Rio tucked his paws back behind him, his face relaxing back to its calm and stoic expression. His irritation was betrayed by his swishing tails. “I’ve been researching this pokerus strain for many seasons now, Enigma. And with each mutation it gets faster. Not just the regeneration,” he waved a paw at Enigma’s smoldering fur, “but everything. The power creep, the madness.”

Enigma’s eyes widened. Madness? The vivid image of that whimsicott’s maniacal face filling his vision popped into his mind. That severe beating from its frantic paws. The howling visage of a primal tyranitar. So that’s what it was? This pokerus? Enigma closed his eyes briefly and took a deep breath to steady himself.

‘Oh, how much have you held back from me, Rio?’

He didn’t voice the question. It was fairly obvious Rio had been less than honest. That whimsicott had originated here, in that lab. That much was obvious. That meant Rio was responsible for Boomer’s demise. A low chuckle shook Enigma’s chest. It was all falling into place, piece by piece.

“Has something amused you?” Rio asked. “Or do you need another reminder of your position in this place?”

Enigma fixed him with an amused stare. “Not at all. Perhaps it’s that madness you were just talking about?”

Mint’s leaves stiffened and she placed a paw on Rio’s shoulder. “Don’t you think you’re telling him too much?”

“It doesn’t matter.” Rio didn’t take his eyes off Enigma. “It’s not as if he’s able to leave here.”

“Yes, but…” Mint watched Rio as he reached beneath the chair he’d been occupying the previous night for a pair of cuffs. “You’re dong this now?! Rio, you really should remove his memories first. This is too dangerous!”

Rio gave a sharp hiss and looked back at her. “I know what I’m doing, Mint. How many times do I need to explain things to you?”

Enigma’s fur prickled along his spine. Memories? He glanced over at the other captives, who were once again peering out at them with a look of fearful curiosity.

Fearful. Rio.

Enigma was right. They really didn’t have any idea who he was. And it wasn’t because they’d been raised in the lab. They didn’t know anything of the world beyond those clinical white walls. Rio wasn’t a genius at all. He was sick. Enigma clenched his jaw until his teeth hurt, and his claws dug into the plastic base. Harlequin had been right. The world was a mess.

“You’ll undergo daily training sessions,” Rio told Enigma. “It will be the only time you’ll be leaving your cage. And I want you to be aware that all my assistants are more than capable of dealing with you and your attacks. I have three normal-types here who aren’t affected by your shadow sneak, four electric-types two of which can handle you very easily, and a sandslash who carries a very capable night slash which I think would leave you feeling very sorry for yourself.” Rio straightened to meet Enigma’s eye. “And he’s not the only one here who knows it.”

Enigma met his glare silently.

“Open the door,” Rio demanded.

He handed his keys to Ray, and the heliolisk stood up straight to hide his anxiety behind a facade of confidence. His neck frill sparked and he reached for the lock. More electricity spread through the cage as the heliolisk popped the door open.

“I think you’ll enjoy this part.” Rio smirked at Enigma and raised the cuffs in a psychic bubble. “Put these on.”

Enigma stared at the cuffs. They were made of metal, and a long chain dangled from the iron links connecting them. He glanced behind Rio, past the heliolisk’s sparking body. The electric-type provided an impassible wall. Enigma couldn’t even shadow sneak past him. Not with electricity running beneath the insulated base of his enclosure. It sparked along the lip of the cage where the door met the base.

“You can make this easy,” Rio told him. “Or I can. Your choice.”

A flurry of sparks spread from Ray’s body as his frill rose slightly.

Enigma licked his lips and met Rio’s eyes. “Tell me what you’re doing first.”

“I already told you. You’ll be undergoing daily training sessions,” Rio explained. “Now put the cuffs on.”

Enigma stared back at him with defiance. That wasn’t the explanation Enigma had wanted. He wanted to know why Rio was doing this. But Enigma knew he wouldn’t get it out of him easily. He folded his paws in his lap, keeping his crimson eyes locked on Rio’s.

The meowstic flexed his claws. “Ray.”

Ray’s frill spread out around him and lit up with a flash of electricity. A thunderbolt struck Enigma square in the chest, sending him bowling backwards into the charged mesh. He let out a cry as his limbs jerked involuntarily. The heliolisk clambered on top of him and locked the cuffs around his paws. Enigma barely had any time to push himself back up. The reptile scrambled back out, tugging the chain behind him. Enigma was yanked out of his enclosure, the cage giving him another nasty shock before he slumped to the pristine, cold, white tiles of the lab’s floor.

Rio glared down at him, his face glacial. “You’re mine now. You’ll do exactly as I say. Now… come with me.”

Enigma had no choice. Ray tugged him to his feet with the chain. The constant trail of electricity travelling through to the cuffs left Enigma’s fur fluffed up with static. He staggered forwards as the reptile dragged him after Rio, following him from the room.

Enigma was dragged through an office, where Mint sat behind the desk. She watched warily as the assassin and his captors left through another door into the corridor. Its white tiled walls followed around a bend, and Rio finally came to a stop beside another room where a plusle stood waiting. Only Ray and Enigma entered, and the chain was fed through a hole in the wall. The plusle’s presence became apparent as more electricity fuelled the cuffs. Once the heliolisk left, Enigma found himself alone in the room. It was as bare and white as the rest of the lab, save for one lone metal target on the far wall.

“Now.” Rio’s voice was as clear as day, and Enigma found himself wondering where it was coming from. “I want you to throw a shadow ball at that target.”

Enigma looked back at the solid wall behind him. Was it a one-way mirror? Whatever the case, he couldn’t see that meowstic. He turned back to the target and scoffed, falling back against the wall and smoothing his scarf.

“Enigma?” Rio’s voice carried a warning note. “Are you going to throw a shadow ball?”

Enigma folded his arms and stared at that pathetic target. He had no intention of entertaining Rio. He’d stand here all day if he had too.

A sudden surge of electricity shot down the chain and into his paws. He yelped, trying to shake the cuffs free.

“That was just a warning shot,” Rio told him. “The next one will be a lot worse if you don’t co-operate.”

Enigma’s lip curled back in a sneer. “I refuse to play your games, Rio!”

“Oh, this isn’t a game,” said the meowstic. “This is a test, and so far, you are failing.”

“Test?! What kind of test?!”

“To see how much the pokerus will advance your strength,” Rio explained. “It’s very interesting. I think you’ll enjoy it. All of my other participants have.”

Participants… It was clear Rio was mocking him. Enigma would hardly call them that. He ran a paw over his face and turned back to the target. If he attacked it, then would that satisfy Rio? Or would it only serve to fuel the disease the crazy scientist had infected him with?

“Enigma,” Rio warned. “Attack the target.”

“And what if I don’t?”

“Then you fail.”

Enigma chuckled and folded his arms. “Who cares if I fail?”

“You will.”

Enigma’s blood turned cold and he licked his dry lips. If he didn’t comply, then there was every possibility Rio would kill him. He’d already infected him. The meowstic didn’t fear him at all. Or he didn’t simply because he thought he had control over Enigma. Out of all the pokemon Enigma had visited for ‘information’, Rio had been the most fearless. Enigma couldn’t deny that it actually scared him.

“How far are you willing to go?” Enigma tried to hide the waver in his voice.

“Oh, now I wouldn’t provoke me if I were you, Enigma!” Rio laughed. “I’ll go as far as I need to!”

Enigma examined his claws and a smirk spread across his muzzle. “You’re keeping me here as an experiment. So technically, I’m no use to you dead.”

“Technically you are,” said Rio. “If you’re dead then I don’t have to worry about you. But given you are here under my control, then I suppose, as far as you’re concerned, you’re ‘as good as’.”

Enigma snarled over his shoulder, but the pokemon on the other side yanked the chain, causing him to splutter and slump back against the wall.

“Now throw a shadow ball at that target!” Rio roared.

That target… Enigma rounded on the wall, lashing out with his claws. They raked through the white tiled surface, cracking them and peeling them free, revealing the oak panelling beneath. Electricity shot through the chain, lighting it up like a torch. Enigma was blown back from the wall, landing in a sparking heap on the floor. He could hear Rio’s voice commanding the attack to keep going, while Enigma jerked on the floor. It wasn’t until he started coughing violently that Rio finally demanded Ray stop.

The door opened, and the heliolisk strutted in to gather up the sparking chain. Enigma was dragged to his feet and he staggered into the corridor where Rio was waiting. The meowstic’s expression was livid. Enigma returned it with a vehement glare.

“I warned you not to push me,” he said. “You brought that on yourself.”

Enigma had had enough of this wretched feline. He twirled on the spot and with a flick of his claws sent a shadow ball right at his target. Rio threw up a light screen at the last second, and the shadow ball struck him across his left eye. He staggered back, flailing his paws to keep his balance. He shook his head and his eyes flashed as they landed back on Enigma. As Rio’s ears shot upright, Enigma was lifted from the ground in a purple bubble. His joints complained as the energy crushed and twisted him in the air, and he let out a yell of protest. Rio launched him down the hallway ahead of him, and Ray had to release the chain before he was dragged along with the assassin.

Enigma struck the wall hard, knocking all the air from his lungs. He barely had time to get it back as Rio caught him in another bubble. The meowstic marched him through his office, startling Mint in the process.

“Get the doors!” he yowled.

Mint and Ray rushed to open the double doors to the lab before Rio walked smack into them. He strolled into the lab and tossed Enigma through the open door to his cell. He struck the back walls and screamed as electricity shocked every raw nerve in his body. The racket terrified the captive pokemon, and their cries and scampering paws echoed off the bare walls. Rio held him there for a good few seconds before finally letting the banette crumple to the base of his cage.

Ray locked the door hastily and handed Rio the keys. The meowstic tucked them into his tails and shot matching glares at both Enigma and the raichu charging the cage.

“I’ll be back for you in the morning,” Rio told Enigma.

The banette turned his stiff neck to leer at Rio. A bruise had begun to form around his eye where the shadow ball had struck him.

“It would be in your best interest,” Rio growled, “to co-operate next time.”

With that, he turned and marched from the room with Ray in tow.

Enigma struggled to push himself up, his muscles too sore and stiff to obey. Once he’d managed to get himself upright he let out a sigh. It hurt to breathe. He rubbed his chest and stared defeated through the sparking mesh.

“You should just do what he says.” The small voice came from the enclosure to his left. A zigzagoon peered out at him with warm brown eyes. “It’s easier.”

Enigma turned from the raccoon pokemon to stare at the double doors, just visible against the white wall. His eyes began to sting and water and a lump rose in his throat. He rubbed the back of his paw across his eyes and let out a pathetic groan. It was hopeless. There was no way he was going to get out of this place. Rio was much too prepared.

He sank back on his paws, and then remembering the charged cage resigned himself to curling up in the middle of it, away from the bars.

For the first time in his life, Enigma felt incredibly helpless.

...​

Yurlik was not in a good mood.

He’d spent the previous night in the breeding pens, dragging females from their nests. It had been a tormenting experience. For hours he was dealing with the cries of chicks too young to leave their parents, flopping after him as he carried the frantic mothers outside. The place stunk, the ammonia fumes and damp stinging his eyes and choking his throat. It wasn’t a place he liked to visit at the best of times. It was a place where new soldiers were born, and the males were fortunate enough to leave it when they were old enough to walk and speak, and fortunate to be young enough to forget about it. A strategy set in place so they grew up with no emotional attachments to ‘family’. Any females were raised as helpers for orphaned chicks, then when they reached maturity were stuck in a vacant pen.

It had taken a good hour or so for Yurlik to preen the mire from his feathers. He’d barely slept during the day, and he was exhausted. He’d pawned the females off on some of his soldiers, instructing them to make sure they didn’t leave the Shadow Lands. Not that they would. Not only were their wings too weak, they were petrified. Very few of them had ever seen outside, and they were a quaking mass of feathers, huddling together in the branches of the tallest tree they could find - which unfortunately ended up being his. In no mood to shoo them perchance they fled and he had to retrieve them again, Yurlik had resigned himself to sleeping near the noivern cave a good distance away. Ordinarily he wouldn’t have ventured so close, but with Echo and his swarm absent he didn’t need to worry. Frustratingly, the fearful caws from the females had kept him awake.

And then there was her…

Yurlik fixed one eye on the tree, its branches buckling under the weight of two hundred murkrow. And one honchkrow. It hadn’t been an easy decision, but the only way to get the flock to calm was to give them someone to look up to. Given he wanted nothing to do with the flock, Yurlik had chosen the boldest female of the group and evolved her, and she’d soon managed to placate the rest into a saner level of calm. However, what Yurlik hadn’t realised at the time was how fiery his chosen leader was. She wasted no time in instructing her flock into wing exercises, spending most of the day building up their strength and resting for their upcoming journey.

Yurlik landed in the large tree, causing the already overloaded branch to sway beneath his weight and upsetting the much smaller murkrow. They fled into the higher branches, gathering around the scrawny form of a ragged honchkrow. She’d managed to get herself looking tidier, but her feathers were dusty and still stuck out at unnatural angles. Yurlik found himself doubting she could even fly.

Ilana narrowed her eyes at the General and tucked her wings in tightly. “Good evening.”

If words could poison then she’d definitely laced them. The corners of Yurlik’s beak tensed and he dug his talons into the bark. He cast sharp glances at the rest of the flock, most of which were still quaking. Scraggly-looking females with barely any meat on them, probably too old to breed let alone fly half the way across Estellis. Others were younger, nervous, their heads jerking at every little sound. Tiny caws came from them that made Yurlik think of the hatchlings filling the breeding pens. Almost primitive, with no authority, or respect for that matter. They were more akin to pleas for help.

“Well,” he grunted, “at least you’re looking more organised.”

“That’s more than we can say for your lot,” said Ilana. “What happened? Did you lose them all?” She caught Yurlik’s glare and straightened. “You must have if you’re desperate enough to gather us together.”

“They aren’t my orders.” Yurlik’s voice carried a warning note that unsettled the murkrow but washed over Ilana like air. “Lord Hydreigon needs eyes further south, and my flock is on a much more important mission looking for the cocoon.”

A smirk tugged at Ilana’s beak and she gave a single dry laugh.

Yurlik ruffled his feathers. “Watch that attitude, female. If it weren’t for Lord Hydreigon’s orders you wouldn’t even be seeing outside! Now, you will submit to authority or-”

“Or what?” Ilana inclined her head on one side. “You’ll snap our necks? When Lord Hydreigon needs us? I hardly think so.”

Yurlik hissed and spread his wings slightly. “I’m going to make this quick, then I’m having nothing more to do with you. You’ve heard of Harlequin and Enigma, I assume?”

“Names, yes,” said Ilana. “Word does get around in the breeding pens. Although I’ve never seen either of them.”

A few of the other murkrow shook their heads, avoiding Yurlik’s gaze.

Yurlik smoothed out his feathers and huffed. “Well… just on the off-chance you haven’t a clue, you’ll be looking for a banette and a zorua. The latter is a little… unusual in appearance.”

“Black with blue markings,” said Ilana matter-of-factly.

“And blue eyes,” Yurlik added, although Ilana didn’t appear surprised. “They were sent to search for a whimsicott-”

“Which killed Boomer.”

Yurlik’s feathers bristled again and Ilana shrugged.

“I told you,” she said. “The walls practically talk, and there isn’t much to do other than raise chicks and listen into conversations.” She paused, watching Yurlik seethe. “I know much more than you think.”

“Then why am I instructing you?! Find them! And bring that whimsicott back here, dead or alive. I couldn’t care less.” He waved a dismissive wing. “And if you hear anything, report back to one of my murkrow. I don’t want to see you again. Any of you.”

Ilana didn’t move. She stared down at him from her perch, while her murkrow shifted uneasily.

“What are you waiting for!?” Yurlik barked. “You’re a honchkrow now, so do your job and lead your flock!”

“Really?” Ilana spread her wings and lowered her head towards Yurlik. “Is that what you do? Because I don’t exactly see you out there, leading your murkrow. Is that why you’ve degraded your pride by putting females in your flock?”

“You are not in my flock,” he hissed.

“Then why are you giving me orders?” Ilana chuckled at the rage behind Yurlik’s eyes. “I’ve probably done more for these birds in one day than you’ve done in your entire lifetime.”

Yurlik let out a loud caw and leapt up towards her, flapping his large wings. The murkrow surrounding Ilana bolted into the higher branches, and the honchkrow followed. Yurlik landed where she’d been perched, talons spread. He flailed his wings to gain his balance and leap up higher, but the branch buckled beneath his weight. With a snap, it gave way and he dropped back down into an ungainly heap on the thicker branch below.

Ilana laughed, spreading her slender wings to keep her balance. The spindly branch swayed from side to side while she kept a tight grip with her talons.

“I see!” she crooned. “Just like I guessed! You’re too fat to fly!”

“I can fly just fine!” Yurlik barked.

“Well!” Ilana beat her wings and rose from the tree. “I guess I’d better find these missing assassins! Come on, girls. Before he gives chase.” She cast a glance back at the honchkrow General. “Not that I believe he can.”

Yurlik leapt from the tree, darting after the females. But Ilana lead them away ahead of him. Their flight was ungainly and erratic, and a couple dropped from the sky to the ground. Ilana ignored Yurlik, instead darting after the fallen birds to right them back into the air.

After a few feet, Yurlik gave up, landing heavily on the stone wall on the edge of the Border Woods. He panted to catch his breath, watching the murkrow flock as it vanished over the canopy like a black cloud. Twice the size of his flock, at least.

He ruffled his feathers, muttering under his breath. Deep down, he feared he’d made a huge mistake appointing that female as leader.
 

Adamhuarts

Mew specialist
Partners
  1. mew-adam
  2. celebi-shiny
  3. roserade-adam
I had some spare time this morning and decided to read chapters 28 and 29 for this review.

Starting off with Chapter 28, we learn that Rumble and his noibat horde have found a new clue towards Yveltal's cocoon, however the spy Echo planted is on his way to relay the information back to him. I wonder what will become of this and which of the two will actually make it there first. I don't think I recall how many spies Echo actually planted, but if it's only one then he might not learn anything new if Rumble ends up encountering a new clue to Yveltal's location on his way to the frozen lake.

The next scehe gave us an oddly touching reunion between Harlequin and Enigma. Over the course of the scene we learned a bit about Enigma's past about how he was basically coerced into working for Hydriegon and even the more shocking twist that Hydriegon usurped his father to impersonate him and expand his influence more than ever before. While I feel a bit sorry for Enigma, I think we can all agree that his circumstances don't excuse all the murder he's committed over the years, and he certainly enjoys the murder for sure. There's a bit more nuance to it of course. He kills because it's what he's been taught and there weren't any other paths for him in life, but there's no reason to pity him either just because he was only following orders. I don't think he's like 100% heartless or anything like that, but he's nowhere close to being a good person at heart. It'd be much more surprised if he turned out to be.

Moving on to Chapter 29, I'll say I'm a bit worried by the security of New City and the tunnels. Cleo made good points about ghost types especially, but we saw Enigma break into the prison facility easily so we don't know how effective Tinker's countermeasures actually are. For now we'll have to wait and see if this plays into anything.

For the middle sequence of this chapter, I'll just say absolutely nothing about their discussions so I don't end up coming across as disrespectful. I've come to accept that my ideological stance heavily clashes with what's being preached here regarding matters to do with Xerneas and so on. That's not a fault in the story's writing or narrative, it's just something I don't see eye to eye on and stifles my enjoyment of this story. It can't be helped and it'd be unfair of me to think every story I read needs to be written in a way I agree with. Different strokes for different folks and all.

Moving on to the last scene of that chapter, we finally got to see more of Rio after a while and he's already brewing up a new plan after being thwarted by Enigma and Harbinger in previous chapters. His plan to use Enigma of all pokemon surprised me at first, but it makes sense if he's doing it out of revenge. If he already has a trap tailored to Enigma, it just might work. Enigma already has a lot of confidence in his ability to slip through other's fingers and he already underestimates Rio, as such the latter has the upper hand in pulling the rug under Enigma. I wonder if he'll actually succeed and Harlequin will have to be the one to save him. However things end up playing out, I'll be on board for this ride.

I think that's all for this review. I enjoyed reading this story as always. Looking forward to seeing more in the future.
 
Chapter 35

DeliriousAbsol

*Crazy Absol Noises*
Location
Behind a laptop, most likely with tea
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. mawile
I'm glad you're enjoying this regardless of your feelings towards Xerneas. As for the traps Tinker set for ghost-types, it is quite amusing that he's going on about that while Enigma is just casually sneaking in through a door he's found! I hope you continue to enjoy this story. Thanks for the review =D

35 - Milkwort Root​

It wasn’t easy to tell how late in the day it was. Through the sparse canopy, the sky was a murky grey. The sun tried its hardest to break through the heavy clouds, but could manage no more than a hazy glow. It had long since vanished beyond the trees, leaving Cleo with very little sense of time. She cast nervous glances back to the sky periodically, but she feared they’d very soon lose daylight and have to set up camp again. She paused to grab her map from her bag, quickly re-calculating how long it would take them to reach the Glen and find a path to Stonehaven. Her heart sank. By now they should be there. Had she managed to take a wrong turning somewhere?

“Is something wrong?” Faith asked.

Cleo glanced up at the mawile and turned back to her map. “I… I’m not sure where we are. We should be able to see the Glen by now.”

The meowstic looked up at the mass of trees and shrubs beside her. No space for their tent, either. And looking for somewhere to set up camp would only result in them becoming even more lost. She cast a glance at Harlequin, who had been very silent since their discussion that morning. The zorua kept their head low, looking left and right, ears pricked. If Cleo were to guess, Harlequin was as lost as the rest of them.

“I can scurry up a tree and see if I can spot anything?” Spark offered.

Cleo nodded stiffly, and the dedenne shot from her shoulder to clamber up the rough bark of an ancient sycamore. The group watched her go, and Cleo kept a close eye on her tiny companion.

“The Glen…” Mischief scratched his fluffy head as he watched Spark nimbly bounce along spindly branches high above them. “Isn’t that where we encountered those Heretics?”

Cleo nodded again. Her blood turned cold at the memory and she bit her lip. Hopefully they wouldn’t still be lurking around there. She had no idea how close their lab even was to the Glen.

“Heretics?” Faith inclined her head on one side. “Those pokemon that captured you?”

“The very same,” Cleo explained, noting Faith’s thoughtful noise. “I want to tell you more about it, but I’m anxious to do so where anyone could be listening. We need to keep a low profile.”

Faith nodded her understanding, but said nothing. Cleo couldn’t help but think the mawile’s mind was elsewhere. But she was snapped from her thoughts as Spark bounced back down the tree towards them. The sparkle in her eye immediately lifted Cleo’s spirits and she smiled up at Spark as the dedenne paused on a heavy bough.

“I can see the start of the valley.” Spark pointed a claw into the trees. “It’s a good while away, but if we work our way through these trees we should find the right path. If we keep going this way, we’re gonna head further into the forest.”

Cleo checked her map again and clenched her teeth. If they’d kept going that way, they’d be closer to Windflower than Stonehaven.

She thanked Spark as she tucked her map away and adjusted the sack of berries. It wasn’t heavy, but Cleo was beginning to feel its nuisance factor rising since it always took up one paw. With Spark back on her shoulder, the group made their way through the trees.

Mischief moved on ahead of them, his fluffy fur clinging to the rough bark of the trees. Cleo bit her lip as she gave a wary glance back at the trail they were leaving. It was reminiscent of the trail they’d left before the Heretics showed up with that tyranitar. Her ears strained against the wind as it swept through the trees, listening for any sign of the tyranitar’s terrible howls and roars. But they’d heard nothing since they’d been in the forest.

Nothing.

Did that mean the Heretics were gone? Had they died in that fire? Or had they moved elsewhere? Cleo didn’t want to know. She just wanted to get out of the forest and continue their search for the fire-type Xerneas had instructed them to find.

Cleo picked up her pace, trying to keep up with Mischief. But the whimsicott had seen something she hadn’t. He deviated towards a clump of ferns and motioned for the others to follow him. Cleo pricked her ears and straightened to see ahead. The undergrowth swayed and the sound of paws crunching over dry debris broke the silence. Cleo darted towards Mischief’s chosen hiding place and Faith and Harlequin trailed in behind her.

The zorua huddled down beside Faith, keeping their ears trained on the noise. Cleo crouched down between Faith and Mischief and held her breath.

Voices joined the crunch of paws. Strange, light and jovial. Their was an odd accent to them that Cleo couldn’t place.

“… Didn’t think it would be in the mountains.”

“I know but it was as good a place as any to search, eh? Keeps him off our backs at least.”

“Aye, that it does.”

A lithe red fox slipped from the undergrowth, followed by a smaller one. The latter skipped along after her taller companion who walked with all the stealth of a professional thief.

A thievul and a nickit. Pokemon Cleo didn’t encounter often. Both dark-types, both members of the Darkness. Her fur bristled and she ducked further into the undergrowth. She didn’t want to fight. Not while she had a mission to finish. It would slow them down more than getting lost already had, especially if they were to get wounded.

The nickit stopped and twitched her nose at the air. Her tall friend looked back at her and followed her gaze.

“We’re not alone,” said the nickit.

The thievul let out a grunt and raised his head. His eyes fell on the ferns where Cleo and her friends were hiding, and her breath froze in her throat.

“Wanna check that out?” the nickit asked.

“You’re right, boss.” The voice came from behind Cleo and her heart struck her throat.

Cleo turned backwards slowly. Lurking behind them, peering from the shadows of the trees, was the black and white face of a linoone.

His muzzle split in a grin and his tongue hung from his mouth. “We’re not alone at all.”

Surrounded.

Cleo swallowed audibly, fighting the urge to step backwards out of the ferns. She didn’t need to run. She could fight the Darkness now. Her ears hummed with energy and she flexed her paws, trying to recall the exact method she’d learned to use disarming voice.

Faith placed a paw on her shoulder and spoke close to her ear. “Don’t fight unless they provoke you.”

Cleo’s eyes widened and she gave the mawile a confused glance. But her question didn’t voice, as her attention was drawn away from the mawile. The light pawsteps of the two foxes closed in behind them, and she looked over her shoulder at the thievul’s smug smile.

“I think we’re being provoked, Faith,” Spark whispered.

“Well, what do we have here?” the theivul crooned. “Aren’t these the pokemon Lord Hydreigon sent those assassins after?”

The nikkit made a sound of agreement. “And look at that. There’s one of them right there.”

Harlequin lowered themselves to the ground, not taking their sapphire eyes off the two foxes. The zorua’s sides fluttered as their breathing turned frantic, and they took a step back preparing to bolt at any second.

“One of Lord Hydreigon’s aces,” the nikkit went on, turning her gaze onto Cleo and her friends, “captured by simple Outcasts. And a psychic-type, no less? How pathetic.” She grinned down at Harlequin, who’s hackles were bristling. “Lord Hydreigon aught to turn you into a mangy throw-rug for your efforts.”

Mischief straightened, fixing the small fox in an icy glare. It only served to make the nikkit’s smirk even wider, and she flicked her bushy tail.

“You aren’t being very nice.” Mischief’s voice was colder than Cleo had ever heard it. “I thought Harlequin was supposed to be your friend?”

The thievul and linoone both laughed.

“Friend?” the nikkit spat, her face contorting with a mixture of anger and amusement. “Don’t make me laugh, weed! I’ve always wondered how that manky mutt got his status at Lord Hydreigon’s side, when none of us can even step foot in his castle without being sliced open like feebas fillets!” She flicked her tail again and puffed out her chest. “Well. We’re gonna pick up where this failure left off, and turn you all in.” Her eyes fell on Harlequin again and she flashed her canines in a grin. “All of you.”

The trio stared down the Outcasts, and Cleo took a step back into Faith. The mawile placed a paw on her shoulder, but her violet eyes remained on the nikkit. She gave Cleo’s shoulder a squeeze and stood aside, clenching her fists.

Cleo understood instantly. The nikkit kicked off from the ground and Cleo’s ears flew open, followed by a loud cry. Pink sparkles struck the nikkit at point-blank range, and showered over the taller thievul. The small vixen flew away from her with a yelp of surprise, landing in a heap just outside the ferns. The thievul glanced back at her, then turned a snarl onto Cleo. It engulfed her, causing her body to tremble. Her next attack barely phased the thievul as he rushed towards her, canines bared.

Cleo stepped back as Faith intervened, bringing her huge horn up into the fox’s jaw. He flew back to join his smaller companion, who had found her feet only to be showered with electricity.

Clawed paws grabbed Cleo’s shoulders and yanked her away from her friends, sending her rolling a short distance away into the thick foliage in a bundle of black and white fur. Great, she’d been so focused on that vixen’s jibes she’d forgotten about the linoone! Cleo struggled back from the linoone, but his sharp claws dug into her shoulders as he twisted her into the floor. She opened her eyes to look up into the linoone’s crazed face.

“Hello there, pretty kitty,” he purred. “Looks like you’re mine.”

He reared up, raising his forepaws into a cross before his chest. His claws radiated darkness and Cleo tried to scramble back from him, but she was pinned beneath his legs. Energy hummed in her ears, but it was still weakened from the thievul’s attack. However, it was her only chance. She screwed her eyes shut and tried to will the attack to come forward, but all that came from her was a feeble, frightened mewl.

The linoone laughed, an awful noise that sounded like rocks being shaken in a tin can. “What was that?!” he wheezed. “Do it again. Go on!”

His words were followed by a grunt, and Cleo opened her eyes to see a furry creamy canonball bouncing off the linoone’s slender body. The black and white pokemon rolled away from her to sprawl amid the roots of an ancient tree. Mischief stood over Cleo, glaring the linoone down. The badger-like pokemon pushed himself to all-fours and sneered at the whimsicott.

“You leave her alone,” Mischief warned him. “I’m not going to fight, but I won’t let you hurt my friends.”

The linoone snorted and rose to his hind legs. “Not going to fight? Then how do you plan to stop me?”

“We don’t need to fight,” Mischief told him. “Not like this. This isn’t right! We shouldn’t be trying to wipe each other out, and you shouldn’t be working for that horrid dragon.”

“Really? And why shouldn’t I be?” The linoone’s muzzle creased and he flexed his claws. “You lot are scared of us dark-types anyway. So I might as well terrify you a bit before I cut you both to pieces.”

“I’m not scared of you.”

Mischief’s words carried as much weight as his stoic expression. There was a time Cleo would have thought it was naivety, but Mischief didn’t look remotely afraid. He met the linoone’s confused expression, and for a brief moment the dark-type lowered his claws.

“Not afraid, huh?” The linoone raised his paws again and they radiated dark energy once more. “Well you should be.”

“I’m not,” Mischief assured him. “I don’t need to be. We’re both the same. We’re both pokemon, and we shouldn’t be fi-”

Mischief let out a strangled choke as the linoone rushed towards him, bringing both paws down into the whimsicott’s throat. Mischief tumbled backwards towards the ferns, where Faith turned and caught him.

“Mischief!” Cleo gasped, pushing herself back up.

She met the linoone’s manic eyes as he turned to face her, and his long tongue slipped from his jaws as he licked his lips.

“Your turn.” He raised his paws again.

“No!” Cleo’s words came out as a sparkle of pink light, striking the linoone in the chest.

The darkness around his paws dissolved, and he staggered back into the rough trunk of an oak. Cleo clambered to her feet and faced him, her ears humming. Her strength was still weakened, but her attack had baffled the black and white pokemon.

She uncurled her ears again and let out another yell, fiercer this time. The linoone leapt aside, and her attack just skimmed him. He froze, looking between her and the fallen whimsicott. Then, with one last look at the two foxes lying prone and sparking in the ferns, he bolted away from them into the trees. Cleo tried to give chase, but Faith grabbed her paw to stop her.

“Leave him,” she said.

“But-”

“Leave him,” Faith insisted. “He won’t come back. I could see it in his eyes. He’s afraid.”

Cleo flexed her claws and let her paws relax at her sides. She wasn’t comfortable with the idea of letting the linoone run off. He’d probably ambush them later. She bit her lip and said nothing, taking a quick check of the damage. Faith and Harlequin were relatively unscathed, although Harlequin sported a few leaves and twigs embedded in their fur. Most likely from being dragged along with the collar rather than fighting. Cleo’s shoulders were raw where the linoone had clawed her, and Spark nursed a nasty gash on her side, which she was smothering with oran pulp. Cleo’s heart leapt, and she dropped to help her, tugging a dock leaf from its stem to fasten around her friend’s middle. On closer inspection, the wound looked a lot worse than it actually was, but Spark wouldn’t be fighting for a few days at least.

“Are you okay?” she asked the dedenne.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Spark hissed as Cleo fastened the dock leaf over the oran pulp. “That nikkit had a nasty night slash, but it barely skimmed me really.”

Cleo smiled at her friend’s comment. Ever the optimist. All in all, that battle had been a close call.

She looked up at the nikkit and thievul. They were still breathing. How it should be. She bit her lip and looked away from them, giving another glance towards the linoone’s retreat. She knew, if the tables were turned, Cleo and her friends would not be left in such a merciful condition.

She finished fastening the makeshift bandage around Spark and popped her onto her shoulder. Then Cleo turned towards Mischief, who was still nursing his throat. “Thank you, Mischief. You really helped me there.”

He opened his mouth to speak, but his voice came out as a whisper. He wouldn’t look at her, instead staring after the linoone with eyes sparkling with tears. Cleo reached into her bag for an oran berry, but he waved it off and looked away from her.

Cleo sighed and popped the berry away. “Well… we’d better hurry before those two wake up.” She motioned to the nikkit and thievul. “Stonehaven will be wondering where we are.”

Stonehaven.

