- Location
- Alto Mare, or Southern Island
- Pronouns
- Any
Hi everyone! Latios here, and I'm starting to get back into writing after a long hiatus. As practice, I have decided to write a few one-shots based on different themes and ideas. This is the first one in the series, Until Morning Light, and I hope you enjoy it!
Notes on Trigger Warnings:
This story contains mentions of mental illness, as well as scenes involving light blood. Viewer discretion is advised for readers. Despite this, the story is rated PG-13.
Notes on Feedback:
Not to come off as unreceptive to advice, but as this is my first fic in quite some time, positive feedback is always appreciated, as I find that it helps me to learn which parts of the story showcase good prose and technique. Of course, criticisms are always welcome, but I would be quite happy if something positive about the work is also included.
A single piece of cloth was wrapped around the Kirlia’s body, her only shield against the bitter cold as she walked through the dense forest.
She knew there was a high chance that she would get caught. But she had to risk it, for her survival, so she could live another day. And though she trembled at the thought of being apprehended once again, she continued to try to calm herself, telling herself that everything would be fine, that all would go well, that she did not have to spend another day starving in the wilderness.
The Emotion Pokemon lowered her body to the ground to make as little sound as possible as a light in the dark slowly came into view. As she crept forward inch by inch, she noticed the forest beginning to become gradually increasingly sparse. The light that signalled civilization became brighter and brighter, and gradually, the forest gave way a path circling around a small town.
It was past midnight, and most of the houses that she could see were covered with darkness, the only light coming out of them being small oil lamps that would burn through the night. There was a single exception: a large building, located in the middle of the town, whose massive logo was always illuminated. The Kirlia recognised the symbol immediately: an Adventurer’s Guild, the place where many of the residents in the town lived, and…where large amounts of gold and food were stockpiled.
She paused for a second: Is it worth it to try to go for and steal from the Guild? After all, substantial amounts of Pokemon lived there, which would make it easier to be caught. Maybe it was best to steal from the common folk instead, she thought: it would be easier, but the yield would be much less than if she took the chance and went for the largest building there was. And, she pondered, the Guild won’t notice if I took a bit of money and Apples from their stockpile, and even if they did notice, it wouldn’t harm them that much. But the common folk? If she stole from them, they would probably be left penniless. After a few more minutes of thought, she decided that the risk was worth taking, as she crept steadily toward the large building in the centre of the town.
*
Getting into the building of the guild was easy enough. Only a single guard kept watch of the front gate of the building, a Dugtrio placed underneath the entrance, and luckily for the Kirlia, he was sound asleep. Navigating the labyrinthine hallways of the guild was a different story though; she had to avoid making any noise as she searched for the place where the money and food was kept, attempting to also avoid the sleeping quarters of the members of the guild. Through three massive floors she looked, most of them being working spaces filled with sheets of paper, pens as well as abacuses strewn on tables and floors, with little avail.
The Kirlia sighed; it seemed like she would be going home empty handed that day after all. But she decided to try to cut her losses. She crept toward the back of the dining hall, a massive room which took up most of the second storey of the guild, and slowly unlatched the cellar, hoping to find at least some bread or Apples to sustain her journey back. But as she opened the door of the cellar, she heard footsteps behind her.
“A thief! In the dining room!”
She froze, not even turning around, for a split second, before attempting to escape, trying to calm her mind to prepare for a Teleport.
“Oh no you don’t!” The deep voice yelled toward her, and she felt the impact of a metal rod against her skin, effortlessly slicing through the cloth on her body. Despite the stinging pain that came almost immediately after, she ran as fast as her little legs could carry her, before trying once again to Teleport away outside the building to buy time. But that was not to be, as her pursuer easily caught up to her and the Kirlia was pinned to the ground with a hooked metal claw. Turning her head to get a glance of her captor, the Kirlia looked, horrified, directly into the eyes of a Scizor.
“You didn’t think you could get away with this, did you, little bugger?” The Scizor smugly asked, to which the Kirlia could only shake her head as she whimpered.
“S-sir…please, just let me go. I promise I won’t come back- aaaagh!” The pleas of the Kirlia were cut short by, once again, the crack of the metal rod against the now-tender skin of the captive. Tears now flowed freely from the Kirlia’s eyes, as the Scizor smirked.
“Know your worth. You’ve been caught, and you’ll pay the price.”
Grabbing the Kirlia by her sole item of clothing, the Scizor lifted her up, binding her hands with rope, before throwing her on the ground again.
“Get up. You’re going to answer to our Guildmaster, and we’ll see what she does about you.”
The Kirlia glanced one last time toward the staircase, pondering escape once again, now much more likely than ever. But eventually, she thought better of it. She stood up, her pride more wounded than ever before, and followed the Scizor, resigning herself to her fate.
*
“…you should be glad I’m awake, Scizor. If you ran into my room like that when I’m sleeping- which, granted, isn’t very likely, you’re going to get it from me.”
