Chapter 24- Discipline Part 1: Lavender
Kiba Makuro
Junior Trainer
- Pronouns
- He/Him, They/Them
Originally Posted February 29th, 2024 (Leap Day!)
Updated March 4th, 2024
Ported October 15th, 2024
Chapter Summary
Team Sharp Claw has a soft morning, trying to move forward. But what if a real reason to move forward sets foot at their door? How will they handle the situation, and their new feelings?
Linus Treecko's POV
Updated March 4th, 2024
Ported October 15th, 2024
Chapter Summary
Team Sharp Claw has a soft morning, trying to move forward. But what if a real reason to move forward sets foot at their door? How will they handle the situation, and their new feelings?
Linus Treecko's POV
In the dim light of the Leagues bedroom hallway, Chief McBone stood before us, a warm look across her muzzle.
I wiped the sleep from my eyes as Nevada and Glade shuffled up beside me. “You'd like ta see us?” I asked, my voice low.
The Stoutland took a few steps back before she nodded. “Yes Linus, I just remembered something fun and exciting we could do for breakfast.”
“Fun and exciting?” Glade murmured.
“Cooking something new could make you feel better.”
“It won't hurt,” Nevada said with a tired laugh.
We needed this. This was my, no, our first morning without Jin after that so-called Knight from the Committee took him away.
I don't know what the pains of first love were until recently. Especially once that love was lost. And Jin loved me too. Or at the least, liked me.
But we were too cautious. And didn't train him. I won't make that mistake again, watching him slip away.
Nevada, Glade, and I followed Chief McBone down to the first floor of the League and all the way into the kitchen.
The Stoutland raised a paw and gestured at the countertops before she spoke. “I know this is unconventional, but I want to try a recipe I learned from someone.”
“Noodles?” I asked, and peered further at the low countertop.
Mushrooms, leek stalks, eggs, and tofu had been spread out into various bowls, while an enormous pot filled with water sat on the stove. By the stovetop sat row after row of long thin strands of whitish-yellow dough.
“Yes,” Chief McBone explained. “We are having shoyu ramen this morning.”
“Shoe you?” I asked, my brow quirked.
“Raw men?” Nevada blinked.
“Shoyu ramen,” the Stoutland repeated slowly. “The first word means that it's based on soy broth, and the second refers to these thinly cut noodles.”
I nodded. “Sounds nice.” I've never heard of anythin’ like this.
Glade tilted her head. “Is this even a breakfast food?”
Chief McBone chuckled a little. “Well, it could be anything technically.”
Nevada sharpened their claws, then picked up one of the ingredients. “So what are we doing?”
“Cutting the mushrooms, leeks, tofu, berries and cooking the eggs. I prepared the noodles for the ramen over the past few days along with the broth.”
“What broth?” I asked as I stared into the pot of seemingly clear water.
“It's a berry, soy and vegetable broth, we are going to add it to the water and all the other ingredients.”
We separated each group of food and got to work.
The Charmander and Totodile gazed into the pot.
“It has all those ingredients, yet is still light colored?” Glade asked.
Nevada nodded. “Cooking sure is complicated.”
Chief McBone chuckled, “I thought the same when I learned this recipe.”
Oh, interesting! “Who taught you?” I asked.
“It doesn't sound Bristbergian. Or from all the way in Twin Star,” the Totodile added.
The Charmander's tail flame flickered in what I assumed was thought. “Coordinator Cooper is from the Twin Star Continent right?”
“Well yes,” the Stoutland watched over the warming pot of broth. “I didn’t learn it from him though. I learned this recipe from Kuroshi.”
Kuroshi? Wait! I gasped and nearly dropped the mushrooms. “Kuroshi… I recognize that name, he was-”
“A-” Chief McBone struggled to find her words as she met my gaze. “A former member of Team Vanguard. Kuroshi was a strange rocky but devoted Arcanine.” She glanced over at Glade and Nevada with a sigh.
“A rocky Arcanine?” I asked. “Kinda how like Jin's a ghostly Zorua?”
“Yes, I believe they could have been familiar with one another, but that's talk for another time.”
He must have been Hisuian too? She knows more but we're not ready. Well I'm not ready. My tails drooped as I finished slicing some of the leeks. “I guess.”
“I want you three to try and keep your heads up,” the Stoutland said then placed a paw on the table. “I know it’s been difficult.”