She pawed at her back and flew into a panic, searching the ground for the medicine sack. She found it amid the foliage where she’d been fighting the linoone, covered in debris. She dropped beside it and rummaged inside, and her heart sank. Everything was crushed, save for three pecha berries and a mangled bitter root.

Harlequin gave a derisive grunt. “Is that it? Just some old pecha berries and roots?”

“It was,” said Cleo, tossing the mushy remains aside. “Now they’re useless to those poor pokemon. What are we meant to do? It’s well past the harvest season.”

“They would have been useless anyway,” said Harlequin.

Cleo rounded on the zorua, but they weren’t looking at her, instead searching the surrounding trees as if searching for something. Cleo sat back on her haunches and inclined her head on one side.

“What do you mean?” she asked, trying to hide the frustration in her voice.

“You said it was seviper that had poisoned the river?” Harlequin looked up at her out of the corner of their eye. “Someone had tainted it? You accused me.”

Spark twitched her nose at the zorua. “Well you do use poisons.”

“Exactly.”

Cleo stiffened, meeting the zorua’s gaze.

“Pecha berries might stave off the effects until the poison leaves the system naturally, provided the victim survives,” Harlequin went on. “But they won’t help a pokemon to recover. They don’t counter all poisons. A weedle sting? Sure, eat a pecha berry. But for something more potent, something that attacks your nervous system, you want something stronger.”

“And what do you suggest?” Cleo ventured.

“Milkwort root.”

Cleo and Spark wore matching expressions of surprise, but Faith was beaming from ear to ear.

“What on earth is milkwort root?” Spark asked.

“It grows along river banks and the outskirts of swamps,” Harlequin explained. “There is tons of it around the swamps in the Border Woods. There were also a lot of seviper, but they were driven out when Hydreigon got wind of them. Seviper would nurture the plants, offering them to those who were unfortunate enough to get afflicted with their poison.”

“Noble,” said Spark. “Why would they do that? I thought they ate-”

“Some pokemon would get bitten by accident,” said Harlequin. “Not every pokemon wants to eat you, Snack Size.”

Spark’s whiskers crackled and she stretched to her full height. “What did you call me?!”

Cleo placed a paw on the dedenne’s head, and she calmed, although her whiskers continued to crackle. Cleo’s fur rose on end along her arm, but she ignored it, her full attention on the zorua.

“So this milkwort root,” she said, rising to her feet. “This will help the pokemon in Stonehaven?”

“More than your pecha and bitter root mush, yeah.” Harlequin flicked their tail and looked away. “So find some. You can’t exactly turn up with nothing, now, can you?”

“How can we be sure you’re telling the truth?” Cleo placed a paw on her hip. “For all we know, this could be some sneaky plan to wipe out an entire village with a toxic plant?”

Harlequin pulled their ears back. “I suppose giving you my word would be pointless?”

Cleo opened her mouth to speak, but Faith cut her off with a wave of her paw.

“Harelquin is telling the truth,” the mawile explained. “In the Fairy Garden, Milkwort is one of the roots used in cooking! It’s incredibly good for you. You had some yourself while you were there. It was part of the vegetable and root soup!”

Cleo’s jaw went slack and she looked from Faith to Harlequin. A smirk spread across the zorua’s muzzle, and Cleo’s mouth snapped shut as irritation took over.

“Okay.” Cleo stooped to scoop Spark up onto her shoulder. “So can you find it?”

Harlequin looked up at her, keeping their head low.

“I’ve never even heard of it,” Cleo told the zorua. “So I don’t know what I’m looking for. But you do, so you need to help us.”

Harlequin looked at each of the pokemon in turn. Mischief was still rubbing his throat, but he joined the zorua’s side and nodded. Faith was practically humming with glee.

“Grass-types know their plants too, right?” she said.

Mischief shrugged his shoulders and let his paws hang at his sides. “I want to help.” His voice cracked and he looked away from them.

Harlequin sighed and stood up. “Then let’s go. We need to find a river.”

Mischief nodded and lowered his head to the floor. When he stood, he turned them away from the ferns, towards the trees the two fox pokemon had appeared from.

Cleo gave one last glance at the nikkit and thievul then turned to Harlequin. “Something confuses me. I thought all Hydreigon’s assassins and soldiers were male. But that nikkit-”

“Was neither,” Harlequin said flatly.

Cleo raised an eyebrow at that, and Harlequin caught her eye.

“Those two work for a different General. They’re thieves.” The zorua turned back to their task, lowering their nose to the floor. “You’re right, though. Hydreigon doesn’t employ females as assassins or soldiers.” Harlequin paused for a moment and licked their lips thoughtfully. “But don’t believe everything you hear.”

...​

Rio removed the ice pack from his eye to quickly jot something down. Remembering everything about pokerus and its progress over the past few years was an arduous task, since most of it was lost in the blaze. It was made all the more difficult since his right paw was occupied with the ice pack. Writing with his left had never been easy. He silently cursed Enigma under his breath, and not for the first time that afternoon. The door opened, drawing the meowstic’s attention briefly. Mint shuffled into the room, closing the door again behind her while balancing a tea tray in one paw.

“I thought you could use a drink,” she said.

Rio grunted and picked up the ice pack again, pressing it to his face. It wasn’t hurting as much any more, just a dull throb. What hurt more was his pride. The fact he’d let Enigma get in a lucky shot. The fact he’d not been prepared.

Mint popped the tray onto the table and the scent of hot berry juice tickled Rio’s nose. She’d added sitrus juice to it. He gave the grovyle a sideways glance and shoved the glass across the desk. It shattered onto the floor, spilling its sticky contents across his discarded paperwork.

“Rio!”

Mint dropped to all-fours to clear it up, muttering under her breath. He thought he caught the words ‘stubborn’ and ‘hubris’ and chose to ignore them.

She dropped a few large shards of glass into the waste paper basket and looked up at him. “I’m only trying to help you.”

“I don’t need your help,” he said.

“Yes you do,” she retorted, catching a glare. “You just keep refusing it, and look what’s happened.” She waved a paw at the ice pack.

Rio dropped it onto the desk and sat back in his seat, narrowing his eyes at the grovyle. But she went on regardless.

“I warned you this was dangerous, but you insisted on keeping that psychopath here, trying to bend him to your will. I knew he wouldn’t co-operate, and you’ve ended up hurt. Things could have been a lot worse!”

“I know what I’m doing!” Rio snapped.

“You clearly don’t!” Mint stood up and sighed, leaning back against a chair. Her eyes softened as she met Rio’s gaze. “Please. You’ve climbed into a hole much too deep for you to get out of, but there is a way. Just erase his memories, not just for our sake but for yours.”

“If I do that, then my plan won’t go as smoothly.” Rio closed the folder neatly and pushed it into the middle of his desk. “Besides, I’ve already thought up a new plan to get him to co-operate.”

Mint’s head leaf drooped and her jaw went slack. “And what might that be?” Her doubt was thick and heavy in the air.

“I’m going to put him in danger,” Rio explained. “I’m pretty sure he’ll co-operate if he’s fighting for his life.”

Mint clenched her jaws. “You’re going to put him into battle with other test subjects?”

“No.” Rio sat back in his seat and folded his paws. “I’m going to put him into battle with someone a lot more fierce than mere frightened test subjects. Someone who desperately wants to get his revenge.”

Mint stuttered over her words, and a smirk tugged at Rio’s lips.

“You’re going to sacrifice Lou?!” Mint gasped.

“I’d hardly call it a sacrifice,” said Rio. “Not when Lou has already agreed to it. And if things go as well as I can see them going, then both parties will be no more than a little worse for wear.”

“Enigma’s an assassin!” Mint reminded him. “He’s not going to-”

Rio cut her off with a wave of his paw. “Oh, it will work, Mint.” A chuckle left the meowstic’s throat. “I’m certain Enigma will fight this time. Then we’ll see just how much of a threat he will pose to the Shadow Lands.”

Mint dug her claws into the chair’s back-rest and tears shone in her eyes. “You’re completely losing it… I don’t know what to do with you any more.”

“Again, staying here is your choice,” said Rio. “But you’ll be singing a different song when we win this war.”

...​

The river gurgled over rocks as it rounded a smooth bend, vanishing deeper into the Moorlands Forest. Cleo walked along its bank, the dry brittle plants stabbing her paw pads as they crunched beneath her. Harlequin walked on ahead, sniffing at the foliage. New growth had started to poke through the dry ground, fed by the river deep beneath the surface. Splashes of healthy green permeating the wilted brown plants and fallen leaves. It was safe to say there was no poison left in the river now. Frothy foam erupted over the rocks, spraying Cleo and her friends with a cool drizzle, but it did little to permeate the drought-dry soil.

Harlequin stopped suddenly and looked up at the Outcasts. “This is a young one. That means it definitely grows around here.”

Cleo crept closer to the assassin, looking between them and the plant. Its small spiky leaves spread out like a star across the floor. She didn’t remotely recognise it. Mischief dropped into a crouch beside her, inspecting the little plant from all angles.

“So this is Milkwort?” Cleo asked.

“Definitely,” said Harlequin. “I know my herbs.”

“Can we take it?”

“It’s not much use at this stage,” Harlequin explained. “It’s too young. But if we look further towards the trees then we might find more. Sadly, the poison seems to have killed off most of it.”

“That’s an unfortunate irony,” said Spark.

“Nature has a way of bouncing back, though,” said Faith from behind Cleo. “And if it’s reviving already then Milkwort must be a pretty hardy plant.”

“It definitely is,” said Harlequin. “It can survive the most bitter of winters, but it only grows in moist climates. With all this drought, it might have died back before the poison hit it. I’d expect it to grow along river banks and in the shallows, but…” The zorua raised their head to look towards the tree line. “It might be growing a little further away. I mean, normally this side of the mountains you get a lot of rain, right? So all we can do is check.”

At that comment, Cleo’s eye wandered to the sky. The clouds were coming in thick and heavy, marring the blue sky with a huge streak of grey and white. It wouldn’t be long before they broke and soaked Estellis with the first rain of the cooling season. Then the snow would follow.

Harlequin had already moved ahead of her towards the trees, reaching the ends of their confines. The tug at Cleo’s wrist prompted her to follow the assassin away from the river. Mischief stood in shadows, searching the undergrowth. Cleo noted a small leaf in his paw, plucked from the tiny delicate seedling. Cleo, not really knowing what to look for, followed Harlequin as they nosed around in the thick green patches of woodland plants. The dry seed pods of low growing lillies rattled as the zorua nosed through them, disturbing the dry berries of nightshade which clattered onto decaying leaves.

“I think I’ve found it.”

Mischief’s quiet, husky voice drew their attention and Harlequin looked up from amid a patch of wispy Willowherb. The whimsicott looked between the small leaf in his paw to a patch of green, slightly dry plants growing in a clump between two oaks.

Harlequin trotted over to him and took one look at the patch before their muzzle split into a grin. “You’re right! This is it!”

Cleo and Faith joined the zorua’s side, and Cleo’s heart sank slightly. The patch was no wider than a foot on all sides.

“Is this it?” she asked. “I mean… will this heal an entire town?”

Harlequin was already digging it up with Mischief and Faith’s help.

“No,” said the zorua. “But we can try and find more. And it’s a start at least.”

Cleo exchanged glances with Spark, still perched on her shoulder.

The dedenne shrugged. “I guess we’ll just be a little late. We can’t turn up empty pawed, can we?”

“No.” Cleo rubbed the fur between her ears. “I guess we’ll have to camp out in the woods again tonight while we find some more of this herb.”

Faith wiped her paws on the grass to remove the mud and smiled. “That’s fine. Like Spark said, we can’t show up with nothing. And I think you’ll be surprised how far this medicine will go once it’s ground down.”

The plants had been dug up, exposing their long slender roots to the open air. They were deceptively big compared to the plants they supported. Cleo removed the sack from her shoulder, which had been turned inside-out to allow the berry pulp to dry. They gathered up the plants into the sack with the few pechas and herbs that had survived the earlier skirmish. Once they were in, Harlequin hopped back to their feet.

“Now we know what we’re looking for it shouldn’t be too hard to find.” The zorua turned to sniff at the ground. “I always found that to be the case.”

Harlequin wasn’t wrong. They’d barely moved a few feet when both the zorua and Faith found two separate spots. Cleo’s mood improved as they gathered them up. At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before they had more than enough for Stonehaven.
 
Chapter 36

DeliriousAbsol

*Crazy Absol Noises*
Location
Behind a laptop, most likely with tea
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. mawile
Descriptions of blood and slight gore

36 - Monster​

The lab was pitch black at night. Enigma had never feared the dark. He’d been that creature in the dark that pokemon feared for many years. However, the eerie sobs and whispers from the surrounding captives made the dark in the lab wildly unsettling. He sat huddled in the middle of the cage, keeping his ears trained on the raichu beside him. He’d taken over the heliolisk just before nightfall, giving the reptile a much needed break (and further voiding any hope Enigma had of making a swift escape).

When the lights came back on, marking morning, Enigma screwed his eyes shut as the brightness stabbed at them. He raised his paw before his face and peeked between his claws at the figure shuffling into the room pushing a dining trolley. The furret. He’d heard the other captives address her as Sandpaw, and the small little runt that usually accompanied her went by ‘Scout’. The latter wasn’t with her this time, and she seemed a lot more relaxed in spite of it. She chatted to the captives in a pleasant voice. They always seemed happy to see her. Every morning she was beaming, and this time was more-so without having to chase a child around.

That was until it was Enigma’s cage she had to attend to.

The slender ferret-like pokemon hesitated as she turned towards him, cradling a small plate of berries in her paws. Her smile vanished and her ears drooped, and she glanced away from him, unable to look him in the eye.

The raichu rose to open the hatch for her - a convenient little slot beneath the main door of the cage. It wasn’t a convenient size, however, meaning plates couldn’t be piled that high. Thunder’s cheek’s sparked in warning, and an electrical surge flowed through the cage, giving off stray sparks that peppered Enigma’s body and caused him to hiss.

Sandpaw quickly slid the plate into the hatch and her fur puffed out from the static. She backed away as Thunder snapped it shut and returned to his position beside the swinging cage.

Enigma continued to stare at the furret, who shuffled her paws together while backing away. He hadn’t even made any effort to escape. He knew it was futile. But she would be such an easy target. Normal-types like her would be immune to his shadowy moves, but his killing blow was effective against anyone. A heart was a heart, after all. No pokemon could survive without one. As his crimson gaze trailed over her, Sandpaw’s eyes filled with tears.

The entire lab had fallen silent, all eyes trained on the trapped assassin and the anxious furret. It made Enigma’s voice sound all the more louder as his quiet comment sliced through the air.

“Not going to say anything to me?”

Sandpaw’s mouth opened, but she closed it again just as quickly. Then she turned to retrieve her trolley and left the room. The door swung shut behind her, but didn’t close completely. It was pushed back open as Rio slipped inside. The meowstic stopped about half way into the room, and the air radiating off him reeked of malice. He still sported a nasty bruise around his right eye, which squinted at Enigma accusingly.

Enigma toyed with the hem of his scarf while staring headlong at Rio, hiding how much the meowstic’s demeanour unsettled him.

Rio tutted a few times. “Trying to intimidate my staff now, are you?”

“I just wanted to thank her for my breakfast,” said Enigma.

“It didn’t sound like it.” Rio glanced down at the plate of berries and flicked his tails, reaching for his key. “But you’ve no time for breakfast I’m afraid. We’re busy.”

Enigma tensed like a tight coil, digging his claws into the base of his cell. Rio held the cuffs in one paw while the key levitated before him.

“Thunder, keep him down.”

The raichu looked over his shoulder at Enigma and unleashed a fine jolt of electricity. It coursed through Enigma’s body, stiffening his muscles and making it impossible to move. Before he knew it, he was in the cuffs again, held by the large rodent. The only mercy that followed was a wrinkly cheri berry to remove the effects of Thunder’s paralysis. Enigma had no option but to follow after the raichu, lagging behind on the long chain while Rio talked incessantly.

“Today will be a little different,” said Rio. “We’ll be raising the stakes in your training, putting you in an actual battle scenario. Your target today will be much more willing to fight back than a piece of metal nailed to a wall.”

Enigma narrowed his eyes. “What? You’re throwing in live bait?”

“In a manner of speaking.” They stopped by the training room and Rio motioned to the door. “Your session awaits.”

Enigma hesitated. His entire mouth had turned dry. Something didn’t smell right. He was filled with the exact same fear he got whenever Yurlik threatened him, except this time he couldn’t run away, and he’d bet his bell whatever was on the other side of that door could move a heck of a lot faster than that overweight honchkrow.

Rio’s patience wore thin and he shoved the door open. His eyes flashed blue and Enigma was buffeted into the bare training hall. He heard the door click shut behind him, and his eye immediately went towards the growl emanating from the far corner.

A tall midnight lycanroc stood hunched in the shadows, his lips frothy with saliva. His red eyes were filled with the blazing fire of hatred. He wiped a heavily clawed paw across his muzzle and took a step towards the banette.

Enigma took a step back as he assessed the situation, scanning the room for each and every shadow. His tail brushed the wall, and his blood turned cold as the room seemed to shrink around him.

Enigma licked his dry lips and turned his attention back to the lycanroc. “I guess this is about your sister, huh?”

Lou’s mane bristled and he threw his head back, unleashing a furious howl that shook Enigma’s insides. The lycanroc lunged towards him, claws radiating dark-type energy. Enigma slipped past him, trying to melt into the floor. He only made it part way before the cuffs stopped him, but it was enough for Lou to soar over his head and land behind him. The lycanroc’s claws lashed at the wall, tearing through the tiles to reveal the wood beneath. He turned, fixing his crimson eyes on Enigma. The banette scrambled back, dragging himself awkwardly out of the shadows. He tossed a shadow ball at the lanky wolf before bolting towards the corner Lou had come from, the chain clattering behind him louder than his frantic bell. The lycanrock ducked his attack and galloped after him, claws raised.

Enigma’s back brushed the corner of the wall and his heart hit his throat. He raised his arms as Lou brought his claws down in a night slash attack. Enigma yelled as angry gashes sliced through his right arm. Lou gave a triumphant howl, raising his paws for another attack.

Enigma ducked, rolling between Lou’s legs in a jingling ball. He dragged on the chain, catching the lycanroc’s ankle and dragging his paw out from beneath him. Lou stumbled as he turned towards Enigma, falling against the wall. It gave Enigma enough time to back away before the nimble rock-type found his balance and took off after him. Enigma spread his arms, creating a fiery wisp. It struck Lou’s raised paws head on, searing them with a nasty burn.

Lou barked with frustration, spraying Enigma with spittle. Enigma struck out with shadowy claws, aiming straight for the wolf’s chest. Lou’s eyes flashed and a grin spread across his muzzle. He grabbed Enigma’s paw and twisted, raising the banette over his head. Enigma struck the floor behind him and the wind left his body. He coughed a few times before pushing himself to his feet, but it was the delay Lou needed.

The wolf leapt on top of him and raised his paws above his head. Burned or not, it wasn’t going to stop him launching a throat chop at point-blank range. Enigma’s eyes widened and he dug his claws into the floor. He had to do something. Anything. Otherwise his remains would be scattered about the training room.

As Lou brought his arms down towards Enigma, the ghost vanished, and Lou’s paws struck the hard floor. The electricity running through the cuffs cut Enigma’s range short, dragging him back to reality. Lou’s frustrated howl was strangled off as Enigma re-materialised as though emerging from a warm, furry cocoon. He staggered forwards, his heart racing, and he heard the soft thud as Lou slumped to the floor behind him. The lycanroc’s weight jerked on Enigma’s chain, causing his bell to chime in protest.

The banette stared down at himself, and his blood ran cold. He barely even recognised himself. He stood in silence, save for the torturous dripping of fresh blood from his fur and scarf. His breathing turned ragged and he flicked his paws, trying in vain to remove it. He didn’t want to even look at Lou. Didn’t want to see the damage.

He’d taken lives before, but somehow… this was different.

He wasn’t a pokemon.

He was a monster.

Rio cleared his throat from his hidden vantage point, but Enigma didn’t look up from his paws. “Well… that was certainly… effective. But wow, look at the mess.”

Enigma barely heard him. All he could see was red. His paws, claws, the floor…

'There’s a reason it’s forbidden! It’s not just some taboo thing to phase through someone else. If my kind were still alive I could be put to death!'

'Oh come on! ya trainin’ to be a freakin’ assassin! Who cares if it’s forbidden or not!'


There was so much blood. So much…

'If something went wrong I could seriously hurt you.'

Enigma slumped to the floor, still staring at his claws. What had he done?

'I don’t believe ya’d ever hurt me.' *laugh* 'I don’t think ya could hurt anyone if ya tried. Although, I won’t tell Lord Hydreigon that.'

Enigma wound his claws into his mane and let out an anguished roar.

Rio sighed bitterly. “Thunder, take him to the lake. I don’t want to alarm the other captives by letting him waltz back in there in this unsightly state.”

...​

The frozen north was no place for a dragon.

Those were the words that repeatedly swam around Rumble’s head as he perched on an icy rock, watching his depleted swarm as it fluttered back and forth around him. Their screeches, often unheard by other pokemon’s ears, penetrated the snow as they searched for anything beneath it that was neither ice nor soil. Frost coated their wings and fur, making their flight laboured as they pressed on ahead of Rumble.

The noivern ruffled his wings and beat them a few times to warm up his muscles before joining them. It had been a brief rest. Nowhere near long enough. But he feared if he rested too long he’d freeze to death, then Echo would win.

They’d long since crossed the ocean, arriving on the frozen isle almost two full days ago. Dawn was already breaking, painting the snowy landscape a nightmarish shade of red. Black clouds smudged across the sky, stretching beyond the jagged mountain in the distance. The mountain marked the edge of the isle, of that Rumble was certain. Yet it would take days to cover the entire isle. One huge expanse of white, hiding one small cocoon beneath its snowy depths. That was the decision he’d come to. If it had landed here many thousands of years prior, then surely it must be buried?

The swarm flew into a frenzy, their shrieks becoming louder and excited. Words reached Rumble’s frostbitten ears and he turned his head towards the speaker.

“I think we’ve found something!” The noibat’s nose was trained on the ground. “The echo is more musical here! Almost as if we’ve hit crystal!”

“Then get digging!” Rumble’s roar came out as weak as a litten’s purr. He turned his face aside in embarrassment and retreated back towards the rock he’d previously occupied.

Behind him, snow erupted like a geyser as the swarm blasted it with sound. Rumble faltered, turning his head back towards them. The smaller bats unfortunate enough to be struck by the snow slumped to the ground to be lost beneath the slurry, their cries cut off forever.

The sound waves cleaved through the snow, uncovering rocky pinnacles in their bid to find the crystal. They were making slow progress. At this rate they’d all freeze to death before any of them found it or made it back, then Hydreigon’s forces would be back at square one.

Rumble muttered beneath his breath and shot back towards them. His huge dish-like ears vibrated and he clenched his jaw against the pain. The noibat veered aside, not wanting to be caught in the aftermath of Rumble’s boomburst. He opened his jaws and let out a violent roar, blasting the surrounding snow and creating a deep hole several metres wide on all sides. Once the aftermath subsided, the noibat rejoined him, some shaking snow off their heads and wings. All eyes fixed on the cavern, squinting through the snow as it tried to settle back down. Poking from the ground were hundreds of statues. The elements hadn’t been kind to them. Their forms were disfigured, some lacking faces or limbs. Those that Rumble could make out wore angry or terrified expressions, their mouths forever open in a roar. Glinting among them was a jagged shard of black stone, shimmering in the dim light.

Rumble’s lip curled back in a sneer, and he took a step back, casting a wary glance at the statues. But something tugged at him. A strange inkling that he shouldn’t abandon the crystal so dismissively.

He waved a wing towards it then tucked it back tight into his body. “Dig it out. Let’s see what it is.”

The swarm set to work, aiming their wind and sound attacks at the snow surrounding the rock. As it was carved away, the black rock turned out to be a lot bigger than the shard had indicated. Its surface shimmered like ice as the swarms’ shadows flit over it in the rapidly oncoming dawn. The more Rumble watched, the more he became convinced they’d found what they were looking for. Hot fire surged in his chest as his excitement grew. It looked nothing like the picture in that book. It was more egg-shaped, crowned with three sharp points that were almost ornamental, as it if had been carved. It lay in the cavern at an angle, its final point still wedged in the snow.

Rumble rose to join his swarm and reached out with his talons to grab it. But no sooner had his foot touched the surface, all his strength faded away and he slumped to the ground beside it.

This wretched cold.

He lifted his head and barked commands as he weakly rose back into the sky, organising his swarm to lift the cocoon from the snow. As he hovered above it, his eye went back to the statues. One of them, a rhydon, stretched a stony paw from the snow, its mouth open wide in a silent warning. Rumble shuddered and shook it off, turning his attention back to the noibat swarm. As the crystal was raised from its snowy prison, white clods fell from it onto the statue’s head and shoulders.

It took at least ten bats to lift the crystal and carry it awkwardly back towards the mainland, leaving the snowy landscape behind. Yet his swarm was rapidly tiring. The cocoon changed claws several times before they even reached the coast line, leaving a trail of exhausted noibat lying in the snow. Rumble hoped deeply that the cocoon wouldn’t be lost to the foamy sea on their flight back.

...​

It had taken over an hour for Enigma to get all the blood out of his fur. A cloud of pink spread over the lake as he strained what was left of it out of his scarf. His heart was still racing, but his mind was clearer. He plunged the soggy back into the lake and glanced back, fixing a crimson eye on the raichu behind him. Enigma had grown used to the faint electrical charge from the cuffs, but they didn’t mix well with water. He’d received several nasty shocks trying to wash himself. The cuffs however… rusty red-brown patches congealed around the chain and lock. Enigma hadn’t wanted to risk trying to get them clean. Rio could deal with those.

Thunder watched as Enigma continued to try and remove the blood from his scarf. For some reason, they’d also sent that furret. She stood beside Thunder, discarding the soiled sponges Enigma had used to scrub his fur. He still didn’t feel clean. He felt he’d never be clean. The only part of him that hadn’t received a thorough bloody dousing was his bell, tucked safely away.

His scarf was probably as clean as he was going to get it. He strained the water out, satisfied there was no longer any tint of pink. The ragged thing was so sodden he couldn’t wear it. It took a good while to get enough water out until it stopped dripping, yet it was still heavy.

Thunder tugged on the chain, signalling he’d had enough. Enigma gave a sigh and slumped along behind him, each step followed by a jingling lament. The sun peeked out of the clouds long enough to warm his damp back, but the cold wind bit through his fur accusingly. Enigma closed his eyes briefly. What was wrong with him? He’d abused his powers to kill countless pokemon. Why was this any different?

He clenched his jaw and stared down at his scarf. Perhaps it wasn’t any different… but it felt it. For years he’d felt like a monster. To stop someone’s heart was one thing, but to phase through another pokemon and come out covered in their blood? It was as if he’d been looking down on himself, witnessing it through different eyes, seeing himself for the monster he truly was.

Enigma often didn’t remember the faces of those he’d killed, yet they’d careened through his head like some ghostly carousel with looks of fear and anger. Ordinarily he wouldn’t care. He’d stopped caring a long time ago. But one face had stood out from the rest. Whether or not he’d remember those he killed, he’d never forget the first time.

That look of fear and realisation when his victim realised what he was doing. The horrid scream that had followed. The tears that had stung Enigma’s eyes for hours afterwards. One act of revenge had turned into years of slavery.

He’d never thought of it as slavery. What had happened to him?

Quite unexpectedly, a new face filled his mind. Not a victim. Or at least… not one he’d successfully killed.

A smiling mawile. Fearless. Bold enough to confront him. She wasn’t frightened of him. Unlike Rio, she didn’t have him in chains. And for some reason, she’d wanted to help him.

Why? Why on earth would she want to help someone like him? Someone who had tried only seconds prior to end her life? If she’d seen what he’d done to Lou, would she still feel the same?

Enigma almost laughed at that. A bitter, choking sound. Of course not. She’d see him for what he truly was.

He blinked dry eyes and let his scarf flop to the floor of the cage beside him as he stared out through the bars at the countless eyes watching him. Curious. Perhaps a little fearful. Each one trained on the cage as it swayed gently on its chain. He heard the lock snap into place over the hum of static and realised he’d sat down inside it willingly, without even realising. It said a lot, actually. It was a fitting place for a monster.
 
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Chapter 37

DeliriousAbsol

*Crazy Absol Noises*
Location
Behind a laptop, most likely with tea
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. mawile
37 - Flygon Times​

Cleo was on tenterhooks as she gathered up their tent. Faith busied herself beside her, looking as refreshed and bright as she always did. Cleo rubbed at the bags beneath her eyes and finished tugging the iron thorns from the dry ground. She’d barely slept a wink. Camping in the Moorlands Forest just didn’t feel safe, no matter how much care they put into keeping a low profile. The blue tent wouldn’t be seen from above, and only a spectacularly keen eye would spot it from the shadows if they didn’t know to look for it. The recent events filled the forest with unpleasant memories, and Cleo just wanted to put it behind her. All night she’d been straining her ears for Enigma’s bell, or the tell-tale rumble of a noivern, or the voices of lurking Darkness or Heretics. Every rustling leaf had sent a chill down her spine. Since when had she become so jumpy?

Cleo yawned not for the first time that morning, and Spark caught it beside her, stretching her tiny arms above her head.

“Man, I could use some breakfast,” said the dedenne.

Cleo shook her head and smiled as she bundled the last of the thorns into her bag neatly inside the folds of the tent. “That would be a second breakfast.”

“I’m not complaining.” Spark clambered onto her friend’s shoulder and settled down, not pressing the matter any further. “Above all, I just want to find a secure place to sleep.”

Cleo couldn’t agree more. She caught Faith’s concerned expression as the mawile finished covering up any evidence they were there. Faith dusted her paws and stood up straight beside Harlequin.

“Do you think we’ll make it to Stonehaven before nightfall?” she asked.

Cleo shrugged her shoulders. “I’ve no idea. Maybe if we don’t stop for a rest?”

Mischief returned from the bushes, smoothing out his fur which was damp from the river. He looked up at the others, noting everything had been tidied away, and quirked an eyebrow. “Are we moving now?”

Cleo nodded and adjusted the sack of medicine across her back. “We need to make fast progress. We’re already behind schedule.”

“Didn’t Tinker say Stonehaven is just beyond the Glen?” Mischief asked.

Cleo followed his paw towards the river. “Yes. If we follow the river then we should reach it, but…”

“We need to stop being scared of those Heretics,” said Spark. “If we lose the river again, we’re just gonna get more lost.”

“Agreed.” Harlequin had barely spoken a word all morning so their voice surprised Cleo. She caught the zorua’s eye and they shrugged. “I don’t want to run into them any more than you do. But I’m also tired of being lost in this forest.”

“It’s not been without merit,” said Faith. “We’ve gathered up a more effective medicine for those sick pokemon! For that, I’m sure they’ll understand us being a little late.”

“That and we almost got our tails kicked.” Spark rubbed at the wound on her side, which was healing nicely. “We definitely need to make haste. Let’s get a wiggle on.”

The group moved through the deep foliage, following the natural curve of the river. The water roared as it rushed along ahead of them, splashing over rocks and spraying them and the parched ground with a refreshing drizzle. It perked Cleo up and she found herself almost trotting along beside it. Harlequin kept pace beside her, ears pricked and head turning at every sound. Faith walked on the zorua’s other side, keeping up with a relaxed stride yet remaining vigilant. Mischief moved on ahead, as alert as Cleo had ever seen him. No longer oblivious, but keeping an ear open for anything lurking in the sky or shadows.

The ground began to grow steeper on either side as the valley rose up around them, forcing Cleo and her friends into single file. The peaks of the mountain were dusted with powdery frost, and the surrounding evergreen trees that decorated its slopes shed their morning frost into watery droplets that rained down to refresh the rocky ground beneath them.

The soft snores emanating from Cleo’s ruff were cut short as Spark poked her head out, ears rigid. “What’s that?”

Cleo stiffened, turning her head to follow Spark’s gaze towards the sky. The dedenne wasn’t the only one who’d heard it. Harlequin stood beside her panting, their ears and eyes trained on the canopy across the river. A faint rumble tickled Cleo’s ears, growing with intensity. It reminded her of the wing-beats of a yanma swarm, a familiar noise she’d grown up with before her home was destroyed. In the early spring mornings, swarms of yanma and yanmega would rush over the river, dancing and singing as they skimmed over the surface, enjoying each other’s company.

But the louder it grew, the more obvious it became that this was no yanmega. The rumble thudded her eardrums, and the wind generated by the flapping wings caused the trees to sway before the pokemon came into view. Swooping over the forest was the unmistakable bug-like form of a flygon.

Cleo’s group froze, ducking slightly into the foliage. All eyes were trained on the dragon, but it hadn’t noticed them. Its bulbous red eyes were fixed on something ahead of it. Its long tail steered it forwards towards the trees beside Cleo, and as it passed she spotted something shadowy sitting astride its shoulders. The flygon’s wings made it almost impossible to make out, but she was convinced it was a dark-type pokemon. The sound faded as the pair moved further into the forest out of sight.

Cleo’s heart hammered in her chest and she doubled over, catching her breath. “That could have gone a lot worse.”

“They didn’t seem to care we’re here,” said Faith.

“That’s because they didn’t notice us,” Cleo told her. She smoothed out her fur and sighed, looking after the flygon. “What is it doing here?”

“It clearly has a destination in mind,” said Harlequin. “The question is ‘where?’” The zorua moved past her. “But we don’t have time to figure that out, right? Let’s count ourselves lucky and move on.”

The zorua reached the end of their tether and looked back at Cleo, raising an eyebrow. Cleo shook her head and looked after the flygon again.