“Y-yes, Guildmaster. But it’s really, really important this time! I caught-”
The Togekiss looked up from the piles of paper strewn over her desk, first looking toward the Scizor, and then to the Kirlia standing next to him, her clothing soaked in sweat and tears by now. Noticing the Togekiss making firm and steady eye contact toward her, the Kirlia flinched, averting her gaze as quickly as possible, looking down at her feet instead.
The Guildmaster shook her head in disbelief. “You call this ‘really, really important’? Enough to risk me being woken up forcefully by your yelling? Sure it’s important, but it…couldn’t have waited till morning apparently.”
“Sorry, Guildmaster. It’s just that- well, justice must be served.”
“Of course, of course. “Now,” the Togekiss sighed once again, stacking the piles of paper, and placing the stack neatly on an edge of the table, “would you please leave the room for a moment, Scizor. Just for me to talk to- well, what you dragged in a while ago.”
“But miss…”
“Please, I’ve got enough on my table already. I don’t really need an essay from you tonight. Is that alright, dear?”
The Scizor was unable to argue with that. He merely nodded awkwardly, before turning to leave the room, his ego somewhat deflated. Seeing the door to her office close silently, the Togekiss turned toward the Kirlia still standing near the door, looking toward her with a steady gaze.
“Good evening. I’m Guildmaster Anna. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you why you’re here, as I’m sure you already know. Take a seat first, and then we’ll try to settle everything. Will you please do that for me, please?”
The Kirlia nodded, not daring to say a word, and shakily walked toward the seat in front of the Guildmaster’s desk, before taking a seat, still trembling.
“Alright, good. What’s your name, dear?”
The Emotion Pokemon looked down toward her lap, not opening her mouth for a few moments before she finally spoke.
“…Clarissa.”
Anna nodded. “Hello, Clarissa. Now, I’m sure you know that what you did was wrong, but I trust there’s a really good explanation for what you did- or, well, tried to do, given that you’re here now and not making off with your gains.”
“Y-yes, Guildmaster. I’m…really sorry. I was just…hungry, and I haven’t eaten in days. I know it’s wrong, but…I really couldn’t do anything. Please…let me go. I promise I won’t ever come back here again…or at least have mercy, please. Don’t…don’t kill me!”
With each word, Clarissa’s tone became more and more fearful, her voice eventually breaking down into sobbing, as she looked toward the Togekiss in a pleading manner, tears now flowing freely from her eyes. Anna placed a wing on one of the Kirlia’s shoulders, trying to comfort the young thief that was clearly terrified for her life.
“Don’t worry. I know you’re scared. We’ll have to punish you, but I’ll lessen your sentence. I promise, the Guild won’t let you die in her hands. Now- could you calm down for me for a second?”
The Kirlia looked up toward the Guildmaster, swiftly calming herself down, before replying shakily: “Y-yes, madam.”
“Alright, good. Now…since the Winter Festival is in four days, I don’t want to hold you here for more than that. You’ll be sentenced to ten lashes as well as three days in jail, and I hope that the Guild won’t be forced to do this to you again. Is that clear?”
Clarissa nodded. “Yes, Guildmaster. I…I won’t s-steal again…”
“I hope you don’t. I’m trying to start by being lenient, and I don’t want to punish you further.”
The Togekiss took out a basket of apples, each of them large, red, and plump with a golden tint. She placed one on the table in front of the Kirlia.
“Here, eat one. I haven’t had time to touch them at all, and I’m not hungry anyway. I know you probably are. Consider this an apology for what I have to do.”
“Y-yes, Guildmaster.” The Kirlia picked up the apple using her two still-tied hands, taking a bite into it. The immense sweetness of the fruit was only enhanced by Clarissa’s own hunger, and she took bite after sumptuous bite from the apple, not stopping in between.
While she did so, her mind filled with thoughts. On the one hand, she was relieved; the punishment that she would have to endure was only for a short period of time, and though the lashing would hurt, she had endured worse previously from people with similar authority. On the other hand, she was concerned, almost, for the Guildmaster. As she looked up between bites, she noticed that, once again, papers were strewn all over the Togekiss’s table, and she went back to work, as if what had just transpired was merely a distraction. Clarissa inevitably wondered: was the Guildmaster alright?
*
The Kirlia sat in a corner of the jail cell, her legs stretched in front of her as she leaned back into the wall, wrapping her body in the thin blanket that had been provided for her in the cell. The injuries from the beating that was the first part of her punishment still stung painfully even two days after, and as her bare back made contact with the stone wall, she winced slightly.
Still, she pondered, it could be much worse. After all, stealing from other places had left her in much more dire straits; she recalled, with much dread, the time she had stolen from a different town and was sentenced to death, which she had only managed to escape via Teleporting out of the cage that held her into the crowd, where she was able to slip away. Besides, the guards at least gave her an ounce of food per day as well as the blanket, which, though wholly inadequate for the winter night, at least kept her from freezing to death.