I took in a deep breath as she continued.
“Not having someone you thought was a future teammate anymore is something that this League is familiar with. But I believe things are different this time.”
“I hope yur right,” I said as I picked back up the mushrooms.
Chief McBone added some Rawst and Pecha Berry chunks into the broth. “I hope I am too, now let's continue.”
Nevada boiled a few of the flying-type eggs, while Glade and I cut up the other ingredients.
There were some more bunches of berries we chopped up, and some water-type and normal-type eggs that we prepared.
I scrambled a few eggs while the Totodile beside me diced the last of the fruit, tofu, mushrooms, and leeks.
As I finished the tofu, the Stoutland slowly dropped the noodles into the broth.
With all the ingredients stirring deep inside the pot, the broth slowly changed hues from light yellow to a darker cream as the mushrooms, eggs, tofu, and leeks blended in their nutrients and flavor. The heat of the stovetop boiled the ramen, it solidified and absorbed the new ingredients into its composition. And now it took a stable form. I loved watching things cook up like this. Made ma feel like I was at home.
Chief McBone dashed a bit of pepper, salt, and some seasoned salt made from Cheri, and Lum Berries. She gestured to the pot and I poured her a small serving.
It's still piping hot though?
A chill ran through the room as the Stoutland made her fangs frozen with ice and took a couple of laps from the bowl.
Using Ice Fang like that? Genius.
With a satisfied nod Chief McBone got back down on the floor. “Breakfast is ready!” she called. The Stoutland turned to me and the team. “Now let's set up the table.”
“Got it.” I reached down to the other cabinet and pulled out a large collection of bowls.
Glade pulled out the cart, while Nevada poured in a starting portion of the food. We wheeled it down to the ‘U’ table and set out the first couple when everyone made their way down stairs.
Coordinator Cooper, Diamond, Chad, Rio, River, Slowbro, Mienfoo, Anabel, and Bernard all filled in the seats of the ‘U’. “We are having shoyu ramen for breakfast today!” Chief McBone explained. I, Glade, and Nevada stood by the cart while everyone else ate for about thirty minutes. Then we settled down and had some of the shoyu ramen for ourselves.
Breakfast was simple and quiet. Perhaps out of respect, or maybe reverence? Everyone got what they wanted and left with little to no fanfare.
We excused ourselves back to our room and got ready for the day. Once we had our scarves and badges we came back downstairs. Then we cleaned up the kitchen.
As Glade, Nevada and I put away the dishes and leftover shoyu ramen the doorbell rang. The chime echoed through the entirety of the League.
My blood froze in my heart.
It can’t be!?
The words, in a whisper, barely left my mouth as I stood stark still.“C-chief McBone?”
The Stoutland cleared her throat as her eyes narrowed. “Rio and River!” she almost yelled. “Bring Diamond and Chad too!”
Wait no Morág, Devontay or the others? Ah wait, Team Whitelight left while we're cleaning yesterday.
Coordinator Cooper shuffled out of the living room. I stumbled away from the Granbull and his piercing black eyes.
He softened his expression and spoke. “Team Sharp Claw please wait a moment while we figure out who it is.”
“Understood,” we replied.
“Don't follow us to the front door yet.” Chief McBone took a couple of steps away. She perked her ears up, as to hear any potential sound the outsider made, even from all the way out here.
Coordinator Cooper lowered his gaze towards Glade’s, Nevada's, and my level. “We'll let Anabel, and Bernard vet them as usual in the watchtowers.”
Why does he think I don't know that? Anger spiked through my throat. “I said I got it,” I growled.
“Linus,” the Stoutland spoke softly. “Please remember to behave appropriately.”
I clenched my fists and stared at the wall.
I can't. I don't know what I'll do if he's there. And what to do about whoever is there with him.I'm not strong enough.
A warm claw touched my shoulder and I flinched. My watering, trembling eyes met with Nevada's. That’s right, the eyes of someone whose siblings were put in a tough bind by Wicked Blow and forced to be twisted. Those bright blue beacons of hope belonged to someone who needed me. And I needed them.
The Charmander nodded.
“I'm here too Linus.” Glade gently patted my back.
The Totodile's red eyes gleamed. Someone else with family, ruined entirely by Wicked Blow.
“Thanks guys.”