“We need to find out why it’s here,” she said. “The Guild needs to know about it, especially if it’s a threat. It could be picking off Outcasts. We can’t just ignore it.”

Mischief’s arms flopped to his sides. “But Stonehaven-”

“Is important, yes, but so are the pokemon that live around here.” Cleo raised her paws in a weak shrug. “What are we meant to do? If we know about this and don’t do something about it, then it could be too late.”

Spark nodded her agreement. “It might even be looking for Stonehaven.”

“If it is, then it’s well off the mark,” said Harlequin. “It’s moved away from the Glen.” The zorua clicked their tongue. “Don’t those pokemon want that medicine? You know… before it rots?”

Cleo grimaced and balled her paws into fists. Another setback. Could they really afford this? She closed her eyes and sighed. As a member of the Guild, she didn’t really have much choice. She had a duty to serve her fellow pokemon.

“I can go after it?” Faith offered.

Cleo looked up at the mawile. “On your own?”

“I’ll be fine!” Faith smiled. “And don’t worry about me getting lost. I’ll be able to find you. I’ll join you again in Stonehaven.”

Cleo and Spark shook their heads, ready to protest.

“She won’t be alone. I’ll go with her,” said Mischief.

The pair turned to the whimsicott, slack-jawed.

Cleo raised her paws before either could say any more. “We are not splitting up! I won’t accept it. If we’re going after the flygon then we’re going together.”

“We’ve split up before and been fine,” said Mischief. “You take the medicine, and I’ll help Faith.”

Cleo turned her head between the two pokemon and clutched her bag strap. Splitting up… but at least that meant both problems would be dealt with. But what if Faith and Mischief needed help? She closed her eyes again and sighed. Faith was strong, and so was Mischief. And if anything went wrong, she was sure Faith could handle it. She was the only one of them who could mega evolve.

“Very well.” She met Faith’s eyes. “Just… be careful. Okay?”

Faith nodded as Mischief joined her side. “Of course! You guys get to Stonehaven. Once we’re done investigating, we’ll backtrack and follow your trail.”

Cleo’s gaze fell on Mischief and a weak smile played at her lips. “Look after each other.”

Mischief gave a curt nod and followed Faith into the trees. When he looked back, Cleo had already moved on, with Harlequin trotting to catch up with her.

...​

It wasn’t too difficult to follow the flygon. The buzzing reptile remained above the canopy, just visible through the sparse branches. He could still be heard even when he vanished from sight, but pinpointing the loud buzzing of his wings wasn’t the easiest task. It seemed to come from several directions at once, leaving Faith and Mischief to spot his tail before following after him once more. This happened quite frequently as the pair tried to remain out of sight so as not to alert the flygon and his passenger to their presence. Faith still couldn’t quite make out what the other pokemon was. Its shadowy form flickered behind the flygon’s translucent wings, distorting with the rapid beating like ripples on a lake.

Before too long, the flygon slowed to drop into a wide clearing. Faith and Mischief stopped at the tree-line, and Faith’s violet eyes widened with confusion as she snapped her head left and right to spot them. It was as if they’d vanished into thin air. Mischief fidgeted beside her, and Faith noted the growing sense of unease crossing his face.

“They can’t have gone far,” Faith whispered. “We should-”

Mischief grabbed her paw before she could cross into the clearing and shook his head. But instead of turning back the other way, he inched closer to her and spoke close to her ear.

“There is something in there,” he said. “It’s the Clean Place.” At Faith’s confused grunt, he added, “It’s a lab run by Heretics.”

“Heretics?”

Faith turned to look back at the blank clearing, then searched the sky above them. A soft voice drew her attention back to the clearing. High pitched, muttering incoherently.

Taking Mischief’s paw, she inched closer keeping behind the shrubbery growing on the outskirts of the trees. A strange sensation prickled across her fur, as if she’d just walked through a field of static. A white squat lab came into focus, crouching at the edge of the clearing, and just outside it was the flygon.

Stifling her surprise, she ducked into a mass of brambles and ferns, tugging Mischief in beside her. Faith parted the bush with a paw enough to peer out at the two pokemon.

The flygon’s small black passenger stood by his feet, rummaging through a satchel spread across the dragon’s back. Faith started slightly when she spotted it. Its shadowy form was coated with jagged fur, and two large jewel-like eyes sparkled in the sunlight. A sableye… another ghost-type. If what Harlequin had said was true, then one thing was certain.

“These two aren’t working for the Darkness,” she whispered.

Mischief looked from the two pokemon to Faith. “Outlaws? Then… maybe they’re delivering pokerus?”

The sableye let out a small cheer as he finally wrestled a brown paper bag from beneath the dragon’s hidden possessions. He quickly checked inside it then fastened his claws tightly around the opening.

“Okay,” he said. “I’ll be right back.”

“Take your time.” The flygon’s voice was almost indecipherable as it vibrated with the same intensity as his wings. “I need a break anyway.”

The sableye scurried to the door with strange, erratic movements, his limbs flailing at his sides. Two small pokemon moved from the doorway to intersect him - a plusle and minun.

“Guards,” Faith thought out loud.

The discussion between them was brief, as the sableye explained he was only there to deliver Rio’s order. Mischief nodded at that, his expression hardening as he stared at the white building. The sableye vanished inside, and the guards returned to their positions out of Faith’s and Mischief’s sight.

The flygon took the chance to lie down, curling his tail around himself. His large, glassy eyes never left the door. He certainly didn’t look fierce. If anything, he looked exhausted.

“Definitely delivering pokerus.” Mischief’s voice was barely a whisper. “What else would it be?”

Faith had to silently agree. A bag that small wouldn’t be a food package, and it wasn’t bulky enough to be medicinal herbs or berries.

The sableye’s job didn’t take long. He soon scurried back out and scrambled onto his friend’s back. The flygon obediently rose to his feet, although somewhat sluggishly, and the clearing was filled with the loud hum of his wings. He took to the sky, soaring once around the roof of the lab to gain momentum, then over the canopy towards the mountains.

Faith watched him go, then turned back to the building. “I’m going in.”

Mischief stiffened. “What? In there?”

Faith nodded. “If they’re infecting pokemon with this pokerus, then they need rescuing. If we leave it too long, then others will be afflicted with it too.”

Mischief clenched and unclenched his fists as he stared at the white building. The colour had left his cheeks and his shoulders began to tremble.

“I can’t go back in there.” His voice wavered.

“You don’t need to,” Faith told him. “Just wait out here and cover me if I need it.”

He nodded stiffly and backed further into the bracken.

Faith crept from the bush, scanning the clearing. It was oddly devoid of guards save for the two by the door. Faith had two options - confront the two rodents or look for another way in. There was every possibility the plusle and minun could be reasoned with.

She opted for the former, walking confidently towards the door. The two guards leapt to their feet when they spotted her, and the plusle’s cheeks sparked and crackled while his eyes scanned her shoulders.

“State your business,” he demanded.

“I’m just here to see what you’re doing,” she explained. “I’m worried there are some pokemon in there that might be… well… here against their will?”

The two electric-types blinked with bewilderment, and the plusle began to spark more violently. The minun placed his paw on his shoulder to placate him and turned to address Faith.

“That’s quite an accusation,” he asked. “Where did you get a crazy idea like that?”

Faith shrugged. “I’ve met someone who’s told me about it.”

The two stiffened, and the plusle shook his head. “Rio is gonna be so mad.”

He turned and scurried through the door, leaving his sparking companion. Static danced over the floor and filled the air, pushing Faith’s yellow fur on end.

“I can’t let you in here,” the minun said. “I suggest you leave, and don’t come back.”

“I can’t do that,” she said.

“Then we’re gonna have a problem.”

The rodent’s cheeks and tail lit up and electricity sliced towards Faith. She ducked, and the stray bolt struck the bough of a nearby tree, sending it crashing into the clearing. Faith placed her paw on the floor and spun, swinging her horn and knocking the minun’s feet out from beneath him. She leapt back up and pinned both sides of her jaw-like horn around the smaller pokemon’s middle.

He stared up at her, gasping, his black eyes impossibly wide.

Faith’s expression softened. “You’re on the wrong side of this fight.”

“You want this war over or not?” he panted.

“Of course I do.” She paused. “But imprisoning innocent pokemon isn’t the way to do it.”

She released the minun slowly, but he remained on his back, watching her wordlessly. Faith kept one eye on him as she opened the door. A furret leapt back with a squeal, tripping over a small sentret and almost dropping the basket she was carrying. Behind her, a sandslash let out a shout and rushed towards Faith.

She’d hoped it wouldn’t come to this. Faith gave a small sigh and spread her arms, activating her keystone. Her entire body was engulfed in light which expanded out and erupted with the sound of shattering glass. The sandslash faltered with his claws raised while the young sentret let out a loud ‘whoa!’

The sandslash soon gathered himself, leaping towards Faith. She brought one of her horns up in an arc, striking him in the stomach. The pangolin soared back away from her, tumbling in a spiky ball towards the fork in the corridor. Electricity skimmed over Faith’s head, and she twisted back to clip the minun, knocking him ears over tail across the clearing. Faith turned back to the sandslash who was lying motionless a few feet away. She darted to his side to check him over, and when satisfied he was only unconscious she rose back to her feet. The corridor looked almost identical as it opened up in two completely different directions. The mawile turned back to the anxious furret, who was huddled in a ball against the wall, clutching her child to her chest.

“I’m really sorry,” said Faith. “I didn’t want to hurt your friend. But I assure you he’ll be okay.”

The furret gulped and hugged her child protectively.

“That was amazing!” gasped the sentret.

Faith gave him a small smile then turned back to the furret. “Could you please tell me where the captives are being held?”

The furret looked up with teary eyes and pointed a trembling claw towards the right fork. Faith thanked her and took off at a sprint towards the door at the far end. She was met with more electricity as a heliolisk barged from the office, his frill expanded. Faith clenched her jaw as it coursed through her and twisted to grab the reptile in one of her horns. She swung him over her head behind her, where he landed in a heap beside the sandslash.

Faith heard him get back up, but she didn’t wait around. She rushed through the office, noting a set of double doors. They weren’t locked, but as they swung open a large raichu leapt to his feet to confront her, fists sparking. Faith swung a sucker punch, clipping him under the chin. His head snapped back and he rolled backwards into the walls of a swinging cage where he landed in a sparking heap. He sat up briefly to rub his jaw, then slumped onto his back in a daze.

A pair of crimson eyes caught Faith’s attention and she turned her head towards the pokemon occupying the cage. Enigma stared back at her, and an amused smirk tugged at his lips.

“We meet again,” he said.

“What are you-” Faith shook her head and cast a glance around at the other cells set into the walls.

There must have been thirty or so pokemon scattered throughout them of varying species. Yet not a single dark- or dragon-type among them. Faith wasted no time. She leapt backwards towards one of the three cells, grabbing the heavy mesh in both horns. They chewed through it as if they were wood, and she wrenched a chunk free. Then she set to work on the second. Once the third was torn open, she turned her attention to Enigma.

The ghost-type was silent as she set about breaking into his cage. Static shocked through her body as her horns connected with the mesh, and she grit her teeth as she mangled a hole through it. She let it clatter to the floor and stood back to survey the captives. They nervously clambered out of their cells, their entire bodies trembling. It was almost as if they’d never experienced freedom and had no idea what to do with it.

“They don’t have any memories,” Enigma explained as he landed beside her.

Faith’s jaw went slack and she looked back at him.

“Why are you rescuing me anyway?” He nodded to the mangled cage swinging freely on its chain. “Isn’t it better for me to be in that prison?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Faith told him. “What they do here is-”

The door flew open as a male meowstic barged into the room. “What is going on here?!”

A vigoroth tailed him, accompanied by the heliolisk still nursing his head.

Rio’s eyes widened when he spotted the banette and he took a cautious step back towards the door. He looked between Faith and Enigma, stuttering. “How did you-”

Faith raised her paws to placate him and opened her mouth to speak. A sadistic grin spread across Enigma’s face and he vanished into thin air, reappearing before Rio in the blink of an eye. The meowstic stumbled backwards, his icy eyes filling with fear.

“Enigma, wait!” Faith gasped, but her path was cut off by the vigoroth and heliolisk. Everything seemed to move in slow motion.

Enigma grabbed Rio by the ruff and rammed him against the door, his grin turning sinister and almost chilling the room. “Consider this payback.”

The vigoroth and heliolisk were almost on Faith, and the latter looked back at the ghost-type looming over his boss. Perhaps one of them should have stayed behind? Faith caught the reptile and tossed him behind her to land in the suspended cage. Her other horn swung up to strike the vigoroth across the jaw. He grunted as he was launched to the side and struck the bars of one of the cells with a loud clang. With them out of the way, Faith darted towards Enigma and reached out a paw.

Enigma had Rio pinned with his left while the claws of his right paw turned transparent. He slipped it beyond the meowstic’s fur into his chest and Rio turned rigid.

Faith’s heart leapt into her throat. “No!”

The meowstic let out a blood-curdling yowl which reverberated around the room. Many of the captives returned to cower in their cells, watching the spectacle with wide, terrified eyes. Rio’s scream came to an abrupt stop and his entire body went limp. Enigma withdrew his paw, now coated in a thick layer of blood. A trickle ran down Rio’s clean blue fur and he slumped to the floor.

Faith had both paws clasped over her muzzle, her eyes wide with horror. The shock had been enough for her to lose focus of her mega form. All she could do was stare at the poor meowstic, her breath coming in quick bursts as she tried to fathom what had just happened.

It shouldn’t have happened. She could have stopped it.

Enigma shook blood from his paw and moved into the office. Faith gave herself a mental shake and turned to the captives, trying to urge them from their pens. But with the leader of the whole ordeal lying dead in the room they wouldn’t budge. She turned towards Rio’s prone body and dropped beside it, tracing a paw over the fur of his neck. He was definitely dead. Her heart ached and she pushed herself to her feet. Without him, would the experiment even continue?

She turned back to the captives peering out from the mangled walls of their cells. What few brave ones existed among them had already followed Enigma into the office. Faith trailed after them, catching a glimpse of them leaping from the charred window at the instruction of a brown and white zigzagoon.

“You coming?” he asked Enigma.

Enigma stood at the desk, ignoring the racoon. His focus was on an open file which he flicked through with morbid curiosity. He looked up when the office door opened and a slender grovyle entered. She let out a scream when she saw him and ducked back into the corridor. That was enough for the zigzagoon. He bolted from the open window. Enigma picked up the folder and moved towards the grovyle, flexing his bloodied claws.

Faith grabbed his wrist. “Leave her!”

She dragged Enigma after her towards the window, but a ball of electricity stopped her. The raichu landed on the windowsill, his cheeks sparking. He swished his long tail like a blade, and Faith ducked, turning towards the door. The grovyle had already abandoned it to rush into the lab. As Faith took off through the door, she heard the grovyle’s anguished cry.

“Rio!”

Faith didn’t relinquish Enigma’s wrist. She dragged the ghost-type after her as she followed the corridor towards the exit. It seemed a lot longer than it had earlier. Footsteps echoed after them, growing louder and faster. She ventured a glance back. The vigoroth pursued them, his jaw swollen where Faith had struck him. His claws were raised and shrouded in an eerie black light. Faith’s eyes widened at the realisation of his chosen attack.

“Watch out!”

She swung Enigma ahead of her as the vigoroth brought his claws down, narrowly missing him. Faith swung her horn, colliding with the side of his face with a sickening thud. He struck the wall with a grunt and slid down it as his eyes rolled back into his skull. Faith didn’t hesitate this time. She picked up her pace, keeping her claws fastened around Enigma’s wrist.

The pair made a beeline for the door, which was still wide open. The plusle and minun stood on guard again, both sparking as they prepared to stop them. But as Faith and Enigma drew closer the guards’ eyes flew to Enigma and they scattered like dust on the wind. Faith rushed out into the open clearing, aiming for the trees. After what she’d seen, there was no way she was taking Enigma straight back to Mischief. He was an assassin sent to kill him, after all. There was no telling what he’d do. For a brief moment, Faith questioned what she was doing rescuing such a pokemon. But she shook it off immediately. No one deserved what that meowstic was doing to those poor pokemon. No one.

Once they were well into cover, she finally stopped and rounded on Enigma, keeping him between her and the thick trunk of a sturdy tree.

“Why did you do that?!” she demanded. “Why did you kill him?!”

A look of surprise crossed his face, but it soon melted away into indifference. He snorted and folded his arms over the large file. “You know… they’re probably looking for us.”

Faith narrowed her eyes. “Tell me.”

“Maybe you can tell me why you’d rescue a pokemon with my reputation?” A smirk spread across his face as he looked her up and down. “And perhaps enlighten me on your elaborate appearance during the whole spectacle as well?”

Faith shook her head and took a deep breath. She was beginning to grow exasperated. “I was rescuing you! All of you! No one needed to die.”

“You weren’t exactly easy on any of those goons, either.”

“I merely subdued them!”

“It was still pretty violent.”

“If I didn’t stop any of them then we’d both be behind bars,” she said. “Or worse!”

Enigma examined his bloody claws and relaxed back against the tree. “And if I didn’t kill Rio, then his rotten plan would continue and probably spiral out of control. If that happened, we’d all be dead.” He fixed her with a cold stare. “I did Estellis a favour.”

Faith met his eyes as she absorbed that. “A favour?” She spat. She took a deep breath to calm herself and shook her head. “Tell me. What was he doing exactly?”

A twig snapped behind her and Enigma glanced over her shoulder. He clutched the folder tightly, his claws digging grooves into its canvas surface. “Why don’t you ask your unhinged friend?”

Faith looked back at Mischief lurking in the shadows, watching them. Her heart leapt into her throat, and she twisted back towards Enigma. Her body was tense as she braced herself to leap to Mischief’s aide. It didn’t go unnoticed by the assassin. He met her eyes again and snorted.

“I’ve got stuff to do.” He tossed the folder up into the tree and leapt after it, warping into the branches. He landed with a jingle, caught the folder expertly and turned his back on them. “Until we meet again, Faith.”

Faith watched him skip across the canopy until his bell faded into the distance. Pokerus… the Clean Place… a rotten plan… Somehow she felt she was missing some pieces of this morbid jigsaw.

“Are you okay?” Mischief joined her side, still searching the canopy for the banette.

“I’m fine.” Faith let herself relax and smiled at him. “The captives have been released. And I don’t think those experiments are going to continue, not for a while anyway.”

“That’s good.” Mischief paused. “Did he kill him?”

“Rio?” Faith bit her lip and nodded.

Mischief turned from the tree, his expression unreadable. “Then let’s go. We need to be quick if we’re going to re-join Cleo.”

Faith watched him for a moment and placed a paw on her chest. She wanted to ask him more about what he knew about the Clean Place. But as things stood, it would have to wait. She trotted after him, keeping an ear open for that familiar bell.
 
Chapter 38

DeliriousAbsol

*Crazy Absol Noises*
Location
Behind a laptop, most likely with tea
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. mawile
38 - A Cry for Help​

It had been a silent burial. No one could bring themselves to say anything, if they had anything to say. Mint watched Razorclaw cover Rio’s body with soil, and once he’d finished, she stepped forwards to place a small red flower on the mound. Tears pricked her eyes and her throat tightened around an uncomfortable lump. She stood back with the rest of Rio’s former group, and Sandpaw rubbed her back with a warm paw.

Mint let out a shaky breath and closed her eyes, turning back to the lab. The rest of the group followed silently behind her, their claws scratching over the white tiles in the cold, empty corridor. That’s how everything felt now. Empty.

The group flowed into the lounge room, and Mint flopped onto the worn sofa and lowered her face into her paws. The rest of the pokemon joined her around the long, low coffee table, cramming into the small room. Yet it still felt empty.

“So what d’we do now?”

Tantrum’s voice dragged Mint out of her thoughts, and she rubbed her face with both paws before looking up at the vigoroth. She gave a weak shrug and let her paws fall into her lap.

“I honestly don’t know,” she said. “I don’t know where we go from here. This was Rio’s plan, not mine.”

“My thoughts exactly,” said Tantrum. “He were th’genius. Not me.”

“And I was just a guard,” Razorclaw rasped.

Thunder and Ray nodded at that, shifting uneasily in their seats. When Mint looked at Rowap and Spelon huddled beside her, the two small rodents fidgeted and looked away.

Sandpaw hugged Scout on her lap and blinked back worried tears. “I think it’s down to you, Mint.”

The grovyle sighed and raised her paws in a weak shrug. “Then… then I’m disbanding us.”

The group stiffened and looked at her, aghast.

“What?!” Tantrum gasped. “Disbanding? But… but all this work-”

“Like you said,” Mint insisted, “Rio was the genius. He was the pokemon behind all this. We just… worked for him. Who here was told, in detail, what his ideas were? Who here can keep this facility running without detection from the Darkness? Because let’s face it, his shield isn’t going to last forever! Soon it will fade and this place will be visible for all to see! We’ll be mobbed by murkrow before we know it.”

The vigoroth sighed and exchanged glances with Razorclaw. “Yeah. You’re right.” He scratched between his ears and gave an exasperated grunt. “They find out what we’re doin’ here, we’re as good as dead.”

“So we have no choice,” said Mint. “We move out. Find somewhere else to go.”

“But where?” Razorclaw spread his claws. “We don’t belong anywhere.”

“Yeah, the Outcasts won’t ‘ave us.” Tantrum narrowed his eyes and his words turned into a warning. “And I ain’t joinin’ no Heretics.”

“I’ve already left the Heretics.” Sandpaw’s voice wavered and she hugged Scout tighter until he protested. “I can’t go back there. Not again. Not…” Her eyes shone with tears.

“Mu-u-um!” Scout wriggled from the furret’s grasp and plopped onto the floor. He rose up on his tail and puffed out his chest. “You don’t need to be scared, Mum! I’m strong! I’ll keep us safe.”

Sandpaw stifled a giggle and wiped her cheeks.

“Aye!” Tantrum slapped his knee and grinned at the hatchling. “Wi’ a strong pokemon like you on our team, we don’t need t’fear no Darkness!”

“Exactly!” said Scout.

Mint sat back on her paws as she surveyed her companions. Scout had scrambled onto the table and was trying to lift everyone’s spirits. Weak smiles adorned the muzzles of his onlookers, except for Mint. Everyone in that room had paid a price. They’d all lost family to the Darkness. Rio had gathered them all together under the guise of a small group of Heretics to fool Hydreigon’s soldiers while they worked to overthrow the vile dragon.

And the entire plan had backfired. All because he’d tried to control Enigma.

All because he’d wanted revenge.

Enigma… He’d be back. She knew he’d be back.

She dug her claws into the sofa and bit her lip as an unsettling idea rose into her mind. “We need to get as far from here as possible.” She paused for a moment and tried to meet the eyes off her teammates. “I think we should join the outlaws.”

The room fell into silence again and all eyes turned to her.

“The outlaws?” Tantrum parroted.

Mint nodded. “Rio worked closely with them. So we just need to find the group who is cultivating this pokerus and join them. Perhaps… perhaps then we can come up with a new plan. We can see Rio’s idea into fruition, but… well… safely.”

“I dunno, Mint.” Tantrum scratched the back of his head. “That’s way out in th’Border Woods. Our kind ain’t welcome there. We’d stand out like a sore pawpad.”

“We can’t.” Sandpaw retrieved Scout and held him protectively. Her entire body trembled. “It’s just dragons and dark-types.”

“And the odd ghost- and poison-type,” Razorclaw added. “All of them don’t belong anywhere. That’s where we are now.” He paused, meeting the grovyle’s eyes. “I’m with Mint.”

“Me too,” said Thunder. “I don’t know about you, but none of you have raised the main concern. What if Enigma comes back? We all played a part in his capture. I wouldn’t be surprised if he finishes us off before the pokerus takes him over.”

“And even then he might still want revenge,” Ray added. “He’s still got his memories, after all! I doubt he’ll forget us in a hurry.”

“Oh believe me, I’ve considered this,” said Mint. “But hearing it out loud… it makes it feel even more likely. So we move. Before dark.”

“Hang on! That aint a lot o’ time to clear up this mess.” Tantrum waved a paw towards the corridor. “We’ve still got a number o’ them test subjects who refuse to leave. What’re we gonna do wi’ them?”

“Tell them to go,” said Mint. “Force them outside. Leave them. And if some insist then then bring them with us. There’s safety in numbers, right?”

“But what if they snap?” Spelon’s small voice rose from beside Mint, and the minun shuddered.

Mint sighed and rubbed her paws over her face. “Well we need to think of something quickly. If more of us are worried about the test subjects then we just leave them behind to fend for themselves. But as things stand, I’m down to take them with us.”

“Our numbers are already small, Spelon,” said Tantrum. “Enigma made sure o’that. How many ‘ave we lost now? Three?”

Mint bit her lip again and glanced towards the door. She was on high alert for any sign of Enigma’s bell. Every rustle from outside set her spine tingling. There was always a chance they’d encounter him on the way to the Border Woods, and being so close to the Shadow Lands…

“Let’s make haste,” she said, before she risked changing her mind. “Gather everything you need and meet me outside.”

Scout stood up on his mother’s lap. “So we’re joining the outlaws and fighting the bad guys?”

“Aye, that’s what we’re doin’,” said Tantrum as he rose to his feet.

“And we’re gonna win, right?” Scout’s eyes sparkled. “We’re gonna be heroes!”

Sandpaw chuckled nervously and rubbed her son’s head. “You’ll be a fine hero.”

Mint left the group to gather themselves together and followed the corridor towards the exit. A brisk wind greeted her, stirring her head leaf. Her eyes fell on Rio’s grave and that lump rose in her throat again, choking off her breath. She whisked a paw across her eyes and forced herself to look anywhere else.

“We’ll win this,” she said. “Believe me.” She hugged her arms around herself and closed her eyes, but a tear escaped to trail down her cheek. “I just wish… I’d stayed by you…”

Soft footsteps joined her side, and Tantrum’s oddly soft voice broke through the silence. “Ready?”

Mint looked up at the rest of Rio’s former team, now accompanied by a small number of test subjects. All gathered around her with small bags slung over their shoulders. She gave a curt nod and forced her shoulders to relax.

“Yes,” she said. “But my navigation skills are pretty bad. Does anyone know the way?”

Tantrum pointed a claw towards the left of the path leading from the lab. “I think that’s vaguely north. But eh, if we’re off course we’ll find out at sunset. Sky’s always read over th’Shadow Lands.”

Mint kept pace at the vigoroth’s side, and everyone flowed away from the lab after her. Everyone except Sandpaw.

The furret clutched her son in both paws, trembling from ear to tail. When Razorclaw’s prickly back had vanished into the trees, Sandpaw took one step back towards the lab. Then, with a shake of her head, she took off in the opposite direction, fleeing blindly into the shadows.

“Aren’t we going with them?” Scout asked.

“No.” Sandpaw shook her head again and picked up pace. “No, we’re not.”

...​

Enigma came to a stop in an open stretch of land beside a river which wound through the valley, vanishing out of sight around a sharp bend. A fallen tree lay across it, its large roots curving up into the air and arcing back down again to end in a rotten, moss-covered point. The surrounding trees had shed their leaves onto the ground like a carpet which spilt over into the river. The odd leaf was whisked away to either be carried downstream, or join others against the rocks where they were beaten in place by the frothy spray.

Enigma settled under the arcing roots and popped the folder into his lap. Something had snatched his attention when he’d seen it open on Rio’s desk. The title - Project C. He’d heard it a few times in the lab. He was certain it was to do with him. As he’d flicked through it, he’d noted the extensive notes on pokerus, that unusual strain Rio had infected him with. Enigma was desperate to know more, even if the thought filled him with an icy dread. Perhaps he’d get more from these notes than he’d ever have been able to beat out of the deranged meowstic.

Enigma skimmed the first few pages which detailed Type18. He wasn’t interested in that. He already knew everything Rio had told him, and with Harlequin having a ‘fairy-type’ companion, he could get any information he desired concerning ‘Type18’ any time he wanted to. Rio had even included a side-note on giving the information to Boomer and how the noivern had failed to deliver the message to Hydreigon. Old news.

Enigma skipped ahead until he found the part he’d been skimming back in the lab. The information concerning pokerus. He sat back against the cold, rough bark of the tree and propped the folder up against his knees.

‘Project C is the next instalment to our super-powered army against Hydreigon. Project B wasn’t quite a failure, but I lost all my notes in the fire that devastated my lab, so here I’ll document what I remember about it.

‘Project B was a tyranitar chosen for the Pokerus Research Project. This new strain was discovered in my lab when an oddish popped up with unusual strength for its species. Oddish isn’t ordinarily a force to be reckoned with, but this was giving higher-level water-types a difficult time. We extracted a sample of the pokerus from it and had it analysed at our partner lab in the Border Woods. There, it was determined that the pokerus had mutated into a new strain, one that could push a pokemon beyond its usual limits.

‘This was huge news. Sadly, the strain wasn’t contagious and soon ran its course. A search through our other test subjects revealed that no other pokemon had this particular strain, just the usual pokerus that everyone is familiar with. But the lab tampered with this new strain in hopes to make it contagious and sent it back to me to be tested further. The oddish was named ‘Project X’ and we started afresh with ‘Project A’, using this new strain.

‘Sadly, Project A reacted badly to this parasite and ended up attacking itself until it was completely mutilated. We tried again on three other pokemon of different species with the same results. It seemed this new strain caused madness in a mere few hours of infection. This was reported back to the lab and they tweaked the pokerus strain some more. It mutated vastly and after I received this new, improved strain, we set to work on Project B.

‘Project B showed huge progress, but just like the other two mutations this one also was not contagious. With enough of it at our disposal we could infect more, but first I wanted to see what would happen to Project B. It was a very compliant participant, and it enjoyed its training sessions. So much so that it would beg for them each day. Its strength increased exponentially. We believed this pokemon would become a power-house, one of many in a vast army against the Shadow Lands. More pokemon were infected with this pokerus and training began on them also.

‘However, after one season had passed, Project B lost control during its training session, destroying the pokemon it was training against and killing two of my staff, and fatally wounding another. After this, we decided to train it against a moving target only.

‘Project B had no memory of its outburst once it came to. Instead, news of it only seemed to distress it. Not to mention, my staff now feared it, along with the other subjects that were being raised to fight alongside Project B. New handlers had to be found, and then its training could continue, while the other test subjects were put on hold.

‘During Project B’s training, madness was becoming more and more common. During its outbursts it would ignore the target completely and just hunt around the room as if looking for something. Or someone. We began to fear it may target those it knew during its rampage. To be safe, I decided to remove all of its memories. However, this isn’t an easy task. When a pokemon is awake it is constantly taking in new information and making new memories. And when asleep, it dreams. I removed as many as I could and hoped for the best. It worked, as when it next fell into a rampage its entire focus was on the moving target.

‘After four seasons, Project B fully succumbed to its madness. It was kept in chains, away from my staff and its fellow test subjects. I deemed it a success. An army of these pokemon would be invaluable in a war against the Shadow Lands. If we could create more, unstoppable beasts that attacked anything that moved, then this war could be over in a matter of days!

‘Then Type18 showed up. We chose three pokemon that carried this type - a snubbull, an azumarill, and a whimsicott - and after a month of training I removed their memories. They were sent out into the world with a tracking device so we could monitor their progress. I wanted to see how fast the pokerus would take to consume them while outside of a concentrated training environment, and also to see how much damage they could do once they hit a burst of hysteria. However, it was reported that the whimsicott had lost our tracking device, and before long the snubbull and azumarill also vanished off our radar.

‘Setback after setback has afflicted me with my research. Project B has been destroyed, my research has been lost, and many of my test subjects have been released into the wild. Project C is my new, flawless plan. With Enigma infected and detained, one source of my problems is contained, and I have an invaluable tool in my war against the Shadow Lands.

‘Project C must not fail. I will not make the same mistakes. I have learned, and with a new path before me I will strive to see this plan to fruition. Project C’s memories will not be erased unlike its predecessors. We’ve lost too many valuable test subjects this way already. With memories intact, I can be sure that Project C will destroy those it is closest to-’

A chill ran down Enigma’s spine and he stood up suddenly, dropping the file to the floor. He clenched his jaw and gave the ring binder a hefty kick, sending it sprawling across the forest floor.

“What have you done to me?!”

Enigma turned his back on the offensive object and placed a paw to his chest as his breath came in fitful bursts. His heart was racing. The more he read the sicker he felt. Rio had been completely insane. He’d wanted to build an army of unstoppable monsters and had dragged Enigma into it.

He’d turned him into one of his monsters. A ticking time-bomb that was set to go off in a matter of weeks.

He looked down at his paw, still sticky with blood, and his lip curled back in a sneer. It vanished in an instant as his eyes widened and his heart picked up. He raked his claws through the sticky fur, now unusually uncomfortable and clammy. His mind was still fresh with the horrors of what he’d done to Lou, yet he’d not even hesitated to kill Rio.

Rio.

Enigma curled his claws into a fist and glanced back at the folder. No. He was right to kill Rio. Even with him taken care of his plan was still in motion with irreparable consequences. It wouldn’t disintegrate that easily. But as far as Enigma was concerned, it was over for him. He didn’t want anything more to do with that deranged meowstic or his crazy antics. He’d wash his paws of him and destroy that folder before anyone else got their mitts on it.

He turned to the river so quickly the momentum threw him off balance. His head was spinning. He felt sick and dizzy, and he wasn’t sure if it was from what he’d read, the blood on his paw, or the pokerus taking over his body. He dropped beside the river and plunged his paw beneath the freezing surface. Gritting his teeth as the icy water bit through his fur, he scrubbed his paw with his claws, trying to remove the congealed blood that was oddly reluctant to come out. The surface of the water turned pink briefly before it was whisked downstream.