She felt a sense of gratitude toward the Guildmaster. She could have easily sentenced Clarissa to much harsher punishment, and yet she chose not to. In fact, the Guildmaster almost…shielded her from the Scizor, even though there was no reason for her to do so. In fact, she thought, if the Scizor had indeed waited until morning…it would probably have been the worst night in her life.
Her musings were interrupted by the creak of the cell door. She turned around, seeing the familiar face of the Quilava, the Guild member who had been assigned to deliver her meals for the past few days. He had been sympathetic to the prisoner, frequently talking to her after dinner in the jail cell as well as sneaking some of his own food to the Kirlia. As such, when she saw the Quilava arrive in her cell, her heart leapt.
“Clarissa.”
“Y-yes, sir?” She tried her best to remain calm, as she looked toward the Quilava.
“The Guildmaster has decided to let you off early; she said that preparations for the Winter Festival are much more imperative. I will escort you to the outskirts of the town.”
The Kirlia nodded, standing up and following the departing Quilava. As she walked along the familiar corridors of the prison, she took one last look at the empty cell door, once again thinking about how fortunate her run-in with the guild had been.
*
It took a while for Clarissa to adjust to the bright sunlight outside; the time spent in the jail cell had accustomed her eyes to the darkness. When she did, though, she got her first proper look at the town. It was bustling with activity as they put up posters, made decorations and cooked large pots of food in preparation for the Winter Festival. The residents were so preoccupied with each of their tasks that they didn’t even turn to look at the unfamiliar- and clearly beaten- Kirlia.
“Sir…so the Winter Festival is a very large event?”
“Yes, Clarissa. It’s the largest event of the year for the Guild and the town alike. Large numbers of people take part in the festival, as many people are invited here for the festivities. That’s why we naturally need to impress. Speaking of- the Guildmaster has specifically told me that you could join, but before you do, go to her office first. It’s standard protocol for all guess to be received by the Guildmaster personally.”
“Oh, really…? That’s…really nice of her…especially after…”
“I’m sure she understands. The event only starts at dusk, so you can rest for a while later. You’re probably very tired after…well, what had happened earlier.”
“Ah, th-thank you, Sir.”
“Don’t worry. If she doesn’t mind, I doubt the townspeople or the guild would.”
“O-oh…does Guildmaster Togekiss let off people like me often…?”
“Well- yes, I think. She’s a very forgiving person, though one frequently wonders if her kindness is because she truly is compassionate or if she just doesn’t want more work for herself.”
“A…a bit of both, maybe…?”
“Yeah, probably. Anyway- we’re here.”
The duo stood in front of the forest. Before them, the well-paved road narrowed back into a dirt path, leading into the dense woods that was, and would be, the home of the Kirlia again.
“Good luck, Clarissa. Also…” The Quilava reached into his bag, taking out a small down blanket and handing it toward the Kirlia, “the Guildmaster said to give you this, as- compensation for what the Scizor did to your dress.”
The Kirlia nodded, accepting the blanket readily and feeling it with both of her hands. It was heavy and weighed, and it seemed to have a warmth to it that was unusual to her. She wrapped it around her body, and she felt every inch of cold in her body seem to dissipate instantly.
“Th-thank you, Sir. A-and…please, thank the Guildmaster for me as well.”
The Quilava smiled. “Don’t worry, you can do that yourself, when you meet her later this evening. Rest well, friend.”
With that, the Quilava took one last look toward the Kirlia before heading back toward the town. Clarisse watched as the fire Pokemon slowly disappeared from her view, before she lay down on the grass, a log as her pillow and her body covered by the blanket.
The Kirlia sighed with relief as she closed her eyes; for the first time in quite a while, she was somewhat well-fed and warm. The exhaustion sweeping through her, as well as the comfort that the blanket provided, hastened the enveloping of her body in the welcome embrace of sleep.
*
When Clarissa woke up, it was already deep in the night. When she opened her eyes and noticed that the stars were already twinkling in the night sky above her, she panicked, quickly throwing the blanket off her body.
I’m late. The festival has probably already started, and the Guildmaster may not even be there. She probably assumed I wouldn’t come and started participating in the festivities already.
For a few seconds, she stood there, wondering to herself if it were worth it to go to the festival anymore or not, given it was likely that she would not be let in anyway. Eventually, she decided to bite the bullet and go to the town despite her worries, knowing that nothing too bad would happen to her anyway.
The path to the town was familiar by now. Navigating through the natural labyrinth of the forest, even in the dark, was child’s play for the Kirlia, who, after years of living in the forest, was all too familiar with its layout. This time, finding the town was much easier as well, as Clarissa easily followed the lights and sounds of celebration to find her way forward.