She lifted her claw as the Herdiers, Wartortle, and Pikachu hurried down the stairs.
The four Pokémon walked over to the front door and talked in hushed whispers. Rio and River walked back in and sighed.
“River and I, as former members of Team Vanguard, now Paradise Ranchers still need to remain on the low,” Rio explained.
River followed right beside her. “It's the Committee and they don't need to know about us being here at the League.”
Chief McBone returned, and her ears lowered as she caught my eye. “Nevada, Glade, Linus, it seems you all are required.”
“Understood.”
The path to the sealed front door felt massive. Every step felt like an eternity had passed.
Anxiety crept through my body as the silence rolled through the air. Our only answer, to who was out there, was locked firm beyond our defenses. But one press of a triangular League badge, and it was free.
With a rolling thud the door opened. Like before the chilling burst of air briefly assaulted my senses, but I didn't look away.
The Pokémon before us, wasn't Head Tiger, not the so-called Head Knight, and they weren't Jin.
An oddly purple-grey Sneasel, with dark purple curved claws and golden gems, one riddled with tiny scars and bandages all across their body stood before us. They trembled and took in a deep breath once they noticed me.
Where is Jin?
The air felt tense as I, Glade, Nevada, and everyone else glanced over them, along the shade of the awning.
Wait, that's not just any odd Sneasel, that's Jin's friend from Hisui! I remembered he said her name was Toko.
Where is he?
Before I even had a chance to speak, the air beside the purple Sneasel morphed into a lilac colored visage. It grew and grew until a Pokémon was finally visible, a Mismagius.
But something was off. Along their spectral body, Mismagius sported an array of dark grey splotches, just like Tiger and Knight before them. A black, purple, and red cape, draped along their shoulders, just like them too. “I am Lady Spellbound, a Head of the Committee,” her haunting voice crept out. “And the one beside me is Toko.”
“Where’s Jin!?” I asked, my voice shaky and raw.
Spellbound laughed a low and drawn out laugh as she narrowed her eyes. “He's unnecessary, just like this one here.” She pushed, no, she shoved, Toko forward with one of her tendrils.
The Sneasel nearly crashed onto the ground but I shot forward and held her upright. My vision grew red as I locked eyes with the Mismagius, grass-type mana pooling into my stomach. “What did you say?”
“Linus!” Glade and Nevada held onto me.
With another chortle, Spellbound pointed at Toko. “Why don't you tell them Toko?”
I let go of the Sneasel and Toko staggered upright, a weak smile forming on her muzzle. “This… I believe in Jin,” her surprisingly firm and peppy voice called.
“What?” I questioned, my eyes widened.
The Sneasel held a claw over her scarred shoulder and took in a deep breath. “Jin is performing in an examination,” she explained with strained vigor. “This is because he interacted and learned a surplus of information from you Pokemon.”
Her ear feather twitched as the Mismagius behind her laughed once again. I glared daggers at Spellbound but didn't speak as a paw, one from Chief McBone gently held me.
“Excuse me. I do not see what's so funny, Lady Spellbound,” The Stoutland spoke carefully. That Legend Roche elocution, at work I see.
The Mismagius pulled on her black, purple, and red cape, and folded her arms behind her back. “Jin and Toko are useless to our Eternal Vision. They can't assist in controlling the most sacred artifacts of all.”
Most sacred? I took in a shuddered breath. Which mana artifacts is she talking about? Is it about them being turned into Ether Gems? They know which Pokemon can’t after their tests?
Coordinator Cooper stepped in front of me and Toko. “And?”
“That is all I have for you. Keep up with the work assigned to your League, nothing more, nothing less.”
I held onto my arms and stared at the ground below the Mismagius, my head clouded in rage. We can't make our move yet, not yet !
“Of course Lady Spellbound,” the Granbull responded, his words calm and collected. “We will not falter.”
“I’m glad you know your place. Farewell, League.” Spellbound drifted further and further away, her physical form vanished more with every moment.
Then she was finally gone.
Coordinator Cooper cleared his throat as we all stood amidst the growing snow flurries and chilly air. “Let's go inside.”
Chief McBone took her paws of my body and stared at the gates of the League beyond the cobblestone courtyard and watch towers. Her gaze remained set on the path Spellbound took before she turned.
Glade, Nevada, and I headed back in the League, with Toko right behind us.