His mind reeled with the information he’d just taken in. The pieces didn’t fit the puzzle. Weren’t they Heretics? Weren’t they trying to win favour with Hydreigon? If not, then why tell Boomer about ‘Type18’ in the first place?

Enigma’s mind was too muddled to make head nor tail of it. Perhaps there was more about it in the folder? Rio had recorded they’d been working with outlaws, a band made up of those who didn’t fit anywhere else. Was it possible Rio’s group were also outlaws? No… it didn’t make any sense. They weren’t dark- or dragon-types. They weren’t ghost-types, either. They didn’t fit into Hydreigon’s ideal, nor did they go against those the Outcasts clung onto.

Satisfied his fur was now rid of Rio’s blood, he dried his paws on his scarf and turned back to the folder. No, he didn’t want to keep reading it. He’d seen enough. Now he just had to get rid of it. He placed it on a pile of dead leaves and grabbed a couple of pebbles from beside the river. They were a little damp, but with a bit of encouragement he managed to get some sparks to form as he clicked them together, and the sparks quickly ate up the dry paper.

There.

Rio’s crazy plan, done. Destroyed. Erased from Estellis forever.

If only it were that easy. His infected, unfortunate test subjects wandered freely outside that lab now Faith had released them. Enigma was one of them, after all.

He picked up the burning folder by its cover. The pages curled back, blackened, as the flames ate them away. Smoldering wisps dropped away, but were burnt up before they touched the try leaves.

The lab wouldn’t be getting this information back. Would they even try to continue where Rio left off, now the lead scientist behind the project was out of the picture? Without Rio, they’d have to start again. Unless one of them knew his plans inside out. From what Enigma had leaned about Rio, his ego was miles wide. He could either have kept everything to himself, deeming himself a genius while his goons did the lesser work, or he could have spouted about it for hours until his goons knew his plan inside and out.

But there was one thing Rio had clearly not considered. What would his beloved army do once they’d finished decimating the Shadow Lands?

It was clear to Enigma which side would have won. No army of pokemon could stand against an army with a huge type advantage. Not to mention an army fuelled murderous insanity caused by a mutated, power-enhancing, parasitic virus. So what would happen when they had nothing left to destroy?

Enigma tossed what remained of the folder into the air and watched as the flames consumed it. It dropped to the ground in a smoldering heap where the keen embers swiftly spread to the surrounding leaves.

They’d find something else to destroy. The deranged army would move across Estellis, wiping out any pokemon they could get their teeth and claws on.

Enigma crushed the flames under his foot and smothered them into the dirt.

Rio wasn’t just unhinged. He was an idiot.

...​

Faith had been hoping to catch up with Cleo or reach the village before sunset. Her diversion hadn’t taken her that far out of the way. She’d managed to find their way back to the river and pick up the trail, but Cleo was nowhere in sight. Faith and Mischief had travelled somewhat quietly. The whimsicott hadn’t wanted to discuss the lab or Enigma and any conversation had been very disjointed as he became lost in his own thoughts.

When sunset came, Faith considered continuing on. They had reached the Glen, so Stonehaven shouldn’t be much further. But the skies were rapidly darkening as the sun set beyond the gentle slope of the mountain rising up on the opposite side of the river.

Faith paused to look around, searching for somewhere that would provide the pair with shelter and a safe place to hide. The river roared as a waterfall cascaded down the mountainside through a curtain of willow branches and ivy. The water tumbled over the rocks in its journey to join the river, whisking off into the distance as it wound down further into the Glen. Faith considered the waterfall for a moment, narrowing her eyes as she searched for a cave. Her night vision wasn’t bad, but even through all the spray and shifting shadows as the branches swayed in the breeze, it was impossible to tell if there was anything beyond it. Instead, she motioned for Mischief to follow her away from the river into the borders of the forest.

The sun had long set by the time she found an old, decaying tree. Its hollow trunk was damp but served as a suitable hiding place. Mischief uprooted long fern fronds to plant at the entrance, situating them so they looked natural. Once they were in place, he stood back and met Faith’s eyes.

“I can take first watch,” he said.

Faith shook her head but Mischief raised a paw before she could speak.

“I insist.” He let out a quiet sigh and glanced into the woods before continuing. “You were in a battle earlier. You’re more tired than I am. Get some rest.”

Faith watched him for a moment, shuffling her feet by the hollow opening. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Mischief nodded stiffly and looked back towards the river.

Faith sighed and crouched down beside him. “Mischief… I get the feeling something’s bothering you. Please… if you need to talk about it, then-”

“I’m just worried.”

Faith was silent for a moment as she searched his face. “About Cleo?”

Mischief shrugged and shuffled his paws in the grass, staring off into the distance. After a moment he slumped down onto the dry ground.

“I’m sure she’ll be fine.” Faith smiled encouragingly. “She’s a strong warrior, and she has Spark with her.”

“Spark is injured,” Mischief reminded her. “And that’s not it. I’m worried… about joining them again.” He rubbed his face and sighed again. “I’m a threat to them. And if I don’t fight, I’m useless. I’ve proved that already.”

“You’re not useless.”

“Of course I am,” he spat. “You saw what happened with that linoone!” He dug his claws into the earth and grit his teeth. “The Darkness won’t listen to reason, and if I fight then… then I risk hurting Cleo.”

Faith took a deep breath and twirled her paw in the long fur beside her face. “There’s more to this than what happened with Reshiram, isn’t there?”

“I’m not worried about how strong I am,” said Mischief. “That’s something I can work on. What frightens me is that I lose control when I fight.”

Faith waited silently for him to continue, but she didn’t have to wait long. Mischief closed his eyes and tugged at the stiff plants beside him.

“I have no memory of it, but I killed Boomer. And I almost killed Enigma. If I turned on Cleo, or Spark, or you… any of my friends… I’d never forgive myself.” He took in a trembling breath and wound the plucked plant around his paws. “I have nightmares about it. That I’m hurting Cleo. It frightens me. I don’t want to sleep. I feel like I should run away, at least she’d be safe then. You’d all be safe.”

Faith closed her eyes briefly as her encounter with Enigma flashed through her mind. ‘Why don’t you ask your unhinged friend?’

The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place. Whatever had happened in that lab, she was convinced Mischief was a part of it.

“Is this because of pokerus?” she ventured.

Mischief nodded stiffly. “I think so.”

“It’s not meant to do this.” Her words hadn’t been aimed at Mischief, just an echo of her own thoughts, but he nodded anyway. “So this is what Rio was doing? Messing with pokerus and infecting other pokemon?”

Mischief nodded again.

Faith leaned back against the hollow tree and stifled a groan. Messing with pokerus… making others suffer for it. She didn’t want to agree with Enigma that he’d done Estellis a favour by killing Rio. Any pokemon was capable of redemption. She knew that. Enigma had robbed Rio of any chance of redemption, and the damage had already been done. Damage Rio could probably have helped to undo.

Faith raised her head as an idea lit up in her mind. “Rio was working with the outlaws, right?”

Mischief looked up at her and a smile spread across Faith’s muzzle, causing a glimmer of confusion to flash across Mischief’s orange eyes.

“If he was working with them,” Faith explained, “then there’s a chance they might know how to help you.”

Mischief’s face lit up and he sat up straight. “You think… you think I can be cured? There’s a cure?”

“Quite possibly.” Faith scratched the side of her nose and gazed up at the canopy. “If they’ve tampered with it, then they’ll probably be working on a countermeasure in case things go out of control. I mean, it would be pretty foolish not to. If they caught it then they’d want it gone, surely? And they’re working against the Darkness, so I imagine they’d help you if you asked.”

Mischief glanced from side to side, shifting uncomfortably. “Then… then I should find them.”

Faith raised a paw and stifled a laugh. “Let’s just focus on our current mission for now. We can help Stonehaven and find the fire-type like Xerneas requested, then we can find a cure for your pokerus! If we work together then we are sure to find it!”

Mischief took a steadying breath, but his eyes had a new light behind them. He reflected Faith’s smile and settled back in his spot.

“Thanks, Faith,” he said. “I really hope this works.” His smile faltered and he hesitated for a moment. “But what if it doesn’t?”

“If it doesn’t, then I’m pretty sure it will be wiped out in the Fairy Garden.” Mischief looked up at her sharply, but she went on, “Evil has no place there, and this pokerus is certainly not a good thing.”

“But we were just there,” he choked. “Why… why didn’t it…”

Faith shrugged and let her paws fall into her lap. “I don’t know.” She paused, wracking her mind. “Xerneas did say your weakness would be your greatest strength. Perhaps he meant this?”

Mischief sighed and stared down at his paws. “I can’t see how something so dangerous to my friends is going to help them.”

“I don’t know,” said Faith. “I can’t help you there.”

Mischief fell silent, tugging at the grass again as his mind went elsewhere.

The mawile pushed herself from the tree, drawing his attention as her feet disturbed the leaves. “Do you still want first watch?”

“Please.” He let his paws rest in his lap, still toying with the stiff wiry plant. “I need some time to think and clear my head.”

Faith placed a paw on his shoulder and turned towards the hollow, bidding him goodnight. She’d barely stepped inside when a loud cry reached her ears.

“Help! Please help!”

Both pokemon looked up as the ferns rustled and swayed ahead of them. They parted and a long, lithe furret tumbled through, clutching a hatchling in her arms.

“Please help!” she gasped.

A look of recognition flashed across the furret’s eyes and she took a step back into the ferns. Her breath came in frantic bursts and she looked about to faint.

Faith raised her paws and approached her slowly. “What’s wrong? Is someone chasing-”

“It’s you,” the furret gasped, clutching her son so tightly he wriggled in her grip. “You… you broke in… and Rio, he…” Her words choked off as her eyes streamed with tears.

“I’m not your enemy, okay?” Faith said softly. “I was helping innocent pokemon.”

“Enigma… he’ll kill us!” the furret sobbed. “He’ll kill us all!”

The furret tumbled forwards into Faith’s arms, burying her muzzle in her shoulder. Faith looped a paw around her back and stared down the path the ferret pokemon had come from.

“Come and rest, okay?” Faith pulled back gently and took the furret’s arm. “You’re clearly exhausted.”

The furret wiped her eyes with a free paw, keeping a firm grip on her son. “I don’t know…”

“Please,” Faith insisted. “I can assure you I’m a friend. You’ll be safe here. Safer than walking around the forest in the dark, shouting for help.”

“But you released Enigma.”

“I released everyone who was being kept unjustly in that lab,” Faith explained. “If you were locked up, I’d have freed you too.”

The furret lowered her paw from her tear-streaked face and glanced at the mawile. “I suppose… in some way you have.”

Faith gave her a warm smile. “Do you want to join us? We’ll be safe and hidden in the hollow there.”

The furret met Faith’s eyes and nodded stiffly.

“I’m Faith. What’s your name?” When the furret didn’t answer, Faith looked to the sentret.

He stifled a yawn and beamed at her. “I’m Scout! And this is my Mum.”

“Sandpaw.” The furret shuffled her feet and her long tail swished through the ferns. “My name’s Sandpaw. I’m… I’m not a Heretic, I…” She closed her eyes and swayed, letting Scout tumble to the floor.

Faith caught the furret before she crashed into the bushes. Scout landed nimbly on his tail and turned towards his mother, a look of worry flashing across his face. Faith motioned towards the hollow tree and he scampered on ahead as Faith guided the exhausted furret after him. Sandpaw cast a glance at Mischief as they passed him, and the whimsicott raised an eyebrow at Faith. The mawile mouthed at him not to worry and entered the hollow. The long fern fronds swayed back into position behind her, obscuring Faith and the two newcomers from view.

Sandpaw settled down against the wall of the rotting trunk and rubbed her face. Faith sat a respectable distance from her, and for a moment she thought the furret was going to fall asleep on the spot.

Scout scampered around the hollow, gazing up into the darkness above them. Mushrooms spread out above them, spilling out from a deep crevice and trailing down the wall in a river of yellow and orange.

“Wow!” Scouts small voice echoed around them, setting Sandpaw on edge. “We’re inside a tree!”

The furret hissed at him to be quiet, drawing a quick ‘sorry’ from the sentret.

Faith chuckled and folded her paws into her lap. “You’re certainly energetic, aren’t you?”

Scout turned to her and puffed out his fuzzy chest. “I have to be. I’m a hero now, and I have to look after my Mum.”

“That’s lovely!” said Faith leaning towards him. “I reckon you’ll make a great hero!”

“I will!” His voice echoed again and he clapped his paws over his mouth, glancing at his mother’s disapproving stare. He turned back to Faith and lowered his voice. “Tantrum told me I’d be so awesome that pokemon would write stories about me.”

“And I’d love to read them!” said Faith with a chuckle.

“You’re that pokemon who transformed earlier, aren’t you?”

Faith nodded and went ‘mhm!’

“I wanna do that to! How’d you do it?”

“I can show you one day,” said Faith. “But I think you’ll be very strong when you evolve.”

“I must be close then cos I feel strong already. And I’m already three seasons old.”

“Wow! You’re big for three seasons.”

“Mum always says I’m gonna be big like Dad.”

Sandpaw’s ears drooped and she looked away from the pair. Realising this was probably a sore spot, Faith decided to change the topic.

“So where are you two going?” she asked.

Sandpaw shrugged. “I don’t know. I just… when the lab evacuated, I ran. I didn’t want to go with the others to find the outlaws.”

“They went to join the outlaws?” Faith straightened, meeting the furret’s eye.

Sandpaw nodded. “They have contacts there. But… it’s so close to the Shadow Lands.” Her breathing turned erratic and her pupils dilated. “And there’s dragons. And dark-types. It’s… it’s not safe. Not safe!”

Faith shuffled towards her, shushing as she placed a paw on her knee. Sandpaw fell quiet save for her breathing.

The furret took a deep breath and swallowed. “I… I joined the Shining Moon because the Darkness usually ignores them. You Outcasts find yourselves under attack so frequently there’s hardly any of you left. I thought we’d be safe, but-” She swallowed again and tears pricked her eyes. “But the Darkness wiped out the camp I was living in. A few of us escaped and I found Mint. She offered to take me with her to Rio when she left. She’d promised it was safe because of his psychic barrier. But then… but then you…” Sandpaw choked and stared into Faith’s eyes. “Why did you kill Rio?”

“I didn’t,” said Faith.

“You released Enigma.”

“I had to!” Faith whispered. “Everyone there was a prisoner. It’s not fair what Rio has done to all those pokemon.”

Her eye went to Mischief, just visible beyond the ferns. He looked back at them over his shoulder but said nothing.

Sandpaw blinked, putting the pieces together. “Is he…?”

“Yes,” said Faith, turning back to Sandpaw. “And he’s suffering because of Rio. Darkness or not, is it really fair to let others fall to the same fate?”

Sandpaw opened her mouth to answer.

“No, it’s not,” said Mischief quietly.

Sandpaw snapped her jaw shut and looked away, the tears leaking free. “I’m so sorry,” she muttered. “I never liked what he was doing. But I thought… I honestly thought it would help us win this war.”

Faith sat back on her paws and smiled, Xerneas’ words to Mischief echoing in her mind. “It might.” She cast a glance at the whimsicott but she wasn’t sure he’d heard her. Turning back to Sandpaw, she added, “But pokemon don’t belong in cages.”

“No. I know they don’t.”

Scout yawned widely and sat back on his tail. Sandpaw scooped him up and set him in her lap, and the little sentret huddled down sleepily.

“So where are you Outcasts going?” Sandpaw asked Faith.

“We’re travelling to join some friends,” Faith explained. “I’m not an Outcast, though. I’m helping them find a pokemon they need to help them.”

“You’re not an Outcasts?” Sandpaw’s muzzle creased with confusion and her eyes trailed over Faith’s left shoulder. “But you’re not a Heretic either?”

“No.” Faith shook her head. “I’m from a place called the Fairy Garden. Mischief and his friends found us only a few days ago.”

“I’ve never heard of it,” said Sandpaw.

“I’m hearing that a lot recently.” Faith gave her a sad smile. “It seems a lot of pokemon have forgotten about it. It surprised me to learn how quickly stories and legends have faded away. It doesn’t feel that long ago I was sharing hot cheri tea with the pokemon of Gleamgrove Abbey, and now it’s fallen into ruin.”

“Quickly? A building doesn’t fall into ruin over night. It takes many years.” Sandpaw looked Faith up and down. “And you don’t look much older than me.”

Faith chuckled. “Time seems to move differently in the Fairy Garden. I’d say it’s rather ‘timeless’.”

Sandpaw didn’t look convinced. She inclined her head on one side as if looking for some hint that Faith was pulling her leg. “So what’s it like there?”

“It’s full of pokemon,” Faith explained. “There’s no divide. Everyone gets on and helps out with daily tasks as Xerneas watches over us all. There’s no sickness, no death, and no Darkness.” As Sandpaws eyes lit up, Faith added, “But that doesn’t mean we’re not fighting against it. Xerneas gifts us all with various abilities to combat the Darkness. But so many pokemon have drifted away, if we don’t find them and draw them back, when the end to the war arrives then so many innocent lives will be lost. Even those who don’t work for the Darkness… if they don’t find the Fairy Garden, then they’ll die.” Faith folded her paws together and gave Sandpaw a small smile. “That’s my job. Sure, I can fight, but I’m one of those who are sent out to tell others about the Fairy Garden.”

Sandpaw settled against the rotting wall. Scout was now wide awake, watching Faith with sparkling eyes. His mother rubbed his head, ruffling the fur between his ears.

“Could you tell us about it now?” Sandpaw asked. “I think it will be nice to hear about it after everything that’s happened today.”

A shuffle came from outside and the pair looked up as Mischief inched closer to the ferns.

“Of course,” said Faith. “I suppose I’ll start at the beginning, when the war first started. It was the day evil first came into the world.”

...​

Rumble was exhausted. The noibat swarm had reached the Shadow Lands, and not without casualty. Only thirteen bats remained, not counting Rumble. They struggled to hold up the cocoon as their strength left them. Its crystallised surface slipped between their claws and they fought to hold on. The two at the front scrabbled, then their wings went limp and their eyes rolled back in their heads. They dropped, and the rest of the swarm lost their grip on the cocoon.

Rumble leapt to action, tucking in his wings and dropping like a bullet. He snatched the cocoon in his claws and flailed his wings as he tried to remain airborne. The two bats lay motionless beside the lake, draped in the shadows of the assassins’ barracks. Rumble’s heart pounded, and not just out of fear. He could feel his very life being drawn out of him. He lowered the cocoon to the ground and flopped back from it, lying spread-eagled on the floor. His chest rose and fell as he frantically tried to catch his breath. The rest of the swarm landed in the trees around the lake, or dropped beside their leader.

A loud caw split the air and Rumble cracked an eye open. Yurlik was perched on the flat, mossy roof of the barracks. The honchkrow inclined his head on one side as he scrutinised the black egg-like crystal at Rumble’s feet. He kicked off from the roof and landed beside the dragon in a flurry of feathers.

“Is this it?” Yurlik squawked. “You found the cocoon.”

“Yes,” Rumble gasped. “And it came at a price.”

Yurlik eyed the dragon with distaste and rose to snatch the cocoon.

“Don’t touch it,” Rumble wheezed as he pushed himself back to his feet. “It drains your life right out of you.”

Yurlik froze in mid-air with his talons outstretched. He turned his wicked eyes onto the exhausted dragon and the corners of his beak turned down in a frown.

“Then you take it to Lord Hydriegon,” he said. “You’ve made it this far.”

Rumble spat and stood back. “I’m not touching that thing again.” He waved a wing at the surrounding noibat. “It’s claimed most of my swarm! Get your flock to do it if you’re so desperate. It’s better to just leave it here.”

Yurlik opened his beak to retort, but the frantic beating of wings and shrieking voices drew his eye to the skies. A cloud of noibat descended on the barracks, eyeing the exhausted noivern and the black cocoon. Echo landed heavily among them and leaned forwards on his wings like a gargoyle.

“So Rumble found the cocoon, eh?” he crooned. “Where’s the rest of your swarm? Didn’t they survive the frozen isles?”

“Those that were strong enough made it back just fine,” Rumble spat.

He swayed on his legs and staggered back from the cocoon. This didn’t go unnoticed by Echo. A smirk tugged at his lips and he turned to address his swarm.

“Take the cocoon to Lord Hydreigon!” he commanded. “He’ll know the noibat swarm were the ones to retrieve it.”

Rumble bristled as he glared up at Echo’s triumphant face. He stood back and waved a wing at the cocoon. “Why don’t you take it? Surely the leader deserves the credit?”

Echo lifted his head and narrowed his eyes in a glare. “Don’t think I didn’t hear what you said, Rumble. That cocoon drains the life of anyone who touches it.” He flashed his canines in a grin. “You can’t trick me.”

The noibat swarm hesitated, shifting uncertainly at the edge of the roof, their wary eyes flitting over the cocoon’s crystalline surface. Echo’s ears vibrated, rising into a deafening hum. He turned and roared at the noibat.

“Now!”

The swarm fluttered from the roof and swooped towards the cocoon, raising into the air. Their panicked voices screeched over the beating of their frantic wings, but they were kept in check as Echo followed behind them. A trail of exhausted noibat marked the cocoon’s path towards Hydreigon’s thorny castle.
 

Starlight Aurate

Ad Jesum per Mariam | pfp by kintsugi
Location
Route 123
Partners
  1. mightyena
  2. psyduck
Heya! I know I've fallen quite behind, and it's been nearly a year since I left you a review. This review has been in the works for QUITE a while ^_^; I'll leave what I have for now, and hopefully will catch up on this fascinating tale someday!

Chapter 22

“You should warn a girl before you pick her up, you know,” Spark scoffed.
Heh, I feel like this could be taken a number of ways ;P

That thought didn’t settle well with the riolu at all, but New City were torn.
Should be either 'New City was torn' or 'the inhabitants of New City were torn.'

Aww the Swablu has hatched!! I foresaw Tinker keeping it and hatching it and it was so nice to see that they appear to take to each other quite well :)

I really like your descriptions of the trees in the Endless Woods (and felt the dismay when Cleo saw the one she marked!). I thought the backstory you gave it was really interesting and how the Gardevoir were eventually (tragically) discovered and wiped out. You do a good job of entering into Cleo's confusion, paranoia and desperation as they head deeper into the Endless Woods and struggle to fight off the enchantment; I like seeing the heroes struggle against dilemmas like that, and you provide an interesting angle of the villain being able to make it through all right. I'm definitely intrigued by the ending and their discovery of a garden with dozens of new Pokemon. It makes me feel that perhaps they have not actually left the Endless Woods--maybe this is an extension of the enchantment? Perhaps something worse will come this way? Or is it all real, and they've found Pokemon and a place free of conflict?

Chapter 23

“I’m Hope,” said the gardevoir. She gestured to the mawile beside her. “And this is Faith."
Very fitting names!

I'm getting Aslan-vibes from Xerneas with his calming voice. I feel like, if he's supposed to b e representative of the Christ like he was in the one-shot you posted last year, a grander entrance might have befit him more. Even if he simply strolls towards them, I would've liked greater reactions or deeper feelings from Cleo and company. Seeing a god has to make some deeper impression than just dropping to their knees, I feel.

“I have been watching your progress, young zorua.” Xerneas nodded at Harlequin. “Come with me.”
Is Harlequin going to get a tax-collector or Edmund moment here?

And the mention of an abbey is giving me more Redwall vibes yet again!

Spark turned her head towards her. “If it’s a hallucination, Cleo, then how are we all seeing the same thing?”
Not sure why Spark is wondering this since they were all affected by the Endless Woods in the same way.

I like the characterization you've given Faith and Hope so far, with Faith being more energetic and cheerful and Hope displaying the quiet confidence. I do think that Cleo and company have taken to them a bit quickly, though given how desperate their situation is and they haven't much else to go off on, I think they're alacrity is fairly understandable. I'd expect Cleo, at least, to be a bit more reserved, though I suspect we'll see how that plays out over the course of the chapter!

A strange combination of reptile, canine and bird, but what he was stood out like a red rose in a field of white.
Nitpick, but if Reshiram is white and the carpet is red, shouldn't he stand out 'like a white rose in a field of red'?

Ah, so Of Light and Darkness DOES tie directly in to this! Glad I read it before; it certainly works with the story of this fic! I love the library you've set up for the Pokemon to be in here, and NyukNyuk is such a cutie! So sad all Ghost-types in Alola were wiped out :( It seems like he's taken to life in the Fairy Garden, so at least he's got that going for him! I enjoyed this quiet, more informative chapter after all the adventure and fighting as of late. Since I already read and reviewed Of Light and Darkness, I'll push forward to the next chapter :)

Chapter 24

“If someone were to tell you something didn’t exist over and over, then you’d stop talking about it, wouldn’t you?”
An interesting viewpoint, though not one I necessarrily agree with since I've been approached and challenged on matters of faith and beliefs. I think all major religions that have survived from ancient times until today have gone through this but persevered anyway; just look at early Christianity under the Romans.

Ah, until the mention of Mega Stones, I'd forgotten those play a role in Of Light and Darkness! I suppose they'll play a role here as well?

She wanted to ask how he managed to eat and if he needed to remove his garment to do so, but didn’t want to risk offending the little ghost-type.
Questions we all have.

Faith lead them through the tunnels, chatting to absently given Cleo wasn’t really taking much in anymore.
I think you're missing a word somewhere in this sentence.

Sure, she wanted to see more of the Fairy Garden, but a good rest would be greatly appreciated. She hadn’t had a solid night’s sleep since she was safe inside New City.
Man oh man do I feel this XD

Ooooh Harlequin's got the mega stone to evolve Absol! That definitely escalates the tension with Harbinger!

And back to Enigma! Interesting to see this side of him when he's so full of fear and uncertainty. Looks like killing Rio's Tyranitar might not have ingratiated himself too well :P I can't say I feel bad for Enigma (at least not yet!) but it'll be interesting to see how it shapes up.

He wrenched it free, gritting his teeth at the pain, and tossed it unceremoniously into the long grass.
This sentence is a bit confusing since the first 'it' refers to Enigma's leg and the second 'it' rerfers to the goosegrass.

No, they definitely wouldn’t have taken that route. Any sensible pokemon would know it was unwise to go near that village while the land was still unsettled.
I think this is a strange note to end on, or perhaps I'm just missing the significance of it. It doesn't seem to have so much of an impact as the endings of your chapters thus far, in my opinion.

I like that you often choose to end on Harbinger! Though I wonder if that's a reflection of your personal preference as well :P I suppose he cannot find the Fairy Garden because he DOES intend harm, correct? I think he's an interesting character so far, and I hope he has an arc that'll be as captivating and lead to growth like Harlequin's does!
 

kintsugi

golden scars | pfp by sun
Location
the warmth of summer in the songs you write
Pronouns
she/her
Partners
  1. silvally-grass
  2. lapras
  3. golurk
  4. booper-kintsugi
  5. meloetta-kint-muse
  6. meloetta-kint-dancer
  7. murkrow
  8. yveltal
Hi Del, subbing in for your (belated) Blitz prize! Here for Chapter 2.

In broad strokes, I really enjoyed this chapter. Moving the setting to the marketplace is a really clever choice, since it's simultaneously more open than the forest/kitchen bits in chapter 1 (in that there are more people and details to interact with) while also being more safe (in that the stakes are a little lower/there's less of a risk of being physically attacked). There are some really lovely details like Cleo packing fish in little paper so that the salt doesn't mix with the berry taste, her not really using items, etc--I thought these were a really effective way of conveying her character in a way that was more grounded than her just telling herself not to trust strangers. It's clear when she's carefully packaging Spark's favorite snacks that she does care for some people, and this gives us a little more grounding when she's trying to be a silo'ed-off guardian who wants to save people but doesn't actually want to know them.

“It’s a little late now.” Cleo turned back to the cinccino. “I’m really sorry, I-”
And I really liked this line too, for how it sort of cuts to the core of what I see as Cleo's contradiction--she claims not to care about people/strangers, but she definitely really cares about them! Her first instinct when she's robbed is to apologize to the shopkeep, even though most of her belongings are on the line here. It's a good moment and it got me questioning if she's' really as aloof as she wants to be.

Mischief is a delight honestly. I didn't expect to like him so quickly, but there's something really pure about how he answers questions so earnestly and honestly that really sold me, especially compared to how guarded and jaded everyone else in the fic really seems so far. The Clean Place also seems suitably ominous--mind-wiping doesn't seem particularly in-line with the dark-type forces that you've established, so this is probably a third faction? I wonder whose side they're on and what their goals are ...

I do wish we had a bit more setup for Cleo and Spark taking Mischief along. I love him, but they seemed pretty content in their two-person squad, so I was surprised that they agreed to it. As I understood it, they thought he'd come along anyway--but it seems like inviting him isn't really a solution there, especially if having him around makes things more dangerous (is he good at combat? maybe he's just lying?). In light of the first half of the chapter really cementing how distrustful of Cleo is around strangers, it did feel a little odd that she was so on board with inviting a stranger into her crew, and it would've been helpful to have just a little more insight into her thought process there. Spark also fell off the chapter for me a little once Mischief was introduced--I was curious what she thinks and why she agrees to this as well, especially since she seems to disagree with Cleo for a while.

Overall this was a really fun follow-up, and it's nice to get into the moving pieces and the world proper!

some really quick prose notes/typos:
Cleo couldn’t agree more. To look at it, one wouldn’t think the cold season was drawing in. It looked like the Guild had just had a fresh harvest.
I think this would read a little more smoothly as "Cleo couldn't agree more. The spread on the table looked like the Guild had just had a fresh harvest. One wouldn't think the cold season was drawing in."
The small dedenne was sat beside a snubbul who, despite being too involved in his breakfast, took the time to look up and smile warmly at the meowstic.
Canonically it's "snubbull". I think "was sat" reads a little awkwardly to me, but this might be a dialect thing.
Cleo eyed him curiously, assessing him. Her claws twitched at her sides and she bit her lip absently.

“No thanks,” she said. “I know what I’m looking for. I won’t disturb you.”
This would work better if this was all one paragraph, since Cleo's doing the action and the speaking here.
“Hey, I’m not a bad guy!” said the whimsicott. “I’m just lost!”

“Then you’re in the same situation as all of us,” said Cleo. “Most pokemon these days are lost.”
I think this would land better with something like "Most pokemon these days are lost. Doesn't mean you can rob people." or something.
 

DeliriousAbsol

*Crazy Absol Noises*
Location
Behind a laptop, most likely with tea
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. mawile
I am so late in replying to these! I'm so sorry! I'll reply here, and submit the next chapter in a new post.

I really like your descriptions of the trees in the Endless Woods (and felt the dismay when Cleo saw the one she marked!). I thought the backstory you gave it was really interesting and how the Gardevoir were eventually (tragically) discovered and wiped out. You do a good job of entering into Cleo's confusion, paranoia and desperation as they head deeper into the Endless Woods and struggle to fight off the enchantment
Thank you so much! I do like getting into characters' heads, so this was a fun scene to re-visit. I'd always quite liked the Endless Woods, but I feel like I did better this time around.

I'm getting Aslan-vibes from Xerneas with his calming voice. I feel like, if he's supposed to b e representative of the Christ like he was in the one-shot you posted last year, a grander entrance might have befit him more.

Oh yes, Xerneas is definitely the Aslan of this story. He's meant to represent Christ, and one of the things I love about that is how Xerneas is basically a giant X. It just works. I've always struggled with how to give him a grand entrance. Having the altaria singing above him is meant to be reminiscent of the angel choir. I don't plan to re-write a third time, but I might do (who knows?) and if so I hope to really get the entrance right that time around.

I like the characterization you've given Faith and Hope so far, with Faith being more energetic and cheerful and Hope displaying the quiet confidence.
I absolutely adore Faith so I'm glad you like them =D

Nitpick, but if Reshiram is white and the carpet is red, shouldn't he stand out 'like a white rose in a field of red'?
... Why didn't I notice this? *facepalm* lmao thanks for pointing that out. I really want to fix it now.

NyukNyuk is such a cutie!
Thanks =D NyukNyuk made me like Mimikyu.

I think this is a strange note to end on, or perhaps I'm just missing the significance of it. It doesn't seem to have so much of an impact as the endings of your chapters thus far, in my opinion.

I like that you often choose to end on Harbinger! Though I wonder if that's a reflection of your personal preference as well :P I suppose he cannot find the Fairy Garden because he DOES intend harm, correct? I think he's an interesting character so far, and I hope he has an arc that'll be as captivating and lead to growth like Harlequin's does!
Yes, it was an odd note to end on. It was Harbinger dismissing his pursuit since he lost Harlequin's trail. It also shows his destructive side, since he was the one who destroyed that village. I think it comes up again, but I honestly can't remember =/ yikes.

Harbinger definitely has his own story to tell, so when that comes around I hope you enjoy it =D

There are some really lovely details like Cleo packing fish in little paper so that the salt doesn't mix with the berry taste, her not really using items, etc--I thought these were a really effective way of conveying her character in a way that was more grounded than her just telling herself not to trust strangers.
Thank you =D I do like my details, so it always makes me happy when my readers enjoy them too.

And I really liked this line too, for how it sort of cuts to the core of what I see as Cleo's contradiction--she claims not to care about people/strangers, but she definitely really cares about them! Her first instinct when she's robbed is to apologize to the shopkeep, even though most of her belongings are on the line here. It's a good moment and it got me questioning if she's' really as aloof as she wants to be.
Cleo is very cat. She appears cold, but has a kind heart and yes, she does care about others. But she has her reasons to be a bit reserved.

Mischief is a delight honestly. I didn't expect to like him so quickly, but there's something really pure about how he answers questions so earnestly and honestly that really sold me
Mischief is adorable and so fun to write. He really evolves as a character as the story goes on, since he's effectively a blank slate from the get-go.