By the time that Clarissa had reached the town, the festival was in full swing. As an orchestra played boisterous tunes and the sounds of firecrackers filled the air, large numbers of Pokemon made merry in the town square and along the roads of the town. They danced, sang, and chatted noisily among groups, some holding bottles of alcohol in their hands, clearly drunk but joyous.
Clarisse, having lived alone for most of her life, enjoyed the atmosphere. But she reminded herself to, before partaking in the festivities, visit the Guildmaster, as had been requested by the Quilava. With some difficulty, she pushed past rows of Pokemon crowding the main streets of the town, before finding herself, once again, standing in front of the Guild building.
The building seemed oddly quiet, even quieter than the time she “visited” at midnight; the Guild members are probably celebrating too, including the Guildmaster…perhaps. It was worth checking, anyhow, she thought, as she walked through the entrance to the Guild building, heading toward the Guildmaster’s office.
The door to the Guildmaster’s office was closed. Immediately, Clarisse’s heart sank as her worst suspicions seem to come true: Guildmaster Togekiss was not there to receive latecomers. Somewhat dejected, she knocked on the door, hoping that the Guildmaster was merely doing work inside.
No response.
She pushed the door, trying to see if the door was locked, almost instinctively, even as she knew it probably was. But surprisingly, the door swung open easily.
Peeking in, Clarisse could see the Guildmaster, lying on the ground, trembling, barely conscious.
Beside her was an empty basket.
*
Clarissa immediately knew what had happened. She rushed into the room, her heart pounding in her chest, and ran up to the figure of the Togekiss on the ground, kneeling over her.
“Guildmaster! Guildmaster Togekiss!”
The Togekiss turned around with great effort, body still trembling, to look at the newcomer in her room.
“-…ah, Clarissa…you came…”
“Madam! A-are you all right? What do you need?”
The Guildmaster’s breathing was laboured, as she struggled to form words.
“…n-no…come closer to me…can you…heal?”
The Kirlia was panicking by this point. Heal? She couldn’t do that; she had long forgotten how to, after years without practice. “H-how do I do that, Guildmaster?”
The Togekiss let out a groan, before speaking again, this time barely more than a whisper.
“P-please…try…I can’t…anymore…Heal…Pulse…”
The Guildmaster’s situation was deteriorating by the minute, Clarissa realised. She had now started slipping in and out of consciousness, as her breathing became shallower and shallower. Now gripped with horror, the Kirlia tried to gather her emotions as best as possible, before she closed her eyes, placing a hand on the Togekiss’s wing, knowing well that she was the only person that could save the Guildmaster.
“Okay…keep still.”
An energy began flowing out of the Kirlia through her hand. Clarisse could feel some of her strength leave her. However, the body of the Togekiss, previously stone-cold, started to warm up, and her trembling slowly became less violent. Eventually, the Guildmaster stopped shaking, but she still lay on the ground, unmoving.
“…Guildmaster?”
“…I was so stupid. I was so stupid. So stupid. I deserved to die. I shouldn’t have lived.”
Grunting slightly, the Togekiss pushed herself off the ground with a wing, painstakingly gliding to her desk. When she reached the desk, she placed her head on the table. She was crying.
“Y-you’re fine, right, Guildmaster?”
“…n-no. Get- get…someone here, please...”
“They’re all still at the festival, Madam…I think a lot of them are drunk.”
“Alright…then don’t bother them. Just stay with me for a while, Clarissa…please.”
The Kirlia nodded, sitting on the chair facing the Togekiss, placing a hand on one of Togekiss’s wings. “How are you feeling, Guildmaster?”
“It’s…painful. My body hurts…so much.”
“Why…did you do what you did?”
“I…I really don’t know, Clarisse.” The Togekiss looked up at Clarisse with tear-stained eyes. “I…saw the Apples, and…suddenly felt hungry. So I ate one, and then another, and then…”
“But…you just didn’t feel hungry before…?”
“Yes. I guess…I was just too preoccupied with my work, that it kind of just…slipped my mind.”
The Togekiss once again buried her face into the table in front of her, tears dripping onto the documents on her table, staining them. “I don’t…I don’t even know why I’m telling you all this…I don’t even know you that well.”
“I don’t know, either. Is it because I was the only one who’s with you tonight?”
“Maybe. Or maybe it’s because I know you won’t judge.”
Clarisse gazed toward the Guildmaster, tears beginning to form in her eyes as well. Neither of them spoke for minutes on end. Eventually, it was Clarisse who finally broke the silence.
“I’m so sorry, Madam. Is there anything I could do?”
“Just…stay with me. Please.” The Togekiss opened her wings, looking at the Kirlia. Instinctively, the Kirlia knew what to do. She walked toward the Togekiss, pressing her body into the Guildmaster’s embrace. The Guildmaster nodded, closing her wings over Clarissa’s thin body.
“I’m…so sorry for what I did to you, Clarissa.”