The Stoutland and Granbull moved from their positions and sealed back the League front door, all the while I held on to my shaking hands. My neck felt awfully cold, so I pulled my scarf off over my head and tied it above my shoulders.
“Let's go to the office.” Chief McBone ordered, her tail low.
Toko suddenly stood still and didn't move a muscle.
I let go of my hands and wordlessly gazed at her.
The Sneasel’s rich dark lavender tail feathers, and ears curled down toward her body, her limbs drawn close to her chest and midsection.“Praytell, am I in trouble?”
Coordinator Cooper held his paw out to Toko and knelt by her side. “No, we are going to the office for quite the opposite.”
“A reward?”
“Yes darling,” the Stoutland ahead answered in a gentle tone. “You'll be given an opportunity you'd never imagine.”
We made our way up the stairs, all the way to the third floor and to the office. Coordinator Cooper opened the door for us, and I finally entered the room where it all began.
The two desks filled with stacks of papers and folders all sat in the center of the room. While chairs, and stools of varying sizes lined the walls, by the calendars, corkboard, and whiteboards.
“You can have a seat anywhere you'd like or just stand,” Chief McBone said as she looked through the drawers of her low rise desk.
Toko plopped down on the floor and stretched her legs before she sat down in a crossed leg position.
I grabbed one of the stools and slid it right beside the Sneasel while everyone else settled in a chair or stool around us.
The Stoutland at the desk pulled out our League's three-toned bandana and a small bronze badge in her maw before she dropped them on her desk. “Welcome to the Bristberg Mana Research League.”
“Thank you for having me.” The Sneasel prostrated herself. “What tasks shall I, this honorable servant of the almighty Sinnoh perform?”
The what? That ain’t Mew, Arceus or the others! Nevada sparked their tail flame once I glanced their way while Glade didn't flinch one bit.
“You won't have to perform any tests, at least not right now,” Chief McBone chuckled.
Toko's eyes widened. “I will not? This servant begs your pardon?”
Coordinator Cooper held out a piece of paper. “Normally you'd have to do the entrance exam, but understanding your circumstances we shall take you in regardless.”
I squinted my eyes at the page, it was our team registration file. With two new names below Glade's, Nevada's, and mine.
Toko leaned back and stared at me and the team. “I am joining these three?”
“Yes, you can join their Rescue Team, it's called Team Sharp Claw,” the Stoutland replied, her tail slowly swishing side to side.
It's now or never.
I stood up and held my silver rank badge toward the Sneasel.
“What is this?”
“A promise,” Glade, Nevada and I said together.
“The one I couldn't keep to Jin.” I clenched my badge tighter.
The Charmander and Totodile also held their badges up. “We promise to protect you and teach you all about this world. It's the least we could do.”
“What shall I give in return?” Toko staggered upright.
“Please work with us to end the Disruption, by any means necessary.”
“Understood.” The Sneasel fastened the scarf around her right bicep, and put the bronze badge on it. “I Toko, servant of the Almighty Sinnoh, shall join Team Sharp Claw!”
Even though we just got another teammate, my heart felt empty.
Toko was too much like him. The oddly purple-Sneasel was once a ward of the Committee, spoke in a formal manner, and didn't know much about the land. She knew the majority of our species because Jin told her, but not ones like Diamond, a Wartortle or the Herdier twins.
But Toko was also different. This Sneasel was a Sentinel, not a Keeper. But still, I felt an odd connection to her. Almost like the one I had when I first saw Glade and Nevada five years ago. But that was before we learned the three of us were something special. Fangs of the Fallen. Was there room for a fourth so soon? Or maybe Toko's unique poison-fighting elemental typing was just alluring. She was a Sneasel after all, not a Croagunk.
Back before the Disruption truly started. I wanted to forget about why I was here. Why I was here at the League.
Six years ago, I couldn't handle loss and went to the Black Clover Mercenaries. When I left, no, ran away from home after Scabbard and Maxwell were taken from my family by Wicked Blow.
And a year later, when I finally joined the League something happened to Hatchet and Kobi, involving our Artibax and Scovillian cousins.
But this stuff with the Committee was something more sinister. I don't understand how Toko was fine after all she's been through! I wanted Jin instead.
Toko prattled on and on about the Almighty Sinnoh, a Pokémon from Hisui. She came to the League beaten and bruised, which was a bigger priority.