The Clean Place also seems suitably ominous--mind-wiping doesn't seem particularly in-line with the dark-type forces that you've established, so this is probably a third faction? I wonder whose side they're on and what their goals are ...
Oooh if you decide to keep reading, you will certainly learn more about The Clean Place.

I do wish we had a bit more setup for Cleo and Spark taking Mischief along. I love him, but they seemed pretty content in their two-person squad, so I was surprised that they agreed to it.
Thank you for bringing this to light. The earlier chapters are a bit rough compared to my later ones, since I am new to re-writing a completed story. There's every possibility I might re-write this a third time in a few years, and if I do I will definitely bare this in mind =D

Thanks so much for reviewing! The next part is coming right up!
 
Chapter 39

DeliriousAbsol

*Crazy Absol Noises*
Location
Behind a laptop, most likely with tea
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. mawile
I'm really sorry for the long hiatus! It was meant to be last September, but I was really struggling to write. I'm feeling better now, and able to write again. I should be around more, too, as I vanished from TR for a while. Sorry about that =(

I've finished Part 4, and I'm a few chapters into Part 5 which should be the final arc.

I hope you enjoy this arc! It's been a blast to re-write this story. I also had fun with that banner. It came out better than I expected =D Thanks to all who have read and reviewed, even silent readers are appreciated. And thank you for waiting patiently.


Rekindledbanner4.jpg


Part 4 - Fighting Fire with Fire

39 - The Village by the Lake​

Cleo yawned and stretched until her back popped. The sun was rising over the mountains behind her, painting the sky orange and pink. She rubbed the rings under her eyes and yawned again. Harlequin shifted beside her, raising their head to sniff the air before climbing to their feet. The zorua hadn't had any choice but to stay at Cleo's side during her watch duties. Cleo and Spark had changed places twice overnight, grabbing short snatches of sleep. It hadn't come easy to Cleo. She was worried for Mischief and Faith. Even though they'd only been travelling together for a short time, she was feeling the sting of it being just her and Spark again. Something she'd never minded before. It had always been her and Spark. But Cleo couldn't deny she'd grown fond of their new friends, and travelling together in a group certainly made her feel safer.

Thankfully the night had been uneventful. Harlequin had remained awake alongside Cleo but hadn't made a single peep. They'd sat beside her, ears pricked, sapphire eyes sparkling and bright in the moonlight. Cleo had been fascinated how the assassin's inky-black fur and blue markings had made them blend into the shadows cast by the trees. If it weren't for the collar, Cleo felt she wouldn't have even noticed the zorua slip away.

A loud yawn came from the tent behind Cleo and she turned to smile at Spark stumbling from within. The dedenne scratched her healing side and smacked her lips, then she looked up at Cleo.

"Boy am I ready for breakfast," she declared.

"Ditto." Cleo opened her bag and pulled out their supplies. "We have a little left. It should do us until we reach Stonehaven."

"Reckon we're almost there?" Spark flopped into the grass beside her friend and grabbed an oran berry.

"It can't be too far now," said Cleo. She handed a piece of dried fish to Harlequin, and the zorua's eyes widened with surprise. "We should be there before noon I think."

Harlequin gave her a sideways glance and spoke with their mouth full. "We might be there already if you hadn't stopped to wait for Faith and Mischief."

Cleo and Spark both snorted then exchanged glances. Harlequin was right. Cleo's decision had cost them time, but she'd had to wait. If there was any chance they could continue their journey together… it would have been safer for everyone.

Cleo sighed and quickly gobbled a piece of fish before tucking the supplies away. She tossed her bag over her shoulder and turned towards the blue sheet draped over a low-hanging branch.

"I'll make a start on the tent," she said. "We need to make haste."

She stooped to tug the pegs from the floor but her eye went to the black shape moving around her. Harlequin dragged the pegs effortlessly from the floor with their jaws and dropped them neatly beside the tent. Cleo blinked a few times, trying to process what was happening. Then she shook her head and moved to the other side of the tent to drag up the pegs. Between them, Cleo and Harlequin had the tent down in very little time. Spark was licking her paws clean as Cleo folded the blue cloth into a neat square to fit into her bag.

"Wow," said the dedenne. "Talk about haste!"

Cleo smiled at her friend and tucked the tent and pegs away. At the rate things were moving they might actually make it to Stonehaven before noon. She crouched to allow Spark onto her shoulder, but Harlequin was looking behind her. The zorua's tail wagged gently from side to side and Cleo turned to follow their gaze. Her heart leapt as she spotted Faith and Mischief pushing through the brambles behind them. The mawile's face was split into a grin, and Cleo wondered if she'd been biting back the urge to shout for them. Cleo spotted another pokemon behind the mawile. A furret clutching a sentret in her arms.

"Good morning!" said Faith.

Cleo smiled warmly at her friend, but her eyes wandered to the two new pokemon. "You managed to catch up with us."

"Yes." Faith stopped and clasped her paws behind her back. "As soon as the sun began to rise during my watch I spotted a trail of flowers. They led us to you."

A trail of flowers… Cleo's mind went back to the story of Yveltal's fall, as Xerneas revived the fallen warriors. Before Cleo could respond, the sentret dropped from his mother's grasp and rose up on his tail, his eyes sparkling at Harlequin.

"Wow!" he declared. "Is that another assassin? You're a dark-type, right?"

The furret grabbed him roughly by the scruff and ducked back behind Faith.

"Let me go, Mum!" the sentret protested, wriggling like a trapped magikarp. "He doesn't scare me! I'll keep us both safe! I promise!"

The mawile chuckled and ruffled the sentret's head. "Harlequin isn't going to hurt you or your mother. Don't worry."

"But he works for Hydreigon!" the furret hissed.

Harlequin's hackles bristled and they looked away, ears drooping.

"Harlequin is detained," Cleo explained. "She can't do anything to any of you so long as you stay two feet away from me. Faith… who are these pokemon?"

"This is Sandpaw and Scout," Faith explained as she pointed to each pokemon in turn. "They found us last night. They need help. I thought they might like to travel with us for a while?"

Cleo didn't fail to notice the crescent moon tattooed to the furret's and sentret's shoulders. "Heretics?"

"Not anymore," Sandpaw choked. "The lab has disbanded since Enigma killed Rio. Scout and I…" She shook her head and blinked back tears. "We don't know where to go."

"Wait, what?!" Harlequin exclaimed, taking a step forwards. "Enigma was there? He killed that crazy scientist?"

Cleo had been rendered speechless. She stuttered over her words, turning to Faith for an explanation.

"Enigma was trapped in the lab," Faith explained. She raised a paw before Cleo could press her for more information. "I'll explain later. First, can you help Sandpaw and her son?"

Cleo made a thoughtful noise and looked to Spark standing by her feet. "I think we can take you to Stonehaven. Perhaps the Outcasts Guild can help you?"

"I thought Outcasts helped those in need?" Mischief asked.

"We do," said Cleo. "But they might be a little wary of the Heretic mark."

"I have it," said Mischief. "You took me in."

"You're an odd case," Cleo explained. "You have no memories. They might be worried about a trap."

"Please." Sandpaw drew Cleo's eye. "All I want is somewhere safe to raise Scout. I don't want anything to do with the Darkness. I promise you we won't be a problem."

Sandpaw stood huddled behind Faith with tear-streaked cheeks. She didn't look like much of a threat, and the child was too young to be one either.

"Okay," said Cleo. "I'll do everything I can to find you somewhere safe."

"Oh thank you! Thank you!" Sandpaw wiped a paw across her eyes. "You have no idea how much this means to us."

Cleo smiled at her warmly and turned to lead them away. "We need to make haste. We're already behind schedule."

"Hang on. I'm gonna get a better vantage point," said Spark. "See if I can spot anything now it's daylight. We don't wanna go the wrong way again, do we?"

Cleo couldn't agree more. They'd made too many detours as it was. She nodded to Spark and the dedenne clambered up a tree, scrambling over the ivy. She perched high above them and raised a paw to shield her eyes against the sunlight.

"I think I can see an end to this river," she said, glancing down. "It ends at a lake just ahead of us."

"Really?" Cleo asked, her heart pounding. A lake was a good place to erect a town. "How far? And can you see anything else?"

"A wall," said Spark. "A big stone wall right at the foot of the mountain. Could that be Stonehaven?"

Cleo's heart skipped a beat. Could it? Had they really been that close?

Spark bounded back down the tree and landed in Cleo's thick ruff. The meowstic wasted no time. She grabbed the medicine sack and tossed it over her shoulder and rejoined the river bank. Dry river weed clung to the incline of the river bank, clearly showing that the river was running much lower than normal. It made the drop into it quite precarious; a small pokemon would have a hard time climbing back out. A good rainfall was what Estellis needed.

Cleo lead the group along the river, breaking into a careful brisk trot. The bag of medicine bounced against her back, spurring her on. Faith followed behind, nattering to Sandpaw and Mischief. The conversation washed over Cleo's ears as she kept her full focus on reaching their destination. She hoped desperately they weren't too late.

The land began to even out as they reached the end of the Glen. The slopes rose gently to her left, and the vast spread of oaks and sycamores were replaced by thick ferns that spread like a blanket around a group of willows. The slender trees bent over the river, dipping their long branches into the rapids. Cleo fought through the ferns, following the bend in the river. The water roared as it cascaded over a rocky incline to pool below her in a crystal lake. She paused at the top of the slope to search the land below. The mountains arced around them, bringing an abrupt end to the Glen. The harsh mountain slopes adorned with heather and brambles were a stark contrast to the drought-starved ground that nestled between them. A carpet of grass and moss spread around the huge lake which was protected by a wall of willows and bullrushes. The latter were already expired, still carrying fluffy white seeds waiting for a strong gust of wind to carry them away. The branches of the trees were void of their leaves, but a hint of brittle grass around the edge of the lake was the only clear sign that it had been poisoned. Poisoned, but bouncing back. After it finally rained everything would be lush again, reviving the little grassy haven hidden away in the small mountain valley. On the far side of the lake was the stone wall Spark had mentioned. Cleo couldn't see what lay beyond it, but she could make out a wide gate allowing entry. It was open, but there were no pokemon in sight.

"That has to be Stonehaven," she said. "Come on."

Beside the river was where the slope was at its most gentle, but it was still steep. Stonehaven had picked a good spot, huddled in the deepest part of the valley. Cleo slid onto her bottom a couple of times as she scrambled down the slope, her paws seeking out rocks as footholds. Mischief beat her to the bottom, drifting overhead on a gentle breeze. He held out his paw for hers as she hopped onto the grass, then he turned to help Faith and Sandpaw as they reached the end of the slope.

After treading over dry and brittle twigs and leaves for days the grass felt warm and comfortable under Cleo's paws. She paused to survey the town, her eyes trailing over its huge stone wall. Beyond the gate she could see stone houses standing along cobbled paths. It had certainly earned its name Stonehaven. The wall itself stretched up the mountain's steady incline, boxing in the grey slate rooftops of the town. Just above them, in typical Outcast tradition, the Guild's flag waved in the breeze displaying the familiar sun logo. The Guild's headquarters, standing proud in the middle of the town.

Voices rose from the town as pokemon bustled in the streets. A large gurdurr marched past, his iron girder resting on his shoulder. He didn't look towards the pokemon, but his posture suggested he was one of the guards checking the perimeter.

Cleo didn't encounter permanent dwellings like Stonehaven often. Most of the towns she came across were quickly erected to give travellers a break. They weren't ever named. Names sounded permanent, and caused those that inhabited those dwellings to form an attachment. Settlements didn't usually last long. In the south of Estellis, none of the old ones remained. They were all temporary, or destroyed. So names were never given. Naming them gave hope.

Stonehaven had clearly survived. But as Cleo looked up at it, drawing closer, she couldn't help but wonder if its time was ticking down, drawing closer to the inevitable attack from the Darkness. A wall was all well and good, but she felt it seemed pointless. Most of the Darkness could fly, or in Enigma's case slip right through a wall. But during the night, perhaps the wall provided shadows to cover the town? During a black-out it would be near impossible to spot. Cleo bit her lip as she looked up at the iron gate. How easy was it to escape the town? Were there more gates? There had to be, surely.

"It's nice to see an actual village," said Faith, strolling along ahead of Cleo.

Sandpaw nodded stiffly. "I can't say I've ever seen one before, but… yes, it is."

"Since I arrived here, I've seen pokemon living in shocking conditions," Faith went on. "Pokemon are meant to live out in the open like this. Not stuffed in some lab or hiding away in fe-ahh!"

Faith's voice cut off as the mawile vanished straight through the ground. Cleo spun on the spot, calling out Faith's name in alarm. The group gathered around the gaping hole that had appeared right beneath the mawile's feet. Harlequin crouched between Cleo and Sandpaw, lowering their head into the hole. A low whimper came from the zorua as their paws scrambled at the edge over the crumbling soil.

Faith rubbed her head and looked up at her friends. "Harlequin, stand back!"

The zorua pushed back from the hole, but their eyes didn't leave Faith.

"Are you all right?" Cleo asked.

"I'm fine." Faith winced as she pushed herself up. "Just a little winded."

"What's a huge hole doing here?" asked Spark.

"I'm guessing for defence," said Cleo. "Clearly it works."

"How do we get her out?" Sandpaw asked.

Cleo's ears hummed as she prepared herself to lift Faith from the hole. She worried the mawile might be a little too far for her to reach, but she needed to try.

"What's going on here?" The deep voice cut off Cleo's psychic and she raised her head to the speaker.

A garbordor shuffled from the gate, his milky eyes tracing over Cleo and her friends. Every movement he made caused a strong, putrid smell to rise from his leathery body. It forced Cleo and her friends back from him, and Sandpaw's muzzle creased with revulsion. A long tube that served as one of the garbordor's arms rubbed what Cleo guessed was his ear and he turned his head onto the hole.

"Outcasts, eh?" He grimaced and peered over the edge. "Ah, I'm terribly sorry, ma'am. Looks like you've gone and fallen in."

"You aren't kidding!" Spark hopped from Cleo's shoulder and placed her paws on her hips. "I appreciate you might need to set traps and all, but… well…" Spark trailed off and scratched her head, searching for the right words.

"Oh it isn't a trap, my dear." The garbordor looked up at the little rodent.

"No, it appears to be some kind of tunnel," said Faith.

The garbordor looked back down at her. "Ah yes it is. You see, the diglett dug us an escape tunnel but this area here was a little too fragile being close to an old nest under the lake. We didn't know it was there see, and we still need to secure this part. But oh dear, I can't believe someone's tumbled into it like this. You aren't hurt are you, milady?"

Faith smiled up at him, her violet eyes sparkling. "Oh no, I'm quite fine. Us mawile are pretty hardy."

"Oh you're a mawile, are you?" The garbordor blinked his milky eyes and leant a little further over the edge of the hole, obscuring Faith from view. "That's good then. Means I can help you and don't have to pester the guards. No risk of poisoning a steel-type, eh?" His body rippled with deep laughter. "Hang on, I'll have you out of there in a jiffy."

He lowered his long pipe-like arm into the hole, and Cleo tried not to grimace as a few drops of muddy liquid dripped from it. It was too late for her to offer to lift Faith out with her psychic, and the garbordor was being so polite and helpful it felt wrong to intervene.

The garbordor raised his limb from the hole with Faith dangling from the end of it. She smiled warmly as he placed her back on solid ground, and she smoothed out her fur.

"Thank you so very much," she said. "You are very kind, erm… Sorry, what do I call you?"

"You're welcome, milady. You can call me Mulch." He ushered her to the side. "You might want to step away from the hole in case the ground gives way again. It's pretty unstable as you've already noticed. Where are you all off to?"

His pale eyes traced over the group again, and Cleo found herself wondering how much he could actually see. Enough to tell him there was a group of pokemon, but perhaps not enough to realise Harlequin was with them?

"We were sent here by the Guild," Cleo explained. "We're bringing medicine for the poison, but we're a little late. I'm terribly sorry."

"Ah you're not late." Mulch waved a limb, spraying a shower of noxious water that narrowly avoided them and splattered the recovering grass. "Oh. Do pardon me." He flushed and tucked the pipe in at his side and motioned them to follow him. "Come on. I'll take you to Meridith. You can wash your paws when we get into the town too, we've a little spring that trickles from the mountain."

"Wait, what?" Spark trotted to catch up with him. "You have a spring? I thought you used the lake for water."

"The spring is a diversion," Mulch explained. "Unfortunately it also got tainted. It's taking us ages to clear it all up. I was actually on my way to draw more poison from the lake when I ran into you!"

The group followed Mulch through the gate as he continued explaining about the spring, and Cleo caught the eye of the gurdurr who'd been patrolling. He eyed them curiously, his eyebrow raising at the tattoo on Sandpaw's shoulder. Then he spotted Harlequin and opened his mouth to speak. But not to them. He caught a mienfoo and whispered something that set the small fox-like pokemon's creamy fur on edge.

"It won't be long before Stonehaven is on tenterhooks," Cleo muttered to Mischief and Spark.

Mischief looked back at the guards but said nothing. There wasn't much any of them could do. Harlequin was a known war criminal. Their presence in the town was bound to start a fire.

The cobbled paths weaved through the houses and shops that made up the town. Each one was made from hefty stone blocks, their unevenness adding to the towns rugged yet quaint appearance. Every now and then, Cleo spotted a wooden hut that had been thrown up at the end of a street or squeezed into a gap between buildings. New pokemon had moved in, desperate to escape the Darkness and most likely drawn to Stonehaven's high walls. They became less of an occurrence the deeper they moved into the town. Stonehaven was more built up in its centre, with the Guild's headquarters standing proud at the town's heart.

"Here we are." Mulch shuffled away from them towards the steps. "I'll go and find Meredith. You wait here."

"We're Guild members too," said Cleo. "Can't we just go inside and introduce ourselves?"

Mulch blinked at them over his shoulder, and narrowed his eyes as he tried to make the group out. "Warriors, eh? Well… if you've got the badge, then you might—"

The door opened at the top of the stairs, followed by voices.

"Send out another patrol." The loudest voice came from a red fox-like pokemon standing with one paw on the door. "If you sight them again, then take them out. We can't have Heretics just running through the mountains like that."

Sandpaw stiffened and gulped loudly.

"Do you think they're talking about your friends?" Cleo asked the furret quietly.

Sandpaw nodded but didn't take her eyes off the delphox. He turned to the stairs, shouting a few more commands over his shoulder, then let the door close behind himself. When he spotted Cleo his eyes widened and immediately went to her badge.

"Ah!" He trotted towards them, not failing to notice the zorua huddled between Cleo and Faith. "You must be the group Tinker sent. We expected you two days ago." He paused as he took in Sandpaw and Scout, and his brow creased at their tattoos. "I guess you encountered some problems?"

"You could say that," said Cleo. "I'm really sorry. We ran into members of the Darkness and they gave us a pretty hard time."

"Oh dear." Mulch's shoulders sank and he looked up at the delphox. "These poor kids. And to think I found them just by the lake cos the sweet mawile had tumbled into the diglett tunnel."

The delphox returned his sympathetic stare and turned to address Faith. "I'm terribly sorry, ma'am. I hope you didn't hurt yourself?"

"Oh no!" Faith beamed up at him. "I'm pretty hardy! Like most mawile, I guess." She laughed and shook her head.

The delphox smiled back at her and folded his arms. "I'm Meredith. I'm the Guildmaster here. You were meant to be delivering medicines?"

"Yes. Again, I'm so sorry we're late." Cleo grimaced as she held out the sack of medicine. "I hope this helps you."

Meredith took the sack and peered inside. His mouth turned down in a frown and he looked back up at her. "What is this? We ordered pecha berries."

"They got damaged in a battle with the Darkness," Cleo explained. "Harlequin told us about another cure for seviper venom that was more effective than pecha berries, and Faith confirmed it so we—"

"Harlequin?" Meredith flashed his canines at the zorua, causing them to flinch back. He clasped the sack shut as if he feared its contents might leap out and attack him then rounded on Cleo. "You took advice from this criminal? These… things… could wipe out our entire village!"

"Please, Meredith!" Faith stretched out a paw towards him. "We use milkwort root in cooking back where I'm from. I can assure you it is very healthy and will fix those poisoned pokemon up in a jiffy!"

Meredith met her violet gaze. "Then why would an assassin suggest it?"

"Because she's trying to change," Faith explained.

Harlequin lowered their head and looked away. "Forget it. I shouldn't expect him to trust me. He has enough of a reason not to."

"So you're confirming this is toxic?" Meredith held out the sack at arm's length.

Harlequin bristled and bared their canines, but a sharp tapping sound drew everyone's attention to the Guild headquarters. High above them a blue face peered out of a window.

"Tinker?" Cleo gasped.

The riolu rapped on the window with a paw to get Meredith's attention. "Is there a problem?" Tinker's voice was muffled by the glass.

Meredith motioned for him to join them, and the riolu vanished from sight. It wasn't long before he strolled out onto the cobbled path. He cast a curious glance at Sandpaw and Scout, then stopped beside Meredith and folded his arms.

"What's going on?" he asked. "And why are you so late, Cleo?"

Cleo didn't want to have to explain again. She was ready to relay their events with the nikkit and her gang when Meredith explained to Tinker exactly what was bothering him.

"This isn't pecha berries." The delphox frowned at Cleo and her friends. "Instead they've taken the word of that assassin and brought us something I can't even begin to identify."

"It's milkwort root!" Harlequin snapped. "If you want to confirm it, then ask any zangoose. They lived on that stuff for years! That's how they built up an immunity to seviper venom!"

Meredith and Tinker stared at them silently, while Mulch stood aside and rubbed his head. The garbordor watched Harlequin curiously as a look of realisation crossed his face.

"I'm not happy about this, Cleo," said Tinker. "You've been making a lot of questionable decisions. I gave you one task - to deliver pecha berries to Stonehaven. And instead you bring a sack of roots advised to you by the pokemon you're meant to be keeping prisoner? And don't think I've not noticed you've brought Heretics in here with you. I'd love to hear your reason for that!"

Cleo rubbed her paws over her face, deeply wanting to be anywhere else. She let out a low groan and Mischief placed a paw on her shoulder.

"The pecha berries got squashed in a fight," Cleo explained. "We needed to find something! Besides, Harlequin has… well… changed since her experience in the Fairy Garden."

Tinker rolled his eyes, but Meredith turned his gaze onto the zorua.

"Believe me, I was sceptical," Cleo went on. "But when Faith confirmed the roots aren't toxic then I was willing to take this chance."

"Well." Tinker looked up at the mawile. "Since Faith here just appeared out of nowhere, I'm not sure how certain we can be of that fact."

"There's one way to be certain." Meredith reached into the sack and Tinker watched curiously as the delphox removed one of the roots. He held it out to Harlequin. "Here. If it's not toxic then eat it."

Harlequin's sapphire eyes flitted between the root and Meredith's face. "What?"

"If it's not toxic," Meredith repeated more slowly, "then you won't be afraid to eat it."

Harlequin snorted and narrowed their eyes at him. "Fine! If it'll put your mind at ease."

The zorua clamped their jaws around the root and gulped it down in two bites. Their lips curled back and they grimaced, shaking their head so violently their ears flapped around.

Meredith recoiled back, his muzzle creasing. "So there is something wrong with it?"

"No." Harlequin stuck their tongue out and stifled a cough. "It's just horribly bitter."

Faith chuckled and placed a paw on Harlequin's back. "It is pretty bitter. That's why we roast it with sugar! And, funnily enough, it goes very well with pecha berries."

Meredith peered back into the sack. His expression had softened, as had Tinker's. But the riolu still watched Cleo and her friends with a raised eyebrow. His gaze kept wandering to Sandpaw, still clearly wanting an explanation as to why the two Heretics were with Cleo.

"Well." Meredith closed the sack again. "I guess all we can do is try. I'll see if any of our patients will be willing to give it a go."

"If you do, grind it into powder," said Harlequin. "At least that way you can put it on something sweet to take an edge off the bitterness." They flicked their tongue out again and grimaced.

Meredith gave a single laugh and frowned at the assassin. "Noted."

As the delphox turned to walk away, Tinker watched after him. "You're just taking his advice?"

"Many pokemon in this town are horribly sick," Meredith explained. "If these roots might offer even a glimmer of hope then I'll take it. Besides… what fool would willingly consume poison to trick an entire village?"

The two fox-like pokemon looked back at Harlequin. The zorua's sapphire eyes sparkled at his words. With another nod, Meredith turned to carry the sacks to the pokemon who needed it. Mulch shuffled after him, stopping to chat with a guard beside the Guild.

That just left them with Tinker. The riolu stood with his arms crossed, his gaze going to Sandpaw and Scout.

With a deep breath, Cleo prepared herself to finally explain the presence of the two Heretics. She motioned for the two to join her, and Tinker didn't take his eyes off the furret. She cowered beside Cleo, dodging the riolu's probing stare.

"These are Sandpaw and Scout." Cleo's voice came out stronger than she'd expected. "They've broken free from the Heretic lab that kept us prisoner. Apparently it's now disintegrated, and these two are looking for somewhere safe. I thought you might-"

"So you brought them here?" Tinker spat. "To one of the few remaining Outcast villages?"

Cleo's mouth flapped open, all her previous confidence shattered in an instant.

"Please, sir." Sandpaw tried to meet Tinker's eye over the head of her hatchling. "We no longer have any allegiance with the Heretics. We just want somewhere safe. That's all we've ever wanted."

"And how can I trust you?" Tinker asked. "After everything your lab has put my warriors through?"

"I hated what they were doing," said Sandpaw. "If it'll prove my loyalty then I'll tell you everything I know of Rio's plan."

Tinker tapped his foot rapidly. "Why didn't you escape sooner if you were so unhappy there? Or did the lab have to break apart before you realised you were no longer safe? If you ask me, the same thing could happen again!"

Sandpaw screwed her eyes shut and buried her nose in Scout's fur. He turned his head to look at her, his large eyes wide. Faith placed a paw on Sandpaw's shoulder and muttered something Cleo didn't catch.

Tinker narrowed his eyes at the shuddering furret and tutted. "I've seen enough. I want them out of this village before nightfall."

"Tinker!" Cleo caught the riolu's arm as he turned away. "Are you really going to just send her away like that? She's alone with a child! Isn't helping pokemon like her what we do?"

"No, Cleo. We help Outcasts." He met her unimpressed stare then fired a look at Sandpaw. "She can leave and find some Heretics to help her."

"But she's left them," Cleo implored. "She came to us for help, and no trouble has followed. That's proof that what she's told us is true. Just because she has a tattoo doesn't mean anything."

"No, it doesn't," Mischief spoke up, silencing Cleo and Tinker. They both turned to look at him. "I have one myself. Does that mean I'm still a Heretic?"

"Whereas I'm still hazy about you," said Tinker slowly, "you were a victim."

"You don't know that for certain," said Mischief. "Even I don't. I have no memories of my time in that lab."

Tinker stared at the whimsicott for a long moment, then turned back to Cleo, meeting her steely gaze. He clicked his tongue as he considered what he'd just been told. He glanced back up at Sandpaw, then his shoulders sagged as he let out a sigh.

"Just hear her out," said Cleo. "You can make a decision afterwards. Please?"

"Fine." Tinker's expression softened as he met her eyes. "If it'll make you happy."

A smile spread across Cleo's muzzle and she stood aside.

Tinker turned to address Sandpaw. "Come with me. We'll talk in the Guild. There are warriors stationed there, so if you try anything…"

Sandpaw shook her head sharply. "I won't try anything! I have no reason to. Oh thank you so much."

Scout flew from her grip and landed beside her, rising up to his full height. "No other pokemon is gonna hurt you, Mum. Trust me."

Somehow, that statement made Tinker smile. He stared down at the sentret for a moment, then turned to address Cleo.

"You are free to look around the village," he said. "Perhaps get something to eat. Since there are no cells to hold Harlequin, I cannot allow you access to the Guild. Meredith will arrange shelter for you."

Cleo nodded and motioned for her friends to follow her. Mischief was last. His gaze lingered on Sandpaw for a moment. Cleo wasn't sure if the look he gave her was of sympathy, but Sandpaw mouthed the words 'thank you' in response before following Tinker into the Guild Hall.

"So where shall we start?" Faith asked, breaking Cleo out of her thoughts.

Spark poked her head out of Cleo's ruff. "Lunch, duh!"

Faith placed a paw over her mouth and chuckled. "Oh of course! How silly of me."

Spark raised a claw. "There must be a pastry shop around here somewhere! I've had nothing but berries for days now!"

"We're all in the same boat, Spark," said Cleo. "I second the pastry idea."

"Well if it helps…" Mulch shuffled over to them, casting a wary look at Harlequin. "I know a great place. Shall I show you?"

"Oh please!" said Faith. "And then perhaps a tour?"

"A tour would be great," said Cleo. "After everything we've been through lately, I'd love to see more of your town. It's nice to be somewhere that feels so…" She didn't want to say 'permanent'. Like every other pokemon, she dreaded such places wouldn't last indefinitely.

"Homely," Faith offered.

Cleo nodded, and Mulch gave a hearty laugh that shook his insides.

"Well, follow me!" he said. "But please bare with me. I'm not as fast as I used to be."

As they fell into step behind the nattering garbordor, Spark spoke close to Cleo's ear. "Do you think that Meredith is the fire-type we're meant to find?"

Cleo's whisker's twitched with surprise. In all the confusion, she'd not considered that. She exchanged a glance with the dedenne.

"That's possible," she said. "We can ask him when we next get chance."

For the first time since they'd been assigned the quest, Cleo found herself wondering how they'd even know if they'd found the right pokemon. She wasn't sure if it was Meredith or not. As the leader of one of the Outcast Guilds, he would certainly be a strong pokemon. But somehow, she'd assumed it would be a lot more obvious.
 
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Chapter 40

DeliriousAbsol

*Crazy Absol Noises*
Location
Behind a laptop, most likely with tea
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. mawile
40 - Trust Issues​

Hydreigon drifted around the cocoon, examining it with delight. Finally he’d found it. Its black crystalline surface shimmered in the moonlight, and red veins pulsed through it slowly as if they were carrying tar. Yurlik stood a little way away with Echo and Rumble. The two noivern had been permitted entry, since neither of them could agree on who was responsible for finding the cocoon.

“I can barely believe you found this in the frozen isles,” said Hydreigon. “If I’d had any idea I would have sent a weavile troop there instead.”

“And how would you have got them across the ocean?” Echo asked.

Hydreigon said nothing, too transfixed on the cocoon. But Yurlik gave the noivern a scolding caw and nipped at his wing. Echo recoiled and stood seething in the corner of the room.

Rumble couldn’t take his eyes off the cocoon. They followed the red energy as it trailed along the surface. No light came from it. It was almost as if the crystal absorbed the light instead, and radiated darkness.

The noivern licked his dry lips and cleared his throat. “My lord, it wasn’t doing that when we found it.”

Hydreigon raised his head towards Rumble. “Wasn’t doing what?”

“Glowing.” Rumble waved a wing towards the crystal. “If that’s what you can call it, anyway. It was just… black.”

Hydreigon’s brows creased together and he turned his head back towards the crystal.

Yurlik strutted forwards and lowered his head in a bow. “If I could offer a suggestion, my lord. Any pokemon that has touched this has been either drained of their strength to the point of fainting or died. Perhaps it has something to do with that?”

“As if it is leeching their energy away to revive itself?” Hydreigon inched back from the cocoon, but not out of fear. A look of admiration crossed his face. “Fantastic!” He exchanged a glance with one of his pincers. “Then maybe that is how we revive it?”

Yurlik stuttered a few times as he tried to find the right words, but Hydreigon cut him off.

“Find me a pokemon to sacrifice to it,” he demanded. “A pokemon from the breeding pens.”

Yurlik stiffened and his feathers ruffled along his back. “If I may remind my lord that the breeding pens have already been exhausted for patrol officers?”

“Only the murkrow,” said Hydreigon.

A scoff of laughter came from the corner of the throne room. Echo stood with a claw to his muzzle as he tried to stifle it, and his fur bristled under Hydreigon’s stare.

“Has something amused you, Echo?” Hydreigon asked dangerously.

“No!” Echo gasped. He lowered his head and the fur stood on end around his shoulders. “Just… erm… well-”

“Yurlik acted under my command,” Hydreigon went on. “But if you think it’s funny…”

Echo shook his head rapidly. “It was just… I-”

“But you’re right, Yurlik. The breeding pens have been exhausted too much recently, and we do need more soldiers. Throwing away the females would be rather foolish.” Hydreigon raised a pincer and inclined his head on one side as he addressed it. “What do you think? Round up the outlaws?”

He moved his pincer like a puppet shaking its head and turned it towards the two noivern. Echo fell back against the wall while Rumble visibly trembled.

“Hmm… you have a good point.” Hydreigon stroked his chin with his other pincer as he looked at the two quaking dragons. “But Rumble barely has any energy left. He’d be pretty pathetic to just throw away like that. I think we should go with Echo. He did question us, and it’s pretty clear he’s not the one who found the cocoon.”

All the colour vanished from Echo’s face and his jaw went slack.

Laughter growled from Hydreigon’s throat and his muzzle split in a toothy grin. “Part of me wonders if he didn’t try to send Rumble to his death, and his plan backfired miserably.”

Echo gave himself a shake and scrambled on all-fours for the door.

“Grab him!” Hydreigon roared.

Yurlik and Rumble leapt to attention, chasing after the fleeing noivern. But Echo was fast. He yanked the door open and fled into the hallway, straight into the waiting claws of two weavile guards. Echo reeled back spewing flames at his assailants. One of the guards fell to the floor with a shriek. The other lashed out at Echo’s face with icy claws, cleaving through his left eye. Echo roared with pain and his flames spluttered to an end as claws fastened around his throat.