“…don’t worry, Guildmaster. Everything’s fine now.”
“No. Everything’s not fine. But…at least I’m holding on for tonight.”
And that was good enough.
Notes on Trigger Warnings:
This story contains mentions of mental illness, as well as scenes involving light blood. Viewer discretion is advised for readers. Despite this, the story is rated PG-13.
Notes on Feedback:
Not to come off as unreceptive to advice, but as this is my first fic in quite some time, positive feedback is always appreciated, as I find that it helps me to learn which parts of the story showcase good prose and technique. Of course, criticisms are always welcome, but I would be quite happy if something positive about the work is also included.
A single piece of cloth was wrapped around the Kirlia’s body, her only shield against the bitter cold as she walked through the dense forest.
She knew there was a high chance that she would get caught. But she had to risk it, for her survival, so she could live another day. And though she trembled at the thought of being apprehended once again, she continued to try to calm herself, telling herself that everything would be fine, that all would go well, that she did not have to spend another day starving in the wilderness.
The Emotion Pokemon lowered her body to the ground to make as little sound as possible as a light in the dark slowly came into view. As she crept forward inch by inch, she noticed the forest beginning to become gradually increasingly sparse. The light that signalled civilization became brighter and brighter, and gradually, the forest gave way a path circling around a small town.
It was past midnight, and most of the houses that she could see were covered with darkness, the only light coming out of them being small oil lamps that would burn through the night. There was a single exception: a large building, located in the middle of the town, whose massive logo was always illuminated. The Kirlia recognised the symbol immediately: an Adventurer’s Guild, the place where many of the residents in the town lived, and…where large amounts of gold and food were stockpiled.
She paused for a second: Is it worth it to try to go for and steal from the Guild? After all, substantial amounts of Pokemon lived there, which would make it easier to be caught. Maybe it was best to steal from the common folk instead, she thought: it would be easier, but the yield would be much less than if she took the chance and went for the largest building there was. And, she pondered, the Guild won’t notice if I took a bit of money and Apples from their stockpile, and even if they did notice, it wouldn’t harm them that much. But the common folk? If she stole from them, they would probably be left penniless. After a few more minutes of thought, she decided that the risk was worth taking, as she crept steadily toward the large building in the centre of the town.
*
Getting into the building of the guild was easy enough. Only a single guard kept watch of the front gate of the building, a Dugtrio placed underneath the entrance, and luckily for the Kirlia, he was sound asleep. Navigating the labyrinthine hallways of the guild was a different story though; she had to avoid making any noise as she searched for the place where the money and food was kept, attempting to also avoid the sleeping quarters of the members of the guild. Through three massive floors she looked, most of them being working spaces filled with sheets of paper, pens as well as abacuses strewn on tables and floors, with little avail.
The Kirlia sighed; it seemed like she would be going home empty handed that day after all. But she decided to try to cut her losses. She crept toward the back of the dining hall, a massive room which took up most of the second storey of the guild, and slowly unlatched the cellar, hoping to find at least some bread or Apples to sustain her journey back. But as she opened the door of the cellar, she heard footsteps behind her.
“A thief! In the dining room!”
She froze, not even turning around, for a split second, before attempting to escape, trying to calm her mind to prepare for a Teleport.
“Oh no you don’t!” The deep voice yelled toward her, and she felt the impact of a metal rod against her skin, effortlessly slicing through the cloth on her body. Despite the stinging pain that came almost immediately after, she ran as fast as her little legs could carry her, before trying once again to Teleport away outside the building to buy time. But that was not to be, as her pursuer easily caught up to her and the Kirlia was pinned to the ground with a hooked metal claw. Turning her head to get a glance of her captor, the Kirlia looked, horrified, directly into the eyes of a Scizor.
“You didn’t think you could get away with this, did you, little bugger?” The Scizor smugly asked, to which the Kirlia could only shake her head as she whimpered.
“S-sir…please, just let me go. I promise I won’t come back- aaaagh!” The pleas of the Kirlia were cut short by, once again, the crack of the metal rod against the now-tender skin of the captive. Tears now flowed freely from the Kirlia’s eyes, as the Scizor smirked.
“Know your worth. You’ve been caught, and you’ll pay the price.”
Grabbing the Kirlia by her sole item of clothing, the Scizor lifted her up, binding her hands with rope, before throwing her on the ground again.
“Get up. You’re going to answer to our Guildmaster, and we’ll see what she does about you.”
The Kirlia glanced one last time toward the staircase, pondering escape once again, now much more likely than ever. But eventually, she thought better of it. She stood up, her pride more wounded than ever before, and followed the Scizor, resigning herself to her fate.
*
“…you should be glad I’m awake, Scizor. If you ran into my room like that when I’m sleeping- which, granted, isn’t very likely, you’re going to get it from me.”