Chief McBone took the Sneasel to the medbay to see the extent of her injuries and help patch her up. Unlike last time both CJ and Astesia weren't there, still out on reconnaissance.
Glade, Nevada, and I waited outside as they checked things over. The damn Committee just openly flaunted that they abused their so-called ‘wards’ so brazenly. Even if Toko was a fighter she would have normally healed.
I shuddered at the idea of whatever torture Jin went through.
The door slowly creaked open and a familiar Granbull poked his head out. “You can come in now.”
“We cleared her to go out on Mystery Dungeons and train.” Chief McBone pushed away some medical files.
Coordinator Cooper opened the door of the medbay for him and the Stoutland before he turned to me. “Make sure you clean up before you all leave.”
“Understood,” I replied with a curt nod. And then the two of them left us alone.
“Let us head out as soon as possible!” the Sneasel said in between bites of Oran and Sitrus Berries.
“Why?” Glade and Nevada asked.
Toko flexed her arms as she took out the fruit slices. “This servant wishes to climb the tallest mountains behind the League!”
“What?!” I gasped.
“You told me to help end the Disruption, which means getting stronger as quickly as possible!”
“But Toko those are beyond expert level climbs, and you just got here,” the Charmander sighed.
“That shall not stop me!”
“Why can't ya understand that we can't go?” I groaned.
“We? I was isolated from the outside world, I desire to explore everything I can and test my limits!”
Nevada rubbed the back of their head.“We could start small instead? Like training in the practice field?”
“Shall I be able to reach my goals there?”
The Totodile across from the two rolled her shoulders. “Toko, you're bandaged up and this energetic?”
“Yes?”
“As much as I want to, I can't keep up.”
“You three are unwilling?”
“Yeah Toko, we can't just go wherever we want, we are assigned suitable missions from Coordinator Cooper and Chief McBone.”
The Sneasel glanced at us and her ear feather drooped. “This servant understands, I shall relax and continue eating.”
Oh I got an idea! I hopped out of my stool and opened the medbay door. “Why don't we go to the kitchen? We still got some breakfast, ya can have some real food.”
“Real food? That sounds splendid!”
We took Toko to the ‘U’ and pulled out a fresh bowl for her.
“Ah shoyu ramen.” Toko grinned at the display. “Now this is something I have not had in a while.”
“We helped Chief McBone make it,” Glade chuckled.
The purple-Sneasel sat down and sniffed at the broth of ramen before she slightly recoiled.
“Thank you for the meal,” she said before she went through the ingredients. In the end she pulled out all the pieces of water, flying, and normal-type eggs.
The Totodile beside me took in a breath and looked away while I rubbed my temples. “Ya don't like eggs, Toko?” I asked as I sat down.
Toko bit off a large strand of noodles and swallowed it. “This is what I used to do in Hisui, as a tenant of faith towards the almighty Sinnoh. Take none from life if I could avoid it.”
“Well, these eggs were never alive.” The Charmander beside her gestured with their claws.
“I shall not falter even at this moment.”
“It's food! That doesn't even make any sense!” Glade slammed her claws on the table.
“And what's with this almighty Sinnoh you keep talking about?” Nevada grumbled.
Toko folded her ears as the Charmander and Totodile stared her down. “Am I offensive with my display of faith? I already had to hide it from the Committee and I thought I would be free to practice my discipline.”
Can't believe ya'd worship anyone other than Mew, Arceus or Xerneas but whatever. I shook my head. “I got it, let's make sure we ain't puttin’ any eggs in your food, and ya get extra berries and the like to compensate.”
“Thank you. That will be adequate.”
As the Sneasel finished her breakfast, Coordinator Cooper approached us.
“Good morning Team Sharp Claw,” the Granbull called.
I slowly turned to him and tilted my head.
He had an odd black band, or rather a collar or headband of some sorts, one with a silver plate attached to it. “I think it's time to try out the testing swords again.”
“The black swords?” Nevada's jaw dropped.
Glade jumped out of her seat. “The thing that proves it to everyone else that we're special, that we're Fangs of the Fallen!”
“Ah yeah!” I cheered. “Let's go!”
“What shall I do?” Toko asked as she also got up.
Coordinator Cooper glanced over the purple Sneasel and nodded. “As a Sentinel it wouldn't hurt if you tried as well, we and our allies in black always need more data.”
“Understood!”