“I’m sorry,” Rumble muttered in his ear.

Echo hissed and jerked his body, sending the weakened noivern to the floor. But before Echo could scramble away, Yurlik’s strong talons clasped around his tail.

“You’re not going anywhere,” said Yurlik.

Echo turned his sneering face towards the honchkrow, but his retort died on his tongue as Hydreigon’s imposing shadow fell over him. The huge dragon glared down at him, and somehow his pincer wore the same expression.

The noivern stuttered over his words as he cowered into the floor.

“I wanted to be Boomer’s successor,” he finally choked out. “I wanted you to make me into your ace!”

Hydreigon stared at him for a moment. Then he reared his head back. “Then consider your sacrifice an important step in furthering my kingdom.”

Hydreigon grabbed the noivern by the scruff and launched him into the crystal. Echo struck it with a yelp and sank down against it, letting out a pained hiss. He dropped to all-fours again and ducked to scamper through the door, but at Hydreigon’s command the two weavile rushed into the room and grabbed him by each wing. The two guards thrust him back against the crystal and Echo let out a terrible howl of fear and pain. His body jerked and contorted as he fought against the weavile and the cocoon’s leeching power.

The two weavile flinched, looking away. An eternity seemed to go by before Echo’s howls finally tapered to an end. The noivern slumped to the floor and the two guards stood back from him, twitching their claws with uncertainty.

Hydreigon watched the cocoon in silence. The pulsing red energy had grown more frequent, but nothing more had happened beyond that. As he turned away from it, the two weavile flinched back and tried to avoid his gaze.

Hydreigon turned to address Yurlik. “I need outlaws. Take what is left of your flock and group up with the mighteyena. Take some assassins too, and head into the Border Woods. Bring me as many outlaws as you can find.” He turned back to the cocoon. “I can’t keep sacrificing my own troops. I have no idea how many lives this needs to awaken.”

The weavile let out sighs of relief as they followed Yurlik from the room. Rumble wasn’t far behind. He gave one last glance back at Echo and followed the weavile from the castle, leaving Hydreigon alone with the deadly cocoon.

...​

Cleo perused her map as she sipped at a glass of freshly squashed sitrus juice. The sun beamed down at them, taking a moment to warm Stonehaven before it set behind the grey clouds. The drone of voices surrounded them as the village’s denizens went about their day. Cleo’s map lay spread over a small round table, taking up most of the room since almost all of them had finished their meal. All but Spark, who licked pastry flakes from her whiskers before whisking her paws over her face.

Cleo stretched out a paw to dust the dedenne’s crumbs from the corner of the map she’d been inspecting. “We’ve come a long way.”

Faith looked up from her cup. “Hmm?”

“We have been travelling for a few days,” said Mischief. “But only through the forest. How big is it?”

“I don’t just mean the forest,” said Cleo. “But yes, if you think about it, we have come a long way. But… I’ve been trying to work out where the Fairy Garden is on here. If we say here,” she jabbed a claw into the heart of the Endless Woods, “and Stonehaven is here, just below the Moorlands Forest… that’s at least a five day journey.”

Faith nursed her hot berry juice in both paws and sat back in her seat. “Our current journey would have taken much less time if it weren’t for all the problems we ran into.”

“It’s a nice village,” said Mischief as he gazed around at the stone buildings. He’d perked up a lot during Mulch’s tour. “Part of me doesn’t want to leave.”

Cleo bit her tongue. She didn’t want to put a dampener on one of the whimsicott’s rare happy moments. As nice as Stonehaven was, they couldn’t stay. And she feared it wouldn’t be long before it fell under attack especially with Hydreigon’s troops desperate to apprehend Mischief.

Faith closed her eyes in a smile. “We can make the most of it while we’re here, okay?”

Mischief returned her smile and nodded.

Harlequin made a small groan and looked around at the passing pokemon. Stonehaven’s residents didn’t seem too unsettled by Harlequin’s presence, but that didn’t stop them from throwing glares and suspicious glances their way. The zorua was visibly anxious, shuffling their blue paws on the table. Half of a pomeg pastry lay unfinished before them, abandoned to the assassin’s nerves.

Claws clicked over the cobbles close to them and Cleo looked up as Meredith approached their table. There was no sign of Tinker. The delphox had come alone. His smile washed over them, and Cleo felt her fur settle along her back.

“Well!” Meredith stopped beside Faith and folded his paws behind his back as his warm gaze passed over each of them. “I bring some good news. Much to my surprise, I might add. Those strange roots you brought with you have worked, and much faster than I ever expected.”

Harlequin licked their lips and fixed him with a cold sapphire stare. “I told you they’d work.”

“Sorry, but I can’t just take the word of an assassin.” Meredith returned Harlequin’s stare with narrowed eyes but then his expression softened. “But it does appear that you… seem to be… how do I word this?”

“Changing?” Spark offered, followed by a soft laugh from Faith.

Meredith stiffened and glanced away for a moment. “Yes, although wording it that way sounds a bit abrasive.”

Harlequin looked away, sneering at the stone wall of the pastry cafe.

“We haven’t treated everyone yet,” said Meredith. “Your antidote was met with scepticism from our nurse, but some pokemon overheard our conversation. One had even heard of milkwort root and corrected my embarrassing mistake of calling it ‘milkworm’!” He chuckled and shook his head. “After he offered to try it, a couple of our more sickly patients jumped on board. They had accepted their fate and were slowly waiting for death. But after a mere hour of taking the medicine their neurological symptoms seemed to vanish entirely and they were able to stomach eating some root vegetable soup! Prior to that they’d just been drinking sitrus juice to keep their energy up.”

Cleo stared up at Meredith with her mouth hanging open. Spark wore a matching expression, but Faith simply smiled. Cleo had been rendered speechless. She’d claimed to believe the roots would work but she began to realise much to her despair that part of her had doubted it.

“Needless to say,” Meredith went on, “all of our patients are now receiving this treatment. We have hopes that even those in comas will recover in due time. Our nurse has high hopes that most of her patients will be fit to leave the ward tomorrow morning. As such, we’re planning to throw a party tomorrow afternoon, and I want to invite you.” His gaze rested on Harlequin. “All of you. I would be honoured if you’d all attend as guests of honour.”

Harlequin was speechless. They just stared up at Meredith, their ears pulled back slightly.

“That sounds lovely!” said Faith, beating Cleo to the punch.

“A party?” Mischief wiped crumbs from his mouth. “I don’t think I’ve ever been to one before. Not that I remember anyway.”

“Oh they’re so much fun,” Faith told him. “I think you’ll enjoy it!”

“Really?” Mischief looked up at Cleo, his eyes sparkling. “We can go, right?”

Cleo looked from Mischief to Meredith. Doubt was clawing in her chest. “It sounds great, Meredith. But… are you sure you don’t mind throwing a party? I mean, supplies must be pretty tight.”

“Not at all.” Meredith shrugged his shoulders. “We haven’t thrown a party in quite some time, and this is sure to lighten the mood which has been a bit sour with all the sickness. We used to have parties regularly, but this will be the best we can do in present times. As such, it will go on from early afternoon just into sunset.”

“Sunset?” Spark gasped. “Isn’t that a little risky?”

“Not the way we do it,” Meredith explained. “One of the things Stonehaven is reluctant to let go of is tradition. Pokemon here, myself included, have grown up on stories of Stonehaven parties that went all the way up until midnight! The lights would be seen from high in the mountains, inviting travellers to join in with our joyous occasions. Of course, we cannot do that now.” He gave a small sigh and turned his attention back to Cleo. “After the party I will give you all the supplies you need to continue on your journey. Really, I cannot thank you enough.”

The last words had been aimed at Harlequin. Cleo thought for a moment that the zorua was about to topple of their chair.

Cleo watched Meredith walk away, back towards the Guild Hall. She glanced down at her paws clasped over her map. A party… it would be a good opportunity to ask Meredith if he would help them defeat the Wildfires. That way, they might find out if he was the pokemon they were looking for. But if not, then she wanted to move on quickly, not hang around for another full day. But she wasn’t about to decline his invite to Stonehaven’s celebrations, especially since he’d invited them as a thank you for their help.

“Oh a party!” Faith clapped her paws together. “What fun! I can barely wait. Think of all the new pokemon we’d meet!”

“I can’t picture a party.” Mischief scratched his fluffy head. “What are they like?”

“A bit like the Dazzle Dance,” Faith explained. “There’s music and dancing, food, and lots and lots of pokemon to talk to!”

Cleo sucked in a sharp breath and clenched her paws. “Are we sure it’s not wasting time? I mean… if Meredith isn’t the pokemon we’re meant to find-”

“Faith has a point,” said Spark. “And not just because she mentioned food. We’ll be meeting most of Stonehaven. What if the fire-type is in this village and we miss them? We can’t turn away an opportunity like this.”

A smile spread across Cleo’s muzzle and she relaxed. “Yes. Yes, that’s a good point.”

“See it as an opportunity to relax for a bit,” said Faith. “After all we’ve been through we deserve a little break like this. If we don’t find the fire-type then we leave here rested and equipped to continue our search.”

Cleo chuckled and sat back in her seat. “All very good points.”

Faith squirmed with glee and clapped her paws. “Oh, how exciting! I might meet some pokemon who are looking for the Fairy Garden and don’t even know it!”

Cleo’s mood brightened and she looked around at Stonehaven, now painted with the start of sunset. A village full of pokemon… and if they learned of the Fairy Garden then perhaps the threat of Darkness wouldn’t be so daunting. They could move and find a new home safe from it.

“You know what?” Cleo turned back to Faith. “I hope you do get the chance to tell someone about it.”

“Yup!” Faith leant forwards with enthusiasm. “And even if it’s just one, just one little spark can turn into a huge invigorating storm of joy!”

“Yeah we can!” Spark declared.

Faith laughed and gave her a gentle pat on the back.

“And speaking of storms,” said Spark, “it looks like one might be heading our way.”

Everyone looked towards the horizon. The grey clouds had turned more heavy, and were painted red above the mountains.

“Oh dear,” said Faith. “I hope it doesn’t put a dampener on the party.”

“The weather does have its timings.” Cleo slipped from her seat. “We should probably find shelter before it rains.”

A grunt came from Harlequin that might have been agreement. They leapt from their seat to land behind Cleo, but their mind seemed to be elsewhere.

“Are you okay?” Faith asked.

“He thanked me.” Harlequin’s voice came out hoarse and they looked up at the sky above Faith’s head.

The mawile inclined her head on one side, prompting Harlequin to elaborate.

“He thanked me,” Harlequin said again, shuffling their feet on the cobbles. “No one has ever thanked me for anything.”

“Not even Enigma?” Spark asked.

Harlequin shook their head and looked away.

“I don’t believe it. No one’s ever thanked you before?” said Faith. She placed a paw on Harlequin’s shoulder, which Harlequin didn’t flinch away from. “How does it feel? Good?”

Harlequin rubbed their forepaws together and gave Faith an awkward sideways glance. “Yeah… it does.”

“That’s great!” said Faith.

“And if you’re gonna be helping other pokemon,” said Cleo, “then you’ve got many more ‘thank yous’ waiting for you.”

Faith nodded eagerly.

Harlequin let out a sigh and their shoulders slumped. “I’m not sure how else I can help. I don’t exactly have much experience outside of, well… poisons.”

Spark looked up at the zorua and shrugged. “You’ll find your niche.”

Mischief folded his paws behind his back and smiled at Harlequin. “Don’t worry. I don’t know how I can help either.”

“Seriously?!” Harelquin scoffed, rising to their feet. “You took down a dragon! You can even take down Reshiram! You’re strong! You can defend your friends!”

Mischief’s smile fell and he looked away. “Yeah, but it comes at a price.”

Harlequin grimaced and lowered their head. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Erm… can we change the subject?” Spark asked. “We’re kinda dragging down an awesome mood here. I say we take a walk, clear our heads, and find somewhere to sleep before the rain kicks in.”

Cleo raised an eyebrow at her small companion. “By ‘take a walk’ do you mean ‘walk five steps to the guild’?”

“That’s exactly what I mean.” Spark turned and pointed a claw down the main street. “Let’s get a wiggle on. We need to find out where Tinker’s set up our room.”

The cafe had been on a corner just around where the Guild stood tall in the heart of Stonehaven. The road split off across from the Guild, spreading out into the village’s wide square. Two mienshao stood guard outside the Guild chatting to two young pokemon that weren’t quite hatchlings any more. The guards leapt to attention as Cleo and her friends made to join them.

The two youngsters, a minccino and a trubbish, watched the Outcasts with fascination.

“I’m sorry,” said the smallest of the mienshao. “Tinker has instructed us not to let you in, since…” He nodded to Harlequin.

“We know.” Cleo gave Harlequin an apologetic look, but the zorua was seething. “Has Tinker set up a space for us?”

The larger mienshao nodded his head.

“There’s a space for you, which should hopefully be comfortable enough,” said the smaller. “It’s just around the back of the Guild Hall. If you come with me-”

“No need!” The minccino stood up tall and placed a paw on his chest. “We’ve just finished cleaning it. We can take them for you.”

“That way, you don’t need to break duty,” said the trubbish, his voice cracking.

The two guards thanked the pair and returned to the stone steps leading up to the Guild’s door.

Spark glanced up at Cleo from beside her feet. “Why do I feel like they’re gonna stick us in some shed?”

“Try to be positive,” said Cleo with some doubt.

The chinchilla pokemon turned to address Cleo and she noticed the Guild badge attached to his neckerchief.

“I’m Dusty!” he said. “And this is my friend Fussy.”

The trubbish saluted with a sticky paw.

“And you’re Guild Warriors?” Cleo asked, a playful smile playing at her lips.

“Honorary!” said Fussy. “We’re in charge of keeping the streets clean!”

“Well they’re lucky to have helpful pokemon like you,” said Cleo. “And this village is spotless! You’ll make fine warriors when your time comes. So… where has Tinker said we’re to stay?”

“Right this way!” Dusty turned to scamper between the Guild Hall and the large house beside it. He paused to dust a stretch of the alley with his tail, moving sideways as he sent the dust towards Fussy. The trubbish lapped it up gleefully then the pair scampered onward towards the rear of the Guild Hall.

When Cleo spotted where they were staying her heart sank.

“See?” said Spark. “What did I tell you?”

A wooden hut stood against the back of the Guild Hall. The smell coming from it suggested it had formerly been used for food storage. Its door gaped open, swaying in the breeze. It looked like it would be less likely to keep out the wind than it wood be to take off with it.

“There’s clean hay for you to sleep on,” said Dusty, rubbing his paws together a little bashfully. “I helped gather it for you.”

Fussy trailed a tentacle along the floor, avoiding Cleo’s gaze. “Sorry it’s a bit… well…”

Cleo peered inside the hut at the beds of hay. It didn’t smell damp, although the dry weather probably had more to do with that. “It’ll do fine, thank you.” Then she added silently, ‘We’ve slept in worse places.’

“Yes, thank you so much!” Faith beamed.

The faces of the two small pokemon lit up and they bowed a couple of times before scampering back off down the alley. Cleo watched them go then turned to her friends.

“I suppose we should call it a night,” she said. “Who will take first…” She trailed off and glanced to the side.

It was a habit. If they’d been sleeping in a room in the Guild she wouldn’t have even fallen into it. But now they were in a village, surrounded by guards, there was no reason any of them should keep watch.

She gave a dry chuckle and stood aside, motioning for Faith and the others to enter the hut. “It will be nice for us to have a good sleep for a change.”

Spark paused by the door and looked up at her friend. “You don’t want any of us keeping an eye on Harlequin?”

Cleo jolted at the dedenne’s words and fired a glance at the zorua standing beside her, head low. For some reason the thought hadn’t even crossed Cleo’s mind. Did they really need to keep an eye on Harlequin any more? Cleo bit her lip, reluctant to go back on her words. She swallowed a sigh and followed the others into the hut.

The hay was fresh and very welcome after so many nights of roughing it. Cleo sank down into the nest and sat back on her paws, gazing through the door. A stretch of mountain grass separated them from a stone wall, set with a window that looked into the kitchen of a bakery. A few brambles that had been cut back suggested the area behind the Guild had once held a very small orchard, but as Stonehaven became more built-up over time it had been left to its own devices. It was rather trampled down by many feet, and Cleo could picture it full of playful hatchlings that lived in the Guild Hall with their parents.

Now that the village was on its way to recovery, that image remained bright in Cleo’s mind. She settled on her back onto the hay and cast a glance at Harlequin sitting beside her, gazing out of the door.

“You really came through today,” she told the zorua.

At first Harlequin didn’t respond, then their ear twitched towards Cleo. The zorua shook their head sharply and looked at her.

“Huh? You were talking to me?”

Cleo shrugged. “Yes. I mean, if it weren’t for you, this village would still be full of sick pokemon scrambling for pecha berries.”

“Yeah,” said Spark from beside Cleo’s head. “It’s not like you had to help them or anything. You’re our prisoner after all.”

Harlequin snorted. “You’re right.” They curled up on the bare ground, turning their back to Cleo. “I didn’t have to help them.”

“No, you didn’t,” said Faith. “But you did! And that’s what counts.”

Harlequin opened one sapphire eye.

“It was an incredibly kind gesture,” Faith went on. “And it’s very clear that Stonehaven appreciates it!”

Harlequin snorted again. “If they really appreciated it then you wouldn’t be forced to sleep in this draughty hut with me.”

Mischief huffed from the corner of the room. “It does seem rather unfair.”

“Of course it’s unfair.” Cleo propped herself up on one elbow. “But Harlequin, listen to me. That’s just how Tinker is. He doesn’t trust anyone outside the Guild. Look at how he treated Sandpaw at first!”

“He doesn’t trust me, either,” said Mischief. “No matter how much I try to prove it to him.”

Cleo shook her head sadly. “I honestly think, if Meredith had a heavy say in it, that we wouldn’t have been turned away.”

“But pokemon would have still been looking at me funny.” Harlequin flashed Cleo a sapphire glance. “Let’s face it, I’m not welcome in Outcast territory, and I never will be.” They lowered their head back onto their paws and sighed. “When you lot let me go, I’ll have no choice but to join the outlaws.”

A brief silence washed over them, along with a brisk breeze that caused the door to clatter. Cleo’s fur bristled and she lay back into the hay.

“One day, there won’t be any division,” said Faith softly. “But if you really feel you need to join the outlaws, Harlequin, then they’ll be blessed to have you.”

Harlequin raised their head, their eyes wide with surprise. It was only for a moment, as if the zorua wasn’t quite sure Faith had actually meant those words. Harlequin lowered their chin back onto their paws and muttered, “Thank you, Faith.”

...​

Three winged shadows fluttered erratically across the night sky. To the untrained eye they would have looked like large moth pokemon trying to reach the moon before it vanished behind a cloud. Ilana waited, her feathers plastered to her body as the fine drizzle soaked through them.

Finally, the three murkrow reached her, landing clumsily beside her in the branches of the mountain ash.

“Did you find them?” Ilana asked.

The larger of the three murkrow nodded her head. “They’ve entered a large village, crouching in those mountains. But it’s almost impossible to see anything in there now. It’s in a complete black-out.”

“So an entire village has avoided detection from Yurlik’s deino-brained troops?” Ilana clicked her beak as an amused glint lit up her eyes.

The amusement spread throughout the tree as hundreds of murkrow eyes turned to follow the honchkrow’s gaze towards the valley.

“So do we attack?” the first murkrow asked. “Drive them out?”

“No. Not yet.” Ilana fluffed out her feathers against the bracing wind. “Haste is how we will lose. For now, we watch and wait. The perfect time will come, girls, then we swoop.”
 
Chapter 41

DeliriousAbsol

*Crazy Absol Noises*
Location
Behind a laptop, most likely with tea
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. mawile
41 - Sunset Dance​

Sunlight leaked through the cracks of the door, dancing over the bare wooden walls. Cleo rubbed her eyes with a paw and yawned, then stretched languidly until her spine popped. The hay had been comfortable enough, and the shack had been warm despite the rain that had fallen overnight. It had certainly kept the weather at bay, especially once she’d found a way to keep the door shut. An iron thorn poked out from the door’s clasp, wedged firmly in the wood. Cleo tugged it free and pushed the door open.

A gentle, cool breeze washed through the shack, ruffling her fur and causing a few wisps to rise from Mischief’s fluffy fur. He was curled up against the wall, his cotton-like coat almost burying his brown body entirely. Spark lay on the hay beside where Cleo had been, huddled into Faith’s side. The only pokemon who wasn’t still asleep was Harlequin. The zorua opened their mouth in a wide yawn and pushed themselves up.

“I’ve not slept like that in moons!” Harlequin scratched behind an ear with a hind paw and yawned again.

Cleo caught the zorua’s yawn and shook her ears. “It certainly feels like it. Wow, how long have we slept?”

Harlequin glanced over Cleo’s shoulder at the open door. “It looks like noon.”

Cleo stiffened and twisted to look outside, her eyes going to the high sun as it ducked behind a cloud. Her fur fluffed up with alarm. “We’ve slept all morning?!”

“Apparently.” Harlequin dug their claws into the floor and arched their spine in a stretch. “I have no regrets.”

Cleo’s fur flattened back out as she took in a steadying breath. “No. You’re right. We all needed a good night’s sleep.” She scratched behind her ear and looked back at her friends who were stirring. “I wonder if Tinker showed up?”

Harlequin snorted. “I doubt it. If he did would he really have left us asleep?”

Cleo had to silently admit he most likely would not.

Mischief rubbed his orange eyes as he stared at Cleo with confusion. “Is it really noon?”

Cleo gave a nod and looked back out at the high sun.

“Wow.” Faith chuckled. “It won’t be long before the party starts.”

“Noon?” Spark licked her lips. “Then that explains the hunger.”

“Then it must be perpetually noon,” Harlequin snarked.

“Careful,” warned Spark. “I’m so hungry I’d eat you.”

That drew another chuckle from Faith, but Harlequin bared their canines as they watched Spark drag herself from her nest.

The dedenne stretched her arms over her head and waddled from the shack. Her paws splattered through a puddle and she froze, knee deep in water.

“It clearly rained…” She looked up at Cleo. “I think I might need a raft.”

Cleo scooped her up in one paw and turned back to her friends. “Usually we’d go to the Guild Hall for breakfast, but… well.”

Harlequin caught her eye and pulled their ears back. “You could just chain me up outside. I won’t be going anywhere.”

“How about we find another cafe?” Cleo suggested. “We saw a couple yesterday, and I quite like the sound of that pancake place.”

“Ooh pancakes!” Faith hopped to her feet. “My breakfast of choice!”

They left the shack and followed the alley onto the main road. As they passed the Guild the door opened and Tinker stepped out, followed by Sandpaw and Scout. Cleo froze, her ears pricked and trained on the riolu. She hadn’t been expecting him to take Sandpaw into the Guild after his initial reaction to her.

“Tinker?” Cleo’s voice almost acted on its own.

Tinker turned his head towards her and gave a warm smile. “Oh! Good morning, Cleo. Well… afternoon now, I guess.”

He led the furret and her son down the steps, almost tripping as Scout cut past him to bound towards the Outcasts.

“The Guild is so cool!” Scout squealed as he skidded to a halt. “It’s so big! And there are so many strong pokemon! I’ve never seen so many! Do you really work for them?”

Cleo chuckled and lowered herself to his level. “Yes, we do.”

The sentret’s large eyes sparkled. “So you’ve been on loads of adventures and beaten lots of bad guys, right?”

“That we have,” said Spark, puffing out her chest. “Loads. They quake when they hear our names.”

Harlequin snorted and looked away, but they had caught Scout’s attention.

Sandpaw joined Cleo’s side, keeping a close eye on her son. “I’m really sorry. He’s been full of questions all morning.”

“He’s inquisitive,” said Tinker fondly. “It’s a good quality in a budding warrior. Shall we get some breakfast?”

Sandpaw had paled at the masked suggestion of her son becoming a warrior, but she nodded briskly.

“We were just getting some ourselves,” said Cleo.

“Pancakes,” said Faith. “Would you like to join us?”

“Oh!” Sandpaw’s face lit up, but Tinker looked unsure. “I’d love to! Shall we, Tinker?”

The riolu cleared his throat and glanced aside. “If you wish. It… would be nice to catch up. You’ve had quite the journey here I gather?” he asked Cleo.

Cleo nodded and moved on, and Tinker kept pace beside her. “I can tell you all about it over breakfast.”

“Yes, let’s not delay,” said Spark. “I’ve already missed one meal. I think I might be shrinking.”

“I don’t think we want that,” said Mischief rather seriously. “We wouldn’t be able to see you.”

The dedenne swivelled her head around and narrowed her eyes at him. Her whiskers crackled, tickling Cleo’s neck fur. “Really, Mischief? Really?!”

Harlequin lagged behind as they followed Cleo through the large town. Scout’s attention was still fixed on the assassin. He walked backwards beside his mother, his large eyes wide with wonder.

“You’re a funny colour,” he said.

Harlequin’s ears pricked and they raised their head sharply.

“Zorua are meant to be grey and red, right?” Scout went on. “But you’re black and blue. My mother says that can happen but it’s really rare.”

Harlequin narrowed their sapphire eyes and Sandpaw braced herself to scoop up her son.

“That makes you special, right?” said Scout.

“Sure.” Harlequin smirked. “I’m real special.”

Scout didn’t pick up the sarcasm in the zorua’s voice. He seemed satisfied by the answer and bounced backwards on his tail, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“And you’re an assassin too, right?” His question earned a quick glare from Harlequin. “Have you killed lots and lots of pokemon?”

Harlequin’s hackles rose, and their fur bristled along their spine.

“Because you have to fight to evolve, right?” Scout went on, oblivious to Harlequin’s discomfort. “And you’re still a zorua.”

“I’ve won my fair share of fights,” Harlequin growled.

“So why haven’t you evolved?”

Harlequin didn’t answer, looking up over Scout’s head.

“I can’t wait to evolve,” he went on. “My Mum says I’ll be stronger as a furret. But you’re already strong, right? So why haven’t you evolved yet?”

Harlequin’s eyes flashed. “Because I don’t want to, okay!”

Sandpaw twisted around to scoop up her son. All eyes were on the bristling assassin. A look of regret softened Harlequin’s eyes and they turned their face away.

“I’m not gonna hurt a hatchling,” they said flatly. “So you can stop worrying.”

“I think that’s enough questions,” said Sandpaw, hurrying to Tinker’s side.

“But I’ve not finished interviewing the bad guy!” Scout protested.

“I’m not a bad guy!” Harlequin sighed and waved a paw. “Whatever. Think what you want.”

Tinker huffed through his nose and placed a paw on Sandpaw’s shoulder. “You’re an assassin for the Darkness. That makes you a bad guy in my books.”

Cleo glanced back at Harlequin. Their ears were flat and their blue eyes were fixed on the ground as they followed sluggishly behind them.

“Tinker,” said Cleo turning back to the riolu. “Harlequin found a cure for this whole town. Does that still make her evil in your eyes?”

“One good deed doesn’t correct a thousand bad ones, Cleo,” he said.

“But a change of heart means everything,” said Faith. “Repentance offers anyone a clean slate.”

Tinker fired the mawile a glare and moved on ahead, steering Sandpaw along with him. “You’ll be singing a different song once you lose someone you care about to the Darkness.”

Cleo stared at the back of his head for a moment, then turned back to Harlequin. The zorua had stopped, their nose low to the floor.

Faith sighed and her shoulders sagged. “He can be pretty blunt can’t he?”

“He’s right,” Harlequin looked up at Faith briefly. “Just because the Fairy Garden accepted me doesn’t mean other pokemon will. I mean, what reason do they have?”

“Like Cleo said,” said Faith. “You’ve helped this town.”

“Meredith even invited you to the party later on,” said Spark. “So chin up, all right?”

“Okay.” Harlequin met Cleo’s eyes. “So if you lot trust me, why am I still in this collar?”

Cleo bit her lip. Her paw idly went to the bracelet around her wrist. Did she really trust Harlequin enough to release them? Helping Stonehaven could easily be a ruse.

But the zorua managed to enter the Fairy Garden. If it was really true that only those seeking sanctuary from the Darkness could find it then surely Harlequin’s heart had changed?

She glanced around at the stone buildings, the bustling streets. One of the few remaining towns before the war started. And standing on its streets, a member of the Darkness - former or not. Could Cleo really be certain?

She sighed and let her paw relax at her side. “You’re right, Harlequin. You have done good. But… I can’t let you off. Not here in Stonehaven.”

Harlequin snorted and looked away. “I expected no less.”

Cleo met Faith’s eyes, noting a hint of disappointment in their violet depths. But the mawile said nothing. The group continued on in silence, breaking away from Tinker as he led Sandpaw and Scout down a different fork in the road.

...​

The square was teeming with pokemon by the time Cleo and her friends reached it. The sun was a good couple of hours away from setting, resting just above the mountain peaks in the distance. Its warmth spread across the square, drying up what remained of the previous night’s puddles.

“I’m glad the weather held up,” said Spark from Cleo’s shoulder. “It would have been pretty sad if the rain had ruined it all.”

“We need it though,” said Cleo. “It’s not rained properly for a long while. One night won’t be enough to feed the fruit trees.”

She glanced around at the variety of pokemon finishing laying out the tables and setting up the square. She was surprised to find most of them were normal-types. A loud boom came from the far corner where an exploud and loudred duo were setting up the stage. A glameow sat beside it grooming her fur while two kittens scampered around her, rolling about on the damp cobblestones. A group of linoone and zigzagoon set various meals on the table, assisted by a likitung wearing an apron.

Cleo couldn’t see many other pokemon of other types. Mulch stood at the end of the table with Fussy, and Cleo found herself wondering if the little trubbish was his grandson. Fussy’s friend Dusty stood nearby, sweeping under the table with his bushy tail. Cleo couldn’t see any sign of a cinccino and deeply hoped the little minccino wasn’t an orphan.

The two mienshao were helping themselves to the food alongside a few other pokemon, but they kept a careful eye open on the goings-on of the square. Cleo wondered if the pokemon of other typings were keeping a watch over Stonehaven, standing vigilant on the streets. She joined the two guards who gave her and her friends polite nods, and picked up a plate. Spark bailed from her shoulder to land on the table and immediately helped herself to a slice of berry toast.

One of the meinshao looked down at Harlequin and nervously cleared his throat. “I heard you helped to find the cure for the poison? Th-thank you.”

Harlequin gave a stiff nod and licked their lips, glancing out at the square.

Word had spread that the zorua had been the one to suggest the cure. During the afternoon, only a couple of pokemon had paused to thank the zorua. Cleo had begun to have her doubts that Harlequin would be welcome by most of Stonehaven, but throughout the square, the looks of gratitude towards Harlequin far outweighed suspicious glances. A lillipup let out a bark of surprise and broke away from the crowd to scamper towards the assassin.

“You gave us the cure?!” she yipped. “Thank you! My mother isn’t dying anymore! Thank you so much!”

Harlequin stuttered a reply, not quite forming words. But the lillipup was soon dashing back to her father.

“Wow!” said Spark. “Quite the reception! Something makes me think you’re going to be quite popular tonight, Harlequin.”

Harlequin’s breaths turned frantic and they ducked under the table. Their sapphire eyes stared out, wide and anxious.

Faith ducked down to peer at the zorua. “It’s okay, Harlequin! Everyone here is just grateful to you, that’s all.”

“It’s too much,” said Harlequin. “I… I just want to leave.”

Faith’s lips turned down in a sad frown and she nodded. “Okay. Just stay there for a while. We can make sure no one harasses you.”

“We might not need to.” Cleo gave the square another glance. There was very little hostility towards their prisoner, but pokemon seemed to have taken the cue to give the zorua some space.

Cleo turned back to the table and reached for a plate.

“There really doesn’t seem to be much variety in pokemon types here.” She caught her friends’ eyes. “The only fire-type I’ve seen is Meredith. Do you think he might be the pokemon Xerneas asked us to find?”

“It would be amazing if he was!” said Mischief.

“He is the only fire-type,” said Spark. “To me, that makes it pretty obvious.”

Faith pursed her lips. “I don’t know… I’ve been thinking about this and it doesn’t really add up.”

Mischief’s smile fell, replaced with a look of confusion.

“I mean, he’s part psychic,” Faith explained with a shrug. “A psychic-type fighting the Wildfires? I don’t know. It seems rather unlikely. He’d be at an extreme disadvantage.”

“Wouldn’t a fire-type though?” Spark asked. “Fire doesn’t really work well against itself, so what difference would it make?”

“I don’t know.” Faith leaned back against the table. “I just feel like it would be really clear to us, you know? Like… we’d just know it was the right pokemon.”

Cleo made a thoughtful noise and exchanged glances with Spark.

“So we should keep looking?” Spark asked.

“I think so,” said Faith. “It doesn’t feel right to me to ask Meredith. What if he agrees and it’s not right? He could end up seriously hurt or worse.”

Cleo bit her lip. She hadn’t considered that. She’d just been so excited to have encountered a fire-type.

“But fire-types are pretty rare to begin with,” said Spark. “What if he’s the one and we never even asked? We’d have missed our chance. I think we should at least mention it.”

“Maybe.” Faith turned thoughtful. “Let me think on it.”

The silence that followed was brief as the exploud announced the music was about to start. All eyes went to the stage. The glameow, now finished with her grooming, climbed up onto it and reached for the microphone.

“Ooh!” Faith clapped her paws. “We’re going to have some music!”

Her voice was almost drowned out by the band as the exploud and loudred began producing a cacophony of noise akin to musical instruments. The glameow’s satin voice rang out across the square, and a few of the surrounding pokemon moved away from the table to start dancing. Dusty and Fussy scampered among them, joining the glameow kits.