“Y-yes, Guildmaster. But it’s really, really important this time! I caught-”
The Togekiss looked up from the piles of paper strewn over her desk, first looking toward the Scizor, and then to the Kirlia standing next to him, her clothing soaked in sweat and tears by now. Noticing the Togekiss making firm and steady eye contact toward her, the Kirlia flinched, averting her gaze as quickly as possible, looking down at her feet instead.
The Guildmaster shook her head in disbelief. “You call this ‘really, really important’? Enough to risk me being woken up forcefully by your yelling? Sure it’s important, but it…couldn’t have waited till morning apparently.”
“Sorry, Guildmaster. It’s just that- well, justice must be served.”
“Of course, of course. “Now,” the Togekiss sighed once again, stacking the piles of paper, and placing the stack neatly on an edge of the table, “would you please leave the room for a moment, Scizor. Just for me to talk to- well, what you dragged in a while ago.”
“But miss…”
“Please, I’ve got enough on my table already. I don’t really need an essay from you tonight. Is that alright, dear?”
The Scizor was unable to argue with that. He merely nodded awkwardly, before turning to leave the room, his ego somewhat deflated. Seeing the door to her office close silently, the Togekiss turned toward the Kirlia still standing near the door, looking toward her with a steady gaze.
“Good evening. I’m Guildmaster Anna. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you why you’re here, as I’m sure you already know. Take a seat first, and then we’ll try to settle everything. Will you please do that for me, please?”
The Kirlia nodded, not daring to say a word, and shakily walked toward the seat in front of the Guildmaster’s desk, before taking a seat, still trembling.
“Alright, good. What’s your name, dear?”
The Emotion Pokemon looked down toward her lap, not opening her mouth for a few moments before she finally spoke.
“…Clarissa.”
Anna nodded. “Hello, Clarissa. Now, I’m sure you know that what you did was wrong, but I trust there’s a really good explanation for what you did- or, well, tried to do, given that you’re here now and not making off with your gains.”
“Y-yes, Guildmaster. I’m…really sorry. I was just…hungry, and I haven’t eaten in days. I know it’s wrong, but…I really couldn’t do anything. Please…let me go. I promise I won’t ever come back here again…or at least have mercy, please. Don’t…don’t kill me!”
With each word, Clarissa’s tone became more and more fearful, her voice eventually breaking down into sobbing, as she looked toward the Togekiss in a pleading manner, tears now flowing freely from her eyes. Anna placed a wing on one of the Kirlia’s shoulders, trying to comfort the young thief that was clearly terrified for her life.
“Don’t worry. I know you’re scared. We’ll have to punish you, but I’ll lessen your sentence. I promise, the Guild won’t let you die in her hands. Now- could you calm down for me for a second?”
The Kirlia looked up toward the Guildmaster, swiftly calming herself down, before replying shakily: “Y-yes, madam.”
“Alright, good. Now…since the Winter Festival is in four days, I don’t want to hold you here for more than that. You’ll be sentenced to ten lashes as well as three days in jail, and I hope that the Guild won’t be forced to do this to you again. Is that clear?”
Clarissa nodded. “Yes, Guildmaster. I…I won’t s-steal again…”
“I hope you don’t. I’m trying to start by being lenient, and I don’t want to punish you further.”
The Togekiss took out a basket of apples, each of them large, red, and plump with a golden tint. She placed one on the table in front of the Kirlia.
“Here, eat one. I haven’t had time to touch them at all, and I’m not hungry anyway. I know you probably are. Consider this an apology for what I have to do.”
“Y-yes, Guildmaster.” The Kirlia picked up the apple using her two still-tied hands, taking a bite into it. The immense sweetness of the fruit was only enhanced by Clarissa’s own hunger, and she took bite after sumptuous bite from the apple, not stopping in between.
While she did so, her mind filled with thoughts. On the one hand, she was relieved; the punishment that she would have to endure was only for a short period of time, and though the lashing would hurt, she had endured worse previously from people with similar authority. On the other hand, she was concerned, almost, for the Guildmaster. As she looked up between bites, she noticed that, once again, papers were strewn all over the Togekiss’s table, and she went back to work, as if what had just transpired was merely a distraction. Clarissa inevitably wondered: was the Guildmaster alright?
*
The Kirlia sat in a corner of the jail cell, her legs stretched in front of her as she leaned back into the wall, wrapping her body in the thin blanket that had been provided for her in the cell. The injuries from the beating that was the first part of her punishment still stung painfully even two days after, and as her bare back made contact with the stone wall, she winced slightly.
Still, she pondered, it could be much worse. After all, stealing from other places had left her in much more dire straits; she recalled, with much dread, the time she had stolen from a different town and was sentenced to death, which she had only managed to escape via Teleporting out of the cage that held her into the crowd, where she was able to slip away. Besides, the guards at least gave her an ounce of food per day as well as the blanket, which, though wholly inadequate for the winter night, at least kept her from freezing to death.
She felt a sense of gratitude toward the Guildmaster. She could have easily sentenced Clarissa to much harsher punishment, and yet she chose not to. In fact, the Guildmaster almost…shielded her from the Scizor, even though there was no reason for her to do so. In fact, she thought, if the Scizor had indeed waited until morning…it would probably have been the worst night in her life.
Her musings were interrupted by the creak of the cell door. She turned around, seeing the familiar face of the Quilava, the Guild member who had been assigned to deliver her meals for the past few days. He had been sympathetic to the prisoner, frequently talking to her after dinner in the jail cell as well as sneaking some of his own food to the Kirlia. As such, when she saw the Quilava arrive in her cell, her heart leapt.
“Clarissa.”
“Y-yes, sir?” She tried her best to remain calm, as she looked toward the Quilava.
“The Guildmaster has decided to let you off early; she said that preparations for the Winter Festival are much more imperative. I will escort you to the outskirts of the town.”
The Kirlia nodded, standing up and following the departing Quilava. As she walked along the familiar corridors of the prison, she took one last look at the empty cell door, once again thinking about how fortunate her run-in with the guild had been.
*
It took a while for Clarissa to adjust to the bright sunlight outside; the time spent in the jail cell had accustomed her eyes to the darkness. When she did, though, she got her first proper look at the town. It was bustling with activity as they put up posters, made decorations and cooked large pots of food in preparation for the Winter Festival. The residents were so preoccupied with each of their tasks that they didn’t even turn to look at the unfamiliar- and clearly beaten- Kirlia.
“Sir…so the Winter Festival is a very large event?”
“Yes, Clarissa. It’s the largest event of the year for the Guild and the town alike. Large numbers of people take part in the festival, as many people are invited here for the festivities. That’s why we naturally need to impress. Speaking of- the Guildmaster has specifically told me that you could join, but before you do, go to her office first. It’s standard protocol for all guess to be received by the Guildmaster personally.”
“Oh, really…? That’s…really nice of her…especially after…”
“I’m sure she understands. The event only starts at dusk, so you can rest for a while later. You’re probably very tired after…well, what had happened earlier.”
“Ah, th-thank you, Sir.”
“Don’t worry. If she doesn’t mind, I doubt the townspeople or the guild would.”
“O-oh…does Guildmaster Togekiss let off people like me often…?”
“Well- yes, I think. She’s a very forgiving person, though one frequently wonders if her kindness is because she truly is compassionate or if she just doesn’t want more work for herself.”
“A…a bit of both, maybe…?”
“Yeah, probably. Anyway- we’re here.”
The duo stood in front of the forest. Before them, the well-paved road narrowed back into a dirt path, leading into the dense woods that was, and would be, the home of the Kirlia again.
“Good luck, Clarissa. Also…” The Quilava reached into his bag, taking out a small down blanket and handing it toward the Kirlia, “the Guildmaster said to give you this, as- compensation for what the Scizor did to your dress.”
The Kirlia nodded, accepting the blanket readily and feeling it with both of her hands. It was heavy and weighed, and it seemed to have a warmth to it that was unusual to her. She wrapped it around her body, and she felt every inch of cold in her body seem to dissipate instantly.
“Th-thank you, Sir. A-and…please, thank the Guildmaster for me as well.”
The Quilava smiled. “Don’t worry, you can do that yourself, when you meet her later this evening. Rest well, friend.”
With that, the Quilava took one last look toward the Kirlia before heading back toward the town. Clarisse watched as the fire Pokemon slowly disappeared from her view, before she lay down on the grass, a log as her pillow and her body covered by the blanket.
The Kirlia sighed with relief as she closed her eyes; for the first time in quite a while, she was somewhat well-fed and warm. The exhaustion sweeping through her, as well as the comfort that the blanket provided, hastened the enveloping of her body in the welcome embrace of sleep.
*
When Clarissa woke up, it was already deep in the night. When she opened her eyes and noticed that the stars were already twinkling in the night sky above her, she panicked, quickly throwing the blanket off her body.
I’m late. The festival has probably already started, and the Guildmaster may not even be there. She probably assumed I wouldn’t come and started participating in the festivities already.
For a few seconds, she stood there, wondering to herself if it were worth it to go to the festival anymore or not, given it was likely that she would not be let in anyway. Eventually, she decided to bite the bullet and go to the town despite her worries, knowing that nothing too bad would happen to her anyway.
The path to the town was familiar by now. Navigating through the natural labyrinth of the forest, even in the dark, was child’s play for the Kirlia, who, after years of living in the forest, was all too familiar with its layout. This time, finding the town was much easier as well, as Clarissa easily followed the lights and sounds of celebration to find her way forward.
By the time that Clarissa had reached the town, the festival was in full swing. As an orchestra played boisterous tunes and the sounds of firecrackers filled the air, large numbers of Pokemon made merry in the town square and along the roads of the town. They danced, sang, and chatted noisily among groups, some holding bottles of alcohol in their hands, clearly drunk but joyous.