“It doesn’t hold a candle to the celebrations in the Fairy Garden,” said Spark with her mouth full. “But it’s really nice to be celebrating without worrying about the Darkness.”

“Oh, I’d worry,” said Harlequin.

The zorua’s companions looked down at them with raised eyebrows.

Harlequin shrugged. “What? Do you expect them to hold off an attack just because pokemon are celebrating? I thought you were warriors.”

“It doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy ourselves though.” Faith didn’t take her eyes off the stage. They widened as she spotted the instruments stacked against it. “Oh! I wonder if they’ll let me join?”

Before Cleo could encourage her to go and ask, Faith trotted across the square towards the stage.

Mischief watched her with amazement while clutching a plate in one paw. “Is she going to play with them? She was very good in the Fairy Garden wasn’t she?”

Cleo didn’t need a reminder as she watched Faith pick up a violin, much to the delight of the glameow. Soon, a beautiful harmony came from the violin as Faith joined the glameow on the stage. Even without any sheet music Faith seemed to join in seamlessly with the band.

More pokemon flowed into the square, their voices mingling with the music and laughter.

“Cleo!” Tinker’s familiar voice rose above them and she looked up as the riolu ran to join her.

Sandpaw and Scout weren’t far behind, but instead of joining Cleo they went further along the table to investigate the food.

“There you are!” Tinker came to a stop beside Cleo and helped himself to a plate. “I’ve been looking for you.”

“What do you want?” Cleo asked.

“A dance, probably.” Spark took another bite of her toast.

“Actually…” Tinker scratched his ear with one claw. “I’ve been talking more with Sandpaw, as you know. I didn’t get much chance yesterday as both her and Scout were pretty exhausted. But she’s told me quite the tale.”

Cleo looked up at the furret. She seemed much more relaxed, but she was avoiding coming near to Cleo and she knew why. Sandpaw’s glance wandered to Harlequin more than once, and she steered her son away as he clambered along the table helping himself to the cakes.

“She’s told me exactly what that lab was doing,” Tinker went on. “It’s left me feeling rather surprised.”

“Surprised how?” asked Spark.

The riolu leaned back against the table and fiddled with his everstone pendant. “The lab there was created by former Heretics who’d grown tired of the way Heretics revere the Darkness. The were creating biological weapons but not for use alongside the Darkness. Their plan, albeit somewhat dangerous and convoluted, was to send those weapons into the Shadow Lands in a bid to overthrow Hydreigon.”

“What?!” Cleo and Spark gasped.

A loud thud shook the table as Harlequin leapt to their feet. The plates clattered with the impact, sending berries rolling to the floor.

Harlequin shook their ears and blinked up at Tinker. “That’s insane!”

Tinker chuckled and stooped to gather the berries. “I believe I had a similar reaction myself.”

The riolu had Mischief’s full interest. The whimsicott placed his plate back on the table and stooped to help him pick up the berries. Spark had already dropped from the table to assist, although one or two went straight into her cheek pouches.

“What exactly were they doing?” Mischief asked Tinker. “Were they making this pokerus themselves?”

“I can explain more tomorrow,” said Tinker. “I don’t want to cause a fuss at this party when pokemon should be celebrating. I just wanted to let you all know that after speaking with Sandpaw I have decided it’s safe to take her back with me.”

“You’re taking them back?” Cleo gasped.

“Their tale checks out.” Tinker set the berries neatly back on the table. “I think taking them with me is for the best. They’ll be safer there and having Scout around will give Starshine an extra friend to play with.”

Cleo nodded and picked up a strip of dried fish to nibble on. Tinker wasn’t foolish. He wouldn’t have made such a decision without thinking things through. But Cleo hadn’t even dreamed he’d take Sandpaw and Scout back to New City after his initial reaction. Not if he thought they were a threat. He’d had reasons for keeping the swablu hatchling. If Tinker thought Sandpaw was safe then Cleo wasn’t going to question it.

Mischief edged closer to Tinker. “I really want to know more. Please, can you-”

Tinker raised a paw to silence him. “Trust me, Mischief, I’ll explain more tomorrow. Just focus on enjoying yourself.”

Mischief took a step back and looked out at the crowd of pokemon. Many of them were dancing, leaving their meal for later. A bibarel tottered by, swinging a giggling pachirisu around in his arms. Mischief’s orange eyes followed him and Cleo felt him take her paw. With his free paw, Mischief pointed and opened his mouth to say something to her.

“Since Spark did mention it…” Tinker rubbed the back of his head and avoided Cleo’s gaze. “Perhaps you wouldn’t mind-” He looked up at Cleo and, seeing Mischief, he snatched his gaze away and waved a paw. “Oh never mind. I’ll just…” The riolu looked up at Sandpaw who was slowly shuffling over to him. “Sandpaw! Would you care to dance?”

The furret’s eyes widened and she almost dropped her plate. Scout caught a berry as it tumbled towards the floor.

“Oh, I…!” Sandpaw’s cheeks flushed as she stuttered. “I’m not sure. I don’t really want to leave Scout.”

“I’ll watch him!” Spark waved from the table. “You lot go and dance and enjoy yourselves.”

Spark gave Cleo a wink causing her face to heat up.

“I don’t really know what I’m doing,” Mischief said close to her ear. “I’m just gonna copy the other dancers okay?”

“That’s fine.” Cleo’s whiskers twitched and she cast a glance at him. She was very concerned that her white fur wouldn’t be enough to hide her sudden bashfulness. “I don’t know what I’m doing either.”

Mischief moved ahead to lead her into the crowd and she felt a sudden tug at her bracelet. She looked back at Harlequin who was trying to fight to remain beneath the table.

“You do know,” the zorua sad slowly, “that wherever you go I’m forced to follow?”

“Ahh.” Cleo clicked her tongue and looked back at Mischief.

“That’s fine!” Mischief beamed at her, closing his eyes. “We can dance by the table!”

“Oh goody.” Harlequin ducked back beneath it and rolled their eyes. “I’ll just stay under it then.”

...​

After three songs in a row, Faith decided it was time to set the violin aside and let the band return to their usual sound. The three band-mates thanked her profusely for her help and even tried to encourage her to stay, but Faith politely declined. A look around the square at all the pokemon mingling and enjoying themselves was an opportunity she didn’t want to miss. As she climbed down the stage she scouted the pokemon before her searching for someone who might be easy to engage in a conversation. The dancing couples and groups of nattering friends seemed very tight almost as if the town had its own private cliques.

Faith hesitated for a moment then gave herself a mental shake. She was usually very confident. She shouldn’t let it put her off. As she cut through the crowd a wave caught her eye and she found herself looking up at Meredith. The delphox stood with Mulch and a young female pikachu.

“Good afternoon, Faith!” Meredith beamed down at her. “Thank you for assisting the band! That was such a delightful surprise!”

“Oh, it was my pleasure.” Faith waved a paw at him trying to repress a blush. “Thank you for throwing this party. I can’t get over how many pokemon are here.”

“I believe most of Stonehaven is here,” said Meredith. His ears drooped slightly and he looked over at the gentle slope of the village. “Some have had to work this afternoon. We can’t be too careful, can we?”

Faith felt a pang in her chest as she silently followed his gaze. The sun had almost vanished beyond the mountain peaks, casting Stonehaven in a light shadow.

“One day there won’t be anymore war,” she said.

Meredith gave a dry chuckle. “Who will have won though?”

“We will.”

Meredith looked over at her, his mouth open slightly. Mulch and the pikachu both chuckled and the old garbordor shook his head.

“That’s some fine confidence you have there, m’lady,” said Mulch. “I’d love to have your positivity.”

“You’re already pretty positive, Mulch,” said the pikachu.

A small smile spread across Meredith’s muzzle. “Well, someone should be. Perhaps it’ll be catching?” He paused, reading Faith’s expression. “What makes you so confident if you don’t mind me asking? Surely you’re aware we’re being pushed further and further south. I fear it won’t be long before the Darkness is upon Stonehaven and we’ll also be forced to move.”

Faith shook her head, keeping her smile. “I just have faith it will one day be over and we’ll have won.” She paused for a moment as she thought over her words. “I didn’t grow up in Estellis. I grew up in a place called the Fairy Garden. We learned from a young age that the fairy-type would one day defeat the Darkness.”

The three pokemon stared at her silently. Faith struggled to work out if they were confused or surprised.

Finally, the pikachu twitched her ears before asking; “The fairy-type?”

Faith let out a sad sigh. “So it’s true. Pokemon really are forgetting about it…”

“We were meant to know about it?” The pikachu turned to her friends. “Have either of you ever heard of such a thing?”

Mulch rubbed the back of his head with a tendril. “Not me.” He looked back at Faith. “I’m sorry, m’lady. You’ve lost me.”

Meredith straightened and folded his paws behind his back. His eyes softened as he looked down at the mawile. “What does the fairy-type do exactly?”

“It’s very effective against both dark- and dragon-type pokemon,” Faith explained. “I’m part fairy myself, as is Mischief.”

“Really?” The delphox turned his head to seek out the whimsicott in the crowd to no avail. “Well. You have my full attention, Faith. Please tell me more.”

“You believe her?” the pikachu gasped.

“Why wouldn’t I?” said Meredith. “She’s given me no reason to assume she’s lying. After all, she did aide Cleo and her friends in delivering an antidote more affective than mere pecha berries. If it weren’t for Faith and her friends here, Stonehaven would still be full of sick pokemon.”

The pikachu flinched and looked away. Faith wondered if perhaps someone close to her had been very ill with the poison. The pikachu shuffled her paws on the cobbles then quietly excused herself as she moved away from them.

Meredith watched her sadly then turned back to Faith. “I’m really sorry.”

Faith shook her head. “It’s okay. I’m used to many different reactions.” She added a laugh to remove the tension.

“Well I certainly want to hear more,” said Mulch.

“Me too,” said Meredith. “If you wouldn’t mind, Faith?”

Faith’s face lit up with delight. “Of course not!”

She fell into a full, detailed description of the Fairy Garden, culminating in a recital of Yveltal’s Fall. Before she knew it, more pokemon had come forward to listen, although only a very small number stayed. Even the pikachu ventured over once more, but Faith couldn’t tell if she believed it or not.

By the time Faith had finished, the sun had vanished beyond the mountain peaks but the blue sky indicated it hadn’t yet set. The pale shape of the moon poked out beyond the clouds, waiting its turn to light up the sky.

The group of pokemon stood in silence, almost as if they expected Faith to tell them another story. Meredith broke the silence with a clap of his paws which a few other pokemon joined him in.

“That was… well, it was fantastic,” he told Faith.

“You really believe that?” The pikachu’s question wasn’t tainted with malice.

Faith nodded. “It’s true. I’ve met Xerneas many times.”

Meredith made a thoughtful noise. “Well you’ve certainly given me something to think about.”

“And a little hope too,” said Mulch. “Things feel… well, brighter, I have to say.”

“I think I know how you feel, Mulch.” Meredith gave Faith a small smile. “Thank you, Faith.”

Faith beamed up at him. “Any time! And if you have any questions-”

“I will not hesitate to ask.” Meredith nodded his head in a bow. “I need to check on some other pokemon. Social beautifly, if you understand.”

“Absolutely!”

Faith watched him go then turned to look at the other pokemon. They’d begun to disperse, but the pikachu hesitated. With one lingering look at Faith, the pikachu vanished into the crowd. Faith turned to glance over the happy pokemon, finding herself in much the situation she’d been in before she encountered Meredith. She turned and zigzagged through the crowd, not managing to catch anyone’s eye.

She cut around the edge of the square, hoping to encounter a wallflower to talk to. A shadow caught her eye at the mouth of an alleyway that opened onto the square. Her heart picked up. Was it a guard, or someone lingering outside the party? Whoever it was, they didn’t seem to want to join in with the crowd. Perhaps they’d appreciate a little company?

She ventured closer, squinting into the dim alley. Very little of the lingering light reached it, making it impossible to see who it was. As she passed it, the mouth of the alley was empty. Just her imagination…

She turned back towards the crowd, but claws fastened around her arm. Her gasp was stifled as her muzzle pressed into heavy, coarse fabric that smelled faintly of occa berries. The tinkle of a bell reached her ears as she was whisked aside behind a trash can. Faith placed a paw on her assailant’s chest to push herself away, but her paw was snatched up in one of his. Another warm paw settled on the low of her back, giving her enough time to look up into a pair of crimson eyes.

“Enigma?” Her breath was snatched away from her as the banette spun her away further down the alley. She glanced back at the square, or what she could still see of it over his shoulder. “What… where are you taking me?”

“Hmm?” He inclined his head on one side. “Is it wrong of me to steal a dance?”

“When it involves actually stealing me, yes!”

He chuckled and twirled her around until she reached the end of his arm, then flashed her a boyish grin. “You’re not exactly putting up much of a fight.”

He tugged her back into his body and spun her away down another narrow side-street.

She pushed back so she was looking into his face and asked, patiently, “What do you really want with me?”

He laughed at that and Faith found herself struggling to keep up with his expert footwork. The tinkling of his bell echoed off the walls with every movement. She found herself wondering how the guards could miss it.

“I don’t really want anything,” said Enigma. “I just saw you wandering around looking for a partner. You looked so lonely so I thought I would offer you a bit of company.”

He twirled her to the end of his arm again, releasing her as he vanished into the shadows. Before she’d even stopped moving he caught her, and pulled her into his chest as he whisked her into another alleyway.

“I was hardly lonely.” Faith swept a long strand of fur from her mouth and met his eyes again. “I think you’re the one who’s lonely.”

He lowered his head so his nose was brushing hers. “Oh no. I’m just bored.”

Faith made a thoughtful noise. “Somehow I don’t think you’re merely looking for a dance.” Her words were interspersed with gasps as the quick imaginary beat he was dancing to lead them further up the incline of the mountain. “For one thing you’re taking us well away from the square.”

“You think I’d really be welcome there?” he grunted with amusement.

“I think you’d draw more attention to yourself dancing through the streets.”

The banette pulled her into him and spoke quietly into her ear. “I’ve been here since last night exploring, watching who comes and goes. I know these streets like the back of my paw, so I know how to avoid the sentries.”

Faith’s violet eyes widened and she dug her claws into his scarf. Something about the way he’d worded that unsettled her.

“I don’t want to think badly of you, Enigma,” she said, keeping her voice level. “But are you planning on killing someone?”

Enigma closed his eyes and chuckled. “My interests merely lie in that furret that joined you.”

“Sandpaw?” Faith glanced back towards the square, but he twirled her around until the streets were nothing more than a dizzying blur. “What do you want with her?” she managed to gasp.

“She worked at that lab,” said Enigma. “I want information.”

Faith’s words were stifled as he kept his pace up a steep slope. It was impossible to speak as she tried to keep up with him. After a few seconds he spun her towards the end of his arm with such force she was launched through the narrow street. He warped ahead of her and caught her in his arms. He held her for a moment, his quick, short breaths tickling her muzzle. As she caught her own breath she glanced around at the trees around them. They were no longer in Stonehaven. She turned her head to look back the way they’d come. The narrow street ended at a small open gate. One she’d expect to find a guard situated at, but there was none. Why was it open?

She licked her dry lips and turned back to Enigma. He still had hold of her, but as she pushed back his claws slipped harmlessly from her shoulders. He didn’t take his eyes off her, watching her every movement as she turned to look back at Stonehaven.

From where they were stood the sharp slope gave them a view of the square. The pokemon looked like ants, but Faith could make out the table and the shapes of Cleo and Mischief beside it. A flash of blue told her Harlequin was still lurking beneath the table, poking their head out occasionally. The crowd made it difficult to pinpoint the furret that had taken Enigma’s interest.

“Please tell me you’re not going to hurt Sandpaw,” she said.

Enigma grunted and leant back against a tree, folding his paws. “I’ll do what I have to for that information.”

Faith rounded on him and narrowed her eyes. “She has a child.”

Enigma returned her glare and flashed a canine. “He’ll survive.”

“You can’t just take his mother away from him though,” said Faith. “That’s cruel!”

“You think I’m no stranger to that?”

Faith stuttered as she bit back a retort. Enigma wasn’t looking at her anymore, his attention focused on the square. She brushed her fur back from her face and took a steady breath.

“They kept you in that lab,” she said. “What did they want with you?”

He was silent, avoiding her stare.

She took in a ragged breath as her eye wandered back to the fuzzy tiny shape of Mischief. “That lab was using mutated pokerus…” She paused, not getting a reply. “Did they infect you?”

“I just want to know what they were doing.” Enigma turned to face her. “Did she tell you?”

Faith shook her head slowly. “Not in much detail.”

“Don’t keep it from me, Faith.” He narrowed his eyes again. “I’m not in the mood to use force.”

“I’m not keeping anything from you,” she said. “All Sandpaw told me was that they were cultivating pokerus, and took her in when she was looking for somewhere safe to raise Scout. That is all she told me.”

He spat air and turned back towards the square, reclining once more against the tree. “So I’ll have to ask her myself.”

“Leave her alone.” Faith’s words surprised herself. She caught a raised eyebrow from Enigma and shook her head. “Listen. If I learn anything, and I think it’s safe to tell you that information, then I’ll give it to you.” She met his eye. “But I’m not going to give any information that would benefit our enemy.”

“And what makes you think I’m your enemy?”

“Seriously?” Faith’s eyes widened. “You’ve given me plenty of reasons! You work for Hydreigon for one thing!”

He snorted at that and looked away.

They stood in silence for a moment, the faint music from the square washing over the edge of the mountain forest.

“I just want to confirm a few things,” said Enigma slowly. “I overheard a fair bit in that lab. There was stuff in that folder that would turn your stomach.” He looked over at her. “Do you know they were planning to use infected pokemon to invade the Shadow Lands?”

She jerked her head towards him. “No…?”

He gave a small laugh. “I guess she’s not told you that much then. What a pity. I guess you’re telling the truth after all.”

“Were you just testing my reaction?” Faith shook her head at his smirk. “Whatever they were doing, Enigma, you don’t need to harm Sandpaw. She’s innocent in all this.”

“She worked there.”

“Was she the one infecting others?” Faith asked. “Or was she the one looking after the captive pokemon?”

Enigma jerked his head away, but Faith thought she caught a glimmer of doubt on his face.

“You don’t know how she felt about all that,” Faith went on. “She’s frightened enough as it is without you going after her. I’ve told you I’ll tell you if I find anything out I think you need to know. In the meantime I need you to give me your word you won’t hurt her.”

He turned his head towards her, and in the setting sun his eyes reflected the dim light. Just like any other nocturnal pokemon.

“And what use is my word to you?” he asked. “You shouldn’t trust so blindly.”

“Really?” Faith flexed her paws at her sides. “Then why did you approach me? Because I really doubt it was just for a dance.” She gestured to the table where Cleo was still dancing with Mischief. “You could have caught any one of my friends. Did I just pass you at a convenient time?”

“You were less likely to cause a fuss.” He took in a deep breath and toyed with the hem of his scarf, but his eyes remained on the square. “And I want to know what Harlequin sees in you.”

“Harlequin?”

“He’s…” Enigma waved a paw as he tried to pluck the right word from the air. “Changed.”

Faith bit her lip as she glanced back at the blue flashes beneath the table. “Enigma… you do know Harlequin’s a girl, right?”

“Don’t be ridiculous!” Enigma spat. “There are no female assassins. That rule came into place while I was there.” He hugged his arms around himself and glanced up at the sky.

“Really?” Faith caught his eye. “Was Harlequin already there?”

He held her gaze for a moment then turned his attention back to the square.

“You’ve been feeding him lies,” said Enigma, dodging the question. “All this about the fairy-type and Xerneas.”

“They’re not lies.”

“Come on, Faith. Open your eyes-”

“They are open,” Faith told him calmly. “I’ve met Xerneas many times, and so has Harlequin and her friends.”

“Then you’re all deluded.”

Something in his expression indicated he wasn’t entirely sure he believed his own words. He dodged her gaze to stare blankly back down at the village. Whatever it was, she felt it was pointless arguing with him.

“If you want to know what’s changed about Harlequin,” said Faith, “it’s that she’s realised she’s been fighting on the wrong side.”

“Hydreigon is trying to change this world for the benefit of both dragon- and dark-type pokemon,” said Enigma. “Harlequin is a dark-type.”

“The Darkness is no one’s friend, Enigma,” said Faith. “It turns on those who think they can trust it. And you’ve just said yourself who he’s claiming to be benefiting. Where do you fit in that?”

Enigma’s spine stiffened and Faith saw his fur bristle. But he didn’t say anything.

“The Darkness is evil,” said Faith. “It corrupts hearts and minds with lies and makes you believe you don’t belong. It tears apart families and friends. It turns children against their mothers. It kills and destroys. What about that is good?”

Enigma clenched his fists at his sides and closed his eyes.

“You’re realising just what Harlequin has,” Faith told him. “You’re on the wrong side.”

He muttered something but Faith didn’t catch it.

She inclined her head on one side. “What was that?”

“I said I’m not on anyone’s side!” He fixed her in a crimson glare. “I’ve never been fighting for anyone but myself.”

“Then why do you obey Hydreigon?” Faith asked with desperation in her voice. “If you need to fight for anything, then fight against the one wiping out the ghost-types, don’t assist him!” When Enigma didn’t respond, she paused, following his gaze back down towards the square. “Or do you stay because of Harlequin? I mean, she is your friend right?”

“I don’t have any friends.”

“That’s ridiculous!” Faith laughed. “She sees you as a friend.”

“The Darkness took something important from me,” Enigma said flatly. “Then so did the outlaws. And now you have taken Harlequin.” His eyes flashed and he raised his head, but all energy seemed to leave him and he flopped back against the tree. “I don’t know what I’m fighting for anymore!”

Faith stared at him, speechless. His words rang around her head, bringing back an earlier comment that made so much more sense to her now.

‘You can’t just take his mother away from him though, that’s cruel!’

‘You think I’m no stranger to that?’

Had the Darkness taken Enigma’s parents? Or the outlaws? If it was the former, then why work for Hydreigon? Faith shook her head and moved closer to him, placing a paw on his shoulder. He looked up at her but she directed his gaze back to the square.

“We’ve not taken Harlequin away,” she told him. “She’s right there. The only change is that she’s fighting on the right side. And if you’re against Hydreigon too, then you’re fighting on the same side as us.” She paused, trying to catch his eye with a smile. “Fighting for what’s right.”

“And what exactly is ‘right’?” He turned to meet her gaze, and the ice she saw sent a chill through her spine. “When you see someone you care about killed before your eyes by those who are ‘fighting for what’s right’, it can give you a pretty sour outlook on things.”

Faith let out a long sigh and shook her head. “That’s what the Darkness does.” She felt him tense beneath her paw. “I’m really sorry you’ve had to go through that. We’re not meant to kill each other. Death isn’t right.”

“Then neither am I.” The ice behind his eyes had melted, but the expression he wore was impossible to read. “You don’t want someone like me on your side, Faith. Death is all I know.” He paused. “You should do the world a favour and just kill me.”

Faith’s violet eyes widened, remaining fixed on his. “Are you kidding?!” When his expression didn’t change Faith felt a heavy weight tugging down inside her chest. “You’re not kidding…”

He turned away from her but didn’t shrug her off. Faith gave herself a mental shake and cut in front of him, placing both paws on his shoulders in a bid to hold his gaze.

“Is this why you lured me out here?” she pleaded. “To ask me to kill you? Or…” She swallowed as something clicked in her mind. “Or was it what I said?”

“It’s not what you said.” He looked past her over her shoulder, and his paws brushed her fur as he let them rest on her arms. She realised he was trembling. “I’m not a hero, Faith. My powers only allow me to kill others.” He took in a shaky breath. “I can’t take anyone with me when I warp. And I’ve broken our law not to phase through another pokemon more times than I can count. Every life I’ve taken has been fuelled by anger and hatred until I don’t even feel anything anymore. If my kind hadn’t been wiped out I’d be put to death anyway.” His voice cracked and he closed his eyes as they welled with tears. “I’m nothing but a monster.” He whispered the last words. Faith wasn’t sure if he meant her to hear it, or if he even realised she was still there.

She stared up at him as she processed every word he’d just said. The pain behind his voice caused her heart to break. This pokemon had seen so much death and destruction, and he’d caused a majority of it. It was no wonder he thought so little of himself. She took a steadying breath and tightened her grip on his shoulders.

“You’re wrong.”

His shoulders rose and fell as he sighed but he didn’t look at her.

“Your powers aren’t just for destruction,” she said. “I can name two ways you could use them to help others right now. Your ability to warp allows you to cover ground faster than those who can’t fly. You could reach a critical situation much faster than I could! And as for being able to phase through solid objects, you can get through a barricaded door to help someone while others try to break it down!” She paused, waiting for some sign he’d acknowledged what she’d said. “You’re not a monster, Enigma. I don’t see you as one, anyway.”

He opened his eyes to stare blankly over her head. “Then you’re a fool.”

“A monster would have killed me.”

He looked down at her then, his eyes widening with surprise. He shifted his paws to relax his hold on her and she felt his claws brush against her skin, but she didn’t flinch. She’d spent so long wandering through the square looking for pokemon to talk to about the Fairy Garden, seeking those who were laughing and dancing. And here was this assassin lurking in the shadows hiding so much pain inside him behind a mask of sadistic laughter.

And not once had he told her to go away.

“You want to change,” she said. “I can hear it in your voice. You regret everything you’ve done. And you can change. It’s possible.”

“But who would forgive me?” he scoffed. “I’m a murderer.”

“Xerneas would in a heartbeat,” said Faith. “That’s what matters most.”

He took in a deep breath and looked past her again, but she noticed his eyes glistening in the rapidly diminishing light. She followed his gaze back to the square. The band had finished playing and were tidying up the stage, but the party was still going on.

“I need to get back to my friends. They’ll be wondering where I am.” She turned back to Enigma. “Will you be okay?”

He was silent for a few seconds, then he released her. “I’ll be fine.”

He didn’t meet her eyes. She couldn’t tell whether he’d meant those words or not.

“If you need me, I can stay?” she offered.

He hugged his arms around himself and stared down into Stonehaven. “No. I want to be alone for a while.”

She nodded and turned back towards the village. She paused to look at Enigma over her shoulder, a shadowy figure standing silently in the shade of the tree. If she hadn’t known he was there she would probably have overlooked him.

“You know where I am if you need me,” she said. “Stay safe.”

He didn’t look up at her, but as she followed the path back towards the village gate she could feel him watching her. The crushing feeling in her chest as he’d relayed all his pain didn’t lift. She deeply hoped he’d taken what she’d said on board.
 

Joshthewriter

Charizard Fan
Location
Toronto
Pronouns
He/him
Partners
  1. charizard
Whoa, this story was well worth the wait. I'm glad I haven't read the original version so I can get into this blindly and enjoy it more since it'd be an entirely new experience for me.

I really like our protagonists so far. Cleo and Spark have a very good synergy between them and you can tell easily from their interactions that they've been partners for a long time at the very least. I should've gotten the hint from the title that this story would be somewhat dark.

The fact that it takes in a world with a quickly growing tyrannical empire sure sets the tone really quickly. Cleo's interaction with Tinker in the office does show the contrast between the two in that Cleo would prioritize saving anyone at arm's length while Tinker kinda only looks at the big picture while fully willing to make sacrifices along the way. It does make me wonder what choice either of them would make in the trolley experiment lol.

That cliffhanger at the end really makes me want to know what happens next. That Absol seems a bit like a dick if not outright petty. He goes around foretelling disasters he himself causes which ain't cool. I wonder, or hope rather, that not all dark types in this world are evil and racist/typist(?) towards other pokemon. After all there are still a few nice peeps in oppressive regimes irl as most just want to live their lives comfortably.

This story was pretty well done, barring a few typos I spotted here and there. I'm excited to see where this goes, and it's great that it's basically a soft rewrite of an already finished fic, so updates may very well be regular.
Hi there! JoshtheWriter here with your (late) catnip review. I mainly use FFN, so I’ll be crossposting the review here and TR!

PMD fic? I don’t normally read them, so you might have some confusion on certain things but I’ll be sure to ask questions throughout.

I’m liking the teases of worldbuilding interspersed through the opening. Assassins? Soldiers of Darkness? The Shadow Lands? All great teases without bogging yourself down in explanation. (Loved the brief explanations you gave later as well)

The encroaching sunset cast the scene with a nervous, claustrophobic tone. You lampooned that immediately with how one-sided the battle actually was. And not one-sided in the way I expected!

What I really like here is that Spark and Cleo are not “brand-new adventurers”. They’re experienced, they’re capable and they’re far more interesting for it. I haven’t read much PMD, but it usually seems to focus on weaker protagonists at the start. I like that this doesn’t!

Harbinger is the perfect name for an absol. I’ll be 100% honest, I may steal that for a later character with how perfect it is.

It appears as if Harbinger and the pawniard are clearing towns and villages out? Probably trying to save lives before Hydreigon and his forces arrive? I don’t get the sense that they’re villains, but the tone does seem heavier and more oppressive compared to the prose around Spark and Cleo.

All in all, great work with a PMD fic! I was instantly hooked on the worldbuilding and I really hope I see you again in future catnips!
 
Hero - Part One

DeliriousAbsol

*Crazy Absol Noises*
Location
Behind a laptop, most likely with tea
Pronouns
She/Her
Partners
  1. mawile
Thank you so much for your review! I'm glad you enjoyed the opening chapter. I've noticed a lot of PMD 'fics start like the games, with a weaker protagonist. My initial idea for this story was to have the characters be similar to the cast of Slayers, where Lina and Gourry are already experienced adventurers. After time, it's deviated away from the similarities but some still linger albeit a little unconsciously XD
Harbinger is the perfect name for an absol. I’ll be 100% honest, I may steal that for a later character with how perfect it is.
You can certainly steal Harbinger's name! XD Thank you! Another name I often use for Absol is Blight.

Hero

Part One​



The soft tinkling of a bell rang out from amid the rafters as a small shuppet darted between them. The banette sat beneath him hastily gathered together various items into a bag. Enigma hadn’t really noted them, too busy amusing himself chasing dust bunnies through the air.

A pool of shadow appeared by the door as his father materialised. The male banette glanced back at the door nervously then joined his mate by the table.

“How is it?” she asked quietly.

“Uncertain,” Crux replied. “We’ve found a path that leads through the Darkwoods, towards the scree slopes. If we’re going to leave, it has to be now.”

Riddle nodded stiffly and looked up at the young shuppet. “Enigma? Come down please, we’re leaving now.”

Enigma paused his pursuit of a flurry of dust motes to stare inquisitively at his mother. He didn’t really understand what was going on, but he could tell when his parents were being serious. He floated down from the rafters to join them, and his father chuckled.

“I remember when I used to be able to float like that,” he said.

Riddle smiled and reached for her heavy black cloak. “He’s been up there all day. He really likes that bell you gave him.” She pulled the cloak around herself and opened the right side. “Come on, Enigma. Hide.”

The hatchling complied, snuggling up to his mother’s warm fur. She fastened an arm around him and followed her mate towards the door. A dark pool of shadow formed on it as a sableye crept into the living room. His jewel-like eyes remained fixed on the closed door and he glanced at the two banette. He fidgeted his claws together as his entire body trembled.

“It’s too late.” His voice was like claws on slate. “He’s here.”

Riddle gasped and tightened her hold on the hatchling. Enigma tried to peek around her cloak, only catching a glimpse of the sableye’s twitching ears.

“What?” Crux hissed. “Why? There was no sign of any attack tonight.”

“He must have had spies,” said the sableye. “Look, you need to get out of here, Crux. We all know too much, but after what you started, he’ll be after your neck.”

Crux nodded and took his mate’s arm. “Then we have to hurry. Head to the Darkwoods-”

“You can’t,” said the sableye. “The route’s been sabotaged. The scree’s given way, and the Darkwoods are teeming with murkrow.”

Crux stiffened, and Riddle turned to look at him.

“Were you followed?” Her voice trembled.

Crux’s jaw tightened and he looked past the sableye to the door. “Then we’ll go around the mountain and follow the river.”

“Are you mad?!” the sableye whimpered. “That’s way too close to the Shadow Lands!”

“What other choice do we have?!” Crux barked. He took a deep breath. “Listen. If his troops are focused on the Darkwoods, there’ll be hardly anyone guarding the river.” The sableye made to speak, but Crux cut him off with a wave of his paw. “Hydreigon has decimated his own forces. They’re a third the size they used to be, and still declining! He’s hardly got enough to spare.”

The sableye screwed his eyes shut. “Fine. It’s not as if we have any other choice. Go. Get the kid to safety. I’ll tell everyone else.”

The sableye slipped through the door into the evening air, with the two banette close behind him. They didn’t follow. Instead, Crux ushered his mate towards the path that lead around the side of their house. Shouts were heard in the distance, and the sky darkened with wings. Enigma’s heart pounded and he cowered closer to his mother.

“Why?” she whimpered. “Why is he doing this to us?”

“That monster killed his own father. Why would he ignore us?” Crux ushered her away. “Run. I’ll be right behind you.”

Riddle cuddled Enigma to her chest and gave her mate a sad frown. “Please… don’t play the hero.”

“I won’t. I’m right behind you. Go.”

Crux gave her a shove and she took off, clutching Enigma to her chest. Wing beats rumbled through the sky like thunder, interspersed with the frantic cawing of Yurlik’s murkrow flock. A flash of flames lit up the sky, and the smell of burning wood filled the air. Enigma poked his head out of his mother’s cloak to look back, and his eyes widened.

Flames crept across the floor, licking the trees and wooden huts before consuming them with a blazing hunger. Canine shadows raced ahead of the flames, howling as they spewed fire from their mouths to torch the village as they passed. Yet more flames joined the sky in an orange and purple rain as the dragons followed suit.