Clarisse, having lived alone for most of her life, enjoyed the atmosphere. But she reminded herself to, before partaking in the festivities, visit the Guildmaster, as had been requested by the Quilava. With some difficulty, she pushed past rows of Pokemon crowding the main streets of the town, before finding herself, once again, standing in front of the Guild building.
The building seemed oddly quiet, even quieter than the time she “visited” at midnight; the Guild members are probably celebrating too, including the Guildmaster…perhaps. It was worth checking, anyhow, she thought, as she walked through the entrance to the Guild building, heading toward the Guildmaster’s office.
The door to the Guildmaster’s office was closed. Immediately, Clarisse’s heart sank as her worst suspicions seem to come true: Guildmaster Togekiss was not there to receive latecomers. Somewhat dejected, she knocked on the door, hoping that the Guildmaster was merely doing work inside.
No response.
She pushed the door, trying to see if the door was locked, almost instinctively, even as she knew it probably was. But surprisingly, the door swung open easily.
Peeking in, Clarisse could see the Guildmaster, lying on the ground, trembling, barely conscious.
Beside her was an empty basket.
*
Clarissa immediately knew what had happened. She rushed into the room, her heart pounding in her chest, and ran up to the figure of the Togekiss on the ground, kneeling over her.
“Guildmaster! Guildmaster Togekiss!”
The Togekiss turned around with great effort, body still trembling, to look at the newcomer in her room.
“-…ah, Clarissa…you came…”
“Madam! A-are you all right? What do you need?”
The Guildmaster’s breathing was laboured, as she struggled to form words.
“…n-no…come closer to me…can you…heal?”
The Kirlia was panicking by this point. Heal? She couldn’t do that; she had long forgotten how to, after years without practice. “H-how do I do that, Guildmaster?”
The Togekiss let out a groan, before speaking again, this time barely more than a whisper.
“P-please…try…I can’t…anymore…Heal…Pulse…”
The Guildmaster’s situation was deteriorating by the minute, Clarissa realised. She had now started slipping in and out of consciousness, as her breathing became shallower and shallower. Now gripped with horror, the Kirlia tried to gather her emotions as best as possible, before she closed her eyes, placing a hand on the Togekiss’s wing, knowing well that she was the only person that could save the Guildmaster.
“Okay…keep still.”
An energy began flowing out of the Kirlia through her hand. Clarisse could feel some of her strength leave her. However, the body of the Togekiss, previously stone-cold, started to warm up, and her trembling slowly became less violent. Eventually, the Guildmaster stopped shaking, but she still lay on the ground, unmoving.
“…Guildmaster?”
“…I was so stupid. I was so stupid. So stupid. I deserved to die. I shouldn’t have lived.”
Grunting slightly, the Togekiss pushed herself off the ground with a wing, painstakingly gliding to her desk. When she reached the desk, she placed her head on the table. She was crying.
“Y-you’re fine, right, Guildmaster?”
“…n-no. Get- get…someone here, please...”
“They’re all still at the festival, Madam…I think a lot of them are drunk.”
“Alright…then don’t bother them. Just stay with me for a while, Clarissa…please.”
The Kirlia nodded, sitting on the chair facing the Togekiss, placing a hand on one of Togekiss’s wings. “How are you feeling, Guildmaster?”
“It’s…painful. My body hurts…so much.”
“Why…did you do what you did?”
“I…I really don’t know, Clarisse.” The Togekiss looked up at Clarisse with tear-stained eyes. “I…saw the Apples, and…suddenly felt hungry. So I ate one, and then another, and then…”
“But…you just didn’t feel hungry before…?”
“Yes. I guess…I was just too preoccupied with my work, that it kind of just…slipped my mind.”
The Togekiss once again buried her face into the table in front of her, tears dripping onto the documents on her table, staining them. “I don’t…I don’t even know why I’m telling you all this…I don’t even know you that well.”
“I don’t know, either. Is it because I was the only one who’s with you tonight?”
“Maybe. Or maybe it’s because I know you won’t judge.”
Clarisse gazed toward the Guildmaster, tears beginning to form in her eyes as well. Neither of them spoke for minutes on end. Eventually, it was Clarisse who finally broke the silence.
“I’m so sorry, Madam. Is there anything I could do?”
“Just…stay with me. Please.” The Togekiss opened her wings, looking at the Kirlia. Instinctively, the Kirlia knew what to do. She walked toward the Togekiss, pressing her body into the Guildmaster’s embrace. The Guildmaster nodded, closing her wings over Clarissa’s thin body.
“I’m…so sorry for what I did to you, Clarissa.”
“…don’t worry, Guildmaster. Everything’s fine now.”
“No. Everything’s not fine. But…at least I’m holding on for tonight.”
And that was good enough.