A mighty roar shook the trees, and Hydreigon’s hulking shape twisted to look in the fleeing family’s direction. The army split in three, and Hydreigon lead his group towards Enigma and his parents. He moved with alarming speed, and Enigma could see the fire flashing in his wicked eyes.

With a squeak, Enigma pulled his head back into his mother’s cloak. Riddle screwed her eyes shut and pounded the floor with her feet, racing towards the dark path that lead down the mountainside. She glanced back to check Crux was behind her, but he’d stopped, turning to face Hydreigon. The huge dragon spread his jaws and fired a pulse of purple energy. It hit the ground just at Riddle’s feet. She let out a scream and staggered back from the smoldering grass which seemed to melt under the purple flames.

Several weavile zipped through the grass towards them, their claws glinting in the firelight. They spread around the two banette from either side, their crimson eyes glistening with malice. Riddle turned to watch them, clutching Enigma close to her chest. She took a step back, then propelled herself forwards, turning her body to mist. Warping wasn’t one of her strengths. She didn’t make it very far, instead materialising just beyond the weavile. It was enough. She took off ahead of them, giving one last glance back at Crux. But instead she met the open jaws of a salamence. The dragon landed on her like a comet, dragging her to the ground with his claws. Riddle screamed, raking with her own claws, but each lash fell short. The large dragon pinned her arms to the floor. Her screams rent the air, now oddly silent save for the crackle of flames. The weavile had stopped, standing around her, ready to pounce if they needed to.

Hydreigon hovered just before Crux, looking between the two banette. Without being prompted, the salamence dragged Riddle to her feet and took her over to Hydreigon.

“So these are the two trouble-makers?” Hydreigon’s voice rumbled like distant thunder.

“Two?” Crux gasped, casting a glance at his mate. “No. It’s just me. Leave her out of it!”

Riddle clutched Enigma protectively to her chest, not taking her eyes off Hydreigon. The salamence looked her up and down, then nosed at her side, causing her to flinch away.

“This one’s hiding a hatchling,” he said.

Hydreigon raised a brow and watched as the salamence tugged Riddle’s cloak away. The banette protested, squealing as she tried to fight it from his jaws. Enigma’s eyes widened when he saw the dragon, and he froze with fright.

Hydreigon gave a sinister laugh. “Well spotted, Ripwing.” He turned his attention back on Crux. “Now, I suppose you’ll be willing to co-operate, given their lives are at stake?”

“No!” Crux shook his head and took a step towards Hydreigon. “They have nothing to do with this. Just let them go and I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”

“Oh, I know plenty,” Hydreigon purred, lowering his head towards Crux. “You’re the one who sent message to the outlaws. You’re the one who lead their revolt on my domain when my forces are still recovering.” Hydreigon bared his sharp canines, misting hot breath over the quaking banette. “You are the catalyst sparking unrest among my own pokemon! Because of you, I am having to quash a revolt!”

Crux raised his head to look the dragon in the eye. “You’re blaming me for your decision to kill off your own followers? Their beliefs are their own, I have nothing to do with that!”

“Like I said.” Hydreigon’s voice was laced with danger. “You are the catalyst. Slipping under my radar to lead a gang of messengers into the Border Woods to leak inside information? I think that’s reason enough to eradicate every single one of you sneaky ghosts from the face of Estellis!”

Crux swiped a paw to the side. “It was a small number of us! Just ten! There a thousands living here! Is that really reason to kill everyone?”

Hydreigon chuckled and a sneer spread across his muzzle. “You’re at fault there, ghost. Not me. I’m just doing what I need to in order to erase your mistakes. I’ve never liked ghosts. You sneaky vermin with your ability to slip through walls… to steal… to blend into shadows effortlessly, and vanish before my very eyes. My father was a fool to let you live here in the first place, but would he listen to me? And you, Crux… you’ve proved my point. Now, if I have to wipe out several species to silence this revolt, so be it.”

Crux’s eyes flit from side to side and he took a step back. The weavile flexed their claws, lowering themselves in preparation to spring. Riddle hugged Enigma in a protective embrace, her sobs audible over the crackling flames.

Crux watched her for a moment then turned his attention back onto Hydreigon. “Okay. You can do what you want with me, but please let them go. They’re innocent in all this!”

“They know too much,” said Hydreigon.

“But they’re innocent!” Crux pleaded. “Just… if you can’t let them go, then take them with you! Enigma… he’s young! You’ve just said yourself how sneaky ghosts can be.” Crux closed his eyes for a moment and balled his fists. “Why not raise him to fight for you?”

“Crux, no!” Riddle gasped.

He waved a paw to silence her, not taking his eyes off Hydreigon. The dragon’s eyes had lit up at the idea. If there was a chance Crux could save his mate and child, then he was going to take it, no matter what the cost.

“You didn’t even see us enter the Border Woods,” Crux went on. “No one did. So why wouldn’t you want ghost-types in your army? We can turn invisible, slip through walls… if you gave us a chance we’d be great assassins! Please… consider this at least? Take them both with you. She can raise him, and they can both work for you.”

Hydreigon inclined his head on one side and scratched his jaw with one of his pincers. A thoughtful growl emanated from deep in his throat.

Ripwing glanced at the trembling female in his claws, and his eye lingered on the shuppet. Enigma couldn’t take his eyes off Hydreigon.

“The banette has a point,” Ripwing told his leader. “We need all the help we can get right now, my lord. The kid’s young. How much of this is he going to remember? And we can always leave the female in the breeding pens.”

“And how do you suggest we contain her?” Hydreigon asked. “Ghosts can slip through walls, and there’s no one in the Shadow Lands who’d want to breed with her. As for the shuppet…” A smirk spread across his jaws. “Very well. You have your wish, Crux.”

“Wait…” Crux raised a paw and took a step towards Hydreigon. “Please, take her-” His words were cut short by a pulsing beam of black energy and he crumpled to the floor.

Riddle let out a cry and stood to the side, clutching the now-trembling banette. She turned tearful eyes onto Hydreigon.

“Why are you doing this?” She bristled, forcing herself to meet the dragon’s eyes. “Your father was fine with us living here! He was a good and noble ruler!”

Hydreigon’s eyes flashed and he spat another dark pulse, knocking Riddle from her feet. Enigma soared into the air, righting himself as he watched his mother crash to the ground, buried in her cloak.

“My father was weak,” Hydreigon scoffed. He turned his back on her and gave a glance at Ripwing. “Grab the kid. I want him taking straight to the barracks.”

Ripwing gave the shuppet a nervous glance. Enigma drifted down towards his mother and nudged the bundle of cloth.

“But… who’s gonna raise him?” Ripwing asked. “He’s just a hatchling! We could have kept his mother around for a little while at least-”

“We’re recruiting plenty of hatchlings,” Hydreigon told him. “Niana can raise him like she’s doing the others.”

“That’s a lot to put on one poke-”

“Are you questioning me, Ripwing?”

Ripwing snapped his jaws shut and lowered his head. “No, my lord.”

“Good.” Hydreigon turned away from him. “Now bring the child. With force, if you need to. He’ll soon learn his place.”

Enigma nudged his mother again, but there was no response. With a sob, he dropped onto the cloak and snuggled into her body, still warm.

The weavile began to disperse, following after Hydreigon. A couple considered staying behind to assist Ripwing, but the heat was becoming unbearable and the dragon soon found himself on his own. The salamence edged closer to the sobbing shuppet and reached out with his talons. Enigma jerked away, but refused to leave his mother.

“Come on, kid,” Ripwing told him. “Let’s get you somewhere safe, eh?”

Enigma didn’t take his eyes off the salamence, flinching back as Ripwing reached for him a second time.

“Come on, this place is burning.” When Enigma didn’t move, the dragon sighed and lowered his head so he was on the shuppet’s level. “Okay… can you understand me?”

Enigma nodded once.

“Can you speak?” Ripwing asked. “What’s your name?”

“Enigma.” The shuppet’s voice came out small and feeble, almost drowned out by the snap and pop of burning wood.

“Okay, Enigma,” Ripwing said. “We need to get away from here before we’re caught in the fire, okay? So are you going to come with me?”

“Why isn’t she moving?”

Ripwing was caught off guard by the question. His mouth opened and closed wordlessly. How did someone answer a question like that? The shuppet was just a hatchling. Perhaps it would have been mercy if Hydreigon had just killed him, too. Spare him the distress.

Ripwing closed his eyes and sighed. “Because… because she’s too sick to move. So… I have to get you to safety, okay?”

Enigma looked up from his fallen mother. “That dragon did it, didn’t he?”

Ripwing stared at the child, speechless. Either he was older than he looked, or just very bright. Did he actually know too much? How much of this would he even remember? The salamence found himself warring between duty and heart as he tried to decide whether or not it was safer to just kill the shuppet there and then.

“Why?” Enigma asked.

Ripwing’s jaw tensed and he diverted his eyes from the hatchling. “Perhaps you’re better asking him yourself when you’re older.”

“You could have stopped him.”

Ripwing flinched at those words. He had no answer to that.

The sick sound of cracking wood split the air, and the dragon looked up as a blazing tree fell towards them. He reared up, beating his powerful wings. The gust swept the tree away from them, where it crashed down in a spray of embers.

Enigma’s eyes were wide, reflecting the orange inferno that was rapidly spreading throughout his home.

Ripwing reached out a paw again. “Okay. It’s much too dangerous, we have to go.”

Enigma shook his head, turning his face away as he cowered into his mother’s cloak.

The salamence sighed and took a step towards him. “Enigma, look at me.”

The shuppet peeked up from amid the black bundle of cloth.

“I need to get you out of this fire, otherwise it’s going to hurt us both,” Ripwing explained. “Will you come with me?”

“No.”

“Why? Are you scared of me?”

The shuppet nodded slowly, and the dragon sighed again.

“Do I look evil to you?” Ripwing asked.

Enigma was silent for a moment, studying the dragon’s face. Then he shook his head.

Ripwing tightened his jaw again. He hadn’t actually expected that response. He’d expected to have had to convince the shuppet otherwise. “Then… then you can trust me. Okay?” When Enigma didn’t move, Ripwing added, “I promise, Enigma, I am not going to hurt you.”

Enigma stared down at the cloth for a moment, then slowly drifted up from it. Ripwing reached for him, then faltered. He turned to the bundle of cloth and began gently removing it from the banette’s motionless body. Seeing what he was doing, Enigma assisted as best a shuppet could. Once the cloak was removed, Enigma retreated into it.

“There we go.” Ripwing cradled the bundle in his talons. “Now let’s get us out of this fire.”

With a running jump, Ripwing took off into the air like a jet.

Enigma’s answer was still whirling around in his mind, whipping up a storm. A child’s judgement… perhaps he was too naive and would grow up adapting to Hydreigon’s ideals after all?

...​

The sky over the Shadow Lands was a vivid scarlet, smeared with heavy black clouds. Ripwing trudged along on three legs towards a low, dirty building squatting beside a murky lake. Enigma, still swaddled in his mother’s cloak, lay huddled in the salamence’s left talons. Once Ripwing reached the building, he balanced on his tail to beat the door with his claws.

A grumble came from beyond it, and it cracked open, revealing the disgruntled face of a scrafty. The discontent melted away in an instant.

“Oh. It’s you.” The hoodlum pokemon pulled the door open wider and hoisted up his scale-like trousers before peering around Ripwing’s shoulder. “Thought you were that ruddy honchkrow.”

Ripwing snorted smoke from his nostrils. “Watch what you say around here, Jex.” He deposited the bundle at the scrafty’s feet, and a soft jingle came from within it. “I only came here to give you this. Lord Hydreigon wants him trained here, although I dread to think how that is going to go down with the rest of your students.”

Jex raised an eyebrow at the dragon, then dropped to examine the bundle of cloth. “What do you- Oh.”

As he peeled back part of the cloak, Enigma peered up at him. The shuppet burrowed backwards, further into the familiar scent of his mother’s cloak.

“A shuppet?” Jex looked up at Ripwing. “Why?”

“Lord Hydreigon has his reasons,” Ripwing told him. “Just raise him.” The salamence turned his back to walk away.

“Did Lord Hydreigon take pity on this ghost then?”

Ripwing spun around with alarming speed, and Jex leapt back with a yell. The dragon’s muzzle stopped mere millimetres from the scrafty’s nose, and smoke pooled into the barracks’ entrance hall.

“No,” Ripwing growled.

With that, the dragon spread his wings and took off towards Hydreigon’s castle.

Jex watched him go for a moment, then stooped to gather up Enigma. The little shuppet trembled amid the cloth, his eyes screwed shut.

“Come on.” Jex gathered up the ghost and cloak into both arms and ducked back into the barracks. “I ain’t a clue what he’s thinkin’, takin’ you on. I wouldn’t be surprised if everyone ‘ere’s just gonna use you as a punchin’ bag.”

Enigma’s entire body shook and he ducked into his cloak. One eye peeked out, taking in his new surroundings. Musty walls soaked up the damp like a sponge, and mildew clung to the tight corners. The narrow, winding corridor seemed endless and dark, filled with grunts and harsh, loud voices which faded away the further they walked along it.

“There’s lotsa kids like you here, some probably your age. It’s Niana’s job to care for y’all, not mine. Anyway, ‘ere’s your room.”

Jex kicked a door open and marched across to a nest which lay against the far wall. He dropped Enigma onto the hay with a jingle. The shuppet peered out from his bundle, fixing the scrafty with wide, frightened eyes.

“Ahh, calm down.” Jex closed his eyes and ran a paw over his face. “Flippin’ kids. Not that we ‘ave much choice now, eh? I’ll tell my sis you’re ‘ere. She’ll probably drop some berries off for ya or somethin’.”

The scrafty marched from the room, slamming the door behind him.

Enigma stared at the door for a long moment as everything began to sink in. His mother’s cloak felt oddly cold, and the room seemed to expand out around him. Sparse, bare, musty. Nothing else filled it apart from the strange, stone bed topped with stagnant hay. A wide window spread across the wall at the foot of it, letting in the cold night air. Outside, a murkrow cawed.

A deep pang of loneliness stabbed at Enigma’s chest and his eyes stung with tears. Everything was so alien. So quiet. He wanted to just retreat into his mother’s comforting embrace. But he couldn’t… That option had been taken away from him forever. He screwed his eyes shut, letting the tears streak down his face. With a sob, he nestled into the cloak’s familiar scent, wrapping it tightly around himself.

He was alone.

...​

A soft knock at the door dragged Enigma out of his slumber. He blinked his bleary eyes, bringing the dingy room into focus. With only the moonlight trickling through the window everything looked grey. His heart clenched when he felt the brittle hay shift beneath his makeshift nest, and he huddled into the cloak, fixing his wide eyes on the door. It creaked open, and the small delicate face of a sneasel peeked around it. Crimson eyes fell on the shuppet, and he ducked further into his nest.

“Wow, they weren’t kiddin’!” Despite her excitement, the sneasel’s voice was quiet as if she didn’t want to draw attention to herself. She slipped into the room and closed the door behind her with a soft click. But her eyes never left Enigma. “They really did bring a ghost-type here. And ya so tiny!”

She trotted over to him, and in a flash Enigma bolted from the confines of his cloak to vanish beneath the bed. The sneasel froze, watching after him with a smile on her face. Enigma huddled in the dust, staring out at her with wide, frantic eyes. The weasel-like pokemon dropped onto all-fours to peek beneath the bed, and Enigma let out a squeak as he retreated further backwards.

“Aww, come on,” she said softly. “I’m not gonna hurt ya. Niana sent me in here to check ya’d eaten ya supper, since ya were sleepin’ like a snorlax in the cold season!”

Enigma said nothing, but his heart was galloping almost as fast as the sneasel spoke.

“I can show ya around if ya like?” the sneasel went on. “Get ya familiar with the place before trainin’ starts later?”

Enigma shook his head sharply, whipping up dust.

“Really? Well… I guess it is too much too fast, huh?” She paused and let her head rest on one paw. “My name’s Kera. What’s yours?”

Enigma was silent for a while, but his nerves began to calm. The sneasel didn’t seem to be posing any real threat. He licked his lips and glanced to the side. “Enigma.”

“Ooh, like the berry?”

Enigma stared at her again, but she only grinned.

“So…” She chuckled. “Are ya gonna come out or am I gonna have to come under there and join ya?”

As if to make his point, Enigma flattened himself into the floor.

Kera rolled her eyes and scrabbled beneath the bed. “Join ya it is.”

“No.” Enigma edged away from her.

“No?”

“No.” Enigma lowered his density and drifted up through the base of the concrete slab.

Kera watched him with wide eyes, then clambered out from beneath the bed. She stood up, placing both paws on the edge of the stone slab and met Enigma’s defiant stare. Kera closed her eyes and chuckled. “Well, that got ya outta hidin’, huh?”

“You work for that dragon.” Enigma sank back into his cloak. “You’re evil.”

Kera’s head jerked around to the door and she hissed. She turned back to Enigma and waved her paws, giving a nervous glance wandered to the window, before fixing wide eyes on the shuppet. “Watch what ya say here, or you’ll get killed, okay?”

Enigma looked to the window, then pressed his back up against the wall. “I want to go home.”

“Well, that ain’t an option no more.” She leant against the bed. “Just make-do and be glad you’re alive, yeah? And I ain’t yer enemy. I just thought ya might need a friend.”

Enigma snorted. “A friend?”

“Of course!”

“I don’t play with girls.”

Kera quirked an eyebrow at that. “Huh?”

“I don’t like girls,” Enigma went on. “They smell.”

Kera folded her arms. “Ya won’t be sayin’ that in a few years time.”

Enigma looked away and pouted.

Kera laughed, a tinkling noise that reminded Enigma of icicles in the wind. “You’re adorable!”

Enigma felt his face heat up.

“So are ya gonna turn away a friendly face just because I’m a girl?” Kera asked.

Enigma sank down to his bed, not looking at her. “No…”

“Good!”

Kera bounded up onto the nest beside him, and Enigma let out a squeak and drifted back into the air. The sneasel didn’t seem bothered, as her attention immediately went to the black cloak she’d landed on. Her claws stroked over it slowly and her eyes lit up with fascination.

“Is this what I think it is?” She scooped the cloak up in her paws and sat back on her haunches to admire it. “It is! It’s dusclops cloth!”

Enigma drifted back down behind her to peer over her shoulder. He eyed the sneasel out of the corner of his eye, then watched as she turned the fabric in her paws.

“Wow!” she exclaimed. “This stuff is mega rare! How did ya manage to get an entire cloak made of it?”

Enigma was silent for a long moment, watching Kera glide her claws delicately over the cloak’s dense fabric. She appeared entranced.

Enigma glanced at the back of her head then back at the cloak. “It was my Mum’s.”

Kera squealed and dropped the cloak, snapping her head around to Enigma. He jerked back, startled, fixing his wide, blinking eyes on hers.

The sneasel laughed and placed a paw to her chest. “Sorry! Ya snuck up on me. I thought ya were still up there.” She nodded to the ceiling then wiped a tear away. “Wow, ya’ll make a great assassin with those sneaky skills, eh?” She returned to the cloak while Enigma rejoined her side. “So why do ya have this? Dusclops make ‘em ‘cos they have problems with invisibility right? But most other ghosts can turn invisible way easier?”

“Not all of us.” Enigma flopped down beside her. “My mother couldn’t for some reason. She lost the ability when she evolved, so Dad bought her this. To keep her safe.” Enigma’s eyes welled up and he turned his face from Kera. “But it didn’t work, did it? It didn’t keep her safe…”

Kera bit her lip and glanced to the wall.

“I don’t know what to do anymore,” Enigma went on. “I just want to escape.”

“If ya try, they’ll kill ya too.”

Enigma screwed his eyes shut and huddled down into the nest.

“Lord Hydreigon doesn’t keep ghosts in the Shadow Lands,” Kera told him. “But he’s kept ya for a reason.”

“Because my father begged him to take me. He wanted to keep me and my mother alive.”

“That’s a pity.” Kera grimaced and idly toyed with the cloak.

“He thinks I’m too young to remember any of it,” Enigma went on. “But I’m not. I’m gonna make sure I always remember what he’s done to me.”

Kera didn’t look up at him, but she closed her eyes briefly. “Of course. Ya should never forget ya parents. But just bare in mind, if ya retaliate or try to escape, Lord Hydreigon won’t bat an eye at killing ya.”

Enigma huffed. “Like he didn’t bat an eye at killing his own father?”

Kera hissed at him and waved her paws. She glanced to the window, then the door. Satisfied no one was listening, she spoke in a hushed voice.

“Don’t ever talk about that! Anyone who won’t keep quiet has already been killed. That’s why our numbers are so low!” She sighed and sat back on her paws. “It’s bad enough there’s rumours of unrest. Please don’t add to that.”

Enigma sighed. “So I can’t leave?”

“Oh ya can try, but like I said, ya won’t make it.” Kera gave him a sideways glance. “And that would be pretty sad. I mean, I like ya, and with ya here, I have someone my own age to spar with.”

He fixed her with a look of disgust. “You want to use dark-type moves on me? That hardly seems fair.”

She shrugged. “If ya learn to dodge ‘em, then that’ll be a valuable skill on the field!”

“But I don’t want to be an assassin!”

Kera gave him a sad smile and inclined her head on one side. “I know, little ghost dude. But your parents gave their lives to save yours. For their sake, make the right choice?”

Enigma sighed as he felt his heart breaking. He blinked back tears and stared at the closed door.

Trapped.

But at least he wasn’t alone anymore.

“Fine,” he said. “For them, I’ll do it.” He turned back to Kera and frowned. “But I’m not happy about it.”

The sneasel merely grinned.

...​

The first training day had been awful. Enigma had stuck close to Kera during their walk to the training grounds. They were just outside the barracks, an area of land that had been flattened by many, many feet over the years. It was bare of grass, and the soil was cracked and dry. In the moonlight, twelve pairs of eyes glistened at Enigma as he cowered behind Kera. The sneasel didn’t show him any pity, instead keeping her focus on the female scrafty that marched back and forth in the ring of trainees.

“All right, ya miserable lot.” Niana didn’t look at a single one of her trainees. “I know we’re thin on the ground, but after the flop that was yesterday’s training I expect a bit more enthusiasm from ya’ll, ya hear?”

No one replied. The surrounding dragons bared their teeth at the shuppet, while the small number of dark-types bristled and those that had tails flicked them.

Niana noticed this and followed their gaze. The scrafty rolled her eyes and tucked her paws behind her back. “All right. I suppose I should address the copperajah in the room, eh? We have a new recruit. Lord Hydreigon wants us to train this shuppet into an assassin, using his unique skills to turn invisible and move through solid surfaces.”

“But he’s not a dark-type,” said a small nickit.

“They’re not my orders,” said Niana. “They’re Lord Hydreigon’s. Ya wanna take it up with him?”

The nickit tightened her jaw and diverted her gaze from Niana.

A gible let out a low growl and scraped his feet on the floor. “You want enthusiasm, then pair him up with me.”

“Hey!” The kommo-o beside him jabbed a claw into his chest plate. “I’m callin’ dibs here! Back off!”

Enigma ducked further behind Kera, his tiny body trembling.

“Excuse me!” Kera took a step forwards and waved a paw. “If anyone gets to pair up with him it’s me! I already said-”

“When?” the gible barked. “I didn’t hear you call dibs!”

“Neither did you,” snarled the kommo-o.

Niana’s eyes lit up as she looked over the eager faces and restless shuffles as the surrounding pokemon practically salivated.

“Well,” she said. “It’s a start. All right, Tannen. He’s with you.”

The gible fist-pumped the air.

Kera’s posture sank and Enigma felt his heart freeze in his chest. As soon as Niana finished shouting out the pairings, the entire training grounds erupted into chaos. Feet stampeded in all directions, and Enigma darted into the air to escape being trampled.

The gible leapt towards him, flames licking at his canines. A huge blast of purple flames struck Enigma, searing through his fur. He let out a yell and dropped from the air. His eyes widened as he was greeted by Tannen’s glistening teeth.

Enigma never thought a bite could hurt so much.

The next thing he remembered was waking up in his nest, the sharp hay jabbing at every sore part of his body. He let out a whimper and rolled to the side, but the result was the same. The bitter scent of sitrus juices stung his nose and he opened his eyes to examine his body. His fur stuck out in sticky clumps coated with sitrus pulp. Beside him, on a little stone table, was a plate of berries that could have been fresher.

He became aware of the shouts and yells from outside, and flames flashed past the window, lighting up his room with a vibrant orange. So they were still training? The image of the gible’s gaping maw flashed through his mind, and he screwed his eyes shut and whimpered.

A soft scratch came from the door as someone turned the handle, and Enigma shuffled towards the wall, ready to slip through it to safety. A loud yell from outside made him freeze and reconsider, his eyes trained on the door.

Kera poked her head around and her expression softened when she saw him.

“Oh, thank goodness.” She closed the door behind her and leaned back on it. “You’re okay.”

Enigma screwed his eyes shut and looked away before turning his back on her, wincing with the effort.

“I had no idea they’d react like that,” Kera went on. “Otherwise I woulda-”

“Just shut up.”

Kera was silent for a moment, but he could hear her shuffling by the door.

“She’s not happy about it,” she finally said.

Enigma said nothing, staring at the yellowing wall.

“Once Niana rescued you from Tannen she made him do laps for the rest of the session. He’s banned from trainin’ for the next five days.”

“What does that mean?” Enigma scoffed.

“It means, for the next five days he’s on the exercise field with Jex. Runnin’, squats, weights. Everything no one here likes.” She flashed Enigma a playful grin. “He’s gonna hate it.”

She perched on the edge of the nest and took a sitrus from the bowl. She cleaved the peel off with her claws and punctured the flesh, letting it drip onto Enigma’s sore body.

He yelped, twisting away from her and fixing her with wide eyes.

“I’m only tryin’ to help,” she said with a chuckle. “Yeesh!”

“Just leave me alone!” Enigma snapped, taking her by surprise. “You wanted to fight me too, right?!”

Kera let her paws flop into her lap and her feathered ear drooped. “Yeah, but… I wouldn’t have hurt ya.”

Enigma scoffed and turned his back on her again. “You’re just like the rest of them. You hate anyone who isn’t dark- or dragon-type. I’m just a punching bag for all of you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous!”

“Just leave me alone.”

Kera set the berry back on the table and went to the door. She paused with her paw on the handle. “You’re wrong, ya know. Ya might add variety here, and yeah, I wanna spar with ya but that’s it. I actually like ya. And Niana? When she thought Tannen had killed ya she was worried sick.”

“Really?” Enigma looked up. “Are you sure that’s not because she was scared Hydreigon would kill her for letting one of her idiot kids harm his new toy?” Kera’s eyes widened at that, and Enigma scoffed. “I mean, it’s not as if I can be replaced, is it? He killed the rest of us.”

“Enigma-”

Enigma snorted. “Perhaps it would be better if that idiot gible had killed me.”

Kera was silent for a heartbeat, and she bared her canines in a snarl. “Ya moron.” To his surprise, the sneasel’s crimson eyes filled with tears. She shook her head and her voice came out choked. “Ya know, Enigma… ya really need to be careful whatcha say around here or ya will be killed.”

She closed the door softly behind her, but the click of the latch seemed a lot louder than it was. Enigma rolled over in the hay to face the wall again and closed his eyes, trying to block the tears that insisted on flowing. He hated it. He wanted to go home.

But home didn’t exist anymore.

He screwed his eyes tight and huddled into a small ball. Perhaps, if sleep came, he’d stay asleep forever?

It didn’t. His mind raced and roiled with the recent events, and the image of his parents falling to Hydreigon, and that gible’s gaping maw, kept flashing through his mind. It made his heart race and he cowered into his own fur. Why was this happening to him? He was no assassin. He was just a child, plucked from the comfort of his own nest to be dropped in a world that didn’t even want him. How many other pokemon had been forced into the same situation? Was Hydreigon that desperate that he was recruiting any hatchling?

He hadn’t seen many adult pokemon in the barracks at all. They were all similar age to him. To Kera.

‘Ya really need to be careful whatcha say around here or ya will be killed.’

Enigma’s eyes snapped open and he stared at the wall before him. Had Kera experienced something similar? Did she also not want to be here? Had she lost her family, just like he had?

No. Sleep didn’t come. Before long, the morning sun was pooling through the window, bringing with it the roll-call of the murkrow flock as they rotated their watch.

The shuppet turned his head towards the door. There was no sound beyond it. The trainees had long since retired to their nests, and the last door had clicked shut when the sun began to rise. Kera had given him a brief tour only earlier that day, and she’d made sure he knew where her room was. She’d done so with much excitement since it was directly opposite his.

Enigma drifted from his nest and slipped through his closed door, stopping as he reached Kera’s. His throat tightened and he glanced up and down the dingy hallway. Very little sunlight reached it, since it was bare of any windows. With no one in sight, he was free to go wherever he wanted. But the thought of sneaking into the sneasel’s room made his blood turn to ice.

He stared at the door for a good, long moment. There was every chance she was merely teasing him, and it wasn’t her on the other side. If it was anyone else… like that gible…

Enigma swallowed air and pulled back slightly. Perhaps he was better off waiting until later?

No. No, he wasn’t going to let fear defeat him. She’d been trying to help him earlier, right?

Enigma gave a small sigh and drifted towards the door, dropping his density until he was no longer visible to the naked eye. He poked his head through the door into a room that was the mirror of his. It was a lot darker, since the window had been covered by a heavy piece of fabric nailed to the wall to block out most of the light. The small sneasel lay curled up in a ball on her nest of hay, her nose buried beneath her tail feathers. As a flood of relief washed over him, Enigma re-manifested before he even thought about it. He froze, watching the sneasel’s flanks rise and fall, deep in sleep.

He drifted over to her, and her ear twitched at the tinkle of his bell. Her eye snapped open and she jerked her head up with a gasp. Enigma recoiled, almost slipping straight back through the door.

“Oh, it’s just you.” Kera pushed herself up and brushed her ears back. “Whatcha doin’ in here, little ghost dude?”

Enigma glanced back at the door then bobbed over to her. “I wanted to apologise.”

“It couldn’t have waited until night?”

“I couldn’t sleep.” He landed on the nest beside her and gazed out of the window, or what he could see of it.

Kera was silent, but out of the corner of his eye he could see the smile forming on her muzzle.

“Well, it’s sweet ya wanted to apologise,” she said. “I get why ya were upset. But it’s okay.”

“You were trying to help me,” he said sulkily. “And I was mean to you.”

She chuckled, drawing his eye to her. “Listen. Ya’ve been through a lot recently, huh? So it’s understandable. I’ve not taken it personally, don’t worry.”

He smiled at that and glanced away.

“Now go on.” She curled up again. “Get some sleep. We all need it.”

“I can’t.”

Her expression turned to one of exasperation and she opened her mouth in a wide yawn, revealing her sharp canines.

“Well I can,” she said.

“I have insomnia,” he explained. “I’ve never been able to sleep well.”

“Probably why ya so small, huh?”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “Hey.”

“So ya never, yanno, sleep at all?”

“I do, just not often.” He shuffled in the hay and turned to face the door. “My Mum would always read to me. It sometimes helped.”

“Well, there’s lotsa books on trainin’ in the break room.” Kera rolled onto her back and stretched. “So go knock yerself out.”

When Enigma didn’t move, Kera opened her eyes again to find him staring at her. A frown creased her dainty face and she pushed herself up onto her elbow.

“What?” she asked. “Can’t remember where the break room is?”

“I can’t read.”

The sneasel’s ears drooped and she let out an exasperated sigh. “Really?”

“Not well,” he said. “I’d only just started learning.”

“Then good job we’ve got readin’ lessons after the rally tomorrow, eh?”

“Rally?” Enigma asked.

“Lord Hydreigon gives a speech once every few days,” Kera explained.

Enigma spat air. “Sounds so exciting.”

“Exactly, so get yer rest. Find a book with pictures or somethin’.”

“Come on, I want a story. Not some boring training manual.”

“We don’t have stories in the barracks,” said Kera. “The library, sure, if they’ve not been destroyed already. But not in here.”

“Where’s the library? I’ll go myself.”

“Ya can’t. It’s off limits. Ya’ll be spotted by Yurlik’s murkrow and picked off, if the mightyena pack that’ve moved into the place don’t eat ya first.”

Enigma sighed at that and turned away. “Fine. I’ll just go back to my room. I’m used to not sleeping anyway.”

Kera pushed herself up to watch him leave, and her ears drooped again. “Okay, how ‘bout this? I find one of them trainin’ books and read to ya for a little bit?”

Enigma looked back over his shoulder. “It’d be more fun than staring at the wall.”

“Well, we’ll make it fun.” She pushed herself out of her nest and yawned. “Ya go back to ya room, okay, and I’ll find one.”

“With pictures!” Enigma said as he slipped through the door.

“Yeah, yeah.” Kera yawned again and followed after him.

It didn’t take long for her to find something. If Enigma were to guess, she’d grabbed the first one she saw. The pages were dog-eared, and the cover looked like it had been gnawed by a rodent pokemon, but it was still readable. If one could read.

Kera settled with the shuppet in his nest and propped the book up against his cloak which she’d bunched into a sturdy mound. It was as boring as he’d expected it to be, pictures or not, but Kera managed to somehow make it enjoyable. Despite still feeling sore, the loneliness ebbed away and Enigma found his mood lifting. Sleep didn’t come for the little ghost, but after a while Kera nodded off beside him, her words fading away into a yawn. Enigma watched her, considering waking her back up and sending her back to her own room. But seeing her so peaceful, he decided against it.

Enigma set the book at the foot of the bed and covered the sneasel with his cloak. Then, resigning himself to the fact he wasn’t going to get any sleep that day, he gazed out of the window, waiting for night to fall.
 
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